Piccolo gritted his teeth, frustration coursing through him as the reality sank in—the androids had found them. This was bad, and they were running out of time. Glancing at his slumbering comrades, he had no choice but to shout, his voice loud and sharp enough to shake the small house.

"Wake up! We've got company!" Piccolo barked, his stern tone instantly jolting the others awake.

Yamcha sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes. "Huh...? Piccolo, what's going on?" he muttered, yawning mid-sentence.

Tien blinked in confusion, his gaze following Piccolo's intense expression. "Yeah, what's gotten into—"

Krillin, who was also shaking off his drowsiness, paused, his eyes growing wide when he noticed the ominous figures standing outside. His heart raced as the reality hit him like a ton of bricks. "Oh no... the androids!"

With alarm now spreading like wildfire, the group jumped to their feet. Piccolo led the charge, heading outside with Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha in tow, each warrior's face etched with a mix of determination and dread. They had no choice but to confront the androids, knowing full well the danger that awaited them.

Meanwhile, inside the house, Master Roshi and Chi-Chi watched from the upstairs window, their expressions tense. Roshi's worry deepened as he surveyed the scene unfolding below. "This doesn't look good," he muttered, adjusting his glasses, his voice laced with concern. "My house... it's about to become a warzone."

Chi-Chi, though fiercely protective of her family, was equally anxious. "If Goku were here, we wouldn't be in this mess!" she fumed, but deep down, she was as scared as anyone, her hands trembling as she clutched the windowsill.

Outside, the standoff grew tense. Piccolo and the others faced the androids, their eyes locked in a cold, silent confrontation. 17 stood relaxed, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he observed the ragtag group before him.

"Well, well," 17 began with a casual tone, clearly enjoying the moment. "Didn't think we'd find you all here, but now that we have... I'll ask again—Is Goku home?"

Piccolo's eyes narrowed, his muscles tensing as he prepared for whatever came next. "Goku's not here," he replied firmly, his voice full of resolve. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll leave before things get ugly."

17's smirk only widened at Piccolo's threat. "Ugly? Oh, Piccolo, things are about to get very ugly. For you."

18, standing beside her brother, rolled her eyes at the exchange. "Can we just get this over with?" she sighed. "We didn't come all this way to chat."

Krillin gulped, trying to keep his composure, but fear was creeping up on him. "We're in deep trouble..." he whispered to Tien, who nodded grimly in agreement.

Android 16's calculating gaze swept over the island, his scanners working silently as he searched for any trace of Goku's energy signal. After a few moments, he turned to face the others. "Goku's not here," he stated in his usual monotone. "There's no sign of him anywhere on the island."

Android Z, standing next to him, nodded in agreement. "He was here, but not anymore," Z confirmed, his voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "Looks like he managed to slip away."

17 clicked his tongue in annoyance, turning sharply to Piccolo and the others, his eyes narrowing. "You." He pointed at Piccolo, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "I want answers. Now. Where's Goku?"

Piccolo, unfazed by the android's demand, crossed his arms and glared back at 17. "You think I'm just going to talk? You're wasting your time." The Namekian's tone was sharp.

17 chuckled softly, his amusement growing. "I figured you'd say that." His voice dripped with confidence as he stepped forward. "I'll just beat the answers out of you then."

Piccolo smirked, clearly unbothered. "Empty threats," he muttered, his eyes scanning the landscape until he found a distant, isolated island. He pointed toward it. "We'll fight there—no distractions."

17 glanced in the direction Piccolo indicated, his expression turning thoughtful for a moment before he shrugged, a cocky grin returning to his face. "Fine by me. Let's see what you've got."

Piccolo turned back to his comrades—Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin, all of whom wore worried expressions. He gave them a firm look, his voice commanding. "Stay here. Wait for Goku. He'll come back soon enough. Don't do anything reckless."

Tien stepped forward, his brow furrowed in concern. "Piccolo, are you sure about this? This could be a suicide mission."

Yamcha nodded in agreement, his voice filled with unease. "Yeah, man. Are you asking for a death wish?"

Piccolo, however, only scoffed at their concern. "I've got this," he replied confidently, his gaze hardening. "I'm not the same as I was before. Just trust me."

Krillin placed a hand on Tien's shoulder. "Hey, guys... Piccolo's got a point. He's stronger now—way stronger." He clenched his fist, trying to bolster his own confidence. "He's got a shot."

As Piccolo and 17 prepared to take off, 17 shot one last mocking glance at the group before launching into the air, followed closely by Piccolo. They flew towards the isolated island.

Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha watched them disappear into the distance. Tien, still worried, spoke up. "I hope you're right, Krillin... because if Piccolo loses—"

Krillin cut him off, his voice firm but nervous. "He won't lose. Piccolo's tougher than he looks. We just have to trust him."

As the group landed on the isolated island one by one, the atmosphere grew thick with tension. Piccolo and Android 17 stood across from each other, their eyes locked in an intense stare. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the faint sound of waves crashing in the distance, but the only real sound between the two was the quiet hum of their energy.

A few paces away, Android 18 already looked bored, sitting on a rock with her head resting in her palm. "This better not take long," she muttered, her tone laced with irritation. "Goku's still out there, and I'm not interested in wasting time on a warm-up fight." She glanced up briefly, watching her brother and Piccolo with disinterest.

Beside her, Z stood quietly, his eyes narrowed as his internal systems scanned both fighters. From what his data suggested, Android 17 had a clear advantage, but something about Piccolo seemed off—there was a hidden power that Z couldn't quite put his finger on. "He's stronger than he's letting on," Z remarked quietly to 18, his gaze still fixed on Piccolo.

Android 16, meanwhile, paid little attention to the impending fight, his eyes focused on the peaceful surroundings. Birds chirped nearby, and the calmness of the island seemed to captivate him more than the conflict. "Such a quiet place," he said softly, almost to himself, as a small bird landed near his feet.

Back on the field, 17 smirked. He raised his hand, offering one final warning. "You still have a chance, Piccolo. Tell us where Goku is, and we won't have to do this."

Piccolo scoffed, ignoring the offer. He reached up, grabbing his heavy cape and weighted gear, and with a single motion, he tossed them aside. The gear landed with a thunderous thud. Piccolo rolled his shoulders, the sudden release of weight making him feel lighter and faster. He cracked his neck and knuckles, his eyes never leaving 17. "I'm not telling you anything. If you want answers, you'll have to fight for them."

17's chuckle was filled with amusement as he rolled up his sleeves. "You really think you stand a chance against me? You're going to regret this, Namekian."

Piccolo's expression remained stoic, his muscles tensing as his power began to rise. "We'll see about that."

From the sidelines, 18 sighed, still resting her chin on her palm. "Just get it over with," she muttered, glancing toward Z. "This is going to be predictable."

Z didn't respond, his eyes still scanning Piccolo. There was a flicker in Piccolo's energy that didn't match his current output, and Z could sense it. "I wouldn't be so sure," he finally said, watching closely. "There's more to him than meets the eye."

17 raised a brow at Piccolo's confidence. "Last chance. You're going to regret it if you don't—"

Piccolo's smirk deepened as his energy flared, unleashing his true ki in an explosive burst. The entire island trembled violently beneath his feet, rocks splitting and trees swaying as his aura crackled like lightning around him. His green skin seemed to glow as the sheer magnitude of his power surged, the air around him distorting from the raw energy.

Android 17's confident expression faltered for the first time, his eyes widening slightly as he felt the island quake beneath him. "What... is this?" he muttered, baffled by the sudden and overwhelming rise in Piccolo's power. It was far more than he had anticipated, and the realization hit him—this was no ordinary Namekian.

Android Z, standing beside 18 and 16, was fixated on his internal scanners. "Piccolo's power... it's growing exponentially," he said, his voice betraying a hint of surprise. "This... this isn't the same Piccolo we fought before. He's on a different level now."

