Having heard the story of what they face in the near future, the Dragon Team waits for the clan members to finish their grieving of Zeeun.
Krillin sits against a wall practicing ki manipulation. A yellow orb floats in his palm. His eyes squint in concentration. The orb splits apart into two smaller ones. They loop upward, merge together, and settle back in his palm.
The orb vibrates and fissions into four spheres. They perform the same looping motion and return to his hand as one. He tries one more time with six marble sized ones. When they reach the apex of their loop, they scatter in random directions and pop like firecrackers.
Bulma jumps at the rattle of tiny booms.
"Hey, don't scare me like that," she says. "I'm on edge enough as it is."
"Sorry," says Krillin. "Just trying to practice. "
"You working on a new technique," says Goku.
"Yeah. Not sure if it'll work yet."
"Let me know how it goes."
A knock at the door startles them all. Goku looks out the window and sees Dorodabo. He motions with his head and thumb for them to come out. They all tighten up their suits and step out.
"Let's go get that relic of yours," says Angira. "We're going to put an end to Slug no matter the cost. We will avenge Zeeun."
"I understand," says Nail. "Hopefully we can avoid further confrontation with him and fix all of this."
"Right," says Dorodabo. "But I'm going to stay behind to look after our people while the rest of you make the journey."
"Oh, um," says Namekuji, "I'm not really a fighter myself. Perhaps I should stay behind and help scout out for danger to the village. You'll be shorthanded after all."
Angira looks at Dorodabo who nods.
"Very well," says Angira. "Let's make this quick and save our people once and for all."
With that, Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Nail, Angira, and Medamatcha blast off into the sky leaving Bulma, Namekuji, and Dorodabo behind.
"I can take a vantage point as well," says Bulma. "I've got some binoculars that can scan pretty far out."
"Good," says Dorodabo. "I'll put you atop the mountain ridge over there."
He turns to Namekuji.
"And I'll give you a patrol route to follow."
Namekuji nods.
###
The Dragon Team and their two new allies skim the surface of the ground and sea as the landscape switches between them.
"So what's the plan?" says Nail.
"We get as close as we can to the building," says Angira, "and hope no one's home."
"Heh, makes sense," says Nail. "I'm sure he'll sense us coming long before we get there."
"Oh yeah," says Medamatcha. "We've never been able to sneak away from him. Just hold him off and escape before he comes back with reinforcements."
"Look out!" says Goku.
A group of three demons take flight from the mouth of a cave. Their bright pink hide clashes with the gruesome sky as they assail the group. Their wings flap with furious delight to close in faster.
A throat rending roar halts both groups. Goku looks at Nail as his ki level spikes. The veins and tendons in his neck threaten to burst as he bellows with rage. A golden white aura envelops his body as he lunges for the demons.
They scramble to retreat as the light blinds their eyes. Nail crashes through their ranks sending them scattering. One of his hands clamps the throat of the demon. It squeezes the armored flesh between its fingers until it reaches the spine.
Nail grabs the demon's shoulder and thrusts his clenching hand to the sky. The head and most of the creature's spine rips free of the body. As the blood splatters, Nail roars again and searches for his next victim.
Goku and the others remain where they are as the hate fueled aura washes over them.
"I had no idea he had so much power," says Angira.
"Neither did we," says Krillin.
Nail's arms bulge as ki surges from the core of his body to his palms. Flames of gold and white erupt from them as he takes aim. He shoots an orb from each hand. They blitz to their targets and obliterate them in an explosion. Every bit of flesh dispersed by the blasts incinerates to ash as it falls.
Nail's shoulders heave up and down as he gazes upon his work. Images of them attacking Slug while being helpless to do anything plague his mind. Years of tormenting nightmares and guilt crumble from the stress he carries. Its immeasurable mass lightens little by little as sated revenge flourishes within him.
He catches a glimpse of the startled faces of Angira and Medamatcha. The tiny victory turns hollow as he realizes Slug is now their boogeyman. The demons have already won by dragging him to their level. His rage burns out. He drifts to the group with downcast eyes. The rest of them share a look before leaving in silence.
###
Namekuji flies over the tents of the village. His keen ears pick up the whispers of a conversation. He halts his flight and eavesdrops on the two.
"Do you really think it's a good idea to destroy the relic the foreigners want?"
"You heard what Angira said. It would give them the power to do whatever they want. It's too dangerous to let them have."
"But we could use a magic like that for our own benefit, right?"
