A group of staff members huddled together, discussing how to proceed with the tournament.
"It's been nearly twenty minutes. Should we disqualify them?"
"But we only have five contestants left..."
"Maybe they had an emergency at home? Should we wait a bit longer?"
"Hmph, those runaways must have been terrified of me, Mr. Satan!" Hearing the news, Mr. Satan strode out of the waiting room with a smirk. "In other words, the fact that you all are still here shows true courage."
"It is an honor to receive such praise from you, Mr. Satan!" Killa exclaimed, his face flush with excitement.
"Wait! I have an idea!" Mr. Satan's eyes lit up as he stepped outside.
As he passed through the spectator stands, Mr. Satan thrust his fist high into the air.
"Ladies and gentlemen, rest easy!" Mr. Satan shouted. "As long as I, Mr. Satan, am here, any problem can be solved! After all, didn't you come here specifically to see me?"
"Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan!"
The crowd erupted, chanting Mr. Satan's name at the top of their lungs.
Mr. Satan walked straight up to the staff members and offered a suggestion with a smile. "I have a perfect solution. You might want to consider it."
"Ah... Mr. Satan, what is your suggestion?"
"A Battle Royal! Disqualify those cowards immediately and let the remaining five brave souls enter the ring together," Mr. Satan said, laying out his plan. "With only five people left, a standard tournament bracket would be dull. A Battle Royal, on the other hand, is thrilling and intense."
"But... a Battle Royal..." One staff member hesitated, worried that Mr. Satan would end up being ganged up on.
"What? You don't agree? Fine, then I'm going home too!" Mr. Satan snapped, assuming the staff member was trying to undermine him.
"No, no! It's a brilliant idea!" another staff member interjected, slapping his thigh in agreement.
"Then it's settled. Announce it immediately!" Mr. Satan urged.
The Announcer received the order and immediately took to the microphone to announce Mr. Satan's proposal.
"Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan!"
The fans cheered wildly, thinking Mr. Satan was truly magnificent.
"That... as expected of Mr. Satan. To suggest a Battle Royal... I deeply admire your courage!" the staff member from before said with a smile.
"Oh? Courage?" Mr. Satan blinked.
"Yes. In a Battle Royal, as the champion, you will surely be the target of the other four," the staff member laughed.
"Hahaha... if I were afraid of such a small thing, I wouldn't be the true champion..." Mr. Satan forced a calm expression, putting on a brave face while his heart was actually pounding with panic.
"Allow me to introduce the five contestants for this Battle Royal!" the Announcer declared. "First, of course, is the champion you all know and love—Mr. Satan!"
Mr. Satan hung his head slightly as he stepped onto the ring. However, the moment his feet touched the canvas, his passion reignited. He threw his hands high, delivering his victory declaration.
"Next is the only female contestant in this tournament, the uniquely named Android 18! Then, the masked fighter Mighty Mask, who was defeated in the first round last time! Following him is Killa, who lost in the second round last year! And finally, the ladies' favorite and last year's finalist who faced Mr. Satan—Jewel!"
The Announcer finished the introductions. Jewel, in particular, was busy blowing kisses to the female fans. The women in the audience squealed with excitement, their faces turning red.
"Hey, let's work together to knock Mr. Satan out of the ring first," Killa suggested to Trunks and Goten.
"No need to bother with that guy. 18 is the one to watch out for," Trunks replied.
"Yeah," Goten nodded.
Trunks: "..."
"Goten, didn't I tell you not to nod?" Trunks' face darkened.
"You said not to shake my head. Does nodding also bump into your... eggs?" Goten asked curiously.
"What do you think?" Trunks snapped.
Killa: "????"
Killa looked utterly bewildered. Who is he talking to? Why do I hear two voices?
"Hello, beautiful. After the match, why don't we find somewhere else to 'fight'?" Jewel leaned in toward Android 18, suggesting with a greasy smile.
"Find somewhere else to fight? What do you mean?" 18 blinked, not quite following.
"You know, a more... unique kind of combat. Hehehe, you get me!" Jewel grinned.
Android 18's face instantly darkened. She clearly understood now. However, since the match hadn't started yet, she forced herself to hold back.
If I weren't after that 10 million Zeni prize, I'd have crippled you just now. Just wait. It won't be much longer.
"So, how about it? I'm quite the fighter! Want to give it a try?" Jewel smirked.
"Get lost! You're an eyesore!" 18's voice was ice-cold.
"You... what did you say?" Jewel was stunned. He was so handsome that few women could ever refuse him. This woman had actually rejected him outright!
