"It's you guys again."
Seeing Pilaf, Mai, and Shu appear from the castle, Yuujin rode his Black Nimbus closer to the trio.
Pilaf was a short, monstrous Earthling who, in the original Dragon Ball, was arguably Goku's first formal enemy. Shu and Mai were his subordinates.
Though small in stature, this little guy was extremely ambitious, always hoping to conquer the world by gathering the Dragon Balls.
But rather than being a true villainous trio, they were more of a comedic group. Every time they got close to gathering all the Dragon Balls—even summoning Shenron—they would inevitably fail due to some mishap. In short, they were just a trio responsible for comedic relief and tragedy.
"W-Who are you?!"
Though trembling inside, Pilaf forced himself to glare at Yuujin defiantly.
These jerks had just destroyed his castle—how infuriating!
"My name is Yuujin. That's all you need to know," Yuujin said, patting Pilaf on the shoulder. "The last Dragon Ball is with you, right? Go fetch it for me."
"Dragon Ball?" Pilaf's eyes filled with anger as he heard the request. "No way! That's my Dragon Ball!"
"Lord Pilaf, this guy named Yuujin is really powerful. Maybe...we should just hand over the Dragon Ball," Shu urged.
"Yeah, yeah, Lord Pilaf," Mai added, knowing Yuujin's strength.
"Shut up, you traitors!" Pilaf snapped back. "The Dragon Ball is essential to my ambition. I won't give it to anyone, even if I die!"
"Lord Pilaf..." Shu and Mai looked at him with concern, but Yuujin had no patience for their drama.
With a swift wave, a ki blast shot from Yuujin's fingertips, exploding far away in the desert, shaking the earth and producing a deafening roar.
The scene looked like the end of the world, and Pilaf and his minions turned pale, swallowing hard.
"So, will you give me the Dragon Ball now?" Yuujin asked with a gentle smile.
Feeling as if he'd been stared down by the scariest demon, Pilaf quickly came to his senses.
"Oh dear, it's Lord Yuujin!" Pilaf turned on a bright smile, running off to grab the box containing the Dragon Ball and presenting it eagerly to Yuujin.
Bulma and Tights watched with disdain, while Shu and Mai slumped to the ground in disbelief.
Wasn't he just saying he'd never give up the Dragon Ball, even if it meant his life? What about his ambition, his integrity?
"Good," Yuujin nodded in satisfaction, examining the single-star Dragon Ball in the box. Now they had gathered all the Dragon Balls!
"Um, Lord Yuujin, may we leave now?" Pilaf asked nervously, rubbing his hands.
"Fine."
"Oh, thank you, thank you! Let's go, guys!" Relieved, Pilaf and his followers turned to escape.
But—
"Hold it," Yuujin's calm voice stopped them in their tracks.
"L-Lord Yuujin, didn't you just say...?"
"I did say you could go. But I didn't say all of you could go."
"You can only leave two of you. As for the remaining one..." Yuujin's mouth twisted into a dark smile.
Seeing Yuujin's expression, the trio shivered with dread, their hearts pounding.
"L-Lord Pilaf, w-who's going to stay behind?" Shu stammered.
Knowing whoever stayed would face this demon's torment, they looked at each other before—
"Mai, you stay behind!" Pilaf and Shu dashed off, abandoning Mai, who stood frozen, shocked by their betrayal.
"Lord Pilaf, Shu, wait for me!" Mai shouted, finally breaking into a run after them. But Yuujin appeared before her in a flash, blocking her path.
"Poor thing, abandoned by your own comrades..."
"W-What are you going to do to me?" Mai took a few steps back in fear.
Heartbroken from Pilaf and Shu's betrayal and terrified of the devilish man before her, Mai was utterly lost, her face pale as snow.
"Now, you have two choices," Yuujin said. "First, you submit to me and serve as my tool. Or, second, I toy with you until you die!"
Smiling wickedly, Yuujin continued, "If possible, I hope you pick the second..."
"I choose the first!" Mai shouted, her face ashen. She had no intention of being tortured to death.
Seeing her hasty response, Yuujin smiled slyly. What a simple woman—just a little scare and she was under his control.
He liked obedient people like her; the simpler they were, the easier they were to manipulate.
"Good, call me 'Master,'" he commanded, stroking her forehead.
"Ma-Master." Mai's face flushed with shame, but fear compelled her to comply.
Yuujin's smile grew. He knew she was only submitting out of fear, but that didn't bother him.
Loyalty? He'd train that into her later.
"From now on, you're my tool and subordinate. Follow us," he ordered, leaping onto his Black Nimbus.
Mai hesitated, glancing at the direction in which Pilaf and Shu had fled, reluctant to leave her former companions.
"What? They abandoned you, and you still miss them?" Yuujin mocked, making Mai shudder.
Yes, they had abandoned her, so there was no shame in serving this man.
In that instant, Mai felt a hint of vengeful satisfaction.
Her hesitation vanished, and she, too, leapt onto the Black Nimbus.
To be continued...