The Saiyans Return!

"Hmph, so it still didn't work. Looks like I can only rely on this move."

Piccolo still had another trick up his sleeve!

Piccolo placed the index and middle fingers of his right hand against his forehead. A massive amount of purplish-red energy quickly began to gather.

"What?!"

Feeling the energy accumulating in Piccolo's hand, Cooler couldn't help being taken aback. That energy could clearly leave him seriously injured!

But when had Piccolo prepared it? Why hadn't he noticed at all?

This was where Piccolo's combat intelligence showed.

Piccolo knew that the opening scattershot and Hellzone Grenade were nothing but distractions. He'd used the surging energy and clouds of dust to block Cooler's vision and hinder his ki sensing, then seized the opportunity to charge up his real killing move!

"Special Beam Cannon!"

Piccolo shouted and immediately pointed two fingers at Cooler.

"Whoosh!"

A spiraling purplish-red beam shot toward Cooler at tremendous speed.

"What—!"

Cooler had charged toward Piccolo at high speed from the start, and now he was heading straight into the Special Beam Cannon!

At the last possible moment, Cooler managed to twist aside, barely moving his chest out of the way. But the tip of his tail was struck.

The Special Beam Cannon truly lived up to its reputation as a move capable of overcoming stronger opponents. Piccolo's power had only reached three million after his burst of energy, but the Special Beam Cannon boosted it to ten million!

At that moment, Cooler's power had only risen to nine million.

Whoosh!—

The Special Beam Cannon sliced off the end of Cooler's tail. Its power didn't diminish, and it pierced straight through the woods and mountains behind him.

The astonishing purplish-red beam swept through like a laser, leaving nothing alive in its path!

"Argh!—"

Cooler's tail throbbed with pain, and purple blood flowed from the wound.

"Damn it, I was so close."

Piccolo gritted his teeth. His combo had stood a good chance of hitting Cooler.

"I'll tear you to pieces!!!"

Cooler was beside himself with rage. The bug he'd thought he could toy with had actually managed to hurt him!

He had to torture Piccolo to death!

"Boom!"

Cooler powered up in an instant. A purple aura surged into the sky, whipping up a terrifying whirlwind. Energy swept across the area, the surrounding mountains collapsed, and the landscape was devastated. The entire area trembled!

Cooler's power instantly shot up to twenty million!

"Whoosh!"

A blur flashed past, and Cooler appeared in front of Piccolo in an instant. Before Piccolo could react, Cooler punched him in the chest.

"Cough! Argh!—"

Several of Piccolo's ribs broke instantly, and his chest caved in.

"Hah! Argh!—"

"Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!"

Cooler began mercilessly beating Piccolo.

He pummeled him with punches and kicks, each vicious blow aimed at a vital spot, leaving Piccolo no chance to fight back.

"Hah!"

At last, Cooler grabbed Piccolo by the neck, then yanked his right arm with one hand.

"Riiip!"

Poor Piccolo—his right arm was torn off by force, blood gushing out in a horrifying spray.

"Argh!—"

Piccolo screamed in agony, overcome with regret and despair.

"Hmph, you wretched Namekian. I'll tear your body apart while you're still alive."

Cooler sneered cruelly.

"Hmph!"

Piccolo grunted stubbornly and fired beams from his eyes, hitting the arm Cooler was holding him with.

Cooler's hand stung, and Piccolo immediately escaped.

"Hmph, you're quite stubborn. I wonder what your face will look like when you're in despair."

Cooler said viciously.

"That little brat from earlier—you care about him, don't you? Then he can just die! Hahahahaha!"

Cooler fired an energy blast toward where Gohan had fallen. He knew Gohan was Piccolo's weak spot. He wanted to kill Gohan, drive Piccolo into despair, and only then kill him slowly!

"No!!!!"

Piccolo watched in horror as the rapidly flying blast hurtled toward Gohan. He wanted to rush over and shield him, but his body had been badly injured and he was missing an arm. He tried to fly, but couldn't keep his balance. All he could do was watch helplessly as the merciless blast swallowed Gohan!

Memories of his time with Gohan flashed through Piccolo's mind like a revolving lantern: from Gohan's fear of him at first, to curiosity, admiration, and respect. Now he was watching his pupil die before his eyes! Despair and grief surged through Piccolo.

"Boom!"

The blast struck the spot where Gohan lay, unleashing a merciless explosion.

"No!"

"Gohan!"

"This can't be!"

"Damn it!"

Though Krillin and the other Z Fighters were down, they had noticed what was happening on the battlefield. Knowing Gohan had been killed, they were overcome with grief and anger.

"Good thing I made it in time!"

Just as everyone was drowning in grief and despair, a sudden voice rang out.

"What?"

Cooler was stunned. Someone else had escaped his perception? Who could it be?

As the dust cleared, three figures appeared where Gohan had fallen!

Li Feng! Son Goku! Vegeta!

They were back!

"Ah! It's Goku!"

"Goku and the others are back!"

"And Li Feng! This time, they can definitely take down those monsters!"

"Thank goodness!"

Krillin and the others cheered.

"Phew—"

Piccolo let out a long breath, relieved that his delaying tactics had paid off after all.

"Gohan, are you all right?"

Goku held Gohan in his arms and fed him a Senzu Bean Li Feng had given him earlier.

"Dad...?"

Gohan opened his eyes, still dazed. It was as if he could see his father.

"Yes, it's me. Eat this Senzu Bean first."

"Okay..."

Gohan managed to chew and swallow it.

Gohan's injuries had actually been severe. Every bone in his body was broken, and he'd been clinging to life by a thread.

"Huh? Dad! And Uncle Li Feng! You're finally back!"

After eating the Senzu Bean, Gohan's injuries were completely healed. When he opened his eyes, he realized that what he'd sensed hadn't been a dream—his protectors had really returned!

"That's right, Gohan. Give the Senzu Beans to the others first. We'll deal with these despicable enemies!"

Goku handed Gohan a bag of Senzu Beans, then stood up to face Cooler.

"Okay, Dad."

Gohan took the Senzu Beans and flew toward Piccolo.

"Li Feng, I'll deal with this despicable guy myself this time!"

Son Goku's expression was serious as he spoke to Li Feng.

"Yeah, I'll leave it to you. I don't plan to get involved in this fight."

Li Feng stepped aside.

He knew that as a father, Goku would want revenge after seeing his son and companions badly injured. Li Feng didn't intend to steal the spotlight.

"Hmph, then I'll kill King Cold myself."

Vegeta spotted King Cold in the distance, wearing a cape, and found his opponent.

Li Feng also escorted Gohan as he brought Senzu Beans to the others, in case Cooler and the others tried to launch a sneak attack.

"Uncle Piccolo, here's a Senzu Bean for you. I'm not sure if it can heal your arm, though."

Gohan took out a Senzu Bean and handed it to Piccolo.

"Thank you, Gohan."

Piccolo smiled at Gohan and ate the Senzu Bean.

Then he cried out. His right arm immediately regenerated, fluid from the regrowth streaming from it.

"I'm fine. Go find the others."

Piccolo said, then nodded at Li Feng.

After that, Gohan also brought Senzu Beans to the fallen Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and the others.

Fortunately, though everyone had been badly injured, none of them had died. After eating the Senzu Beans, they all recovered immediately.

Meanwhile, Cooler and King Cold focused their attention on the three who had suddenly appeared.