"So it's Piccolo versus the Supreme Kai," Goku remarked thoughtfully.
"Hmph, the Supreme Kai is nothing special," Vegeta snorted. "The Piccolo of today has more than enough power to crush him."
"Vegeta's right," Goku nodded in agreement.
"It all depends on whether Piccolo takes the match seriously," Vegeta added, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
"Piccolo wouldn't actually go all out, would he?" Goku scratched his head.
By now, Piccolo and the Supreme Kai had stepped onto the ring and were standing face-to-face.
"Lord Supreme Kai, we can begin whenever you're ready!" Piccolo took a deep breath and immediately dropped into a fighting stance. "I've actually been looking forward to seeing just how strong a Supreme Kai really is!"
As he spoke, Piccolo's body underwent a sudden transformation, shifting directly into his Orange mode.
The Supreme Kai: "..."
His composure crumbled instantly. This tournament was supposed to be a way to find Babidi and his henchmen. Why are you taking this so seriously? This isn't fun at all. I can't beat you! That Orange form of yours could probably take down Majin Buu with ease!
"Whoa... Uncle Piccolo went Orange!" Gohan shouted excitedly from the backstage area. "Go for it, Uncle Piccolo!"
The Supreme Kai: "..."
His face darkened. You don't need to cheer for him! If you keep encouraging him, he's going to beat me to a pulp!
"Lord Supreme Kai, shall we begin?" Piccolo asked, his eyes burning with an intense fighting spirit.
"I'm sorry... I forfeit!" the Supreme Kai blurted out, his lip twitching as he turned to the referee.
The referee: "????"
Wait, what? You're giving up before the fight even starts?
Without another word, the Supreme Kai turned and walked off the ring.
Piccolo stood there, stunned. Wait! Don't go! I wanted to see what a Supreme Kai is truly capable of! Why did he just give up?
The spectators were equally unimpressed. This 'Shin' guy is a total coward. If you're that scared, why even enter the tournament? Giving up without even throwing a punch... what a joke.
"Why did you forfeit, Lord Supreme Kai?" Krillin asked, sounding puzzled.
The Supreme Kai: "..."
He shot Krillin a sharp look, clearly annoyed by the question.
"Since you forfeited... that means I'm the one who has to face Piccolo next," Krillin said, looking like he wanted to cry.
The Supreme Kai's face darkened even further. What? Are you implying that you'd actually have a chance against me? I'm a Supreme Kai! Do you, a mere human, really think you could beat me?
He took a deep breath. I won't get angry. There's no point in getting worked up over a human.
"And now, let's move on to the third match!" the referee announced. "Videl versus Spopovich!"
"VIDEL! VIDEL! VIDEL!"
The crowd erupted in cheers for the champion's daughter.
"Videl, you're quite the fan favorite!" Gohan said with a grin. "Good luck out there!"
"Thanks," Videl nodded, making her way toward the ring.
"As many of you know, Videl is the daughter of our very own Mr. Satan. She has assisted the police on numerous occasions and is a young woman with a powerful sense of justice! Seven years ago, as a young girl, she won the Junior Division championship with an incredible performance," the referee said, introducing the fighters. "Her opponent, Spopovich, was defeated in the first round of the last tournament. After years of hard training, he returns today hoping for a better result!"
The two fighters stepped onto the ring. Goku watched Spopovich closely, as did Vegeta. After observing him for a moment, they realized he showed no signs of anything unusual. He looked like a perfectly normal human. It seemed that in this timeline, Babidi hadn't made a move to control either of them.
"Wait... I just remembered something," Goku said, his eyes lighting up as a thought occurred to him.
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Master Roshi's sister, Fortuneteller Baba, can find things that we can't," Goku said, his eyes sparkling. "Maybe we should ask her to help us find Majin Buu's seal."
The Supreme Kai: "..."
A bead of sweat rolled down his face. Do you really think I, the greatest god in the universe, am just for show? If even I can't find it, do you really think a human can?
"I know of this Fortuneteller Baba you speak of," the Supreme Kai said, a forced smile on his face. "She travels between the living world and the Other World, right? She can even bring people back from the dead for a day. Is that the one?"
"Oh? You know her, Lord Supreme Kai?" Goku asked, surprised.
"I am a Supreme Kai, after all... I've learned quite a bit over the years," he replied. "I know she has a crystal ball, but I highly doubt she'll be able to find the seal. This is Majin Buu we're talking about..."
"It's worth a shot!" Goku said, and with a sudden pop, he vanished using Instant Transmission.
The Supreme Kai: "..."
Goku, that's just insulting.
However, barely ten seconds later, Goku reappeared.
"You were right, Lord Supreme Kai. Baba said she couldn't find the seal either," Goku said, scratching his head.
The Supreme Kai let out a small sigh of relief, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. Thank goodness that woman couldn't find it. If she had, I would have been completely humiliated. A human finding something that a Supreme Kai couldn't... I'd never hear the end of it in the divine realms.
"Still no change in Spopovich?" Goku asked.
"None," Vegeta replied, shaking his head.
By now, Videl and Spopovich were standing across from each other. Spopovich's lip twitched, his expression uneasy. I saw this girl with those other freaks earlier. And she's Mr. Satan's daughter. I wonder if I can actually take her...
"Go for it, Videl!" Erasa shouted from the stands.
"Videl's going to wipe the floor with that guy!" Sharpner added with a laugh.
"Yeah, no contest!" the boy with glasses agreed.
"Begin!" the referee shouted.
Videl immediately dropped into a fighting stance and launched a swift kick that caught Spopovich right in the face. He stumbled and fell, groaning in pain. But the hit only served to ignite his anger. With a roar, he charged at Videl, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks. Videl blocked them all with ease, parrying every strike.
After a few more exchanges...
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Videl landed several heavy blows, sending Spopovich crashing to the ground once more.
"Another knockdown! She truly is a prodigy!" the referee announced. "Spopovich can't even find an opening!"
Spopovich gritted his teeth and scrambled back to his feet. But almost immediately, his legs gave out, and he collapsed again, unable to stand. The referee began the ten-second count.
The count ended before Spopovich could move.
"Time's up! The winner is Videl!" the referee announced.
"VIDEL! VIDEL! VIDEL!"
The crowd went wild, chanting her name as she walked off the ring. Spopovich was carried away on a stretcher by the medical staff.
Watching Videl's easy victory, Goku scratched his head again. This is definitely not how it went in my previous life! That Spopovich guy really wasn't under anyone's control.
Goku looked over at Vegeta. Vegeta's face darkened, a vein bulging on his forehead. "What are you looking at me for?"
"Nothing," Goku said with a smile.
Vegeta: "..."
Kakarot is getting more annoying by the second. 'Nothing'? Are you serious?
"And now, let's move on to the next match!" the referee announced. "Kibito versus the Great Saiyaman!"
"That's me," Gohan said, stretching his arms as he prepared to head out.
Kibito: "..."
Kibito's eye twitched, and the color drained from his face. This is Son Gohan we're talking about. The man who can go toe-to-toe with Broly. How is my luck this bad? Why do I have to be the one to fight him? Should I just pull a Supreme Kai and forfeit right now?
"The match is just a formality," the Supreme Kai said, cutting into Kibito's thoughts. "Our main goal is to find Majin Buu's seal. Kibito, Gohan—listen."
The two of them immediately turned their attention to the Supreme Kai.
"I was thinking... what if Gohan releases his true power?" the Supreme Kai proposed. "If we watch where the energy converges, we might be able to track down Babidi and the seal."
"They can't just suck our energy out of thin air, can they?" Vegeta asked dryly, his arms crossed.
"Vegeta's right," Goku added, turning to the Supreme Kai. "Don't they need us to be injured or something before they can siphon the energy away?"
The Supreme Kai tapped his forehead, realizing Goku was absolutely right.
"So what's the plan? You want me to actually get hurt?" Gohan asked, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow.
"Use your Mystic form, take a hit, and let's see where the energy goes," the Supreme Kai suggested. "We'll all focus our senses together. We're bound to find something."
Gohan: "..."
Seriously? Why am I always the one who has to get hurt?
"Don't look at me," the Supreme Kai explained. "Majin Buu absorbs mortal energy. I possess divine power—he can't touch it."
"In that case, he won't be able to take my divine power either, will he?" Vegeta said with a smug grin.
Goku: "..."
"If he really can't absorb divine power, then Gohan and Goku are the only targets," Piccolo mused.
