"I didn't expect to face you in the very first match! Perfect. You are the ideal opponent for my redemption!" An older man sporting a magnificent afro stood across from Son Goku on the platform, his face brimming with confidence.
"Look, it's King Chapa again," Krillin muttered, his expression turning sympathetic.
"Isn't that the kid who took second place last time?"
"Yeah, he used to wear the Turtle School gi. Why the new look?"
"He's all grown up now!"
Spectators in the stands pointed and murmured, recognizing Goku from tournaments past.
"Contestants, begin!" the referee announced loudly.
Goku stood calmly, hands at his sides, simply observing King Chapa. The older fighter's face flushed with anger. "Hmph! Is that your stance? Don't play games with me! You'll regret underestimating a true martial artist!"
"Hah!" King Chapa launched his attack, his movements a flurry of practiced strikes—'baring fangs and brandishing claws'—that clearly marked him as a rare expert. The sheer momentum was impressive.
The result, however, was shockingly anticlimactic.
Goku lazily raised a hand and delivered a casual, almost dismissive backhand slap.
THWACK.
King Chapa's charge was halted instantly. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the mat, unconscious.
"Ah… he's… knocked out… Contestant Number Two… wins…" The portly referee stammered, a little stunned by the brevity of the bout.
"So strong… he knocked out King Chapa with one slap…" The other contestants watched in disbelief.
"What's the big deal?" the Strategist scoffed, looking around with disdain. "How could such a weakling withstand even a casual move from our boss?"
In the subsequent matches, Krillin, Yamcha, Tenshinhan, and the others all defeated their opponents in similarly swift fashion, securing their victories with ease. The only exception was Chaozu, who was blasted from the ring by a well-placed Dodonpa from Tao Pai Pai, crashing to the floor in a limp heap.
"Chaozu! Are you alright? Chaozu!" Tenshinhan rushed to his small friend's side, his face etched with worry.
"Heheh… I left him alive. Barely. Killing him would have gotten me disqualified, after all." Tao Pai Pai stood calmly, hands clasped behind his back.
"You… what did you say?!" Tenshinhan ground his teeth, fury boiling within him.
"Long time no see, Tenshinhan. Is Son Goku next?"
"Tao Pai Pai!" Goku's voice was flat as he glanced at the assassin before walking over to the fallen Chaozu.
"Heheh… finally noticed me, have you?" Tao Pai Pai's smile was smug.
"Master Tao… aren't you dead?" Tenshinhan asked, genuine shock in his voice.
"You think someone of my caliber dies so easily? Though I must admit, my 'recovery' was… protracted. It took considerable effort and expense to return."
Goku ignored him. He knelt beside Chaozu and gently waved a hand over the small psychic. A soft, milky-white light enveloped Chaozu's form. In an instant, his eyes fluttered open.
"Chaozu! You're okay!" Tenshinhan sighed with profound relief.
Krillin and the others stared at Goku, astonished. "Goku, when did you learn a technique like that?"
"Picked it up not too long ago," Goku replied casually.
"It is a remarkably practical skill," Tao Pai Pai conceded, though his tone remained smug. "However, I spent a small fortune on my own… upgrades. A fully artificial heart. It has multiplied my power several times over. Son Goku, you must make it through the preliminaries. I want you to fight me in the main tournament. I have a score to settle."
Goku made a shooing motion with his hand, his patience wearing thin. "Just get lost already. You're holding up the other matches."
"We'll see if you remain so cavalier then," Tao Pai Pai snorted, turning on his heel and striding away.
---
On another platform, Coola stood utterly motionless. When his opponent charged, he didn't even shift his stance. He merely flicked his barbed tail. The motion was a blur. His opponent was launched from the ring as if hit by a truck, landing in a heap outside the boundary lines, unconscious.
"Knockout! Contestant Number 21, Coola, wins!"
"That guy is seriously strong… Goku, can you beat him?" Krillin asked, his brow furrowed with concern as he watched Coola step off the platform. The pressure he gave off felt even more oppressive than Broly's had.
"How would I know without fighting him?" Goku replied, a fierce grin spreading across his face. He was buzzing with excitement now, itching to clash with Coola immediately. But if the other wanted to play this tournament game, he'd play along—for now.
The preliminaries continued. Goku and his friends dispatched their remaining opponents with effortless ease.
"Hah!" With a sharp cry, Chi-Chi delivered a spinning kick, sending her own opponent tumbling from the ring.
"Contestant Number 59, Chi-Chi, qualifies!"
"Wow, that girl is pretty strong!" Krillin noted, surprised.
"I never imagined that little girl would grow up to be so… cute," Yamcha added, looking Chi-Chi over with newfound appreciation. They'd all figured out who she was after Goku called her by name.
At that moment, two heavyset men stepped onto a nearby platform. One was short and round, his face hidden behind a mask. The other was a literal mountain of flesh and muscle.
"You've got to be kidding me! Why are my opponents always giants?" the masked, portly fighter—none other than the early-series 'hero' Yajirobe—grumbled, feeling immense pressure just looking at the human wall before him.
"Little man, I'm going to flatten you into a pancake!" the mountain of flesh boomed, looking down at Yajirobe with utter disdain.
The referee yelled, "Begin!"
The massive fighter didn't bother with technique. He simply leaped into the air, intending to crush Yajirobe beneath his bulk like a falling meteor.
"No way! You're really trying to squish me?!" Yajirobe panicked. There was no room to dodge. Don't let the size fool you—the giant was fast.
Left with no other option, Yajirobe did the only thing he could think of. As the giant descended, Yajirobe jumped up and delivered a desperate, full-force uppercut—straight to the groin.
"GYAAAAHHH!" The mountain of flesh emitted a scream of pure, unadulterated agony. He crashed to the mat, twitching violently, before finally passing out from the shock and pain.
After a ten-count from the referee, the giant still hadn't moved. Yajirobe, meanwhile, wriggled his way out from under the unconscious mass, thus securing his victory by default. He was lucky; unlike in the original timeline, he hadn't drawn the 'God'-possessed fighter.
"Alright! The preliminary rounds are now concluded! All qualifying contestants, please come forward to draw your lots for the quarter-final bracket!"
The atmosphere grew tense as the lots were drawn and the bracket was announced.
"Alright, everyone! The match-ups for the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament quarter-finals—a tournament already brimming with the promise of a storm—are set!"
"Match One: Tao Pai Pai versus Tenshinhan!"
"Match Two: Son Goku versus Chi-Chi!"
"Match Three: Krillin versus Yajirobe!"
"Match Four: Coola versus Yamcha!"
"No way! My opponent is that guy?!" Yamcha's face went pale. He looked like he might actually faint.