Then There Were Eight

Goku faces his toughest preliminary opponent in King Chappa, a former tournament champion famous for winning without taking a single hit. Chappa unleashes his signature Eight-Arm Fist, a barrage so fast his arms appear to multiply, but Goku blocks every strike with ease. After tripping Chappa and launching himself off the ceiling in a brilliant tactical move, Goku kicks the former champion out of the ring. The most alarming detail: Goku reveals he was not using his full power.

The preliminary rounds continue in montage fashion as Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and Jackie Chun all advance. Jackie Chun, haunted by the realization that Goku may have surpassed him, accidentally unleashes his full force against a bear man opponent after imagining Goku in his place.

A warm reunion with Nam, the noble fighter from the previous tournament, turns tragic when Tien Shinhan viciously attacks and injures him during their preliminary match. The Crane School's ruthlessness is on full display, and the battle lines between the two schools harden as all eight finalists prepare for what lies ahead.

Goku's demolition of King Chappa is the highlight, particularly his ceiling-ricochet strategy that turns an aerial vulnerability into a devastating attack. Jackie Chun's internal crisis over Goku's growth adds emotional weight, as the old master begins to question whether he can still fulfill his role as the benchmark for his students.

The brutality of Tien's assault on Nam serves as the episode's darkest moment. Nam had come to test his skills and perhaps fight Goku again, only to be left badly injured on the ground. The contrast between Tien's cruelty and the Turtle School's camaraderie defines the moral stakes of the saga.

Nam's return connects this tournament directly to the 21st, bringing a sense of continuity to the series. His warm greeting with Goku and gratitude for the help that saved his village make Tien's subsequent attack all the more impactful.

Jackie Chun's anxiety about Goku's strength is the first concrete acknowledgment that the student may have surpassed the master. This realization becomes a driving force for the decisions Jackie Chun makes later in the tournament. The episode title references Agatha Christie's novel, fitting for a story about competitors being eliminated one by one.