บท 12: Piccolo Daimaoh

"Just as I suspected, Ryuji… If Piccolo is the embodiment of absolute evil, you are the embodiment of absolute contempt!"

Mutaito's voice echoed with ferocity, charged with unyielding determination.

"Defeat him!"

Mutaito's words left Ryuji momentarily perplexed. They had already witnessed Piccolo's terrifying power; where were they finding the courage to stand against him?

A small part of the martial artists hesitated, but years of rigorous training and dedication to their discipline spoke louder. Their virtues overshadowed any feelings of fear or doubt.

Kame and Shen advanced together, unleashing precise blows against Ryuji. Their faces were free of hesitation; the truth was, neither of them harbored any sympathy for the old warrior.

His alliance with Piccolo was the perfect excuse to release their accumulated frustration.

However, Ryuji's mastery was not something to be underestimated. Half a century of martial accumulation could not be treated as a joke.

He skillfully dodged each strike, his movements flowing like water, and retaliated without mercy.

"Golden Ray!"

With a firm shout, a golden beam emerged from the tip of his index finger, shining with the intensity of a blade of light. His intent was clear: to obliterate Mutaito's two disciples with a single attack.

But then, a figure emerged.

"Dodon Ray!"

Kaelor, moving with calculated precision, unleashed a beam of Ki that effortlessly overpowered Ryuji's attack, dissipating the Golden Ray like a flame in the wind.

Before Ryuji could react, Kaelor vanished in a blur of speed. In an instant, he was beside the old martial master.

With a precise palm strike to the neck, Kaelor neutralized Ryuji effortlessly. The old warrior's body collapsed to the ground, unconscious, and the battlefield plunged into silence.

Many skilled warriors were visibly impressed with Kaelor's performance, particularly Kame and Shen.

"How can a brat be so powerful?" they exclaimed in unison.

Noticing their synchronized reaction, they both froze, astonished. Kaelor observed the scene and smirked faintly. "They were colleagues; it makes sense they have this kind of affinity."

For a brief moment, he imagined the future of the two, but his smile faded when he recalled how their relationship would develop.

Turning his attention to Mutaito, Kaelor declared firmly:

"Let's kick Piccolo's ass and bring peace back to the world!"

Kaelor's shout was like a spark igniting a fire, inflaming everyone's confidence. The warriors rallied behind his words with vigor, and the atmosphere transformed into one of calm determination.

With such powerful and reliable allies by his side, there was no room for panic.

The army began to move. Bald men, seasoned elders, fierce-eyed youths, and even a child composed that peculiar troop.

At first glance, they might have been mistaken for desperate refugees, but the truth was different: this was Earth's supreme army.

On the vast plain covered with short grass, an imposing figure stood out. A green man, with a severe expression, wearing a dark blue robe with an ideogram stamped on his chest.

His posture exuded confidence, and around him, Piccolo Daimaoh's army radiated an oppressive aura of pure terror.

As they drew closer, Kaelor felt a slight tightness in his chest but pushed aside his nerves and advanced with unwavering conviction. His gaze locked onto Piccolo, and with a provocative smile, he declared:

"The big green guy is mine! You take care of the small fry!"

Immediately, the warriors behind him began to curse.

"Don't rush in recklessly, kid!"

But it was too late. Kaelor had already elevated his Ki and shot through the sky toward Piccolo like a golden projectile.

Piccolo Daimaoh noticed the rapid approach and smiled in contempt.

"Makosen!"

Two purple energy beams shot forth in quick succession. The first was merely a decoy to distract; the second was the real attack.

Kaelor faced the incoming blasts with icy resolve. Stretching out his hand, he fired a powerful golden beam that nullified both of Piccolo's attacks with ease.

The demon's eyes widened, visibly surprised. A child managed to defend against my technique? But the surprise was short-lived. Piccolo quickly regained his malicious grin as he saw Kaelor closing in.

"Mouth Energy Wave!"

From the depths of his throat, a massive wave of energy erupted, tearing through the air with violent force.

Piccolo's strategy was clear: to exploit his superior energy and Ki to subdue the opponent before any close combat could occur.

Kaelor, however, was undeterred. The golden glow of his Ki flared brighter, and he continued advancing with unwavering determination, like an arrow of light aiming to strike its target.

The decisive clash was about to begin.

Piccolo smiled as his energy wave neared Kaelor, but a deafening shout made him freeze.

