"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the 30th World Martial Arts Tournament!" The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, electrifying the atmosphere. "I welcome you all to the preliminary round. Out of 50 of you, only 16 can move on to the tournament!" The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable as they anticipated the fierce battles to come.
"The first match is Goku Jr. vs. Raijin!" he declared, and the spotlight shifted to the stage. Raijin, a towering humanoid tiger, strutted in with a confident swagger. His muscular frame, adorned with lightweight armor that bore distinct tiger patterns, commanded respect. Amber eyes glimmered with determination, his sharp jawline accentuated by fangs and a mane of fur that framed his face.
With a swift flick of his long, flexible tail, he embodied the essence of a fierce predator ready for the hunt. As Raijin prepared for the fight, a spiky-haired boy stepped onto the stage with a determined look in his eyes. "Goku Jr., huh? Wow, he looks just like his father," the announcer mused. Goku Jr. bowed respectfully. "I hope we have a good fight," he said, his voice steady despite the imposing figure before him. Raijin smirked, eyes narrowing.
"I have to go against a kid? I wish they didn't get rid of the junior division. Sorry, kid, but I'm ending this in one shot!" With a sudden burst of speed, Raijin lunged at Goku, claws extended. But Goku was ready. He dodged seamlessly, backflipping and delivering a fierce kick to Raijin's chin. The sound of cracking teeth echoed as the tiger staggered back, surprise etched on his face. "You're gonna pay for tha—" Raijin started, but his words were cut short as Goku struck him in the stomach, sending him crashing to the ground, knocked out cold.
"You really shouldn't leave yourself wide open," Goku remarked, hopping off the stage with a grin. As Goku made his way through the crowd, he spotted a lean girl with tousled dark brown hair and brown eyes. She was walking off the stage, having just thrown a large muscular man out with ease. "Yo Mei! I didn't know you were participating in the tournament!" Goku exclaimed.
"My father said I needed to get some experience," she replied, a bright smile lighting up her face. "I thought it would be boring, but since you're here, I'm getting excited!" "Then I'll see you in the tournament!" Goku said, his enthusiasm infectious.
"Don't count me out," chimed in Tatsu, a slim boy with deep purple spiky hair and bright blue eyes. He stood casually in a tee and cargo pants, exuding a laid-back yet confident vibe. "Cool! Tatsu's here! Now this is what I'm talking about!" Goku beamed, his excitement growing. As time passed and the matches continued, only 16 fighters remained.
"Okay everyone, the 16 participants will now be moving on to the tournament starting tomorrow!" the announcer declared, and the fighters left the stage, brimming with anticipation for the battles ahead. "Man, I'm starving! Let's go get something to eat!" Goku suggested, his stomach growling. Mei and Tatsu followed him to a nearby restaurant.
A few minutes later, they were seated, and Goku was already on his 40th bowl of food, while Tatsu was close behind at his 34th. "That hit the spot!" they exclaimed in unison, both satisfied and full. "I swear you both are animals," Mei chuckled, shaking her head in disbelief at their insatiable appetites. Outside, the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the arena.
An old man in a lab coat stood next to a tall, lean figure. The man's sleek, athletic frame was clad in a black battle suit adorned with silver accents, and deep blue eyes glowed faintly red. "Android 24. You better not disappoint me," the man said, his voice low and commanding. "I will not," Android 24 replied, determination etched into his robotic features.
The sun hung high in the sky as the stadium buzzed with excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 30th World Tournament! We have a special guest—the previous champion, Mr. Satan!" the announcer bellowed, his voice echoing through the packed arena. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, a wave of energy surging through the air as Mr. Satan strutted onto the stage, his signature grin plastered on his face.
"Hey everyone, your world champion is here!" he roared, basking in the adoration of his fans, unaware of the fierce competition brewing behind the scenes. In the waiting room, Goku Jr. sat, a sweat drop tracing down his forehead, a crooked smile playing on his lips. He watched the spectacle unfold, excitement and nerves swirling within him. "Remember, guys, go easy on normal people," he urged his fellow competitors, trying to maintain a light-hearted atmosphere.
"That's until we face each other," Tatsu interjected, his tone teasing yet serious, as he glanced at the other competitors. Suddenly, Android 24 strode into the room, looming over Goku Jr. with an intimidating presence. "The son of the Goku who destroyed the Red Ribbon Army," he said, his voice low and menacing. Goku Jr. looked up, meeting the android's gaze with a mixture of defiance and pride.
