Behind the door, a beautiful voice could be heard humming a song. The sound grew closer until the door slowly opened.
The palm-haired man was surprised to see a beautiful young woman enter. She had short black hair, wore casual clothes, and carried a large bag of food in one hand and a male combat suit in the other.
He watched as she placed the food in the kitchen, then turned and noticed him. Acting shy, she tossed him the combat suit. He looked at her with gratitude and put it on, while her face turned completely red. She tried not to scream at the sight of a man changing in front of her, and timidly asked what had happened—why he was injured and nearly naked. He answered simply: he had been training.
Later, Raditz apologized to his mother for worrying her and went to his room. Lying on his bed, he thought to himself: —"Ufff, I'm exhausted… but at this rate, I'll be very strong." he whispered happily.
An alarm rang, displaying the numbers: 7:00.
We see Raditz rubbing his face to shake off sleep. —"Ufff… so… sleepy," he complained, still tired but awake.
—"Raditz! Get up, dear! You'll be late for your first mission at the Mission Center!" Gine called from the kitchen.
—"I'm awake, Ma!" Raditz shouted enthusiastically.
—"Come down, son, or you'll be late," Gine replied more calmly.
The black-haired boy hurried to dress in his combat armor, a shiny suit that looked like it was made of rubber.
He rushed to the kitchen, ate as quickly as he could, and greeted his beautiful mother, who sat wearing a long dress.
—"My son is already becoming a man," Gine exclaimed proudly, tears forming in her eyes.
—"Son, I'm seven months pregnant. As you know, missions usually take two to four months—time for the ship to travel, complete the mission, and return. So when you come back, your brother Kakarot will already be here, and you'll finally meet him. Take care, alright?" she said lovingly.
Raditz looked at his mother in astonishment. —"I can't believe I'm going to be a big brother… Wait… if I'm Raditz, then my brother is the strongest shonen character, Goku. Or… for now, Kakarot?" he thought nervously, yet intrigued.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice his mother's worried gaze—she loved him dearly but knew he was distractible and a bit foolish. After finishing his meal, he said goodbye and left the house.
Outside, small clay houses with round windows lined the streets—homes of the lower classes. In the distance, larger, more refined buildings marked the residences of mid- and high-ranking soldiers.
—"Today's my first day on a team. I hope my companions don't disappoint me… I'd better hurry so I'm not late. That way I'll surely get a team with strong members," Raditz said, puffing himself up as if he were the most powerful being in the universe.
On the way, he reflected on his life since arriving in the Dragon Ball world. —"Well, my name is Raditz now. I'm seven years old, the strongest in my city. My true power is 700 units, but to others I only show 195. Today is my first mission as a warrior… ha, ha." (Note: Here Raditz is strong because he trained.)
He headed toward the high-class district, to a place called the Mission Center.
Thirty minutes later, he arrived. The base was a large sky-blue building, decorated with golden lines across its structure.
Inside, Raditz went to the reception desk and announced it was his first mission. The receptionist—an alien with six arms and a squid-like face—handed him a card and said in a bored, robotic voice: —"Proceed to corridor T09."
Raditz obeyed and walked toward T09. —"Wow, this corridor is bigger than my house! Hmph… I shouldn't be surprised; this is a high-class facility," he thought, both amazed and slightly annoyed.
Before entering, two men blocked his path. They wore dark brown armor, marking them as mid-class elite warriors.
—"Strange…" Raditz muttered, deciding to walk around them. But one stepped directly in front of him.
—"Hehehe, what do we have here… a child? Hey kid, I think you're in the wrong room," said the arrogant man—large, bald, muscular, strong but seemingly brainless.
The other simply stared at Raditz like a fish out of water, his malicious gaze making Raditz nervous.
—"Low-class child, this isn't a place for people like you," said the second man, with wild hair and defined muscles.
—"Did he just call me weak? Better ignore them," Raditz thought irritably, continuing toward T09. But the brute kept talking.
—"Kid, get out of here," the bald one ordered. —"Hey… hey! Kid! Are you deaf?" the other shouted.
Raditz frowned and snapped back angrily: —"Don't bother me, musclehead."
The protein-packed brute glared furiously, his face twisting. —"HEY KID, DIDN'T THEY TEACH YOU TO RESPECT YOUR ELDERS?" he roared.
