Master Roshi adjusted his sunglasses, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Karnel, Yamcha and Krillin have been training very hard under my guidance. They've become much stronger since the last martial arts tournament." He stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Why don't you spar with Yamcha? I'd love to see what level your strength has reached after all these years."
The old turtle hermit's eyes gleamed with genuine interest. He remembered the incredible potential Karnel had shown as a child, and now he wanted to see how that power had developed.
'If I told you I could destroy the Earth with a single finger, would you believe me?' Karnel thought to himself, but simply shrugged with an amused smile. "If you insist, Master. But I'll make this interesting, I'll stand perfectly still, and if Yamcha can land even one hit on me, I'll concede defeat."
"You're looking down on me that much?" Yamcha's competitive spirit flared as he threw his heavy turtle shell to the ground, creating a small dust cloud. His eyes burned with determination. "Fine! If you want to be that cocky, I won't hold back!"
Karnel crossed his arms casually over his chest and gave a small nod, gesturing for Yamcha to begin his attack.
"Don't blame me for not warning you!" Yamcha roared, his battle cry echoing across the beach. He launched himself forward, unleashing a barrage of punches, easily dozens in a single second, each one aimed with precision and power.
But Karnel moved like water itself. His feet remained planted exactly where they were, yet his upper body swayed and twisted with fluid grace, effortlessly avoiding every strike. His expression remained completely relaxed, almost meditative, as if he were simply enjoying a gentle breeze rather than dodging a fierce assault.
Yamcha's confidence crumbled with each missed punch. Not a single blow connected, he couldn't even graze the fabric of Karnel's clothing.
"This is impossible," Yamcha panted, stepping back in disbelief. "Even Goku and Tien couldn't do something like this. You're dodging my full-power attacks without even moving your feet!"
"Your strength is quite respectable by Earth's standards," Karnel said gently, his tone instructional rather than condescending. "But you're too impatient, too eager. That instability prevents you from utilizing your full potential."
Bulma's cheeks flushed pink as she watched, stars practically sparkling in her eyes. So amazing... so cool!'
Master Roshi showed only mild surprise. He hadn't expected Yamcha to actually defeat someone with Karnel's monstrous talent, this was simply a test to gauge Karnel's current abilities. But even he was impressed by how effortlessly Karnel had avoided such a fierce assault without revealing even a fraction of his true power.
"Yamcha can't handle it alone," Karnel chuckled, crooking his finger at the bald monk. "Krillin, why don't you join in? Don't hold back, use whatever techniques you have."
Krillin's jaw dropped. He knew Yamcha's strength intimately, on a good day, he wasn't even sure he could beat his training partner. Yet Yamcha couldn't make Karnel budge an inch.
"Alright then, I'm joining the fight!" Seeing Karnel's incredible display, Krillin didn't hesitate. "Yamcha, let's attack together!"
Yamcha's bruised ego felt slightly better hearing this suggestion, and he quickly rejoined the assault alongside his friend.
Two fists might be no match for four hands in most cases, but this principle held no meaning against Karnel. Four fists and four feet attacked him simultaneously in a coordinated assault, yet from a distance, it looked as though Krillin and Yamcha were practicing their forms against a training dummy, one that moved with impossible speed and precision, never allowing a single strike to connect.
"Damn it!" Krillin growled internally, frustration mounting. "Every time I think I'm about to hit him, he slips away at the last second!" He poured even more speed and power into his attacks, pushing himself to his absolute limit.
After several minutes of continuous, frenzied assault, both warriors finally stopped, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat.
"Giving up already?" Karnel asked with a hint of disappointment in his voice, as if he'd been genuinely enjoying himself. "Your physical attacks can't touch me, but surely you have other techniques? Didn't Master Roshi teach you his signature Kamehameha?"
Both Krillin and Yamcha looked shocked. Energy attacks were far more dangerous than physical strikes, they exchanged glances and looked to Master Roshi for guidance.
"It's fine," the Turtle Hermit said seriously, his expression grave. "Karnel's strength is beyond what you can imagine. Use your ki techniques, all of them."
"Well then, we won't hold back anymore," Yamcha said, his confidence returning as he prepared his stance. "Karnel, you'd better be careful. If this becomes too much, just say the word."
"Spirit Bomb!" Yamcha gripped his wrist with his free hand, gritting his teeth in concentration. A brilliant orb of energy, blazing like a miniature sun, began forming in his palm.
Simultaneously, Krillin cupped his hands, gathering his own power. "Destructo Disc!" A razor-thin disc of energy materialized above his palms, spinning at incredible velocity with a high-pitched whine that spoke of its devastating cutting power.
Both attacks launched simultaneously, Yamcha's Spirit Bomb streaking through the air like a comet, while Krillin's Destructo Disc sliced through the atmosphere with deadly precision.
Karnel remained motionless until the very last second. With casual grace, he tilted his head slightly, allowing the Spirit Bomb to whistle past his ear by mere centimeters. In the same fluid motion, he reached out and caught Krillin's spinning disc between two fingers, applying just enough pressure to cause the concentrated energy to unravel into harmless sparkles that dissipated in the ocean breeze.
"What... he caught my Destructo Disc with just two fingers?" Krillin's eyes bulged comically, his mouth hanging open wide enough to catch flies.
"That's an excellent technique, Krillin," Karnel praised with genuine appreciation. "The cutting area might be small, but the sharpness is remarkable. With proper development, this could become one of your signature moves."
"It's not over yet!" Yamcha shouted, making a sharp gesture with his finger. "Watch your back!"
The Spirit Bomb, still under Yamcha's control, curved through the air and shot back toward Karnel from behind.
Without even turning around, Karnel extended his hand backward and caught the energy sphere perfectly in his palm. The Spirit Bomb struggled against his grip, creating friction and sparks, but it might as well have been trying to burn through solid steel.
"Incredible..." Master Roshi murmured under his breath, finally beginning to grasp the true scope of Karnel's power.
With a gentle squeeze, Karnel dispersed the energy attack completely, the brilliant light fading as harmlessly as a soap bubble.
"Well," he said with a satisfied smile, "that was quite entertaining." Karnel said with a small smile