THE OTHER WORLD SAGA


Chapter 7 - First Battles


Goku sighed as he rose up from his bedding. The Saiyan yawned within the confines of his reinforced cube-like hovel, stretching his arms, and cracking out the tension within his sore, scarred body.

It had been three months from the day he saw his 2nd child being born, and six months since his fated day of awakening his true power. He had spent the remaining three months honing that power, as well as pushing his body's stamina to the very limits of what he could handle, and transcending it time and again. He just hoped he trained enough to make a difference.

Despite having the last week to restore his worn and beaten frame, Goku still felt remnants of the sores lying within his limbs and chest. It was the day of the Tournament, and Goku wished he had a Senbu Bean to restore his health and stamina to tip-top shape. He couldn't remember how dependent he had been on those magically enchanted beans to make the difference in battle. Here, he had to recover naturally, which took much longer time while he was alive. He couldn't help but sympathize with the rationality of why his mother and father insisted on working themselves literally to death in their training. The fact their recuperation would happen within a much swift course of time, overrode the initial fear and loathing of having to die at all, given that they're already dead.

During his musing, he could smell the smoke that carried the scent of barbecue, causing all thoughts to melt away to the only thought that mattered to him: Food was ready to be consumed.

Stepping out of his cube-shaped hovel, Goku would be greeted by the welcoming aroma of atypical barbecue. What surprised Goku, was that his father was tending to the meal, rather than his mom.

Blinking a few times, he noticed that his mom was still inside her hovel, still fast asleep. It was odd, cause Goku noticed that his mother was a early riser and lately had been sleeping in a bit more within the last week he had been resting. Was she doing something he wasn't aware of?

"Oh, Kakarot, you're up," Bardock spoke with realization, his eyes momentarily catching Goku's perplexed ones. A slight smile worked on his face, as he spun the spit a bit a few more times over the fire before he added, "your mother's been busy working on a surprise for you. She told me not to tell until today, when she's awakened."

"Really? A present?" Goku brightened up at the idea of getting a gift, from his mother no less. As he took a seat next to his father, he saw him douse the fire and retrieve a knife, cutting some of the meat off and handing it to him, "must have been important if she spent the whole week making it."

"Hell yeah! She didn't train at all during this week we were supposed to recuperate. She just worked on her little project while you have been snoozing. Its not like I could sleep through it, due to me having the only pair of sensitive ears in this family," Bardock groaned aloud.

"I heard that!" Hanassia shouted from within her hovel, walking out with her eyes half-lidded from sleep deprivation, "and I don't snore loudly!"

"Yes you do," Bardock spoke in a deadpan defiance.

"NO I DON'T!" Hanassia raised her voice, louder than necessary, with eyes widened with sudden undignified rage overcoming her senses.

"WOMAN, I SPEAK THE TRUTH WHEN I SAY YOU SNORE LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE!" Bardock yelled back, violent twitches of protruding veins sprout from his forehead as he stood up, turning himself to raise a fist towards his enraged wife.

"I CAN'T HELP IT IF YOU'RE A LIGHT SLEEPER!" Hanassia snarled out, waving her own fists as a violet-white aura burst from her skin, just as a blue-white aura burst from Bardock in retort. The whole mountain shook, and the campsite rattled from the fury placed within their energy output, almost out of control.

Goku felt compelled to step in between the fight, leaping in between the two as the meat on the spit nearly rattled off the sticks holding it up, and the foundation beginning to weaken, "Mom, dad! Please stop! You're going to collapse the mountain if you don't control yourselves!"

The two parents exchanged glares for longer than their son appreciated. After an uncomfortable silent rattling of the mountain, their auras defused, in sync with the two of them turning their backs childishly to each other. Hanging his head exasperatedly, Goku scratched the back of it as he approached his mom, trying to change the mood.

"Hey, mom, I've been noticing that you have been working on something lately. Can I see what it is?" Goku asked timidly, sheepishly smiling at the simmering mother of his.

With a exhale through the nostrils, Hanassia allowed a satisfied smile to breach her cross face, "Well, I was working on something as a sign of being such a good student, despite all the punishment I put you through. Follow me."

Turning upon her heels, she marched into her hovel, parting the cloth doorway briefly to allow Goku to enter. Upon entry, Goku noted most of the interior was as spartan as the rest. Filled with nothing but a few tools hanging from the walls, a cot on the ground, and what looked like a blanketed covering what Goku surmised to be his surprise that his mother and father had mentioned.

As his mom knelt down, she unraveled it slowly, admiring her work as the blanket uncovered something that took Goku's breath away. It looked to be fully polished, crafted Saiyan armor, with custom knitted fabrics and boots to match the sleeveless breastplate.

"Mom...you worked the whole week on this?" Goku felt overwhelmed with gratitude, as he looked over at his mom with a big smile.

Putting her hands on her hips, Hanassia visibly puffed up her armored chest with pride, as she smiled back at her son, "Looks good, doesn't it?"

"It looks fantastic! I love it!" Goku spoke thankfully, his arms reaching out and hugging his mother tightly.

It had just occurred to both mother and son that this was the first time ever exchanged a moment of affection to each other. While Hanassia's eyes widened with shock, not quite sure what to do, she felt her arms slowly slide up Goku's back and hug him just as tightly. Goku on the other hand, had never been held by a mother, even as a child.

Despite the whole year of aggression and intense training, the Saiyan found it...soothing...almost like how he felt when he held Chi-Chi, but moreover felt a sense of belonging in the older Saiyan woman's arms.

Clearing her throat, Hanassia let go of Goku as he did, motioning quickly towards the armor with insistence as she headed out of the hovel, "Get dressed, young man! We have a Tournament to head to!"