"Kiai!"

A powerful shockwave of air dissipated Piccolo's attack, allowing Kaelor to advance successfully. The long-anticipated close combat was finally about to unfold.

Without hesitation, Kaelor overwhelmed Piccolo with a flurry of high-speed punches, striking the Demon King repeatedly. With each blow, Piccolo's body struggled to absorb the impact, and his confident smile began to fade.

Realizing he was at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation, Piccolo decided to rely on his experience and vast arsenal of techniques.

With a swift movement, he raised his hand toward the sky and released a blinding flash of light.

"Solar Flare!" Piccolo shouted, temporarily blinding Kaelor.

Taking advantage of the opening, Piccolo retreated to a safe distance. While Kaelor was still recovering from the blindness, Piccolo summoned his four most powerful subordinates. The five began to position themselves in a strange, terrifying circle.

Echoing across the plain were their chilling cries:

"Five-Way Fusion!"

Kaelor's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What? It's possible to fuse with more than one person? And since when does Piccolo know how to do that?!"

A dark aura enveloped the group. A sharp, deafening sound filled the air as a blinding light engulfed them.

When the transformation was complete, a colossal figure emerged from the shadows: a warrior with defined muscles and an overwhelmingly oppressive presence.

Kaelor could only describe it as a Namekian Ultra Fusion.

A chill ran down Kaelor's spine.

"This wasn't in the script…" he murmured, his voice trembling.

The fusion advanced slowly, exuding energy so intense that the very atmosphere seemed to vibrate. Kaelor's fists trembled.

"His power… it must be around one thousand!"

He clenched his teeth and muttered to himself:

"If I don't transform into Oozaru, I don't stand a chance."

Piccolo's cruel gaze locked onto him, a malicious smile spreading across his lips. Kaelor knew the situation was critical.

At the start of Dragon Ball Z, Raditz, with a power level of just 1,500, had already terrified the Z Fighters.

If this Piccolo had truly reached the mark of 1,000, the nightmare was only beginning.

Kaelor shot a quick glance at his companions and noticed the fear on their faces. Yet even in the face of dread, they still had resources left to deploy.

He himself had a hidden trump card: the Oozaru. Though he had never used the transformation and had never relied on it, his tail was proof that the power slumbered within him, ready to awaken if necessary.

"I will not perish before achieving my satisfaction." That thought echoed like a mantra in his mind. Determined, Kaelor opted for a tactical retreat.

Piccolo Daimaoh observed Kaelor's movements and smiled with disdain. He knew that, in a battle, psychological impact was as important as physical strength, and he believed he had sown the seed of fear in his enemies' hearts.

Meanwhile, Mutaito and the other warriors were busy fighting Piccolo's subordinates. Kaelor rejoined the fray, dodging attacks and striking with precision. With a firm voice, he declared:

"We need to retreat! Piccolo is much stronger than we imagined."

His intention was to warn them and instill caution, but his words had the opposite effect. The warriors, eyes blazing with determination, shouted in response:

"We will defeat Piccolo!"

Hearing this, Mutaito turned to Kaelor, his expression serious, and declared:

"I still have one last card to play. I need your help to execute it."

Kaelor narrowed his eyes, skeptical.

"I value my life. I need to know what it is before I make any moves."

Mutaito's determination, however, did not waver.

"The effect is better if it's a surprise. Now do as I say!"

Kaelor frowned, feeling conflicted, but he eventually nodded. He knew Mutaito wouldn't say such a thing without reason.

The atmosphere grew dense as Piccolo began to approach, flying slowly toward the group. His overwhelming presence seemed to double the gravity around them, making every breath feel heavier.

Fear crept into the hearts of the warriors, but as men devoted to Kung Fu, they found courage amidst the despair.

Steady postures, focused eyes—they would face Piccolo until the bitter end.

Mutaito fixed his gaze on Kaelor and shouted with all his might:

"Now! Immobilize the bastard!"

Kaelor dashed forward in the blink of an eye, ferocity in every movement. He launched himself at Piccolo, attempting to grab him in a firm embrace to hold him still, but he failed. Piccolo's speed was absurd. In an instant, he slipped away with ease, sidestepping Kaelor's attack.

Kaelor panted in frustration but didn't give up. Narrowing his eyes, an idea struck him like lightning.

"If he's too fast to be contained, maybe I need to think outside the box…"

An unexpected plan began to form in his mind.