Raditz felt like his intelligence had just been insulted.
A bald guy with a power level of zero, accompanied by a ridiculously tough little brat, actually dared to speak to him like that.
"Looking to die!"
Raditz roared in anger. He tossed Gohan aside without a second thought and shot toward Krillin like a streak of lightning.
If this bald fool wanted death, he would grant it.
"Die! Energy Blast!"
Raditz raised both hands. Two pink energy spheres gathered in his palms before crashing downward with destructive force.
Just as the blasts were about to touch Krillin's bald head.
Whoosh.
Krillin vanished.
Not the kind of afterimage created by extreme speed. He simply disappeared from that spot entirely.
Raditz's attack struck the beach instead, exploding in a massive spray of seawater.
"Where did he go?!"
Raditz spun around in alarm, his scouter scanning wildly. It detected nothing.
"I'm right here."
The voice came from behind him, close enough to feel the breath.
Every hair on Raditz's body stood on end. He turned around instantly.
Krillin was standing less than half a meter behind him, hands in his pockets, looking at him with a bored expression.
"You… how is that possible…"
Cold sweat ran down Raditz's back. His scouter could not even detect that movement.
"Relax. I'm just an ordinary Earthling."
Krillin grinned, flashing a row of white teeth.
"Next, I'm going to use a very ordinary punch."
Krillin slowly raised his right hand and formed a fist.
There was no surge of energy. No glowing aura. No flashy effects.
Just a completely plain movement, almost like an old person performing tai chi.
"A very ordinary punch."
Raditz tried to dodge, but suddenly realized his body would not move. It felt as if some terrifying pressure had locked him in place.
Thud.
The fist lightly touched the armor on Raditz's abdomen.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Then the world exploded.
Boom!
A visible shockwave burst outward from the two of them.
Raditz did not even have time to scream. His body was launched away like he had been struck head-on by a train traveling at the speed of light.
The Saiyan armor he was so proud of instantly filled with cracks. His eyes bulged as if they might pop out of their sockets.
Whoosh!
Raditz shot across the sky like a meteor, flying straight toward the ocean.
Boom boom boom boom!
He skipped across the surface of the sea like a stone, bouncing more than a dozen times. Each impact created waves towering over a hundred meters high.
Finally, he slammed headfirst into the rocky wall of a deserted island, shattering the entire landmass before finally coming to a stop.
In front of the Kame House, silence fell.
A complete, suffocating silence.
Goku's mouth hung open so wide that his jaw nearly dislocated.
Master Roshi's sunglasses slid down to the tip of his nose.
Gohan forgot to cry and simply stared at the bald uncle in disbelief.
Only Trin jumped up in excitement.
"Wow! Dad, that was awesome! Is that the 'ordinary punch'? I want to learn it too!"
Krillin pulled back his fist.
"Keep it down. I might have used a little too much force."
Far out at sea, the wreckage suddenly burst apart.
Raditz rose into the air, his entire body covered in blood. His armor had completely shattered, revealing bruised muscles underneath. Even his proud Saiyan tail hung limply behind him.
"Unforgivable… unforgivable!"
Raditz's eyes were bloodshot. His reason had been completely swallowed by rage and humiliation.
He was an elite Saiyan warrior.
And he had been beaten into this state by a bald Earthling with a single punch.
"I'll kill all of you! I'll blow this entire planet into dust!"
Raditz began wildly raising his energy. The ferocity of a cornered beast filled the air.
At that moment, a familiar mechanical voice sounded in Krillin's mind.
[System Notification: S-Rank Story Mission Triggered: The Art of Acting.]
[Mission Description: To face stronger enemies in the future such as Vegeta and Frieza, Son Goku must travel to King Kai's planet for special training to learn the Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb. The prerequisite for reaching King Kai's planet is death.]
[Mission Requirement: Hold back during the upcoming battle and guide Raditz and Son Goku toward mutual destruction.]
[Mission Reward: Unlock Namek Saga Map Pack. Trin Potential Development +5%.]
Krillin looked at the mission panel and sighed inwardly.
Of course. What was supposed to happen had finally arrived.
Right now he could crush Raditz with a single finger. But if he did that, Goku would lose his chance to grow stronger.
No Kaio-ken. No Spirit Bomb.
How would he fight Vegeta later?
How would he fight Frieza?
He could not keep stepping in to solve everything himself.
If that happened, what would be the point of the Dragon Ball world?
Krillin sighed in his heart.
"Being a babysitter is exhausting. I even have to play director."
Then his expression changed instantly.
The calm confidence of a powerful warrior disappeared. In its place was the pale face of someone who had overexerted himself.
He clutched his chest and staggered two steps.
"Oh no! That last punch used up all my energy! I can't move anymore! Goku, hurry! Take him down while he's weak!"
Goku blinked in confusion.
Master Roshi also blinked in confusion.
Trin whispered quietly.
"Dad… your acting is terrible."
Krillin shot his son a glare that clearly said: Keep quiet or I'm cutting your allowance.
Trin immediately covered his mouth and nodded vigorously.
"I don't really understand what's going on," Goku said, scratching his head, "but it looks like I'm the only one who can fight now!"
Although simple-minded, Goku could tell Raditz was already badly weakened.
He endured the pain and stood up, taking the opening stance of the Turtle School.
"Piccolo! Stop hiding! I know you're there!"
Goku suddenly shouted toward the sky.
The clouds parted.
A green figure slowly descended from above.
Piccolo.
He looked annoyed, but he also knew he could not win alone.
"Hmph. Son Goku, don't misunderstand. I'm only here to kill that guy."
Piccolo spoke coldly, though his eyes briefly glanced at the "exhausted" Krillin with clear caution.
What exactly was wrong with that bald guy?
But this was not the time to worry about it.
"Alright! Let's work together!"
Goku shouted and charged toward the frenzied Raditz.
Krillin dropped into a beach chair and calmly picked up his teacup again. His hand was "trembling," yet not a single drop spilled.
He squinted at the sky where the battle was about to begin.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Goku, safe travels. I think you'll enjoy King Kai's jokes."