East City.
Two spherical spaceships crashed down with a deafening roar.
The ground trembled violently.
At the point of impact, two towering buildings disintegrated into dust on the spot. The shockwave swept outward, leveling everything nearby.
In the center of the massive crater, the two Saiyan pods lay motionless. Their hatches opened with a slow metallic click.
The first to emerge was a bald, burly man.
Nappa.
"Prince Vegeta, the air here isn't bad at all."
Another figure stepped out behind him—shorter, but far more terrifying.
Saiyan Prince Vegeta.
Arms crossed, eyes cold and arrogant, Vegeta scanned the environment.
"Hmph. Trash with single-digit power levels everywhere. Even their breathing disgusts me."
His scouter beeped rapidly as several distant but notable energy signatures appeared on its screen.
"Found them. Kakarot's friends. The strongest one has just over two thousand in power level."
Nappa grinned, baring his white teeth.
"What pathetic insects."
He chuckled, "Prince Vegeta, before we go find Kakarot, why don't we greet this planet's residents?"
A cruel smirk curled on Vegeta's lips.
Nappa slowly raised his right hand, index and middle fingers pointed toward a distant city skyline that had not yet suffered any damage.
"Consider it a greeting gift."
A destructive energy orb condensed on his fingertips—then shot forward.
The distant city evaporated silently.
A massive, perfectly smooth crater replaced what had once been a bustling metropolis.
Nappa looked on proudly, laughing.
"Cleanup complete."
"Bastards!"
Krillin's fists trembled, his face pale with rage and fear.
"They… they actually… That was a whole city!"
"They're here," Piccolo warned.
Two enormous, malevolent ki signatures were racing toward them at incredible speed.
Moments later, Vegeta and Nappa descended from the sky, landing in front of the Z Fighters.
"Which one of you is Kakarot?" Vegeta's gaze swept across them, stopping on Gohan. "Hmph? This brat still has his tail. A Saiyan?"
"He's Son Goku's son," Piccolo said coldly, shielding Gohan behind him.
"Oh?" Nappa sneered.
"Perfect. Let's start with him. Maybe that trash Kakarot will come running."
"Not yet, Nappa," Vegeta raised a hand.
"No need to dirty our hands with these nobodies."
He took out several seeds from a small box and scattered them on the ground.
The soil writhed.
Several pale green, hideous creatures crawled out—Saibamen.
"Each one has a power level comparable to that trash Raditz," Vegeta mocked.
"Have fun with them."
The Z Fighters' hearts sank instantly.
Six Raditz-level enemies—at once.
The battle erupted immediately.
Tien Shinhan launched first, instantly destroying a Saibaman with a clean strike. Tension eased slightly.
It seemed these green creatures could be beaten.
Seeing that, Yamcha regained confidence.
"Looks like these guys aren't so tough after all!"
He charged forward and unleashed a flawless Wolf Fang Fist, knocking a Saibaman down.
"Did you see that? That's what a year of training looks like!"
He turned proudly to pose—
—but the moment his guard dropped, the fallen Saibaman suddenly launched upward and clamped onto him.
"Oh no!" Krillin shouted.
The smile froze on Yamcha's face.
He struggled, but the Saibaman held tight.
BOOM!
A violent explosion erupted.
When the smoke cleared, only a blackened crater remained—Yamcha's body lying lifeless inside.
"YAMCHA!!!" Krillin screamed.
But it was too late.
From afar, Loren watched everything unfold and shook his head.
"Seriously? Casualties already?"
"This guy Yamcha… classic 'cool for three seconds then get killed.' Why the hell did he have to pose before confirming the kill?"
Loren sighed in frustration.
The battle worsened rapidly.
Angry Krillin and Piccolo wiped out the remaining Saibamen—but true despair had only just begun.
Nappa moved.
His massive body blurred, appearing instantly before Tien Shinhan.
Tien Shinhan didn't even react before an overwhelming force hit him.
CRACK.
Nappa tore off his left arm.
"AHHH!!"
Tien Shinhan screamed in agony.
"Tien!" Chiaotzu shouted, eyes bloodshot.
The tiny warrior rushed forward, grabbing onto Nappa's broad back.
"Goodbye… Tien!"
"CHIAOTZU! NO!!!"
BOOOOM!!!
A massive explosion engulfed the battlefield.
But when the smoke faded—
Nappa still stood, barely scratched. Only the back of his armor was damaged.
He brushed the dust off impatiently.
"Damn little insect. Dirtied my armor."
Chiaotzu's sacrifice had been meaningless.
Tien Shinhan broke completely.
He gathered the last of his life force and roared:
"TRI-BEAM!!!"
A gigantic blast swallowed Nappa whole.
Tien Shinhan collapsed—lifeless.
But from inside the fading smoke, Nappa emerged completely unharmed.
"Nice fireworks."
He stared at Tien Shinhan's fallen body without a hint of pity.
"Now… it's your turn."
He focused on the remaining Krillin, Piccolo, and trembling Gohan.
Just as he lunged—
Vegeta's scouter beeped sharply.
He frowned.
"Hm?"
A rapidly rising power level was approaching at insane speed.
"It's Kakarot."
Vegeta smirked at the terrified Z Fighters.
"Nappa, stop for now." He raised his voice.
"Listen well, you nobodies."
"I want to personally crush that inferior low-class warrior in front of his friends."
"I'll be merciful and wait three hours!"
"Enjoy what's left of your pathetic lives."
Vegeta sat down on a tall rock, closing his eyes to rest.
Nappa, though annoyed, obeyed and sat down as well—still glaring at Krillin and Gohan.
Time passed. The sun fell toward the western horizon.
Three hours.
Gone.
Vegeta opened his eyes, glancing at the sunset.
"Time's up."
"Seems your Son Goku isn't coming."
"Nappa."
His cold voice echoed.
"Stop playing. Finish them."
Nappa stood up, cracking his thick neck.
"I've been waiting for this!"
He vanished—reappearing in front of Gohan, hand swinging down like a guillotine.
"Brat, DIE!"
"GOHAN!!!"
Krillin shouted desperately, unable to reach him in time.
At the last instant—
A green figure jumped in front of Gohan.
Piccolo.