"Ladies and gentlemen! What you are about to witness next—is the grand finale of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament!!"
The mustached announcer strode energetically around the stage, microphone in hand, his voice booming with excitement as he hyped up the crowd.
"Let's give a warm welcome to—"
"The unfathomably powerful, superhuman—Son Goku!"
From behind the Martial Arts archway, Goku stepped forward—his gi tattered, his golden hair gleaming, his emerald eyes sharp.
"And—Sato Yamiru!!"
From the opposite side, Yamiru emerged—his black hair contrasting with his piercing golden eyes, his presence radiating an otherworldly aura.
The two walked toward the center of the stage from opposite ends, their gazes locking as their fighting spirits surged.
Meanwhile, the announcer passionately recounted their history with the tournament:
"Sixteen years ago! In the finals of the 19th World Martial Arts Tournament, Yamiru faced off against a young Son Goku! Their battle was so intense, it carried them into the skies—a spectacle unlike any other! In the end, Goku narrowly lost, and Yamiru claimed victory with a satisfied smile, even passing out midair as he secured the championship!"
As the announcer spoke, Yamiru walked forward—his current self seemingly overlapping with the shadow of his past.
"Then, six years ago, in the 21st tournament finals—once again, it was Yamiru versus Goku! But this time, the tables turned. Goku, having grown tremendously stronger, defeated the former champion and claimed the title for himself!"
Behind Goku, the faint silhouette of his younger self followed.
"Now, for the third time in the finals—two former champions stand face to face! Who will emerge victorious this time?"
The first Kami and the Super Saiyan locked eyes.
The past and the present converged.
"Will it be Sato Yamiru?"
Yamiru stopped. His shadow stopped. The two merged into one.
"Or will it be Son Goku?!"
Goku stopped. Little Goku stopped. The two became one.
"Let's find out—TOGETHER!!"
High above the audience, Piccolo sat cross-legged in midair, arms folded, cape billowing, watching the impending battle with detached interest.
In the front row, Bulma grinned as the announcer's voice echoed through the speakers. "Hard to believe… This is their third tournament showdown! And now Goku's a Super Saiyan…"
Tights tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze lingering on the two figures on stage. "Mm."
Vegeta listened to the introduction stone-faced, his emotions a turbulent storm. 'This terrifyingly powerful Super Saiyan… lost to an Earthling sixteen years ago? An Earthling whose energy I can't even sense?'
Had Raditz heard Vegeta's thoughts, he would've scoffed—not because he'd once been humbled by Yamiru, but because he trusted Kakarot's judgment. Even if he couldn't sense Yamiru's energy either, one thing was clear: Kakarot was brimming with fighting spirit. That meant Yamiru had to be strong.
'Just how strong? Well, we're about to find out…'
Behind the archway, Chi-Chi and Krillin steadied their breathing, anticipation thrumming in their veins.
"Now, I declare—"
Goku and Yamiru, still locked in their stare-down, slowly shifted into identical Turtle School stances.
The audience murmured in surprise—this was the first time Yamiru had taken such a stance all tournament. But considering Goku's monstrous power, it made sense…
"—the final match of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament…"
Yamiru's golden eyes gleamed as a wisp of white spiritual flame flickered at his feet.
"BEGINS—"
Goku's golden aura flared, his fingers flexing into claws as swirling flames of energy erupted around him.
The announcer took a deep breath—
"—NOW!!!!"
Here it comes!
Gine, Raditz, Vegeta, Krillin, Chi-Chi, and even Piccolo high above—all tensed in unison.
The moment the announcer's voice faded—
Yamiru's golden eyes flashed. A blinding white light engulfed him!
Goku roared, unleashing an overwhelming surge of power!
The announcer tried to keep commentating, but a hurricane-force wind blasted into his face, muffling his words into incoherent sputters as he ducked for cover.
The gale from Goku's erupting golden aura swept through the arena, forcing most of the audience to shield their eyes or cling to anything stable.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
With a mighty cry, Goku shifted his stance—
The stage cracked beneath him.
His golden aura expanded violently, spikes of energy lancing upward like a blazing inferno!
"This…" Vegeta barely resisted being blown away, his entire body trembling from sheer shock. His voice came out as a hoarse whisper.
"How… is this possible…?"
"..." Raditz stood firm against the raging winds, his arms crossed, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His expression twisted into something between frustration and reluctant admiration. 'Damn you, Kakarot...'
"He really does take after Bardock..." Gine murmured, watching as flying debris clattered against the protective barrier.
In the distance, Piccolo narrowed his eyes against the gale, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. A bead of sweat trailed down his temple. "This guy... He wasn't even going all out earlier?"
His gaze remained fixed on the blurred figure engulfed in that towering golden inferno.
The stage had become a battleground of light—two colossal forces dividing the space between them.
A massive golden sphere.
A radiant white glow.
They clashed! Repelled! Compressed!
BOOM!
White and gold exploded outward, scattering like ethereal fireflies. The overwhelming pressure that had filled the arena moments earlier vanished abruptly.
Goku remained in his stance, his dense golden aura now condensed tightly around him—all that explosive power drawn inward, controlled.
Eyes locked onto Yamiru, who was wreathed in that eerily silent white energy, Goku grinned. "That's everything I've got. What do you think?"
"Not bad at all!" Yamiru laughed, still mirroring the Turtle School stance.
Goku's smirk deepened—
"That was just their auras colliding...?" Behind the archway, Krillin and Chi-Chi exchanged stunned glances. Around them, the audience looked like a trampled wheat field—the air itself scrubbed clean by the typhoon-like aftermath. "This is insane..." Krillin's voice dropped to a whisper as he stared at Yamiru's glowing profile. "He's standing toe-to-toe with that Goku..."
Chi-Chi clenched her fists. Who could've imagined that the two travelers who once passed by her home would grow into this?
Sweat beaded on Krillin's bald head, trailing down to quiver at his chin—
Then, in an instant, both Goku and Yamiru vanished from the stage.
Gulp. Krillin swallowed hard. The droplet fell—
To the confusion of most spectators, dull thuds began echoing through the air—left, right, above, below—each impact vibrating in their chests like a war drum.
The atmosphere grew lethally tense, occasionally split by a golden flash or a streak of white fire.
Plink. The sweat droplet shattered on the ground.
BAM!
Goku and Yamiru reappeared at the center of the stage, arms bent in a mid-air clash—yet their limbs never actually touched.
Between them, golden ki and white spiritual light raged against each other, erupting into a storm of sparks!