"You want to fight against Tien?" Yamcha suddenly interrupted the tense conversation with a calm but amused voice. His eyes were fixed on King Chappa, who had been talking big about his power.
Yamcha's tone was serious and full of warning. "Sorry to say, King Chappa, but you are not strong enough to fight Tien or me. Even if your entire school attacks all at once, you cannot win against us."
King Chappa frowned. He felt his pride sting at Yamcha's words. This man was calling them weak—insulting not only Chappa himself but all his students. How dare this stranger talk like that without even knowing them?
Clasping his hands together to steady himself, King Chappa looked directly at Yamcha. "Can I have your name?"
Yamcha smirked confidently, pointing at himself. "My name's Yamcha. I am Master Roshi's student and Tien's friend."
King Chappa nodded slowly, a memory flickering in his mind. "I remember you... Master Tien broke your leg during the 22nd tournament."
At the mention of that painful moment, Yamcha's face tightened, but he quickly covered it with a cough and a wave of his hand. "Yes, I'm weaker than Tien, but I'm still stronger than you. Just like him, I can also defeat you. Your group doesn't stand a chance against us."
King Chappa's eyes darkened. His students were also growing angry; Yamcha's words hit them like a slap. Insulting their school, their training, their honor—Yamcha was going too far.
Taking a deep breath, King Chappa decided to end this disrespect first. Then he would fight Tien, one-on-one as planned.
He moved into a fighting stance, muscles tense, eyes sharp. He studied Yamcha's posture carefully. "Yamcha, if you believe I am weak, please show me what I am missing."
Yamcha shrugged lazily. "Fighting you alone won't pose a challenge. You cannot defeat me. If you want to cause me a little trouble, attack me together."
King Chappa's fist clenched tightly. His students, fueled by anger, stood up and surrounded Yamcha.
But King Chappa stayed calm, just like his master had taught him. He looked at Tien and asked politely, "Is it okay if we fight your partner first before I face you one-on-one?"
Tien nodded with a smile. This was perfect. He wanted to prove his strength to King Chappa, and if Yamcha could handle this group, then Chappa would believe in his strength.
Yamcha himself admitted that he was weaker than Tien, so if they couldn't even defeat Yamcha, then Tien was truly untouchable.
King Chappa's group wasn't weak, though. One strong fighter was hiding among them. Yamcha should be able to handle this, he thought.
Tien nodded, "Please go ahead; I do not mind."
King Chappa smiled grimly and gave a command, "Yamcha, you wanted us to attack together? Then that's what you will get. Everyone, attack using our trained formation!"
The whole temple moved in perfect harmony. Yamcha's eyes widened in surprise.
Every student attacked in a practiced formation—like a single, powerful machine made of many parts. Their movements were sharp, precise, and flowing like water.
Yamcha's heart beat faster. He had heard rumors of this technique—after King Piccolo's brutal attack years ago, Chappa's temple had trained hard to fight as one against stronger enemies.
Now they were putting it all to the test against him.
The students swarmed him from every side—left, right, above, and below. Blows rained down like a storm.
But Yamcha stayed calm. 'Too slow,' he thought with a grin. He dodged smoothly, weaving through their attacks like a shadow.
No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't touch him. Their coordinated strikes were impressive, but they lacked the power of Ki energy.
Yamcha began to counterattack, striking one by one. His fists and feet moved with sharp precision, each hit knocking a student unconscious.
The students fell like leaves in the wind, piling up around Yamcha.
King Chappa's forehead was slick with sweat. Even their teamwork, their best defense, was crumbling. If this continued, he feared, they wouldn't last long enough to face Tien.
Yamcha's voice cut through the chaos, cold and sure: "Give up, man. You can't win. Just accept defeat and join Tien's Kingdom."
Those words hit the students hard. Hope drained from their eyes. But one man's gaze flared with fire.
He dropped the group strategy and crouched low, muscles tense. His eyes sharpened like a hawk's.
Tien sensed the sudden rise in Ki. This was the fighter he had felt before—the one close to King Chappa's strength.
Before Tien could warn Yamcha, the man struck.
"King Chappa is our beloved ruler! You cannot take him away from us!"
A powerful fist slammed into Yamcha's kidneys. The surprise made his eyes bulge as pain exploded through his body.
Yamcha staggered back, gasping for breath.
King Chappa charged in immediately, followed closely by the man.
Yamcha cursed himself for ignoring the fighter's potential. Holding his sore sides, he used one hand to block their combined attacks.
"Huff... good shot. I didn't see it coming."
He panted but steadied himself.
"I remember your face," Yamcha said between blocks. "You once fought Master Roshi in the 21st tournament. Your name is Nam, right? You wanted to win the championship money to buy water for your village."
Nam nodded, his expression fierce despite the fight.
"So your village is under King Chappa's rule. That explains why you dress the same."
Yamcha's breath came harder as he fought back, but he listened carefully.
Nam's voice was serious, filled with honesty.
"I'm sorry for attacking suddenly. But King Chappa has made our village better. If he leaves, we will suffer drought and poverty again. I can't let you take away our king. I must fight."
Nam's attacks were desperate but full of strength. King Chappa's heart stirred at Nam's words, and his punches grew stronger.
What had started as a friendly spar had become a battle for survival—a fight for a village's future.
Tien watched in amazement, almost speechless.
Suddenly, flickering in and out between their attacks, Tien's form shifted. Six arms appeared from his body, moving faster than the eye could follow.
In an instant, he stopped Nam's, King Chappa's, and Yamcha's blows—all at once.
Everyone gasped at Tien's incredible power and calm control.
Tien stepped forward, his eyes steady and serious.
He had stopped their fight—and now, all eyes were on him.
Why would a master like Tien interrupt such an intense battle?
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker