Yo! Son Goku and friends! Bibidi Saga (Chapter 11)
Videl
"And for our last match of round one of The Supernatural Divisiiiiiion! We have none other than Jackie Chun! Everyone, come on, you have to put your hands up for this legend! He was dancing right here in the ring over 20 years ago after defeating Goku and a giant ape that just showed up! It was one of the most wild tournaments from start to finish in the entire venue's history and that's saying something!"
Battle Power
176
The crowd jumped to their feet with glorious aplomb and shouted at the top of their lungs as the elderly kung fu gentleman sauntered his way to the ring, almost carving circles with his feather-like steps. He shelved his arms in the pockets of his sleeves and stood in the middle of the ring, looking out into the crowd in a calm, stoic 360.
"Where's Roshi at? He was just here a second ago."
Puar floated up above The Pig to try and get a better point of view but alas. The Blue Cat returned to the wall and shook his head.
"He's probably trying to scope out the babes or somethin'."
"Maybe he went to the bathroom." The Blue Cat pondered, paw on his whiskers.
"Okay, now we have an old school legend, the winner of The 21st Budokai! But our next contestant is a newcomer! Everyone make some noise for… Miss Satan!"
Battle Power
125
"Let's go, Bestie! Woo!"
Videl said nothing, only trying her best to tune out the crowd as she walked through the hall. She fixed her blue visor and made sure to tighten her ponytail before she stepped out onto the tile. Each step she took felt more and more alien, the pressure that the crowd put on her punched into her chest and resulted in a half-hearted breath as she put her first foot out of the mechanical hallway. The cheers needled into her ears and sharp pangs reverberated until she heard her best friend shouting her head off. Videl took a deep inhale through her nostrils as she stepped onto the tile.
"Now that we have both competitors here there's only one thing left to do! Begin!"
GONGG!
Videl VS Jackie Chun
Objective: Don't look a fool in front of the audience!
Videl dashed in deep before the gong even finished sounding off, its echoes still piercing the sound waves. Jackie smirked through his long white beard and weaved each strike with ease but not too much ease, Videl's fast jabs were enough to force the old man to bring his arms out to play.
"Hmm." Jackie smiled through his facial hair. "These youngins really have gotten a lot better over the years. It used to take ages to get to this level. Now they keep on passing the bar without having to think about the philosophy. Shame."
Puh-Pokk! Skweeeeee~
"Whoa! Show-stopping move from Jackie! He just jabbed her away with two fingers! Is this how he's gonna set the pace!?"
Mr. Chun shoved his arms back in the pockets of his long gi sleeves and sharpened his already narrow eyes at the girl across the way. Videl bobbed back and forth to set her rhythm but Jackie's cold stare and harsh palm hand stopped her from doing so.
"Now wait a minute." He protested, forcing Videl's feet to screech across the white tiles.
"..."
"You are the only one out of all of these entrants that I can see going places."
"What..? Is he taunting me..? Oh that's it I'm beating his ass~"
"So before it's too late, I have a little bit of advice."
"I'm not looking for advice, Grandpa!"
Fsht! Wooosh!
Jackie tripped her up as he pivoted around to the outside, forcing Miss Satan to scramble to her feet as he gabbed her way.
"Martial arts is not a tool to be used to win fights or attain status. It is there to teach dedication, focus, and timing. One should endeavor to solve their problems with their words first if at all possible."
"Uhh, if you haven't noticed, we're in a tournament! The whole point is to win!"
"No. A tournament exists to instill the values of pressure and show the fruits of one's hard work. Winning is irrelevant."
Yamcha's eyes widened. Goku looked on with a beaming smile that could light up a galaxy.
"I can't believe that Jackie's here! What a treat! Whoo~ Go, Jackie!"
"It's a bit harder to focus when all eyes are on you, isn't it?" Jackie proposed as he broke out into dozens of hazy forms.
"Crap~" Videl murmured as Jackie leaped out from behind with an elbow at the back.
WHAMM! POKK!
She was thrust right into a fist on the other side, Jackie attacking from every angle as covered by the many After-Images before he kicked his tail leg up and scorpioned Videl's mask.
Crackle~
"I'm wearing a disguise too, so I'll let you off the hook." Jackie relayed as she clutched at the front her her visor. "I could have broke it."
Fooosh!
Ki surged out from Videl's form but of an uneasy nature, unrefined. Jackie furrowed a brow as the winds kicked away his hazy extras out of existence.
"Hmm. She possesses Ki but it doesn't look like she's actually made any techniques with it."
DOM!
She stomped on the tile and the white flooring cracked in response, smoky silver dust filling the air around them.
"If martial arts is all about not winning, why are you trying to beat me!? Shouldn't you just give up and walk away!? Talk about a hypocrite!"
"I don't think you've been listening to a word I've been saying."
Now, at this junction, Jackie was weaving every attack effortlessly. Each blow dodged, the more Miss Satan's rage mounted.
"Damn! Why can't I hit him!?"
FuFuuFwuScuSwuFwuSwuScuuSuuFuuFwu~
"This doesn't look like your father's boxing at all."
"..!"
Skweeee~
"How do you know about that!?"
"..."
"Creep!"
"A wise man once declared that a true martial artist shouldn't have a style, but attempting moves you haven't rigorously practiced when the stakes are high is an easy way to lose."
THUUUMM!
"Though, one could say, that's why you'd do it. To acclimate those new moves into your arsenal under the pressure of a real match."
Goku shot to his feet as Videl spit up saliva and Jackie landed a forceful palm on her midsection, sending her careening towards the stands.
Smackk!
"We have a winner! Jackie Chun advances to the second round! No surprises there! Quite frankly I think Jackie has it in him to- Whassat?"
Mic leaned over as Mr. Chun spoke whispers into his ear.
"Uhh~ Jackie Chun has just resigned from the tournament!? A stunning development! But not one he hasn't pulled before!"
"Jackie!" Goku hollered from the stands, hopping the fence as Mr. Chun rounded the reading hallway. The Saiyan forwent any chasing and endeavored to make sure he met this man no matter what.
Va-Vwsh!
Videl made her way out of the venue, Erasa sprinting out of the stands as soon as she saw her friend stand up off the grass. Erasa booked it past spectators, past humans, past dragons, past wolfmen hybrids, and even past a woman with a pet alligator. She hoofed it and finally broke out to meet up with her friend in the parking lot, jumping across the venue to land roughshod next to her Bestie.
"Hey!"
"Sup'?"
"You did good, Bestie."
"... Thanks." Videl shot back with a low intonation, gazing deeply into the many fluttering reflections of her broken blue mask.
"..."
"That old dude was weird."
"What do you mean?"
"It didn't even seem like he was trying to fight me. It felt more like I was getting a lecture from the principal or something."
"Really?"
"Yeah… I didn't expect to win or anything but getting past the first round would have been nice."
"We'll go get some ice cream."
"Heat."
The girls threw their arms around each other as they walked the line to the white sky car. The overwhelming sunlit aura from the day caused a few sighs and ramblings, as well as the smokey vapour of black asphalt.
Va-Vuish!
"Dyah!" Master Roshi croaked out as he yanked off the stuffy wig, sweat formed all over his chrome dome, shades tipped down slightly. "Goku?"
"..."
"..."
"You were Jackie Chun!?"
"Of course I was, dumbass! The only reason it worked is because you were kids back then!" He clamored, throwing the hot wig into Goku's hands.
Goku stood up to his full height, lost in the sauce and scratching the top of his head.
