Synopsis: Taopaipai is aghast and asks Goku if he really thinks he's going to defeat the world's greatest assassin with only his bare hands, and Goku says it just wouldn't feel right to do it any other way. Taopaipai says such foolishness is why he hates children, and Goku urges him to go ahead and attack before promising Upa that he's going to avenge his father. Taopaipai vows to make Goku regret making light of him, and rushes forward. He strikes Goku repeatedly before lifting him into the air, much to Upa's horror as he wonders if Goku is letting this happen. Taopaipai throws Goku into the air, leaps after him, and sends him flying back to the ground with an overhead smash, but he isn't through with Goku yet. Falling back down, Taopaipai slams his knee into Goku before standing proud, certain of his victory. To his horror, Goku stands back up, fine save for a few bruises, saying that Taopaipai really is good, as all of that really hurt.
Upa is pleased to see Goku back on his feet, but Taopaipai calls the boy a monster. Goku says he's seen all of Taopaipai's moves now and he knows exactly how to fight back. Goku rushes in, and before the assassin can do more than yell at him, Goku lands a mighty blow to his stomach. Goku follows this up with chops to both sides of Taopaipai's neck and a harsh kick to the face that knocks a tooth out and sends the man to the ground. As he stands back up, Taopaipai thinks that Goku's speed is impossible, and Goku prepares to attack him once more. Taopaipai realizes he's finished unless he can come up with something quickly. Acting on the spur of the moment, Taopaipai goes to his knees and begs for forgiveness, promising to never do anything evil ever again. Goku is shocked by this turn of events, and isn't sure if Taopaipai really deserves mercy after everything that he's done. Goku turns to ask Upa for his opinion, and Taopaipai takes this opportunity for one final attack. He pulls out a grenade and pulls the pin, tossing it at Goku and Upa who recognizes it as a bomb, before leaping into the air to avoid the blast. Goku quickly rushes forward and kicks the bomb before it can land, sending it flying back into the air where Taopaipai just registers it being next to him before it explodes and engulfs him in the explosion, seemingly killing him. Back on the ground, Goku and Upa celebrate as they realize Taopaipai has been beaten at last. Goku ties the nyoibo back onto his back and promises Upa that he's going to finish gathering the Dragon Balls now, and that they'll then wish Bora back to life with them. Review: Oh how the mighty have fallen. Taopaipai was introduced as a cold, unfeeling assassin that couldn't be stopped, but at the end of the day, like a lot of bullies and villains, he turns out to be a sniveling coward who will stoop to any cheap trick he thinks might get him ahead. It's almost a shame given how fun of a villain he was before this ending, but I think Taopaipai certainly had enough time in the spotlight to still be remembered as one of the better villains in the series overall. Goku letting Taopaipai get in multiple free hits that would have absolutely had him reeling before, only to get right back up and largely be fine, is the ultimate slap in the face for the assassin. Even the Dodonpa that Goku took earlier probably stung less, as at least there Goku still had to defend against it to some degree – here he just takes the abuse and walks it off like it, and Taopaipai, are nothing. Given that Taopaipai has likely never run across someone stronger than himself, at least not to this degree, it's almost understandable that he breaks down so quickly. That said, I don't think anyone has ever bought it for even a second when he starts begging for his life. It couldn't be more obvious that it's a ruse, though what exactly he has in mind for making use of that distraction isn't hinted at at all before suddenly there's a grenade in play. Where in the heck was he keeping that thing anyway? We've seen guns and now a sword be capsulized, can you make a bomb into a capsule even? This opens up a lot of questions actually about how in the world the government of this world keeps weapons from just being brought anywhere and everywhere without any way of stopping them. ...Oh Kami, the Dragon World is America. Moving on. This actually won't be the last we'll be seeing of Taopaipai, and for once, unlike with Purple, I'm not talking about filler (not entirely anyway). His reappearances are a ways away for now however, so more on all of that later. Much later in a few cases. So now with the latest threat taken care of, what's left on Goku's plate to deal with? Well, there's still that little problem of the Red Ribbon Army out there, and they still have Goku's radar and one of the Dragon Balls, so Goku's going to have to contend with them if he wants to bring Bora back to life. Things are really about to hit the ground running, and I am excited to talk about it. Until next time! Favorite Panel:
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About the AuthorAspiring author and big anime/manga fan, just trying to do my best in the world. For more details, go to About Me. Archives
September 2022
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