Semifinals, Finals, and Returning Hearts

The first match of the semifinals pitted Tien Shinhan against Son Goku. This was a direct confrontation between the Turtle School and the Crane School. Tien Shinhan was twenty-four years old, stood one meter eighty-five, and his third eye shimmered with a cold light. Son Goku was twelve, stood one meter fifty, and wore an innocent smile on his round face. "Little monk, you defeated Chiaotzu just now; your strength is not bad," Tien Shinhan said, "but you are no match for me." "How will I know if I don't try?" Son Goku assumed a fighting stance. The match began! Tien Shinhan moved first. His speed was lightning-fast as he delivered a hand-blade strike toward Son Goku's neck. Son Goku dodged to the side and countered with a punch toward Tien Shinhan's abdomen. Tien Shinhan's third eye lit up, reading Son Goku's attack path. He reached out to parry while simultaneously kicking at Son Goku's knee. The two exchanged over a dozen blows, their speed increasing until the spectators could only see two afterimages crisscrossing the ring. "You are indeed strong," Tien Shinhan said, "but the Turtle School's techniques are too soft; they lack ruthlessness." "Ruthlessness doesn't necessarily mean winning," Son Goku replied, "Skill is what wins." Son Goku brought his hands together, "Ka-me-ha-me-ha!" Tien Shinhan had been prepared, condensing a Dodon Ray in his right hand. The two energies collided, remaining in a stalemate for several seconds.

Son Goku suddenly withdrew the Kamehameha, his figure flickering as he appeared behind Tien Shinhan. Tien Shinhan's third eye caught Son Goku's movement, but his body could not react in time. Son Goku slapped Tien Shinhan on the back, pushing him toward the edge of the ring. Tien Shinhan's foot slipped, and he stepped outside the ring. "Contestant Tien Shinhan is out of bounds! The winner is Contestant Son Goku!" Tien Shinhan steadied himself, realizing he was already outside the ring. His face turned ashen. "I... lost?" "Mr. Tien Shinhan, your strength is greater than mine," Son Goku said, "but you rely too much on your third eye. The third eye can see through an opponent's movements, but it cannot see through their heart." Tien Shinhan was silent for a long time before asking, "What is your name?" "Son Goku." "Son Goku, I will remember you." Tien Shinhan turned and walked off the ring, "Next time, I will not lose again."

The second match of the semifinals featured Kashu against Demon King Piccolo. When Demon King Piccolo stepped onto the ring, the temperature of the entire venue seemed to drop by several degrees. His green skin shimmered with a cold light under the sun, and his eyes were as icy as a viper's. Kashu walked onto the ring, looking at Demon King Piccolo calmly. "You are Demon King Piccolo?" "You are that Saiyan named Kashu?" A hint of interest flashed in Demon King Piccolo's eyes, "I have heard of you. A few years ago, you reinforced my seal." "Not reinforced, but delayed the time of your release," Kashu said, "It is only interesting if you come out when your strength is sufficient." "Interesting?" Demon King Piccolo laughed, "Kid, you are very amusing. Are you not afraid that I will destroy the world?" "You cannot." "Arrogant." The match began! Both moved simultaneously. Their speed was so great that even the referee at the edge of the ring could not see them clearly. The spectators only saw two beams of light colliding on the ring, each impact erupting with thunderous sounds. Demon King Piccolo's combat power—200,000. Kashu's combat power—1,200,000 in base form (suppressed to 200,000). They were evenly matched. "You are hiding your strength," Demon King Piccolo said while fighting, "Your true combat power is far more than this." "You are hiding yours as well." Kashu's elbow strike was parried by Demon King Piccolo, "Your true strength is also more than 200,000." The two exchanged a hundred moves without a clear winner. Demon King Piccolo's Masenko and Kashu's Kamehameha collided, blasting a massive crater into the ring. "Kid, you have made me serious." Demon King Piccolo released more of his aura, his combat power soaring to 500,000. Kashu also released more aura, his combat power rising to 500,000. "You...!" Demon King Piccolo's pupils contracted, "You have been fighting me to a draw the whole time?" "Not a draw; I was going easy on you," Kashu said, "Piccolo, your potential is great, but your mindset is wrong. You are blinded by hatred and cannot truly unleash your power." "Shut up!" Demon King Piccolo fired a Masenko at Kashu. Kashu did not dodge; he extended his right hand and swatted the Masenko away with a single palm. The energy beam changed direction, blasting into the sky and exploding into a giant hole in the clouds. "Legendary Super Saiyan First Grade." A crimson aura surged from within Kashu. His hair turned from black to dark red, and his pupils from brown to gold. A terrifying aura enveloped the entire venue; the spectators felt difficulty breathing, and even the referee collapsed to the ground. Demon King Piccolo's face turned pale. He felt his own aura completely suppressed by Kashu's, like a rabbit facing a giant dragon. "This... what is this power?!" "The Legendary Super Saiyan." Kashu withdrew his aura, "Piccolo, you are no match for me. But I can give you a chance." "What chance?" "Join us." Kashu said, "Train with me, become stronger, and then challenge me. The day you defeat me, you will have the qualifications to destroy the world. Otherwise, you will forever be a frog in a well." Demon King Piccolo was silent. His pride struggled—he was the King of the Demon Clan; how could he bow to a Saiyan?

