Dragon Ball: Reborn as a Saiyan, They Covet Me

"If I were to teach you specific moves and routines, the ceiling for your future achievements would be lowered. I've already told you that moves are merely the application of basic skills. Therefore, you must flexibly apply the fundamentals you've learned these past days and develop your own martial arts."

The three of them nodded, lost in thought.

Ever since he started watching the anime, Son Goku understood that the reason Son Goku was able to reach such a high realm later on was inseparable from the foundational guidance he received under Master Roshi during his childhood.

However, even after undergoing seven months of training, he still couldn't pinpoint exactly which aspect it was.

Or rather, every step of the training Master Roshi put them through held profound meaning.

It was just that he himself hadn't grasped it yet.

But then again, the Goku from the manga probably hadn't understood it back then either, so he didn't dwell on it.

Sometimes, enlightenment requires the right opportunity.

"There is one month left until the World Martial Arts Tournament. I won't be teaching you any fighting styles; you will continue training as you have before. However, from now on, you will wear double the weight—40-kilogram turtle shells—for your training."

"Thud!"

The three of them fainted once again.

Although the training intensity had increased once more, all three had adapted to seven months of rigorous training. Even with the added weight, it felt easier than it had at the very beginning.

After finishing their day's cultivation, they even had more time left over to rest.

Consequently, every evening before dinner, the three of them would gather to exchange ideas about moves.

However, the moves they studied were not those traditional martial arts techniques.

Flashy things like the Rising Dragon Fist, Iron Mountain Lean, or White Crane Spreads Wings were completely absent.

After all, this wasn't like a video game; for instance, the Rising Dragon Fist didn't come with invincibility frames and had too many weaknesses.

These impractical, showy moves were all abandoned.

What they exchanged were only the most streamlined techniques.

Punches, kicks, defense, parrying, dodging, and smashes.

Punches were nothing more than straight punches, hooks, elbow strikes, and so on.

Kicks were nothing more than sweeps, low kicks, side kicks, and so on.

Parrying and defense were all about crossing their arms or utilizing specific defensive postures...

Chapter 40: World Martial Arts Tournament

Working hard at cultivation for such a long time should have been grueling. But under Master Roshi's tutelage, the three of them didn't feel it was bitter; instead, they felt incredibly happy.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Not only had the three improved their martial arts, but they had also forged a deep friendship.

The time had finally arrived for the World Martial Arts Tournament.

After removing their turtle shells, their strength and speed had undergone a qualitative leap.

Led by Master Roshi, they arrived at the site of the World Martial Arts Tournament.

Krillin, Son Goku, and Chi-Chi were all here for the first time.

As soon as they reached the vicinity of the tournament, they felt a thick atmosphere of martial arts.

"Contestants participating in the tournament, please head to the competition hall for the preliminary rounds!"

Seeing the three children—Krillin, Son Goku, and Chi-Chi—the person in charge of the hall immediately scolded them.

"Hey, little kids, this is a martial arts hall. If you want to watch the match, go wait outside!"

Master Roshi immediately stepped in front of them.

"No, no, no, they are here to participate in the tournament!"

"What?"

The tournament staff member was taken aback, looking completely incredulous.

What kind of decent person would let a child enter a tournament?

Master Roshi nodded with a straight face: "Yes!"

Having just finished the registration, the three of them walked out of the tournament sign-up area in high spirits.

Master Roshi said: "I won't be accompanying you from here on out, so you must work hard!"

The three of them nodded toward Master Roshi in succession: "Mm, we understand!"

Chi-Chi: "Master, you'll be watching our matches from the spectator stands, right?"

"I will. You all must perform well, and remember not to use excessive force!"

"Yes!"

Soon, Master Roshi disappeared from their sight.

Once the three of them had left the entrance of the registration hall, Master Roshi returned wearing a mask.

"Contestant Jackie Chun, here to register for the World Martial Arts Tournament!"

The staff member looked at Jackie Chun and frowned: "What is going on this year? First children, and now an old man?"

Master Roshi: "So, may I ask, can an old man like me still register?"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Inside the martial arts hall, there were changing rooms.

Son Goku, Chi-Chi, and Krillin all changed into their Turtle School uniforms and headed to the preliminary tournament arena.

Seeing all sorts of towering figures, the three of them felt incredibly curious.

After all, some of these people had arms larger than their entire bodies.

Son Goku formed a hypothesis: if those big guys were to train with Master Roshi, they would probably become just as strong as he and Krillin were.

Thinking of this, Son Goku felt even more impressed by the greatness of the Turtle School martial arts.

Soon, the staff began to announce the proceedings.

"The World Martial Arts Tournament begins now!"

"Everyone who has come to participate in the tournament today is a martial arts master who has traveled from afar!"

"According to our statistics, a total of 138 contestants from all over the country are competing in this tournament. Eight contestants will be selected from the preliminaries to participate in the main event. This is an unprecedentedly rigorous contest!"

"Now, I will explain the rules!"

"The matches will be one-on-one. You will fight on the ring. Falling off the ring, being knocked unconscious for more than 10 seconds, or verbally admitting defeat will all count as a loss."

"However, you are not allowed to kill your opponent, and the use of weapons is prohibited. The time limit for the preliminary matches is one minute; if no winner is decided by then, the referee will determine the outcome."

"Because there are so many participants in the preliminaries, we have divided them into four sections. Two winners will be selected from each section to advance as the victors of these preliminaries."

"Now, all contestants, please draw your lots. Based on the numbers on your slips, check the order displayed above and head to your respective match arenas."

Chi-Chi held her number and asked: "Goku, Krillin, I'm number 23. What about you two?"

Son Goku: "I'm number 70!"

Krillin: "I'm number 93."

Chi-Chi looked at the match bracket and began to get excited.

"That's great, I'm not in the same section as either of you."

Krillin laughed: "Although Goku and I are in the same section, our numbers aren't consecutive, so we won't run into each other. Thank goodness!"

Just then, a staff member in the arena shouted out.

"Contestant number 22 and contestant number 23 from the first section, please come to the arena."

Chi-Chi was stunned.

"Eh, it seems they're calling me."

Son Goku and Krillin cheered her on: "Chi-Chi, good luck! You'll definitely be fine!"

Chi-Chi nodded: "Mm!"

Soon, Chi-Chi stepped onto the preliminary tournament ring.

However, Chi-Chi was just a small child.

Her opponent was not only an adult, but an exceptionally massive one.

He was burly and robust, with a frame at least three meters tall.

His arm alone was as large as Chi-Chi herself.

The audience below was filled with astonishment.

"Good heavens!"

"Is that little thing here to compete, too?"

"She must be here just for a laugh, right?"

"Exactly, contestant number 22 has all the advantages! Not only is his opponent a child, but a little girl at that—how despicable!"

"I'm drooling with envy!"

Contestant number 22 looked down at little Chi-Chi, a conflicted expression on his face.

"This little thing is my opponent?"

"Damn it, defeating such a brat won't bring any glory to me, Hercules."

Just then, the referee announced, "You have one minute. Begin!"

Chi-Chi gazed up at the towering figure before her, feeling a touch of fear.

Goku shouted from below, "Chi-Chi, do your best!"

Chi-Chi shuddered.