Seeing Piccolo retreat, Goku flashed a wicked grin.
"What—did you get your spirit broken? Why are you backing up?"
Step by step, Goku advanced.
To Piccolo, it felt like a devil was walking toward him. The pressure skyrocketed, and he couldn't stop himself from retreating again.
Then Piccolo's eyes caught Krillin and the others in the distance.
He remembered Krillin tossing something earlier—and instantly decided that bald little monk was important to Goku.
So Piccolo vanished in a blur and lunged toward them.
Goku's expression changed.
"Crap!"
He sprinted after him.
In the next instant, Piccolo kicked Yamcha and Tien away like trash—both of them went flying and blacked out on impact.
Then Piccolo clamped his hand around Krillin's head and pointed him toward Goku.
"Don't move. Or I'll kill him!"
Goku had been hesitating the whole time—trying to figure out how to deal with Piccolo without losing the Dragon Balls.
He never expected Piccolo to run this far just to take Krillin hostage.
Goku stopped immediately.
If it had been Yamcha or Tien, Goku wouldn't have cared as much.
But Krillin…
Krillin was too slow. His strength wasn't weak at all, yet he hadn't used any of it—Piccolo grabbed him instantly.
Krillin grimaced in pain, but what shocked him more was this:
Piccolo was terrifyingly strong… and yet Goku had beaten him so badly that he was scared.
Goku clenched his fists, furious.
"Let Krillin go!"
Piccolo's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Heh… I noticed you care about him.
Turns out his life really is useful."
"Move even once—and he dies in front of you."
Krillin forced himself to shout through the pressure.
"Goku! Do it! Kill him!
If I die, it doesn't matter—we can use the Dragon Balls to revive me! Don't let him get away!"
At the words "revive," Piccolo burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! Idiot. Still dreaming about revival?"
"Let me tell you something—Shenron is already dead. I killed him.
If you die, you stay dead!"
Krillin's eyes widened.
"No way… Shenron can't be killed!"
Piccolo snorted.
"Hmph. What do you mean 'can't'? Killing a dragon is nothing to me."
Krillin still didn't believe it, and he shouted again—
"Goku! He's lying! Kill him—don't worry about me!"
Goku shook his head, voice low.
"Krillin… he's not lying. Shenron really is dead. But…"
"But what?!" Krillin cried.
Goku paused.
If Shenron was dead, he could be brought back—but if Piccolo died, Kami would die too, and then Shenron could never return.
Krillin's death could be fixed.
Piccolo's death could ruin everything.
Those things weren't something Goku could explain right now.
So he switched tactics and looked Piccolo dead in the eye.
"Piccolo. I already said—if your strength satisfied me, I wouldn't kill you."
"This fight was fun. I'm keeping my word."
"Let Krillin go, and I'll let you leave safely."
"But forget ruling the world."
"If you train hard, and one day you can beat me… come challenge me again."
Piccolo hesitated for half a second—then laughed like Goku was an idiot.
"Hahahaha! You think I'm as naive as humans?"
Goku's gaze didn't waver.
"I do what I say. Live or die—your choice."
Piccolo's expression shifted into a smug "nice try" look.
"Hmph. Then stand still. Don't move."
Krillin panicked.
"Goku, don't listen—kill him—!"
Before Krillin could finish, Piccolo's eyes flashed.
Two laser-like beams of ki fused into one and shot straight into Goku's arm.
Goku didn't dodge.
He let it hit.
He had already raised his ki close to peak.
The beam struck—and Goku felt a numbing jolt run through his arm.
But… it still moved.
His defense hadn't been broken.
Goku exhaled quietly.
Good. Just keep acting a little longer… and Krillin won't have to die.
Piccolo fired again—another beam slammed into Goku's other arm.
Krillin's heart nearly stopped.
Goku was taking it—because of him.
Then Krillin's eyes sharpened.
Right as Piccolo attacked again, Krillin snapped his hand to his temple and roared:
"SOLAR FLARE!!"
A blinding white burst swallowed everything.
For a moment—even Goku lost his sight.
Piccolo screamed as the light stabbed his eyes. His grip loosened instinctively, and Krillin slipped free.
"Agh—my eyes!!"
And then Krillin's voice cut through the glare like steel.
"DESTRUCTO DISC!!"
A spinning razor of ki tore through the air.
SHHRRKK—!
Piccolo was cleaved diagonally in an instant.
First his severed arms hit the ground.
Then his upper and lower body separated and collapsed—dead before he even understood what happened.
Goku regained his vision.
And froze.
The Dragon Balls… are really gone now?
Krillin stared at the corpse, then burst into wild laughter.
"Hahahaha! YES! Goku! I killed Demon King Piccolo!
We did it!!"
He rushed forward and hugged Goku hard.
"That was insane—I almost got you killed… but I remembered my new combo at the last second!"
Goku hugged him back and smiled.
"Congratulations, Krillin. You killed Demon King Piccolo."
"You saved the world."
Krillin shook his head quickly.
"No—if you hadn't weakened him first, that wouldn't have worked. You're the one who beat him!"
Goku chuckled.
"You killed him. Don't try to pass it off."
"And honestly… with how arrogant he was, you might've one-shot him even at full power."
Krillin suddenly blinked.
"Wait—Goku, didn't Piccolo break your arms? How are you even moving them?"
Goku raised an arm casually.
"Didn't break anything. It just hurt for a second.
With that level of power, he can't snap my arms."
Krillin finally relaxed—and then slapped Goku's shoulder in excitement.
"You're insane! Even he couldn't hurt you!!"
The moment Krillin slapped him, Goku wobbled back two steps and dropped onto the ground.
Krillin's eyes widened.
"Hey! That's a flop—total foul bait!!"
Goku lifted an eyebrow.
"What? You pushed me down… and you're not going to help me up?"
Krillin hurried over and pulled him up, worried.
"Goku, what's wrong? Are you injured?"
Goku shook his head.
"No. I'm just exhausted."
"Krillin… I only want one thing right now. Let's go back and eat a huge meal."
"You're treating."
Krillin's mouth twitched.
"Goku… it's not that I don't want to…"
"It's just that your appetite is a financial disaster. I literally can't afford you."
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