Earth's Defense Battle, the Cunning Slug

Krillin and the others had yet to react and prepare for battle.

Yet the demon clan warriors who had surrounded them had already fallen.

Son Gohan had flashed into the distance. He was already close to the exploding planet, clearly prepared to fight whoever was inside!

He blinked twice and asked Goku beside him, "Goku, when did you secretly train Gohan? His strength is ridiculously powerful now!"

Son Gohan merely widened his eyes and shook his head.

He then used Flight to follow Gohan and said, "Let's go take a look first. This guy is indeed very evil, and his energy feels a lot like Piccolo's."

While they were speaking.

Son Gohan had already rushed to the front of the smoke.

He looked inside in confusion. Just moments ago, he had still been sensing that evil energy, but it had suddenly vanished as though it had never existed.

Even he had failed to notice where the enemy had gone.

This guy really is different from the one in my memories!

Son Gohan grew wary. His aura rapidly flared around him as he remained alert for attacks that could appear from anywhere.

He did not think that guy would simply leave.

At that moment, Son Goku and Piccolo caught up as well. Both of them could likewise sense that the evil energy had concealed itself.

"Gohan, what exactly is going on?"

Son Goku could not make sense of the situation, so he simply asked Gohan. At the moment, Gohan seemed to be the only one who knew what was happening.

Son Gohan shook his head before replying, "I don't know why, but that guy has hidden himself. Logically, if he dares call himself the King of the Great Universe, he shouldn't be afraid of a challenge."

Naturally, none of them had an answer to that.

But Gohan had already somewhat understood Slug's actions.

That guy possessed the power to fuse with others, growing stronger and younger. There was a high chance that he had gone looking for Namekians. He clearly intended to become stronger before the final battle.

Having realized that guy's objective.

Son Gohan quickly looked up into the sky.

He was using energy sensing to scan every corner of Earth, searching for Uncle Piccolo and Kami, since either of them could be the other party's target.

"Is that... the direction of The Lookout?"

Son Goku noticed the direction Gohan was looking toward and immediately began sensing as well, clearly worried that something might happen to the Guardian of Earth.

"What's going on? Could that guy be planning to attack the Guardian of Earth?"

Krillin also felt that things were becoming increasingly confusing.

"Dad, that guy can fuse with Namekians and take their power. I think he'll probably go after Kami or Uncle Piccolo!"

"A fusion ability?"

"Yeah. Dad, please go to The Lookout. I'll search for Uncle Piccolo on the other side."

Son Goku pondered slightly. He could sense that Gohan had changed greatly today—he was practically a different person from before.

But he could see the sincerity in his eyes.

That was his son, Gohan, and there was not the slightest lie in what he was saying.

"Alright. Be careful over there. If you really run into that guy, remember to raise your energy first. I'll get there as quickly as I can."

"Yeah, Dad, and Uncle Krillin too. This opponent is very cunning, so you have to be careful!"

The father and son exchanged looks, then split up.

Only Krillin was still completely baffled.

Everything had happened so suddenly that he had no idea what was going on, yet the father and son had already decided everything.

"Krillin, I'm heading to The Lookout now. Are you coming with me?"

Son Goku did not explain much. He merely asked Krillin.

"I'll go with you."

Elsewhere.

Son Gohan followed Piccolo's energy at top speed. In an instant, he arrived in the forest where Piccolo trained.

The Piccolo of this world still had no idea what was happening.

He was currently meditating with his eyes closed, the aura around him constantly flickering.

Suddenly, he sensed an approaching energy in the distance, and surprise immediately filled his eyes.

Then he saw Son Gohan, dressed in a purple martial arts uniform, approaching from afar.

He could sense that Gohan's energy was absurdly powerful, utterly incomparable to Gohan's usual strength. It was as if he had become a different person.

"Uncle Piccolo!"

Son Gohan quickly landed beside Piccolo.

Seeing that nothing had happened to Piccolo, he finally felt slightly relieved. At least Uncle Piccolo of this world was still safe.

Piccolo noticed that Gohan seemed to have been greatly relieved and found it strange. "Gohan, you seem anxious. What happened?"

Son Gohan briefly explained, "A Namekian has come to Earth. That guy knows how to forcibly fuse with Namekians, so I was worried he might come after you, Uncle Piccolo!"

"A Namekian? Fusion?"

Piccolo repeated those words, his eyes full of confusion.

He had never encountered a Namekian like that.

Son Gohan did not explain in detail, since he had learned this information from the introduction in Lightning Flash. There was no real way to explain it.

But Piccolo already believed Gohan. He was familiar with Gohan's movements and expressions, so he naturally knew that Gohan was not lying.

Thus, he began considering the invading Namekian.

"So someone wants to fuse with me? He's got some nerve!"

A disdainful smile appeared at the corner of Piccolo's mouth. He already wanted to exchange blows with that person, since he also wanted to see what a villain from Namek was like.

Son Gohan quickly thought of something. "Since that guy didn't come here, he may have gone to Kami!"

"Mm."

As the top strategist among the warriors, Piccolo had naturally thought of that as well.

A trace of anxiety rose in his heart at that moment.

After all, he and Kami had originally been one being. Even though they had separated, they still shared the same life. If that guy really fused with Kami, what would happen to him?

"Gohan, let's go check on that old man too."

"Okay!"

Above The Lookout.

A dark red figure shot straight through the clouds.

The uninvited visitor from another world instantly alerted Kami and Mr. Popo.

"Who is it?"

Although Kami was far weaker than Earth's current warriors, he was still the origin of Earth's martial arts. His strength was not weak, and he immediately assumed a defensive stance.

"So he really is a Namekian. He actually became the god of this planet?"

A deep voice rang out near The Lookout. The dark red figure appeared, rushing past Mr. Popo before stopping directly beside Kami.

An overwhelming aura erupted at point-blank range.

That extraordinary power instantly crushed Kami to the ground, leaving him unable to resist at all.

As the dark red glow slowly faded, another Namekian was revealed. He was far more powerfully built than ordinary Namekians, and his triangular eyes held an intensely evil look.

"You... you are..."

Kami seemed to feel immense terror. His eyes were bloodshot, and he felt unprecedented fear in his heart.

Slug placed one hand on Kami's head and grinned. "We're both Namekians, so we should become one. You should devote yourself to King Slug's conquest as well!"

Whoosh!

Dark red light flickered from his right hand.

An immensely powerful force enveloped Kami's body, about to refine him in an instant and turn him into nourishment for Slug's growth.

"Lord Kami!"

Mr. Popo shouted Kami's name. He wanted to help Kami, but the enemy's mere aura had rendered him unable to move.

There was no way he could react at all.

It was at that moment.

Two figures rapidly approached from below. White light parted the clouds, and in an instant, they arrived above The Lookout.

"Kami..."

The newcomer was Son Goku, dressed in an orange martial arts uniform. The moment he arrived at The Lookout, he saw the Namekian pressing down on Kami's head.

Without the slightest hesitation, he launched an attack on Slug.