At the edge of the galaxy, on Earth, within the rugged wilderness mountains…
“Ha!” “Ha!” Boom!
Two figures, one large and one small, moved through the air at astonishing speed while countless afterimages streaked across the battlefield.
A fierce battle was unfolding.
The larger figure wore a white Demon Clan martial arts uniform while the smaller one wore an orange gi marked with the kanji for “Demon.” Every collision between them shattered the ground and dispersed the surrounding clouds.
Boom!
Piccolo suddenly launched a heavy punch that caught Gohan off guard.
Gohan’s chest trembled violently as blood surged through his body before he was blasted backward like a cannonball.
His body smashed directly into a mountain dozens of meters tall more than a hundred miles away, creating a gigantic crater.
“Uncle Piccolo, again!” Gohan immediately flew out from the crater.
After wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth onto his torn martial arts uniform, his fighting spirit surged even higher.
Although only five years old, the immense hidden power within Gohan had gradually awakened through a year of brutal training under Piccolo.
This level of injury was insignificant to him now.
Boom!
Gohan’s protective Aura erupted once more as he charged forward again.
The two figures instantly collided in the sky while deafening explosions continuously echoed throughout the mountains.
At that moment, atop a mountain peak over one hundred meters high, another figure silently appeared.
It was Son Goku.
After returning from King Kai’s Planet in the Other World, he quietly watched Piccolo training Gohan from afar.
Seeing Gohan’s small body seriously enduring harsh cultivation while desperately trying to gain Piccolo’s approval caused a trace of emotion to appear in Goku’s eyes.
The image of the child before him gradually overlapped with the future Gohan he remembered.
The gentle scholar dedicated to science.
The boy who once carried the responsibility of saving Earth against Cell at only eleven years old.
“Gohan…
you’re still so small.” Son Goku softly sighed.
Then his gaze gradually became firm.
“In this life, Daddy will protect the sky for you.” “If you want to train, then train.” “If you want to study, then study.” “No matter what path you choose, Daddy will support you.” After some time, Gohan and Piccolo finally exhausted themselves and ended their training session.
Only then did Son Goku step forward.
“Gohan!
Piccolo!” “Daddy?!” The moment Gohan saw Son Goku, his eyes widened in disbelief before instantly filling with excitement.
Without caring about anything else, the five-year-old boy rushed directly into Goku’s arms.
Tears immediately appeared in his eyes.
“Daddy…” During the past year, Gohan had missed his parents deeply every single day.
“Daddy, are you here to take me home?” Gohan raised his head and asked expectantly.
“Of course.” Son Goku smiled warmly while gently patting Gohan’s hair.
Instantly, Gohan became overjoyed.
Although Piccolo had treated him well throughout the year, he still missed his mother and father terribly.
Meanwhile, Piccolo quietly observed Son Goku.
A trace of surprise flashed across his face before quickly disappearing.
Showing obvious emotions did not suit the image of the Demon King.
Over the past year, Piccolo’s hostility toward Goku had gradually weakened.
After witnessing Goku’s strength, personality, and genuine love for Gohan, his desire to kill him had almost vanished completely.
Subconsciously, Piccolo no longer regarded Son Goku as a mortal enemy.
Instead, he viewed him more like a rival and companion capable of pursuing greater heights together.
The green-skinned Namekian crossed his arms and glanced sideways coldly.
“When the sky turned dark earlier, I already suspected your friends were summoning Shenron to revive you.” “However, Shenron only disappeared around ten minutes ago.
How did you already return to Earth?” Piccolo stared suspiciously at Goku.
“Shenron can only grant one wish.
He shouldn’t be able to teleport you here too.” “Oh, that’s because I learned Instant Transmission.” Son Goku casually explained everything.
“It’s a technique that allows me to freely travel between the living world and the Other World.
After Shenron revived me, I locked onto your Qi and teleported directly here.” Piccolo’s face instantly darkened.
For a moment, he genuinely did not know whether to feel angry or speechless.
Could it be that he, the great Demon King Piccolo, was destined to spend his entire life beneath Son Goku’s shadow?
“Wow!
Daddy, that’s amazing!” Unlike Piccolo, Gohan had no complicated thoughts at all.
His dark eyes sparkled with admiration.
To him, his father was simply the greatest person in the entire world.
“Even Uncle Piccolo can’t beat Daddy!” “Hmph!” Piccolo immediately snorted coldly and turned his head away in annoyance.
Still, he did not deny Gohan’s statement.
After all, even he could not clearly sense Goku’s current limits anymore.
“Did the Saiyans arrive earlier than expected?” Piccolo’s expression gradually became serious.
A year ago, Raditz alone had forced him and Goku into an extremely difficult battle.
Even now, recalling that humiliation still irritated him deeply.
According to Raditz, the Saiyans arriving this time were even stronger.
“They should arrive around noon tomorrow.” Son Goku answered calmly.
His relaxed attitude stemmed entirely from absolute confidence in his current strength.
In his eyes, Vegeta and Nappa no longer posed a true threat.
As long as he prevented them from destroying cities and killing innocent people, defeating them would not be difficult.
Furthermore, Goku did not intend to kill Vegeta.
After all, in the future Vegeta would eventually abandon evil, build a family on Earth, and repeatedly fight to protect the Universe.
Seeing Goku’s calm expression, Piccolo silently became even more shocked.
Just how much stronger had Son Goku become during his year of training in the Other World?
One year ago, their gap had not been this overwhelming.
Now, however, Piccolo could barely sense the depth of Goku’s power at all.
“No wonder the Guardian specifically sent him to train under King Kai…” Piccolo silently thought to himself.
At that moment…
Grumble…
A loud sound suddenly came from Gohan’s stomach.
“Ah!
I’m starving!” Gohan held his stomach pitifully while looking toward Goku with sparkling eyes.
“Daddy, let’s hurry home and eat!” “Haha, alright.” Son Goku smiled dotingly.
Originally, he had already planned to bring Gohan home to reunite with Chi-Chi.
Gohan immediately became delighted.
Then he turned toward Piccolo and spoke happily.
“Uncle Piccolo, come eat with us too!
Mom’s cooking is really delicious.
You’ll definitely love it!” After spending an entire year eating, sleeping, and training together, Gohan already regarded Piccolo as family.
As for Piccolo’s terrifying reputation among ordinary Earthlings, Gohan still had no real understanding of it.
Naturally, Piccolo was emotionally intelligent enough to refuse.
He had no intention of disturbing the reunion of Goku’s family.
Goku and Gohan might not care, but Chi-Chi definitely would.
After agreeing to meet tomorrow and fight the invading Saiyans together, Piccolo casually found an excuse and left.
Soon afterward, Son Goku held Gohan’s small hand tightly.
Then, using Instant Transmission, father and son instantly vanished from the wilderness and returned directly to the peaceful Mount Paozu.