Nappa and Raditz entered the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. The heavy doors closed behind them, leaving only Rudra, Kami, and Mr. Popo standing in silence on the Lookout.
Rudra turned to the Guardian of Earth. "So, Kami-sama… how much have Goku and Vegeta grown?"
Kami's old face softened into a small smile. "Their power has increased tenfold. And Vegeta… has even learned some of Goku's techniques. Including Kaioken."
Rudra froze. "What?!"
The shock hit him harder than expected. In the original manga timeline, Vegeta had always relied on his own pride and instincts, rarely copying Goku's unique skills. He had only once demonstrated the Instant Transmission technique, and even then, he never used it seriously again. At times, Vegeta would mimic simple moves, even tricks Krillin once used—but Goku's techniques? Never.
Yet this time, things were different.
Rudra thought to himself: Vegeta must have been losing repeatedly to Goku in training. To fight him on equal ground… he must have swallowed his pride and learned Kaioken.
The very idea unsettled Rudra. A future where Vegeta expanded his arsenal with Goku's own skills could change the balance of everything.
Rudra drew a slow breath and asked his next question. "And… what about Piccolo and Gohan?"
Kami's smile faded into a disappointed frown. "Unfortunately… Chi-Chi refused to allow Gohan to enter the chamber, even for a single day. Piccolo and Krillin went inside instead."
Rudra clenched his jaw, equally disappointed. Without the brutal training environment of the chamber, Gohan's growth would lag behind. That was dangerous. Sooner or later, every Saiyan would need to unlock the Super Saiyan form—and Gohan's potential was crucial to the survival of Earth.
"Looks like I'll have to train alone then," Rudra muttered.
Kami sighed. "There was… one more who asked to accompany you. Yajirobe. But I denied him. His body simply wouldn't withstand the gravity inside the chamber."
Rudra smirked faintly at the thought of Yajirobe collapsing in the chamber. But his expression quickly hardened. "Anyway… Kami-sama, please stay in contact with King Kai. I want constant updates about Frieza's ship and its course toward Earth."
Kami nodded gravely. "Understood."
Rudra placed two fingers against his forehead. In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
---
A Visit to Capsule Corporation
He reappeared in West City, inside Capsule Corporation's compound. Rudra's eyes widened—Vegeta was here. Not only that, he was actually staying under Bulma's roof.
Unbelievable… has Bulma really endured Vegeta's arrogance long enough for him to live here? Rudra thought.
Inside, Vegeta looked up the moment Rudra appeared. His sharp eyes narrowed.
Bulma wasn't in sight, but Vegeta was clearly comfortable here. More surprising was the fact that he wore a newly designed armor suit—Bulma's handiwork.
With a serious expression, Vegeta rose to his feet. "What do you want from me?"
Rudra didn't waste time. "I need to know your base power level… and then your maximum."
Vegeta gave a short, humorless laugh before sitting back down. "Hmph. My scouter broke. I have no way of measuring it."
Rudra's gaze didn't waver. Slowly, he raised two fingers to his forehead. He focused his ki, stretching his awareness across the stars. Within seconds, he locked onto a familiar cluster of energy signatures—the cold, sharp power of Frieza's forces.
Then, without another word, Rudra vanished again.
Vegeta's eyes widened. His fists clenched tight, his knuckles cracking. "That technique again…! Instant Transmission. I must learn it."
---
Arrival at Frieza's Headquarters
The void of space parted, and Rudra appeared near the massive metal structure floating in the darkness—Frieza's headquarters. The colossal ship radiated menace, its engines glowing faintly like burning coals.
But the moment Rudra arrived, alarms screamed across the entire station.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Red sirens blazed, bathing the corridors in crimson light.
"Intruder detected!" a metallic voice roared through the ship's speakers.
Deep inside, soldiers scrambled in panic. One member of the Ginyu Force snapped his head up as his scouter beeped.
"Power level… five thousand!" he muttered, eyes narrowing. Immediately, he shot into the air, racing toward the unknown energy signature.
Meanwhile, on the command deck, Frieza's subordinates glanced at each other in alarm. This was no ordinary scout. No one dared to trespass here.
And yet, Rudra stood calmly in the cold emptiness of space, staring at the monstrous fortress before him.
"This… is where the storm begins," he whispered.
---
To Be Continued…