Chapter:67 The Fall of the Crane - Legend of gine !!

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Launch was more than pissed. "Is that a fact?!" She said clenching her teeth. She then pulled out a gun and starred threateningly through the crowd at the direction of Master Shen and Chiaotzu. Every poor spectator in the path of her stare screamed bloody murder and fled.

The announcer began the countdown as Kakarot still couldn't get back up from that last attack.

"Was that twenty-five or thirty hits? I lost count." Tien taunted to her paralyzed son. "Either way I expected a challenge. You're just as predictable as my other opponents and just as weak." He started to walk away, certain of his victory.

"Predictable?" Came from Kakarot. Tien turned in surprise only to have his face kicked, landing on his back. Tien was stunned that Kakarot had somehow managed to get back up, but he was even more furious that this boy wouldn't stay down. He rubbed his face as a large bruise began to form.

"You'll regret that!" Tien said as he got up, "You should've stayed down."

Kakarot looked him in the eye without fear. "Do your worst, but I'm not going to lose to a coward like you!"

Tien looked indignant at this accusation. "Oh really? And just how am I a coward?!"

They charged, but Gine watched as Crane's lips moved saying something to Chiaotzu and his finger glowed, and Kakarot froze. So, it was true, they all saw it and it was as solid of proof that Crane was cheating as anything. Chiaotzu was directly freezing Kakarot in place to be held down like a punching bag as Tien landed barrages of hits onto her son.

After another barrage of strikes from Tien that were much more brutal than the last, with Kakarot unable to defend himself, he collapsed to the ground and didn't move. Gine saw Chiaotzu's finger still glowing and guessed they were going to hold him down for the count this time.

Ok, she thought, enough was enough. Gine's fists clenched, glaring directly at Crane and Chiaotzu. It was one thing to cheat a Saiyan in battle, but to treat her son as a worthless piece meat by someone who thought was better was another thing entirely, not to mention as a mother her son could die in such a dishonorable way. She was about to march straight over to Crane and Chiaotzu and blast them on the spot, competition be damned.

"GRRR, THATS IT!" Launched spoke for Gine's thoughts just as she stomped in the direction of Crane, taking the initiative instead. Whatever she was going to do, she better do it quick since it looked like Kakarot won't hold out for much longer before he got disqualified.

Launch came up right behind Crane as not-so-stealthily as she could, with a comically large mallet. She lifted it high, about to hit him in the head with it.

But as she brought the mallet down over him, Crane caught it with just his fingertip without even turning his head to look. Launch looked amazed. But before she could react, Crane flicked the mallet to send it flying away backwards, with Launch still clutching it, flying away with it.

With that, Gine shook her head in exasperation. She'll have to do the deed herself and started to hurry in Crane's direction.

Tien looked like he saw what they were trying to do, and Kakarot grabbed his leg while lying on the ground barely conscious.

"You... cheated... me." He croaked out before passing out.

Gine stopped her marching as she saw that Tien was just looking at Crane and just stared at him.

What was he doing?

A moment later, Tien looked back at Kakarot, as if to prepare to strike him down for good but relented after hesitating.

"Tien Shinhan!" Crane shouted.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Tien shouted back at his master.

"Uh...that was kinda...weird." The announcer spoke for all of them.

Kakarot got back up to his feet. Gine was relieved he wasn't permanently damaged after being rendered helpless after that last beating.

"It's my turn now!" Kakarot said as he began to charge at Tien.

"KAKAROT, STOP!" Came a voice from behind the entrance curtain to the ring. Kakarot stopped, looking confused as he saw who called out to him, and saw when Gine did too.

So THAT'S where Roshi's been hiding. Gine thought to herself as she saw her son's master and Krillin observing from the wall.

"He must die!" Crane demanded to Tien. "I am your master, and you must obey my command!"

Tien looked back at Crane forlorn, then replied with a patient gentleness Gine had never seen before.

"I've done as you asked. I have defeated your enemies and defended the honor of our school. The success of this match is in my hands alone. I do not need assistance."

"Then prove it!" Crane shot. "Destroy him at once!"

Tien looked down at Kakarot who looked at him confused but expectant.

"No." Tien said. "I won't kill Kakarot. Doing so would cause me to lose this match."

Crane looked enraged. "Never mind the stupid match! Make no mistake, you are a killer! Or do you forsake your destiny?!"

Tien looked at Crane with defiance for the first time. "No master...my destiny is not what you'd have me believe...I'm no killer."

Gine was speechless. Moments ago, this man was hellbent on destroying her son for a simple transgression. Now, seeing him walk away from a path of darkness and from a horrible master... she wasn't sure how to take this in. Humans were such confusing yet amazing creatures that still never cease to surprise her.

Crane didn't think so, his face red with rage at Tien's betrayal. "You... YOU WEAK COWARD! Insolent fool! You have allowed that senile Turtle Hermit to warp your mind!"

The announcer stepped in, "Uh, excuse me, but I can't allow you to disrupt the f-"

"I'M SPEAKING!" Crane shouted at the poor guy, then turned back to Tien. "I made you, Tien! All that you are has sprung from my generous hands! And now your insubordination has clenched them into fists! Now you'll pay!"

"Some generous master YOU are." Gine said under her breath to Crane, knowing all too well the kinds of people who would turn against their own no matter how much they had done for them. As far as she was concerned he was no better than the Super Elites who toyed with her, or even someone like Frieza.

Then he turned toward Chiaotzu.

"Chiaotzu, paralyze them both!" He commanded. But the doll-like child looked at his master like he was afraid of him and did nothing.

"Chiaotzu!" Crane shouted again, his composure cracking even further.

The poor child looked away as if ashamed. "I'm sorry, Master. I will do anything you ask of me. But I cannot hurt my friend Tien Shinhan."

This almost brought Gine to tears. Now this doll-child she thought of as nothing more than a sworn enemy was turning against the dark path to save his friend was truly amazing. This tournament and it's drama really was getting to her.

Crane finally lost it. With his students turned against him and his brother about to go unavenged, the Crane Hermit looked not like some distinguish martial arts teacher rather than a seething psychopath on the brink of flying into a rampage.

"COME HERE!" He growled as he grabbed Chiaotzu by the collar. The poor boy looked so scared by the man he trusted as his mentor, and cried out as Crane raised a hand to strike him down.

"CHIAOTZU!" Tien cried out as he could only watch. Roshi shouted something but Gine didn't hear as she suddenly charged through the crowd, not caring for knocking over bystanders.

She phased in front of Crane with lightning speed, and chopped the hand holding Chiaotzu. Gine didn't use that much force but with her strength she almost lopped it clean off as the bones in his wrist snapped like dried twigs. Crane dropped Chiaotzu, crying out in agony and

shock at seeing the shattering of his left hand and the appearance of her face out of nowhere.