Dragon Ball: Ascension

(A/N: Alright getting back to normal schedule of 1 chapter per day for now!)

"Mind reading? I have to try it first!" Karnel's curiosity got the better of him. If Kibito could truly peer into minds, this would be fascinating to test. "Alright, Kibito, let's start with your challenge."

Karnel stood calmly, attempting to clear his mind of all thoughts. "Come on then. Let me see if your telepathy is really as powerful as you claim. What do I need to do?"

"Simply stand there," Kibito replied confidently. "As long as I can tell you what you're thinking, you lose." Mind reading was his specialty, and over the countless years, no one had ever been able to shield their thoughts from him.

"Then I won't think about anything," Karnel decided. "Even if you can peer into my mind, there'll be nothing to see." He stood perfectly still, staring directly into Kibito's eyes while forcing his mind into complete emptiness.

Kibito activated his telepathic abilities, and a mysterious energy spread outward, penetrating toward Karnel's consciousness and diving straight into his mental depths.

"Huh?" Kibito made a sound of confusion. As his power tried to enter Karnel's inner world, it was blocked by an unexpected barrier, something as impenetrable as steel that refused to yield no matter how hard he pressed against it.

Karnel felt a momentary panic as the telepathic probe touched his mind, but fortunately, a trace of power within his spiritual consciousness repelled the intrusion. This protective force was the divinity he had recently awakened, a divine essence that, even without conscious control, would not tolerate violation.

No matter what technique Kibito employed, he couldn't break through the divine barrier protecting Karnel's thoughts.

"Karnel, I cannot penetrate your mind. You win!" Rather than continue the futile struggle, Kibito gracefully conceded defeat.

Wiping cold sweat from his forehead, Karnel felt a wave of relief. If not for that trace of divinity emerging from the depths of his consciousness to block Kibito's mental probe, he would have lost this first trial.

"I have to thank the divine power I awakened recently," Karnel said modestly. "Without it, this would have been impossible."

Kibito nodded thoughtfully. "I see. It appears my telepathy only works on mortals. Against gods or those who possess divinity, it's useless."

Todd stepped forward eagerly. "Well, since Kibito's challenge is done, now it's time for you to compete with me in fishing, right?"

It didn't matter which order he tackled the challenges, so Karnel followed the cheerful North Supreme Kai toward a small mountain stream that wound through the sacred realm.

"Here's your fishing rod, Karnel. The rules are simple, if you catch even one fish, you win!" Todd handed him a basic fishing rod, baited his own hook with something from a small container, and cast his line into the gentle current.

Watching Todd settle into the peaceful rhythm of fishing, Karnel felt slightly annoyed. He baited his own hook with the mysterious substance and cast it out, then sat by the riverbank to wait.

For what felt like hours, something strange happened. Karnel didn't catch a single fish, while Todd, clearly an experienced angler, pulled one up every few minutes, only to gently release it back into the water. In no time at all, he had caught and released more than a dozen fish.

"Karnel, the fish in the Supreme Kai Realm are different from those in the mortal world," Todd explained kindly, seeing that his companion hadn't had so much as a nibble. "You can't just throw delicious bait into the water and expect results. The most important thing is to achieve inner calm. If your mind is turbulent, you won't catch anything."

Karnel sighed, understanding the problem immediately. "I'm not catching anything because I'm only thinking about passing these trials quickly so the Grand Supreme Kai will tell me how to return home. I can't calm down with that weighing on my mind."

He set down his fishing rod and reflected deeply. Soon, he grasped the true essence of fishing, it wasn't really about catching fish at all, but about finding peace within solitude.

After a moment of meditation, Karnel's heart became like a still pond without the slightest ripple. He cast his line again, but this time everything was different.

He seemed to forget he was even competing with Todd. His eyes closed, his body became perfectly motionless, and his breathing settled into a deep, rhythmic pattern. Gradually, Karnel entered what ancient texts described as unity between human and nature.

In this transcendent state, he could feel every aspect of his existence with crystal clarity. Oxygen flowed from his lungs throughout his entire body, and though his eyes were closed, he could perceive how every golden cell within him moved in harmony with his breathing. He witnessed the process of golden energy being nurtured from trillions of cells throughout his form.

The trace of divinity in his spiritual sea stirred and swirled, as if trying to communicate something profound to him.

"You have extraordinary comprehension," Todd observed with satisfaction. "I only offered a few casual words, yet you understood so quickly."

The fishing rod in Karnel's hands suddenly trembled, something had taken the bait. The gentle tug awakened him from his meditative trance.

Finally! With careful control, Karnel lifted the rod, and a red fish emerged from the water in a graceful arc.

"Excellent work!" Todd stopped his own fishing and set aside his rod with a smile. "I thought it would take you much longer to catch anything, but you succeeded remarkably quickly."

"It wasn't easy at all," Karnel replied with genuine emotion. "This simple fishing lesson taught me more than I expected. I'm truly grateful." Though the time had been brief, he had gained invaluable insights and achieved a new understanding of his own power.

With this enlightenment, Karnel knew he would no longer encounter obstacles when comprehending the mysterious force of divinity. One day, when he fully mastered it, his very existence would ascend to an entirely new level.

"Let's head back," Todd said, gathering his equipment. "Only Leila, Barro, and the Grand Supreme Kai remain. I believe you'll pass their challenges soon enough."

"My heart is like a clear mirror, undisturbed by any turbulence," Karnel mused, summarizing his current state of mind. He was no longer consumed by the anxiety that had plagued him earlier. Instead, he walked slowly alongside Todd, savoring this moment of peace.

As they approached the temple where the others waited, Karnel felt ready for whatever trials lay ahead. The dancing, the combat, and whatever mysterious final challenge the Grand Supreme Kai had in store, he would face them all with this newfound tranquility.