"If you sensed for my energy you would have found me out right away anyhow."
"Huh-Hah! I guess you're right."
Roshi snatched back the weave and shoved it in the black carrying case he prepared for the event.
"So why didn't you just enter as yourself, Master?"
Roshi shrugged at the question his student from so long ago posed.
"You really don't have a reason?"
"... Welp. I guess we're far beyond that part now but… Here goes."
A smile broke out on Goku's face as he eagerly awaited the response.
"I thought it'd be easier for martial arts to hold your interest if you didn't win the first tournament you entered."
"... You had that much faith in me?"
"I had that much faith in the both of you. Either of you could have done it. Easily."
"Whoa."
"Lately I've been doing some reflecting and I wonder if the previous generations just weren't as cracked up as we thought."
"Without you, we wouldn't be here."
"... Maybe." Roshi replied as he gazed upon the swaying grass outside the window of the tournament hall.
"And.. the next generation is fated to surpass us too, right?"
"That's the idea. You don't teach to give the tools to your students, you teach so that they surpass you. If they don't, you've been too eager to hold onto your ego and don't respect their abilities."
"..."
"That's the only thing I regret in my entire life."
"What?"
"That I never taught you boys the Kamehameha."
"..."
The crowd washed out as Goku placed his hands on his hips, his eyes glistening with the earnestness of a man half his age. It didn't matter. It had been over 10 years since Goku arrived on his island with kid in tow but his eyes still told of a child waiting to be taught by him.
"Master-"
"It was shameful. I'm not going to sit here wallowing in self pity because that'd just be wasted time but I do want you to know that I didn't have the faith in my students that I should have had."
"..."
"Good luck, Goku."
"Thank you." He replied with a deep bow as the old master of martial arts reached the archway, hand on the wall.
The father of two inhaled deeply through his nose, closing his eyes and gazing up at the roofing and second floor of the tournament hall. He took in another sharp breath and filed out of the room only for the cheers to change drastically and for Goku not to walk back through the stands entrance but the mechanical hallway. The numbers blitzed on screen until the crowd roared into life.
Battle Power
100,000
Mortals like seeing high numbers, what can I say? And they hadn't even seen anything that had broken 1,000 in the past three days.
"Welcome back everybody! I hope you're all as excited as I am to see this man get back into the ring! His name is Son Goku! A breakout performance at The 21st Tenkaichi Budokai really put this kid on the map! During the time this tournament series has been running Goku has gone from some no name kid living out in the middle of nowhere to father of two! There's his family right there in the crowd!"
The top screen shifted to the drone shot from above but nonetheless a purple dragon took up most of the space, looking up at the drone before blasting it with a gout of fire.
Kom!
"Uhh… we didn't need that camera anyway! It's good to have you back, Goku!"
Goku nodded and sent a wave Mic's way as he hopped up the steps with pep, shaking his right fist in anticipation.
"Now before I introduce the second contestant-"
Fwofff~
Piccolo's white cape flourished into existence before Mic finished the statement and all the man could do was smile before continuing.
"I have an announcement to make regarding The Last Budokai!"
"An announcement?" Gohan pondered as he leaned over the railing.
"As a special parting gift for all those who have been attending these tournaments all these years, our single elimination tournament is going to turn into double elimination excluding grand finals!"
The crowd shot looks of confusion and simultaneous hype all mixed into one swirling combination of cheers.
"For The Top 4 alone we're going to allow this extremely short bracket the breathing room that it needs! Whichever of these four gentlemen refuses to lose all the way to the top will unfortunately only have one shot to retain the championship! Talk about suffering from success! Whoever loses between these two in front of me-"
"Definitely not going to be me, I can assure you."
Mic's hollywood smile at The Demon's words lit up the arena without any effort.
"-will go down to a secondary bracket called the loser's bracket! Any losses that are accrued in this bracket eliminate the competitor from then on! No one wants to go home early but at least three of the contestants today will get a second chance! Now, if you'll excuse my long windedness, it's finally time to introduce the second competitor in this match! Anyone who has attended these tournaments for the last decade will know the storied history between these two! Majunior has a 1-0 track record against-"
"2-0." Piccolo chimed in as he took hold of his blue turban, tossing it aside and having it:
Ga-Thunggk.
into the grass surrounding, forcing it to cave in from the hefty weight. He followed through with his cape which almost leveled the tournament venue, forcing a small quake to rupture out on all sides.
Fuuwuu~
An ethereal force tugged at the microphone in Mic's hand, requiring him to relinquish it at once. The mic spurned on and sounded off unhealthily into the crowd as Piccolo spoke with a steady and increasing malice.
Earnnnnn~
"You disqualified Son Goku after he collaborated with interference from the outside towards his opposition, granting Sapa the win as a result. If you were going to do that Then I suggest you do it now. I may have destroyed the arena but it was you who declared that The Budokai could not go on without a winner… correct?"
Something about Piccolo's steely eyes ushered a nervous response from The Announcer. He tugged at his tie harshly, almost undoing it from the stress.
"But we re-ran that match at The 24th. You won, why aren't you satisfied?"
"I won against Goku both times. He required his allies to come in and do the job for him. I just want the people to know that it's not 1-0. For someone who goes on and on before these matches trying to detail the fighters' history you sure do seem to have a selective memory."
Vwerrrn~Pofmm!
Mic caught the mic as Tien and Yamcha both waited at the edge of the mechanical hall, leaning against the wall on either side. The Crane furrowed his brow.
"Wolf."
"Hmm?"
"You think Piccolo seems especially pissed today?"
"I haven't really been paying attention."
"Of course you haven't." Tien laughed out as he shook his head.
"Shut up, Crane. You're just trying to distract me from this next match."
"You already do a good enough job of that yourself, you don't need my help to stay off target."
Yamcha grinned at the lashback, scratching the bottom of his chin with his sharp thumbnail.
"I'm gonna get you back for The 22nd."
"What, you think you can break my leg?"
"Who knows?"
"I've won this thing three times and you've never even passed round one. I'm just not really feeling the pressure you want me to feel right now."
Tien's eyes stood strong at first but soon enough the sharpness of The Wolf's stare forced him to avert his gaze. He let out a cough to ease the tension and finally Yamcha turned his attention to the soon to be match as well.
"Just start the match. I don't really care for all these formalities."
"... You heard the man! He doesn't want to wait any longer! We've waited for Goku's chance to get revenge for many long years! It's been nine years since their last match in this arena so let's hope this last one is a doozy! Let the match~ Begiiiin!"
GONGG!
Goku VS Piccolo
Objective: I won't waste my breath explaining it.
"Huh-Hah! This is exciting!" Goku remarked as he leaned deep into his wide and low turtle style stance. The crowd roared into life at the sheer sight of Goku taking on the classic stance.
Sparks of aura floated up from Piccolo's being as he kept both arms at his side. He focused, eyes closed, singular goal in mind. In a flourish, The Demon brought his arms in and flared them out as he stomped on the ground, opening his eyes and staring down the opposition from across the ring.
"I sure hope you're ready." He stated as he positioned his left hand in front.
Piccolo started it off, dashing in deep, his brown wizard shoes pounding on the tile before shooting him forward. Goku waited for his opponent, happy to just exchange blows.
"And we're off! Majunior makes the first move!"
BaPaBupBapPapBupBap~
Shockwaves bounded off their fists and their shins as they traded blows but landed unsuccessfully. Each strike only managed to make contact with the others' attacking limb, no significant landing against any weak point. They traded shot for shot in the middle of the ring, blasting the audience firmly into their seats and onto their butts. The only ones withstanding the tide were the tournament goers with sterner physiques. The Ox King barely held onto his hat as it attempted a run away from the sheer chaos happening in centre stage.
