Gohan's head went blank.
Why… why am I running into Cell here?
This is bad. Really bad. What am I supposed to do? I can't beat him. Not even close.
Then there's only one choice.
Gohan grit his teeth, didn't hesitate, and snapped his palm out at Cell.
"Masenko!"
A massive blast erupted from his hand and screamed straight at Cell.
Cell didn't even flinch. He gave a disdainful little smile and casually backhanded the beam away like it was an annoyance.
Boom!
The attack slammed into the distant sea, detonating with a thunderous shockwave that threw up a wall of water several stories high.
In a blink, Cell flashed forward and appeared right in front of Gohan.
"Son Goku's kid," Cell said, studying him with amused eyes. "Where's your father? Where is he hiding?"
"I'm not telling you!" Gohan shouted.
"Then die." Cell's voice cooled. His hand pressed against Gohan's chest.
A surge of energy flared.
Gohan's chest was pierced clean through, a hole blasted into him as if he were paper.
"Hmph. Rotten luck," Cell sneered. "Running into me here of all places. And you're so weak I can't even be bothered to absorb you."
Gohan didn't die. Even with a hole through him, he stayed afloat in the air, trembling violently.
Cell slapped him out of the sky.
Gohan crashed into the sea below and sank, swallowed by the water.
"Tough little brat," Cell muttered, glancing down. "Heart punched through and you're still not dead? Whatever. Your death's just a matter of time."
With that, Cell turned away and shot off toward the ki he'd been tracking—Piccolo and the androids.
After Cell left, Gohan's body began to change beneath the waves. Cells multiplied at terrifying speed, knitting flesh back together until the hole vanished as if it had never been there.
Gohan's eyes snapped open. He clenched his fists and almost rocketed up—
Then he stopped.
He could still feel Cell nearby.
If I rush out now, he'll just finish me for real.
I can regenerate… but if he wipes out every last cell, I'm still dead.
Wait—where did he go?
He… he flew toward Piccolo-san.
Is he going to absorb the androids?
He has to be.
No. I have to warn Piccolo-san—now!
Gohan burst out of the sea and shot into the sky.
His ki flared, intentionally loud, intentionally sharp—anything to draw Cell's attention and, more importantly, to alert Piccolo.
If Piccolo didn't notice, he'd never know Cell was already on the way.
Cell had flown only a short distance when he felt that ki spike behind him. He paused, surprised despite himself.
How does that kid still have this much ki?
And how is he not dead?
…I get it. Senzu Beans.
The brat must've eaten one and patched himself up.
But if you're healed, why are you still tailing me like you're showing off?
Cell's expression twisted. He glanced back, considering whether to turn around and erase Gohan properly.
After a moment, he discarded the thought.
Not worth it.
Earlier, killing the kid was just a convenient swat. Now? Now there was something far more important.
Becoming complete.
Nothing mattered more than that.
Cell ignored Gohan and accelerated toward Piccolo's position.
Gohan saw Cell refuse the bait and felt his stomach drop.
Did Piccolo-san sense me at all?
Cell is coming for you!
…
On a small island far away, Piccolo landed with four androids.
Android 17's gaze was cold. "You're not an android, but you have power like this… you're definitely not Demon King Piccolo. I don't care who you really are. I want one thing—where is Son Goku? Are you finally going to tell me?"
"I already did," Piccolo replied, letting out a short, humorless laugh. "Goku went to the future. You're the one who refused to believe it."
"Could you at least come up with a lie that sounds real?" 17's face darkened.
Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "Are you stupid, 17?"
17's expression soured even further.
He's really just going to start insulting me now?
"You're a product of advanced science, aren't you?" Piccolo said, voice dripping with contempt. "And you can't even accept the idea of time travel?"
17's mouth curled. "Fine. I'll pretend I believe you. But I still feel like you're hiding something."
He raised his hands and stepped forward. "Let's keep going. This time I'm getting serious—so watch yourself."
He floated up to face Piccolo head-on.
Piccolo's expression tightened.
He hadn't sensed Gohan at all.
