Tien Shinhan: King Piccolo is Dead?

Broly and Master Roshi didn't linger any longer; they moved at once, rushing swiftly toward the area where the explosion had just occurred.

What came into view was a small, charred pit. Scattered around the edges of the pit were even smaller, burnt-green chunks of flesh and fragments of tissue.

A strange smell of burnt protein hung in the air.

At the edge of the pit, two orange beads with star patterns lay quietly, standing out sharply against the blackened earth.

They were the two Dragon Balls that King Piccolo had swallowed!

"This guy... does he just explode when he dies? What kind of weird setting is that?" Broly scratched his head, staring at the fragments on the ground, utterly baffled.

"No idea. Who can say with Demon Clan matters?" Master Roshi shook his head too, his wrinkled face equally filled with confusion and bewilderment.

But Master Roshi quickly put those thoughts aside.

The most important thing now was the Dragon Balls!

Master Roshi cautiously stepped forward, bent down, and picked up the two intact Dragon Balls. He carefully wiped off the dust clinging to them, a relieved and gratified smile spreading across his face: "Good thing the Dragon Balls weren't destroyed! What a stroke of luck! That means Goku and Krillin can be revived!"

"Yeah, at least it wasn't a wasted trip." Broly nodded.

He didn't really care who got revived, as long as it didn't interfere with his eating and sleeping.

The two then returned to where the other five Dragon Balls had been buried.

Master Roshi quickly dug through the loose soil, unearthing the remaining five Dragon Balls one by one.

The seven Dragon Balls were finally gathered together again. In the fading daylight, the stars inside them glowed faintly.

"Broly, go call Chiaotzu and Tien Shinhan over here." Master Roshi arranged the seven Dragon Balls on the ground and called out to Broly, who was standing nearby.

Broly didn't object. He turned his head toward a large rock not far away that could serve as cover, and with his characteristic voice—not particularly loud but carrying well—he shouted, "Chiaotzu, come on out. It's over. You're safe."

Chiaotzu: "..."

After a brief silence.

Chiaotzu's small white figure floated out from behind the rock, hesitant and slow.

Hovering in the air, Chiaotzu's big eyes were filled with lingering shock and barely concealed fear. He sized up Broly cautiously from a distance, as if looking at a prehistoric monster.

The scene of Broly brutally killing King Piccolo and then smashing the spaceship with his corpse had left an indelible shadow on Chiaotzu's young mind.

King Piccolo... that terrifying demon lord... was just dead like that?

Killed as easily as if Broly were playing?

Broly... who was he? How could he be so strong?

"What about Tien Shinhan? Is he okay?" Broly seemed not to notice Chiaotzu's fearful gaze—or simply didn't care—and asked casually.

"Uh... well..." Master Roshi scratched his bald head sheepishly, a apologetic grin spreading across his face as he explained, "I... to keep Tien Shinhan from acting rashly when he saw King Piccolo, I used... a bit of specially potent sleeping agent and sprayed him unconscious... He should still be sleeping back there."

"Ah! Right! Brother Tian!" Chiaotzu snapped out of his fear of Broly, remembering his unconscious companion. He quickly responded and hurriedly floated toward the rock where Tien Shinhan was.

Soon, Chiaotzu saw Tien Shinhan still lying sprawled on the ground, deep in sleep.

Tien Shinhan's face was ruddy, his breathing steady—clearly sleeping soundly.

"Brother Tian, Brother Tian, wake up, wake up!" Chiaotzu landed beside Tien Shinhan, reached out a small hand, and gently patted his somewhat rugged cheek.

"Mmph..." Tien Shinhan's brow furrowed, and he let out an unconscious groan. His eyelids twitched a few times before he slowly came to.

All three of Tien Shinhan's eyes held the dazed, blurry look of just waking up. He stared blankly at Chiaotzu, who was right in front of him, a string of question marks practically visible on his face.

"Chiaotzu? I... what happened to me? My head feels so heavy..." Tien Shinhan shook his still-foggy head, then suddenly recalled what had happened before he passed out. His expression shifted sharply, and he quickly looked around warily, lowering his voice to ask urgently, "How did it go? What about King Piccolo? Did Master Roshi succeed?"

"King Piccolo... he might be... dead." Chiaotzu's mouth twitched slightly as he answered in a hesitant tone.

After all, the way he died was just too absurd.

"Dead?" Tien Shinhan was momentarily stunned, his brain seemingly sluggish from the sleeping agent. But then he immediately jumped to his own conclusion, a look of admiration and relief spreading across his face. "Was he sealed away by Master Roshi's Evil Containment Wave? As expected of the God of Martial Arts! Truly impressive! Turning the tide at the last moment!"

"No... not sealed..." Chiaotzu quickly shook his head, a forced, awkward smile on his small face. "He was... beaten to death. Directly beaten to death."

"Dead? Beaten to death?" Tien Shinhan blinked, then again wore an expression of "I knew it," clicking his tongue in amazement. "Master Roshi really keeps his true strength hidden! Amazing! Looks like during our match at the World Martial Arts Tournament, he was definitely holding back on purpose—probably didn't even use ten percent of his power! That kind of magnanimity and care for the younger generation is truly admirable!"

"That's not it... Brother Tian... you've got it wrong..." Chiaotzu waved his hands frantically at Tien Shinhan's reverent expression.

But for a moment, Chiaotzu didn't know how to organize his words to clearly describe the unbelievable scene that had just unfolded.

"Oh, I remember now!" Tien Shinhan suddenly slapped his forehead, his brow furrowed in confusion and slight displeasure. "Right before I fell into unconsciousness... I think I vaguely saw... that kid Broly suddenly rush out and slam Master Roshi's head into the ground?! What the hell was he doing? Was he controlled by King Piccolo? Or did he betray us on the spot?"

This matter stuck in Tien Shinhan's mind like a thorn, leaving him utterly perplexed.

"Well... Brother Tian... this is... a bit complicated..." Chiaotzu felt like his brain was about to overheat. He decided it was better to get out of here first and explain later. "Let me tell you the details slowly later. Let's go out first. Master Roshi and the others have gathered the Dragon Balls and are waiting for us."

With that, Chiaotzu pointed toward the area beyond the rock.

Seeing that Chiaotzu was being evasive, Tien Shinhan was full of doubts, but upon hearing that the Dragon Balls were collected, he suppressed his questions. Supported by Chiaotzu, he walked unsteadily, stumbling toward where Master Roshi and Broly were.

The effects of the sleeping agent hadn't fully worn off. Tien Shinhan felt his head as heavy as lead and his steps as if he were treading on cotton.