Raditz is dying.

He knows this to be a fact. Hell, he can see it when he opens his character sheet. Not that he'll do that now, of course. He doesn't want to watch his hp slowly tick down. He'd rather his death to be a surprise...

No, that's not quite right. He'd rather it not happen at all. He'd rather find the strength to get up and leave this shithole of a planet. Sadly, that isn't gonna happen. He wasted too much time fucking around and trying to be merciful, and now he's paying for it.

'I'd do just about anything for a Senzu Bean right about now.' he chuckles to himself, wincing slightly.

The light of the sun stings his eyes, making him deeply regret not fighting to kill from the start.

'If I had gone all out from the beginning, then I wouldn't be hurt like this. I'd be able move, and then my eyes wouldn't be blinded by this god-forsaken sunlight!' he bitterly thinks, unable to even move his arm to block the light shining on his face. 'I was naive to think that they'd leave me alone if I kept sparing them... if I had been tougher, then I'd be alive. If I had a little more backbone, then their deaths would've had reason. But no. I decided to ignore my instincts. I decided to ignore any common sense, and when I finally did start fighting back, it was too late. I should've... I should've...'

He coughs out blood, his vision swimming.

'I guess it doesn't matter now...'

His vision is failing him. It must be, because he swears that he can see another one of the reptilians who call this planet their home. Standing there, silently watching him.

'Ridiculous... if there were any of them left, they'd be busy burying their claws into my throat. Just a trick of the light. Just... a...' are the last thoughts he can get out before everything goes black.

Abjis stares at the unconscious Saiyan. It has to be a Saiyan, given the tail and the power he feels from them, and yet... he senses almost no malice from the dying warrior. Despite the fact that they just slaughtered their way through the majority of his fighting force, he can't help but be curious.

'What sort of Saiyan has such a small amount of malice?' he thinks, unable to stop his curiosity. 'What sort of Saiyan allows themselves to be injured to this extent? Was it the famous Saiyan Pride, not wanting to turn into an Oozaru until he was near death...? No, that can't be it. Saiyans are bullies, cowards. Most don't seek a fair fight, and none of them would allow their pride to put their life in this much danger.'

'Is he a half-breed? A mix between a Saiyan and another race? No... I can sense that to not be the case. His spirit is too ferocious.'

'Is he a mutant? Instead of having outrageous power like most mutants, was the Saiyan born with a personality that shuns their people's barbaric lifestyle?'

'Could there be another reason, one I haven't thought of...?'

"Well, whatever the case may be, you just killed some of the most powerful fighters on this planet... I can't let you die until you repay that blood debt."

With a sigh, he lifts the broken body of the Saiyan onto his shoulders, supplementing the warrior's energy with his own Ki. Just enough to keep him alive, until they can get him to an actual healer.

"You'd better not make me regret this." he says to the unhearing body of Raditz.

Ding!

Raditz's eyes flutter open as he hears the familiar sound. He stares at the translucent screen in front of him as his scattered mind attempts to piece together what happened.

Quest complete!

You have gained: Access to the Ki control stat.

He numbly brings up his character sheet, gazing at the newest stat he's unlocked.

Name: Raditz

Age: 34

Power level: 6105

Health: 100/100

Stamina: 100/100

Ki:100/100

Ki density: 1.316 (maximum of 3)

Ki purity: 2.5% (maximum of 2.5%)

Ki control: 10

Transformations: Great Ape (Uncontrolled)

Techniques: Ki sensing (7), Flight (6), Ki manipulation (1), Ki attacks (1)

'I'm... I'm alive?! What the hell happened?! Where am I?!' he thinks in a panic, wildly looking around at the unfamiliar location he finds himself in.

The cave around him is well detailed, with long carvings in the walls that make the place look like a work of art. The stone he's lying on is soft, almost feeling like an actual bed. It's... nice. Very unexpected. The only problem with the room would be the lizard person that is staring right at him.

