The azure Kamehameha surged toward Chiaotzu, who frantically fired a Dodon Ray back.
Dodon Ray!
The azure Kamehameha collided with Chiaotzu's Dodon Ray in midair, erupting in dazzling light. The clash between the energy waves was fiercely intense, but in the end, neither gained the upper hand; they were evenly matched.
Watching the battle in the sky, Son Goku cried out in surprise, "Wow, Chiaotzu, how can you fly?!"
Master Roshi explained, "That's the Crane School's Flight Technique. Naturally, that old birdbrain's disciples know it too."
Hearing this, Tien Shinhan gave a cold laugh and said to Master Roshi, "I didn't expect an old man like you to know so much about our Crane School."
Son Goku's gaze returned to Chiaotzu. Watching his Dodon Ray, he suddenly remembered something. "That move looks like the one Mercenary Tao used. I killed him before."
Tien Shinhan looked disbelieving at this. "How is that possible? How could you have killed Mercenary Tao!"
Son Goku retorted irritably, "Why couldn't I have killed Mercenary Tao!"
Tien Shinhan said no more and turned to leave. "Just wait until the match. You're dead!"
Hearing their exchange, Master Roshi couldn't help marveling inwardly. Son Goku's growth had truly exceeded his imagination.
On the tournament stage.
Chiaotzu took off his hat, revealing a bald head with just one hair, and rammed toward Krillin.
Ah!
Krillin cried out in pain after taking the hit. "I can use my head too!"
With that, he traded headbutts with Chiaotzu. But Chiaotzu's head was like diamond, and Krillin couldn't take it after a single clash. After that, he kept dodging.
Though Krillin kept dodging, his mind raced to devise a countermeasure. Chiaotzu's head attacks were powerful, but there was a brief pause after each strike. That was his opportunity. Krillin took a deep breath and decided to counter with a trick.
Before Chiaotzu's next attack came, Krillin suddenly charged forward, pretending he meant to clash head-on. Seeing this, Chiaotzu naturally wouldn't let the opportunity slip away and sped toward Krillin.
At the very instant they were about to collide, Krillin abruptly spun aside, avoiding Chiaotzu's attack. At the same time, he swiftly moved behind Chiaotzu and unleashed a fierce attack on his back with all his strength.
Caught off guard, Chiaotzu stumbled forward, but quickly steadied himself and turned to face Krillin. Their gazes clashed in midair, and both could sense how extraordinary the other was.
Son Goku watched without blinking from the spectator stands and couldn't help praising him. "Krillin's improved so much. He can find his opponent's weakness so quickly in battle."
Master Roshi nodded in agreement, a gratified gleam in his eyes. "Yes, this child's potential is finally beginning to show."
The battle grew fiercer and fiercer. Krillin and Chiaotzu both displayed their signature moves, dazzling flashes constantly erupting in the air and stirring up wave after wave of ki. They moved so fast that almost all anyone could see were two streaks of lightning darting through the arena.
After a fierce exchange, both were panting for breath, but neither was willing to show weakness first. Just then, a glint of resolve flashed in Krillin's eyes. He knew it was time to end this battle.
Krillin concentrated all his strength, clasped his hands tightly, and began gathering energy.
Seeing this, Chiaotzu refused to be outdone and began preparing his own ultimate move.
The two attacked almost simultaneously. Their powerful energy waves met in midair, producing a tremendous explosion that engulfed the entire stage in light.
Kamehameha!
Dodon Ray!
As the light gradually faded, everyone held their breath, waiting for the result.
On the stage, both Krillin and Chiaotzu lay on the ground, utterly exhausted, but Krillin raised his arm slightly, signaling that he still had a little strength left.
Thunderous applause erupted from the spectator stands, praising both contestants' splendid performances.
Tien Shinhan and Son Goku stepped onto the stage and helped Krillin and Chiaotzu up respectively. Son Goku smiled and said, "That match was amazing, Krillin!"
Tien Shinhan looked grimly at Son Goku and Krillin, then left the stage without a word.
The sun in the sky gradually sank westward, its golden afterglow spilling over the stage and illuminating every spectator's face, fixing the glory of this moment in their memories.
From then on, a World Martial Arts Tournament this spectacular would be hard to find again...
As that day's World Martial Arts Tournament drew to a close, Son Goku and his companions headed to the hospital to visit Yamcha, who had been following the tournament there through the live television broadcast.
Though Yamcha was delighted to hear of Krillin's victory, looking at his injured leg inevitably stirred a trace of frustration in his heart.
"Hey, Yamcha! We came to see you!" Son Goku rushed into the ward with a broad smile to share the good news.
The others followed one after another, gathering around Yamcha's hospital bed as cheerful voices and laughter filled the air.
"Congratulations, Krillin," Yamcha said to Krillin.
"Oh, haha, it was nothing! Hahaha..." Krillin rubbed his bald head and laughed happily.
Then everyone laughed, filling the ward with cheerful voices and laughter.
Amid this brief warmth, Son Goku suddenly changed the subject. "It's so strange. Where exactly is that training place Wumu wished for? I've searched all sorts of places these past two years and haven't found it. He didn't come to the World Martial Arts Tournament this time either. What a shame! I really wanted to settle who's stronger."
Master Roshi said in surprise, "You saw him again after that?"
"Yeah! He came to me for the Dragon Balls to wish for a training ground. That's what he said. Oh! Right, Grandpa! Wumu also asked me to give you his regards," Son Goku said innocently.
"I see. He truly is a very dedicated martial artist. Even I can't predict what he'll achieve in the future. I didn't expect him to still remember an old man like me." Master Roshi was filled with emotion.
"It's about time you all became independent too. Once this World Martial Arts Tournament is over, you should go out and gain some experience," Master Roshi advised.
Krillin and Yamcha exchanged excited looks, then nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, in stark contrast to the cheerful harmony around Master Roshi, the atmosphere around Master Shen was heavy and tense.
Learning that his younger brother, Mercenary Tao, had been brutally killed by Master Roshi's disciple, Master Shen's face turned livid. He instructed Tien Shinhan in a low voice, "Tien Shinhan! If you face them on the stage, show absolutely no mercy!"
"Yes!" Tien Shinhan answered firmly, but a trace of complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.
As Master Shen's disciple, he knew full well the responsibility he bore and his master's expectations. Yet in his heart, he had always clung to a pure pursuit of martial arts. What he longed for was not merely victory, but to explore the true meaning of martial arts through battle.
But under Master Shen's extreme teachings, he felt deeply conflicted and torn.
Like Chiaotzu, he had been taken in by Master Shen. In secret, they had carried out many undisclosed missions for him, all of those actions stemming from their profound gratitude toward Master Shen.