Chapter 10: A Warrior's Resolve

Raditz pushed forward, his body still aching from the last fight. The suns of Namek hung high above, their light casting long shadows over the barren plains. He'd barely had time to recover, yet his senses were already alert to the next threat.

Far ahead, he could feel them—ten distinct power levels, all converging on his position. Frieza's forces had caught wind of his movements, and this time, they weren't taking any chances.

He landed on a rocky outcrop, scanning the horizon. Soon, the enemy squad came into view, their armor glinting under the sun. The leader, a hulking brute with four arms and a jagged scar across his face, stepped forward.

"Well, well," the brute sneered, his voice a low growl. "The monkey's been causing quite the mess. Lord Frieza doesn't like messy things."

Raditz's lips curled into a smirk. "You've got the numbers, but let's see if that's enough."

The fight began with a deafening roar, the squad charging at Raditz from all sides. Energy blasts filled the air, forcing him to weave and dodge at breakneck speed.

Raditz fought back with raw power, his strikes precise and devastating. He took out two soldiers almost immediately, sending their bodies hurtling into the cliffs. But the others were relentless, their coordinated attacks wearing him down.

A heavy blow to his back sent him crashing into the ground, blood dripping from his mouth as he staggered to his feet.

"You're tough, I'll give you that," the leader said, looming over him. "But even a Saiyan can't take on ten of us."

Raditz wiped the blood from his face, his eyes blazing with defiance. "You're right about one thing," he growled. "I'm a Saiyan. And we don't go down without a fight!"

With a furious roar, Raditz unleashed a massive energy wave, creating a shockwave that momentarily stunned his enemies. He used the opening to take down two more soldiers, but his energy was waning, his body screaming in protest.

The remaining soldiers circled him, their smirks widening as they sensed his exhaustion. Raditz dropped to one knee, his vision blurring. Is this it? No… not yet.

Just as the squad prepared for the final blow, a sudden surge of energy rippled through the air. A figure appeared behind Raditz, standing tall and serene—a Namekian, his green skin glowing faintly with healing energy.

The healer raised his hands, creating a barrier of light that pushed the soldiers back.

"What the—" the leader growled, stumbling as the force knocked him off balance.

"You've done enough," the Namekian said calmly, placing a hand on Raditz's shoulder.

Raditz felt a soothing warmth spread through his body, the pain and fatigue melting away. His wounds closed, and his strength returned in full force—stronger than ever, thanks to the Zenkai boost. He stood, his ki flaring to new heights.

The soldiers hesitated, their scouters beeping wildly as Raditz's power level spiked.

"I'll handle this," Raditz said, his voice cold and deadly.

The battle resumed with a vengeance. Raditz moved like a whirlwind, his strikes faster and harder than before. He tore through the remaining soldiers, each blow a testament to his growing power.

The leader tried to flee, but Raditz caught him effortlessly, slamming him into the ground.

"Tell Frieza," Raditz said, his voice a low growl, "that this Saiyan isn't done yet."

He fired a concentrated blast into the leader's chest, ending the fight in an instant.

As the dust settled, Raditz turned to the Namekian healer, his expression unreadable.

"You saved me," he said finally.

The Namekian nodded. "And you saved our people. It was the least I could do."

Raditz smirked. "Don't get used to it. I'm not a hero."

The healer smiled faintly. "Perhaps not. But you're not the monster I expected, either."

With a slight bow, the Namekian turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Raditz alone with his thoughts.

Raditz looked down at his hands, clenching them into fists. The boost from the fight and the healing had pushed him to a new level, his power surging like never before.

But there was no time to revel in his strength. There were still five Dragon Balls to find, and Frieza's forces were growing more dangerous by the second.

"I'm not done yet," Raditz muttered, taking to the skies once more. "Not by a long shot."