Launch looked back at the trembling villagers.
"Uncle, auntie… is he telling the truth?"
The villagers nodded frantically. No one dared lie.
"Good. As long as you haven't killed anyone or done something truly unforgivable, my dad won't go after you," Launch said with a satisfied nod.
He turned to leave.
But before he could rise into the air—
"Wait! Launch!" Raditz called out.
Raditz couldn't let him go like this. He needed to know just how strong this kid had really become.
Launch turned, curious.
"What is it, Uncle Raditz?"
Raditz stood tall, looking down at the small child.
"I haven't been slacking off. I've trained hard these last few months."
Launch studied him calmly.
"Yeah. Your power's grown a lot. Feels like at least… seventy times stronger than before."
Raditz froze.
"H–how do you know that?! Without a scouter?!"
"I can sense it," Launch replied simply. "You used to be around 1,500. Now you're roughly 102,000."
Raditz felt his heart skip.
He read my power that precisely?!
If Launch already knew that and still looked completely relaxed…
Then maybe his supposed 15 million wasn't a bluff.
Raditz's confidence wavered.
The Challenge
Launch tilted his head.
"You want to spar, right?"
Raditz swallowed.
"F-fine! Let's do it!"
Launch folded his arms and stood still.
"Hit me. Full strength."
Raditz stared at him in disbelief.
"You're serious?"
"Yup. Hit me with everything you've got."
Raditz gritted his teeth.
Fine! Don't regret this!
He launched forward, aura flaring. His fist, wrapped in gold-tinged energy, slammed straight into Launch's forehead.
THUD!
Dust flew. The villagers shut their eyes, fearing the worst.
But…
Nothing happened.
Launch didn't move. Not even an inch.
Raditz's pupils shrank.
"That… was 50,000 power…"
Launch smiled.
"Felt like a massage. You can hit harder."
Raditz staggered back in disbelief.
Launch's Turn
"You punched me. Fair's fair. My turn."
Raditz felt dread crawl up his spine.
He gathered all his energy—over 100,000—and braced himself.
Launch stepped forward and gently punched his chest.
BOOM!
Raditz was blasted backward like a meteor, tearing through houses, trees, and rock formations before finally crashing miles away.
He lay broken, barely breathing.
But then—
Wait! This might be good!
He fumbled for a bean.
A Senzu Bean.
He swallowed it.
Warmth surged through him. Bones snapped back into place. Wounds vanished. He jumped up, fully healed.
He checked his power.
…Still 102,000.
Raditz clenched his fists in despair.
"Damn it! Is this my limit?!"
Launch Returns
Launch landed nearby.
"Wow, you're tough! You're already back on your feet!"
Raditz froze.
Launch scratched his head.
"Did I hit too soft? Maybe I should try again… harder this time!"
He lifted his small fist again.
Raditz panicked.
"Wait! Wait! I didn't recover on my own! I used a Senzu Bean!"
Launch paused.
"…Oh."
He lowered his fist, a little disappointed.
"Then that doesn't count. I thought you were just naturally tough."
Raditz let out a long, shaky breath, silently thanking every god he didn't believe in.
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