Chapter 8 – "A sign of what's to come? Eight fighters determine the first-round matches."
The Aftermath
In a matter of minutes, the joyful celebration of Lord Barbon's day was silenced. The crowd assessed the damage, searching for anyone injured from the blowback of the melee between the escaped fugitive and the Pride Troopers.
Kahseral, blinded in one eye due to his malfunctioning device, converged with Lord Barbon, Dyspo, and Jiren. They watched Marcarita usher the children back to their parents, who were grateful that they had not been directly involved in the chaos. Seeing no child left behind or unharmed was a breath of fresh air.
"A moment, if you could," Cae said from behind. The Supreme Kai approached him and addressed the other Pride Troopers with Lord Barbon.
"Of course, your eminence," Kahseral said, saluting.
Dyspo, on the other hand, was not the most eager to pow-wow at the moment. "Dammit! Dammit! DAMMIT!" He rocketed to the skies, firing random ki blasts above the city in frustration. A few Pride Troopers watched the co-General's meltdown while Kahseral kept his composure. If he wanted to, he'd join Dyspo in exercising his ire.
Despite the mixture of emotional turmoil – most of it from Dyspo – Cae was still calm, yet his expression was grim. "It is important that those in attendance are still alive. We were fortunate that the citizens of Netfiss have been spared a dire fate."
Cae's words lifted a huge weight off Kahseral's back. Regardless of the damage, to hear that everyone survived was the best outcome. But he knew there was still one glaring problem.
"Lack of casualties notwithstanding," said Kasheral, addressing those around him. "Our target disappeared on us."
"It wasn't just that he disappeared," Cae added. "It was the way in which he disappeared. I distinctly heard him say the words Kai-Kai."
"And he used Destruction ki," Barbon said, piling on the already confusing situation regarding the escaped fugitive. He eyed the crater where the dome of Destruction ki had formed. It was eerie to see only a portion of buildings erased from existence, as though he could still see the outline of the dome. If it wasn't for Jiren's quick action, who knows how big it would've grown?
Kahseral eyed Barbon, holding his hand out. "As well as your Justice Flash. How is it possible that the criminal we apprehended as an accomplice to Kurtain knows our techniques? You weren't a God of Destruction back then. Where could he have learned the Hakai?"
"And how does he know about a Kai's Teleportation?" Cae pondered. "What kind of ability allows someone to learn and copy techniques to such a degree?"
"If that is the case," said Barbon, "then he could be anywhere. Not even necessarily in our universe."
"I know what that mortal has done, and I'm afraid it's not a good sign that he accomplished what he did," Marcarita said as she returned from her task. For all the neutral expressions Kasheral was used to whenever he'd see the angel in person, Marcarita's expression was worrying. He had never seen such urgency in her eyes before.
"What do you mean, my lady?" Kasheral asked. "How bad are we talking here?"
One look at her eyes made it seem like he was swimming in ice-cold water with nothing to keep himself afloat. Kahseral said nothing more, nor did he dare attempt any further questions. Even the way she looked at Cae and Barbon implied she held them accountable for what the fugitive did. Needless to say, she did an about-face and glanced behind her. "I need to be somewhere. I'll see you back at the Foyer, Lord Barbon."
"Understood, Lady Marcarita," Barbon replied before the angel tapped her staff on the ground to take her away in the same pillar of colorful light that she appeared earlier with her companions.
After she was out of sight, Kasheral could see distress overcome everyone except for Cae. Kunshi and Zoiray were huddled together, pale in the face. "Oh crap, we pissed her off," Kunshi muttered, swallowing.
"I've never seen Lady Marcarita so angry like that," Kasheral said. He expected Barbon to echo his statement, but the Destroyer only shook his head slowly. "I dare not wish to comment any further."
Kahseral waited until Dyspo had calmed down from his tantrum to gather with everyone. He knelt before Barbon and Cae. "Forgive me, Lord Barbon! I'm an unworthy successor to your legacy as a General of the Pride Troopers. I understand if you wish to destroy me for my failure!"
Kahseral narrowed his eye and walked over to his friend. Reeling back, he punched Dyspo in the back of the head. "Get up, you idiot."
"Ouchies!" Dyspo cried, holding the back of his head. "That was mean, Kahseral!"
"It's for your own good!"
"Well, you didn't have to hit me so hard!"
"In any case," Barbon said, cutting them off. "The Lady Marcarita is investigating this unknown ability the fugitive has used. Supreme Kai, have you any thoughts on the matter to add?"
Cae's expression looked cold, but it bordered on cool and warm. "I've heard rumors of techniques deemed forbidden by the Grand Priest, but I dismissed them as simply rumors. For Lady Marcarita to react in such a way, there must be some truth to those rumors."
"Lord Barbon," said Jiren. The commotion and distressed looks everyone wore almost made them forget that Jiren would not have been affected as much. The man took everything so seriously that those displays hadn't phased him whatsoever.
"I will search across planetary systems for the fugitive. His life signs may be diminished, but if he is close by, I will be able to find him. Unfortunately, that means I will be away for a while. If he returns somehow, don't hesitate to contact me. I will come back immediately."
Kahseral and Dyspo nodded in agreement. "Understood," said Kahseral. "Your speed will take you across the galaxy faster than any ship ever could. Best of luck, and may the winds of Justice always blow swiftly and honorably!"
Saluting Jiren, they cleared some distance for him to launch himself into orbit and off the planet. Dyspo watched Jiren leave with an air of disappointment. "As fast as I am, I'm like a snail compared to Jiren."
"That's, well, disturbing," Kahseral said, swallowing. "But we've wasted enough time pondering details of a mystery we have no means to solve. Let's spread out and assist with the clean-up."
"I'll aid in repairing any damage done to the city," Cae offered, joining the Pride Troopers. They all glanced at Barbon, wondering what he was planning.
"I shall assist, like old times," the Destroyer said with a grin behind his thick mustache.
"Just like our former General would," Dyspo said, offering his hand, which disappeared underneath Barbon's giant gloved hand.
Fully healed
Goku had to swerve and move to avoid passing fans begging for a piece of history with Hercule's signature on their memorabilia. But he was more interested in the fact that Buu had slimmed down again. "Wow, Buu. I guess you're taking this Tournament pretty seriously, aren't ya?"
The slim pink creature nodded enthusiastically. "Hercule believes I have a good chance. I wanted to be in good shape to compete and have fun."
"That's great! I know my pupil will have a tough fight if he ever faces you," said Goku.
"Speaking of which, your pupil doesn't seem anywhere nearby," Hercule said. Goku spun and searched the area, expecting Uub to stick around, but the young man was nowhere to be seen. "Huh? Where'd he go?"
As he searched, something immediately caught his attention.
Or someone.
His ki sense picked up on this new presence, yet it was unlike anything he had felt before.
The sound of Uub's voice quickly followed it. "Master! Come quick! Someone is dying over here!"
He's right! That ki is fading fast!
He weaved through the crowd until he cleared the way to sprint to Uub's location, followed by a few stray onlookers. Rounding the corner, he stopped next to Uub. From above, he could see Piccolo had noticed the strange ki sensation and landed before the unconscious body.
The Namekian was unsure what to make of this discovery, unable to conceal the surprise on his face. Goku viewed the discovery with confusion. A broken and bleeding body appearing out of nowhere? And why was this person's ki off somehow? It felt unnatural, almost chaotic.
"Master? Is something wrong?" he could hear Uub ask him. The fading ki kept giving him a bad vibe all around. Something like this shouldn't exist, he wondered.
"Master…?"
Uub's voice was loud enough to reach him. He looked back at Uub. "Huh? Oh."
Worry about the weird ki later. Goku reached down and put two fingers to his throat. "He's hanging on, but barely. He won't be able to swallow a senzu bean, nor is there enough time to get one from Korin. The only solution is that we have Buu heal him."
Uub flinched at the sound of the name. Goku laid a hand on the kid's shoulder. "I need you to go to Buu and bring him back here. He's this man's only hope to survive."
Uub backed away slowly, but too slowly for Goku's patience. "Uub! Hurry!"
