The medical team hurried away with Chiaotzu on a stretcher, his small body completely unconscious.
Tien Shinhan followed closely behind, his eyes bloodshot.
Before leaving, he cast one final look at Tao Pai Pai's retreating figure. The killing intent in his gaze was so cold it seemed to freeze the surrounding air.
Goku clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms.
"That bastard… I swear I'll kill him for real one day. What he did to Chiaotzu…"
…
Back in the present.
The announcer with the small blond mustache and sunglasses wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and forced himself to speak, his voice trembling as he broke the suffocating silence.
"Th-this is truly unfortunate… but the tournament must continue!"
"The next match, competing for a place in the Top Sixteen! From the Turtle School, Krillin, versus… Yamcha!"
The moment Yamcha's name was called, the crowd, still trapped under the shadow of blood and fear, suddenly erupted into a very different kind of commotion.
Gossip was humanity's favorite cure for tension.
"Hey, did you hear? This is a rivalry match!"
A martial artist with a wild afro leaned in excitedly.
His companion's eyes widened.
"That bald guy, Krillin, didn't he steal Yamcha's girlfriend?"
"You mean the Capsule Corporation heiress?"
"No way. This is way more exciting than the killing earlier!"
"Look at Yamcha's eyes. That guy wants blood."
Amid the whispers and pointing fingers, Yamcha slowly stepped onto the ring.
He wore his familiar orange gi, the Turtle School emblem stitched on his chest. Three old scars crossed his face.
Over the past three years, he had undergone brutal survival training in the wild.
His skin was sun-bronzed, his muscles sharper and more defined, his whole body radiating a feral strength.
But now, the crowd's murmurs stabbed into his heart like knives.
His eyes were terrifyingly dark.
This was not the focus of a martial artist facing a powerful opponent.
This was the bitterness of a man consumed by jealousy and rage.
Floating near the arena, Puar twisted his small hands together anxiously.
"Yamcha… please calm down… don't rush things…"
Yamcha did not respond.
His gaze was locked onto Krillin.
If looks could kill, Krillin would have been torn apart a thousand times over.
"Krillin."
Yamcha's voice was hoarse, as if gravel filled his throat.
"So it's finally our turn."
Krillin stood there casually, hands in his pockets.
Compared to Yamcha's burning hatred, he seemed almost relaxed, even indifferent.
He yawned, glancing briefly at the system notification in his mind.
[Mission: Completely crush rival Yamcha's fighting spirit.]
[Reward: Charisma +10]
"Yamcha, you can't beat me," Krillin said calmly.
"Master Roshi's training made you stronger, sure. But you're still far from my level."
"Shut up!!"
Yamcha roared, veins bulging on his forehead like an enraged wolf.
"Stop acting like you're above everyone else, you shameless bastard!"
"You stole Bulma while I was gone!"
"You knew we were dating! You knew she was mine!"
His roar echoed through the arena via the speakers.
The audience instantly exploded.
"So it's confirmed! He really was the other guy!"
"That bald dude looks honest, but wow…"
"Still, yelling like that feels pathetic. Love isn't ownership."
Krillin sighed and scratched his smooth head.
He had wanted to spare his old friend some dignity.
But since Yamcha insisted on tearing his own face off in front of thousands of people, there was no reason to hold back.
"Yamcha, if you insist on bringing this up here, then let's make it clear."
Krillin's smile vanished. His gaze sharpened.
The pressure of a true powerhouse leaked out just a little.
Several nearby spectators suddenly felt short of breath.
"First, I didn't steal Bulma. I pursued her openly."
"Second."
Krillin raised one finger and pointed it at Yamcha's face, his voice icy.
"Do you really not know why she left you, or do you want me to remind you?"
"The flower shop girl in West City, Lily. That female trainer at the gym."
"And even during your so-called hell training, you were flirting with female martial artists wherever you went."
Yamcha's face turned ghostly pale.
His eyes darted around in panic.
"You… you're lying! Those were misunderstandings!"
"I just didn't know how to reject them. I didn't want to hurt anyone."
"Didn't know how to reject them, or enjoyed being admired?" Krillin cut him off.
"Yamcha, Bulma isn't your possession."
"She's a living person. What she needed was security and devotion."
"And those are things you could never give her. You loved yourself too much."
Krillin took a deep breath and turned away.
His gaze pierced through the crowd and landed precisely on the blue-haired figure in the upper stands.
His eyes softened instantly.
"The woman who chose me is happy."
"I promised her that once I win this tournament, I'll officially propose to her."
The arena exploded.
"P-propose?!"
"That's insane!"
"Winning the tournament as an engagement gift? That's bold!"
"But… why is that kind of cool?"
In the stands, Bulma covered her mouth as tears spilled down her cheeks.
She never expected him to say it, in front of the entire world.
That feeling of being chosen without hesitation melted her heart completely.
She nodded fiercely and shouted through her tears.
"Idiot Krillin! If you dare lose, I'm really not marrying you!"
At that moment, the outcome was already decided.
Not by strength, but by resolve.
Yamcha felt as if an invisible hand crushed his heart.
Shame, fury, despair twisted together, snapping his sanity in half.
He felt like a clown performing alone on a stage where the lead role had already changed.
"I don't believe it… I won't accept this!!"
Yamcha let out a feral howl as his energy erupted.
A pale blue aura flared around him, blasting碎 stones into the air.
"I'll prove I'm the strongest!"
"I'll take Bulma back!"
"Krillin, die!!!"