Goku wiped a trail of hot blood from his chin. Every breath felt like it tore his throat.
He pressed his back against Tien. The courtyard around them was just a graveyard of broken stones and deep craters.
Drum just laughed. The huge green mutant bounced lightly on his toes. He looked completely untouched by the battle.
Tien kept his third eye wide open and focused. Sweat ran down his tense face.
"It is the same as punching a mountain, my best hits do not leave a single scratch."
Goku had not drunk the sacred water. He had nothing else working for him right now besides his own stubbornness.
"Then we just need to hit harder," Goku said. A tired and fierce smile took over his face.
"He has to break eventually."
King Piccolo watched the fight from the top of a rubble pile. A wicked smile twisted his face.
"Such inspiring determination, Drum is loving this game with you two. But a two against one fight is bad manners. I really should fix that."
The demon king stood up. He grabbed his own throat. His neck swelled outward to form a bizarre lump. He gagged violently and spit out a giant egg. The sphere hit the stone floor in a puddle of purple slime.
The shell cracked right away. A new demon crawled out of that mess. The creature looked nothing like the heavy body of Drum. He was scary tall and thin. His skin had a pale blue tone. His arms ended in long blades of pure bone.
"Welcome to the surface, your name is Snare. Go entertain the three eyed boy."
Snare stood up completely. Sick yellow eyes locked right onto Tien. The demon stretched his long arms. The joints popped with the loud sound of breaking wood.
Tien shifted his weight into a low stance. He raised his hands ready to attack.
"Do not let the big one crush you."
"Worry about yourself first."
The situation was desperate. They just had to survive until help arrived.
Tien charged at Snare. Snare did not block. He slipped under the guard of the martial artist. The blue demon swung his bony arm. Tien jumped back. The sharp bone sliced his skin anyway. It drew a thin line of blood across his chest.
Tien fired a rapid volley of punches. Snare twisted his body at weird angles. He avoided the strikes with unnatural speed.
Drum rushed at Goku at the same time. The ground shook with his heavy steps. Goku swung his power pole at Drum's head. Drum caught the thick wood with one bare hand. He pulled the staff hard. Goku flew forward and lost his grip.
Drum kicked Goku in the stomach. Goku crashed into a broken pillar. He coughed up blood. His vision blurred.
Goku usually liked fighting dirty. He bit enemies and threw sand in the past. But his body felt like heavy lead today. He barely had enough breath to stand.
Tien backed away from Snare. He prepared a powerful energy attack. He focused his ki into his finger.
Snare did not wait for the attack to charge. He spat a glob of purple acid right at Tien's face.
Tien yelled and covered his eyes. The acid burned his forearms. He lost his focus and his firm stance.
Snare kicked Tien hard in the knee. A sharp crack echoed in the ruined courtyard. Tien fell to the ground in pain.
Drum grabbed Goku by the collar. He lifted the exhausted boy into the air.
"You look very tired. Let me help you sleep."
Goku kicked Drum in the face. The hit lacked power completely. Drum did not even blink.
He tossed Goku aside like a broken toy. Goku hit the stone floor hard and did not move. Snare kicked Tien in the ribs. He collapsed beside Goku.
Piano stood near the ruined throne. The small demon pointed at the fallen warriors. He laughed a sharp and cruel laugh.
King Piccolo stood up. He brushed dust off his dark clothes.
"Leave them." Piccolo turned his back.
"They are just dead dogs now. We have a world to conquer. Come with me Drum. You too Snare."
The demons started to walk away. Piano flew behind them.
Tien forced his eyes open. He pushed himself up with his good arm. His broken knee burned with intense pain.
He ignored the agony. He pulled out a small electric rice cooker. He placed it carefully on the cracked stone.
Tien brought his hands together in a strange pose. A violent green aura exploded around his body. The air pressure dropped instantly.
"Evil containment wave!" Tien screamed.
A massive swirling vortex of green energy shot from his hands. It roared across the courtyard. It flew straight at King Piccolo.
Piccolo spun around. His confident smile vanished. True panic widened his eyes. He recognized the cursed light.
Drum saw the danger. The heavy mutant leaped backward. He threw his massive body directly in front of his king.
The green vortex slammed into Drum.
The ancient magic grabbed him.
Drum let out a terrifying roar. The swirling storm stretched his heavy body. It pulled him violently through the air. The magic saucer sucking the screaming demon right into the tiny rice cooker.
"N-Not so fast!"
King Piccolo pointed two fingers at the rice cooker. A thin yellow beam shot from his hand. The beam hit the metal pot. The rice cooker exploded into sharp pieces. The paper seal burned to ashes.
A thick green mist poured out of the broken metal. Drum formed from the smoke. The heavy demon fell to his hands and knees. He coughed violently.
Tien watched his only hope turn to dust. His last bit of strength vanished. He collapsed face first onto the cold stone.
King Piccolo walked closer. His eyes burned with pure hatred.
"The evil containment wave." Piccolo spit the words out.
"I am surprised a pathetic human knows that cursed technique. You almost ruined my day."
Piccolo turned his cold gaze to his children.
"Kill them both. Make sure nothing is left. Turn their bones to dust."
Drum stood up slowly. Snare raised his sharp bone arm. The two demons walked toward the fallen humans. They raised their fists for the final blow.
"Hey."
The word was not a shout. It was soft. It cut through the heavy air of the courtyard like a sharp blade.
