A new round began.
This time, Android 18 stopped playing defense and took the initiative.
She suddenly threw a punch at Vegeta—Vegeta flashed aside.
But the moment he dodged, 18 tilted her head back and slammed it forward like a hammer.
Bang!
A dull impact echoed through the air as Vegeta was launched backward.
Bruising and a streak of fresh red appeared on his forehead—
while 18 remained completely unscathed.
Vegeta wiped his brow and spat through gritted teeth,
"What a nasty hard head…"
The next second, he stomped the ground and blasted forward, punching at 18.
18 twisted to the side, and at the same time drove her knee upward—
straight into Vegeta's abdomen.
Crack!
The violent collision made Vegeta's stomach spasm.
Pain surged through his body. He staggered back several steps, unable to stop himself.
Veins bulged on his forehead as if he was about to vomit.
After a few seconds of forced composure, he clutched his stomach, panting heavily.
18's eyes were still cold.
She snapped her leg out in a sweeping whip kick—
Vegeta flew backwards and slammed hard into the mountain.
A hole burst into the rock wall, smoke and debris pouring out.
Krillin clenched his fists, cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
"This is insane…"
"Vegeta's already a Super Saiyan… and he's still losing!"
Yamcha said cautiously, "We can't let Vegeta die. Should we help him?"
Behind them, Piccolo's face had turned terrifyingly dark.
"At this rate, he might actually die. Let's go together."
Seeing they were about to move, Android 17 stepped forward.
He turned back to the towering Android 16.
"Looks like they're going to interfere."
"18 can't handle that many at once without trouble."
"Should we go help her?"
Android 16's eyes were calm—there was even a faint smile on his face.
"No. I won't go."
17 frowned. "You're seriously lazy."
"What were you even created for?"
16 replied plainly, "To kill Son Goku."
17 snorted. "So you only remember that idiot Gero's mission?"
"You do nothing else?"
"What are you, an actual robot?"
Android 16 said nothing.
Seeing he'd returned to his silent state, 17 didn't bother pushing it.
Having to ask ten questions just to get one response was unbearable.
Talking to a walking brick wall was pointless.
"Fine, fine. I'll go myself."
With that, Android 17 walked toward Krillin and the others, blocking their path.
"You three—don't interfere."
"This is Vegeta versus 18."
The group immediately stopped.
Just then, Vegeta emerged from the crater in the mountain.
He glared at Krillin's group and barked,
"All of you—get the hell out of my way!"
"This is my duel. I don't need your help!!"
"Vegeta!"
"You bastard!"
Krillin and Yamcha instantly flared with anger.
Even now, Vegeta not only refused their help—he told them to get lost.
But Piccolo remained calm.
Arms crossed, he said to Krillin and Yamcha,
"Don't help him."
"He thinks this is a fair fight."
"To him, helping him is an insult."
Krillin and Yamcha gritted their teeth, but didn't move.
Android 18, however, spoke calmly to Vegeta and the others:
"If any of you want to run, go ahead."
"I'm not interested in cowards."
As she spoke, she even stepped back and moved aside—clearly giving them a path.
Krillin and the others were stunned.
They… could leave?
Yamcha scratched his head and whispered to Krillin,
"Hey… they killed Gero, right?"
"They don't have to follow his orders anymore."
"And honestly… it doesn't seem like they have a deep grudge against us."
"If they stop destroying cities and killing people, maybe we don't even have to fight."
"Should we just go?"
Piccolo immediately broke into a cold sweat.
"Don't even think about running."
"If you turn your back, they might slaughter you on the spot."
Krillin and Yamcha both jolted.
Piccolo was right.
Villains never followed rules.
But Vegeta only felt more insulted.
He roared, "Run?!"
"Who the hell do you think I am?!"
"Right now is the moment to wipe you all out!"
"Let me fight alongside Earthlings and Namekians—"
"Or worse, team up with Kakarot?"
"I'd rather die alone!"
Krillin and Yamcha wore expressions of pure contempt.
Back when they fought Frieza, Vegeta couldn't even participate because he was too weak.
Now he'd become a Super Saiyan—
and suddenly acting like cooperation was beneath him.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river…
What a joke.
Android 17 began clapping, genuinely amused.
"What a brilliant declaration!"
"As expected of the Saiyan Prince—so much backbone!"