"Are you serious? That's the same power that changed the planet to the way it is now. Do you really want to give them a chance to make everything worse?"
"But what if they fixed everything. Made it back like it was in the stories."
"Think about it for a second. We don't even breathe the same air. We would all die if it changed back."
"Guess you're right. Hey, isn't that guy supposed to be on his patrol route?"
They look at Namekuji above. He flies off without a word.
###
Bulma's heart jumps when pink demons cross her scanning vision from her place high above the village. She presses a button on her collar to turn on her radio.
"Namekuji, I've spotted a large group of demons coming our way. Come pick me up so we can warn Dorodabo."
She waits for a response but only static crackles.
"Namekuji, do you copy. I've spotted an advancing enemy force. I repeat, I've spotted an—"
She spins around at a glimpse of movement behind her. A swift hit strikes her stomach. She crumples to the ground unable to find her assailant. Her vision fades to black.
###
"Dorodabo!"
Dorodabo looks back as he glides and flicks a wing aside to find Namekuji flying towards him. Urgency covers his face.
"What is it? Did you see demons?"
Namekuji comes to a stop and breathes hard while nodding.
"Where?"
"Bulma tried to tell me she saw some over the radio, but the communication cut out. I was closer to you, so I came as quick as I could. I think they got her, and the village is next."
"Then we have to hurry to her. We'll fly by the village, and I'll blow this horn to warn them."
He pats a curved, hollow horn in his belt.
"Perfect. Let's hurry."
As they near the village, Dorodabo pulls the horn from belt and moves it to his lips. He inhales to blow. As he does, he notices Namekuji's shadow dance over him as he flies over top.
"Hey Dorodabo," says Namekuji. "Look up here. What is that?"
Dorodabo drops his arm and looks up. He finds Namekuji glowing in an eerie amber light.
"What are you doing Namekuji?"
"Bodi Chenji," he says.
The amber energy recedes from the extremities of Namekuji's body and concentrates itself in his mouth. A yellow beam of light fires from this focal point and enters Dorodabo's mouth as it gapes in surprise.
Nausea clenches Dorodabo's stomach as the sensation of rushing upward overwhelms him. He looks down and sees his own body being left behind. His consciousness passes a stream of light going the opposite direction. He heads for Namekuji's body while the light goes to his own.
A queasy sensation tickles Dorodabo's intestines as he falls from the sky. He tries to flap his wings, but they do not respond. He cannot even feel them. He smashes the ground without slowing.
He blinks as his head throbs with an ache. When his vision comes into focus, bewilderment takes hold of him. He stares at his own body. He finds it to be Namekuji's. He hears his own voice laugh.
"I haven't been in a body with wings for a long time," says Dorodabo's original body.
"What did you do to me?" Dorodabo says, hating the sound of every word in his new voice. He tries to stand up. He stumbles about without the counterbalance of the wings he is so used to. "Who are you?"
"I've been going by the name Ginyu for a while now," Ginyu says, flapping his wings and rolling his shoulders in their sockets.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I really don't have time to explain. You've all made quite a mess for me. Try to take good care of that Namekian body in case I need it when I'm done with yours."
"You monster."
Ginyu spreads his new wings and glides full force at the Namekian body his soul previously inhabited. He coils an arm around the front of his chest. A karate chop smacks Dorodabo across the side of the head, knocking him unconscious. He catches the body before it can fall.
"Now where's a safe place to hide you?"
He looks around and spots a deep crevice in a stone ridge on the opposite side of the village from the big plateau. His wings carry him to it. He lays the body inside, safe from prying eyes.
"Good. Now let's see if I can catch up with the others and secure that dragon idol."
###
The Dragon Team sees the pillar of land upon which the structure supposedly housing the Dragon Idol rests. They dip to an island near the one with the pillar on it. They watch as a Slug clone fights off a gang of demons on his own.
The ferocious display reminds them of Nail's from earlier. His savage attacks rip the demons apart as they deliver vicious attacks of their own to mutilate his body.
"This is perfect," says Krillin. "There's only one here, and he's distracted and weakened by those demons. One of us can make a break for the building while the others hold him off."
"I don't think it's going to be quite that easy," says Goku. "Several big ki signatures are closing in on our location."
"Oh of course they are," says Krillin. "How many?"
"Five. Three seem to be the ones injured earlier as their power isn't as high as the other two."
"Okay that's some good news at least. So what's the plan?"