WHAMM!
"Oh! First blood goes to Majunior!"
Piccolo landed, forcing Goku's sleek black kung fu shoes to squeal across the tiles. Before he could do anything, The Demon showed his green mug, looking to throw. Caught in the trap, Goku threw instead. Piccolo accounted for the preemptive assault, dodging and weaving at the chest line, expertly scouting out the flurry of retaliatory offence Goku presented.
"Hyeagh!" Piccolo shouted with a guttural intonation, lifting his adversary high into the air with a punt.
THOKK!
Goku flew into the air like a rag doll and Piccolo pursued fervently, a double axe handle smash lined up to do his due diligence and land his foe's sorry ass into the dirt. But instead:
"Classic Son Goku! A stunning reversal!"
Piccolo landed on the tile and tumbled to his feet, the chalky white underneath him denting downwards at the arrival.
"He denied Majunior's aerial assault with a dropkick from out of nowhere! I could have sworn Majunior had him pinned! That just goes to show how well these two know each other's style!"
"You can plant thoughts into your After-Images!?" The Demon barked out as he grinded his foot into the arena.
Goku descended from the aether and touched the ring with a smug smirk.
"You think you know everything, Piccolo. But that's not true. I don't think I could be a martial arts master even if I lived a thousand lifetimes. I learn something new everyday. I figured that one out on King Kai's. If your will is strong enough, Ki will always respond in kind."
"..."
"King Kai didn't even know that could be done. He called it The Son Style Shadow. The only reason you got hit is because you try so hard to analyse all the facts instead of living in the moment."
"Don't get too uppity, U… M~mongrel. It was one attack. I landed two of them."
Goku couldn't help but smile as the two of them circled the battlefield like ravenous hawks vying for position. The father of two and brother of Raditz shimmied up to the middle of the ring on the balls of his feet before launching into a full commit side kick from nothing. Piccolo's antennae bounced a single time in response, able to scout out the attack before completion and resulting in an easy side step to the outside.
"Huh-Hah!" The Saiyan giggled out as he wiped the bottom of his nose with his thumb.
Fshuu!
The air just above Goku's face was clawed at by The Demon's hand as he limboed. Goku crouched low in a pseudo side pistol squat. Looking to capitalise on the compromised position, Piccolo locked in a punch on his right side, aiming to take his foe's head off with a chopping right. Goku had an interaction prepared to cover his placement, aiming an open palm towards The Announcer.
"I hope that's not for me!" He whimpered out, scrambling for cover.
Pah-POKK! Skweeeee~
Goku's feet scraped across the tile and to the edge of the arena, a hair away from stepping off onto nothing but air. Piccolo sent his right hand along the wind like he were turning the page of a titanic book, a huge winging tsunami of Kiai following soon after. The rising gales kicked up the grass and the paper streamers lining the event. The drone cameras were knocked out of the sky and everyone but those in the top box were impacted by the surging winds. Goku's blue and gold gi flapped valiantly but the man himself walked right through the roaring riptide with no effort.
"Majunior is… looking to~"
Vwernnnnnnn~
"Cause a commotion! I can barely stand up straight and I'm inside the hall!" Mic yelled from the mechanical apparatus. "It's hard to believe that Goku doesn't feel a thing but then again, it Is Goku we're talking about!" Mic shouted as the device in his hand warped and distorted under the hurricane Piccolo just spawned.
Fuuuuushh!
Piccolo cracked his neck and subsequently his knuckles as his foe walked the line, unperturbed by the ferocious, ripping torrents running wild at the epicentre.
"You been saving that one?"
"Kiais seem to be better overall after practicing for so long. Ki can be easily ignored, parried, blocked, or evaded. Kiais are more of a physical force than a magical one. It is simply more difficult to defend. I'm beginning to think you Mongrels have been doing it all wrong this whole time."
"Maybe. But that kind of study is what I'm talking about. I was coming to similar conclusions too, after having a few discussions about it with King Kai. Apparently when beings like him fight they consider using Ki blasts a waste of energy. You only need Ki for sure strikes, techniques that have been honed to perfection and will defeat the enemy in one go."
"..."
"But I don't want to give up on Ki blasts just yet, trying new things every time is what broadens your perspective. I'm not just gonna take someone's word for it without having tried it myself."
"..."
"You ready, Buddy?"
"..."
"Another staredown! These two are known for their stalemates in this tournament series!"
"The Son Style Shadow doesn't exist, does it?"
"Huh-Hah! Nah, I was just yanking your chain. Looks like it got under your skin though! Huh-Hah-Hah!"
Fshu!
The pair rocked the ring another time, sending shockwaves back into the crowd with each blow. Goku set up a one-two and dipped low, both shots blocked by The Demon as he came in. Piccolo wound up a right upper only to be weaved to the outside just barely. The father of two shifted all the weight over his knee and looked to send it, a monstrous left hook to the body. Piccolo jammed his right elbow into the pocket, stopping the blow short.
"HRAGH!"
DMMM! Skweeeeeee~
"A clean left leg from Majunior! Perhaps he knows something we don't! After blocking a furious assault he sends Goku right back!"
Piccolo didn't stop there, chasing down his foe immediately after sending him packing. Goku kipped off the ground, backflipping with grace as The Demon lunged. With the flip, Goku dodged the right hand sent at him and palmed Piccolo's green dome like a basketball.
"Huh-Hah! Hmm!"
Pah-POKK! DUNGKK!
"What a maneuver! Majunior doesn't seem to care, however! Getting right back up after having his face dunked into the ring like a basketball!"
He backstepped as Piccolo stood on one knee from the attack. Something at the back of Goku's mind urged him to look out into the crowd only to be brutalised with a right hand.
"Oh! Goku didn't see that coming!"
Goku thumped a snapping left roundhouse right into Piccolo's stomach to lash back with, forcing The Green Man to abandon a follow up. The father of two wiped the red mark on his lip and smirked.
"Did you just use Telepathy on me?" Goku asked as he touched the bruised spot again with his thumb, bobbing up and down on the tile as he retreated.
"..."
"I didn't know it was like that." He laughed out in response as Piccolo stared him down.
"Telepathy!? Did you guys catch that!? It would appear our competitors are even more skilled than we could have ever imagined!"
"You really wanna win this one, don't you?"
"How could you have guessed?"
"Well. I'm not gonna go down easily."
"I'm not going down, period. So I guess that means I win." The Demon stated as he pointed down at the smeared tournament flooring below him.
Goku sharpened his brow but not his stance, refusing to take one, only bouncing on the balls of his feet. An ethereal, snaking aura pooled to the surface of his frame.
"What is that Ki?"
"Yeah… you're right." Yamcha abandoned the wall, stepping out onto the brick road leading to the arena. "What am I sensing?"
"No…" Goku chastised, closing his eyes. "Not quite."
WHAMM!
"Another big hit by Majunior! It looks like Goku just can't catch a break!"
Goku cartwheeled off the tile into an aerial flourish only to be smacked out of the air once again. The father of two broke out in another astonishing display of flight-based athleticism, only barely deterring a ring out. Trunks and Goten let their feet hang loose and swung them as they watched the competition unfold.
"Your dad is okay… I guess."
"Uhh."
"I wonder if my dad is any good."
The two had an aerial contest over the stands, flying dangerously close to the civilians with their clash. They flew over the whole stadium in a circle. As they got above the tournament hall, the straw from the roof almost touching Goku's blue gi, Piccolo pulled out something.