He grabbed Raditz by the neck and lifted him. Raditz knew this was bad. He struggled, but his efforts were useless. The bald bully grinned with superiority. Raditz wanted to hit him, but his arms couldn't reach.
Meanwhile, the other laughed: —"Ha, ha, ha! Now that brat will learn."
The bald brute squeezed harder, Raditz's vision blurring. Suddenly, he saw Roi's face instead of the bald man's.
—"What's he doing here? That damned idiot… WHAT IS HE DOING HERE?!" Raditz thought, furious.
He was about to unleash his true power—a dangerous move, since King Vegeta would never allow a low-class child to rival elite warriors. But abruptly, the loudspeakers blared:
—"All first-, second-, and third-level warriors report to the upper cabin for missions immediately! Repeat: all first-, second-, and third-level warriors to the upper cabin now!"
The bald brute slowly loosened his grip. Raditz realized it wasn't Roi and came back to his senses.
—"Puff… you got lucky, kid. But if I see you again…" the bald man threatened arrogantly.
He released Raditz and left. The loudspeakers spoke again: —"All first-time mission recruits, proceed to room T09 and wait for the team leader."
Raditz calmed himself, took deep breaths, stood quickly, and brushed off his battle suit. Still shaken and annoyed, he headed to T09.
—"I swear I've seen that face before… but where?" he thought.
Opening the door, he found a spacious room filled with many boys his age and older. —"Wow, so many people," Raditz said, forgetting his irritation. The room buzzed with chatter, almost deafening.
Then he recalled something Bardock had told him months earlier…
Flashback
We see a tall man standing before Raditz. He wears green battle armor, brown boots, a red cloth tied at his waist. Muscular, palm-shaped hair, and an X-shaped scar on his left cheek. Bardock's face is stern as he begins to lecture Raditz.
—"Remember, Raditz, the most important thing is to become a squad captain. To do that, you must show your strength, make a good impression, and prove you have what it takes to lead." Bardock spoke firmly, his voice deep, masculine, and militarized.
[End Flashback]
"I need to make a good impression, show my strength, prove I have leadership qualities… Leadership qualities? Well, that sounds easy. I'll figure it out as I go." Raditz thought excitedly.
—"Ahh… I really want to become a squad captain like Bardock. Besides, I won't be able to once Planet Vegeta is destroyed. It's now or never!" he said happily, imagining himself proudly leading a squad.
Lost in his daydream, Raditz bumped into someone. The boy turned with a scowl and snapped: —"What's wrong with you? Can't you watch where you're going, insect?"
The one who scolded him was a spiky-haired boy, smaller than Raditz, about four or five years old. He wore blue armor, marking him as an elite. "Wait… four or five?!" Raditz thought, stunned. Looking closer, he realized who it was—and froze in shock.
"No way… that's little Vegeta? The son of King Vegeta? The second strongest in Dragon Ball? No, no, no! This can't be. Isn't Prince Vegeta supposed to be only four years old? And missions are usually assigned to Saiyans at seven, eight, or nine…" he muttered incoherently, confusing those around him.
[Author's Note]
Saiyans have special bodies built for combat, growing stronger each year. Between ages seven and nine, their power typically reaches 160–250 units. Before that, their average ranges from 50 for the weakest to 85 for the strongest. At seven, their power begins to multiply—sometimes tripling or even quadrupling. Of course, anomalies like Broly and Vegeta are born far above these levels.
Saiyans are divided into three classes based on their birth power units:
Low Class: 01–56 units. Slow growth. Before age seven, they range from 01–57 units.
Mid Class: 56–79 units. Normal growth. Before age seven, they range from 64–85 units.
High Class: 80–100 units. Unique warriors, considered prodigies. Only royal families have been seen producing children at this level, and even then, it's rare. Before age seven, they range from 94–120 units.
[End Note]
"Wait… that means I don't have much time to escape the planet and save some of my race." Raditz thought, worried. He looked at Vegeta. "He must already have around 180 units of power… or worse, 250. Truly a unique prodigy." Amazed, he stood frozen in thought. Vegeta glanced at him with mild disinterest, frowned, and walked past into the crowd.
"I knew he was high-class, but this… this is too much!" Raditz thought, alarmed.
