"Is the Grand Supreme Kai really that powerful?" Karnel asked with skepticism, finding it hard to believe what he'd just heard.
Todd nodded gravely. "Absolutely. For the longest time, I assumed the Grand Supreme Kai and Barro were evenly matched. But when Barro gave everything he had in their sparring match, he couldn't even scratch the Grand Supreme Kai. Instead, he was defeated with almost embarrassing ease."
Karnel's expression darkened at this revelation. If what Todd said was true, this final challenge would be far more daunting than anticipated. His own strength barely exceeded Barro's, and not by much. If even Barro couldn't compete with the Grand Supreme Kai, then Karnel's current power level might prove woefully inadequate.
The Grand Supreme Kai emerged from the temple with measured steps, his kind smile radiating ancient wisdom and barely contained power.
"Karnel, I must admit I'm impressed by how quickly you overcame the challenges posed by my four colleagues," the Grand Supreme Kai said warmly. "Now comes your final test, and it's refreshingly straightforward. Simply defeat me in combat!"
Despite the daunting odds, Karnel steeled his resolve. "Regardless of the outcome, retreating without trying isn't my style," he thought to himself. "Even if I can't defeat the Grand Supreme Kai, I'll use this opportunity to push my limits."
The four Supreme Kais positioned themselves on the temple steps, settling in like spectators at a grand tournament, eager to witness what promised to be an extraordinary battle.
Without hesitation, Karnel transformed directly into Super Saiyan 2. Golden light erupted around him, crackling with electric energy that illuminated the entire square.
Two streaks of light, one blazing gold, the other shimmering light blue, clashed in the center of the Supreme Kai Realm's courtyard. The intensity of their battle generated fierce winds that bent every tree to breaking point and sent the fish in Todd's ornamental pond flying several meters through the air.
Though combat wasn't the Grand Supreme Kai's primary specialization, his fighting instincts had been honed over millions of years of existence, an experience that dwarfed even the combined ages of the four Supreme Kais. Like water slowly carving through stone, those eons of accumulated wisdom had crystallized into an ocean of martial prowess.
Even with Karnel's Super Saiyan 2 transformation boosting his power a hundredfold, he couldn't gain any meaningful advantage over the Grand Supreme Kai. In fact, he found himself increasingly on the defensive.
The battle expanded beyond the temple square, spilling into the sky above the verdant grasslands surrounding the sacred grounds. Once they'd moved away from the temple, the Grand Supreme Kai seemed to cast aside all restraint. Every punch and kick carried devastating force, and Karnel began to feel overwhelmed.
As the prolonged assault drained his stamina, Karnel's mind raced for alternatives. Then inspiration struck, his newly perfected instant transmission technique.
Ever since mastering divine Instant Transmission to reach the Supreme Kai Realm, Karnel had discovered the ability had evolved significantly. Whether due to his newly acquired trace of divinity or simple practice, he no longer needed to concentrate intensely on sensing energy signatures. The technique now responded to pure intention, activating without delay.
Karnel had long planned to incorporate instant transmission into combat, but until now, he'd lacked a sufficiently powerful opponent to test the strategy against.
Mid-battle on the grassland, Karnel suddenly drove his fist toward the Grand Supreme Kai's incoming punch. Using the collision's momentum, he rolled backward and leaped several hundred meters away.
"You're quite resilient," the Grand Supreme Kai observed, hovering in place. "Lasting this long against me is no small feat." Seeing Karnel retreat to what appeared to be a rest position, the Grand Supreme Kai relaxed his guard slightly, allowing himself a moment of casual commentary.
'Now!'
Karnel's eyes gleamed as he spotted the opening he'd been waiting for, that brief instant when his opponent's attention wavered.
Whoosh!
"What? Where did he—" The Grand Supreme Kai's surprise was genuine as Karnel vanished without a trace.
'Success!'Karnel materialized directly behind the Grand Supreme Kai, his fist already driving toward his opponent's back.
But his attack found only empty air, the Grand Supreme Kai had left behind nothing but an afterimage.
"Impressive technique," came the calm voice from behind Karnel. The Grand Supreme Kai had not only evaded the surprise attack but had somehow positioned himself for a counterattrike. "But you'll need more than that."
"Not good!" The thought flashed through Karnel's mind as he realized his predicament. The gap in their base power made it impossible for him to turn and defend in time. He could only raise his arm to absorb the impact.
BANG!
The devastating punch sent Karnel plummeting toward the grass below. Even as he fell, he maintained his composure, spinning rapidly to dissipate the force of the blow. Before hitting the ground, he managed to right himself and launch back into the air.
The Grand Supreme Kai made no move to press his advantage. Instead, he remained suspended in mid-air, offering a gentle smile. "Karnel, let's conclude our match here. While your strength is certainly sufficient to defeat Barro, there remains a considerable gap between us. I haven't even been fighting at full capacity. Perhaps you should train for a while longer before attempting this challenge again."
Karnel reluctantly lowered his fists, though his emerald eyes still blazed with determination. Golden flames continued to dance around him, interwoven with crackling blue lightning. "Lord Grand Supreme Kai," he said with icy resolve, "you are extraordinarily powerful. But the stronger my opponent, the more exhilarating the battle becomes. I'll spend some time in training, and when I believe I've grown strong enough, I'll challenge you again."
"That sudden movement of yours was quite remarkable," the Grand Supreme Kai noted with genuine interest. "You appeared behind me in an instant. Against someone of equal strength, such a technique would be nearly impossible to counter."
"That was instant transmission," Karnel explained, his tone returning to normal. "Originally, I could only use it to locate people across vast distances. But to reach the Supreme Kai Realm, I had to refine and perfect the technique considerably. The trace of divinity I now possess actually emerged during the process of mastering this ability."
"It's incredibly convenient," Karnel continued. "The technique eliminates the need for tedious travel between distant locations."
The Grand Supreme Kai nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Karnel with obvious contemplation.
After they returned to the temple courtyard, the Grand Supreme Kai posed another question. "Karnel, I noticed you underwent a dramatic transformation during our battle. What exactly was that?"
Karnel, now back in his normal form, smiled slightly. "That's the legendary transformation of my people, the Super Saiyan."
"You seemed... different while transformed," the Grand Supreme Kai said with evident concern. "Almost like an emotionless fighting machine. Is this detachment a characteristic of your race's transformation?"
The question hung in the air as the other Supreme Kais gathered around, their own curiosity piqued by this unprecedented display of power and the mysterious changes it wrought in their challenger.