(A/N:It's raining chapters, hallelujah! New Patreon Shaei-phet, thank you for becoming a Legend! Bonus chapter! Over 25+ members are already 85+ chapters ahead, with Legendary Battles, New Transformations, available on Patreon! ;)
"Yes, if it weren't for our teacher's guidance, I'm afraid we Dura people would have been destroyed by those first three invaders," Noen said with a nostalgic expression, his voice heavy with emotion.
"Noen, Noffey, you two have made remarkable progress!"
Karnel's voice came from behind them as he materialized with Bulma still in his arms. Looking at the two brothers who had matured into capable warriors, Karnel felt a wave of pride mixed with nostalgia. For a moment, he could almost see the immature youngsters they'd been over a decade ago, remembering all the hardships they'd endured to reach this point.
The two brothers froze mid-conversation, turning around mechanically to see a beautiful young woman and a mature-looking man they hadn't seen in years.
Despite the passage of time and the changes in Karnel's appearance, both brothers recognized their former teacher immediately. The stern yet caring presence was unmistakable.
"Teacher Karnel, you came to see us?" Noen asked, tears welling in his eyes.
As king, Noffey had spent years dealing with Durastar's daily affairs, and the accumulated responsibilities had made him much more composed. Still, his hands trembled slightly as he stared at the tall figure before them.
Karnel noticed a long scar, more than ten centimeters, carved across Noffey's fluffy rabbit face. His expression darkened. "It seems you've indeed faced serious hardships since I left."
"Teacher, it's wonderful that you're back," Noffey said, wiping his eyes with a relieved smile. "We thought we'd never see you again."
"That's right, teacher! We've defeated many powerful enemies after you left," Noen added excitedly, calming down enough to flex his muscular rabbit arm with visible pride.
Bulma observed the two former students with curiosity and whispered, "Karnel, are these the two students you trained? One of them seems to be the king of this planet."
"Noen, Noffey, this is Bulma," Karnel said, taking her hand. "She's... well, she's very important to me."
The two brothers bowed respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you, Miss Bulma."
Karnel waved his hand dismissively. "Enough formalities. Just act like before."
"The teacher hasn't changed at all," the brothers said in unison, their tension finally melting away.
It was as if they'd been transported back to their training days over a decade ago. They began chattering excitedly about everything that had happened since Karnel's departure.
Has Frieza's influence spread to this remote planet so quickly? Karnel thought. He'd assumed that Durastar, located at the junction of the North and West Galaxy and seemingly insignificant as cosmic dust, would remain untouched by Frieza's expanding empire.
"It sounds like the five fighters you faced were the Ginyu Force, Frieza's elite squadron," Karnel mused aloud. "Five members, each incredibly strong. I can't think of anyone else who'd fit that description."
"It was terrifying," Noffey said, patting his chest. "Fortunately, a peace-loving warrior helped us. Without their assistance, we never would have been able to repel those five invaders."
"That's right! They seemed to be part of the same group as the three who came five years earlier," Noen added, slapping his forehead as if remembering something important. "We defeated those three and they left behind a strange bead with three black stars inside." He rushed toward the palace.
"Black star beads..." Karnel stroked his chin thoughtfully. He was indeed familiar with the black star Dragon Balls scattered throughout the universe. Emperor Pilaf had once used them to make Goku wish to become a child again. However, those Dragon Balls were supposed to be kept safely in Earth's temple. How they'd spread across the universe was a mystery.
"Teacher, look! This bead is incredibly strange, it can't be broken no matter what we do, and it has three stars inside," Noen said breathlessly as he returned with the orb.
Bulma's eyes widened upon seeing it. "Karnel, this looks like a Dragon Ball! How can there be one here? And it's different from the ones on Earth. Could someone else be creating Dragon Balls like the gods?"
Karnel took the three-star ball from Noen's hand and examined it carefully. With his divine senses, he could clearly detect an ominous aura emanating from it.
"Yes, this is also a Dragon Ball, specifically, a Black Star Dragon Ball created by the Namekian god before he separated into good and evil," Karnel explained with a serious expression. "These Black Star Dragon Balls carry the power of a curse, so they shouldn't be used lightly."
Noffey asked curiously, "Teacher, what kind of curse does this Dragon Ball carry?"
Noen leaned in to hear the secret of the mysterious orb.
"Brother Karnel, you're like a walking encyclopedia," Bulma said admiringly as she took the three-star ball to examine it. "How do you know everything?"
As an ordinary human, Bulma couldn't sense the difference between the black three-star ball and regular Dragon Balls. The only visible distinction was that the stars inside had changed from orange to black.
"I've learned many things over the years," Karnel replied with a soft smile before his expression turned grave. "The dragon summoned by these Dragon Balls is far more powerful than Shenron on Earth and can grant wishes that our planet's dragon cannot. However, they come with a terrible price. If the person who collects these Dragon Balls and makes a wish doesn't find all seven Black Star Dragon Balls scattered throughout the universe within one year, their home planet will be destroyed!"
The brothers stared in stunned silence. The idea that such a magical object could fulfill any wish was incredible.
A glint of interest flashed in Noffey's eyes, and Karnel could practically see the wheels turning in his mind as he considered the possibility of finding all seven Black Star Dragon Balls.
"Noffey, you've always been the clever one, but I'm warning you, don't even think about seeking these cursed Dragon Balls. The consequences would be something Durastar could never survive," Karnel said coldly.
A chilling aura accompanied his words, piercing directly into Noffey's mind and making him shudder involuntarily.
Jolted back to reality, Noffey remembered the devastating consequences of using the Black Star Dragon Balls, and fear crept across his face.
"I... I understand, teacher," he said quietly. "The risk is far too great."
Karnel nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, tell me more about these battles you've faced. I want to hear everything."