Son Goku's Wedding

The final match: Son Goku vs. Teen Piccolo.

Piccolo stood on the arena stage. In his teenage form, he had shed the frailty of infancy, his entire body radiating a sharp, fierce aura.

Three years of tutelage under Master Roshi had not entirely extinguished the blood of King Piccolo within him, but there was little malice left.

"Son Goku," Piccolo said coldly, "today, I will prove that I am stronger than you."

"Yeah! Come on!" Son Goku took his stance.

Piccolo moved.

The Namekian physique combined with Master Roshi's meticulous instruction made his speed even faster than Tien Shinhan's, his techniques even more cunning.

Kamehameha, Afterimage Technique, Thunder Shock Surprise, Explosive Demon Wave... one move after another poured down like a violent storm!

Son Goku parried them one by one.

He did not counterattack; he only defended. Every block was perfectly timed, every dodge executed with exquisite precision.

"Why aren't you attacking?!" Piccolo roared, "Are you looking down on me?!"

"No," Son Goku sidestepped a blast of ki, "I just wanted to see how much you've grown over these years."

"Bastard!"

Piccolo flew into a rage. He pressed his palms together, beginning to condense his most powerful technique—

"Special Beam Cannon!"

A purple spiral of ki gathered in his palms. The power was so intense that Master Roshi, watching from the stands, changed his expression: "That kid... he actually mastered that move?!"

"Die!"

The energy blast tore through the air with a piercing shriek, hurtling straight toward Son Goku!

Son Goku finally moved.

He extended one hand, his palm facing the incoming Special Beam Cannon—

"Hum."

There was no earth-shattering explosion, no blinding light. The energy blast, capable of piercing through mountains, was caught in his single hand as easily as catching a basketball. Then, he gave a gentle squeeze.

"Pop."

The energy blast dissipated in his palm like a bubble.

Piccolo's eyes widened, his body stiffening: "No... impossible..."

"Piccolo," Son Goku lowered his hand and walked slowly toward him, "you haven't been training hard enough."

"You... what did you say?!" Piccolo trembled with rage.

"I train under dozens of times the gravity every day," Son Goku said earnestly, "and you? You've been working hard, but... it's not enough. To defeat me, you need to endure at least a year under a hundred times gravity."

He walked up to Piccolo and gently patted his shoulder:

"Keep it up. I'll be waiting for you to challenge me."

Then, he gave a casual wave.

"Bang."

Piccolo felt a gentle yet irresistible force, and his entire body floated lightly out of the ring, landing steadily on the padded mat.

"The final! Contestant Piccolo is out of bounds! Contestant Son Goku wins! The champion of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament is—Son Goku!!! Contestant Son Goku has won the championship for three consecutive years!!!"

The entire arena erupted in thunderous cheers!

Son Goku stood in the center of the ring, raising his fist to enjoy his final World Martial Arts Tournament, for to him, there was no longer any need to participate in future ones.

Piccolo lay on the mat, looking up at the sky, his green fists clenched tight.

"Son Goku..."

"Next time... next time I will definitely surpass you..."

But the corners of his mouth lifted into an imperceptible arc.

One week later, West City.

The luxury hotel owned by Capsule Corporation had been booked out, decorated with lanterns, streamers, and overflowing with fresh flowers.

This wedding was the most grand event of the year in West City.

The union of the Capsule Corporation heiress, the three-time World Martial Arts Tournament champion, and the apple of the Ox-King's eye from Fire Mountain sent shockwaves through both the martial arts and technological worlds.

Master Roshi, serving as the officiant, wore a crisp suit, his white beard combed neatly; for once, he was acting serious.

"Son Goku," he looked at the disciple he had raised with his own hands, his eyes filled with emotion, "you kid... you've really grown up."

"Heh heh," Son Goku scratched his head. Dressed in a black suit, he looked handsome but awkward. "Master Mutten, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Master Roshi waved his hand, then lowered his voice, grinning lecherously, "Two wives... can you handle it, kid? Do you need Master to teach you a few tricks..."

