The second match of the semi-finals concluded with Kakarot flat on his back outside the ring, a look of turmoil and apprehensiveness on his face as he hurriedly sat up, his eyes scanning his surroundings in confusion. He found himself on the ground, the murmur of the crowd buzzing in his ears, the texture of the floor grounding him to reality like a heavy stone. Blinking, fleeting images flickered behind his eyes before vanishing abruptly, leaving him frowning in further perplexity and concern.

Looking up, he met wide, disbelieving dark eyes fixed upon him as if he had suddenly sprouted an extra pair of limbs. Chichi stood on the edge of the ring, her brows creased in puzzlement at Kakarot's unexpected state. As eager as she had been to face him once more in the ring, Chichi had been certain Kakarot would emerge victorious again. He was stronger, more skilled, and extraordinarily talented in combat. Yet, here she was in the ring, and he was not. The announcer declared her the winner, igniting an uproar of cheers and jeers from the crowd, all of which fell upon deaf ears.

Kakarot had lost, and Chichi sensed something was amiss. It was as she stood over him that she realized something had been wrong just before she had landed the blow that sent him out of the ring. He had been distracted, and Kakarot was never distracted in battle.

When Chichi regained her composure, she hopped off the ring and extended a hand to help Kakarot to his feet. He blinked again, looking down at himself, accepting her hand gratefully.

"What happened?" she asked, leading him away from the ring and the noisy crowd. "Is something wrong?"

Things didn't sit right with him. The vision he experienced, though vague in parts, hinted at events yet to unfold. A creature resembling what Kami had warned them about—a spawn of the Demon King, bred to follow his orders and carry out his bidding—had appeared in his vision. It bore no resemblance to Kami, more akin to a hybrid creature, part bat and part unknown.

Could he possess some form of foresight? He wanted to believe these flashes were mere figments of his imagination, his mind playing tricks on his worries. Yet, another part of him recognized the seriousness if this were indeed an ability he possessed. It was unprecedented; not even his dreams were as vivid as those visions had been. Worse still, they had disoriented him, leaving him vulnerable to attack.

"Did you just lose?" Krillin's voice snapped him back to the present. Kakarot stared blankly at his shorter friend. Krillin's wide eyes mirrored Chichi's earlier disbelief. "You really lost?"

Chichi watched Krillin's reaction with displeasure, offended by his surprise that she had managed to win. Yes, she hadn't expected to win, and perhaps she wouldn't have if Kakarot hadn't been distracted, but Krillin's astonishment grated on her. It implied a disbelief in her abilities that she found insulting.

"That didn't go as planned," Yamcha remarked with a whistle. If he had bet on Kakarot, he'd be out of pocket now.

"Krillin, quit it," Kakarot jabbed Krillin in the stomach, stepping around him. He ignored Krillin's protests. "You're insulting Chichi."

How could Kakarot be more perceptive in such matters than Krillin, of all people? Krillin wasn't a genius, but he usually had a good read on the situation. Except, it seemed, when he was so completely thrown off that he didn't realize how his words sounded.

"Huh?" Krillin looked momentarily confused until he caught Chichi's unimpressed stare, which said it all. He attempted a nervous smile. "I didn't mean any offense, Chichi."

Chichi scoffed, unconvinced by Krillin's attempt to smooth things over, and followed after Kakarot before he could make it worse.

Krillin and Yamcha hurriedly trailed after them, with Krillin more cautiously than the others.

They filed into the infirmary one by one, catching Durian's raised eyebrows as she sat amidst a mess of mechanical parts that none of them understood. Bulma reclined against the wall, a bag of popcorn in hand, her curious gaze fixed on the unexpected visitors. Bulma slowly popped a handful of popcorn into her mouth, her blue eyes shifting questioningly to Durian, who responded with a nonchalant half-shrug.

"I heard you lost," Bulma said casually, directing her attention to Kakarot.

Kakarot pulled up a chair next to Bulma and Durian's bed, grabbing a bag of chips for himself.

"Unbelievable, isn't it?" he commented.

Durian made a face that suggested she had a contrary opinion but didn't voice it.

Something sparked, causing Durian to pause.

