Goku and Krillin stood before Master Roshi, the legendary Turtle Hermit. The old martial artist eyed them with a mixture of skepticism and amusement.
"So, you two want to train under me?" Roshi asked, stroking his beard.
"Yes, Master Roshi!" Krillin said, bowing deeply. "We'll do whatever it takes!"
Goku grinned. "Same here, old man! Let's get started!"
Roshi raised an eyebrow but chuckled. "Alright, but my training isn't for slackers. If you can handle my regimen, you might just become real martial artists."
The next morning, Goku and Krillin were tasked with hauling buckets of water up a mountain, plowing fields by hand, and dodging bees while delivering milk. Roshi's unorthodox methods were as grueling as they were strange.
Goku, however, carried a secret. Using the System, he had purchased Gravity Seals, invisible to everyone but him. These seals subjected him to 12 times Earth's gravity, intensifying every movement and every task.
While Krillin struggled to carry buckets of water up the steep incline, Goku did so effortlessly, though his every step was a test of his physical endurance. "You're making this look easy, Goku!" Krillin huffed, sweat dripping down his face.
Goku scratched his head and laughed. "Guess I'm just used to hard work!"
Roshi observed from a distance, nodding approvingly. "That boy has some natural talent. But Krillin's determination isn't half bad either."
The boys' evenings were spent learning the fundamentals of martial arts. Roshi demonstrated stances, strikes, and defensive techniques, emphasizing the importance of form over brute strength.
"Power is useless if you don't know how to apply it," Roshi said, demonstrating a flawless roundhouse kick.
Goku absorbed the lessons like a sponge, his already impressive combat knowledge enhanced by Roshi's teachings. He focused on refining his technique, analyzing every movement Roshi made and committing it to memory.
Krillin, meanwhile, pushed himself to keep up, his competitive nature driving him to match Goku blow for blow.
As weeks passed, the difference in their progress became evident. Goku's movements were fluid and precise, his strikes carrying an almost supernatural force.
What no one knew, however, was that his progress was accelerated by the System's Missions. Each task completed during training rewarded him with scrolls and points, allowing him to refine his techniques even further.
One day, Roshi decided to test their progress with a sparring session.
"Let's see how far you've come," he said, taking a fighting stance.
Goku and Krillin attacked simultaneously, their teamwork impressive. Goku, under the strain of the Gravity Seals, found himself moving slower than usual but still far ahead of Krillin. Roshi easily evaded their strikes, his decades of experience rendering their attacks almost laughable.
"Not bad," Roshi said after the match, though his gaze lingered on Goku. "You've got something special, kid. Keep at it."
As their training continued, news of the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament reached the Turtle School.
"This will be a good test of your skills," Roshi said, a twinkle in his eye. "But don't think it'll be easy. There are plenty of strong fighters out there."
Goku and Krillin couldn't hide their excitement. "We'll make you proud, Master!" they said in unison.
The days leading up to the tournament were spent in intense preparation. Goku pushed himself harder than ever, increasing the gravity on his seals incrementally to 15 times Earth's gravity. His body screamed in protest, but his resolve never wavered.
The day finally arrived. Dressed in their orange Turtle School uniforms, Goku and Krillin stood beside Roshi as they entered the tournament grounds.
The air was electric with anticipation as fighters from around the world gathered to prove their strength. Goku's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"This is going to be fun," he said, his voice filled with childlike enthusiasm.
Krillin, though nervous, nodded. "We've trained for this. Let's show them what we've got!"
As they signed up for the competition, Goku's mind raced with possibilities. He couldn't wait to test his limits and see how far his training had taken him.
With their names officially on the competitor list, the Turtle School trio settled in to watch the preliminary matches. Goku couldn't help but grin as he observed the competition, his sharp eyes analyzing every fighter's movements.
In the shadows of his mind, though, Joker lurked, ready to seize any opportunity to expand his influence. For now, Goku was the cheerful, carefree boy everyone saw—but the world would soon learn that he was so much more.
The tournament grounds were buzzing with excitement. Fighters from all walks of life lined up to prove their worth, while spectators filled the stands, eager to witness feats of martial prowess. Goku and Krillin followed Master Roshi, their orange Turtle School uniforms standing out among the crowd of competitors.