"Contestants Gohan and Kibito! Please stop chatting in the back and get to the ring immediately!" the referee shouted, his patience wearing thin. Can you people please stop talking? The audience is waiting!
"Let's just get out there first," Kibito suggested.
"Fine... alright..." Gohan muttered, his lip twitching.
The two of them stepped onto the ring.
"The Great Saiyaman?" Erasa blinked in surprise.
"The Great Saiyaman? You mean that hero of justice from Satan City!?" Sharpner's eyes widened.
The boy with glasses peered through his binoculars at the ring. "Wait... that guy looks a lot like Gohan!"
"What?" Sharpner froze. "Let me see!"
The boy handed over the binoculars. "Even with the bandana and sunglasses, his facial structure is a dead ringer for Gohan."
Sharpner took a long look through the lenses. "It really is him... You've got to be kidding me. Gohan is the Great Saiyaman?"
He handed the binoculars to Erasa.
"It's definitely Gohan. The build, the height—it's him," Erasa said with a firm nod.
"It really is Gohan!" Sharpner was stunned.
"But how could Gohan be the Great Saiyaman?" Erasa asked, sounding skeptical. She handed the binoculars back. "I bet he's just using the name to enter the tournament, right?"
"I don't know," Sharpner shook his head. "Why would he need to borrow a name?"
"Because he's shy!" Erasa giggled.
"But can he even fight?" Sharpner asked, not sounding particularly optimistic. "He's great at basketball, but that doesn't mean he can handle a tournament like this."
"Regardless, let's cheer for him. He is our classmate, after all!" the boy with glasses suggested.
"You're right!" Erasa nodded.
"GO GOHAN! GO GOHAN!"
The three of them began cheering at the top of their lungs. Gohan froze, a cold sweat breaking out as he looked toward the source of the noise. Aren't those my classmates? How did they recognize me so easily? Bulma, you've got to be kidding me!
Gohan shot a look toward Bulma in the stands.
Bulma: "..."
"How was I supposed to know your classmates would be here?" Bulma muttered, wiping her own brow.
Gohan's lip twitched. Bulma, you're the one who made this outfit! My cover is totally blown...
Gohan let out a resigned laugh. He reached up, pulled off his sunglasses and bandana, and tossed them aside with a flourish.
"You look great, Gohan!"
"Way better without the shades and the wrap!"
Gohan: "..."
"Alright, let the match begin!" the referee announced.
Gohan stood there in silence. What a headache. I just wanted to be a normal person. Go to school, train, eat well, sleep well, have some fun... That's the Turtle School way of training my dad told me about. I thought it suited me perfectly. But now what?
"Gohan, you should transform into a Super Saiyan!" Kibito suggested. "Those are the Supreme Kai's orders. Then I'll attack you and land a hit."
Gohan: "..."
He wiped his brow again. But for the sake of finding the seal, he knew he had to go along with it. Besides, his identity was already out. There was no point in hiding the "Golden Warrior" anymore.
"Transform into a Super Saiyan?" Goku asked, sounding surprised.
"Gohan's Mystic form doesn't change his appearance much," the Supreme Kai explained. "A Super Saiyan is much more conspicuous. It might be enough to lure Babidi's people out."
"On that note, why don't we just use the Dragon Balls and have Shenron find the seal for us?" Krillin suggested.
"That's a great idea!" Goku's eyes lit up.
At this point, Goku was no longer worried about the birth of the Shadow Dragons. Even if a wish caused them to appear, he was confident he could easily defeat them.
"The Dragon Balls are still scattered across the world, aren't they?" Goku asked.
"I don't think anyone's been looking for them. Have any of you?" Krillin asked.
"No," Piccolo shook his head.
"Then it won't be easy to gather them all on such short notice," Goku said, shaking his head. "Let's see what happens with Gohan's transformation first."
By now, a golden aura had erupted around Gohan, his hair standing on end.
Flash!
Gohan completed his Super Saiyan transformation.
"Come on, Kibito," Gohan said, dropping into a fighting stance.
Kibito: "..."
Sweat poured down Kibito's face, his eye twitching. 'Come on'? You say that like I actually have a chance of hitting you!
"Kibito!" the Supreme Kai called out from a distance.
Kibito looked back at him. The Supreme Kai gave a subtle nod. Kibito's heart skipped a beat, and a slight smirk touched his lips. I see! The Supreme Kai is going to paralyze Gohan! That's the only way I'll be able to land a hit. Otherwise, I'm toast!
