The final: Son Goku vs. teenage Piccolo.
Piccolo stood in the ring. His teenage body had shed the weakness of infancy, and a fierce aura radiated from him.
Three years of Master Mutten's instruction hadn't completely erased the blood of King Piccolo within him, but little of his viciousness remained.
"Son Goku," Piccolo said coldly, "today, I'll prove that I'm stronger than you."
"Yeah! Bring it on!" Son Goku took up a fighting stance.
Piccolo moved.
With a Namekian's body and Master Mutten's careful instruction, he was faster than Tien Shinhan, and his techniques were even more devious.
Kamehameha, Afterimage Technique, Thunder Shock Surprise, Explosive Demon Wave... one attack after another rained down like a raging storm!
Son Goku deflected them all.
He didn't counterattack, only defended. Every block was perfectly timed, every dodge executed with the utmost precision.
"Why aren't you fighting back?!" Piccolo roared. "Are you looking down on me?!"
"No," Son Goku said, dodging a ki blast with a sidestep. "I just want to see how much you've grown over the past few years."
"You bastard!"
Enraged, Piccolo brought his hands together and began gathering his strongest technique—
"Special Beam Cannon!"
A purple spiral ki blast formed in his palm. Its power was so great that even Master Roshi, watching from the stands, paled. "That kid... he actually mastered this move?!"
"Die!"
The ki blast tore through the air with a piercing shriek, hurtling straight toward Son Goku!
Son Goku finally moved.
He held out one hand, palm facing the incoming Special Beam Cannon—
"Vmmm."
There was no earth-shattering explosion, no blinding flash. The ki blast, powerful enough to pierce a mountain range, was caught in one hand as easily as a basketball. Then he gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Pfft."
The ki blast vanished in his palm like a bubble.
Piccolo's eyes widened, his whole body stiffening. "N-no... impossible..."
"Piccolo," Son Goku said, lowering his hand and walking toward him, "you haven't been training hard enough."
"W-what did you say?!" Piccolo trembled with rage.
"I train every day under dozens of times normal gravity," Son Goku said earnestly. "What about you? You've been working hard too, but... it's not enough. If you want to beat me, you'll have to endure at least a year of training under a hundred times normal gravity."
He stopped in front of Piccolo and gently patted his shoulder.
"Keep at it. I'll be waiting for you to challenge me."
Then he gave a casual wave of his hand.
"Thump."
Piccolo felt a gentle yet irresistible force. His body floated out of the ring and landed safely on the padded floor.
"The final match! Piccolo is out of bounds! Son Goku wins! The champion of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament is—Son Goku!!! Son Goku has now won the championship three years in a row!!!"
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers!
Son Goku stood in the center of the ring and raised his fist, savoring his last World Martial Arts Tournament. He wouldn't need to compete again after this.
Piccolo lay on the padded floor, staring up at the sky, his green fists clenched tight.
"Son Goku..."
"Next time... next time, I'll surpass you for sure..."
Yet the corner of his mouth lifted in a barely perceptible smile.
One week later, in West City.
The Capsule Corporation's luxury hotel had been booked out for the occasion. It was festooned with decorations and surrounded by flowers.
The wedding was the biggest event of the year in West City.
The Capsule Corporation heiress, the three-time World Martial Arts Tournament champion, and the beloved daughter of the Ox-King of Fire Mountain were joining together in marriage, stirring up the entire martial arts and technology worlds.
Master Roshi served as the officiant. Dressed in a crisp suit, with his white beard neatly combed, he was unusually serious for once.
"Son Goku," he said, looking at the student he'd personally raised, his eyes full of emotion. "You really have grown up..."
"Heh-heh," Son Goku said, scratching his head. His black suit made him look handsome, if a little uncomfortable. "Thank you, Master Mutten."
"What are you thanking me for?" Master Roshi waved him off, then lowered his voice and grinned lecherously. "Two wives... can you keep up with them at night? Want your teacher to teach you a few tricks...?"
