Chapter 16: Raditz's Battle
Raditz looked nothing like he had upon arrival. His battle armor showed extensive damage, exposing muscle beneath. Bruises covered his face, blood trickling from his mouth. The fight had clearly taken its toll.
Raditz's foundation was simply too poor. He completely lacked a Saiyan's proper fighting spirit. Getting this injured just clearing out weaklings inferior to him—it displeased Turles greatly.
"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Turles continued watching the upcoming battle.
Actually, Raditz was feeling pretty defeated right now. His natural cowardice was kicking in. After taking damage in the previous skirmishes, facing an opponent stronger than himself made him want to quit. If not for Turles's cold eyes boring into his back, he'd have abandoned the fight already.
Even now, he didn't understand why Turles insisted on bringing him along and training him constantly. In terms of battle power, Vegeta was far stronger. Raditz knew his own limitations. But faced with Turles's overwhelming strength, he didn't dare rebel.
Still, with no escape route available, the combat instinct buried in his Saiyan blood finally ignited. His eyes turned fierce, locking onto the pirate captain opposite him.
Though uncertain what had changed in Raditz, his expression shift didn't escape the pirate captain's notice. Remembering the two other Saiyans watching from the sidelines, the captain decided to stop holding back.
"HAH!" With a battle cry, the pirate captain attacked. He fired an energy blast first, then shot forward behind it, charging Raditz at high speed.
This technique had fooled many stronger opponents. Wary of the Saiyans' reputation, he'd deployed it immediately. Imagining killing a Saiyan sent excitement coursing through him, a vicious grin spreading across his face.
Raditz didn't try blocking the energy blast head-on. He dodged sideways just before impact—only to find the pirate captain had been following directly behind the attack. His body was completely exposed. Seeing the captain's cruel smile, Raditz couldn't react in time. He could only raise both arms, attempting to block the incoming strike.
But Raditz miscalculated. The pirate captain wasn't targeting his upper body. The attack slammed into Raditz's abdomen. Full-force impact sent him flying backward violently.
Blood sprayed from Raditz's mouth as the gut shot drove him back uncontrollably. The tremendous force carried him through several small mountains before he finally stopped, collapsing weakly among the rubble.
Watching Raditz's pathetic performance, Turles shook his head wordlessly. He wondered what Bardock would think knowing his eldest son was this useless.
Seeing the pirate captain move to finish Raditz off, Turles finally intervened.
In a single eyeblink, he appeared above Raditz like a teleport. Raising one hand casually, he effortlessly caught the pirate captain's killing blow.
Seeing his strongest attack blocked so easily, the captain's expression froze. Fear crept into his eyes.
For current Turles, opponents under 10,000 battle power couldn't even stir his fighting spirit. He wasn't like Goku, who possessed that pure love of combat—finding joy in every battle regardless of opponent strength.
"Don't kill me! Please!" The pirate captain began begging.
It meant nothing to Turles. He raised his right hand, gathering tremendous energy in his palm. A bright sphere of light gradually formed.
Seeing mercy wouldn't work, the captain's eyes turned vicious. He immediately released his full aura. His form began changing.
The pirate captain possessed the rare ability to transform. Turles dispersed the energy blast in his hand, watching with interest as the captain's power signature steadily climbed.
1,500!
2,000!
2,500!
3,000!
3,500!
The energy intensity finally stopped at 4,500. Triple his base power—not bad.
But the captain's transformed appearance was hideous. Like an oversized frog with tumor-covered skin. Absolutely disgusting.
Turles wrinkled his nose in distaste. Thinking about Super Saiyan transformations—not only did they make you look cooler and more intimidating, the power multiplier was a ridiculous fifty times. Not to mention Super Saiyan 2 and 3.
Having completely lost interest, Turles raised his right palm again. Energy gathered rapidly. A basketball-sized sphere quickly formed, which he launched at the charging enemy.
The sphere seemed to move slowly but was actually incredibly fast. Before the captain could react, it appeared directly in front of him, then began expanding violently.
"NOOOO!" Accompanied by a final scream, a mushroom cloud rose. The terrifying explosion echoed in all directions.