Sculingg~
Goku's eyes widened at the technique. A green mossy glass structure appeared before the father of two, slamming and pressing into him like a stamp of a approval.
"Say it ain't so! Goku has been eliminated once again! The top of the tournament hall is designated for ring out!"
"Yes!"
"..."
The booming sound of Piccolo's voice sounded off with an explosion of force. The Demon floated off into the air at the completion of the first round, disappearing from view.
"Well… you certainly can't say Majunior isn't excited for the event. That's for sure, folks!"
Gohan shifted his gaze up to the shifting white puffs in the sky. Goku just giggled up a storm from the top of the venue, hopping off the straw and dusting off his clothes at the result. The Wolf and The Crane stood with confused mugs as their friend waddled over to them.
"I didn't know Piccolo had that. Did you see that, Tien? He did what you and Krillin did back in outer space."
"I noticed…"
"Well, good luck you guys! I guess I'll just have to do better in the loser's bracket." He let out with a shiny smile and a shrug.
Yamcha couldn't help but smile himself, looking down and clenching his fist as tight as it would go.
"That's the level we need to get to. Win or lose." He ruminated, closing his eyes as he made his way to the ring.
"Well. All we have left for the first round is Tienshinhan, Three Time Champion!"
The Three Eyed Man cracked his neck, taking in a deep breath… and exhaling it with a gusto:
"Phuuuuuu~"
before marching forward and climbing the few steps into the ring.
"This man has collected more tournament wins than any other contestant in The Budokai's decorated history! This is no small feat! Let me be clear, folks! This man will go down in legend! In the other corner is our humble Ex-Titan, Yamcha!"
The crowd didn't really react at all, much more quiet than usual for him. He tuned them out regardless, closing his eyes and standing at ringside, refusing to enter for the longest.
"His track record admittedly isn't very good… But you can't dismiss the effort! Let it be known that fan favourite Goku hasn't even won a single tournament in this series! Anything could happen so let's watch this match with careful consideration!"
Fshuuf~
The wind rolled in as Yamcha practically teleported into the ring, the wind following close behind as he touched ground, grinding a loose bit of chalk between his fingertips.
Va-Vwuish!
"There he is, the man of the hour. What's got you so worked up, Piccolo?"
"Shut up, Human."
"... I just want to know why you're so tense. I'm asking as a friend."
"... We're Not friends."
"... Guess I should have known."
"... Should have known what, Upstart?"
"That you were a bitch this whole time."
Shuu!
Wind blasted back on all sides, lifting up the roof and cracking the glass on the balcony of the top box. The reverberating echoes shot out into the crowd, forcing their attention skyward and not Tien and Yamchaward.
"Pardon the interruption but it looks like there's some commotion happening on the top of the stadium!"
"..."
"..."
Krillin and Piccolo's fists were practically lodged in each other's throats, ready to throw at a moment's notice.
"So what are you trying to get into?" Krillin posited as he stared back into the intense redness glistening in Piccolo's irises.
"..."
"Wrong move, Piccolo. You know that."
"I can end you in a second."
"No you can't."
"..."
"..."
"Tcheh."
Piccolo withdrew first, Krillin's guard still firmly as high as it could go, even going as far as to lean against the back railing and stare The Demon down.
"You got a staring problem, … Mongrel?"
"I sort of got a Piccolo problem right now. I thought that was a one time thing when we were training. I'm keeping my eye on you."
"Whatever makes you feel any better."
Tien VS Yamcha
Objective: Win this tournament!
"I have nothing to say, other than the fact that you won't beat me."
The Wolf stretched out his legs on the white tile and breathed in deep, smiling from ear to ear.
"Crane?"
"Hmm?"
"Keep that energy."
"..."
"You're gonna need it."
GONGG!
The metallic drum beat clanged and the two dashed towards each other before breaking off effective immediately. Pockets of wind blasted out from their single exchange as they backed off and treaded the invisible line of combat.
"You shouldn't have shown up to this tournament, Wolf!"
"Tienshinhan makes a bold claim! But he is the only three-time champion this tournament has ever known, so perhaps it's silly to say otherwise!"
The Three Eyed Man dashed inside, forcing his shoulder almost right into his opponent's chest as he readied the classic crane jab strikes. Yamcha backfisted Tien's chest and backstepped like he just lit the match for an enormous explosion. The Three Eyed Man raised a brow at the ineffective contact and sauntered forward, guard up, low to the ground.
"These two competitors Do indeed have a tournament history! Right here in this very ring, Tienshinhan broke~ that's right, Broke, Yamcha's leg during their match at The 22nd Budokai! He's got something to prove, and Tien's got something to protect!"
They both locked eyes, dashed in deep, then both pulled out at the last moment, their sheer speed pulling apart the tiles below them despite no strike between the two of them. Ferocious wind bellowed from their footwork and pushed out into the crowd again.
"Is Tienshinhan's domineering strategy from The 22nd going to come back to haunt him!? Well it all depends on one thing! How long has Yamcha held it against him~ if at all!? Only time will tell!"
"Whoo~" Goku shouted from the stands, jumping up and down on the stone barricade.
Krillin and Piccolo shot one steely glance at each other as the two competitors below waged war with their movement.
"It may be old age, or perhaps the fact that I'm clearly outclassed by these great fighters but I've yet to see a single strike! Is it because they haven't or because of my cataracts!?"
"I'm not losing to You, Tien!"
"Kaio-Khen!"
An aura blitzed around Tien's frame, his plaid cloak, white pants, and brown boots shimmering under the lime green flame of his Kaio-Ken, tea kettle whistles echoing throughout the arena before he dashed off the tile in an epic dash. Yamcha's eyes dilated to an insane degree but that only served to help him duck under the lead elbow his adversary started with. Tien clapped his hands in prayer, his left elbow still out and about as he did it, however. A second set of arms sprouted from his back, flinging off his coat for him stylishly instead of ripping it to shreds. He twirled into a right chop, bringing two right arms instead of one.
WUSHH!
"Whoa! They've started their first volley!"
FshWushFshuFsht! FwuFuuFwuScuSuuSwuFwuSwuSuuFuuFwu~
Not just one arm, but Yamcha expertly dodged four as they rained down on him, Kaio-Ken active on his foe's side, not deterring his confidence all the same.
"He's~ he's~ he's wild! Yamcha is dodging All Four Arms! I can't be-Lieve it ladies and gentlemen! We're in for a show! Let's just hope The Ex-Titan doesn't run out of gas like he usually does!"
"Come on, Yamcha." Bulma whispered lowly as she grabbed at her bag and peered out into the ring, Puar cheering, shouting, and worming around with his flight.
Yamcha jumped into the air after evading a particularly nasty but inefficient combination, jamming his left leg into Tien's chest and leaping off him like a launch pad, gusting gales sending out every direction as a result. He cartwheeled off the air with his momentum but The Three Eyed Man saw his chance, gearing up with cupped hands.
"Volleyball Fist!"
Skweeeee~Cupp!
Yamcha's claw gripped onto Tien's and the two stared down for a lifetime as The Wolf reared back his free left hand.
"AIIIIIEEEEE!"
Pah-POKKK!
Despite having two left arms to block with, the sheer power of Yamcha's Kiai ran The Crane's forearms red.
DMM!
"Blocked! Yamcha went for the double knee drop and Tien checked it right away!"
Tien threw The Wolf off him with a backfist motion, causing the man to gracefully backflip on air.
