"This planet is unexpectedly desolate… But according to the information Sephiria gave me, Planet Mapa is supposed to be a technologically advanced world."
Raiga had specifically requested a tech-based planet from Sephiria.
For someone who valued rationality and pragmatism, knowing beforehand that the spacecraft and communication devices provided by Planet Vegeta were under Frieza's surveillance meant he had to minimize their use as much as possible and seek alternative options.
Who knew if, after Planet Vegeta's destruction, Frieza's forces would track down and eliminate Saiyans who were still alive and hadn't returned?
People always seek to avoid harm, and Raiga was no exception.
That's why obtaining a separate set of spacecraft and energy detectors was crucial—it would significantly reduce his risk of exposure.
Raiga scanned his surroundings. Ahead, a stone forest surrounded by towering mountains stretched into the distance. Flying to a raised rock ledge, he activated his energy detector.
Immediately, multiple energy signals appeared on the monocle display.
426, 289, 241, 358…
A series of fluctuating numbers flashed before his eyes, but none exceeded a combat power of 500.
Raiga let out a breath of relief.
On this planet, his combat power was considered upper-mid-tier—strong enough that he wouldn't face any real danger. With that reassurance, his expression relaxed.
As for the mission assigned to him by Planet Vegeta? He had no intention of carrying it out.
"Right, I should contact Sephiria."
Using his energy detector, Raiga quickly connected with Sephiria and reported his situation on Planet Mapa. She responded indifferently, merely telling him to be careful. She had her own mission to attend to.
"Sephiria's mission is probably more advanced than mine."
Raiga shut off the communicator, though he wasn't worried about her safety. As an elite warrior, she was under the watchful eyes of the higher-ups. Her missions were usually team-based, making them far less dangerous than the ones assigned to lower and mid-tier Saiyans.
The sun's intense heat pierced through the planet's thin atmosphere, scorching Raiga's skin with a burning sensation. He took a deep breath, only to choke on the stiflingly hot air, causing him to cough briefly. But Saiyans were naturally resilient—within moments, his body adjusted to the high temperatures.
Planet Mapa was classified as a low-tier world, roughly one-eighth the size of Planet Vegeta. Its gravity was only 0.2 times that of Planet Vegeta—about twice Earth's gravity.
With such low gravity, Raiga felt as light as a feather, his entire body brimming with power.
Now that he had adapted to Planet Mapa's environment, he began planning his next steps.
Completing the assigned mission was out of the question.
Nor did he intend to continue using the spacecraft and energy detector from Planet Vegeta—these devices were under Frieza's surveillance. If he wanted to escape Frieza's watchful eye, he had to abandon them.
"First, I need to figure out the power distribution on this planet. Then… I have to find a way to get a new spaceship and energy detector. But before that, I need to focus on increasing my strength."
In the universe, everything else was secondary—only strength was absolute.
The Dragon Ball world was a place where the strong ruled over the weak. Even if Raiga wasn't particularly ambitious, he knew that for the sake of his survival, he had to push himself to become stronger.
So his first step was to use this time to enhance his power.
His second step was to obtain a brand-new set of equipment.
How he acquired it didn't matter—whether through theft, coercion, or any other means, it was necessary.
Raiga wasn't someone who killed indiscriminately, but he wasn't a saint either. If necessary, he had no qualms about taking lives to ensure his own survival.
Having laid out a rough plan, he let go of any lingering concerns and reopened his energy detector, selecting an area with relatively low power readings.
First, he needed to find a place with an ample supply of food and water.
Whoosh!
Flying low over an open grassland, Raiga's swift movement sent powerful gusts of wind sweeping across the plains. The intense wind pressure bent the grass and scattered the few shrubs below, sending herds of herbivorous creatures fleeing while scaring off lurking predators.
After about half an hour of flight, he finally discovered a quiet valley nestled between several mountains.
The area was tranquil, not far from a clearwater pool fed by a gently flowing stream. Enclosed by towering peaks, the valley formed a natural fan-shaped enclosure, lush with green vegetation. The soothing sound of trickling water filled the air.
"This place is decent. I can settle here for now."
Raiga scanned the peaceful scenery, satisfied.
At this stage, he was still focused on survival, so his standards weren't high. In reality, any Saiyan with decent combat power wouldn't struggle to survive.
Summoning his energy, Raiga formed a glowing blue energy sphere in his palm. With a smirk, he casually hurled it into a dense thicket nearby.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion shattered the silence of the valley, sending a thick plume of smoke into the sky. The once-dense thicket was instantly reduced to an open clearing.
Once the dust settled, Raiga used nearby logs to build a simple shelter on the cleared ground, layering dry grass underneath for bedding.
It wasn't much, but it was a temporary home.
At that moment, his stomach let out a loud growl.
Raiga rubbed his stomach, suddenly realizing just how long it had been since he'd eaten.
"Heh, guess it's time to find some food. This planet has abundant resources—I bet there are plenty of tasty creatures here."
With shelter secured, the next priority was a good meal.
A grin spread across Raiga's face as he recalled the wild game he had enjoyed in his past life. His mouth watered at the thought.
For Saiyans, besides the thrill of battle, food was their greatest pleasure.
Lacking the ability to sense ki like Earthlings, Raiga relied on his energy detector to locate prey.
After a few beep-beep sounds from the device, he picked up a 120-power level energy source about 15 kilometers east.
Not too weak, not too strong.
A perfect meal.
Setting his sights on the target, Raiga shot off at high speed, disappearing into the distance.
A few minutes later, at a waterhole in the wilderness…
Raiga spotted his target—a massive, 20-meter-long lion.
"This thing's huge. I'll be eating well tonight."
He chuckled. A beast with 120 combat power was no threat to him.
"ROAR!"
The giant lion crouched at the water's edge, its piercing golden eyes locking onto Raiga. As soon as it sensed his presence, it let out a deafening roar, its deep, guttural voice shaking the landscape.
The sound was so terrifying that nearby animals scattered in fear, birds taking to the sky in panic.
But Raiga remained unfazed.
With an amused smirk, he cracked his knuckles.
"Alright then… Let's see what you've got."
This should read smoothly for a Western audience while staying true to the original! Let me know if you want any refinements.