The Power of One Ten Thousandth, Still Only Ten Percent?

"Still, when you were dealing with that King Piccolo earlier..." Master Roshi patted Broly's steel-hard shoulder, trying to salvage some dignity as an elder and master, his tone probing yet certain. "You must have been going all out, right? Yeah, has to be—after all, the opponent was King Piccolo!"

"Uh... no." Broly shook his head, his expression perfectly natural, as if stating the most ordinary fact. "I only planned to use about one ten-thousandth of my power to test the waters. But the moment I touched him, he felt so brittle, like he'd fall apart any second, so I pulled back over ninety percent mid-strike. Honestly, I hadn't even really tried yet."

Master Roshi: "..."

Master Roshi's old face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot, veins on his forehead dancing merrily again.

You little brat!

Can you not brag with such a straight face?!

One ten-thousandth of your power... and a tenth of that?!

And you took down King Piccolo?!

You think you're filming a sci-fi movie?!

This joke isn't funny at all!

Not one bit!

Master Roshi felt his intelligence and worldview taking an unprecedented, chain-reaction, devastating blow today.

"Old man, what are you spacing out for?" Broly's lazy, casual voice broke the silence as he lightly patted Master Roshi's now-sagging shoulder, a relaxed smile on his face. "Aren't we here to find the Dragon Balls? If we don't hurry, it'll be dark soon."

Master Roshi: "..."

Master Roshi's mouth twitched slightly. He slowly turned his head, casting a deeply complicated glance at Broly, before swallowing the words at the tip of his tongue and choosing silence.

Wasn't the ultimate goal of finding the Dragon Balls to defeat King Piccolo and save the world?

But now...

That goal had been accomplished by this glutton he'd raised from childhood, in a way that bordered on child's play.

It left Master Roshi momentarily dazed, feeling that all his earlier solemnity, resolve, and readiness for sacrifice had been nothing but an unnecessary farce.

Just as Master Roshi's emotions churned in turmoil.

Krillin tore a gap in Master Roshi's thoughts, poking out his bald head, and kept pointing at his own nonexistent nose.

What about me? Master Roshi?

Aren't you reviving me?

"Uh..." Master Roshi jolted sharply, snapping fully out of his tangled feelings. He slapped his forehead hard, a look of sudden realization and guilt spreading across his face. "Right! I need to revive Krillin and that kid Goku fast! Almost forgot the most important thing!"

"But didn't King Piccolo eat the Dragon Balls earlier?" Broly seemed to recall something, rubbing his greasy chin with an oily finger, a thoughtful look on his face. Then his brow furrowed slightly, and he spoke in a low tone, even carrying a hint of reluctance. "Looks like we'll have to... dissect him, huh? Ah... too cruel! Just thinking about that scene makes me feel... feel like I couldn't eat a thing..."

As he spoke, as if to banish the horrific image from his mind, Broly naturally pulled out another glossy, fragrant chicken leg, stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation, and chomped away loudly, savoring every bite.

Master Roshi quietly raised his hand, wiping the sweat beading on his forehead with his sleeve, his inner monologue full of speechless complaints.

You call that not being able to eat?!

You're eating better than anyone, with a bigger appetite than anyone!

What a unique way to comfort yourself!

"Forget it, I'll handle this dirty work!" Master Roshi shot Broly a glare, watching him eat with grease dripping from his mouth, and shook his head helplessly. He was about to stride toward where King Piccolo's corpse lay to carry out the gruesome dissection.

"BOOM!!"

But just as Master Roshi took that first step, a deafening roar erupted from afar!

Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, it shook the very ground!

A powerful energy burst violently from the direction where King Piccolo's body had fallen, triggering a massive explosion!

The resulting shockwave, like an invisible tidal wave, swept up sand and dust from the ground, hurtling toward Broly and Master Roshi!

"Watch out!" Master Roshi's face changed instantly. Acting on the instinct of an elder protecting a junior, he lunged forward without hesitation, using his aged but still broad back to shield Broly, arms crossed before his chest, ready to weather the sudden assault.

But.

"Slap!"

A strong, powerful hand shot out faster than the eye could follow, gripping the collar of Master Roshi's neck like a steel clamp, effortlessly yanking him from the front to behind.

It was Broly!

Broly still held the unfinished chicken leg in his other hand.

Facing the onrushing shockwave, Broly didn't even shift his stance. He stood there casually, using his chest and body like an ancient, unchanging reef by the shore, absorbing the shockwave's impact with ease.

The gale whipped Broly's thick black hair back, his clothes flapping loudly.

But the ground beneath his feet didn't budge an inch, and even his chewing never paused.

Master Roshi stumbled from being yanked.

Once steady, he looked at Broly's mountain-like, unshakable back, then slapped his forehead in sudden realization, a self-mocking flush creeping onto his old face.

I'm getting senile!

This kid can crush King Piccolo with his bare hands—what's a little explosion aftermath?!

And I was thinking of protecting him...

What a pointless worry, all that showing off for nothing!

"What's going on?" Broly wolfed down the remaining chicken leg in a few bites, tossed the bone aside, blinked in slight confusion, and looked toward the direction of the explosion, a hint of curiosity spreading across his face.

"That's the direction of King Piccolo! Could it be... that guy isn't completely dead yet? Or... did he leave some kind of backup plan?" Master Roshi froze, his expression instantly turning serious again, his eyes filled with vigilance and concern.

After all, the psychological shadow King Piccolo had cast over Master Roshi ran far too deep.

"That's great! I wasn't even satisfied earlier—felt like it ended before it even started." Far from being afraid, Broly's interest was piqued at the news. His eyes lit up, and he eagerly rubbed his greasy hands together, looking ready to jump into action.

Master Roshi's mouth twitched. He fell completely silent, silently mourning for King Piccolo for a single second in his heart.