Raditz bolts to his feet, fear evident as he senses the creature's power level being almost equal to his own. His eyes dart around, searching for an exit as he prepares a Ki blast.

"Settle down you fool! I'm not here to kill you!" an unfamiliar, elderly voice shouts from inside his head, causing Raditz to freeze in surprise.

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The reptile promptly takes advantage of this moment of weakness. Faster than Raditz's eyes can follow, the creature launches itself across the room, landing directly behind Raditz. Before he can respond to the creature's offense, it grabs his tail with one hand, while it lands half a dozen lightning fast blows to his head with the other. Raditz's muscles begin to seize as soon as the enemy grasps his tail. Seeing that Raditz is frozen by pain, the reptile stops punching him.

The voice appears inside his head yet again, sounding slightly smug . "Heh, looks like I've still got it. Anyways, now that I have you a--'

The voice is suddenly cut off as Raditz's fist slams into their jaw, his superior power launching them into the nearest wall. Raditz flexes his tail, grimacing at the feeling of lingering pain.

'Looks like all that training has paid off... though it still hurts like a bitch. I'll need to work on that.' he thinks with a slight grin, one that is immediately wiped off his face as the reptile kicks off the wall, appearing in front of Raditz almost immediately.

Raditz reacts instantly, forcing a sphere of Ki to rapidly expand around him, blasting the reptile away. He keeps it up for half a second longer, protecting himself from any more attacks. This momentary lull in the fight allows him to locate his adversary.

Dropping the Ki sphere, he launches a flurry of strikes. The reptile easily avoids them, shocking Raditz as he sees that every strike he throws gets dodged. Fed up, he gathers Ki in his hands for a massive, sweeping attack. The form of the elderly reptile blurs, and its fist is instantly buried in Raditz's stomach, shattering his concentration.

'What the hell is happening?! I'm stronger than him! I have a higher power level. How is he this fast?!' he thinks desperately, clutching his stomach in pain.

The lizard gives him no time to recover, instantly launching dozens of rapid attacks in the span of a second. His ribs, chest, and chin are the main targets, each taking more than their fair share of punishment before a kick to the back of the knee forces Raditz to fall.

Warning: Health at 50%

Raditz suddenly feels the sharp claws of his opponent as they kneel on his chest, one hand wrapped firmly around his throat.

"Now then, where was I...? Oh, right. Now that I have you at my mercy, I think it's time you tell me who you are and, more importantly, why you're on my fucking planet." the reptile says.

Raditz opens his mouth to respond, before the lizard's voice reappears in his head.

"I don't understand your language, Saiyan. Use telepathy."

Raditz awkwardly stares at the reptilian.

"..."

"..."

"Oh my gods, you don't even know telepathy, do you?"

Raditz shakes his head, hearing a sigh from the old lizard kneeling on his chest.

"Right, I forgot that you're from a warrior race... I guess they wouldn't bother to teach you how to communicate properly..." they say, facepalming.

"Ok then, I'll teach you the quick and dirty way. This isn't as precise, accurate, or Ki efficient as the actual technique, but it can get the general message across. Just focus your Ki, force it into your brain, and think really hard on whatever you want to say. After that, force the Ki out of your head and into mine. You won't actually get your Ki into my head, of course. My mental defenses are far stronger than any mental attacks you could whip up, but I'll still be able to sense the gist of the message. Got it?"

Raditz nods.

"Wonderful. Let's start with some questions. First off, my name is Abjis, what is your name?"

Following Abjis's instructions, Raditz forces his Ki to travel to his brain, before focusing his thoughts. After he's positive that his Ki holds the message, he sends it towards Abjis.

"..."

"Try again... this may take a while." Abjis says.

Several hours later, and Raditz has finally mastered the basic telepathy technique. Both of them breathe a sigh of relief after Abjis confirms Raditz's name.

"Ok Raditz, next question. Why are you on my planet, what are you planning to do here? Be honest, I can tell if you aren't." the lizard-man says.