"That's how Tienshinhan broke his leg last time! Maybe a twist of fate!? Have the tables turned!?"
As soon as Yamcha landed, Tien was already at his ankles with a low knee slide using his left.
"..!" Yamcha panicked, jumping immediately.
The Crane caught both ankles with his real arms, freeing up The Four Witches conjurations to go to work.
Ratatatatatatatatatatatatatatatatata~
"Do you Hear that, folks!? I can't believe a human's limbs can make that sound!"
Tien's third eye pulsated and ran bloodshot as it saw how not a single crane jab made clean contact with Yamcha, his hands catching each piercing round as it came. His palms started to redden, sure, but Tien was definitely expecting to land, not be blocked. He tightened his grimace, teeth clenching as he stood the man up. Yamcha folded over a bit but used his flight to stabilise under the conditions. Tien threw everything he had, Yamcha still catching each and every jab as it fired. He tightened his grip around The Wolf's ankles and closed his eyes. When they opened:
"The-Six-Arm-Technique! We've seen him use four but I don't think I've ever seen six!"
Of course, Mortals will believe what they want to believe.
The second set sprouted under his real arms and replaced the hold he held on the man's legs, readying himself to bombard with four arms to the midsection. Yamcha's eyes widened again and he looked over every facet he could in the small pocket of time allotted to him before The Crane threw.
Sparking!
Yamcha's eyes lit aflame and he covered himself with both arms, claws extended. His arms tucked at his chest and ribs respectively as he gathered the strength to absolutely twirl into a phantom of ripping tirades.
"Gale Claws!" He shouted, a torrential, whipping wind ripped Tien's arms away from his adversary.
Yamcha spun like a tornado, the dust, chalk, and leftover gale force smoking up the arena before stopping to reveal The Wolf leaning deep into Wasteland Stance, red sparks of electricity arcing to and fro, dribbling down to the broken tile of the ring.
"I can't believe it! I thought he was done for sure! Yamcha always has a great start but he's been unfortunate thus far in his career! Is this it!?"
Tien straightened up, dusting off the red marks of the claws and phasing out his extra limbs into glittery orbs of Ki.
Fsht!
And they went right back at it, lunging into Range zero from nothing. They threw and their fists collided, exploding into momentous gusts. At the end of the exchange, The Wolf broke out, dashing around the ring at blistering speeds and forcing The Crane onto the defensive. Tien stood watch carefully.
"kaio-khen."
His eye shooting back and forth as Yamcha built up speed and momentum, kipping and darting off the tile every which way until he came in close.
"There!"
Skrrrrt!
Yamcha didn't throw, step-in, or even step out, he stood up and let his momentum ride out on the tile with no guard up. Tien's eyes sharpened but Yamcha just slid in and out of range like he was on ice. Sweat built up on The Three Eyed Man's head as The Wolf checked his nails and sent a hollywood smirk his way.
"Is that a taunt!? Yamcha's brazen enough to try and taunt! He's lost six times in a row and he's taunting!"
A red blush drew to the surface of his cheeks and Tien grinned at The Announcer's call out.
WHAPP!
Yamcha's eyes widened and the red aura petered out as Tien caught his supreme backfist.
"Not bad, Yamcha. But you'll need to do a lot better than that to outdo me."
The Wolf smiled, forcing The Crane to do the same.
"A stalemate! But Tienshinhan's got Yamcha's fist! What is he gonna do about this!?"
Whup-Whapp!
Tien caught it again with the other hand as Yamcha slipped his right hand out of the previous grasp and sent it up at his face.
"Ooooooo~"
"A cerebral showcase! They seem to have slowed it down for us mere mortals!"
Yamcha lifted his left leg up like a crane himself, teetering and tottering before sending it out.
THUMPP!
"An easy block! What does Yamcha hope to achieve!? Going slow like this would seem to benefit the three-time champion! He has three eyes!"
They both pulled back their knees and then stood up against each other once more, Yamcha looking barely up to his adversary while The Three Eyed Man shifted his gaze down ever so slightly.
"Hoooo~" Yamcha breathed out as he took a backstep and rolled his hands around with a martial artist flair, claws extended.
Tien lifted his left knee as high as it would go and then slammed it down into the tile, almost leveling the stadium itself with the weight of the blow.
THOOMM!
"Did you hear that!? That was just the three-time champion putting his foot on the ground! But The Ex-Titan isn't deterred! This one will go the distance, I'm sure!"
DOOMM!
"I'm… I'm afraid there isn't an arena anymore folks!"
Tien smirked wide as the white tile below them atomised into chalky clouds of mist, no ground floor to return to. Just the open air and the green grass turned grey from the dust. Yamcha's brow sharpened determinately as the two waged war in the sky. Shockwaves bellowed and boomed as they rose ever skyward. Mic yelled at the camera crew and more and more drones flew up to level with the competition only to be blown back and destroyed under the pressure the duo provided. The live feed cut, changed, warped, and turned to static on the front screen as the crowd ooed and awed at Tien and Yamcha battling it out.
Tien went crazy with a flurry of kicks, attacking each and every way as Yamcha weaved them with great effort. The final few started with a frontflip off the air with his left, The Wolf leaning in deep to his own left side as he backpedaled. Tien followed through and came down with a crescent right.
Fwuf~
It caught Yamcha's nose just barely, throwing him askew as The Crane stomped on the wind and sent his left leg up like a crane's. The impact came through, snapping out into the crowd with thunderous aplomb.
THOKK!
"Kaio-Khen!"
VYUUUUUNNN! THOOMM!
"Y… Yuhh…"
Yamcha thrust himself away with another retreating Kiai, Tien's attempt unsuccessful.
"Yamcha blocked! Tienshinhan came from behind with a~"
FWOOOSHH!
Mic almost fell over from The Wolf's low flight, Tien dashing right after him, toppling him in the mechanical hallway for real this time.
Vwernnnnnn~
"-a-uhh, ferocious knee strike but The Ex-Titan prevailed!"
"Uhh, Trunks?"
"What?" He shot back, brows furrowed, hand on his cheek.
"Is your dad gonna lose?"
"I don't know. Why are you asking me?"
The Crane and The Wolf threw strike after strike in the air until Yamcha found the angle, planting a high right roundhouse into The Three Eyed Man's left cheek and sending him into the crowd.
"WHOAAA!"
FYuuuuuuuu~
"Tienshinhan's still alive!" Mic shouted, pointing to the stands, the drone cameras able to scout this reasonable positioning this time as the spectators got low. He shot along the tops of them like a tube tunnel as the man cracked his neck into position, a cocky, smug smirk formulating along his lips as a laugh chuckled from his diaphragm.
He breathed in deep as Yamcha peeled away from the crowd and towards centre stage.
"Phuuuuuuu~"
Fsht!
"... what?"
"Roof!"
"... No way…"
"Bork!"
"Are you serious?"
The Director just looked down at Mic like 'In my 60 years, have I ever been wrong?' The Announcer straightened his tie and nervously looked out into the ring.
"Wolf!"
"Crane!"
THLOOOMMM!
The clouds above parted as Tien's left knee slammed into Yamcha's right palm, the two staring at each other like the heroes of their own story, both of them the villain in the other's, not rivals, not competitive friends, but something else entirely.
"TIME!"
"Time?"
"Time?"
"He's really calling time right now?"
"I mean he's the ref and the announcer so I guess that's within his jurisdiction."
The crowd murmured amongst themselves as The Crane separated from The Wolf and the two of them stared at each other across the skies.
