Goku shrugged and said casually,
"The Mafuba? With my current strength, I'm already stronger than you.
I don't need something like that anymore."
Piccolo burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Still so full of confidence, aren't you?
Then take a good look at this move!"
As he spoke, Piccolo's aura began to surge violently.
Goku's eyes narrowed.
"You're going to use Explosive Demon Wave?
That move consumes way too much energy — and it'll never hit me anyway!"
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
Piccolo suddenly let out a furious roar.
In the next instant, his body rapidly expanded.
His muscles swelled, bones creaked, and in the blink of an eye—
Piccolo transformed into a towering giant.
"Hahahaha! Now do you finally see your death approaching?!"
Goku froze for a moment.
"…Wow. You really went big."
Then, a grin spread across his face.
He remembered a system reward he once obtained — Transformation Technique.
It didn't increase combat power at all.
No matter how big or small he became, his strength stayed the same.
But against a giant opponent?
That made things far more convenient.
"No need to keep dodging around."
Goku raised his hand cheerfully.
"Piccolo — let me show you something fun!"
He took a deep breath.
"Transform!"
BOOM!
With a burst of air, Goku's body rapidly expanded.
In seconds, he grew to the same size as Piccolo.
Piccolo's eyes widened.
"…What?!"
Goku casually assumed his fighting stance again and smiled.
"Now we're about the same size, right?
Shall we continue?"
On a Distant Mountain Peak
Bulma and the others finally landed their aircraft.
Krillin squinted into the distance.
"Is it just me… or did Goku and Piccolo suddenly get huge?"
Violet lowered her binoculars.
"I thought it was because they were far away, but no — they really are gigantic!"
Master Roshi stroked his beard, puzzled.
"That's strange… they look like giants."
Bulma frowned thoughtfully.
"Look at the crater on the ground.
That was made earlier — but compared to them now, it looks tiny.
Doesn't that mean… they really did grow bigger?"
Everyone stared in shock.
Chi-Chi tilted her head.
"Why do they look so slow and clumsy now?"
Kami's expression turned serious.
"Piccolo knows the Giant Form, but Goku shouldn't have that technique…"
Puar hesitated.
"Um… that doesn't feel like Giant Form.
It looks more like… transformation."
Just then, both figures rapidly shrank.
Their bodies returned to normal size.
Snow gasped.
"So we weren't imagining it — Goku really did become huge just now!"
Chi-Chi blinked.
"Since when can Goku do something like that? He never told me!"
Master Roshi chuckled.
"Growing bigger isn't all that impressive.
If your strength doesn't increase, size alone is meaningless."
Kami nodded.
"Exactly. When the body enlarges, gravity and air resistance increase as well.
Without greater power, it actually limits movement."
Bulma snapped her fingers.
"That makes sense!
I once invented a shrinking bracelet — when you get smaller but keep your strength, you can do things normal bodies can't, like repairing precision machinery."
Everyone nodded in realization.
Back on the Battlefield
With both fighters back to normal size, the battle resumed.
At this point, Goku's strength already far surpassed Piccolo's.
But he didn't overwhelm him outright.
Instead, he deliberately dragged the fight out.
He wanted Piccolo to feel hope.
To believe that one day, he might surpass him.
If Piccolo focused on surpassing Goku—
he wouldn't be thinking about conquering the world anymore.
However, just as the fight continued—
the sky suddenly changed.
Black clouds rolled in violently, covering the heavens.
It looked exactly like the moment the Dragon Balls were summoned.
Both Goku and Piccolo froze.
"What's going on?" Piccolo frowned. "Why did the sky suddenly turn dark?"
Goku closed his eyes, focusing.
He carefully sensed the distant auras.
Suddenly, he caught something.
A presence — evil, powerful.
Not stronger than his full power…
but far stronger than anyone who should exist in this era.
Goku's expression turned grave.
"This time period… shouldn't have someone this strong."
"…Did my actions cause a butterfly effect?"
He looked at Piccolo.
"Seems like a powerful guy just appeared.
How about we pause our fight for now?"
Piccolo's perception was extremely sharp.
He had sensed it too.
Cold sweat formed on his forehead.
"Damn it… what's going on?
Someone even stronger than me just showed up?!
Another bastard trying to interfere with my plan to rule the world!"
Hearing Goku suggest a truce, Piccolo could only nod.
"Fine."
The two immediately flew toward the source of the aura.
As Goku passed the mountain where Bulma and the others stood, he stopped and landed.
"Everyone, go back first.
There's a dangerous presence ahead — I'm going to check it out."
Bulma said anxiously,
"Hurry — the sky turning dark just now looked exactly like someone making a Dragon Ball wish!"
At that moment, Kami's pupils suddenly shrank.
"No wonder that aura felt familiar… I think I know who it is."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Who?"
Kami spoke solemnly.
"Long ago, there was someone who competed with me for the position of Guardian of Earth.
His name was Garlic.
The previous Guardian judged his heart to be too corrupt and rejected him.
That aura… feels very similar to his.
It might be his son."
Goku's expression relaxed instead of tightening.
"Garlic Jr., huh?"
Kami nodded.
"That child has extraordinary talent.
From what I can sense… his power may rival even mine."
Krillin gasped.
"Stronger than you, Kami?!"
Kami nodded slowly.
Everyone grew tense.
At that moment—
the dark clouds suddenly reversed.
The sky returned to clear blue.
A stone sphere flew across the distant sky.
Bulma's face turned pale.
"Oh no… he already made a wish with the Dragon Balls!
I really hope it wasn't something irreversible!"
Chi-Chi clutched her hands nervously.
"We just got married…
Piccolo still isn't resolved yet — are we really facing another terrifying enemy already?"
Goku smiled gently at her.
"Don't worry, Chi-Chi.
Believe in me — I'll handle it."
With that, he shot off toward the source of the disturbance.
Krillin clenched his fists.
"No way I'm letting you go alone!"
He immediately chased after Goku.
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