Evolution into Perfect Form

His whole body blazed with light, and the immense shockwave swept the clouds from the sky!

Vegeta had no idea what had happened to Cell, but the Ki Blast in his hands gradually faded away.

He folded his arms and watched the scene before him with interest.

He could tell that the energy inside Cell was rising steadily.

Trunks stared intently at him. He also had no idea what was happening to Cell.

But an ominous premonition had begun to stir in his heart, and it wasn't baseless.

It had been honed through years of life-and-death trials. He knew that if Cell was allowed to keep growing stronger, Earth would likely be plunged into crisis.

"Just die already!"

Trunks raised his hand and fired several Ki Blasts.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Cell stood motionless, letting the Ki Blasts strike him. Yet the attacks seemed to have no effect on him at all.

Gradually, his body began to recover, and his muscles started to swell.

Lightning crackled around him, and the sky began to turn gray.

Seeing his attacks had no effect, Trunks was shocked. "No! I can't let Cell keep going!"

With that, he charged forward.

But before he could get close, he was blasted away by the immense energy Cell released.

He couldn't take even half a step forward.

"Haah!"

A strange light flashed in Cell's eyes as he threw back his head and roared.

In an instant, the energy within him rose to another level.

The entire Earth began to tremble. No matter where they were, almost everyone could feel his energy.

West City, on a bustling shopping street.

Li Lin was holding Android 18's hand. They had just finished eating and were planning to wander around.

But just then, they felt the energy too.

The ground shook violently beneath them!

"Is that Cell?" Android 18 asked, looking at Li Lin in confusion.

Li Lin carefully sensed the energy, then nodded and said seriously, "Yeah, it should be!"

This energy was a whole level stronger than when he had fought Cell before.

If nothing unexpected had happened, it should be about as powerful as Perfect Form.

He was starting to wonder what Vegeta had done to Cell.

Ever since Li Lin had left, he'd been able to sense Vegeta's violent energy.

Just a moment ago, Cell's already faint energy had nearly vanished. Then this overwhelming energy had erupted.

"Could he have become Perfect Form?"

Android 18 asked uncertainly.

This energy was many times stronger than it had been when they left.

The only way to grow so much stronger in such a short time was to reach Perfect Form.

Li Lin nodded and replied calmly, "That's certainly possible!"

According to the normal course of events, near the end of the Cell Saga,

Gohan would have beaten Cell until he spat out Android 17 and Android 18. But at the very last moment,

after self-destructing, Cell would have regenerated his body from his core and still been able to return to Perfect Form.

"How could this happen? Wasn't he supposed to absorb me and 17 before he could become Perfect Form?"

Android 18 said in disbelief.

Cell's energy was so astonishing that anyone who felt it would be overcome with fear.

Li Lin thought for a moment, then explained slowly, "He probably has Saiyan blood in him. Every time he recovers from near death, his power increases dramatically. Once his strength reaches a certain threshold, he naturally transforms into Perfect Form!"

He looked into the distance, paused, then added, "Vegeta's energy kept flaring up just now without letting up. He was probably beating Cell senseless over and over, while Cell kept recovering. In the end, that made his energy grow exponentially!"

His explanation made a fair amount of sense.

As long as the core inside Cell wasn't destroyed, his Namekian blood let him regenerate, while his Saiyan blood let him grow stronger.

He was a bug capable of endlessly increasing his power!

Given those circumstances, it was no surprise he could eventually transform into Perfect Form.

"What should we do? Could he hurt you?" Android 18 asked worriedly.

After all, Li Lin had beaten Cell quite badly before. If Cell wanted revenge, Li Lin would surely be his first target.

At the same time, she kept cursing Vegeta as a fool. Why hadn't he just finished Cell off? Why had he let things get this bad?

Li Lin smiled faintly and shook his head, running a hand through her soft hair. "Don't worry. Even if Cell becomes Perfect Form, he still won't be a match for me."

"If we fight, he won't fare much better than last time."

Hearing how confident Li Lin sounded comforted Android 18.

Li Lin wasn't boasting. Cell couldn't compare to him.

By the standards of Super Saiyan power, Li Lin had already surpassed Super Saiyan 2. Even if only by a little, that was more than enough!

Besides, the Cell of now was still nowhere near Super Saiyan 2.

"What should we do now? Are you going over there?" Android 18 asked, blinking at him.

Li Lin smiled faintly and shook his head. "Let Vegeta deal with him first. We'll just enjoy ourselves for a few days."

Android 18 nodded gracefully.

While everyone else wondered if the world was about to end,

the two of them wandered around like an ordinary couple,

paying no attention to what was happening.

At the Lookout.

Son Goku and Son Gohan were continuing their training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

But Piccolo, standing at the edge of the Lookout, had been watching the world below.

When he saw Cell unleash his powerful energy, his face turned pale with fright.

"That idiot Vegeta! Why didn't he just kill Cell? He let his personal grudge get in the way, and now look what he's done!"

Piccolo gritted his teeth, a cold laugh escaping him.

When he saw Li Lin step in, he'd thought everything had been settled.

And in fact, it had. Cell's strength had been no match for Li Lin.

But Piccolo hadn't expected that, with Cell beaten to a pulp, Vegeta would refuse to use his full power to finish him off.

Instead, he'd kept attacking him, and now Cell seemed to be on the verge of reaching Perfect Form.

"I'm furious. I'm furious!" Piccolo paced back and forth, seething.

He wouldn't have reacted like this before.

But after fusing with Kami, his heart had become much kinder.

He was angry because he feared Cell would cause irreversible harm to the people of Earth.