After staying on Durastar for several days, Karnel was ready to leave. While the planet held nostalgic value, everything here was designed for the rabbit people, and there wasn't much to keep him and Bulma entertained for an extended visit.
"We'll be leaving now," Karnel announced to his former students. "If you ever want to see me again, come to a deep blue planet called Earth."
With a casual wave, he and Bulma vanished using instant transmission, leaving the two brothers standing in the palace garden.
Noen stared at the empty space where his teacher had been, his expression melancholy. "Noffey, our lifespans as Dura people aren't as long as humans like our teacher. I wonder if we'll ever get the chance to see him again."
"Don't be so pessimistic," Noffey said, patting his brother's shoulder with a smile, though his own eyes were cast toward the endless starry sky. "It's already a great honor that our teacher came back to see us at all."
Karnel took Bulma on an extended journey through the cosmos, visiting various planets and experiencing the unique cultures of different alien races. Bulma was amazed by each new world they encountered, her scientific curiosity insatiable.
Time passed like a blade hanging over their heads, always approaching when least expected. Before they knew it, a full year had slipped by during their travels.
"I can't believe how much time has passed since we left," Bulma said one day as they floated through the colorful void of space. "Karnel, I think I'm ready to go home now."
After more than a year of seeing infinite cosmic wonders, even Bulma had grown weary of the constant travel. The novelty had worn off, and she found herself longing for the familiar comforts of home.
Karnel, who had long since lost his sense of wonder about new sights, quickly agreed. "Of course. Earth it is."
After returning to Earth, Karnel stayed at Bulma's house for a few months before the familiar wanderlust called to him again. He set off alone into the universe, knowing that his instant transmission technique would allow him to return home in moments whenever he wished.
As he traveled through the cosmos, something caught his attention, a massive planet below where a battle was taking place. No, not a battle... a massacre.
"There seems to be a slaughter happening on that planet," Karnel muttered to himself, observing the scene below. Three space warriors were ruthlessly killing the indigenous population.
"Well, well... if it isn't Vegeta's trio," he said with an amused smile, recognizing the figures. "This could be interesting."
The natives below stood no chance against the ferocious Saiyan prince and his two followers, Nappa and Raditz. They were being systematically exterminated.
The tall, muscular Nappa was roasting a freshly killed beast over a fire. "Vegeta, the natives on this planet have no fighting power at all," he complained. "There's no point in killing them."
"This is the mission Frieza assigned us!" Vegeta snapped back. As a Saiyan prince, the arrogant Vegeta would never willingly serve Frieza. All he wanted was to become strong enough to kill his tormentor. However, facing someone as powerful as Frieza, his current strength was woefully inadequate. With no way to exact his revenge, Vegeta could only swallow his pride and act subservient.
Frieza, that bastard, dared to destroy Planet Vegeta, Vegeta thought bitterly. He's so powerful... is there no hope for me to kill him? He gnashed his teeth and punched the ground in frustration.
When Planet Vegeta was destroyed, Vegeta and the other two had been away on a conquest mission, completely unaware of what had transpired. Frieza had explained to them that Vegeta was destroyed by an unexpected meteor impact.
Vegeta had believed this lie until, by accident, he overheard some truth about Planet Vegeta's destruction from members of the Ginyu Force. Learning that Frieza himself had destroyed his homeworld was like a nuclear bomb exploding in the young Saiyan's face.
Now that he knew the truth, Vegeta realized he had no power to take revenge. So he endured the humiliation, living in hope that one day he would gain enough strength to kill Frieza.
Raditz tore off a piece of roasted meat and began eating. "Vegeta, Frieza doesn't consider us his own people," he said between bites. "We're Saiyans, the mortal enemies of the Frost Demons. According to ancient legends, their ancestors were destroyed by the legendary Super Saiyans among our people. He's afraid that Super Saiyans will appear again and threaten their rule in the Northern Galaxy. Sooner or later, he'll destroy us too."
"Damn it!" Vegeta roared skyward. "Super Saiyan? What is a Super Saiyan? Can't I, Prince Vegeta, a high-level warrior among the Saiyans, reach that level?"
He released a massive energy wave that blew a huge crater in the ground.
"This Saiyan throwing a tantrum is definitely Vegeta," Karnel observed from his perch on a giant tree behind them, studying the spiky-haired warrior with interest.
"Vegeta," he called out softly, "do you want power?"
The three Saiyans had been sitting in silence, eating their barbecue after Vegeta's outburst, when a faint voice came from the giant tree behind them.
When did someone get so close? Nappa was shocked that none of them had detected the presence. He looked up at the tree but saw no one. "Who's there?" he shouted. "How dare you spy on the great Nappa! I'll tear you in half!"
"Vegeta, whoever this is, they're very powerful," Raditz said cautiously. "I can't detect their energy signature at all."
Vegeta, still biting into his barbecue, responded disdainfully, "I don't care who it is. If they dare show themselves, you two kill them."
"Are you really going to ignore me like that?"
A voice like thunder rang in Nappa's ears. Just as he was about to react, he felt a sharp pain in his lower back and flew dozens of meters away.
"Vegeta, you'll never get a wife with an attitude like that," Karnel said casually as he kicked Nappa away and sat in his place, calmly breaking off a roasted thigh and beginning to eat.
This person was so fast I couldn't even see him move. So strong! Vegeta paused mid-bite, studying the figure now sitting in front of him.
Raditz stood frozen behind them, staring at this mysterious person in shock. His eyes were drawn to the tail that swayed flexibly behind the newcomer.