King Piccolo the First

Master Roshi, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Bulma, and Launch had already settled down in the restaurant, the table laden with sumptuous food. Master Roshi happily picked up a piece of meat. Krillin, however, looked troubled. He had not even touched his chopsticks, and kept glancing toward the door, waiting anxiously.

Master Roshi smiled. "Krillin, you usually love this stuff. Why haven't you started eating today?"

Krillin gave a slight smile and said softly, "Master Mutai, I still want to wait for Goku to come back before eating. I just feel... uneasy about him being over there alone."

Hearing that, Bulma set down her chopsticks and reassured him, "Goku's probably just taking care of something minor. He's even stronger than we imagine, so don't worry too much."

Launch chimed in as well. "That's right! Goku's the champion. Who would dare bully him?"

Just then, a bat-like demon quietly appeared in the martial arts tournament arena. Its black wings fluttered gently as its sharp eyes fixed on Goku. In an eerie voice, it said, "Brat, hand over the roster, or you'll die painfully."

Goku raised a hand, holding a roster filled with information on the tournament contestants. Calmly, he said, "You came for this, right?"

The demon let out a piercing laugh and replied hoarsely, "Heh heh heh! Smart boy. Looks like you don't know how powerful I am. You dare provoke me? I can't let you live!" As soon as it finished speaking, its sharp claws shot toward Goku like lightning.

Just as the claws were about to reach him, Goku suddenly reached out, grabbed the demon's arm, locked it firmly with his fingers, and gave it a light tug. With a crack, Goku effortlessly dislocated the demon's arm!

The demon let out a miserable scream, its face twisting in pain. Baring its teeth, it glared at Goku and roared, "You... you actually dare...!"

Goku looked at it coldly and said slowly, "I've been waiting for you people for a long time. Is this all King Piccolo's men can do?"

The demon ground its teeth, rage and fear flashing through its eyes. It had never encountered such a powerful opponent before.

Goku gave the demon no chance to catch its breath. Before it could react, he swiftly reached out and dislocated its other arm as well. The demon screamed again, heart-wrenchingly. Its face turned pale from the pain, its eyes filled with terror, and its vicious expression vanished without a trace.

Goku stared coldly at the dying demon. "Go back and tell King Piccolo that my name is Son Goku. Tell him to wash his neck clean—I'll be coming for him!"

Enduring the pain, the demon cast Goku a terrified glance. It trembled uncontrollably and did not dare say another word. Dragging its mangled body behind it, it crawled unsteadily toward the exit.

Goku watched the demon's miserable retreat with cold eyes until it disappeared completely from view.

At the dining table, everyone ate the lavish dishes while occasionally looking toward the door. Checking her watch, Bulma could not help muttering, "Why isn't Goku here yet? We've been waiting so long."

Krillin put down his chopsticks, concern showing on his face. "Where did Goku run off to? Could he have run into trouble?"

Master Roshi reassured them, "You're still worried about Goku's abilities? He's probably off doing some training and got delayed." Yet there was a trace of doubt in his own voice as well. His gaze drifted toward the door, and he was clearly uneasy too.

As everyone made their own guesses, the door creaked open, and Goku slowly walked in, dragging two severed green arms behind him. Everyone instantly froze and turned to stare at him.

When Master Roshi saw the severed arms in Goku's hands, he went still. After staring wide-eyed for a moment, he suddenly jumped up and cried out, "Th-this is a trait of King Piccolo's race, isn't it?"

Bulma, Krillin, Launch, and the others were startled by Master Roshi's reaction and looked at him curiously. Krillin asked worriedly, "Master Mutai, who is King Piccolo? Why do you look so terrified whenever you mention him?"

Master Roshi took a deep breath. After several seconds of silence, he told them grimly, "King Piccolo is one of the most terrifying demons on this planet! Long ago, he used his immense power to unleash a catastrophe that brought countless disasters upon the entire world. He destroyed cities at will, enslaved humanity, and tried to rule the whole Earth. In the end, my master, Master Mutaito, sacrificed his life to seal him away. And now, King Piccolo has returned..."