"I think Nail and I should handle the strongest two. Krillin, you, Angira, and Medamatcha should distract the weakened ones. And Gohan, you need to go get the Dragon Idol."
"But Dad, I can fight too."
"I know son, but right now I'm only worried about your safety. I don't want you anywhere near those things. Besides, you don't want me to get in trouble with your mom do you?"
"Alright. I understand. I go straight there as soon as I see an opening."
"Good boy. Everyone else on board with my plan?"
Nail and Krillin nod. Angira and Medamatcha look at one another before giving silent agreement.
Aura cascades around their bodies as everyone but Gohan takes to the skies. Goku and Nail swerve in a separate direction to confront the strongest of the approaching enemies. Reddish gusts ignite around Goku as he prepares for combat. Golden and white flames flare from Nail.
"Wow, those two sure are awesome," says Krillin from just ahead of Angira and Medamatcha who share a solemn glance.
Goku and Nail intercept the incoming Slug clones. A flurry of strikes trade between them. Krillin and the others move in on the remaining three enemies.
Pus filled cysts grow on Medamatcha's back as his minions grow within them. They pop free and hover beside him.
"Go little ones!"
They swarm a Slug clone while Medamatcha rams his shoulder into the gut of another. Krillin strikes a pose before the remaining warrior.
Angira speeds away from the fight towards the temple.
"Hey! Wait," says Krillin. "We need you."
A punch hits his cheek during the distraction.
Gohan witnesses the betrayal.
"Hang on Krillin," he says. "I'm coming!"
Gohan's aura flickers as he pumps out energy to fly as fast as he can. He watches Krillin take several more hits before regrouping.
Krillin zooms backward while firing a volley of ki blasts to cover his retreat. Gohan appears at his side.
"I'm here to help," says Gohan, striking a stance.
"Leave this guy to me," says Krillin. "Go see what Angira is up to at the temple. But promise me if things look dangerous, you'll get out of there."
"Got it. I'll get the idol. We can't afford to lose that now."
Krillin forms a humming disc in both of his palms as Gohan flies off. He charges the approaching Slug clone. The foe kicks at him. Krillin throws one of his tiny Kienzans. It severs the thigh, and the leg flies off harmlessly. The clone attempts to punch with the opposite arm, but Krillin removes it just as easily.
He drives a foot into the clone's chin and drifts upward to put some distance between them.
A cry of pain splits his ears. He searches and finds Medamatcha in the clutches of the two other clones. Each one holds him by an arm and a leg while pulling the limbs in opposite directions. They stretch in their sockets. The tendons and muscles reach their maximum length and start to tear.
Krillin traverses the distance in a series of high speed afterimages. He kicks a clone square in the nose. Pushing off the face, he drives his other foot into the throat of the second clone.
Both recoil and release Medamatcha. He grabs both shoulders and massages them.
"Why did you bother saving me?" he says.
"I want to know why the two of you pulled that stunt. We had a plan."
"Because Nail and his people have done enough damage. It would be foolish to tempt fate again with the kind of power you all speak of. We can't let them get that relic."
"But what about Slug and the demons? You could be rid of those problems. You could even bring Zeeun back to life. We've done it before. Everything would be so much easier for you."
"I have no doubt it could perform those miracles, but I don't believe it would make things easier. Just look at the mess you're in now chasing this magic. Our people suffer enough as it is. But we accept that hardship, and Nail and the rest of you need to do the same."
"I see where you're coming from, but I can't agree. No point arguing though if we can't get out of this situation first."
"Sorry to drag you into it. We really didn't want to trick you guys."
"You can make it up to us once we survive."
"Heh, sure thing."
The three Slug clones rise up around them, and they prepare for battle.
###
Gohan rubs dust off a window of the temple and presses his helmet to it. The inside is a single open room. The most prominent feature is a giant chair structure, like a throne. He sees Angira throwing aside debris in the form of collapsed walls and wooden planks.
Gohan flies up and into the building through a hole in the roof.
"Why did you abandon Krillin and Medamatcha like that?"
Angira sends him a searing look. His arm stretches and strikes like a snake. The hand catches Gohan's throat and retracts to pull him close. As it does, it coils around Gohan's body from shoulders to knees.
"I don't want to hurt you and your friends," says Angira. "But I cannot allow this relic of theirs to be used against us. We have fought too hard to protect our home and loved ones."
Gohan coughs out a few inaudible words. The grip on his throat loosens, and he speaks again.