"Right!" Goku said with acknowledgement, before raising his eyes with surprise at the haste of his mother leaving the hovel so quickly. Was she embarrassed, he could only guess. With a shrug, he began taking off his clothes within the enclosed square-shaped hovel and began adorning the armor and attire that his mother made for him.

As Hanassia joined Bardock's side to dig into the meat, the Saiyan mate of hers arched a brow of surprise at her. He could see a glistening sparkle of refracted moisture crawling down her face, trickling from her eyes.

"You okay?" Bardock asked softly, feeling compelled to do so due to the rarity of this situation.

"I...forgot what it was like to hold my children, Bardock, that's all," Hanassia spoke with a ragged sigh, wiping her face with her red sleeves, as she peeled a good amount of tenderized meat for her to devour off the spit, "I wonder...I wonder if Raditz ever wanted a hug from me?"

"Change of heart on how you feel for the two of them, huh?" Bardock asked with a wry grin, taking a bite from a large thigh before swallowing it in one successive gulp, "is it because Kakarot's been rubbing off on you?"

"I still feel the same, Bardock, but, its like something inside hurts for the first time," Hanassia reached up and grabbed a hold of her armor, looking solemnly down at the simmering campfire below the spit, "its as if I forgot I had a heart and suddenly feel it beating inside me. The way Kakarot seems to bring a cheer to our dreary lives feels comforting. The fact that he was raised by the very people he was sent to destroy was a bit unbelievable when I first heard it, but...comforting...to know that someone cared enough for my child that he would put aside his natural urges to do what he was meant to do. He truly is passionate in everything he does, just like a Saiyan would be. But his feelings for his family are so genuine, which is what gives him the drive to push past all the pain and misery we've put him through."

Bardock nodded, having stopped eating himself, as his eyes drew themselves to the fire as well. After a long silence, he spoke up as well, "I saw that desire to continue behind his eyes, the same desperation I had when I faced Frieza. He's nothing like Raditz. He does everything selflessly and acts to protect without any thought of what the consequences would be. He proved that by breaking the veil around Other Space and smacked that Bojack guy."

"And yet, Raditz has never been so motivated on training than he has in the last few years I've known him. Ever since he and Kakarot engaged each other, he'd look as if he was staring down his goal. He wants to prove that he's stronger than his little brother, and now is determined to push himself much harder than him. That's probably why he hasn't shown up in the last six months," Hanassia spoke lowly, wringing her hands together as she thought of her eldest son, having no contact with them purposely the entire time.

"Well, he'll show up to the Tournament. It'd be a total waste if he didn't show up just because he slept in or forgot what day it was today," Bardock spoke with finality, standing up to his feet with a sigh, kicking dirt into the fire to douse it, "so expect him to show up either late or the last minute."

"I guess you're right," Hanassia smiled a bit, enjoying the fact that her mate could allow her to speak her mind. Standing up, she grasped half of the meat off the spit and practically inhaled it, gulping hard, as she sighed in effect, "can't let this go to waste, then!"

"Hey! What about me?!" A startled cry emerged from the Hanassia's hovel, as Goku stepped out with a horrified expression at seeing the food eaten so quickly.

As Bardock and Hanassia turned, they took a few moments to truly admire Goku's appearance.

Standing there, Goku wore a sleeveless Saiyan armored breastplate, colored in black with orange lines bordering the intricate curves and angles of the metallic surface. On either forearm, he sported a pair of blue-black braces, matching the blue belt wrapped around his waist. A pair of black leggings with orange highlights stretched down to a pair of black-orange armored boots.

A wry grin crawled upon Bardock's face, as he elbowed his mate to knock her out of her stupor at seeing Goku wearing Saiyan trappings.

"You look good, son. I bet you can win the whole Tournament without that getting a scratch on that," Bardock nodded to him with approval, wrapping his arms around his chest as he observed Goku's newfound attire.

"Hahaha, if only Tournaments would go that smoothly!" Goku laughed at the thought, knowing full well how often his attire had fallen prey to destruction from the intensity of his battles. He knew that even the Saiyan armor that Bulma made for him held up well, but even it didn't go without being torn and beaten from the sparring sessions he had with Gohan during his time in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

"Well we don't have any fancy factories around here, so I had to make the armor a little bit denser. You won't have as much flexibility, but I'm sure with your strength you won't be able to notice the weight change," Hanassia gestured towards Goku's armor enrapturing his torso and on his arms, "it'll provide better protection if you imbue your energy into it for certain. Any lesser material would become brittle or tear, but I made sure it was compatible to a Super Saiyan's power."

"It'll certainly be nice to have a little extra protection. I'm sure to get used to it," Goku nodded with a smile, gripping his fists in emphasis of his excitement.

"Well, dive into the food while its still hot," Hanassia gestured to the spit, to which Goku didn't hesitate in lunging at to rip the tenderized and barbecued food as fast as he could in order to devour it as swiftly as possible, "after this, we're heading straight to the Grand Kai's planet. And onto the Tournament, at long last..."


It didn't take long for Goku to finish eating, which allowed the trio of Super Saiyans to take off towards the Grand Kai's planet.

As they left the planet's surface, they noted hundreds of auras ignited across the sky as they flew towards the legendary home of the most powerful of the Kais. Each one with their own individual signature, making them uniquely set apart to the others, as well as having their own colors. It looked both intimidating and majestic, as Goku felt a good fraction of them having power that made him feel wary of the competition and their zeal to enter.

When they arrived, Goku saw that the planet was most populated around the immense mansion. As they touched down near the beginning of the line, he noted that a great portion of the contestants stepped back from the three noticeable beings landing on the planet's surface. Goku looked around, seeing most of the fighters to be unrecognizable, but certainly recognized him.

