"You're really something… your punches are way too powerful. Just now, I felt like my whole body was going to be smashed apart by you." Yamcha forced himself to stand up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and spoke with genuine admiration.
Now he fully understood the gap in strength between himself and Tien Shinhan; the difference wasn't just a little bit.
"Your attacks aren't bad either. The Wolf Fang Fist is way fiercer than before." Tien Shinhan once again took up a fighting stance. "Come on, Yamcha, let's keep going!"
Just as everyone thought the battle was about to erupt once again, Yamcha made a move that no one expected.
"Spare me, would you? I really don't want to take any more of your punches." Yamcha smiled and shook his head, then turned his gaze to the blonde-haired referee. "Referee, I forfeit."
At those words, not only was Tien Shinhan stunned, even the blonde-haired referee and everyone in the backstage waiting area was incredibly surprised.
Yamcha actually surrendered of his own accord.
But for the current Yamcha, admitting defeat was not a disgrace. Once he understood the difference in strength between himself and his opponent, going back and training harder to make up for his shortcomings was his new goal.
Failure isn't scary; what's scary is not having the courage to face it.
Yamcha clearly understood this. If he were to be utterly crushed by a minor setback, that would be true failure.
"Since Contestant Yamcha has forfeited, the winner of this match is… Contestant Tien Shinhan!" The blonde-haired referee, snapping back to his senses, shouted out the result, announcing Tien Shinhan's victory.
With the referee's declaration, the previously silent audience erupted into waves of commotion.
From initial disappointment, to anger, to witnessing this earth-shattering duel, everyone's passion had now been ignited.
For ordinary people, this World Martial Arts Tournament made them realize they didn't come here for nothing.
At the very least, such an extraordinary, mind-blowing fight didn't leave them disappointed.
In the arena, Tien Shinhan and Yamcha exchanged a smile, then left together.
"You alright? You look pretty banged up, Yamcha," Tien Shinhan teased.
"It's just a flesh wound, nothing serious. You may have won this time, but next time, that might not be the case. Just wait, I'll beat you, Tien Shinhan." Yamcha knew Tien Shinhan was encouraging him, so he responded with bold words.
"I'll be waiting to see that…"
…
The two of them returned to the backstage area.
Before anyone could speak, Puar, who had been waiting there all along, immediately flew over and asked with concern, "Master Yamcha, are you okay?"
As Yamcha's partner, Puar was truly loyal.
"It's nothing, I'm fine," Yamcha waved his hand.
He really wasn't badly hurt, just exhausted.
After Puar, the others gathered around, both checking on Yamcha's injuries and marveling at the strength of both of them.
Faced with everyone's praise, both Yamcha and Tien Shinhan couldn't help but blush.
In the end, the two could only humbly say their strength was still far from enough, and they'd have to keep working hard at their training.
The intermission passed quickly.
The next match soon began.
After Yamcha and Tien Shinhan's fight, there were two matches between ordinary people.
They weren't much to pay attention to, but the audience still felt satisfied watching them.
Because the shock of Tien Shinhan and Yamcha's match still hadn't worn off.
There was one thing worth mentioning, though: the ordinary contestants' fear of Yamcha and Tien Shinhan had reached its peak; some didn't even dare look at them.
It was obvious; no one wanted to run into them, and if anyone did in the next round, they'd just forfeit immediately.
After the ninth match, the tenth could be considered another highlight.
After all, it was a showdown between Piccolo and Master Roshi.
To be honest, everyone was breaking out in a cold sweat for Master Roshi.
The gap was just too big.
But as for Master Roshi himself, he didn't seem worried at all.
Even though he was facing a mortal enemy, he calmly walked onto the stage, as if staring death straight in the face.
Even Piccolo found this unbelievable, gaining a new perspective on Master Roshi.
The two locked eyes. Piccolo doing his best to stay composed, Master Roshi looking as if he had transcended worldly concerns, his gaze sharp and bright.
"Begin the match!"
With a shout from the blonde-haired referee, the match officially began.
Knowing how extraordinary both Master Roshi and Piccolo were, the referee sensibly retreated off the stage, afraid of getting caught in the aftermath of a clash between such masters.
Neither Master Roshi nor Piccolo made a move right away.
They continued sizing each other up, and Master Roshi could feel an overwhelming pressure from Piccolo's eyes.
The difference in strength was obvious and already well known.
It was Piccolo who first broke the silence with a taunt; after all, his previous incarnation had been killed by Master Roshi: "What's wrong? Not planning to attack? Or… are you thinking about surrendering, old man?"
"It's true, I'm nowhere near your level. This era doesn't have room for me anymore. But as for giving up, well, that's just something I can't do." Master Roshi smiled slightly, taking up a fighting stance.
A sharp gleam flashed in Master Roshi's eyes, and in the next instant, he shot toward Piccolo like an arrow, launching a fierce assault.
Turtle School fighting style! Facing the reborn Piccolo, Master Roshi unleashed everything he had from the start.
A full burst of 3,000 power level, with relentless attacks; unfortunately, this level of offense couldn't even break through Piccolo's protective aura now.
It had only been two years, but the current Piccolo was nothing like he was before.
After training with Ragar and Nail on Namek, plus his own intense training, his power level had long since surpassed ten million, which is far, far stronger than Master Roshi.
The enemy he had once regarded as his greatest threat was now just a frail old man.
[Just two short years, and he's grown this much? My attacks can't do a thing to him…] Master Roshi was filled with many emotions.
In the next instant, he seemed to sense something, and his body instinctively jumped back, rapidly widening the distance between himself and Piccolo.
"Hmph! For an old guy, your instincts are pretty sharp. Just now, I was thinking about knocking you out, but you picked up on it." Piccolo's expression was cold, but inside he was genuinely surprised.
The power gap was massive, but in terms of perception, Master Roshi was no slouch.
"Sigh! Since that's the case, I'll show you my signature technique. Piccolo, let me see just how far your strength has come…" Master Roshi's eyes grew serious. In the next moment, his muscles swelled, transforming from a frail old man to a muscular man.
As his form changed, Master Roshi's aura surged to its limit, and he readied the stance for the Kamehameha, blue energy gathering in his palms.
Sensing the energy Master Roshi was building, Piccolo stood his ground like a mountain, eyes cold, expression utterly unshaken.
Anyone could tell this was Master Roshi's final strike.
"Kame—hame—ha!!!" With a shout, Master Roshi thrust his hands forward, aiming at Piccolo.
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