c001 – I, Raditz, Do Whatever I Want
Ai Ji doesn't know how many years ago, a round universe spacecraft designed by the Saiyans built according to Frieza Force specifications was traveling through the void of space and rapidly approaching Planet Earth, following the exact trajectory used in the original Dragon Ball storyline.
This spherical pod was extremely small, only large enough for an adult Saiyan of average size to sit curled inside. The reinforced alloy plating was identical to the model used by Vegeta and Nappa in the manga.
Maybe it was because the pod was nearing its destination, but the long-haired warrior who had been placed into induced stasis suddenly opened his eyes as the sleep-inducing nutrient fluid finished draining. His scouter flickered to life while his breathing steadied.
He stayed dazed for a moment, then his pupils widened in shock, showing disbelief.
"I… Raditz?"
The long-haired man murmured with a stunned look: "I didn't expect to transmigrate into the Dragon Ball world. Being a Saiyan is decent, but Raditz? Other than being mocked as 'the guy with a battle power of 1,500' and losing to Piccolo's Makankōsappō, he barely left any trace in the manga!"
"However, since I'm now in control of this body, and the original Raditz's combat instincts and power have fully merged with me, changing the storyline is completely possible."
"At this point in the timeline, I should be arriving on Earth soon and meeting my dear younger brother Kakarot Son Goku who was supposed to be living peacefully after the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai."
"So which path should I take from here?"
"Stay a villain and wipe out Earth's humans like a typical Saiyan? Or turn over a new leaf and help protect this planet, unlike how manga-Raditz acted?"
"No! This is just a two-dimensional world. Since I've come here, I'll obviously live however I want!"
"Improve strength, enjoy life, fight as I please! Anyone who stands in my way hero or villain gets wiped out!"
"I, Raditz, do whatever I want!"
…
BOOM!!
Half an hour later, the Saiyan attack pod smashed into a remote farmland area on the outskirts of East City, exactly like in the manga, sending dirt flying everywhere.
Raditz shook off the dizziness, forced open the hatch and stepped out.
"Finally arrived!"
He stretched his limbs, joints cracking loudly.
This body that had slept in deep space for over half a year really felt stiff. The appearance was acceptable, and a height close to two meters was respectable, but the hairline was retreating slightly, and the ridiculously long mane dragging behind him definitely needed trimming.
"And… what kind of twisted aesthetic does Frieza's army have? This battle armor is hideous! These shoulder guards and tight leggings are unnecessary!"
If he had replacement clothing, he would have thrown the armor away immediately. Later, he would find a city and buy something more casual and stylish than this mass-produced armor used by low-class warriors.
Whoosh!
With a powerful leap, Raditz jumped out of the crater created by the landing pod.
Beside the huge pit, a short middle-aged farmer straight out of the manga panel wearing a straw hat and holding a shotgun, stared down trembling, exactly like the man who confronted Goku and Piccolo during the Saiyan arc.
Raditz suddenly jumping out made the man collapse backward in fright.
"H-Hey! W-What are you?!" the farmer shouted, raising his shotgun shakily.
No matter how he looked, this long-haired armored stranger wasn't normal!
Beep!
Raditz's scouter flashed twice, registering the man's fighting strength.
"Combat power… just 5. Trash."
Raditz grinned wickedly and walked toward the farmer step by step.
Dare to question a Saiyan? This human must not know fear!
"D-Don't come any closer!" the farmer yelled, sweat dripping down his face. His trembling hands aimed the shotgun while he shouted, "Another step and I'll shoot!"
"Go on then. Hit me. Aim right here." Raditz tapped his chest with one finger but didn't stop advancing.
This feeling treating humans like insects was disturbingly addictive.
"Aahhhh!!"
BANG!
Unable to withstand the Saiyan's overwhelming pressure, the terrified farmer pulled the trigger and fired directly at Raditz's chest.
At such close range, the bullet would normally hit instantly, but in Raditz's eyes, the projectile crawled forward like a snail.
Snap.
He casually raised two fingers and caught the bullet mid-air.
"Here. Return to sender." Raditz flicked the bullet back.
BOOM!
The bullet flew straight back into the shotgun barrel, exploding the weapon and blasting the farmer off his feet.
"You should thank me," Raditz said, glancing at the half-alive, bloodied farmer. "If I were still the original Raditz, you'd already be dead."
