The chapter opens with Bango still in the past, picking up exactly where we left off. Sensing a disturbance, all the Z-Fighters moved in the same direction, closing the distance quickly. Bango followed right behind them, noticing that, even though this was a year before his own arrival, the group seemed weaker than he had expected.
Yamcha mentioned that he and Bulma had a child a couple of years back. They congratulated him, though Krillin seemed a bit jealous, having not been so lucky with a woman and annoyed by Yamcha's good looks. Chi-Chi told Krillin he was just short and that girls liked taller men, but he snapped at her to shut up.
Tien quieted the group, reminding them that Kami had warned them to be careful with these individuals. Unease rippled through the team, but Yamcha, ever cocky, brushed it off. Since the battle with Piccolo, he claimed, they had been living in a time of peace, and the bad guys would be no challenge at all.
Arriving at the ruined city, they immediately spotted the two androids, 17 and 18, tearing through buildings and terrorizing the streets. Bango noticed that 18 was strikingly beautiful, a thought he and Krillin shared, but the aura around them was unmistakably evil. They couldn't sense any energy from the androids. Yamcha, still thinking about his baseball match, scoffed and rushed forward, swinging a fist at 17.
To his horror, his hand disintegrated on impact. He screamed in pain, and before he could react, 17, with a chilling smirk, fired a blast that vaporized him.
Bango froze alongside the Z-Fighters, realizing that death had claimed Yamcha once again, and even the Dragon Balls were powerless.
Chi-Chi and Krillin both roared, "Damn you!"
Enraged, they launched themselves into battle. Tien and Bango shouted for them to stop, but it was no use. The two attacked 17 together, yet he slipped past their strikes with ease, mocking them as he moved. He reminded them that Yamcha had attacked first, then glanced at his sister and asked if she had a problem with him having all the fun. 18 only told him to do whatever he wanted.
17 stopped evading and grabbed both of them by the neck, hurling them upward. He shot after them, appearing above Chi-Chi before striking her down. Krillin, still recovering from being grabbed, gasped for air and looked up just in time to see 17's palm right in front of his face.
"Die."
With a smirk, 17 fired a blast point-blank, killing him. Tien, furious, told Chiaotzu to run because he would not survive this. Chiaotzu refused at first, but Tien shouted at him, saying he could not lose him again. At last, Chiaotzu obeyed, wishing his friend luck.
17 looked down and spotted an enraged Chi-Chi as she tried to fire a Kamehameha. Before she could land it, he suddenly vanished. Chi-Chi turned just in time to see him behind her, already in position to kick. He gave a cold smile and swung his foot toward her head.
Just in time, Tien blocked the blow, his body trembling as he endured the impact, pushing 17 back and shielding Chi-Chi. She thanked him, but Tien already knew they did not stand a chance. Still, neither of them was willing to die without a fight. They powered up and charged at 17 together.
Bango watched with a sad expression. "Not again," he said.
Chi-Chi began to lose steam, and hoping they could at least take one of the androids down, she poured all her ki into a massive blast aimed at 18. For a brief moment, 18 showed a hint of fear, but it quickly faded into a cold smirk as she casually swatted the attack aside.
Shock filled Chi-Chi's eyes. She looked back at Tien and whispered an apology.
In the next instant, 17 appeared right in front of her and struck her down, snapping her neck. Moments later, her body began to fade.
Enraged by his friend's death, Tien swore he would kill 17, but the android only mocked him.
"I'd like to see you try, cyclops," 17 said.
As the strongest human, Tien fared better than anyone else, yet he still became the androids' plaything, with 18 soon joining in. He fought with everything he had, but deep down, he knew it was hopeless.
On the brink of death, Chiaotzu, having sensed his ki dropping, rushed in and locked the androids in a telekinetic hold that lasted only a second. Far away, Kami observed and reached out telepathically, searching for a way to teleport them to safety.
While Tien held them off, barely standing, he questioned the androids about their origins.
"Since you're going to die anyway, might as well tell you," 17 said. "Dr. Gero… a member of the Red Ribbon Army. He kidnapped us while scouting for test subjects."
Bango's mind sharpened as the pieces fell into place. Dr. Gero, the same one who had survived Yamcha and Krillin's assault on the Red Ribbon base years ago, had transformed the two into deadly cyborgs.
17 continued, explaining that their bodies had been altered at the cellular level with advanced biotechnology and equipped with infinite energy reactors. Their strength had originally been based on the highest power levels recorded on Earth five years earlier, but by now, they had long since surpassed it.
They had rebelled immediately after activation, killing Gero for what he had done, and gone off on their own. Though they rejected their programming, they blamed Krillin and Yamcha for what happened to them. They knew Tien and his small friend would not let their deaths go unanswered.
