Chapter 291: The Top Sixteen

"I actually lost…"

The man who had been punched off the stage by Goku regained consciousness soon after the medical team arrived. He pushed the doctors and nurses aside, spat out a mouthful of blood, and rubbed his seemingly shattered jaw as he sighed.

A fellow martial artist reached out to help him up and supported him to stand. The doctors tried to intervene, but these stubborn warriors suddenly became uncooperative—and even the injured man simply waved them off.

"It's just a minor injury. No big deal. I'll be fine after a good meal and some sleep."

"That's not how medicine works—this makes no sense…" the doctors muttered, baffled, but powerless to resist.

The martial artist helping him was one of the fighters who had also been defeated by Goku earlier. He gave a wry smile. "You lost fair and square. That kid is truly impressive. As expected of Master Gohan's descendant…"

"No. He's powerful because he is powerful. There's no need to attribute it all to Master Gohan," the defeated man shook his head. No one understood better than him—who had fought Goku at his most exhausted—just how terrifying the boy's hidden potential was. In those eyes, he had seen infinite possibilities.

"Son Goku, huh… I'll remember you."

Meanwhile, Goku had been carried back in Son Gohan's arms.

Surrounding onlookers, under the influence of Taro's mental magic spell "Suggestion," subconsciously ignored the scene and didn't dare or didn't care to approach, so no one crowded them.

"You little rascal, why did you push yourself so hard?" Hathaway patted Goku on the head. By this time, Goku had recovered enough to barely stand on his own, and he gave an innocent grin.

"Because I felt like I could still fight! Great-granny, I'm so happy! There are so many strong people here!"

He was genuinely delighted—his tail was even wagging behind him.

Behind Taro and Gohan, the mustached middle-aged man silently observed the naive child standing between the three elders. It was as though he wanted to peer into Goku's eyes and dig out that fleeting madness he thought he'd seen before.

But there was nothing to be found.

Kami sighed inwardly. Was this child blessed or cursed? Taro… the arrangement you made back then… did you ever ask for the boy's own opinion?

"Shall I help the little guy recover his strength?" Kami offered with a gentle smile.

"You…?" Gohan hesitated.

Hathaway also turned toward him. Goku blinked his big innocent eyes, still panting lightly. Looking back at the stage, he saw that new challengers had already stepped up. When they noticed Goku watching, the two martial artists clasped their fists in respect—Goku's performance had earned their admiration.

Taro was even more surprised than the others. He looked at the body that Kami had possessed and asked, "You have healing powers like the Namekians who can resurrect?"

Kami smiled. "Since I became self-aware on the Yunzebit Plateau, it's felt like a voice was telling me I was a prodigy of the Dragon Clan… Thinking about it now, it was probably my elder assuming I was a gifted Dragon Clan member from Namek. From what you're saying, other Namekians possess similar healing abilities?"

"Yes, but among them, the warrior-types don't have this skill."

"Then that explains it. I must be a versatile Dragon Clan type. But when I split from Piccolo, most of the combat ability was taken by him… Hm. You've used Senzu Beans, haven't you? That cat up on Korin Tower cultivated them thanks to my powers."

Kami spoke calmly, like he was just stating facts. Hearing this, Taro was surprised—but it also somehow made sense.

However…

"No need," Taro politely declined. It would be no different from popping a Senzu Bean mid-match—it wasn't a life-or-death situation, so there was no reason to rely on such methods. Still, Goku had indeed recklessly overexerted himself. After thinking for a moment, Taro raised his palm and gently brought it down on Goku's head.

"What are you doing!?" Kami gasped instinctively, but he could sense no malice in Taro's action.

Gohan watched calmly, trusting his master completely.

As Taro's hand pressed down, Goku felt a warmth flood his body like being bathed in gentle, soothing water. His exhaustion melted away—this warmth was coming from his great-grandfather's hand.

Kami was stunned. His gaze flickered before he sighed with admiration. "What an impressive technique!"

---

After a short rest, Goku continued in the preliminary matches—fighting one, resting one—unstoppable and invincible. In the stunned gazes of the audience, he joyfully secured a spot in the Western Capital's Top Sixteen elimination bracket.

"Senior, did you hear what happened in Area Five…?"

Over at Stage B in Area Three, two disciples of the Muten School—who had once glimpsed Taro and Gohan—were participating in the preliminaries. The younger had unfortunately been eliminated, while the elder advanced. The reason was simple—they were on the same stage bracket.

When the younger had to face his senior in the final match, he had cheerfully forfeited. In his words: "We've sparred a hundred times, and I've never won once. Only one of us gets to advance, so let's not waste the effort."

The senior nodded, remembering the little boy he'd seen running toward the palm trees where Gohan and Taro stood. He said softly, "Son Goku, huh… I hope I get to face him."

A gentle green glow spread from Kami's palm to Goku's. Goku was surprised to feel all his strength return. He bounced on the spot, giggling.

"Grandpa, great-grandpa, great-granny! This uncle is amazing! I'm full of energy again!"

Gohan smiled as he ruffled his grandson's hair.

Taro said, "I never expected you could use this healing ability in your current form."

Kami smiled. "Once a power is truly mastered, it becomes part of who you are—not bound to your physical shell."