Raditz was terrified.
Truly terrified.
If he kept hiding things, he had no doubt that the next punch from Launch would kill him outright.
Sure, Saiyans grow stronger after near-death recovery, but only if they actually survive. Dead is dead. Even a Senzu Bean can't help a corpse.
And more importantly…
I still want to show off in front of Vegeta one day!
"Senzu beans?" Launch paused, curious. "Where did you get those?"
Raditz exhaled in relief.
"Your dad gave Goku a hundred. I asked him for some, and he gave me fifty-two."
He didn't add that Goku only handed them over because he got tired of Raditz begging.
Launch nodded, then pointed out what Raditz already feared:
"You're growing stronger through near-death recovery… but there's a limit, right? My punch nearly killed you, and you didn't get any stronger afterward."
Raditz clenched his fists, face bitter.
"Yeah… looks like I've hit my ceiling."
Above the Clouds
Broly hovered high above, arms crossed, watching silently.
He'd arrived earlier, sensed the battle, and watched the whole thing unfold.
So that's how he got stronger? By almost dying… over and over?
Broly considered it.
Interesting… but painful.
Not for me.
He descended slowly, landing beside his son.
"Dad!" Launch immediately leapt into his arms.
Raditz's heart dropped.
Oh no… not him too…
Broly studied him.
"You grew stronger by nearly dying?"
"Y-yes…"
"Can you grow stronger again?"
Raditz grimaced.
"I don't think so. I almost died just now… nothing changed."
Broly frowned.
"Maybe you didn't get hurt correctly. Wrong angle. Wrong force."
Raditz almost cried.
What kind of logic is that?!
Then Broly lifted his hand.
"Let's try again."
A casual wave.
No touch. No energy blast. Just a flick.
Raditz didn't even have time to scream before—
BOOM!
He was sent flying miles away, smashing into a cliff and getting buried in stone.
Almost Dead (Again)
When Broly and Launch reached him, Raditz was embedded in rock, neck twisted, bleeding, barely breathing.
"Uh… maybe I hit too hard," Broly muttered.
Launch tugged his arm.
"Dad… is he going to die?"
"Give him a bean."
Broly flicked a Senzu Bean straight into Raditz's mouth.
Seconds later, bones cracked back into place. Wounds sealed. Blood stopped.
Raditz sat up, gasping.
"T-thank you… thank you!"
Broly smiled approvingly.
"I nearly killed you, and you're thanking me?"
Raditz's expression froze.
Of course I'm thanking you! If I don't, you might hit me again!
The Verdict
Broly asked eagerly:
"Did your power increase?"
Raditz checked.
…Nothing.
Still around 102,000.
He slumped.
"No… I think I've hit my limit."
Broly looked genuinely disappointed.
"Only a hundred thousand? That's… kind of low."
Raditz wanted to die again.
Launch climbed onto Broly's shoulders.
"Dad, can we go home? Piccolo and Gohan don't want to fight me anymore…"
Broly nodded.
"Yeah. Your mom's waiting."
They shot off into the sky.
Raditz stood there alone, staring upward, hair blowing in the wind.
If 100,000 is my ceiling… what do I do now?
Dinner at Home
At Kame House, Launch (blue-haired) was cooking dinner.
The smell of home-cooked food filled the air.
"Welcome back!"
Broly and Launch sat down. Launch chattered happily about his day.
Broly ate quietly.
Launch beamed:
"I beat Uncle Raditz with one punch!"
Broly calmly added:
"Raditz was bullying villagers."
Launch (blue) smiled proudly.
A New Goal
During the meal, Broly explained what happened when he met Merus, the Galactic Patrol agent whose movement technique completely overwhelmed him.
"He was too fast. I couldn't land a single hit."
Launch (blue) was surprised.
"Someone faster than you?"
Broly nodded.
"I need to get stronger."
And with that…
Broly decided to train.
Enter the Turtle Hermit
A few days later, Master Roshi returned.
When he heard that Broly wanted to train, he nearly dropped his tea.
"You… want to train?!"
Broly nodded calmly.
"There are people stronger than me. I want to beat them."
Roshi stared at him… and for the first time, saw the same spark he'd once seen in Goku.
He grinned.
"Good! Then tell me… what kind of training are you looking for?"
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