The crimson-tinged Kamehameha missed its target, but Karnel wasn't concerned. The attack had served its purpose, intimidation was all he'd intended. If he truly wanted to kill the androids, two punches would have easily ended their mechanical lives.
"Get out of here while you still can," Karnel said calmly, dusting off his hands with casual indifference. "I won't show mercy next time."
Gohan stared at Karnel in amazement, still processing the incredible destructive power he'd just witnessed. After a long moment, he found his voice. "If you're that powerful, why don't you just kill them? They've slaughtered more than ninety percent of Earth's population."
"If I simply eliminate them, what would be the point for you surviving Earth warriors?" Karnel glanced toward the androids, who had retreated to a safer distance about a hundred meters away. "Don't you want to take revenge with your own strength?"
"If you truly don't have the confidence to surpass these two half-human, half-machine abominations," Karnel continued, his eyes flashing with lethal intent, "I can help you kill them right now."
Gohan's jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly as he stared at the distant androids with pure hatred. When he finally spoke, his voice was filled with unwavering determination. "No! You're right, I have to get my revenge with my own hands. One day, I will kill them myself!"
"Excellent," Karnel nodded approvingly. "Come on, let's go. I'd like to meet Master Roshi and the others from this timeline."
Gohan turned toward the androids and called out with decisive fury, "You two killed Piccolo, Yamcha, and countless innocent humans! I, Son Gohan, will destroy you with my own power!"
In the distance, Android 18 watched the retreating figures with trembling hands. "17, that red-haired Saiyan is incredibly powerful," she said, her voice tight with barely controlled fear.
Android 17 had experienced the divine energy wave firsthand, and the memory sent chills down his mechanical spine. "Compared to the Saiyans we killed before, there's a world of difference. He's too much of a threat to us." His eyes gleamed with cold calculation. "We need to find an opportunity to work together and eliminate him. It's the only way we'll have peace of mind."
Android 18's expression twisted into a horrified smile. "Yes, although he's stronger than either of us individually, he's too arrogant. We'll find our chance to kill him."
Gohan and Karnel walked through the ruins of what had once been a thriving city. The devastation was complete, abandoned buildings were covered in moss and vines, their broken windows staring out like hollow eyes. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the crunch of debris under their feet.
"We're here," Gohan said quietly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "My mom and Trunks have been staying in this underground shelter for years. They haven't dared to step outside, afraid that the androids might find us and destroy our last hope."
He led Karnel to what appeared to be a large, abandoned gate. The structure was so rusted and decrepit that without Gohan's guidance, Karnel would have dismissed it as just another derelict warehouse.
Gohan approached the door and made a specific gesture. With a prolonged creaking sound that spoke of years of neglect, the massive gate slowly opened.
"Come in," Gohan said, his voice heavy with the weight of their circumstances. "Besides my friends, there are ordinary humans taking refuge here. Life isn't easy for anyone, we live in constant fear."
They passed through a long, dimly lit corridor before entering a vast space constructed from cast steel. The area was divided into numerous rooms of various sizes, creating a makeshift underground city for the survivors.
Karnel followed quietly, ignoring the curious stares of ordinary people who peeked out from their doorways to watch the newcomer. They approached a room that appeared to be in slightly better condition than the others.
The door opened quickly, revealing Master Roshi. Karnel studied the elderly martial artist carefully, his complexion was much paler than the Master Roshi from his own timeline, and he lacked the cheerful demeanor Karnel remembered. This version looked worn down, almost defeated.
"Gohan, who is this?" Master Roshi asked, his eyes narrowing as he took in Karnel's appearance. "A Saiyan? I thought you and Trunks were the only Saiyans left on Earth."
"Grandpa Roshi, let's go inside first," Gohan said with evident guilt. "If it weren't for Karnel saving me today, I would have died at the hands of those brutal androids."
They entered the spacious room, which was divided into several smaller chambers that served as bedrooms for Gohan and the others. The accommodations were sparse but functional, a testament to their desperate circumstances.
"Master Roshi, do you have any memory of me?" Karnel asked tentatively, though he knew these were different timelines entirely.
Master Roshi examined him carefully for several seconds before shaking his head definitively. "No, I heard Gohan call you Karnel just now, but I've never seen you before. I don't know where you're from. Are there other Saiyans in this world?"
"I don't believe so," Karnel replied, unsurprised by the lack of recognition. "I came here by accident while trying to stop a powerful enemy from entering my world and causing havoc."
"Are you referring to the two androids outside?" Master Roshi asked, his expression growing grim. "They are indeed incredibly powerful. Vegeta and Krillin died at their hands long ago."
Suddenly, his face changed as the implications of Karnel's words sank in. "Wait, you mentioned 'your world'? So you're a Saiyan from another world? Are there warriors in your world who could defeat and kill these androids?"
The desperate hope in the old master's voice was almost heartbreaking. Here was a man who had watched his world die, clinging to any possibility of salvation. Karnel realized that his presence represented more than just another fighter, he was a symbol of hope in a world that had almost forgotten what hope looked like.
"Yes," Karnel said simply, his voice carrying quiet confidence. "In my timeline, we have warriors (not really, no) who could easily handle these androids. But that's not why I'm here."
The room fell silent as the weight of his words settled over them. For the first time in years, the survivors of this apocalyptic world dared to believe that their nightmare might finally have an end.