I Should Be Able to Beat Him

"That really was unexpected..." Tien Shinhan stepped forward and picked up Krillin, feeling a little unsettled.

Broly quietly walked over, saying nothing.

"There's a piece of paper here. Maybe it has something to do with the guy who killed Krillin?" Oolong picked up a sheet of paper from the ground and muttered softly.

Bulma took the paper and examined it carefully. After a moment, she said, "There's a demon character inside the circle. What does it mean?"

At the news, Master Roshi's face darkened, his expression turning unusually grim.

"Y-you said what?" Master Roshi hurried over and took the paper, examining it closely.

When he saw the character on the paper, Master Roshi's face instantly turned deathly pale. The hand holding the paper trembled.

"What's wrong, old man?" Broly asked with concern.

"Could it be... How could this happen?" Master Roshi's voice grew even quieter.

"What's going on?" Bulma asked.

"This is King Piccolo's Emblem." Deep fear surfaced in Master Roshi's eyes.

"King Piccolo?" Bulma was stunned.

"I've heard of him..." Sweat appeared on Tien Shinhan's face. "A long time ago, King Piccolo turned the world into a terrifying hell. But..."

"But King Piccolo couldn't possibly have returned to this world." Master Roshi spoke gravely. "He was incredibly evil, and immensely powerful. No one could stand against him! He and the monsters he created pushed the world to the brink of death in a very short time."

Everyone present stared in shock.

"Master Shen and I were still young back then. Even our teacher, Master Mutaito, was no match for him," Master Roshi continued. "But Master Mutaito couldn't bear to let that demon rule the world and do as he pleased, so he came up with a secret technique: the Evil Containment Wave! In the end, Master Mutaito sealed King Piccolo inside a Rice Cooker... But our teacher used up all his energy and paid for it with his life."

Everyone fell silent.

"But... how could King Piccolo have escaped again?" Master Roshi wondered. "I sank that Rice Cooker to the bottom of the sea myself."

"Could Master Shen have done it?" Chiaotzu asked.

"No! Absolutely not. He knows how terrifying King Piccolo is!" Master Roshi shook his head firmly.

"If the killer really was one of King Piccolo's men, then Goku's in danger," Yamcha said gravely.

"Goku... Please don't die." Master Roshi's expression grew even grimmer.

"I hope Goku doesn't find the monster who killed Krillin," Tien Shinhan sighed.

"He'll find it, because he took the Dragon Radar," Launch replied.

"What do you mean? What's the Dragon Radar?" Tien Shinhan asked in surprise.

"I'm worried about the things he took..." Master Roshi furrowed his brow slightly and said gravely. "The Dragon Balls and the World Martial Arts Tournament roster... What does he want with them?"

"Let's wait here for Goku," Broly suggested.

"Good idea." Master Roshi nodded.

Time passed, second by second.

The sky gradually grew dark.

But Son Goku still hadn't returned.

"Goku, please come back soon. I never should've given him the Dragon Radar." Bulma prayed silently, filled with regret.

"He still hasn't come back. Maybe Goku's already been killed..." Master Roshi looked stricken. "Let's go home first. We still have to bury Krillin!"

"Damn it! I don't care if he's King Piccolo or whoever! I'm going to come up with a strategy and take him down!" Yamcha clenched his fists in outrage.

"What are you talking about? Who could possibly beat someone that powerful?" Bulma snapped angrily. "If you went after him, you'd just be throwing your life away!"

"He has the World Martial Arts Tournament roster. We're all targets anyway," Yamcha said gravely.

Bulma: "..."

Bulma considered it and found herself at a loss for words.

"Yeah! Then it has nothing to do with me! Good thing I didn't enter the World Martial Arts Tournament." Oolong breathed a small sigh of relief.

"Idiot! Do you think you'll have a peaceful life after he conquers the world?" Bulma scolded him angrily.

"Do you know what kind of technique the Evil Containment Wave was, the one Master Mutaito used?" Tien Shinhan turned to ask Master Roshi.

"No. I don't know." Master Roshi shook his head.

"Should we call the police?" the referee suggested.

"The police wouldn't be a match for him, and it would only cause panic," Master Roshi sighed. "Let's think of something ourselves. If Goku comes back, tell him we've gone home."

"Understood. I believe you'll save the world." The referee nodded.

"Would you still let us come with you?" Tien Shinhan asked.

"Of course. It'd be even better if you came along," Master Roshi said, welcoming them.

"Ah! This is terrible! My future is looking pitch-black!" Oolong sniffled, close to tears.

"Stop whining! You're not the only one with a future!" Launch snapped. Then she looked at Broly and saw him gazing up at the stars. She quickly asked, "Broly, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing... I just feel like this King Piccolo guy isn't anything special. I think I could beat him," Broly said thoughtfully.

Everyone there froze, then turned to stare at Broly.

Broly felt a little embarrassed under their gazes and gave an awkward, honest smile.

"Broly, don't talk nonsense!" Master Roshi said gravely. "You've never trained. All you do is eat and sleep... Forget it. I'll stop there."

"I'm serious." Broly scratched his head.

"Be quiet! We'll talk when we get home!" Master Roshi scolded him grumpily.

Broly quickly covered his mouth and said nothing more.

They'd just have to take things one step at a time.

If that King Piccolo guy dared to pick a fight with him...

He wouldn't mind slapping him to death!

Bulma tossed out a Hoi-Poi Capsule.

"Pop!"

The Hoi-Poi Capsule turned into a Jet Helicopter.

Everyone boarded the helicopter.

Before long, Broly and the others returned to Master Roshi's island.

They waited another night.

Son Goku still didn't come back.

Everyone felt uneasy.

Since Goku still hadn't returned, there was a good chance he'd met with disaster.

After all, he'd already used up almost all his energy fighting Tien Shinhan at the World Martial Arts Tournament.

"But even at his peak, Goku still wouldn't be a match for King Piccolo..." Master Roshi sighed regretfully and slowly shook his head.