"It has come to my attention that The Director claims that Tienshinhan, The Three-Time Champion of The Tenkaichi Budokai has lost the match!"
"What?"
"Huh?"
"You're cappin'!"
"When!?"
"I don't know if I believe it myself but we do have the footage to roll back and comb through. If this ends up being a false alarm we will take a reprieve to rebuild the ring and get back to the match as soon as we can!"
The people sat on the edge of their seats, leaning into the big screen at the forefront of the arena. The television scrolled through a mile a minute, rewinding and fast-forwarding to get to the exact moment. The screen swapped through several angles until The Director barked and pointed up at the large TV.
"Woof!"
"Right there?"
The Director shook his head, his brown droopy dog ears flailing wildly as the TV pressed play and the match ran on. The screen displayed Yamcha kicking Tien right at the stands and Mic paused it again only to receive a no just before the Dog-Man grabbed the remote for himself. The camera displayed a side-by-side with Tien as he flew through the crowd. Tien did not make contact with the crowd, nor the seating area.
"Woof!"
He paused.
"Bork!"
But the crowd did make contact with him. A child's hand reached up and barely pressed against Tien's muscular back, the kid as happy as could be. Mic's jaw dropped.
"I Can Not Be-Lieve it, folks! The three-time champion was eliminated by making contact with solid substance outside the ring! The rulings say that any competitor who touches a spectator during a match is technically ruled as a ring-out!"
"WHAT!?"
"Ayy, come on!"
"Yamcha advances to round two!"
"Guess your luck's run out, Crane."
"I've never denied that there's a certain degree of luck involved in battle, but I Have never and Will never rely on it. Funny thing is though, I got lucky enough to get another chance. There is a loser's bracket after all."
"You think you have what it takes to beat Goku?"
"... I make it a point to believe that every battle is winnable, Wolf."
"..."
"What's the point in even trying if you don't?"
Yamcha averted his gaze to the crawling puffs of cotton in the blue sky and pondered, his nose letting out a tiny laugh-breath.
"Good luck, Tien."
"You too, Yamcha."
The pair shook hands and grinned as they stepped on the air and passed each other on their way.
"..."
"Hey, Crane."
"..?"
"You're the one I want to fight the most in the finals." Yamcha declared as he pointed at The Three Eyed Man.
"That so?"
"I may have forgiven, but I certainly never forgot."
The Three Eyed Man let out his own laugh-breath this time.
"Well… regardless. We're going to have to postpone The Top 4 bracket until we can get a clean-up crew to put the ring back into working order because right now… it's looking a little under the weather to say the least!"
"That dog-eared Mongrel won the match? Tcheh. Looks like I have a guaranteed finals placing after all." The Demon kept to himself as he crossed his arms and loomed over the railing up in the top box.
Krillin furrowed his brow and leaned against the fencing on the left side, putting his full attention on the Namekian before him. Piccolo sharpened his own brow and sent another look towards South City's Superman before huffing and looking back down below.
The bumbling clouds up high limped along the cerulean skyline and as the sun shone down upon the inhabitants of the stadium. Gohan and friends fixed their places in their seats, the two boys causing far more of a ruckus than anyone else.
"Boooring!"
"When's the next match gonna start!?" Goten shouted, hopping up and down on the cement wall.
Quick working employees dressed in orange and purple priest robes hopped back and forth, setting down stone at a breakneck pace, looking more like pit crews than the staff of a martial arts tournament.
"Go, go, go! Move it people!"
"Hup, Hup, Hup!"
Tompp!
"We'll have this fixed in just a moment people! Should be finished in under the hour!"
Raditz rained down stone after stone, punching them into shape with karate chops and tossing them to the other staff members to lay down with mixes, paints, and glues. Tien and Goku stared at each other from across the grass, parties from all sides giving a glance to the tension building from their initial animalistic glares that soon turned into cheery smiles, started by Goku of course. Yamcha hopped the fence and met up with the scarred blue haired executive.
"Wow~ look at you~"
"Yeah, I'm kind of the shit." He remarked, a comet-like twinkle in his bright whites.
"Next up is Piccolo, huh?"
"Yup."
"Is he alright?'
The Wolf just shrugged.
"I don't know, I'm not his keeper. Asking Kami would probably be your best guess."
"So can you go ask him?"
The Wolf just laughed, falling into the stadium seating with both arms and legs spread out as wide as they could go.
"Can you?"
"Ugh! I can't Fly."
"Sure you can. You got those Capsule Corp. capsule cars."
"You're gonna be the death of me."
"Nah."
"Goku!" Tien finally broke the silence, stepping away from Launch's hands and making strides towards his friend.
"What's up?"
"I didn't expect our match to happen like this."
"Huh-Hah! Me neither! We sure are lucky there's a second-chance this year."
"Yeah… never fought in a tournament like this."
Gohan poked his head through the barricade and leaned over.
"Apparently in other sports this kind of thing is very common."
"What, you mean like basketball?" The Three Eyed Man shot back, hands on his hips.
"Well… not exactly. It's for video games."
"... What?" Tien almost burst out laughing. "There's tournaments for… video games?"
"I think so."
"What a waste of time." He remarked, shaking his head at the concept.
The sun shifted out slightly in accordance with the chugging wind and marching clouds.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Apologies for the wait but we were going to take an intermission between the matches regardless! These next two fighters have a checkered past as far as this tournament series is considered! Please welcome, Tienshinhan and Son Goku!"
The crowd got on their feet to cheer as the pair passed through the machine walkway, both of them grinning ear to ear. Tien's previously shed robes were back on his frame, his and Goku's gi tops quivering under the light currents of the spring noon.
Battle Power
94,540
Battle Power
99,901
Tien's modest grin turned into a cocky moviestar smile and he shook his fist as he gazed back at the numbers. Goku didn't even spare as much as a glance as he stepped onto the tile and stretched out his limbs.
"In their very first match against each other, these two fought it out in the finals! That's right! Tien's first tournament win was against Son Goku!"
A few members of the crowd gasped and gabbed amongst themselves as Mic swooshed his arms around in epic conductor-like arcs, weaving the story with his bombastic movements and shrill voice.
"They fought once again, three years later in The 23rd Budokai! The semi-finals match! But by time it seemed like Goku just had his number! Even as recent as The 25th Budokai these two fighters have been battling it out, but once again, Son Goku came out on top! Their tournament record is 1-2, Goku's favour. But some how, some way, it seems like divinity reigns in favour of Tienshinhan! Due to unfortunate circumstances at Both The 23rd And The 25th, Son Goku was unable to secure a victory at either tournament!"
The father of two and brother of Raditz breathed in deeply on the tile, going into a full split, Bulma, Launch, Chaiotzu, Oolong, Puar, Yamcha, Krillin, Gohan, and Raditz himself in awe.
"Does my brother not have any junk under there? How is he still alive?" The Saiyan laughed out, clutching at the top of his widow's peak.
"Tienshinhan has lost before, make no mistake, but every single time he's made it to grand finals he's yet to lose! Son Goku's gotten close, having as many as Four grand finals finishes, but he has Yet to take home the gold, Who Will Win!? Only time may tell! Are you two ready!?"
Goku felt the luscious sky blue strands of his gi top as he pulled a breath straight from the aether and stood up to his full height. After composing himself, he stomped onto the tile and gave a big, goofy thumbs up to The Announcer. Tien responded in kind with a stoic, turnaround thumbs up of his own, feet firmly planted on the tile.
"Then let the first match of round 2… Begin!"
GONGG!
