Chapter 2: Survival Instincts

I stared at the cracked scouter screen, the flickering numbers taunting me with their insignificance. 1,500. A number that might have seemed monstrous to my old self as a human but was laughable in the grand scheme of this world. Even the weakest Z Fighters could surpass me if they trained hard enough. And Kakarot no, Goku was already leagues ahead, training with King Kai in Otherworld.

That knowledge made my stomach churn. I was a sitting duck. My only advantage was that Goku was gone for now, which meant I had time precious, fleeting time to figure out how not to die when the others came looking for me.

Think, think. I gripped my forehead, pacing around the desolate clearing where my pod had crashed. Memories from both lives collided in my mind like waves crashing against a fragile dam. Raditz's instincts screamed at me to act, to conquer, to fight but my human memories urged caution.

"They can sense ki," I muttered, remembering how Piccolo and Goku had tracked Raditz so easily. "And I can't suppress my power."

A wave of dread washed over me. It wasn't just the Z Fighters I had to worry about. Vegeta and Nappa would eventually make their way here, and if I was still this weak when they arrived, they'd kill me just for being an embarrassment.

I clenched my fists. "Damn it, old Raditz. You really left me a mess to clean up."

The first thing I needed to do was figure out how to lower my ki signature. I had no choice but to hide, at least for now. If the Z Fighters sensed me lingering around, they'd come for revenge. And while Piccolo might not be as terrifying as Vegeta, I was under no illusions I couldn't beat him, not like this.

Sitting cross-legged, I focused inward, closing my eyes. The concept of suppressing energy wasn't entirely alien to me. I'd seen Goku do it countless times in the series, blending into the background like a ghost. But knowing it in theory and doing it in practice were two very different things.

I tried to visualize my energy, imagining it as a roaring fire inside me. It was wild, untamed, flaring outward with every pulse of my heart. Slowly, I willed it to shrink, picturing the flames dying down, smoldering into embers.

Nothing happened.

I growled, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Come on, focus. If Goku can do it, so can I."

The irony wasn't lost on me. Here I was, the Saiyan who had mocked Kakarot for being soft, now trying to mimic his technique to save my own skin.

Minutes turned into hours as I sat there, trying to suppress my ki. The scouter beeped occasionally, scanning the area for any nearby power levels, but nothing significant popped up. For now, I was safe.

By the time the sun began to set, I felt... something. My energy wasn't fully hidden, but it was weaker, less like a bonfire and more like a flickering candle. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

I stood, stretching my stiff limbs. Survival wasn't going to be as simple as hiding, though. I needed food, shelter, and most importantly, strength. If Vegeta and Nappa showed up before I was ready, no amount of suppressed ki would save me.

But how do I train without making myself a target?

My eyes drifted to the scouter, and an idea sparked. The Z Fighters might be able to sense energy, but the scouter didn't rely on that. It picked up raw power levels, and that gave me a way to monitor myself and others.

I glanced at the horizon. There was no way I could leave Earth, not without a functioning pod or a spaceship. That option was off the table. My only choice was to survive here, in the shadows, until I was strong enough to face the threats I knew were coming.

My tail flicked nervously as I scanned the area one last time. "First things first," I muttered. "Find a place to lay low. Then figure out how to train without blowing myself up."

The mountains to the north caught my attention, their craggy peaks and dense forests offering plenty of places to hide. They weren't far from the Z Fighters' usual stomping grounds, but that was a risk I'd have to take.

With a deep breath, I launched into the air, keeping my energy as low as possible. The weight of Raditz's past and my new reality pressed down on me like a boulder. I had no allies, no clear path forward only a desperate hope that I could survive long enough to change my fate.

The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks piercing the twilight sky. As I flew, keeping my energy as low as I could manage, a strange sense of calm settled over me. The rush of wind, the golden glow of the setting sun, and the open sky it was a far cry from the suffocating corporate grind of my old life.

But that calm was fleeting. Every so often, I glanced at the scouter's screen, half-expecting a blip of power to appear and throw me into immediate danger. Thankfully, the Z Fighters seemed to be keeping their distance or maybe they were still recovering from the battle with the old me. Either way, I wasn't about to take any chances.

The mountains were everything I hoped for: isolated, vast, and riddled with caves. Perfect for hiding. I landed on a rocky outcrop, the crunch of my boots against the ground echoing in the quiet. Before me was a gaping cave mouth, its depths swallowed by darkness.

I ventured inside, the scouter's green glow lighting the way. The air was cool and damp, carrying the faint smell of moss and stone. It wasn't exactly cozy, but it would do.

"Alright," I muttered, setting my back against the cave wall. "One problem solved. Now, what's next?"

I slid the scouter off and stared at it, running my thumb over the scratched surface. As much as I hated to admit it, this thing was probably my most valuable tool right now. It could help me track threats, monitor my power levels, and maybe even tap into Saiyan frequencies though that last one was a double-edged sword.

The scouter beeped suddenly, jolting me from my thoughts. I snapped it back onto my ear, heart pounding. A power level appeared on the screen: 120.

I froze. It was small, too small to be a threat, but it was moving approaching the cave.

"Damn it," I hissed, retreating further into the shadows. My first instinct was to blast whatever it was and be done with it, but I knew better. Drawing attention to myself was the last thing I needed.

The power level stopped just outside the cave. I held my breath, straining to hear.

A low growl echoed through the entrance. A pair of glowing yellow eyes appeared, followed by a hulking shape a wolf-like creature with matted fur and sharp fangs. It sniffed the air, its growl deepening as it stepped inside.

I relaxed slightly, lowering my hands. It wasn't a person, just a wild animal. Still, the beast was clearly aggressive, its posture tense as it crept closer.

"I don't have time for this," I muttered.

The wolf lunged. I sidestepped easily, bringing my elbow down on its back. It crumpled to the ground with a whimper, but I didn't kill it. There was no need for unnecessary violence not yet, anyway.

The wolf scrambled to its feet and bolted out of the cave, its howls fading into the night.

I leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. "If that's the worst this planet has to offer, I'll take it."

But the encounter left me uneasy. If animals could sense my presence, so could the Z Fighters or worse, Vegeta and Nappa when they arrived.

I had to get stronger. Hiding would only buy me so much time.

But how?

I didn't have access to the gravity chambers Vegeta would one day use. I didn't have a trainer like King Kai. All I had was my body, my instincts, and my knowledge of the series.

And then it hit me: weighted training.

Goku had started with nothing, using only simple methods to push his limits—weighted clothes, endurance training, mastering ki control. It wasn't flashy, but it worked.

I glanced at the armor I was wearing. Saiyan armor was durable but lightweight, designed for mobility in battle. If I wanted to push myself, I'd need to improvise.

Standing, I ventured out of the cave and scanned the area. The forest below was dense with trees, their massive trunks gnarled and ancient. I flew down, ripping off a thick vine and looping it around a fallen log. With a few adjustments, I fashioned a crude but heavy weight to carry.

It wasn't much, but it was a start.

The night wore on as I trained, running laps through the forest with the log strapped to my back, smashing boulders with my fists, and practicing ki blasts in a secluded clearing. My movements were clumsy at first this body was still unfamiliar to me but I gradually found my rhythm.

By the time dawn broke, I was exhausted but alive, the soreness in my muscles a welcome reminder of my progress.

Back in the cave, I slumped against the wall, staring at the scouter.

"Day one," I muttered. "Still breathing. That's a win."

But as I drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in my mind: this was just the beginning.