In the training room, Yoruichi demonstrated several techniques one after another. Across from her, Ethan was not only sparring with her, but also helping her analyze the practicality of those moves.
"What do you think?"
"Kidō is basically useless."
"I think so too!"
Yoruichi looked at the energy in her hand. She had to expend a great deal of effort to use energy to unleash Kidō. Most of the energy was consumed during the transformation process, and the final effect was quite mediocre.
In other words, although many Kidō techniques could be used, their cost-effectiveness was too low. They consumed more energy for an effect similar to a full-force punch. In that case, it was better to just use an Energy Blast directly.
"For now, the Hand Blade is the most cost-effective technique."
By concentrating energy on her palm, she could form an extremely sharp energy blade. Not only would areas struck by Yoruichi's palm be cut, but even the remaining force of the energy would inflict considerable damage.
"The energy cost of this move is no longer a burden for you now, and its power is quite strong."
Cutting-type techniques are very powerful in this world. After all, most enemies are flesh and blood. A Hand Blade strike, even if it does not kill, will still cause significant damage.
Because of the unique nature of cutting techniques, they can even threaten enemies with combat power far beyond one's own.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of cutting techniques greatly diminishes in the middle and later stages, because both Cell and Buu possess extremely strong regenerative abilities.
"The Spirit Gun can also be used, but its nature changes quite a bit..."
Techniques like the Spirit Gun and the Kamehameha are similar in that they gather one's own energy and release it, so it is not surprising that they can be used. It is just that the nature of the energy is different.
"Anything else?"
"Things like Shunpo do not seem to need to be considered separate special techniques anymore..."
This method of rapid movement is like basic training for martial artists in this world. There is no need to single it out.
"That's true."
Yoruichi then tried some other moves, but techniques like the Eight Maidens and Dragon Tiger Rampage had also lost their meaning. Battles in the Dragon Ball world are simple and direct: faster, stronger, and more accurate. Combat always involves spontaneously launching the most appropriate attack. Furthermore, the warriors in the Dragon Ball world have incredibly high durability. It is almost impossible to stun them, and even when heavily injured, they can immediately counterattack.
Unless the power difference is too great, but if the power difference is too great, then naturally you can fight however you want.
"After testing for so long, how come there are only a few usable techniques left?"
"That's how this world is. The later it gets, the less useful so-called techniques become, unless it is a technique with a special effect, like Tien's Solar Flare..."
"In that case, maybe some Bakudō would be useful?"
Many Bakudō techniques serve to restrain enemies, but Ethan still gave a negative answer. "Enemies that can be restrained by your externalized energy are basically weaker than you..."
Yoruichi found that to be true. When completely overpowering the opponent, there was no need for those flashy techniques. Even fists and feet would be enough to subdue them.
"Many things are like this. They become very simple and direct when you return to their essence."
"Alright then, if possible, I really hope I can win the championship this time."
"That's hard to say."
Ethan shrugged. Saiyans are all overpowered. Who knows if Goku will make another leap in progress.
After more than two years of training, and having been exposed to gravity training early, Goku had already caught up to Ethan and the others. The talent of the Saiyan warrior race truly was not just talk.
Adding to that Goku's astonishing combat instinct, Ethan was not sure how much of a chance Yoruichi had if they fought seriously.
"Never mind. Since that's the case, I'll just continue focusing on improving my basic strength."
It was simply a matter of making herself stronger, faster, and tougher. As for combat experience, Yoruichi did not lack that.
So the subsequent training returned to the most basic content. Yoruichi wanted to push her strength to the next level during this period. She felt her biggest advantage was having Ethan, the guy who knew how to train, and the Gravity Room, an excellent training ground, right at hand and available to use anytime.
It would be a huge waste not to make use of such advantages. So Yoruichi stayed in the Gravity Room every day, only resting for a while when she truly could not bear it anymore. She also dragged Ethan into sparring sessions and absolutely did not hold back.
Anyway, Ethan had stockpiled a large number of Senzu Beans and had even made a small gadget for easy access, so she was not worried about accidentally killing Ethan during training, nor was she worried about being killed herself.
Time flew by quickly during training, and in the blink of an eye, the day of the World Martial Arts Tournament was approaching.
After staying in the Gravity Room during this period, Yoruichi could now barely adapt to a 20x gravity environment. By this point, wearing the 100-kilogram weighted gear during regular activity no longer had much effect, so she no longer needed that set and instead chose her preferred clothes.
