Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:
patreon.com/Draco_
For every 5 Patreon memberships I receive, I'll release 15 chapters all at once. Your support means a lot to me.
*****
"Magnificent! Simply magnificent! Contestant Son Goku is the winner!"
The host only snapped out of his daze once Vegeta's silhouette had disappeared into the back, finally announcing the result of the final match of the first round.
Up in the stands, the spectators gradually closed their hanging jaws, standing up to erupt into thunderous cheers and applause. Though the battle was so fast that they often couldn't even see the two fighters, it didn't stop them from understanding how incredible the spectacle was. From the ground to the sky and back again, the sheer sound of their clashing limbs was deafening.
"Please take a short break, everyone! We will soon begin the second round!"
After Goku stepped down, the host began arranging the matchups for the next stage:
Match 1: George vs. Shin
Match 2: Krillin vs. Great Saiyaman
Match 3: Mr. Satan vs. Videl
Match 4: Mighty Mask vs. Goku
While the list was being compiled, the East Supreme Kai had already finalized a battle plan in the waiting area.
"Your strength is sufficient to deal with Dabura, but you are absolutely no match for Majin Buu," the Supreme Kai said with a grim expression. "We must go immediately. We have to take out Babidi and Dabura before they finish gathering enough energy to break the seal."
He added a stern warning: "You must be careful not to cause massive energy fluctuations. If the seal is stimulated enough, Majin Buu could awaken prematurely even without full energy. While he wouldn't be at his peak strength, a weakened Buu is still more than we can handle."
"Understood. Let's head out!" Goku nodded, beginning to hover using the Bukū-jutsu (Sky Dance Technique).
The others followed suit. To them, the World Martial Arts Tournament was more of a social gathering than a serious competition. Aside from Vegeta, everyone had a clear understanding of where they stood relative to one another. Krillin had originally come for the prize money, but since 18 had already squeezed 20 million Zeni out of Mr. Satan, he didn't mind leaving. 18 herself had already left the arena to find her daughter in the stands.
"Videl, you should stay here. It's too dangerous," Gohan said gently as he saw her beginning to levitate.
Videl opened her mouth to argue, but after a moment of reflection, she nodded and landed back on the ground. Between the pre-match talk and the explosive battle between Goku and Vegeta, she finally understood: the person who defeated Cell years ago wasn't her father, but the "tricksters" her father had dismissed. This group was on an entirely different level; she would only be a hindrance, likely unable to even keep up with their flying speed.
"You guys go ahead," George waved them off, remaining firmly on the ground. "Since I know the coordinates, I can just teleport there later."
The teleportation was a convenient lie; George had no intention of stopping the seal from breaking. He purposefully stayed behind to let things escalate. Besides, his mother and sister were in the audience; flying off into the distance would worry them.
"Alright. If things go well, it might be over before you even need to show up," Gohan said.
Truthfully, they preferred George stayed behind. While they knew he had trained briefly with Piccolo, they assumed his power level wasn't high enough for a confrontation with Dabura. Moreover, George was a student, not a seasoned warrior. Unlike Krillin, who had vast experience and could provide support despite the power gap, George seemed like someone they would have to protect. Most importantly, they were confident they could finish Babidi and Dabura quickly and return.
"The second round of the World Martial Arts Tournament begins now! Please welcome George and Shin!"
The host's voice had barely finished echoing when he looked up to see Shin, Goku, Vegeta, and the others soaring into the sky, vanishing into distant specks. He stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
"They... they flew away!"
Shin from the first match, Krillin and Great Saiyaman from the second, and Goku from the fourth—half of the eight contestants for the second round had vanished before a single punch was thrown. After a frantic meeting, the tournament committee decided to treat the absent fighters as having forfeited.
Consequently, George won the first match by default. The second match resulted in a double disqualification, and Mighty Mask won the fourth match by default. This left only the third match: the father-daughter showdown between Mr. Satan and Videl.
"I forfeit!" Videl announced before the match even started. She knew her father's true strength was likely inferior to her own now, and she didn't want him to lose face in public.
The audience accepted this easily; a daughter refusing to fight her father was seen as a sign of respect, and they assumed she couldn't win anyway. Thus, the second round was skipped entirely, moving straight to the third.
The third round consisted of only three finalists: George, Mighty Mask, and Mr. Satan.
"Let those two come at me at once! A battle royale! The last one standing is the champion!"