"Look! Its Son Goku! The one who escaped Other World and clobbered Bojack!"

"Isn't that Bardock, the Super Saiyan? He must be his father, look at their resemblance!"

"Its the fierce family of Super Saiyans!"

As the murmurs continued, Goku felt a bit uncomfortable being at the center of everything. Normally he had been overlooked by the masses, but this time around, he couldn't escape the gazes of all proximate contenders. Some looked uneasy, others looked curious, and some didn't bat an eye towards his direction. He could feel tension in the air, as he felt signatures from fighters of Heaven and Hell mingled together, barely restraining themselves at starting a conflict.

Even on sacred soil under the watchful eyes of the Kais themselves, the restlessness wouldn't be able to last much longer without incident.

Thankfully, a friendly face approached Goku's direction. Walking forward with a smile of relief at finally finding his surrogate grandson, "There you are, Goku. For a few minutes here, I thought I'd be wandering across this whole planet and never find you."

"Hey, Grandpa!" Goku spoke with a cheerful tone, glad to find someone who wasn't staring at him awkwardly. As he bent down and hugged the short, elderly human, he felt his parents looking over his shoulders at the small being and himself. Standing upright, Goku cleared his throat, waving his arms towards his mother and father respectively, "Grandpa Gohan, I'd like to introduce you to my parents. Mom, Dad, this is my adopted grandfather, Gohan."

"Uh, hello there," Hanassia spoke with a hesitant smile, not sure if she should wave or shake his hand. Seeing the elderly man bow in greeting, she copied him in a hasty manner, causing the old man to chuckle.

"I see you don't socialize much. Not like there are many decent folk like yourself down there," Grandpa Gohan spoke with a smile.

"Trust me, we're really not that decent," Bardock spoke plainly, before adding with a smirk, "so you're the man who raised our son? You're not what I expected, when he spoke of the Earth's strongest warrior."

"Looks can be deceiving, or so they say," Grandpa Gohan retorted pleasantly, before he squinted his eyes mischievously in return, "but you're Goku's father? I expected you to be taller..."

"His name is Kakarot, and I'm not short!" Bardock huffed, crossing his arms in retort, even as his mate snickered at him, "the only short ones of our race are those born with the stupid, repetitive name of Vegeta!"

"Huh, isn't it kind of confusing to name everyone the same name as you? What does that make Vegeta's dad, then? The second, fourth?" Goku inquired, scratching his head at the idea of Vegeta being a byproduct of bad naming.

"I could really care less," Bardock rolled his eyes as he unfolded his arms.

"Hmph, not much of a talker, eh? Well that's fine, I was just on my way to my seat," Grandpa Gohan smiled politely, bowing to the couple as he turned his gaze back at his surrogate grandson.

"Wait, you're not competing, Grandpa?" Goku asked with wide eyes of disbelief, having known his grandfather to be an exceptional fighter.

"No. I'm quite content in watching you progress in this Tournament. I'm certain if I ever entered, we'd eventually cross each other, and you'd be the undeniable winner," Grandpa Gohan spoke with an acknowledging smile, "my time fighting is over. I'm sure to enjoy watching you compete, and show me just how much stronger you've become."

"I will Grandpa, I promise," Goku spoke with a warm smile, bending down and hugging the old man, before he parted ways with the rest of them to the edge of the crowd.

It wasn't long until Hanassia asked Bardock, dispelling any noticeable silence between the three family members, "Expect any reunions this time around?"

"Are you kidding? Considering how many countless people that we, uh, met in our, there is bound to be someone here to recognize me," Bardock spoke with a vague acknowledgement, not really wanting to bring up his career of manslaughter and genocide in front of his ethically grounded son.

Then, a voice suddenly emanated from Bardock's backside, fulfilling his prediction of an encounter.

"Yeah, too bad it took you twenty years to do so," the voice of Tora spoke aloud, flanked by three memorable comrades, as he smiled wryly at Bardock. As he got the veteran leader of their squad to turn around with widened eyes of surprise, "long time no see, Bardock."

"T-Tora!" Bardock's took a moment to see his long lost friend and comrade in arms, standing right before him. Because how vast Hell's landscape was, Bardock had always wondered how he never saw his teammates along there beside him. He once entered the special territory of King Vegeta's, with all his mindless subordinates and minions groveling before his feet, he didn't see any sign of them being remotely close to its crevices. And yet, he saw Tora, Borgos, Shugesh, and Fasha, standing before him and visibly stronger than he last saw them.

"You're all here!" Bardock couldn't help but smile at seeing them all and with a fiery fighting spirit, "I can't help but notice you're power has increased. I can feel it, just by seeing it in your eyes."

"Better than relying on those junky Scouters, that's for sure," Borgos chuckled.

"I dunno. They were kind of stylish and made us look official," Shugesh commented offhandedly, scratching his chin with emphasis.

"More like they made us look like complete tools AND fools. They're kind of obsolete, given how everyone in this world who's a fighter can sense energy," Borgos retorted.

"Before you guys keep bantering, I need to settle something with our dear, fearless leader," Fasha spoke sharply, fixating a glare at Bardock.

Bardock didn't even have the chance to make eye contact with the only female of his squad before he felt a stinging slap hit across his scarred cheek. She had moved too fast and surprisingly left an angry welt on his his face, something to remind him of her indignant rage.

"That was for leaving us behind, before and after we died!" Fasha snarled out, baring her teeth as she balled her extended fist towards her Ex Squad Captain.

"Strong arm, just like I remember it," Bardock winced as he reached up to feel the pulsing, reddened flesh that Fasha left on his face with his finger tips.

Fasha then grabbed him by his armor's shoulder wraps with both hands, saying with a sudden, husky tone, "And this, is thanks for showing us the real strength of the Saiyan race!"

