The afro-sporting man was none other than Mark—the same one Yamiru had met years ago in South City during his early travels. Later, when Yamiru and Tights participated in the Fighting League as the "Masked Man", Mark had lent them a hand, forging a lasting friendship.
Yamiru grinned. "Should I call you 'Mr. Satan' now?"
"Pfft!" Mark waved it off with a laugh. "I did earn that title at the dojo, but after seeing what you can do, I lost all my pride! Retired a few years ago to enjoy life. Check out my daughter Videl—she's way better than I ever was! Pretty cool, huh?"
Tights chuckled, crouching to shake Videl's hand. She beckoned the boys over. "Videl, this is Denim and Gohan..."
Videl blinked at Denim—especially the tiny girl lazily perched on his head, which she initially mistook for a doll—then eyed Gohan. Before she could get a proper look, a black-haired girl popped up behind Gohan, grinning.
"And me! I'm Temada! Four years old, and I'm competing too!"
"Four?!" Videl gasped. "That's amazing!"
Temada preened, nose in the air—until she caught Vegeta's disdainful snort. Furious, she flew over to yank his cheeks.
---
"Yamiru!"
A family of three—two pigs and a human—bustled over.
It was Tonpo and Elizabeth, whom Yamiru had invited via phone. Trailing them was Oolong, his beady eyes roving the crowd with barely concealed lechery.
Krillin did a double-take. "Master Roshi?! Why are you a pig now?!"
THWACK!*Roshi's cane met Krillin's skull. "Open your eyes, idiot! I'm right here!"
Peals of laughter erupted.
---
Family members filed into the newly expanded stadium seating (courtesy of Capsule Corp's sponsorship). Gone were the makeshift bleachers of yore—this was a full-fledged arena.
Tights, Bulma, and Gine chatted with Mark and Tonpo's family as they awaited the Junior Division matches.
---
Meanwhile, Yamiru and the fighters entered the temple's prep room.
Krillin tied his Turtle School gi, nerves showing. "Even with Piccolo's power-up, this lineup is... intimidating."
No kidding. Two Super Saiyan Gods (Goku and Bardock), Vegeta (confirmed Super Saiyan), Raditz (maybe?), and Piccolo (at least SSJ-tier). And Yamiru? Probably stronger than Goku.
Yamcha muttered prayers: "Don't pair me with our group, don't pair me with our group... Just let me reach the prelims..."
But the chance to fight such legends? Thrilling!
Tien noticed Piccolo and Yamiru staring at a corner. Following their gaze, he spotted a figure leaving—hulking, bald, oddly familiar.
"Huh?" Goku frowned. "That guy... his build's off. And I've seen him before..."
"King Chappa?!" Krillin gaped. "He's bald now?!"
"You're bald too," Goku pointed out.
"By choice!" Krillin rubbed his shiny scalp.
As the adults left for their matches, Gohan sighed. "Wish we could fight them..."
Denim slung an arm over him. "Face it—without fusion, we'd get wrecked."
Gohan side-eyed him. "We'd still get wrecked fused."
"What if we accidentally go Super Saiyan God mid-fusion? Huh?" Denim retorted.
"Stop underestimating me!" Temada zoomed over, flexing. "I'm strong!"
Denim' gaze drifted to the fluffy tail swishing behind her...
Denim stared at the fluffy tail swaying at eye level...
"What are you doing?!" Temada backed up slightly, her tail stiffening defensively. "Don't touch my tail!"
Under Gohan's watchful gaze, Denim sheepishly withdrew his hand.
Nearby, Videl had fully transformed into the "Mr. Satan face", gaping at the black-haired girl floating midair...
---
Backstage, Martial Arts Temple
Hundreds of adult division contestants crowded the area, buzzing with excitement.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" A slick-haired host raised a microphone. "The World Martial Arts Tournament's preliminary round will now begin! For fairness, we'll use this Punching Power Machine! The top 16 scorers will advance to the main event this afternoon!"
Monks wheeled out a cannon-like machine emblazoned with Capsule Corp's logo.
"Did Bulma make this?" Yamiru muttered, spotting the emblem.
"Dunno," Goku shrugged.
As contestants took turns punching the machine, Vegeta, Raditz, Yamiru, and Bardock immediately recognized its true nature when the first score ("77") appeared.
"A scouter in disguise," Vegeta sneered.
"Repurposed from the old models," Bardock noted.
Krillin sighed in relief—with 16 slots and only 10 elite fighters in their group (Yamiru, Goku, Bardock, Raditz, Vegeta, Tien, himself, Yamcha, Chi-Chi, and Piccolo), they'd all advance safely.
Yamiru's team then stepped up, each delivering feather-light taps:
"Yamiru: 1000."
"Goku: 1000."
"Bardock: 1000."
"Vegeta: 1001."
The host sweated profusely as the crowd collectively adopted the "Mr. Satan face". These impossible, identical scores—coupled with whispered legends from nine years ago—left no one daring to cry foul.
When Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien also scored "1000", the silence became deafening.
"Next... Shin and Kibito!"
Yamiru paused.
A brawny giant and a petite Mohawk-haired man approached. Their gentle taps likewise produced "1000."
"They're strong too?!" Krillin gasped.
Shin smiled at Goku's group before disappearing into the crowd.
Yamiru's golden-flecked eyes then shifted to King Chappa—now bald, muscle-bound, with bulging veins and an "M" mark on his forehead.
('To evade Earth's Kami notice... Babidi's magic is no joke.')
"He feels off," Goku noted.
"Ignore him," Yamiru said—just as BOOM! Raditz obliterated the machine in frustration.
Krillin facepalmed.
"Idiot," Vegeta spat.
"They'll need time to replace that," Yamiru chuckled. "Let's watch the kids' matches."