Dust still hung heavy in the air, curling around the battlefield like smoke after a storm. The ground was scarred with craters and broken stone, silent witnesses to the destruction that had unfolded.
Goku staggered, clutching his ribs.
"Huh… that hurts!" he muttered, his voice strained but still carrying a spark of determination.
Exhausted, he dropped onto the ground, sweat rolling down his temples.
A short distance away, Rudra collapsed onto a boulder, leaning back heavily, his chest rising and falling in slow, measured breaths. The fight had taken its toll on him as well.
Vegeta exhaled sharply, finally lowering himself to the ground with a sigh of relief. His pride was intact, but his body screamed for rest. Even the mighty Prince of all Saiyans had limits.
Not far off, Nappa stirred. Consciousness returned to him at last, and with effort, the hulking warrior pushed himself up to a sitting position.
Across the field, Krillin and Piccolo stood barely upright, glaring daggers at Vegeta and Nappa. Their hatred was raw, carved from the fresh memory of their friends who had perished.
Vegeta noticed their furious stares and let out a mocking laugh.
"Ha ha ha… what's this? Do you want to kill me so badly?" he sneered, his tone dripping with arrogance.
But Krillin and Piccolo could barely summon enough strength to stand, let alone fight. Their bodies trembled with fatigue.
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. It was Rudra who finally broke it. His voice was calm but firm.
"Goku… what do you think?"
Goku turned his head slowly, his gaze falling on Vegeta. He hesitated, then spoke in a tone that surprised even himself.
"I don't want to say this… but I think we should let Vegeta go."
"Goku!" Krillin gasped, his eyes widening.
"Are you out of your mind?" Piccolo barked, his sharp voice cutting through the quiet.
Krillin pointed furiously at the Saiyan Prince.
"He's the reason Tien, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha are dead!"
Goku remained silent, his eyes steady, but it was Rudra who interjected.
"We can revive them with the Dragon Balls."
Krillin's expression twisted.
"Only Yamcha and Tien! What about Chiaotzu, huh?"
The words made Rudra's stomach tighten. He already knew the truth—but he feigned ignorance.
"What? Why not Chiaotzu?"
"Because…" Krillin's voice broke slightly, "Chiaotzu was killed once before… by King Piccolo. He can't be brought back again. And now, because of them, he's gone for good!"
Rudra froze. His eyes flicked toward Piccolo, who stepped forward.
"Yes," Piccolo said bluntly. "I am King Piccolo's child. His legacy lives through me."
The revelation didn't shock Rudra; it only made him think deeper. He turned his head back toward Vegeta, his eyes narrowing.
"Vegeta… you mentioned something earlier. About a planet called Namek. Tell me—are there Dragon Balls there as well?"
Vegeta smirked, almost enjoying the attention.
"Yes. Namek is the homeworld of the Dragon Balls. That's why Frieza himself is after them. He wants immortality. But I'll use them before he does. Once I have immortality, I'll destroy him with my own hands!"
Rudra chuckled at the sheer arrogance.
"Really, Vegeta? You and Frieza both think the same way. How amusing."
Nappa frowned, confused.
"What's so funny? What's wrong with that?"
Rudra's eyes sharpened as he leaned forward. His words carried weight, like the tolling of a great bell.
"You fools don't understand the truth. Even if you manage to summon the dragon and make your wish before Frieza… you'll never receive immortality. The dragon will refuse. Immortality lies beyond its power."
The air grew colder. Both Saiyans froze in shock.
"What?!" Vegeta snarled, his pride instantly wounded.
"You expect us to believe that?"
Rudra's lips curled into a confident smile.
"Then test it. Summon Shenron here on Earth. Make your wish. Let's see if he grants it or not."
Vegeta's smirk returned, though this time it was laced with doubt.
"Is that so? Fine then… If I fail, I'll fight alongside you on Namek against Frieza's men. Right, Nappa?"
Nappa pounded his fist into his palm, nodding.
"Whatever you say, Prince!"
Krillin and Piccolo exchanged a look of disbelief.
"Rudra… why are you so sure?" Krillin demanded.
"This is a huge risk! What if you're wrong?"
Piccolo's voice was harsher, filled with distrust.
"And why should I trust you at all?"
Rudra turned his gaze toward the sky, addressing not only his companions but also Kami and King Kai, whose awareness lingered beyond mortal senses.
"Krillin. Piccolo. Goku. And Kami-sama, if you can hear me… know this—I am telling the truth. But let's assume, for the sake of argument, that I am lying. Suppose they really do get immortality… then you must seal Vegeta away immediately."
"Seal me?" Vegeta snapped, his pride insulted.
Rudra ignored his protest, his voice unwavering.
"But until then… we need to recover. And Vegeta, Nappa… listen carefully. If either of you lays a finger on the humans here, I will kill you with my own hands."
"Tch…" Vegeta clicked his tongue but didn't argue further.
Goku smiled faintly, leaning back against the ground.
"Thanks, Rudra. You know… when I fought Vegeta, I realized something. If I had someone like him around—someone strong, someone who could always push me—I'd only grow stronger myself."
Vegeta smirked, a flicker of pride in his eyes.
"That's because you're a Saiyan, Kakarot! Fighting is in our blood."
---
Far above, in the divine realm, Kami stood in silence, listening to Rudra's bold declaration. His face was pale, his staff trembling slightly in his grip.
"Immortality… beyond the dragon's power? Could that be true?" he whispered.
On King Kai's tiny planet, the North Kai was pacing frantically.
"That Rudra kid… he knows too much. He's hiding something. But… if what he says is true, then Frieza's entire plan might collapse before it even begins."
Yet King Kai couldn't shake the unease gnawing at him.
"Still… if he's wrong, and Vegeta succeeds… Earth, the galaxy—no, the universe itself—will be in danger."
---
Krillin clenched his fists, staring at Rudra with narrowed eyes.
"You're asking us to gamble with the lives of everyone on Earth. That's not something I can accept easily!"
Piccolo growled, his aura flickering faintly despite his exhaustion.
"Make no mistake, Rudra. If Vegeta gets even a shred of an advantage, I'll take you down before I let him run free."
Rudra met Piccolo's glare calmly.
"Good. Keep your eyes on me then. I wouldn't want it any other way."
---
The battlefield, though scarred and heavy with loss, had shifted into something unexpected—a fragile truce. Vegeta and Nappa, once executioners, were now allies by circumstance.
But in every glance, in every word exchanged, the tension simmered. At any moment, it could shatter.
And all the while, a shadow loomed on the horizon. The name Frieza lingered like a curse, a storm waiting to descend.
For now, the warriors rested. But their next path was clear—
To Namek.