What transpired caused nearly all eyes to widen and jaws to drop. Goku was surprised, as he saw Fasha pulling Bardock down into a rough, passionate kiss, which was returned with earnest vigor. Even Hanassia's eyes looked like windows at seeing Fasha's brazen action, not sure how to react as the make out session extended for a good period of time.

But soon enough, Hanassia shook her head and cleared her throat, breaking the blissful moment of mutual attraction to a close, "I have to admit, Fasha, that took a lot of balls to do that. Especially in front of me. But I'd tread lightly on attempting to repeat such a openly brazen action upon my mate," briefly, Hanassia gutturally growled and seemed to permeate a dark aura of menace towards the short haired female Saiyan, "or you'll see why I was considered the strongest female warrior of our race!"

"Deal," Fasha raised her hands in submission, despite the wry smile on her face, "though that title may be debatable, once this Tournament is over. You might say, I'm the strongest one now."

"Then I'll just have to see it to believe it, now won't I?" Hanassia growled as she locked eyes with Fasha, glaring to the point where the hostility was palpable.

Goku backed up from the frightening display, hoping to not be dragged into his father's predicament of being in between two pissed females. Instead, he felt a familiar warmth wash over him, as a pair of two smooth blue arms wrapped around his neck playfully, as Aosai hovered behind him with a friendly smile on her face, "Found you."

"Hey there, Aosai," Goku spoke with a nonchalant attitude, turning around to face Aosai, whom landed in front of him with her attire befitting her contesting position, "here to wish me luck?"

"Actually, I've come to ask you something," Aosai's smile suddenly dropped, as her eyes look behind Goku's shoulders for something. Unsurprisingly to her, she didn't see anyone else but his Saiyan parents, and Bardock's squad. With a heavy sigh, she hung her head, causing her orange hair to flourish over her face like a dramatic curtain, "have you seen your brother? I can't seem to find him anywhere on the planet!"

"Really?!" Goku's eyes widened with genuine surprise, cupping his chin as he looked down, thinking what he could be doing, "he could still be resting from his latest training session. That's probably why he's late..."

"Well, he's keeping me in suspense!" Aosai reeled back, her hands dragging down her face as her hair whipped back over her shoulders, groaning as she stared at Goku with depression, "it pains me to think there's another hunky Saiyan like you out there, not taken, ready to be plucked like a fresh radish by my delicate hands!"

"I'm sure he'll turn up soon," Goku tried to encourage the Herasian, raising his hands to reel her back to the present, "after all, he's been training harder than even I have, and all on his own. His zeal to win might be as strong as mine, too, even if its for his own reasons."

"I guess I'll have to take your word for it," Aosai said, as she sighed with resignation.

Thankfully, Aosai's depression and Goku's anxiety would be put to rest, as a familiar aged Kai hovered above the masses, flanked by the other four Kais.

"ATTENTION Y'ALL WATCHERS AND PARTAKERS, YOUR WAIT IS OVER!" The Grand Kai's voice suddenly boomed out, taking a much grander tone while retaining his nonchalant attitude, "ARE YOU READY TO GET THIS STARTED?!"

A unified roar of enthusiasm broke across the planet's surface, shaking the foundation and sending a dramatic Kiai into the atmosphere. This caused the Grand Kai to chuckle, as he could feel the crackling energy released from the fighters, releasing their pent-up aggression and impatience all in one go. Whatever happens afterwards, he knew he'd remember this day fondly.

"Now, kindly form a single line through the gate," the Grand Kai instructed, as his mansion's gates swung open with a wave of his hand, "and follow me into ma crib! I'll show you to the arena and the stadium! Now let's hustle!"

As the Grand Kai and the Four Kais landed upon the ground, the masses began to follow suit and form a large ten man wide line as they traversed across the massive estate grounds and up the stairs towards the ominously dark interior of the mansion. As they walked, they all would feel a sudden chilling sensation. It was as if they were descending into a dark hole, slowly sapping the light and warmth, but hovering just above freezing temperature. While the majority of the soon-to-be audience of Heaven and Hell were close to shivering out of their figurative boots, most of the fighters barely noticed it.

"Huh, now this is odd," Goku noted aloud, as Aosai walked next to him in the near pitch black tunnel.

"What, the fact that this tunnel seems to be longer and deeper than the mansion the Grand Kai lives in? Or is the fact that he built a tunnel in his house at all with no lights is strange?" Aosai asked with a teasing tone, raising a hand and creating a green edged, white sphere up, making a clear light for them and the forward walking contestants were moving.

Goku shook his head, furrowing his brows as he explained, "No, I feel this ticklish sensation as I'm walking through this place. It reminds me of the times I'm using the Instant Transmission technique. I...think we're moving through a spacial doorway into another realm."

"Incredible," Aosai murmured, enamored by the subtle tingling feeling she got across all of her nerves, lying underneath the cold aura the tunnel held, "no wonder the Grand Kai agreed to a year's preparation. He must have been fastening a doorway to the stadium he's talking about, cutting straight through the dimensional fabric and into another realm we've yet to know about."

"This guy would probably make a great Hyperbolic Time Chamber," Goku spoke aloud with a smile of dawning, understanding what the Grand Kai was now fully capable of.

"The what-what chamber?" Aosai asked with a confused look.

"Its a place that I trained in. Sealed behind a door, its a world that's warm, with heavy gravity, and is completely white and endless into the horizon. Entering it for a whole day can get you a whole year's worth of training," Goku explained with a smile, emphasizing his descriptions with his hands, as Aosai's light illuminated his figure.

