A Warrior's Duality

The ongoing fight in the ring was a disgrace to the art of combat, in Tao Pai Pai's eyes. Nam, the stoic warrior from a distant village, fought with admirable technique but an almost painful level of restraint. His opponent, Ranfan, relied on cheap distractions and quite, sultry theatrics, much to the delight of the male audience.

To Tao, the fight, if it could even be called that, was. "Pathetic," he said, his expression full of disdain as he stood, arms crossed. "If this is what counts as competition, this tournament is even more of a joke than I expected."

Kakarot, standing between Tao and Bulma, seemed just as disinterested, his tail flicking lazily as his eyes barely glanced toward the match. Occasionally glancing over to Bulma, who also looked disinterested, almost as if she was daydreaming about something else.

Tao's sharp voice cut through the din of the crowd. "If this is the caliber of fighters we're watching, we might as well leave until it's time for your next match, Kakarot."

Kakarot yawned, leaning back and resting his arms behind his head. "Yeah, they're a joke, honestly, it's kind of embarrassing to watch, but, there isn't anything better to do here, I'm almost regretting getting into this tournament, at least I got to see Bulma again."

Bulma rolled her eyes but said nothing, though the faintest hint of a smirk played on her lips. Tao, however, wasn't ready to let the conversation change, his gaze sharpened as he tilted his head toward Kakarot. "You've noticed the Turtle School's fighters by now, haven't you?"

Kakarot smirked faintly. "Not much to think about, Yamcha's the only one who's shown he's got some real fight in him, but, well." He chuckled darkly, remembering Yamcha's pathetic display as he cried at his defeat. "He didn't make the cut."

"And that other guy…" He waved a hand dismissively, referring to the Ox-King. "He's big and strong, but he couldn't have grown that much stronger since the last time I fought him."

Tao's lips curved into a knowing smirk. "Is that so? Well, you're half-right, Yamcha's definitely their strongest, but you've overlooked someone, or rather, their true identity."

Kakarot raised an eyebrow, his tail momentarily stilling. "What are you talking about?"

Tao's smirk widened, without warning, his hand shot out toward Kakarot's head, intent on striking him. Reflexively, Kakarot ducked, a sharp glare cutting across his face. "You should really stop trying to do that, I'm not weak anymore, the day I retaliate will be your last."

Tao, unbothered by the threat, crossed his arms as he looked down at Kakarot, with a disapproving scowl. "You're far too complacent, if you'd been paying attention, you'd already know. Jackie Chun, the man who beat Yamcha? That's Roshi in disguise."

Kakarot froze, his expression hardening as the words sank in, for a moment, his tail stopped moving entirely, then bristled with agitation. "What did you just say?"

Tao's voice was calm, almost mocking. "You heard me, that old fool is here." A knowing smirk played on Tao's lips, he would use Kakarot to crush the hermit, just for fun. "Doesn't that bother you?"

Kakarot's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles cracking under the pressure, his tail whipped furiously behind him. "That old man," he growled, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. "He's doing this to mock me, isn't he? First he refused to fight me, now, he dresses up and joins this tournament, all just to humiliate me!"

Bulma looked over, concern flashing in her eyes as she reached out to touch his arm. "Kakarot," she said softly, her voice cutting through the storm of his anger. "Calm down."

Her touch made him pause, though his tail still lashed restlessly. "Why should I? He's-"

"Think about it," Bulma interrupted gently, her fingers tightening slightly on his arm. "Now you have the perfect chance to face him in the tournament, you can beat him fair and square, in front of everyone."

Slowly, a prideful and vicious smirk spread across his face, Kakarot's tail relaxed slightly, swaying now in calculated anticipation, he met Bulma's gaze and nodded, his tone shifting from anger to cold confidence. "You're right," he said, his voice low but dripping with satisfaction. "I can humiliate him publicly, I can show the whole world how weak he is compared to me."

Bulma gave him a small smile, though her concern didn't entirely fade. "Just don't get too worked up before the fight, okay? Save it for the arena."

Tao watched the exchange with a hint of amusement, arms crossed as he leaned back. His plan to stir Kakarot's emotions had worked better than expected, but Bulma's intervention had ensured the anger was channeled. "Still, don't underestimate him, the old hermit is a fool, but he is tricky."

Kakarot snorted, his smirk never wavering. "It doesn't matter, I'm stronger, and I'll prove it to him, and everyone else, when I crush him in front of the world."

The announcer's voice boomed across the tournament grounds, amplified by the roaring energy of the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, our final match of the quarter-finals is here! In this corner, we have Kakarot! A ruthless uh… Sai-ann warrior?" He paused, tilting his head toward the edge of the arena. "Sorry, but, what's a Sai-ann?"

