The battlefield fell silent for a brief moment after Vegeta's cold command. Dust swirled across the rocky plain. The oppressive aura of the Saiyans weighed on the Z Fighters, yet none dared to step back.
Krillin swallowed hard. These Saibamen… just one of them could match Raditz. And we're supposed to fight all of them?
Piccolo kept his eyes sharp, arms crossed, though inwardly he knew this was about to be a brutal test.
Nappa smirked, his hand tightening around the capsule that had unleashed the writhing green creatures. "Well then… let's have some fun. Who's first?"
Tien Shinhan stepped forward, his white boots crunching against the ground. His third eye glared with unwavering resolve.
"I'll go."
"Tien!" Chiaotzu cried out in concern.
Tien only raised his hand to calm him. "Stay back, Chiaotzu. This is my fight."
Nappa laughed. "Hah! Baldie number two wants to play hero."
Vegeta didn't even smile. His tone was cold, analytical. "Fine. One Saibaman against the three-eyed one. Let's see what you can do."
One of the green fiends screeched, leaping forward. Its claws dug into the earth, eager for blood.
Tien clenched his fists. This is nothing compared to what I trained for. I won't falter.
---
The Clash Begins
The Saibaman darted forward with terrifying speed. Its claws slashed at Tien's chest—only for Tien to block with his forearm, sparks flying from the impact.
The creature hissed and spun, whipping its tail, but Tien ducked low and countered with a fierce uppercut that sent the Saibaman stumbling back.
Krillin's eyes widened. "He's holding his own!"
But Piccolo wasn't impressed yet. "The Saibaman hasn't even gotten serious."
The Saibaman screeched again and lunged, unleashing a barrage of claws and kicks. Tien shifted his stance into fluid martial arts forms, blocking, deflecting, and striking back. But even he began to struggle—the creature's movements were wild, unpredictable, its speed unnerving.
A slash grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
"Tien!" Chiaotzu shouted again.
Tien gritted his teeth. I can't drag this out. Time to test it.
---
The Swapping Technique
The Saibaman leapt high, preparing to dive-bomb him. Tien suddenly pressed his palms together, energy sparking between them.
"HAAA!"
In a flash, Tien's body blurred—his aura flickering strangely. At the very moment the Saibaman descended upon him, its claws ready to tear, Tien vanished from its front—
—And in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind the creature, switching positions as though the battlefield had twisted itself.
"What?!" Krillin gasped.
The Saibaman's eyes bulged in shock as Tien's boot slammed into its back, launching it forward like a rocket into the rocky cliffs. The wall exploded in debris.
Yamcha whistled. "What the heck was that?!"
Tien didn't relax. He stood tall, sweat beading on his forehead. "That's my new technique. A movement art I developed… I call it the Swapping Technique. I can shift my position instantly with an opponent, forcing them into the line of attack instead of me."
Chiaotzu's eyes shined with pride. "Tien…"
Nappa growled. "Tch, cheap tricks."
But even Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "Interesting. He's learned something beyond Earth's ordinary martial arts."
---
The Battle Intensifies
The Saibaman roared, furious, and blasted out of the rubble. Its body was scratched and smoking, but its ki flared with rage.
It rushed forward, claws gleaming, and unleashed a wild flurry. Tien held his ground, blocking with his forearms, then used the Swapping Technique again—trading places in an instant so the Saibaman smashed its own claws against a boulder instead of his face.
The creature shrieked in frustration.
"Tien's controlling the fight now!" Krillin shouted.
But Piccolo shook his head. "That thing's not done yet. Don't celebrate too early."
Indeed, the Saibaman suddenly spat a jet of acidic green slime straight at Tien. He swapped positions again—only to realize he had appeared where the spit was already falling!
"Damn!" He barely rolled aside as the ground sizzled and smoked.
Vegeta smirked slightly. "As I thought. That technique costs him precision. He can't always control exactly where he'll land."
Tien gritted his teeth, realizing Vegeta was right. It's not perfect yet. But I'll master it here… in battle!
---
Tien's Counterattack
The Saibaman lunged again, screeching as it aimed for Tien's throat. But Tien planted his feet firmly.
"Enough! HAAAA!"
He unleashed a fierce barrage of strikes—fists slamming into the Saibaman's chest, stomach, face, each blow thundering with ki. The creature reeled, stumbling back.
Tien leapt high, hands glowing with energy. "Dodon Ray!"
A blazing golden beam ripped through the air, striking the Saibaman in the chest and exploding violently. Smoke and fire engulfed the battlefield.
Everyone shielded their eyes from the blast.
As the smoke cleared, the Saibaman lay twitching, its body scorched and broken. Slowly, it pushed itself up again, growling defiantly despite its damage.
Yamcha scowled. "They're tough little weeds, I'll give them that."
But Tien wasn't about to give it another chance. His third eye glowed fiercely.
"This ends now!"
---
The Finisher
The Saibaman lunged for a final desperate strike—its body trembling as if preparing its suicidal self-destruction.
Krillin panicked. "Tien! Watch Out !"
But Tien was ready. His hands flashed together in a unique stance, his aura erupting.
"Hyaaaah! Tri-Beam… HAAAA!"
A massive, golden diamond-shaped blast of energy consumed the Saibaman before it could detonate. The ground cracked, the air thundered, and when the dust cleared—
Nothing of the Saibaman remained but a scorched crater.
Tien collapsed to one knee, panting from the immense energy drain.
Chiaotzu rushed forward. "Tien!"
But Tien held up a hand, breathing heavily yet smiling faintly. "Don't worry… I'm fine. One down."
---
The Saiyans' Reaction
Nappa growled, unimpressed. "Hmph. So he killed one. Big deal. There are plenty more where that came from."
Vegeta, however, studied Tien carefully, his expression unreadable. "That technique of his… if he can refine it, he could become a problem. But his power is still far beneath ours."
Piccolo clenched his fists. Tien fought brilliantly. But against these Saiyans… will even that be enough?
The wind howled across the battlefield as the next Saibaman screeched, stepping forward for the next round.
Tien stood tall again, despite his exhaustion, eyes blazing with resolve. "Come on. I'll fight as many as I need to."
Seeing this fight, Rudra became confident that his plan would definitely work.