A Turbulent Start! World Tournament Reborn

Thanks to the bravery of history's strongest father-son duo, Cell was no longer a threat to Earth. Peace abounded.

Several tranquil years passed by. Gohan, now a high schooler, had taken it upon himself to punish evildoers as his masked alter ego, the Great Saiyaman. Gohan's classmate Videl, however, couldn't help but take an interest in the local hero's secret identity...

On the contrary, I couldn't be MORE serious.

...

N-No, not really.

...

Shoot! Cat's out of the bag now.

Videl's keen sleuthing had unraveled the mystery of Gohan's extracurricular activities. In exchange for keeping Gohan's secret under wraps, Videl insisted on him entering the World Tournament. Gohan had no choice but to accept.

A peculiar string of events had culminated in Gohan's decision to enter the World Tournament. Making things stranger yet, Goku was also to be in attendance, thanks to a one-off deal with Baba, which allows the deceased hero to return to Earth for a day.

A host of familiar fighters including Vegeta, Krillin, #18, Piccolo, and more signed up for the tournament as well. With his next martial trial on the horizon, Gohan began training with his younger brother Goten...

G-Goten, sheesh! Since when have you been able to do that?!

I can't believe it...

Dad and I worked so hard to become Super Saiyans...

Ha ha...

Mom never did like Super Saiyans!

S-So that's what you've been calling playing?

These kids'll leave me in the dust if I don't watch it.

With the tournament not far off, Gohan and friends immersed themselves in training. One month elapsed in this fashion... At last, the day of the tournament, and Goku's return, had arrived!

The day of the World Tournament was upon our heroes. A host of familiar faces assembled at the arena. Only one more was needed to complete the cast... Goku!

Heh heh! Hey guys.

Not quite the gang I remember. But then again, it's been a while.

So, how've you all been?

G-Goku...!

Oh, Goku...

Twenty-four hours. Clocks a-ticking, Goku.

Got it! Thanks, Baba.

With Goku back, our heroes were ready to enter the World Tournament. First up was the Youth Division for fighters aged fifteen and younger.

Winning battle after battle with ease, Goten and Trunks naturally found themselves staring each other down in the final bout of the division.

Ladies and gents, I present to you our brave junior finalists!

Which will be the one to take home the coveted title of champion?!

All right!

Oh... Okay...

The Youth Division concluded with a spectacular victory from the young Trunks. Next up...the adults. Goku and friends would be taking to the stage at last!

Sixteen fighters had made it through the preliminaries of the Adult Division and eagerly awaited the true test to come. While our heroes were preparing for their first real skirmishes of the day, Goku was greeted by the mysterious fighters Shin and Kibito...

Hello.

You must be Goku.

Uh, have we met before?

No, but your rumors certainly get around.

I've always wanted to spar with you.

...

It would seem what they say is true. You possess... an exceptional soul.

Huh?

We shall meet again.

...

Don't know 'em.

But I know it won't be easy to pull off a clean sweep...

Uh-uh.

What was the mysterious duo's aim? And who were they? It appeared the World Tournament was in store for another turbulent edition... With the first wave of matches now decided, the action was finally set to detonate!

Ladies and gents, I give you our first bout!

Please welcome back a beloved tournament veteran, Krillin! Facing him will be the mighty Pintar!

Ring out! This match goes to Krillin!

What a great start!

This is what the World Tournament should be!

Moving on, our second match!

I give you... Shin versus Piccolo Jr.!

Following Krillin's impressive display of super strength... ...our resident Namekian found himself matched up with the enigmatic warrior Shin. Would Piccolo's cunning manage to pierce the veil of mystery surrounding his foe?!

The tournament had entered its second bout, with Piccolo taking to the ring alongside Shin. Much to everyone's shock, Shin's intense aura was enough to pressure the battle-hardened Namekian into conceding before the fight had even started.

Shin's identity had come to light at last! But what was the Supreme Kai doing on Earth?! Though questions abounded, the tournament waited for no one. The third bout was under way!

