Invincible Goku

Chapter 6

The boat rocked gently as it bumped against the stone dock. A wide, rocky island loomed ahead, covered in dense green trees and ringed with cliffs.

At the center stood a weathered arena — partly carved into the land, partly built from massive slabs of stone — with towering pillars rising from each corner like ancient guardians.

As Goku stepped off the boat, he looked around with wide eyes. "Whoa…"

The place didn't just look old, it felt alive.

Dozens of fighters were already unloading, stretching, laughing, or sizing each other up.

Martial artists from all walks — robed monks, masked duelists, scarred mercenaries. The kind of people who looked like they'd seen war and never blinked.

Kaiden stepped beside him, hands in his pockets. "This is it."

Goku adjusted his sack. "It looks old."

"It is," Kaiden said. "This island's been used for matches since before the GDA existed. It's neutral ground."

"Neut-what?"

Kaiden smirked. "Means no one owns it. King Kai keeps the tradition alive."

Goku was only half-listening. His eyes had locked onto a giant statue behind the arena — a robed figure with one hand raised in peace, the other clenched in a fist.

A voice boomed from the sky.

A screen flickered with static above the central courtyard. It then showed a round-faced man with sunglasses and antennae perched on a floating platform.

"Testing, testing—hello? Yeah, there we go."

The fighters fell quiet.

"Welcome, warriors!" King Kai said, waving cheerfully. "If you're seeing this message, it means you've already passed the first test."

Goku blinked. "There was a first test?"

King Kai grinned. "Only those with the spark — ki could even see the flyer. That's right. If you're here, it means you've already got potential that most folks never tap into."

Murmurs spread among the crowd.

"But before we talk about punches and prize money — I want to tell you why this matters."

The jovial tone faded slightly. King Kai leaned forward, his voice dropping into something more grounded.

"I've trained champions. Heroes. The kinds of people who bend fate when they walk. And I'm not getting any younger."

He paused. The screen zoomed in.

"This tournament is about finding the strongest."

He leaned back again, waving the moment off with a chuckle.

"Also, there's prize money. Not bad prize money, either. You'll want to win."

A beat.

"Oh — and the winner gets to train with me. That's the real prize."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. A few fighters stared up in disbelief.

"Don't want it? The boat's still at the dock. No shame in walking away."

No one moved.

King Kai smirked. "Thought so."

The screen flickered briefly before changing to a top-down map of a dense forest island.

"Before the bracket begins, we've got a survival test. The Wild Forest. One night. You bring back a token from a Class-B beast by sunrise, you move on. You die, you don't move on, simple."

The map faded.

"I'll be watching."

Then the screen cut to black.

A monk in white robes approached them, unrolling a scroll.

"We'll drop you into the Wild Forest at dusk," he said. "You must retrieve a token from a Class-B predator and return before sunrise. Fail, and you're out."

Kaiden's face remained unreadable. Goku grinned.

"Sounds fun."

At that moment, a loud voice echoed behind them.

"Alright, losers — I hope someone brought a camera. You're about to witness history!"

Everyone turned.

A teen strutted down the ramp in mirrored shades, wearing a sleeveless green jacket with his name — Johnny — stitched in gold on the back. His hair was slick, his shoes spotless, and his energy confident to the point of obnoxious.

"I'm here for the main event!" Johnny said, flashing finger guns at no one in particular. "And yes, I am signing autographs after I win."

Kaiden raised an eyebrow. "Great."

Goku blinked. "Who's that?"

"Johnny," Kaiden muttered. He calls himself the 'Future Face of Combat.' Uses light-based ki. Fast, flashy. Annoying."

"I kinda like him," Goku said.

Johnny paused to pose before a small group of fighters, twirling a pen between his fingers. "You'll want my name on something before I'm famous."

No one replied.

"Suit yourselves," he shrugged, walking past like he didn't notice.

Two more figures stepped off the boat behind him as Johnny finished his loud strut onto the dock.

The first was a tall teen with blonde, cropped hair, a lean frame, and a black jacket with the sleeves torn off. He wore steel-toe boots and carried no bag — just taped fists and a blank expression.

Kaiden's eyes narrowed. "That's Moro. Street fighter. No technique, but hits like a truck."

Goku tilted his head. "He doesn't look that strong."

Kaiden didn't answer. He just kept watching.

Behind Moro came a girl moving slowly — quietly—like she barely touched the ground. She wore a long violet cloak with her hood half-draped back, revealing part of her pale face and bright eyes.

The moment she stepped onto the stone, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.

"Who's that?" Goku asked.

Kaiden frowned. "Don't know."

The girl walked alone to the platform's edge and sat cross-legged, eyes closed. A few other fighters gave her space instinctively, without even thinking about it.

"She's… different," Kaiden muttered.

As Goku watched, the girl opened one eye for a moment.

And locked eyes with Kaiden.

He tensed without knowing why.

Then she smiled.

Not friendly.

Not cruel.

"Let's get ready," Kaiden said. "Forest drop happens in a few hours."

Goku looked out over the cliffs and thick tree line beyond the arena.