Kakarot's tail snapped in irritation, his dark eyes locking onto the announcer with an icy glare. The poor man froze mid-sentence, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple as he shrank under the intensity of the Saiyan's gaze. "A-ah, uh… moving on!" he stammered, quickly clearing his throat. "Kakarot, also a proud student of the infamous mercenary Tao!"

A mix of curiosity and fear rippled through the stands, Tao's name carried a weight that overshadowed Kakarot's introduction, leaving most spectators hesitant to cheer.

But cutting through the uneasy silence was a clear, enthusiastic voice. "Go, Kakarot! Show them what you've got!"

Bulma's cheers rang out confidently, her hands cupped around her mouth to amplify her shout. The attention drew a scoff from Mai, who crossed her arms and leaned toward the edge of the stands. "Boo! You're gonna lose monster!" she yelled, her voice sharp and cutting.

Kakarot glanced toward the stands, catching Bulma's voice, for a brief moment, a faint smirk tugged at his lips, but it quickly shifted to a scoff as his tail flicked dismissively. "Humans," he muttered, shaking his head at the women's antics.

The announcer, determined to steer the attention back to the ring, cleared his throat dramatically. "And in the other corner, we have the legendary warlord of the fire mount-"

The Ox-King stepped forward and raised a massive hand, his voice booming yet cheerful. "Sorry, sorry, it's the Great Pleasant Mountain! The fire was put out!"

The announcer blinked in surprise, momentarily thrown off. "Ri-right, the Great Pleasant Mountain!" He quickly adjusted, his professional enthusiasm returning. "A gentle giant, and the Turtle School's oldest living student, the one and only Ox-King!"

The crowd burst into applause, laughter mingling with the cheers as the Ox-King gave an exaggerated wave to the crowd, his jovial grin spreading across his face.

The announcer, visibly flustered by the interruptions and antics of both fighters, continued. "A-and now, ladies and gentlemen, let the fight, begin!" He gestured to the gong at the edge of the arena. The sound rang out loud and clear.

Kakarot and the Ox-King lunged at each other, their movements swift and powerful. Kakarot's fist shot forward, aiming for the massive warlord's gut, but the Ox-King's thick forearm intercepted the strike, without hesitation, Kakarot followed up with a quick jab to the ribs, blocked again, his tail flicked in irritation, but a smirk played on his lips.

"Not bad, old man," Kakarot taunted, stepping back lightly.

The Ox-King chuckled, his stance wide and firm. "You've definitely grown stronger," he admitted, rubbing his now slightly bruised forearm. "I can feel it in your strikes."

Kakarot's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with challenge. "You haven't even seen half of it yet."

Before the Ox-King could respond, Kakarot was already moving, launching forward in a blur, his fist shot toward the Ox-King's face, but the giant warrior was ready, he moved his head slightly, letting the punch graze his cheek, then retaliated with a massive palm strike aimed straight at Kakarot's chest.

Kakarot twisted his body at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the crushing force of the Ox-King's strike, he landed lightly on his feet, his tail swaying lazily behind him. "Too slow," he teased, eyes sharp with amusement.

The Ox-King's grin widened. "Let's see if you can keep dodging forever, kid!"

With a sudden stomp, the Ox-King surged forward, clapping his massive fists together and swinging like a hammer toward Kakarot's head, who ducked under the blow with ease, flipping backwards just as the Ox-King brought down another heavy blow, the arena floor cracked under the sheer force of the impact.

The two warriors circled each other now, their breaths steady, their stances firm, the sizing-up phase was over, it was time for the real fight.

Kakarot's smirk widened, his sharp eyes gleaming with confidence. "So, you big oaf," he called out "You ready to lose?"

The Ox-King let out a booming laugh, his chest shaking with amusement. "Lose? Hah! You sure talk big for a kid who needed the power pole and a motorbike to keep up with me last time!" He cracked his knuckles, giving Kakarot a knowing grin. "Think you can stand a chance without your toys this time?

Kakarot's tail flicked, but his smirk didn't falter. "Tch, I don't need them," he scoffed. His legs tensed. "I'll beat you with my own two hands!"

In an instant, he lunged forward, faster than before, the air practically ripped around him as he closed the distance in a blink, his fist shooting forward like a bullet. The Ox-King barely had time to widen his eyes before-

BAM!

Kakarot's punch slammed straight into the Ox-King's gut, the impact echoing through the arena, the giant warrior's body lurched, his boots sliding backward against the arena floor as a burst of air escaped his lungs.

For the first time in the fight, the Ox-King felt it, Kakarot's real power, this wasn't the same kid from a year ago. But the match was far from over.

