Chapter 236: Itchy Hands, Want to Beat You Up!
In the Earth warriors' camp, fighters like Son Goku, Tien Shinhan, Piccolo, and Krillin advanced to the elimination rounds.
As for the Saiyans, every single one of them qualified! After all, their strength was so overwhelming that any one of them could easily annihilate the so-called Crystal Clan in an instant. If they couldn't qualify, it would truly be the epitome of bad luck, akin to tossing stones into the vast ocean.
Within Frieza's army, only three individuals progressed. Not because the rest were weak, but simply because only these three participated in the elimination matches: Frieza, Cooler, and Bojack!
These three didn't even need to make a move. Just their presence alone caused a wave of intimidation that left no one daring to step forward. Their terrifying auras silenced the competition entirely.
Apart from the well-known powerhouses, there were 160 people in total who advanced through the elimination matches, indicating that Universe 7 still had a considerable number of strong contenders. However, very few met Beerus's standards.
Beerus was somewhat dissatisfied... This result aligned with his expectations, but he still hoped to find a few more powerful individuals. Even if they couldn't reach Mu Chuan's level, they should at least rival the other Saiyans.
Only then would they have value for cultivation.
But when Beerus scanned the field, he found the results utterly unappealing. There were contestants with combat power in the hundreds of thousands, and some reaching into the millions. While impressive within the universe, in comparison to the Twelve Universes, it was simply not up to par!
"How disappointing..." Beerus muttered impatiently. This outcome left him uninterested in the matches and robbed him of any desire to spectate. With a dismissive comment, he disappeared entirely, opting to return to his comfortable slumber instead of wasting time here.
Whis sighed in mild frustration but understood there was little to be done. After all, this event concerned the entirety of Universe 7 and deserved serious attention.
"Now that the elimination rounds are complete, the selection phase will commence. Participants will face each other in one-on-one matches. The winner stays, and the loser is eliminated!" Whis announced.
"Each person only has one chance! The selection continues until the top ten are determined!"
Upon hearing Whis's declaration, the expressions of those who advanced changed. They hadn't expected this season's tournament to be so ruthless. Just as someone wanted to voice their thoughts, Whis spoke again.
"This martial arts tournament spans the entirety of Universe 7, but it is solely to select the top ten strongest fighters. These ten will represent Universe 7 in the Tournament of Power, which will bring together warriors from twelve universes like ours."
"Hence, the rules are designed to be harsh," Whis explained succinctly, ensuring everyone understood the gravity of the situation.
Once his words sank in, the crowd erupted in shock.
What?
The goal was to select the strongest ten fighters, and they would battle against champions from other universes?
Some found it hard to believe that twelve such universes even existed! Others wondered if fighting warriors from other universes was even possible.
Regardless of their doubts, many felt the immense pressure of the situation. However, a portion of the crowd, aware of their own limitations, remained indifferent. Those with marginal strength viewed every opponent as a potential threat.
Frieza, upon hearing this, snorted coldly and suddenly raised his hand.
"Lord Whis, I forfeit! I have no interest in participating in the Tournament of Power. I only came here for some fun, and now that it's over, it's time for me to focus on training," Frieza declared.
His sudden statement silenced the entire arena.
Whenever Frieza spoke, no one dared make a sound. Such was the dominance of the galactic emperor.
Those present were equally astonished. Forfeit? Frieza? The one widely regarded as in a league of his own had chosen to withdraw?
Whis made no comment, merely smiling at Frieza. The galactic emperor shrugged nonchalantly.
At that moment, Mu Chuan slowly walked to the center of the arena, drawing everyone's attention. Despite this being Frieza's domain, someone dared to step forward.
What kind of audacity did this person have to provoke Frieza?
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Mu Chuan locked eyes with Frieza and said calmly, "Frieza, let's have a fight! I'm itching for some action."
Boom!
The moment his words fell, a wave of shock rippled through the crowd.
"Who is this guy? He dares to challenge Frieza outright? Does he not know he's provoking the emperor of the universe?"
"Incredible... This guy must be insane!"
"Regardless of his strength, his courage alone is commendable. No one dared step forward against Cooler earlier, but now he faces Frieza directly!"
Many spectators felt their hearts stop as they held their breath, anticipating an impending catastrophe. Most of the audience began retreating from their seats, trying to distance themselves from Frieza, well aware of his temper. If he erupted in anger, countless would be caught in the crossfire.
Interestingly, Karl and his group didn't seem the least bit concerned. They watched with smiles, placing private bets on whether Frieza would accept the challenge. After all, they knew Mu Chuan's purpose: to ensure Frieza participated in the Tournament of Power.
Using provocation as a tactic, they were unsure if Frieza would take the bait. After his recent beating, would he dare?
No one could say for sure.
Compared to the crowd's varied reactions, Frieza felt an inexplicable unease as Mu Chuan approached the stage.
When Mu Chuan spoke, Frieza's face darkened, caught in a dilemma. Accepting the challenge seemed undesirable, but refusing was equally problematic. For a moment, he was utterly indecisive.
Cooler and Bojack, standing nearby, dared not utter a word. They wanted to share Frieza's burden but couldn't ignore Mu Chuan's immense strength. Overwhelmed, they stayed silent, unable to intervene.
As Frieza wavered, Mu Chuan's voice rang out again.
"Come on, let's fight. I'm itching to beat you up!"
"Damned Saiyan monkey! You've gone too far!" Frieza roared.