The staff were still working like busy ants, repairing the arena that Goku and Tien Shinhan had blasted to pieces.
They hauled away the rubble and fitted new stone slabs into place.
The new stones didn't match the old ones, making the arena look like a patched-up quilt, but at least people could stand on it without wobbling.
"All right... Sorry to keep you waiting!"
The host wiped the sweat pouring down his face. His sunglasses were sliding down his nose.
"The second semifinal match: Krillin versus Mr. Shen!"
Krillin stuffed the last handful of popcorn into his mouth and dusted off his hands. Before the crumbs could hit the ground, the invisible aura around him had ground them to powder.
"Good luck, Krillin! Knock that old guy flying!"
Bulma waved her fist from the second floor.
Krillin turned and flashed a smile that could make any woman's heart skip a beat.
Then he lightly pushed off with his toes and floated down onto the arena like a weightless feather.
Across from him, the middle-aged man called "Mr. Shen" ambled onto the arena.
He wore glasses as thick as the bottoms of beer bottles, a cheap suit, and carried a briefcase.
He looked like a tired office worker who'd just gotten off work and was about to stop by an izakaya for a drink.
But Krillin knew who was beneath that disguise.
The god of Earth, Kamin.
The good half of the being who had once shared a body with King Piccolo.
The two took their places in the center of the arena, barely six feet apart.
Mr. Shen nudged his glasses up, their glare hiding his eyes.
The roaring crowd, the host's shouts, the sound of waves in the distance—all of it seemed to vanish between them.
"Young man."
Mr. Shen spoke in a low voice. He didn't move his lips; the words sounded directly in Krillin's mind.
"Thank you for dealing with Piccolo."
Telepathy?
Krillin didn't even raise an eyebrow. He replied in kind, speaking directly into Mr. Shen's mind.
"Don't mention it. It was no trouble."
"If he'd blown up this island, my master would've cracked my skull with his staff!"
Mr. Shen fell silent for a moment, as if he hadn't expected such a down-to-earth answer.
"You don't seem surprised that I know who you are—or that I know what you've done."
A note of gravity entered Mr. Shen's voice.
"More importantly... I can't smell 'this world' on you."
Krillin's hand, tucked into his pocket, paused.
The god of Earth really did have some tricks up his sleeve.
He'd thought that with the Saitama Template, he could dominate the early Dragon Ball world, where everything came down to Battle Power.
But in the world of Dragon Ball, Battle Power was only the surface.
There were all sorts of supernatural things...
Like the Grand Elder of Namek's ability to unlock potential, the overpowered Kaio-ken, and the even more advanced Ultra Instinct. Those were powers on a higher level.
If Earth's god could tell he was a "transmigrator" or an "outsider," what about King Kai?
What about the King of Gods?
Or even that sleepy God of Destruction Beerus?
Alarm bells rang in Krillin's mind, but his face only grew more bored.
He picked his ear and blew away some imaginary earwax.
"Old man, knowing when to keep quiet is the secret to a long life."
"You're no spring chicken, and possessing this ordinary guy can't be easy. What if you throw your back out?"
"Just as I thought."
Mr. Shen sighed.
"Your soul and body have fused perfectly, but that fundamental sense of 'otherness' is like ink dropped into clear water. It stands out too much."
"I only came here to seal Piccolo, but under the circumstances, as long as you're around, he won't be able to cause much trouble."
"Although you've already dealt with Piccolo, and I should be leaving, I need to confirm one thing..."
The aged eyes behind those thick lenses suddenly sharpened.
"Is this power of yours, which doesn't belong to this world, good or evil?"
Krillin glanced at the panel in front of him.
[Host: Krillin] [Current Fusion: 16%] [Strength: 1200 (suppressed in normal state, no upper limit when unleashed)] [Agility: 1050] [Intelligence: 500] [Charisma: 95] [Special Skills: Serious Series, Bald Head Power, Beast Sense, Genius Intellect, Namekian Regeneration (Beginner)]
"Good or evil?"
Krillin laughed, completely without restraint.
"Why should I care about a choice only children make?
I'm just a bald guy who wants to get stronger and, along the way, live a comfortable life."
"As for whether I'll threaten Earth..."
"As long as nobody gets in the way of me eating, sleeping, or chasing women, Earth's the safest place in the universe."
Mr. Shen stared at Krillin for a full ten seconds.
"I hope so. But since I'm already here, let's trade a few moves first."
Mr. Shen gently set his briefcase by the edge of the arena, took off his suit jacket, and folded it neatly.
"I'd like to find out just how strong someone who could take Piccolo down with one punch really is."
"Want to test me out?"
Krillin rolled his neck, and it cracked loudly.
"Sure. I'd like to see what kind of tricks a so-called 'god' has besides living longer."
"Begin!"
At the referee's command, Mr. Shen's whole demeanor changed.
Before you continue