Shen attacked first.
A heavy punch smashed into Krillin—then a backhanded kick followed right after.
Krillin didn't make a sound. He was slammed flat into the ground.
"Hehehe… that's it?" Shen sneered, looking down at him. "You're even weaker than that three-eyed guy!"
"So? Are you dead already?"
But in the next instant—
Krillin stood up.
Smiling.
Not a scratch on him.
He even stuck his tongue out at Shen like he was mocking a child.
"Who are you calling dead?" Krillin said lightly. "Don't underestimate people."
Shen's eyes widened.
"…You're still alive?"
"No wonder you were so cocky. Looks like you can take a beating."
Krillin raised his stance, eyes sharp.
"I'm not just tough."
"I'm strong."
He stomped the ground and surged forward.
Shen tried to dodge—
Too late.
Krillin's speed suddenly spiked, faster than before.
He might've been short, but he could jump.
Krillin leapt up and snapped a kick into Shen's chin.
Shen staggered, nearly losing balance.
"You brat!" Shen snarled. "Let me show you the power of the Demon Clan!"
He pointed at Krillin with one hand.
"HAA—!"
A streak of lightning shot out like a spear.
Krillin stamped sideways and dodged.
Then his body blurred—afterimages flashing around Shen.
Shen jolted, then laughed loudly.
"That kind of trick is child's play!"
The lightning split—multiple arcs firing at Krillin's afterimages and his true position.
But Krillin's real body slid east—
And in the same motion, he sprang into the sky.
The morning sun blazed behind him like a halo.
He shouted down:
"Solar Flare!"
Shen reflexively looked up.
The sunlight stabbed his eyes—
And at the same time, an even more violent burst of light erupted from Krillin.
Shen's lightning stopped instantly.
He screamed, clutching his face.
"AAH—MY EYES!"
Krillin's mouth curled into a cold, satisfied smile.
He lifted his hand.
"Destructo Disc!"
A razor-thin, spinning energy disc formed with a screech—
And Krillin hurled it.
SHRRK—!
Shen's body was sliced clean through.
His mouth hung open, expression frozen in disbelief—
Before he split in half.
Light faded.
Vision returned.
And the world went silent.
Master Roshi trembled… then smiled, proud and shaken all at once.
Good… Krillin!
He created a technique like that… and paired it with Solar Flare.
If that lands on Demon King Piccolo… it might actually kill him…
Tien stared at Krillin, his stern face cracking with genuine admiration.
"What a tactic…"
"He used sunlight to amplify Solar Flare… then seized the instant opening for a killing blow."
Goku watched, stunned—and impressed.
That attack was supposed to be Krillin's signature in the future.
And yet Krillin had created it already… here, now.
Goku remembered the tournament—Krillin had said he had a finishing move, then never used it.
So this was it.
A true trump card.
And after witnessing Solar Flare once, Krillin had completed the combo Goku himself had once imagined.
But Goku's mind stayed clear.
That kind of move only works once.
If it misses… or the enemy becomes wary… it loses its power.
Russell and Bukanda, now able to see again, stared at Shen's corpse and erupted in rage.
Russell roared, veins bulging.
"You bastard! You killed Shen with a cheap trick!"
"DIE!"
He lunged at Krillin with a brutal punch.
Krillin slipped aside—
And hammered Russell's chin with a counterpunch.
Russell stumbled back.
But Krillin didn't let him breathe.
He chased in and unleashed a storm of blows—his fists pounding Russell's stomach like a machine gun.
Bukanda snarled and moved to join—
But Goku flashed in front of him, blocking his path.
To give Krillin the one-on-one fight he wanted.
Goku stared Bukanda down and asked calmly:
"Demon King Piccolo birthed three of you at once. Can his body even handle that?"
Bukanda's eyes narrowed.
"You think he's been sealed for centuries, old and dying?"
Goku tilted his head. "Isn't he?"
Bukanda grinned.
"Listen carefully. Demon King Piccolo gathered the Dragon Balls."
"He regained his youth."
"Birthing the three of us didn't cost him anything."
Goku's eyes sharpened.
"So that's why the radar didn't react…"
Then his expression turned colder.
"He found all seven Dragon Balls… restored his youth… and only then started hunting martial artists."
"Piccolo really knows how to play the long game."
Bukanda laughed as if Goku had told a joke.
"You think he waited because he needed youth?"
"In front of him, you humans are ants."
"He didn't choose timing because of age."
"It's just that when he was freed… those three brats already had six Dragon Balls."
"So all he had to do was find one more."
Everyone froze.
Bulma's face went pale.
"W-What…?! Piccolo used the Dragon Balls?!"
Her thoughts spiraled instantly.
Right now, the Dragon Balls could only revive someone who'd died within a year.
If they died fighting Piccolo's forces… and couldn't gather the balls in time…
They might be gone forever.
And in that moment—
Krillin was blasted backward.
He skidded hard, breathing in ragged bursts.
Across from him, Russell looked almost relaxed.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Krillin was clearly losing ground now.
Russell laughed, cruel and confident.
"Hehehe… you're strong."
"But a sneak-attack trick only works once."
"Now that I've seen it, it won't work again."
"You're dead."
Sweat rolled down Krillin's forehead.
That one kill had cost too much energy.
His stamina was running out.
He could feel it—soon he'd lose to Russell.
Russell suddenly surged forward, fist cocked.
"Die, you runt!"
Krillin couldn't dodge in time.
Goku's eyes flashed.
He moved.
A blur—like wind, like a shadow crossing sunlight.
No one could even follow the motion—
But the next instant, Russell's punch stopped in midair.
Because Goku was beside him.
And Goku's fist had already driven into Russell's abdomen—
Straight through.
Purple blood slid down Goku's arm and dripped to the ground.
Everyone's breath caught.
"What…?"
Tien's three eyes trembled violently.
"Goku… he killed that monster with one punch…"
Krillin stared at Goku, his face blank with shock—like he'd forgotten how to react.
That monster had been stronger than him.
And Goku… ended it in a single blow.
Krillin's throat bobbed as he swallowed.
How strong is Goku… now?
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/NightShard525