[ 4 Months After Raditz Attack]
The air in the rocky mountains was heavy with the sound of fists colliding against stone. Tien Shinhan stood firmly, sweat dripping from his bald head as he exchanged strikes with Chiaotzu. Both were pushing their limits, their training fueled by the warning Rudra had left behind.
But suddenly, the atmosphere changed.
A faint metallic hum echoed through the cliffs. Tien froze. Chiaotzu's small body trembled. A tall figure stepped out from behind the jagged rocks—his skin pale-blue, his eyes soulless, and his body moving with a mechanical precision.
"Where is Son Goku?" The voice was emotionless, like steel grinding against steel.
Tien narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
The figure didn't reply. Instead, its hand twitched and without warning, it lunged forward—its punch nearly shattering the ground where Tien had stood a second ago.
Tien backflipped, landing beside Chiaotzu. "Chiaotzu, stay sharp! This thing isn't human."
The android's eyes gleamed as it turned toward them again, advancing with slow but unstoppable steps.
---
Tien charged first, fists glowing with ki.
"HAH!" His punch connected cleanly against the android's chest—yet the machine didn't even flinch. The sound was like striking solid iron.
"What…?!"
The android grabbed Tien by the wrist and hurled him into the side of a mountain wall. The cliffside cracked and rumbled as dust filled the air.
Chiaotzu, terrified yet determined, shot a barrage of psychic blasts, his small hands trembling as his ki surged. The energy bolts crackled through the smoke—only to vanish as the android raised a single hand and absorbed the attacks effortlessly.
Tien emerged from the rubble, panting. His third eye narrowed.
"This thing… it's not even losing stamina…"
---
Rudra watched from a distant ridge, arms crossed, his cloak fluttering in the cold wind. His expression was unreadable.
Good. This is exactly the data I need.
---
Tien roared, powering up, and formed his Tri-Beam stance.
"Neo Tri-Beam!!!"
The energy roared forth like a blazing cannon, shaking the earth. Chiaotzu added his telekinetic push, amplifying the blast.
The explosion consumed the android—rock shattering, dust exploding into the sky.
Tien collapsed to his knees, drained of energy. "That should've… done it."
But as the smoke cleared—
The android stood, completely unscathed. Its expression had not changed. Its mechanical voice echoed coldly:
"Target's strength recorded. Continuing battle."
Tien's eyes widened. "Impossible…!!"
Just then, two more power levels appeared on the horizon.
Krillin and Yamcha landed beside Tien and Chiaotzu, their faces serious.
Krillin's gaze locked on the android. "Tien, what the hell is this thing?"
Tien clenched his fists. "Some kind of monster. It doesn't run out of energy. It just… keeps going."
Yamcha growled, cracking his knuckles. "Then we'll just have to break it apart piece by piece."
The android tilted its head, scanning them with its cold, red lens. "Additional subjects detected. Commencing battle protocol."
And with that, the machine launched itself forward—fast, silent, and merciless.