"This is it, boys," Roshi said, stroking his beard. "Remember what I taught you: stay calm, analyze your opponent, and don't waste energy. A battle isn't always won by the strongest; it's won by the smartest."
"Got it, Master!" Goku said, his childlike grin masking his boundless confidence.
Krillin nodded nervously. "We won't let you down!"
As they made their way to the competitors' area, Roshi slipped away to don his disguise as Jackie Chun, determined to compete without his students realizing it was him.
The preliminaries were held in a large, open hall, separated into multiple rings to accommodate the numerous participants. Goku and Krillin were assigned to different brackets, ensuring they wouldn't face each other until later rounds.
"Guess it's time to show them what we've got," Goku said, bouncing on his heels as his name was called for the first match.
Match One: Goku stepped into the ring, facing a towering brute who sneered down at the seemingly frail boy.
"This won't take long," the man said, cracking his knuckles.
Goku tilted his head, his innocent expression belying the predator within. "I hope not," he said.
The match started, and before the brute could even step forward, Goku vanished and reappeared behind him. With a single flick of his finger against the man's neck, the brute collapsed unconscious.
The crowd of fighters and spectators gasped in disbelief. Goku simply smiled and walked off the stage, waving at Krillin.
Match Two: This time, Goku faced a wiry martial artist who specialized in speed. The man darted around the ring, attempting to confuse Goku with his rapid movements.
Goku yawned. "Are you gonna hit me, or should I end this now?"
The man lunged, only for Goku to sidestep effortlessly and tap his opponent on the shoulder. The fighter froze mid-strike, collapsing moments later.
By now, whispers of Goku's effortless victories spread through the competitors.
Meanwhile, Krillin was fighting tooth and nail in his matches. Though smaller and less physically imposing than many of his opponents, his determination and training shone through.
Match One: Krillin faced a burly wrestler who tried to overpower him with sheer strength. Using his agility and wits, Krillin dodged the wrestler's attacks and countered with a precise kick to the jaw, knocking him out cold.
Match Two: Krillin fought against a nimble kung-fu fighter. The two exchanged blows in a heated match, with Krillin ultimately outmaneuvering his opponent and landing a spinning kick to claim victory.
Sweating and panting, Krillin returned to Goku's side between matches.
"You're making this look easy," Krillin said, watching as Goku casually munched on a rice ball.
Goku shrugged. "It's all about timing. You're doing great, though!"
In a secluded corner, Jackie Chun adjusted his fake hair and mustache, chuckling to himself. "They're both doing well, but they've still got a lot to learn. This tournament will test them in ways they don't expect."
In the final preliminary round, Goku faced a seasoned martial artist known for his brutal tactics. The man cracked his knuckles, glaring at Goku.
"Kid, you've had it easy so far. Let me show you what real pain feels like."
Goku's expression turned serious, a rare glint of menace in his eyes. "Alright. Show me."
The man charged, his strikes fast and powerful. Goku didn't move at first, allowing the blows to come within inches before stepping aside at the last possible moment.
Frustrated, the man overextended, leaving himself open. Goku seized the opportunity, delivering a single, powerful punch to the man's stomach. The impact sent the fighter flying out of the ring and crashing into a wall.
The room fell silent before erupting into cheers. Goku waved at the crowd, grinning ear to ear.
Krillin's final opponent was a grappler twice his size. The fight was a battle of endurance, with Krillin using his speed to avoid being caught in the grappler's holds.
After a tense exchange, Krillin landed a decisive blow to the back of the grappler's knee, bringing him down, followed by a finishing strike to the chest.
Exhausted but victorious, Krillin joined Goku, who greeted him with a thumbs-up.
"You did awesome, Krillin!"
Krillin smiled despite his exhaustion. "Thanks, Goku. You're just on a whole different level, though."
With the preliminaries over, the finalists were announced, and both Goku and Krillin made the cut.
Roshi, still disguised as Jackie Chun, watched from the shadows. "The real test begins now. Let's see how far you two can go."
As Goku and Krillin prepared for the main tournament, the air was thick with anticipation. Goku's excitement was palpable, and while Krillin was nervous, he was determined to give it his all.
Little did they know, the challenges ahead would push them to their limits and beyond.
To Be Continued...