They had searched another city, but still found no trace of Cell.
The city's residents were all safe. No crisis had occurred.
"Let's head to the next city, Trunks."
After confirming that, Krillin called out to Trunks.
At Piccolo's suggestion,
the four of them had split up to search for Cell.
Trunks and Krillin had gone to search the many cities in the west.
Piccolo and Tien Shinhan, meanwhile, had gone to search the forests in the east.
"Okay. We'd better hurry, Uncle Krillin."
Trunks looked grave, the gloom between his brows refusing to lift.
As long as they couldn't find Cell, he couldn't set aside the heavy burden weighing on his heart.
As they flew toward the next city,
Krillin worried that Trunks was putting too much pressure on himself, so he tried to reassure him:
"Don't overthink it, Trunks. Things aren't that bad."
"With Goku and Wang Shen around, Cell can't cause much trouble. And if we find him, you might even be able to take him out by yourself."
Though Trunks hadn't improved as dramatically as Vegeta after entering the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, he had still reached the strength of a Super Saiyan Second Grade.
At that, Trunks' furrowed brow eased a little. He said,
"I hope nothing unexpected happens."
Meanwhile,
Piccolo and Tien Shinhan had just finished searching a mountain range when they froze in place.
They had found Cell.
He stood right in front of them, his appearance completely changed and a dangerous smile curling at his lips.
"We finally meet again, Piccolo."
Cell spoke with a cheerful smile.
"You finally dared to show yourself, Cell."
Piccolo secretly readied himself to fight and said gravely,
"What happened to you?"
Tien Shinhan looked even more tense, braced for the worst.
Seeing their alarm, Cell's desire to dominate them was greatly satisfied. He chuckled.
"You've already guessed, haven't you? As you can see, I've evolved into my Perfect Form!"
Cell laughed wildly and spread his arms, showing off his flawless body.
At the same time, he released the immense energy within him.
A fierce shock wave immediately swept in every direction, destroying and leveling the forests for hundreds of kilometers around them.
His energy roared like a storm, whipping Piccolo's white cape until it flapped loudly.
Tien Shinhan grimaced and shut all three of his eyes, stunned.
"What terrifying energy!"
It was the most terrifying energy he had ever felt!
Piccolo gritted his teeth.
This was bad!
They might die here!
Cell suddenly turned to Piccolo and taunted him.
"The hunter and the prey have switched places, Piccolo."
"To be honest, even I don't know how strong I am now. I hope you can entertain me before I kill you."
Whoosh!
Cell moved, charging at Piccolo and Tien Shinhan like a nuclear bomb about to explode.
Piccolo and Tien Shinhan couldn't even see his movements.
Cell's fists struck both of them in the stomach at once, caving in their midsections.
"Ah!"
Their bodies doubled over and flew backward.
They smashed through one mountain range before embedding themselves in another.
Cell remained calmly where he was, gazing at his handiwork with interest.
Piccolo spat out a mouthful of blood and pulled himself free.
A clear fist-shaped dent marked his abdomen, which was slowly healing.
The Namekian's regeneration was at work.
Piccolo let out a deep breath and looked back. Tien Shinhan's eyes had rolled white; Cell had knocked him unconscious with a single punch!
"Hey, Tien Shinhan!"
Piccolo pulled him free and called out to him.
The color gradually returned to Tien Shinhan's blank white eyes. He said in terror,
"Piccolo, I thought I was going to die just now!"
He had no idea Piccolo was just as shaken, but Piccolo gritted his teeth and forced out,
"I'll do my best to hold Cell off. Get to the Heavenly Temple and find Wang Shen and the others. They're the only ones who can stop Cell in his Perfect Form!"
Tien Shinhan's pupils contracted at that. He immediately said,
"You'll die!"
"If you die, the Dragon Balls will disappear too!"
"That's right. Even if he manages to escape, you'll never get another chance to be revived."
A cold voice suddenly rang out.
At some point, Cell had appeared behind Piccolo and heard their conversation.
Piccolo was startled, then turned to face Cell, who seemed to have everything under control. His expression was grim.
