"Goku's cheering me on, so I can't let him down!"
The next second, Chi-Chi stomped hard on the ground,
then charged at the No. 22 wrestler with a headbutt.
"Thud!" The wrestler took the hit,
stumbled backward several steps, and happened to fall right off the ring.
The spectators fell silent.
"What just happened?"
"That guy actually got beaten by a little girl. How embarrassing!"
"He lost his balance and fell off. What bad luck!"
Krillin looked at Chi-Chi and praised her. "Great job! Your opponent couldn't keep his balance and fell right off!"
Goku watched Chi-Chi with a grave expression. "It's not that simple. After all our training, we're much stronger than before.
That wrestler still hasn't gotten up. I hope he's all right!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the wrestler stood up.
Goku let out a sigh of relief.
"Krillin, Chi-Chi, when the next round of preliminaries starts, make sure you hold back.
If your opponent isn't very strong, don't hit them with all your strength."
Krillin said, "Oh, okay! I understand!"
Chi-Chi stared at her hands in disbelief. "I didn't know I was this strong!"
Just then, two bald men, one fat and one thin, came up to the three of them.
They both looked at Krillin.
"Well, if it isn't Krillin!"
"So it really is you, Krillin.
You're here for the World Martial Arts Tournament too?"
The taller, thin bald man rubbed Krillin's head and smirked. "Heh, long time no see, Krillin.
How have you been getting by since you left Shaolin Temple?"
Krillin looked up at the two bald men,
his face filled with terror, as if he'd remembered something awful.
"S-Senior brothers..."
Chapter 41: The Results of Training
Chi-Chi looked at Krillin and asked,
"Krillin, are they the senior brothers you had at Shaolin Temple?"
Krillin didn't dare look at Chi-Chi. He just nodded timidly.
Chi-Chi frowned. "Krillin, why are you afraid of them?"
The two bald men looked at Chi-Chi and Goku, then turned to Krillin.
The taller senior brother laughed. "Haha! I knew it. You're only good enough to play with little kids!"
The fat senior brother chimed in. "That's right! Don't make me laugh. How can someone like you compete in the World Martial Arts Tournament?
Didn't I warn you? You'll never amount to anything!
Hey, Krillin, what's your number in the third division?"
Krillin said quietly, "Number 93."
The taller senior brother exclaimed excitedly, "Haha, great! You're my opponent! I'm so happy!"
With that, the two senior brothers turned and walked away, tossing out a parting remark. "Hahaha, Krillin, go easy on me later, okay? Hahahaha!"
Cold sweat broke out on Krillin's forehead.
"When I was at Shaolin Temple, they bullied me all the time. I'm done for..."
Chi-Chi immediately encouraged him. "Krillin, don't be afraid of them. Give them a good beating later!"
Krillin looked at Chi-Chi. Her eyes were full of sincere encouragement.
Krillin was deeply moved. "Chi-Chi, thank you."
Goku patted Krillin on the shoulder. "Krillin, don't be afraid.
We're disciples of the world's greatest fighter, the God of Martial Arts, Master Roshi.
If you end up facing that senior brother of yours,
give that guy who looks down on you a good beating!"
Chi-Chi nodded too. "Exactly! Remember, our teacher is Master Roshi.
Don't bring shame on the Turtle School!"
Krillin looked earnestly at Goku and Chi-Chi.
Then he clenched his fists.
"Thanks for encouraging me. I'll do my best."
Just then, the referee announced, "Next up,
numbers 93 and 94 in the third division, please come to the ring!"
Krillin's mouth twitched. "You've got to be kidding me. I haven't even psyched myself up yet, and it's already my turn!"
Chi-Chi and Goku both gave Krillin encouraging looks.
Feeling their support, Krillin nodded firmly.
"I'll do my best!"
Soon, Krillin stepped into the ring.
His tall, thin senior brother from Shaolin Temple climbed into the ring too.
"It's been a year. Time to beat little Krillin up again. My hands are itching!"
Nearby, the fat senior brother crossed his arms and looked smug. "That was quick.
Heh, this is the top fighter from Shaolin Temple!
Krillin's going to be laid up for ten days or half a month again."
The thin senior brother took his starting stance, while Krillin stood dazed on the opposite side, too nervous to move.
As soon as the two had entered the ring, the referee announced the start of the match.
The thin senior brother smirked, shouted, and suddenly threw a punch at Krillin.
The swift punch came at him, but in Krillin's eyes, it seemed to slow down countless times over.
The eight months of hard training under Master Roshi had given him a solid foundation.
Krillin shifted his body slightly with a simple movement,
like the small adjustment he used to make while delivering milk to keep it from spilling.
He dodged the punch.
When he looked at his former senior brother, the man still seemed frozen in the instant he'd thrown his punch, unable to react.
And in that very moment,
Krillin saw countless openings in his former senior brother's defenses.
Suddenly, inspiration struck. He seized the opportunity, stomped hard on the ground,
then kicked his senior brother viciously in the waist and abdomen.
"Crack!" The impact rang out.
His senior brother hadn't even reacted before he was sent flying, stunned.
His body slammed straight into the wall of the martial arts hall.
"Crunch!"
His senior brother's body left a deep dent in the wall.
Countless fine cracks spread out around it.
At the sight, the entire martial arts hall fell utterly silent. You could have heard a pin drop.
There wasn't even a sound of breathing.
Everyone stared at him, momentarily forgetting to breathe.
That kick had been incredibly powerful.
"Thump!"
Krillin's tall, thin senior brother fell from the wall,
and only then did the spectators take a deep breath.
"That was amazing!"
"That kick was awesome!"
Krillin stared at his hands in disbelief, as if he still couldn't believe he was this strong.
The senior brother who had bullied him every day in the past
was now no match for him at all.
Chi-Chi and Goku watched, both grinning foolishly.
Just then, the referee announced, "Number 93 wins!"
Krillin exclaimed in delight, "I never imagined Master Roshi would train us to be this strong!"
Chi-Chi nodded in agreement. "That's right! Let's all do our best!
I'm sure the three of us can place really well!"
"Yeah!"
Soon, it was Goku's turn to fight.
"Will numbers 70 and 75 please come to the ring!"
After stepping into the ring, Goku stared at the wild-haired man opposite him, looking a little distracted.
"Why does this guy look so familiar?"
The wild-haired man across from him grinned and laughed. "Hahaha, kid,
you've just run into a brick wall!"
Goku asked, "Oh, really? Who are you?"
The man put his hands on his hips and laughed loudly.
"Me? I'm Satan, the fighting champion of East City!"
Looking at the young boxer's stance, Goku froze. "You're Satan?"
"What, you've heard of my great name? Scared?"
Once both men were in the ring, the referee pressed the stopwatch
and shouted, "The match begins!"
Goku shook his head. "Joke competitors aren't allowed to enter!"
Satan froze. "What did you say?"