Run!
That was Yamcha's only thought.
He didn't even have time to shut off the damned computer. He spun around and sprinted deeper into the laboratory.
"Trying to run?"
Android 18 chuckled. Without even glancing at Trunks in the sky, her figure flickered—and she rushed straight into the blasted-open passage!
"Eighteen, don't take too long," Android 17's voice echoed from above. He alone was effortlessly suppressing Trunks.
"Haah.. haah.."
In the underground corridor, Yamcha ran for his life.
Behind him, he could hear unhurried footsteps—steady, rhythmic, like a death knell.
"You can't escape, little mouse."
Android 18's voice rang out, laced with a playful edge.
Yamcha gritted his teeth, pouring every bit of Ki he had recently learned to control into his legs.
His speed jumped instantly, shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow.
"Oh? He can use Ki?" Android 18 sounded mildly surprised—then she smiled again.
"Interesting. Besides Trunks, there's actually another survivor who can use Ki. Who are you? Krillin's disciple?"
Yamcha ignored her completely and ran with everything he had.
He knew that if she caught him, he would die.
He burst out of the laboratory and back into the bottom of the giant crater.
Looking up, he saw Trunks being completely overwhelmed by Android 17, with no chance to help him.
He had to rely on himself!
His eyes landed on the steep slope he'd climbed down earlier.
With a roar, he threw himself at it, using both his hands and feet to claw his way upward with desperate speed.
"Oh my~ Still trying to run?"
Android 18's figure appeared below. She didn't rush after him—she just watched as Yamcha struggled up the slope, as if enjoying an amusing show.
Yamcha didn't dare look back; he poured everything into climbing.
At last, he reached the rim of the crater!
He didn't waste even half a second—he immediately turned and ran.
But after only two steps, a figure flashed into existence right in front of him, blocking his way.
It was Android 18.
She had instantly moved to intercept him.
"You run pretty fast, don't you?" Android 18 crossed her arms and tilted her head, sizing him up. When she got a clear look at his dirt-covered but still recognizable face, she paused.
"This face… looks familiar." She seemed to think for a moment. "Ah, right—Yamcha. Didn't we already kill you?"
Yamcha's heart pounded violently. His mind spun, searching desperately for even the smallest chance of survival.
Fighting was impossible. Begging would get him killed instantly.
There was only one option—
He suddenly unleashed all the Ki in his body—not to attack, but to compress it into a blinding orb of light and hurl it straight at Android 18's face!
Solar Flare!
Even though it was just a crude imitation, the intense flash still forced Android 18 to squint and raise a hand to shield her eyes.
Now's the chance!
Yamcha spun around and bolted—not anywhere random, but straight toward his wrecked motorcycle!
"Clever trick~"
Android 18 lowered her hand, no trace of anger—she actually seemed more amused.
Her figure blurred, and she dashed after him again.
Yamcha reached the motorcycle—not to start it, but to yank the backpack off the back seat and pull something out.
A Hoi-Poi Capsule.
He had scavenged it earlier in the ruins and had been reluctant to use it.
He had no idea what was inside—he could only gamble!
He pressed the button and hurled it with all his strength!
With a bang, a small propeller-driven flying machine appeared out of thin air!
Yamcha didn't hesitate; he jumped straight into the cockpit!
"Oww~ the lil mouse found a flying machine?" Android 18 raised an eyebrow. She stopped, curious to see what other tricks this "resurrected" man could manage.
Yamcha scrambled to start the engine. The propellers whirred rapidly, and the little aircraft slowly began to rise.
With a roar, it shot forward like a streak of light, speeding toward the eastern horizon!
Android 18 watched it disappear into the distance but made no move to chase.
"Let him run for a while," she murmured. "Crushing him right away would be too boring. The cat-and-mouse game has just begun."
She turned her head toward Trunks—still struggling bitterly against Android 17—a cold smile returning to her lips.
...
Meanwhile, aboard the flying machine, Yamcha's heart was still pounding.
He had done it.
He had escaped Android 18's grasp.
Even if she'd only been toying with him… he was alive.
And with this flying machine, his speed toward Korin Tower increased drastically.
A few days later, a towering structure that seemed to pierce the heavens finally appeared in his view.
Korin Tower!
Yamcha landed the flying machine at its base, a surge of emotion washing over him—almost like a pilgrim seeing a holy site.
Without hesitation, he took a deep breath and began his new journey: climbing Korin Tower.
It was far harder than he imagined.
The tower surface was smooth and straight, with almost no handholds.
The higher he climbed, the thinner the air became, and the stronger the wind blew.
He could only rely on pure arm strength, pulling himself upward little by little.
When he was hungry, he bit into the dry rations he carried. When he was thirsty, he licked the morning dew. When he was exhausted, he tied himself to the tower and slept for a few hours.
His palms were raw and bleeding from friction, several of his fingernails had peeled back, and more than once he nearly slipped and fallen from sheer fatigue.
But he clenched his teeth and endured.
He knew that at the top of this tower lay his only hope for survival.
After who knew how many days, just as his consciousness was beginning to blur, his hand finally touched a flat edge.
He made it!
Using the very last of his strength, he hauled himself onto the platform—then his vision went dark, and he completely blacked out.
Right before losing consciousness, he vaguely saw a pair of feet wearing wooden clogs and a familiar wooden staff stopping in front of him.