Virtual Earth Network.
Son Goku, Krillin, Tienshinhan, Chiaotzu... and Bulma all appeared together in the floating manor above the Muten Main City.
"Why did you come along too?" Krillin looked at Bulma in surprise.
"Got a problem with that?" Bulma put her hands on her hips and raised her eyebrows, exuding a strong presence. The little bald guy quickly shrank his neck and shook his head.
Son Goku also said, "Isn't this place only for members of the Martial Arts Association?"
Bulma smirked proudly, "For me, just asking Grandma Hathaway for special permission was easy as pie~"
"Oh!" Goku nodded, not fully understanding.
"Cheating, I say!" Krillin muttered.
"What did you say?" Bulma glanced at Krillin again.
Tienshinhan looked thoughtfully at Goku. Goku was puzzled, "What's wrong?"
"Tienshinhan is wondering about that Kakarot..." Chiaotzu looked up and said.
"Yeah." Tienshinhan nodded in agreement. "Is Kakarot... not participating in this Muten Tournament?"
Krillin was surprised but thought it made sense... He stroked his chin and muttered, "Yeah, if Kakarot were here, he'd appear alongside Goku!" He recalled the three years of intense training on Earth when Kakarot had appeared.
"I don't know, I never asked him!" Goku scratched his head, looking clueless.
"Why bother with that guy!" Bulma was annoyed. She wanted to mutter, "Sit down and shut up," like a spell to keep Kakarot unaware of the outside world so things would be peaceful.
"Don't say that. Kakarot... well, he's a bit troublesome, but he can't really do harm, so I think it's okay." Krillin waved his hand.
"Why not ask Jarvis?" Goku said, looking at everyone.
---
Special Virtual Space for the "Muten Tournament."
This space was vast, specially created by Jarvis for this "Muten Tournament." In the center floated an upside-down mountain peak, with the competition stage on top — a huge platform about a kilometer wide, called the "Muten Stage."
Surrounding the "Muten Stage" were seven smaller upside-down peaks, smaller "Muten Stages," called "Small Muten Stages."
Around both the large and small "Muten Stages," countless small, neat stone platforms floated, each with a number corresponding to a competing martial artist. All registered competitors could be teleported directly to these floating platforms surrounding the "Muten Stage" through their intelligent assistants.
Green streams of data continuously condensed in the space, forming humanoid figures.
"This is the Muten Tournament arena... so magnificent!"
"Really impressive!"
"Wow, my blood is boiling with excitement!"
People of all kinds appeared on the floating small stone platforms, each accompanied by their intelligent assistants, various in form—mostly tiny humanoid sprites, with different levels of AI sophistication. Some were stiff and mechanical, others flexible and lifelike.
There were countless participants worldwide. Some had never trained in martial arts but still tried to join—after all, even if injured in the virtual Earth network, it wasn't a big deal, and no one could really die... It was a chance to see what true martial arts masters looked like without risking their lives—why not join the fun?
"This is... the Muten Tournament." A slightly chubby young man with messy black hair appeared on a small stone platform. He was short, about 1.6 meters tall, with small squinted eyes that looked half-closed, lifeless like dead fish eyes. Even in this space, he held a steaming meat bun, biting into it.
Yajirobe carried a non-metal, non-wood long Blade at his waist — the very "Muten Blade" identical to the one in his real life. With Jarvis' simulated projection using Taro's powers as a database, Jarvis could perfectly simulate the strength, moves, and abilities of any person on Earth.
Others recognized Yajirobe and whispered, pointing at him, but Yajirobe ignored them as if he hadn't seen anything.
Five people appeared on five connected small stone platforms. "It's Son Goku! And Krillin, Tienshinhan, Chiaotzu... they're all here!" Someone shouted as soon as they appeared. Instantly, many around turned to look, murmuring softly.
Someone whispered, "Sure enough, Son Goku is participating. He won the World Martial Arts Tournament five years ago and has now reached the eighth floor of the Muten Tower... Who else can stop him this time?"
Another sighed, "Everyone here will probably just be his backdrop! The Muken of the eighth floor..."
"Not necessarily. Look over there—aren't there some older masters too?" Someone seemed annoyed at the blind worship of Goku and smirked, pointing at a dense cluster of small floating platforms opposite. Sure enough, a dozen or so senior masters appeared there one after another.
"That's Master Jifen! Back then, his explosive Ki was famous in the World Martial Arts Tournament but then quickly faded... didn't expect him to show up now!"
"And the old master of Yixin School. He was an early World Martial Arts Tournament champion and has long been above the fifth floor of the Muten Tower. I wonder which floor he's at now..."
Many whispered excitedly like fans spotting celebrities. Their personal panels weren't locked, so some opened them to chat with friends or excitedly discuss in forums.
"Damn, isn't that the old holy monk from Orin Temple?! He's still alive?!" Someone exclaimed in shock, recognizing the white-browed, white-bearded old monk who had been silent like a withered tree over there, feeling it was unbelievable. "He must be over a hundred years old by now, right? And yet he's showing up!"
