Strength in numbers

Nappa grinned wickedly as Kakarot's friends approached. Tien led the charge, his focused gaze locked on Nappa. But just as Tien came within striking distance, he vanished in a flash, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.

Next was Krillin, who also blinked out of sight just as he neared Nappa, a rush of displaced air swirling where he had been.

Yamcha appeared in front of Nappa with a burst of energy and threw a punch. A mild shockwave erupted, sending dust and pebbles scattering. Nappa had blocked Yamcha's punch effortlessly with his forearm.

Nappa's grin widened as Yamcha disappeared from view like a shadow.

From the corner of his eye, Nappa saw Krillin approaching with a flying kick. He leaned back, feeling the rush of air as Krillin's foot sailed past him by mere inches.

Bam!

Nappa staggered forward as something collided with his back—a headbutt from Chiaotzu.

Tien cheered through the chaos. "Way to go, Chiaotzu!"

Unfazed, Nappa turned to face Chiaotzu, who hovered in front of him, trembling. "What was that supposed to be? It felt more like a tickle!"

Chiaotzu's fear was palpable, his eyes wide and lips quivering.

With a smirk, Nappa raised his arm and swatted Chiaotzu aside. The sound of the impact echoed in the air.

Chiaotzu was hurled toward a rock but was caught mid-flight by Tien's concerned grip.

"Are you alright, Chiaotzu?" Tien asked gently, inspecting the red mark left by Nappa's slap.

Chiaotzu nodded, the mark still visible on his face.

"Don't go near him again. Use your telekinesis from afar," Tien instructed firmly.

Chiaotzu nodded as Tien released him, frustration and resolve clear in his eyes. The intense energy from the Saiyans and his friends made it nearly impossible for Chiaotzu to focus his telekinesis. He sighed, feeling inadequate in this life-or-death struggle.

Meanwhile, Krillin and Yamcha charged at Nappa, their battle cries merging into a powerful roar.

They unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, the air crackling with each strike. Nappa weaved through their attacks with an effortless grin, his movements smooth and fluid. Krillin pushed himself harder, sweat streaming down his face, breaths coming in ragged bursts.

Nappa grew bored. Catching Yamcha's punch with his fist, he blocked Krillin's headbutt with his knee. The impact was sharp, reverberating through the air.

"Ouch!" Krillin yelped, clutching his scalp as he staggered back in pain.

Yamcha gasped as Nappa delivered a brutal punch to his abdomen, the force driving the air from his lungs with a painful rush.

"Agh-..."

Saliva dripped from Yamcha's mouth as he doubled over, shaking with the intensity of his pain.

Nappa began gathering energy, a low hum vibrating through the ground as his power surged, preparing to end the fight. Suddenly, a shout cut through the air.

It was Tien. The three-eyed fighter descended upon Nappa with a series of calculated strikes in the Crane style, each move precise and forceful. Nappa was pushed back, the ground shifting beneath his feet with each hit. The Saiyan gritted his teeth, blocking the relentless blows before retaliating with an elbow to Tien's chest.

"Argh!"

Tien staggered, a wave of pain flooding through him as Nappa's punch connected with his face, a sharp sting exploding from his bleeding nose.

Nappa prepared to deliver a decisive kick to Tien's neck.

Bam!

Nappa groaned as a kick struck the back of his head, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Krillin grinned, breathing heavily. "Scores level!"

Nappa rose to his feet, his face flushed with anger.

Without a word, he began to power up. The air around him crackled with energy, the sound of his aura growing like distant thunder.

"Uh-oh," Krillin muttered nervously, trembling.

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Small rocks and debris began to float around Nappa as his aura surged, causing the ground to tremble under the force.

Tien and Krillin struggled to maintain their balance against the powerful winds stirred by Nappa's energy.

Meanwhile, Gohan watched in awe, his mouth agape. He wanted to help and fight alongside his friends, but the loss of Piccolo and his recent encounter with Nappa had left him paralyzed with fear.

Gritting his teeth, Gohan struggled to understand his own hesitation. Was it fear? Hopelessness? Was it just not giving a damn anymore? He didn't know, but he couldn't let it hold him back.

Suddenly, a hand rested on Gohan's shoulder. He looked up to see Yamcha, breathing heavily but offering a reassuring smile.

"Come on, Gohan," Yamcha encouraged, his voice firm yet comforting. "You're Goku's son. You wouldn't believe half the things he managed to do as a kid. Trust me, you can do this. Believe in yourself."

Gohan nodded slowly, determination flickering in his eyes. He straightened his stance, watching as Nappa continued to power up.

Nappa reveled in his increasing power. His aura surging around him. Small sparks of electricity crackled around his form.

"Roar!" he exclaimed as his aura subsided. He turned to Vegeta with a grin. "Hey, Vegeta, what's my power level now?"

Vegeta sighed. "You know it's six thousand, Nappa."

Nappa chuckled, turning his attention back to his opponents. "Did you hear that?" he called out mockingly.

Krillin took a cautious step back, swallowing hard. His eyes darted around the desolate landscape, seeking an escape. The rocky terrain and sparse, dry vegetation offered little comfort. "We're in trouble," he muttered, his voice shaky.