"No one wants to hurt you and your comrades. We just want to bring back the friends we lost."
Angira continues to search while speaking.
"I wish it was as simple as a child's perspective on the world. But I've seen the pain in Nail's eyes. I've known that pain myself. The desire to attain what is lost will drive anyone mad. I don't know if he has the will to stop it, but right now, at this moment, I do. So I'm going to destroy that relic before anyone, including myself, gets tempted to misuse its power."
"But you could bring Zeeun and everyone you've lost back. I've seen the magic. I know it works. It brought my father back. And I want to bring my mentor, Mr. Piccolo, back too."
"I'm happy it helped reunite you with your father. You're too young to understand this, but gaining something means giving up something in return. You got your father back and now lost this Mr. Piccolo. What will it cost to bring him back? Will you risk everything again to undo it if you don't like the price?"
Angira stops before an ornate cabinet. Gohan begins a counterargument, but the fingers around his throat squeezes off his words.
"After a certain point, you just have to accept that things have changed. Moving forward is all we truly have."
Angira throws open the left door of the cabinet. The sheen of something marvelous peeks from behind the other door. He pushes it aside. Both of them stare in awe of the majestic and distinguished treasure inside.
A small statue of a dragon on a platform covered in a glass dome sits undisturbed for hundreds of years. The fine details of every single scale mesmerize them. The imposing humanoid form of its upper body contrasts the slender serpentine bottom half. The muscular arms and torso along with the winding tail depict an unfathomable beast.
Two mighty horns protrude from the top of its head above the eyes. Namekian antennae hang from the forehead. Two smaller horns point from the sides of its head beside the eyes. Two bigger spikes stab out of its shoulders. A cresting fin glides down its back tapering off to the tip of its tail.
Angira senses something familiar about the statue, some sort of connection to it. It calls to the lineage of his ancestry. His soul resonates with the ancient history of the people of this planet.
His unsteady hand grasps the knob at the top of the glass. He lifts it with care and sets it beside the statue with a graceful motion. His hand hovers over the statue. It seems to beg him not to destroy it.
He grits his teeth and summons ki to his palm.
Gohan's eyes widen as his chance to bring Piccolo back to life slips away. The ki orb grows bigger. Gohan fidgets to break free. Fury at Angira for not understanding rises in his mind. His ki sharpens with the rage.
As Angira's attack peaks, his attention is drawn to Gohan. Power flows out of the boy. His grip struggles to hold him back.
Gohan's ki bursts forth forming his biggest aura yet. As the arm wrapped around him loosens, he propels himself straight at Angira. He smashes them both through a wall. They slide along the ground.
Gohan uncoils himself and races back inside the temple. He grabs the dragon idol and flies up through the hole he originally entered.
Angira clambers along the ground before taking off to pursue Gohan.
"Can all of them increase their power this much?" he says.
Gohan flies as fast as he can, but Angira closes the distance between them at a steady rate. They blitz past the other fighters, ignoring their battles. Goku calls after Gohan and then takes a punch to the jaw.
Angira outstretches his arm. It extends, and his hand snaps shut on Gohan's ankle. It retracts to pull him in. Gohan tosses the idol up and turns around with both hands above his head. One palm settles behind the other.
"Masenko!"
A yellow beam flashes forth. Angira swoops low to duck it. Gohan peels the fingers free from his leg in the distraction. He orients himself and catches the idol. The chase begins again.
Angira stretches both arms this time. They bite at Gohan as he weaves around them to avoid their clutches. The erratic flight pattern allows Angira to close in twice as fast. He shoots a few ki bolts from his hands to further hinder Gohan's evasive attempts.
Gohan sees a figure approaching them. The unmistakable wings of Dorodabo drop the remaining hope he carries. He rolls out wide to try and get around the new adversary knowing it will not be enough.
There's no way I can outrun two of them, he thinks. Maybe I can hide somewhere.
"Dorodabo," says Angira, "grab that brat. He has the relic."
To Gohan's surprise, Dorodabo makes no attempt to catch him as he passes by. He speeds downward to look for a place to conceal himself.
"What are you doing?" says Angira as he approaches Dorodabo. "You let him get away. Help me stop him."
As Angira passes Dorodabo, they share a look. Angira's face scrunches in horror.
"You're not Dorodabo!"
The gargoyle flaps his wings. He tackles Angira. They flail around in the air. Angira slithers around in his foe's grip.
