A Surprise Appearance

A Near Miss

Piccolo fires the Special Beam Cannon directly at Raditz as the Saiyan charges toward the downed Goku. At the last possible instant, Raditz twists his body and evades the spiraling beam. When the dust settles, Raditz stands with a chunk of his shoulder armor blown away and a wound on his shoulder, but he is very much alive. He grins and admits freely that a direct hit would have killed him. Piccolo stares in disbelief; his strongest attack, the one technique powerful enough to end the fight, has missed its target.

The Tail Gambit

With the situation looking hopeless, Goku spots an opening and lunges at Raditz from behind, seizing his tail in a firm grip. Raditz's body locks up immediately, all of his strength draining away just as Goku predicted. Goku shouts for Piccolo to begin charging the Special Beam Cannon a second time, and Piccolo complies, raising two fingers to his forehead once more.

Trapped and weakened, Raditz resorts to begging. He pleads with Goku to let go, promising to leave Earth and never return. Goku resists at first, and Piccolo screams at him not to listen. But Raditz's voice grows more desperate and pitiful, and Goku's grip gradually loosens. The moment the tail slips free, Raditz drives an elbow into Goku's chest and sends him crashing backward.

Gohan Breaks Free

Raditz slams his boot down onto Goku's chest, pinning him to the ground with crushing force. With Raditz free to dodge again, Piccolo knows a second Special Beam Cannon attempt will be useless. The Saiyan grinds his heel into his brother's ribs, and Goku cries out in agony. All options appear exhausted, and death seems certain for both Goku and Piccolo.

Then the space pod behind them begins to shake violently. The hatch bursts open, and young Gohan rockets out of the ship, his face twisted with rage and tears streaming down his cheeks. The chapter closes on the image of the four-year-old child erupting from captivity, radiating a power that none of the fighters expected.