Age 750, May 6, Late Afternoon, Papaya Island
Ten
We stood in the waiting room, having finished our battles first, watching as the others gradually filed in.
I recognized a few familiar faces from the Central Games: Batara, the aged martial artist, and Suruna, the determined young woman on a mission to prove herself.
Goku’s curiosity got the better of him when I shared a nod with them. “Hey, Ten, you know these two?”
Before I could respond, Krillin whacked Goku on the head. “Those were his opponents in the tournament in Central City, you dope.”
Goku rubbed his head sheepishly. “Oh, right! You told me about that a while ago…”
Chichi stood close to me, her expression a mix of excitement and restrained anxiousness. Goku, on the other hand, was practically bouncing on his toes, his eagerness to face strong opponents palpable.
“Looks like it’s going to be a tough tournament.” I said, my gaze shifting between the new arrivals.
“Yeah.” Krillin replied, crossing his arms. “There are some strong fighters here. We’ll have to be at our best.”
Goku grinned widely. “I can’t wait!”
Yamcha chuckled. “You really are something else, Goku.”
Then, the atmosphere shifted. The door opened, and General Blue walked in.
I felt Chichi tense beside me. Blue smirked at me, a cold, calculated expression. His gaze then fell on Chichi, and she recoiled as if slapped.
I quickly stepped between them, my body acting as a shield. I felt the intrusive nature of his gaze, leaving my mind exposed— of course, a psychic probe.
With a mental snarl, he was rebuffed.
So you’ve grown in the mind arts, as well; where you were a brute, you are now— well, still a brute, if a mite more controlled, I suppose. Blue’s voice resounded in my head as Chichi and I stared him down. And such an interesting companion you’ve picked up! I feel a certain kinship with her— ah, I see. Interesting indeed…
Yes, very interesting. I shot back on instinct. Tell it to someone who cares.
The tension was palpable, and I could sense the unease among my friends.
Blue’s gaze swept over the whole group, and with an amused hum, he went and took his spot.
“I could have done it myself.” Chichi said quietly, once he was out of earshot.
“I know.” I acknowledged with a nod. “But perhaps it’s best that he thinks you’re weaker than you actually are. He knows that I can immediately negate the effect of his telepathic abilities on me, so showing him this much isn’t enough for him to use.”
“True.” Chichi said in a mutter. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.” I said. “We’re both a little on edge.”
Soon, though, the room would be full and I would be able to rein myself in, somewhat.
For a moment, I considered toggling my [Gamer’s Mind], but thought better of it for now. I did, however, prepare myself mentally for the possibility.
One by one, more fighters began to arrive as they finished with their respective blocs. A few faces, like Hercule’s, I recognized, but some I didn’t. Yamcha pointed out one I did recognize from previous viewings of the tournament— King Chappa.
“Hey, Goku, check that guy out.” Yamcha said, nudging the boy. “Over there. That’s King Chappa. He won the tournament a while back. He’s definitely one to look out for.”
Goku’s eyes lit up. “No way! A tournament winner?”
I managed a strained smile, trying to focus despite the presence of General Blue off to the right. His smirk still lingered in my mind, making it hard to concentrate.
King Chappa had been one of the many voices against the Red Ribbon Army, decrying their operations as needlessly cruel and evil. Could he be an ally in this fight? It was possible.
I just had to figure out how to approach him…
Then, I saw her come in.
Rhythmic Death
Aira – Lv 85
So that’s what Dad meant when I would see a familiar face. The realization came to me. I thought he was talking about Dyran, but this is close enough.
Aira found a place by the door and leaned against the wall. Her amber eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, and her blue skin shimmered under the fluorescent lights.
Her elven ears and dark hair, which reached past her shoulders, gave her an otherworldly appearance.
Yamcha let out a low whistle. “I’m in love.”
“Wait… Aren’t you with Bulma?” I gave him a pointed question.
At that, he looked uncomfortable. “Ah… Not anymore. We just couldn’t make it work.”
“I guess that’s fair.” I said, giving him a noncommittal statement. “Well, be careful what you wish for. Aira’s very strong.”
“Aira?” Krillin said, and I nodded. “How strong is she?”
“Strong enough to give me a run for my money, I would say.” I replied, glancing at Aira, who sent me a nod from the other side of the room. “She’s not someone to take lightly.”
