King Kai's Planet.

  North Kai lounged in a rocking chair. Sunglasses on. Sunbathing.

  Nearby, Piccolo—fused with Kami—sparred with Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin. Three against one.

  He didn't remove his weighted clothes. Fought only with his legs.

  The three coordinated well. But they couldn't force him to use his hands.

  Soon, they couldn't keep up. Piccolo kicked each of them into the ground.

  "You've improved. But not much."

  Krillin climbed out of a crater. Scratched his bald head. "Haha... still can't beat you, Piccolo."

  "Yeah. I feel like we've hit our limit." Yamcha didn't even bother getting up.

  "This is probably as strong as Earthlings can get." Tien was helped to his feet by Chiaotzu.

  "I wonder how Earth is doing. Did Gohan beat the Androids?"

  Krillin dusted himself off. Looked at Piccolo.

  "Hey, Piccolo. Aren't you worried about Gohan?"

  Piccolo's face twitched. "Nothing to worry about. Gohan's talent will surpass those Androids eventually."

  "You really trust him, huh? Wait—this Ki—Goku? No... Gohan?!"

  Krillin looked up. Saw a young man in a Turtle School gi. At first glance, he looked like Goku. The resemblance was uncanny.

  But Goku had reincarnated. And the Ki felt like—

  "Gohan?!"

  Piccolo spun around. Eyes wide.

  Yamcha and Tien stared too. For a moment, they thought Gohan had died.

  "Hey, Uncle Piccolo. Uncle Krillin. Uncle Yamcha. Uncle Tien. Chiaotzu. Long time no see!"

  Gohan waved. Smiled.

  "Gohan... did you... die too?" Piccolo's voice cracked.

  "What? No. Look—no halo."

  They looked. He was right. No halo.

  He was alive.

  "Don't worry. Trunks and I defeated Seventeen and Eighteen. You'll all be revived soon."

  Silence.

  Then—

  "Wait, you actually beat them?!" Krillin turned to North Kai. "King Kai, why didn't you tell us?!"

  North Kai looked sheepish. "I... manage a huge sector. Can't watch Earth 24/7."

  "You've been sunbathing and napping the whole time! You're not busy at all!"

  North Kai whistled. Looked away.

  Krillin's eye twitched. This is our Kai.

  Piccolo flew to Gohan. Placed a hand on his shoulder. "You've grown. And gotten stronger."

  He'd fused with Kami. Trained on King Kai's planet for years. Thought he'd surpassed Gohan.

  But Gohan's hidden Ki was beyond him now.

  Pride swelled in his chest.

  "I didn't do it alone—"

  "Wait, how did you even get here?" Krillin asked.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Perilla brought me."

  "Perilla? Who's that?"

  A figure flew in. Landed beside Gohan.

  A silver-haired girl. Red eyes. Cute.

  "Geez, Gohan. You felt Uncle Piccolo's Ki and took off. I couldn't keep up."

  "Sorry! I got too excited. Haven't seen Uncle Piccolo in so long."

  "It's fine. I get it."

  Piccolo's basically Gohan's second dad. Now that Goku's reincarnated, he's the only dad Gohan has left.

  Piccolo studied her. "You're the new Earth Kami. But your Ki is... strange."

  Krillin noticed too. "Wait. You have Goku's Ki. And Vegeta's. Nappa's. Raditz's. What's going on?"

  Perilla grinned. "I'm Android 12. Fused with the genes of every pure-blooded Saiyan. The strongest Android in this world."

  "Android?!"

  Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien tensed. Stepped back.

  Gohan jumped between them. Arms spread. "Wait! She's not a bad guy!"

  Piccolo nodded. "He's right. Evil people can't become Kami. Even a trace of darkness disqualifies you."

  Krillin relaxed. "Sorry. We were killed by Androids. Hard not to be cautious."

  "I get it. But even if you attacked me, I wouldn't worry. You three aren't that strong."

  The three men winced. Ouch. But... she's right.

  "Gohan, you said we'd all be revived. How?" Tien asked.

  "We're here to ask King Kai for New Namek's location. We'll use their Dragon Balls to revive you. Once Uncle Piccolo's back, Earth's Dragon Balls will reactivate. Then we can revive everyone."

  Piccolo shook his head. "I fused with Kami in the afterlife. Even if you revive me, Earth's Dragon Balls won't come back."

  "What?!"

  If Earth's Dragon Balls are gone, we'd have to revive people one by one with Namek's. That'll take forever.

  Everyone fell silent.

  Perilla shrugged. "Just get a Namekian to become Earth's Kami. Problem solved."

  "Oh! Right!" Yamcha's eyes lit up.

  "But Perilla, you just became Kami. You'd give up the position already?" Gohan frowned.

  "I only became Kami to save the world. If giving up the position saves the world, so what?"

  North Kai's eyes gleamed. Perfect.

  He'd been wanting to slack off more. But people kept calling him out. If he had an apprentice...

  He cleared his throat. "Earth Kami. Since you're stepping down... how about becoming my Apprentice Kai?"

  "Apprentice Kai?"

  Two days as Earth Kami, and I'm already getting promoted.

  Apprentice Kai ranked higher than planetary Kami. More divine energy. Maybe she could reach Super Saiyan God faster.

  "Deal."

  North Kai grinned. Now I can slack off guilt-free. Hahaha!