Things are getting really tense at the 23rd Tenka'ichi Budokai! Shen, a.k.a., Kami-Sama was just defeated by his darker half, Piccolo! This means that Son Goku will be fighting against Piccolo in the final round. But this fight is more than just who wins the Tenka'ichi Budokai…it will determine the fate of the world!

Tale 175: So it Begins…

"…hey! He's waking up!"

Shen, a.k.a. Kami-Sama, slowly opened his eyes to see Son Goku, Kuririn, Yamcha, and Tenshinhan hovering over him. His vision was still blurry as he turned to see Piccolo sneering at him from the arena. Kami-Sama closed his eyes tightly as he growled quietly to himself.

I failed…

"There will be a half an' hour recess this time around before we begin the final match! Take this time to use the washroom, grab a bite to eat, or shop at our souvenir shop!" The Announcer called out excitedly as the audience began to make their way out of the main tournament area. Goku and the others helped Shen to his feet.

"You must do everything you can to defeat Piccolo, even if it means that I die!" Kami-Sama whispered heatedly while he was escorted to the main hall. Goku kept his gaze ahead and kept quiet. He turned to see Piccolo leering at him, which caused the fur on his tail to stand straight up. Kuririn, who was behind Goku, noticed this and placed his hand on Goku's lower back.

"Don't pay him any of your attention, Goku! Let's just find Muten Roshi (another title that Kame-Sen'nin goes by. It translates to "Invincible Master") and the others outside!" Kuririn muttered quickly. Goku tore his eyes away from Piccolo and quickened their pace.

Goku and company meet up with Kame-Sen'nin, Bulma, Lunch, Pu'ar, and Oolong outside…

"What were you trying to do to Piccolo, Kami-Sama?" Bulma asked the all-too-quiet god.

"I was trying to seal him in that small bottle with the Mafu-Ba…but he is no longer a demon. So, my plan failed…"

"Wait…Piccolo is no longer a demon…?" Kame-Sen'nin asked softly, his face had turned white.

"No…I should've realized it by how different he was from his original…I am such a fool…!" Kami-Sama then looked down at his hands, "…oh! I should probably give this body back seeing I have no further use of it…"

"Erm…Kami-Sama, you may cause a panic by doin' so," Goku pointed out.

"…ah, yes…because of my actual appearance. People would mistake me for the original Piccolo…"

"So, that Mafu-Ba move y' tried only works on demons?" Goku questioned.

"Yes. It was how the original Piccolo got sealed away ages ago…by your master's master," Kami-Sama answered quietly. He was still very angry at himself for his foolishness.

"And now it no longer works on me. Too bad for the lot of you."

The group turned to see Piccolo standing a mere five feet away from them. Bulma and Pu'ar instinctively got behind Yamcha while Chaozu hid behind Tenshinhan. Kuririn protectively got in front of Goku. The only two who showed no fear when looking Piccolo in the eyes were Kami-Sama and Goku. Goku, in fact, took a step closer to his nemesis.

"I am looking forward to fightin' you, Piccolo! So, I am glad that bottle trick didn't work!" The others stared at Goku in shock while Piccolo narrowed his eyes slightly.

"I am sure that you have a rough idea of my strength, Son Goku. Does it not put fear in your heart?" Goku laughed.

"Oh, I am well aware of your strength. It doesn't make me fearful of you, though. It makes me excited!"

Piccolo allowed a small smile, "I would be lying if I were to say that I am not excited to be fighting you as well…" his face then darkened, "…but I am also excited for the aftermath of our fight. I will enjoy slowly killing you in front of your friends…your wife."

Chi-Chi growled as she sprang in front of her husband.

"You will do no such thing! My husband will wipe th' floor with ya! Just yew wait! NYA, NYA!" Chi-Chi stuck her tongue out at Piccolo, which took him by surprise.

"Mock me like that again, woman, and I promise that you will join your husband in the afterlife," he growled. Chi-Chi glared at him but made no other action. Satisfied by this, Piccolo turned his attention back on Goku, "Savor what little time you have left, Son Goku." With that said, Piccolo turned and walked away from our heroes.

"Grr…what a creep!" Kuririn spat, "And he's cocky, too!"

Kami-Sama noticed that the moon was beginning to rise. He smiled slightly and approached Goku, "Don't look now but the moon has made its appearance. And it is full, just like I had hoped."

Goku grinned, "Well, I am glad that y' brought it back when y' did, Kami-Sama. I hope I won't have t' resort t' lookin' at it, though."

"You have mastered your ape form, my boy. As long as you are mindful of its strength, it shouldn't pose a danger to others." Goku frowned.

"Forgive me for not trusting this form of mine, Kami-Sama. I did accidentally kill my Grampa with it, y'know."

"That is true…but you had no idea what it was or how to use it back then. Now you do."