The Ox-King staggered slightly, Kakarot's punch having left a deep ache in his gut, but despite the pain, a wide grin stretched across his face. His eyes, hidden behind the thick lenses of his glasses, gleamed with something more than just the thrill of battle, pride.

He's gotten strong. Real strong, I can see Gohan did a good job.

His massive hand clenched into a fist. But let's see how he handles this!

With a roar, the Ox-King retaliated, his enormous fists crashing toward Kakarot in a furious barrage, each strike carried his great strength, his sheer natural size and brute force, making up for their gap in power. Kakarot's arms snapped up, blocking each blow, his muscles tightening under the relentless assault. The sheer force sent small shockwaves rippling through the air, the thud of each impact echoing across the arena.

Kakarot gritted his teeth, each punch stung, the weight behind them undeniable, even as he blocked, the accumulated damage was starting to build, and his arms were starting to feel the strain.

Then one punch broke through.

The Ox-King's massive fist crashed into Kakarot's side, sending the Saiyan skidding back with a sharp exhale. There it is! The Ox-King's eyes flashed, and he surged forward, ready to press the attack, ready to finish this while he had the advantage.

But just as he brought his fist down for a crushing blow, Kakarot's hand shot up, stopping the Ox-King's fist mid-air.

The Ox-King's grin faltered. His eyes widened. What?

Kakarot's grip was solid, his small fingers clamping around the giant's fist like a vice. The Saiyan stood there, unmoving, a sharp contrast to the sheer power the Ox-King had just thrown at him.

And then, Kakarot smirked, a cocky, playful expression.

"Not bad, old man," he chuckled. "But…"

With a sudden, explosive burst of strength, Kakarot yanked the Ox-King forward, twisting his body as he flung the giant warrior into the air, the sharp contrast of the small warrior throwing such a powerful giant over his shoulder, earning gasps from the crowd.

The Ox-King's massive frame soared over the ring before crashing hard into the ground, shaking the entire arena upon impact.

Kakarot stood tall, rolling his shoulder with a satisfied grin. "Gonna take more than that to put me down."

The Ox-King groaned, pushing his massive hands against the arena floor. His muscles strained as he forced himself up, but before he could fully rise.

Kakarot was already there.

A blur of pink and black shot forward, and then Kakarot's fist crashed into the Ox-King, sending him stumbling backward.

"Heh," Kakarot sneered, his tail flicking behind him. "What happened to all that strength, old man? You were hitting harder than this last time."

The Ox-King barely had a second to react before Kakarot was on him again. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on him, each blow landing with ruthless precision, the Ox-King managed to block some, his massive forearms absorbing part of the damage, but Kakarot was faster, stronger. He weaved around every attempt to counter, slipping past defenses and striking at weak spots with unrelenting force and precision.

"I could've just thrown you out of the ring, y'know," Kakarot taunted, a sharp grin splitting his face as he dodged another sluggish punch and countered with a brutal knee to the ribs. CRACK! The sound of impact echoed through the arena. "But where's the fun in that? I need to see your strength!"

The Ox-King grunted, gritting his teeth as he staggered. Damn, he's gotten strong… too strong, and those moves, that assassin taught well.

"I need you to fight me like last time!" Kakarot's fist slammed into the Ox-King's cheek, sending blood flying as the larger warrior stumbled to the side. "C'mon, you fat brute! Did you get rusty? Don't tell me that a year of training made you weaker!"

The Ox-King growled, forcing his arms up to block another incoming strike, but Kakarot was already behind him, slamming a boot into the back of his knee, to bring him down, and the warlord of the Great Pleasant Mountain buckled, barely stopping himself from collapsing outright.

The crowd was a mix of awe and unease, the difference in power was obvious now, Kakarot was winning, and he knew it, but he was fighting so relentlessly.

Then-

"STOP IT!"

The scream came from the stand, where Chi-Chi, her fists clenched tight and her face red with anger, stood at the edge of the stands, practically shaking with rage.

"Kakarot, you big jerk!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. "Stop bullying my daddy!"

She made a move to jump over the walls, fully intending to storm the ring herself, but before she could.

Two small arms wrapped around her from behind.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on, Chi-Chi!" Krillin grunted, struggling to keep her from leaping onto the battlefield. "You can't just run in there!"

"Let me go, cue ball!" Chi-Chi shrieked, kicking wildly. "I'll knock that stupid grin off his face!"

Krillin winced as he struggled to hold her back. "Look, I get it! But it's a fight! The Ox-King knew what he was getting into!"

Chi-Chi glared at him. "He's doing this on purpose! He's just toying with him!"

Krillin hesitated, he wasn't sure he could argue against that.

