Several days had passed peacefully on New Namek, and Karnel found himself returning to Dende with barely contained excitement. The young Gua
Several days had passed peacefully on New Namek, and Karnel found himself returning to Dende with barely contained excitement. The young Guardian had finally completed his monumental task, seven black spheres now rested on the floor, appearing unremarkable to anyone who didn't know their true potential.
"Dende, your Dragon Balls are finished," Karnel observed, studying the modest collection with a smile.
"Yes!" Dende nodded eagerly. "Now we just need to use the ancestral Namekian incantation to activate them, and they'll become true Dragon Balls. Let's take them outside for the ceremony!"
Watching as the small Guardian struggled to gather all seven spheres at once, Karnel chuckled and stepped forward. "Here, let me help with that!"
He carefully collected the dormant Dragon Balls and followed Dende outside, where the open sky would provide proper space for what was to come.
"This spot should work perfectly," Karnel said, gently placing the black orbs on the ground in a rough circle.
Dende approached with newfound solemnity, the playful child replaced by a focused young elder. He positioned the seven spheres with precise care, then extended his hands above them and began chanting the ancient Namekian incantation.
Karnel watched in fascination, his senses straining to detect the subtle energies beginning to stir around the dormant artifacts.
As Dende's melodic chanting reached its crescendo, the transformation began. The black spheres slowly shifted to brown, the dark, clay-like substance dissolving away like morning mist. Golden light began to emerge from within, and one by one, the distinctive stars materialized inside each orb, glowing with inner fire.
'What kind of power is this? Karnel frowned in concentration, studying the mystical energy that seemed to flow from somewhere beyond normal space. It's completely different from time manipulation or any energy I've encountered before.'
"Finished!" Dende exclaimed, his composure breaking as he rushed to examine his handiwork. "Perfect! No flaws at all! I can't believe I succeeded on my first attempt!"
The young Guardian spent several minutes inspecting each Dragon Ball with the thoroughness of a master craftsman, his face glowing with pride and relief.
'I still can't penetrate the mystery, Karnel mused, shaking his head in frustration. I observed Dende complete the incantation, felt some unknown force transform the spheres instantly, but I can't identify or analyze its true nature.'
Watching Dende practically dance around the seven gleaming Dragon Balls, Karnel approached with a grin. "Dende, congratulations on creating your first set of Dragon Balls. Now, shall we test their power and summon the dragon?"
"Oh!" Dende slapped his forehead with embarrassment. "Of course! We should see if they actually work!"
The young Guardian positioned himself before the seven radiant spheres and called out the summoning phrase in the ancient tongue: "Takkaraput pop porunga pupiritt paro!"
Thunder crashed across the clear sky as golden light erupted upward. A magnificent Namekian dragon materialized in the heavens, though notably smaller than the legendary Porunga. The creature's serpentine form coiled through the air as it gazed down at those who had summoned it.
'The Namekians certainly have... unique aesthetic preferences, Karnel thought wryly, studying the dragon's imposing yet oddly proportioned form. Even their dragons have that distinctive Namekian look.'
"Karnel, do you have any wishes?" Dende called out excitedly. "My dragon isn't as powerful as the Great Elder's was, it can only grant one wish instead of three."
A wish... Karnel paused to consider. After everything he'd experienced, after all his battles and adventures, what could he possibly need that was within a dragon's power to grant?
"I don't really have any wishes that need fulfilling," he replied with a modest wave. "You should make the wish, Dende."
"No, I can't!" Dende shook his head firmly. "The creator of Dragon Balls is forbidden from making wishes to their own dragon. Please, just choose something, anything!"
'There are restrictions on the creator?' This was news to Karnel, though it made a certain logical sense.
"But I honestly don't need..." He trailed off as an intriguing possibility struck him. "Actually, wait. Can you ask the dragon if it's possible for me to enter the Demon Realm safely? See if that's within its power!"
The Demon Realm's unstable dimensional barriers had always intrigued him as a potential training ground for spatial techniques, but finding safe passage had proven impossible through conventional means.
"I understand! Let me—" Dende started to turn toward the dragon, then stopped awkwardly. "Oh... actually, I can't do that either."
'The dragon's abilities are that limited?' Karnel felt a twinge of disappointment.
"It's not that the wish is impossible," Dende explained hurriedly. "It's just that I can't be the one to speak to the dragon or convey wishes, even on someone else's behalf. I almost forgot that restriction myself! You'll need another Namekian to make the actual request."
"Well, that's easily solved," Karnel said with a laugh. "Wait right here, I'll fetch Daner."
He launched into the air and streaked toward the village at high speed. Within minutes, he returned with a slightly bewildered Daner in tow.
"Here we are, Daner!" Karnel announced as they landed.
Daner looked around in confusion, still disoriented from being suddenly whisked away from his daily routine. "What exactly is happening here, Karnel?"
"Dragon!" Daner's eyes widened as he spotted the magnificent creature coiled above them. "Is this your creation, Dende? It truly resembles Porunga, you should be very proud!"
The young Guardian beamed at the praise, his chest swelling with pride at having his work compared favorably to the legendary Great Elder's masterpiece.