Krillin looked skeptical. “You sure? She doesn’t look that tough.”
“Trust me, Krillin.” I said seriously. “You really don’t want to get on her bad side.”
Goku bounced on his toes, his excitement barely contained. “I can’t wait to see who I’ll get to fight next!”
The boy’s excitement was infectious, because Yamcha grinned in response. “Yeah, I’m getting fired up too.”
Krillin nodded. “We all are.”
The doors to the room closed, signaling that all sixteen fighters had arrived. The next stage of the tournament was about to begin, and I knew that every battle from here on out would bring me closer to my ultimate goal.
I took note of all the fighters, making sure to stay far from the biggest one, who was told to stand in one of the corners due to the sheer awful body odor coming off of him.
I noted the nameplates above the heads of the people I did not recognize.
Giran, a large and weighty dinosaur pterodactyl; Jackie Chun, an old man whose name was in quotations; Blue, of course, I kept my gaze away from; Silver, a man standing next to Blue— it didn’t take long to realize that he was likely a cohort in the Red Ribbon Army; Mighty Mask, a masked man who didn’t seem special at all; and finally, Bacterian, the odorous caveman in the back.
Giran – Lv 50
‘Jackie Chun’- Lv 115
Silver – Lv 80
Mighty Mask – Lv 57
Bacterian – Lv 44
Goku wrinkled his nose. “Man, that guy in the back smells terrible.”
Yamcha nodded, covering his nose with his hand. “That’s Bacterian. I heard his stench alone can knock out an opponent.”
“I believe it.” Krillin said, keeping his distance.
“But Krillin, you don’t have a nose…” Goku muttered, getting the ire of his friend.
“I told you before, I do! Idiot!”
I smiled a little as my gaze swept over the competition.
Giran, with his imposing dinosaur-like appearance, was the first to catch my attention. He was easily one of the largest fighters in the room, and his sheer size made him a formidable opponent, I imagined.
Blue and Silver, standing together, exuded an air of menace. I kept my gaze away from them, not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention.
Jackie Chun, the old man whose name was in quotations, seemed oddly out of place.
Though, upon further inspection, I realized who it was with a start— that energy was unmistakable, after all. I was about to say something when the old man shook his head.
And so, I closed my mouth. Why was the old Master participating in this tournament?
“That guy next to Blue.” Chichi said quietly, drawing my attention. “He’s probably with the Red Ribbon Army too.”
I nodded, pushing thoughts of the Master away for the moment. “Yeah, I figured as much. His nameplate says his name is Silver.”
“Codenames…?” Chichi said slowly, and I shrugged.
“You’re probably right.” I said as I continued scanning the fighters.
Though I don’t understand how that would work. I thought to myself, gazing at Suruna. It showed me her real name, after all. Maybe she needs to fully believe that’s what her name is? But then…
My gaze turned to Hercule, seeing that his nameplate still showed the name Mark. It was strange, however. The font seemed almost brittle, as if it would disappear at any moment.
Identity shift? Had to be it. I shook my head and continued studying the people there.
The announcer, a man with blonde hair and wearing sunglasses, dressed in a navy-blue business suit with a light pink shirt and red necktie, entered the room and made his way to the center.
“Alright, everyone, gather around.” He called out. He then quickly added in a panic. “Bacterian, you can stay in the back if you want!”
We all sighed in relief when the smelly man stepped back, despite the clear animosity between my group and that of General Blue’s.
The announcer began to explain the next stage of the tournament.
“To do this as quickly as possible, we will draw lots. Once your name is called, you will draw a number from one to sixteen. #1 will fight #2, #3 will fight #4, and so on.”
And so it went, with each of us drawing our lot and telling the aide what we got. Bacterian was allowed to stand in the back while the announcer took a lot for him.
A few minutes later, the announcer began to list the matches as he went over the results.
“Ten, #1. Mighty Mask, #2.”
I glanced at the masked man, sizing him up. He didn’t seem particularly special, but I knew better than to underestimate anyone here.
“Hercule, #3. King Chappa, #4.”
Goku’s eyes lit up again at the mention of King Chappa. “I can’t wait to see him fight! And your friend, too.”
