Accelerating Androids

Bido hovered in mid-air, his ten fingers erupting with dozens of energy filaments that writhed and twisted like vipers as they coiled forward.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

Trunks swung his long sword, hacking at the energy filaments and producing metallic clashing sounds as sparks flew in every direction.

The severed filaments instantly branched out from the cut points, sprouting multiple thinner and tougher new threads that seemed to have eyes of their own, clinging to him like a shadow.

"Damn it!"

Forced to retreat repeatedly, Trunks suddenly erupted with a golden aura, shattering all the surrounding energy filaments.

"It's useless."

Bido smiled sinisterly, his nimble fingers moving as if playing a harp; the next second, the broken threads re-condensed.

The energy filaments wove into an inescapable net, binding Trunks' body tightly and greedily draining his Saiyan energy.

Just then, a green arm stretched over from the other side of the battlefield, coiling around Bido's body like an ancient giant python strangling its prey, leaving only his head exposed.

"What is this!?"

Bido struggled desperately, but the strength of that arm was unimaginably great, squeezing his bones until they creaked; he could not break free.

Piccolo's eyes suddenly flared with a blinding light, and two piercing energy beams shot out, traveling along his extended arm to strike Bido's head with pinpoint accuracy.

"Boom!"

Under Bido's terrified expression, his head was blown to pieces by the two beams. Piccolo retracted his arm, and the headless corpse plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground.

"Thanks..." Trunks panted heavily, one hand pressed against the ground.

Piccolo did not linger, instead rushing toward Bido, who was locked in a fierce battle with Son Goku, and easily finished off the enemy with overwhelming force.

"That was amazing, Piccolo. I was about to reach my limit."

Son Goku had only recently learned to transform into a Super Saiyan; his time was too short, and his mastery of the power was not yet refined. Facing Bido, whose strength was equivalent to Android 17, he had been struggling significantly.

"Bang!"

Above the clouds, Son Gohan and Bojack traded a heavy punch, the shockwave exploding from the point of impact and sending both of them reeling back hundreds of meters.

"Kid, I really underestimated you." Bojack was somewhat excited, grinning cruelly.

"Old man, you've disappointed me." Son Gohan shook his head, feigning maturity.

"Gohan, I'm here to help." Piccolo appeared above the clouds, standing shoulder to shoulder with Son Gohan.

"What's the use of having more people? All of you, turn into dust in the universe!"

Bojack spread his arms wide to his sides, and countless energy surged madly from his body toward his hands. Two dazzling, dark green spheres of light condensed in his palms.

The clouds were torn apart, and a gale-force wind seemed to howl in the high altitude. The void trembled continuously, transmitting the tremors to the ground and causing the earth to collapse.

"Die!"

Bojack roared, pulling his hands together toward the center. The two dark green spheres instantly merged into one, transforming into a massive beam of light several meters in diameter.

A terrifying energy capable of destroying the world surged forward, fired instantly.

Opposite him, Son Gohan and Piccolo simultaneously raised their right hands, fingertips pressed to their foreheads. As their energy compressed to the limit, two spiral beams shot out.

"Special Beam Cannon!"

The two spiral beams intertwined and merged in mid-flight, eventually transforming into a golden dragon that slammed into the dark green beam.

"Ah..."

Bojack increased his output in fear, but the golden dragon pierced through his ultimate technique and, with a soft thud, punched straight through the center of his chest.

"Boom!"

With an earth-shattering roar, the Galaxy Bandit Bojack was reduced to ashes, completely exiting the stage of history.

"Phew, that was close. If we hadn't learned Instant Transmission, who knows how many people would have died on Earth this time."

Son Gohan sighed. It seemed they would need to be fully prepared in the future; they couldn't afford to be caught off guard like this again.

"Gohan, the year is almost up. I'm going to collect the Dragon Balls first."

Piccolo had always kept the resurrection of the Namekians in his heart. After saying this, he flew toward West City to Bulma's house, where the Dragon Radar was kept.

Son Gohan landed on the ground and explained the origins of Bojack and his crew to everyone.

"Why do I get the feeling that Earth has become the universe's favorite snack? Everyone wants to come and take a bite," Krillin complained.

"I wonder how long this peace will last," Tien Shinhan said with some concern.

"Gohan, who is this boy? You two seem very close," Yamcha asked in a low voice, looking at Trunks.

"Uncle Yamcha, it's a secret for now. You'll know in a few days."

Son Gohan didn't dare say it. Yamcha was still dating Bulma; if he revealed that Trunks was the son of Bulma and Vegeta, Yamcha might turn as green as a Namekian on the spot and try to fight Vegeta to the death.

"Mr. Son Goku, Brother Gohan, I have something to tell you." Seeing Son Gohan's strength, Trunks decided to tell him the truth as well.

Under the confused gazes of the others, the three of them took to the air and landed in a nearby clearing to discuss the matter.

"What's going on? They're even keeping it from us," Krillin muttered in dissatisfaction.

Trunks' expression was complex, and he struggled with how to begin. "I originally wanted to tell everyone that two terrifying androids would appear in three years."

"But after seeing the strength of Brother Gohan and Uncle Piccolo, which far exceeds those two androids, it seems my trip here was meaningless."

"It's not meaningless."

Son Gohan explained, "Trunks, you should have realized by now that history has completely changed. No one knows how strong the future enemies will be."

"What are you two talking about? I don't understand at all," Son Goku said, looking at them with a blank expression.

Trunks recounted the story from the beginning and asked them not to reveal his identity to the others.

He took out a special medicine and handed it to Son Goku. "When your heart condition flares up, take this."

"Thanks. No matter what kind of enemy it is, I will defeat them with my own hands," Son Goku said, taking the medicine with a sense of excitement.

"Dad is right. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Our future isn't just on Earth, or even in this universe; it's a vast, unimaginable world," Son Gohan said with high aspirations.

Trunks was inexplicably infected by this spirit. He prepared to return to the future, intending to come back in three years to face even stronger enemies with everyone.

"Trunks, don't go. Stay here and train with us," Son Gohan said, looking at him solemnly.

"The enemies might not wait another three years. They could appear in a year, or even a few months."

Trunks looked grave, but eventually nodded, agreeing to stay.

Afterward, Son Gohan relayed Trunks' words to the others: in the future, everyone would be killed by the androids.

"What? I don't want to die! I haven't even gotten married yet!" Krillin shrieked.

Yamcha asked in disbelief, "We have three Super Saiyans on our side, and we even managed to wipe out Bojack's crew. Can we really not beat the androids?"

"Damn it, blast it! I must become a Super Saiyan!" Vegeta was inadvertently provoked once again.

Watching everyone's different reactions, Son Gohan instructed, "Everyone hasn't been idle this year on Yardrat, but training requires a balance of tension and relaxation."

"From now on, everyone should train in the way they are most accustomed to. I will also arrange for everyone to go to the Lookout and train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber in turns."