Chi-Chi glanced at Krillin and asked,
"Krillin, are those the senior monks from the Shaolin Temple you mentioned before?"
Krillin didn't dare meet her eyes. He only nodded, sheepish and hesitant.
Chi-Chi frowned. "Krillin, why are you afraid of them?"
The two bald monks looked over at Chi-Chi and Goku, then back at Krillin.
The taller one sneered. "Hah! I knew it—you're only good for playing with kids."
The pudgier monk chimed in with a mocking grin, "Exactly! What a joke. How did a guy like you even qualify for the Martial Arts Tournament?
Didn't I tell you back then? You'll never amount to anything!
Hey, Krillin, which number are you in Division 3?"
Krillin murmured, "Number 93…"
The tall monk's eyes lit up. "Ha! Perfect! You're my opponent. I couldn't be happier."
With a laugh, the two monks turned to leave. One of them tossed a line over his shoulder:
"Don't hold back later, alright, Krillin? Hahahaha!"
Sweat beaded on Krillin's forehead.
"When I was at the Shaolin Temple, they bullied me constantly… I'm doomed…"
Chi-Chi stepped forward without hesitation.
"Krillin, don't be afraid. Just go out there and beat them to a pulp!"
Krillin looked at her, eyes wide. There was nothing fake about the encouragement in her gaze.
He was genuinely moved. "Thank you, Chi-Chi."
Goku clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't be scared, Krillin.
We're disciples of the greatest martial artist in the world—the Turtle Hermit.
If you run into your old monk buddy, just smash him good for looking down on you!"
Chi-Chi nodded. "That's right! Don't forget, our master is Master Roshi!
We can't bring shame to the Turtle School!"
Krillin looked seriously at both of them.
Then he clenched his fists tight.
"Thanks for believing in me. I'll do my best."
Just then, the referee called out:
"Next match—Division 3, numbers 93 and 94, please come to the ring!"
Krillin's mouth twitched. "No way… I haven't even finished psyching myself up!"
Chi-Chi and Goku both shot him supportive looks.
Feeling their faith behind him, Krillin gave a deep nod.
"I'll give it everything I've got!"
Soon, Krillin stepped into the ring.
The tall, skinny monk—his former senior—stepped up to face him.
"Been a year, huh? Time to give little Krillin another lesson. My fists are itching!"
The pudgy monk crossed his arms off to the side, puffing out his chest.
"That fast? Heh, this guy is the top dog at our temple!
Looks like Krillin's in for another ten-day nap!"
The tall monk took his stance.
Krillin, nervous, stood there stiffly across from him.
The referee saw they were both ready and signaled the start.
The monk's mouth curved into a smirk. With a sharp shout, he lunged forward and threw a punch.
The strike came fast—but in Krillin's eyes, it felt as if time had slowed to a crawl.
Eight months of grueling training under Master Roshi weren't for nothing.
With the lightest of steps and a casual shift of his body, Krillin moved—
—like someone gently balancing milk cartons so they wouldn't spill.
He dodged effortlessly.
Then he glanced at his old senior… who was still frozen mid-punch, not yet realizing what had happened.
And in that single instant…
Krillin saw openings—dozens of them—all over his opponent's body.
Trusting his instincts, Krillin slammed his foot into the floor and shot forward.
He launched a fierce kick straight into the monk's gut.
WHAM!
The monk didn't even register it before he was sent flying, dazed and dumbfounded.
His body crashed into the arena wall.
CRACK!
A deep indentation appeared where he hit. Thin web-like cracks spread out in all directions.
The hall fell completely silent.
You could've heard a pin drop.
Not even a breath dared to break the hush.
Everyone stared, stunned.
That kick… was unreal.
THUD.
The monk's limp body slid down from the wall.
Only then did the audience collectively exhale.
"That was incredible!"
"What a kick!"
Krillin looked down at his own hands, as if unsure whether to believe it.
The senior who used to bully him every day…
…wasn't even a match for a single blow.
Chi-Chi and Goku both broke into wide, dumb grins.
Just then, the referee declared:
"Number 93 is victorious!"
Krillin exclaimed, "Master Roshi trained us to be this strong? I didn't even realize!"
Chi-Chi nodded with a bright smile. "Yeah! Let's all do our best.
I know the three of us can place high in the rankings!"
"Yeah!"
Before long, it was Goku's turn.
"Would numbers 70 and 75 please step into the ring!"
Once on stage, Goku looked across at the man with a massive afro and paused.
'This guy… why does he look familiar?'
The man grinned ear to ear and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, kid! You've run into a brick wall this time!"
Goku blinked. "Oh? And who are you?"
The man proudly put his hands on his hips.
"Me? I'm Satan, the East City District Champion of Combat!"
Goku studied the cocky young fighter's stance and tilted his head.
"You're… Satan?"
"What, you've heard of me? You scared already?"
The moment both fighters were in place, the referee hit the stopwatch and shouted,
"Begin!"
Goku shook his head. "Clowns aren't allowed to compete."
Satan froze. "What did you just say?"
But the next instant—
Goku dashed forward and spun into a flying kick.
Satan was launched like a rocket.
He hit the wall with a thunderous crash, just like Krillin's old monk senior.
Another human-shaped dent appeared.
"Number 70 is the winner!"