Android 15's crimson eye locked onto Krillin, charging a crackling sphere of lethal energy in his palm.
"Directive confirmed. Target: Krillin. Terminate."
Krillin staggered back, exhausted, his body too slow to dodge.
"No… I can't move…!"
The android launched the sphere like a cannonball of raw death—
"Special Beam Cannon!!"
A sharp, spiraling beam of yellow and orange drilled straight through the energy sphere, detonating it mid-air. The explosion lit up the battlefield, smoke and shockwaves blasting across the ground.
When the dust cleared, Krillin was still alive. And standing tall before him—arms crossed, cape fluttering in the wind—was Piccolo. His sharp eyes glared at the android.
"You're not killing him," Piccolo said coldly. "Not while I'm here."
Krillin's knees buckled in relief. "P-Piccolo… you saved me…"
Piccolo didn't look back. His voice was firm, commanding.
"Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, Chiaotzu—fall back. This one's mine. Don't interfere."
Yamcha frowned, wiping blood from his chin. "Are you sure? He's not like any opponent we've faced—"
"I said don't interrupt," Piccolo snapped. His aura surged, lightning sparking around his body. "If you step in, you'll only get in my way."
Tien narrowed his eyes, but then nodded. "He's right… This fight's on a different level."
The group retreated, battered and tense, as Piccolo floated forward.
---
The Fuel
Android 15 tilted his head, analyzing.
"New threat identified. Power level… high. Adjusting protocols."
With a metallic roar, he dashed forward, fists swinging like piston hammers. Piccolo dodged smoothly, his body weaving through the flurry with inhuman precision. Each strike missed by inches, crashing into the earth and leaving smoking craters.
Piccolo's calm expression didn't waver.
"You're strong… but predictable."
He slammed his knee into the android's gut, then flipped backward to avoid a counter-punch. The Namekian's aura flared brighter.
Android 15 opened his mouth, unleashing a massive beam of red energy. It swept across the battlefield like a tsunami of fire.
"Piccolo!!" Krillin shouted from afar.
But Piccolo didn't flinch. His body blurred.
"Flicker Technique."
The massive red blast curved—like space itself had bent—and shot back toward its creator.
"What—?!"
The android had no time to react. His own attack slammed into his chest, engulfing him in a colossal explosion that shook the mountains.
The ground quaked, rocks split, and a blazing fireball consumed the sky.
When the smoke finally cleared, Android 15's body lay shattered, half of his frame melted and sparking. His glowing red eye flickered once, then went dark.
Piccolo lowered his hands, breathing heavily. His cloak was torn, but his expression remained sharp and proud.
"Don't underestimate me," he muttered.
---
The others rushed in.
Krillin looked at Piccolo with wide eyes. "Piccolo… you— you saved me. If you hadn't…"
Piccolo turned his head away. "Don't get sentimental. I just don't like losing allies to machines."
Tien crossed his arms. "Still… without that new technique of yours, we wouldn't have stood a chance."
Piccolo smirked slightly. "The Flicker technique… it was worth developing after all."
Chiaotzu cheered, floating beside him. "That was amazing, Piccolo!"
But Yamcha stared at the remains of Android 15, unease in his voice.
"If this was just one android… what kind of monsters are waiting for us next?"
The wind howled across the battlefield, carrying the smoke away. Their victory was real—yet it felt like only the beginning.