Vegeta snorted.
"Shut up."
"You puppets don't have the right to judge me!"
A flash of irritation passed through 17's eyes.
"Rude bastard."
"18—teach him a lesson."
17 stepped back, leaving the fight to Vegeta and 18 once more.
Android 18 looked at Vegeta.
"Your stamina's already running low."
"Still want to continue?"
Vegeta snorted. "Killing three puppets is more than enough!"
"Is it?"
A wicked smile curled on 18's lips.
"Then I won't hold back."
She rushed forward.
Vegeta roared as his aura rose even higher.
He counterattacked with a vicious, feral style—
clearly realizing that if he didn't go all out, he couldn't win.
He stopped caring about energy consumption and unleashed the full "Prince" fighting method.
"Aah—da da da da da!"
His fists fired like a machine gun.
Even 18—who had intended to beat him senseless—was forced to retreat repeatedly.
Vegeta really was strong.
His relentless offense pushed 18 back, until a sharp elbow strike finally sent her flying.
18 slammed into the mountain wall—
embedded deep—
then rubble collapsed and buried her.
Vegeta shouted:
"Big Bang Attack!"
"Ahhh!"
A massive shockwave detonated toward her.
Boom!!
The explosion flattened the mountain into a wasteland.
Only thick smoke remained—
and dark clouds rolling through the sky like ash.
Vegeta's face lit up in uncontrollable joy.
Krillin's group stared in disbelief.
"Vegeta was incredible!"
"He beat her!"
But Android 17 said calmly, "Not necessarily."
"18 isn't as weak as you think."
"What?!"
Sure enough—
as the smoke cleared, the mountain was gone.
Yet Android 18 stood at the center of the blast.
Not a scratch on her.
Her expression hadn't changed either—calm and indifferent.
Only her clothes were torn.
Otherwise, you'd never guess she'd just taken an attack like that head-on.
18 tore off her shredded denim jacket like it was trash.
She dusted herself off lazily and looked at Vegeta again.
"I didn't expect you to be this good."
"You're actually pretty impressive."
Vegeta exploded in rage.
"Damn you!"
"Still acting like you don't care?!"
"You're pissing me off!"
"I'll smash you into spare parts!"
He charged again.
Vegeta's offensive was still fierce and furious.
It looked overwhelming.
Krillin and Yamcha finally exhaled in relief.
"Yes! Keep hitting her!"
Yamcha muttered, "Vegeta may be an asshole, but he really is strong."
"He's way stronger than Goku was back then."
But Piccolo had already seen the truth.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
"Vegeta's going to die."
Krillin and Yamcha froze.
"What?!"
"But he's winning!"
Piccolo shook his head and sighed.
"That's only on the surface."
"He's burning through stamina too fast—his ki is already weakening."
"And the Android hasn't shown even a hint of fatigue."
"Sooner or later, Vegeta will collapse."
The two stared harder.
And sure enough—
after consuming too much energy, Vegeta began panting after every few attacks.
But Android 18 stayed composed from start to finish.
It wasn't courage—
it was excess power.
Then, in one moment of misstep—
18 drove a brutal punch into Vegeta's face.
Vegeta screamed—
and her combo followed instantly.
Punch after punch, driving him back.
A sweeping kick—
snap!
His arm fractured.
In the blink of an eye, the entire situation flipped.
Vegeta was now completely trapped.
Android 18 said casually,
"One of your arms is useless now."
"Give up."
Vegeta spat, "Give up?!"
"I'd rather die!"
He lifted his remaining arm and fired an energy blast.
18 vanished and dodged it with ease.
The next instant—
she reappeared right in front of him.
Then she grabbed Vegeta and began beating him down mercilessly.
Vegeta screamed again and again—
and after only a few exchanges, he went limp.
Unconscious.
Krillin, Yamcha, and Piccolo were drenched in sweat.
Infinite stamina.
Superior strength even over a Super Saiyan.
These Androids were terrifying.
Krillin whispered, voice shaking, "What do we do?"
Yamcha hissed, "Piccolo, you run first—you can't die."
"We'll cover you."
But before they could act, 18 spoke:
"Relax. He won't die."
"Give him a Senzu Bean. He'll be fine, right?"
Android 17 added,
"Tell him his martial arts improved."
"He can come challenge us again."