Right now he was fully locked into this fight—there wasn't room for anything else. And it wasn't just 17. There were three more androids standing by.
Piccolo pushed his focus to the limit.
17 struck first—fast and heavy. His fist snapped into Piccolo's chin, whipping Piccolo's head back and nearly sending him down.
Piccolo steadied himself and countered with a punch.
17 dipped, slipped under it, and drove a straight blow into Piccolo's abdomen.
Piccolo's mouth opened in a sharp gasp. His eyes widened. It felt like his stomach was about to be caved in.
Then 17 hammered an elbow into the back of Piccolo's head.
Piccolo slammed into the ground.
A heartbeat later, he sprang back up.
17 blinked, briefly impressed.
That was a clean hit—and he still got up.
17 lashed out with a flying kick.
Piccolo evaded in a blur, retreating to open distance. He stopped about ten meters away, rolled his neck once, then spat a mouthful of blood into the sand.
"Fast," Piccolo said, eyes steady. "But your punches don't hit as hard as you think."
17 froze, stunned—like he'd just been slapped in the face.
"You've got a lot of nerve," he snarled. "You're looking at Android 17—the strongest android ever made!"
Piccolo gave a quiet, dismissive snort.
17 stopped talking and surged forward again.
They collided, the island floor cracking beneath their feet as they traded blows in a brutal, even exchange.
18 watched with faint surprise. "He's strong… He's keeping up with 17."
"Yeah," 21 agreed softly.
16 said nothing, but his focus sharpened.
While the fight raged, Cell closed in fast.
Far behind him, Gohan followed at a distance, repeatedly flaring his ki to try to get Piccolo's attention.
He didn't know Piccolo was too deep in the fight to notice.
This was one of the most serious battles Piccolo had fought in his entire life—second only to the battles he'd had with Goku.
And for once, he'd found an opponent who truly matched him.
Cell grinned, exhilaration spreading through him as the island came into view. "The day I've been waiting for is here. I'm finally going to become complete!"
He glanced back at the distant speck following him.
That kid's still there, still flashing his ki, trying to warn Piccolo.
Should I go erase him?
…No. As long as I find 17, nothing else matters.
Piccolo's ki told him everything he needed—Piccolo was fighting 17, and he was starting to weaken.
Which meant the androids were right there.
Cell let out a rolling, delighted laugh.
Gohan fired another desperate shot. "Masenko!"
Cell slipped aside without effort. He looked back over his shoulder with a cold smile. "Gohan, stop wasting your energy. Even if you hit me with that, it wouldn't do anything."
Gohan didn't answer. He just kept following, stubborn and tense, careful not to get too close.
…
On Master Roshi's tiny island, Tien stared at the distant horizon. "Unbelievable… Piccolo's still fighting."
"And it doesn't matter," Krillin said bitterly. "We can't help at all."
Then Krillin's face tightened. He felt a presence approaching fast.
"What is that?" he muttered. "Why is something coming here now?"
Tien's pupils shrank. Cold sweat slid down his face. "That… that's Cell's ki, isn't it?"
Krillin's expression turned grim. "Cell…? No—we have to warn Piccolo right now. If we don't, this is going to get ugly."
"And the other ki…" Tien swallowed. "Is that Gohan? He's behind Cell—and he's still alive?"
For a moment, Tien could only think one thing.
That kid's got nerves.
17 drove a kick into Piccolo's face.
Piccolo flew back, and even as he did, he fired a compact energy blast.
It smashed into 17's face and nearly knocked him off his feet.
Piccolo panted hard, exhaustion washing over him in waves.
17 smiled faintly. "Even if your power matches mine, the difference is already showing. My stamina doesn't run out. My energy never drops."
Piccolo didn't argue.
That was the problem.
This guy doesn't tire. Not ever.
Then Piccolo's eyes shifted. Something hit his senses like a knife.
He snapped his head toward the upper right.
His expression changed—once, twice—turning worse with every heartbeat.
Cell.
"This is bad," Piccolo hissed through clenched teeth. "I got so focused on the fight I didn't notice he'd been closing in."
