Dragon Ball Nu
Volume 3: Chapter 2
The World Martial Arts Tournament is about to begin. Our heroes are arriving on the island to qualify to compete in the tournament and test their skills. What new fighters will they encounter? Which of our heroes will qualify to enter? Find out this episode of Dragon Ball Nu.
"Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament! We know it has been awhile since we last held a tournament but we are excited to be back!" The tournament announcer enthusiastically calling into the microphone. "Our current Champion Mr. Satan has pushed for the re-installment of the tournament after saving the world from Cell! We are all thankful to him and are happy to announce the Champ is here and will be competing in this year's tournament!" The crowd screaming and cheering as they are trying to find their seats for the tournament. "As always we will begin the tournament with the qualifying rounds! So sit back and enjoy the show!"
"Alright Goten, Trunks you two ready to head towards the qualifying stage?" Gohan walking beside his younger brother, Trunks, and Bulma.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" Trunks shouting with confidence.
"Oh yeah! I'm ready to Gohan!" Goten enthusiastic as ever.
"Hopefully Chi-Chi was able to get our seats… now you three be safe and have fun!" Bulma looking excited about the tournament as well. "I heard they aren't having a children's division this year so be safe and do your best." Bulma kissing Trunks on the cheek.
"Awe Mom… do you have to right here in front of all of these people." Trunks blushing with embarrassment. Then lowering his voice to whisper to Bulma.
"Alright then tough guy. Just do your best your father and I will be watching." Bulma smiling before thinking to herself. 'Where did he take off to? Maybe he went to check out the tournament stage.'
"Hey Mom before you go, do you know where Cardoon went? I thought he was going to enter the tournament too?" Trunks grabbing his Mom before she walks away to find her seat.
"That must be where your Dad is! He must be showing around Cardoon. How could I forget? Even since we built Cardoon his own house he and Vegeta are always training." Bulma rolling her eyes. "Boys will be boys. I'm sure you will see Cardoon in the qualifiers. Now good luck!"
"Thanks Mom!" Trunks waving as Bulma heads back towards the stands for the stage. The three boys now heading back towards the qualifying stages. "Hey… pst… Goten." Trunks whispering in a hush trying not to catch Gohan's attention. "Remember we can't use our secret weapon here."
"Uh huh. Okay. I remember." Goten nodding his head continuing behind Gohan
"Good morning, are you entering the tournament today?" A worker standing at the qualifier gate greeting Gohan.
"Yes sir with these two boys here." Gohan speaking up and bringing attention to Goten and Trunks who stand at about Gohan's stomach.
"Ummm sir. I'm not sure if you were informed but they did not have enough contestants to do a child's bracket this year." The worker looking a little nervous and explaining the situation.
"We heard. These two guys would like to also enter the qualifiers and see if they are strong enough to enter the official tournament." Gohan speaking on behalf of Goten and Trunks who nod their heads eagerly.
"Oh… as long as you realize the tournament qualifiers are sparring matches and the tournament is not liable for any injuries that come to any of the participants."
"Yeah, yeah we understand. Can we go in now?" Trunks impatiently interrupting the worker's rebuttal.
"Very well." The worker stepping aside and allowing Goten, Trunks, and Gohan to enter into the indoor arena. "Good luck."
"Alright boys. I want you two to do your best, but remember the one thing I'm asking is you guys try to hold off on the flying. Got it?" Gohan making sure that he draws the line to make the tournament fair for some of the other contenders.
"Right." Both Goten and Trunks responding at the same time.
"Hey guys. It's good to see the three of you again." A familiar voice calling to Gohan, Goten, and Trunks.
"Cardoon! I knew you'd make it! Did my Dad bring you back here?" Trunks being the first to recognize and call back to the Saiyan.
"Yes, he did. Vegeta just left to take a seat in the stands he did want me to tell you good luck. He wanted to be here so early that he didn't get the chance to say it himself." Cardoon greeting the three.
"Dad is strange about that. He and I did do a lot of training and maybe I'll get a chance to use some of my own secret techniques." Trunks giving a mischievous smile.
"That's the spirit Trunks. The true son of a Saiyan." Cardoon nodding with a confident smirk. "Well guys, I will see on the preliminary stage."
"Good luck Cardoon." Gohan giving a thumbs up.
"Attention contestants! Will the competitors please approach the center stage of the three? We will begin shortly! The group will divided up and see how they compare in the first stage of assessment." The group of fighters gathering around the center of the three preliminary stages. "Alright contestants. The first group will be using this fighting dummy to calculate their speed and strength. The second group will be sparring with each other for measured points of performance. Our final group will be going through a basic test on their ability to avoid an onslaught of attacks." Talk beginning to rustle amongst the fighters.
"This should be interesting." Cardoon crossing his arms. "I have to remember not to severely injury anyone." Shrugging his shoulders. "I suppose if they came to enter this they expect to be challenged, but I will hold back until the actually tournament."
"Alright contestants please divide yourselves amongst the three stages!" The organizing calling into the microphone as the fighters all begin to shuffle around to a stage they feel they can shine the best.