Meanwhile, back in the ring, Kakarot chuckled, cracking his knuckles as he loomed over the battered Ox-King.

"C'mon," he taunted, tilting his head. "Are we done already? Is daddy gonna make his little girl disappointed?"

The Ox-King planted his feet firmly on the arena floor, straightening his broad shoulders as he exhaled, steadying himself. He ignored the aches in his body, the bruises forming beneath his tattered gi. His massive chest rose and fell with slow, deliberate breaths before he turned his gaze to Kakarot, his eyes filled with something deeper than just battle-lust.

"You've truly grown at an amazing rate, kid," the Ox-King admitted, rolling his shoulders as he clenched his fists. "You've surpassed me... And I can tell, just from this fight alone, that you might have even surpassed old master Roshi, but that doesn't mean I can't still give you a good fight."

Kakarot smirked, folding his arms, tail flicking lazily behind him. "Heh. We'll see about that, old man."

The Ox-King grinned despite the pain. "I won't disappoint my little girl." His eyes flickered toward Chi-Chi in the stands, she had stopped struggling against Krillin's grip, now frozen in place, watching the scene unfold.

Then his gaze returned to Kakarot, and his grin widened. "Tell me, kid, do you remember how our fight ended last time?"

Kakarot's smirk faltered slightly, his eyes closed, as he looked down and his mind flickered back to the memory, the image flashing vividly before him:

High up in the sky, he stood, charging up his move, bent on finishing off his opponent.

Kamehameha!

The sky had lit up as his blast came crashing down, engulfing the massive warrior in a wave of energy, only for in the end, the Ox-King, to still be the only one with strength to stand up.

Kakarot's eyes narrowed as he snapped back to the present. "Yeah," he muttered, lips curling back into a cocky grin.

The Ox-King's own smirk deepened. "Good, I can't reach the skies like you, but I learned a new trick."

Before Kakarot could react, the massive warrior planted his feet firmly on the ground, bending his knees ever so slightly. The tiles beneath him cracked, fractures spreading outward from the sheer force building in his body as he stood. He readied a familiar stance, and then, a deep, rumbling voice echoed across the tournament grounds.

"KAAAAA… MEEEE… HAAAAA… MEEEE…!"

Kakarot's grin faltered, his eyes widened, pupils shrinking. What?

The air crackled, waves of energy rolling off the Ox-King's towering frame as a brilliant blue light formed between his massive hands, his sheer size making this Kamehameha bigger than the ones previously shown.

The sky darkened slightly, as if bending to the sheer force he was mustering, the sheer pressure of the growing attack sent dust spiraling across the tiles.

The crowd gasped, stunned into silence.

Jackie Chun watched intently, arms folded, beneath his disguise, his chest swelled with pride. "So you finally pulled it off," he muttered under his breath.

On the other side, Kakarot's lips twitched, curling into something strange, his breath hitched. But then… he laughed.

A wild, unrestrained sound, bubbling up from deep within his chest, not mockery, not arrogance. Excitement.

"HAHAHAHA!" His body trembled, his tail whipping behind him, his heart pounded in his chest, his saiyan blood burning, his instincts kicking in.

He had thought this was over, that the old man had nothing left. But now? Now this was fun.

The Ox-King's voice reached its peak.

"HAAAAAAAA!"

The Kamehameha exploded forward, a massive torrent of energy roaring forward, the ground shook as the blinding wave of destruction raced toward its target.

Kakarot's breath quickened, his hands clenched into fists, his grin stretched impossibly wide. He could counter it, send a blast of his own, pierce through, but instead.

He welcomed it.

Kakarot braced himself, his muscles tensed like coiled steel, his feet digging into the cracked tiles beneath him, he crossed his arms in front of him, standing defensively, as the Kamehameha crashed onto him, engulfing him in an eruption of energy.

A shockwave blasted outward, sending tiles flying, kicking up a fierce wind that swept through the stadium. The crowd gasped, shielding their eyes from the now too familiar blinding blue light.

But through the roar of the blast, through the searing power pressing down on him, Kakarot stood.

His arms crossed over his chest, his body hunched against the raw force of the attack. It was like trying to hold back a raging flood, his skin burned, his muscles screamed, but his feet stayed planted.

The Ox-King held firm, legs bent, hands outstretched as he poured every last ounce of power into the beam. If he couldn't break through Kakarot's defenses, then he could sustain it long enough, he could push Kakarot out of the ring entirely, just like Jackie Chun had done in the last fight.

But Kakarot wasn't being pushed back, he was moving forward.

Through the blinding energy, his silhouette lurched forward. One step. Then another. The ground cracked beneath his feet, tiles shattering as he pushed through the Kamehameha, his body screaming in protest.

