…
Universe 6, Earth.
Ken already knew about Babidi's revival.
He didn't have much to say about it.
Just like Whis thought, what could a small-time wizard possibly stir up after coming back?
And even if trouble did happen, it would be Universe 7's problem.
"Broly, take Vegeta to Earth's Lookout. Have him train properly in that dimensional space," Ken said after some thought.
"Alright," Broly nodded.
"I'm coming too," Ai said, her body flashing with light as she flew to Broly's side.
Broly gently stroked Ai's body and didn't object.
"Bring Gohan as well. Let him train too," Ken added.
…
High in the sky, a large helicopter tore through the clouds.
On board were Piccolo, Gohan, Tien, Krillin, and Yamcha.
"Heh heh. In a helicopter, we don't have to worry about Cell finding us! This time we'll definitely track him down!" Yamcha laughed.
For a while now, Piccolo and the others had been searching for Cell.
But Cell was slippery. The moment he exposed his position, he would erase his presence and flee, never giving them a straight fight.
"Idiot," Piccolo snorted. "If he hides, how are we supposed to find him from a helicopter?"
Still, Piccolo didn't have a better method. All he could do was try.
Knock, knock.
A sudden knocking sound came from the cabin door.
Piccolo and the others jolted and turned toward it at once.
Then they saw a familiar face.
"Broly? He's back?" Krillin blurted, shocked and thrilled, hurrying to open the door.
Broly stepped inside.
"Broly, are you here to help us deal with Cell?" Krillin asked, hopeful.
"Cell is for you to handle," Broly said, shaking his head. "If I step in, you won't get any real training out of it."
Krillin: "..."
Yamcha: "..."
"Ken and I won't intervene," Broly continued. "Even if it gets you killed."
Krillin and Yamcha stared, speechless.
Could you be any colder?
"Broly, what are you doing here?" Piccolo asked instead, not dwelling on it.
Because Broly and Ken were right. If every crisis depended on those two, the rest of them would never grow.
If they always relied on Ken and Broly, what would they do the day those two weren't around?
So Piccolo didn't complain. If anything, he saw this kind of pressure as a rare chance.
"Ken told me to take Gohan and Vegeta to the Lookout to train. The dimensional space—another world inside," Broly answered.
"Dimensional space? What's that?" Krillin didn't quite follow.
"You mean the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?" Piccolo understood immediately.
"That place where time flows differently," Broly said with a nod. "We call that kind of place a dimensional space. There are similar spaces on some planets—one day outside equals a month, or three months, or even a year inside. I've seen plenty while traveling the universe."
"I didn't know there were so many places like that," Piccolo murmured, then looked at Gohan with clear worry. "But you're sending Gohan to train? With Vegeta?"
Training with Vegeta… I have a bad feeling Gohan will get beaten half to death.
"Yes," Broly said.
"Can you send them in separately?" Piccolo suggested.
"Fine," Broly agreed.
"Good." Piccolo finally relaxed a little and patted Gohan's shoulder. "Gohan, give it everything you've got. But don't train in there with Vegeta. He's volatile—he'll do anything. If you ever surpass him… the consequences won't be pretty."
"Y-yes, Piccolo-san," Gohan nodded obediently.
"Piccolo's right," Krillin sighed. "If you're weaker than Vegeta, he won't care. He might even train with you properly. But if you accidentally pass him… he might beat you into the ground."
Gohan scratched his head, embarrassed. "I can't… I don't think I can surpass Vegeta-san."
"Gohan, nothing is impossible. You're a prodigy," Piccolo said, rubbing Gohan's head. "Go first. I'll keep looking for Cell. If I can't find him, I'll go in and train with you."
"Yes, Piccolo-san!" Gohan said, thrilled.
If Piccolo trained with him, it would be perfect.
"You can keep up?" Broly asked.
"I can!" Gohan nodded.
"Then let's go." Broly flew out first.
Gohan followed immediately.
They sped off toward a distant region.
Not long after, they reached the desolate mountains where Vegeta had been zoning out.
Vegeta really was there, staring into nothing.
He'd been like that for three days.
He wanted to become stronger, but he didn't know where to start.
Then he sensed Broly and Gohan approaching and turned sharply.
"Broly…" Vegeta clenched his fists, emotions tangled.
The Legendary Super Saiyan.
They say he's already reached Level 59.
And I'm not even Level 1 yet.
The gap is ridiculous.