“Stay focused, Goku.” I reminded him. “I think they’re calling your fight next.”
“Goku, #5. Suruna, #6.”
Suruna threw a look at Goku before giving me an expression of curiosity, as if to ask me what she was in for. I said nothing, instead giving her a light smile. She would have her hands full with this one.
“Jackie Chun, #7. Krillin, #8.”
Krillin pumped his fist. “Alright, let’s do this!”
For his part, Jackie Chun just stood there quietly, nodding to himself, as if pleased by something.
“Chichi, #9. Batara, #10.”
Batara looked upon the result before sharing a nod with Chichi.
“Blue, #11. Giran, #12.”
“Silver, #13. Yamcha, #14.”
“Good.” Yamcha said, glancing over at me. “Looks like I get dibs on the Red Ribbon.”
“Good luck, Yamcha.”
“Aira, #15. Bacterian, #16.”
“I wouldn’t want to be her.” Krillin said. “Having to fight that smelly weirdo… Don’t say it, Goku. Don’t you say it.”
But Goku only grinned at that.
The announcer finished calling the matchups, and the tension in the room grew. We knew who we were up against now, and it was time to focus on our upcoming battles.
One of the aides noted all of the names on the tournament bracket chart before handing it to the tournament announcer. He took the chart in hand, his finger tracing over each matchup with a practiced ease.
“Alright, everyone, these are your matchups for tomorrow.” The announcer declared loudly, his voice carrying across the room. He then signaled to another one of his aides. “Take this chart outside and announce the upcoming matches for tomorrow, would you? Thank you.”
As the aide hurried out with the bracket, Goku’s excitement instantly deflated. He frowned, realizing he wouldn’t get to fight today. “Tomorrow!? Aw, I was so ready to go!”
The announcer chuckled warmly, seeing Goku’s disappointment. “Don’t worry, young man. Sometimes the wait can make it even more exciting when it eventually does come. You’ll get your chance tomorrow.”
Goku brightened at the reassurance, his enthusiasm returning. “Yeah, you’re right.”
The announcer informed us that special rooms had been prepared for us to use, as was our right as contestants.
He gestured for the aides to distribute the keys and inform us of our room numbers.
“Be here at 7:30 AM sharp for the next stage.” He added, wishing us all good luck before leaving.
The other fighters began to disperse, discussing their room numbers and making plans for the evening.
Blue lingered for a moment, sending me one final smirk before sauntering out, his crony following along with him. I stared hard at his back as he went, my eyes narrowing.
Chichi noticed my tension and touched my arm gently.
“Will you be alright, Ten?” She asked, her voice soft and filled with concern.
I forced a smile, trying to ease her worry. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She didn’t seem convinced, her brow furrowing slightly.
“If you say so.” She murmured. “I’m going to check if my father came. He said he would try to make it.”
“Alright.” I nodded, watching her go. “Let me know if you find him.”
As she walked away, I felt a pang of loneliness. Her presence was always a source of comfort, and I already missed it.
I looked around for the Master, only to find that he had already left.
What are you up to, old man?
Scratching the back of my neck, I turned to see Aira standing nearby, her amber eyes observing me with a hint of curiosity.
“Looks like it’s just us.” I said, attempting to break the silence.
Aira nodded, her hair swaying with the motion. “Seems that way. You look troubled.”
“It’s nothing.” I replied quickly, not wanting to delve into my worries about Blue. “Just thinking about the upcoming matches.”
Aira shrugged, her demeanor relaxed. “I’m more interested in the fights than whatever schemes the Red Ribbon Army might have.”
“You know?”
“Be hard not to, between your father’s conversations with my idiot brother and what the crone has told me…”
“And you’re not concerned about them?” I said.
She smirked and stretched a bit, her lithe form ready to spring into action at any moment. “Not really. As long as they present a good fight, I’m happy.”
Of course…
“I suppose it isn’t that complicated for you.” I sighed, appreciating her different mindset. “Thanks, Aira. It’s just… Blue. I guess he’s getting to me.”
“Let him scheme.” She said dismissively. “Focus on the tournament. Everything else can wait.”
I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. “You’re right. It can wait.”
“Exactly.” She agreed. “And if you waver, I’ll be sure to enjoy grinding your face into the dirt— don’t think I’ve forgotten about your disrespect to me.”
