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Unlike previous installments of the World Martial Arts Tournament, the atmosphere this year was markedly different. The preliminary rounds had abandoned the traditional sparring matches in favor of a raw test of power. A heavy-duty punching machine stood at the center of the arena, designed to quantify a fighter's strength into a digital score. Only the top sixteen strikers would advance to the finals.
Before the hopefuls began, Mr. Satan stepped up to demonstrate his prowess. With a theatrical roar, he struck the machine, yielding a score of 137. He basked in the applause, arrogantly declaring that he would be waiting at the summit for anyone brave enough to challenge him. Watching from the sidelines, Krillin couldn't help but chuckle at the display, noting quietly that the world was full of people who could make that machine explode without even trying.
While the other contestants strained their muscles to achieve the highest score possible, Goku and his friends faced a much more difficult challenge: holding back. For them, the goal was to produce the lowest score that would still guarantee a spot in the finals. It was a true testament to their mastery over their Ki.
"This is where you see the true legacy of the Turtle School," Akira noted, observing the group. "Goku and Krillin are quintessential disciples of Master Roshi. Their fine-tuned control over their internal energy is far beyond anyone else here."
When the results came in, Piccolo held the highest score among the group, followed by Android 18, then Krillin. Goku, predictably, recorded the lowest score of the four. It was clear that Goku possessed the most surgical precision over his output, while Krillin followed closely behind. Despite being the only pure human in that specific lineup, Krillin's technique remained top-tier, a fruit of his grueling years of training.
While Gohan was still further back in the queue with Videl, Vegeta eventually stepped up. The Prince of All Saiyans had no patience for games of subtlety; with a single, casual strike, he reduced the machine to a heap of twisted metal and smoking wires. The audience was paralyzed with shock, but Akira knew the truth—if Vegeta hadn't been controlling himself, he would have leveled the entire stadium.
Krillin wiped his brow, a smirk crossing his face. "I'm just glad I didn't disgrace Master Roshi's name. Even if my raw power is at the bottom of this specific group, my control is still second only to Goku."
Piccolo, however, looked genuinely irritated. "My score was the highest? Does that mean my finesse has slipped that much?" The Namekian fumed silently. In a world where everyone else was desperate for a high number, his pride was wounded by his inability to suppress his Ki as effectively as the Saiyans or the humans.
Krillin tried to soothe the Namekian's pride. "@Piccolo, don't take it too hard. Goku and I spent our lives under Roshi's specific brand of training. We humans might not have the terrifying ceiling of you aliens, but when it comes to the technical use of Ki, we've had to work twice as hard to stay relevant."
Akira nodded in silent agreement. In the vast reaches of the Wanjie Multiverse, the humans of the Dragon Ball world were often overlooked once the power scaling reached God-tier levels. They couldn't keep pace with the transformations of the Saiyans, but their contributions to martial arts theory were unmatched.
Techniques like Ki-sensing and total energy suppression were Earth-born innovations. Even Master Roshi, whose raw power had long been surpassed, possessed a philosophical enlightenment that allowed him to glimpse the foundations of Ultra Instinct.
The display of power sparked a frenzy across the dimensions. In the world of Ultraman, Megumi Iruma immediately tagged the team's scientist. "@Horii, look at that machine. If we could build one, we could quantify our physical limits and train our tactical precision." In the One Piece world, Fleet Admiral Sengoku had a similar thought, reaching out to the genius Vegapunk to see if such a metric could be integrated into Marine training.
As the Z-Fighters moved toward the junior division to watch Goten and Trunks compete, they crossed paths with Gohan and Videl. Videl had been watching the group with growing suspicion, sensing an aura of mystery around them. Her confusion turned to total shock when she saw the group's leader greet Gohan with paternal warmth.
When she pressed Gohan for answers, he sheepishly explained that the man was his father. Seeing the shimmering golden halo above Goku's head, Videl stood frozen, her mind struggling to process the supernatural reality of the boy she thought she knew.
In the junior arena, the battle was anything but "junior." Goten and Trunks tore through their brackets with ease, meeting in a final match that redefined what the audience thought children were capable of. Their movements were a blur of high-speed strikes and shockwaves that rattled the stands.
Videl, arriving just in time to see the conclusion, realized that these two children had already surpassed the limits of normal human martial arts. After a fierce exchange, Trunks managed to find an opening, securing the junior championship.
The group celebrated with a massive feast at a nearby restaurant. The sight of several Saiyans eating was more intense than any mukbang broadcast, a whirlwind of flying plates and disappearing food. However, as they left the restaurant, the atmosphere shifted.
Two mysterious figures blocked their path. One was an elderly man with white hair and a flushed face, wearing ornate potara-style earrings. Beside him was a younger man with striking, pineapple-shaped white hair, floating silently above the ground.
While Goku didn't recognize them, the younger man stepped forward and introduced himself as Supreme Kai Shin. He revealed he had come to Earth specifically to find Goku and witness his legendary strength.
"Take a good look at him now," Akira remarked to the multiversal observers. "Right now, Shin carries the aura of a supreme being. As the Supreme Kai of Universe 7, his divine status is the polar opposite of a God of Destruction. He stands at the very pinnacle of the heavenly hierarchy."
In the distant Kaioshin Realm, the real Supreme Kai Shin watched the broadcast in disbelief alongside his attendant, Kibito. "That's us! We're on Earth! But why? Does this mean the threat of Babidi and the resurrection of Majin Buu is already unfolding?"