POV - Piccolo
The Lookout.
Two beings stood silently, their figures etched against the endless sky. They were unmistakably of the same alien lineage, both entirely green with hairless skin and two slender antennae extending from the tops of their heads. Despite the physical similarities, a world of differences lay between them.
The first, visibly older and frail, leaned on a worn, wooden cane to steady himself. His eyes were closed, brows furrowed in contemplation, and an unmistakable worry creased his face. The other sat nearby, though with a notable distance—more from choice than necessity, as no ordinary person could find themselves here on the sacred lookout. The younger Namekian's posture was deliberate, embodying an intimidating calm that spoke to his strength.
You already used that word... and do you really need to describe yourself with so many adjectives?
Shut up, Nail. I'm meditating!
Meditating, or mentally pacing? I'm in here, remember—you can't fool me.
Fine!
Piccolo rose from his position, brushing himself off as he approached the elder Namekian with determined strides.
"Old fossil! What are you still waiting for? We both know I'm the only one strong enough to stop these Androids! Goku's recovery isn't progressing fast enough—if he ever recovers—and Vegeta… well, he's reached his limits. Our fusion is the only solution, so quit stalling and let's get this done."
You've been stalling just as much as he has.
The elder Namekian, known as Kami, opened his eyes with a soft sigh. "Perhaps you're right, Piccolo, but I feel there is… something else. Something just as dangerous, perhaps even more so than the Androids. I sense it—faint, yet growing."
Piccolo's face twisted in irritation. "Quit dancing around with riddles, Kami. We don't have time to waste on vague threats. If this danger exists, our fusion would only make it easier to deal with, wouldn't it?"
Kami looked at him thoughtfully. "Four years ago, I sensed a dark energy awakening on Earth. At the time, it was too weak to warrant action. For years, I dismissed it as harmless. But that was a mistake. Now, the energy has strengthened, and its potential threatens our world. I don't know precisely where it's coming from, but I fear it's too late to ignore it."
Piccolo's frustration mounted. "If that's true, then why are you hesitating? You should have fused with me the moment you realized! What's holding you back now?"
"I hesitate because there's a chance that this power might work against the Androids without our interference. In that case, the planet would be saved, and we would not have to pay the ultimate cost. It may even weaken the Androids, allowing us to strike when they're vulnerable."
"A chance? You're betting the fate of the world on a possibility?" Piccolo's voice cut through the air, sharp with disdain. "What kind of guardian makes decisions like that?"
Kami met Piccolo's gaze evenly. "I sense your anger, Piccolo. But I also sense your true motives beneath your words. This isn't only about saving the Earth, is it?"
Piccolo flinched. He couldn't deny that part of him thirsted for the power that the fusion would grant. The allure of surpassing even the Super Saiyans loomed at the edges of his thoughts.
Kami nodded, accepting Piccolo's silence as confirmation. "It doesn't matter what I want, or what my own fears are. Earth's safety is paramount. As its guardian, I have a duty, even if it costs me my life. My time here has run its course. The world belongs to a new generation, one which has protected it time and again in my stead."
Though he still resented Kami, Piccolo found himself feeling a grudging respect. He understood the weight of the sacrifice Kami was about to make; it mirrored the burden he carried within.
Turning to his loyal companion, Kami addressed Mr. Popo. "Goodbye… Popo."
The silent figure looked stricken, his usual calm shattered by the gravity of the moment. "Kami…"
Kami nodded, his expression solemn. He then looked back to Piccolo. "Remember, once I'm gone, so are the Dragon Balls. If you fail, there will be no second chances."
Kami finally approached him, his face serene, as though he had made his peace. "I'm ready, Piccolo."
Piccolo placed his hand on Kami's chest, feeling the surge of power as their beings merged into one.
POV - Jamall (Cell)
The sounds of labored breathing and the heavy steps of terrified men filled the warehouse, though I paid them little mind. Their frantic attempts to shoot only served to make them feel better; the bullets were little more than an annoyance. Absorbing my first victim, I barely registered the warmth of his form as he liquefied into me. It was a grotesque, unnatural sensation, like swallowing an ocean with each intake. But I forced myself to continue; I needed this strength.
Two others tried to flee, arms flailing, and one still pointed his empty gun at me as though it could somehow protect him.
The process had become systematic: target, stab, absorb, and move on. I had neither the inclination nor the patience to taunt or prolong their suffering. The faster I worked, the faster I would reach my goal.
Still, I felt an inner revulsion at the act. Even as I liquefied their forms, a part of me rebelled against it. There was something deeply unsettling about turning human beings into sustenance. But if this power was necessary to take down the Androids, I'd tolerate it.
It had only been an hour, and I'd moved through eleven towns, absorbing over five thousand criminals—small-time dealers, gang members, anyone that fit the description of a life no one would miss. My schedule demanded this speed. I didn't have the luxury of remorse.
As I absorbed the latest unfortunate soul, their desperate pleas mingled with the gurgle of my tail. With each new absorption, my power increased exponentially. Each person added to the strength I would need for my confrontation with the Z-fighters, who, if I was correct, would soon face the Androids again.
Planning had become as important as absorbing. Each new location was a carefully chosen weak point, areas where society's shadows gathered unnoticed. I had begun mapping them out—places teeming with people nobody cared about, people whose absence would go unnoticed for days, even weeks. By then, I'd be long gone.
As I disintegrated the clothing of my latest prey, I allowed myself a moment of introspection. The power was addicting, but dangerous at times it felt like I was losing control of myself like I'm being lost in power.
No time for that. The work continued.
As I moved toward the next warehouse, a single figure caught my attention—a man with a familiar countenance and the gleam of a metal hand.
Tao.