"This is so exciting! This Muten Tournament really is a grand event!"
"Even if we can't get past the elimination rounds, just seeing so many senior masters gathered here is worth it!" Someone laughed, chatting privately with a friend.
The friend replied, "You don't know? The top ten in this tournament might get to see the Muten himself! No wonder these old guys are all coming out!"
"WTF, really?! See the Muten?! Damn, no wonder they all appeared..."
The group of a dozen or so old-timers at the center of the discussion exchanged glances silently after appearing...
"Hmph, old folks, still not dead?"
"If you're all still alive, how could I be dead?"
"I heard there's a kid named Son Goku, grandson of the old master Son Gohan, the Muten Roshi proud disciple. I want to see him for myself!"
"Not bad. Old Master Son Gohan hasn't fought anyone for years. He's not competing this time, and the Muten Roshi himself definitely won't intervene... So we can only spar with this Son Goku! I regret not being born decades earlier to witness the Muten Roshi glory at the first world martial arts tournament..."
"I'm the only one who can meet the Muten..."
Their eyes met briefly, each lost in their own thoughts, then all closed their eyes and rested their spirits.
Opposite them, Son Goku's eyes flashed brightly atop the small stone platform, his fists clenched excitedly!
"Damn, all those senior veterans really showed up..." Krillin felt the pressure. Though he believed his own skills were decent, when it came to the Muken, none of those elders were opponents for Goku's side.
Remember, the "hidden rule" that "champions and those who master the Fivefold Muken cannot participate in the martial arts tournament" was enforced by these very people.
Tien smiled and asked, "Goku, are you confident you can beat them?"
Goku answered, "I think so!"
Chiaotzu was a bit nervous: "It's going to be tough..."
Meanwhile, the entire tournament was being broadcast live online, and even offline real-time streams were ongoing.
Before the match started, the cameras shifted over the densely packed contestants, focusing especially on the star players like Goku. The elder masters had already sparked heated discussions online, stirring nostalgia. Many people reminisced about the era when these veterans ruled the martial arts world.
Goku was arguably the most popular martial artist on Earth now; the camera kept cutting back to him every few moments.
"Aww! My Goku looks like he's smiling!"
"Such a confident smile, I can't take it..."
"With so many veteran masters competing, Goku won't be arrogant for long!"
"Waiting for Goku to get crushed!"
Some liked Goku, naturally others disliked him.
Soon, someone spotted something on the screen: "Hey, who's that guy standing next to Goku, Krillin, Tien, and Chiaotzu...?"
"Yeah, I'm sure I've seen him before..."
"Look closely... Besides the hairstyle and clothes, doesn't this guy look exactly like our Goku?!"
"No way! Now that you mention it... it really is!"
Speculation spread wildly... The crowd had no idea that was actually Kakarot, whose subtle appearance Jarvis had adjusted, projected in the virtual Earth network. No one could have imagined that there existed another being sharing the same soul as Son Goku.
Amid the buzz, the tall figure of Piccolo appeared without causing much stir.
"Hmph!" Kakarot felt dozens of gazes on him and crossed his arms with a cold snort.
Since this was the virtual Earth network, there was no actual physical camera for the broadcast. Otherwise... Kakarot would be even more annoyed, because the broadcast was showing a close-up of his face.
Among those watching was Chi-Chi.
"That's him!" The slender young woman stepped a bit away from Goku and the others, unable to see their exact appearance from afar. She opened her personal interface and switched to the live broadcast channel... A faint green screen appeared, and her fingers gently traced Kakarot's face on the close-up.
He looked exactly like the "Goku" she remembered, and just like the "Goku" she had recently seen in the "Guidance Space"... rough in personality, but lonely and cold inside, which made Chi-Chi feel a pang of pity.
Her eyes reddened, but she smiled softly.
---
Outside the Muten Tournament space,
in a small "spectator realm," Bulma, Hathaway, Son Gohan, and even Bulma's parents had gathered.
In front of them, everything inside the tournament space was crystal clear, as if right in front of them.
"Ugh, Jarvis, seriously, why did you have to release that Kakarot?" Bulma scoffed.
Son Gohan shook his head and asked Hathaway curiously, "where's Master?"
"No idea. Seems like he's busy with Jarvis..." Hathaway shook her head.
---
Fiftieth floor of the Muten Tower.
Taro had little interest in watching the Muten Tournament matches and appeared there alone.
Jarvis's figure, formed from green data streams, took the shape of a refined middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, standing beside Taro.
"Speak," Taro said coldly.
Jarvis nodded and started his report: "I have run countless simulations and, according to your instructions, filtered out the ten most likely possible developments. The tenth possibility is Dabura..."
He pushed up his glasses and spoke methodically.
Taro listened, eyes narrowing slightly, expression unreadable.