After getting punched by that bald guy, Piccolo began questioning his existence. Once he fled the scene, a bizarre flurry of activity took over the Martial Arts Tournament grounds.
Several workers drove a road roller, desperately filling in the huge hole Piccolo had made in the Arena, while another group swept away the rubble.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!"
"Although we just had a little... uh, incident."
The host in sunglasses crawled out from under the table and straightened his crooked tie, forcing a professional fake smile.
"But the tournament must go on!"
"That green fellow has already been driven away by contestant Krillin! Everyone is safe now!"
A sparse smattering of applause came from the stands. Most of the audience was still in a daze.
That punch that had pierced the sky had been so far beyond anything they could comprehend that the matches afterward seemed utterly dull by comparison.
"It's like watching a nuclear bomb go off, then being asked to watch two kids set off firecrackers. Who could handle that kind of letdown?"
Krillin sat on a bench in the contestants' waiting area, one leg crossed over the other, staring blankly in boredom.
[Beep! The host is watching a low-level match. Activating "Boredom Relief" mode.] [Real-time Battle Power monitoring activated.]
A translucent pale-blue interface appeared before Krillin, displaying the stats of the two contestants about to enter the Arena.
"Next up, the second semifinal!"
"Contestant Goku versus contestant Tien Shinhan!"
At the host's yell, two figures walked onto the Arena from opposite sides.
Goku still wore the orange Gi of the Turtle School. He was much taller than he'd been three years ago, the baby fat had faded from his face, and his eyes were as clear as a spring.
Across from him, Tien Shinhan's three eyes gleamed. His bare upper body was defined with muscle, making it clear he hadn't spent the past three years idling either.
"Goku, it's our turn."
Tien Shinhan clasped his hands in greeting, his expression grave.
Krillin's punch had shocked him greatly, too, but he quickly regained his composure.
Krillin was a monster, but that didn't mean Goku was one.
"Heh, Tien Shinhan, you've gotten a lot stronger too."
"But you won't beat me."
Goku warmed up, his joints popping and crackling.
"Don't get ahead of yourself."
Tien Shinhan snorted.
"I don't know what's going on with that Krillin of yours, but I'm confident I can knock you flat."
"Then let's see!"
The moment the gong sounded, the air above the Arena seemed to twist.
Neither of them bothered testing the waters. They vanished from where they stood.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Puffs of white air burst through the space between them.
The audience could hear the dull thuds of fists and feet colliding, but couldn't see either fighter.
All they could make out were the Arena's stone tiles mysteriously shattering, sending rubble flying.
"S-so fast! I can't see a thing!"
The host shouted into his microphone.
"Cameraman! Can you capture it in slow motion?"
The cameraman was drenched in sweat. "No! I'm wearing out the shutter button, but all I'm getting is afterimages!"
The two figures broke apart on the Arena.
Tien Shinhan panted, a fine sheen of sweat beading on his forehead.
He hadn't gained the slightest advantage in that intense flurry of attacks.
Goku had not only blocked every strike, but had even managed to kick him in the stomach during his counterattack.
"How is this possible... How is this kid so fast...?"
Tien Shinhan was stunned.
Three years ago, he'd been able to outpace Goku.
How had Goku become so light on his feet over the past three years—so light, in fact, that his movements were almost... uncanny?
Goku stood where he was, without even breathing hard.
He took a strange stance, arms hanging loosely at his sides, body relaxed, like a willow swaying in the breeze.
"What kind of stance is that?"
Backstage, Master Roshi's sunglasses had slipped halfway down his nose.
"It's full of openings... No, it's all defense? Could it be...?"
"Mr. Popo taught me. Be as calm as the sky, as quick as lightning."
"Tien Shinhan, if that's all you've got, you're going to lose."
Goku grinned at Tien Shinhan.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Tien Shinhan was enraged, veins bulging on his forehead as he crossed his hands before his chest and took the Crane School's opening stance.
"If I can't beat you with speed, I'll crush you with technique!"
"Volleyball Fist!"
Tien Shinhan sent Goku flying into the air, then appeared above him as if he'd teleported, clasping his hands together and smashing them down.
It was a combo attack: once the first blow landed, the rest would rain down like a storm.
But just as his fists were about to touch Goku's back, Goku's figure vanished into thin air.
"What?!"
Tien Shinhan's pupils contracted sharply.
"Over here."
The voice came from behind him.
Goku had somehow returned to the spot where Tien Shinhan had leapt from, and was now watching him with a cheeky grin.
"Afterimage Fist? No... That was pure speed."
Krillin commented from below, giving Goku a thumbs-up on the System Panel.
"Looks like Goku's time at Kami's Lookout paid off. He's got much finer control over his ki now."
"Before, he just wasted his stamina fighting recklessly. Now he knows how to use his ki where it counts."
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