When the smoke cleared, a circular crater a hundred meters in diameter marked the ground. The pirate captain's body had been vaporized completely, leaving no trace.
If he were still an ordinary person from his previous life, Turles could never have killed so casually. But his inherited memories had changed him. Though not completely cold-hearted, he possessed a decisive, ruthless side.
Besides, these space pirates all had blood on their hands. Turles felt zero guilt.
Having disposed of this enemy—who barely qualified as such—Turles turned around. He looked at Raditz lying half-dead beneath the rubble, eyes inscrutable.
Raditz stared back weakly, fear of Turles and desire for survival both evident in his gaze. He was terrified Turles would abandon him. As a Saiyan, he understood their nature too well. Once considered a burden, Saiyans would abandon anyone—even their own comrades.
"Turles, please! Save me! Please don't leave me behind!" Raditz couldn't help begging.
"Raditz, this is the first and last time. If there's a next time, I'll kill you myself without hesitation!" After delivering that warning, Turles had Broly carry Raditz back to the ship, then flew over to Jaco and Tights.
Turles's cold performance thoroughly showed Tights the ruthless side of Saiyans. She didn't dare act frivolously anymore, standing obediently behind Jaco—though his legs were shaking worse than hers.
"Jaco, you can fly, right?" Seeing their reactions, Turles didn't care. He just asked casually.
"Y-yes!" Jaco stammered.
"Good. Follow me." Without waiting for Tights's startled cry, he grabbed her belt and lifted her, flying toward the ship.
Landing before the vessel, Turles set Tights down and strode aboard without a backward glance.
After touching down, Tights straightened her clothes while muttering complaints: "Not very gentlemanly. That's no way to treat a lady. You'll never get a girlfriend like that!"
Hearing that, Turles paused mid-step. He continued walking while saying in a voice perfectly audible to Tights: "I don't like women older than me anyway."
That comment infuriated Tights completely. She clawed at the air toward Turles's retreating back, wanting to drag him down for a beating.
Suddenly, Turles stopped and turned around. Tights froze mid-gesture, seeing the smile on his face. Her cheeks turned bright red. She finally let out a shriek, covering her face and crouching down.
"Hahaha!" Seeing this cute side of the universe-traveling lady, Turles's mood soared. He laughed heartily.
Only after the adventurous young woman was too embarrassed to show her face did Turles stop laughing and arrange matters: "Someone will assign you a room shortly. You can wash up. The clothes will have to do for now—we'll buy more at the next planet."
With that, Turles turned and left.
Hearing his footsteps fade, Tights finally stood up. Watching his disappearing silhouette, the redness gradually left her face. The corner of her mouth curved upward.
"Interesting," she whispered.
Medical Bay.
Turles looked at Raditz soaking in the healing tank. "How long does he need?"
A Kaburu standing behind him immediately answered: "Sir, Lord Raditz's injuries are mainly external. No major internal organ damage. He'll be fully recovered in one day."
"Good." Turles nodded, continuing to observe the unconscious Raditz.
This performance had been deeply disappointing. Raditz had been critically injured without even forcing out the enemy's transformation. Worse than an average low-class Saiyan warrior. Those who participated in planetary invasions usually measured at least 1,000 battle power. Yet Raditz had been classified at birth as having elite warrior potential. The results were pathetic.
If that's how it was, harsh measures were necessary.
"You're called Kala, right?" Turles tried recalling the Kaburu's name.
"Uh, sir! I'm actually Kassi. Kala handles ship maintenance." The Kaburu seemed nervous.
Turles felt slightly embarrassed. Not his fault—these Kaburu all looked identical.
"Right. Kassi, when Raditz wakes up, send him directly to find me in the training room. And don't give him his scouter yet!"
"Yes, sir!"
Nodding, Turles left the medical bay.
Walking through the ship's corridor, he began planning Raditz's training regimen. Before reaching any conclusions, Paragus intercepted him mid-route.
"What is it, Paragus?" Seeing the old Saiyan's excited expression, Turles felt confused.
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