Next up, our third match. Videl versus... Spopovich!

And...FIGHT!

That's a clean hit! The elite warrioress never ceases to amaze!

But Spopovich refuses to stay down!

What toughness! What grit!

...

She'd better forfeit! There's something weird about him.

Looks like Spopovich's gotten hold of a power boosting him far beyond his natural capabilities.

Don't ask me how or why, though...

Spopovich's cruel onslaught continued to send chills to all onlookers... Except Gohan, that is, whose rage mounted with each blunt and brutal blow that Videl absorbed!

That's it... Now he's gone too far!!!

Enough games, Spopovich. Finish her!

Out of b-bounds! This match goes to Spopovich!

All was clearly not well at the World Tournament. What sinister scheme were Yamu and Spopovich planning to unfurl? Only time would tell... And so, our heroes waited amidst unease and excitement!

The fourth fight of the tournament, pitting Gohan against Kibito, had commenced. Mere seconds into the bout, however, Kibito surprised his foe with an odd request that he enter the Super Saiyan state.

The heck's that supposed to mean?

Hey, King Kai told me about you once.

So you're THAT Supreme Kai? Holy smokes!

Gohan transformed as per Kibito's request. Then, without warning, Yamu and Spopovich burst into the ring! Together they attacked Gohan, stealing his energy! Their objective complete, the snickering pair vanished from the arena.

Uh. Can SOMEONE explain what we just saw?

W-Well, Goku? What do you make of this?

I'm tagging along!

After witnessing all that... I'm dying for some answers!

What?! This is no time to be,

Okay, fine! It won't be here, but we'll fight later. Okay? I promise!

Then come with us! We can fight there!

And so it was that Goku and friends joined forces with the Supreme Kai to ascertain the truth. It seemed the culprit behind the day's villainy was Babidi, a wizard. Worse yet, he had come to Earth to fulfill a malevolent master plan...

The plan being none other than the revival of "Majin Buu", a demonic entity who plunged the entire universe into a maelstrom of ruin eons ago. On orders from the wizard, Yamu and Spopovich entered the World Tournament to harvest energy to fuel the demon's awakening, culminating in the assault on Gohan.

Long story short, we gotta keep that Majin Buu from waking up. That the gist?

Yeah. Sounds like he won't be going down easy.

Okay crew... time to get wild!

Dabura, king of the Demon Realm had struck! The bone-chilling advance left Kibito dead, while a magical assault on Krillin and Piccolo turned them to solid stone!

Supreme Kai! Is there any way to return Krillin and Piccolo to normal?!

Oh...wow. That all?

What a relief!

You bet we do! C'mon!

And so, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta and the Supreme Kai made their way into Babidi's spacecraft. Would our heroes be able to save their petrified friends and foil Majin Buu's resurrection? And what fearsome opponents awaited them inside the ship?

Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and the Supreme Kai made their way into Babidi's spacecraft. Would our heroes be able to save their petrified friends and foil Majin Buu's resurrection? And what fearsome opponents awaited them inside the ship?

How are mere Earthlings equipped with such power?

Not to worry, my lord. Should their ragtag band appear to pose...

...even one-tenth of a threat, I will snuff them out personally.

Vegeta had put Pui Pui out of commission with ease, clearing "stage one". But what new threats awaited our heroes up ahead?!

Determined to thwart Majin Buu's awakening, Goku and the others had infiltrated Babidi's vessel. But getting to the evil wizard required defeating enemies on each level of the cavernous spacecraft. What opponent would our heroes encounter next?

Robbed of his advantage of fighting in utter darkness, Yakon shifted strategy by feeding on Goku's luminous Super Saiyan aura. But the eater of light had bitten off more than he could chew, with Goku unleashing the full extent of his Super Saiyan might. Yakon, unable to absorb the massive deluge of energy...exploded.

Phew.

Kakarot, the sly dog. He's done it, too. He's broken the Super Saiyan barrier.

