A Small Test of Skill

Sun Mo and the others all advanced, and Master Roshi gave them a verbal nod of approval.

Soon, the preparations for the tournament were complete, and the host stepped onto the ring.

"The World Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin. All eight contestants, please gather at the Martial Arts Arena!"

Wukong said, "Let's go, we need to get ready!"

Sun Mo and Krillin nodded. "Bulma, Master Roshi, we're heading in!"

Bulma encouraged them, "Good luck, everyone!"

The three hurried inside.

Bulma and Amy watched Sun Mo, Wukong, and Krillin disappear inside.

When they looked back, Master Roshi had vanished from sight.

Amy was startled.

"Huh, where did that old pervert go?"

Bulma glanced around and said with certainty, "What else could he be doing? He must have found a spot full of pretty girls to take advantage of..."

Just as Bulma was searching for Master Roshi, a woman with golden curly hair, wearing a pink T-shirt, limped out from the inner area.

Bulma was curious. "Is that girl a contestant too? Why is she coming out?"

Amy took a look and said, "Probably eliminated. She's moving slow because she's injured—see how she's limping..."

Bulma nodded.

"Makes sense. Hitting a pretty girl that hard is really classless..."

Not long after, the drawing was done, and the host announced the match order.

Bacterian vs. Krillin.

Jackie Chun vs. Yamcha.

Sun Mo vs. Nam.

Son Goku vs. Giran.

After reading it out, the host shouted, "Now, let's begin the first match!

Bacterian vs. Krillin. Both contestants, please come to the ring immediately."

By the finals, there were no more rookies.

Krillin was on high alert as he cautiously stepped onto the ring.

The host introduced him, "This contestant, Krillin, is the youngest in the tournament—only thirteen years old!"

Cheers and gasps rose from the audience.

"Thirteen years old and already in the finals—that's amazing!"

"Yeah, he looks tough!"

"But a little shrimp like him showing up is a bit suspicious..."

"Let's see. If he doesn't have real skill and just snuck in, he'll embarrass himself sooner or later..."

Suddenly, a foul stench hit them, and the audience covered their noses and mouths.

"What a stink! What's going on?"

Everyone looked and saw a sloppy, bare-chested, drooling brute walking onto the ring.

He wore only a pair of underwear, his body covered in grime, with flies buzzing around him.

The host held a handkerchief to his nose and introduced him, "This gentleman with body odor is Bacterian, a contestant who has never bathed since birth."

"Bacterian?"

"Good grief, how does someone this disgusting exist in the world..."

Bulma pinched her nose and said, "That guy is a biological weapon. Getting touched by him would stink for ages—it's disgusting! I hope Sun Mo doesn't have to face him..."

Amy also pinched her nose. "How did such weirdos make it to the top eight?"

"Weirdos?" Bulma asked.

Amy said, "Isn't it weird? A little shrimp and a stinking Bacterian who never bathes—what a letdown! I came all this way hoping to meet a handsome Martial Artist, and my hopes are fading fast..."

Bulma smirked smugly. "Yeah, a handsome and strong contestant is one in a million."

"Let's get this started already, it stinks!"

"Get that guy off the stage!"

"Whoever wins, just get him down quick, I'm about to pass out from the smell!"

The referee ignored the crowd's complaints and continued explaining the match rules.

"Listen up. You lose by forfeiting or being knocked out of the ring.

If you fall in the ring and don't get up after a ten-count, that's also a loss.

No weapons during the match, and no killing your opponent!"

After laying it all out, the host shouted, "Alright, the rules are clear. Let the match begin!"

The next second, a staff member immediately struck the gong.

Krillin stood on the ring, already dizzy from the stench.

Luckily, Bacterian was just disgusting—not actually strong. Krillin didn't let him get under his skin and ultimately won the match.

Once Bacterian left the ring, the air felt noticeably fresher.

The referee breathed a sigh of relief and announced loudly, "Krillin wins!"

The audience burst into applause.

"Nice one!"

"Good thing that guy didn't stay on the ring the whole time, he was too rank!"

"Yeah, this isn't martial arts, it's playing with crap!"

"But honestly, that little guy's pretty tough—he actually kicked him off the ring fair and square..."

"Yeah, making it to the finals means he's got some skill!"

After Krillin left the ring, Goku was genuinely happy for him.

"Good job, Krillin."

Sun Mo also gave him a thumbs-up.

Krillin's performance was much better than he'd expected.

With the air fresh again, the host announced, "Alright, everyone, the second match is about to begin..."

"Please welcome Jackie Chun and Yamcha to the ring!"

The two stepped up.

Jackie Chun looked around at the women, flashing peace signs and waving at them.

Yamcha, on the other hand, climbed onto the ring with a serious face, looking tense.

"This is Jackie Chun, and this is Yamcha!"

Yamcha's entrance instantly drew cheers from many girls.

"Wow, what a handsome guy..."

Amy exclaimed, "Making it to the top eight means he's really strong too!

I've decided—he's my boyfriend now..."

Bulma was also a bit surprised. "As expected of the World Martial Arts Tournament—there are even good-looking Martial Artists here!

He's a bit less polished than my boyfriend, but overall he's pretty good. He suits you."

Amy immediately went on the offensive, shouting and whistling at him.

"Yamcha, look over here!"

Yamcha had never dealt with women and had gynophobia.

Sensing so many girls cheering and whistling at him, he got so nervous he couldn't speak, and his legs went weak.

Jackie Chun (Master Roshi) recognized Yamcha at once—this was the kid who'd tried to rob them in the desert.

Coming here meant he'd turned over a new leaf and stopped robbing.

He was relieved.

But the kid seemed to be shaking.

Jackie Chun couldn't help asking, "Kid, you look pretty nervous!"

Yamcha's voice trembled. "N-no, I'm not, I'm not nervous at all..."

A few girls' cheers rang out.

"Yamcha, go for it!"

"This guy's so handsome, I like him!"

Yamcha got even more nervous.

Jackie Chun frowned slightly.

"Huh, looks like you're not nervous about the match—you're nervous about those girls cheering for you, aren't you?"