"R-right…!"
As he dashed away, the frown on Piccolo while watching his expression was clear to Goku. "This is going to be a problem," he said.
"He'll be fine, Piccolo," Goku assured him. "But I'm more worried about this guy on the ground. What do you make of his ki? It's very faint, but something about it keeps tickling me the wrong way."
Piccolo echoed Goku's sentiment as he stared at the unconscious body. He had non-human features along his face, simian-like. It reminded him of Bubbles, North Kaio's pet monkey, but Goku had never seen a humanoid monkey quite like him in his life. If Buu could heal him fast enough, he'd probably ask the man where he was from. Upon inspecting the man's head, he saw puncture marks that looked to have been caused by fingers digging into his skin. Equally disturbing was that those fingers were those of the unconscious man. What did he do to himself?
He was still bleeding from his open wounds, Goku noticed. The longer Uub took to fetch Buu, the worse it would get. He wanted Uub to do the right thing and overlook his aversion.
"Dammit, Uub, keep it together," Goku muttered. He was relieved seconds later when Uub returned with Buu and Hercule, along with a cadre of Fanclub members. All gathered around Buu as he knelt on his knees before the dying man.
As Buu showered the man with his healing magic, Uub nervously clutched his arm, rubbing his hand up and down along his forearm. "Uub, relax. It'll be okay," Goku whispered to him.
"Sorry, Master."
The number of people crowding Goku and Buu began to annoy him. "Guys! Clear up some space already!" he shouted to them.
"Yeah! We don't want Buu to mess things up and kill the poor guy!" Hercule joined in, echoing Goku's stern tone. The crowd dispersed, offering apologies. "Hercule is right! Let's go back to our positions and wait for Buu and Hercule!"
"Ohhhh…!"
The Fanclub marched away, leading bystanders to cheer on with them. As their chants of "Buu wins the belt!" faded, Buu continued using his healing magic.
After the last of the green glow faded, the unconscious man was cleared of blood, cuts, bruises, and scrapes. His face cleared up to reveal definitive monkey-like features Goku had assessed earlier under a mess of injuries. Hercule helped Buu to his feet, the pink creature ecstatic that he had accomplished something good.
"Great job, Buu!" Hercule said, congratulating him with a pat on the arm. "I betcha this guy will be grateful that you saved his life!"
Piccolo was still uncertain, as was Goku until both reacted in surprise. "What the—?!"
The weird faint ki Goku sensed a moment ago swelled astronomically until it stabilized. What was once sensed as chaotic mysteriously became calm. What just happened?
"We should head back, so we don't keep them waiting. We can check up on him later, Buu," said Hercule as he tapped Buu on the arm to lead him back to the Fanclub, leaving Goku, Uub, and Piccolo behind.
The three watched and waited until the man opened his eyes slowly. He blinked a few times until he bolted upright, backing away quickly from the three. His eyes darted everywhere as if searching frantically for some unknown assailant.
"Woah there! It's okay! You're going to be fine," Goku said, holding his hands up in a non-threatening manner.
"A-are you okay, mister?" asked Uub. The man continued looking around, breathing heavily, until he seemed to assess enough of his surroundings.
He eyed Goku, then Piccolo, and finally Uub. "Where…?"
"We found you here. You were almost dead," said Uub.
"Almost dead…?"
"But you're all better now. We had Buu heal you," Uub continued, swallowing after he said Buu's name. Goku patted his pupil on the shoulder, nodding at him. "It's okay, Uub. I can take over. You should go join Pan and Bulla for the Preliminaries."
This was a situation Goku preferred to handle himself. He puzzled over the man's ki while waiting for what he'd do or say next.
"Heal…," the man said, looking at his hands. He patted his body, checking to be sure. "I'm healed…?"
His eyes suddenly widened, and he immediately patted his head. "Clear…!"
He gasped as he continued patting his head, rubbing the sides. "It's clear! Everything! I see everything clearly!"
His surprise turned to pure elation as he began laughing. "I'm healed! Fully, completely healed!"
He felt his face, searching for traces of cuts, only to find none present. He wandered around the area, looking everywhere until his eyes fell on Goku and Piccolo. "Did, did you do this?"
Goku pointed at himself. "Huh? Oh, no! I didn't heal ya. It was our friend Buu, who was here earlier!"
The man nonetheless approached Goku and wrapped his arms around him in a hug. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Goku awkwardly tried to pry the man off him but realized how strong his hold was until he released him. "Huh, strange," said the man with slight bewilderment. "What's strange?" Goku replied.
"Nothing," the man said. Instead of trying to hug Goku again, he offered his hand. "Sorry for spooking you like that. I've brushed with death so many times it's a miracle I've been rescued so much. I guess you guys are my saviors, whoever you are."
Goku grinned, taking the man's hand. "Think nothing of it! I'm Son Goku," he said, then pointed over the man's shoulder. "And that's Piccolo."
The man reached out with his other hand, expecting Piccolo to shake it, but the Namekian kept his arms crossed. "We have a lot of questions that need answering," he said.
"Ah, yes. Of course." The humanoid monkey retracted his hand to lay it on Goku's. "I'll answer to the best of my ability."
There was that bewildered expression again, only this time more puzzled. Yet the man continued smiling at Goku. "I suppose I should introduce myself. My name's Kelerot."
Kelerot…?
The man named Kelerot bowed formally to Goku and Piccolo. "I suppose I owe you my life for saving me."
"I'd rather know where you came from if you suddenly appeared out of thin air like that," said Piccolo, pointing upward.
"Yeah. We sensed your ki suddenly, but it was very faint," Goku added. Kelerot rubbed his chin before snapping his fingers.
"I am but a simple god who fought a hard battle against many foes. Legendary foes far stronger than I could ever fathom," Kelerot explained. Piccolo frowned, but Goku's eyes and ears perked up.
"Woah, really?"
"Goku," Piccolo muttered.
Kelerot chuckled. "Sorry! I'm still euphoric over this whole situation. The best explanation I can give you is that I'm from another universe." He rubbed the side of his head, tapping his cranium with a finger. He even squinted to emphasize how hard he was thinking, which Goku found oddly comical. "If I'm guessing correctly, this is the Seventh Universe?"
Piccolo's frown deepened. "That's correct. How do you know that?"
"That!" Kelerot suddenly cried, stabbing a finger in Piccolo's direction, "is none of your concern, my green friend! I was over there. Now I am over here with saviors I am grateful to engage in friendly banter with!"
Piccolo scoffed, looking away. "Fine. If you don't want to answer, I'll take my leave. I'll be in the bleachers waiting for the eight qualifiers."
The Namekian flew off in a huff, leaving Kelerot tilting his head, puzzled. "Oh dear, I think I've done something cruel. Sorry about that."
I can't get a read on this guy. What's going on?
Kelerot eyed a tree nearby and climbed it to perch himself on the first branch he could hold onto. He spun until his back faced Goku, only to hang off the branch with his legs to look at him upsidedown. "I miss playing in trees. They didn't have any where I was from," said Kelerot.
"It's okay if you don't want to say where you're from," Goku pondered, "but I'm curious how you got here. Do you know Instantaneous movement, too?"
"Instantaneous movement…," Kelerot whispered, palming his chin. "Ooh, yes! I know that! I know a lot of things!"
Sliding off the branch, Kelerot landed on his feet. "Hoo, don't want to stay like that for too long! Gave me a headache the last time!" he laughed.
Kelerot then pointed at the area around him. "So, what's going on around here? I'm sensing so many people."
Goku wasn't expecting the questions to flip over to Kelerot's side, but he supposed he'd have to oblige to ease him into his new environment. "We're on Papaya Island. We're about to go see the World Martial Arts Tournament."
Kelerot paused before his eyes lit up with a huge smile crossing his face. "A Tournament of fighters! Indulge me, savior Goku!"
"Why're you callin' me a savior? It sounds weird. Just call me Goku," he said to Kelerot, raising an eyebrow.
