The Giant Ape Reappears

"The next match: Chen He versus Nam!"

As the referee announced it, an ascetic monk with resolute features and a yellow robe stepped onto the stage. Nam pressed his palms together and gave Chen He a deep bow. "Contestant Chen He, I watched your matches. You're very strong, but for my drought-stricken homeland, I absolutely cannot lose."

Chen He still had one hand in his pocket, though there was an unusual calmness in his eyes. "For water, is it?" His voice was cold. "A touching reason, but it won't work on me. The martial arts arena isn't a charity gala. If you want to win, fight for it with your life."

Nam gave a low shout and leaped high into the air.

"Sky Cross Fist!"

He crossed his arms and dove straight at Chen He, using the immense momentum of his descent. This was Nam's trump card; even Goku had suffered greatly against it in the original story.

Yet Chen He did not even raise his head. Just as Nam was about to touch him, he stepped half a pace to the side.

Whoosh!

Nam's killing blow struck the ground past Chen He's afterimage. The tremendous force shattered the floor, but failed to harm Chen He in the slightest. Chen He casually extended a finger and lightly tapped Nam's back.

"Your force is too dispersed, and your center of gravity is too high. Off you go."

Nam only felt an irresistible yet gentle force push him out of the ring. When he landed, he was perfectly steady and completely unhurt.

"Thank you... for your guidance." Nam gave a bitter smile. He knew Chen He had spared him an enormous amount of dignity.

The semifinals ended, and the bell for the finals rang.

The audience's excitement had already reached a boiling point. On one side was Chen He, the unfathomable dark horse who had crushed every opponent in seconds on his way here. On the other was Jackie Chun, the seasoned elder who was just as impossible to read.

Bulma shouted herself hoarse from the stands. "Chen He! Send that old man flying!"

On the arena, Jackie Chun looked more serious than ever. He removed his outer robe, revealing a lean, muscular body. His cane had long since been tossed aside.

"Young man, your strength has already surpassed this era's understanding." Jackie Chun assumed the most standard opening stance in martial arts. "But today, this old man will teach you something: martial arts are not merely about strength."

"Old man, save that cliché for Krillin." For the first time, Chen He pulled both hands from his pockets. He spread his feet slightly apart as a violent current of air began spiraling around his feet. "In my eyes, so-called technique is merely a helpless measure for when strength is insufficient."

Boom!

Chen He attacked first! He did not use the Afterimage Fist, instead crossing ten meters in an instant through sheer physical speed.

Jackie Chun's expression changed drastically as he thrust out both palms. "Thunder Shock Surprise!"

High-voltage currents erupted from Jackie Chun's fingertips, instantly enveloping Chen He's entire body. This had originally been Master Roshi's finishing move, enough to paralyze any living creature in an instant.

Yet a scene that made everyone tremble appeared.

With blue currents coursing over his body, Chen He steadily walked toward Jackie Chun step by step. The electricity, powerful enough to knock out an elephant, could only raise wisps of white smoke from his body. It could not even scorch his skin.

"Is this your martial arts? Too weak."

Chen He suddenly swung his hand, violently tearing the currents apart as though ripping up a piece of cloth!

Jackie Chun staggered back in horror and gritted his teeth as he unleashed his final trump card. He drew in a deep breath, his chest swelling high as every muscle in his body expanded like rock.

"Ka... me... ha... me... ha!"

A massive blue sphere of energy gathered in Jackie Chun's palms. It was an attack formed from all of Master Roshi's power, a world-destroying force even in the original story.

Chen He sneered and brought his hands together as well. The red-and-white radiance erupting from his palms instantly overwhelmed the other's glow.

"I'll show you too what a real—Kamehameha!—looks like!"

The two massive energy waves collided in the center of the arena. The shockwaves alone shattered every guardrail in the front row. In less than three seconds, Jackie Chun's blue light was completely swallowed by Chen He's red beam, which was several times thicker!

"Uwaaaah!"

Jackie Chun was blasted into the sky by the energy wave. To avoid widespread casualties, Chen He pulled back at the last moment and redirected the Kamehameha into the sky.

A thunderous explosion rang out overhead, blasting a massive hole through the clouds.