His breath came in ragged pants, his vision blinded by the blue light, his arms trembled under the sheer force pressing against them. If he let his guard drop for even a second, the blast would consume him. But his grin never faded.

He pushed harder.

Then, with a roar that shook the stadium, he bent his knees and leaped forward.

The crowd gasped as Kakarot shot through the blast, his form burning against the force of the Kamehameha. The blast still crashed into him, hammering against his guard, his body aching under the relentless pressure. But he kept moving.

The Ox-King's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"

Kakarot closed the distance.

Pain screamed through his nerves, the Kamehameha threatening to overwhelm him, but he clenched his teeth and let out a primal roar. His body burst through the energy wave, tearing through it, the energy scattered around him.

And then-

Kakarot's knee slammed into the Ox-King's gut.

The giant warrior's eyes bulged, a gasp of pain choked out of his throat as blood flew from his mouth, for a moment, time seemed to freeze, the massive force behind the attack sinking deep into his body, as a crunching sound could be heard, as his ribs broke from the pressure.

Then came the second impact.

Kakarot didn't hesitate. Didn't give him a second to recover, with sheer ruthlessness, he jumped, fists locked together, mimicking the Ox-King's own previous technique. His muscles tensed as he swung his fists down into the giant's skull.

He continued the brutal combo, quickly descending into the ground again and delivering an uppercut into the warlord's jaw that sent him flying upward, following it up, Kakarot jumped and met the giant on the air, finishing him off with a powerful kick, the sheer power behind it sending a ripple of shockwaves through the air.

The Ox-King's body was sent flying.

The stadium floor shattered as he crashed into and through it, the sheer force of the attack destroying the stadium beneath him, as dust and debris exploded in every direction. The crowd recoiled from the sheer force of the impact.

And through it all, Kakarot stood, body still smoldering from the remnants of the Kamehameha, his breath ragged… but his grin wider than ever, his tail flicked behind him, and a manic glint burned in his eyes.

Kakarot stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving, breath ragged, smoke still lingering in the air, his arms bearing deep burns, from where he had endured the full force of the Kamehameha. His gi was in tatters, barely hanging onto his frame, the fabric singed and torn in multiple places. His body shook, muscles strained beyond their limits, nerves still screaming from the pain.

But none of it mattered.

A grin stretched across his face, and in his eyes, gleaming through the exhaustion, burned something almost unhinged. Excitement. Satisfaction.

He had won.

The arena? Destroyed. What had once been a pristine battlefield was now a ruin of shattered stone and broken tiles, the force of all these matches being too much for the arena grounds. a gaping hole marking where the Ox-King had crashed through the stadium floor.

And there, at the bottom of the crater, the Ox-King lay motionless.

His massive frame was sprawled across the ruined ground, dust settling over his bruised and bloodied body. Cuts and gashes lined his skin, blood trickling from his forehead, his gi was in tatters, barely clinging to him. His chest rose and fell weakly, but he didn't move. He was completely unconscious.

"DADDY!"

A desperate scream ripped through the air as Chi-Chi rushed forward, vaulting over the broken remains of the stadium floor, her eyes wide with panic.

She skidded to her knees beside the Ox-King, hands trembling as she tried to shake him awake. "Daddy, get up! Please, get up!"

No response.

Her fingers curled into fists, her shoulders shaking, then her head snapped up, her eyes locking onto Kakarot, burning with sheer fury.

"You monster!" she shrieked. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

She shot up, storming toward him, fists clenched, rage overwhelming her concern, but as she reached him.

Kakarot's eyes met hers.

A single, sharp glare.

Chi-Chi froze mid-step.

The air turned heavy, suffocating, Kakarot hadn't moved, he hadn't spoken a word. But the sheer menace in his gaze alone rooted her in place, the weight of it crashed down on her, pressing against her chest.

Her breath caught.

He didn't need to speak. His glare alone made it clear, that she was nothing to him.

The announcer, still standing a safe distance away, gulped before lifting his microphone with shaking hands.

"U-Um… The Ox-King has been… ringed out!" His voice wavered, then steadied. "Kakarot wins! The quarter-finals are over!"

The crowd erupted, some in stunned cheers, others in uneasy murmurs, but Kakarot didn't react, he simply turned, and, without a word, he walked away, his footsteps slow, deliberate. Each movement radiated exhaustion, pain still lingering in his burned limbs, but his smirk never faded.

Behind him, Chi-Chi's screams echoed through the stadium as she desperately called for her father to wake up.

The smirk on Kakarot's face remained as he made his way toward the resting quarters, but it wasn't cruel, wasn't taunting, it was one of pride and satisfaction.