"Master Mutten!" Bulma's voice came from behind, laced with murderous intent.

Master Roshi shuddered, then quickly straightened his expression: "Ahem! Let the wedding begin!"

Son Gohan sat at the head table, his long white beard twitching as he smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits: "Good! Good! There's hope for a great-great-grandson!"

Ox-King also sat at the head table with a goofy grin, looking at the tall, handsome Son Goku with immense satisfaction.

Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu sat among the guests, each wearing a different expression.

"That guy Goku..." Krillin said sourly, "he actually married two people..."

"And they're both great beauties..." Yamcha downed a gulp of wine, looking depressed, "Why don't I have such luck..."

Tien Shinhan drank his tea in silence, his three eyes fixed on Son Goku on the stage, before suddenly saying: "He... deserves it."

Chiaotzu nodded: "Mm. Brother Goku... is a good person."

King Piccolo stood in the corner, arms crossed, watching it all coldly. But when Son Goku looked his way, he turned his face aside and let out a cold snort.

"Piccolo!" Son Goku waved at him, "Come over and take a picture with us!"

"Who wants to take a picture with you..." King Piccolo turned to leave, but Master Roshi grabbed him by the arm.

"Come, come, come, we're all family!" Master Roshi pulled King Piccolo to the front of the stage, "You're Goku's 'little brother' after all!"

"Who's his little brother! I am King Piccolo!"

"Yes, yes, Great Demon King, give us a smile—"

"Click."

The flash went off, freezing the moment in time.

Son Goku stood in the center, holding Bulma in her white wedding dress in his left hand and Chi-Chi in her red bridal gown in his right, a silly grin on his face.

[Family...]

[Is this... what family is?]

After the wedding, Bulma unceremoniously "kidnapped" Son Goku to the Capsule Corporation mansion.

Grandpa Son Gohan, accustomed to life on Mount Paozu, did not follow them to West City.

"Mount Paozu is too remote," Bulma said, hands on her hips, "It's not good for training, and it's not good for my research. Besides..."

She pointed to a massive building in the backyard: "I built an exclusive training room just for you, fully equipped with all the training aids you could need. How about that?"

Son Goku's eyes lit up: "Bulma! You're amazing!"

"Of course I am," Bulma said, lifting her chin proudly before blushing, "Also... your room is on the second floor. My room... is also on the second floor. Chi-Chi's room... is on the third."

Son Goku paused for a moment, then smiled with realization, reaching out to ruffle Bulma's hair: "Thank you, Bulma."

[Doesn't matter which floor, we'll all end up together anyway! Hehehe!!!]

"Idiot, idiot! Don't touch my hair!"

Chi-Chi poked her head out from the kitchen, wearing an apron and holding a spatula: "Goku! Dinner is ready! Come eat! I made your favorite roasted whole lamb today!"

"Coming!"

Son Goku cheered and bolted toward the dining room. Behind him, Bulma and Chi-Chi exchanged a glance and both started to laugh.

"He really is... a child who never grows up," Bulma said softly.

"But that's just who he is," Chi-Chi smiled gently, "Isn't that the idiot we love?"

Outside the window, the setting sun bathed the Capsule Corporation mansion in gold.

Son Goku sat at the dining table, his plate piled high with food. Bulma and Chi-Chi sat on either side, one serving him dishes, the other pouring him tea.

Looking at it all, an unprecedented warmth welled up in his heart.

[Getting stronger...]

[It's not just for the sake of fighting.]

[It's also for... protecting all of this.]

He clenched his fists and vowed to Bulma and Chi-Chi:

"I will become even stronger! Strong enough... to protect this family forever!"

Bulma and Chi-Chi looked at him simultaneously, then smiled at each other.

"Eat your food first, idiot."

"Exactly, the food is getting cold!"

"Hehe, alright!"

Laughter filled the dining room.