Karnel's body erupted with terrifying power as fiery crimson energy spiraled around him like three ascending dragons of flame. His clothes and hair whipped violently in the supernatural wind as a thin mist of fire formed around his entire frame.
Waves of scorching crimson energy radiated outward from his position, spreading rapidly across the battlefield. His hair transformed to a brilliant fiery red as an aura of pure divinity emanated from his being, one that shook the very foundations of reality itself.
Super Saiyan God.
His hairstyle resembled that of an ordinary Super Saiyan, but the color was a magnificent crimson infused with divine essence.
After countless battles and endless training, Karnel had finally ascended to this supreme realm. This was a Super Saiyan God transformation achieved through natural evolution of a perfected divine heart, completely different from the artificial ritual-based transformations of legend. His power transcended even those limitations.
"This is the true Super Saiyan God," Karnel mused, feeling the spiritual energy coursing through his body, energy that existed on a plane far above ordinary ki. A satisfied smile played across his lips. "If I were to face Beerus the Destroyer now..."
The fire-based spiritual energy possessed devastatingly destructive properties. A single palm-sized energy sphere could effortlessly annihilate an entire star system.
Karnel gently clenched his fist, and spiritual energy surged through his body like a raging river, flowing into his palm where it swirled like living creatures made of pure power.
"Now then, impostor," Karnel's voice carried deadly authority as he casually swiped his palm through the air behind him. A spatial crack several meters wide instantly tore through reality. "I'm curious to see who proves more powerful."
"Divine power..." Zamasu's voice cracked with disbelief and terror. "This is spiritual energy that only Gods of Destruction possess! How can a mere Saiyan like you wield such force?"
Zamasu understood all too well the terrifying might of the Destroyers. Even after stealing Goku's legendary body and growing exponentially stronger, he wouldn't dare claim he could completely defeat the more powerful Destroyers among the twelve universes.
"You're pathetically ignorant," Karnel replied with cutting contempt. "What makes you think I cannot achieve such power?"
"Even if you possess divine energy, so what?" Black fought to regain his composure, his voice steadying as he spoke. "If I were still in my original Supreme Kai form, you might kill me with a single blow. But now I possess Son Goku's incredible body, my strength is not necessarily inferior to yours."
The corrupt deity calculated rapidly. This Saiyan had only recently ascended to this divine realm. Being cautious didn't mean there was no hope of victory.
"Feel free to test that theory," Karnel said coldly, his gaze lingering for a moment on the ring adorning Black's finger before a genuinely unsettling gleam appeared in his eyes. "I'll crush every bone in your hands and skull before slowly sending you to whatever afterlife awaits false gods. Killing a Supreme Kai... now that sounds genuinely entertaining."
Black's expression darkened as he remained silent, every nerve stretched taut in preparation for his opponent's attack. The oppressive presence radiating from this divine Saiyan felt identical to standing before a God of Destruction, the pressure was overwhelming.
"Since you won't make the first move, I'll take the initiative!" Karnel declared calmly.
A fiery red energy sphere materialized in his palm, crackling with destructive divine power. The orb locked onto Black like a guided missile, and in the next instant, one became two, two became hundreds, then thousands of crimson projectiles erupted like machine gun fire, creating ripples in space-time as they streaked toward their target.
"What? So many simultaneously?" Black's shock was evident as he witnessed the impossible barrage. He had never imagined any being could generate such a massive volume of energy attacks at once.
His body moved with desperate speed, weaving between the deadly rain of crimson destruction.
Each energy bullet possessed tremendous destructive properties. While a single hit might not prove fatal, thousands striking simultaneously would leave him critically wounded, if not worse.
"Let me add some variety to keep things interesting!" Karnel's laughter rang out with wild enjoyment as he raised his other hand. Now it was as if two machine guns with infinite ammunition were firing simultaneously.
Nearly two thousand energy projectiles assaulted Black every second, and he was beginning to feel genuinely overwhelmed. The most infuriating aspect was that this Saiyan seemed to possess truly endless energy reserves, squandering power like a wasteful billionaire.
Black didn't dare allow his concentration to waver even slightly, focusing entirely on evading the dense barrage of destruction.
"The energy bullets seem too slow," Karnel observed with playful satisfaction. "Let me upgrade your challenge."
Black suddenly noticed the energy projectiles had decreased by roughly half, and just as relief began to set in, one to two thousand laser-like crimson beams replaced them. These moved at near light-speed, making evasion exponentially more difficult.
"Has this Saiyan been at this level for some time?" Black realized with growing dread. "Otherwise, how could he demonstrate such mastery? This monster clearly achieved divine status long ago, he's not some newly ascended deity!"
"This approach won't work," Black concluded while continuing his frantic dodging. "I'll be exhausted eventually. I need to find an opening for counterattack!"
After several more minutes of what felt like an aerial shooting gallery, Karnel was growing bored. His opponent's movements, while impressive, followed predictable patterns as he narrowly avoided each seemingly guaranteed hit.
"Perfect opportunity!" Black's eyes flashed as he noticed the energy beams finally beginning to thin out.
He quickly retreated several hundred meters, black energy coalescing in his outstretched palms.
"Super Black Kamehameha!"
A massive wave of dark energy erupted downward, carrying Black's murderous intent as it rushed toward Karnel with devastating force.