He clenched his fists, the turtle symbol on his back catching the light.

This tournament wasn't just another test. It was the first real step toward proving Goku belonged. Not just as a fighter, but as someone ready to stand against whatever came next.

By sunset, the sky had turned a dull red. The tournament staff stood at the cliff's edge, ushering fighters one by one toward waiting air pods — small round capsules barely big enough for one person.

"This feels like a trap," Johnny muttered as he stepped in.

"It is," Kaiden said as his pod sealed shut.

Goku waved. "See you down there!"

His pod hissed closed, and the world tilted.

With a thud, it dropped from the sky.

The forest rushed up.

BAM.

Goku's pod slammed into thick undergrowth, cracking through a tangle of branches before skidding to a stop in a shallow ravine. The hatch hissed open.

He crawled out and looked around.

Dense jungle. Trees that scraped the clouds. Vines. Heat. Humid air. Sounds of things moving.

Fast.

Above him, the sky was already dimming.

He rolled his shoulders. "Alright. Class-B monster. Token. No problem."

He wandered forward, barefoot and calm — at least on the outside.

Man, this place is creepy.

He kept walking.

I've never done anything like this before.

"AHHH!"

He paused.

Was that someone getting hurt?

He didn't know. But he kept walking anyway.

Grandpa would say, 'Keep your head clear, no matter how loud the world gets.'

So he tried.

One hour passed.

He'd dodged three weird bug-things and watched a tree uproot itself and walk away — still no sign of a real challenge.

Then he heard it — a growl.

Goku stopped.

From the shadows, a hulking, bear-like creature lumbered out. Its shoulders were too broad. Its claws shimmered faintly with ki. Yellow eyes glowed from its face, and a broken chain hung from its neck.

"Class-B," Goku whispered, grinning. "Finally."

The beast charged.

Goku didn't panic.

He inhaled sharply, centered himself, just like Master Roshi taught him. "Breathe before you move. Don't fight the force. Flow with it."

The claws came first.

Goku ducked low, sliding under the beast's swipe. His foot planted in the dirt with practiced precision. He twisted and shot upward, driving a sharp punch into the beast's jaw. It reeled back — heavy, but not down.

The bear roared and lunged again, faster this time.

Goku bent with the motion, sidestepped, and delivered two quick strikes to its ribs, shifting his stance between each move. Roshi had made him practice stances repeatedly — even with buckets tied to his arms.

"Your body knows what to do. Let it."

The beast swung wide. Goku flipped back, hands brushing the ground as he landed lightly on his feet. The orange gi clung to him, stained and torn, but it moved with him now, like it belonged.

They clashed again. Fists met claws. Dirt flew. Trees cracked and splintered around them.

But Goku was calm.

Focused.

He dodged with precision, struck with intent. Every movement came from weeks of drills, hours of balance work on floating logs, and footwork in the sand. He wasn't just reacting — he was adapting.

The beast roared, charging for a final blow.

Goku met it head-on, feinting low before launching into a spinning kick that connected cleanly with its temple. The creature stumbled, then dropped hard into the dirt.

It groaned, unmoving.

Goku stood over it, chest heaving.

"You're tough," he said softly, rubbing his shoulder.

He crouched, pulling the metal tag from its broken collar — the token, just like they said.

Then he looked at his hands.

Master Roshi, it worked.

Then he heard shouting.

Not far off.

He turned.

From between the trees, a flash of light — then a scream.

"Back off, you overgrown possums!"

Goku sprinted toward the sound.

Three more Class-B beasts circled Johnny— smaller than Goku's, but fast, with glowing eyes and whip-like tails. They closed in, struck hard, and tore through his jacket, leaving him bruised and cornered.

He blasted one with a flash of light, but the others closed in.

Goku didn't hesitate.

He lunged in, tackling one of the beasts mid-leap and throwing it into a tree.

"Hey!" Johnny yelled. "Took you long enough!"

"I was busy," Goku grinned.

The two boys fought, Johnny blasting and dodging and Goku blocking and striking.

The beasts fell one by one.

When it was over, Johnny slumped against a rock.

"You saved my life."

"You would've been fine."

"…Nah. But thanks."

Goku offered a hand. Johnny took it.

"Guess I owe you."

"We're good," Goku said. "Let's just make it back."

They walked together, quieter now, bruised but alive.

Somewhere in the trees, other fights raged. But these two — one loud, one calm — had earned each other's respect.

And in the distance, Kaiden stood atop a cliff, watching the forest below, lightning crackling faintly across his shoulders.

By the time the sun crept over the island's edge, the Wild Forest had gone quiet.

One by one, fighters began returning to the cliffs. Some were unscathed, some injured, and a few didn't return at all.

Goku emerged with scratches across his arms, his orange gi stained with dirt and blood. Johnny limped beside him, chewing jerky like nothing had happened.

They joined the small crowd forming near the arena steps.

Kaiden was already there — arms crossed, face unreadable. Not a scratch on him.

He gave Goku a slight nod. "You made it."

"You too," Goku grinned.

