You Don't Look Like Much, Either!

"R-Rice Cooker!!" King Piccolo's eyes landed on the familiar, nightmarish object, and he was instantly scared out of his wits. His massive body trembled uncontrollably, and his voice quavered. "C-Could it be... Could this be... that..."

"You should still remember how Master Mutaito sealed you inside one of these Rice Cookers all those years ago, shouldn't you?!" Master Roshi's hair and beard bristled as he summoned every ounce of strength to let out a deafening roar. His voice brimmed with righteous fury and unwavering resolve. "History is about to repeat itself! This time, you still won't escape your miserable fate of being sealed away!"

"Ahhh—no!!!"

King Piccolo was truly terrified. The fear rising from the depths of his soul overwhelmed all his arrogance and anger.

In that moment, King Piccolo no longer cared about his dignity as a demon king. He let out a piercing scream, his energy erupting wildly as he hurriedly took to the sky like a giant bird startled into flight, desperate to escape the place that was about to become his prison once more!

"Evil—Containment—Wave!"

Master Roshi's gaze burned as he fixed it on the green figure trying to flee through the air. His hands traced an arcane pattern before his chest, and the ki throughout his body surged like boiling water, gathering in his palms as he prepared to unleash the sealing technique that would cost him his life!

"Old man! Don't do anything stupid!"

At the critical moment, a figure came rushing over at a speed beyond the eye's ability to follow!

It was Broly!

With a hint of urgency on his face, Broly ignored the terrifying energy gathering around Master Roshi. One hand shot out like lightning and landed squarely on the back of the old man's head. Then he ruthlessly shoved it down!

"Thud!"

With a muffled crash, Master Roshi's old face met the solid ground with no cushioning whatsoever.

The tremendous impact even left a clear, shallow imprint of his body in the earth, sending up a little dust.

Master Roshi: "..."

In that instant, Master Roshi felt as if his lower back had nearly snapped. His head rang, and stars danced before his eyes.

Lying in the crater, Master Roshi felt his sanity nearly shatter into a million pieces.

You ungrateful brat...

You little bastard...

Master Roshi roared silently inside.

If I hadn't raised you from infancy...

I'd really suspect you were a spy King Piccolo planted by my side!

You actually... You actually ran over and hit me at a time like this?!

"Thud!"

After successfully pinning Master Roshi to the ground, Broly didn't pause for a second. He immediately spun around, dashed over to the Rice Cooker with the sealing talisman on it, raised his foot, and stomped down!

"Crack—crash!"

The Rice Cooker that held their only hope was like a fragile eggshell. It didn't last even a second before bursting into pieces, fragments flying everywhere. The mysterious talisman on it lost all its luster in that instant.

Having finished, Broly seemed to have accomplished something truly impressive. Only then did he breathe a little sigh of relief.

Broly dusted off his hands, his face returning to its usual calm, untroubled expression.

Then, as if by magic, Broly produced a glistening, fragrant chicken drumstick from who knew where. He took a hearty bite and chewed away, oblivious to everyone around him.

Tien Shinhan, who had just broken free of the mind control but had fallen half unconscious from his severe injuries, happened to witness this unbelievable scene.

Tien Shinhan's three eyes flew wide, nearly bulging out of their sockets. He was utterly stunned.

Broly!

What the hell are you doing?!

That's Master Roshi, who raised you! He's your grandfather!

How could you hit him, too?

Whose side are you even on?!

Overwhelmed by confusion and physical weakness, Tien Shinhan's vision finally went black, and he lost consciousness completely.

Struggling, Master Roshi painfully lifted his head from the human-shaped hole in the ground, dirt and grass stuck to his forehead.

The next moment, Master Roshi stared blankly at the pile of Rice Cooker fragments on the ground.

It felt as if not only had the sky fallen...

His convictions and hopes had shattered along with it.

I only had one Rice Cooker with a sealing talisman...

I'd poured my heart and soul into preparing it as a last resort for a situation like this...

And now... Now you've destroyed it with one careless, casual stomp?

Boundless despair engulfed Master Roshi's heart.

It's all over!

This world really is going to fall completely under this demon's control!

Chiaotzu quietly wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead with his sleeve. The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and his little head was full of big questions.

How had things turned out like this?

That Broly... Wasn't he one of us?

Wasn't he here to help?

King Piccolo had already flown high into the air. After his initial desperate flight, he realized that the terrifying energy he feared wasn't coming from below. He couldn't help taking the opportunity to glance down quickly.

When he saw what had happened, King Piccolo first froze. Then, an indescribable joy erupted in his chest like a volcano, and he nearly burst out laughing on the spot.

King Piccolo felt as if happiness had come far too suddenly.

Who was that young man...?

King Piccolo's green face twisted into an exceedingly strange expression—a smile that mixed shock, confusion, and overwhelming delight.

I get it!

He must have realized that I, King Piccolo, am the true ruler of this world and decided to join me, right?

That's why he stepped in at the critical moment, knocked that meddlesome old man down, and stopped him from using that damned Evil Containment Wave!

And not only that—he even thoughtfully destroyed that damned Rice Cooker!

He really is... really knows which way the wind blows!

Convinced he'd figured out the key to everything, King Piccolo suddenly felt a confidence unlike anything he'd ever known swell through him. His earlier thoughts of fleeing were instantly cast out of his mind.

What was there left to run from?

The danger was over!

"Pat!"

King Piccolo steadied his rapidly rising body and descended slowly, with the calm arrogance of a victor. Like a king arriving in his own territory, he landed squarely in front of Broly, who was eating a chicken drumstick and getting grease all over his mouth.

"Kid, you've got good instincts!" King Piccolo tried to make his voice sound kind, though the snake-like eyes still glittered with cruelty. He gave Broly a green thumbs-up and spoke as if granting him a favor. "Not bad, not bad at all! You made the right choice at the critical moment and did me a huge favor! Since you're so sensible, I might make an exception and take you on as my personal underling! From now on, the glorious duties of cleaning my throne and massaging my legs are all yours!"

Broly stopped chewing and lifted his eyelids, studying King Piccolo from head to toe without the slightest respect.

After a few seconds, Broly furrowed his brow slightly and muttered in genuine confusion, "You don't look like much... You seem... really weak."