Zangya turned furiously toward the direction the energy blast had come from.
A short man wearing a purple headscarf slowly walked out from the forest shadows, his expression dark and cold.
"Zangya."
"You disappoint me."
"Lord Bojack ordered us to collect the corpses of Earth's strong fighters."
"Not stand around playing games of mutual admiration."
It was Bujin.
Zangya instinctively stepped in front of the direction where Android 18 had fallen.
"She's a rare opponent."
"And…"
Zangya paused slightly.
"…she's a woman."
"Pathetic sentimentality!"
Bujin shouted harshly.
"Finish her immediately!"
At that moment, rubble exploded apart.
18 slowly climbed out from the destroyed trench.
The sneak attack had genuinely injured her.
Fortunately, none of the damage affected her joints or core systems. It hurt badly, but not enough to stop her from fighting at full strength.
She spat blood onto the ground and glared at Bujin coldly.
"You coward…"
"You actually attacked from behind."
BOOM!!
The ground beneath her feet shattered as 18 launched forward like a cannonball straight toward Bujin.
"Fool."
Bujin sneered.
Suddenly—
Purple light flashed within his eyes.
18's body froze instantly in midair.
It felt as though invisible strings had wrapped around every part of her body.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't even exert strength.
"…Telekinesis?!"
18 gritted her teeth, struggling violently—
But her body refused to obey.
Bujin smirked proudly before looking toward Zangya.
"Well?"
"Are you still not going to move?"
"Do you intend to disobey Lord Bojack's orders?"
Zangya clenched her fists tightly.
Her nails dug deeply into her palms.
Step by step, she walked toward the immobilized 18.
Conflict flickered visibly in her eyes.
But only for a moment.
In the end—
She chose Bojack.
"…Sorry."
She slowly raised her hand as purple energy gathered within her palm.
18 stared directly into her eyes.
Then suddenly smirked.
"If you're going to kill me…"
"…then stop talking so much."
The instant Zangya's energy was about to fire—
A golden figure appeared through Instant Transmission.
Son Goku.
Because Android 18 had no detectable ki signature, Goku had locked onto Bujin's energy instead.
Which meant—
He appeared directly behind him.
Without hesitation, Goku casually chopped downward with one hand.
THUD!!
Bujin didn't even have time to scream before collapsing unconscious onto the ground.
The telekinetic restraint vanished instantly.
Goku immediately rushed toward 18.
"18!"
"Are you alright?!"
The moment Goku arrived—
The tension in 18's body relaxed slightly.
Now that he was here, her safety was guaranteed.
Only then did she suck in a sharp breath from pain.
Her back felt like it was on fire.
"I'm not dead yet…"
Seeing her injured like this caused Goku's expression to darken immediately.
He slowly turned toward Zangya.
BOOM!!!
Golden flames erupted around him.
The terrifying pressure of a Super Saiyan exploded outward, causing the entire forest to tremble violently.
Zangya's face turned pale as she was forced backward several steps by the overwhelming aura alone.
"W-Wait!"
Suddenly, 18 grabbed Goku's shoulder.
"Let her go."
Goku blinked in surprise.
"But she just—"
"She held back."
18 interrupted calmly while staring directly at Zangya.
Goku looked at 18.
18 silently gave him another confirming glance.
Only then did Goku turn back toward Zangya.
"…Fine."
"I'll let you go for 18's sake."
Zangya froze briefly.
Then she bent down and grabbed the unconscious Bujin, preparing to leave.
But Goku's calm voice suddenly echoed behind her.
"I said you could leave."
"I never said he could."
Zangya's pupils shrank slightly.
Her footsteps stopped.
Before the atmosphere could worsen again, 18 spoke immediately.
"Forget it, Goku."
"Just let them go…"
Goku looked completely speechless.
He could only watch helplessly as Zangya dragged the short man away into the forest.
Still—
In Goku's mind, those people were already dead.
It was simply a matter of whether they died in front of 18 or not.
18 finally sat down heavily on the ground.
"Goku…"
"Do you have a senzu bean?"
"My whole body hurts…"
Goku crouched beside her.
"18."
"I'll take you home first."
"Those two aren't good people."
"They're subordinates of the space criminal Bojack."
At that moment—
Zangya suddenly returned.
Both Goku and 18 looked at her in surprise.