His expression shifted, turning depressive. —"I had to work hard for my power…" he whispered, tears in his eyes.
Moments later, a man entered room T09. Tall, with a normal build, wearing a high-class blue uniform, his stern gaze commanded attention.
—"ATTENTION!" he shouted with authority. The room fell silent—so quiet that a pin drop would echo.
—"I am Xion, Third Vice Admiral, head of the A.E. (Team Groupings). We have reviewed your records—your skills, powers, and abilities—to assign you to the teams that best suit you. The available teams are Alpha, Beta, Assassin, Defenders, Explorers, and TB. Step forward when I call your name."
He began listing names one by one… until only Raditz remained.
"I can't believe it… What happened? Did they leave me out because I don't fit any team? Or did King Vegeta discover me?" Raditz wondered nervously.
—"Now you… proceed to room T08 and meet your team," Xion ordered before leaving.
—"Yes, sir!" Raditz replied, confused but excited. "I can't believe it—my adventure is finally beginning!"
Room T08
The room resembled the previous one, though only two people stood against the far wall. Raditz approached to greet them, but was shocked by what he saw.
—"Is that Vegeta again? And… YOU!" he exclaimed, first surprised, then annoyed. —"What are you doing here?"
Standing before him was the same bald, foul-smelling brute. Raditz scowled as the man approached.
—"Heh, heh, heh… so it's that low-class little rat. What are you doing here?" the brute mocked. "This guy's name is Nappa. I'm mid-high class, so you should bow, boy."
The atmosphere was tense. Raditz glared at Nappa with irritation. Nappa looked at Raditz as if he were an insect. Vegeta simply stood by, watching.
"I can't stand the idea of that bald brute being on my team," Raditz thought, annoyed by the situation.
—"Hmp…" Vegeta muttered, sounding bored.
—"What's wrong, brat? Scared?" Nappa mocked, before unleashing a stream of insults. —"You're a worm, you're trash. You're only good as cannon fodder, only fit to be a slave. You're a pest, useful only as a helper, an extra. Stop thinking that will ever change, brat."
Raditz clenched his fists in anger, his face turning red, veins bulging. His fury grew so intense that he began to hallucinate—seeing Roi once again.
—"HAAAAA! Get ready!" Raditz shouted, consumed by rage.
—"Who do you think you are, kid?!" Nappa roared back.
Power Levels
Raditz (normal): 170
Nappa (normal): 320
Vegeta (normal): 170
Raditz (rage): 750
Nappa (slightly serious): 500
The fight began. Raditz charged at Nappa with incredible speed. Using all his power, he gained the advantage and landed a punch squarely on Nappa's face. He pulled back, then lunged again with a kick aimed at Nappa's ribs. But Nappa reacted in time, retreating from the strike. In response, he swung a heavy punch toward Raditz's face. The fist closed in, but Raditz spun away, retreating three meters.
The brute's expression shifted strangely, then hardened into anger. He charged at Raditz at full speed.
Raditz's senses were heightened to the maximum. His body knew that a single direct hit could end the fight, but he was lost in instinct, acting without thought. Even so, he dodged every strike from the bald giant. Drawing on his battle experience with Bardock, he used his legs to evade the attack.
This time, Nappa refused to let Raditz escape. With one hand, he hurled an energy sphere straight at Raditz's chest.
The attack was too fast—but by instinct and sheer luck, Raditz managed to form a ki sphere at the last second to block it.
The explosion sent him flying nearly four meters. His small body was left with serious injuries, especially across his face and right arm.
—"Ouch… that hurt!" Raditz cried, groaning as he forced himself up, glaring at Nappa with fury. —"You're a damned Roi! This time it won't be the same!"
Nappa froze, confused by Raditz's words.
—"What are you talking about? Who's Roi?" Nappa demanded angrily. —"Who is this Roi? Answer me!"
But Raditz ignored him and attacked again.
The battle resumed. Raditz unleashed concentrated ki blasts. Nappa dodged most, though two struck—one in the chest, another across his face.
Fueled by rage, Raditz charged again, gathering dense, powerful energy. As he closed in, he pressed his hands together, palms open, aiming directly at the brute.
[Flashback] Twelve months earlier, in a barren wasteland…