Goku VS Tien
Objective: The same as any other during this tournament!
"It's been an honour being able to go a couple rounds with you all these years."
"Same to you."
The rivals put their fists in the opposite palm and took a deep, empathetic bow to one another across the ring.
"A show of respect before the contest! See what I mean!? These two might have it out for each other on the battlefield but it's still nothing but respect!"
As easily as he put it back on, he threw them right off, white cape and yellow plaid tunic flew out into the sunny blue sky as the gong called the pair to action.
"Huh-Hah! Did you put that on just to take it back off!?"
Tien couldn't help but break out in a smile, Goku cackling his head off at the fact. The two broke out into a bombastic dash, spelling winds out to the rest of the tournament venue as the onlookers cheered, cried, and celebrated the pair's contest of skills. Gohan leaned over the barricade as Master Roshi fixed his sunglasses at the affair.
"You see something, Master Roshi?"
"I don't know." His old voice croaked.
"I think Goku's gonna win, hyup." The brown turtle got out as he craned his neck in all sorts of directions to watch the bout.
"That's wrong. We all know Tien's gonna take this one."
"He just lost didn't he?" Gohan shot back.
"The only reason your father is fighting him right now is because he lost too, Gohan." Chaiotzu remarked with a sly grin.
"... Guess so." He remarked, laying his head on his arms and watching the fight.
"Knock his block off, Tien!" Launch shouted from the venue, boot on the brick wall, her glorious blonde mane flowing in the wind as she howled.
"Come on, Goku! Show them youa' the best like I know you are!" Oolong hollered at the top of his lungs.
"Come on, Tien!"
"Tien!?" Oolong almost fell off the barricade at Puar's insistence. "What the hell are you rooting for Tien for!?"
"The Great Lord Yamcha's gotta beat Tien in the final so that he can Really get him back for last time!"
"What tha hellaya talkin' about, Pua'? Yamcha Already won, there's no sense in a rematch, come on, here. Amiright, Yamcha?"
The Wolf simply pursed out his lips and shrugged from the seat he occupied just behind them, grabbing a baseball cap from Bulma's purse and shoving it over his face.
"My dad's gonna win!"
"We'll see…" Trunks responded with a raised brow. "He did Just lose after all."
"Come on, Goku! Heh-Huh~" The Ox King hollered, a long ivory horn in his posession. He took a deep inhale and blasted the war horn as the pair danced around the ring.
Chi-Chi shook her hands in anticipation as she saw him narrowly avoid damage with near dodges, smiling and laughing all the while as he did it. Icarus just blinked a few times.
"Get his ass, Kakarot. I know these Earthlings just got lucky all these times. You should have won this tournament a long time ago." Raditz practically chanted as he shook the fist he held onto his sharp red tie with.
Goku rolled his hands in front of his chest like his arms were taffy machines, over and over again before stepping in with a backfist.
"Oh! A feint!"
Tien's brow furrowed and the two danced around the ring clockwise, their feet barely touching the tile before whipping up winds again with even more dashes. The father of two leaped at Tien, spinning like a top, the sheer force kicked up from the movement sucked The Three Eyed Man's path of action into his and he readied a left elbow as a response.
"Another fake!"
Goku and Tien's noses were practically touching as the elbow whiffed and Tien's third eye shot to life. He weaved the right knee lift Goku jumped into with a low bend, left hand palming the ground as he dodged.
"Kamehame~"
"What?" Roshi shouted from the stands, an electric blue bulb forming at the bottom of Goku's black kung fu shoes.
"HA!"
BVYUUUUUUUU~BAH-BOOMM!
Grass, dirt, dust, and smoke filled the arena, Mic trying to wave it away as he commentated.
"What just happened!? If my eyes didn't deceive me, I think Goku fired an energy blast from his feet!"
The smog parted from view and Tien stood strong, both hands in a ninjaesque handsign.
"Not bad, Tien."
TOMPP! FSHUUNN!
Goku had the goofiest smile on his face as he put his hands on his knee and ducked the next elbow lunge like he was picking something up off the ground. He raised his left arm off his knee to punish with an elbow of his own. Tien caught it with his left and a sizeable snap played out for all to hear as the quick attack got snuffed by flesh against flesh. The brother of Raditz drew his left elbow back and then jammed it right in once more, Tien easily blocking it with a left forearm before the Saiyan wound back the other way, a turnabout right elbow on the other side. Tien blocked that one too, Goku's back totally exposed and the man committed on both sides. The Three Eyed Man weaved his hands to grapple Goku's shoulders but somehow, some way, the man boosted forward from nothing, no step, no dash. He skied along the tile without moving so much as a finger.
"Whoa! Goku just… I don't even know how to commentate that!"
Tien's three eyes narrowed at the sight as leaned back into his Crane Stance.
"We've been too focused on the fighting and not the skills I think…" Goku remarked with a single arm shrug, his right locked tight on his hip, the other raised limply on the air. "Over this past little while I've been thinking and yeah... you can use flight without ever leaving the ground. It's easy to forget or not think about these simple things."
"He's giving a lesson! Is that a form of disrespect or admiration!?"
"You ready?"
"You leave too many openings, don't you?"
"Oh wow~ is it that obvious?"
"Hell no. I thought I had you like at least three times there but the whole time that was your idea, wasn't it?"
"What was?" He grinned, both hands on his hips as he stared back at The Crane.
"You leave huge gaps in your guard, you want your opponent to have the confidence to try and tear you down, then you reveal that you were playing for that all along."
"You come up with that off the top?" He asked, pointing to his temple, earnest smile shining bright under the sun.
"I noticed in your battle against Piccolo too, but even though it's a decent strategy, it's far too risky. It's what made you lose, both against him, And against Cell."
"Ahh~ I see."
"You're too good for that, Goku. Why don't you just put up a better guard, I don't think you would have lost any of these matches if not for that."
Goku's smile was still shining brilliantly as he put his hand over his chest, taking a bit of a backstep.
"Why do you say that? They won fair and square, Tien."
"I'm not so sure about that."
"You're putting me on too high a pedestal, Buddy. I'm just interested in broadening my skills."
"When it counts you never lose, Ever. And I'm just supposed to believe that you can't win these silly tournaments?"
"..."
Goku's face turned to a more neutral position as everyone leaned in to try and parse the conversation happening in the centre of the arena.
"I can appreciate what you're saying… but you're wrong."
"..."
"If you let that kind of stuff eat up at you then you're Definitely gonna lose. You learn to let the match guide you and take it from there."
"..."
Tien and Goku took their stances at the middle of the ring as the crowd lulled to nothing but a whisper.
"Get him, dad!" Goten shouted from the stands, Trunks covering his ears with his fingers.
"Jeez, a little louder, huh Goten? I'm not sure everyone heard you."
"Goku!"
"..."
"Right here, right now! Show me your real martial arts! No Ki, no tricks! We fight until we can't throw anymore or whoever caves and has to use Ki!"
"Deal! Whoever uses Ki first forfeits!"
"I accept!"
"Did you hear that folks!? Looks like we have a-"
DOOMM!
When individuals reach a certain level above the canopy, they cease to need any extras to cause damage. These two are a far cry from something like The Right of The Strong, but the simple differences in their makeup between normal Saiyans, and normal Earthlings is too much at this point. If they didn't have active Ki to control going downwards in power, they could really hurt the people around them.
