Rematch

Yamcha pours everything into his signature Wolf Fang Fist, but Hero calmly identifies the technique's critical flaw: it leaves Yamcha's legs completely exposed. Hero blocks the assault while sweeping Yamcha's legs, then weathers a barrage of counter-attacks. Yamcha unveils a powerful new technique, the Spirit Ball, an energy blast he can guide remotely. The attack catches Hero off guard by traveling underneath the stadium and striking from behind, but Hero recovers quickly and knocks Yamcha out of the ring with a clean counter.

Impressed by Hero's abilities, Yamcha asks who he really is. Hero cryptically says his identity will be revealed in time. As the fighters walk back to the contestants' area, Hero winks at Goku, confirming what the young warrior already suspected: Hero is actually Kami, the Guardian of Earth, inhabiting a human body. With this knowledge weighing on him, Goku steps into the ring for the first semifinal against Tien Shinhan. The crowd buzzes with anticipation, remembering their legendary final from the previous tournament. As they trade blows at blinding speed, they appear evenly matched, but Piccolo notices something the crowd cannot: Tien is tiring while Goku has not broken a sweat.

Yamcha's Spirit Ball is a creative new technique that briefly catches Hero off guard, but it is not enough to overcome Kami's centuries of combat experience. The wink Hero gives Goku as they pass in the hallway is a subtle but pivotal moment, confirming that Earth's Guardian has entered the tournament with a specific purpose. The Goku vs. Tien semifinal immediately captures attention as both fighters display dramatically improved speed and strength. Master Roshi and the audience are stunned by their growth since the last tournament. Piccolo's keen observation that Tien is burning energy faster than Goku foreshadows the outcome.

Hero's victory over Yamcha marks the last time Yamcha uses the Wolf Fang Fist outside of flashbacks. Kami's presence at the tournament in disguise sets up the critical confrontation with Piccolo that is to come. The Funimation dub has Kami tell Yamcha he is an alien, a detail that contradicts later continuity since Kami does not learn his Namekian origins until Dragon Ball Z. The Goku vs. Tien semifinal serves as a measuring stick for how far both fighters have grown since their last encounter.