Everything stopped. Drum froze with his massive fist raised. Snare halted his bone blade inches from Tien. Piano stopped his cruel laughter. King Piccolo slowly turned around.
Chi-Chi stood on top of a broken stone wall. The morning wind gently moved her dark hair. She did not look angry. She did not look afraid. She rested the silver blade of Kumokiri on her shoulder. Her dark eyes were perfectly calm.
King Piccolo stared at her. His cruel smile vanished completely. Genuine shock crossed his wrinkled face. He felt her life fade away that day. Yet here she stood.
"Chi-Chi!" Goku choked on the blood in his mouth. He tried to lift his head from the dirt. He could not believe his eyes.
"You came back." Tien grunted from the ground. Relief washed over his broken body.
Chi-Chi looked down at the two boys. Her calm face softened for a brief second.
"You both fought well. I'll handle the rest."
She stepped off the high wall. She landed on the ruined floor without making a single sound.
King Piccolo recovered from his shock. He threw his head back. He laughed. It was a loud and nervous sound.
"Do you really think your presence changes anything? You are just one more fool. You are just another trophy for my collection."
Piccolo pointed a long green finger at her.
"I failed to kill you before. I will gladly finish the job today."
Chi-Chi did just kept walking forward.
"You didn't fail—you destroyed the girl I was. I've become something far beyond her."
"Hmph. I have no interest in your human philosophy."
King Piccolo glared at his children.
"What are you waiting for? Kill them both right now."
Drum raised his massive fist over Goku. Snare aimed his sharp bone blade at Tien. They drove their attacks downward with deadly force.
A silver flash lit up the ruined courtyard.
Drum roared in sudden pain. Snare shrieked loudly. Their severed arms dropped onto the cold stone. Dark blood sprayed everywhere.
Chi-Chi stood right between Goku and Tien. She held Kumokiri low. Green blood dripped from the bright steel.
No one saw her cross the distance. No one saw her draw the sword. She moved faster than sight itself.
King Piccolo took a step back. His eyes bulged in pure shock.
"Huh?!" Piccolo yelled in disbelief.
Chi-Chi did not even look at the two screaming demons behind her. She reached into her pocket. She pulled out two small green beans. She knelt and handed one to Goku. She gave the other to Tien.
"Here."
The boys were in complete shock. They stared at her. They took the Senzu beans without a single question.
"That is impossible. She did not even move!" Piano yelled from the ruins.
King Piccolo growmel in pure anger. His fists shook.
Drum and Snare stepped backward. They gripped their bleeding shoulders. Their flesh twisted and bubbled. Thick green slime poured out. New bone pushed through the skin. They grew entirely new arms right there.
Chi-Chi watched them from the corner of her eye.
Regeneration.
Drum flexed his new green hand. Snare scraped his sharp bone blades together.
"You hit us while we were busy." Drum growmel.
"A coward trick. It will not work twice." Snare hissed.
Chi-Chi turned around slowly. She faced the two giant monsters. She did not say a single word. She just held her sword and stared at them.
"Do not play with her. Attack her together. Tear her apart." Piccolo ordered his children.
Chi-Chi slowly slid the blade back into its sheath. It clicked into place.
Snare tilted his long head. He scraped his bone blades together again.
"Did my words hurt your feelings? You put your toy away. You are only a threat with that steel in your hand."
Drum laughed loudly. It was a deep and ugly sound.
"It makes no difference." Drum cracked his heavy green knuckles.
"Sword or no sword. I will not forgive you for that disrespect. I am going to crush your skull with my bare hands."
Chi-Chi did not blink. She looked past the two giant monsters. She locked her eyes on King Piccolo.
"The sword is for him." Chi-Chi spoke with absolute calm.
Goku swallowed his magic bean. His deep wounds healed instantly.
Tien ate his bean right after. His broken knee snapped back into place. He stood up tall beside Goku.
"Chi-Chi wait." Goku warned her.
"Those two are very strong. We should fight them together."
"He is right." Tien nodded.
"They use dirty tricks. Do not fight them alone."
"You can join if you want. But it is not necessary."
Snare pointed his sharp bone blade right at her face.
"You are very arrogant for a weak human woman."
"A weak human woman just chopped off your arm. What does that make you?"
"Enough!"
Drum and Snare charged.
Chi-Chi used her skywalk to dodge. She floated above them.
The monsters jumped. They threw a storm of punches. Chi-Chi weaved through them all.
"You should not be able to move like this."
"She has to slip up eventually."
Goku and Tien watched from below.
"She is like a different person. It is like she is flying."
"That is impossible. That is a Crane School secret. She must be a genius to learn it just by watching."
The demons dropped back to the ground. They were panting. Their chests heaved. Sweat poured down their green skin.
Chi-Chi landed gently. She did not look tired.
"I will give you one chance to stop."
Drum and Snare looked confused.
"Stop?"
"I thought people couldn't change, I was wrong. We all have a choice. You were born from evil, but you haven't killed yet. You don't have to be his weapons."
"We like this, the smell of blood, the sound of bones breaking. This is what we are."
"You only think you like it. It's all you've ever known. You've never seen a sunrise without blood on your hands. You were born into a cage of violence."
"Enough talk. You're nothing but a trembling human girl. You hide behind words because you fear death."
"Piccolo's will is absolute. No human can extinguish his shadow. We belong to him." Drum added
"I understand." Chi-Chi said. Her face became a mask of stone.
"If you refuse to be saved, then I won't try. I'll end your suffering."