...
As time passed, the three malevolent auras beyond the stars drew ever closer to Earth.
After a single night, even the air above the planet seemed to grow heavy and viscous.
Ordinary people could feel it—an oppressive tension, like the stillness before a storm. Irritability and unease began to spread across the globe…
From the direction of the Heavenly Realm, two figures flew swiftly toward Mount Paozu.
"Uncle Piccolo, are you taking me home?" Gohan asked.
"Shut up!"
Piccolo shot the kid a glare, his expression grave.
Those three auras outside Earth were wild, violent—completely unrestrained. He could clearly sense their strength.
Compared to himself, Piccolo knew that he was roughly on par with the strongest among them.
If it were any other opponent, he would have absolute confidence in winning at equal power levels.
But these enemies… were Saiyans.
From Gran's description, Saiyans were known as a warrior race—beings born for battle.
Piccolo had already experienced this firsthand. Back when he fought Son Goku, Saiyans had the terrifying ability to erupt with overwhelming power in desperate situations.
Because of that, he wasn't confident he could defeat them.
So now, he needed an ally.
That ally… was Son Goku.
Piccolo knew that over the past year and a half, Goku had been training relentlessly for this very crisis.
Though he hated the idea of cooperating with his former enemy, for the sake of Earth… he had no choice.
"You're too slow!"
Seeing Gohan lag behind, Piccolo simply grabbed him and accelerated.
Before long—
A streak of white light descended above Mount Paozu as Piccolo and Gohan landed.
Tap, tap!
The moment they touched down, Gohan looked around in confusion. Beside their home, a strange new structure had appeared.
"Huh? When did this house show up? I don't remember it being here…"
Hearing movement outside, the dome-shaped building opened, and several figures stepped out.
Chi-Chi, Ox-King, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Yamcha.
The moment Chi-Chi saw them, her eyes widened. The child beside Piccolo looked eerily familiar—just like her son who had disappeared a year and a half ago.
"Mom!"
Gohan spotted her too and ran forward excitedly.
"Gohan—it really is you!"
Chi-Chi dropped to her knees and embraced him tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"Mom, I missed you!"
"I missed you too, Gohan!"
...
While the emotional reunion unfolded, Krillin and the others couldn't relax. Their eyes remained locked on Piccolo, filled with caution.
"So it was you who took Gohan!" Krillin snapped angrily.
"What was Goku even thinking? His son gets kidnapped by his enemy, and he doesn't react at all?" Tien frowned, unable to understand.
"Why are you here? Had a change of heart and decided to return Gohan?" Yamcha asked, forcing down his fear.
"Hmph. A bunch of trash."
Piccolo stood there in his white gravity suit, arms crossed, looking down on them with utter disdain.
"What did you say?!"
Tien, a martial artist with immense pride, instantly bristled at the insult.
Just as he was about to act, Krillin stopped him and stepped forward.
"You're here to deal with those three, aren't you?"
Those three?
The Z Fighters all looked up at the sky. In about an hour, the invaders would arrive.
But… was that even possible?
Would Piccolo actually help them?
They exchanged uncertain glances. This was the reincarnation of the Demon King Piccolo, after all!
Ignoring them completely, Piccolo extended his senses—and quickly located Goku's aura inside the strange building nearby.
"Mom, what's that?"
Still in Chi-Chi's arms, Gohan wiped her tears and pointed at the structure.
"That's a gravity chamber your Aunt Bulma built. Your father's inside training right now," Chi-Chi said with a smile.
Now that her son had returned, her fear of Piccolo had vanished.
Her husband was right there inside. If Piccolo dared try anything, she'd make sure he regretted it.
"A gravity chamber…"
Piccolo narrowed his eyes.
He was already familiar with gravity training—from Gran's gravity suit and the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
If Goku was using the same method, then his growth must have been tremendous.
At that thought, anticipation flickered in Piccolo's eyes.
Silence fell.
Everyone had gathered here for the same reason—to wait for Son Goku.
Time ticked by.
Half an hour passed.
Then another ten minutes.
The Z Fighters grew restless. With only twenty minutes left before the Saiyans' arrival, they could no longer sit still.
They were just about to go call Goku—
Click…!
The gravity chamber door slowly opened.
A figure stepped out, clad in an orange training suit.
Son Goku.
After training under King Kai and spending another half year inside the gravity chamber, he had undergone a complete transformation.
The carefree, slightly goofy air he once carried was gone.
In its place was a calm, steady presence—like a true martial arts master.
Goku scanned the crowd, his gaze finally settling on Gohan and Piccolo.
"Dad!"
Gohan broke free from Chi-Chi's arms and flew straight into Goku's embrace.
Goku caught him, gently ruffling his hair—his eyes softer than ever before.
"Goku, you're finally out!!!"
The rest of the Z Fighters erupted in excitement.
Still patting Gohan's head, Goku smiled.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting."
Then he turned to Piccolo.
"Thanks for taking care of Gohan all this time."
Those words stunned everyone present.
So… Goku had known all along that Piccolo had taken his son?!
"Hmph."
Piccolo snorted, offering no reply. His eyes remained fixed on Goku.
Just how strong had this guy become?
After exchanging brief greetings with his family and friends, Goku straightened.
"Time's up. Those three have already entered Earth's atmosphere. Let's go!"
Holding Gohan, he shot into the sky.
Piccolo and the others followed immediately.
Only Chi-Chi and the Ox-King remained behind.
"Please… come back safely!"
Watching their departing figures, Chi-Chi clasped her hands in prayer.
Ever since Goku had returned with piles of gold treasures from around the world, she had stopped opposing Gohan's training.
In fact… she now hoped her son would grow even stronger.
...
Meanwhile, in West City.
Gran rose from his lounge chair and stretched lazily.
"Let's go. Time to watch the show."
Gran, Beerus, and Whis took to the sky.
"Sis, let's go too."
Bulma pulled Tights along as they followed.
But unlike Bulma's composed expression, Tights looked deeply anxious.
...