If Vegeta had any less pride left, he'd be on his knees already.
"What do you want?" Vegeta demanded.
"Ken told me to take you and Gohan to train," Broly said calmly. "It's at Earth's Lookout. Train inside for one year, and only one day passes outside."
"Really?" Vegeta's eyes lit up.
"Come with me," Broly said.
"So you're telling me to train with Kakarot's son? He'll slow me down," Vegeta snorted.
Gohan: "..."
"You can train separately," Broly said.
"Good. Then I'm going in first," Vegeta said.
"If Gohan agrees, I don't object," Broly replied with a nod.
"I don't mind," Gohan said quickly.
In the next moment, Broly led them to Earth's Lookout.
Broly explained their purpose to Mr. Popo.
"Ah… understood. Follow me," Mr. Popo said readily. "But that room only has a bathroom, a toilet, food, and beds. The environment is harsh, so endure it."
"Yes!" Gohan answered.
Under Mr. Popo's guidance, they reached the entrance to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
"This is it. Who's using it first?" Mr. Popo asked.
Vegeta stepped forward, making it clear he was going first.
Just before he entered, he turned and looked back at Broly.
Broly stared at him, expressionless.
"Broly… I'll surpass you someday!" Vegeta growled, fists tight.
"Get to Level 1 first," Broly replied flatly.
Vegeta felt like he'd been stabbed.
"When I was Level 54, I fought a Level 55 God of Destruction," Broly said with a faint smile. "I wasn't even close. So you should understand how big our gap really is."
Vegeta had nothing to say.
He turned away in humiliation, stepped into the chamber, and shut the door behind him.
Gohan waited outside patiently.
After arranging everything, Broly returned to Capsule Corporation headquarters.
Vegeta's training began in earnest.
As Vegeta trained for nearly a full day inside the chamber, Cell continued to haunt towns and cities, already draining nearly 100,000 people of their life essence.
The whole world lived in fear, day after day.
…
At Kame House, Piccolo watched the news on TV, anxiety clawing at him, with no good answer in sight.
Then something felt wrong.
Piccolo turned and saw four androids outside the window.
His face hardened instantly.
Terrible timing.
"Son Goku doesn't seem to be here," Android 16 said thoughtfully.
"Really?" Android 17 blinked.
Piccolo immediately called Krillin, Tien, and Yamcha.
The three of them came out with him.
"Tell me—Is Son Goku here?" Android 17 demanded.
"Go home. Goku isn't here," Piccolo said, answering honestly.
"Then tell me where he is," Android 17 pressed.
"He's somewhere you can't find," Piccolo said.
"Somewhere I can't find? There's no place I can't find," Android 17 scoffed.
"If I told you he's in a world twenty years in the future, would you believe me?" Piccolo said.
Android 17: "..."
"Can you come up with a better excuse?" Android 17's face darkened.
Time travel? Seriously?
"At least saying he left Earth would sound believable," Android 17 snorted.
"I told you the truth, and you won't accept it. Leave. You're not welcome here," Piccolo said coolly, dismissing them.
"Fine," Android 17 said coldly. "If you won't talk, we'll make you suffer a little."
"Try it," Piccolo said, pointing toward a nearby uninhabited island. "We'll fight over there."
"Sure," Android 17 said with a contemptuous smile. "You're stubborn. Looks like you need a beating before you understand who you're dealing with."
"You three stay out of it," Piccolo said to Krillin and the others. "You'll just be throwing your lives away."
The three went quiet.
In the next moment, Piccolo took the four androids into the sky.
"Can he beat them?" Yamcha asked anxiously.
"It's dangerous. There are four of them," Tien said, cold sweat breaking out.
"Just hang on a little longer," Krillin said, fists clenched, fear and hope mixing in his eyes. "Gohan and Vegeta are almost done training. Right now, we can only bet on Vegeta… even if it pains me to say it."
By then, Piccolo and the androids had reached the island.
Piccolo removed his cape and turban and tossed them behind him with a crisp motion.
Android 18 sat on a nearby rock, watching Piccolo and Android 17 with interest.
Android 16 stared at distant birds, lost in thought.
Android 21 kept glancing at Android 16, her gaze full of fondness.
"Why insist on a fight you can't win?" Android 17 snorted. "I don't get it."
Piccolo just smirked, confidence showing.
"Come on," Android 17 said, beckoning.
"Android 17… you're fighting alone?" Piccolo paused.
