Piccolo's Moment to Shine

"Cell, according to my calculations, even if you absorbed the life energy from one of my arms, I'm still stronger than you. You're doomed to lose!" Piccolo looked at Cell confidently.

"You actually pretended your arm was crippled just to trick me into talking. Don't you have a few too many dirty tricks?" Cell took two steps back in fear.

"That was the wisdom of the former Kami, not my idea," Piccolo argued.

"What? I get it now! You're what was created after Piccolo fused with Kami!" Cell shouted.

"You got it right. You only figured that out now?" Piccolo said.

"At first glance, I thought you were King Piccolo," Cell said after thinking for a moment.

"You still don't know how strong I really am, do you? Then open your eyes and take a good look. This is my true power!"

After saying that, Piccolo assumed a fighting stance. At that moment, Trunks and Krillin rushed over from afar and stopped beside Piccolo, staring at Cell before them.

"Is he some kind of monster? Is he the one who killed everyone in Ginger Town?" Trunks asked, turning to Piccolo.

"That's right. Be careful of his tail! Everyone here was killed by that tail," Piccolo answered.

"Why can I sense Goku's, Tien Shinhan's, and other people's energy from this guy?" Krillin asked, looking at Cell.

"I'll explain the details later! Right now, our priority is to get rid of this guy," Piccolo said.

"Get rid of me? Do you think it'll be that easy?" Cell said, assuming a fighting stance.

"I will definitely obtain Android 17 and Android 18! The few of you can't possibly stop me from becoming perfect, because Piccolo is the only one among you who can fight Android 17 and the others!" As Cell spoke to distract them, he leaped into the sky. Once he aligned himself with the sun, he placed both hands beside his temples and shouted, "Solar Flare!"

A brilliance like the sun engulfed the entire area. By the time they recovered, Cell had already vanished.

After Vegeta and Tien Shinhan arrived and everyone explained the situation, Vegeta insisted on resolving the problem his own way. Piccolo and the others chose to split up instead. Piccolo continued searching for Cell, while the rest returned to the location of Dr. Gero's laboratory to search for Cell's underground lab.

Meanwhile, Ye Bai and the three androids were about to arrive at Goku's home.

"Android 17, isn't there a more decent road?" Android 18 complained.

"Isn't this more fun?" Android 17 was having the time of his life.

"Could you spare a thought for me? What I'm sitting on is hard," Ye Bai said uncomfortably.

"How much longer until we reach Son Goku's house?" Android 18 turned around and asked irritably.

"We're almost there," Android 16 answered without even opening his eyes.

"You two are really taking it easy. Wouldn't this be faster?" After saying that, Android 18 leaned out and aimed one hand ahead, preparing to fire an energy blast.

"Android 18, wait, my house is also—" Before Ye Bai could finish, Android 18 had already blasted a smooth road through the way ahead.

"What did you say?" Android 18 pulled herself back in and turned to ask.

"Never mind." Ye Bai sat back down speechlessly.

"You're really strange. I never expected you to retain so much humanity," Android 18 said as she turned to Android 17.

Android 17 did not answer. It seemed that Android 18 had ruined his fun, leaving him somewhat unhappy. Ye Bai seemed to recall something and said to Android 17 and Android 18 ahead of him, "Even if we go there now, we probably won't find Goku. He should be training hard right now, preparing to defeat you two and Cell."

As they spoke, they arrived at Goku's doorstep. The four got out of the car and pushed the door open. After looking through the entire house, Android 17 and Android 16 were the first to come outside, saying that Android 18 was changing clothes inside.

Before long, Android 18 came out as well and said, "Just as I thought. Son Goku and everyone else have run away."

Ye Bai glanced inside the house. It was already a complete mess. Once Chi-Chi came back, she would have plenty to clean up.

"Alright, Android 16, do you know where they are now?" Android 17 asked, looking at Android 16.

"My radar cannot detect Son Goku's energy, but the places he and his companions often visit are either Capsule Corporation in West City or Master Roshi's island in the southern sea," Android 16 said, looking up at the sky.

"Which place is closer to here?" Android 17 asked.

"Master Roshi's home is southeast of here, approximately 2,700 kilometers away," Android 16 said.

With that, the four rose into the air and flew southeast. Before long, they arrived above Kame House.

"You have fun. I won't disturb you anymore." With that, Ye Bai vanished.

"Android 16, did you see how he disappeared? I couldn't sense even the slightest trace of his energy." Android 17's expression turned grave.

"No. His energy has never appeared on my radar," Android 16 said, his expression unchanged.

"Maybe everything he said was true." Android 18's expression also became grave.

"Forget about him. Since we're already here, let's go down and take a look."

After saying that, Android 17 was the first to descend. Inside the house, Piccolo, who had been watching the news on TV, was the first to notice the three of them.

"Hey, is Son Goku here?" Android 17 asked.

Before Piccolo could answer, Android 16 answered for him.

"Son Goku does not appear to be here."

Piccolo went back into the house and woke everyone up. They then came outside.

"Son Goku isn't here. Go back now!" Piccolo said.