"Duly noted, Son Goku," Kelerot said, electing to use his formal name instead. Goku shrugged, electing himself to roll with it. "Tell me more of this Tournament that is to take place."
"It's a tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Fighters from all over the planet gather to fight for the Championship and a cash prize. They call it the 'Best Under the Heavens.'"
The more he walked with Kelerot, the more he began noticing strange changes in the smaller man's behavior. For one, he began walking with his hands behind his back, conducting himself oddly like the way Lord Beerus would often walk. Even his posture screamed, "God."
"The best under the heavens," said Kelerot, stroking his temple with a finger before he used it for a snap. "I like how that sounds. You must have a noble God watching over this grand event to bless the strongest fighter?"
"Well, he doesn't usually attend, I don't think," said Goku, scratching his head. Even he had to think that over. He had seen Kami visit the Tournament grounds once before. Then there was Dende, who came to watch him lead Uub back to his village to start his training. So there was a sense in what Kelerot was asking. "But yeah, lots of strong fighters gather. We even have a former World Champion who's defended his title many times!"
Kelerot pointed ahead. "I see. Is that him over there?"
Goku noticed Kelerot was looking in Buu's direction, pointing at the pink creature. Goku waved his hands, redirecting him. "The guy you're talkin' about is Hercule, the former World Champion with the poofy hairstyle. You're pointing at Buu, the one who healed you."
Kelerot narrowed his eyes, raising an eyebrow. "I don't sense anything from this Hercule. Are you sure he's a strong Champion?"
"Former Champion, actually," Goku corrected him. "He recently retired."
"Hm…."
Kelerot stared at Hercule, assessing the man as he spoke to the crowd. Buu's Fanclub continued chanting and cheering, playing music on their instruments. The retired Champion glanced over and looked nervously at Kelerot, suspecting that the short man saw right through him and knew he wasn't as strong as everyone believed.
Goku continued trying to figure out the oddity that was Kelerot's ki. He didn't know if Kelerot was aware that Goku was studying his ki or not but took this brief moment to take a peek. What he discovered so far was fascinating yet unsettling. God ki layered over several different mortal ki, layered once more over ki that he had sensed before in the Supreme Kai. There was one more layer sandwiched between the godly ki, and when Kelerot looked his way, Goku immediately stopped his search.
There was no mistaking that ki. A ki that, no matter how many times he sensed it, still left a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Destruction Ki.
He wondered if Kelerot was aware of Goku's discovery, but he was still in the middle of watching Hercule and Buu entertain the crowd.
Once the pair approached Hercule, the former Champ and Buu waved. "Hey! Glad to see he's up and about!"
Kelerot pointed at himself. "You mean me?"
"Well, sure! Any friend of Goku's is a friend of ours, right?" Hercule shouted to the crowd, who said their numerous hellos at Kelerot.
Clearing his throat, Kelerot went red in the cheeks. "W-well, I'm certainly honored."
"Are ya gonna fight in the Tournament?" Hercule asked. Goku had wondered that himself, now that the topic was breached.
All eyes were on Kelerot, anticipating his answer. "Uh, well, I just got here. I don't want to be a burden on everyone else."
He then raised his hand. "I'd rather stay back and watch. If that's alright with everyone."
The crowd relented and nodded. "You should join us, mister!" "Yeah! Let's all cheer Buu on!" "Buu is the champ!" "Buu wins the belt!"
"'Buu wins the belt,' had become the most used chant from the Fanclub, Goku noticed. The crowd surrounded Kelerot and him before the smaller man began to look uncomfortable. "Ah, can you let us through, please?" Goku asked the crowd. They dispersed, creating enough room for Goku and Kelerot to move on. Kelerot still wore a tense expression once they could walk freely.
"Felt like I was imprisoned again…," Kelerot whispered. He immediately averted his eyes.
"Huh? You say somethin'?"
"Nothing!" Kelerot quickly regained his composure and elegant posture before walking again. Goku wondered what that was all about but shrugged it off. "We should be near the preliminary pavilion. We'll wait for Uub and my granddaughter, Pan, there."
Looking inward at the crowd of fighters gathered inside, Goku searched for Pan, Uub, and Bulla, among the others who had registered. He recognized Android 18's blonde locks from the window, wearing a pink athletic jacket. Searching for ki, he found Bok, Choi, Uub, Pan, and Bulla, while Trunks was still among the line of fighters waiting to register. A grin appeared on his face, figuring he had a good idea who would be the eight participants that would qualify. If Buu was still out there with Hercule, then that meant the former Champ pulled some strings with the Tournament chairman to give Buu a free pass, leaving seven others to fill in the spots.
Kelerot sat cross-legged on the pavement by the wall, glancing up at Goku. "Is the Tournament going on right now?" he asked.
"Fighters are currently registering for the Preliminaries. They have to narrow the group down to the best eight fighters. Buu's one of them, which means seven others have to qualify," Goku explained. He, too, decided to sit cross-legged beside Kelerot. "It shouldn't take too long."
"Then let us wait and see," said Kelerot. He laid his hands across his lap and closed his eyes.
Meditating?
Goku figured that was the case and left Kelerot to his device for now. He wondered how Vegeta would react to meeting Kelerot when that time came. But one thing was for sure. He was getting excited about the prospect of challenging Kelerot to a fight to gauge his strength and find out what he could do in a fight.
A tense Father/Son relationship
If Bulma said Vegeta was sulking, he would've vehemently denied it. If she claimed he was brooding, he'd give her an earful. "Well, why are you being such a sourpuss?" she finally asked.
Albeit late, Trunks arrived on Papaya Island while Vegeta watched the registration line up grow longer and longer until the tail end was beyond his view. Bulma felt that waiting it out with a cold drink from the island bar would help ease things but had to watch him sip from a fruit cocktail while staring ahead at the mirror behind the bartender. Gemini positioned himself beside the bar, standing like a sentinel guarding the Saiyan Prince. Vegeta viewed this as some practical joke Bulma wanted to play on him. The woman herself leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
"Can you please give him some encouragement?" Bulma pleaded. She watched Trunks walk by himself, stopping by to say hi to Uub and Pan, even though Bulla gave him a sour look. She echoed Vegeta's sentiment about the young man.
"Hi, mother. Hi Gemini. Father. Sorry, I was running late," he said, embracing Bulma as the two met. Vegeta met his eyes for a moment before looking away. "I can see that Father's still mad, huh?"
Despite Bulma lowering her voice, his Saiyan hearing was still quite good. It wasn't as precise as Piccolo's, but he could pick up on what his wife was saying.
"I think he's still mad you didn't come home to spend Christmas with him and Bulla," Bulma said. "He was pretty hurt by your lack of presence, even though he won't admit it."
Vegeta scoffed, downing the rest of the cocktail. "Another!" he shouted at the bartender.
"Uh, I should join the line, then. I'll go say hi to Bulla at the Pavillion later. Hopefully, smooth things out," he said, more as an aside to Vegeta than to his sister. He casually waved at Vegeta before adjusting the bag slung on his shoulder.
Bulma rounded on him seconds later. "Is this going to be your attitude throughout the Tournament? Drink fruity beverages and avoid your son?!"
"If I didn't care for Trunks, I would not even be here," Vegeta said. The bartender nervously switched the empty glass for a full one. "That brat's training has been a huge disappointment."
"Honestly," Bulma said, slapping the counter. "He was with his friend the whole time. Goten's strong, too. I have no objections if Trunks felt he was a more ideal training partner."
Her statement made him smirk. "Saiyans get sloppy during a fight if they don't train smart. Trunks should've stayed and helped Bulla. She's taking a huge risk of overdoing it without the proper guidance. I trusted him to oversee that, yet he ran off."
"Then you should've stayed and did the overseeing yourself," Bulma stated, arms crossed. There was that posture again. Damn woman.
"You're concerned with how fast our darling girl takes things. I get it. You're worried she'd injure herself, or worse," she continued, which made the corner of Vegeta's mouth twitch.
"I don't object to using this android to help her train in my style of fighting, but it does not provide a substitute for how I approach fighting," said Vegeta, looking at Gemini. Instead, the android said nothing, enamored in watching the waves crash against the sandy beach.