Ratatatatatatatata~THOOMM! Skweeeee~
Goku's kung fu shoes squealed like tires after Tien's left roundhouse and he stomped back in, both hands up in a very traditional manner. One-two. Slip. Left hook to the body. Block. Tien backs away, same left hook to the head. Duck. Right upper, barely blocked. Transition to neck hold, hop up to knee. Smash hit on Tien's guard.
"Oh! Goku's all over him! Can he be stopped!? Is this the end of the line for Tienshinhan!?"
Tien put everything into his left shoulder and roared to life, flipping Goku like a pancake in the process, as Goku kipped off the tile he ran right into Tien's left elbow.
"Oh! They're going at it!"
The two threw flurries upon flurries of strikes but neither landed, just expert parries from both ends as they missed just by hairs each time until Goku caught both of The Crane's wrist guards and reared back a fatal looking headbutt. Tien screamed like his left depended on it.
"HuuuuuaaaAAGGHHHHH!" His deafening roar silenced the crowd as Goku's crown ran headfirst into Tien's right knee.
"Ouch! That's gotta hurt!"
Tien clasped both hands together high, eclipsing the sun and ready to come down like an executioner's axe. Goku fully committed to the lashback of his own throbbing head, his dome flying backwards and he put his hands onto the tile, flipping gracefully off the chalk, dodging his foe's attack, And stealing the belt wrapped around Tien's midsection. The red sash flew off into the wind as Goku smirked a bit, rubbing the new red mark on his forehead before dashing back in to strike.
WHAMM!
"Say it ain't so! That one looked painful!"
Tien's right elbow made contact with Goku's chin as he came back in, the counterhit stumbling him onto his ass. He reared back the same arm and looked to plant a right chop into Goku's eyebrow only for the Saiyan to dodge at the last moment with some angelic head movement, slipping in both legs between Tien's and doing another split, this time forcing Tien to do it with him. Onlookers hooted and hollered as Tien stood strong.
"I'm the last guy you can do this to, Goku."
"Huh-Hah! I was just checking if those crane kicks were gonna pay off!"
Goku and Tien shared a smile before throwing strike after strike in the pocket, both of their guards open, Goku's back on the ground, Tien somewhat compromised in a slowly increasing split of his own. The father of Gohan and Goten brought it in quick, shelving his knees into his chest before blasting them upwards, and fully committing to a handstand dropkick to Tien's face. The Three Eyed Man fell onto his back and then hit a kip up right after.
DOONNDOONNDOON!
Epic shockwaves clapped out and pushed into the crowd at each interval of their strikes. Tien's hands looked less like hands and more like snakes as they lashed out, whipping and biting wherever they could find, Goku trying his best to repel and deter with the movement of his head, core, and shoulders.
DMM!
"Big hit!"
"Guhawk!" Tien coughed up as Goku landed an elbow right between his pecks and then brought up the backfist of the same arm, landing squarely on his nose due to the nature of his folded over positioning.
The Saiyan stepped through into a side kick but Tien pushed it aside like a matador, his third eye shooting out each way to scout what Goku had lined up. As Goku committed to the outside, Tien launched a high left leg right at the back of his foe's head. Duck. Sweep. Tien fully commits to the tide roundhouse but hops over Goku's dragon tail attempt and comes back with the same leg.
THWOKKK!
"I can't… Why ahm-am I still here commentating!?" Mic yelled as an instant replay played back what just happened, Goku flying across the ring barely able to catch himself as the left shin caught his face dead-on. "This match speaks for itself ladies and gentlemen!"
Straight away. Fake. Tien on Goku's left side. Drag out brawl on the teetering edge of the ring.
"He~ he~ he just doesn't care! This man lost to a ring out this very tournament by playing these loose positions! Tienshinhan makes his wager and sticks to it! He will fight it out on the cutting edge or lose trying!"
Their hands bounced off each other and sounded more like guns firing than simple punches or jabs.
"Oh my gosh! Is that really what it looks like?"
"They're trying ta' kill each other out there by golly!"
As they reached the square corner of the ring, the two got caught up in sticking hand, both trying to force their will onto each other, Goku being the one to fold, or more specifically, chain to a better position. The father of two was clearly in a bad way, Tien forcing his weight and height advantage over the man as Goku's kung fu shoe touched the last bit of land left before it would constitute as a ring out. In one moment, Goku leaped back onto nothingness, slammed his right foot into the tile to stop his fall, pistol squatted with his left leg between Tien's, sent his left hand high and right hand low. Tien fell for the fake and snatched right onto Goku's wrist as the brother of Raditz giggled his head off and pantsed Tien.
"How… how underhanded! Goku has… pantsed his opponent in the middle of the ring!"
Tien's cheeks ran aflush as did some of the audience members watching.
"Oh my~"
Tien grit his teeth and attempted to run him through with a left knee but Goku took out his right foot and then stamping it into the side of the ring again to spring up into a complete front flip over, going with the momentum and then planting his feet onto Tien's back, finishing in a pushup position at the end of all of it.
"These contestants in The Top 4, I tell ya! There's no knocking out these guys! They're too tough! Practically all of their victories end in knockouts! Maybe we here at The Tenkaichi Budokai should have come up with a different ruleset! Goku moves on to Loser's Finals!"
The crowd jumped out of their seats at the revelation as Piccolo appeared at centre stage, glaring at Goku before he stepped off into the grass for himself, walking around and grabbing the leftover belt that he separated from Tien earlier.
"Here you go, Buddy."
"Heh. Thanks, Goku."
"..."
"That's all I wanted. You better go out there and win the rest of this tournament."
"I've got a tough road ahead of me, that's for sure."
"What, Piccolo and Yamcha? I've got eyes."
"I don't know if you've forgotten, Tien, but I haven't won a single match against Piccolo while in that ring. Huh-Hah-Hah!"
"I know you're better than them, Goku."
The father of two just shrugged as Tien tied up the red sash on his midsection and stared into his eyes.
"Are you going to stay?"
"... Probably not. I lost. No real reason to stay."
Goku broke out in a low smile, forcing Tien to do the same before he came in with the back of his knuckles.
"It's good to see you, Tien. It's been too long."
"It has. Good luck."
"Thanks."
"And for the final match of the winner's bracket we have the particularly fearsome Majunior versus Yamcha! These two have no history in this tournament series other than the backstage brawls! The first time against one another after Majunior destroyed the venue and the other as allies against Sapa and whatever that fiery aura he possessed was! It's all on tape so if you don't know what I'm talking about you can download the app and check for yourself! Anyways~ back to our two competitors!"
Wssk!
Yamcha's hand felt up the dirty dust flung around the ring, grinding it between his fingertips before he threw off the baseball cap he stole from the mother of his child. Bulma caught it with a smirk, the same kind of rat bastard grin he held as well.
"I may be 4 for 5 against Saiyans but I am 2 for 2 against Namekians."
Yamcha gets to gloat since Piccolo wasn't there I suppose but he's definitely lying. Remember Nail?
"What was that, Mongrel?"
"I beat your ass right here in this stadium at The 23rd and I made you admit defeat at The Lookout when we were training for the Saiyans."
"..."
"I know that one hurt."
Piccolo cracked his neck on both sides and then his knuckles, curling his fingers inward and snapping them too as he sauntered forward. Yamcha's cocky grin dug in deeper and he met The Demon's stride with his own, making a b-line for The Green Man.
"Uhh guys!? The match hasn't started yet!"
"..."
"You've got to wait for the bell!"
Fshuu!
The Wolf and The Demon's sharp eyes stared into each other as they met forearms, the roughed up tile exploding into a cracked mess upon contact.
"Let The Winner's Final~ Begin!"