Dragon Ball: Ascension

When it came to combat, Karnel had never backed down from a challenge. He cracked his knuckles with a confident grin. "Alright then, Grand Kai. Let me show you what I can do."

Grand Kai chuckled like an excited child and gestured for Karnel to follow him to a relatively small martial arts arena nearby. Being the tournament enthusiast that he was, Grand Kai had naturally constructed this fighting stage on his tiny planet for occasions just like this.

"Karnel, this will be our battlefield," Grand Kai announced, pointing to the modest 20-meter by 20-meter square platform. "The rules are simple, whoever gets knocked out of the ring loses."

"Fair enough. Your arena, your rules," Karnel replied with casual confidence, stepping onto the platform.

Grand Kai performed an enthusiastic backflip before landing in a fighting stance. "Excellent! You seem to underestimate me quite a bit. Even though I haven't fought seriously in many years, I'm more than capable of putting an arrogant young warrior like you in your place!"

Despite privately doubting Grand Kai's combat abilities, Karnel maintained a respectful facade. Seeing that the elderly Kai was ready to begin, he gestured politely. "After you then. Show me what the Grand Kai can do!"

"HYAH!" Grand Kai shouted with tremendous gusto, his aura flaring dramatically. Karnel tensed, expecting an immediate attack...

But Grand Kai suddenly stopped mid-pose, slapping his forehead. "Oh! I feel like something important is missing. Just give me one moment." He hopped out of the ring and scurried away, returning moments later clutching his beloved broken radio.

He carefully placed the device at ringside and fiddled with the controls until upbeat music began blasting from the speakers. Grand Kai immediately began swaying to the rhythm, slowly dancing his way back into the ring.

"Ah, that's much better! I knew something was missing," Grand Kai said happily, shaking his head and limbs in time with the music like an overgrown child.

Karnel watched this display with growing incredulity. "Are we... are we ready to fight now? I'm still hoping to reach the Supreme Kai's realm sometime today."

"Young people these days, always in such a rush," Grand Kai said with mock disappointment. Then a sly glint flashed in his eyes. "Can't even wait for a proper—"

Before finishing his sentence, Grand Kai launched a lightning-fast sneak attack, his fist shooting toward Karnel's forehead faster than most eyes could follow.

But Karnel's reflexes, honed by years of intense training, were ready. His own fist met Grand Kai's in a thunderous collision.

CRACK! POW! BANG!

The small arena erupted with the sound of rapid-fire impacts as the two warriors exchanged blows. Due to the platform's limited size, neither fighter could employ hit-and-run tactics, they were forced into close-quarters combat, moving only a few steps at a time to avoid accidentally falling out of bounds.

"I have to admit, this Grand Kai is genuinely powerful," Karnel thought with growing surprise as their battle intensified. "He's even stronger than King Cold was. This is impressive."

Despite fighting at his normal full power, Karnel found himself unable to gain a decisive advantage against the seemingly comedic old Kai.

"Karnel, I must say you're quite strong!" Grand Kai called out cheerfully between exchanges. "But I'm barely using half my power. Surprised?"

Karnel narrowly dodged Grand Kai's attempt to grab his tail from behind, spinning away with a smirk. "Of course I'm strong, much stronger than you, actually. Want me to prove it?"

Grand Kai paused his assault, eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Don't try to bluff me, young man. I can clearly sense that you've been using your full strength in every attack."

"Since you asked so nicely," Karnel said with a dangerous smile, "I'll give you a proper demonstration."

The familiar surge of power coursed through him as he transformed into Super Saiyan form. His black hair blazed golden, his eyes shifted to cold emerald, and his aura erupted around him like a living flame.

"Now then," Karnel said, his voice dropping to an icy tone, "how do you feel about my strength?"

Grand Kai's jaw dropped so far it looked like he could swallow a basketball. It took him several long moments to close his mouth and regain his composure. "Well... I mean... just because you changed your hair color and your voice got a bit chillier doesn't mean I don't know who you are anymore. Although... perhaps... maybe your power level has increased somewhat..."

"Listen here, old man," Karnel said with mock menace, "I'm about to wipe the floor with you!"

"WHAT?! What did you just call me?!" Grand Kai's eyes bulged with indignation. "I am the Grand Kai of the entire universe, and you dare call me 'old man'?! No one has ever shown me such disrespect!"

Karnel shrugged dismissively. "Don't you look old? Isn't that a head full of white hair? What's wrong with calling you old man?"

At that moment, the broken radio's music reached a particularly energetic crescendo, and Grand Kai began twisting his body in rhythm despite his apparent anger.

"This isn't about being old!" he protested while performing what could only be described as an embarrassing dance routine. "This white hair represents the eternal marks of time itself! You young people understand nothing about wisdom and experience!"

He slithered closer to Karnel with snake-like movements, arms waving wildly. "Say, Karnel, why don't you dance along? This music is absolutely beautiful!"

Karnel recoiled in disgust as Grand Kai's flailing hands came too close. "We're supposed to be fighting, remember?"

"Oh! Right! I completely forgot," Grand Kai said, suddenly snapping back to seriousness. "Let me see if you actually became stronger after that flashy transformation, or if it's just for show."

'This young man's power became completely unreadable after his transformation, Grand Kai thought to himself with growing concern. Before, I could gauge his strength, but now I can't even sense its limits. Just where did this warrior come from?'

Despite his comedic exterior, Grand Kai possessed the sharp instincts that had allowed him to rise above the four directional Kai and claim his position as Grand Kai. He was far more perceptive than he appeared.

Before Grand Kai could analyze the situation further, Karnel's attack came whistling through the air toward him.

Grand Kai's expression turned serious as he sensed the tremendous power behind the strike, it rivaled his own full-strength attacks. Without panic, he raised his arm to block, but the tremendous force sent him sliding backward across the arena floor as he worked to dissipate the impact.

In the next instant, Karnel had vanished from sight. Grand Kai's instincts screamed danger, but he had no time to react before a sharp pain struck his forehead.

With a playful grin, Karnel had appeared behind Grand Kai and delivered a precise knuckle-flick to the back of his head, the impact resonating like a struck drum.

"Ow!" Grand Kai yelped, clutching his head as he stumbled forward several steps. He turned around with a rueful smile. "You're so fast I can barely track your movements!"

This comment made Karnel's eye twitch with irritation. Being called "fast" in combat had... unfortunate implications that no warrior wanted to hear.