All three were stunned.
They weren't killing Vegeta.
They weren't even threatening them.
Piccolo suddenly realized something and asked sharply,
"How do you know about Senzu Beans?"
Android 18 brushed her hair back.
"Senzu Beans… heh."
"I had one once when I was little."
"The taste wasn't anything special."
"But the healing was amazing."
Krillin and the others were shocked.
"As a kid?"
"Did you climb Korin Tower too?!"
18 didn't answer.
She looked at Piccolo instead.
"So you're King Piccolo's offspring?"
Piccolo stiffened, replying cautiously, "That's me."
At the same time he raised his guard.
But 18 just waved her hand dismissively.
"Not fighting."
"Not fighting."
"I just didn't expect King Piccolo's son to become a good guy."
She turned to 17.
"17—I need money. I want to buy clothes."
"Let's go."
17 nodded. "Yeah. I also want money."
"Without money, I don't even know what to do."
Then 18 flew off toward West City.
17 followed, waving at Krillin's group as he left.
Krillin stood there, staring into the distance, dazed for a long time.
Android 16 remained in place—
quietly watching the scenery like a tourist.
Only then did Krillin realize:
There was still another Android standing right here.
He asked hesitantly, "Uh… aren't you going with them?"
Android 16 turned his head toward Krillin.
Krillin shivered—instantly regretting asking.
But Android 16 only looked fierce.
With that huge body and terrifying face—
he somehow wore a strangely gentle smile.
"I was created to kill Son Goku," he said.
"But I want to stay here and watch the birds."
"I don't want to kill anyone."
The three of them were speechless.
Made to kill…
but didn't want to kill.
Krillin suddenly remembered something.
Back in Snow's hometown, there was an Android with a similar personality—
one who became friends with everyone and lived peacefully for years.
Krillin spoke quickly,
"Hey—you're 16, right?"
"I know someone named A-8."
"He was also made by Dr. Gero."
"Gero called him a failure."
But he lives in Snow's village now.
He's peaceful, and he hates fighting too.
Maybe you could be friends."
Android 16 smiled.
"Is that so? I hope I can meet him someday."
He looked around.
"The fighting scared away the birds."
"I'll go now."
"Goodbye."
With that, Android 16 flew off—
not toward West City like 17 and 18,
but in a completely different direction.
Toward what looked like dense forest.
Piccolo stared toward where 17 and 18 disappeared.
"That man and woman flew west…"
"Are they heading to West City?"
Krillin's pupils shrank.
"Damn it!"
"Chi-Chi's still in critical condition—maybe dead already!"
"And these Androids were created to kill Goku…"
"Are they going to West City to kill him?!"
"I have to get there—now!"
He tried to fly off, but Yamcha grabbed him.
"Krillin, don't lose your head!"
"Feed Vegeta a Senzu first. If we leave him like this, he'll die."
Krillin snapped back to reality and hurried over to Vegeta, feeding him a Senzu Bean.
The instant Vegeta swallowed it, he recovered.
But his face was shattered.
His expression was bleak and chaotic—like his mind was falling apart.
Krillin stepped in front of him.
"Vegeta!"
"We're going to Goku's place to check."
"With Goku there, if we fight together, we can definitely beat them!"
"Come with us!"
Vegeta's face flickered between emotions.
He said nothing.
Piccolo pulled Krillin's arm gently, making room.
"Don't bother."
Vegeta flew off without another word.
Krillin wanted to argue—
Vegeta's strength could make a huge difference if he cooperated with Goku.
But Piccolo already understood.
He shook his head silently.
Impossible.
Vegeta would never team up.
Krillin's expression darkened.
Deep down, he already knew—
with his strength, he couldn't help Goku anymore.
Piccolo continued, voice heavy:
"Ever since Vegeta became a Super Saiyan, he convinced himself he surpassed Goku."
"And he grew arrogant."
"But today… he lost to a woman."
His pride took a fatal blow.
"His mentality shattered."
"If he can recover… that depends on him."
Krillin nodded. "Yeah…"
"He's too proud."
"But we need his power right now…"
"Goku might be in danger."
"And we might not be able to help at all."
Yamcha scratched his head.
"Krillin… I know you and Goku are close."
"But I don't feel that sense of danger."
"I don't think the Androids are going to West City to kill Goku…"