Afternoon at Papaya Island, on a remote coastline.
The area was already sparsely populated, and with the World Martial Arts Tournament taking place in the city, it was even more deserted.
When Yamiru threw Tao Pai Pai in this direction, he had deliberately used his keen vision to ensure he picked a spot with the least human presence.
Bang!
Bang!
In the quiet air, an unsettling tension stirred as muffled collision sounds were swallowed by the wind and the crashing waves.
Smack! Two figures recoiled from each other, each sent flying back a short distance.
Almost simultaneously, they regained their footing, rolling and pushing off the ground—
Smack! Both charged back at each other, skimming the surface with alarming speed.
"Hah!" Tao Pai Pai, a head taller than Yamiru and with longer reach, closed the gap first and threw a punch.
Yamiru had anticipated the move and didn't attack directly. Instead, he struck the ground below, abruptly altering his trajectory. With a loud snap, he rebounded upward, leaving Tao's punch striking nothing but air.
"What!?" Tao was stunned.
The speed at which they exchanged blows was utterly astonishing. To ordinary people, it wasn't just the techniques or movements that were impossible to follow — they couldn't even see the fighters' forms clearly. Yet Yamiru still managed to react with such precision, a testament to his incredible instincts.
Suspended midair, Yamiru twisted his hips, generating torque as his leg muscles tensed like steel. His kick tore through the air and landed squarely on Tao's head.
Boom!
The kick connected solidly, leaving Tao dazed.
Yamiru landed and immediately pressed the advantage. With a low growl, his fists became a blur of black shadows, raining down relentless blows on Tao.
Bam! Bam! Bam! The rapid hits echoed like a torrential downpour, leaving Tao cold to the core.
"Die!"
Yamiru leapt high, his right hand forming a claw, channeling all his strength into it. His veins bulged as faint white light gathered around his trembling hand.
He fixed his fierce gaze on Tao's chest and thrust downward without hesitation.
"Enough of this!"
Tao seized his opportunity, jerking his head forward. His braided hair, as if alive, coiled around Yamiru's arm.
"Now it's my turn!"
Though injured from the relentless assault, Tao's expression turned ferocious. He clenched his hand into a blade and stabbed viciously at Yamiru's throat.
"Urghhh—!!"
Yamiru choked as if his windpipe had been severed. He staggered backward but was grabbed by Tao, who launched into a brutal flurry of attacks.
Thwack!
Thud!
Blood sprayed through the air as Yamiru let out agonized cries.
But just as Tao began to gloat, Yamiru, his bloodied eyes narrowing, bit down on Tao's stabbing hand. His teeth sank into flesh as hard as steel.
"Ahh!" Tao screamed in pain.
He swung his arm wildly, trying to shake Yamiru off, but Yamiru's jaw was locked tight. In desperation, Tao channeled his ki into his hand, forcibly snapping one of Yamiru's teeth.
"Damn it…" Tao gritted his teeth, but then his eyes widened in alarm.
The hand Yamiru had bitten was just a feint. As Tao struggled to free himself, Yamiru had taken advantage of the chaos to bring his hands to his waist. A bluish-white light had already begun forming between his palms.
"This… this move—!" Tao stammered in panic.
"Kame…"
---
At the tournament stage.
"...Such an incredible fight!"
The referee's enthusiastic commentary reverberated through the venue. He spoke at a rapid pace, describing the thrilling action on the platform.
"Who would've thought that this year's tournament not only has Yamiru, a fighter capable of matching the world's greatest assassin, Tao Pai Pai, but also powerhouses like Tien Shinhan and Fourteenth! Spectators, what we're witnessing here is combat on par with the finals of past tournaments!"
The audience erupted into cheers, applause, and thunderous roars of excitement.
"Great strike!"
"Go for it, handsome three-eyed guy!"
Bulma glanced up to see her sister still distracted. Curious, she pressed her ear against Tights' chest to listen to her heartbeat. "So chaotic... Sis, your heart rate is all over the place."
Meanwhile, Master Roshi focused intently on the battle between the two fighters on the stage. His sunglasses reflected the sight of Fourteenth relentlessly advancing, while Tien Shinhan struggled to defend himself.
