The fight between Goku and King Piccolo unfolded exactly as I expected.
Even from the sidelines, I could see it clearly: King Piccolo's eyes could follow Goku's movements, but his body couldn't keep up. Every dodge came a fraction too late. Every counterattack lagged behind the intent in his gaze. Age… or centuries of confinement… had eaten away the strength he once possessed.
It made me think of Master Roshi. He's just as old—older, maybe—and yet he still moves with control and purpose. Whatever King Piccolo once was, he clearly hadn't aged with the same grace.
As the fight dragged on, King Piccolo's stamina plummeted. His blows slowed. His ki dropped. Even he seemed to realize it.
Goku definitely did.
He smiled that innocent, confident smile—the kind that shows he knows victory is already in his grasp.
And that's when King Piccolo panicked.
With a snarl, he fired a blast into the ground. The explosion shook the entire arena. Debris rained everywhere, clouding Goku's vision. The noise alone threw off his footing.
In an instant, King Piccolo appeared behind me, pressing a clawed hand between my shoulder blades.
"Move, boy," he hissed at Goku, "and she dies!"
Goku froze, eyes widening. "Raditz! Are you okay?!"
I sighed.
"I'd hoped you'd fight with some dignity," I muttered.
Then I let a fraction of my ki leak out.
Just a fraction… and the air cracked.
My power spiked to a thousand in an instant—shockwaves bursting outward. King Piccolo was ripped from behind me and hurled across the battlefield like a rag doll.
Goku stumbled back. "W–Whoa! Raditz, you're that strong?!"
King Piccolo staggered to his feet, disbelief carved deep into his face.
I kept my expression calm, though inside I was startled myself. That was only one-fifth of my full power… meaning my true strength was nearing, or perhaps surpassing, Nappa's.
And I wasn't even done building my training robot yet.
Goku clenched his fists and stepped forward. "You tried to use Raditz against me. That's dirty! I'm ending this now!"
He vanished.
King Piccolo's eyes widened—but too late. Goku tore straight through his defenses and then straight through his chest. The shockwave blew dust across the ruined battleground.
Piccolo collapsed to his knees… but then his throat bulged unnaturally.
I recognized the look too late.
He spat out a massive egg, sending it flying into the distance.
"My… son…" he rasped. "He will avenge me… stronger than me… stronger than you…" His eyes locked onto mine. "Stronger than you, Saiyan girl. You will regret crossing me…"
His body finally hit the ground. Motionless.
Goku panted. "He… laid an egg? Raditz, what was that?"
"We'll get answers," I said. "Call the Nimbus. There's someone we need to meet."
---
At Kami's Lookout
Kami and Mr. Popo were already waiting when we landed.
Goku immediately dropped into a fighting stance.
"Raditz! That's King Piccolo again!"
"No," I said quickly, taking his wrist. "Goku, stop. Look closely. He's not the same person."
Kami stepped forward. "Indeed. I am not the demon you fought."
"Then explain," I said firmly. "Because he looked exactly like you."
Kami closed his eyes and began his story—how he had expelled all the evil within him to become Earth's Guardian. How that evil had taken form as King Piccolo. How they were two halves of the same being.
"And the child he left behind," Kami added quietly, "may surpass even King Piccolo's original strength. Perhaps even yours, Raditz."
I shrugged. "He won't need to surpass mine. Goku will be the one to fight him. I'll train him until he's strong enough that no matter how powerful that son becomes, Goku will win."
Kami studied me for a moment—too long, too silently.
He was hiding something. I could feel it. But he wasn't going to confess it today.
Fine. I could wait.
For now, there was something more important.
"Come on, Goku," I said. "We need to go to Bulma's. We're gathering the Dragon Balls."
His expression hardened.
"To bring Krillin back."
And with that, we flew off into the sky.