Zangya avoided their eyes awkwardly before speaking coldly:
"Listen carefully."
"My boss, Lord Bojack…"
"…is far stronger than you can imagine."
"If you don't want to die, leave the tournament grounds immediately."
Without waiting for a response—
She turned around and disappeared once again.
Goku stared at her retreating figure in surprise before glancing toward 18.
"…She was worried about you."
"When did you suddenly learn how to make friends?"
18 snorted.
"Who would be friends with a crazy woman like that?"
"I just think…"
"She's a little similar to me."
"That's why I couldn't bring myself to kill her."
Goku blinked.
"…Similar where?"
18's cheeks flushed slightly red.
"She's beautiful."
"And strong."
Goku:
"..."
18 immediately puffed her cheeks unhappily.
"What?"
"You don't think I'm pretty?"
Goku hurriedly grabbed her face and kissed her hard on the cheek.
"18 is obviously the most beautiful woman in the world."
"And that woman isn't even close to you."
"She's not prettier than you."
"She doesn't have your temperament either."
"There's no comparison."
18's face instantly turned even redder.
"…Really?"
"Of course."
Goku smiled warmly.
"Come on."
"I'll take you home."
"Seeing you hurt like this makes me want to kill all of them."
"…But the prize money…"
Goku's mouth twitched violently.
"Please."
"Can you stop worrying about money for once?"
"I can afford to support you."
18 lowered her head slightly.
"…Oh."
"…Okay."
The next second—
Goku used Instant Transmission and brought her directly back to Mount Paozu.
At home, Gohan was sitting at the table doing homework.
When he suddenly saw Goku carrying 18 back inside, he blinked in surprise.
"Huh?"
"Dad?"
"Weren't you guys at the tournament?"
"Why are you back already?"
Goku carefully helped 18 sit on the bed before quickly saying:
"Gohan, go grab a senzu bean."
"I still need to go back."
The moment he finished speaking—
He vanished again using Instant Transmission.
Gohan turned toward the slightly flushed 18 with confusion.
"18 Auntie…"
"Are you hurt?"
18 immediately nodded.
"Yeah."
"I'm injured."
"Hurry and get me a senzu bean…"
Meanwhile—
Inside the tournament backstage lounge—
Krillin sat calmly drinking tea while watching the matches on television.
As for Mr. Satan—
He had completely taken over commentary duties.
Standing in front of the cameras dramatically, he loudly gestured toward the audience.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"That battle just now was absolutely shocking!"
"BUT!"
"Compared to the legendary battle between World Champion Krillin and Cell…"
"…it was still just a tiny bit inferior!"
Satan held up his pinky finger dramatically.
"Just a tiny bit!"
The audience burst into laughter immediately.
Krillin's mouth twitched.
"This guy…"
"He really knows how to add scenes for himself…"
BANG!!
Suddenly, the lounge door burst open.
"Mr. Krillin!!"
A staff member rushed inside in panic.
"S-Something terrible happened!"
Krillin immediately stood up.
"What happened?!"
"The fake alien fighters we hired for the show were all knocked unconscious!"
"The current alien fighters in the arena are real impostors!"
Krillin's expression changed instantly.
"What?!"
He immediately turned toward the broadcast screen.
And there—
He saw Bojack and his crew causing chaos throughout the tournament grounds.
Thankfully—
He also saw Goku rescuing Android 18.
But the moment Goku used Instant Transmission and disappeared with her, Krillin panicked.
"Oh no!"
"Why did Goku leave now?!"
Fortunately—
Only moments later, Goku reappeared beside Bulla on-screen.
Krillin finally sighed in relief.
"Thank goodness…"
"With Goku there—and Instant Transmission available—those guys probably won't cause too much destruction…"
Still—
He couldn't just sit there and watch.
He had to do something.
Krillin was just about to rush outside—
When he suddenly remembered something important.
Against enemies like this, he wasn't the best fighter.
But calming civilians?
That was definitely something he could handle.
He immediately turned toward the staff member and shouted:
"Hurry and notify Mr. Satan!"
"Tell him to evacuate the audience immediately!"
"And tell him this isn't part of the show anymore!"
"Those alien fighters are REAL extraterrestrial invaders!"
After saying it—
Krillin suddenly paused for a second.
Then sighed emotionally.
"…I really should learn more from Satan sometimes."
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