The one who ultimately wins the championship can challenge Broly

"I actually think it's you, Bulma, and Grandpa who've gotten shorter." Son Goku stepped forward, a hint of curiosity in his eyes as he seriously measured himself against Bulma and Master Roshi's heights.

"Th-That's because you've grown so much in these three years!" Bulma's mouth twitched slightly as she retorted, exasperated.

"Really? Maybe I did grow a bit." Goku rubbed his spiky hair at that, flashing a slightly shy yet confident smile.

"Mhm." Broly simply nodded at the drastically changed Goku, offering a brief greeting.

In Broly's eyes, Goku getting taller and stronger was only natural, just as he himself grew a little stronger every day.

"This kid... he really surprises me..." Master Roshi gazed at the tall, upright Goku, who had completely shed his childishness from three years ago, and couldn't stop marveling.

Before he knew it, that little tyke Goku had grown into a man.

Time sure flew.

Master Roshi couldn't help but glance at Broly, who hadn't changed much beside him.

Back then, Broly had also seemed to shoot up from a little bean into a strapping young man overnight...

"Hey there, we're meeting at the old spot again!"

Just then, several other familiar voices rang out from a distance, breaking the stunned atmosphere.

Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu were walking over from afar, chatting and laughing.

The one who'd spoken was the loud-voiced Krillin.

"Long time no see, Master Roshi." Tien Shinhan smiled and nodded respectfully at the old master.

But Broly, Bulma, and the others were still reeling from the shock of Goku's transformation, their gazes a bit dazed as they stared at Krillin's group without immediately responding.

"What's up? No reaction?" Yamcha, seeing everyone frozen, paused in surprise and stopped walking.

"Haha, it must be that our changes are so huge, they're blown away!" Krillin, brimming with confidence, laughed heartily and jogged up to Master Roshi, puffing out his chest to look taller as he said smugly, "Master Roshi, take a good look at me! I've trained hard these three years and grown this tall! Hahaha!"

Master Roshi: "..."

Master Roshi looked at Krillin's still-unremarkable height and his bald head, his mouth twitching slightly. He couldn't bear to crush the guy's enthusiasm, so he silently looked away.

You call that tall?

Confidence is fine, but... sigh...

"Krillin, you look full of energy." Goku walked over, smiling as he patted Krillin on the shoulder, his tone warm.

"Huh?" Krillin, hearing that familiar voice and name, froze for a moment. He looked up at the tall, handsome young man with Goku's trademark smile, and his face twisted into utter shock. "You... you're Goku?"

"Yeah, what's up?" Goku nodded, looking perfectly matter-of-fact.

"You... you bastard! I've missed you so much!" After a brief daze, Krillin finally confirmed that this was his best friend. Overwhelming joy flooded him! He shouted excitedly, leaped up, and hugged Goku tightly, pounding his back. "You're something else! Three years ago, you said you were going to train with Kami, and then you vanished without a word! I thought you'd forgotten all about us!"

"Huh? He's Goku?" Yamcha's eyes went wide as he leaned in to study Goku's face, still not quite believing it.

"The features do resemble him a bit." Tien Shinhan crossed his arms and analyzed calmly, all three eyes showing surprise.

"What a huge change... totally unrecognizable..." Chiaotzu floated in the air, murmuring in agreement.

"But... Broly hasn't changed at all, still the same." Yamcha turned his gaze to Broly beside him and couldn't help remarking in comparison.

Aside from being more muscular and having a calmer, more reserved demeanor, Broly's lazy, indifferent look toward everything was almost identical to three years ago.

The group gathered together, sizing up each other's changes, sharing stories of the past three years and their longing, and the atmosphere grew lively and cheerful.

Even the drizzle seemed to soften, as if celebrating their reunion.

"All contestants for the World Martial Arts Tournament, the preliminaries are about to begin. Please gather in the hall immediately!"

Just then, the Referee's clear, loud voice rang out through the venue's speakers, reaching everyone's ears.

"It's starting!" Krillin cracked his knuckles, his face full of anticipation and excitement, already eager to test the results of his three years of training.

"Grandpa, did you prepare the Turtle School uniforms for us to compete in?" Goku suddenly turned to Master Roshi, as if remembering something.

"Don't be silly. You're all grown up now, each with your own style and look. You can't keep wearing my Turtle School uniform forever." Master Roshi waved his hand with a smile, his face showing approval and encouragement. "Go for it, boys! Let me see how much you've improved in three years!"

"Yes, sir!"

Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien Shinhan answered in unison, their voices brimming with fighting spirit and confidence.

"Broly, are you really sure you won't compete?" Krillin looked at Broly again, a bit unwilling to give up, and confirmed once more.

Deep down, Krillin still hoped to face this unfathomable guy in the ring.

"I'm not competing." Broly shook his head, his tone unwavering.

"Seriously... one of our goals in training so hard these three years was to beat you..." Yamcha let out a helpless sigh, feeling a bit regretful. "If you're not in it, the tournament feels like it's missing something. How boring!"

"That's simple." Master Roshi's eyes twinkled as he came up with a brilliant idea. Stroking his beard, he suggested with a sly grin, "How about this? At this year's World Martial Arts Tournament, the final champion will earn the right to challenge Broly once! What do you think? Not a bad prize, huh?"

"I don't want to fight!" Broly shot Master Roshi a glare, voicing his displeasure.

"No way! You're listening to me this time! That's an order!" Master Roshi rarely put on his elder's authority, deliberately scowling and huffing. "As a member of the Turtle School, how can you keep dodging fights? It's settled!"

Broly: "..."

Broly clicked his tongue but ultimately didn't argue, silently accepting.

After all, the old man fed him and housed him—he had to give him that much face.

"Haha! Then it's settled!" Krillin laughed heartily and clapped his hands, thoroughly pleased with the idea. "To earn the right to challenge Broly, I'm taking the championship no matter what!"