"It still makes me nervous…especially with how small the arena is. I jus' hope that I won't hafta use it…"

The time has almost come for the final match of the Tenka'ichi Budokai to begin! Our heroes gather back into the main hall to await the announcement of Match #7…

"You got this, Goku. We are all gonna root for you!" Kuririn said enthusiastically, though it was obvious that he was nervous.

"If things get bad for you, we won't hesitate to intervene," Tenshinhan piped in. Yamcha and Chaozu nodded in agreement. Chi-Chi gave Goku a quick kiss.

"Beat 'im up real good for me, dear!"

"Match no. 7 is about to begin! Will contestants Son Goku and Demon Jr. please make their way to the arena?"

"This is it, Goku! Go get 'im!" Kuririn gave Goku a hearty pat of the back. Goku smiled at his friend and made his way to the arena. The others watched him go with a nervous silence.

"…Goku has beaten the odds countless times. Remember the Red Ribbon Army?" Yamcha piped up. Kuririn nodded in agreement.

"Let's not forget his battle with the original Piccolo," Tenshinhan added in softly. While the others murmured with agreement, Kami-Sama stayed silent.

Son Goku…you must win…!

"Once more, for the third tournament in a row, contestant Son Goku has made it to the final round of the Tenka'ichi Budokai!" The Announcer yelled over the roaring crowd, "With each appearance, Son Goku has been better and better! And as you can all see now, the "pint-sized" fighter has now grown into an astonishing young man!"

"You can say that again," Bulma said dreamily. Oolong looked at her like she had two heads.

"…are you…making GOOGLY EYES…at GOKU?" He gawked. Bulma looked at him briefly before blushing and looking away.

"D-don't be ridiculous!"

"You ARE! You actually ARE!"

Bulma got really red in the face as she glared at Oolong, "There's nothing wrong with appreciating how Goku looks now!"

"Yeah, sure…" Oolong muttered with a small smirk, "Just wait until I tell Yamcha…"

BWACK

"O-on second thought, I'll just keep this between us!" Oolong stammered while he rubbed the ever-growing bump that was forming on his head. Bulma kept her glare on him without saying anything.

"LET THE FINAL MATCH OF THE 23RD TENKA'ICH BUDOKAI BEGI-I-I-IN!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Goku and Piccolo charged at each other and immediately began to exchange blows, which warranted a stunned silence from the audience and the other contestants.

WOKK!

BAKO-BAKO!

SLAMMO!

The two fighters jumped away from each other, they were both staring at each other with excitement in their eyes.

"Wh-what just happened?! Contestants Demon Jr. and Son Goku just hammered each other silly but neither of them look like they were touched by the other!"

"Finally!" Piccolo grinned, "An opponent I don't have to hold back against! I knew you would not disappoint me!"

"Th' same goes to you! Now that we are warmed up, shall we fight fer real this time?"

"I thought you'd never ask…" Piccolo sneered. He began to take off his cloak and his wrist bands, which appeared to be heavy. Goku smiled when he caught on.

I knew it! He was wearing heavy clothing, too…!

"Heh, I better do th' same!" Goku said as he took off his main gi so he could take off the weighted shirt that he wore underneath, "I probably should've kept this off after my fight with Ten but any extra training, though very brief, is essential."

Piccolo cracked his neck while he waited for Goku, "Hurry it up, will you?"

Goku tossed his shirt along with his shoes and wrist bands off to the side, "A little hasty, aren't we?"

Piccolo growled and disappeared entirely. Goku grinned and did the same. Although they could not be seen, their blows could be heard.

"Th-they are going so fast…I-I can't see them at all!" Tenshinhan gasped.

"Those blows sound brutal…I hope Goku is dominating!" Kuririn said with a hopeful tone in his voice.

BWAACK-!

Finally, Goku and Piccolo re-appeared in the arena. Aside from them breathing heavily, they looked more or less the same as before.

"Oh! Our contestants have re-appeared before us!"

"Impressive…you have improved, Son Goku…" Piccolo muttered before grinning evilly, "…but it won't be enough to save you from this technique!"

"Eh?" Goku questioned. Piccolo continued to grin at Goku while he tensed up his body, "What is he doin'…?" All of the sudden, Piccolo let out a yell and grew tremendously in size. And when I say tremendous, I mean tremendous!

"…oh! Contestant Demon Jr. is massive! How is this even possible?" The Announcer yelled out. The audience "oohed" and "ahhed" at the sight of the giant Piccolo who was chuckling darkly at his opponent. Meanwhile, Kuririn and the other contestants gaped at Piccolo's huge form.

"…well, that's not good!"

Oh no! Piccolo has stooped to making himself very large in order to defeat our hero, Son Goku! But Goku has his own ace up his sleeve! Up Next: Why Son Goku is known as the Monkey King!