Dragon Ball Roshi

"What happened to Krillin? His movements suddenly changed?" Hathaway asked in surprise. In front of her was a light green air screen, displaying Krillin in his white martial arts gi, gradually forcing Piccolo, who wore green demon robes and had a similar build to Krillin, into a disadvantageous position. Originally, Krillin had been knocked out by Piccolo in one round, and if it weren't for Goku's timely intervention, Krillin would have already had his neck pierced with blood spurting out. Yet, just a few breaths later, the situation had completely reversed.

The voice of Jarvis echoed from the green screen: "It's the wristbands. The wristbands Krillin removed are a 'switch.' Mr. Taro had transformed his and Goku's martial arts gi with magic into special clothing that adjusts weight, and the wristbands on their right hands act as the 'switch' for this magic."

"Hmm…" Hathaway nodded, turning to glance at her husband, who was also watching the air screen intently. His expression remained calm, without any change. Hathaway couldn't help but smile. "Why did Taro leave a 'switch' on him? Doesn't he worry Krillin might slack off?"

"Not to that extent!" Taro shook his head. At that moment, in the screen, Krillin was throwing sharp, swift punches while Piccolo, drenched in sweat, was forced into a perilous position. After a moment of silence, Taro continued, "Although Krillin may have become a bit too carefree..." He furrowed his brow slightly, subconsciously influenced by his sensory perception of key characters from the original work. "You can't compare him to Goku. Goku has been practicing martial arts since childhood, honing both his body and mind, and with Gohan's constant guidance, it's no surprise he surpasses Krillin."

"Also, with Goku there to push him, Krillin wouldn't dare slack off."

Hathaway nodded. She had only made a joke earlier but now asked seriously, "This successor of the Great Demon King Piccolo… I thought he was some powerful figure, able to disregard anyone other than Taro. But now it seems he's not all that impressive. Krillin has only been practicing martial arts for a short time, yet he can already push him to the disadvantage?" She didn't understand martial arts, so she was simply curious.

"This second-generation Piccolo is still too young. He probably hasn't fully inherited his 'father's' legacy. On my island, he wouldn't dare unleash his full strength. Under these restrictions, he naturally can't perform at his peak." Taro said. "In contrast, Krillin has fully mastered the first level of the Muken and has also developed his own ki sensing technique, allowing him to use his full strength, so it's not surprising that he won."

"Ha, it's so complicated. I don't really get it," Hathaway laughed, twirling a lock of hair. "So, what would happen if Goku took the stage?"

Taro shook his head. "If it were Goku, he wouldn't need to remove the wristband."

---

Boom!

Krillin's flying kick sent Piccolo flying through the air, tumbling several times before crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.

"It's ki… You're using ki? But how can you use it so… so skillfully?!" Piccolo struggled to get up from the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief. This person seemed to have learned martial arts from that man, just like Kakarot. But even Kakarot didn't have this level of skill, did he?

Piccolo glanced at Goku standing off to the side… Hmph, Kakarot was swaying his tail with that stupid look on his face, which made him angry just looking at it!

"Heh… that's none of your business, right?" Krillin grinned mischievously. "Don't look over at Goku; he's just going to be even stronger than me. And your Phoenix behind you? Way stronger than Goku… Just take the beating. It'll be more 'comfortable' for you!"

"Comfortable, you big bald head!" Piccolo cursed in his mind, his anger reaching its peak. He had been a demon in two lifetimes—when had he ever been humiliated like this?

As for when the original Piccolo had first succumbed to the demon realm and later been beaten by Taro, well, he conveniently chose to forget that… or rather, that was something for the previous generation of Piccolo, not him. The glory was his, but the humiliation belonged to the past.

"You should leave quickly. The Phoenix looks like it wants to eat you…" Goku said, rubbing the back of his head while glancing over Piccolo's shoulder.

Hmm?

Piccolo turned to look, only to see the Phoenix soaring in the air. Its entire body was a ball of crimson flame, its eyes glowing with eerie cold light, full of malice. Even Piccolo's strong heart shuddered under its gaze!

"Roar… Roar…"

So, the little demon was being chased by the bird demon, scrambling in a panic as he fled into the woods.

"Hey, Goku, why do you think Master used telepathy to let that guy go?" Krillin asked while picking up the wristband from the ground. "That guy doesn't seem like a good person..."

Goku nodded. "His ki is very evil... But Master should have a way, right? Who cares! And... he's really strong!" Goku grinned. "I really want to fight him someday!"

"Strong? No way! He couldn't even beat me!" Krillin was surprised.

"Not sure... Anyway, let's just continue training!"

"Yeah, you're right. Training is the most important thing..."

---

And so, Piccolo, utterly humiliated, returned to the woods. He was filled with resentment—how could he, the Great Demon King Piccolo, be defeated by such a puny human bald head? And on top of that, being chased by a bird? This was unbelievable, absolutely outrageous! He was the Great Demon King Piccolo! The Great Demon King! Piccolo couldn't fathom it.

Of course, being chased by a bird could be "explained"… After all, many years ago, the previous generation of Piccolo had been taken down by this very bird. Hiding in the woods, suppressing his ki, he spent hours reflecting on his brief confrontation with Krillin. At the same time, he continued to comprehend the abilities passed down to him from the previous Piccolo. He swore to himself, once this Demon King further honed his skills, he would defeat... wait?

Why did it feel like the target he was aiming to defeat was getting weaker by the moment?

Forget it, world domination must be achieved step by step.

----

Soon, the sun moved westward, and afternoon arrived.

Piccolo was awakened by a rumbling sound that shook the ground beneath him. He had been meditating quietly, sitting cross-legged on the ground, when suddenly he was jolted upright. He was surprised, and then a thought crossed his mind. He muttered thoughtfully, "Is it that again?" Focusing his senses, sure enough, that large and volatile ki, strikingly similar to Kakarot's, appeared once more.

Back on the mountaintop, every few afternoons, he would feel this sudden surge of ki somewhere on the island. It was immense, chaotic, violent, and bloodthirsty... Piccolo felt an odd sense of affinity toward it.

Well, now that he was off the mountain, Piccolo decided to secretly approach this unfamiliar ki and figure out what was going on.

What had happened to that Kakarot? Why had he turned into such an idiot?

Boom! Boom! The ground trembled again.

In the distance, a massive beastly roar echoed.