The battlefield was broken and scarred, smoke and rubble scattered everywhere. Blood and sweat marked the ground where warriors had fought with all they had. Goku lay against a boulder, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Piccolo leaned on one knee, clutching his side, his antennae trembling with fatigue. Krillin barely stood upright, his ki nearly drained. And yet, in that hopeless silence, a single figure began to move.
Rudra.
His body trembled, but his eyes opened—sharp, burning with a strange, calm fire. Everyone's gaze turned toward him as he slowly pushed himself upright. His shadow stretched unnaturally in the dim moonlight, sliding across the cracked ground like a living entity.
Nappa, who was still staggering from his wounds, widened his eyes. "You again? You should've stayed down! I'll crush you like the others—!"
But before the hulking Saiyan could lunge, Rudra slammed one palm on the ground, and his shadow suddenly surged forward.
"Chaaya Bandhan…! (Shadow Bind!)"
The darkness leapt from beneath him, twisting like a serpent, and connected with Nappa's shadow. In an instant, Nappa's massive arms froze mid-swing. His legs stiffened, refusing his commands. His eyes went wide in disbelief.
"Wh-what the hell?!" Nappa roared, straining against the unseen force. His body twitched, but the more he struggled, the tighter the invisible grip became.
Rudra's brow furrowed, veins throbbing on his temples. "Your strength means nothing… if you can't control your own balance."
He lifted his hand, and Nappa's body jerked unnaturally to the side, crashing to the ground with a deafening thud. The ground cracked beneath the Saiyan's weight. Dust flew everywhere as the giant warrior lay sprawled, unable to rise.
Gohan's eyes lit up with hope. "Rudra… he actually did it!"
But Rudra's legs buckled for a moment. The technique was draining him faster than he had expected. His chakra—restored only slightly—wasn't enough to control Nappa's entire body with precision. All he could do was disrupt his balance and force him down. Still, in this moment, it was enough.
Nappa snarled, veins bulging on his forehead as he struggled. "Damn you! You… you think this will stop me?!" But even his voice betrayed panic. His ki reserves were nearly gone—barely enough for two more serious blows, if that.
The battlefield went silent again, everyone watching with wide eyes. And then…
A low hum filled the air.
Rudra stiffened, his head snapping toward the horizon. His senses tingled—something powerful, moving fast. Faster than Saiyan pods could ever travel. His heart sank.
And then, piercing through the clouds, a massive shadow streaked down from the skies. The ground trembled as a Frieza Force ship descended, the air whipping violently around them. The ship's metallic hull gleamed in the moonlight, its engines roaring before it finally landed with a thunderous crash just ahead of them.
The dust cloud parted.
Everyone froze.
Krillin's face paled. "W-what… what is that?"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes, his sharp senses on edge. "That's… no ordinary ship. I can feel it—powerful ki inside. Several of them."
Even Vegeta, lying bruised and battered nearby, growled under his breath. "Damn it… of all the times…" His prideful scowl deepened, annoyance flickering in his dark eyes. "Why now… why them?"
Nappa, still pinned to the ground, broke into a cold sweat. His bravado drained instantly, replaced by a rare expression: fear.
"Impossible…! No… not them…"
The ship's massive hatch hissed open. The metallic clang of boots echoed as dozens, then hundreds, of armored soldiers poured out, forming strict lines in front of the Z Fighters. The battlefield, once filled with silence, now throbbed with the presence of Frieza's army. Their glowing scouters blinked, each one locking onto the injured warriors.
Gohan gasped, stumbling back instinctively. "There's… so many of them…"
Krillin's voice shook. "We can't fight this. Not like this. Not now…"
And then… from within the lines of soldiers, a massive figure emerged. Bulky, pink-skinned, with sharp tusks jutting from his cheeks and a cruel smirk stretching across his face. His armor gleamed, and his eyes scanned the battlefield with mocking delight.
Dodoria.
Rudra's fists tightened. His suspicion was correct—only Frieza's forces could move so quickly between worlds.
Dodoria chuckled, his voice heavy and cruel. "Well, well, what do we have here? A ruined battlefield, Saiyans beaten within an inch of their lives… and a handful of pests who dare to stand against us. How delightful."
The Z Fighters tensed. Even the bravest among them felt their stomachs sink.
Up in the heavenly realm, Kami's face grew grave. He pressed his staff into the ground, his voice trembling as he communicated with King Kai. "Those… those soldiers… this aura… I can feel it. King Kai, tell me this isn't who I think it is…"
But King Kai's reply came quickly, grim as death itself. "It is. That's the Frieza Force. And that one at the front—Dodoria—one of Frieza's personal enforcers. This isn't just some invasion squad. This is a death sentence for anyone who stands in their way."
Kami's eyes widened, his voice heavy. "Then even I may have to step in… otherwise, Earth will fall."
Back on the battlefield, Rudra took a step forward, his breathing heavy but his spirit unyielding. He shouted at the soldiers, his voice echoing across the broken wasteland:
"Who are you?! What business do you have here?!"
Dodoria's grin widened as his soldiers spread out behind him, forming a living wall of death. "We are the ones who hold the fate of worlds in our hands, boy. And you…" His beady eyes flickered with cruel amusement as he gestured at Vegeta and Nappa. "You've already served your purpose. Now, it's time for the rest of you to join the ashes of history."
The Z Fighters froze. The weight of Frieza's shadow had finally reached Earth.
And for the first time since the battle began, even the fearless warriors… felt fear.