Seeing that the golden-haired monsters had left, leaving only a former loser and a normal high schooler, Mr. Satan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He marched up to the committee with immense confidence during the rule discussion. He only feared the "Cell-killers"; against anyone else, he felt he could take on ten at once. Plus, a handicap match would make his eventual "victory" look even more impressive.
"Well... since Mr. Satan has suggested it, we will proceed according to your wishes," the committee replied. Satan was their biggest draw and the key to their funding; they didn't dare refuse him. Besides, a battle royale would be a massive hit with the fans.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Satan has proposed a special rule..."
The host explained the battle royale format to a cheering crowd. George, Mr. Satan, and the "Mighty Mask" (Goten and Trunks) made their way to the ring. Before stepping up, George turned to Videl.
"You understand your father's true level now. Honestly, if I go all out, he hasn't got a chance. Do you want me to hold back?"
Videl was silent for a moment before answering, "My father has been too complacent over the years. A loss might actually be good for him." As his daughter, she couldn't bring herself to beat him, but if George did it, it would serve as a much-needed wake-up call.
George nodded. "I'll make sure he loses with some dignity."
He wasn't Gohan; he had no personal attachment to Mr. Satan. Winning the tournament meant a legitimate ten million Zeni prize to support his mother and sister. While he could manifest money out of thin air, he couldn't explain its origin to Emma. Since Videl had been kind enough to give his sister an autograph, he had extended the courtesy of asking her first.
"BEGIN!"
The gong sounded. Goten and Trunks immediately charged at George. They had realized Mr. Satan was a fraud and focused their attention on George, whom they knew had trained at the Lookout.
George stood his ground, casually blocking the flurry of coordinated strikes from the boys with a single hand. Without transforming, the duo had power levels around 200 million, and being stuffed into a single cloak limited their mobility even further. George, with a power level well over ten billion, suppressed them effortlessly.
On the other side of the ring, Mr. Satan—who was preparing to "sweep" both opponents—froze. Watching the exchange, he realized these two were in a completely different league. The shockwaves from their fists alone made it difficult for him to even stay standing.
"George-niichan is too strong! Trunks, we can't beat him like this!"
"Goten, let's go Super Saiyan!"
The boys realized they couldn't even make George move a single step. Forgetting the risk of exposure, they let out a roar and transformed.
This could be a problem, George thought. As Super Saiyans, their combined power surged to nearly ten billion, rivaling his own. He could still win, but it would be a chore.
"That's enough for now!" George raised his hand and pointed at the charging duo. "Expelliarmus!" (Or rather, a targeted burst of ki).
The spell—or ki blast—stripped the cloak right off them, sending it fluttering away and revealing the two children beneath.
"Goten!"
"Trunks!"
Bulma and Chi-Chi stood up in the stands simultaneously.
"Two people entering as one! Foul! Disqualification!" the host shouted.
"We're busted! Run!" Goten and Trunks realized the game was up and flew out of the stadium without looking back.
With their exit, all eyes turned to George and Mr. Satan. Cold sweat drenched Satan's brow. He knew he was doomed. If he actually fought, he wouldn't last a second, and his reputation would be shattered. Should he try to bribe George with 20 million like he did with 18? He realized that only worked if the opponent initiated it; he couldn't exactly whisper a bribe in front of thousands of people, and George was likely to knock him out before he could even get close.
Wait! I've got it! Drawing on years of "performance" experience, Satan hit upon a face-saving plan.
He spun around, marched toward the edge of the ring with a look of weary pride, and addressed the crowd in a booming, dramatic voice:
"After all these years... finally! I have lived to see a promising new sprout emerge! Though your battle is still a far cry from my legendary clash with Cell, it was formidable indeed! I believe that with enough training, you might one day reach my peak!"
He began to cough violently, clutching his chest, before turning a gaze of "hope" toward George. "When I fought Cell, I sustained a grave injury that has never truly healed. Young man... the future of the martial arts world is in your hands!"
With those words, he leaped gracefully out of the ring.
"Mr. Satan..." The audience's eyes welled with tears as they watched him walk away with a hunched back, as if a great burden had been lifted. They were moved by the "revelation" that their hero had been fighting through a debilitating injury all these years, only to selflessly step aside the moment he found a worthy successor.
"Never in my life have I seen such a brazen and shameless man..." George muttered on the stage, his lip twitching.
He was genuinely impressed by Satan's acting. The man had missed his calling as a movie star. George had intended to let him keep his dignity through a staged fight, but Satan had managed to save his reputation and retire from the match as a saint.
Whatever, George thought. He is Gohan's father-in-law, after all. He wouldn't expose the lie.
(End of Chapter)