[TM] 17: Chapter 17: The Top Eight Decided!
[TM] “Oh my, isn’t this Gokai and Bulma?” At this moment, Master Roshi walked over as well.
Though he was soaked like a drowned rat, upon seeing Bulma’s revealing outfit, the eyes behind his sunglasses still lit up for a moment.
“It’s been a long time, Master Roshi.” Son Gokai set Goku down and respectfully bowed to Master Roshi.
No matter how strong he had become now, respecting one’s teacher was a basic principle of being a person.
“Heh heh, long time no see, long time no see.” Master Roshi sized up Son Gokai.
A sharp glint flashed behind his sunglasses.
‘This kid, his presence has become so restrained that even I can’t see through him anymore.’ Master Roshi was secretly startled, but on the surface he still maintained his usual playful demeanor.
At this moment, the little bald boy who had been hiding behind Master Roshi poked his head out.
He looked at Son Gokai with curiosity and awe.
Over the past year, during his training, he had heard Master Roshi and Goku mention this name many times.
“Goku’s older brother,” “a monster of extraordinary talent,” “a genius even the teacher praises without end,” these labels filled Krillin with curiosity about this senior brother he had never met.
“Um, are you Senior Brother Gokai?” Krillin rubbed his hands nervously and bowed.
“I’m Krillin, Master Roshi’s newest student!
Please take care of me!” Son Gokai looked at the still noseless Krillin in front of him and smiled.
This was the strongest Earthling in the Dragon Ball world, and Goku’s lifelong best friend.
“Hello, Krillin.” Son Gokai returned the greeting warmly.
“I heard about it back in West City too, that the teacher took on a very clever student.
From now on, please take care of that idiot Goku for me.” Krillin was stunned for a moment.
He had originally assumed that a legendary genius senior brother like this would be arrogant, cold, and might even bully a newcomer, just like the senior disciples back at Orin Temple.
He never expected Son Gokai to be so approachable, and his way of speaking put people at ease.
“No, no problem!
Senior Brother, don’t worry!” Krillin instantly straightened his back, his opinion of this handsome senior brother shooting up in an instant.
“Alright, we can catch up later, registration is about to close.” Son Gokai pointed toward the registration hall ahead.
“Let’s go, let’s go meet the strongest fighters under heaven.” Inside the registration hall, the noise was tremendous.
Martial artists gathered from all over the world, and the air was filled with the smell of sweat and liniment.
The arrival of Son Gokai’s group did not cause much of a stir.
After all, in this strange and wondrous Dragon Ball world, a boy with a tail and a bald kid without a nose were nothing unusual.
The registration process was simple.
Fill out a form, draw lots.
While waiting, everyone sat together chatting.
“By the way, where’s Master Roshi?” Krillin suddenly noticed that Master Roshi, who had been following behind them, was gone.
“He just said he was going to the bathroom, why is he taking so long?” Goku scratched his head.
Son Gokai took a sip of water, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly.
He of course knew exactly what that lecherous old man was up to.
Right about now, he was probably in the bathroom changing into that “Jackie Chun” vest, and gluing on a fake wig with strong adhesive.
Master Roshi’s goal was simple: he was afraid his students would grow arrogant from advancing too quickly, so he decided to personally enter the competition under a false name, planning to defeat them in the finals.
He wanted them to understand that there was always someone stronger, so they would remain humble and continue pursuing a higher level of martial arts.
It was a well meaning plan.
For Goku and Krillin, this was indeed necessary.
But.
Son Gokai set down his cup, his gaze drifting toward the entrance of the hall.
There, an old man in a black Chinese tunic suit with a full head of silver hair was slowly walking in, drawing more than a few sideways glances.
‘Jackie Chun.’ Son Gokai looked at that familiar figure, silently speaking in his heart.
‘Teacher, I understand your good intentions.’ ‘If this were the original story, your plan would be flawless.’ ‘But this time, I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed.’ ‘Because I need this championship too.’ What Son Gokai needed was not just the 500,000 zeni prize money.
He needed even more, through this tournament, to firmly establish his position as the number one young talent on Earth.
And besides, he wanted to test, without using any talismans for now, just how far he could go relying solely on the Turtle Style martial arts, since this wasn’t a life or death battle after all.
Of course, there would be plenty of time to use talismans after he had proven himself.
“Gokai, what are you looking at?” Bulma leaned over and asked.
“Nothing.” Son Gokai withdrew his gaze, stood up, and stretched his wrists.
Over the loudspeaker, the announcement that the preliminary rounds were about to begin had already sounded.
“Let’s go, Goku, Krillin.” Son Gokai walked in front, his back like an unshakable mountain.
“Let this World Martial Arts Tournament become our stage.” The rules of the preliminary round were simple.
A big free for all, followed by one on one duels on the platform, until the top eight advanced to the official tournament.
For Son Gokai, this level of preliminary competition wasn’t even worth calling a warm up.
“Group 44, begin!” The referee gave the signal.
A burly, muscular man closed in with a sneer.
“Heh heh, this kid’s got such smooth, delicate skin, and he’s good looking too, let’s mess up that face first!” “I’ve been annoyed by you out there for a while now, think you’re hot stuff just because you’ve got a girlfriend?” However, the next second.
There was no sign of any fierce fighting.
Only a single dull thud.
“Bang!
Bang!
Bang!” The onlookers didn’t even see what had happened.
That burly man had already collapsed to the ground, eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, his body still twitching involuntarily.
And Son Gokai still stood there with his hands in his pockets, not even seeming to have moved his feet.
“Too…
too weak.” He shook his head, yawning slightly out of boredom.
“At this level, they don’t even qualify for me to take my hands out of my pockets.” Some distance away, the “Jackie Chun” competitor who had just finished a match happened to witness this scene.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
‘Hmm, this kid’s speed.’ Master Roshi secretly groaned inside.
‘Just now, even I had to focus hard to see it clearly.’ ‘This isn’t disciplining a student anymore, this might actually end with this old man’s lifelong reputation taking a huge tumble at this tournament.’ The preliminary rounds moved along quickly.
Without any surprises.
Son Gokai, Son Goku, Krillin, Jackie Chun (Master Roshi), Yamcha (who came to compete despite having once been terrified by Son Gokai), Nam (the Indian ascetic), Bacterian (the foul smelling savage), and Ranfan (the seductress).
The official top eight list was finalized.
When Son Gokai walked out of the preliminary hall, he was greeted by Bulma’s warm embrace, and the excited cheers of countless spectators around them.
The real battle had only just begun.
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