Raditz pauses, before deciding to tell the truth.

'Sure, I may be able to make up a decent excuse if I lie, but why risk it? The truth won't hurt me that much.'

"I got my ass kicked on a recent mission and decided to flee here to rest and relax." Raditz begins. "The database said that this planet was unnamed, and that the most powerful being on the planet had a power level of 600. I was planning on offering my services in exchange for a comfortable vacation. When I was attacked, I assumed that the people on this planet were savage, unthinking enemies. I reacted as such. I was planning on hiding out until my allies sent a replacement space pod to me, which should be here in a little over 2 months."

Abjis is silent for several seconds, as if pondering what to say next. Eventually, he sends his voice into Raditz's head. "I believe you-- oh wait, I mean, I can tell that you're telling the truth... ahem... well, I may as well give you some basic information about what's going on on my planet..."

"This planet is called Thrunot, and the people are referred to as Thrunots. We are the only sapient race upon this planet, and we have had several dealings with King Cold's underlings. They considered our people to be too weak to recruit and the planet to be too useless to take over, so we've mostly been left alone."

"When I was a young man, I traveled throughout the galaxy, seeing and experiencing many things. I've heard legends of Saiyans, of their power and ferocity, but I've never met one myself. Before I decide what to do with you, tell me, are all Saiyans like you, or are you unusually tame?"

"..."

Raditz is slightly offended by what Abjis is implying. Disgruntled, he replies. "I'm less savage than most Saiyans."

"What do you think of King Cold? Any loyalty to him, his family, or his empire?" Abjis questions.

"King Cold's son, Frieza, runs his empire now. Both of them sicken me, and I'll probably celebrate on the day they die." he instantly responds. "I have no loyalty to him, his family, or his empire. If I had the chance to never interact with them again, I would happily take it."

"I see..."

The Thrunot is silent for a surprising amount of time, lost in thought for several minutes. Eventually, he shakes his head, and speaks to Raditz.

"Alright, you'll do."

Before Raditz voices his confusion, the next wave of information crashes into his mind.

"There's a war that's been taking place on Thrunot, one that's lasted for hundreds of years. It has completely decimated our people and planet, forcing us to live underground as the planet itself has been rendered barren. The war is between my faction, who believe that we should conceal ourselves from King Cold's... no, Frieza's empire, and Abetox's faction, who believe that we should reveal our true power and join them."

"You've killed more than 50 of my soldiers. We are going to lose the war if nothing changes, and that's why you're going to make up for your murders by fighting on our side until the war is ended."

Raditz stares at him, dumbfounded. "...What?! Murders?! They attacked me first!"

"Maybe murder is a strong word... but you still killed them. If you refuse to help me win this war, I'll kill you myself." Abjis replies coldly.

Raditz feels a twinge of fear in his heart for a brief moment... but then he realizes something.

"If I use all of my Ki in one attack, I could probably destroy most of this planet. You can't kill me before then."

They're both silent, staring at each other for almost a full minute. Abjis eventually breaks the silence.

"So you refuse?" the elderly Thrunot says, with just a hint of danger in his voice.

"Well, I didn't say that... you've just got to make it worth my while." Raditz says, sporting a smug grin.

"Worth your while? Our planet barely has enough resources to sustain us. What could you possibly want?"

"I want you to train me. I don't know how you got so fast, but it has to be a technique, right? Learning that would be more than enough."

The elderly Thrunot stares at Raditz for several seconds, enough to make Raditz begin to worry...

Until booming laughter fills the cave around them.

"I was already planning to do that, idiot. From a technical standpoint, you're one of the worst fighters I've ever seen. You rely far too much on brute force, and your Great Ape transformation is easily defeated by someone faster than you. If I sent you at Abetox and his army now, you would get demolished. I'll get you trained up before your replacement space pod arrives, and then we'll win this war."

Abjis gets off of Raditz, offering a hand to pull the Saiyan warrior to his feet.

"Let's just hope that you can handle my training..."