So for the story, I've already got about 12 or so villains set for an appearance, minor and major counted. Just one question. Janemba?
Chapter 21: Piccolo Strikes Back.
"So this is Frieza?" Piccolo asked, staring at Frieza with stony eyes, "I was picturing someone more... challenging." The Namekian turned his head slightly towards the trio. "Go. Find some cover."
The trio stared in awe as Piccolo approached Frieza, his body rigid, his cloak fluttering behind him. He stopped across a rocky surface from Frieza and the two locked eyes.
"So, a new challenger, huh?" Frieza asked, "Come to join the rest of your kind?"
Piccolo's gaze didn't falter as he removed his cloak and tossed it aside, landing with a thud. Without a word, he moved directly in front of Frieza, connecting his fist with the emperor's nose. Frieza was sent flying backwards, landing on his back and sliding across the rocks. He got to his feet and locked eyes with Piccolo once again, rage filling his mind.
How can some Namekian move faster than I can see? He thought.
"A mere warm up." Frieza called, "Now allow me to show you my real power."
"Your real power?" Piccolo asked, reaching for his turban, "In that case." He dropped the turban beside him, the turban crushing a rock beneath it.
Frieza was shocked that a bundle of cloth could do such a thing but regained himself quickly. He charged at Piccolo, his arm cocked back to strike him. The Namekian stopped the punch with an outstretched hand. Frieza was left in complete shock that a mere Namekian could stop his attack so easily, but that shock was soon replaced by fear as he stared into the Namekian's eyes and was stared back at by familiar eyes. The eyes of a Namekian he had left for dead.
Piccolo noticed a silent fear creep into Frieza's face and took the chance to wrap his hands around Frieza's arm and swing him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground. He aimed a ki blast right at Frieza's head.
"This is for every Namekian you've slaughtered!" He yelled.
Frieza wrapped what was left of his tail around Piccolo's ankle and yanked him off balance, the ki blast being sent off in other direction. Piccolo flipped backwards onto his feet and landed another attack on Frieza, sending him stumbling backwards.
"I applaud you, Namekian." Frieza said, "But this is still nothing compared to my true power."
"What are you going on about?" Piccolo asked.
"Allow me to explain." Frieza said, "Before you arrived, I had transformed once already. When I transform, I get a substantial energy boost. And, lucky for you, I have two more transformations to go."
"You're bluffing." Piccolo said.
"Oh, am I?" Frieza chuckled, "Well then, allow me to show you."
Frieza lurched forwards, his skin forming three long spikes along his back. His shoulders extended out to the side as his neck began to extended. His jaw deformed as the back of his head began to stretch backwards, his head starting to elongate. Skin covered the horns on his head while two more grew behind his horns.
"Thank you for waiting so patiently." Frieza panted, "Shall we continue?"
The trio stared in awe as Piccolo got back into a stance, ready to get back to fighting.
"What does he think he's doing?" Vegeta asked, "Can't he sense how much stronger Frieza got?"
"This is Piccolo we're talking about." Krillin replied, "Of course he can."
"Well, either your friend is strong enough to take on Frieza, or he's incredibly stupid." Vegeta said, "And I'm going with the latter."
Piccolo charged Frieza, who extended to fingers and shot him in the leg. Piccolo collapsed to the ground, a searing pain taking over his leg.
"Get up." Frieza said, "I'm not done yet."
Piccolo groaned as he flipped onto his back, grabbing his leg in pain. Frieza walked over to the Namekian and picked him up by the neck.
"I said 'Get up.'" He said throwing Piccolo into the air. Frieza blasted Piccolo over and over again, the Namekian being juggled by the blasts.
"Earthling, shoot me." Vegeta said, not taking his eyes off of Frieza, "Shoot me with enough power to almost kill me."
"W-What?" Krillin stammered, "Are you crazy?"
"Listen to me, when Saiyans return from the brink of death we only get stronger." Vegeta said, "Now shoot m-"
Vegeta was cut off by a huge power spike coming from the ship. The trio turned towards the ship as Gohan burst through the top, his aura flaring out in all directions.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" Gohan yelled as he dashed for Frieza.
Frieza stopped attacking Piccolo and turned his attention to Gohan. Once the boy got close enough, Frieza wrapped his hand around Gohan's face and sent him flying into Piccolo.
"Blasting you all to pieces would be simple. But I want to savor your fear." Frieza said, "Allow me to show you what true fear looks like."
"JUST SHOOT ME DAMN IT!" Vegeta yelled, "BEFORE HE TRANSFOR-"
Krillin shot Vegeta in the chest, the beam going straight through his body. Piccolo and Gohan watched in shock as Vegeta fell to the ground.
"Let's move, Gohan." Piccolo said.
"Right." Gohan replied.
Piccolo leaned over Gohan's shoulder as the young fighter carried him over to Dende, who raced to the Namekian's aid.
"Don't worry, Nail." Dende said, his hands glowing over Piccolo's body, "You'll be alright."
Frieza watched out the corner of his eye as Dende healed Piccolo's injuries, his wounds disappearing as though they were never there.
So that's how they do it. He thought.
"Thanks, Dende." Piccolo said, "Now go heal Vegeta. Quickly."
"Okay." Dende said, flying off to where the Saiyan had landed.
Dende held his hands over Vegeta as he began to heal the wounded Saiyan. "Listen, Saiyan, I know you've killed some of my people, same as Frieza," He said, "But, just so you know, I forgive you. Slightly."
From where Frieza had been standing, a huge explosion of light filled the air.
"Did none of us try and stop him?" Piccolo asked.
"I honestly forgot about him while Vegeta was yelling at me to shoot him." Krillin said.
The smoke cleared around Frieza, leaving a slender figure to appear.
"Huh. He doesn't look like much." Krillin said.
"Yeah." Piccolo said, "But his power makes his other forms seem gentle."
Vegeta looked at Dende and smirked before blasting him away with his energy. The Saiyan charged for Frieza, whose expression didn't falter. The emperor lifted his fingers and fired off one shot, barely missing Vegeta. The shot flew past Piccolo and the others straight towards Dende, who had no time to react. Dende was killed the moment he was hit, his clothes torn all over.
"And now that you have no healer," Frieza said, "I can finally finish my work."