Tracing Footprints

After discussing the situation, the group began to split up and take action.

The current priority was to find Cell; for every day they delayed, there was no telling how many more Earthlings would suffer.

Just then, Vegeta arrived fashionably late, having rushed over the moment he sensed the energy signatures here.

"What happened here?"

Vegeta looked around, questioning the group.

At the same time, he cast his gaze toward Piccolo and was shocked to discover that his strength had surged several times over, far surpassing his own.

"You—how did your strength suddenly become so great?"

Vegeta pointed at Piccolo, asking in astonishment.

He had assumed that after achieving the form of a Super Saiyan, he would be invincible in this world.

His only rival was Kakarot, who was also a Saiyan.

He simply hadn't expected that first Li Lin, then the Androids, and now even this Namekian he had once looked down upon, would all surpass him.

"Hmph!" Piccolo crossed his arms and let out a haughty, cold snort.

His pride was no less than Vegeta's.

Li Lin stood to the side with a faint smile, thinking to himself that this Android arc would likely be Piccolo's final moment of glory.

Seeing his father's confusion, Trunks stepped forward to explain earnestly.

"Fusion?"

"Yes, Mr. Piccolo has merged with Kami. The state of this place is the result of his battle with that monster called Cell!"

Trunks explained the details bit by bit.

Hearing that he had been surpassed yet again, Vegeta was struck by the realization and stood frozen in place.

Piccolo walked up to the group and said slowly, "The most urgent task now is to eliminate the immature Cell, or take out one of the Androids!"

"You all go search for their whereabouts. Once you find them, notify me immediately, and I will be the one to destroy them!"

With that, he took the lead and departed.

His confidence in his own strength was currently overflowing.

After hearing Piccolo's instructions, the group did not move immediately, but instead looked toward Li Lin in unison.

"Piccolo is right; let's split up and search. Everyone, stay safe!"

Li Lin said to the group with a smile.

Having said this, he flew away from the scene.

Although that was what he said, it was not what he was thinking.

Whether it was the Androids or Cell, if they chose to hide, it wouldn't be easy for him to find them.

Rather than wasting his effort on such futile work, he might as well go back and get some sleep.

With that thought, he accelerated and flew rapidly toward his residence.

Seeing that Li Lin had left, the others remaining at the scene decided not to linger either.

"I think Piccolo and Li Lin are right. The main issue now is that we need to find the Androids and Cell first. As long as we take out either side, things might still turn around!"

Tien Shinhan said slowly.

The others nodded silently in agreement.

However, at this moment, an inappropriate voice suddenly rang out: "I disagree!"

Everyone turned around to see that it was Vegeta, who had been silent until now.

He was currently wearing a look of fury, his fists clenched tight as he roared, "A bunch of cowards, afraid of a little crisis like this?"

"Let me tell you, so what if Cell reaches his perfect form? Sooner or later, he will be finished off by me!"

"If the power of a Super Saiyan isn't enough, then I will surpass the Super Saiyan!"

After dropping his ultimatum, Vegeta unleashed his aura, shot straight into the sky, and vanished from sight.

The group stared at one another, wide-eyed and speechless, not knowing what kind of nerve this guy had struck this time.

However, they knew that every time Vegeta acted arrogant, the outcome rarely ended well!

They just didn't know what the result would be this time.

"In that case, let's hurry up and search. For every day we delay, Cell will grow stronger!"

Krillin said to everyone.

Upon hearing this, they stopped lingering and took to the air one after another, flying off in different directions.

Just as Krillin was about to leave himself, he noticed that Trunks was standing frozen in place.

"What's wrong, Trunks? Aren't you coming with us?"

Krillin asked curiously.

Trunks slowly shook his head, his tone heavy as he said, "I am going to train with my father!"

"What?" Krillin asked, puzzled.

By now, everyone more or less knew that Trunks was Vegeta's son.

They just hadn't expected him to choose to train with Vegeta.

One had to realize that Vegeta was currently in a somewhat manic state; if he were to completely lose his mind, he might even kill his own son!

Trunks nodded solemnly, "That's right, I am going to train with my father. Krillin, I'll leave the search for Cell to you all!"

After saying this, he took to the air, chasing after the direction in which Vegeta had departed.

His reasoning was simple: even if the matters of this timeline were resolved, the crisis in his future timeline would persist.

Only by becoming very strong himself, like his father, and becoming an existence that surpassed a Super Saiyan, could he resolve the crisis in his own time.

"Sigh!" Krillin watched Trunks fly away and let out a helpless sigh.

Then, without lingering, he vanished from the spot.

On the other side, Li Lin had already returned to his residence; Goku's home was right next to his!

However, Son Goku had already moved to Kame House, and there was no one left here besides him!

"Perfect, I can have two days of peace and quiet!"

Li Lin stretched, yawning as he spoke.

Before long, he was lying in his room, drifting off into a comfortable sleep.

Three days later.

A violent earthquake erupted on Kame House.

Master Roshi, who had been reading a magazine, was so startled that his glasses fell off.

He said with a trembling voice, "What's going on? Have the Androids attacked?"

Chi-Chi, as Goku's wife, had been staying there to look after him.

When she felt the distinct tremors, her heart was filled with panic.

However, when she stepped outside to investigate, she suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Goku!"

Chi-Chi rushed forward and threw herself at him.

Goku smiled and held her.

The earthquake from just a moment ago wasn't the Androids; it had been caused by him.

He had just suddenly awakened, his body brimming with power, and in a moment of excitement, he had tested out a few moves over the ocean.

On the other side, the group had been searching for Cell for three days.

They had encountered him several times, but he had cunningly managed to escape each time.

This left everyone feeling quite discouraged.

However, just then, they sensed Goku's energy.

Once the final search concluded, these people gathered at the location from which they had originally set out.

"The situation is very unfavorable for us now. Cell's current strength should already be on par with mine!"

Piccolo said to the group in a deep voice.

He had discovered that every time he clashed with him, Cell's strength grew significantly.

He estimated that in these past three days, he had harmed quite a number of innocent humans!