The battlefield was frozen in a silence heavy with disbelief.
Dust from the fallen Frieza soldier still lingered in the air, mixing with the faint crackle of burnt Ki. The Z Fighters stared wide-eyed at Rudra, their minds refusing to accept what had just happened.
A mere earthling—barely conscious minutes ago—had brought down an enemy whose power level dwarfed his own.
---
Goku leaned against a rock, his battered body trembling.
"Unbelievable... Rudra... how did you—? Even I couldn't…" His words faded, awe and confusion swirling in his voice.
Krillin's jaw dropped. "D-did that just happen? That soldier was stronger than any of us left standing... and Rudra didn't even break a sweat!"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes, sharp and calculating. "No. It wasn't strength... he manipulated something unseen. Almost like... his shadow moved on its own."
Meanwhile, Gohan clutched his chest, his small fists shaking. "Rudra-san saved us again… but… can he really fight that guy?" His frightened gaze flickered toward Dodoria.
---
Far away, Kami's wrinkled hands tightened on his staff, his eyes grave.
"King Kai, are you watching this? His energy… it doesn't align with normal Ki. It's… darker, almost like an echo from another dimension."
King Kai's voice echoed telepathically in Kami's mind, laced with unease.
"Yes, I feel it too. Rudra's technique… that 'Chhaya Bandhan'—Shadow Bind—it disrupts natural motion, twisting reality itself. That's dangerous. If he overuses it in his condition, he could shatter his own spirit."
Kami exhaled. "Then we may lose him… and Earth along with it."
---
Dodoria's laughter shattered the tension.
"Hahaha! So that's your secret? A lucky trick!" His voice rumbled like thunder, though his grin twitched with hidden anger. "One weakling down, and you think you've proven something? Pathetic!"
He stomped forward, his massive bulk shaking the ground with every step.
"You really think you can stand against me? My power dwarfs Vegeta's, let alone some insect from this mudball planet!"
Dodoria's scouter blinked again, still reading Rudra's level at a laughable 200. The soldiers murmured, confusion etched on their faces.
"How… how did he kill one of us?"
"Maybe the scouter's malfunctioning…?"
"No, Dodoria-sama is right. It must've been a trick."
Dodoria sneered. "A bug can only hide for so long before it's crushed underfoot!"
---
Rudra stepped forward calmly, his expression unreadable, his eyes burning with a quiet fire.
"I told you already… turn back while you can. Or you'll never leave this planet alive."
Gasps rippled through the Z Fighters. Even Vegeta arched an eyebrow at the audacity of Rudra's words.
Dodoria burst into mocking laughter. "HAHAHA! You? Threatening me? My power level is 22,000—" He jabbed a finger at Rudra like an executioner pointing at the condemned. "And yours is two hundred. Two hundred! You're not even worth dirtying my fists with!"
Rudra didn't flinch. His shadow stretched unnaturally across the ground, slithering like a serpent toward Dodoria's feet.
"Numbers mean nothing… if you can't even stay on your feet," Rudra said in a low, steady tone.
---
Vegeta, leaning heavily on his knees, smirked despite his battered condition.
"Heh… you're a fool, Dodoria. Don't underestimate him. I don't know how he killed that soldier, but he did. And I'd rather fight beside a fool with power than die alone."
The Z Fighters stared in shock as Vegeta forced himself upright, his pride refusing to let him collapse.
Krillin muttered under his breath, "Vegeta… fighting with us? That's a first."
Gohan's eyes widened. "Mr. Vegeta… really wants to help?"
Piccolo snorted. "Don't be naïve, kid. He just doesn't want to die at Dodoria's hands. But if Rudra earned even his respect…" He clenched his fists. "…then maybe there's more to him than we thought."
---
Dodoria's laughter faded, replaced by a glare sharp enough to pierce stone.
"Fine then. If you want to die first, Earthling… so be it!"
He lunged forward, the ground cracking under his weight. His fist, massive as a boulder, swung toward Rudra's face with bone-crushing force.
The Z Fighters screamed in unison.
"RUDRA, LOOK OUT!"
But Rudra didn't move. At the last second, his shadow surged upward, like black chains, wrapping around Dodoria's arms.
Dodoria's punch slowed mid-air, his balance twisting unnaturally as if invisible strings pulled at his limbs. His eyes bulged in shock.
"Wh—what?! My body… it won't obey me?!"
Rudra whispered coldly, "Chaaya Bandhan… Shadow Bind."
Dodoria stumbled, his own strength turning against him, and crashed into the dirt face-first, sending dust flying.
---
Krillin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "No way… he just… tripped Dodoria like he was nothing!"
Piccolo clenched his jaw. "No. That wasn't tripping. He controlled him… manipulated his motion completely. That's not Ki—it's something else entirely."
Goku grinned weakly. "Heh… amazing… Rudra…"
------
Dodoria roared, his body trembling with rage as he forced himself back up.
"You… little… insect! You think you can HUMILIATE me?!" His aura erupted violently, shaking the battlefield, flames of Ki crackling around his enormous frame.
He charged again, faster this time, aiming a devastating kick at Rudra's chest. But just before contact, his leg twisted awkwardly—his balance once again stolen by Rudra's shadows.
Vegeta smirked. "Tch. Heh. This might actually be entertaining."
---
Vegeta suddenly powered up, despite his wounds, and launched a volley of Ki blasts at the unbalanced Dodoria.
The explosions slammed into Dodoria's chest, forcing him back a step, smoke rising from his armor.
Dodoria snarled. "VEGETA! You traitorous worm, I'll rip you apart first!"
But Rudra stepped in front of Vegeta, his shadow extending like a shield.
"Your fight is with me."
Vegeta smirked at Rudra. "Hmph. You're reckless. But maybe… you're the only reckless fool who can drag him down long enough for me to finish him."
The battlefield trembled as Dodoria roared, Rudra's shadows writhed like serpents, and Vegeta clenched his fists beside him.
For the first time, Vegeta and Rudra stood side by side.
The real fight was about to begin.