"So you know about the Kamehameha? Interesting," Master Roshi said, stroking his beard as he eyed Karnel with renewed curiosity. "You're quite knowledgeable for someone so young. But the Turtle School techniques aren't handed out so easily. Even if you did bring me these… ahem… reading materials, that won't make you my disciple."
'Tch. So he won't teach me just like that, Karnel thought, frowning. Should I just overpower him and force him to teach me?'
The idea flickered through his mind, but he pushed it aside.
No... that's not right. In his past life, Karnel had been raised with respect for his elders. Beating up an old man, even one as strong as Roshi, just didn't sit right.
'I'll challenge him instead. A friendly spar. I'll hold back so it stays fair. This is just to learn martial arts, not to hurt him.'
Trying to justify the idea to himself, Karnel took a step forward.
Roshi's spine tingled, a sudden chill creeping up his back. A subtle premonition warned him, this kid wasn't ordinary. He instinctively stepped back, eyes narrowing.
"Come on, old timer. Let's fight," Karnel said with a confident grin. "After that, we'll talk training."
"Well, well. The type to solve things with fists when words don't work, huh?" Roshi chuckled, though his expression turned serious. "You're strong, I can tell. This old turtle might actually need to try today."
"Less talk. Let's go," Karnel snapped.
In a flash, Karnel vanished. An afterimage of him remained behind for a split second before Roshi felt the pressure shift, he was behind him now.
Roshi twisted fast, raising a leg to block.
BOOM!
Their limbs collided with a thunderous crack, shockwaves rippling through the air.
Karnel's power level was well above Roshi's, 300, easily enough to win, but he held back. He didn't want to crush the old master. He wanted to learn. To test himself. To understand what made the Turtle Hermit a legend.
But that hesitation came at a price.
Roshi spotted an opening and drove his elbow deep into Karnel's chest.
The blow knocked him back over thirty feet.
Pain radiated through Karnel's ribs, but he twisted mid-air and shot back toward Roshi. He was already learning. Each exchange revealed something new.
Roshi's style was disciplined. No wasted movement. No unnecessary energy. Every strike had purpose.
This time, Karnel fought smarter, less brute force, more reaction.
"You've got good instincts," Roshi said, blocking a punch with his wrist. "But no real combat experience."
Karnel withdrew, spun, and launched a kick at Roshi's face.
"Unstable!" Roshi barked, seeing through the technique instantly.
He ducked and swept Karnel's legs out from under him. The young Saiyan hit the ground hard.
Half an hour passed. Karnel cursed under his breath, chest heaving.
"Again!" he barked, brushing off the sand.
Now calmer, he attacked with greater patience, each movement sharper than the last.
The sound of their blows echoed across the tiny island.
"Wait, Master Roshi! There's a beautiful woman in a bikini behind you!" Karnel suddenly shouted.
Roshi froze. "A beauty? Where?!"
'Perfect.'
Karnel lunged. His fist shot toward Roshi's exposed back.
'Got him!'
But; fwoosh; his punch passed through an afterimage.
'Oh no.'
Roshi appeared behind him, grinning.
WHAM!
Karnel slammed face-first into the sand.
For another half hour, they clashed. Despite the gap in power, Karnel couldn't land a clean hit. Roshi anticipated everything. Every punch, every kick, read like a book.
Eventually, Karnel stood, breath ragged.
"That's enough for today. I'll be back tomorrow."
Roshi wiped his brow, chuckling. "You've got potential. But experience? That's what you lack."
He relaxed, letting go of his fighting stance. "If you weren't so obsessed with learning Turtle School techniques, we could be great friends. I'd even give you pointers here and there, especially if you keep bringing those magazines. Heh heh!"
Karnel collapsed onto the beach. "I'm not leaving until I land at least one solid hit on you."
Even in defeat, he couldn't help but admire the old man. Roshi's skill, experience, and danger sense were on another level.
"Fighting him for an hour taught me more than a year of solo training," Karnel muttered, staring at his own fist. "If I fought myself from an hour ago, I'd win."
'Wait… that voice just now...'
Something stirred in his mind, something he hadn't heard in over a decade.
It was the voice of his modifier; silent for eleven years.
Aside from that initial 10x training boost, it had been dormant. He'd nearly forgotten about it.
"Has it finally unlocked new functions?" Karnel said aloud, eyes wide.
After eleven long years, he reached out to the interface in his mind.