Vegeta didn't expect Bulma to understand but hoped that whoever his children fought in the first round wouldn't result in a one-sided victory against them.
"Just be supportive for both of them. Can you do that for me?" Bulma pleaded, hands on his shoulders. Vegeta glanced back at her. She insisted that they'd be on this island as a family. They did it before when Pan had her first tournament. Bulla's joyful expression watching Pan fight, watching Kakarrot and Uub's fight after it was revealed that Uub was that psychotic pink monster's reincarnation, and spending time playing with Bulla's tea parties and dress-up playdates, eventually faded away as the children grew older. Bulla wanted to learn how to fight more and become as strong as her papa, while Trunks had to contend with harsher lessons on how to fight wisely and proudly as a Saiyan for the sake of pride in both himself and his family.
It was something he'd have to contemplate regarding Trunks. As he sipped the fruit cocktail, he pondered what he'd say to the young man before disappearing into the Pavillion.
Except he was cut off by the sudden appearance of an unknown ki signature, causing him to spit his drink out. His eyes immediately darted past Bulma. "What the hell?!"
"I am detecting a faint yet powerful energy signature due east of this location," Gemini noted to Bulma, who was more surprised by Vegeta's sudden outburst.
"Vegeta? What's wrong?" Bulma asked suddenly. Vegeta left his chair and searched with his ki sense for more info about this new presence. "Vegeta! Tell me what's going on?!" Bulma shouted from behind him.
Vegeta dashed forward. The first ki signature he sensed felt way too similar to that of a God of Destruction. That's not Beerus! Who the hell just appeared?!
He stopped abruptly when he picked up on that same ki, swelling immensely. Someone was healing him. It could be none other than Buu using his magic to heal this person, but was this a wise decision? He could sense Kakarrot, Piccolo, and Uub around the person, which meant he'd have to wait until later to ask what was going on and who was it they were healing?
A moment later, he spotted Piccolo flying overhead. Broly and his family had moved on to the beach, but he ignored them for now. Learning about Broly's change of heart was another matter entirely. First Trunks, then Broly, and now this? If he doesn't get proper answers soon….
Kakarrot approached the entrance that led to the Pavillion, accompanied by someone. Vegeta watched this smaller individual more closely, yet he couldn't believe what he was watching. "Is that…? Could it be possible…?"
His hand had closed into a fist. He wanted to raise his ki and make a statement, but there were too many people to consider. The more he stared at the new individual, the more his mind wanted to believe he was a Saiyan. But how could that be possible? Saiyans only existed here in this universe, and until a few years ago, in its twin universe. If this man was a Saiyan, which universe did he come from? Or did the Sadala from the Sixth universe have a subspecies of Saiyan that he wasn't aware of?
He conjured memories of Cabba, Kale, and Caulifla from the Tournament of Power, yet none of them matched the features seen on the man Kakarrot accompanied. There must be something more about this person than just his appearance.
Though loathe to admit it, the person had the features of a monkey. He endured that derogatory term countless times from Freeza in his youth, but to see a humanoid monkey in person almost wanted to make him hate that bothersome tyrant even more.
Setting the baffling comparison aside, something was off about this person's ki the more he sensed him. His first instinct was to believe the man was a God of Destruction, yet he remembered them all from the Tournament. Whoever this was wasn't a Destroyer he was familiar with. Secondly, for a Destroyer, his aura was more serene than he expected. Beerus calmly conducted himself until the slightest thing set him off, but his aura was always on the cusp of eradicating everything in his path, living up to his namesake. No, this aura was calm, but Vegeta had trouble accepting it. Why do I sense Destruction ki in the same body where I can sense the ki of a Supreme Kai? Is this thing mortal or God?
Now Vegeta wondered if Kakarrot should even be near such a person? Granted, Buu healed him – no doubt at that idiot's request – but should Kakarrot continue fraternizing with him? It would only be a matter of time before he asks that person to fight him.
He grew annoyed with himself, stalling like this. He approached the buffoon. "Kakarrot. Explain what's going on."
He kept an eye on the other man, who looked to be meditating. Kakarrot eased himself against the wall, pointing behind him at the Pavillion. "Everyone's getting inside to start their preliminary matches. Wanna stay and wait for everyone to come back out before we grab a bite to eat?"
Vegeta scoffed, pointing at the man beside Kakarrot. "I'm talking about him. Who is that, and why does he give off the same aura as both a God of Destruction and a Supreme Kai?"
Kakarrot wore a puzzled expression. "How'm I s'posed ta know that, Vegeta? He's not very revealing about where he came from. Piccolo left in a huff afterward."
Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Did he give you his name, at least?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. He introduced himself as Kelerot," Kakarrot replied.
Vegeta was beside himself. WHAT?! That's a Saiyan name!
"Idiot! How could you not recognize a Saiyan's name when you hear one?!" Vegeta shouted, pointing at Kelerot again. "His appearance makes it even more obvious!"
Kakarrot was on his feet now, dusting bits of dirt from his gi. "Why're ya getting so angry for? It makes no sense to get all rattled if we don't know much about him yet."
"What makes you believe someone like him comes out of nowhere with good intentions?" Vegeta asked. Someone with more pronounced simian features and a Saiyan's name had put him on edge now. If this Kelerot comes out of his meditation and perceives him and Kakarrot as threats, there's no telling what damage could be done to the island and how many civilians would be involved. It didn't help that Kakarrot had that look on his face of a Saiyan eager to test the waters in battle. The prospect of fighting Kelerot had tickled his brain once he learned of his name, but he knew better from past mistakes not to start a fight unless there was a legitimate reason. He hoped that reason would stay buried for now.
"I don't sense any malice or evil in this guy, though," said Kakarrot. He leaned back against the wall. "Why don't you take it easy? I talked to him, and he also wants to watch the Tournament. He's not here to cause trouble, I swear!"
Vegeta scoffed, turning away. "Fine. Do whatever you want. He's your responsibility."
"You can talk to him all you want later!" Kakarrot shouted as Vegeta walked back to the bar. He stopped when Trunks made his way forward. "Father? Is there something we should be worried about?"
Trunks alluded to Kelerot. That much was obvious. Vegeta glanced back at Kakarrot as the Saiyan casually kept looking back into the Pavillion, turning to smile back. "Good luck, Trunks! Fight hard!" he shouted.
Another scoff left Vegeta's throat. What vexed him earlier was gone regarding Trunks and Broly. All he did regarding his son was glance at him from the side. "Nothing. Just remember what I taught you," he told him.
"R-right. Thank you, Father," Trunks said from behind while Vegeta continued his trek back to the bar. His eyes met Broly, giving him a look a King would give a knight when he underperformed. As far as Kelerot was concerned, if it ever came to blows, he wouldn't hesitate to prove his superior Saiyan strength.
Preliminary Assumptions
"It's a lot more crowded than I thought it would be," Pan said, pressed against Uub and Bulla. Uub found himself shoved around more times than he could count, which was no fault of anyone in the room. The Tournament Committee hadn't accounted for the number of fighters registering that they had to extend the cut-off time by two hours as more arrivals lined up. Uub, Pan, and Bulla were fortunate when they entered, followed by Android 18 half an hour later. They could sense Trunks, but the cramped space didn't allow them a chance to see where he was exactly. And because Android 18 doesn't give off ki to sense, they could only watch her walk in and stay by the window to avoid a similar fate to Uub and his friends.
Bok and Choi were hovering near the individual fighting platforms, numbered one to seven. While everyone waited, boards were set up with preliminary brackets until several sheets had been used to incorporate everyone involved. By the time the final sheet was pinned to the far wall, over twelve hundred participants had been registered.
"If I could have everyone's attention, please?" said a man standing on the central platform. He had a receding blonde hairstyle and sunglasses on his face, but Pan remembered that face from years ago. Upon closer inspection, Uub recalled seeing that gentleman himself.
