"Tch, what a weak punching bag!" Branch let go of Raditz and dusted off his hands, even though there was nothing on them. His small face was full of disappointment.
"You passed out again after just a few hits. You don't even qualify as a proper punching bag!"
Son Gohan stood nearby, already numb from what he had witnessed.
At this point he couldn't even react anymore.
Some beatings really are unavoidable…
Looking at Raditz—unconscious for the Nth time—Gohan suddenly felt a strange sense of sympathy.
Dad's brother… is really miserable.
He lowered his head and glanced again at the words written on his arm.
I must be extra careful from now on.
"You, come here."
Branch suddenly pointed at Gohan and crooked his finger.
Gohan jumped in fright.
"M-me?"
"There's no one else here who can move," Branch said impatiently.
"Yes, Branch!" Gohan immediately ran over like a nervous rabbit, standing stiffly with his head lowered.
"Wake him up."
Branch gestured toward Raditz.
Gohan knelt beside the battered Saiyan and gently patted his swollen face.
"U-uncle… wake up…"
"Harder! Didn't you eat?" Branch complained.
Gohan swallowed nervously and slapped harder.
Smack! Smack!
Raditz's eyelids twitched.
When his blurry vision finally focused—
The first thing he saw was Gohan's worried face.
Raditz nearly cried.
That face looked so kind.
So comforting.
Compared to the golden-haired demon earlier, Gohan looked like an angel.
"My brother's son… you look like a normal person…" Raditz thought with relief.
Gohan quickly whispered:
"Don't provoke him… just go along with whatever he says…"
Raditz nodded desperately.
He had already learned that lesson with blood and tears.
"So," Branch said casually, arms crossed.
"When I beat you just now… it felt lighter than before, right? I kept my promise."
Raditz: "..."
Lighter my foot!
His entire body felt like it had broken again.
But he didn't dare say that.
"Y-yes… much lighter…"
"You hesitated," Branch said coldly.
Raditz's heart stopped.
"Your expression betrayed you," Branch continued, stepping closer.
"You think I hit you harder."
"You're lying."
"I'm not!" Raditz panicked.
"I hesitated because my face hurts and my mouth is swollen! I can't speak clearly!"
For a moment, Raditz felt his survival instincts reach their peak.
Branch stared at him suspiciously.
Then shrugged.
"Whatever."
He cracked his knuckles.
"But I still didn't enjoy myself enough."
"What should we do?"
Raditz's face turned gray.
He already knew the answer.
Meanwhile—
At Master Roshi's Island.
The group had finished eating.
Broly put away the Infinite Gourmet Bowl.
"Broly, let's go rescue Gohan and Branch!" Son Goku said anxiously.
"Alright," Broly agreed calmly.
"I'll come too," Launch said, holding Broly's arm.
She sighed.
"I'm worried Branch might accidentally beat Goku's brother to death."
Piccolo's eyelid twitched.
Seriously?
That four-year-old kid?
Launch turned to Goku.
"If Branch really killed him by accident… you won't blame my son, right?"
"Of course not," Goku said immediately.
"He tried to harm Gohan and threaten Earth. If Branch defeated him while protecting himself, that's his own fault."
Launch sighed with relief.
"Then let's go," Broly said.
"I'll take my jet helicopter," Bulma said, throwing a capsule onto the sand.
POOF!
A sleek silver helicopter appeared.
But Goku couldn't wait.
"I'll go first!"
He jumped onto the Flying Nimbus.
"Bulma, lend me the Dragon Radar!"
Bulma handed it to him.
Piccolo floated into the air beside him.
"You're coming too?" Goku asked.
Piccolo simply stared toward Raditz's direction.
That was answer enough.
"Let's go!"
Nimbus shot into the sky like golden lightning.
Piccolo followed as a green streak.
Soon they reached the target location.
But when they looked down—
Both of them froze.
The scene below was nothing like they expected.
Raditz—the powerful Saiyan warrior—was sitting on the ground.
His armor was torn.
His face swollen.
He looked like he had been trampled by monsters.
Next to him stood Branch and Gohan.
Branch, now in his normal black-haired form, was crouching in front of Raditz.
"Uncle… are you okay?" Branch asked gently.
"I really didn't mean to do that. I just don't remember anything…"
Raditz trembled violently.
He backed away until his back hit a rock.
His eyes were filled with pure terror.
Piccolo stared in disbelief.
Is this the same Raditz who crushed me earlier?
Who beat him like this?
Those two kids?!
Goku scratched his cheek.
"Uh… what happened here?"
"Let's go down and see," Piccolo said.
They landed nearby.
When Raditz saw Goku—
His eyes lit up.
Tears almost fell.
"Kakarot!! My brother!!"
"You finally came!!!"
He staggered toward Goku like a bullied child running to a parent.
But halfway there—
Raditz froze.
He glanced nervously at Branch.
Branch smiled and waved.
That innocent smile made Raditz freeze in terror.
He didn't dare move forward.
He could only beg silently with his eyes.
"Gohan! Are you okay?" Goku rushed to his son.
"Dad!" Gohan hugged him happily.
Goku checked him carefully.
No injuries.
He finally relaxed.
"Did that bad guy hurt you?"
Gohan shook his head.
Then pointed at Raditz.
"He's the one who's hurt…"
Goku looked at Raditz again.
Raditz looked like a disaster victim.
"Kakarot! Please take those two kids away!" Raditz begged.
"My companions—Prince Vegeta and Nappa—are calling me!"
"I must leave Earth immediately!"
"Really!" he insisted.
"You don't need to go to my planet anymore!"
"You can stay on Earth!"
"I approve it on behalf of Prince Vegeta!"
"Oh…" Goku nodded slowly.
"But you shouldn't invade other planets. People should live peacefully."
"Yes! Absolutely!" Raditz agreed instantly.
"I'll tell my companions the same!"
"We'll reform!"
"We'll never invade planets again!"
Inside his mind, Raditz screamed:
Just let me leave!
Right now!
As far away from that little demon as possible!
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