"Piccolo!" Gohan screamed desperately. Smirking, the creature withdrew its claws from Krillen's stomach. Gohan reached out instinctively and caught his bald companion.
"You . . ." was all he managed to say to his snakelike enemy, his voice choked with anger. He yearned to avenge all the pain the beast had caused, but in the midst of his turmoil-ridden mind, his common sense prevailed. He had to get Krillen to the ground.
As he was descending with the limp fighter in his arms, Gohan saw his father reappear below.
"Daddy!" he half called, half sobbed. Goku looked up and froze with shock as soon as he saw his bleeding friend. "Not Krillen. . ." Gohan heard him whisper.
"Y-you've got to get him to the Lookout," he implored desperately, but his father didn't seem to be listening. His fists were clenched, his teeth gritted with fury; the air around him shimmered with heat as he powered up.
"Daddy!" Gohan shouted for the second time, holding Krillen protectively as wind whipped grit into the air around his father. "You have to go now! H-hurry!" Tears of helplessness spilled down his cheeks—Goku still wasn't hearing a word.
"Goku." Gohan jumped at the sound of his old mentor's voice. There was Piccolo—a completely healed Piccolo—standing next to Goku with his hand gripping the Saiyan's forearm.
"Listen to me," the Namekian continued in a commanding tone. Goku blinked and seemed to realize his surroundings once more.
"You have to take Krillen to the Lookout now. There's not much time." He met Goku's eyes, and the black-haired fighter nodded, his face set with purpose.
"And don't worry—I'll take care of Gohan," Piccolo promised. Goku gave him a grateful nod and took his old friend gently from Gohan's arms. Seconds later, the two of them were gone.
"Piccolo, will he die?" Gohan asked shakily.
"We need to concentrate on defeating our enemy," Piccolo growled, not answering Gohan's question. "That's the most important thing."
Vegeta landed next to them, scowling as usual. "If you continue fighting the way you've been up to now, you'll never win," he snapped. "The beast has outsmarted you at every turn. Half your fighters are already gone."
Gohan was conscious of Piccolo's voice raised angrily in reply, but his awareness was rapidly fading. Power was swelling inside him like an all-consuming fire, and he welcomed it. As his feet left the ground, the last thing he remembered was that his vision, blurred with rage, was fixed on the monster that had caused too much pain. He was about to put an end to that monster—once and for all.