Evil Containment Wave

"As expected..." Master Roshi gave a bitter smile. "He must have fulfilled his wish; what is meant to come will always come."

He scanned the group, his gaze lingering briefly on the faces of Raditz and Tien Shinhan before he finally made his decision.

"Chiaotzu," he said, pointing toward an inconspicuous rock cave in the distance, "go hide in that cave. Suppress all your energy, and no matter what happens, do not come out and do not make a sound. Do you understand?"

"Master Roshi, Tien..." Chiaotzu looked at Master Roshi's calm yet unquestionable expression, then glanced at Tien Shinhan, his eyes welling with tears.

"I want to be with you all."

"Go!" Master Roshi's tone grew heavy. "Someone has to be left behind..."

"Chiaotzu, listen to me," Tien Shinhan added.

Chiaotzu bit his lip, but finally flew toward the rock cave. "I will definitely tell everyone!"

"Master Roshi, what are you planning to do?" Raditz sensed something amiss; Master Roshi was unnervingly calm.

"What am I doing?" Master Roshi turned his back to Raditz and Tien Shinhan, facing the direction from which King Piccolo was approaching, and said slowly, "You two, stay here as the final insurance."

"No way. There is no other way but to fight. I don't want to be a coward at a time like this," Tien Shinhan said, quickly stepping forward.

"Don't come any closer!" Master Roshi spun around abruptly. At the same time, his hands moved with lightning speed, pulling two spray bottles from his robes and pressing them hard.

A colorless gas erupted instantly, enveloping the caught-off-guard Raditz and Tien Shinhan.

"Master Roshi, you!" Tien Shinhan felt a wave of intense dizziness wash over him. His limbs went limp and weak, and his consciousness began to blur. Raditz collapsed right beside him.

"I'm sorry, children," Master Roshi said, his voice filled with a trace of apology and resolve. "I don't want to see any more senseless sacrifices."

"Goku is dead. If I die too, you are the only ones left who can defeat King Piccolo."

"But you are still far too weak. Train hard in the future; one day, you will be able to defeat him."

He whispered these words, gently patting their shoulders as if bidding a final farewell.

After doing all this, Master Roshi slowly stood up, walked to the center of the barren rocky ground, looked calmly toward the distant horizon, and waited in silence.

"Damn it..." Tien Shinhan fought against the drowsiness, trying to struggle to his feet, but it was all in vain.

Beside him, however, Raditz's eyes remained bright, watching the old man with intense focus.

Not long after, a spaceship pierced through the clouds and hovered slowly above him.

He was here!

A tall, robust, and powerful green figure descended slowly.

The young King Piccolo!

Master Roshi's heart hammered against his ribs. Despite his expectations, seeing the full-strength King Piccolo in person still shook him to his core.

The young figure before him seemed to bring back memories of several hundred years ago, but this time, there was no master standing in front of him; he was the only one left to stand his ground.

"King Piccolo, I have been waiting for you for a long time," Master Roshi said.

"Heh." King Piccolo raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes. "You recognize me and you're still staying here? Your courage is commendable."

"We are old acquaintances; this isn't the first time I've seen you." Ignoring the mockery, Master Roshi said calmly.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, old man?" King Piccolo sneered, his expression full of contempt. "Stop talking rubbish."

"It is not rubbish." Master Roshi's face was grave as he said, word by word, "My master and I have fought you before."

"What?" A flicker of doubt crossed King Piccolo's face, which gradually turned into horror. His expression changed drastically. "You?!"

"Mutaito," Master Roshi said the name slowly, a faint, detached smile playing on his lips. "You shouldn't have forgotten this name, should you?"

"Mu—tai—to!!"

As if by some dark magic, upon hearing these three words, King Piccolo instinctively took several steps back, his once arrogant face twisting instantly.

That humiliating memory he had discarded and forgotten surged back into his mind.

Hundreds of years... do you know how I have spent these hundreds of years?

"Bang!"

Just as King Piccolo was stunned, Master Roshi did not hesitate to pull out a Hoi-Poi Capsule, pressed his finger firmly against it, and threw it forward.

As the smoke cleared, a rice cooker marked with a talisman appeared before them, ancient and mysterious.

"Ugh..." Seeing the sudden appearance of the rice cooker, King Piccolo looked as if he had seen something truly terrifying. His body began to tremble uncontrollably. "You... could it be that you know how to..."

"Of course I do!" Master Roshi's eyes widened in fury as he gathered all his energy into his fists. "You must still remember this technique, King Piccolo!!!"

He thrust his palms forward, and a terrifying suction force that seemed to swallow the heavens erupted.

"Watch this—"

"Evil—Containment—Wave!!!"

"No!!" King Piccolo went completely mad, letting out a shriek.

He did not want to experience that painful sealing again—not for a single second!!

King Piccolo used every ounce of his strength, fleeing desperately toward the horizon.

But the boundless suction force held him tightly; if he relaxed even for a moment, he would be dragged back to the ground.

Just as the vast vortex was about to drag the frantically fleeing King Piccolo into the abyss.

A figure, fast as lightning, appeared without warning at Master Roshi's side!

It was Raditz!

His eyes were clear and sharp; where was there any sign of him having been hit by the knockout spray?

He thrust out both palms, gripping Master Roshi's hands—which were currently channeling the Evil Containment Wave with all his might—with pinpoint precision.

He pressed down!

Master Roshi's entire body shuddered; the energy he had gathered to its peak was instantly disrupted and severed by this sudden pressure!

The sealing technique that was about to take form dissipated abruptly like a pricked bubble, leaving only a chaotic gust of wind to stir up the dust.

"Master Roshi, stop!"

Master Roshi whipped his head around, looking at Raditz's calm face. He was stunned for a moment, then a surge of emotion, mixed with anger and helplessness, welled up in his heart.

"Raditz! What are you doing?!" Master Roshi cried out in anguish, "Do you have any idea?! This is the only chance!!"

Seeing that Master Roshi still wanted to break free and continue his previous attack, Raditz had no choice but to increase the force of his grip, pinning him down even more firmly.

"Master Roshi, I know, which is exactly why you shouldn't trade your life for it."

"What did you say?!" Master Roshi's body stiffened, a trace of panic appearing on his face.

"Isn't that right?" Seeing that Master Roshi had stopped struggling, Raditz said in a calm tone, "Didn't Master Mutaito lose his life precisely because he used this technique to seal the Great Demon King?"

"..."

Master Roshi remained silent for a long moment before saying, "Trading my life for the world's peace is well worth it."

"Besides, you can use the Dragon Balls to resurrect me afterward."

Raditz released his grip and stepped forward, blocking Master Roshi's path as he looked toward the figure in the sky.

"Does sacrifice always guarantee peace? Your 'Evil Containment Wave' isn't necessarily a guaranteed hit, either."

"Furthermore..."

His tone carried immense confidence, "This is not the 'only' chance!"

"What do you mean?" Master Roshi asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Master Roshi, it seems you have always deeply misunderstood me!" Raditz's lips curled upward, "Even though I have always stated that I have the strength to defeat him!"