16's gaze remained calm but focused, his own internal systems verifying Z's analysis. "I also agree," 16 noted, his voice steady. "This isn't just Piccolo anymore. He's become something far stronger."

18, leaning on her rock, glanced up in mild curiosity. "Well, isn't that interesting," she muttered, though her tone was still laced with boredom. "Looks like 17 might have to take this fight a little more seriously."

Back at Kame House, Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin could feel the pressure from Piccolo's power even from miles away. "Piccolo's... he's really letting loose," Krillin stammered. "I've never felt him like this before."

Tien nodded. "Whatever's happening out there, Piccolo's going all out. We can only hope it'll be enough against the androids."

Meanwhile, far away in a nearby city district, Cell, who was moments away from absorbing his latest victim, froze in place. His insect-like eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a sinister smile. He could sense it clearly—Piccolo's power. And with that power came confirmation. Piccolo was fighting the androids. Cell slowly released his grip on the terrified man in front of him, who scrambled away, too scared to even scream. The monstrous bio-android tilted his head towards the direction of the island where Piccolo and the androids were fighting. "So, the time has come," Cell muttered, a dark gleam in his eyes. "Piccolo... you've made contact with 17 and 18, haven't you? How fortuitous." The energy from his aura flared up as he took to the skies. "At last... the pieces are falling into place. Soon, I'll be perfect."

Back with Piccolo and the androids as Piccolo continued to power up, his energy surging violently. Android 17 stood still, watching intently, his arms folded across his chest. Suddenly, Piccolo vanished from sight.

"What the—?" 17's eyes widened, barely having time to react before an elbow slammed into his face, sending him staggering backwards.

"You're too slow!" Piccolo growled, reappearing behind him with lightning speed. Before 17 could regain his footing, Piccolo unleashed a powerful upward kick, launching the android toward the sky with brutal force.

17 tumbled through the air, flipping mid-flight, regaining his balance. His expression shifted from surprise to annoyance. "Tch, where is he?" 17 muttered, scanning the area. But before he could locate Piccolo, the Namekian materialized above him, fists clenched.

"Up here!" Piccolo roared, hammering both fists down onto 17, sending him crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact. The island shook violently, a massive cloud of debris rising from the crater formed by the android's fall.

Hovering cautiously above, Piccolo narrowed his eyes, watching the settling dust. His muscles tensed as he anticipated 17's next move. Then, through the dust, 17 stood up, completely unharmed, dusting off his clothes casually.

Piccolo gritted his teeth, frustration creeping in. "He's tougher than I thought…"

17 smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Not bad, Namekian," he chuckled, clapping slowly in mock applause. "Guess I'll have to try a little harder now."

Piccolo clenched his fists, ready for the next round. "Bring it on!"

Android 17 chuckled with a sly grin. "As you wish, pal."

Before Piccolo could react, 17 shot up into the sky with blinding speed, closing the distance in an instant. Piccolo barely had time to brace himself as 17's fist slammed into his gut, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

"Ugh!" Piccolo groaned, his body recoiling from the blow. But in a flash, he countered with a fierce elbow strike across 17's face, the force sending the android spinning.

17 smirked mid-spin, wiping a trace of blood from his lip. "Not bad."

With that, the two launched into a ferocious aerial skirmish, their movements too fast for the untrained eye to follow. Fists and kicks blurred, clashing with such force that the very sky seemed to crackle with energy. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing the island below to tremble. Piccolo and 17 traded blows, their faces set in grim determination. Every strike met with a block, every counter-attack answered with a dodge. The sound of their fists colliding echoed like thunder, filling the sky with the roar of battle.

17 laughed, his voice barely audible through the chaos. "You're keeping up, Namekian. But how long can you last?"

Piccolo gritted his teeth. "Long enough to put you down!"

