Piccolo's Last Stand

Piccolo's Final Words

Nappa is stunned to see Piccolo standing where Gohan should be, his body ravaged by the blast. The Namekian tells Gohan to run, then collapses. Gohan rushes to his side, begging him not to die, while Nappa laughs that Piccolo merely took his turn dying early. Far away, Goku senses a ki fading rapidly on the Flying Nimbus and wonders who is slipping away.

On the Lookout, Kami begins to dissolve. He acknowledges that Goku did not arrive in time, yet finds a measure of peace in how Piccolo chose to spend his final moments. Piccolo himself manages a weak laugh, noting the irony that the dreaded Demon King Piccolo has died protecting a child. He tells Gohan that the months they spent training together were the only time anyone truly treated him as more than a monster. With his last breath, he urges Gohan to survive. Kami bids farewell to Mr. Popo and vanishes.

Gohan's Fury

Tears stream down Gohan's face, but grief gives way to white-hot rage. He raises both hands above his head and channels every ounce of remaining power into a single attack. He screams the name of the technique Piccolo taught him and fires the Masenko directly at Nappa. Vegeta reads the boy's battle power at 2,800 on his scouter and is astonished at how drastically these fighters can shift their output.

The beam rockets toward Nappa, who braces and swats it aside with one arm. He grumbles that the blast actually stung, but Vegeta notes that Gohan's power has already plummeted back down. Krillin watches helplessly, unable to move. Gohan whispers an apology to Piccolo for failing to avenge him. He has nothing left, not even the strength to flee.

Goku Arrives

Nappa strides toward the helpless boy, raising his foot to crush him. But when his boot comes down, Gohan is gone. The Flying Nimbus has swooped beneath him and carried him to safety. Gohan blinks in surprise at the familiar cloud. Vegeta lifts his gaze to the sky, and both Gohan and Krillin feel a surge of hope. Standing on the ground before them, calm and resolute, is Son Goku. Vegeta greets him with a cold smile: the last fighter has finally appeared.