After a long, tense search, Son Goku finally spotted that hateful figure above a desolate valley.
Sunlight pierced the sparse clouds and fell in patches across his body. He was a monster radiating green light, with a pair of enormous wings spread behind him. Clutched tightly in his hands were the Dragon Ball countless people coveted and a seemingly ordinary register of names.
That was right. This fellow was none other than King Piccolo's capable subordinate-Tambourine.
"I found you!" Son Goku's voice echoed through the empty valley, filled with irrepressible anger and resolve.
Riding the Flying Nimbus, he approached as swiftly as a shooting star, his powerful eyes locked firmly on Tambourine.
"Don't run! Stop!" Son Goku shouted as he raced toward him on the Flying Nimbus.
"Hm?"
Tambourine seemed to sense something. He slowly turned, his indifferent eyes meeting Son Goku's gaze.
He stopped in midair, seemingly somewhat surprised by Son Goku's appearance.
"What do you want? Who the hell are you?"
Son Goku gritted his teeth, his gaze blazing like a torch. Suddenly, he noticed the Four-Star Dragon Ball in Tambourine's hand. It was his most treasured memory, a keepsake from his grandfather, and an indelible bond between him and Krillin.
At that moment, Son Goku's heart filled with grief, anger, and resentment, as though all his emotions had erupted at once.
My Four-Star Dragon Ball!
"So it really was you!" He practically roared the words, each one brimming with boundless fury.
"What are you talking about?" Tambourine's voice held a trace of confusion, but far more impatience.
"Give me back my Dragon Ball and Krillin's life!" Son Goku shouted with almost every ounce of strength he had. The fur on his tail bristled, and he looked like a fierce beast about to attack. His anger and resentment were enough to shake heaven and earth.
"Krillin?" Tambourine repeated with feigned confusion, a hint of mockery in his voice.
"Stop playing dumb! You killed him!" Son Goku's voice was filled with accusation and fury, his body taut as though he would explode in the next second.
"Hmph! You mean that damned brat who fought back against me!" Tambourine laughed, his laughter filled with scorn and disdain, as though Krillin's life were as insignificant as an ant in his eyes.
"So that's it. That brat died. That's something to celebrate. Heh heh heh heh..." Tambourine's words were cruel and cold, and a trace of wild arrogance flashed through his eyes.
"What did you say?!" Son Goku bristled all over in fury at those words. His fists clenched, and all the strength in his body seemed to boil, ready to burst out.
"You're the murderer who killed Krillin. I'll make you pay with your life." Son Goku took his stance, his eyes resolute and a powerful aura radiating from his body as he prepared for a fierce battle with Tambourine.
"So that's why you chased me down? Interesting." Tambourine licked his arm, his gesture contemptuous, as though he cared nothing for the coming battle. "If you want to fight, let's get started!" His voice brimmed with provocation.
The two exchanged several rounds in midair, moving too fast for the naked eye to follow.
Tambourine caught Son Goku's fist.
"You think a sluggish punch like that can beat me?" His voice dripped with ridicule. Then he lifted Son Goku and kicked him out of the sky, displaying his formidable strength and speed.
Master Roshi crouched down and carefully examined Krillin's body, his expression growing grave.
"Killed in one blow! Krillin took a heavy blow to the head and died instantly." He slowly stood, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
Everyone was shocked. For a moment, silence fell over the scene, and the air seemed to freeze.
Yamcha shook his head in disbelief, both hands clenched into fists and a complicated light flickering in his eyes.
"With Krillin's skills, he was defeated in one move? How is that possible?"
His voice was almost a murmur, yet every word struck their hearts like a heavy hammer.
A terrifying enemy!
Then Bulma gazed into the distance, her eyes filled with worry and unease.
"Goku..." she murmured softly, clenching both hands into fists and praying silently that this terrifying enemy would not bring Goku the same fate.
Chiaotzu stood quietly beside Krillin's body, staring at it without blinking.
His face was expressionless, but a complicated light flickered in his eyes. No one knew what he was thinking.
Son Goku kept plummeting from high in the sky and cried out in unbearable pain.
"Flying Nimbus!"
Then his brows drew tight, and he cursed inwardly.
Damn it!
At that critical moment, the Flying Nimbus appeared beneath his feet just in time and caught him.
Son Goku panted heavily and said somewhat helplessly.
"I already used up all my strength at the World Martial Arts Tournament."
"Hahahaha..."
Tambourine laughed wildly nearby, as though he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
"Little monkey, the phrase 'not knowing your own limits' was practically tailor-made for you."
His laughter was filled with mockery and disdain.
Son Goku's expression darkened, and he retorted angrily.
"Shut up! The fight's only just begun!"
With that, he clenched his fists and charged at Tambourine, his face full of determination.
Using the Flying Nimbus's speed, he circled Tambourine like a streak of light, trying to find an opening.
Just as he was about to strike, Tambourine eerily rotated his head a hundred and eighty degrees, revealed a savage grin, and suddenly thrust out a tongue over ten meters long. It wrapped around Son Goku before hurling him viciously toward the ground.
As Son Goku fell, the Flying Nimbus appeared just in time once again and caught him.
Then Tambourine looked down and said with a laugh.
"Get it now? With your human strength, there's no way you can defeat us demons."
Son Goku gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept it.
"Damn it! If my stomach weren't empty, I wouldn't lose to you!"
Tambourine sneered, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"Hmph, stubborn little monkey. I'll shut your mouth forever."
As he spoke, he opened his mouth and fired a red Ki blast straight at the Flying Nimbus.
Son Goku watched helplessly as the Flying Nimbus was blasted apart. With nothing left to keep him airborne, he fell helplessly.
His heart filled with shock and disbelief.
"The Flying Nimbus... The Flying Nimbus was actually..."
At that critical moment, Tambourine swooped down and slammed a fist into Son Goku's head, making him fall much faster.
The ground was already close. Son Goku hurriedly drew the staff from his back and shouted.
"Extend! Power Pole!"
The Power Pole rapidly extended, but Tambourine grabbed one end, wrenched it away, and threw it aside. Without the Power Pole's support, Son Goku continued falling helplessly.
"Aaaah..."
Son Goku slammed heavily into the ground, seemingly making even the earth tremble. He lay motionless, apparently unconscious.
Immediately afterward, Tambourine flew down from the sky as well, driving his knee viciously into Son Goku's back. This blow undoubtedly piled snow upon the frost.
"Heh heh heh... Killing people really is so painful."
A cruel smile hung on Tambourine's lips, as though he were enjoying the moment, but inwardly, he had a very different complaint.
What a pain. Why is this guy so hard to deal with?
Thinking Son Goku no longer showed any signs of life, he flapped his wings, preparing to leave this battlefield that had left him a little tired.
Yet just then, Son Goku suddenly reached out and grabbed Tambourine's foot tightly.
His entire body ached, but a resolute flame burned in his eyes. He raised his head with difficulty and said to Tambourine, "K-Krillin... I'll avenge him..."
"This guy!"
Tambourine was utterly furious. He had not expected Son Goku to have any strength left to resist. Enraged, he hauled Son Goku up and struck his utterly defenseless body again and again, every blow carrying towering fury.
Then he hurled Son Goku into the air and flew up after him. Clasping his hands together, he raised them high before smashing them viciously into Son Goku.
Son Goku slammed heavily into the ground again. His arm lifted slightly, as though he still wanted to move, but in the end, it dropped limply, and he lay motionless.
Tambourine flew down and looked at Son Goku lying on the ground, a cold sneer on his lips.
"Hmph! Wasted quite a bit of my time."
Then he flapped his wings and flew away.