Chi-Chi looked at Krillin and asked,
"Krillin, those guys… are they the senior disciples you mentioned from Shaolin Temple?"
Krillin didn't dare meet her eyes. He just nodded timidly.
Chi-Chi frowned. "Krillin, why are you afraid of them?"
The two bald monks glanced at Chi-Chi and Goku, then at Krillin.
The taller senior disciple laughed loudly. "Ha! See? I told you—you're only fit to play with little kids!"
The chubby one chimed in, "Exactly. Don't make me laugh. Someone like you thinks he can still enter the Martial Arts Tournament?
Didn't I warn you? You'll never amount to anything!
Hey, Krillin—what number are you in the third bracket?"
Krillin whispered, "Number 93."
The tall senior's eyes lit up. "Hahaha! Perfect! You're my opponent—this is great!"
With that, the two seniors turned and left, tossing a final line over their shoulders:
"Hahahaha, Krillin—be sure to go easy on me later, yeah? Hahahaha!"
Krillin broke out in a cold sweat.
"When I was at Shaolin Temple, they bullied me all the time… I'm done for…"
Chi-Chi immediately encouraged him. "Krillin, don't be scared. Later, beat them up good!"
Krillin looked at her. Her eyes were full of sincere support, without a hint of pretense.
He was deeply moved. "Chi-Chi… thank you."
Goku patted Krillin on the shoulder. "Krillin, don't be afraid.
We're disciples of the world's number-one master—the Martial Arts God, Master Roshi.
If you run into that senior of yours, teach him a lesson for looking down on you."
Chi-Chi nodded too. "That's right. Remember, our teacher is Master Roshi.
Don't disgrace the Turtle School!"
Krillin looked seriously at the two of them.
Then he clenched his fists hard.
"Thanks for cheering me up. I'll do my best."
Just then, the referee announced,
"Next match—Third Bracket, contestants number 93 and 94, please step onto the stage!"
Krillin's mouth twitched. "No way… it's already my turn? I haven't even worked myself up yet!"
Chi-Chi and Goku both shot him supportive looks.
Krillin felt strength surge through him. He nodded firmly.
"I'll give it everything I've got!"
Soon, Krillin stepped onto the ring.
His skinny, tall former senior from Shaolin Temple also climbed up.
"It's been a whole year. Time to beat up little Krillin again—I'm itching for it!"
Off to the side, the chubby senior folded his arms smugly.
"So fast? Heh heh. That's the number-one fighter of our Shaolin Temple.
Krillin's going to be bedridden for ten days at least."
The skinny senior struck a ready stance. Krillin, too nervous, stood there blankly.
Seeing both on stage, the referee immediately called the start.
The skinny senior smirked, bellowed, and threw a fierce punch at Krillin.
That punch came in fast—but in Krillin's eyes, it slowed down countless times.
Eight months of hard training under Master Roshi wasn't for nothing.
Krillin simply shifted his body a little—a small, effortless motion,
like the careful adjustment you make while delivering milk so it doesn't spill.
And he dodged the punch.
Watching his old senior, Krillin saw him still frozen in the moment of his strike, not even realizing he'd missed.
In that instant,
Krillin saw countless openings on his former fellow disciple.
A spark of insight flashed through him. He seized the timing, stomped forward—
then drove a powerful kick straight into his senior's waist.
BAM!
The senior didn't even have time to react before he was launched backward.
His body slammed into the dojo wall.
CRACK!
He left a deep human-shaped dent in the wall.
Fine fractures spider-webbed outward from the impact.
The entire arena fell dead silent.
You could hear a pin drop.
No one even breathed.
Everyone stared at Krillin, forgetting how to inhale.
That kick… was terrifyingly strong.
Thud!
The skinny senior slid down from the wall.
Only then did people finally breathe again.
"So strong!"
"That kick was awesome!"
Krillin stared at his own hands in disbelief, like he still couldn't accept how powerful he'd become.
The senior who used to bully him every day
was no longer even close to his match.
Chi-Chi and Goku both grinned stupidly at the sight.
At that moment, the referee announced, "Number 93 wins!"
Krillin lit up. "Master Roshi trained us this hard?! I didn't even realize I'd gotten this strong!"
Chi-Chi nodded excitedly. "Yeah! Let's all keep it up!
I believe the three of us can definitely place high!"
"Yeah!"
Soon it was Goku's turn.
"Contestants number 70 and 75, please step onto the stage!"
After he climbed up, Goku stared at his opponent's frizzy Afro and went a bit dazed.
"Why does he look so familiar…?"
The Afro-haired fighter grinned wide and laughed.
"Hahaha, kid! Running into me means you've kicked an iron plate!"
Goku asked, "Oh? Who are you?"
The man planted his hands on his hips and cackled.
"Me? I'm the fighting champion of East City District—Satan!"
Goku blinked. "You're Satan?"
"What, you've heard my name and you're scared?"
With both fighters on stage, the referee hit the stopwatch and shouted,
"Match start!"
Goku shook his head. "Comedy contestants aren't allowed in this tournament!"
Satan froze. "What did you say?"
In the next instant, Goku rushed forward and snapped a flying kick.
Satan went soaring backward.
He slammed into the wall just like Krillin's senior a moment ago,
leaving a huge human-shaped dent behind.
"Contestant number 70 wins!"