"To speed up the process, you've all been assigned a random number along with your registration. The rules for the preliminaries are the same as the main fights in the Tournament. Either knock your opponent out of the ring, knock them unconscious, or make them say 'uncle.' And as you know from past Tournaments, killing is still forbidden and will result in disqualification. So please exercise restraint if you can! Thank you! Now, I will call out the first set of numbers per platform!"
Uub gauged the fighters in the Pavillion. The diverse sizes of fighters ranged from short to colossal, where the latter made it impossible to distinguish any others behind them. Fourteen climbed into their respective platforms and began their matches. The process was repeated after all seven concluded with the Announcer calling out the next set of numbers, one of which was Bok's.
"Bok's number has been called," Uub said to Bulla and Pan. The girls were still squeezed against him. "That's nice," Pan said, face pressed against Bulla's.
"What's your number, Pan?" Bulla asked.
"99."
"What about you, Uub?"
"235."
"I'm all the way up at 1,123," Bulla said. It was intriguing to hear such a high number, but it was not surprising considering the crowd.
As fighters were eliminated and left, the crowd began to thin out. Bulla and Pan rubbed their cheeks, relieved the sets of fights didn't last long.
Uub's number was called next, along with Choi's. Both were on different platforms, with Choi taking the center while Uub was paired with a tough-looking man who moved with the grace of a seasoned veteran to the left. One look at the man's ki told Uub this wouldn't be a difficult fight. He politely bowed at his opponent before the officiant assigned to their platform told them to begin. Dodging and catching his opponent's every blow, Uub knocked him out with a single punch to the stomach. He formally bowed at his opponent again before glancing over to Choi, who stood over his unconscious opponent. He could've sworn that Choi hadn't moved from his spot once after he stepped on the platform. Choi gave Uub a look before glancing at the unconscious fighter with a grin. "Piece of cake, huh?" he told him before walking down the steps.
Uub was calm throughout the preliminaries because he was content that Buu was granted a bye into the first round. He wasn't sure whether Buu's presence in the Pavillion would shake his resolve to focus on these matches, but even still, Uub knew how strong he was compared to these fighters. Right now, he had seen Bok and Choi in action but was curious as to how Bulla fared after her training.
When the girl's number was called, Uub whispered to her. "Go easy on them. Nothing too crazy, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Bulla said, waving her hand. She adjusted her hair, which was tied into a ponytail, before leaping onto her platform, bottom right of center. Her opponent looked surprised to see he was fighting a girl as young as Bulla but then laughed it off. "Don't go crying to mommy and daddy now, princess!" the man said to a roar of laughter from the fighters below. Bulla beckoned the man with a finger. "Go ahead and try it, tubby," she said.
"What was that?!"
The officiant yelled to begin, which the man took as an initiative to charge straight at Bulla. "I have muscles, you know!"
Bulla ignored him and lifted her leg to strike hard with a kick to the man's stomach. "Huh, guess you were right." The momentum lifted the man off the platform high enough for Bulla to grab his leg and throw him far out of the ring and into a crowd of onlookers who were bowled over while trying to catch him. Bulla landed back on her feet and scoffed, turning her nose up as her head faced the other direction.
"Dammit, Bulla, that's why I said not to go crazy," Uub whispered, hand to his face. Pan didn't look bothered by the performance, instead pumping her fist in the air. "That's the way, Bulla! Show 'em all you mean business!" she shouted.
Pan's match didn't show her as reckless as Bulla, but she did display a feat of strength that forced her opponent to fall off the platform. Bulla's jaw dropped slightly. "That was nothing to sneeze at. What kind of training did she do?"
"You sensed it too, huh?" Uub said, nodding. "Whoever is her first opponent shouldn't underestimate her."
Bulla's cheeks had gone a shade redder when Pan returned. "What did you think, Bulla?"
Bulla cleared her throat but had no issue hiding her enthusiasm. "That was pretty cool."
Color went to Pan's cheeks now, sticking her tongue out. "That was only the first preliminary match, though."
"Still, it's safe to say that we know who's going on and who's going home," Bulla said, motioning to the hundreds of fighters, some of which have chosen to distance themselves from the girls.
Uub had a clearer line of sight to the remaining matches now. He watched Trunks battle with ease, though something was off about his ki. Android 18 blew through the competition until she became one of the seven remaining qualifiers.
Bok and Choi secured their spots, along with Trunks, Bulla, and Pan. Once Uub had finished his final match, he bowed to his opponent.
"Contestant Uub has advanced to the first round of the Tournament!" The Announcer called to the Pavillion. Defeated fighters wished him good luck, most staying to watch him move on until he won his spot. They didn't speak a word to Choi nor dared approach Bulla. Some asked if Pan was Uub's girlfriend, which made both red in the face when they heard that asked. Bulla played along, teasing Pan with kissing motions, while Uub assured the fighters relentlessly that Pan was a friend and dating was out of the question for a while. "Please, I don't have that kind of time in my hands," he finished.
"You two did spend a lot of time together training, though," Bulla said. "I can count on both hands the number of times Pan looked at you while you were up there on the platforms."
"I was watching him fight!" Pan said. She still had embarrassment written on her face, but the awkwardness was cut short when Trunks and Android 18 approached them.
"Congratulations, both of you," Uub said, offering his hand to them. After shaking his hand, 18 glared at the departing fighters. "You have no idea how much restraint I had to exercise each time one of those perverts tried to grab my butt."
"Until you showed them what you could do," Trunks iterated. The defeated fighters scrambled once they noticed 18's ice-cold stare. Bok eventually approached the group, followed by a reluctant Choi, who was staring off somewhere, hands behind his head.
Before Bok could speak, the Announcer ran up to them. "Oh, before we continue, you're allowed a reprieve before we draw numbers. Feel free to eat if you're hungry. We'll meet back here in two hours."
The mention of food made several stomachs growl in unison, particularly from the hybrid Saiyans. 18 and Uub exchanged looks. "Finally! I'm starving!" Bulla shouted. She pulled at Pan's arm. "Let's hurry and join Papa and Mama!"
"Hey, I'm hungry too!" Trunks called out to them, but it fell on deaf ears.
Uub motioned Trunks to follow him. "I think we're all going to the same place anyway."
"Y-yeah," said Trunks. 18 shrugged her shoulders. "Dear, oh dear," she whispered, nonplussed. Bok and Choi took the rear, with Choi marching proudly.
Uub saw that Goku had been hanging out front with his strange new companion, Kelerot. Pan greeted Goku and told him about her success, while Bulla kept bugging Pan to go to the restaurant with her family. When Uub met Goku, his Master beamed.
"Congratulations, Uub!" Goku shouted. "I knew you had it in ya to qualify."
"Thanks, Master," said Uub, bowing. When he raised his head, he searched the area. "I don't see Piccolo anywhere."
"He said he'd wait for us at the bleachers to watch the numbers drawn for the Tournament," Goku informed him. Kelerot approached Uub, offering his hand.
"I can sense you displayed a depth of strength far superior to a lot of these fighters," he said. Uub took Kelerot's hand and shook it, amazed at the strong grip. "Thank you. I wouldn't have made it this far without Master Goku's help."
Kelerot's expression was an oddity to Uub in the way the shorter man smiled. It was difficult to read the man's intentions, but he couldn't sense any ill-will. For all he could tell, Kelerot's smile was genuine and respectful, as though he too was appreciative of his success so far.
"We're given two hours to eat before we need to go back to draw our lots," Uub informed Goku. Goku's reaction was as expected, like a man hearing the best news of his life.
Three Families Gathered Together
"Goku, I don't mean to rain on your parade regarding your new friend here," Bulma said, pointing in Kelerot's direction. "But do you see how many Saiyans are in this restaurant, including yourself?"
Goku began counting on his hands. "Lessee here. There's me, Vegeta, Broly, Trunks, Bulla, Pan, Bok, Choi, Arugula, and um…," he finished his count at nine.
"Yes," Bulma said, poking him in the chest. "Nine Saiyan mouths to feed. Do you have any idea how much of a heart attack my accountant will have when we send her the bill? And now you want to include a tenth mouth?"
