"Please go in and try it yourself, Mr. Karnel," Dr. Briefs invited, gesturing toward the gravity chamber. "The control panel is straightforward, power, gravity adjustment, emergency shutdown, and monitoring systems are all clearly labeled." He pressed the upper switch, causing the chamber door to slide open with a soft hydraulic hiss.
Karnel gazed at the gravity chamber with a mixture of awe and nostalgia. For twelve years, he had dreamed of training in such a facility, the same type that had transformed ordinary warriors into legendary fighters.
Stepping inside, he immediately understood the control panel. Its intuitive design was so simple that even a child could operate it.
"Let's start with ten times Earth's gravity," Karnel muttered to himself, pressing the appropriate button.
Instantly, a force pulled downward from his feet, though it was barely noticeable to someone with his power level of 540,000.
Undeterred, Karnel continued adjusting the settings. "Thirty times... forty times... fifty times!"
At fifty times Earth's gravity, Karnel finally began to feel significant pressure weighing down on his body. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was enough to provide resistance for effective training.
After experimenting for a few minutes, Karnel decided to exit the chamber. This wasn't the right time for a full training session, Dr. Briefs and Bulma were waiting outside. If he stayed too long, they might worry something had gone wrong and try to enter. The thought of them bursting in while he was in the middle of intense training made him chuckle, that would be quite a scene.
"This is excellent, Doctor, far better than I expected," Karnel said sincerely as he emerged from the chamber. "Your scientific genius is truly remarkable."
"Brother Karnel," Bulma tugged at the corner of his clothing, her eyes wide with curiosity, "is this what you asked my dad to make for you? What's it do? It looks amazing!"
"It's incredible, little one," Karnel said, gently ruffling her blue hair. "It increases gravity! If an ordinary person walked in there right now, they'd be instantly flattened to the floor."
He pressed another button outside the door, and the entire gravity chamber transformed back into a compact capsule. Karnel picked it up, his expression turning solemn with appreciation.
"Doctor," he began, "since Bulma's radar will be completed by tomorrow, I was wondering if I might impose on your hospitality for one night?" Despite his power, Karnel had never stayed in a luxury mansion before and was curious to experience it. The request was bold, but he hoped the doctor wouldn't mind.
"Ha ha!" Dr. Briefs laughed warmly. "Of course you can stay with us, Mr. Karnel! It's no trouble at all. In fact, it's been a while since we've had guests. We'd be delighted!"
That night, Karnel experienced the luxurious lifestyle of the Briefs family. The dinner table was laden with more dishes than he could count, each more delicious than the last. He ate to his heart's content, savoring every flavor.
The next day, just before noon, Bulma proudly presented Karnel with the completed Dragon Radar and one of the Dragon Balls she had found for testing.
"Look, Brother Karnel!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. "I finished the radar this morning. What do you think? Still underestimating me?"
Karnel examined the device carefully. It matched what he had expected—somewhat crude in appearance, as expected from something built by a child prodigy of four or five years old. Yet despite its unpolished exterior, Karnel knew its functionality was flawless. The sight of it filled him with genuine emotion.
"This is the best gift I've ever received," he said softly. "Thank you, Bulma."
"You truly are a genius," he continued, not hesitating to praise the little girl standing before him. "I can already see that you'll surpass even your father as a scientist someday."
"Are you leaving now,Karnel?" Bulma stared up at him with adorable eyes, her voice tinged with reluctance.
"Yes, I'm afraid so. I need to find all seven Dragon Balls."
"Will you come back?" A misty sheen gradually formed over Bulma's large eyes.
Though they hadn't known each other long, Karnel had grown fond of the precocious little girl. His affection was purely that of an older brother for a younger sister.
"Of course I will," Karnel promised solemnly. "Once I've collected all seven Dragon Balls, I'll return."
"You better!" Bulma's smile returned as she extended her pinky finger.
"It's a promise," Karnel laughed, linking his pinky with hers to seal their pact.
After leaving West City, Karnel headed toward his next destination: Korin Tower.
Arriving at the base of the legendary structure, he was surprised not to see the indigenous guardians, Bora and Upa, who traditionally protected the sacred site. Only a solitary tent stood in the distance.
Karnel shook his head, wondering where Bora might be, Upa was likely not even born yet in this timeline.
With a burst of speed that would appear as nothing but a blur to ordinary humans, Karnel ascended the immense pillar that stretched into the clouds.
In mere moments, he reached Korin's sanctuary at the top of the tower.
The sanctuary appeared empty at first glance, with several drinking vessels neatly arranged but no sign of its caretaker. Then, a white paw emerged from an open container, followed by an elderly white cat clutching a wooden staff.
"Greetings, Master Korin!" Karnel called respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you. I've brought a gift."
Karnel opened one of his universal capsules and produced a basket of fresh fish, purchased before leaving the Briefs household. He knew that understanding what others valued was the key to successful negotiations.
"Fish... so many fish," Korin murmured, whiskers twitching as he sniffed appreciatively, unable to stop himself from drooling slightly. For centuries, he had subsisted on bland senzu beans—the sight of his favorite food made his eyes gleam with desire. His reaction was almost comical, like a man who had practiced abstinence for years suddenly encountering temptation.
After devouring several fish with surprising speed for his elderly appearance, Korin turned to Karnel, his expression serious, though somewhat undermined by the fish oil still glistening on his whiskers.
"I can sense that you are the source of that tremendous power that has been radiating across Earth," the cat said solemnly.
"That's right," Karnel replied calmly. "I've been on this planet for over a year now. Have I done anything harmful in that time? Besides, even if I wanted to cause trouble, is there anyone on Earth who could stop me?"
Korin fell silent, considering this perspective. "...I know. And I suspect you didn't come to my tower for training, your power is already terrifying by Earth's standards."
As he spoke, the wise cat carefully transferred the remaining fish into an empty large container, clearly planning to savor them later.