The violent noise that had been echoing through the small mountain stream for what felt like hours finally stopped, and the surroundings returned to peaceful silence. Only the gentle sound of flowing water and someone's labored breathing could be heard.
"Ah~! You're so strong! I used triple Kaio-ken and it didn't even scratch you," Goku panted, lying spread-eagle on the green grass with his chest rising and falling rapidly as he gasped for air.
The battle hadn't lasted long, less than half a minute, but Goku was already completely exhausted.
Karnel sat cross-legged by the stream with perfect composure, watching the small fish and shrimp swimming in the clear water without a ripple of concern in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, Karnel asked, "Kakarot, can you only use Kaio-ken times three?"
"Ha~! Kaio-ken times three is just within my body's tolerance range right now," Goku replied, pushing himself up with his hands and breathing heavily. "I can actually use five-times Kaio-ken, but with my current physical strength, I can only maintain it for about a minute. If I don't stop after that, my body won't be able to handle it."
Even Kakarot, a Saiyan, could only last less than fifteen minutes using Kaio-ken. The Kaio-ken truly was a double-edged sword.
Karnel carefully examined Goku's arms, thighs, and other muscles throughout his body after using the technique. They were trembling slightly and uncontrollably, clear signs that he couldn't withstand the enormous negative effects of the Kaio-ken.
"This kind of technique can be used occasionally, but overusing it will cause irreversible damage to the body," Karnel thought grimly. "No wonder Kakarot developed heart problems later. It's completely ridiculous for a Saiyan, a member of the ultimate warrior race born with physical strength far superior to most other races in the universe, to be defeated by a simple heart attack. It's unscientific... unless it's because he used the Kaio-ken too much."
He shook his head. Although the Kaio-ken was impressive, he didn't really need this kind of self-destructive technique.
"Kakarot, I advise you not to use the Kaio-ken too frequently, or Chi-Chi might become a widow if you're not careful," Karnel said half-jokingly.
Goku stretched and sat up on the ground. After resting, most of the soreness in his muscles had disappeared. Hearing this warning, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "I think it's pretty good, though. This is a technique created by King Kai himself. It's just that my body can't handle it after using it, and I feel a little... hollow afterward."
"I'm not joking with you," Karnel said seriously. "Although the Kaio-ken can greatly increase your strength, it also has a fatal flaw. If you use it frequently, you might die from its aftereffects. Besides, deep within your body lies a superior technique that can increase your strength by hundreds or even thousands of times with almost no side effects, you just haven't discovered it yet." Karnel smiled mysteriously.
Goku scratched his head and thought for a while, then looked doubtful. "Is there really a technique in my body that's more powerful than the Kaio-ken? You're not lying to me, are you? How can I not detect it?"
After being deceived twice in a row, Goku had become a bit wary and couldn't help but doubt whether what Karnel was saying was true or false.
"How can you not believe me? This is a natural ability of the Saiyan race," Karnel replied with a knowing smile. "It's too early to explain now, you'll understand later. Here!" He tossed the universal capsule containing the gravity chamber over to Goku. "If you want to quickly improve your strength, this thing is perfect for you."
This was the 500-times gravity chamber that he had commissioned Dr. Briefs to create when he was younger. Now it had no effect on Karnel's training, and it would be wasteful to just throw it away. He might as well give it to Goku directly. Why not do a favor?
Goku held the small capsule between two fingers and examined it from various angles. "This... is one of those universal capsules that Bulma's family researched, right? Is there something delicious inside?"
"...You've been to King Kai's planet before, right? The gravity there is much stronger than on Earth, and training there felt quite intense, didn't it? This capsule contains something that will make you feel very... challenged," Karnel explained with mild exasperation.
"Gravity... Could it be that this capsule contains... King Kai's gravity planet? Karnel, you're really amazing! You actually stole King Kai's planet!" Goku thought for a long time, then suddenly had a realization and shouted loudly.
BANG!
Karnel couldn't stand it anymore and kicked Goku into a pile of rocks.
"Your brain is poisoned! This is a gravity room, the highest gravity can be adjusted to 500 times Earth's gravity. Training here is much better than King Kai's planet."
Goku struggled out of the rocks and ran back over, touching the back of his head embarrassedly. "Ha~! So it's a room where you can freely adjust the gravity. You even thought of this and had it made a long time ago. That's amazing!"
"If I wasn't worried that you couldn't defeat Vegeta, I wouldn't bother giving it to you," Karnel thought to himself without saying it aloud. If the world lacked Vegeta and Kakarot, this pair of destined rivals, would it still be complete?
"You're too weak right now. Take this thing home and train with it. You only have about half a year left. If you're not strong enough to beat that Saiyan after six months, I won't step in to help you. At most, I'll help collect your body and give it to Chi-Chi," Karnel said with dark humor.
Goku frowned when he heard this. "Even if I have something like a gravity room, you still don't think highly of me, Karnel. This incoming Saiyan seems to be incredibly powerful."
"Very strong! Extremely strong!" Karnel's tone grew progressively colder. "I suggest you go to Korin Tower and get a large bag of senzu beans, then enter the gravity room to train. Don't waste any time except for resting, otherwise... you will die!"
Goku wasn't scared by the warning. Instead, he nodded seriously, then flew up into the sky and headed home.
As he watched Goku's figure disappear into the distance, Karnel murmured to himself, "Goku is the only normal Saiyan left in the entire universe. Vegeta should have kept my words in mind from our previous encounter. I just wonder if he'll actually try to kill him. I'm really looking forward to it... Good friends and bitter rivals, love and hate intertwined..."
"The bro romance is sure tobe very intertaining to watch." Karnel said with a wide grin