Enamored by what Goku described, she couldn't help but feel jealous. Goku had been through so many trials and tribulations few of any species would be privileged to undertake or experience. He gained strength rivaling galactic tyrants and mettle with infamous legendary barbarians. She could only wonder if her own battle prowess and experience would be enough to fight on even terms with the Saiyan hero of the Northern quadrant.

She only hoped that his brother had a similar appeal, that'd make him equally if not more attractive than the passionate hero walking next to her.

"Hey, the entrance is up ahead!" Goku pointed out towards a large elliptical shaped doorway of light only a dozen meters away. As the two of them, followed by the crowd, they finally passed through the fabric of light and would be greeted by an impressive sight.


To say that the Stadium space that was created by the Grand Kai was impressive, would be an understatement. What Goku and the rest of the flooding sea of bodies would see would be an enormous sky of stars, proximate planets and moons, hanging just above their heads. It seemed to stretch on and on forever, as if they truly were in the middle of the edge of an unknown Universe.

The ground they walked on was made of fresh grass, all watered and tended to, seemingly on a daily basis. Surrounding them was the endless rows of seats for the audience, that seemed to stretch up for a good kilometer at an angular position. At the center of the stadium lied a square shaped arena, stretching nearly an entire mile from one corner to the other.

The Grand Kai and the other four Kais were already seated at a large, fancy viewing box just above the entrance and exit of the arena, and their pocket dimension they were current within. Noticeably, a meter tall barrier, walled off and separated at for corners, had a special banner along the face of the blue walling of four types of titles: North, West, East, and South Galaxies.

As Goku walked forward, the immense flow of to-be audience goers and contenders filled the grassy field within a matter of minutes, awaiting instruction from the head of the Tournament.

"Welcome to the Other World Tournament!" The Grand Kai bellowed, standing up from his red-gold colored throne and waved his arm out to the people just below his gaze, "as you may have already noticed, I have separated all four Galaxies into four areas. Each of these areas, for contenders of Heaven or Hell, go to their designated areas of free roam. I don't care if ya got a problem with somebody or if that person is from Hell, I will NOT tolerate infighting among spectators. Starting a fight will result in an immediate BAN from the Tournament. The rest of ya who came here just to watch this Tournament of the ages, just head up and claim a spot on the Tournament stands above. This will be a long Tournament, as I have chosen one thousand contenders, half from Hell and half from Heaven just to mix things up, so that will make the first round nearly five hundred matches. If for any reason any of you want to take a break and grab a few winks back at Other World, please do so. We have concessions and lots of food provided by yours truly, and given to the contenders at a halftime break in between each round. Now, is there any questions?"

A brief silence ensues the masses, as it seemed no one had a real problem with it. Sure, there may be some animosity between each other, but all tension would be relieved in the ongoing matches.

Then, a familiar green-camo-colored arm raised up into the air, followed by a haughty tone, "Would you care to tell everyone what kind of prize awaits for the one who wins the Championship? I'm sure we're all dying to know, hahahaha!"

As Cell's joke erupted, a collection of laughs also ensued, as the pun was found hilarious to most of them nearby. Others remained silent, but curious, as mutterings began as the Grand Kai contemplated his answer.

When he found one, he spoke deadpan serious to the lot, "The winner of this Tournament can be given a choice: Be trained by me or gain a life back within the Living Universe."

As the crowd began to fall into an uproar, the Grand Kai with cane in hand, slammed it down loud enough to usher a silence among the murmuring denizens of Other World once more, "This is my final decision! I don't want any objections or infighting over this. If I see that the fighter of the one thousand participating is worthy, I shall give him or her the choice that's rightfully theirs. If they aren't, they get no prize at all, so be mindful all of you how you attain each victory within this Tournament. Do I make myself clear?"

A much longer, forced silence ensued over the masses, satisfying the Grand Kai with their mutual acknowledgement.

"Now, anymore questions?" The Grand Kai asked once more, noting none raised their hands, for fear or lacking desire to inquire further, "good. Now, please everyone go to your seats and I'll get this party started!"

With that said, the stadium floor moved towards their designated spots, with non-combatants moving up the various staircases up the enormous rows of stands, while the combatants vaulted and walked into their specified areas of each galactic quadrant. Goku had a parting smile and wave to Aosai, as he was reunited with his family and Bardock's squad as they ventured towards the northernmost area of the stadium. It also happened to be right beneath the Kais' viewing box, seemingly too coincidental in Goku's mind.

None-the-less, soon everyone was within their designated spots, and awaiting the starting of the Tournament.

All eyes turned towards an aerial, hovering screen as a loud beeping was heard, as a series of names rushed between the top and bottom slots, randomizing the results.

Within but a few moments, the results came up in bold golden letters on the matte screen...

BOJACK, THE UNBOUND

VS

SON GOKU

King Kai, having but a few moments to sip some tea, suddenly found it spraying out of his mouth, "WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE SUPREME?! Goku vs Bojack?!"

"Oh my," South Kai trembled, not eager at being such a close proximity to the fierce some brute again, especially in the form he was in, "this isn't good."

"This can't be happening by coincidence!" The East Kai, trying to shake her head that the machine would happen to choose Goku and Bojack, for the first fight no less!

"We're all going to die! We're all going to die!" The West Kai ducked his head, putting his hands atop it, hoping that the nightmare would go away.

The majority of the crowd was also in an uproar. It was almost like history was repeating itself, with Bojack having died at the hands of a Super Saiyan, and having fought several of them, each of them wounding him severely before being erased from life. With the realization that it was Goku who managed to land a good punch in, the crowd felt excited, and all began to shout in anticipation, wanting to see the fight in action themselves.

Bardock, however, wasn't amused by the Kais' reactions just a good hearing distance away from him, "Great support, Kais. After all, if Kakarot can't stop him, there's no guarantee that Bojack won't screw this stadium over."