"Did you short-circuit something?" Bulma asked, leaning over Durian's shoulder to inspect the mechanical device in her hands. "I don't think it's supposed to spark like that."

"Maybe," Durian replied, switching tools with an air of mystery.

"We've got a situation," Kakarot spoke up between bites of chips, leaning back in his chair until Chichi steadied him to prevent him from toppling over. "Thanks."

"And what's this situation?" Bulma inquired.

"This might sound strange, but I had a vision," Kakarot began slowly, unsure of his own words. "I've never experienced anything like it before, so it's concerning."

Unlike Chichi and the rest, Durian seemed more curious than concerned by his words.

"Never thought you'd have that kind of ability," she remarked simply. "What did you see?"

"A son of Piccolo," Kakarot revealed. "Here, at the tournament."

If his vision proved true, it meant the return of the Demon King Piccolo was imminent, as Kami had warned. Durian glanced at Kakarot, who seemed lost in thought as he absently munched on chips. Kakarot was the last person she expected to have foresight, and if true, it was a significant development. Could it really be foresight, or just an anomaly of his mind? The latter seemed unlikely.

"I'm surprised you're not more curious about his supposed future sight," Bulma commented with a sigh. "It sounds fascinating."

"If it proves to be genuine foresight, I'll take an interest," Durian replied calmly. "For now, we wait."

If Kakarot's vision held true, it was only a matter of time before the Demon King Piccolo resurfaced. Durian was now alert, prepared for the impending threat.

In the ensuing silence, Chichi realized with a jolt that she might have to face Durian in the finals—assuming the tournament wasn't disrupted by the return of the Demon King. Would she prefer battling demonic spawns or Durian?

---

Kakarot's vision hadn't provided a clear picture of what could unfold, but the flashes revealed enough about the "demon spawn" he foresaw. This had put everyone on high alert. Krillin and Chichi swiftly melted into the crowd to find Master Roshi and warn him. Meanwhile, Yamcha set off to persuade the announcer to delay the final match without revealing the impending danger outright, relying on implications to convey the urgency.

The return of the Demon King Piccolo, a malevolent being unlike any other, had been unwittingly triggered by someone ignorant of the calamity unleashed upon the world. The very mention of Piccolo elicited a grim and sorrowful expression from Roshi, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Sensing Piccolo's presence had struck them with an unprecedented wave of malice and contempt, evoking memories of their previous encounter. It was a feeling Roshi had hoped never to experience again, but it spurred him to rediscover his resolve and unwavering confidence lost in their previous encounter—their most formidable and dangerous adversary.

Krillin shuddered involuntarily, unable to avoid the sensation. After the feeling passed, he glanced at Yamcha, who frowned and crossed his arms—a sign of discomfort rather than fear or hesitation. As Durian predicted, Piccolo posed no significant threat to them individually but had the potential to wreak havoc if unchecked. It was the sheer malevolence of his energy that set their nerves on edge.

There was no doubt in their minds that Piccolo embodied nothing but hatred and ill will.

Bulma, the non-fighter among them, sighed uneasily, regretting her heightened ability to sense ki now that she was exposed to such true malice. She realized she couldn't ignore the feeling or shield herself from its ugliness, which left her feeling queasy.

"That might give me nightmares," she murmured to herself, earning surprised looks from everyone except Durian and Kakarot.

"You can feel that?" Krillin asked, astonished.

Kakarot chuckled at Durian's smug expression in response to Krillin's question.

"Yeah, it's hard to ignore," Bulma replied slowly, tilting her head towards the source of the strongest feeling and almost flinching away from it. "Yeah, really hard to ignore."

"Since when could Bulma sense ki?" Yamcha marveled.

Bulma shrugged, Kakarot suppressing a laugh, while Chichi seemed less surprised than moments before.

"Well, that's not important right now, is it?"

Roshi hums seemingly in agreement as he stands just behind the rest of them. His shades hide his gleaming eyes but do nothing to hide the debauched smile that appears on his face now he's found an enjoyable view.

Bulma usually wears those short skirts that he enjoys, however, today she has paired them with some dark pantyhose that makes things that much better for the wise old man.