The sky resounded with deafening booms as Piccolo and Android 17 exchanged blow after blow, their fists colliding with the force of thunder. 17 managed to land a few solid hits on Piccolo, sending him reeling, but Piccolo retaliated in kind, the battle escalating with each passing second.

At one point, 17 grinned confidently, thinking he had landed another punch, but his fist met empty air. Piccolo had vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving the android startled.

"What?!" 17 exclaimed, glancing around in surprise.

"Hey, android!" Piccolo's voice called from above. 17's eyes darted upward, spotting the Namekian floating high in the air, his palm outstretched and glowing with a charged ki blast.

"Take this!" Piccolo shouted, unleashing a powerful blast of energy straight down at 17. The android's eyes widened in surprise as the ki blast rocketed toward him, engulfing him in a blinding light before exploding with a thunderous boom that shook the island to its core.

Smoke billowed into the sky, and Piccolo hovered in place, his muscles tensed in anticipation. But as the dust settled, his eyes narrowed in disbelief. 17 emerged from the smoke unscathed, lowering a shimmering energy barrier that had protected him from the blast.

"Just great..." Piccolo growled with frustration creeping into his voice.

17 chuckled in amusement as he deactivated the shield. "Gotta admit, Piccolo, you've got some tricks," he said, dusting off his clothes. "But it's not gonna be enough."

Piccolo spat in frustration. "We'll see about that!"

With a burst of speed, the two warriors charged at each other again, resuming their furious aerial battle, fists and feet moving at lightning speed.

Meanwhile, down below, Android 18 stood with her arms crossed, watching the fight with a bored expression. She sighed loudly, clearly unimpressed.

"This is getting old..." 18 muttered, rolling her eyes. "17's playing around too much. I wish Z was fighting Piccolo instead. At least he'd make it quick."

Z, standing nearby, smirked and glanced at 18. "Give 17 some time. He's having fun," Z said calmly. "He'll finish this when he's ready."

18 huffed, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah, well, I'm not holding my breath."

17 and Piccolo crashed back down to the ground, their fists still flying as the intense battle continued. 17 delivered a sharp uppercut to Piccolo's chin, snapping his head back with force. In retaliation, Piccolo swung a powerful punch across 17's face, stunning the android momentarily. Wasting no time, Piccolo grabbed hold of 17's shirt, using his strength to lift the android and slam him face-first into the ground with a thunderous crash, leaving a massive crater in the earth. The ground shook violently, cracks spreading out from the impact.

But 17 was quick to recover. His eyes flashed with determination as he unleashed a point-blank ki blast, sending Piccolo flying backwards. Piccolo groaned but flipped mid-air, recovering in time to counter with a fierce headbutt that connected with 17's face, sending him skidding across the rocky terrain. Both fighters stood their ground, their bodies battered and bruised from the relentless exchange. Blood trickled from Piccolo's lip, and 17 wiped a smear from the corner of his mouth as they stared each other down.

The difference between them was becoming clear.

Piccolo's chest heaved, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel his ki slowly draining, his energy reserves dwindling with every passing moment. In contrast, 17 stood tall, his energy unwavering, thanks to his android design. He smirked, glancing at Piccolo with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"I could go on like this forever," 17 taunted, crossing his arms as he watched Piccolo pant heavily. "But you, Piccolo... your power is already slipping."

Piccolo growled lowly with frustration as his body struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of the battle. 17's smirk widened, clearly enjoying the upper hand.

"Face it," 17 continued, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You're running out of steam, Namekian. How long do you think you can keep this up?"

Piccolo's fists clenched, but he knew 17 was right. His power was fading, while 17's energy seemed endless. Still, Piccolo's eyes burned with defiance. "As long as it takes!"

But soon, Piccolo sensed a strong presence. He glanced to the side, and to his horror, there stood Cell, a smirk plastered across his face, his arms crossed as he watched the battle unfold.

"Well, well, if it isn't my old friend," Cell chuckled with amusement dancing in his eyes as he took in Piccolo's frightened expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost."