While Alvin and Demon King Piccolo fought their desperate battle, Yajirobe finally arrived at Korin Tower, guided by the Guardian’s telepathic instructions.
After an exhausting climb, the two reached the summit together.
“I seriously don’t know why Alvin told you to come here.”
“I’m exhausted…”
Yajirobe collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily, with no intention of moving another muscle.
Goku, however, looked completely serious.
“I’m still not strong enough.”
“I can’t beat Demon King Piccolo.”
“Master Korin has to know a way to make me stronger.”
“I’m sure that’s why Alvin sent me here.”
A calm voice answered him.
“I already know why you’ve come.”
From behind one of the pillars, Master Korin slowly stepped into view.
“Goku…”
“Are you prepared?”
Goku nodded firmly.
“Yes!”
“As long as it helps me defeat Demon King Piccolo…”
“…I’m not afraid of anything.”
Korin smiled faintly before tossing him a small green bean.
“Then eat this.”
“It will restore your injuries.”
Goku caught it.
“A Senzu Bean!”
The moment he swallowed it, every wound on his body vanished.
His exhausted muscles recovered instantly.
His stamina returned.
Even the Ki he had nearly exhausted surged back to full strength.
Korin stroked his whiskers before speaking again.
“Far to the north lies the Land of Ice.”
“Within it is something known as the Ultra Divine Water.”
“It has the power to awaken a person’s hidden potential.”
“If you survive drinking it…”
“…you will obtain tremendous power.”
Goku’s eyes lit up.
“It can really make someone stronger?”
He desperately needed strength to defeat Piccolo.
Korin raised a paw.
“Still as impatient as ever.”
“Listen to the rest.”
“For ordinary people…”
“…that water is an incredibly deadly poison.”
“Only those who survive it can awaken their true potential.”
“I possess a special water jar.”
“It leads directly to the Land of Ice.”
He paused before adding meaningfully,
“But inside the Land of Ice…”
“…there is darkness.”
“It can transform into anything you know.”
“So whatever happens…”
“…be careful of the darkness.”
At that moment, an elderly voice echoed directly into Korin’s mind.
“Korin.”
“You’ve already said too much.”
“Don’t let it happen again.”
The Guardian.
Korin quietly nodded.
Then he looked back at Goku.
“Well?”
“Will you go?”
Goku clenched his fists.
“Of course.”
“I have to become stronger.”
Suddenly he turned toward Yajirobe.
“You’re coming too, right?”
Yajirobe practically jumped into the air.
“Idiot!”
“Why would I go somewhere that dangerous with you?”
“No way!”
“You big idiot!”
He snorted before wandering downstairs in search of something to eat.
Instead…
He accidentally found the enormous water jar leading to the Land of Ice.
“Aaaah!”
With a startled scream, he slipped straight inside.
…
A short while later, Goku and Korin arrived in the lower chamber.
“Hm?”
“That’s strange…”
“I could’ve sworn this jar was covered.”
“So why is it open?”
Korin scratched his head in confusion.
Pointing his staff toward the giant jar, he said,
“This leads directly to the Land of Ice.”
“Are you ready?”
Without hesitation, Goku clenched his fists.
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll find the Ultra Divine Water.”
“And I’ll become stronger.”
Korin smiled.
“Go then.”
“I’ll be waiting here for your return.”
Goku leapt into the jar and disappeared.
Standing atop Korin Tower, Korin quietly observed the world below through the mystical vessel.
Guardian…
Goku has entered the Land of Ice in search of the Ultra Divine Water.
“I know.”
The Guardian’s calm voice answered.
…
The battle between Alvin and Demon King Piccolo had already ended.
Piccolo, with half his body destroyed, spat out one final egg before dying.
Alvin collapsed beside him, having exhausted every ounce of strength he possessed.
Without immediate rescue…
He would not survive.
Mr.
Popo gazed at Piccolo’s lifeless body.
“That’s good.”
“The Demon King is dead…”
“…and the Guardian still lives.”
The Guardian, however, remained troubled.
“But Piccolo’s child survives.”
“He will inherit his father’s will.”
“One day…”
“…he may return.”
“He will always remain a potential threat.”
None of them could have imagined…
That the future Piccolo, once feared as the Demon King’s successor, would eventually become the Son family’s most dependable guardian and babysitter.
…
While the Guardian and Mr.
Popo searched for the location of Piccolo’s egg…
Master Roshi, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu were still gathering the Dragon Balls.
After an entire day of searching, they had collected almost all of them.
Only two remained.
But something was wrong.
Those two Dragon Balls had come together…
And neither had moved at all.
Master Roshi frowned.
“Could those two Dragon Balls…”
“…be the ones Demon King Piccolo possesses?”
He immediately gave an order.
“Quick.”
“Seal every Dragon Ball we’ve collected inside the metal container.”
“They may be waiting for us to gather all seven before stealing them.”
“Let’s move.”
“We’ll bury the Dragon Balls somewhere far away first.”
“Then we’ll investigate.”
“If it really is Demon King Piccolo…”
“…I’ll seal him away with the Evil Containment Wave.”
The three quickly boarded their airplane and departed.
Chiaotzu kept his eyes fixed on the Dragon Radar, making sure no enemies were pursuing them.
After a moment, he suddenly spoke.
“Master Roshi…”
“A little while ago, I sensed two incredibly powerful Ki signatures clashing in that direction.”
“One belonged to Alvin.”
“The other…”
“…was filled with overwhelming evil.”
“It must have been Demon King Piccolo.”
He paused.
“But now…”
“…both Ki signatures have disappeared.”
“Could it be…”
“…that they defeated each other?”
Flying the plane through the stormy skies, Tien Shinhan glanced back at Master Roshi.
“Master Roshi…”
“Do you think Chiaotzu’s guess is right?”
Roshi remained calm.
“We don’t jump to conclusions.”
“The Dragon Balls come first.”
“We’ll stick to the plan.”
Until the Dragon Balls were secured, he refused to take any unnecessary risks.
The three landed near a secluded mountain cave.
After placing the metal container holding the Dragon Balls safely inside, they fired a Ki blast that collapsed the entire cave entrance, burying the container beneath tons of rock.
Only then did they head toward the battlefield where Alvin and Piccolo had fought.
Dark clouds gathered overhead.
Moments later…
Rain poured down in torrents.
Suddenly, Tien’s expression changed.
“Master Roshi!”
“I can feel Alvin’s Ki!”
“It’s incredibly weak…”
“…but it’s still there!”
Roshi closed his eyes briefly.
“…I feel it too.”
The two exchanged a glance.
Without another word, Tien pushed the aircraft to full speed.
As they drew closer, the devastation below left them speechless.
Countless trees had been flattened.
The forest looked as though it had been swept clean by an enormous explosion.
Everywhere they looked…
There were signs of overwhelming shockwaves.
Then Chiaotzu suddenly cried out.
“The Dragon Balls are right ahead!”
“Look!”
“There are two people lying on the ground!”
Lightning flashed across the night sky.
Combined with the aircraft’s searchlights, it illuminated two motionless figures lying amid the ruins.
Tien immediately brought the plane down.
The moment everyone jumped from the cabin…
They collectively sucked in a breath.
The battlefield resembled the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Countless craters scarred the earth.
Broken boulders lay scattered everywhere.
Between the two bodies stretched an enormous circular crater already filling with rainwater.
Tien rushed to Alvin’s side.
“Master Roshi…”
“Alvin’s Ki is fading.”
“He’s in terrible shape.”
His clothes had long since been soaked crimson.
His body was covered in countless wounds.
Even Tien couldn’t help inhaling sharply.
As he gently moved Alvin, a yellow crystal sphere slipped from inside his torn clothing and rolled across the cabin floor.
Chiaotzu picked it up.
“It’s the One-Star Dragon Ball.”
Tien nodded.
“Put it in the storage compartment.”
After securing the Dragon Ball, he turned back.
“Chiaotzu.”
“Disinfect Alvin’s wounds.”
“Apply medicine.”
“And whatever you do…”
“Don’t move him more than necessary.”
“I’ll check on the other Dragon Ball with Master Roshi.”
The two headed toward the second Ki signature.
Tien swept his flashlight through the darkness.
The beam cut through the pouring rain…
Until it illuminated a horrifying sight.
Half a body.
Surrounded by pools of purple blood diluted by the rain.
The once-thick blood had mixed with the water, dyeing the entire ground a pale violet.
Tien stared in shock.
“Master Roshi…”
“Is that…?”
Roshi slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s Demon King Piccolo.”
“Even though he’s grown old…”
“…I’d recognize that face anywhere.”
Tien couldn’t hide his astonishment.
He had never imagined Alvin had actually defeated the legendary Demon King.
No wonder Alvin himself had been left hovering on death’s doorstep.
Searching Piccolo’s tattered clothing, Roshi soon found another Dragon Ball.
The Four-Star Dragon Ball.
Goku’s treasured keepsake.
Roshi let out a long sigh.
“Let’s return to West City.”
“The hospitals there have the best medical facilities.”
“We need to save Alvin first.”
“Now that Piccolo is dead…”
“…all that’s left is to recover the Dragon Balls.”
“Then we can wish everyone Piccolo murdered back to life.”
Tien nodded.
The two hurried back aboard the aircraft.
Inside, Chiaotzu had already cut away Alvin’s ruined clothing and was carefully cleaning his wounds with disinfectant and thick cotton pads.
Once airborne again, Tien contacted Bulma by radio.
Bulma immediately called ahead to the hospital, arranging permission for the aircraft to land directly on the medical helipad.
…
The moment she informed everyone hiding in the wilderness that Demon King Piccolo had been defeated…
Relief swept through the entire group.
Puar burst into tears.
Oolong cheered loudly.
The nightmare that had haunted the world was finally over.
Bulma smiled.
“Come on.”
“Let’s go welcome our hero.”
Everyone immediately set off for the hospital.
…
Meanwhile…
Goku had finally survived the trial of the Ultra Divine Water, awakening the hidden potential within his body.
Together with Yajirobe, he left the Land of Ice.
Using the Power Pole, they quickly returned to Korin Tower.
The moment he arrived, Goku hurried over.
“Master Korin!”
“Why can’t I sense Demon King Piccolo’s Ki anymore?”
Korin smiled.
“Because…”
“Your friend Alvin defeated him.”
“An extraordinary young man.”
Yajirobe’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
In every story he’d ever heard…
Demon King Piccolo had been the greatest evil in history.
Countless heroes had fallen before him.
Only an incredible martial artist had ever managed to seal him away.
Yet Alvin…
…had actually killed him.
Goku’s face lit up with excitement.
“That’s awesome!”
“Alvin really is amazing!”
“When we both get stronger…”
“I’m definitely going to fight him!”
Korin chuckled before tossing Goku another Senzu Bean.
“Take this.”
“One bean is enough to completely heal him.”
Then he gestured toward the enormous Flying Nimbus cloud.
“Tear off a piece.”
“You’ll need another Nimbus.”
Goku happily did as instructed.
As he prepared to leave, Korin gave one final piece of advice.
“Go.”
“Your friends are all gathering at the hospital in West City.”
“That Senzu Bean will heal Alvin.”
“After both of you have recovered…”
“…come back here.”
“I’ll send you somewhere entirely new.”
“A place where both of you can undergo even greater training.”
Overjoyed that his friend was alive, Goku leapt onto his newly formed Flying Nimbus and sped toward West City, disappearing into the horizon.
Send those stones my way—the more, the merrier.