However, blissfully ignorant of the whole ordeal, with a wide smile on his face was Goku. He couldn't be more excited at the prospect of facing Bojack, especially within a fair, competitive light. While he still didn't condone his actions in life, he still hoped to test the limits of his abilities against him, regardless. With an eager fist-palm gesture, Goku shouted aloud, "Alright! My turn first!"

"Good luck, Kakarot!" Hanassia spoke with a smile, throwing a fist up in gesture of confidence to Goku.

"Kick his ass!" Bardock spoke in succession, causing his son to smile back.

"Don't worry, this will be a great fight!" Goku spoke with promise, waving his hand back at his parents as he ascended into the air, flying towards the arena.

Upon touching the center of the tiled arena, a pair of large feet touched down on the opposite area. As Goku raised his eyes, it met the cold, blue eyes that Bojack stared back at. It felt like staring at Cell, magnifying the sheer barbaric nature within his aura. No doubts in Goku's mind this would be a real fight on his hand, even if wasn't going to be the toughest.

"Its been awhile since I've broken some bones," Bojack spoke with profound confidence, as his body began to be drenched in a dark violet-black aura. His clothes shimmered with the intensity of which he brought his strength up to near all of his potential in his base form, flourishing his body with power and strength, as he put his senses on high alert for the warrior who caught him off guard that fated day, "it'll be a supreme pleasure to snap the bones of the Champion of the cowardly gods, Son Goku!"

"Well yeah? Sorry about the broken jaw I gave you. Hope you're not too mad about that," Goku spoke in a dark tone, smiling back in a taunting manner towards his opponent.

"HA! Like I care about a simple sneak attack. It just proves how low the gods must have sunk to find a coward like you to work on their behest!" Bojack sneered towards the Saiyan across from him.

"Only thing more cowardly than me blindsiding you would be targeting my wife," Goku glared heatedly, his eyes shining emerald and his hair moving vertical, as a golden aura suddenly enraptured Goku upon instinct, sending a blistering wind and crackling thunderclap of force from his body's thrumming, powered body, "Let's try to leave bygones in the past life, okay? I'd rather just have some fun in the Tournament."

"Well too bad for you, Goku," Bojack chuckled darkly, as he raised his fists up in a forward aggressive stance, pivoting one foot behind the other, "I don't plan on this being enjoyable for you. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging for me to kill you!"

"Go ahead and try! I'm itching for you to see what I'm capable of," Goku spoke with a challenging tone, lowering his body forward while assuming his favored martial arts stance, as he awaited his battle to start.

And then, the sign above them beeped loudly, signaling the beginning of the battle.


Within an instant, the two clashed, meeting each other's elbows with a vicious smash. The force that was projected sent a deafening shockwave that rumbled across the vast stadium and electrified the durable title plating of the ring beneath their feet.

Breaking from their hold, their bodies would phase out of view, and thrust up into the air with telltale streaks of gold and violet leaving their bodies, as they began to smash into each other over and over again. Bright flashes of lightning trailed from their points of contact, as the energy seemed to exude a lot more wildly than normal, even for a battle of this caliber.

However, whenever the tendrils of energy cracked close to the barriers and beyond to the stadium seating, a transparent field of protective energy dispelled the harmful properties immediately. With the sign of protection, instilled by the Grand Kai no less, the audience and contenders alike began to enjoy the battle, without the fear of being dragged into it.

As they soared across the sky, they would inexplicably disappear from view, only to reappear in various spots of the sky. They left a trail of visible distortions that would've crushed entire mountains and cities within their wake. Due to the unique circumstances of the ring and how the Tournament was created, nothing would stop them from fighting to their fullest capabilities. No control needing to be placed into attacks so the planet beneath them would not be destroyed. It was all free game, and they both intended to use it to the fullest ability.

Reappearing out of their super-sped clash, Goku appeared just below a massive punch, double palm-heeling into Bojack's gut, causing a powerful reverberation of thunderous force to emit from his palms. The shockwave alone that struck the ground rattled the stadium to its tolerance before it dispelled the kinetic energy within a series of visible electrical crackles. Bojack's body pinwheeled across the open air of the stadium, striking the erect barrier placed near the west side of the stadium, leaving a visible imprint like a ripple on an ocean, before bouncing him back into an outstretched kick into his face.

"HRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Goku roared out, as a visibly golden aura of Ki exuded from his fist, as he drove it into Bojack's face. The force was enough to wrap Bojack in an electrifying golden aura, before a magnanimous explosion of energy emitted from his body, thrusting him directly into the barrier flat, painfully crunching against its intangible surface.

Bojack could hardly believe that Goku was putting up so much of a fight. Did he really train that hard over the past six months? He knew he hadn't adopted the form that broke his jaw with a single punch, but he didn't feel it. Instead, this form that was lacking the sheer fierceness and vibrant thrumming force he knew Vegeta and Gohan adopted, this form had an unusual reserve of energy. He could only wonder how his Super Saiyan form could be this strong?!

"What's wrong, Bojack? Run out of fight already?" Goku spoke with a taunting smile, his arms crossing over his chest as he stared back at Bojack's grimacing form, "is this really all the power you have? Surely you can bring a bit more to the surface, right?"

"Shut up, trash!" Bojack snarled out, his body igniting with a violet-black aura once more, as he charged towards Goku like a mad bull, "I'll show you the true meaning of carnage!"

Rushing faster than Goku anticipated, Goku is caught within a clothesline, as Bojack accelerated up high into the spacial sky. It wouldn't be long before the two came within contact with a red-dust covered world, its gravity accelerating Bojack's momentum, and allowed him to plow Goku into its surface. Within the impact, however, nearly the entirety of the planet's facing surface indented and cracked, discharging fissures of red sediment and soil up into the air, followed by violet flames from Bojack's own energy, segmenting into the planet.

