Once Ken offered to bring spectators along, quite a few people decided to join the trip. Krillin, Master Roshi, Android 21, Videl, Mr. Satan, Marron, Android 17, and Android 18 were among those who came, along with nearly everyone else close to the fighters.
After all, the fate of their entire universe was riding on this tournament. They might as well watch it in person, even if the worst happened and they were erased along with everyone else.
Champa, however, wasn't particularly thrilled about some of the additions.
"Oolong, you're a pig, so I can understand you wanting to tag along. But why's a turtle coming too?" he demanded, looking from Oolong to Turtle.
Neither of them dared answer, although both were thinking roughly the same thing.
What's wrong with animals coming along? You're a cat yourself!
"It's fine," Ken said, waving off Champa's complaints. "If they want to come, let them."
He created a massive flying cube large enough to accommodate everyone and had the fighters and their guests climb aboard. Once everyone was inside, the cube rose into the air and sped toward the World of Void.
Before long, the entire group arrived at the Tournament of Power venue. Ken directed the spectators toward Universe 6's viewing stands, while Goku led the competing fighters down to the enormous arena.
Krillin, Android 17, Android 18, Master Roshi, and Tien were especially interested in seeing the battlefield up close. They approached Ken and asked whether they could explore it before the tournament began.
"Sure, go ahead," Ken replied.
By this point, gods and fighters from several other universes had already begun arriving. Their attention quickly shifted toward Universe 6's crowded viewing area, where they were surprised to discover that Ken had brought an entire audience along.
Apparently, Universe 6 was doing things differently from everyone else.
The other universes had brought only their Gods of Destruction, Supreme Kais, Angels, and competing fighters. None of them had considered inviting their families to watch a tournament that would decide whether their universe continued to exist.
Meanwhile, Krillin and the others were already exploring the arena with considerable enthusiasm.
For Krillin and Master Roshi, it brought back memories of the World Martial Arts Tournament, where they had fought so many years ago. Android 17 and Android 18 had never competed in anything quite like it, but they were curious about the battlefield all the same.
"This is where we're going to fight," Goku explained to his teammates.
Goten, Trunks, and Zarek immediately took off running across the enormous arena, enjoying themselves like three carefree kids rather than fighters preparing for the most important battle of their lives.
Krillin wandered toward the edge and crouched down to peer over it.
"Whoa! So if you fall off here, you're out, right?"
Beneath the arena stretched an endless expanse of darkness. Looking into it felt like staring down into a bottomless abyss, and Krillin couldn't even begin to guess how far someone would fall.
"Hmph. We can fly," Vegeta replied dismissively. "As long as we're conscious, there's no reason we'd fall out."
"That's true," Gohan agreed. "Flying would give us a pretty big advantage."
"I'm afraid flying isn't allowed," Vados said with a smile.
Krillin blinked. "Wait, we can't fly?"
"Why not?" Master Roshi asked.
Goku and the others immediately turned toward Vados, who merely smiled and gestured toward the open space above the arena.
"Why don't you try?"
"All right!"
Goku bent his knees and launched himself into the air. Once he reached a suitable height, he tried to stop and hover as he normally would, but his ability to fly simply wouldn't work.
No matter how he tried to control his energy, he couldn't keep himself airborne. A moment later, he dropped back down and landed on the arena.
Everyone watched in astonishment as Goku tested his ability once more, only to discover that nothing had changed.
"Huh! You're right. I really can't fly!" he admitted.
Goten, Trunks, and Zarek quickly tried for themselves, but each attempt ended the same way. They could jump as high as their strength allowed, yet none of them could remain suspended in the air.
"So flying's completely disabled?" Zarek complained. "That's ridiculous. Can I quit the tournament? Is it too late to replace me?"
"Shut up!" Champa snapped.
Zarek clicked his tongue but wisely decided not to argue any further.
"The arena prevents competitors from using their abilities to defy gravity," Vados explained. "Since the rules require fighters to knock their opponents out of bounds, allowing everyone to fly freely would defeat the purpose. Isn't that right, Ken?"
"Exactly," Ken confirmed.
Just then, Krillin suddenly rose into the air and hovered several feet above the arena. He looked down at himself in confusion before glancing toward Vados.
"Huh? But I can still fly."
"Me too," Tien added, floating up beside him.
Vados sighed. "The restriction only applies to the competitors."
Krillin and Tien exchanged embarrassed looks before descending again. It was rather disappointing to discover that they could fly precisely because neither of them was participating in the tournament.
As they landed, Krillin noticed something unusual overhead. A birdlike fighter was flying freely above the arena, despite apparently belonging to one of the other universes.
"Hey, is that guy a spectator too?" Krillin asked, pointing toward him.
"No," Vados replied. "Unlike Universe 6, the other universes that have arrived haven't brought any spectators."
"Then how come he gets to fly?" Zarek complained. "That's not fair!"
"Because he has wings," Vados explained. "It's no different from the way birds on Earth fly. The restriction prevents competitors from using their energy to overcome gravity, but it doesn't stop natural flight."
She then brought up another feature of the arena.
"There's also a special gravity adjustment in place. Each fighter experiences the same gravity as the planet where they were born."
Gohan looked around in amazement. "Seriously? The arena can adjust gravity separately for every single person? That's incredible!"
"Ken designed all of it," Vados replied proudly.
Vegeta folded his arms and gave the nearby half-Saiyans a dismissive look.
"Hmph. So Kakarot, Kale, Caulifla, and I have to deal with ten times the gravity those Earth-born half-Saiyans do?"
Trunks stared at his father in disbelief.
Did he really have to say "half-Saiyans" like that? He made it sound like an insult!
Goku, meanwhile, looked thoroughly confused. He wasn't entirely sure what Vegeta was complaining about, and judging from his expression, he hadn't followed the comparison at all.
"This is ridiculous," Caulifla grumbled. "Nobody told me we wouldn't be able to fly."
"It's okay," Kale reassured her. "Everyone has the same restriction, so it shouldn't matter."
Master Roshi, who had been listening quietly, finally decided to offer some advice.
"You youngsters really shouldn't get so worked up over something like this," he said with a calm smile. "A martial artist needs to be ready for any situation."
Caulifla glanced at him curiously. "You're pretty relaxed about all this, old man."
"Of course I am. If you can't remain calm no matter what happens, you'll never be able to bring out your full strength."
Tien nodded in admiration. "That's Master Roshi for you. I still have a lot to learn!"
Krillin leaned closer and whispered into his ear.
"That's not it, Tien. Master Roshi can't fly in the first place."
Tien's admiring expression immediately vanished as the explanation sank in. Suddenly, the old man's remarkable composure made considerably more sense.
Master Roshi slowly turned toward Krillin, his expression darkening behind his sunglasses.
"What was that, Krillin?"
"Nothing! I didn't say anything!" Krillin hurriedly waved his hands. "Besides, who cares whether we can fly? We're not even competing!"
"Enough excuses. Starting tomorrow, you're going back to the basics. I want you delivering milk again, just like during your original training."
Krillin considered that for a moment before nodding.
"Okay. I'll just fly while delivering it."
Master Roshi stared at him in silence, suddenly regretting that he'd brought up the subject at all.
Meanwhile, Goku had wandered over to Hit, who was quietly observing the arena and the fighters gathering from the other universes.
"Hey, Hit! How're you feeling? Think we can win this thing?"
Hit gave him a small nod.
Goku grinned and extended his hand. "Then let's give it everything we've got!"
Hit looked at the offered hand for a moment, seemingly unsure what to make of the gesture. After a brief hesitation, he reached out and shook it.
[End of chapter]