Fine. Since you rejected me, I'll make sure to 'fight' you in the ring in a moment.
"This five-man Battle Royal has no time limit. Let the match begin!" the Announcer declared with a smile.
Mr. Satan immediately went on high alert.
Come on! I'm not afraid of you!
Luckily, none of the people from the Cell Games were here. As for Android 18, Mr. Satan didn't recognize her. When Cell had spat her out, Mr. Satan hadn't bothered to look closely. Besides, even if he had, it had been so many years that he'd mostly forgotten.
"Begin!" the Announcer shouted.
Jewel immediately lunged toward Android 18.
Thud!
18's foot connected squarely with Jewel's crotch.
Crack!
The sound of something shattering echoed through the air.
Android 18 let out a contemptuous smirk. This guy won't be able to be a man anymore. How pathetic.
Bam!
Trunks also landed a punch on Killa, sending him flying out of the ring.
The match had barely begun, and two contestants were already eliminated.
Mr. Satan looked left and right, completely dumbfounded. But soon, a look of joy spread across his face.
Great! Those two troublesome guys are out! Were they just being careless? These remaining two don't seem like anything special.
Android 18 narrowed her eyes, focusing her attention on Trunks and Goten. That guy has a long torso and short legs, but he's definitely no pushover. Those small arms pack unexpected power.
"Goten, don't get careless!" Trunks said to Goten. "Uncle Krillin's wife is really strong!"
"Yeah, I know," Goten nodded. "Should I just turn into Super Saiyan 4?"
"Idiot! If you turn into Super Saiyan 4, you'll probably kill her!" Trunks scolded. "Do you want Uncle Krillin to have to find a new wife?"
"No," Goten shook his head.
"Don't shake your head! How many times do I have to tell you!" Trunks winced in pain.
"Uh..." Goten grinned sheepishly.
"Hoo-ha-hey!" Mr. Satan was off to the side, punching and kicking the air. "Come on! Both of you come at me at once! Let me take you down!"
Trunks and Android 18 completely ignored Mr. Satan, staring each other down.
"Ladies and gentlemen, only three contestants remain! Mighty Mask, Android 18, and Mr. Satan!" the Announcer declared. "Of these three, who will emerge as the champion?"
Mr. Satan was brimming with confidence.
I've got this! Now I just need to figure out how to finish them off in style! Hmm, first, I'll use a flashy special move to take down that masked guy! Then, that beautiful lady will surely be flustered by my power, and I'll gracefully ask her to leave the ring. She'll definitely be charmed by me. Maybe I can even spend a wonderful night with her.
As Mr. Satan fantasized, he actually started to drool! What a perfect plan!
"Come on, Goten!" Trunks ordered, then immediately added, "No nodding or shaking your head."
"Got it," Goten complied.
"Here I come! Behold my Rolling Attack!" Mr. Satan began rolling rapidly across the floor, heading straight for Goten and Trunks.
Goten immediately leaped into the air, charging toward Android 18.
"Satan Punch!" Mr. Satan threw a punch at the spot where Goten had been standing just a moment ago.
He hit nothing but air!
Mr. Satan's expression froze, his entire body going stiff. Where did he go? How did he just vanish?
Then, squinting, he saw Mighty Mask and Android 18 locked in combat. In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged thousands of blows.
Mr. Satan was shell-shocked. Are these two really this powerful? Could they be those guys from the Cell Games? But... I've never seen them before. And Mighty Mask... since when did you get this strong? Didn't you get eliminated in the first round of the last tournament?
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The battle between Trunks, Goten, and Android 18 raged on. However, because the two boys were wearing such a bulky costume, their movements were clumsy.
"Goten, you idiot! Not that way, the right!" Trunks felt like his legs were barely working.
"I can't see a thing!" Goten complained, sounding aggrieved. "Should we just turn into Super Saiyan 4?"
Trunks: "..."
Why are you always thinking about turning into Super Saiyan 4?
"Do you want to knock the engine oil out of Krillin's wife?" Trunks snapped.
"Huh? Why would she have engine oil?" Goten asked, completely confused.
"Just jump! We'll fight in the air, maybe it'll be easier," Trunks didn't bother explaining and urged his partner on.
Whoosh!
Goten leaped with all his might, carrying Trunks high into the sky. Android 18 immediately rocketed up after them.
The two sides clashed fiercely in mid-air. Trunks was struggling to keep up. Dammit, we can't move freely like this!
