lasted five minutes. Piccolo's hope faded. He looked from Jung-Piccolo and Ice, both of whom were completely exhausted on the floor, to Goten and Trunks ... both more dead than alive. Popo, fit again, took care of the boys and got them a little out of the obvious danger zone. Suddenly Dende, who had been kneeling on the floor, fell over to one side. But he caught himself again just before Nail opened his eyes again. Piccolo was incredibly relieved at that moment. Its no one darling lives! But now this Chrono could experience something! While Popo also brought Dende and Nail into relative safety, Piccolo threw himself on Chrono without thinking ... A mistake. On the one hand, Chrono was fed up with the games ... and on the other hand, he had been waiting for such an attack.Both ... Piccolo and his opponent fired a beam of energy at the same time. Piccolo a blue, Chrono a purple. The two beams met, and where they touched red sparks flew.

It was like an arm wrestling. Sometimes Piccolo gained a few centimeters, sometimes Chrono. It went back and forth for a while and whoever was not passed out from the others watched everything as if spellbound. Finally it became apparent that Piccolo would lose ... while Chrono was able to hold his floating position, Piccolo slid further and further back. Finally, in a desperate attempt to regain his grip, he drilled a foot into the ground above the ankle. The sliding came to an end. But his strength just wasn't enough ...

Piccolo was grappling with a difficult decision. He just couldn't muster any more strength ... not without endangering himself. He ran out of free energy. If he gave even more, he had to attack his own life energy ... the irreplaceable supply of energy that kept every living being alive.But did he have a choice? If he did, HE MIGHTY would die ... if he didn't, HE AND the rest of them would CLEARLY die. That he was scared of this last step ... yeah, damn it! He was scared of dying! but he was even more afraid that Nail might die! With a cry of desperation, he released the last bit of strength that was still in his body ... his spark of life.

A huge bang shook the remains of the Divine City. Not only Piccolo had added a lot, but also his opponent. The result was a gigantic short circuit. In which, however, Piccolo clearly lost out. Unlike Chrono, who threw away his scorched red jacket and yellow scarf in disgust and wiped some soot from his face, Piccolo collapsed on the spot. Damn ... with the best will in the world he hadn’t expected such a force ...



Son Goku and his friends had almost reached the Quince Tower when Gohan gave a stifled scream.

"What's the matter, my son?" asked Son Goku, and the frightened look on his son's face worried him.

"Piccolo ... he ... he ... HE DIES!"

Now that Gohan said it and Goku paid more attention to it ... yes. Piccolo's energy grew weaker and weaker. She had been alarmingly weak for a while, but ...

"Father ... I'm flying ahead!"

Without waiting for an answer, Gohan sped up so much that the suction brought his father and Vegeta into a tailspin. Son Goku also picked up the pace and Vegeta with him. The three people couldn't keep up for a long time.



A few kilometers above them, Piccolo faced one of the hardest decisions of his life. That he had no chance ... and never had ... had become clear to him by now. He wasn't going to survive this fight. Not even if he gave up and fled now. He had used too much strength. He had put too much of his own life energy into this last, desperate attempt to win this fight.Dende might have helped him ... if he hadn't used up his strength to save Nail ...

"Uncle Piccolo ... what about you ?!"

"Nail ... NOT !!!" Dende screamed with all his might. Nail had torn away from his hand and was running towards Piccolo. Arrived at him. he clung to his neck in a desperate hug ... Piccolo tried a smile ...

"Nail ..." it was difficult for him to speak "... you are strangling me ... little one ..."

Dende ran across the platform ... or what was left of it ... grabbed his son, tore him away from Piccolo and ran with the violently wriggling child behind some rubble to find some cover.

Bloody hell! Piccolo was so mad ... mostly at himself. He had taken this fight way too lightly at first! Had he REALLY fought seriously from the start, they all together ... when they weren't so drained ... maybe they would have had a chance.A small but ... at least an opportunity. But it didn't help to complain about spilled milk ... Piccolo had made up his mind for his part. He would save Nail and this world ... or die trying.

With an effort he pushed himself up again, got to his feet ...

Directly across from him he saw a bright yellow beam shoot up over the edge ... and the reason for that was ... GOHAN!

The yellow light mixed with red ...

A lance of red light pierced Piccolo's chest like a glowing arrow. He fell backwards. Before he even hit, he was dead ...

"N-E-I-N-!"

Gohan screamed as loud as he could. It wasn't just a scream ... the air seemed to shake and even Chrono jerked around. He looked at the wrathful face of a man with black hair. Gohan was angry like never before in his entire life. Not only on the bastard who killed his best friend in front of his eyes ... but also on himself because he was late ... on Kuririn, Yamcha and Ten-Shin-Han because they weren't faster.His hair changed from black to gold. His eyes turned pale turquoise. There was an insane twinkle in them. Lightning flashed around me and with a tremendous scream he unleashed the forces that slumbered deep within him.

Chrono backed away ... He hadn't expected something like that. Humans were weak ... the dragon children were weak ... but this one ... But he recovered quickly. He would defeat this opponent too. For Piccolo ... and for Nail, who had torn himself away from his father and shook the dead body of his beloved `uncle` in despair ... this bastard would atone for every tear!











References ... or something ... I think ...

---

The stranger's name: Chrono

I borrowed it from the world of the Greek gods. According to legend, Chronos (I left it out) was the father of Zeus, the father of the gods. His son Zeus later brought him around the corner ... well ... that's why Chronos created the world together with Gaia.

gr. chronos = the time (father time ...)

gr. gaia = the earth ... I believe (mother nature ...)











So that would be the end ... Poor Piccolo, I know. But don't worry: the dead live longer. At least in the Dragon Ball Z world. Piccolo will surely provide one or the other surprise ...

* throat *

And now one more appeal to everyone ...

Numerous commissioners for moral support are wanted for the association of needy hobby authors! The collection point is right down here ... numerous donations are requested! The 100th gets a virtual cookie ...: -) =)



See you!

SenzuBean