"Ahem!" said a voice from the back. "I don't see why we have to be included since I brought my cooking with me."
"Lemo…."
A woman gave him a good hit in the back of the head. "Bulma was gracious enough to invite everyone together. Let's be respectful and save your cooking for later. This is a time to get to know everyone around here."
"But Cheelai—"
"If I hear one complaint out of your mouth about the food they cook here, you're staying outside without dinner," she warned him. The man named Lemo hung his head, groaning.
Seeing uneasy faces made things awkward for Kelerot as he stood beside Goku. He nudged him with his elbow. "I shouldn't be a bother," he said. "I should wait outside with that one tall guy who was with your friend's family. He doesn't eat, does he?"
"Oh him? No, Android 16—"
"Gemini," Bulma corrected Goku.
"Right. Gemini is an android and doesn't actually eat. Though I guess Android 18 wasn't all that hungry either." Goku laid a hand on Kelerot's shoulder. "But don't be a stranger, man! Come join us! C'mon, Bulma, you guys should give him a chance!"
Goku then put his hands together. "Please…? Just this one time."
Kelerot gauged the room. Goku's family, comprised of the young lad named Uub and the girl he introduced as Pan, had mixed emotions as they eyed him, more so from the girl. While Kelerot could sense that Uub was still regarding him politely, Pan had her suspicions. She looked back and forth between him and Bulma, wondering if the cerulean-haired woman would acquiesce or tell him to take a hike. He was a stranger in a strange land. It was all he could do to keep a low profile, for now, even concerning Goku after talking to him.
Bulma's family, which Kelerot believed consisted of the two youths with similar colored hair, kept a cautious eye on him as much as Pan. The one with the same colored hair as Goku was especially wary of his presence by how he stared at him. The ones at the rear, the largest group, had the two named Cheelai and Lemo, along with three children that he figured were hers. If Goku called them "Saiyans," that must mean the large one was their father. The boys, identical twins by their facial features, stared in his direction. One had a confident grin, while the other kept himself neutral, likely indifferent to Kelerot's presence as another stranger around the area.
Of the ki Kelerot had sensed, the Saiyans were overwhelming in how much they put out in such a relaxed state. So many of them are strong!
He felt the urge to Delve them all, find out what they're about. Delving fighters from a different universe could have some perks. He could find out more unless they ended up like Goku, that is. All I could Delve was the kid named Uub, but nothing happened when I Delved Goku. Why is that?
He made a third attempt, reaching out to touch Goku's shoulder, when Bulma beckoned him to join the group at a large table with multiple seats. "It's okay. We'll let you sit with us. Though I wished you had changed clothes first," she told him.
Kelerot's hands immediately tugged at his clothing. Dammit! I haven't changed clothes since they healed me!
His face must look beet red from embarrassment, Kelerot knew. With no means to find a store of some kind, he had to figure out a different method to change his attire. Then he remembered what he had Delved from Cae. The power of a Supreme Kai to conjure items instantly. He paused to consider how this would look to those in front of him and those who were also in attendance at the restaurant. There was no explanation he could think of on the spot that would rectify his action, even if he were to hide and change. Going from homeless rags to something more sophisticated and regal would raise questions that aroused suspicion. To hell with it. Just go with something simple.
He closed his eyes and conjured an image of a martial arts wardrobe that would fit his style. Bathed in a green light, Kelerot saw his clothing shift into something different before Bulma and the others. He was relieved that the dried blood vanished along with every other injury he sustained, leaving him a clean slate after that Buu creature healed him. Now he could present himself more adequately in a sleeveless tunic, loose pants, slippers, and a white belt around his waist. He then inspected the threads and nodded. "Better."
He expected a surprised reaction, but the only ones left dumbfounded were the other patrons. Goku and Bulma's groups were still waiting on him to join them as though they were used to such a technique. They didn't seem bothered by another one with the knowledge.
"Is that martial arts attire from your Universe, Kelerot?" Goku asked before Kelerot pulled his chair out. Kelerot froze, eyeing the others. He looked at Goku and made a cutting motion across his throat. "I'm not following," he said, eyebrow raised.
"Then that does explain why you look different from us," said the other Saiyan across from Goku. Kelerot eased himself into the chair and breathed a sigh.
"I should probably introduce you to everyone. That's Vegeta and Broly, the other two Saiyans. Everyone else here except for Pan and Uub are half-Saiyan," Goku said.
"I'm part-Saiyan, too, Grandpa," Pan interjected, giving him a look. She still regarded him suspiciously.
"Saiyans," Kelerot whispered. "My name is Kelerot. I was born on a planet called Gardenia in the Plant system along an outward galaxy."
The more he ran the name Saiyan in his mind, the more it made him think of Daikon. Daikon called himself a Saiyan but lacked the facial features he saw before him in Goku, Vegeta, and Broly. The Kai in him gave him the strong sensation that there were more than one or two universes with genetic cousins of a given species. There was still so much to learn about these new powers now that his mind was stabilized. The euphoria had settled, but the joy was still strong. Another miracle saved him from death. Delving truly was a gift to help him survive.
"So how did you come across here?" asked Uub, whom Kelerot found sandwiched between him and Goku. That green-skinned fellow asked a similar question earlier, which Kelerot was reluctant to answer, playing it off with a distraction to lead him elsewhere. He hoped these new faces wouldn't bombard him with too many questions, but as long as they kept them to a minimum, Kelerot didn't mind answering them now.
How do I explain this without giving away what I know of Delving? These Saiyans must be smarter than they appear. I have to choose my words carefully.
"Traveling and meeting new faces," Kelerot said. He hoped he could lie his way out of this one. "I learned how to teleport to travel faster. I can get a general sense of ki if they're gathered in a large group to give me a target to focus on, but my last stop had an encounter with a dangerous foe that left me for dead. I used the last of my strength to teleport to an area with the largest concentration I could detect."
"Wow! Whoever that guy was sounds pretty strong if he roughed you up that badly," Goku said. "But I'm more curious about your teleportation technique. It sounds way more advanced than my Instantaneous movement, almost like you were on the same level as a Supreme Kai."
Shit! Does he know? Does he know about me acquiring Destruction Ki, too?!
Kelerot chuckled. "Probably! You tend to meet a lot of strange folks along the way!"
"Why don't you ask him if he's a good fighter? That's what I'd like to know!" the boy named Choi asked, rising from his seat. He pointed to himself and his twin brother. "Though I betcha you're probably not as great as we are."
"Sit down!" hissed Cheelai, pulling at his arm. "That's not how you treat strangers, got it?!"
Choi yanked his arm away. "What? It's an honest question. I like to know if he's strong or not. Can he handle himself in a fight?"
Kelerot smiled. "You remind me of an old friend I grew up with. He was quite confident in his skill until our Master put him in his place. He learned a hard lesson rather quickly that day." It was able to draw in a few laughs from Goku, Uub, Bok, and even Pan, but it left Choi sulking in his chair.
"As for your question, I've trained for many years in the art of combat. My Master was gifted in many abilities he passed on to us," Kelerot said to Choi. "So yes, I can carry myself well into a fight. However, I'd rather be a spectator for this Tournament you're taking part in."
"Is that so?" said Vegeta, leering forward. "Now you've piqued my curiosity. How good are Gardenians compared to Saiyans?"
"Hey! I get first dibs, Vegeta!" Goku said. The two Saiyans stared at each other, which prompted Bulma to clear her throat.
"Can you two put to rest your battle lust for a few days?" she told them. Vegeta scoffed while Goku uttered a mild groan from his throat.
"I suppose. But I'd like to know if you can eat as much as Saiyans do?" he asked Kelerot. Kelerot wanted to answer, but his stomach decided to answer for him. He swallowed, heat rising in his face as he forced a smile at the group. "I might…?"
After ordering, plates, platters, bowls, and all sorts of trays arrived at their table, loaded with various food. Kelerot's mouth salivated at the sight. Maybe I died, and this is Heaven? Gardenia never had such a feast done like this before!