KRAK-KOOM! "HAAAAAAA!" Bojack roared out, as he raised a violet lit fist and struck it straight into Goku's chest, causing an enormous explosion in his wake. As Goku's body seemed to flow through the planet's core and out the other side within seconds, the entire planet exploded in a brilliant light, despite it only suffering two impacts.

As Goku's body sprawled into space, Bojack couldn't help but grin maliciously and shout boastfully.

"I've destroyed countless worlds with my bare hands! No charade or gods to hold me back now!" Bojack laughed aloud maniacally, as he pulled back his arms over his head, forming a white-emerald sphere of volatile energy, crackling with instability and priming charge.

Goku, however, was already moving back with deft speed, leaving a trail of roaring golden light. As if a star itself was aiming to strike the terror of Eastern Galaxy, Goku form zeroed in on his enemy, with reared hands in preparation.

"DIE!" Bojack roared out, as he discharged an enormous blast of emerald-white energy, consuming nearly a mile in diameter, as it flew into Goku's flight path. Bojack didn't see the dozen planets and moons that he wiped out within an instant. In fact, Bojack was so concerned creating such an inescapably large blast of energy, he blinded himself to the thought there would be no way for Goku dodge or counter his full power energy blast.

Instead, Bojack found himself gasping aloud, as he saw the Super Saiyan burst from the enormous head of his blast, perfectly safe and untouched, as he thrust forth.

VOOM! "GAUGH!" As Goku's fists rocketed into his chest, Bojack couldn't help but let out a pained yell, as bile and blood exited his mouth. The strike carried enough force for his entire backside to rebound visibly from the impact. The ballooning shockwave carried Bojack far into the opposite end of space, causing him to smash into several large asteroids and moons, before crashing into the center of a planet himself.

As the planet started to explode, Goku stood idle and ready in the middle of space, not bothering to follow up his chance to attack. Despite what Bojack had put his family and his planet through, he knew if he was going to win fairly, he had to act honorably as well, even if his opponent didn't have any shred of decency.

A mighty roar erupted across the imitated black vacuum, as a fireball of violet-black turned into neon white-green, blasting away any remnants the pseudo-planet had left around him. The blast's shockwave flourished Goku's hair and clothing, but did little to cause his glare to diminish. Even as Bojack powered up to his maximum strength, he showed no signs of fear or trepidation.

"TIME TO END THIS GAME, GOKU!" Bojack shouted, carrying enough force from his lungs to shake the artificial space they floated within to shake wildly.

As Bojack's lime green, shirtless and red maned form discharged a emerald-white tail of energy behind him, Goku pulled up deep recesses of energy stored deep within himself. From all those times his body had suffered pain and agony, the times his Super Saiyan form was pushed to its very limit every minute of every day, he had gained an immense store of Ki. As he pulled his arms to his side, his body seemed to shimmer with an even brighter light.

Before Bojack could reel back, Goku cried out with an immense full-body Kiai, stopping Bojack dead in his tracks and hurtling him backwards before the awesome blast of golden fire. As Goku defused his enormous golden aura to wrap around his skin, his body seemed to pulse with life and strength, creating a visible pulse within the star-lit, artificial space they hovered around them.

"This is my Full Power, Bojack, as a Super Saiyan," Goku smiled darkly at Bojack, as his body visibly glowed with rhythmic beats, "you should feel the difference in our power. You can't win. Give up, before you really get hurt."

Bojack felt his jaw tremble. He hadn't even donned the form that surpassed his full power, and he was this strong? He couldn't accept it, and showed it by laughing at the incredulity that Goku would be stronger than himself.

"Do you take me for a fool?! You think just because you flex your aura to compensate for your puny sized body suddenly makes you my better?! HA! I'm going to enjoy tearing you apart," Bojack snarled, as he rushed forward with a bloodthirsty glare, gleaming from his eyes, "LIMB FROM LIMB!"

As Bojack's gargantuan frame lunged forth with incredible momentum and speed, Goku's smile turned into a snarl, as he glared at the Herasian barbarian. As he neared his frame, less than a dozen meters away, Goku allowed one word to escape his mouth, "Why?"

Before the Herasian could anticipate what was happening, Goku's form disappeared before his eyes, and reappeared beside him. A deafening knee kick landed into his sternum, streaking with golden light and bio-electricity, launching him across the space with incredible momentum, the shockwave ballooning out for miles as he spiraled with incredible speed into a small moon, before bursting out of it from the other side.

As Goku shimmered directly into the path of the sprawling, writhing brute, he shouted back in succession, as he slammed a powerful forward punch, "Why are you so evil?!"

CRACK! "What drove you to become so twisted?!" BOOM! "What led you down this path in becoming so delighted in brutality?!" VOOM! "WHY ARE YOU NO DIFFERENT FROM FRIEZA OR CELL?!"

The artificial space high above the arena was filled with thunderous impacts, as Bojack's aura dimmed with each collision of Goku's outstretched limbs. Each collision of knuckle and limb against Bojack's pea green skin created a golden crack of lightning and fire, sending brilliant flashes of light to enamor the sky, repeatedly as the once feared Herasian was thrashed within skies above the arena.

Within the finality of the raining series of unforgiving, brutal blows Goku had landed upon Bojack's person, Goku roundhouse kicked him into the top side of a rocky planet, hanging just above the arena. When he landed with enough force to dent its rocky surface, Goku thrust his palm into his gut, roaring out loud with declaration, "KAMEHAMEHA!"

The one-handed Kamehameha blasted Bojack with a mighty flare of blue-white light, propelling his screaming body down into the arena. When his body struck the square arena, a mighty geyser of orange-red flames erupted from the landing sight, as the explosion shook the magically protected arena and stadium, but provided a blinding view of the spectacular spectacle.

