Karnel floated in the cosmic void, his body battered and his golden aura flickering weakly. Every muscle screamed in protest as he watched Kairos engage Buu with surprising confidence.
"Kairos has become incredibly strong," Karnel muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes tracking the fierce battle unfolding before him. "It seems only by constantly challenging stronger opponents can one truly grow."
The transformed Buu, having absorbed the Grand Supreme Kai, fought with a terrifying combination of raw power and calculated intelligence. His movements had become more methodical, less chaotic than before, but no less deadly. Despite this evolution, Kairos matched him blow for blow, his crystalline horns gleaming as he weaved between the pink demon's attacks.
"Not bad for a tubby nightmare," Kairos taunted, landing a solid kick to Buu's midsection before spinning away from a retaliatory strike. "I was expecting more of a challenge after hearing Karnel's dramatic warnings."
But Karnel could see what his overconfident rival couldn't. Even fighting on equal terms, this was a battle of attrition that Kairos would eventually lose. Buu's regenerative abilities meant he could fight indefinitely, while Kairos, no matter how strong, was still mortal.
"Strength... I still need more strength!" Karnel clenched his fists in frustration. Without the power to instantly destroy Buu, all their efforts would be meaningless.
Ding!
A familiar sound echoed in Karnel's mind, one he hadn't heard in years. His eyes widened as he recognized the notification from the mysterious modifier system that had been dormant for so long.
"The third function... it's finally unlocked?" Hope flared in his chest as his consciousness dove into the mental interface, but his expression quickly darkened.
[Infinite Stamina]
The small text floated before his mind's eye, mocking him with its simplicity.
"This is useless!" Karnel wanted to scream. "I need the power to obliterate Buu instantly, not just unlimited endurance! What good is infinite stamina when I'm still too weak to finish him?"
The ability was a cruel joke. It would give him the same inexhaustible energy that Buu possessed, but it wouldn't increase his actual power level. Still, as he watched Kairos beginning to show signs of fatigue...
"Damn it all," Karnel cursed under his breath. "I'll have to make do. At least I can help Kairos before he collapses from exhaustion."
He activated the third modifier function, and immediately felt the change. The divine energy that had been depleted from multiple Senzu Bean recoveries suddenly surged back to full capacity, every cell in his body humming with renewed vitality.
Ding!
The interface confirmed the activation as the text turned red like the previous two functions.
"Let's see what infinite stamina can accomplish," Karnel muttered, transforming back into Super Saiyan 2. His golden aura blazed brighter than before as he rocketed toward the distant battle, leaving a streak of light across the star-filled void.
"Oh? The persistent one returns," Buu's eyes gleamed with malicious amusement as he noticed Karnel's approach. "I'll crush you both together!"
Without waiting for Karnel to close the distance, Buu's elastic body suddenly expanded, launching himself forward like a pink cannonball. His massive fist whistled through space, aimed directly at Karnel's head.
This time, however, Karnel felt no fear of exhaustion. With unlimited stamina flowing through his veins, he met Buu's charge head-on, their collision creating a shockwave that shattered a nearby asteroid into cosmic dust.
"You've gotten faster," Buu observed with genuine surprise as Karnel matched his strength. "But it won't matter!"
Karnel seized the moment of Buu's surprise, grabbing the pink demon and hurling him toward a small planet below. Without hesitation, he raised both hands, gathering energy with reckless abandon now that he didn't need to conserve his strength.
"Take this!" Karnel roared, launching a massive energy wave with his right hand while simultaneously forming a crackling sphere of destruction with his left. Both attacks slammed into Buu's back just as he impacted the planetoid's surface.
The combined explosion was spectacular, completely obliterating the small world in a brilliant flash of light and debris. Two figures quickly emerged from the destruction, but only one looked worse for wear.
"Karnel, you maniac!" Kairos shouted as he flew clear of the explosion, his armor scorched but his grin intact. "I was still down there! What if you'd killed me along with the fat guy?"
Karnel's expression remained cold and focused. "If you'd die that easily, then you're not worth worrying about. Buu is about to regenerate, and when he does, we need to work together. The only way to truly defeat him is to destroy every single cell simultaneously, otherwise he'll just keep coming back."
"You heartless bastard!" Buu's voice echoed from the debris field as his body reformed from scattered pink matter. "You blew away half my beautiful body! I'm going to turn you both into candy and savor every bite!"
Even missing his entire lower torso, Buu showed no signs of actual injury or concern. Within seconds, his body had completely restored itself, steam rising from his head vents as his anger reached new heights.
"So this is the creature called Buu," Kairos observed, his earlier cockiness replaced by genuine wariness. "Incredible. He's completely unharmed despite losing half his mass. What kind of monster regenerates that quickly?"
"He's a magical construct created by an ancient wizard," Karnel explained, never taking his eyes off their opponent. "Even if only his head remained, he'd still be able to recover completely. That's what makes him so dangerous."
Fat Buu's expression shifted from playful malice to cold fury. "I'm tired of playing games with you insects," he growled, his aura exploding outward with renewed intensity. "Time to get serious!"
The change was immediate and terrifying. Buu's speed increased exponentially, and before either Saiyan could react, he appeared directly in front of Kairos. The sound of breaking ribs echoed through the void as Buu's fist buried itself in the crystalline warrior's chest, sending him hurtling through space like a broken doll.
"Kairos!" Karnel moved to intercept, but Buu was already turning toward him, no longer holding back his true power. Even with infinite stamina, Karnel found himself overwhelmed by the sheer ferocity of Buu's assault. A devastating kick to his midsection sent him flying in the same direction as his ally, blood trailing behind him in a crimson arc.
Kairos managed to catch the wounded Karnel as they both tumbled toward another small planet, their bodies smoking from the impact of Buu's attacks.
"Can you hold him off for a few minutes?" Karnel asked urgently, wiping blood from his mouth as they landed on the barren world's surface. "I have an idea, but I need time to set it up."
The Potara earrings! The thought struck him like lightning. He'd seen Kibito wearing them before, and he remembered reading about their fusion properties in the Supreme Kai archives, as well as in the anime". If two warriors wore them, they could merge into a single being with combined power. It was their only chance.
"Under normal circumstances, I'd say absolutely," Kairos replied grimly, pressing a hand to his injured chest. "But with several broken ribs and that monster fighting at full strength..." He coughed, specks of blood spattering his lips. "I'll do what I can."
"Here, take this," Karnel handed him a Senzu Bean from his emergency supply. "Don't try to fight him directly. Use hit-and-run tactics, keep him distracted. His full power is beyond either of us alone."
As Kairos crunched down on the healing bean, Karnel turned his face toward the sky and shouted, "Kibito! Leila! I know you're watching through the crystal ball. I need the Potara earrings, now!"
In the Sacred World of the Kais, both Supreme Kais leaned forward intently, understanding dawning in their eyes.
"The fusion earrings," Leila breathed, her hands flying to her own ears. "Of course! If Karnel and Kairos combine their strength..." She was already removing the mystical accessories. "I'll transport them immediately!"
The battle for the universe's survival was about to take a dramatic turn.