That had been a real fight, and he relished it. As he strode forward, he passed Yamcha and Jackie Chun.

Yamcha's glare bore into him, his arms crossed tightly, shoulders tense with barely restrained frustration, Kakarot didn't even spare him a glance. He simply kept walking, paying him no mind, his expression unchanged.

Yamcha gritted his teeth. "Tch, look at him," he muttered, voice low, eyes following Kakarot as he walked away. "Smirking like that… after what he just did. He's proud to have beaten someone down so brutally."

Jackie Chun let out a slow breath, arms tucked behind his back as he gazed after Kakarot thoughtfully. Then, without turning, he spoke.

"Your anger clouds you still."

Yamcha's head snapped toward him. "What?"

Jackie stroked his beard, his voice even, measured. "That smirk… it's not cruelty, boy. That's the face of a fighter who just had a great match. A brutal match, sure, but an honorable one."

Yamcha scoffed. "Honorable? You saw what he did to Chi-Chi's dad! Where was the honor!"

Jackie finally turned to face him, his usual air of aloofness gone, replaced by something firmer, heavier.

"I saw a battle, Yamcha," he said. "And I saw a warrior who relished the challenge, you may not like Kakarot, and truth be told, neither do I, but don't mistake every action of his as malicious." He gestured toward the wrecked arena, to where Chi-Chi was still by her father's side. "If he wanted to, Kakarot could've ended that fight instantly, instead, he took everything the Ox-King threw at him, he let himself get hurt, because he wanted to see what the old warlord was still capable of. That wasn't just some beatdown, that was a real fight. He didn't toy with him, he tested both their limits."

Yamcha clenched his fists, glaring at the ground, frustration and resentment bubbling beneath the surface.

Jackie sighed. "You want to beat him, don't you?"

Yamcha stiffened.

Jackie nodded. "Then stop focusing on why you hate him and start paying attention to why he's strong."

As Jackie Chun turned to leave, Yamcha smirked and called out, "Hey, Master Roshi, thank you."

Jackie froze mid-step.

A tense second passed before he slowly turned back, visibly flustered, waving his hands in a poor attempt to brush it off. "Wh-what are you talking about, boy?! I am Jackie Chun! Who is this Roshi fella? Never heard of him!"

Yamcha laughed, crossing his arms. "C'mon, old man, you made it pretty obvious."

Jackie grumbled, adjusting his wig. "Tch. Brat, keep it down, will ya?" He leaned in, muttering under his breath, "The whole point of this disguise is so they don't know it's me."

Yamcha simply grinned. "Yeah, yeah, my lips are sealed… Jackie."

Jackie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kids these days…" He muttered as he walked off, leaving Yamcha chuckling behind him.

Kakarot sat slumped against the wall, his arms resting over his bent knees, his chest rising and falling with slow, steady breaths. The burns on his arms throbbed, his muscles ached, but his mind was elsewhere.

That fight was good, but now, his gaze drifted to the side.

Jackie Chun, or better yet, Roshi, the old turtle hermit, there was no doubt, the two would face off in the finals, and Kakarot was more than ready to deliver the old man his comeuppance.

But his thoughts were abruptly interrupted, as a sharp cry of protest rang through the room, followed by the sound of struggling. "Let me go, you creepy assassin bastard! I can walk on my own!"

With a loud thud, a figure was unceremoniously dropped onto the floor beside him.

Bulma.

She groaned, rubbing her backside before shooting a glare upward. "Dammit, Tao! Don't you know how to treat a lady?!"

Tao merely dusted off his hands, unfazed. "You were taking too long."

Bulma was about to snap back but then, her expression changed, her eyes landed on Kakarot, taking in his state, his burnt arms, the torn clothes, the way his body still trembled slightly from the strain of the fight.

She immediately shifted forward, grabbing his arm, inspecting the damage.

"You idiot! You reckless, brain-dead idiot!" she hissed, already digging through her capsule case. "You should've ended that fight early instead of letting yourself get fried like this! Do you have any idea how close you were to-"

"I'm fine." Kakarot's voice cut through her panic, calm and steady.

Bulma's grip on his arm tightened. "Like hell you are!"

Tao let out a low chuckle, arms crossed as he looked down at Kakarot with thinly veiled disdain.

"She's right, you know, that was one of the most idiotic things I've seen you do, and that's saying something."

Kakarot's eyes narrowed. "Tch. I won, didn't I?"

Tao sneered. "Barely, and not because of any brilliance on your part, no, you just decided to hurl yourself through a blast like some deranged lunatic instead of using your head. Where exactly in my teachings did I ever tell you to throw yourself into the fire like a fool?"

