The 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament

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

The venue was packed with people, and colorful flags fluttered everywhere. It had more than doubled in size since three years ago, and the stands were filled with martial arts enthusiasts from all over the world.

In the competitors' waiting area, Son Goku sat cross-legged in a corner, resting with his eyes closed. He wore a brand-new orange martial arts uniform, with a large "Turtle" character printed on the back, and a blue belt tied around his waist. His tail swayed gently across the floor behind him.

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

He sensed several ki signatures nearby, some strong and some weak, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

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

He clenched his fist, feeling the gentle yet surging power within him. Training under twenty-five times gravity had built a rock-solid foundation. Ki flowed through his body like a sleeping dragon, ready to awaken at any moment.

"The result is already decided."

"Goku!" Krillin called from the doorway. The little bald monk had grown a bit taller in the past three years. The "Turtle" character on his martial arts uniform had faded from washing, but his eyes were much sharper. "The draw's over! Your first opponent is some nobody!"

"Okay." Son Goku opened his eyes with a bright smile and rolled his wrist. "Let's go. It's our turn."

Krillin faced off against Tien Shinhan. After training with Master Korin, the little bald monk had continued his studies under Master Roshi. His battle power had increased considerably compared to the original story.

But perhaps because of the butterfly effect, Tien Shinhan had also grown much stronger than in the original story.

It was only after chatting with Tien Shinhan that Son Goku learned what had happened. Tien Shinhan had followed the same path Goku had in the original story and taken on the Red Ribbon Army. Though Tien Shinhan had ultimately defeated them, he had nearly died several times in the process. His battle power had risen through one fight after another.

Krillin had been affected too, and his battle power had improved by quite a bit. But he hadn't faced life-and-death battles like Tien Shinhan, so his gains weren't as great. He gave it everything he had, even using an improved version of the Kamehameha, but Tien Shinhan's three eyes seemed able to see through everything. In the end, Krillin was outmatched by a hair and Tien Shinhan sent him out of the ring with a swift knee strike.

"D-damn it..." Krillin lay on the padded floor, panting hard. "I'll beat you next time..."

Yamcha faced some unknown expert and won in a spectacular display of the Wolf Fang Fist. But when he saw Son Goku step into the ring, the confidence on his face faltered.

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

Jackie Chun—Master Roshi in disguise—stood in a corner. His eyes narrowed slightly behind his sunglasses. "A mind as still as water... Mr. Popo taught him well."

Son Goku's opponent was a muscular giant two meters tall, nicknamed the "Steel Fist King."

"Kid," the giant sneered down at Son Goku. "Go home and drink your milk!"

Son Goku tilted his head. "You're pretty weak, mister."

"What did you say?!"

The giant roared and threw a punch. The force of it tore through the air with a piercing whistle. Some of the spectators even shut their eyes, unable to bear watching the little boy get sent flying.

But the punch stopped.

It halted in front of Son Goku's raised finger, unable to move another inch.

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

"I'm in a hurry," Son Goku said, looking up with eyes as calm as still water. "Could you... get off the ring?"

He gave a light flick of his finger.

"Bang—"

The giant's massive body flew away like a cannonball, crossing half the ring before landing squarely on the padded area outside. He passed out before he could even scream.

The entire arena fell silent.

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

"That... that was incredible!"

"Who is that kid?!"

"With one finger?!"

The referee raised his flag with a trembling hand. "The w-winner is... Son Goku!"

Son Goku hopped off the ring, walked over to the stunned Krillin, and patted his bald head. "It's lunchtime. I'm hungry."

Krillin: "..."

Yamcha: "..."

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

The final match: Son Goku versus Tien Shinhan.

It was the most anticipated fight of the tournament. Master Shen and Master Roshi faced off from opposite sides of the stands. Master Shen wore a gloomy expression, while Master Roshi leisurely sipped his tea.

In the ring, Tien Shinhan took the Crane School's opening stance, all three eyes fixed on his opponent. "Son Goku, I won't lose!"

"Okay." Son Goku nodded earnestly. "Come on. Show me everything you've got."

"Solar Flare!"

A blinding white light burst out, turning the entire arena snow-white. Tien Shinhan disappeared into the glare. In the next instant, he was above Son Goku, hands clasped together—

"Tri-Beam!"

"Boom—!!!"

A massive Ki Blast came crashing down from the sky, blasting a bottomless crater into the ring! Dust billowed and stones flew as the spectators in the stands screamed in terror.

"D-did it hit?" Krillin stared wide-eyed.

The dust cleared.

Son Goku stood at the bottom of the crater, one hand in his pocket and the other casually raised above his head. He had caught the Tri-Beam—which could shatter boulders—with one hand as if it were nothing.

"Pretty powerful," he remarked. "But it's too slow."

Tien Shinhan's pupils contracted. "Impossible!"

"My turn."

Son Goku pushed off the ground. It didn't even crack—his control over his strength had become incredibly precise. He appeared in front of Tien Shinhan like a ghost and, before Tien Shinhan could react, lightly struck the back of his neck with the edge of his hand.

"Thud."

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

The referee stood stunned for a full five seconds before trembling as he announced, "The... champion of the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament is—Son Goku!!! Son Goku has defended his title!!!"

The whole arena erupted!

The celebration banquet was held at the most luxurious restaurant on the island.

"Cheers!"

"To Goku's second consecutive championship!"

"To martial arts!"

Glasses clinked, and laughter filled the room. Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong, Puar, Master Roshi, Krillin, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and the others sat around the table, which was piled high with delicacies.

Son Goku sat at the head of the table, surrounded by empty plates. He had already eaten fifty bowls of rice, eight roast chickens, twelve fish, and three whole roast lambs.

"Goku... do you really have a bottomless stomach?" Bulma asked, pressing a hand to her forehead.

"Heh-heh." Son Goku scratched his head, still chewing on a piece of meat. "When you're training, you've gotta eat a lot!"

Master Roshi laughed heartily and raised his glass. "Well said! A martial artist needs a big appetite! Come on, bottoms up!"

Tien Shinhan sat in a corner, watching Son Goku with a complicated expression. Chiaotzu sat beside him and said quietly, "Tien Shinhan, don't be discouraged. We'll definitely win next time."

"No." Tien Shinhan shook his head, picked up his glass, and drained it in one gulp. "That guy... is already beyond our reach. But..."

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

Son Goku heard him and turned around with a bright smile. "Tien Shinhan, let's train together from now on!"

Tien Shinhan froze for a moment, then snorted. "Who said I'd train with you..."

"Then it's settled!" Son Goku turned back and continued shoveling in rice.

Tien Shinhan: "..."

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

A cold, savage ki poured in from outside, like a venomous snake slithering into a warm nest. The candles on the table flickered violently.

"This ki..." Master Roshi took off his sunglasses, his face changing abruptly. "King Piccolo!"