Ginyu grows his new body to twice its normal size. Angira squirms and writhes but cannot escape the clutches. The strength of his adversary increases with his size.
A giant hand smothers his head and shoulders while the other crushes his waist. The two hands pull apart from one another. Angira's abdomen stretches but does not tear. The arms reach their maximum length and still no signs of damage appear.
Angira's limbs all elongate. His arms coil around Ginyu's neck and constrict while his legs kick at his gut. Ginyu switches tactics and clamps both hands around Angira's head.
Ginyu presses his palms together. The skull between them squishes. Angira screams. The skull buckles under the pressure. The palms slam together as the organic mush spatters from between the fingers.
Ginyu lets go of the body. It flops through the air as it falls. He shrinks back to his regular size and scouts the area in circular paths. Seeing no sign of Gohan, he heads back for the village.
Gohan cruises along the ocean trenches between the islands. The murky water obscures most of his vision, but his ki sense lets him avoid any potentially dangerous marine life. He remains alert for Angira and Dorodabo but has not sensed them since he left.
Gohan traces the water filled corridors on instinct. He surfaces when he believes he has arrived near the village. What he finds shocks and saddens him.
The bodies of each citizen lie desecrated beside the ruins of their tents. He walks among the slaughter and debris with every step shaking tears from his eyes.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," he says. "We were supposed to help them."
A terrible thought sickens his stomach.
Where is Bulma?
He takes to the sky hoping the aerial view will help him find her. His ki sense calls out for any sign of life but returns none. He rushes from place to place hoping to see some sign of her. Exhausted breaths fog his visor.
A faint pulse tugs at his senses.
"Bulma!"
He zooms to the top of the plateau overlooking the remains of the village. Bulma lies on the withered grass of its top. She stirs.
"Bulma, are you okay?"
She rubs her stomach.
"I think so, but I bet I have a nasty bruise. Woah! Is that the Dragon Idol?"
"I hope so. We went through a lot to get it."
"Where are the others?"
"Fighting that Slug guy. I have to get back and help. We should get you and the idol back to the ship."
"Wait, what about the villagers? I spotted an army of demons before I got knocked out by something."
Gohan casts his eyes down.
"They've all been killed. The demons must have gotten them.
"What!"
Bulma scurries to the edge of the plateau. The disturbing scene freezes her blood.
"Those poor people. That poor little girl. They deserved so much better. What about Namekuji?"
"I haven't seen him either."
###
Ginyu swings around the village knowing Gohan probably returned to find Bulma. He locates the Namekian body he discarded and hid from the demons. It walks along the ground having awoken and left the hiding place. Ginyu drops down in front of it.
"It's you!" says Dorodabo. "Give me back my body."
He throws a wobbly punch that Ginyu knocks aside.
"Using a new body for the first time can be quite unnerving can't it. Hard to figure out how it works, am I right?"
"You bastard."
"No need for name calling. I fully intend to give you your body back."
Ginyu raises a fist. A purple aura glows from it as ki gathers.
"What are you doing?" says Dorodabo. "If you injure me, won't it just hurt you when we switch back."
"Actually, that's when the pain will stop."
Dorodabo flinches as the fist swings. Instead of assaulting him, he watches it strike the chest of his original body. The fist buckles the sturdy pectoral muscle. Blood spurts around it as it sinks in.
Dorodabo grabs at his own chest, feeling a phantom wound. His dissociated mind cannot escape the pain despite logic telling him he was not actually struck. The sight of his body with a gruesome injury swirls his stomach. The smile on his real face twists the emotional anguish tighter.
"You're a demon," says Dorodabo.
Ginyu chuckles as his body glows with an eerie amber light.
Dorodabo gives a fearful gasp but cannot escape the beam that fires from Ginyu's mouth. It connects with his own and the nauseating out of body experience from before takes hold.
Dorodabo blinks awake from a nightmare. A horrible pain radiates from his chest. He buckles over, grabs the wound, and wheezes for air. He coughs and chokes as blood fills his throat.
"Thanks for taking care of my body," says Ginyu. "I wish I could reward you by letting you live, but I can't have you telling anyone my secret."
"No, wait!"
Ginyu launches the Namekian body at Dorodabo. His hand jabs like a spearhead. It pierces the center of Dorodabo's chest. His weakened body offers no resistance as the fingers slide out of his back.
Dorodabo gurgles his last breath and drops to his knees. Ginyu pulls his arm free of the corpse and shakes the blood off of it.
"Now, where is that kid with my idol?"