"Kibito, come on! Hurry up and hit me!" Gohan said with a grin, beckoning him forward.
Kibito wiped his brow. Could you maybe not be so blunt about it?
When the audience saw Gohan transform, they were struck with awe. Some remembered the golden-haired fighters from the Cell Games. Gohan's three classmates were the most shocked of all.
"It's... it's the Golden Warrior!"
"No way! Gohan is the Golden Warrior!?"
"You've got to be kidding me!"
The three of them were so stunned they could barely speak.
Whoosh!
The Supreme Kai suddenly thrust his hands forward, a powerful surge of divine energy locking onto Gohan. Gohan's expression froze. What's going on? I can't move! Who's doing this? Is it Babidi? He must be using magic to hold me in place! I can't let him win!
"Now!" Kibito's eyes lit up. He charged toward Gohan and threw a heavy punch aimed straight at his face.
Gohan's reflexes were lightning-fast.
Snap!
Energy flared around Gohan as he instantly shattered the Supreme Kai's paralysis. In the next heartbeat, he shifted into his Mystic form. He had considered going Beast, but decided that would be overkill. His Mystic form should be more than enough to break through the "magic."
Sure enough, as soon as Gohan entered his Mystic state, the Supreme Kai's divine energy was scattered by Gohan's overwhelming power.
Wait... I remember now! A realization struck Gohan. I fought that Zamasu guy before. He used a paralysis technique just like that. Was it the Supreme Kai who just tried to hold me down?
Gohan's mind raced as he watched Kibito charging toward him. He finally understood. The Supreme Kai paralyzed me so Kibito could land a hit. So that was the plan!
THUD!
Kibito's heavy punch swung toward Gohan, only to be stopped effortlessly by a single finger. Kibito's pupils shrank, his face turning pale. Why aren't you following the script? Weren't you supposed to get hit?
"Sorry, Kibito," Gohan said with an apologetic smile. "I just couldn't help myself."
"Could you maybe cooperate a little?" Kibito whispered, his face dark.
Gohan nodded vigorously in agreement.
Whoosh!
Gohan powered down back into his standard Super Saiyan form.
"Lower your guard more, or I won't be able to hurt you," Kibito whispered.
Gohan: "..."
"I can't go any lower. Any less and I'll lose the Super Saiyan form," Gohan replied.
Kibito felt a pang of frustration.
"Don't worry, I'll drop my defenses. That should do it," Gohan said after a moment's thought.
"That's more like it!" Kibito let out a sigh of relief.
Gohan immediately dropped his guard. Without hesitation, Kibito threw another heavy punch, this one connecting squarely with Gohan's chest.
THUD!
The blow landed, and Gohan coughed up a bit of bile, having taken a minor injury. Of course, to Gohan, it was practically nothing. But in the next instant, he felt a tiny amount of energy spray from the "wound" and vanish into thin air.
"Kibito, did you feel that?" Gohan asked, his expression shifting.
"Yes, I felt it," Kibito nodded solemnly.
At the same time, Goku and the others all looked up at the blue sky. In that moment, they had all sensed Gohan's energy flying upward.
"There!" Piccolo said, pointing toward the sky.
"So the energy from the injury really is being siphoned away!" Goku said, his brow furrowing as he stared into the heights.
The small amount of energy flew high into the air before suddenly dispersing. In the blink of an eye, it was gone.
"It vanished!" Goku said, looking in every direction.
"It didn't vanish. It was absorbed by Majin Buu's seal," Vegeta said, his voice low.
"But how is the seal absorbing it?" Krillin asked, sounding confused.
"Magic, probably," Goku guessed. In his previous life, Majin Buu had reached full power by absorbing the energy from Goku and Vegeta's fight. Before that, he had taken a massive amount of energy from Gohan.
"Babidi!" Piccolo growled, clenching his fists.
The group searched the area, but found nothing new.
"No, something's not right. I have a bad feeling about this," Goku said, his brow furrowing. He suddenly took to the air and landed right in the middle of the crowd.
The spectators stared in shock as Goku descended from the sky, floating just above the ground. They instinctively scrambled to make a path for him. Goku looked down from his vantage point and beckoned to the Supreme Kai.
"Lord Supreme Kai, come over here and take a look at this!"
To be continued…
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