Shimmering into view just on the edge of the arena, Goku arrived just in time for Bojack's fist to strike the arena ground with enough force to clear away the flames around his body. And he didn't appear to be in great shape. His body was covered by large bruise marks, his skin scarred and had a number of large gashes from where his skin ruptured from the impacts. Even his skin was burnt into a unsightly black and dark emerald hue, steaming from the most recent punishing strike dealt to his body. Blood dripped down his jaw from his panting maw, and his aura was barely shimmering in any intimidating light. The toll his energy took as he received damage reduced his energy to a point where he could barely mount a reasonable offense.

"You're in no position to win this fight as you are now, Bojack," Goku spoke with knowing, lowering his arms to his side, his pulsing aura thrumming quieter as he turned his back to the Herasian bandit, "go crawl back to your Universe spot after you proclaim your surrender. I'm done fighting someone with little motivation other than murder and violence in this Tournament."

Bojack could feel his teeth shatter under the force he ground them against each other. He balled his fists, to the point where his fingernails pierced his own wounded palms, spilling blood onto the ground. Despite heaving with exertion and wincing with fiery pain, the rage boiling within Bojack's chest was greater than he had ever felt in life.

One thought dominated all others: Son Goku needed to die!

"I'LL NEVER SURRENDER TO THE LIKES OF YOU!" Bojack roared out as he lunged forth, with surprising speed, given the state of his body. As he appeared behind Goku with an oust retched fist, Goku's face turned slightly to cast a emerald glare, that briefly surprised the galactic terminator in his tracks.

Then, he felt the blow, as his fist hit nothing but air.

Within the moment Goku's fist struck Bojack's abdominal muscles, it rend it asunder within a blast of golden energy, covering his forearm, as it fully pierced the large burnt torso. As the Super Saiyan retracted his arm, Bojack could barely move his arms to cover the hole within his midsection, barely standing from the pain and agony rushing through his body.

"You have no choice now. Get patched up and wait until the next Tournament. I'll be waiting for you," Goku spoke in a commanding tone, as he once again began walking away once more.

Instead of hearing denial or acknowledgement, Goku heard the sudden whine of a priming pair of Ki blasts. As he turned around, he saw Bojack priming his ultimate attack, the Galactic Buster, despite the blood pouring out of his mouth and the blatantly large hole.

"Prepare...kaff...to meet your...kaff...end, GOKU!" As the spheres grew, the emerald-white energy crackled with instability, with black tendrils streaking out as their mass and size increased astronomically.

"Galactic Bu-" Bojack began to cry out, as he swung his massive arms forward, before Goku's body shimmered directly in front of him. His eyes widened with shock, having no ability to sense his approach, despite his senses being heightened and alert. So how...?!

"YOU FOOL!" Goku shouted out at the top of his lungs, as he extended his right hand towards Bojack's body. Within an instant, his palm began unleashing a mighty fissure of golden energy, overpowering the primed Galactic Buster orbs, and enrapturing Bojack in its fiery torrent. He didn't have time to scream or cower, as his skin was burn off his muscles along with his bones, before being totally disintegrated into dust.

All that was left of the remains of Bojack was a single golden halo, clattering on the ground, still shining brightly of its existence being intact.

As he lowered his hand, Goku heaved heavily, as he glared at the ashes of that was left of the genocidal warlord. Without wasting a breath, he turned his heels on the remains, and the halo, as the latter floated up and flew over to the Eastern Galactic Quadrant barrier seating, and landed unceremoniously with a thud, dictating his defeat.

Goku had won the first of battle of the Other World Tournament. He just hoped that the rest of the battles he would have would go so well...


A/N: And with that, I bring to a close the first battle of the Other World Tournament.

First of all, I have inspiration from Yu Yu Hakusho for the chosen title, back in one of the Tournament Arcs for Yusuke as the title of an episode he was in. I felt it fitting, even if there was only ONE battle taking place in this chapter.

I really hoped I captured just how BIG this Tournament should have been, as well as the growth that Bardock and Hanassia have undergone as being parents to Goku. Having such a pure, innocent soul around them probably is making them feel regret about their choice actions, both in life and death. I hope it fleshes out their characters a bit more as the chapters continue to unfold them.

It was fun to write the battle of Bojack vs Goku. While not as long as some of my other fights, I felt like it shouldn't have been an elongated battle. Point being, Goku's Full-Powered SS form is at such a height from the constant death/injury ration he suffers through training both at the hands of his father and mother, that he's reached a new peak that surpasses what is thought capable of a Super Saiyan.

Also, my rationality why Bojack and Goku can blow up planets by powered punches is simple. The way that energy works at a level from Final Form Frieza and onwards is that energy is controlled to such a finite extent, that explosions, punches, and movement is restricted to keep the integrity of a planet intact. Since at the level of Vegeta, back in the Saiyan Saga, dictated that HE could destroy planets either with ease or with a full powered blast, it would stand to reason that beings a hundred times or more stronger than him at THAT point in the Saga would be able to unleash such powerful strikes that would demolish worlds. So that's my mentality and understanding of why battles of SS and upper Super Saiyan caliber battles don't demolish worlds, mostly due to the restrictive feeling of trying to keep a breathable atmosphere and planet underneath your feet.

If you have any thoughts of what battles I should write up next, ones I should detail or touch upon. I promised a couple of you that I'd cameo OC's that you submitted via PM if I found a place for them in the chapters to come, and I hope I don't disappoint. If there are any vague or specific characters you'd like to suggest me to detail in a battle, let me know.

I'll see you guys next week on the next chapter of the Other World Saga!