"Master Roshi!" Bulma's voice came from behind him, edged with menace.
Master Roshi shuddered and hastily put on a serious expression. "Ahem! Let the wedding begin!"
Son Gohan sat at the head table, his white beard sticking up as he grinned until his eyes were slits. "Wonderful! Wonderful! I might get a great-great-grandchild after all!"
The Ox-King also sat at the head table, grinning foolishly. He was extremely pleased as he looked at the tall, handsome Son Goku.
Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu sat among the guests, each with a different expression.
"Son Goku..." Krillin said wistfully. "He really did marry two people..."
"And they're both beauties..." Yamcha downed a gulp of wine, looking dejected. "How come I never get that lucky...?"
Tien Shinhan drank his tea in silence, his three eyes fixed on Son Goku on the stage. Then he suddenly said, "He... deserves it."
Chiaotzu nodded. "Yeah. Son Goku is a good person."
Piccolo stood in a corner with his arms crossed, watching everything coldly. But when Son Goku looked his way, he turned his face aside and snorted.
"Piccolo!" Son Goku waved at him. "Come over and join the photo!"
"Who wants to take a picture with you...?" Piccolo turned to leave, but Master Roshi grabbed him.
"Come on, come on, the whole family together!" Master Roshi dragged Piccolo to the stage. "You're Son Goku's 'little brother,' after all!"
"Who's his little brother?! I'm King Piccolo!"
"Yes, yes, the demon king. Now smile—"
"Click."
The flash went off, capturing the moment.
Son Goku stood in the middle, holding Bulma's hand on his left—she wore a white wedding dress—and Chi-Chi's hand on his right—she wore a red wedding gown. He had a silly grin on his face.
[Family...]
[So this is... family?]
After the wedding, Bulma unceremoniously "kidnapped" Son Goku and took him to the Capsule Corporation estate.
His grandfather, Son Gohan, was used to life on Mount Paozu and hadn't come along to West City.
"Mount Paozu is too remote," Bulma said, hands on her hips. "It's not good for training, or for my research. And besides..."
She pointed to a huge building in the backyard. "I built you an Exclusive Training Room. It has all kinds of equipment to help you train. What do you think?"
Son Goku's eyes lit up. "Bulma! You're amazing!"
"Of course I am," Bulma said, lifting her chin with pride, then blushing. "Also... your room is on the second floor. My room... is on the second floor too. Chi-Chi's room... is on the third floor."
Son Goku paused, then smiled knowingly and ruffled Bulma's hair. "Thanks, Bulma."
[Doesn't matter what floor—we'll all end up together anyway! Heh-heh-heh!!!]
"Y-you idiot! Don't ruffle my hair!"
Chi-Chi poked her head out of the kitchen. She was wearing an apron and holding a spatula. "Son Goku! Dinner's ready! Come eat! I made your favorite roast lamb!"
"Coming!"
Son Goku cheered and raced toward the dining room. Behind him, Bulma and Chi-Chi exchanged a glance and smiled at the same time.
"He really is... a child who'll never grow up," Bulma said softly.
"But that's just who he is," Chi-Chi said with a gentle smile. "Isn't this idiot the one we love?"
Outside the window, the sun sank in the west, bathing the Capsule Corporation estate in gold.
Son Goku sat at the dining table, surrounded by mountains of food. Bulma sat on one side, piling food onto his plate, while Chi-Chi sat on the other, pouring him tea.
As he looked at them, a warmth he'd never felt before welled up inside him.
[Getting stronger...]
[It isn't just for fighting.]
[It's also to... protect all of this.]
He clenched his fist and made a vow to Bulma and Chi-Chi.
"I'm going to get stronger! Strong enough to... protect this family forever!"
Bulma and Chi-Chi both looked at him, then smiled at each other.
"Eat your dinner first, idiot."
"Exactly. The food's getting cold!"
"Heh-heh, okay!"
Laughter filled the dining room.
Before you continue