Bringer of Death

*Immortal Saga, Part 5: War of Lords*

Krillin, Ottavino, and Gohan watched in shock as Piccolo Katanaji hung

transfixed at the center of the palatinate firestorm. The Namek was

screaming, arcane energy seeming to rip apart his soul as the flames

burned hotter and hotter.

Below, the young Saiyan closed his eyes, biting back a sob. He had

already watched his mentor die for him once before. That time, he had

barely realized what was happening until it was over. He had been weak,

unsure, frozen with fear, and it had been his fault that Piccolo died.

This time, it wasn't his fault, but it felt more terrible. A tear

slipped down his cheek. It was all up to him now. There wasn't a doubt

in his mind—he would find a way to hit the dragonspawn with the Spirit

Bomb just as soon as it was ready. He would end this.

The long anguished cry of the Super Namek melded with the roar of the

firestorm. A loud CRAACCKKKKKKK sounded, and thunderous flash of light

erupted from the sky.

"WELL."

The deep voice boomed out from the lingering flames. Gohan looked up, a

strange feeling coming over him. It didn't sound quite like the voice he

knew, as if it was layered upon itself, undertones ringing with a

strange baritone timbre. But it wasn't Shenron—Earth's dragon was gone,

although the dragonspawn still floated in his previous position.

"IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR SPELL DIDN'T QUITE WORK," the voice thundered again.

Krillin blinked, wiping his eyes in disbelief. Gohan smiled wide.

Piccolo had survived! At least, it looked like Piccolo...but the figure

floating above them was different somehow. He looked taller and his skin

was a darker, shadowy green...or was it merely that his energy was

burning brighter? Most different were his eyes. They were featureless: a

uniform glowing crimson.

His voice boomed again. "YOU SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL WITH YOUR MAGIC,

MAJCNAVN. RIPPING APART THE /DHOVEKI /OF SHENLONG WOULD HAVE ERASED HIM

FROM EXISTENCE, BUT I SUPPOSE YOU DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THE EFFECT IT WOULD

HAVE ON ME."

Shin Piccolo smiled, a terrible, beautiful smile, and winked one burning

red eye at the dragon before him. "BRACE YOURSELF, /HRODAK/. YOU'RE IN

FOR A BIT OF A SHOCK."

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/Otherworld/

The Earth-raised Saiyan grunted, straining under the intensity of the

Genki Dama. He had already collected the energy of all the fighters he

had met in the Otherworld Tournament, but trickles of shimmering energy

continued to float in toward him, seemingly from the atmosphere of