Kakarot scoffed, leaning his head back against the wall. "I had it under control."

Tao's smirk widened, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Oh? You call barely keeping your guard up while crawling through a blast 'under control'? I trained you to kill, efficiently, swiftly. Not to prance around taking unnecessary risks like some battle-crazed savage."

Kakarot's grin returned, sharp and knowing. "I'm a saiyan, not some weak and cowardly human like you, you would never understand why I fight."

Tao's eye twitched ever so slightly.

Bulma, meanwhile, was still fussing over Kakarot, ignoring the verbal sparring. "Shut up, both of you, and let me patch this up!"

Kakarot sighed, allowing it, while Tao shook his head with disgust. "Pathetic." He turned sharply, heading for the door. "Do as you please, but don't expect me to clean up the mess when your arrogance finally gets you killed."

With that, he was gone, leaving Bulma and Kakarot alone.

Bulma worked in silence for a moment before muttering under her breath, "I hate that guy."

Kakarot just chuckled. "Me too."

The night was still, a cool breeze rolling over the rooftops of the tournament grounds, the arena below lay in shambles, the reconstruction teams working tirelessly to prepare for the semi-finals.

Kakarot was supposed to be sleeping, in his room which he was sharing with Bulma, she was there laying peacefully, but he wasn't resting so soon.

He stood atop the roof, clad in his spare gi from Tao, arms crossed as his scouter beeped rhythmically against his ear. Its red lens flickered with readings, scanning the competitors across the city.

"145. Yamcha grew a lot."

He huffed, that desert rat had improved, but it wasn't anything Kakarot couldn't handle.

Another beep.

"90, even after that beat down, it seems like the Ox-King still has a lot of strength, I would guess he was at 130 in our fight."

A small smirk curled his lips, that big oaf was tough, after all, it was good to know he hadn't broken him completely, he wanted to fight him again someday.

Two more beeps.

"Both at 100. Must be those two kids."

Roshi's newest students, nothing to scoff at, but no threat to him.

He tried to, but, for some reason, Roshi was nowhere to be found, so, he turned the scouter on himself.

"145 too."

His smirk wavered.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue in irritation. "I haven't recovered fully, what a shame, being in a state where a human like Yamcha can match me."

The thought made his blood boil, but he knew the truth, at his full power, he was stronger, and now, once his body recovered, he'd surge even further past that fool

The real reason he was out here wasn't to sulk over that weakling, though. No, he was searching for something else, someone else.

His finger tapped against the scouter, the red lens flickering as he scanned the city, shifting through weaklings, ignoring the civilians, tuning out the background noise.

Then, his eyes narrowed as the scouter let out a new beep.

"80. Nam."

Kakarot's lips curled, excitement flashing in his dark eyes, the Brief's new and improved scouter had made tracking a lot easier for him.

"There you are."

The air around him seemed to shift, his muscles tensing in anticipation. Nam, a warrior different from the rest, supposedly an honorable fighter, here because he wants to help his village, but, that village isn't receiving their help any time soon, Nam's goals seem to conflict with an organization, which wants to eventually build over his village and kick out the locals.

But Kakarot didn't care, the only thing that mattered was that Nam had a price on his head, and Kakarot was here to collect. It was the perfect excuse to enter the tournament, the perfect justification for Tao, and the perfect opportunity to vent his frustrations.

He cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders as he gazed toward the source of that power level, the smirk never leaving his face. "This should be fun."

Nam sat cross-legged in quiet meditation, his breathing steady, his mind focused. His match tomorrow was set, but he wasn't sure if he could win against that kid. His conversation with Jackie Chun still lingered in his mind. The old master was wise, and even if Nam lost, perhaps he could still aid his village, perhaps, with the master's help… he could find another way to help his people.

But his thoughts were suddenly shattered.

A thin piercing ray of energy screamed through the air toward him. His instincts roared to life, and he threw himself to the side just in time, the blast grazed his shoulder, burning through his clothes and singing his skin. His breath hitched, his senses flaring in alarm.

"What?!"

Before he could process what had happened, another blast came. Then another. Then another.

Nam barely dodged them, twisting and rolling across the ground as the rays tore into the dirt around him. His heart pounded, his muscles tensed, someone was attacking him, someone wanted him dead.

"Who's there?!" he demanded, eyes darting through the darkness, he could sense a presence, something ominous, something powerful.

Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.

Kakarot.

His body still marred by burns, but the grin on his face was unmistakable. Excited. Predatory. His tail flicked behind him as he cracked his knuckles.

"So you dodged it," Kakarot mused, tilting his head. "Good, they weren't at full speed, but, I was worried this wouldn't be any fun."

