Quarterfinals

Martial Arts Arena

On Ring Seven.

Krillin climbed onto the ring with a nervous expression.

It was easy to tell from his face that he was afraid.

Seeing this, Goku shouted at Krillin, "Hey, Krillin."

"This guy isn't strong. Just finish him in one move!"

Hearing Goku say that only made Krillin panic more. Trembling, he said, "N-No, no, no... Don't joke around! How could I possibly be a match for Senior Brother?!"

Krillin's opponent was none other than the senior disciple from Shaolin Temple.

Back at the temple, he had often bullied Krillin. Combined with his status as the senior disciple, it had left Krillin with the feeling that he could never defeat him.

That was only natural. After all, Krillin had only studied under Master Roshi for a year.

Deep down, Krillin believed that even if he had grown stronger, he still could not surpass his senior brother.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan encouraged Krillin as well.

"Hey! Baldy Krillin, you're a disciple of the God of Martial Arts. You'll be fine—just perform normally!"

As the referee called for the match to begin, Krillin's senior brother sneered.

"Hmph, you didn't run away. That alone wasn't easy for you. Krillin, take this!"

With that, the senior brother charged at Krillin and threw a punch.

Krillin seemed frozen with fear. He stood completely still, clutching the corners of his clothes with both hands.

He looked just like a child who had done something wrong.

"Hmph! Scared stiff, huh? I win!" As his fist was about to land, the senior brother said coldly.

But the scene he had imagined never happened. His punch missed.

It passed straight through "Krillin."

At that moment, relying solely on his body's instinctive reaction, Krillin had leaped into the air. After landing, he used the momentum to spring back up and launched a flying kick.

The bewildered senior brother was sent flying!

Krillin incredulously clenched his fist. So I've already become this strong! Haha!

"That was great, Krillin! Nice one!" Goku happily cheered for Krillin from below the ring.

As the number of contestants beside each ring dwindled, some rings gradually determined their final victors.

Lin Yuan and Goku were among them.

The two of them bulldozed their way through every match, ending every battle in a single move.

Yamcha and Krillin soon fought their way through as well. All four had advanced.

The final eight contestants were:

Lin Yuan, Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, Savage, Ranfan, Dinosaur Man, and Nam.

A moment later, the eight drew lots to determine the quarterfinal matchups.

After the draw, everyone took a short break before heading together to another martial arts hall to await the start of the quarterfinals.

"Alright! Next, the final rounds of the World Martial Arts Tournament officially begin!!"

"Please welcome the first pair of quarterfinalists to the stage!"

Cheers rose from the audience below.

The next second, the cheers came to an abrupt stop.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

As Savage's enormous body stepped onto the ring, a horrifying stench spread through the entire venue—as if a mouth that had not brushed its teeth for eight hundred years had eaten a hundred piles of watery shit, then sprayed it all over the arena!

"Bleurgh!!!"

"Bleurghhh!!!"

The sounds of vomiting rose one after another.

Lin Yuan felt nauseous too and covered his nose.

He only hoped this battle would end quickly!

Otherwise!

Unthinkable!

As the battle began.

Savage started off by using some underhanded moves, like Bad Breath Blast, Crotch Grab, Stinky Fart Field...

Then Nam, unable to bear it any longer, leaped into the air and followed a free fall with a Cross Slash, knocking his opponent unconscious.

The second match was Lin Yuan versus Krillin.

Krillin did not seem particularly nervous when facing Lin Yuan. He only knew that Lin Yuan was strong, but not exactly how strong.

With his hands behind his head, Lin Yuan leisurely walked onto the arena.

Once they were onstage, the two bowed to each other before Krillin assumed his opening stance.

"Lin Yuan, I know you're very strong. So I'll be giving it my all."

Lin Yuan smiled.

"Haha, sure. Come at me."

With that, he too took up an opening stance.

At that moment, Launch, Bulma, and several spectators below the stage began cheering for Lin Yuan and Krillin.

As Master Roshi watched Lin Yuan's stance, intense shock flashed through his eyes.

"That feeling! Looks like this kid has already climbed Korin Tower, and gained quite a lot from it. He's probably surpassed me long ago!"

Although Goku could not see what was special about Lin Yuan's stance, he sensed that something was off.

Lin Yuan seemed completely relaxed to Goku at that moment, yet not a single opening could be found! So strong!

Goku was faintly excited as he shouted.

"Krillin, Lin Yuan, both of you do your best!"

As Goku's shout rang out, Krillin was the first to attack.

The spectators only saw Krillin charge forward, raising his fist and swinging it at Lin Yuan.

Yet just as the fist was about to land, Krillin vanished.

"Where did he go?"

The audience below was completely bewildered.

Lin Yuan merely glanced behind him and thought, "This kid's got plenty of drive. Trying to catch me off guard?"

If his opponent had been Yamcha, or even Goku, this move might have worked wonders.

Unfortunately.

His opponent was Lin Yuan.

Without even turning his head, Lin Yuan raised a hand and caught the whipping kick coming from behind him.

Then, with a light toss forward, Krillin was flung away and nearly fell off the arena.

Most of the spectators below had no idea what had happened. All they saw was the little bald guy coming in, then the little bald guy leaving~~

Still, they raised their hands and cheered Krillin on.

Krillin had not suffered any real injury, but he was deeply frustrated.

Then he charged at Lin Yuan again.

During the ensuing battle, Krillin failed to land a single blow on Lin Yuan. Meanwhile, Lin Yuan would find gaps in Krillin's attacks and hit him from time to time.

"Too slow. Your thoughts are too scattered. You're not clean or decisive enough."

Lin Yuan even offered a few pointers as they fought.

Confusing without hurting his brain, and with just the right amount of force.

Master Roshi had originally entered this martial arts tournament anonymously to spar with his disciples and defeat them along the way. He wanted to teach them that there was always someone stronger out there, and that they must not become arrogant or complacent.

Since Lin Yuan had entered and altered the plot a little, he ought to spar with them a bit as well.

Once he felt he had fed Krillin enough moves.

Lin Yuan delivered a front kick that sent Krillin off the arena, winning the match.

Next was Goku versus Ranfan.

A match with no suspense whatsoever.

At first, seeing how formidable this child was, Ranfan tried to use seduction.

Who knew Goku would be completely immune to that sort of thing? He kicked Ranfan flying, muttering, "Hmph, a monster with its butt in front."

The final match of the quarterfinals.

Yamcha versus Dinosaur Man.

This Dinosaur Man was the strongest contestant apart from the four of them and Nam.

If it had been the original Yamcha, he might have needed a hard-fought battle and still might not have won.

But because of Lin Yuan, Yamcha was much stronger than he had been in the original story.

There was naturally no suspense about the outcome.

In just five exchanges, Yamcha defeated Dinosaur Man and advanced to the semifinals!

The semifinal matchups were now clear.

Nam VS Lin Yuan

Goku VS Yamcha

"Looks like I'll have to give Goku some practice."

Goku was stronger than Krillin now, but only by a limited amount.

He couldn't put any pressure on Lin Yuan!

There was still a short break before the semifinals to recover, so everyone returned to the waiting room.

Goku suggested stuffing themselves to replenish their energy, and Lin Yuan happened to be a little hungry too.

So he went out with Goku and Launch to get something to eat.

After eating and drinking their fill, they returned to the waiting room.

Before long.

As the referee's call rang out.

Nam and Lin Yuan stepped onto the arena.

The semifinals of the World Martial Arts Tournament—

had officially begun!