Dragon Ball: Ascension

Seeing Kairos evolve into his Ultimate Form and become exponentially stronger, Karnel couldn't help but wonder, could he use this overwhelming pressure to break through to the Super Saiyan 2 realm?

Noticing Karnel's determined stance, and eager to test his newfound power, Kairos ceased his objections and prepared to face whatever assault came his way.

"As expected, my strength has improved significantly after recovering from those serious injuries..." Karnel after eating a senzu bean, transformed into his Super Saiyan state, golden flames erupting around him like a solar flare as he launched a devastating punch.

Although his power had increased considerably, it still fell far short of Kairos's doubled strength.

Not only were all of Karnel's attacks effortlessly deflected, but he found himself constantly on the defensive against Kairos's counterstrikes. While Kairos held back enough to avoid inflicting serious damage, Karnel was clearly being toyed with, a humiliating position for any warrior.

After attacking relentlessly with no success, seeing that Kairos was merely blocking his strikes with no intention of mounting a real offense, Karnel's expression darkened. "Kairos," he said through gritted teeth, "you should attack as well. There's no need to hold back."

"Karnel, you're quite remarkable," Kairos replied, studying him with genuine surprise. "Your strength has increased so dramatically in such a short time. If the old me were to fight you now, you would defeat me within a few exchanges."

Kairos himself had only become twice as strong through his evolutionary transformation. Yet Karnel, who had been grievously wounded by the combined assault of two subordinates, had not only completely recovered but had somehow grown stronger in the process. This development genuinely intrigued the ancient king.

"We Saiyans have a unique physiology," Karnel explained calmly, his aura surging slightly as he prepared for another assault. "When we survive near-death experiences in battle, our strength increases after recovery. As for how I can heal so quickly, I'll tell you that secret after you manage to defeat me!"

This time, Kairos didn't remain stationary. His figure blurred as he engaged Karnel in earnest combat.

Even using only a fraction of his power, Kairos put Karnel in an increasingly desperate position. Unable to match either the speed or strength of his opponent, Karnel could only desperately defend against the relentless assault, finding no opportunity to launch attacks of his own.

"Not enough... not enough!" Karnel screamed internally. Every punch and kick from Kairos brought crushing pressure, but he felt it wasn't sufficient. This level of threat couldn't push him to the breaking point where his life truly hung in the balance.

BANG!

A powerful strike sent Karnel plummeting earthward at incredible speed, his impact creating a crater a hundred meters wide on the planet's surface.

Bursting from the crater without hesitation, Karnel soared back into the sky to renew his battle with Kairos.

Observing Karnel's relentless determination, Kairos seemed to reach some internal decision and increased the force behind his strikes.

The enhanced power finally made Karnel feel genuine mortal danger. The breath of death began to whisper in his ear.

"Yes! Just a little more!"

Each of Kairos's punches now carried enough force to end his life. The sensation of dancing on death's razor edge made Karnel's entire body tingle with adrenaline, every pore opening as his survival instincts reached their peak.

Karnel threw everything he had into blocking each devastating blow, his stamina draining rapidly as exhaustion began to set in.

Suddenly, a strike with even greater force slammed into Karnel's chest, launching him from the clouds and sending him plummeting into the depths of the ocean below.

Blood poured from his mouth in torrents as a terrifying sense of impending death flooded his consciousness. His mind went blank except for a single, desperate thought: Am I going to die?

There exists a great terror between life and death. If Karnel could overcome this terror, a new realm would greet him. If he failed, he would sink forever into an endless dark abyss.

Unwillingness, defiance, rage, a maelstrom of complex emotions swirled through Karnel's mind. His eyelids felt weighted with lead as they slowly closed. The light gradually dimmed, narrowing to a single thin ray...

At that moment, a gentle voice enveloped his entire consciousness. It was Bulma's voice, calling to him from across the void.

That beloved voice finally pulled Karnel back from the brink of oblivion. Hundreds of other voices resonated throughout his mind, friends, allies, everyone who believed in him, as if encouraging him to fight on.

"No! I promised Bulma I would return. How can I fail here? I have to go back. There are people waiting for me!" Karnel shouted in his mind, his determination crystallizing into unbreakable resolve.

The fierce desire to survive finally awakened the terrifying potential hidden deep within his Saiyan heritage. Massive life energy surged through him like an endless ocean, flowing through his body, healing his wounds, and seeping into every cell. Traces of golden energy burst forth from trillions of individual cells.

As Karnel sank toward the ocean floor, the golden flames surrounding his body intensified dramatically. Blue lightning began to crackle and dance around his form. The previously calm sea surface erupted as if struck by a supernatural tornado.

The ocean howled, winds roared, and massive waves rose from the depths. Countless towering swells crashed against distant reefs with thunderous force.

Kairos observed the dramatic changes on the sea's surface from his aerial vantage point, his expression thoughtful.

"As expected, his vitality is extraordinary," he murmured to himself. "Although that punch should have been lethal, he's clearly not dead, and he's broken through to an even higher level. Was this your plan all along? To use my pressure as a catalyst for your own transformation?"

A smile played across Kairos's lips. Struggling on the edge of death to seek a breakthrough, one careless moment could mean permanent oblivion. Even Kairos himself wouldn't attempt something so insanely dangerous. But the most remarkable thing was that Karnel had actually succeeded. Such determination commanded genuine respect.

From within the raging maelstrom, a golden figure emerged. It was Karnel, but transformed.

His appearance had changed subtly but significantly. His previously calm demeanor now radiated barely contained aggression, and blue lightning flickered constantly around his body like living energy.

If not for that precious voice calling to him, he would have perished under Kairos's devastating strike. The memory still sent chills through him, and traces of fear lingered in his expression.

"Karnel," Kairos called out, genuinely fascinated, "is this what you look like after your breakthrough?"

Hearing the question, Karnel swept his transformed hair back with newfound confidence. "Yes," he declared, electricity crackling around his aura, "this is the next evolution of the Saiyan race, Super Saiyan 2!"