Android 18 flew even higher and delivered a heavy punch, slamming Trunks and Goten back down toward the ring.
Boom!
The boys crashed into the arena, leaving a massive crater in the stone. The spectators were horrified, many assuming the fighter had been killed instantly.
Snap!
But then, Trunks and Goten leaped out of the crater, reappearing on the ring as if nothing had happened. The audience was stunned.
He's not dead? Is this Mighty Mask guy really that tough?
"Goten, use your feet to kick!" Trunks suggested.
"But I can't see!" Goten said, his head spinning.
Mr. Satan, watching from the sidelines, was terrified beyond recognition, his eyes twitching uncontrollably. Are you people even human?
Zing!
Android 18 flicked her wrist, sending an energy blast hurtling toward the boys.
Trunks turned pale and screamed, "Goten, fly! Get us out of here!"
Whoosh!
Goten shot upward, narrowly avoiding the explosion.
"Dammit! We can't win like this!" Trunks gritted his teeth, frustration boiling over.
"Let's turn into Super Saiyan 4, Trunks!" Goten suggested again.
Trunks: "..."
"You moron! Just a regular Super Saiyan is enough! Do you really want to knock the engine oil out of Krillin's wife?" Trunks scolded.
"Why do you keep saying engine oil?" Goten was baffled.
"Because Krillin's wife is an Android. Don't tell me you didn't know that," Trunks replied.
"Wasn't she modified from a human? Does she still need oil like my Transformers toys?" Goten asked innocently.
"I guess so..." Trunks wasn't entirely sure himself. He shook his head to clear it. "Now isn't the time! Just transform! A regular Super Saiyan will do—with these clothes on, nobody should be able to tell!"
"Alright!" Goten agreed readily.
"Don't nod or shake your head!" Trunks barked.
"Got it," Goten replied.
Android 18 was staring intently at the bizarre figure before her. This guy is just too weird. His proportions are all wrong—his limbs are tiny compared to his body. But his power is immense. Who is he?
Flash!
Goten and Trunks suddenly triggered their Super Saiyan transformation. Golden light erupted from beneath the costume, radiating in every direction.
Seeing the golden glow, Android 18 was momentarily stunned, but then the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
"This outfit makes it hard to use normal moves. Let's just use energy blasts," Trunks suggested.
"Wait, is that okay? We won't knock any oil out of her, will we?" Goten asked, looking worried.
"Don't worry. As long as we control our power, it'll be fine... at least we aren't turning Super Saiyan Blue or Super Saiyan 4," Trunks reassured him.
"Super Saiyans! I finally know who you are, you little rascals!" 18's lips curled into a smile.
Whoosh!
Trunks fired an energy blast toward 18. It streaked through the air with incredible speed. 18's eyes widened, and she barely managed to dodge.
Kaboom!
The blast struck the distant ocean, sending a massive wall of water thousands of feet into the air.
Mr. Satan's jaw hit the floor.
"Oops, missed!" Trunks sighed.
"Again, again!" Goten cheered.
"What is going on?" 18 was genuinely rattled. The speed and destructive power of that blast were insane! They only transformed into basic Super Saiyans, yet they already have this much power!
If this continued, it would be too dangerous. She had to end this quickly.
Taking a deep breath, 18 shouted at the top of her lungs, "Hey! Trunks! Goten! I'm going to beat you now!"
Trunks, who was about to charge another blast, was so startled he nearly tripped over himself, immediately stopping his movements.
"She saw through us!" Trunks cried out.
"We're in trouble now!" Goten added, his voice full of guilt.
Swish!
Android 18 immediately hurled a Destructo Disc. Goten and Trunks scrambled in opposite directions to avoid it.
Riiip!
The golden disc sliced right through the middle of the costume, cutting the "fighter" in two.
"Ah! Mighty Mask has been sliced in half!" the Announcer screamed in horror. But as he looked closer, he quickly corrected himself. "Wait... it's two people!"
"It's Goten and Trunks!" Chi-Chi realized instantly.
"I knew it was them," Master Roshi nodded.
"Those two little rascals are always causing trouble," Bulma said, covering her face in embarrassment.
"Having two people compete together is a violation of the rules. Therefore, you are both disqualified!" the Announcer declared.
Goten and Trunks looked at each other like children caught with their hands in the cookie jar and immediately bolted, fleeing the scene.
Android 18 chuckled and descended slowly from the air, landing right in front of Mr. Satan.
"Now, only Mr. Satan and Android 18 remain!" the Announcer declared. "Who will take home the championship?"
