The Fate of the Strongest

The Blast Hits Home

Piccolo's Explosive Demon Wave screams downward and strikes the spot where the immobile Goku lies. The explosion shakes what remains of the island, and a thick cloud of dust swallows the arena. When the smoke lifts, there is nothing in the center of the devastation except a deep, empty crater. No body, no blood, no trace whatsoever. Piccolo floats back to the ground and throws his arms wide in triumph, declaring that Son Goku has been reduced to dust. The laughter of the Demon King's heir echoes across the wasteland.

A Miracle in the Sky

Goku's friends stare at the empty crater in silence, grief settling over them. Then Krillin notices something strange in the distance and calls out to Tien, asking what his exceptional vision can pick up. Tien squints toward the horizon and spots a small figure soaring through the air at tremendous speed. It is Goku, alive and airborne, circling back toward the arena from behind Piccolo. Tien shouts in disbelief that Goku is using Flight. At the final moment before the blast connected, Goku channeled every remaining drop of energy into propelling himself skyward, narrowly escaping the explosion.

The Champion Falls

Goku hurtles toward Piccolo's exposed back like a missile. The demon, still basking in his supposed victory, never sees it coming. Goku drives his forehead directly into Piccolo's midsection with the full momentum of his flight behind it. The impact launches Piccolo off his feet, blood erupting from his mouth, and he tumbles across the broken landscape until he lands well outside the boundaries of where the ring stood. Goku hits the ground hard and lies flat, battered and barely conscious. He lifts his head and calls out to the World Tournament Announcer, asking whether that counts as a ring-out. The announcer checks the boundaries and confirms that Piccolo has landed outside the ring area. Son Goku is the winner of the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. His friends break into a sprint toward the bloodied champion, who lies on the scorched ground, smiling through the pain.