Seeing this, Android 17 crossed his arms and asked, "Looks like that's the case. But can you tell me where he is?"

"Do you really think we'd tell you?" Piccolo's face darkened.

"Well, I'm not sure about that. But if you won't tell me, I'll use force to make you talk."

Seeing this, Piccolo knew he couldn't avoid it. Pointing at an island nearby, he said, "There's an uninhabited island over there. We can fight there."

"Seriously! Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

"You don't need to follow us. You'd be useless even if you came," Piccolo said, turning to Krillin and the others behind him.

With that, Android 17 and the other two flew with Piccolo toward the deserted island in the distance. After landing, Android 18 walked over to a rock and sat down, cupping her cheeks in both hands with absolutely no intention of fighting. Android 16, meanwhile, looked at the birds in the trees.

"If you refuse to say anything, I really will kill you." Android 17 rolled up his sleeves, took two steps forward, and spoke to Piccolo's back.

"I'm no longer who I used to be." Piccolo removed his cape and hat, tossing them onto an open patch of ground.

"You look pretty cute like this." Ye Bai appeared beside Android 18 again. Looking at her propped-up cheeks, he found her inexplicably adorable.

"Aren't you going to help? I thought you came together," Android 18 said, glancing at Ye Bai.

"If I stepped in, there'd be nothing left for them to do. They wouldn't need to train either—they could just hide behind me every day." Ye Bai sat cross-legged on the grass as well and looked toward Piccolo in the clearing.

"I really can't understand why you insist on fighting a battle you know you can't win. Is it just to pass the time? Or are you genuinely an idiot?" Android 17's expression gradually turned serious.

"Come on. I'll let you have a few moves first." Android 17 beckoned to Piccolo with both hands.

"Android 17 like this reminds me of Vegeta," Ye Bai remarked from beside Android 18.

"Android 17! Of the three of you, are you the only one planning to fight?" Piccolo asked after looking at Android 18 and Android 16, then turned back to Android 17.

"Of course! Someone at your level shouldn't even require me!" Android 17 said as if it were only natural.

Piccolo lowered into a horse stance and began raising his energy. Once his energy reached a certain level, Android 16 suddenly spoke up.

"What's going on? This one isn't Piccolo."

Android 17 turned around in surprise. Seizing the opportunity, Piccolo instantly appeared in front of him. The moment Android 17 turned his head, Piccolo circled behind him and struck the back of his neck with a chop, sending Android 17 stumbling forward two steps.

Before he could react, Piccolo launched a barrage of attacks, repeatedly striking his body. Only after Android 17 regained his bearings and braced himself to stop retreating did he grab Piccolo's arm and drive a knee into his chest, sending Piccolo flying.

Piccolo performed a backflip, planted his feet against the rock wall behind him, and used the force to charge forward again. The two exchanged blows nonstop, fighting from the ground into the air and farther and farther away. Ye Bai looked at Piccolo speechlessly. This guy had started putting on an act again.

Seeing Android 18 still playing with her necklace, Ye Bai silently rolled his eyes. No one ever listened when an honest person spoke. Once Cell swallowed her brother, she'd behave herself.

On the battlefield, Piccolo temporarily had the upper hand. Before long, he kicked Android 17 to the ground, and Android 18 finally let out an "Huh?"

As Android 17 lay on the ground and slowly pushed himself up, he muttered, "Impossible! His speed is actually faster than mine. That's impossible!"

Piccolo aimed one hand at Android 17's back, charged briefly, and fired an orange-yellow energy blast. In an instant, half the island was blown away. Android 17 dodged into the sky but was grazed by it. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he said, "I got carried away."

The two traded blows in the sky, but this time Android 17 gained the upper hand thanks to having no detectable energy. After pulling away, Piccolo used Prince's Tactic, but Android 17 dodged every attack.

Piccolo charged up a massive energy blast and fired it at Android 17. Rather than dodge, Android 17 crossed his clenched fists and blocked it head-on, then forcefully spread his arms and knocked it away.

"You really are stronger than before. Fighting you is getting more and more interesting, alien."

The two charged at each other again and collided, blasting a column of water up from the sea. As the spray fell, they separated once more.

"Android 17, stop playing around and beat him already! Do you want me to take the field instead?" Android 18 stood up and shouted.

"Don't make me laugh! I'm having a great time. Who needs you? You agree with me, don't you?" Android 17 answered as he turned his head, then looked back at Piccolo.

"That's right!" Piccolo said.

"Let me tell you, that power of mine that's supposedly the strongest in history isn't limited to just this much," Android 17 said, looking at Piccolo.

"Is that so? Then show me."

As soon as Piccolo finished speaking, he rushed toward Android 17. Before getting close, he threw an energy blast from his right hand, then fired a frantic barrage of energy blasts, but every one of them passed by Android 17.

"What a disappointment! Do you think such childish tricks can defeat me?" Android 17 shouted.

After landing, Piccolo ignored him and continued firing energy blasts, turning the entire sky orange. This time, Android 17 did not dodge, yet every energy blast still brushed past him.

Android 17 turned around in confusion, only to discover that countless energy spheres had surrounded him, leaving him without a single blind spot.