Jackie Chun crashed outside the ring, covered in dust and grime, his martial arts uniform shredded to pieces as he gasped for breath. Looking at the expressionless Chen He on the stage, he helplessly removed his wig, revealing a gleaming bald head.

"This old man... admits defeat."

[Ding! Main quest: Defeat 'Jackie Chun' completed!]

[Points gained: +2000! Level-two shop access unlocked!]

[Title obtained: 'Earth's Strongest Martial Artist']

The entire venue fell silent enough to hear a pin drop, then erupted into cheers powerful enough to lift the roof.

Chen He stood amid the devastated arena, feeling the surging power within his body, but his gaze was fixed on the deeper reaches of the sky.

Before the champion's trophy had even warmed in his hands, the sky darkened completely.

A full moon, round enough to seem unsettling, pierced through the clouds and hung directly above the venue. Chen He had just been about to greet Goku when he noticed something was wrong with the kid's eyes.

"Goku, don't look at the sky!"

Chen He was too late. Goku's breathing instantly grew heavy, his pupils turned blood-red, his bones cracked with a teeth-grating sound, and coarse black fur burst through his skin.

"Roar—!!"

In less than ten seconds, Goku, who had been laughing and joking moments ago, transformed into a ferocious giant ape dozens of meters tall.

The venue became utter chaos. Spectators screamed and shoved their way toward the exits, while the giant ape casually smashed through the walls as if they were made of paper.

Chen He spat out the grass stem in his mouth, and his eyes turned completely cold.

Goku's combat power had increased tenfold in his Great Ape form, reaching at least 1,100. The savage pressure rolling off him made every Saiyan cell in Chen He's body leap with excitement.

"So you're serious? Fine, I'll play with you!"

Chen He turned into a streak of white light and charged straight at the colossal beast.

The Great Ape slammed down with one palm, instantly shattering the arena. Chen He darted through gaps in the rubble at high speed, driving his fist hard into the Great Ape's ankle—only to find the recoil numbing the web between his thumb and forefinger.

"Tch, that hide is thick!"

Chen He twisted back through the air and flipped several times. His Afterimage Fist left behind a row of phantom images, confusing the Great Ape's vision. Taking the chance, he circled behind it and shot forward like a cannonball, both hands clamping tightly around that thick brown tail.

"Break!"

Every muscle in Chen He's body bulged as he unleashed all his force, trying to recreate what had happened at Pilaf Castle.

But the next second, the Great Ape's tail whipped violently like a steel lash. An overwhelming force sent Chen He flying, smashing him heavily into the arena stands and kicking up dust that filled the sky.

"Damn it, the difference in strength is too huge!" Chen He crawled out of the ruins, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

[Note: He couldn't pull off the tail at this point because Goku's tail had also grown stronger during this year of training.]

The Great Ape opened its bloody maw, gathering white light within. It was an energy blast powerful enough to level an entire city.

"Old man! Stop standing around!" Chen He roared at Master Roshi, who had only just climbed to his feet in the distance. "I'll hold it back—find an opening and blast the moon to pieces!"

Master Roshi froze for a moment, then understood Chen He's meaning. His muscles swelled again as he brought his hands together.

"Roar!" Sensing the threat, the Great Ape swung its massive palm toward Master Roshi.

"Your opponent is me!" Chen He flashed beneath the Great Ape's eyes, both hands firing in rapid succession as several compressed ki blasts exploded across its face.

The instant the flames blocked the Great Ape's sight, Master Roshi's furious shout rang through the arena.

"Maximum power... Kamehameha!!"

A massive blue beam tore through the night sky, surging upward with unstoppable resolve.

In that instant, the white light eclipsed the moonlight.

A dull boom came from the heavens. The once-brilliant full moon was utterly shattered by that energy, breaking into countless sparkling fragments that scattered across the sky.

With the light source gone, the Great Ape's enormous body rapidly shrank. Its black fur faded away, and it finally turned back into that naked little brat, dropping with a thud into the center of the ruins and falling into a deep sleep.

Chen He leaned against the base of a broken wall, gasping for breath.

Looking at the devastated arena, he gave a self-mocking smile. "Winning a trophy is fucking exhausting."

He walked over to the sleeping Goku, took off his jacket, and tossed it over the kid.

"The mission's finally over."