17 blinked, confused, talking to himself. "Who's that? That weird guy… who is he?"
Piccolo shot him a startled look.
He doesn't know about Cell?
And—wait. That ki…
A familiar, almost comforting presence.
Gohan?
That's Gohan's ki!
What is he doing here? Is he crazy?
Doesn't he understand how dangerous this is?
…No. I get it.
He must've realized Cell was flying toward me and tried to warn me.
And I was so locked in that I didn't feel him at all.
"Gohan, go back," Piccolo said immediately, reaching out through telepathy.
"Piccolo-san—does telepathy have a range limit?" Gohan asked urgently.
"At least on Earth, it shouldn't be an issue," Piccolo replied. "But I have to open the line first. Only then can you connect to me."
"That explains it," Gohan said, voice tight. "I kept trying to reach you, but I couldn't. Piccolo-san, you saw Cell, right? I kept flaring my ki to get your attention."
"I was fighting 17 seriously," Piccolo admitted. "I didn't notice. I was careless."
Ahead of them, Cell's grin stretched wide with anticipation.
"Heh… today's a day worth remembering," he said, voice gleeful. "I'm going to absorb 17 and eigh—eigh—eigh—damn it!"
His good mood evaporated.
Whatever. I'll treat it as 21.
Cell's eyes swept over the four androids.
Seventeen—
Then he saw 18.
"Ugh—"
Cell abruptly doubled over and threw up.
18's eyes widened. "...What?"
What is that supposed to mean?
Do I look that awful to you?
No, I'm a beauty!
Does this monster have no taste at all?
Why the hell do you see me and start vomiting?
18 ground her teeth, furious.
Cell wiped his mouth and looked at her again, as if confirming something.
Yes. That's 18.
"Ugh—"
The moment the thought settled, he gagged and vomited again.
His face went pale, like he was about to cough up his organs.
18 stared, dead-eyed, her expression turning colder by the second.
The first time, fine. Maybe you were sick.
But twice? You look at me and puke twice?
That's not "sick," that's insulting.
Cell fought down the nausea, yanked his gaze away from 18, and forced himself to look at 21 instead.
The nausea eased slightly.
That woman is 21.
Then he looked at the last android.
No idea who that is.
Still an android, though.
Probably an outdated model.
If there's a newest model here, it has to be 21.
Doesn't matter.
Absorb one first.
As for 18 and 21… I'll decide after I absorb 17.
Cell jumped down from the ridge and landed near them, fists clenched as his power surged wildly.
The pressure alone shook the island and collapsed a nearby hill.
Piccolo's eyes widened in shock.
How is his power this high?
Far away in the sky, Gohan hovered, trembling.
He couldn't even go Super Saiyan yet.
In front of him, Cell felt like an unstoppable giant—something he couldn't possibly resist.
It was terrifying.
That ki…
It reminded Gohan of Broly.
To him, Cell's presence was every bit as monstrous as Broly had been back then.
Cell smiled mockingly as he started walking straight toward 17. "Well, Piccolo? If you want to get in my way, go ahead."
He brushed past Piccolo without even slowing.
Piccolo shook violently, then snapped back to himself and whirled around, voice shaking with fury. "To reach this level… how many innocent lives did you take?"
"How many?" Cell didn't even turn around. "At least a hundred thousand."
His tone was casual—almost proud. "They should be honored. They got to become part of my power."
"A hundred thousand… you demon!" Piccolo roared.
"Demon?" Cell chuckled. "Don't talk like that, Demon King Piccolo. Back when you were a 'demon king,' you killed far more than a hundred thousand."
Piccolo went silent, the retort dying in his throat.
Cell stopped in front of 17.
16's expression tightened further.
"16, we can't handle him," 21 said, grabbing 16's arm, urgency in her voice. "We have to leave—now."
"Who is he?" 16 asked.
"I don't know," 21 said, brows drawn tight. "Maybe Dr. Gero made a new android behind my back."
16 didn't respond.
18 listened quietly, not adding anything.
