"Vegeta, is Kakarot coming?" Nappa asked.
"I don't know if it's Kakarot, but whoever it is will reach the battlefield in four minutes." Vegeta turned to look into the distance and said gravely, "His power level is around 5,000."
"What? A power level of 5,000? Are you sure?" Nappa's eyes widened in disbelief.
That was impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Vegeta had to be mistaken.
Vegeta was shocked too.
He hadn't expected this low-class warrior to raise his power level so much.
This could be troublesome.
And 5,000 was probably only his apparent power level.
For all they knew, he could raise it even further.
"Hmph, looks like they're starting to panic," Piccolo said.
"Yeah, Goku will definitely beat them!" Krillin's face brimmed with anticipation.
"Wonderful! Dad's coming!" Gohan was thrilled too.
"Nappa, hurry up and kill those two. If they join forces with the others, they'll be a lot harder to deal with." Vegeta made his decision at once and ordered Nappa, "This will also serve as a warning to Kakarot."
"What?" Piccolo's expression changed.
Gohan was even more startled.
Krillin turned pale.
"What about the Dragon Balls?" Nappa asked.
"Don't worry. I have another way." Vegeta smiled. "We can go to the Namekians' homeworld, Namek, and look for better Dragon Balls there. The Dragon Balls might not be real, but I think they are..."
"Kakarot's power level is 5,000? Could the Scouter be malfunctioning?" Nappa still couldn't believe Son Goku's power level could be that high.
"That Vegeta is such a shameless jerk! He said he'd wait for Goku, and now he's suddenly changed his mind." Bulma clenched her fists.
"That's only natural. If they all team up, the others really will be in danger." Luo Tian smiled.
"Has Goku really gotten that strong?" Bulma asked, momentarily stunned.
"He's doing all right," Luo Tian replied with a nod.
"Mm, Goku's power level is around 5,000 now." Bulma had seen Son Goku's power level on the Scouter too. "But... that Vegeta has an even higher power level... 18,000! Even if Goku gets there, he won't be able to beat him."
"Don't worry. Goku can use Kaioken." Luo Tian smiled. "And if he can grasp the principles of Ultra Instinct... Vegeta will get utterly thrashed. It all depends on how much Goku can figure out in this fight."
"Uncle Piccolo! Move aside! Let me fight him before Dad gets here!" Gohan gritted his teeth and said to Piccolo. "If Uncle Piccolo dies, Kami will die too, and the Dragon Balls will be gone."
"Hmph, don't say pointless things. How are you supposed to handle that guy?" Piccolo shook his head.
"This is going to end terribly... Damn it! I can't move at all." Krillin had just been injured. He was lying on the ground, finding it hard even to move.
"Kid, who do you think you can handle? You?" Nappa sneered and charged straight at Gohan.
"Yaaah!"
Gohan suddenly lashed out with a kick, landing it squarely on Nappa's big face.
Nappa went flying backward and crashed headfirst into the mountain behind him.
"Rumble!"
The mountain collapsed, burying Nappa beneath the rocks.
Piccolo stared in astonishment.
The kid was a lot stronger than I thought.
"Smack!"
Nappa shot into the air and swiftly returned to face Gohan.
"You little brat, playtime's over!" Nappa roared in fury.
I let that little brat kick me flying.
What a disgrace.
"Die!" A ball of crackling energy gathered in Nappa's hand, and he hurled it at Gohan.
Gohan was petrified.
I'm so scared.
"Whoosh!"
At that critical moment, Piccolo didn't hesitate for an instant. He appeared in front of Gohan and spread his arms to block the incoming blast.
Gohan froze.
Krillin was stunned too.
Was this really the King Piccolo I knew?
"Rumble!"
With a deafening boom, Piccolo used his own body to block Nappa's energy blast.
"Uncle Piccolo..." Gohan collapsed to the ground in fright and began to cry softly.
"Run... Gohan..." Piccolo said, then fell heavily to the ground.
"Ah... ah..." Gohan was terrified. He hurried over to Piccolo and threw himself on top of him. "Uncle Piccolo... why did you save me?"
"Run, Gohan. Run," Piccolo said weakly.
"Uncle Piccolo, please don't die! Dad will be here any moment. Please, don't die!" Gohan burst into tears.
"Hmph, that idiot ruined my order of things!" Nappa gritted his teeth. "It makes no difference anyway. They'll all die sooner or later."
"How pitiful. I, the mighty King Piccolo, end up dying to protect a child..." Piccolo said with a smile. "It's all because of you two, father and son... Your kindness changed me. Gohan, you're the only one here who can talk to me now. I enjoyed the few months we spent together."
As he spoke, tears rolled from Piccolo's eyes.
"Don't die, Gohan..." Piccolo said, then closed his eyes.
The Lookout.
"Huff... huff..."
Kami gasped for breath, cold sweat pouring down his body.
"Kami..." Mr. Popo cried out in alarm.
"My life is about to end, and Goku still hasn't made it in time." Kami sighed. "But Piccolo surpassed me, a god, in the end. I'm glad."
"Kami..." Mr. Popo fell silent.
"Mr. Popo, I'm leaving this place in your hands." Kami's body turned transparent as he spoke. The next moment, he vanished completely.
"Waaah..."
Gohan burst into tears.
"Beep, beep..."
A new power level appeared on the Scouter Vegeta wore.
Tears streamed down Gohan's face as he glared at the murderer before him.
"Masenko!"
Gohan shouted, and a powerful ball of energy formed in his hands.
"Power level 2,800. These guys' power levels really are unpredictable," Vegeta said in surprise.
"What? A power level of 2,800?" Nappa was a little surprised too. He looked at the incoming energy blast and slapped it away.
Before you continue