Yamiru tumbled several times in the air before barely managing to stop himself using his Flight Technique, finally stabilizing his body.
With insufficient power, neither Bukūjutsu nor the Flight Technique could serve as primary combat methods. Not only did they consume a lot of energy, but controlling them also required excessive focus.
"That really packed a punch."
Yamiru rubbed his abdomen. Even though he had tensed his muscles in time, Raditz's flying knee strike had still left him dazed, nearly making him vomit.
Saiyan fists were not to be underestimated, even if they belonged to a twelve-year-old kid.
It was clear that although Raditz had expended some stamina during his fight with Goku, he could still overpower Yamiru, whose battle power wasn't even close to 200.
Yamiru understood this perfectly. Even without using his Golden Veil, he could perceive the sheer gap in power between himself and Raditz.
Raditz was stronger than Goku. And Goku... was stronger than him.
"This is the difference, Earthling."
Raditz flexed his knuckles, cracking them loudly, his face full of disdain. "My little brother's battle power was somewhat unexpected, but at the end of the day, he's still a Saiyan, a warrior race!" The implication was clear—since Goku was a Saiyan, it wasn't entirely unreasonable for him to be stronger than expected. "As for you, what are you supposed to be?"
Yamiru simply smiled. After all he had been through, he was long past the stage of getting truly angry over words.
However, he still replied to Raditz, "Since you put it that way, it means I, as your opponent, shouldn't give up so easily, right?"
Raditz narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yamiru's ki is much weaker than Raditz's. He's not a match for him," Gine said worriedly. "He shouldn't fight Raditz. That boy has such a violent temper right now..."
Bardock reassured her, "Don't worry, I'm here."
Meanwhile, Goku muttered under his breath, "If Yamiru wants to fight Raditz, he must have a plan..."
Whoosh!
Suddenly, Raditz deactivated his Flight Technique, dropping down to the grass below. He looked up and gestured for Yamiru to come down, sneering, "You're at a disadvantage in aerial combat, aren't you? Come down here. I'll crush you on the ground! I'll make sure you understand the insurmountable gap between our races."
"Hey, is Yamiru really up for this?"
Dr. Brief, sensing that things were off, walked over to Tights and asked.
Tights lightly tapped her arm with her slender fingers, shaking her head. "Even if you ask me, I don't know... But I believe Yamiru isn't reckless."
Is he going to do that again? Tights thought anxiously.
Whoosh!
Yamiru also landed on the ground, just as an impatient Raditz lunged at him.
There was no way he could take that attack head-on. Raditz's raw power and striking force were clearly leagues above his own!
Yamiru's Golden Veil reflected Raditz's ferocious attacks, allowing him to sidestep them smoothly. The sheer force of the missed punch rustled his clothes, causing a faint tingling sensation on his skin.
After dodging, he found an opening—his hand shot out, executing a precise counter-grab! The angle of his attack was so unorthodox that it caught Raditz slightly off guard. However, Raditz's superior speed allowed him to react just in time, raising his arm to block while simultaneously driving his knee toward Yamiru's own knee.
Now that they were fighting on the ground, the difference in height became evident—Raditz, still not fully grown, was noticeably shorter than Yamiru.
At this moment, Yamiru could finally understand how Xiuolan must have felt when fighting him back in the day. Perhaps his opponent had also viewed their fight from this towering perspective, finding the battle oddly comfortable and effortless.
For instance, in this instant, as Raditz counterattacked, Yamiru clearly saw his movements. He swiftly dismantled the move, locking down Raditz's short arm and stepping on the incoming knee strike. Then, with his free hand, he delivered a Lightning Rending Heat Blade straight to Raditz's neck.
Their exchange had taken place in the blink of an eye.
To Bulma and the others watching, it seemed as if nothing had happened—until Raditz suddenly flew backward, landing hard. However, he quickly planted his hands on the ground and roared in frustration, rebounding off the grass and hurtling toward Yamiru again!
This time, he fully exploited his superior speed and strength. Yamiru, even with his Golden Veil, managed to glimpse the attack's trajectory—but he was already too late to evade it!
BANG!
Raditz's head smashed into Yamiru's chest.
"Ugh!"
Yamiru coughed up blood.
That headbutt had been brutal—he could even hear the sound of his ribs cracking... The damage was so severe that his vision blurred, and the light in his Golden Veil began to fade, as if he was about to lose consciousness.
This feeling...
Yamiru spat out blood, staggering a few steps backward.
"Hmph!" Raditz landed lightly, optimistically scratching his head with a grin. "Now you see the difference, don't you?"
This feeling of being in a life-threatening situation, where rational thought no longer mattered...
Yamiru stared at the blood dripping onto the ground. How long had it been since he last tasted this metallic tang? The last time must have been over five years ago, when he fought Tao Pai Pai to the death outside the Martial Arts Tournament… His chest convulsed uncontrollably from the intense pain, but he pressed a hand against the ground and refused to collapse.
Bulma and her family grew concerned at the sight. After all, Yamiru was practically one of their own. Tights crossed her arms tightly and pressed her lips together, watching him struggle to stand without saying a word.
Hmm? Bardock, who had been observing calmly, suddenly raised an eyebrow, sensing something unusual.
"He's not dead, is he?" Raditz muttered. The sight of Yamiru just standing there, barely breathing, unsettled him. His father had just warned him over dinner not to harm any Earthlings. "You all saw it! He challenged me first! If he dies, it's not my fault!" Raditz turned toward Bardock, Bulma, and the others watching.
Gine had been worried too, but then her eyes widened in shock as she stared at Yamiru.
"Where do you think you're going?" Yamiru's voice came from behind Raditz.
"What?" Raditz turned sharply—
Only to see a large hand flying toward his face.
It was Yamiru's hand, slamming straight into Raditz's head.
"We're not done yet!"
A wicked gleam flickered in Yamiru's dark gold eyes as he grabbed Raditz's face—or rather, his entire head—and shoved with force.
Boom!
Raditz became a blur, rolling more than a hundred meters across Bulma's massive courtyard.
"He… What happened to him?" Gine gasped. "His energy just spiked! And… and it feels so dark and evil!"
Yamiru was now radiating a malevolent aura. His once bright golden eyes had changed—his sclera had turned a deep gold, while his irises glowed a sinister red.
To Gine, who could sense energy, it was as if Yamiru had transformed into someone entirely different—twisted and demonic.
"No, part of his original energy is still there," Bardock observed, narrowing his eyes. He noticed what Gine couldn't. "It looks like he's trying to control this dark power…"
True to Bardock's words, after blasting Raditz away, Yamiru suddenly froze in place.
One side of his face contorted in pain, while the other began to faintly sprout scales.
Raditz, furious, charged back at him.
"Perfect timing…" Yamiru exhaled, his breath unnaturally hot. His gaze toward Raditz was filled with malice.
The last time he had willingly absorbed Hell's demonic energy to boost his strength, he had only managed to purge it by brutally killing Tao Pai Pai. But this time…
Yamiru, now showing clear signs of demonic transformation, ran his tongue over his lips—it was longer than before. His pristine white teeth had sharpened into something far more sinister.
"You're just in time."