17 stared at Cell with bored contempt. "Whoever you are, don't get in the way. Move. I'm in the middle of a game with that guy."
Cell's mouth curled. Behind him, his tail lifted high, the tip gleaming sharply.
"17! Get out of here!" Piccolo shouted. "He's trying to absorb you!"
17 froze. "...What?"
Cell's tail shot forward like a spear.
17 reacted instantly, darting back to avoid it.
The tail kept stabbing—again and again—like a needle trying to pin him in the air.
17 twisted and dodged nonstop.
Then Cell lunged, seized 17's wrist, and slammed him into the ground.
The tail thrust down toward 17's body.
17's face tightened, dread flashing through him.
At the last moment, Piccolo flew in and drove a kick into Cell's face, forcing him off and buying 17 a breath of space.
Cell wiped his face slowly and looked at Piccolo with icy eyes.
Piccolo clenched his fists. Sweat poured down his face and soaked his clothes.
He could feel the gulf in power. He knew exactly how hopeless this was.
"Cheap shot," 17 snapped, face dark. He looked at Piccolo. "Explain. That monster wants to absorb me?"
"Short version," Piccolo said, voice hard. "His name is Cell. Dr. Gero's computer created him—he's a monster. He's still incomplete. If he absorbs you and either 18 or 21, he becomes complete."
18 went still.
21 blinked, thrown off. "...Me?"
Why am I included?
That doesn't make sense.
Then something resurfaced in 21's mind.
Long ago, she and Dr. Gero had worked on a new android project—one led by a computer, with the two of them assisting. It had been so long she'd almost forgotten it existed.
But she remembered one detail clearly.
Cell was supposed to absorb 17 and 18 to become complete.
They were twins—brother and sister—and their cells were special. Only those cells could perfect Cell's body and push him to its final form.
She and Dr. Gero had argued over that design for a long time back then.
So why is he talking about absorbing me?
What does that have to do with me?
Cell spread his arms, grinning like a host welcoming guests. "Come on, my brothers and sisters! Rejoice! Become part of me, and we'll give birth to the greatest android in the universe—the complete android Dr. Gero spent years chasing!"
"Shut up," 17 spat, jabbing his thumb at himself. "The greatest fighter in the universe is already standing right here!"
Cell ignored him and looked at 21 instead. "So, 21… you modified yourself into an android too?"
21 nodded once.
Cell's eyes lit up. "What type? Energy absorption? Infinite energy?"
"Neither," 21 said flatly. "Transformation type."
"Transformation type?" Cell blinked.
"But I was awakened early," 21 added. "So I probably can't transform."
"What a waste," Cell said, then smiled. "Don't worry. If you become part of me, maybe it'll activate your transformation ability."
21's gaze hardened. "Who changed your program? You're supposed to absorb 17 and 18. Why are you talking about me?"
"21… so you knew that," 18 muttered, annoyed.
"I only remembered just now," 21 said quietly. "It's been too long."
Then she looked back at Cell. "Answer me."
"I don't know," Cell snapped, frustrated. "All I know is the moment I see 18, I want to throw up!"
As if to prove it, he glanced at 18 again.
He nearly gagged on the spot.
He forced his eyes away immediately, breathing hard, the nausea barely kept down.
18's expression darkened.
Look, I don't want to be absorbed either, but you seeing me and vomiting is crossing a line.
Even 21 looked briefly speechless.
"Dr. Gero changed your program," 21 said slowly, as if piecing it together.
"No," Cell growled. "It might've been that guy—Ken! He tampered with it!"
His teeth clenched. "I won't let him get away with it!"
"Ken…?" 21 froze.
17 and 18 exchanged a look.
Ken changed this monster's program?
17 almost wanted to complain.
Sure, mess with his code, fine.
But why leave me as "still absorbable"?
18's irritation ran even deeper.
Did you rewrite my image in his head so I look disgusting or something?
Cell's grin returned, sharp and hungry. "Doesn't matter. I'll absorb 17 first. That part of the program wasn't changed."
His eyes locked onto 17 with open desire.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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