>>48730499>>48730495"This should be an interesting match," you tell the others.
"You can say that again," Krillin says in agreement.
"Begin!" the announcer shouts.
Neither fighter moves.
The two of them maintain the combat stances they're in, neither warrior moving so much as a muscle, and neither taking their eyes off of the other for a second.
You see sweat begin to drip down Tenshinhan's face, and you pray that his nervousness does not get the best of it.
For nearly ten minutes, the two fighters continue in this way, neither one moving, speaking, or doing anything. You can feel the crowd becoming increasingly bored, and can feel the impatience coming off the announcer.
"Well, folks, the tournament has just begun, and already we have us a good, old-fashioned standoff!" the announcer tells the crowd. "And, I think I speak for everyone when I say JUST GET ON WITH IT BEFORE WE ALL DIE OF BOREDOM."
"Man, Tenshinhan's so scared, he can't even move," Krillin comments.
"It's Tao that can't move," Goku corrects.
Looking more closely, you find that Goku is correct.
Tenshinhan has adopted a defensive stance; and it's perfect. No part of his body is unguarded, and that means Tao has no clear path of attack that won't leave him vulnerable. Any move he makes against Tenshinhan risks injury, and so he's been spending this time trying to work out the least-risky plan of attack.
"Alright, let's begin!" Tao shouts, rushing across the ring with blinding speed.
Tenshinhan sidesteps at the last moment, delivering a blow to the back of Tao's head.
The mercenary staggers forward, rubbing his metallic cranium while Tenshinhan stares at him with shocked, wide eyes.
"And Tenshinhan lands the first hit!" the announcer shouts.
Tao looks back at Tenshinhan, looking surprised for a few moments before a smile worms its way onto his face.
"So, you've improved a bit," he observes. "Good; I won't have to hold back nearly as much as I'd expected."
>Continued 