With that, Aira left. I stared at her back for a moment before I took my room keys from the aides and headed towards my quarters.
The anticipation of tomorrow’s battles filled the air, and I knew I had to stay focused and prepared for whatever came next.
As I walked through the grounds, I checked the notification on the right which had popped up when the tournament announcer had been speaking. A light blue window appeared before me, detailing a new quest:
Main Story Quest
The Tournament of Fate
You’ve trained hard, mastered your own body and have overcome its sudden failings in the wake of losing your most useful tool, [Gamer’s Body].
And yet, despite all of this, you now face a threat hidden in the weave of the world’s machinations. This tournament is but the beginning.
Main Objective
Compete in the tournament and emerge victorious.
Secondary Objectives
Red Ribbon Army: Investigate the plans of the Red Ribbon Army. Their presence in the tournament is no coincidence.
Alliances: Forge alliances with other contestants. Their aid may prove crucial in the battles to come.
WARNING!!
The choices you make during this quest will significantly impact the main story. Beware, for the results will differ depending on your decisions and actions.
Allies may become enemies, and enemies may turn into unexpected allies.
The Red Ribbon Army’s ambitions extend far beyond the tournament. Your decisions could either thwart their plans or inadvertently aid them.
Take care to make the best choices that you can.
The fate of your friends, the tournament, and even the world itself hangs in the balance.
I stared at the message, feeling a surge of annoyance.
Was the game predetermined? Why was it telling me this? It felt like the system was taunting me, reminding me that every step I took was part of a grand design I had little control over.
“Why is it always so cryptic?” I muttered under my breath, my frustration growing. “Can’t it just let me fight without these ominous warnings?”
The blue window flickered, as if in response, before vanishing into the ether. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the irritation.
It didn’t work. Another surge of annoyance came.
There were no rewards listed either.
As if in response, another notification popped up. I pressed it, and a new window appeared.
Notice!
Your rewards will be based on your performance and the choices you make as the quest develops.
I sighed, feeling the irritation deepen.
“Great, more pressure.” I grumbled. The sense of being manipulated by the game gnawed at me.
I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the annoyance. I wasn’t going to let the system mess with my life like this.
My choices are my own, and not based on your system.
With renewed determination, I continued towards my room.
The grounds were bustling with activity, fighters and spectators alike, adding to the tension in the air.
As I entered the contestants’ quarters, I noticed some of the other fighters settling into their rooms.
Blue was nowhere to be found, but I still kept my guard up, unwilling to relax just yet. I found my room number and inserted the key, opening the door to a simple yet comfortable space.
I guess maybe a bit of rest, and I can gather myself mentally…
Aira’s voice broke that train of thought before it could take full shape.
“Ten.” She called, walking down the hallway towards me. “Got a minute?”
I turned to face her, nodding. “Yeah, what is it?”
She didn’t bother glancing around, or making sure no one was within earshot, instead speaking plain and loud. “Have you seen my idiot brother recently? I thought he’d come here, for sure, but no. No sign of him.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know where he is. I assumed he’d be with my dad, but he wasn’t there, and Dad didn’t really bring it up.”
Aira frowned slightly but then shrugged. “I’ll catch up with him at some point. Thanks, Ten.”
“No problem.” I said, trying to offer a reassuring smile. “I’m sure he’ll turn up soon.”
“Yeah.” She gave a lackluster agreement before her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “And remember, we’re here to fight. Don’t let anything distract you from that.”
“I won’t.” I promised. “Good luck, Aira.”
“Save that for yourself, you’ll need every single bit.” She said, before turning and walking down the hallway.
I watched her go for a few seconds before shaking my head.
Taking a deep breath, I entered my quarters and closed the door behind me.
The place was bare, save for the bed and nightstand. I took a seat on the side of the bed, staring ahead for a few moments before plopping myself backward and staring up at the ceiling.
The simplicity of the space left me alone with my thoughts, and I knew I needed to stay positive.
But I also knew how quickly things could go very wrong at the slightest provocation.
I sighed, letting the events of the day replay in my mind.
The tension with Blue, the cryptic quest notifications, and the weight of the upcoming matches all swirled together.
I closed my eyes, trying to focus on my breathing, finding some semblance of calm. I needed to stay focused, to be on top of things, because the stakes were too high to let my guard down.
