No one expected that Yamiru, who had been completely overwhelmed, would suddenly increase his power and put Raditz on the defensive.
Boom! Yamiru, looking more like a demon than a man, lunged forward before Raditz could react, taking the initiative.
Raditz was growing frustrated—his disadvantage in size was becoming more apparent. Previously, even with shorter limbs, his overwhelming combat strength allowed him to suppress Yamiru with ease. But now, for some unknown reason, this Earthling's power had surged, reversing the tide of battle. Yamiru's greater reach only widened the gap—an evenly matched punch meant Raditz would take the hit first. What could he do about that?
Raditz had counted on his superior battle experience to offset his physical disadvantage, yet even in that area, he found himself outmatched by Yamiru. His opponent's techniques were sharper, his judgment keener, and his style brutally efficient.
The more Raditz fought, the more suffocated he felt, his frustration boiling over into rage.
"Oh, oh! A counterattack?" Dr. Brief and the other spectators could only enjoy the show without truly grasping the speed of the fight. "Come on, Yamiru!"
"…" Meanwhile, at his parents' feet, Goku watched with unease. Though Yamiru appeared to have boosted his power, his transformation did not resemble anything normal. "This feeling… it's just like back at Fortuneteller Baba's place…" he murmured. "Is he trying to turn that state into a technique? That's really dangerous!"
"His ki is weakening," Gine suddenly exclaimed.
Bardock, among those present, had the sharpest eye for details. His gaze tracked the rapid exchanges between the fighters, his voice steady. "Yamiru is using battle to purge the surge of dark ki within him… It looks like this is his method for temporarily increasing his strength." He paused for a moment before adding, "It's actually quite similar to how we Saiyans transform into Ozarus. If Kakarot hadn't learned to control the form through the Dragon Balls, his transformed state wouldn't be much different from what we're seeing now."
Gine nodded. "After all, only the royal family and a handful of elites can retain their rationality after transforming."
"Yamiru's transformation is the same," Bardock continued. "A massive power boost, but at the cost of losing control."
"Don't turn into a demon, Yamiru," Tights clasped her sister's hand tightly, praying in her heart. "If you're taking such a risk, you'd better have a plan. Otherwise, just wait until I get my hands on you…"
"Ow…" Bulma winced. Tights had unknowingly squeezed her hand too hard.
With a loud crash, Raditz was sent sprawling, blood spraying from his mouth as he tumbled far across the battlefield.
Yamiru dropped to all fours and dashed forward at terrifying speed, lunging at his fallen opponent.
"Damn it… How is this happening…"
Raditz, teeth shattered and mouth full of blood, struggled to turn over—only to see Yamiru, half of his face looking utterly monstrous, closing in.
Blackened sclera, pupils glowing crimson like a ghost's.
His face was expressionless, but his raised fist radiated a dark golden aura.
"D-Damn it!" Raditz could no longer fight back. All he could do was shut his eyes in despair, bracing for the inevitable.
But the expected punch never came.
He hesitantly opened his eyes—only to see Bardock standing behind Yamiru, golden hair flowing.
"…" Raditz thought his father had intervened, but looking closer, Bardock had not laid a hand on Yamiru. Instead, Yamiru's own fist remained frozen midair, his face contorted as if battling himself.
A flicker of gold flashed within his crimson pupils.
And then, instead of striking Raditz, his punch smashed into the ground beside him.
Boom!
The impact shook the earth, cracking the ground in a six-meter radius.
In that instant, Bardock felt the evil ki within Yamiru dissipate entirely.
Exhausted, Yamiru collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
"Yamiru!" Tights was the first to rush over, kneeling beside him and grabbing his hand. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Yamiru reassured her, trying to steady his breath. His energy was almost completely drained. He forced a weak smile. "At least I didn't lose control, haha."
Goku approached, frowning. "If you want to get stronger, I don't think this is the right way."
He still remembered their battle against the Devil Man at Fortuneteller Baba's palace. Baba had made it clear—drawing out one's inner darkness granted power, but it was the power of demons. Such a force not only clashed with one's nature but would inevitably corrupt the mind.
It wasn't just dangerous—it was fundamentally wrong.
Yamiru was exhausted, but he somewhat agreed with Goku's words and nodded. "Yeah, it's definitely not a good method. I won't do it again."
He meant it… Gine could tell from his sincere tone. He had only been experimenting, and now that he had seen the results, he was quick to discard it without hesitation.
"It hurts," Raditz wiped the blood from his mouth. He had lost a few teeth, making his speech slightly slurred. "What the hell did that Earthling do? How did he suddenly get so strong? And that look he had just now…"
Bardock's eyes flickered with a trace of respect. He flipped his palm, forming a small burst of ki and pressed it into Yamiru's body.
"Ah," Yamiru immediately felt his energy recovering and looked up with a grin. "Thanks, Uncle Bardock."
Bardock nodded, then turned to Raditz with a cold expression. "Maybe anger can grant Saiyans limitless power, but arrogance never will."
Raditz didn't dare to argue with his father, who was now a legendary Super Saiyan.
"If you have no humanity, no emotions that you truly cherish, then there's no foundation for anger. Without that, you will never transform into a Super Saiyan." Bardock looked at Raditz and said, "You should learn from your younger brother."
Goku glanced at Raditz, while Raditz spat out some blood, his face full of resentment.
Yamiru, watching from the side, almost burst into laughter. But as he did, his injuries flared up, making him wince in pain.
—
—
Spiritual Realm, Earth Island, Capsule House, Bathroom
The sound of running water echoed as Yamiru and Tights washed off together.
Thanks to having taken Senzu Beans before, Yamiru had no scars left.
Still, Tights remembered every time he had been hurt.
"Taking the risk of trying to control a demonic transformation… Was it because you felt surpassed by Goku? And his even stronger brother? Did your pride take a hit?"
Tights ran her hand over Yamiru's back, her voice carrying a teasing undertone as she spoke softly.
Since they were alone in a private space, she had no reservations about speaking freely. She knew Yamiru wasn't the type to be overly sensitive or insecure.
"A little bit," Yamiru didn't completely deny it. He looked up at the showerhead, letting the hot water pour over him. "I'm not sure, really. But I think the main reason was that I didn't want Raditz looking down on Earth's martial artists."
He smiled and said playfully, "Between the two, I definitely prefer this explanation. Makes me sound honorable and principled."
Tights chuckled as well and softly said, "You're already pretty amazing."
"Thanks."
"What's next? Uncle Bardock and Aunt Gine took Raditz to Mount Paozu, and Goku is still training with Master Roshi at Kame House… What about you? Any plans?"
"What about you?"
"Did you forget? I'm a freelancer. I go wherever you go."
"Oh, right. Let me think…"
After a brief rest, the two walked out of the Capsule House. In a nearby open space, they saw other people who had entered the Spirit Realm engaging in sparring matches.
One of them seemed to be that famous martial arts champion, Gaw.
"I got it," Yamiru said, holding Tights' hand with a smile. "How about I become a Fighting star? A friend of mine wanted to be my manager and launch my career before."