Bringer of Death

Chapter 104: A Shot in the Dark

World Championships Saga, Part 4: A Shot in the Dark

"Folks, if you'll bear with a us a moment, we'll be with you for the next match shortly!"

The announcer turned to the fighter's viewing area, seeing Krillin making his way to the ring. Spice, however, was nowhere in sight.

Krillin turned right to left, checking behind as well, but all he could spot were the raised shoulders of Goku. Where was his opponent? He, too, felt that there was something off at this tournament. Of course, none of them yet had any realization of the true depth of that just yet.

"Spice, huh?" Krillin muttered aloud, stepping onto the fighting surface and feeling a rush of nostalgia. "I can never remember, wasn't there a pop group named the spice boys? Or maybe they were someone's henchmen..."

"Well, Krillin," the announcer said. "If he doesn't show soon, it looks like you'll be getting a bye. Not that you'd need one, I've seen what you can do."

The turtle-student smiled. "I appreciate that. Let's just hope I can still hang in there with the— ."

Above, a bit of reddish-yellow cloud seemed to appear from nowhere. It swirled counter-clockwise like a whirlpool, growing to around ten feet in diameter right above the center of the ring. Then, from its epicenter, a cloaked figure leapt out, closing the portal behind him and landing in the ring on one knee.

Krillin's fists immediately clenched. Gohan's eyes turned to Piccolo, Goku's eyebrows lifted, and Vegeta cracked a grin.

"Uh, pardon me, sir..." the ref began. "Are you...oh, yes, it is you Mr. Spice. My my, what an entrance—I have no idea how you pulled that off! Alright then, our combatants are set! Then let the third match BEGIN!"

"Hah, hah, hahhh!"

Beneath the cloak came a familiar voice. A set of wicked eyes were all Krillin could see, the rest concealed by shadow, but he knew. If 'Spice' had been here during the prelim matches, he'd suppressed his energy well enough, but now there was no mistaking in it.

"Garlic Jr." Krillin knelt into a defensive stance immediately, extending his left arm forward.

The figure paused, snickering to himself. Then, slowly, he lifted the brown hood to reveal his menacing grin. How he'd longed to return for vengeance...for what felt like an eternity. Garlic's eyes took it all in, each of his greatest enemies present before him.

"Hah. You're here, you're all here! Oh, how I've imagined this day!" he continued, pausing as his gaze met with each of the Z fighters. "Gohan! Well, you've sure grown." His voice was strangely self-assured as he said each name, even that of the Saiyan prince. "I couldn't have picked a better audience. Now witness as I begin the celebration of my glorious return, starting with the annihilation of Krillin!"

Garlic pulled the cloak off his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground and reveal his blue-skinned muscular form. He was identical to the last time they'd seen him, save for the addition of a silver necklace resting on his chest and a sharp M carved into his forehead. His power level had grown as well..but by how much?

"Hey, just how did you manage to get a new body, huh?" Krillin asked, unthreatened. "Last I saw, you were vaporized down to the last molecule by Vegeta."

"A moment I'll never forget," the demon snapped. "But I am immortal! It'll take far more than that to get rid of me this time!"

Piccolo grunted below, wondering if this was yet another inept scheme by the usurper or if Garlic Jr actually posed a credible threat. By his estimation, the blue brute would've had to at least reach the level of Semi-Perfect Cell to pose a threat to Krillin. Still, he felt uneasy about Garlic's new confidence.