In the wilderness.
A convoy of more than a hundred cars raced forward at full speed.
Above them, a blonde young woman and a black-haired boy floated through the air, following close behind.
"Damn it!" Dia slammed his hands against the steering wheel.
"What do these Androids want?"
The two Androids had caught up with them half an hour ago.
But they hadn't attacked.
They had simply followed them.
At first, the convoy had tried to split up and flee in different directions.
But whenever a vehicle left the convoy, the Androids hovering in the air destroyed it along with everyone inside.
"Dia, change direction. The road ahead is a dead end."
Bulma studied the map, her brows furrowed.
"Okay!"
Dia immediately turned the wheel, preparing to change course.
Just as Dia completed the turn, a beam of light fell from the sky and struck the ground not far ahead, blasting a huge crater into what had been relatively level terrain.
"Crack!"
Rocks flew through the air amid the explosion, smashing into the car's windshield.
The impact covered it with a dense web of cracks.
At last, Bulma and Dia understood.
The Androids were trying to drive them over a cliff.
Dia gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles paled, staring at the crater ahead with bloodshot eyes.
But they had nowhere else to go.
If they stopped, they would be killed right away.
Keep going?
That would only buy them a little more time.
"Dr. Bulma, let's fight them!" Dia said through gritted teeth.
He couldn't take it anymore.
The Androids had caught up with them, which meant Uncle Sloan—the man he'd regarded as a father—had already died at their hands.
And now they were being toyed with.
They were going to die either way. They might as well fight back.
Dia continued, "Doctor, stay in the car. We'll draw the Androids' attention and try to lead them away."
"No!" Bulma refused without a moment's thought.
Dia looked at Bulma, his expression serious. "Dr. Bulma!"
"You're humanity's hope. Without you and Master Trunks, we would've starved to death or been killed by the Androids long ago."
"It doesn't matter if the rest of us die, but you're different. As long as you're alive, humanity can survive better in this post-apocalyptic world."
"For humanity's future, please!"
Dia knew that without Trunks protecting them and Bulma's inventions, none of them could have survived for so long in this hellish world.
In the end, Bulma gave in to Dia's pleading eyes.
Once Bulma agreed, Dia felt relieved.
He picked up his gun and opened the car door.
After getting out, he raised his gun and roared, "Brothers, let's fight them!"
Most of the older people at their base had already sacrificed themselves.
The rest of the armed fighters were mostly boys in their teens and twenties.
They were young and hot-blooded, and the Androids had already infuriated them beyond measure.
They weren't afraid of anything anymore. They wanted to punch a hole in the sky itself.
As soon as they heard Dia, they grabbed their guns and charged out of the cars.
They raised their weapons and aimed at the Androids above.
"Fire!"
At Dia's command, everyone opened fire.
Bullets rained down from every direction on Android 17 and Android 18.
Android 17 and Android 18 folded their arms, not even bothering to dodge as the bullets struck them.
"Boring."
Such feeble attacks felt like nothing more than a tickle. They only bored him.
Android 17 raised a finger and flicked it lightly.
A tiny Ki Blast shot from his fingertip and landed among the people below.
"Boom!"
A huge burst of flames soared into the sky.
The Ki Blast came too fast and packed too much power. They had no time to dodge.
It killed several young fighters and caught several nearby cars in the blast, instantly destroying them.
"Run!"
Dia bellowed.
As if they'd rehearsed it, everyone scrambled back into their cars.
Then the vehicles scattered in every direction.
The people inside didn't just sit there. They opened the sunroofs, stuck their heads out with their guns, and fired wildly at the Androids overhead.
Android 17 and Android 18 exchanged a glance.
Android 17's lips curled. "Let's play with them, then."
"Let's see who can kill more," Android 18 said, charging forward as brilliant light began to shine in her hand.
Ki Blasts shot from her palm one after another.
"Boom! Boom!"
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Android 18 laughed wildly.
She didn't even bother to aim. Ki Blasts poured from her hand at a rate comparable to a Gatling gun.
With her unlimited energy, she had no need to worry about running out.
When resources were scarce, strike a single target. When they're abundant, blanket the area with firepower.
Clearly, she was the latter.
Explosions rang out without end, and dust billowed from the ground.
Before long,
the area for several kilometers around was swallowed by thick clouds of smoke and dust.
Android 18 finally stopped her relentless barrage.
Her attacks had blanketed the whole area, leaving hardly an inch of ground untouched.
The smoke slowly cleared.
The ravaged landscape came into view, its surface as pockmarked as the moon.
The cars and people had vanished without a trace.
It wasn't that they'd escaped. They'd been reduced to dust in the explosions.
"Devils! Monsters!"
"Demons! They're demons!"
"Mom, I'm scared..."
The sight left everyone horrified.
Those with weaker nerves were already shaking all over, unable to muster an ounce of strength.
Just then, Android 17 descended from the sky.
He was holding someone in his hand.
"Dr. Bulma!"
When Dia saw the person in Android 17's grasp, he panicked.
He hadn't expected the Androids to go straight for Bulma.
Android 17 tossed Bulma to the ground.
"Now I see why you went to all that trouble to lead us away. It was for her."
Android 17 knew who Bulma was.
She was mentioned in Dr. Gero's files.
Bulma, the genius scientist—and the mother of Trunks, who had stopped them several times.
No wonder these humans were willing to sacrifice their lives for her.
"Ah!!!"
Seeing Bulma captured, Dia couldn't hold back any longer. He charged forward, his gun spitting flames.
"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—"
Every bullet struck Android 17.
"Annoying insect."
A cold glint flashed in Android 17's eyes.
He blurred and vanished from where he stood.
Then he appeared in front of Dia and casually punched him in the stomach.
But that seemingly casual punch doubled Dia over like a shrimp.
Blood mixed with bile spilled from his mouth.
Dia felt as if his insides had been twisted into a knot. All strength drained from his body, and his consciousness began to fade.
After knocking Dia down, Android 17 ignored him and walked straight toward Bulma.
He wrapped his hand around her slender neck and lifted her off the ground.
"Weren't you trying to protect her? Come on, then."
Android 17 taunted them.
The young fighters gripped their guns, but didn't dare to shoot.
Android 17 was holding Bulma in front of himself.
If they opened fire, they would surely hit her.
Besides, their guns were useless against the Androids.
All they could do was watch, helplessly.
"Heh! Looks like you don't want to save her after all."
When no one moved, Android 17 began to squeeze.
As his hand tightened around her neck, Bulma could no longer breathe. The lack of oxygen turned her face purple.
Bulma clawed at Android 17's hand, trying to pry it loose.
But she had no chance of moving him.
Gradually, her struggles grew weaker.
Her consciousness began to blur.
"Trunks..."
At that moment, Bulma desperately wanted to see her son one last time, but...
"Kehehehehe! I can't let you kill her."