The Demon King's Final Gamble

A Defiant Exchange

Goku stands up from the rubble of the back wall as though nothing happened, cheerfully noting that Piccolo's punch barely stung. Kami warns Goku that he will regret refusing help, but Goku insists he would regret accepting it even more. Tien and Krillin side with Goku on this, pointing out that the young fighter already saved the world once before and earned the right to handle things on his own terms. Piccolo boasts that three years of intense training have made him incomparably stronger, but Goku calmly responds that he has pushed himself just a bit beyond Piccolo's level.

The Chasing Bullet Backfires

Enraged, Piccolo fires a massive energy blast directly at Goku. Goku sidesteps the beam with ease, but the blast curves in midair and hurtles back at him. Piccolo laughs and explains that the Chasing Bullet will follow its target wherever he goes, making evasion pointless. Goku takes to the air to buy time, weaving and dodging while the relentless sphere of energy stays locked on him. Then, in a sudden burst of speed, Goku dives back down to the ring and positions himself directly in front of Piccolo. He darts aside at the last possible instant, and Piccolo has no time to react before his own attack slams into him.

Regeneration and a Terrible Buildup

The explosion tears Piccolo's left arm apart, leaving it dangling and useless. Goku tells him to concede the match, certain that continuing would be reckless. Piccolo refuses. With a guttural roar he grabs the ruined arm and rips it from his body, discarding the shattered limb without flinching. His muscles flex and twitch, and seconds later a brand-new arm sprouts from the bloody stump, fully formed and ready. The crowd recoils in horror. Piccolo plants his feet and begins gathering an enormous amount of ki, building toward something far beyond any technique he has used so far. The energy pouring off his body cracks the ground beneath his feet, and Goku's expression shifts from confidence to alarm. He screams at his friends and the spectators to run for their lives immediately.