"Of course," Android 17 said with a sneer. "Someone like you isn't my match."
Piccolo's heart leapt.
Perfect.
I was afraid all four would rush me at once.
If it's just one, I can handle it.
Cell said Android 17 is essential.
Android 18 and Android 21… he can only absorb one of them.
And Ken forcibly turned Android 18 into Android 21…
So Cell can only absorb Android 21.
Something like that.
Either way, if I erase Android 17 first, Cell can never become complete.
"HAAH!"
Power exploded from Piccolo, his aura surging outward in a violent wave.
Android 17 remained calm.
But Android 16 showed a flicker of surprise, frowning as he suddenly said, "He isn't Piccolo."
"What… what did you say?" Android 17 hesitated.
Whoosh!
Piccolo tore in and drove a brutal elbow into the back of Android 17's head.
Android 17 lurched forward.
Piccolo followed with a heavy kick, smashing it into Android 17's face.
Thud!
Android 17 slammed into the ground, face-first.
Piccolo landed behind him, raised a hand, and aimed at his body from a distance.
Boom!
A massive blast surged from Piccolo's palm.
Android 17 reacted fast, shooting upward to evade the impact.
In an instant, the area below was obliterated and sank beneath the sea.
Android 17 floated high above, blood streaking from the corner of his mouth.
Piccolo looked up with a faint smile in his eyes.
…
At the Lookout, Gohan sensed the battle immediately.
"One of them is Piccolo-san… who's the other?" Worry rose fast, and then realization hit. "No ki… it's the androids!"
No—Piccolo-san will die!
Whoosh!
Gohan launched into the air.
"Gohan, come back!" Mr. Popo flew up and blocked his path. "You can't help. You'll only make Piccolo worry more."
"I won't!" Gohan shouted. "Dad still hasn't come back from the future for some reason. I can't lose Piccolo-san too!"
"You want to add to Piccolo's burden?" Mr. Popo urged. "And Vegeta should be finishing his training soon."
Gohan hesitated.
Should I go?
I want to help Piccolo-san.
But will I really become dead weight if I go?
I can regenerate!
I won't be dead weight.
"I'm going," Gohan decided. "I'll watch from far away. If anything goes wrong, then I'll step in."
Mr. Popo had no answer.
"Please let me go," Gohan pleaded. "I'm begging you."
"Then be careful," Mr. Popo said at last, seeing he couldn't talk him down.
"Thank you," Gohan said, turning into a streak of light and racing toward the island.
…
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Piccolo fired energy spheres one after another.
They rapidly gathered around Android 17's position.
Android 17 looked shocked—and strangely confused.
What is he trying to do?
Android 18 brushed her blonde hair back, equally puzzled.
Android 16 watched the growing cluster of energy spheres with little expression.
Android 21 glanced up too, saying nothing.
"You've got nowhere left to run, Android 17!" Piccolo laughed, bringing his hands together.
All the energy spheres in the sky rushed toward Android 17 at once.
Android 17's expression shifted sharply.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
A series of thunderous explosions erupted where Android 17 stood.
Blasts chained together, waves of fire and energy stacking over and over.
The detonation was so massive it blew the entire island—along with Android 18 and the others—into open ocean.
"Hmph." Piccolo let out a small breath.
One down.
Now Cell can never become complete.
But as the smoke cleared, Piccolo's face darkened.
Android 17 stood inside a barrier, blocking every last bit of the attack.
"What? A barrier?" Piccolo snarled.
Pop!
Android 17 dismissed the barrier and smiled down at Piccolo. "Feeling disappointed?"
"Hmph. This is just the beginning," Piccolo said.
"Let's switch locations," Android 17 said, pointing toward a larger island nearby. "We just blasted that one apart. Gotta protect nature, right?"
Piccolo didn't object.
They headed for the other island.
…
In a town, Cell finished draining more life essence and suddenly sensed Piccolo's powerful ki—along with the shockwaves rippling from the distant battle.
"That ki… it's Piccolo, the one who fused with Kami," Cell sneered. "And whoever he's fighting must be Android 17 and the others. It has to be them. I've finally found you, androids! Just wait—I'm stronger than you now!"
Whoosh!
Cell shot toward the battlefield like a beam of light.
But as he flew, he caught sight of someone approaching from another direction.
Gohan.
"That's… Son Goku's son?" Cell said, surprised.
Gohan: "..."
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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