The Battle Begins

Several streaks of light cut across the sky, continuing to fly toward the distant horizon.

Android 20 was growing impatient. "Are you going to keep this up forever, Goku? Where do you have to fly before you'll be satisfied?"

Goku didn't answer. He only glanced back, then turned his head forward again, a flicker of pain crossing his face.

When Android 20 saw he had no intention of stopping, he looked down at the terrain below and finally spoke. "Here will do. Let's pick this spot." He abruptly stopped in midair, his tone cold. "You should know that you never had a choice to begin with." Without another word to Goku and the others, he descended straight to the ground.

Goku watched the android descend without saying anything, but his right hand had quietly pressed against his heart. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The android landed first. Goku and the others followed close behind, touching down opposite him and forming a standoff.

Piccolo looked around. They were in a plateau region, surrounded by bare, rocky mountains. He immediately understood the other side's plan: if things went badly, the terrain would make it easier to hide and evade them.

A gust of wind swept by, stirring up fine dust.

Goku panted heavily as he spoke first. "All right, before we start fighting, tell me why you know so much about us."

Tien Shinhan heard the heavy panting in his voice and wondered, Why is Goku panting so hard? All he did was fly through the air...

Android 20 answered readily. "Fine, I'll tell you. After you hear it, you might regret asking."

"Goku, for a long time, without your knowledge, I've been tracking you with tiny insect-shaped robots. During the World Martial Arts Tournament... when you fought Piccolo... and when you fought Vegeta and the others. In short, I've been studying you for years—studying why you destroyed our Red Ribbon Army, and what kind of androids we'd need to defeat you."

"So this is personal revenge?" Goku guessed from the hatred in his words.

"That's right. Because of you, our Red Ribbon Army's grand dream of conquering the world was destroyed. Doctor Gero was the only one who survived."

Piccolo picked up on something. "From the way you've been talking, it's as if you're Doctor Gero yourself."

Android 20 immediately denied it. "I won't let you say that. I'm merely Android 20, an android personally created by Doctor Gero. Doctor Gero is dead. He no longer exists in this world."

"I see. So did your spies follow us to Namek to observe us?"

"There was no need. I already saw all your hidden tricks and your usual fighting style when you and Vegeta fought the others. Even if your skills have improved since then, judging by your age, you can't have made any major advances."

After hearing that, Goku's lips curled slightly. "Looks like you forgot to investigate something important. That means you've already lost."

"What?"

"That's your fatal mistake—you didn't even know about Super Saiyans."

"Super Saiyans?"

"Ah—!"

In an instant, Goku's muscles swelled, and his hair rose as if blown by an unseen wind, turning from black to brilliant gold. His pupils shifted to emerald green. A golden aura erupted around him, and the immense pressure sent dust flying in every direction.

Super Saiyan Goku had arrived.

That astonishing aura swept outward like a storm, showing Gohan and the others, who were rushing over, the way.

"Neither of you interfere." Goku continued to raise his power, his voice firm. "They're mainly after me."

Android 20 watched him transform without panicking. "Impressive. Goku's power has indeed increased quite a bit."

The fat android beside him—Android 19—studied Goku's readings and spoke. "Android 20, this move doesn't seem to be Kaio-ken."

"This technique is incredible. It far exceeds the values I calculated," Android 20 said, still calm. "But it's not enough to make us panic. Not only can I handle him—even Android 19 alone would be more than enough."

Android 19 nodded, agreeing with him.

On a towering peak in the distance, Malvis had somehow come by a bucket of popcorn and was watching with relish. "Looks like the fight's about to begin. Impressive aura, but he's still a little short on strength. He needs more training." He paused. "Doctor Gero was a talent, too. What a shame he was an out-and-out villain."

On the battlefield, Goku leaned forward slightly, then burst with energy and shot toward the android like a golden bolt of lightning.

Android 19 reacted in a flash, reaching out to grab him. Goku teleported behind him, but Android 19 quickly spun around and kicked. Goku raised his arm to block, and the two instantly clashed.

The fight moved from the ground into the air, then shifted from the sky to the rocky mountains. Using the terrain to his advantage, Android 19 slipped behind a massive stone pillar. Taking advantage of Goku's blind spot, he quickly formed an energy blast in both hands and fired it at the mountain and Goku behind it.

The blast exploded with a thunderous boom, blowing the upper half of the pillar into rubble and filling the air with dust. Goku crossed his arms to shield himself from the flying rocks. Taking advantage of the opening, Android 19 focused his energy into his fist and punched—sending Goku flying backward.

But in the very next instant, Goku appeared above Android 19 and launched a counterattack from overhead. Their fists and feet clashed again as they fought. The battlefield shifted repeatedly, and Goku soon seized an opening, smashing his elbow into Android 19's back. The tremendous force sent Android 19 flying straight into a small mountain. The entire mountain collapsed with a roar, burying him beneath the rubble.

"Nice work, Goku!" Piccolo and Tien Shinhan cheered together.

At last, a faint change appeared on Android 20's unruffled face.

The dust gradually settled, and Android 19 rose from the rubble—without a scratch on him.

In the next instant, Android 19 charged toward Goku like a cannonball. Goku blocked him firmly with his right hand, then kicked him into the sky. Goku immediately burst forward at high speed, catching up behind Android 19 as he continued to rise. Android 19 quickly steadied himself and turned, throwing one punch after another at Goku, but Goku dodged them all with ease.

Goku shifted from defense to offense and launched a furious barrage of attacks against Android 19. Faced with this intense assault, Android 19 could only defend himself. On the rare occasions when he tried to counterattack, Goku effortlessly thwarted him. Goku's offensive only grew more ferocious, as if he wanted to end the fight as quickly as possible.