"Oh? Looks like our champion is in quite a hurry!"
The host awkwardly held the trophy at the edge of the ruins, watching Krillin fly away, trying to salvage the situation with a forced smile.
"He must be eager to share the joy of victory with the audience!"
It was joy, yes, but that joy belonged to only one person.
Up in the second-floor stands, Bulma's heart raced as she watched the figure streak toward her at breakneck speed.
Her makeup was flawless today, her lips tinted with a soft pink shade Krillin had complimented that color last time.
The explosion earlier had nearly scared her to death, but the moment she saw Krillin unharmed, the relief and euphoria of surviving a near disaster instantly transformed into something far more intense.
"That idiot… showing off like that," she muttered, yet her body betrayed her. She stepped forward two paces, gripping the railing, knuckles whitening from the pressure.
Krillin did not stop abruptly as he usually would. Instead, with precise control over his muscles, he floated lightly down right in front of her.
He carried the lingering scent of battle, the raw catalyst of male hormones in their purest form.
Those nearby Oolong, Puar, and even Master Roshi stepped back instinctively, clearing a space around them.
"Hey, Bulma," Krillin grinned, flashing his perfect white teeth, his bald head gleaming in the sunset.
"I won. Isn't it time to keep our promise?"
Bulma stared at his face, so close she could see every detail.
The lack of a nose looked a little odd, but those eyes… deep, confident, and brimming with determination.
This was no longer the scrawny little bald kid from before. This was a man who could metaphorically part the Earth with his fists.
"You… you idiot!"
Bulma felt her eyes prick with heat. She didn't want to cry, afraid her makeup would run, but her voice wavered anyway.
"What was that ridiculous move just now? You nearly scared me to death! What if you had died?"
"Don't worry," Krillin said.
He stepped closer, now less than four inches from her, and could feel her rapid breaths against his chest.
"As long as you're on Earth, I won't let it explode. After all…"
He paused, the reflection of her flustered face mirrored in his eyes.
"After all, my future wife is still up there."
"Who… who is your wife?!"
Bulma's face turned the deep red of a ripe tomato. Even her bold, feisty personality faltered under the teasing in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
"Stop… stop showing off!"
"Really? Then who was shouting that she'd marry me if I won just now?"
Krillin gave Bulma no chance to be tsundere.
The system task bar for "Completely Conquer Bulma" had been stuck at 99% for a long time.
The final 1% didn't require combat power it required action.
He reached out, his grip both commanding and gentle, wrapping around Bulma's slender waist.
Bulma gasped, her body pressed against Krillin's solid embrace.
His muscles were tempered by countless battles, as hard as iron yet burning like fire.
"Since I'm the champion, I might as well take a prize that belongs to a champion," he said.
Before she could react, Krillin leaned down, kissing her red lips hard, in front of tens of thousands of spectators, dozens of cameras, and live broadcasts across the world.
"Mmm!"
Bulma's eyes went wide, her mind blank.
This kiss wasn't tentative like the one in the bamboo grove. It carried possession and a declaration of ownership.
He was telling the entire world that this woman belonged to him.
The stands were silent for what felt like three seconds.
Then the eruption of screams exceeded even the excitement from Krillin's victory.
"Whoa!"
"He kissed her! He really kissed her!"
"So romantic! Is this the privilege of a champion?"
"Mom! I want to train too! I want to go bald!"
In a corner, Yamcha crushed his drink cup in his hand with a loud snap.
But he didn't rush forward. He sighed deeply, a bitter smile on his face.
"I lost… both in fighting and in love, I lost completely."
Puar floated beside him, patting his shoulder comfortingly.
"It's okay, Yamcha."
He wiped his face, still a little damp around the eyes.
"At least I lost to the world champion. Not too bad. And… that guy is definitely better suited to protect Bulma."
Elsewhere, Master Roshi's eyes behind his sunglasses were wide as saucers, and two streams of blood ran down his nose uncontrollably.
"Kids these days… completely out of control! In front of all these people…"
"Hehe, but well done! That's the spirit of a Turtle School student! This is youth!"
Down at the arena floor, Goku scratched his head, holding the trophy awkwardly, turning to Tien with a blank expression.
"What are they doing? Some kind of energy training technique?"
Tien's three eyes twitched simultaneously.
"Goku… it's too early for you to understand this. Go think about food instead."
"Oh! Then I still want to eat a dinosaur!"
Finally, Krillin let go of Bulma.
Her body was weak from the adrenaline and tension. Without his support, she would have collapsed.
She leaned against his chest, gasping, cheeks still flushed, eyes dazed. There was not a trace of the poised Capsule Corp heiress persona left.
"You… you scoundrel…"
She weakly tapped his chest, but the gesture came off as a playful act.
[Ping! Congratulations, Host. Bulma's affection level has surpassed 100% (Unwavering).]
[Conquest task complete.]
[Reward granted: S-rank skill "Instant Transmission."]
[Skill Description: Requires no energy sensing. If you have a clear image or coordinates in your mind, you can instantly travel across space. Current range: within a star system. With improved focus, travel across galaxies becomes possible.]
"This is the real deal," Krillin said, feeling the strange coordinates now in his mind, a small smile curling his lips.
The technique Goku would have needed to go to Yardrat to learn was now in Krillin's hands for free, and in a modified, improved version.
No need to sense familiar ki to teleport. Just think of the destination, and he could be there.
Perfect for the plans he had in mind.
"Bulma," Krillin whispered in her ear, his warm breath tickling her.
"W-what?"
"This place is too noisy, full of sweat and reporters trying to get a scoop. Let's go."
"Huh?" Bulma blinked.
"Go? Now? But the award ceremony hasn't "
"Who cares about that."
Krillin grinned mischievously and scooped her up in his arms.
"Rather than listening to that sunglasses guy ramble, I'd rather have our own time together."
"Oh, by the way, do you have the Dragon Radar?"
"Yes… yes, I have it. Are we looking for Dragon Balls?"
Bulma instinctively touched her belt pouch.
"Not for wishes."
Krillin looked at her with full affection.
"This is our honeymoon. The world is so big, and I want to show it to you. The fastest way possible."
"Honeymoon?!"
Bulma's mind froze again.
"Hold on tight. This is ten thousand times more thrilling than a rollercoaster."
Ignoring the approaching press corps and Goku still feasting on food, Krillin pressed two fingers to his forehead and activated Instant Transmission.
"Everyone, this meal is on Master Roshi! See you!"
His laughter echoed through the air.
In the next moment, Krillin and Bulma vanished without a trace.
Only countless camera flashes lit the empty stands, and Master Roshi's wallet had gone pale in shock.
"What?! On my tab?! Krillin, you ungrateful disciple!"