He heard Goku and others offer their thanks. It wasn't different from Kelerot's table manners, at least. After offering his thanks, he watched Goku dig in quickly by grabbing a large drumstick. Kelerot took one for himself and sniffed at it. This smells incredible!
He then took a bite, and the taste immediately jolted his body once it touched his tongue. Juices from the meat, even the texture quality, fired off neurons across his brain that Kelerot had never experienced before. This is food from the Seventh Universe?!
He ate, and ate, and ate. He sampled meats, noodles, dumplings, meat buns, soups, and dishes that came and went as the Saiyans cleaned plates. He couldn't bring himself to stop. Eating such a divine feast for the first time in his life made him forget for a moment where he was and what he left behind. He wanted to give a name to this experience, yet the only one he could think of was freedom.
Eating all this food made him feel liberated. He was far away from the Pride Troopers. Far from Jiren, even. There was no way they'd know where he was now. As he ate, it was the best feeling he had ever had in a long time.
"Ahh! I've eaten!" Goku shouted, tapping his stomach. "And just enough time for you all to get back before you start drawing numbers."
Pan hopped out of her chair. "Race you back to the Pavillion, Bulla!" she shouted. The girl, a smaller version of Bulma from the looks of it, nodded enthusiastically. "You're on!"
The girls sprinted out of the restaurant while Bulma looked like she was going to suffer from a migraine. Vegeta rose and stretched, eyeing Broly before turning his attention to Goku.
"You're thinking what I'm thinking, huh?" Goku said to him. "Hey Kelerot, wanna get a good workout to digest everything?"
Kelerot raised his hand. It was odd seeing these Saiyans eager to fight immediately after a meal. "Perhaps later. I usually prefer entertainment instead of sparring. But I will consider your offer, Goku."
"Tch, seems there is a fundamental difference in us after all," Vegeta said. "You sound like Broly in this instance."
Vegeta led his offspring, Trunks, out of the restaurant while Cheelai was on her feet, glaring at the Saiyan. "Broly has a good reason why he doesn't fight, Vegeta!"
Lemo laid a hand on the woman's shoulder, shaking his head. "Drop it. We'll address the giant ape in the room some other time."
Kelerot raised an eyebrow. He nodded in Broly's direction at Goku. "I can respect someone who does not desire to fight. Is he well-trained in combat?"
"He knows how to handle himself in a fight. But there's a lot more to him than that. I still want to see how much he's progressed, but if he doesn't want to fight, then I can't do anything about it," Goku explained. They watched Broly and his family leave with the large Saiyan wearing a precarious expression as he led his twin boys outside. Cheelai lifted her daughter from her booster seat, holding her in her arms. The girl had a stuffed animal clutched in her hands, which Kelerot regarded fondly, but when their eyes met, the girl immediately turned away. As they walked past, he picked up on something she whispered to her stuffed animal. "Why do you say he's lonely?" he heard her ask.
Kelerot's eyebrows rose. He wondered if the girl's parents were aware of something about her. It was no secret he was alone among strangers. That much was obvious the moment he arrived.
But the girl wasn't wrong in her question. He missed Gardenia and everyone on it. Especially Perilla.
Uub walked ahead of Goku and Kelerot. "I shouldn't keep Pan and Bulla waiting," he said.
"See you from the bleachers!" Goku said, grinning.
The Tournament Bracket is Set
Every seat was occupied as the stadium overflowed with people eager to see which pairings will open the Tournament. Goku's row had him seated alone beside Bulma, Vegeta, and Gemini, while Broly sat with Cheelai, Arugula, and Lemo. Arugula didn't need a seat since she was comfortably settled on her mother's lap, holding Mr. Bronto for comfort.
In the ring, the eight fighters gathered together. Buu, Bulla, Pan, Uub, Trunks, Bok, Choi, and Android 18 stood and waited for the Announcer to call their names to draw lots. However, other prestigious individuals were seated in a row of chairs on the ring and a podium erected in the middle. Hercule sat in the middle with monks dressed in formal attire directly to the right of a humanoid dog.
The Announcer, or Mister Announcer as people have been known to call him, raised his microphone before waving his hand at the audience. "Welcome everyone to the Thirtieth World Martial Arts Tournament!"
A raucous chorus of cheers thundered from the spectators, which forced Cheelai to cover Arugula's ears due to how loud it was. Even Lemo had to plug his ears, scrunching his face at the deafening cheers. Piccolo had been used to the cheering from his position, far back at the top of the bleachers. He didn't like the sight of Kelerot standing not too far off, overlooking everything from behind a guard rail.
"People worldwide heard the news of Mister Hercule Satan announcing his retirement. As a result, we were privileged to witness what could be the most unprecedented and uncontested turnout in Tournament history!" Mister Announcer shouted to another round of cheering.
"But, because we wanted to embrace a little tradition from past Tournaments, only eight fighters could qualify to fight for the vacant World Championship belt you see on display." Mister Announcer motioned with his hand to another pedestal in front of the podium with the World Title belt on display. A polished leather belt imbued with gold plating on the front with a falcon hovering over the word "Champion" enticed spectators to grab their cameras and snap many photos.
Pan had seen that belt more times than she could remember whenever she visited Hercule in his mansion. Her focus was more on Bok and Choi, with the latter bragging to his brother about the belt.
Bulla also had her eye on the twin brothers, though her look was more of admiration than competitiveness. She averted her eyes whenever the two looked in her direction, which made Pan roll her eyes, watching her friend's cheeks redden from her odd infatuation.
18's face hadn't changed much. This wasn't her first Tournament, but it was one where she was glad not to broker a deal with Hercule to let him win. She could be a champion in her own right.
Uub was near Trunks, assessing the competition. He was familiar with Bulla and Pan from past training sessions but was curious how he'd fare against the rest. He'd have to be on guard against 18 since she had no ki to sense, and her stamina was endless, which could prove problematic in the long run should their match be prolonged. A quick and decisive victory was needed against her.
Against either Bok or Choi, the preliminaries showcased a contrast between strength and speed. Choi was fast but by how much? None of the preliminary fighters were a valid measuring stick to gauge Choi's true power unless he faced him. With Bok, he'd have to prepare himself to withstand heavy strikes. Even though they were younger than him, Uub did not want to make a single mistake.
Trunks gave him mixed signals. Something was on his mind which was troubling him. There were times the young man looked lost on the platform yet still had the strength to defeat his opponent. How he'd fare against anyone right now in the ring, Uub wasn't sure.
He wanted to avoid staring directly at Buu but knew the trimmed pink creature was in his field of vision. He remembered him from years ago as a fatter version, but this Buu was showing muscle definition, a slim body, and that same content grin he never seemed to part with. There was no doubt that this Buu meant business, and being close friends with Hercule meant that he was the favorite to win the Championship title. A whole section was reserved for his Fan Club, occupying dozens of seats facing the podium. They never hesitated or relented on their support for Buu, playing instruments and holding a banner that read "World Champion Buu," along with a picture of Buu's head painted beside it in a jovial expression.
Uub instinctively began rubbing his arm again, looking around at the spectators as if he was that ten-year-old boy from long ago who was away from his village for the first time in his life. He calmed down when he spotted Goku and Piccolo in the stands, each waving back in their own fashion. He then glanced at the board with the brackets drawn, Buu's name written over the number 1 slot, leaving seven numbers to be drawn by the rest.
"And now, our esteemed Tournament Chairman will offer his words of support to the fighters present," Mister Announcer said, yielding the podium to the humanoid dog. He rose, marched slowly to the podium, cleared his throat, and waited for the crowd to fall silent before speaking.
"Woof."
Silence still permeated the area before people composed themselves. Uub, Trunks, Pan, and Bulla, stared dumbfounded at the Chairman. After such a stunning display of "words" from the Chairman, Mister Announcer raised his microphone to his mouth. "A man of powerful and insightful wisdom! But that is not all that we have to offer everyone here today! We have a special announcement!"
The announcement brought whispers among the crowd, all figuring out what it might be. Uub glanced at Pan and Bulla, wondering if they had an idea, but both shrugged their shoulders. Choi could be seen tapping his foot impatiently, glaring at the Tournament committee. Uub hoped this wouldn't take long if the fighters' patience were starting to wear thin.
