The 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament

Papaya Island, venue for the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament.

The air was thick with the roar of the crowd and the snapping of colorful flags. Compared to three years ago, the venue had more than doubled in size, and the stands were packed with martial arts enthusiasts from all over the world.

In the contestant waiting area, Son Goku sat cross-legged in a corner, eyes closed to conserve his energy. He wore a brand-new orange martial arts uniform with the large kanji for "Turtle" emblazoned on the back, a blue sash tied around his waist, and his tail swayed gently against the floor.

"Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Master Shen..."

He sensed the various auras nearby, some strong and some weak, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

In the original story, I lost to Tien Shinhan at this tournament. But this time...

He clenched his fist, feeling the docile yet surging power within him. Training under twenty-five times gravity had built a foundation of terrifying solidity. His ki flowed through his body like a slumbering dragon, ready to be awakened at any moment.

"The outcome is already set."

"Goku!" Krillin's voice came from the doorway. The little bald boy had grown a bit taller over the last three years, and while the "Turtle" kanji on his uniform had faded from many washes, his eyes were sharper than ever. "The draw is over! Your first opponent is some nobody!"

"Mm." Son Goku opened his eyes, a bright smile on his face, and rolled his wrists. "Let's go, it's our turn."

Krillin faced Tien Shinhan—the little monk had undergone special training with Master Korin before continuing his studies under Master Roshi. His combat power had increased significantly compared to the original timeline.

However, perhaps due to the butterfly effect, Tien Shinhan was also much stronger than he had been in the original story.

After chatting with Tien Shinhan later, Son Goku learned that Tien had followed the path of the original Son Goku, crossing paths with the Red Ribbon Army. Although he eventually defeated the Red Ribbon Army, Tien Shinhan had faced death several times, and his combat power had skyrocketed through constant battle.

Although Krillin had been affected and his power had improved, he hadn't experienced the life-and-death struggles that Tien Shinhan had. He fought with everything he had, even unleashing an improved version of the Kamehameha, but Tien Shinhan's three eyes seemed to see through everything. In the end, Krillin was a step behind, and Tien Shinhan sent him flying out of bounds with a swift knee strike.

"D...damn it..." Krillin lay on the floor mat, gasping for air. "Next time... I'll definitely beat you..."

Yamcha faced some random expert, his Wolf Fang Fist reaping a flashy victory, but when he saw Son Goku walk onto the ring, the confidence on his face visibly stiffened.

"That guy... I can't sense his aura at all?" Yamcha muttered. "It's like... he's just an ordinary person?"

Jackie Chun—Master Roshi in disguise—stood in the corner, his eyes narrowing slightly behind his sunglasses. A heart like still water... Mr. Popo taught him well.

Son Goku's opponent was a two-meter-tall muscular giant known as the "Steel Fist King."

"Kid," the giant said, looking down at Son Goku with a savage grin, "go home and drink your milk!"

Son Goku tilted his head. "Big brother, you're really weak."

"What did you say?!"

The giant roared and threw a punch, the force of it tearing through the air with a piercing whistle. The spectators in the stands even closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of the little boy being sent flying.

But that punch stopped.

It stopped right in front of a single finger raised by Son Goku, unable to advance even a fraction of an inch.

"What?!" The giant's eyes widened, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He felt as if his fist had struck an invisible wall—no, not a wall, but... an abyss.

"I'm in a hurry," Son Goku said, looking up, his black eyes calm as water. "Could you please... step down?"

He flicked his finger lightly.

"Bang—"

The giant's massive body flew backward like a cannonball, soaring across half the ring to land precisely on the mat outside the boundary. He didn't even have time to scream before he passed out.

The entire arena fell silent.

Three seconds later, a deafening roar of cheers nearly blew the roof off!

"Too... too strong!"

"Who is that kid?!"

"A single finger?!"

The referee raised his flag with a trembling hand. "The... the winner! Son Goku!"

Son Goku hopped off the ring and walked over to the stunned Krillin, patting his bald head. "Time for lunch, I'm hungry."

Krillin: "..."

Yamcha: "..."

Tien Shinhan's three eyes stared fixedly at Son Goku's back, his fists clenched so tightly they rattled. That guy... what kind of monster is he?

The final: Son Goku vs. Tien Shinhan.

This was the most anticipated fight of the entire tournament. Master Shen and Master Roshi stood on opposite sides of the stands, Master Shen with a gloomy face and Master Roshi leisurely sipping tea.

On the ring, Tien Shinhan assumed the Crane School stance, his three eyes focused intently. "Son Goku, I won't lose!"

"Mm," Son Goku nodded earnestly. "Come on, let me see your full power."

"Solar Flare!"

A blinding white light erupted instantly, bathing the entire venue in a brilliant glare. Tien Shinhan's figure vanished into the white light, and the next instant, he appeared above Son Goku, hands pressed together—

"Tri-Beam!"

"BOOM—!!!"

A massive energy blast descended from the sky, blasting a bottomless crater into the ring! Dust and debris flew everywhere, and the spectators in the stands let out terrified screams.

"Did... did it hit?" Krillin's eyes widened.

The dust and smoke cleared.

Son Goku stood at the bottom of the crater, one hand in his pocket, the other casually blocking the blow above his head. The Tri-Beam, powerful enough to shatter mountain rock, had been caught by his single palm with effortless ease.

"Not bad power," he evaluated, "but too slow."

Tien Shinhan's pupils constricted: "Impossible!"

"My turn."

Son Goku pushed off the ground, yet the earth didn't even crack—his control over his strength had reached the absolute limit. His figure appeared before Tien Shinhan like a phantom, and before Tien Shinhan could react, a light hand-chop landed on the back of his neck.

"Thud."

Tien Shinhan's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed straight to the ground.

The referee froze for a full five seconds before trembling as he announced: "The... the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament champion is—Son Goku!!! Contestant Son Goku successfully defends his title!!!"

The entire arena erupted!

The victory banquet was held at the island's most luxurious restaurant.

"Cheers!"

"To Goku's consecutive win!"

"To the martial way!"

Glasses clinked, and laughter filled the air. Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Puar, Master Roshi, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu... everyone sat gathered together, the table laden with delicacies.

Son Goku sat in the seat of honor, a mountain of empty plates piled before him. He had already polished off fifty bowls of rice, eight roasted chickens, twelve fish, and three whole roasted lambs.

"Goku... is your stomach a bottomless pit?" Bulma sighed, hand to her forehead.

"Heh heh," Son Goku scratched his head, his mouth still stuffed with meat, "People who train need to eat a lot!"

Master Roshi laughed heartily, raising his glass: "Well said! A martial artist must be able to eat! Come, bottoms up!"

Tien Shinhan sat in the corner, his three eyes fixed on Son Goku with a complex expression. Chiaotzu sat beside him, whispering: "Tien Shinhan, don't be discouraged. We'll definitely win next time."

"No," Tien Shinhan shook his head, downing his drink in one gulp, "That guy... he's already beyond our reach. But..."

He gripped his glass, a flame of unwillingness burning in his eyes, "I won't give up!"

Son Goku heard him, turned his head, and gave a brilliant smile: "Tien Shinhan, let's train together in the future!"

Tien Shinhan was stunned for a moment, then let out a cold snort: "Who would want to..."

"It's settled then!" Son Goku turned back and continued shoveling rice into his mouth.

Tien Shinhan: "..."

Just then, the restaurant window suddenly cracked with a "snap."

A cold, violent aura surged in from outside, like a venomous snake slithering into a warm nest. The candlelight on the table flickered violently.

"This ki..." Master Roshi took off his sunglasses, his expression changing drastically, "King Piccolo!"