Goku glanced at Krillin and noticed him muttering to himself, his expression strangely focused.
"Krillin, what are you doing?"
Krillin seemed to have just grasped something. Without answering, he raised both hands to his temples and shouted:
"Solar Flare!"
In an instant, a blinding white light burst from his head.
At such close range, not even Goku's reflexes could outrun the speed of light. His eyes burned as he was completely blinded for a moment.
"Krillin, what the heck are you doing?!" Goku shouted, rubbing his eyes furiously.
It wasn't just Goku who suffered—several rows of spectators nearby were also caught in the flash, crying out as they covered their eyes.
"My titanium alloy dog eyes!"
"Who's throwing flashbangs here—have some decency!"
Up in the stands, Crane Hermit's three whiskers bristled at once.
"That just now… was that the Solar Flare?!"
"How does that bald brat know a secret technique of our Crane School?!"
Beside him, Chiaotzu nodded.
"Yeah… it looked like it. That bald guy used it."
On the ring, Tien—who hadn't yet left the stage—was also rubbing his aching eyes. Realizing that Krillin had learned Solar Flare just by seeing it once, the sense of superiority he'd felt after copying the Kamehameha vanished instantly.
After all, Solar Flare was far more intricate than a simple energy blast.
He shot Krillin another look.
That guy… he learned it after seeing it once?
Hmph. But tricks mean nothing without raw power. I'll still be the one who wins.
Jackie Chun, now off the stage, also watched Krillin with interest.
Seems Krillin isn't inferior to Tien at all…
The referee, wearing dark sunglasses, hadn't been affected by the flash at all. He quickly announced:
"Next up, the sixth match!
Two of Master Roshi's top disciples—Son Goku versus Krillin!"
Krillin turned to Goku.
"Goku, this is probably the first time we're really fighting for real.
I know you've gotten a lot stronger—but I have too.
We're both going all out.
If I find out you're holding back, I'll hate you for the rest of my life!"
Goku nodded seriously.
"Alright."
Soon, the two walked onto the ring side by side, then took their places opposite each other.
The crowd immediately erupted.
"Two of Master Roshi's disciples facing off—this is going to be amazing!"
"I've been waiting for this match! It's finally happening!"
"Open your eyes wide—we're about to see something incredible!"
Just then, Jackie Chun emerged from the restroom, now dressed again as Master Roshi.
Tien approached him, puzzled.
"Why would someone as famous as Master Roshi disguise himself just to enter a tournament like this?"
Roshi looked at him calmly.
"It's simple. I did it for my students.
They've grown too fast. I was worried that winning the championship would make them complacent—that they'd lose their drive.
That's a mistake young people often make."
Tien's lips curved into a proud smile.
"I see. That makes sense."
Roshi raised an eyebrow.
"That look on your face… what exactly do you think you 'understand'?"
Tien smirked.
"You know how strong I am. You know your students can't beat me.
So you were comfortable losing to me."
Roshi chuckled.
"You've got it backwards.
I know my students aren't the type to get full of themselves just because they win.
They're not short-sighted fools. That's why I realized there was no need for me to stay in the tournament."
With that, he turned and walked toward the stands.
Tien stared at his back, deep in thought.
Roshi paused without turning around.
"And you're not a fool either," he said quietly.
"And you're not someone who can truly become a villain."
Tien's eyes widened.
"What makes you say that?"
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have come looking for me outside the restroom just to ask that question."
Tien bristled.
"Don't talk nonsense! Why can't I be a villain?
My goal is to become an assassin like Tao Pai Pai—the greatest killer in the world!"
"Oh, right," Roshi said lightly, turning back with a grin.
"About that—you're right about one thing. If we kept fighting, I really might lose."
He waved casually.
"Alright, I'm going to watch my students now."
Watching Roshi walk away so freely, Tien clenched his fists.
This old man… does he have no pride at all? To admit defeat without even fighting…
"Haah!"
"Take this!"
On the ring, Krillin and Goku had already begun.
Though both practiced the Turtle School style, their fighting couldn't have been more different.
Krillin's techniques were refined and relentless, his attacks flowing like waves—one after another, pressing forward without pause.
Goku, on the other hand, didn't cling to fixed forms. His movements were fluid and instinctive, reacting in the moment. Every punch and kick flowed naturally, as if born from the fight itself.
Together, they displayed the essence of the Turtle School to perfection.
Facing Krillin, Goku felt true excitement in battle again.
Since setting out on his journey, Krillin was the only one who could really trade blows with him. His strength now even surpassed Tao Pai Pai's from back then, forcing Goku to truly let loose.
The crowd watched in breathless awe.
As their exchanges intensified, both began to draw out even more of their power. Their movements became faster and faster, until their bodies all but vanished from sight.
All that remained were the sharp cracks of fists and feet colliding, and the fierce shouts that echoed through the air.
The spectators' astonishment rose with every second.
"So strong!"
"Is this… even human speed?!"
"They're moving so fast it's like they're disappearing!"
"This is insane! Is this really just a martial arts match?!"
A little girl tugged at her mother's sleeve, eyes wide.
"Mom, look! That bald big brother is amazing—his head is glowing!"
Bulma watched intently, clearly impressed by Krillin's performance.
"Three years… and he's gotten so much stronger."
Launch nodded.
"Yeah. You can tell he worked really hard.
Back when he and Goku trained under Master Roshi, he was always competing with him.
He hated losing to Goku, so he'd push himself even harder when no one was watching."
Violet giggled softly as she watched.
"Krillin's already strong enough to beat most people.
If he were just a little taller, he'd be perfect—girls would be lining up for him."
She lowered her voice conspiratorially.
"Now I kind of understand why Commander Red was obsessed with getting taller back then…"
Bulma glanced back at the ring, then covered her mouth with a smile.
"Shh—don't let Krillin hear that. He'd be heartbroken."
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