The wind fell silent.
Dr. Gero, Android 20, stood frozen in place.
His crimson mechanical eyes stared blankly at the pile of twisted scrap lying on the ground.
One of his greatest creations.
The all-purpose energy-absorbing Android 19.
Just seconds ago, Android 19 had possessed the potential to overpower a Super Saiyan.
A few seconds later...
He had become a heap of junk that even a scrapyard wouldn't bother collecting.
And the man responsible for it all stood there with a look of disappointment on his face.
"This... this is impossible..."
Dr. Gero's mechanical brain worked at full capacity.
His processor temperature soared.
According to every record in his database...
Krillin was nothing more than a supporting character.
A clever Earthling who relied on tricks during the World Martial Arts Tournament.
An insignificant fighter who had been effortlessly killed by Frieza on Planet Namek.
His growth curve should have been steady.
Limited.
Predictable.
So what...
...was the monster standing before him?
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Warning! Warning! Target energy exceeds detection limit! Unable to analyze! Unable to analyze!
Countless red warning windows flooded his vision like a computer virus.
Krillin's battle power no longer displayed as numbers.
Only garbled symbols.
[...404...]
Unknown.
To a scientist...
Nothing was more terrifying than the unknown.
"Hey, old man."
Krillin took a single step forward.
Just one step.
Thump!
Dr. Gero felt his heart tighten.
His body instinctively retreated half a step.
"Since you aren't saying anything..."
"I'll take that as a yes."
"I could use another snack anyway."
Krillin casually rolled his neck.
Just then...
Boom!
A bolt of golden lightning crashed down between them, sending dust and debris exploding into the air.
"Hmph."
"Kakarot."
"And you, Baldy."
"Leave him to me."
As the dust settled, Vegeta stood proudly with his arms crossed.
Golden flames blazed around him.
His hair stood upright.
His emerald eyes radiated absolute confidence.
Super Saiyan Vegeta.
He turned toward Dr. Gero, a cruel smile creeping across his face.
"Listen, old man."
"That fat android was taken care of by Krillin, that freak."
"You should consider yourself lucky."
"But now..."
"...your opponent is me."
"Let's see how many punches your pile of scrap metal can survive."
Dr. Gero looked at Vegeta.
His panic eased slightly.
Vegeta's power had exceeded expectations...
But it was still within acceptable calculations.
If he could absorb Vegeta's energy...
"And me."
Another voice interrupted.
Piccolo removed his weighted turban.
Then his cape.
Boom!
Boom!
The heavy training gear slammed into the ground, leaving deep craters.
Without his cloak, Piccolo's imposing green figure stood revealed.
His aura burst forth like a sword drawn from its sheath.
Dr. Gero slowly looked around.
Ahead stood Krillin.
An unfathomable monster.
To his left...
Super Saiyan Son Goku.
To his right...
Super Saiyan Vegeta.
Behind him...
Piccolo waited like a predator ready to strike.
This wasn't a battle.
It was a party of max-level players surrounding a lone elite monster in the beginner's zone.
Estimated chance of victory... 0%.
His processor delivered the merciless conclusion.
Impossible.
There was absolutely no way to win.
Even if he succeeded in absorbing Vegeta's energy...
That wouldn't matter against Krillin.
A monster capable of absorbing energy in reverse.
Facing him meant certain death.
"Damn it..."
"My intelligence was completely wrong!"
"I'll have to activate them..."
"They're still unfinished, but they're my only hope now!"
A ruthless determination flashed across Dr. Gero's face.
His final trump card.
The true infinite-energy androids.
Android 17.
Android 18.
Or perhaps...
He would have to release the others as well.
Granted, those two were dangerously rebellious and refused to follow orders.
But if he could lure these warriors to the laboratory...
Their love of fighting would do the rest.
"What?"
"Scared?"
Krillin smiled knowingly, as though he had read every thought crossing Dr. Gero's mind.
"Hmph."
"Don't celebrate too soon."
Dr. Gero suddenly raised his hand.
Not toward his enemies.
Toward the ground.
"Super Energy Wave!"
Boom!
A crimson blast slammed into the earth.
The resulting explosion shook the entire wasteland.
Dust and smoke swallowed the battlefield.
Taking advantage of the brief loss of visibility, Dr. Gero pushed his reactor to maximum output.
Then turned and fled.
His destination was clear.
The laboratory hidden in the northern mountains.
"Trying to run?"
Vegeta sneered and prepared to give chase.
"Let him go."
Krillin's calm voice stopped him.
"What?!"
Vegeta spun around furiously.
"Have you lost your mind, Baldy?"
"It's called letting the fish swim before reeling it in."
Krillin smiled as he watched Dr. Gero disappear into the distance.
He knew exactly where the old scientist was going.
To awaken Androids 17 and 18.
And beneath that laboratory...
Another secret lay hidden.
The Cell embryo of this timeline.
Still sleeping.
More importantly...
Krillin glanced toward Lazuli, who floated quietly in the distance.
She had chosen not to join the battle.
Removing her sunglasses, she silently watched Dr. Gero flee.
A complicated expression crossed her face.
Deep beneath that laboratory...
Her younger brother remained asleep.
The Android 17 of this timeline.
"We need him to lead us there."
"So we can eliminate every remaining threat in one move."
A faint smile appeared on Krillin's lips.
Besides...
He wanted to witness something else.
What expression would Dr. Gero make...
When he awakened Androids 17 and 18...
Only to discover that Krillin had already "stolen" a future version of Android 18...
And perhaps...
See two Android 18s standing in front of him at the same time?
Just imagining it was enough to amuse him.
"Let's go, everyone."
Krillin waved his hand.
His body rose into the sky.
"It's time..."
"...to meet the true androids."