The next morning, Karnel emerged from the bedroom feeling refreshed and energized. After washing up, he sat on the sofa with his legs crossed, eyes closed, gathering his thoughts.
Soon Bulma appeared from the bedroom, neatly dressed. She seemed energetic, her eyes bright with curiosity about the day ahead.
"Morning, Karnel," she greeted him with a smile.
"Morning," he replied calmly. "I'm free today. How about we visit Durastar? I haven't seen my two students in ages, and I'm curious how they're doing."
Bulma's eyes lit up. "Really? I've never been to another planet before. I'd love to see what it's like!"
Karnel nodded. "Hold on tight."
With a flash of instant transmission, they materialized on Durastar.
The planet had changed dramatically since Karnel's last visit. The northern continent bore the scars of some great battle, mountains were split in half, and the ground was riddled with craters of various sizes. Whatever conflict had occurred here, it had been fierce.
The royal city's streets, however, were more prosperous than ever. Karnel and Bulma walked along wide boulevards lined with rabbit citizens in colorful attire, with only a few alien visitors scattered among them.
"Wow, Karnel! This place is incredible," Bulma exclaimed, taking in every detail. "It's almost entirely populated by rabbits, with just a handful of other species."
Having traveled to countless worlds during his training, Karnel remained composed, though he noted the changes with interest.
"Look, Bulma," he said, pointing ahead. "There's some kind of tournament going on. Let's check it out."
In the city center, a crowd had gathered around a small arena where two rabbits in different martial arts uniforms were engaged in combat.
Interesting, Karnel thought. Durastar used to be obsessed with carrots. When did martial arts become popular? Something significant must have happened.
"Rabbit fighting!" Bulma laughed, tugging Karnel toward the spectacle. "This is amazing!"
Karnel glanced at the combatants and quickly lost interest. The rabbit race clearly lacked natural martial arts talent, both fighters were no stronger than ordinary Earth martial artists.
"Look at them standing upright with their ears bouncing around," Bulma giggled. "Isn't that adorable?"
"Sure is," Karnel replied absently.
Several nearby Durastar rabbits overheard Bulma's comment and shot disapproving glares at the pair.
Without changing his expression, Karnel allowed a fraction of his power to leak out. The terrifying aura washed over every rabbit within a ten-meter radius, causing them to tremble and quickly avert their eyes.
"I see the Durastar people haven't changed that much," Karnel observed, noting the tournament prize displayed on the platform. "The champion's reward is still a roasted carrot."
"Come on, Bulma. I've located my former students. They seem to be doing well, let's go meet them."
Karnel had sensed two familiar energy signatures clashing intensely near the palace. The brothers were apparently sparring with each other.
"It seems they've grown much stronger over the years," he mused with satisfaction.
In the palace's inner garden, Noen and Noffey were engaged in fierce combat. The two brothers fought as equals, their techniques evenly matched.
More than a decade of training had transformed them both. They moved with the confidence of seasoned warriors, their rich combat experience evident in every exchange. Noen, once a lazy and plump youngster, had developed into a formidable fighter capable of matching his naturally gifted younger brother.
However, Noffey's cleverness remained his greatest asset. He consistently found creative ways to catch his brother off-guard, landing several successful surprise attacks in succession.
"Enough!" Noen finally called, breathing heavily as he sat on a stone bench. "Brother, you're a king now. How can you use such underhanded tactics? It's not honorable."
Noffey shrugged dismissively. "Honor doesn't keep you alive. Have you forgotten about those five invaders two years ago? If I hadn't used 'dishonorable' tactics, and if we hadn't received help from some passing aliens, we'd both be dead right now."
The reminder silenced Noen immediately. The memory of that brutal battle still haunted him, a stark reminder of how close they'd come to losing everything.
"That fight changed everything," Noffey continued, his expression growing serious. "It's why martial arts became popular here. The people realized that carrots alone won't protect them from real threats."
Noen nodded soberly. The invasion had been a wake-up call for their entire civilization.