The Monster is Coming

Piccolo wastes no time shedding his weighted training clothes as he prepares to face Android 17 on the Tropical Islands. Before the battle even begins, Android 16 tries to warn 17 that Piccolo is not alone, sensing a second energy signature within him. The momentary distraction gives Piccolo the opening he needs, landing the first decisive blow while 17 is still processing the revelation.

Up on the Lookout, Gohan senses the conflict and desperately wants to rush to Piccolo's aid. Goku stops him with a sobering truth: Gohan simply is not strong enough yet, and going now would only be a burden. Meanwhile at Capsule Corporation, Bulma works feverishly on a shutdown remote for the androids while Dr. Brief tends to baby Trunks, who inevitably starts wailing again when the frustrated scientist accidentally wakes him.

Back on the islands, the battle escalates as Piccolo fires off a barrage of energy blasts that appear to miss their mark entirely. Android 17 mocks the Namekian's apparently terrible aim, not realizing it is all a setup. Piccolo triggers the Hellzone Grenade, surrounding 17 with converging energy spheres from every direction. The technique is brilliant in execution, but 17 weathers the storm by deploying his Android Barrier at the last second.

The two relocate to a larger island to continue their clash, with Androids 16 and 18 following as spectators. In another part of the world, Cell has been steadily absorbing people to build his strength. Sensing Piccolo's power flaring in combat, Cell deduces that the androids must be nearby and takes to the sky, finally ready to pursue his true objective.

This episode serves as the debut showcase for the reunified Namekian, and it delivers on the promise of that fusion beautifully. Piccolo's merger with Kami was always positioned as a gamble that sacrificed the Dragon Balls for raw power, and here we see whether the trade was worth it. The answer, at least against 17, is a definitive yes.

The Hellzone Grenade stands out as one of Piccolo's most tactically creative attacks in the series. Rather than relying on brute force, he uses misdirection to surround his opponent with energy from all angles. It is a technique that reflects Piccolo's nature as a warrior who thinks several steps ahead, even if 17's barrier ultimately negates the gambit.

Cell's approach toward the islands at episode's end sets the dominoes in motion for one of the saga's most pivotal confrontations, transforming what started as a one-on-one duel into a far more dangerous scenario.

The anime expands on the manga's version of this fight in several interesting ways, adding underwater combat sequences and an extra round of Scatter Shot attacks to build tension before the Hellzone Grenade reveal. The Capsule Corporation subplot with Bulma and the shutdown remote is anime-original as well, planting narrative seeds that pay off much later in the saga.

Android 16's brief warning about the "two powers" inside Piccolo is an important detail. As a purely mechanical android, 16 can detect energy in ways his siblings cannot, and his concern hints at a deeper understanding of what Piccolo's fusion truly means. It is also worth noting that Piccolo's voice actor delivers some outstanding work during the powering-up sequences, capturing the intensity of a warrior who has been waiting for this moment since Kami agreed to rejoin him.