Nappa laughed, the sound resonating like thunder across the barren wasteland. Residual energy crackled around him from his recent power surge. "Well said, shorty."

Krillin froze, the air around him growing thick as Nappa lunged at him with blinding speed. The heat from Nappa's energy surge made the air shimmer, distorting his form as he closed the distance.

Time seemed to slow for Krillin as Nappa's foot connected with his side. The force of the blow reverberated through his body, a shockwave of pain radiating from the impact point.

"Argh!" Krillin cried out, his voice echoing as he crashed into a large boulder. The rock crumbled upon impact, sharp fragments flying in all directions.

Gohan clenched his fists, eyes wide with shock. "No... Krillin!"

Tien gritted his teeth, his determination growing. Focusing his energy, he prepared for his next move.

Nappa eyed Tien with interest. Suddenly, his expression shifted to surprise as he witnessed something unexpected—two additional arms sprouted from Tien's back.

Vegeta observed calmly, intrigued by the unique abilities of Goku's comrades.

Nappa grinned widely. "Impressive trick, but it won't save you."

Without hesitation, Tien charged at Nappa.

"Haa!"

With a fierce cry, Tien unleashed a barrage of strikes with all four arms, each blow calculated and precise.

Nappa stood firm, choosing neither to evade nor defend, allowing Tien's relentless assault to land squarely on his chest. The impact forced Nappa's feet back, digging furrows into the ground.

Tien grew frustrated. 'I must be hurting him, even just a little,' he thought, pressing on with renewed determination.

Nappa's grin faded into a scowl. Growing irritated, he seized two of Tien's fists in his hands.

'This is it!' Tien thought, using his extra arms to bring pointed fingers toward Nappa's throat. "Dodon R—"

Bam!

Tien was cut off as Nappa's foot drove into his stomach.

The three-eyed warrior doubled over in pain. 'Damn you,' he cursed silently before collapsing to the ground, his extra arms vanishing.

Meanwhile, Yamcha extended his right hand forward, left hand gripping his wrist as energy crackled in his palm. "I can do this," he thought, focusing intensely until a sphere of ki materialized above his hand.

Vegeta observed with interest as the power reading on his scouter spiked. "Let's see how Nappa handles this," he mused.

Nappa raised his foot over Tien's head, preparing to crush him.

"Haa!"

"What?" Nappa thought, turning his head just in time to see—

Gohan's flying kick slammed into Nappa's cheek, sending the Saiyan tumbling to the ground near Vegeta.

Gohan landed gracefully, his aura blazing. "I'm not afraid of you anymore!" he shouted defiantly.

Nappa slowly rose, rubbing his cheek where Gohan's kick had landed. "Hey, Vegeta," he called out. "What's the brat's power level?"

Vegeta chuckled softly. "What's the matter, Nappa? Scared? His power spiked briefly; now it's back to 1250."

Nappa smirked, energy crackling around him as he dashed toward Gohan with renewed determination.

Gohan assumed his fighting stance, anticipating Nappa's approach. The boy leaped to dodge Nappa's kick, but the Saiyan adjusted, slamming his fist down on Gohan's head as he hit the ground.

Gohan crashed into the earth, but before Nappa could follow up with another attack, Gohan was pulled backward by an invisible force.

Chiaotzu stood firm, hands extended as he used his telekinesis to intervene.

Nappa scowled. 'Tricky pests!' he thought bitterly.

"Spirit Ball!" Yamcha shouted, his voice resonating with determination.

Nappa leaped over the energy sphere with ease, landing lightly on his feet. He sneered, thinking the attack had missed. But to his horror, the sphere changed direction mid-air, hurtling back toward him with speed.

Boom!

The explosion rocked the battlefield, flames and debris erupting around Nappa. Yamcha grinned triumphantly as his attack hit. "Gotcha!"

From a distance, Vegeta's brow furrowed as he watched the alarming spike on his scouter. The device beeped erratically, indicating a massive surge of power. His eyes narrowed as he searched the battlefield for the source. It was Tien.

"Nappa, look out!" Vegeta yelled, his usually calm demeanor replaced with urgency.

High above the battlefield, Tien floated with a fierce, determined expression. His hands formed a diamond, focusing his energy. The air around him crackled with electricity, and a powerful aura enveloped his body. He saw the smoke billow from where Nappa had been, glimpsing through his fingers as he prepared to strike.

A vein bulged on Tien's forehead, his muscles tensed with the immense effort. He took a deep breath, summoning all his strength and willpower. "This is it," he thought, the words echoing in his mind as he committed to his ultimate technique.

"Tri-Beam!" he roared, his voice filled with both rage and desperation.

KADAAM!

The biggest explosion since the beginning of the battle rocked the area. The ground split open beneath the force of the blast, a massive crater forming where Nappa had stood. The intense energy wave radiated outward, uprooting trees and shattering rocks. Vegeta shielded his eyes from the blinding light and searing heat, his scouter beeping wildly as it struggled to measure the immense power. Dust and debris filled the air, momentarily obscuring the battlefield in a thick, suffocating cloud.

Is this the end of the monstrous Saiyan Nappa? Find out, on DBZ: ONE.

To be continued…