Mr. Satan was on the verge of wetting himself, his face deathly pale. She's going to kill me. She's going to beat me to death.
"Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan!"
"18! 18! 18!"
The crowd cheered, with a surprising number of people now rooting for 18.
"Ladies and gentlemen, will the champion of the World Martial Arts Tournament be Mr. Satan or Android 18?" the Announcer called out. "After that intense battle, more and more fans are supporting 18! So, who will our champion be?"
Mr. Satan was trembling like a leaf. He instinctively struck a fighting pose, but the sheer terror in his eyes was plain for everyone to see.
18 made a slight move as if to attack. Mr. Satan nearly lost his soul then and there.
18 smiled and flew toward him. Mr. Satan's hair stood on end, his face turning paper-white. Don't come any closer! Stay away!
Whoosh!
18 blurred forward and hooked her arm around Mr. Satan's neck.
"Eeeek! Aaaah!" Mr. Satan squealed. "Please! Don't kill me! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you! I'll do anything!"
"Shut up and stop making a scene!" 18 hissed coldly. "If you don't quiet down, I really will kill you!"
"Oh! Android 18 has Mr. Satan in a chokehold!" the Announcer commentated.
"Did you hear me? Keep your voice down," 18 whispered.
Mr. Satan nodded frantically.
18: "..."
"Not so hard! You just bumped into my chest when you nodded!" 18's face darkened.
Mr. Satan's mouth twitched. It's only because they're so big! I didn't mean to! He felt like he wanted to die.
"Do you want to win the championship?" 18 asked with a smirk.
"No! How could I possibly? Please just let me go!" Mr. Satan begged. "My... my daughter is dating Goten's older brother... you're all on the same side, right?"
"That doesn't matter! I'm asking if you want to be the champion or not," 18 huffed. This world champion sure knows how to look for a safety net!
"I... I wouldn't dare!" Mr. Satan answered cautiously.
"I can let you win," 18 said with a light chuckle.
"Huh?" Mr. Satan blinked.
"If you give me 20 million Zeni, I'll lose to you on purpose," 18 smiled. "It's a fair deal. You get to keep your reputation, and you'll end up making even more money in the long run."
"20 million?" Mr. Satan was stunned. It felt like happiness had come far too suddenly. Is that all? I thought you were going to ask for 200 million! You scared the life out of me.
"The champion gets 10 million as a prize, so you're really only paying me an extra 10 million," 18 added. "If you don't agree, I'll kill you right now! Not even Gohan could stop me!"
"I agree! I agree! Of course I agree!" Mr. Satan nodded as hard as he could.
"That's more like it," 18 sighed in relief. Then, she let out a dramatic scream and went flying backward, landing hard on her backside.
"Ah! Mr. Satan has repelled Android 18!" the Announcer declared.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers once again.
Mr. Satan was momentarily stunned. Wait, we're doing this?
"Curse you!" 18 scrambled to her feet, glaring at Mr. Satan with feigned fury.
Mr. Satan suddenly felt a surge of confidence. He put his hands on his hips and began punching and kicking the air again.
"Aha-ha-ha!" Mr. Satan pointed at 18 and shouted, "I've seen through your tricks! I'm sorry to say, but you are absolutely no match for me!"
The spectators were dumbfounded, watching Mr. Satan with disbelief.
"Your skills are decent, but you're still not on my level!" Mr. Satan laughed maniacally. "You've worked hard, but I am the true World Champion! Now, let's bring this match to a swift end!"
"Just get on with it, you idiot!" 18 muttered, losing her patience.
"Ah... yes! Right! At once!" Mr. Satan nodded like a pecking chicken.
He immediately charged toward 18.
"Behold my Satan Miracle Special Ultra Super Megaton Punch!" Mr. Satan swung a powerful-looking fist toward 18's forehead.
18 didn't even try to dodge. The punch landed squarely on her brow.
She didn't budge an inch.
Mr. Satan: "..."
"Is that your special move?" 18 asked, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Y-yes..." Mr. Satan's face turned beet-red with embarrassment.
"Aaaah!" 18 let out a scream and went flying backward, tumbling right out of the ring.
The crowd was in an uproar.
"Ladies and gentlemen! This... that punch may have looked ordinary, but it releases an incredible explosive force after a few seconds!" Mr. Satan explained frantically. "That is the power of the Satan... Miracle... whatever... Megaton Punch!"
18: "..."
So you just made up that name on the spot?
To be continued…
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