Testing the Waters

Opening Clash

Goku and Piccolo charge each other the moment the match begins, trading blows at blinding speed and blocking strike after strike in rapid succession. Piccolo breaks the stalemate with a headbutt that sends Goku sliding across the ring. Goku lands on his feet, but Piccolo circles behind him in an instant. Without even turning around, Goku kicks backward and connects solidly, forcing both fighters to separate and reassess.

Piccolo extends his arm using his stretching ability, reaching across the ring to grab Goku. Instead of being caught, Goku seizes the elongated limb and hurls Piccolo skyward by it. From above, Piccolo launches a shockwave down at the ring. Goku deflects it and somehow redirects the energy back up, knocking Piccolo off balance in midair.

Piccolo's Barrage

Goku leaps up after his opponent. Piccolo, feigning an opening, closes one fist and waits patiently. When Goku draws near, Piccolo snaps the fist open and fires a blast directly into him, sending Goku plummeting toward the ring. Before Goku can recover, Piccolo fires a second blast from his other hand, then unleashes a rapid volley of additional shots. Every blast connects as Goku crashes into the ring surface.

The bombardment carves a massive crater in the arena floor, with Goku lying motionless at the bottom. The World Tournament Announcer begins a count, but Piccolo yells at him to stop, insisting that Goku is only pretending to be hurt. Sure enough, Goku stands up with minimal damage and brushes himself off. He notes that his shirt is shredded beyond saving and tears off the remains. Both fighters acknowledge that the warm-up is over, and they resolve to fight at full power. With no more reason to hold anything back, Goku and Piccolo rush at each other once more.