He raised a hand and flung away his impossibly heavy cape and white turban, then smiled.
"It doesn't matter. Son Goku and the others have surpassed Super Saiyan and reached an entirely new level."
"If they know where you are, they'll come and destroy you right away!"
"Heh!"
Cell chuckled.
He was somewhat wary of Son Goku and that Saiyan, but he was no longer afraid of them or unwilling to face them.
His Perfect Form and unimaginable power gave him absolute confidence.
But—
"Do you think he'll escape from me alive?"
With that, Cell lowered his hands, his eyes flashing.
Seeing that Cell was about to attack again, Piccolo hurriedly shouted,
"Tien Shinhan, go! Tell Wang Shen and Son Goku! Otherwise, we'll both die here!"
"Masenko!"
Piccolo pressed his hands together against his forehead. A dazzling white light suddenly flared, filling the whole area!
Meanwhile,
another fierce battle was taking place!
The Full Power form's stamina was indeed terrifying. Wang Shen and Vegeta were still fighting.
Wang Shen remained relaxed as he kept Vegeta occupied, helping him stabilize this new level for the time being.
Vegeta, on the other hand, refused to quit until he either defeated Wang Shen or ran out of strength.
Facing Wang Shen's impenetrable defense, Vegeta was already fighting at full power, golden flames blazing around him.
"Galick Gun!"
Vegeta quickly gathered energy in his palm, forming a purple energy ball that he fired.
"Full Power Destruction Beam!"
Wang Shen's body flashed with golden light, which then gathered in both his hands into an attack brimming with destructive energy.
Boom!
Their attacks collided, forming a mass of fused energy. The energy clashed violently and exploded!
However,
in an instant, the Galick Gun was overwhelmed by the Full Power Destruction Beam and dissipated.
The remaining energy of the Full Power Destruction Beam continued roaring toward Vegeta.
"Damn it!"
Vegeta cursed. He had been beaten back yet again.
"Gamma Impact!"
Vegeta powered up and dodged the Full Power Destruction Beam, then immediately counterattacked with both hands.
A huge energy blast shot toward Wang Shen, crackling as it made the air tremble.
Whoosh!
This time, Wang Shen didn't choose to take the attack head-on. He used Instant Transmission to appear behind Vegeta.
He threw a punch, the sound of a tsunami's crashing waves surging from it. It was terrifying.
At their level, the power of hand-to-hand attacks was no weaker than that of energy attacks.
Vegeta sensed Wang Shen's attack coming, but his body was too slow to move. He could only take the heavy blow head-on.
Thud!
In an instant, Wang Shen sent Vegeta flying. The tremendous impact left Vegeta unable to right himself for a moment.
He even thought he heard his bones crack!
"Ah!"
Vegeta fired a shock wave ahead of himself, forcing his uncontrolled body to stop.
Then he turned around, enduring the pain, and clashed again with Wang Shen, who was closing in on him!
Heavenly Temple.
Bulma had brought Little Trunks to the Heavenly Temple in an aircraft.
The Dragon Balls' logistical coordinator had brought supplies such as clothes and food.
She had also brought shutoff devices intended for Android 17 and Android 18.
But she was awkwardly surprised to find that, thanks to Wang Shen's mediation, the two had already joined their side.
Lazuli was sitting with Lapis, discussing what they wanted to wish for with the Dragon Balls.
Lapis wanted to wish for a huge ship so he could travel the world and see its many wonders.
Lazuli, meanwhile, was hesitating over whether to wish to become a normal human again.
Android 16 had unexpectedly gone to help Mr. Popo water and prune the plants and trees at the Heavenly Temple.
"You keep this place very neat and beautiful."
Android 16 praised him with a gentle smile.
As usual, Mr. Popo replied with a dark expression,
"It's what I'm supposed to do."
Snip!
Android 16 carefully cut off an unnecessary branch with a pair of shears, then suddenly looked up toward the area outside the Heavenly Temple.
Tien Shinhan was flying toward them at an extraordinary speed.
He shouted urgently,
"Cell has appeared!"
"He's already in his Perfect Form. Piccolo is doing his best to hold him off!"
Before you continue