"You have it wrong. Twelve years ago, my brother Gohan took down the Red Ribbon Army," he corrected, standing tall despite the imposing figure before him. The old man in the lab coat, who had been lurking behind Android 24, scoffed. "Your brother took down an imitation of the proud Red Ribbon Army," he said dismissively, his eyes glinting with ambition.
"You're going to revive the Red Ribbon Army? Hahaha, good luck with Capsule Corp technology—your ancient organization is obsolete," Tatsu retorted, laughter escaping his lips at the thought. "You must be Tatsu Briefs. Your family has been a thorn in the Red Ribbon's side," the man remarked coolly, turning away and signaling for Android 24 to follow him. The air thickened with tension as they exited.
"Who was that?" Mei asked, joining Goku Jr. and Tatsu, concern etched on her face. "Probably trouble," Tatsu replied, crossing his arms. "Did you see that guy? He was definitely strong! I hope I get to fight him first!" Goku Jr. proclaimed, excitement bubbling within him. "I think you should be cautious, Goku. That man looked familiar," Tatsu warned, a frown creasing his brow. A few minutes later, the announcer's voice broke through the chatter.
"And the first match is Mei Shinhan vs. Master Zenko!" The crowd erupted, eager to witness the clash of titans. As Mei stepped onto the stage, she was met by Master Zenko, a formidable opponent standing at 5'9", his lean, toned figure showcasing years of disciplined training. His long white hair was tied in a low ponytail, and his sharp, angular facial features radiated calm wisdom.
The faded dragon tattoo on his left forearm and battle scars told tales of his past. "I can tell you've been through a great deal of training, so I'll take you seriously," Mei said, taking her stance. Her posture was confident, feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, and eyes sharp and focused.
Master Zenko observed her with measured calm, matching her stance. His feet were also shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands poised for both offense and defense. His grey eyes, conveying serenity and strength, never left Mei's determined gaze. As the tension mounted and the crowd held its breath, the announcer raised his hand. "Fighters, are you ready?" "Ready as ever!" Mei responded, the adrenaline coursing through her. Zenko nodded, his expression serene. "Let the best fighter win." With that, the signal was given, and the first match of the 30th World Tournament began.
Mei swiftly charged at Master Zenko, launching a kick that he deftly blocked. Quick on his feet, Zenko retaliated with a strike aimed at Mei's neck. However, she skillfully executed a backflip, creating distance between them. "You must have a good teacher, especially for someone so young," Master Zenko remarked, his voice laced with respect. Perched on the wall, Goku Jr.'s tail swayed with excitement as he exclaimed,
"Wow, I can't believe he's keeping up with Mei! I didn't think there were still powerful fighters left on Earth." "Goku, get down from there! You're gonna get disqualified," Tatsu sighed, watching the match unfold. As the fight continued, Mei and Master Zenko exchanged fierce blows, each one testing the other's skills. Zenko threw a knee strike, but Tatsu intervened, but Tatsu intervened, flipping gracefully into the air to evade the attack.
"Time to end this," Master Zenko declared, jumping toward Mei with an axe kick. Mei braced herself, but the impact sent her crashing to the ground, debris flying everywhere. Dust clouded the arena as the crowd gasped, yet Mei managed to stand, albeit shakily.
"Okay… this time… I'm going to—" Mei began, only to be interrupted by a sudden sneeze. "Oh crap! Mei, don't sneeze!" Goku Jr. and Tatsu shouted in unison, panic evident on their faces. Master Zenko furrowed his brow, confused by the intensity of their concern.
"Achoo!" Mei sneezed, and in an instant, her dark brown hair transformed into a wild, messy blonde. A third eye opened on her forehead, glowing ominously with energy. "This is not gonna end well. Hey Zenko guy, I'd rather forfeit now or you'll get hurt," Goku Jr. warned, but Master Zenko merely grunted in response.
"Alright, scumbag, I'm throwing your old ass out of this ring!" Mei declared, her scowl fierce. With renewed vigor, Master Zenko charged at Mei, unleashing a flurry of super-speed strikes that she adeptly blocked. A sly smile crept across Mei's face as she vanished, reappearing behind him. Just as he turned, she delivered a powerful kick to the side of his head, sending him crashing to the ground, knocked out cold.