Everyone felt chills run down their spines. Especially upon hearing words like "rule the Earth," they were immediately filled with fear.

Goku looked calmly at Master Roshi. "King Piccolo's subordinates have already appeared. It looks like he really has been revived. But as long as he dares show himself, I'll stop him!"

Master Roshi gazed at Goku. Seeing the confidence in his eyes, he nodded and warned, "Goku, King Piccolo's power is no small matter. You must be careful."

Goku smiled faintly. "Don't worry! King Piccolo may be scary, but I'm ready for him."

Goku calculated inwardly that he only needed a light blow to reduce King Piccolo to ashes. But he had other plans. Piccolo's appearance might bring new challenges and make all the Dragon Ball fighters more united. All he had to do was stop King Piccolo's subordinates in time and keep them from wreaking havoc everywhere.

Far away in the sky, a dark and sinister airship slowly passed through the clouds, heading deep into the continent. King Piccolo sat upon the throne at the center of the airship. His massive body looked cold and merciless, while Pilaf, Mai, and Shu stood respectfully before him in a solemn atmosphere.

Pilaf harbored great ambitions, yet he did not dare offend him. Carefully, he said, "Your Majesty, I found the rice cooker in the depths of the sea and freed you... I also told you about the Dragon Balls..." He swallowed and raised his head slightly, his tone full of pleading. "Could you... could you give me half the world to rule?"

King Piccolo snorted, exhaling an icy breath through his nostrils that made Pilaf shudder as cold sweat instantly broke out across his back. He hurriedly forced a smile and changed his words. "Half is too much... A quarter would be fine too. I'm not greedy!"

King Piccolo glanced at him and said in a low, disdainful voice, "I'll consider it."

A series of faint, intermittent flapping sounds came from outside the airship. Tambourine, the demon whose arms Goku had crippled, wobbled onto the airship. With difficulty, he pushed open the hatch with his head and staggered inside. The blood at the stumps of his arms had already dried, but his face remained twisted in unbearable pain.

The moment the Pilaf Trio saw Tambourine's miserable state, their faces went pale. They hurriedly retreated and huddled together, afraid of being dragged into it. In a voice so low it was nearly inaudible, Pilaf muttered, "My god... someone reduced him to this..."

King Piccolo glared at Tambourine, a flash of fury crossing his eyes. His voice was low but filled with killing intent. "Tambourine, what happened? Weren't you sent to retrieve that roster?"

Tambourine dropped to his knees and said tremblingly, "Y-your Majesty... someone... someone is stronger than we imagined... That kid's name is... Son Goku. He didn't take me seriously at all..."

King Piccolo flew into a rage at his words and gave a cold snort. "Son Goku, is it? Once I gather the Dragon Balls and regain my youth, he'll be the first one I deal with!" He slapped the armrest of his throne, a ruthless, icy gleam flashing through his eyes.

As soon as he finished speaking, King Piccolo opened his mouth and slowly spat out a huge egg. The egg hit the floor and rapidly cracked open, and a new demon eventually emerged. The demon slowly rose to its feet. It had a savage appearance, a tall and muscular build, and a vicious smile on its face.

"Cymbal." King Piccolo looked coldly at the newborn demon, his tone leaving no room for refusal. "Go collect the Dragon Balls immediately. There must be no mistakes!"

Cymbal gave a slight bow and grinned. "By your command, Your Majesty!"

King Piccolo turned his gaze toward Tambourine, who knelt on the ground with both arms ruined. He lightly pointed a finger, and a thin beam of light shot from his fingertip. "Trash has no right to remain by my side."

As his words fell, the beam shot out and instantly pierced Tambourine's body. Tambourine let out a low groan before collapsing to the floor, completely lifeless. Seeing this, the Pilaf Trio trembled violently, their faces deathly pale. They did not even dare breathe too heavily, afraid King Piccolo's wrath would turn upon them.