Everyone sat together for a while, chatting and sharing what had happened during their time apart.
Just then—
"Hey! Is everyone here?"
A familiar, energetic voice suddenly came from outside.
It was Son Goku.
"It's Goku!" Bulma jumped up from the sofa in excitement, unable to hide her joy.
"I knew it! Goku must have been revived!" Yamcha said with relief, pumping his fist.
"I knew that guy wouldn't die so easily!"
"Creak!"
The door opened.
Goku stepped into the room.
He looked dusty from travel, but his eyes were bright and full of energy.
"Krillin! You're alive! That's great!"
Goku spotted Krillin immediately.
He rushed forward and hugged him tightly.
"Goku… thank you," Krillin said, his eyes turning red.
"Thank you for chasing that monster for me… I'm really touched."
"Goku," Yamcha said with a smile, walking over.
"Did you revive because of the Dragon Balls too?"
"Huh? Revive?" Goku blinked in confusion.
He shook his head naturally.
"I didn't die. I've been alive the whole time."
"You didn't die?" Yamcha and Bulma froze.
Their smiles vanished instantly.
Everyone looked at each other in confusion.
After a moment—
They suddenly seemed to understand something.
"Hahaha! No wonder Master Roshi and Tien Shinhan worked so fast!" Bulma laughed.
She nudged Yamcha with her elbow.
"So it was you who defeated Demon King Piccolo!"
"If that's the case, they didn't need to use Shenron to destroy him."
"They could just wish to revive Krillin!"
"Goku, that's amazing!" Yamcha said with admiration.
"You actually defeated Demon King Piccolo? Tell us how you did it!"
"It wasn't me," Goku replied calmly.
He looked around the room.
"By the way, hasn't Master Roshi returned yet?"
"And where's Broly?"
"I thought they'd arrive before me."
"They're not back yet…" Yamcha said thoughtfully.
"If it wasn't Goku… then who defeated Demon King Piccolo?"
"Maybe Tien Shinhan?" he muttered.
"That's possible," Bulma said, nodding.
"After all, he won the World Martial Arts Tournament."
"Maybe he gained some new technique or had some breakthrough."
"What are you guys talking about?" Goku asked.
"It was Broly."
"Broly defeated Demon King Piccolo."
The Room Goes Silent
The words dropped like a bomb.
Everyone in the room froze.
Even Krillin stood there in shock.
The room fell into a strange silence.
Only the sound of waves hitting the beach could be heard outside.
Then—
"PFFT—HAHAHAHA!"
Yamcha, Krillin, Bulma, Oolong, and Puar all burst into laughter at the same time.
They laughed so hard it felt like the roof might lift off.
Only Launch didn't laugh.
Her blue eyes widened in surprise.
Then a proud smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Goku, you're joking now too?" Yamcha laughed, slapping his knee.
"That joke isn't funny at all!"
"If you said Tien Shinhan defeated Demon King Piccolo," Bulma said while holding her stomach from laughing,
"we might actually believe you!"
"But Broly?"
"Does Broly even know how to fight?"
"In our memories, he's just a guy who eats and sleeps all day!"
"Exactly!" Krillin nodded.
"We lived with him at Kame House for so long."
"He's obsessed with food."
"I've never even seen him do basic training!"
"How could he defeat Demon King Piccolo?"
"That's impossible!"
"I'm not joking!" Goku protested.
"I'm serious!"
"Korin told me himself!"
"And Korin wouldn't lie!"
The Shock Sets In
The room fell silent again.
Everyone's laughter stopped abruptly.
Korin said it?
That wise and mysterious master?
If Korin said it…
Then the ridiculous-sounding story suddenly seemed very believable.
"Broly… really defeated Demon King Piccolo?" Krillin muttered.
The smile on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by pure shock.
"Hahaha!" Goku laughed excitedly.
"Broly is that strong? That's amazing!"
"I'm getting more and more excited!"
Meeting a powerful opponent thrilled him more than anything.
"Th-this has to be a joke…" Yamcha said, staring in disbelief.
He looked at Bulma, then at Goku.
His worldview felt like it was collapsing.
"That Broly… is stronger than Goku?" Bulma whispered in shock.
Suddenly she turned her head and looked at Launch.
Launch stood there smiling softly.
There was even a hint of pride in her expression.
Wait…
Did Launch already know Broly was strong?
Is that why she showed interest in him so early?
Did she figure it out before everyone else?
A complicated feeling appeared in Bulma's heart.
I even thought Broly might not be able to beat Yamcha…
And now…
This slap to my face came way too fast. 😅
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