18 raised her hand, charging a blast. "Now… die."
Tien, sensing the attack, whispered to Chiaotzu to shut his eyes. With perfect timing, he unleashed Solar Flare, blinding the androids just long enough for Kami to step in. In an instant, they were teleported safely back to the Lookout, leaving the city and its horrors behind.
Receiving two senzu, Tien's anger flared. He wanted to go after the Dragon Balls immediately, but Kami quickly shut him down, reminding him that the Dragon Balls could not revive those who had already died once, and that pursuing them now would be far too dangerous.
Bango, however, thought Kami was a fool. They could still bring back Krillin, and with enough training, they might be able to defeat the androids, though he immediately doubted his own claim, unsure how much time they would actually have. But Kami had other plans. He had reconstructed each dead Z fighter's body in the afterlife, and they were heading to train with Great King Kai. He instructed Tien to enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber with Chiaotzu while he faced the androids alone.
Confused, Tien asked if Kami was seriously suggesting using the Mafuba, knowing full well there was no way he could take on even one android, much less both. Chiaotzu looked equally uncertain, his small frame trembling with fear.
Bango silently agreed with Tien. Even he wouldn't stand a chance against the androids now; he'd probably be dead within minutes.
The narrator interjected, "Though far weaker than their original counterparts, the androids still possessed terrifying power, measured at roughly 850,000 and 840,000."
Kami suddenly raised his voice, commanding them to go and warning that they were wasting time. He knew he was nowhere near the androids' level, but over the years, he had regained his youth through the Dragon Balls and trained alongside Tien. He understood his limits and his plan.
Without hesitation, Kami moved to Piccolo's seal and broke it open. Tien shouted in shock, demanding to know what he was thinking.
But then it clicked.
Realizing Kami's plan, Tien grabbed Chiaotzu and rushed into the Time Chamber, slamming the door shut behind them. They were ready to train for an entire year in a single day.
Piccolo had been freed, but before he could act, Kami pinned him down. They needed to fuse. Piccolo shouted, refusing at first, but after a quick explanation of the situation, he laughed and agreed on one condition: he would be the dominant mind.
Kami refused, and the two argued fiercely, Bango watching closely, trying to make sense of what was happening. Just then, the androids discovered their location, having caught a glimpse of Kami when he teleported in to aid Tien. Realizing they had no time to waste, Kami reluctantly agreed to Piccolo's condition, making him promise not to harm any innocent lives, though both knew Piccolo had no intention of keeping that promise. Kami fused within Piccolo as a brilliant light erupted around them, blinding and intense, signaling the birth of a new, more powerful being.
The narrator spoke, "When Kami fused with Piccolo, they became whole again. Their powers combined, producing a multiplier far weaker than any other Namekian fusion, only four times their original strength, as they had once been a single being. Yet somehow, his power continued to rise."
Bango was stunned, taken aback by the sheer power radiating from him.
Spotting Piccolo, they mistook him for Kami, but his demonic grin said otherwise. Power surged from him as he powered up, destroying half of the tower and forcing Mr. Popo into hiding. Even the androids were taken aback. Though they couldn't sense his energy, they knew immediately this was going to be a tough fight.
The twins powered up and launched their attack, initially gaining the upper hand and even mocking the demon as they struck. But they lingered too long, playing around, and Piccolo's power quickly surpassed theirs. They were no match for the Demon King. Bango watched in shock as Piccolo overwhelmed them, forcing them to retreat.
Now recognizing him as Demon King Piccolo, they couldn't understand how he had grown this strong. They were supposed to surpass him by light-years. Suddenly, a massive blast came racing toward them. They raised a barrier, but it shattered almost instantly, and the two were completely erased.
Piccolo, deeming them nothing more than weaklings, slowly raised his hand toward the Time Chamber door, preparing to trap Tien and Chiaotzu inside.
Though something inside him made him hesitate, he chose to face them head-on, telling himself he wanted revenge on Tien for trapping him. Bango let out a quiet sigh, wondering how Tien planned to defeat the Demon King.
Inside, Tien and Chiaotzu trained harder than ever, pushing themselves to their limits. By the end, Tien believed they had reached a level strong enough to defeat the androids, though Chiaotzu was only holding him back.
But when they finally stepped out, they were shocked. Kami was nowhere to be seen.
Standing in his place was Demon King Piccolo.
Tien quickly assessed the situation, realizing Kami was gone, which likely meant the Dragon Balls were gone as well. As they clashed, it became clear almost immediately that Piccolo was far stronger, even after their time in the Time Chamber.
Chiaotzu fell first, unable to keep up, and Tien soon followed after a desperate fight. The warrior was left completely at Piccolo's mercy.
Piccolo finished him without hesitation, the last of the Z Fighters falling.
Just as he was about to destroy Earth, seeing it as nothing more than a worthless rock, something shifted within him. It was as if Piccolo and Kami were clashing within the same body.
Instead, he chose to rule the world, spreading fear and killing many as he took control.
"Wow, this got really dark," Bango said, his expression hardening.
The narrator speaks, "Transported to King Kai's planet, Bango watches as Krillin, Chi-Chi, and Yamcha train tirelessly, having been granted special permission through Kami after pleading with King Yama.
But after Piccolo and Kami fused, the Dragon Balls turned to stone. With no way to revive anyone, their training began to feel increasingly pointless.
Unlike them, Tien and Chiaotzu were not granted the luxury of keeping their bodies. Surprisingly, they were still allowed into Heaven instead of being condemned to wander the living world as bodiless spirits, a fate often suffered by those killed by the Demon Clan.
Holding onto hope, King Kai believed their best chance lay on Planet Namek, the home of Kami's race and the origin of the Dragon Balls. Through telepathy, they informed Bulma, and Mr. Popo, who had been spared by Piccolo, escorted her to Kami's old ship.
There, Bulma learned the Namekian language and set off toward Namek, all while Piccolo remained unaware, continuing his conquest. After about a month of travel, she finally arrived and explained everything to Tsuno. After reading her mind, they chose to help her.
A young Namekian boy named Dende was assigned to accompany her. Within only a few days, the Dragon Balls were gathered. Now, with her allies equipped with Kaioken, there was some confidence in their strength, though all knew they stood no chance against Piccolo alone. They would have to fight together.
With Guru gone, Porunga's previous limitations no longer applied. For her first wish, Bulma chose to revive everyone killed by Piccolo. To her shock, that also brought the androids back to life.
Even so, she trusted in the strength of her friends and her husband. Preparing her second wish, she attempted to separate Kami and Piccolo, but that was beyond Porunga's power. Instead, she used it to return herself to Capsule Corp, bringing Dende along to become the new Guardian of Earth. She left the final wish in the hands of the Namekians."
Now revived, Bango watches the final battle that will decide it all.
The narrator spoke, "Tien 1,100,000, Krillin 320,000, Yamcha 300,000, Chi-Chi 200,500, Chiaotzu 100,000."
As they flew toward Piccolo's ki, Tien noted that the strength of his allies was far above what it had been last time, yet still nowhere near his own. Doubts crept in about their chances of winning.
Krillin, however, spoke up, claiming that with a x4 Kaioken boost, he and Yamcha could reach, or even surpass, Tien's level. Chi-Chi, though weaker, could still contribute. As they explained the Kaioken technique to Tien, he recognized it as a powerful skill and hoped to learn it himself. Suddenly, two blasts streaked toward them. Reacting with lightning speed, Tien deflected them both with ease.
Chi-Chi wondered if Piccolo had already located them, though they doubted it, he was still far away.
From the shadows, 18 and 17 revealed themselves. The Z Fighters were shocked, unable to believe both were alive. Tien immediately noted that their resurrection was a mistake, and he would gladly fix it.
Stepping forward, Tien told the others to retreat but ordered Chiaotzu to return home. Chiaotzu obeyed, believing he would only hold the group back, and wished Tien luck. Tien merely said he wouldn't need it.
"He must have gone crazy," 18 muttered.
"You think you can fight us? Don't make me laugh," 17 sneered.
Crossing his arms, Tien replied calmly, "Fight you? No. I'm going to kill you."
Bango heard those words and thought Tien was the coolest Z Fighter he had ever seen.
Annoyed by the claim, the androids moved into formation, 17 in front, 18 behind, both vowing to kill him this time.
They rushed forward. 17 struck first, aiming a sharp kick at Tien's leg, but Tien slipped past it effortlessly, rising into the air before bringing his fist crashing down and sending 17 into the ground below, a crater forming on impact.
18, caught off guard but unfazed, pressed the attack with a rapid flurry of strikes. Tien weaved through every blow with precision, barely moving as he read her movements.
"Sloppy," he said coldly.
In the next instant, he drove a powerful punch into her stomach, forcing the air from her lungs as she coughed up blood.
Tien noticed the red blood and scoffed, saying even trash like them bled. He tossed 18 aside just as 17 came rocketing toward him with a scream. They traded blows for a moment, but Tien quickly gained the upper hand, driving his knee into 17's face before slipping behind him and unleashing a brutal onslaught. With every strike, he called out the names of his fallen friends, each blow fueled by their deaths.
Seeing her brother overwhelmed, 18 rushed in to help, but Tien did not allow it. He grabbed both of them by the head and drove them down into the ground, slamming them hard and creating two massive craters.
Smirking, Tien lifted both of their heads, wondering where their cockiness had gone. Now they begged for their lives, claiming they never chose to become monsters, blaming Gero for what they had become, promising they would never harm anyone again.
Tien hesitated for a brief moment, then his face twisted in rage. They had broken free from their programming. They chose this path. They chose destruction.
Dropping them to the ground, Tien told them they could have done good, but instead they caused all of this. He raised his hand and began charging a Dodon Ray as the two scrambled to flee.
Then suddenly, Tien felt an enormous ki forming. He froze, instantly turning to see a massive sphere of energy disappearing in the distance. Without hesitation, he rocketed off toward it, knowing he would deal with the androids later. Piccolo was far stronger than before and a far greater threat.
The androids were left confused, feeling the Earth tremble beneath them. Instinct told them to stay far away from that power, yet Tien's words lingered in their minds, making them question their choices.
Bango watched it all unfold, but in the next moment, he was suddenly teleported away. He reappeared near Piccolo's castle.
High above, Chi-Chi, Yamcha, and Krillin stood facing Piccolo in the air. Piccolo grinned, eager for another chance to kill them, especially Krillin, a chance he had been denied before.
Krillin met his gaze without fear. "You're not getting that chance."
Piccolo's grin only widened, eager to see them struggle. The battle began as all three powered up to Kaioken times four, knowing it was the only way to keep up.
Piccolo was slightly taken aback, but only for a moment, calling it nothing more than a warm up. The four clashed mid air in a blur of motion. Yamcha struck first, landing a rapid flurry of punches on the Demon King, though it barely fazed him.
With a grin, Piccolo vanished and reappeared behind the former bandit, raising his hand to slice him in half.
But just like years before, Krillin stepped in at the last second, hurling a Destructo Disk that forced Piccolo back, the attack nearly cutting the evil Namekian in two.
Grinning, Krillin shouted for Chi-Chi, who came rocketing up from below, grabbing Piccolo by the legs and hurling him downward.
Krillin positioned himself above the Demon King, diving in with a barrage of kicks before firing a massive ki blast that exploded on impact, filling the area with thick smoke.
Yamcha wondered if they got him, but Krillin and Chi-Chi just looked at him. They could still sense his ki, so there was no way he was down.
"Sorry," Yamcha muttered.
In the next instant, Piccolo burst out of the smoke, lunging straight at them. The three met him head on, trading blows in mid air. For a moment, he was at a disadvantage, getting pushed back under their combined assault. Bango cheered, thinking they finally had him.
Chi-Chi stepped in, landing a rapid flurry of precise strikes that sent Piccolo flying toward Yamcha. He reacted instantly, unleashing a powerful Wolf Fang Fist before pulling back and shouting for everyone to close their eyes. In a flash, he released a Solar Flare, even surprising himself that he pulled it off.
Krillin seized the opening, raising one arm. "Thanks, guys!" he shouted.
He launched a Destructo Disk aimed straight for Piccolo's head. Piccolo sensed it at the last second and dodged, but the blade sliced clean through his arm, drawing a scream of pain.
The three regrouped side by side, believing this was their chance, and unleashed a combined Turtle School Kamehameha with Kaioken times four, their energy surging forward in a massive wave.
Piccolo's expression shifted as he took in their strength, noting that if they had faced the androids at this level, victory would have been theirs.
He struggled to hold it back, but a smirk soon spread across his face. He wasn't like those weak androids. Laughing, he felt a breakthrough, his power swelling with each passing second. He could sense his true strength slowly unlocking, and this surge was exactly the push he needed. His energy flared violently, his body bulging slightly as a wild, triumphant grin spread across his face.
The narrator speaks, "Powering up to his true strength, Piccolo's power soared past 2,000,000. If it had only been the fourfold boost given to him before, he wouldn't even have stood a chance against the androids, much less against them. But now, unlocked by fusion, his true potential was revealed. He was unstoppable.
The sudden spike in power shocked everyone. He countered their combined Kamehameha, regenerating his arm in the process, and with immense effort, overwhelmed the Z Fighters. Yet he chose to toy with them, testing their limits rather than finishing them immediately."
Standing tall, his arm fully regrown, he stared down at them, his presence radiating an overwhelming power that pressed on everyone around him.
"Run," Piccolo said.
With a sudden surge, he powered up, forming a massive sphere of energy around him that grew larger and larger. All three fighters struggled, using their Kamehamehas to push back, but Bango watched in shock as the overwhelming force hurled them in different directions, tossing them like ragdolls beneath the Demon King's unstoppable power.
To Be Continued!