Chapter 88: Rescuing Krillin
At this moment, Bulma stood where she'd been left, her cheeks puffed up in anger.
"Heartless jerk. So irresponsible. After disappearing for three or four years, the first thing he does when he finally sees his beloved girlfriend again is abandon her to run off with another guy. Heartless jerk! Heartless jerk!!!"
Watching the green demon vanish into the distance at incredible speed, Franklin drew in a deep breath.
"Goku, drop me off first. You go kill that green demon and avenge Krillin. I can't say for sure whether I can save him since I already can't sense his energy anymore, but I'll do my best."
Seeing how out of it Son Goku was, Franklin stopped pushing him further.
After all, Goku had nearly watched him die today, then lost the championship at the World Martial Arts Tournament, and now his best friend had truly died.
This kind of blow could only be faced by Goku himself. As the Flying Nimbus descended, Franklin jumped down and sprinted toward the contestants' rest area.
The first thing he saw were two figures lying on the ground: the little mustached referee and Krillin, whose energy had completely vanished.
Franklin inhaled sharply, dashed to Krillin's side, and unzipped his waist pouch. He pulled out a vial of healing potion, pried open Krillin's mouth with his fingers, pressed down on his tongue, and forced the potion down his throat.
His body was crippled, his spiritual energy gone, and without divine sense to assist, Franklin relied on the energy-sensing technique Goku and the others used.
After one vial, he carefully felt for changes in Krillin's energy. If there was no reaction at all, he wouldn't waste any more.
Seconds ticked by. Krillin's still heart gave a faint tremor. Franklin's eyes lit up.
Not holding back anymore, he poured in two more vials. Feeling the heartbeat gradually return and sensing Krillin's life force slowly rising again, Franklin let out a long breath and sat down next to him, waiting for the others to arrive.
The first to rush in was Bulma. Seeing the three glass vials on the ground and Krillin's barely detectable breathing, she immediately whipped out her phone and called for an ambulance.
Elsewhere, Master Roshi had also sensed what had happened. He'd felt Krillin's energy vanish and that evil aura appear.
Because the evil aura was so familiar, Roshi had been frozen on the spot in terror.
Only after Krillin's life force completely disappeared did Roshi snap out of his fear.
Seeing Franklin monitoring Krillin's condition from not far away, Roshi slowly approached him and gave a deep bow.
"Thank you for saving Krillin's life. This is my responsibility. That terrifying demon has reappeared in this world. I'll seal it away again."
The sudden bow and gratitude left Franklin a little stunned. Once Roshi finished speaking, Franklin quickly helped him back up.
"I saved Krillin partly because he's Goku's best friend, and partly because I had my own reasons. Besides, Krillin being gravely injured isn't your fault.
All of this is because of King Piccolo. His return is the last thing any of us wanted. Right now, destroying him is what matters most."
The ambulance arrived. Krillin and the mustached referee were carried away on stretchers, with Franklin, Roshi, and Bulma close behind.
"Franklin, didn't Goku come with you? Where is he now?"
Bulma's question caught Roshi's attention as well. Feeling their curious gazes, Franklin didn't hide it.
"I sent him to take care of King Piccolo's underling. With his current strength, that should be more than enough."
Hearing Franklin's casual tone, Roshi's cheek twitched slightly. "Isn't that a bit dangerous?"
Franklin just laughed and waved his hand. "Don't underestimate Goku. He's strong."
They'd barely arrived at the hospital when Goku's energy reappeared within sensing range.
As Goku approached swiftly on the Flying Nimbus, an unpleasant aura came with him. A green-skinned, winged demon was thrown off the cloud. Roshi finally exhaled in relief.
"Good… good. He's fine."
Seeing Roshi relax, Franklin shook his head. "This isn't 'fine.' We have two Dragon Balls now and we've killed one of King Piccolo's subordinates. From what I know, he's currently collecting all seven. We're a big target. He'll definitely come after us. So, Master Roshi, letting your guard down too early isn't wise."
As he spoke, Franklin tossed a vial of healing potion to Roshi, who caught it steadily.
"King Piccolo's yours, Master Roshi. Use that potion to stay alive if you can't beat him. If you can't win, run. I doubt he'll care to chase."
Roshi's mouth twitched. "Thanks, kid. This is my master's leftover disaster, and it really should be me who ends it."
Just then, Tien Shinhan stepped out from the hospital doors.
"King Piccolo's revival isn't just your responsibility, Master Roshi. The Crane School shares the blame too.
I know my strength is still weak, but I have a secret technique that can suppress King Piccolo for a short time. Even that much might help."
Seeing the grim resolve on everyone's faces, Franklin grew curious about just how strong King Piccolo had been before being sealed.
"Master Roshi, even at full power, you can't handle King Piccolo as he was before? What if you and Goku fight him together? How much chance would you have?"
Roshi shook his head helplessly. "The outcome would be certain death. His power is immeasurable.
Even my master, Mutaito, had to sacrifice his life to use the Evil Containment Wave to seal King Piccolo away."
Franklin nodded, understanding. From what he knew, King Piccolo might not have been "normal" even before he was sealed.
If he'd mutated further since then, sending Roshi against him would just be throwing his life away.
As Goku landed, Franklin slowly walked up to him. "So? How tough was that green monster?"
Scratching his head, Goku said, "I'm not too sure. I think he was the strongest monster I've ever fought.
Before this, I met a guy named Mercenary Tao. He was pretty strong. When he transformed into a snake man, I couldn't beat him at all.
It wasn't until I climbed Korin Tower and drank the Ultra Divine Water that I could defeat him. But this green monster felt even stronger than the snake-man version of Tao."
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