Behind them, the last survivors arrived.

Only eight remained from the dozens.

Zuki stepped out of the trees as if untouched by the night. Her violet cloak flowed behind her, not a speck of blood on it. She said nothing, arms folded, eyes cold. Johnny muttered something about her being "creepy." She ignored him.

Standing perfectly still with arms behind his back was Udon — calm, silent, eyes closed like he hadn't even broken a sweat. He didn't even acknowledge the others returning.

Not far from him stood Moro, who came next, shirtless, blood drying on his fists. His knuckles were wrapped in fresh tape, as if he'd changed them mid-fight. A faint bruise darkened one cheek, but his face was blank. He fought the forest to a draw — and was ready for round two.

The air changed — a slow rise in pressure, like heat from a quiet fire.

Footsteps, soft but deliberate.

Iroh walked into the clearing, robes dusted in ash, a faint glow of ki trailing behind him like smoke.

In one hand, he held a steaming cup of tea, still warm.

He didn't speak. He didn't scan the crowd. Just walked to the courtyard's edge, sat cross-legged near the shadows, and sipped.

Johnny blinked. "Where did he even get tea?"

As the last fighters trickled in from the Wild Forest, a new figure emerged from the shadows near the arena's edge.

A man in a tattered gray hood stood silently with his back to the group. Slung at his side were two metallic, gleaming yo-yos, humming faintly with energy. Each flick of his wrist made them dance and snap like serpents on a leash, the cords glowing with dull red ki.

Goku tilted his head. "Who's that guy?"

Kaiden glanced sideways. "That's Gyro. No one knows where he came from."

"He doesn't look like the others," Goku said.

"He's not."

One of Gyro's yo-yos spun outward in a blur — and with a single sharp arc, it carved clean through a large stone nearby. The boulder split down the middle, falling into two with a heavy thud.

The yo-yo snapped back into Gyro's hand with a sharp click, and he slowly turned. Under the hood, only a half-smile was visible — the kind that never reached the eyes.

He said nothing.

Just watched.

Johnny muttered, "Why does every creepy guy dress like that?"

Then the screen above the arena flickered to life.

King Kai's face returned, grinning.

"Good morning, survivors! If you're still standing — congrats. You passed the survival test. And probably learned something about what's living out there, huh?"

A few fighters laughed weakly.

Goku waved at the screen. "Hi!"

Kai kept going. "Now that we've trimmed the fat, it's time to get serious—the tournament bracket's set. Matches start tomorrow. Single elimination. One match."

A giant scroll unfurled from one of the stone pillars, glowing names etched into the fabric like fire.

Kaiden stepped closer, and Goku leaned beside him, eyes scanning the names.

"What's it say?" he asked.

Johnny pointed, chewing on jerky. "Looks like you're up first."

Goku vs Udon

Goku's eyes widened. "…Oh."

Kaiden glanced at Udon, who stood silent as ever, arms crossed and eyes shut like he was already meditating.

"Could've been worse," Kaiden said. "You'll learn a lot — assuming you survive."

Next match scrolled down.

Johnny vs Iroh

Johnny let out a low whistle. "Guess I'm dying tomorrow."

Across the courtyard, Iroh turned his head — slow, deliberate — and smiled just a bit too long.

Johnny blinked. "Okay, yeah. Dying."

Goku looked at him.

Johnny shrugged. "Just saying. That guy smiles like he's thinking about setting me on fire."

Then:

Kaiden vs Moro

Kaiden's gaze met Moro's across the courtyard. Moro cracked his knuckles, arms wrapped in bandages, his jaw clenched like stone.

They didn't blink.

Finally:

Zuki vs Gyro

A sharp silence settled over the group.

Zuki's eyes moved to the board. No frown, no smirk. But the slightest tightening of her jaw.

Gyro, she thought.

She'd noticed him earlier, like a pressure in the air you couldn't shake.

She shifted her weight, arms still folded, calm, but coiled. Her lips pressed together in a near-imperceptible line.

"Great. I get the weirdo who plays with yo-yos."

Gyro kept his gaze low. His hood hanging over his face hid his eyes in shadow.

But then, slowly, his eyes flicked toward the board.

There was no reaction, no surprise. The yo-yo slipped from Gyro's palm, spinning once in a slow, looping arc—smooth and controlled.

Then it snapped back with a click.

His face showed only the faintest hint of a smile — not smug or warm, more like curiosity.

Zuki, he noted. It could be fun.

Gyro offered a single spin of his yo-yos from beneath his tattered hood — a subtle warning. Sparks flickered at his fingertips.

And then he looked away.

Johnny muttered, "I don't like either of them."

Kaiden's eyes stayed on the board. "This bracket's built to break us."

Goku stared at his name again. Then at Udon. The air around him felt heavy, like a mountain waiting to fall.

He swallowed.

"Guess it's real now."

Kaiden stepped past him, voice quiet. "It was always real."

The courtyard slowly emptied, fighters heading to rest or train.

Goku stayed behind, staring at the bracket names, which were glowing against the stone like fire.

Tomorrow everything begins.