“Just one step at a time.” I reminded myself. “One step at a time, Ten.”
The bed was surprisingly comfortable, but I just couldn’t make myself relax at that moment. For the life of me, I still could not shake the feeling that one wrong move could send everything spiraling out of control.
The anticipation of it all was too much for me to handle in solitude. A quick look at my watch showed that it had only been five minutes since I’d laid down.
“I’m just wasting time here.” I realized with a scoff.
Unable to stay still, I decided to wander the tournament grounds instead, hoping to calm my nerves.
I was out of that door in record speed and out among the spectators, watching as they went about their business.
However, the bustling atmosphere, filled with excited chatter and the scent of various foods, did little to ease my mind.
As I meandered through the crowds, my thoughts drifted to my parents. Maybe talking to them would help settle my restlessness.
I scanned the area, searching for familiar faces among the sea of spectators and participants.
Finally, I spotted my father, Ren, his tall figure easily distinguishable in the crowd. He was carrying an oversized stuffed toy— probably another prize he’d won for Mom.
A small smile tugged at my lips; Dad never missed a chance to shower her with affection.
“Hey, Dad!” I called out, weaving through the throng to reach him.
He turned, his face lighting up as he saw me. “Ten! How are you holding up, champ?”
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “Oh, you know, just trying to stay focused. That toy for Mom?”
He grinned, hefting the plush creature. “You know it. Your mother can’t resist these things.”
I nodded, before changing the subject as curiosity overtook me. “Oh, by the way, Aira’s been looking for Dyran. Have you seen him around?”
Dad’s expression shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his features. He hesitated for a moment before responding. “Ah, about that… Dyran and Aira had a bit of a falling out. He’s taken off to the Yunzabit Heights for some solo training.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised. Dyran and Aira had seemed… Well, they certainly weren’t friendly with each other, but I imagined it was the sort of bond where they would sacrifice their lives for the other.
That they were fighting did not bode well. “Really? What happened?”
Dad shook his head, looking a bit uncomfortable. “I’m not entirely sure of the details, son. You know how demons can be— even the friendly ones like Dyran. They’re… complicated creatures.”
I nodded slowly, processing this information.
It was true; despite Dyran’s generally amiable nature, there was always that underlying reminder that he wasn’t as docile human.
His demonic nature manifested in unexpected ways.
His first few months here had been tumultuous, to say the least.
Aira had fared better, but then again, her injuries at the time had left her incapable of doing much more than watching the people around her and learning from them.
“I guess you’re right.” I conceded. “Demons can be pretty finicky, huh? No matter how personable they might seem at first.”
Dad clapped a hand on my shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry too much about it, Ten. Focus on your upcoming match. Speaking of which, how are you feeling about facing Mighty Mask?”
As our conversation turned to the tournament, I couldn’t help but wonder about Dyran and Aira. It was just one more unpredictable element in what was shaping up to be a very eventful tournament.
With the Red Ribbon Army’s machinations and King Piccolo’s hidden agenda looming in the background, I had a feeling that this World Tournament would be unlike any other in history.
As Dad and I were talking, I spotted Mom approaching, expertly navigating the crowd with two ice cream cones in her hands.
Her eyes lit up when she saw me, but her expression quickly changed to one of apology.
“Oh, Ten! I’m so sorry, sweetie. If I’d known you were joining us, I would have gotten three ice creams.” Mom said, looking genuinely upset at the oversight.
I couldn’t help but smile at her concern. It was just like Mom to worry about something so small. “It’s okay, Mom. Really, don’t worry about it.”
But Jean wouldn’t hear of it. “Nonsense! We’ll share. Just like old times, remember?”
A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I recalled countless summer days spent sharing ice cream with my parents.
Despite all the changes in my life, some things remained wonderfully constant.
“Alright.” I agreed, my smile widening. “Just like old times.”
For now, at this moment, none of what was going on mattered.
I was just a young kid again, enjoying ice cream with my parents on a warm evening. The familiar tastes, the sound of my parents’ laughter, and their comforting presence pushed everything away.
The next day, the tournament would begin, and with it, the next chapter of this wild adventure. But for tonight, all was well in my world.
And that was enough.
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