Nam's eyes narrowed. "Why are you attacking me?"

Kakarot chuckled. "Nothing personal, just business."

Nam stiffened. Business? That meant-

"You're an assassin," Nam realized, it was obvious really, the kid was Tao's protegee, his hands curling into fists. "Who hired you to kill me."

Kakarot nodded, completely unbothered. "Can't tell you that, not that I care why. I just needed a reason to come here." His smirk widened, his muscles tensing. "And hey, judging by that little dodge of yours, you might actually give me a decent fight too."

Nam's breath steadied. He knew now, this wasn't going to be an honorable tournament match, this was a fight to the death, a hunt, and Kakarot was his merciless predator.

Nam exhaled slowly, he had no choice, if he wanted to see tomorrow, if he wanted to save his village, he would have to fight for his life.

Kakarot grinned, reading the resolve in Nam's stance. "Yeah… that's more like it."

Then, with a burst of speed, he attacked.

Kakarot's movements were blinding, each strike faster and more brutal than the last. Nam tried to defend, but it was useless, his arms barely even moved before Kakarot's fists slammed into him, a punch to the gut knocked the wind from his lungs, a strike to the jaw sent him reeling, a crushing blow to the ribs forced him onto his knees. Kakarot wasn't just stronger, he was overwhelming.

The Saiyan clicked his tongue. "Tch. The gap's too big, that's no fun."

Nam staggered back, his vision swimming, he needed distance, a plan, if he could just create an opening… His village, his people, they were counting on him.

With a sudden burst of energy, he leapt high into the air, the wind rushing past him. This was it, his strongest technique, if he poured everything into it, he could end this fight in one decisive blow.

No one had ever escaped this move before, and if he struck Kakarot with all his might, then neither would he!

As he reached the peak of his ascent, Nam crossed his arms over his face, straightened his body, and rocketed downward, his entire being focused on this one attack, his aerial attack.

Kakarot only laughed. "What a move. You're wide open!"

With a burst of ki, Kakarot flew up, meeting Nam mid-air. The moment of impact came fast, too fast, as Kakarot's foot slammed into Nam's guard, breaking through his arms like they were nothing, the force sent Nam spiraling in the air, completely exposed.

Kakarot didn't stop, he kept flying up, and then, turned himself around, and rocketed after Nam, eyes gleaming with something between amusement and bloodlust. "Let me show you a better way to do this move."

Nam could only watch, helpless, as Kakarot mimicked his aerial attack, but instead of crossing his arms, he joined his hands forward, palms open, an improvisation of his own move.

"Let's call this one, Assassin's Drill!"

With terrifying speed, Kakarot crashed into and through Nam, piercing straight through his chest, blood sprayed into the night air as Nam's body convulsed, his expression frozen in shock and agony.

Kakarot passed through him entirely, flipping mid-air and landing smoothly on the ground as Nam's body crashed lifelessly behind him.

Then, Kakarot smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Heh, I guess, that was a little fun after all."

A slow clap echoed behind him, Tao had arrived, stepping from the shadows, eyes gleaming with approval.

"Good job," the assassin said, strolling over to Nam's corpse, he grabbed the body with little care before turning to Kakarot. "Don't you worry, I'll give you the full price for the hit. Give me more jobs like this, and I might stop chastising you so much."

Kakarot barely spared him a glance. "Keep it, unlike you, I don't do this just for that"

Tao's brow twitched, but he simply smirked. "Brat."

Then, as swiftly as he had arrived, he vanished into the darkness, Nam's body in tow.

Kakarot exhaled, his amusement fading as he made his way back, he made the fight fun for himself in the end, but trying to show off might not have been worth all the blood soaking his gi.

Still, he couldn't exactly return to his room like this. As he crept back inside, his eyes landed on Bulma, still sleeping soundly, curled beneath her blankets, his gaze lingered for a moment.

With a groan, he turned back, heading off to find water, he needed to get rid of this mess, she couldn't see him like this.

Later, after scrubbing away the evidence of his kill, Kakarot finally slipped into his room. Bulma snored softly, completely undisturbed.

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

Then, without another thought, he made his way to his own bed, stretching out with a satisfied sigh.

Tomorrow would bring another fight, one with the man he despised so much. But for now… he could rest.

AN: A slightly shorter chapter, I am so sorry for taking so long to post this chapter, I had some problems with my computer and then I honestly though of just stopping, and I would, but I saw a lot of good comments, good engagement even after I stopped, it made me quite happy really, so I will continue this story, and try my best not to stop again for no reason, it did give me time to solidify a lot of good ideas for the future piccolo saga, I hop you all eventually like what I have cooked here.