"Good luck guys!" Gohan waving as he steps over to one of the side stages. "I wanna see just how much I've improved on my dodging." Leaving Goten and Trunks to choose their own preliminary stages.
"I'm going right center stage. What about you Goten?" Trunks scoffing at the idea of stepping to one of the side arenas.
"Okay! I'll go with you!" Goten replying as the two young boys step up to the arena while the other fighters continue shuffling around to the respective stages they would like to compete in.
Meanwhile Cardoon stands in front of the dummy fighting stage as the coordinator for that stage calls up contestants at random one by one. "Hmmmm, these guys are pretty slow." Observing a handful on contestants trying to show off their best moves. "I guess Vegeta was right… they won't be that great, but at least now I know what speed I need to perform at."
"Alright sir! Why don't you step up next?" The coordinator pointing to gentlemen in the front close to Cardoon as the mysterious fighter steps up.
"A tail? That fighter has a fox tail, but he looks totally human? What is going on?" Cardoon watching the fighter step up to the stage and taking his stance against the dummy.
"Whenever you are ready you may begin. Remember there are sensors on the dummy to also measure your punches and judges will be watching as well. Good luck." The coordinator stepping down off the stage allowing the fighter to begin.
"HAAAA." The mysterious fox-tailed fighter boosting his energy before connecting a series of punches and kicks at faster speeds than any contestant before him.
'This… this guy has some real energy. First fighter here I've felt anything noticeable.' Cardoon watching in shock. 'He's… he's even holding back I can tell he's pulling his punches last second.' Grinning to himself. "Maybe this will be interesting after all." Watching on as the fox-tailed fighter finishes out his demonstration in amazement of the judging panel.
"Thank you." The fighter taking a bow and stepping down off the stage as the crowd and judges all whisper to one another about what they just witnessed.
Meanwhile at the center stage the main coordinator calls up the next set of fighters. "How about you sir and…" Scanning the eager crowd of contestants. "You!" Calling up Trunks to the stage.
"Perfect." Trunks grinning and stepping up onto the stage eager to fight.
"Wait a minute I'm fighting a kid? This is ridiculous." The opposing fighter complaining about his match up before shrugging his shoulders. "Oh well, an easy win I suppose I'll just try not to break this kid into pieces."
Trunks looking irritated with his opponent's attitude and words. "That does it. I was just going to watch your strength, but if you wanna be a jerk I'll just pummel you." A vein looking like it is beginning too pulse on Trunks's head.
"Awe, looks like I made the little kid mad. Don't worry I'll end this quickly then you can take a nap." The adult taking his fighting stance.
"FIGHTERS! Begin!" The announcer throwing his hand down as the match's timer begins.
The adult charging Trunks and winding up a hefting left hook. "Sleepy time!"
Trunks catching the punch without hesitation with one hand. "Come on? Is that the best you can do?" Trunks pushing the fist off to the side before darting inside to elbow his opponent in the gut with immense force.
"OOOOOF." The audible oof of the fighter immediately slipping from his lips as he collapses on the ground seemingly out cold.
"That was easy…" Trunks turning his back calling to the announcer. "Hey! You may want to start the count he isn't getting up from that." The announcer standing with his jaw gaping open as the entire crowd looks on with confusion.
The announcer calling out the count of the down. "8…9… 10! Looks like we have a winning of this round!"
Gohan catching the fight while waiting for his turn on the other stage. "Leave it to Trunks to get angry and cut loose a little too much." Gohan sighing. "It's probably for the best that he hasn't figured out Super Saiyan yet."
"Hey Gohan! I thought I recognized you!" A familiar voice calling out.
"Sharpner? I didn't know you were entering!" Gohan seeing one of his classmate waving at him.
"Yeah after hearing you and Videl talk about it for a while I decided I wanted to enter and try my hand at it too."
"Have you seen Videl?" Gohan looking around and being able to pick her out of the crowd. "I haven't seen her anywhere."
"I did when I first came in, but now that you mention it I haven't seen her anywhere in the qualifying arena." Sharpner scanning the crowd as well.
"Well, I'm sure she will enter she has been training with me and pushing me to enter for the entire last year. There is no way she went through all of that trouble just to back out at the last second." Gohan reassuring himself and Sharpner.
"Alright that was a great show of dodging and defensive capability. Now for our next fighter. Sir." Calling down to Sharpner. "Yes you sir. How about you come up and show us what you've got."
"I guess that's my que." Stepping towards the stage calling back to Gohan from over his shoulder. "Good luck Gohan!"
"Yeah, good luck. I wonder just who is going to make it into this tournament. Should be interesting that's for sure." Gohan thinking to himself. "I'll make everyone proud. I'll do my best for you: Goten, Mom, Dad, and Piccolo. I'm gonna win this tournament."
Will Gohan's found confidence be misplaced? Will our heroes make it through the qualifying rounds or will they fall short? Which other fighters will make into the tournament and just where is Videl? Find out next time on Dragon Ball Nu.