The Only Family I Have Left in This World

"They're in the sky! They're traveling in a spaceship!" Tien Shinhan's expression shifted slightly. "It looks like they don't plan to land... Maybe they want to keep those two Dragon Balls aboard the ship!"

"If that's the case... we'll jump aboard and take them by surprise." Master Roshi looked up at the huge spaceship, his brow furrowing slightly.

Aboard the spaceship.

King Piccolo was also looking down with his underling Piano.

The Pilaf Trio was with King Piccolo as well.

"Can't see anything from up here." Pilaf craned his neck and peered down carefully.

"They're hiding." King Piccolo smiled faintly and grasped the two Dragon Balls in his hand. "They must have their eyes on my Dragon Balls, too. I'd feel safer carrying them myself."

With that, King Piccolo stuck out his long tongue and gently placed the two Dragon Balls on it.

Then King Piccolo put the Dragon Balls in his mouth and swallowed them whole.

"Th-that's King Piccolo? He ate the Dragon Balls!" Tien Shinhan's third eye had excellent vision, and he couldn't help exclaiming under his breath.

"Y-you said what?" Master Roshi's face turned terribly grim. "This is bad. He's far too cunning! Looks like there's no way to get the Dragon Balls unless we defeat him."

"There's no other choice but to fight." Tien Shinhan took off his vest, revealing his muscular back, ready to fight to the death.

"Stand back. I'll deal with him!" Master Roshi said gravely, waving Tien Shinhan away. "I won't die. I drank the Water of Immortality!"

"Don't joke around!" Tien Shinhan snapped. "Do you even know why I came here? I'm going to fight!"

"Pfft, pfft, pfft..."

Master Roshi pulled out a small bottle and sprayed some sleeping medicine directly into Tien Shinhan's face.

"W-what are you doing?" Tien Shinhan asked, looking confused.

"Thud!"

The next moment, Tien Shinhan toppled to the ground, his consciousness growing hazy.

"Sorry. Get some sleep first!" Master Roshi dragged Tien Shinhan deeper into the cave and hid him carefully. "I don't want any more pointless sacrifices! There's no such thing as the Water of Immortality. I lied to you! Goku is already gone. If I die, you'll be the only one left who can defeat the Great Demon King! But you're still far too weak. Keep training, and one day you'll defeat him!"

With that, Master Roshi headed for the exit.

After taking two steps, Master Roshi slowly stopped.

"Remember to take good care of Broly... He's the only family I have left in this world." Master Roshi spoke gravely.

Then Master Roshi called out to Broly and Chiaotzu in the distance.

"Broly! Chiaotzu, did you hear me?" Master Roshi asked urgently.

"We heard you, old man," Broly replied with a nod.

"Forget the original plan! No matter what happens, neither of you is to come out!" Master Roshi's voice was grave.

"Old man, y-you're not going to..." Broly frowned, his terrible premonition growing stronger.

"Broly, take care of yourself!" Master Roshi gave Broly another kind smile.

Without another moment's hesitation, Master Roshi strode out of the cave.

"Come down, King Piccolo! The Dragon Balls are here!" Master Roshi looked up and shouted at King Piccolo in the sky.

"You can recognize me? Impressive." King Piccolo looked a little surprised, then sneered with contempt. "But anyone who knows I'm King Piccolo and still dares challenge me must be out of their mind! Heh heh heh, what courage!"

"Smack!"

King Piccolo leaped down from the spaceship and slowly landed beside Master Roshi.

"All the Dragon Balls you collected are buried here." Master Roshi pointed to where they were buried and told King Piccolo the truth. "If you can beat me, they're all yours. Help yourself."

"Hmph!" King Piccolo sneered. "What an interesting old man!"

"Let's see how long you keep smiling," Master Roshi said, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Hahaha! Did I hear that right? You really intend to fight me, King Piccolo?" King Piccolo seemed to have heard the most absurd joke in the universe. His green face twisted with scorn as he laughed more heartily, his voice shrill as an owl's cry, echoing across the barren wilderness. "You fool who doesn't know your place! Have you never heard of my legendary deeds, the ones that make everyone tremble in fear? And you still dare to bluster here!"

"This isn't the first time I've seen you." Despite King Piccolo's wild laughter, Master Roshi remained remarkably calm. He slowly removed his sun hat, revealing his bald head, his gaze sharp as a hawk's and his voice low and firm.

"Heh heh heh. Don't spout nonsense, you old fool!" King Piccolo gave a string of cold snorts, his green lips curling into a cruel smile. He clearly didn't believe Master Roshi at all. "Are you trying to scare me with such a pathetic lie? How ridiculous!"

"I'm not making this up." Master Roshi's voice grew more solemn, as though every word carried the weight of painful memories. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through time and return to an age torn apart by war. "A long time ago, my master and I fought you together. It was a brutal battle that decided the fate of the world."

"W-what?" King Piccolo's arrogant smile froze on his face as if struck by an invisible bolt of lightning. His body trembled almost imperceptibly.

At once, a long-forgotten fear from deep in King Piccolo's soul began to creep back.

"Let me tell you my master's name!" Master Roshi stepped forward, his voice suddenly rising with a solemn, resolute force. A smile touched his face, mingling pride with grief. "It was Master Mutaito!"

"W-what?! Mutaito!" King Piccolo looked as though he'd heard the most terrifying curse in the world. All color vanished from his sinister green face, leaving it a ghastly shade.

That name, that figure, that humiliating memory he'd buried surged back like a raging tide!

King Piccolo could hardly breathe!

"Smack!"

At the moment King Piccolo was reeling and left himself wide open, Master Roshi moved like lightning, astonishingly agile for his age. He quickly pulled out a Hoi-Poi Capsule and, without hesitation, flung it at the open ground ahead.

"Bang!"

With a soft pop and a cloud of white smoke, the Hoi-Poi Capsule instantly expanded and transformed. In the blink of an eye, it became an old-fashioned Rice Cooker, its timeworn body bearing several mysterious talisman seals.

The Rice Cooker stood there quietly, yet emanated an unsettling aura.