A powerful wind howled across Kame Island as the armored invader landed, his boots kicking up sand. He stood tall, scanning the group before his sharp gaze locked onto Goku. A smirk crossed his face.
"So, we finally meet," the warrior said, his voice deep and confident. "You've grown, but I could recognize you at a glance, Kakarot. You look just like our father."
Goku frowned. "Kaka-what?"
"Wait a sec—Goku, you know this guy?" Krillin asked, confusion in his voice.
The invader ignored him. His expression darkened.
"Kakarot, what the hell have you been doing all these years? Your mission was to exterminate all life on this planet. So why haven't you done it?"
Goku's brows furrowed. "Mission? What are you talking about?"
Before the warrior could answer, Krillin stepped forward, raising a fist.
"Alright, that's enough! I don't know who you are, but we've heard just about all we need to! Time for you to leave. Shoo! Go on!" He jabbed a thumb behind him. "Or maybe you need me to point you in the right direction?"
Goku tensed. "Krillin, get back—"
WHAM!
A whip-like force struck Krillin hard. His body shot backward like a ragdoll, crashing straight into Kame House with a thunderous boom! Dust and debris exploded from the impact, leaving a gaping hole in the wall.
"Krillin!" Goku's eyes widened, his grip on Gohan tightening. His face darkened.
Before he could make a move, a shadow swayed behind the invader. A long, brown tail uncoiled from his waist, flicking slightly as it settled behind him.
Goku's breath hitched.
"No way…" Krillin groaned, pushing himself up from the rubble. "He's got a tail! Just like you did, Goku!"
"He… he has a tail… just like Gohan… just like I did," Goku muttered, his shock deepening.
A low chuckle rumbled from the armored warrior. "So, you finally get it."
Goku stepped back instinctively, his mind racing. "I—I don't know what you're talking about!"
The warrior's smirk faded. "Kakarot, have you really been on this planet so long that you've forgotten who you are?"
Goku's fists clenched. "My memory's just fine! And quit calling me that Kaka-whatever! My name is Goku!"
Raditz folded his arms. "Tell me… did you ever suffer a serious blow to the head when you were young?"
Goku blinked. "What?"
Raditz's expression darkened. "Are you stupid? I asked if you ever hit your head when you were a kid." His voice sharpened as he took a step forward, his boots crunching against the sand. "Now answer me."
Goku hesitated before replying. "…Yeah. When I was little, I hit my head pretty hard. I don't remember much about it."
Raditz exhaled through his nose. "Hmph. That explains it."
Goku's eyes narrowed. "Explains what?"
Master Roshi suddenly spoke up, his voice more serious than usual. "Goku… there's something your grandfather told me once. I think it's time you knew."
Everyone turned toward Roshi as he continued.
"A long time ago, your grandfather, Son Gohan, told me he found something deep in a valley—something that had clearly fallen from the sky. Inside a round capsule, he found a baby with a tail. But that child was wild, uncontrollable. Son Gohan tried to raise him, but he didn't know what to do.
"One day, the boy took a terrible fall, hitting his head on the rocks. Miraculously, he survived. And from that day forward, it was as if he was a different child. The violent nature in him vanished—he became kind, gentle."
Goku's expression tightened. "That boy… was me, wasn't it?"
Roshi nodded gravely.
Bulma's eyes darted between Goku and the invader. "Wait… are you saying this guy and Goku are somehow connected? How is that even possible?"
Raditz smirked. "I'll explain it clearly. The truth is—you're not of this world, Kakarot."
A stunned silence followed.
"You were born on a distant planet called Vegeta, home of the Saiyan race—the most powerful warriors in the universe. You are one of us."
"No way… Goku has a brother?!" Krillin exclaimed.
Raditz scoffed. "Hah! That's right. Kakarot was sent here as an infant with a simple mission—to wipe out all life on this planet."
Goku's stomach twisted.
Raditz continued, his tone cold and matter-of-fact. "We Saiyans may be warriors, but we're also in the business of conquest. We search the universe for habitable planets. When we find one, we exterminate the local inhabitants… and sell the planet to the highest bidder.
"For planets with strong lifeforms, we send adult warriors to conquer them. But for weak planets like this one? We send infants." His smirk widened. "Even alone, you should have wiped out these humans within a year or two. It would've been easy—if you hadn't lost your memory."
Goku's fists trembled. "That's enough! Even if it's true that I came from another planet… even if you are my brother… that doesn't change a thing!
"Anyone who does the things you're talking about—destroying innocent lives, treating people like tools—you're no brother of mine!"
Raditz chuckled. "We'll see…"
His gaze shifted.
"There's something I've been wondering." His smirk returned. "That boy behind the blue-haired woman… is he your son?"
Goku stiffened. "No, he isn't."
Raditz's smirk didn't waver. "You can't fool me. That boy has Saiyan blood—I can see his tail from here."
Goku's expression darkened. "So what if he does?"
Raditz let out a disappointed sigh. "I wanted to reason with you, Kakarot. But I can see you don't know what's best for your own child."
In a blink, Raditz vanished.
Before Goku could react, a crushing force slammed into his stomach. Raditz's knee drove deep into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs. Goku's eyes bulged as pain exploded through his body like a shockwave.
His feet left the ground. He soared backward, slamming into the beach with a heavy thud, skidding across the sand. He coughed violently, clutching his stomach as he gasped for air.
Gohan screamed.
In an instant, Raditz grabbed the boy by the collar, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Gohan thrashed, kicking wildly.
"If you want your son back," Raditz said, his voice calm yet menacing, "you'll kill one hundred humans and bring their corpses here within twenty-four hours. Do that, and I'll return him.
"But if I come back and even one is missing…" Raditz smirked. "Your son is mine."
He turned to leave.
But then—
A figure stepped into his path.
Alex.
The wind howled between them.
Raditz barely spared him a glance. "Looks like I'll have to give you a demonstration of what you should be doing," he said, dismissing Alex entirely.
Alex's fists clenched. The air around him crackled.
Raditz finally turned toward him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Then, without hesitation—
Alex lunged.