No doubt thanks to training for seven straight years in the Otherworld.

Th-These are no typical Earthlings.

All right. I shall lay your worries to rest. I'll go to stage three myself.

Buu's shell will overflow with their energy before you know it!

Dabura... If you get beaten I'm out of weapons.

The odds better be on your side.

The odds? Heh heh... I'm the Lord of the Demon Realm!

No one is more powerful than me!

Goku and friends found themselves effortlessly breaching stage after stage. But now the Lord of the Demon Realm himself was on the move. Would Dabura prove triumphant?!

Determined to thwart Majin Buu's awakening, Goku and the others had infiltrated Babidi's vessel. But getting to the evil wizard required besting enemies on each level of the cavernous spacecraft. With stage two of their trial complete, what new foe would rise to meet our yet undefeated heroes?

Color me surprised. Dabura's way stronger than we bargained for.

Yeesh, Gohan. You've really been skipping out on training, haven't you?

C'mon, Vegeta, let him do it!

He's still got a chance! It's not like he's lost yet.

Hm?

Vegeta...

Lord Babidi! Return us to the ship, if you will.

I have stumbled upon a most profitable discovery. A revived Majin Buu will be at your disposal in no time!

Most interesting. I'm all ears, Dabura.

Among our enemies is a specimen with the seed of evil already rooted in his heart.

The roots are so deep that turning him to your influence will require no effort at all.

Ahhh! So we make them fight each other and take their energy!

That should wake Majin Buu up!

Dabura had seen the dormant seed of evil within Vegeta's heart. Would Babidi's next plan succeed, freeing the vile Majin Buu? An earth-shattering Saiyan-on-Saiyan fight loomed ahead!

While engaging Gohan, Dabura's keen powers of observation sensed the darkness smoldering within Vegeta's heart. This spurred Babidi to manipulate Vegeta, orchestrating a Saiyan versus Saiyan melee, the likes of which had never been seen. The age-old rivalry was about to explode at long last!

It seems this particular specimen is dripping with malevolence!

I will use this... Yes. I will use YOU!

Yee hee hee! While we're at it, let's tap into his hidden potential and raise his power far beyond anything he's ever felt!

Had the prince of destruction returned? All conditions for the perfect battle were set, save for a fitting location, prompting Babidi to teleport Goku and the gang back to the tournament grounds. It was there Vegeta unleashed a lethal blitz on the crowd.

Vegeta... Did you...

...let Babidi control you on purpose?

So, Vegeta... It's come to this.

...

Vegeta... You surrendered to Babidi's spell on purpose to make me fight.

Am I right?

...

...

...

Unbelievable! I trained my ass off in the Otherworld, but we are dead even.

You must've pushed yourself way harder.

You're only half-right. Though I likely did subject myself to harsher training...

...your natural talents have always...kept you one step ahead. Always.

When I saw you fight Babidi's monster, I knew the full extent of your power.

Frankly, I was shocked. It was then I knew I had to do whatever it took.

I-I knew it! You let him enchant you!

...Not my preferred method, to be sure.

Definitely not your style. So your thirst for strength beat out your pride? That why you let him take over?

I...I wanted to be the way I used to be!

I wanted to be the ruthless and cold-blooded Saiyan! To fight it out with you, not caring about anything else!

...

I hated how your influence was making me softer... less aggressive.

I got myself a family... and it wasn't so awful.

I even started to like my comfortable life on Earth.

That's why I needed Babidi to reignite the inferno of my true Saiyan nature!

...

And now... I feel better than ever!

...

Are you sure?

While the Saiyan heavyweights were busy dueling, the duty of preventing Majin Buu's return fell to the Supreme Kai and Gohan. And so, the duo squared off with Babidi and Dabura. But before the clash could begin, the pulsing shell in which Majin Buu slumbered began to exhibit changes.

Fear made manifest. The being known as Majin Buu was moments away from awakening. The worst had come to pass! And what of Goku and Vegeta's showdown? Earth was locked in crisis once more!