POV - Piccolo
I shot through the skies over Central City's plains, pushing toward the planet's capital where the Earth King resided. Central City, the most populated metropolis, was likely the Androids' next target if they wanted to draw out Goku.
After debating internally with Nail and Kami, I decided that an assault on the capital would surely provoke a response from the Saiyan.
I flew quickly, keeping my energy low, hoping not to alert the Androids if they were already in the city. It would complicate things with so many people packed into the capital; finding the Androids in that crowd would be a challenge. Still, I hoped that the tallest of the trio would attract enough attention for me to spot them in time.
Suddenly, my concentration was interrupted. "Old man, are you certain you can't feel that 'evil' anymore?" I asked, my frustration clear.
Kami's voice came annoyingly patient. "As certain as I can be. Now that we share one body, I only feel what you do. I told you, Piccolo, that four years ago I sensed something dark stirring on Earth, and I felt it again recently. But whatever it was, my ability to sense it vanished when we merged. It was… unique, something perhaps only I could feel because I'd purged my own evil. Now, it's gone with that connection."
Typical Kami. Always quick to blame me for any limitations, never quick to help.
"And you, Nail—any pearls of wisdom to add?"
"No, not really—Incoming!"
I reacted immediately, sensing the sphere of energy streaking toward me. Dodging it was easy; whoever launched it clearly sent a warning rather than a serious attack. With no discernible Ki signature, it had to be one of the Androids.
Turning toward the attack's origin, I spotted three figures hovering in the air, their cold, unreadable eyes fixed on me as if I were an insect.
But… who the hell were these three?
"Well, that's a valid question," Kami muttered, apparently ignoring my annoyance.
"And you can't really see their 'soulless eyes' with one wearing sunglasses and the other a cap," Nail added dryly.
"Now's not the time!" I shot back, steeling myself. Whoever they were, they were clearly not friendly. Finally, a chance to put my newfound power to the test.
POV - Eighteen
"Hm?" I glanced up when I noticed Sixteen suddenly shifting his gaze, his normally impassive face showing a rare hint of expression.
"What is it, Sixteen?"
"My sensors picked up four power levels nearby."
I raised an eyebrow. "Sensors? You didn't tell us you had sensors!"
"You didn't ask," he replied calmly.
I chuckled, but Seventeen wasn't as amused. "So, who's fighting who?"
"I don't know; neither are in my databanks. But one of them rivals you two in power. Another is close, and my scanner identifies three of them as fellow androids."
"Wow, more creations of the doctor?" Seventeen smirked. "And here I thought today would be boring. Not that any of them could really rival me. But could be fun…" He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "Want to check it out?"
Did I want to? After considering it, I shook my head. "Not now. I still haven't found any clothes that I truly like since you blew up the last set—by 'accident.' What about you?"
Seventeen shrugged. "It doesn't really matter to me. If they can't win a three-on-one, they're not worth our time anyway." Still, I could tell part of him wanted to go.
I watched him with a fond expression. Despite everything, he still cared for me, just as I cared for him.
"And what kind of brother would I be," he said, grinning, "if I didn't cater to my little sister's every whim?"
Rolling my eyes, I flicked a nearby object at his head. He dodged, laughing. Typical Seventeen, using his human side to annoy me.
I glanced back at Sixteen. "And you? Feel like checking it out?"
Sixteen, quiet as usual, shook his head. "Son Goku is not there."
"Well, there's that," I said, unsurprised. It wasn't Goku, so Sixteen had no reason to care.
I watched as Sixteen's face softened, and I thought I caught a faint smile, almost as if he were genuinely enjoying our little group. The big guy was finally opening up to us.
But then Sixteen's head snapped in another direction, drawing my attention.
"What is it now?" I asked.
"Another power level," he said, frowning. "This one's higher than the previous one. And it's increasing, slowly moving toward the other four."
My brother raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "A power level higher than mine? I'm telling you, Sixteen, your sensors are broken."
Seventeen turned to me again, raising an eyebrow. "Still want to check?"
"I said no," I replied, turning back to my clothes. We had plenty of time. We could always check it out later if the other fighters hadn't exhausted themselves by then. Unlike us, our power never ran out.
Still, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sixteen's expression flicker, just for a moment, almost as if he were… concerned.
POV - Jamall (Cell)
I worked quickly, moving through the prison with silent efficiency, absorbing targets as I went. I kept my actions covert, knocking out guards with minimal force, disabling surveillance, and absorbing as fast as I could. Piccolo's energy spiking in the distance had drawn attention, and I knew it might divert any interference away from me.
But I noticed something odd as I continued. I'd reached what felt like the peak of my imperfect form. Every new absorption gave me energy, but it slipped away just as quickly, dissipating as if I'd filled myself to the limit.
It was frustrating, but logical. My current form had limits, ones I needed perfection to transcend.
Yet there was something deeper, an emptiness. It wasn't just the drive for power; this was something else, something intrinsic. I'd thought the void would fade as I absorbed more life force, but it remained, nagging at me.
In that moment, I resolved myself. I'd push forward to North City, my instincts guiding me toward whatever lay ahead, trusting that perfection would eventually reveal what I was missing.