"Wow, with just one kick, Mei knocked him out! One… two…" the announcer began to count, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he caught Mei's intense gaze. Without hesitation, Mei dragged Zenko out of the ring, and the announcer shouted, "And with that, Mei Shinhan has won her match!" The crowd erupted in cheers, a wave of excitement sweeping through the arena. As Mei walked off the stage, she headed into the waiting room, passing Goku Jr. and Tatsu, who were visibly nervous.
"Goku!" Mei called out, her tone demanding. "Yes!" Goku Jr. replied quickly. "Let's go get something to eat; I'm hungry," Mei said, her scowl still firmly in place. "But Tatsu's match is next, and I don't wanna..." Goku Jr. started to protest but quickly fell silent under Mei's death stare. "Don't care! We're going to get something to eat!" Mei declared, striding forward with purpose as Goku Jr. reluctantly followed her. As they left, Tatsu couldn't help but chuckle,
"Goku better find a feather. Hehe." But his amusement faded as he noticed a towering figure beside hum—a muscular man with sharp features and spiked silver hair, clad in a tight-fitting gi. "Alright, everyone, get ready for the second match: Tatsu Briefs vs. Thar!" the announcer called, electrifying the atmosphere as the crowd roared in anticipation for what was to come.
Goku Jr. strolled alongside Mei, his youthful energy practically buzzing. "Hey, Mei, don't you think we should head back to the tournament? Tatsu's match is about to start!" he exclaimed, a hint of impatience in his voice. Mei countered with a evil smile. "Not until we spend some more time together, Goku." Goku Jr.'s gaze darted around, landing on a nearby flower shop. An idea sparked in his eyes.
Meanwhile, back at the tournament arena, a palpable tension hung in the air as Tatsu and Thar stood face to face. "I'm going to break you, boy," Thar sneered, his eyes radiating confidence. Tatsu, equally self-assured, retorted, "You'll try, you mean." "Let the match begin!" the announcer boomed, silencing the crowd.
Tatsu immediately adopted a fighting stance: feet wide apart, one slightly forward for stability and mobility; knees slightly bent, ready to spring; torso leaned forward, displaying aggression and focus; one arm raised, palm open, perhaps for energy manipulation, the other low, angled for defense; hands relaxed but poised, anticipating attacks; and eyes, intense, focused, calculating. Thar mirrored him, his posture reflecting a similar balance and agility.
One hand extended defensively, the other close, prepared for a devastating strike. "Don't you lose, Tatsu! Knock that guy out so we can have our match!" Goku Jr.'s voice echoed from the stands. Mei, now back to her usual composed self, lightly chided him, "Goku! Get down." Thar sneered at Tatsu. "It's a good thing your friends are here to carry your broken body to the hospital, Saiyan." Tatsu's eyes widened slightly at the revelation.
Before he could react, Thar charged, throwing a powerful punch that Tatsu barely managed to catch. "That all you got, Saiyan?" Thar taunted. Unseen amidst the spectators, an old man watched the proceedings intently. "Now let's see what this Saiyan offspring can do against Project Zero," he muttered under his breath, a hint of malice in his tone. Tatsu was quickly overwhelmed, blocking a relentless barrage of punches, each impact pushing him further back.
"His punches are heavy," he thought, struggling to maintain his defense. He ducked low, attempting a leg sweep, but Thar barely flinched, remaining firmly planted. Tatsu jumped back, creating some distance. "Are you really a Saiyan?" Thar mocked, sensing Tatsu's struggle. "You're about to find out!" Tatsu roared, unleashing a furious flurry of punches, each blow clashing against Thar's defenses. "That guy is weird," Goku Jr. observed, his brow furrowed.
"It seems like he's adapting to Tatsu's fighting style the more they fight." The fight continued, Tatsu steadily backing up, searching for an opening. "Time for a different approach," he thought, then with a burst of speed, he raced around the perimeter of the stadium, leaving a blur in his wake.
As he moved, he subtly placed his hands on the ground, leaving behind microscopic balls of energy, at least ten of them, strategically positioned around Thar. Finally, Tatsu launched himself at Thar, throwing a powerful kick, but Thar blocked it effortlessly. Tatsu landed back on his feet, a safe distance away. "I'm not impressed, Saiyan," Thar stated dismissively.
A/N. I wonder who's gonna win find out next chapter of rise of the next generation.