Piccolo's story doesn't begin with him, but with his father: King Piccolo. An ancient, evil being, King Piccolo once plunged the Earth into an age of darkness and fear. He was eventually defeated and sealed away, but was later freed and resumed his conquest. It took a young Son Goku pushing his limits to finally kill the Demon King.

But in his dying moments, King Piccolo did one last thing. He spat out an egg containing his final son, a perfect reincarnation of himself. This child would inherit all his father's memories, his power, and his burning desire for revenge against Goku. This child was Piccolo.

Piccolo grew to adulthood in just a few years, driven by his singular mission. He entered the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament with the sole purpose of killing Goku in front of the entire world. Their battle was brutal, pushing both fighters to their absolute breaking point. Though Goku won, Piccolo survived, vowing to return and finish the job.

Piccolo's plans for revenge were abruptly put on hold with the arrival of Raditz, Goku's long-lost brother from space. This new enemy was far stronger than either Goku or Piccolo. For the first time, Piccolo was faced with a threat he couldn't handle alone. The world he planned to conquer was now facing annihilation.

This forced one of the most significant team-ups in the series. Piccolo proposed a temporary truce with his arch-nemesis, Goku. Their combined power was the planet's only hope. This reluctant alliance marked the beginning of Piccolo's transformation. He was still motivated by self-preservation, but the seeds of change were planted.

During the fight against Raditz, Goku sacrificed his life to hold the invader still, allowing Piccolo to unleash a powerful new technique to kill them both. With Goku gone, the remaining Z Fighters learned that even more powerful Saiyans would arrive in one year. The responsibility of defending Earth fell to them, and Piccolo took on a new, unexpected role.

Piccolo's biggest step away from his villainous past came when he took Goku's young son, Gohan, to train for the coming battle. He was a harsh and demanding teacher, leaving the four-year-old to survive in the wilderness. But over that year, something shifted. Piccolo saw the boy's hidden potential and surprising bravery.

A bond formed between them. When the Saiyans arrived, Piccolo, who once lived only for revenge, threw himself in front of an energy blast to save Gohan's life. In his final moments, he admitted that his time with Gohan had changed him, and he had come to see the boy, and the rest of the Z Fighters, as his friends.

This sacrifice was the ultimate turning point. After being revived, Piccolo was no longer an enemy. He was a dedicated guardian of Earth and a core member of the team, forever changed by the bond he forged with his former rival's son.

Now that you understand Piccolo's journey, let's test your knowledge.

Piccolo's arc from a vengeful villain to one of Earth's greatest protectors is one of the most compelling stories in the series.