Ethan also no longer wore weighted gear. Unless he had some special ability to infinitely increase its weight without changing its volume, which he did not. He was currently focused on improving his combat ability and had not yet developed abilities leaning more toward magic and superpowers.
His primary mission in this world was to improve his combat ability because the task was to defeat the strongest individuals at each stage.
After packing their luggage, Bulma still planned to go watch the tournament. After so many years, Bulma had transformed from a young girl into a mature and beautiful woman.
So, before departing, Bulma spent a lot of time getting ready. Ethan nearly fell asleep waiting on the plane before finally seeing the beautifully dressed Bulma appear before him.
"You're dressed so beautifully. Are you perhaps going on a blind date?"
"Hmph, how can a woman go out and meet people without dressing up beautifully?" Then she suddenly noticed Yoruichi beside her and realized her comment might not be appropriate. "Of course, someone as beautiful as Yoruichi without makeup is an exception."
"Bulma is also very beautiful without makeup, and I have worn makeup before too."
Yoruichi's words surprised Ethan. He turned his head and looked back and forth for a while before noticing that Yoruichi had indeed put on light makeup.
"Wow, I didn't even notice until you said something."
Chatting casually, with a few mutual jabs mixed in, after everyone had settled onto the plane, Bulma started it and flew toward the site of the World Martial Arts Tournament.
"I wonder what kind of progress Goku and the others have made."
Excluding Ethan and Yoruichi, the strongest among the rest had originally been Tien, and Goku's strength had been similar to Tien's.
However, after more than two years of training, the differences in their talent and potential became clear. Goku's strength increased the fastest, quickly pulling ahead of the others.
Although Tien's progress was not slow, he could still feel the gap between himself and Goku. Not to mention comparing himself to Goku, even Krillin had caught up.
Yamcha, who had originally been second only to Ethan and Yoruichi, barely managed to stay in the same league as the others thanks to starting gravity training earlier, avoiding being left behind.
But if things continued like this, gradually falling behind the main group was only a matter of time.
Although such changes in strength would not affect their relationships, they were all proud young martial artists. Who would want to be left far behind? That was why they left Bulma's house and went their separate ways to develop powerful techniques.
Simply put, no one wanted to lose.
Yoruichi also did not want to lose. Because of her unlucky experiences in the previous two tournaments, she wanted to win more than anyone else and had long since decided that her biggest opponent was Goku.
"You definitely won't be eliminated in the preliminaries this time."
The biggest advantage of having Tien on their side was that they could cheat during the draw. Chiaotzu's psychic abilities could help them avoid meeting each other too early.
"Hmph, even if I meet them in the preliminaries this time, I'll be the one who wins!"
As the dignified head of the Shihoin family, the commander of the Onmitsukidō, and the new Soul King, Yoruichi was even prouder than Goku and the others. That came from her status and past honors, something a few young martial artists with nothing could not compare to.
After arriving at the tournament venue, everyone accompanied Yoruichi to register first, then waited for the others to arrive at the registration area.
This time, no one arrived just in time for the matches. Everyone arrived at the venue early. Looking at everyone gathered again, Ethan noticed that their energy had become more stable and more substantial. Although he did not know the exact extent of their improvement before they released their full power, their strength should have increased.
Plus, everyone was full of confidence, so it was likely that each of them had developed powerful techniques.
"I wonder if Krillin has developed the Destructo Disc. This should be an exciting martial arts tournament."
The last to arrive was Goku, who had taken a little longer coming from Kami's Lookout. After seeing Goku, Ethan noticed that Goku's energy had undergone a slight change, with something inexplicable added to it.
"It seems Kami taught Goku quite a lot of things!"
Kami knew many peculiar abilities. In the original story, after training at Kami's Lookout, Goku had also mastered many peculiar skills.
Ethan thought that Goku's later ability to master Instant Transmission was probably related to receiving instruction from Kami at the Lookout. Compared to Krillin, Tien, and the others, who purely honed their bodies to increase strength, Goku seemed to have also undergone specific spiritual training.
"It seems Kami still favored Goku and wanted him to inherit his position."
After observing his companions, Ethan shifted his gaze to the crowd. He searched back and forth among the people for a while and quickly found that green figure. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse and the unique energy was well hidden, Ethan still found him.
"Poor Piccolo, he's about to start questioning his existence as a demon."
(To be continued.)