The Death of a God!!

Vegeta's Ultimatum

Piccolo confirms that the rapidly approaching ki belongs to Son Goku, and Gohan's spirits lift. Nappa asks Vegeta to check his scouter. After scanning the horizon, Vegeta's expression shifts: Kakarot will arrive in roughly four minutes, and his battle power already reads over 5,000. Vegeta reasons that if these weaker fighters can manipulate their power levels so drastically, then Kakarot can likely do the same. He orders Nappa to wipe them all out immediately.

Nappa hesitates, reminding Vegeta they still need information about the Dragon Balls. Vegeta dismisses the concern, theorizing that Planet Namek, the Namekian homeworld, probably holds Dragon Balls of its own. Since Kakarot was successfully wished back to life, the legend of those wish-granting orbs must be true, and the Namekian set would be even more powerful.

Gohan's Stand

Gohan realizes the stakes instantly. He screams at Piccolo to retreat, volunteering to hold Nappa off alone until his father arrives. If Piccolo falls, Kami dies with him, and the Dragon Balls cease to exist. Piccolo knows the boy cannot survive against Nappa on his own, and Krillin is too battered to move. Nappa charges at Gohan, mocking his bravery, but the enraged half-Saiyan meets him with a powerful kick that sends the giant crashing through a rock formation.

Nappa pulls himself from the rubble, visibly damaged and seething with rage. He gathers a massive amount of energy and launches a devastating explosive blast directly at Gohan. The boy cannot dodge in time.

Piccolo's Sacrifice

In the final instant before impact, Piccolo sprints forward and plants himself between Gohan and the oncoming blast. The explosion engulfs him completely. Up on the Lookout, Kami feels his own life force draining and understands that Piccolo has fallen. He remarks quietly that Goku did not make it in time, though he takes solace in the manner of Piccolo's death. On the battlefield, the smoke clears to reveal Piccolo standing over Gohan, barely conscious, shielding the child with his broken body.