Half-alive was already an act of mercy.
Beep! Beep!
Suddenly, Raditz's scouter lit up again.
"A powerful energy signature ahead, around 4880… Son Goku? No… based on this direction and reading, this should be Piccolo, training alone in the wasteland after losing to Goku at the tournament."
Raditz made a quick assessment and muttered: "In the original manga, I first showed up in front of Piccolo during his training in the wasteland, intimidated him with my battle power of 1,500, then left him behind to go search for Son Goku. Piccolo followed me and eventually teamed up with Goku to bring me down with the Makankōsappō."
"The tail… that's my weakness! If that's the case…"
Raditz uncoiled the furry brown Saiyan tail wrapped around his waist. Gritting his teeth, he drove his palm like a blade and severed the tail right at the base.
"Hiss!" He drew in a sharp breath, then blinked in surprise. "It doesn't hurt…? Well? That's actually convenient!"
The tail, while important for transformation under a full moon, was currently nothing but a liability. Even in the manga, a grabbed tail paralyzed Raditz, so removing it now would prevent anyone Piccolo, Goku, or even a lucky civilian.from using it against him.
And if he wanted it back later, he knew Saiyan biology well enough; tails could regrow, just like Goku's did multiple times as a child.
He blasted the severed tail with a small energy sphere, burning it to ash, then adjusted his scouter and scanned the surroundings.
"Southwest… distance 358… several weak energy readings clustered together. Not worth mentioning in combat, but definitely a town."
Without hesitation, Raditz took flight, streaking across the sky like a comet.
Within minutes he descended into a bustling city.clearly one of the populated regions around East City. He didn't bother disguising himself or hiding his entry; he simply dropped straight onto a busy main road.
"Look! That guy just flew down!"
"Did he jump? No way, that was definitely flying!"
"Maybe he's a martial artist? You know, like the ones who competed at the Tenkaichi Budokai!"
To Raditz's surprise, instead of panicking, the street-goers swarmed around him with curiosity. But thinking deeper, he realized it made sense: after all, Earth's martial arts scene had world-famous figures like Son Goku, Tenshinhan, and the recently crowned champion Kami-in-disguise. Flying wasn't common, but it also wasn't impossible for the average Earthling to believe.
Since he hadn't done anything violent yet, they merely assumed he was a strange competitor or performer.
Raditz wasn't the old Raditz, and he wouldn't kill without reason, but he still didn't like being crowded.
With a burst of annoyance, he released a small wave of hostile ki, pushing the people around him aside. They tumbled back in panic, finally sensing the terrifying aura radiating from him.
This time, no one dared approach. They bowed their heads, avoided his gaze, or hurriedly fled, realizing this was no ordinary martial artist but someone whose presence alone felt oppressive.
"Hair first. What hairstyle… hmm. Cut it short. Trim it. That should work."
Raditz walked into a nearby barbershop, casually stating his request. The barber, though visibly nervous, treated him as just another eccentric martial artist and did the job quickly.
His original hair, absurdly long and dragging behind him like a heavy black banner, was far too impractical. It would get in the way during combat and attract unnecessary attention.
He wasn't a vain Earthling woman why keep it so long?
However, Saiyan hair had a natural stiffness and spikiness that couldn't be fully altered. No matter how much the barber tried, Raditz's final cut ended up giving him a silhouette somewhat similar to Vegeta's signature upright spikes, only wilder.
"Wait! You haven't paid yet!"
Raditz stepped out the door, only to hear the barber call after him, asking for payment.
Ridiculous. Did he look like someone who carried Earth money?
Without saying a word, Raditz turned, drove his fist forward, and sent the barber crashing back into his own shop, shattering glass and shelves and eliciting screams from bystanders.
Raditz paid no attention and entered the clothing store next door. He picked out a set of loose athletic-casual clothes—comfortable, flexible, and far superior to the constricting Frieza Force armor.
Naturally, on the way out, he punched the shopkeeper as well.
But despite restraining himself and not killing anyone, the moment he stepped outside, sirens wailed. Several police hovercars and uniformed officers surrounded him from all sides, weapons drawn, shouting orders for him to surrender.
Raditz looked around, utterly disgusted.
He had gone easy on these fragile Earthlings, and this was how they repaid him?
—