Summon Shenron

Following this, everyone took action.

On the aircraft, Master Roshi pulled out the new radar. When he saw the positions of the seven Dragon Balls displayed inside, his heart skipped a beat.

Six of the Dragon Balls had already gathered in one place.

"We're a step too late!" Master Roshi's heart sank. "Someone has already collected six Dragon Balls."

Upon hearing this, Raditz, who was using a detector to search for Sun Wukong's energy signature, felt his pupils constrict.

He took the radar and glanced at it. Just as Master Roshi had said, six Dragon Balls were indeed clustered together, and what was worse, they were slowly moving toward the location of the seventh.

"How could this be?" Raditz looked confused. Why was King Piccolo collecting the Dragon Balls so quickly? Shouldn't he be hunting down those martial artists first?

Could it be that because he had killed that Tambourine earlier, they hadn't obtained the list?

"We have to reach the last one before they do," Master Roshi said anxiously. "Tien Shinhan, push the power to the maximum!"

The aircraft's speed increased once more.

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was heavy. Everyone understood that whoever was collecting the Dragon Balls at this time was likely King Piccolo. Once he gathered them all and summoned Shenron, what wish would he make? The mere thought was enough to make one shudder.

Master Roshi silently watched the seven Dragon Balls on the radar as they drew closer together, and he secretly made a resolution in his heart. It was time to use that forbidden technique again, even if the price was his own life.

Meanwhile, above a vast wasteland, a massive airship sailed through the sky.

King Piccolo sat upright on a throne-like seat, toying with two orange orbs in his hands. His scarlet eyes were cast downward, revealing neither joy nor anger.

On the metal table before him, the other four Dragon Balls were arranged neatly.

All seven were gathered; only the final step remained.

He looked at the orbs with a calm expression, his thoughts drifting back to a short while ago.

When he had just been released from the rice cooker by the Pilaf Gang, his plan had been clear: first, eliminate the potential threats—the martial artists.

Therefore, he had sent someone to the tournament venue to obtain the list of participants, intending to hunt them down one by one and spread fear across the world once again.

As for the Dragon Balls, obtaining one to confirm their authenticity was enough. While restoring his youth was a goal, there was no need to rush; in his view, his current power was already enough to crush everything.

However, the plan had undergone some changes.

"G-Great Demon King," Pilaf said, trembling as he presented a playback device. "T-this is something we just found in the ship's system. It's footage from the tournament venue. Perhaps you would like to see it?"

The footage was grainy and filmed from an overhead perspective, but the content made King Piccolo's originally indifferent gaze freeze slightly.

On the ring, Tien Shinhan and Raditz were locked in a fierce battle—the collision of their movements, the release of massive energy waves, and finally, that astonishing Tri-Beam.

"These two humans..." King Piccolo said in a low voice, his fingers tapping the armrest of his seat unconsciously. "Their strength exceeds expectations."

Especially that young man; his fighting style and his use of energy made him feel a subtle sense of the extraordinary.

This was not a level that ordinary Earth martial artists could reach.

Pilaf spoke up at the right moment: "While we were collecting the Dragon Balls, we were often obstructed by someone named Sun Wukong. He should be the strongest among them."

He stole a glance at King Piccolo's expression and added, "If they were to join forces, they might bring you some trouble, Great Demon King."

Join forces? King Piccolo sneered inwardly, but caution outweighed his arrogance. Having just been resurrected, his power had not yet returned to its peak.

If he were to go to the tournament where the martial artists were gathered, he might inevitably encounter someone with that disgusting technique.

And the two in the recording already possessed the strength to threaten his strongest subordinate at this stage, Tambourine...

Ultimately, for the sake of security, he had dispatched his two strongest warriors to the tournament. Their primary mission was to obtain the list of participants, while simultaneously seizing the Dragon Ball that was also near the venue.

However, shortly thereafter, Tambourine's energy signature had suddenly vanished!

"He was killed..." A hint of gloom flashed in King Piccolo's eyes. To finish off Tambourine in such a short time was something no ordinary martial artist could do.

Had he been ambushed?

He immediately used a certain connection between members of the Demon Clan to order Cymbal, who had left with the Dragon Balls, to return at full speed.

At the same time, he stopped waiting and began to search for the remaining Dragon Balls with all his might, relying on the radar provided by Pilaf.

He had to race against time! He needed to complete his wish before those potential threats could react and gather to interfere with him.

Fortunately, although he had lost another subordinate while collecting the Dragon Balls, after he had personally intervened and cleared away a small nuisance, he now had six Dragon Balls in his possession.

"Soon. Very soon, I will reclaim my lost youth and regain my complete power."

King Piccolo set the Dragon Balls down, looked at their positions on the globe, and turned to ask Pilaf, "How much longer until we arrive?"

Pilaf looked somewhat flustered and stammered, "It will still take some time. It's just that the signal shows an aircraft is heading toward the location of the Dragon Ball."

"But don't worry, my lord. At this speed, we will arrive before they do."

"Heh heh heh, reckless fools daring to come here. Do they not know that it is I, King Piccolo, who is collecting the Dragon Balls?" King Piccolo sneered.

The massive aircraft let out a low roar, its speed increasing further as it surged toward its final target at full throttle.

Master Roshi stared fixedly at the radar screen, his heart gradually being consumed by a sense of powerlessness.

"It's too late..." He uttered the words in a hoarse voice, his tense shoulders slumping.

"Master Mutten, should we continue forward?" Tien Shinhan asked, his voice dry as he recognized the desperation of the situation.

"Keep flying. We must at least see the outcome!" Master Roshi gritted his teeth.

The aircraft flew on for a few more moments.

Suddenly, the previously clear sky darkened abruptly, and immediately after, a heart-stopping golden light erupted from the distant horizon, coalescing into a massive cyan dragon.

"Shenron... has been summoned," Master Roshi murmured, his face turning ashen. The worst-case scenario had come to pass.

Raditz also frowned as he gazed at the cyan dragon. Fate had shifted; would his own wish change as well?

However, his expression soon relaxed. The number on his scouter climbed slowly, eventually stopping at 290. It seemed he had still wished for eternal youth.

"Land," Master Roshi said, taking a deep breath as his voice regained its composure. "Find a concealed spot."

The aircraft touched down in a desolate, rocky region surrounded by massive, weathered stone caves.

The group had barely stepped off the craft, still reeling from the shock of seeing Shenron summoned.

"Master Mutten, King Piccolo seems to be heading this way," Raditz said suddenly, watching the data on his scouter as the reading drew closer.