"Could it be..." The God of Martial Arts murmured as he closely observed Fourteenth's expression and movements. "I see... This monk is deliberately stalling. Could he be buying time for Yamiru and Goku?"
Thud! Tien Shinhan took a heavy blow and fell backward.
"Tien Shinhan is down! One, two..." The blonde referee immediately ran over to begin the countdown. According to the rules, a fighter would lose if they couldn't get up within ten seconds. However, before he could count much further, Tien Shinhan pushed himself back to his feet, wiping the blood dripping from his nose. With a fierce glare, he locked eyes with his opponent. The elderly monk, slightly panting, stood calm and composed.
Behind the martial arts plaque, Chiaotzu cheered, "Tien, you've got this!"
"What a powerful guy..." said the sweating werewolf fighter who preferred to remain unnamed. "But the three-eyed guy doesn't seem like he stands a chance!"
Chiaotzu frowned at the comment. Using telepathy, he asked the recovering Tien Shinhan: 'Tien, want me to help with my psychic powers? I can make that bald guy's stomach hurt, and then you'll—'
'Absolutely not!!'
Tien's furious voice echoed in Chiaotzu's mind.
"..." Chiaotzu didn't argue.
"I..." Tien, though young, was both talented and proud. He could clearly see that his opponent had the ability to defeat him outright but was deliberately holding back. Enraged, Tien pointed at Fourteenth and yelled, "You don't think I'm worth your full strength? You look down on me? You arrogant old fool!"
"Sigh..." Fourteenth let out a weary breath. "Amitabha. Young man, do not let your emotions cloud your judgment. If your heart is filled with malice, then all you perceive will be tainted by it. Such great talent, yet you tread this misguided path. It's truly a pity... Turn back while you still can."
"Enough with the preaching!" Tien, humiliated and furious, roared as he lunged forward.
---
"Kame...hame...HA!!"
With an angry shout, a blue and white energy beam surged toward Tao Pai Pai.
"Damn it!" Tao cursed as he frantically leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the Kamehameha. However, his pants weren't as fortunate and were shredded into strips by the blast.
"Y-you idiot!" Tao, drenched in sweat, climbed back to his feet and sneered. "You think someone like me, Tao Pai Pai, would fall for such a straightforward attack?"
"Who said it was straightforward?"
Yamiru hadn't released the Kamehameha stance yet. The blue-white beam hadn't dissipated; instead, he twisted his palms, pulling the energy back toward himself. Over countless practices at Fire Mountain, he'd mastered advanced techniques with the Kamehameha.
"What the...!"
Tao turned to see the Kamehameha arcing back toward him at an even faster speed. There was no time to dodge.
Panicking, Tao roared and channeled his energy to its absolute limit. His hands rapidly weaved, gathering his ki into his arms and hands. Forming a seal at his chest, he braced himself for a direct clash with the returning Kamehameha.
"Haaa!!" Tao shouted as the Kamehameha collided with his hands. The beam seemed to sink into an invisible mire, unable to advance.
Seizing the moment, Tao leapt into the air, using the adhesive force of his ki to redirect the Kamehameha. With a sharp twist, he hurled the beam back at Yamiru with even greater speed.
Yamiru's golden eyes widened in shock as the blinding white light engulfed him.
---
"What kind of technique is that!?"
On the other side of the battlefield, Son Goku was equally stunned.
Before him, Master Shen had undergone a shocking transformation.
Having removed his robe to free his movements, Master Shen seemed fully aware of Goku's overwhelming power. From the start, he had unleashed his full potential.
Under Goku's gaze, Shen's thin frame began to shift. His limbs elongated, and even his neck stretched and thinned.
His entire form now resembled a crane. When he spread his arms, they appeared like wings, and his steps mimicked the delicate movements of a crane wading through water.
Goku attempted several attacks, but the transformed Shen moved with uncanny lightness, effortlessly evading each strike.
Crack... crack...
Goku's ears twitched as he heard the unsettling sounds emanating from Shen's altered body. "Those are... bones cracking, right, old man?"