Ah, but his admiration barely lasts for ten seconds before he's smacked on his shining bald head by an unimpressed Durian who watches him fall on his face with as much grace as a flailing rat.

"Have some decorum, old fool"

Of all the times he could have chosen to indulge his perverted predilections it is when they are awaiting a dangerous threat. Clearly, the turtle hermit has no grasp of control over his sinful longings.

"So what's the plan?" someone asks and Durian glances off in thought.

King Piccolo was old and weak, likely seeking the Dragon Balls to address this dire situation. If he somehow acquired technology to locate them, it might explain why Kakarot foresaw one of his sons at the tournament—since Durian had the Dragon Balls at her disposal. If not for the Dragon Balls, Piccolo's appearance at the tournament might be intended to sow fear and panic. Durian leaned towards the former explanation. If Kakarot's vision truly foresaw the creature, their top priority was to draw the battle away from the tournament, protecting the innocent bystanders who could make it too easy for Piccolo and his creator to act once they realized how severely outclassed they were.

Once his son was defeated, Piccolo would likely be on high alert, potentially sending more sons or confronting them himself. Either way, he would face the wrath of a Kamehameha wave and a step closer to the afterlife.

From Durian's sensing, Piccolo had already created three sons, each surprisingly close in power to their progenitor. This development piqued Durian's curiosity about these "demon spawns." Kami's non-earthly nature had been clear, further affirmed when he shared fragments of his origin. If Piccolo could create sons, it suggested asexual reproduction in Kami's species, a fascinating avenue for study.

Would his creations share his regenerative abilities?

Lost in her thoughts, Durian focused on the ki signatures now in motion—one headed for the tournament, likely the one Kakarot foresaw, while the other two remained near Piccolo, potentially guarding their weakened creator.

"This won't take long," Kakarot declared. "He's old, weak, and his sons are weaker than him. With Durian holding the Dragon Balls, there's no chance he'll gain an advantage."

The more Durian contemplated, the bleaker Piccolo's prospects seemed. The once-feared Demon King, responsible for countless deaths and defeats of renowned martial artists, now paled in comparison to a group of youthful amateurs dabbling in combat for sport—and their ingenious inventor.

Kakarot almost feels pity for him.

In a flash, Durian disappears from view, signaling the arrival of their anticipated guest. They watch as she dashes into the ring just as a green creature with bat-like wings appears above the tournament spectators, his smirk quickly turning to surprise as Durian unleashes a powerful Kamehameha wave straight at him.

Durian wastes no time, cautious of any regenerative abilities the creature might possess. She unleashes her full strength, obliterating him completely to prevent any chance of escape or harm to bystanders. In a blinding flash of blue light, the creature is utterly annihilated, leaving Durian standing alone in the ring, squinting suspiciously upwards. Her expression softens once she confirms his total destruction.

"This should be a walk in the park," she mutters to herself, bouncing lightly on her feet as she gazes in the direction of the Demon King. She knows he must be taken aback by the swift disposal of one of his sons, and Durian intends to strike fear into his heart without hesitation.

Though a part of her worries about Kami and the Dragon Balls, he assured her everything was under control and there was no need for concern. She trusts his words, hoping he hasn't misled her. If not, she finds solace in the knowledge that Kami isn't of Earth, implying there might be other creatures like him elsewhere with similar abilities.

"Nimbus!"

"Oh, we're leaving," Kakarot realizes as Durian calls her cloud. In an instant, he vaults over the wall and dashes toward the ring. "Chichi, let's go!"

Chichi leaps over the wall without hesitation, trusting the others to follow at their own pace.

Durian soars away on her dark nimbus, Kakarot and Chichi disappearing in flashes of yellow and orange, leaving the others bewildered and wary of what just transpired.

"We really ought to get our own Nimbus," Yamcha grumbles as he hurries toward the back of the building, spurred by Bulma's determined stride in that direction.

Krillin silently agrees with Yamcha's suggestion, chasing after them both.

Krillin bursts through the double doors just in time to see Durian swoop around to collect Bulma, the half-Saiyan laughing as Bulma scolds her for nearly leaving her behind.

Yamcha watches them depart with envy.

"We really should get our own Nimbus," he mutters under his breath.

To be fair, Durian had advised them to do just that.