"While our beloved Champion and greatest Hero our planet had ever been graced with steps down, he will not be too far from us. As of today, Hercule will take on the honor of being our Vice-Chairman of the Tournament Committee!"
Mister Announcer's words brought another thunderous reception and a standing ovation for Hercule, who rose from his chair to approach the podium. Raising his hand to quiet the crowd, he cleared his throat and pulled a few sheets of paper from inside his suit jacket.
Pan groaned, covering her face. "Not another speech, Grandpa…!"
"Does it usually take long?" Uub asked.
"Be prepared to wait a while before drawing your number. That's all I'm gonna say," Pan replied, sitting cross-legged on the ring slabs.
Pan wasn't kidding.
Uub stood and watched Hercule speak long and proud about his legacy as Champion of combat sports and his heroic endeavors over the years, describing in minute detail how often he saved the world. Bulla joined Pan in sitting down, with both girls nodding off before resting their heads against each other. Trunks fought the urge to fall asleep while standing up, whereas Bok had to constantly keep his brother at bay, who looked visibly angered by how long this took. It was one instance where Uub couldn't blame Choi for losing his cool. Even he was ready to beg Hercule to wrap it up so they could draw numbers.
Fortunately, it did not bore the crowd. They all hung on his every word, shedding tears of joy at his moving speech before chanting his name. Uub had heard stories before of the admiration Hercule received from the world's population, his Chieftain notwithstanding, but to see it shown before him in such capacity left him speechless. They loved their Hero, through and through.
After Hercule concluded his speech, he descended the ring with the Tournament committee, leaving Mister Announcer to address the crowd and the fighters.
"And now! The moment you've all been waiting for! When I call your name, please come forward to draw a number from the box before you. We will then write your name on the board for everyone to see! Contestant Buu, who received a bye, is slated at number 1. Contestant Choi, will you come forward, please?"
"It's about damn time!" Choi shouted, stalking toward the box. He dipped his hand and grabbed a number, tossing it to Mister Announcer. "I don't care what it is. It won't matter who I beat in the first round anyway."
Mister Announcer nearly dropped the ball but caught it after juggling it awkwardly. "Uh, Contestant Choi drew number 7!"
Uub could see some of the crowd reacting to Choi's behavior. Even if Choi moved on, he didn't look to be the crowd favorite with his attitude on display.
"Next up, Contestant Bulla! Step forward, please?" Mister Announcer called. Pan and Bulla were still napping, which prompted Uub to nudge them awake with his foot. "Girls, we're drawing numbers! Wake up!"
Pan rubbed her eyes, blinking. Bulla did the same. "Contestant Bulla? It's your turn!" Mister Announcer repeated, which prompted Bulla to spring to her feet. "I'm awake! I'm awake!"
Ignoring the chuckles from the crowd, Bulla marched to the box to draw her number, showing it to Mister Announcer. "Contestant Bulla drew number 5!"
Uub watched the monks write Bulla's number on the third pair of brackets. Choi would fight the fourth and final match of the first round, making him wonder where he'd end up once he drew his number.
Contestant Bok was next, who drew number 3. After his name was written down, Mister Announcer called Android 18 to draw her number. When she pulled the ball out of the box, she frowned, glancing at Buu. She showed the number 2 to Mister Announcer.
"Contestant 18 has drawn number 2! She will be Buu's first opponent in the Tournament!" Mister Announcer called to the spectators. It drew cheers and chants from the Fan Club immediately.
"Yeah!"
"You got this, Buu!"
"Take her down, Buu!"
"Buu is the Champ!"
"Buu wins the belt!"
Uub wanted to show her sympathy, but she merely shook her head as if to say, "don't bother."
"Contestant Uub! You're next!" Mister Announcer called. Uub, relieved that he didn't have to fight Buu in the first round, marched to the box and dipped his hand inside. When he pulled his number out, he glanced behind him at Bok. "Number 4," he said to Mister Announcer.
Uub decided to wait until the last two numbers were drawn before he approached Bok. It was Pan's turn next, who was eager to draw her number.
"Please number 8, please number 8," she repeated, crossing her fingers as she reached in the box for her number. When she pulled it out, her face sank. "Are you kidding me?!"
Uub looked over Pan's shoulder to see she had drawn number 6, meaning she'd have to fight Bulla in the first round. Pan showed her number to Mister Announcer. "Uh, hey, can I change my number to number 8? I really wanna fight that brat in the first round and kick him to the outside!"
Mister Announcer took the ball from Pan. "I'm sorry, but the rules are the way they are. Once you draw your number, that's your official placement in the bracket."
Once Pan's and Trunks's names were written on the board, Pan approached Bulla. The girls looked uncomfortable next to each other. "I was hoping we'd fight each other later or something," Pan said.
"Yeah. I would've loved to teach my brother a lesson on how to take his training seriously and not fawn over that damn Mai so much," Bulla replied, glaring at Trunks.
"You're still on about that…?"
"And why shouldn't I?! She's not coming back, brother!" Bulla shouted at Trunks, who was surprised by her reaction at first before glaring back at her.
"Everyone, calm down," Uub said, stepping in between Trunks and the girls. "You can resolve your personal issues after the Tournament. Please don't let it intervene with your matches."
"Says the one scared of Buu," Bulla shot back, pointing behind her at Buu, who was waving back at the Fan Club.
"Bulla!"
Bulla's expression hadn't changed. "Oh please, Pan. You see it as much as I do. If Uub drew number 2, Buu would wipe the floor with him from corner to corner." She turned to Uub and stabbed a finger against his chest. "I don't know what has you so spooked, but until you get that out of your head, you have no right to tell me how I should resolve my personal business, got it?!"
Bulla shoved Pan and Uub aside, marching down the steps back to the Pavillion. Pan watched her in disbelief before turning her attention to Uub. "Bulla…."
Pan wanted to run after her but was held back by Uub. "It's fine, Pan. Our fights are more important right now."
Mister Announcer cut through the tension, pointing to the board. "There you have it, people of the world! Our first-round matches have been decided! Match number 1 will pit Contestant Buu versus Contestant 18! Match number 2 is Contestant Uub versus Contestant Bok! Match Number 3 is Contestant Bulla versus Contestant Pan! And rounding off the first set of matches will be Contestant Choi versus Contestant Trunks! See you first thing tomorrow morning for the opening fight! Good luck to all the participants!"
Uub and Pan approached Trunks, who had been staring off in the distance. "Good luck with your match tomorrow," Uub said, offering his hand.
Trunks took it. "Thanks, Uub."
"Um, about what your sister said—" Pan began, but Trunks shook his head.
"She's still a kid. There's a lot she still doesn't know about. I'll be fine," he said. The three were then interrupted by Bok and Choi walking in their direction.
"I look forward to our fight tomorrow," Bok said to Uub. Uub bowed to Bok. "So do I."
Bok couldn't hold back the excitement on his face. "It'll be great seeing how I do against a different opponent other than my brother here."
"Don't bother hyping yourself up, bro," Choi said, clapping his brother on the chest. He then pointed at him, then at himself while staring at Trunks with a cocky grin. "I dunno about your opponent, but this guy looked like he barely scraped by in the preliminaries. I'll be in and out of this ring before you even blink."
"Consider yourself lucky I didn't draw number 8, brat," Pan said, and the two kids sized each other up with an intense glare.
Choi then stepped forward, his face inches away from Pan's. "You better hope you and I cross fists in this Tournament because I'm going to make you regret calling me a brat. Your diluted Saiyan blood might as well be Saiyan piss compared to my Saiyan blood."
The two kept the intensity before Bok tapped Choi on the shoulder. "Choi, come on. We shouldn't keep mom and dad waiting."
Choi's mouth curled into a smile, baring his teeth as he kept his glare on Pan for a few seconds. He then snickered before joining Bok, leaving Pan standing, hands gripped tightly into fists, shaking. Uub gave Choi a serious look, seeing the first signs of how dangerous an opponent that kid would be.