But Kashu's power was real. That aura was countless times stronger than even Mutaito, who had sealed him three hundred years ago... "Fine," Demon King Piccolo finally said, "I will join." "Contestant Demon King Piccolo forfeits? The winner is Contestant Kashu!" the host announced, stuttering. The entire venue was in an uproar. Demon King Piccolo had forfeited? That legendary Demon King had conceded to a fourteen-year-old boy? Kashu walked off the ring, with Demon King Piccolo following behind. "I am not your subordinate," Demon King Piccolo said. "Equal partners," Kashu replied. "Hmph." The final was held between Kashu and Son Goku.

A brotherly duel, for the third time. "Brother, I will not hold back," Son Goku said. "Neither will I," Kashu replied. The match began, and both moved at once. Son Goku's Super Saiyan form was fully unleashed, a golden aura soaring into the sky with a combat power of 30 million. Kashu used the Legendary Super Saiyan First Grade, a crimson aura, with a combat power of 96 million. The power gap was more than three times. But Son Goku's techniques and his perception of ki made up for part of the gap. He used the Afterimage Technique, energy blasts, the Kamehameha, and even unleashed the five-fold Kaioken, briefly raising his combat power to 150 million. "Kakarot, your progress surprises me," Kashu said while parrying, "but you are still too impatient." Kashu caught an opening in Son Goku's defense and struck his chest with a palm. Son Goku flew backward, barely stopping at the edge of the ring. "I concede." Son Goku withdrew his transformation and grinned, "Brother is still stronger than me." "You have improved quickly," Kashu said, "In a few more years, you might surpass me." "Really?" "Really." After the tournament ended, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu found Kashu. "Kashu, your strength is indeed above mine," Tien Shinhan said, "I want to follow you and train." "Why?" Kashu asked. "Because I need to become stronger." Tien Shinhan's third eye shimmered with a firm light, "I learned techniques at the Crane School, but the Crane School's philosophy is wrong. Martial arts are not for killing, but for surpassing oneself. This is Master Roshi's philosophy, and it is also yours." "Good." Kashu extended his hand, "Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, welcome to the team." Tien Shinhan grasped Kashu's hand, and Chiaotzu, Son Goku, and Krillin also shook hands. Demon King Piccolo stood in the distance, watching the scene with cold eyes. "Piccolo, aren't you coming?" Kashu asked. "...I don't need friends," Demon King Piccolo said, "but I do need to become stronger. I will follow you and train, but I do not acknowledge you all as partners." "Doesn't matter," Kashu smiled, "Time will change everything." Thus, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Demon King Piccolo became the newest members of New Vegeta City. Tien Shinhan's combat power was 150,000; the bloodline of the Three-Eyed Clan allowed his third eye to see through the flow of ki and predict an opponent's movements. His strength improved rapidly after joining, breaking through 300,000 after half a year. Chiaotzu's combat power was 20,000, with extremely strong psychic abilities capable of freezing opponents with combat power under 100,000, and even briefly stopping time (for two seconds). Demon King Piccolo's combat power was 500,000; the bloodline of the Demon King gave him immense recovery abilities, allowing him to regenerate severed limbs. His Special Beam Cannon had astonishing power, capable of piercing through opponents with defense three times higher than his own. Kashu began to systematically guide their training. "Tien Shinhan, your third eye is your advantage, but it is also your crutch. Do not just look at an opponent's ki; you must feel it with your heart." "Chiaotzu, your psychic powers are strong, but your body is too weak. If a psychic is engaged in close combat, it is a dead end. Starting tomorrow, you will undergo physical training with Goku." "Piccolo, your demon power is strong, but your ki control is too crude. You must learn to use ki to strengthen your body, rather than relying solely on demon power." The three listened intently and began their life of cultivation in New Vegeta City.

Winter, AGE 747, New Vegeta City. Kashu sat on the roof of the council hall, overlooking the city. The sunset dyed the sky orange-red, and the city lights began to flicker on one by one. "Brother!" Son Goku jumped onto the roof and sat beside Kashu. "Kakarot, what do you think of Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo?" "Tien Shinhan is a good man, Chiaotzu is also very cute, and although Piccolo is cold, I don't think he is a bad person," Son Goku said, "Brother, are you trying to turn them into our partners?" "Not 'turn into', but 'become'," Kashu said, "They are already partners." "That's true," Son Goku laughed, "Brother, when will I be able to surpass you?" "When you stop asking that question." "That line again!" Son Goku pouted, "Brother, you say that every time." "Because it is the truth." Kashu ruffled his younger brother's hair, "Let's go, it's time to eat. Chi-Chi made braised pork today." "Really? That's great!" The brothers jumped off the roof and headed toward home. In the distance, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu were sparring on the training field, while Demon King Piccolo sat alone under a large tree, eyes closed in meditation. A new day was about to begin.