Piccolo: What Have I Been Doing All These Years

You have to give it to Piccolo in this era; he certainly knows how to read the room.

When he feels his opponent isn't someone he can be easily pushed around by, he is incredibly tough and overbearing.

But if the opponent is powerful enough to crush him, he is smart enough to take a step back to advance later.

"Before I answer that question, why don't you let me take a crack at this move of yours first?" Lin Chuan said.

As soon as these words were spoken, the three people present were stunned... no, make that four!

Even Son Gohan understood, his round eyes widening, looking adorably dazed.

After a few seconds of silence, before Piccolo or Son Goku could speak, Raditz—who had been held by Son Goku—seized the opportunity, broke free from his restraints, and regained control of the situation.

"Damn you, Kakarot! You dared to scheme against your own older brother like this. Now, I'll show you just how foolish you are!"

Once Raditz was out of danger, he didn't stay where he was for another second. Instead, as if he had grabbed onto a life-saving straw, he rushed to Lin Chuan's side.

Subconsciously, he had already pegged Lin Chuan as an ally.

Having faced one unexpected turn after another and nearly being killed twice, his vigilance had been heightened significantly.

To be honest, in Lin Chuan's view, it was truly stupid of him not to launch a lethal counterattack against Son Goku immediately.

If it were him, he would have definitely seized the chance to go for the kill!

They were fighting for their lives, yet he was acting like it was child's play. With a Power Level of 1500, he was only performing at the level of a few hundred.

"I am a member of the Frieza Force's First Legion, Saiyan Squad B119. Our captain is Vegeta, and my name is Raditz..."

As Raditz announced his identity, Lin Chuan glanced at him sideways.

His gaze carried an absolute sense of intimidation.

It instantly caused Raditz, who had been preparing to curry favor, to stop mid-sentence and stand obediently in place.

As far as Raditz was concerned, he was a bottom-tier soldier in the Frieza Force. He didn't know what the man before him's power level was, nor did he know his status, but he knew one thing: this person was definitely stronger than him.

Clearly, judging by the model of the combat suit Lin Chuan was wearing, he was at least one rank higher than him.

Judging by the aura the man was emitting, his Power Level was at least over 2000!

As for using a Scouter to check... that would be a sign of disrespect!

Even as foolish as Raditz was, he knew that trying to probe someone's strength in this situation was a very rude act.

If he annoyed the other party, he would end up being their punching bag.

"Honestly, as a Saiyan with a Power Level as high as 1500, it's pathetic that you've been beaten into such a miserable state by two people whose power levels were originally under 1000." Not paying much more attention to Raditz, Lin Chuan critiqued the situation from his own perspective.

Tell Raditz just how much of a failure he is.

Facing such a critique, Raditz flushed red. Anger welled up within him, yet he dared not lash out directly. He could only retort in a low voice, "That is entirely because these Earthlings use petty tricks, and they have mastered a way to control their Battle Power! If not for that, how could I have been taken advantage of time and time again... and then there is that brat..."

Before he could finish, Lin Chuan turned around silently and looked at Raditz closely.

This action made Raditz draw a sharp breath.

As Lin Chuan released a sliver of his aura, the Scouter worn over Raditz's eye began to display changing numbers.

There had been no prompt at first, but now, due to the alarm, numerical readings appeared.

The opponent's Battle Power climbed in one breath from 1,000 to several thousand...

"Bat... Battle Power... 5,000!!! You... You..."

Raditz was horrified, and he immediately became even more subservient.

He realized that this person's status was far above his own, comparable at the very least to a High-Class Warrior.

He had originally wanted to argue back, but what did his 1,500 Battle Power amount to in front of this person?!

Even Nappa, with a Battle Power of 4,000, would be far from being this person's match.

Unless it was the Prince!

"Saying so much just to cover up your own incompetence!" Lin Chuan narrowed his eyes, and his aura suddenly became heavy.

Lin Chuan applied pressure directly onto Raditz, appearing exactly like a superior reprimanding a subordinate.

In this situation, Son Goku, Piccolo, and Son Gohan on the other side seemed to have become invisible.

However, Son Goku and Piccolo, both seasoned in battle and highly experienced, knew that this was their final opportunity.

Regardless of whether the opponent was friend or foe, or if he was of the same kind as Raditz, they had to win by surprise if they wanted to protect the Earth!

Exchanging glances, Son Goku and Piccolo seemed to have made up their minds.

In that very instant, both of them struck at the same time.

Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon shot straight toward Lin Chuan, aiming directly for his blind spot from behind.

Son Goku gave it his all, unleashing his final Kamehameha.

Seeing the situation, Raditz, who had been pulling a long face in fear, was startled and reacted immediately: "You really don't know the meaning of death!"

With that, not waiting for Lin Chuan to react or speak, he instinctively fired a backhanded Energy Wave that slammed violently into Son Goku's Kamehameha.

And what about Lin Chuan?

He turned around with a smile, and with a flick of his hand, he caught Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon right in his palm.

Sneak attack him?

That was out of the question!

The gap in strength was simply too vast.

This ultimate technique, capable of piercing through anything in the world and originally powerful enough to kill Raditz in one hit, was nothing more than a toy in the hands of Lin Chuan.

Had it been a few years ago, when Lin Chuan's combat power had yet to break ten thousand, he might not have been so direct.

But now, with a combat power reaching nearly 17,000, even if he only utilized 5,000 points of that strength, this attack could not harm him in the slightest.

Furthermore, his physical constitution was exceptional, far surpassing warriors of the same level.

He hadn't been training in vain on that planet all these years, and on top of that, his combat power was rising every single second.

Combat power was a reflection of overall strength, encompassing every aspect of physical function.

Therefore, with the current increase in combat power, Lin Chuan's body was growing stronger at every moment. The progress was slow, but it was something he gained without even needing to cultivate for it.

Watching his ultimate finishing move being blocked by the other party with a single hand, the shock in Piccolo's heart deepened into utter despair.

He couldn't imagine what kind of nerve the man had to catch an attack that exceeded the limits of his own comprehension so directly.

Is the gap really this wide? Damn it!!! What have I been doing all these years?!! Piccolo cursed inwardly.

For so many years, his limited perspective had hindered his growth. He had thought himself invincible, believing that as long as he defeated Son Goku, he would be the strongest in the world.

He had never imagined that the world beyond his own was so vast and expansive...

The invaders who appeared out of nowhere were beings they couldn't resist even by giving their all.

It was like this now, but what about the future?

These people represented an incredibly massive force—the so-called Frieza Force...