The universe trembled once more, not with fear, but with anticipation. The final match of the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament was about to commence, and the very fabric of reality seemed to hold its breath.
In the center of the arena, Goku and Mori stood facing each other, their eyes locked in mutual respect and determination. The crowd's cheers faded into a hushed silence, the tension palpable.
Just as the announcer raised his microphone to begin, Master Roshi and Bulma hurried over, whispering urgently into his ear. The announcer's eyes widened with understanding and excitement.
"Apologies for the delay, folks!" he called out, returning to the center of the ring. "Before we begin, allow me to properly introduce our finalists!"
He gestured toward Goku. "Fighting here today to be the champion of the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, we have Son Goku, the runner-up from the 21st tournament, a student from the Turtle School. But don't let his small size fool you! Rumor has it that not long after the tournament, Son Goku defeated an entire army singlehandedly!"
The crowd gasped, murmurs of awe spreading like wildfire.
The announcer then turned to Mori. "Facing Son Goku, we have Mori Briefs, the very boy who clashed to a draw with Son Goku three years ago in the 21st tournament. Like Goku, don't let his small size deceive you, as the last thing you might see is that very small size 'dancing' around you before everything fades to black!"
The audience erupted into cheers, the excitement reaching a fever pitch.
"With that," the announcer declared, "let the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament Championship BEGIN!"
Goku and Mori smiled at each other, then rushed forward simultaneously. Mori launched a high kick as Goku threw a punch, their attacks colliding with a thunderous impact.
Mid-clash, Mori spoke, his voice steady. "You know, Goku, for the past three years after waking up from our fight, all I could think about was our rematch and how much stronger you could have gotten."
Goku snickered. "Well, you finally get to see now!"
They backed away, the world around them fading. To them, there was no crowd, no announcer, no ring—only each other.
They charged again, clashing once more. This time, Goku landed a punch to Mori's gut, sending him skidding back.
Mori recovered, tapping his leg on the ground, establishing a rhythm. Suddenly, he vanished.
Goku looked around, confused. He felt a tap on his back, but when he turned, no one was there.
Deciding to rely on his senses, Goku closed his eyes, focusing. He began to detect a pattern in Mori's movements. Anticipating his next position, Goku threw a punch, forcing Mori to block.
Mori smiled. "Guess I shouldn't try out new moves on you, then, huh?"
Goku rubbed his head, grinning. "Yep."
They grew serious, the universe shuddering once more. Both tapped into power they shouldn't have at the moment.
"Time to get serious now, though," Goku said.
Mori nodded in agreement.
Goku's ki took on a greenish-yellow tint, his eyes shifting from black to green, then settling on yellow. His body bulked up slightly, and his hair stood upright.
On Mori's side, he felt his seals burning, itching to be undone. As he charged up, the pink aura returned, darker this time. The corners of his eyes turned black and red, the seals preventing further transformation.
They let out loud screams—Goku's resembling an Oozaru's roar, Mori's sounding demonic. Unlike before, they had control over themselves.
They rushed at each other again, exchanging blows. Mori kicked Goku in the chest; Goku retaliated with a heavy punch to the face. They continued clashing, their movements a blur.
The crowd watched in awe, the sheer power of the fighters leaving them speechless.
As the battle raged on, both warriors pushed beyond their limits, their determination unwavering. The outcome of the match remained uncertain, but one thing was clear: this was a fight that would be remembered for generations.
"Just a warm up."