Fierce Battle

"You've got to be kidding! Cell survived that?!" Trunks cried out at the sight.

Vegeta gave a cold snort, gazing at the churning green storm in the distant sky, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smile.

"Hmph, so what? That monster's as good as dead." There was even a hint of fervor in Vegeta's voice. "Gohan's the Super Saiyan of our Saiyan legend. After transforming, as long as the battle continues, his ki will grow without limit. Cell may have recovered, but it's only a matter of time before Gohan wins!"

Piccolo, however, furrowed his brow, his green face dark with concern.

"Something's wrong. Very, very wrong." Piccolo tilted his head back, staring intently at Cell's face, which still wore a contemptuous smile.

"Piccolo, you noticed it too?" Goku said gravely.

"Yeah. He's far too calm." Piccolo gritted his teeth. "With Gohan's power still rising, that guy isn't just staying calm—he's even making comments like he's enjoying himself. His strength may be far beyond what we've seen!"

"According to the Dragon Radar, Son Gohan's battle power has already exceeded 5.6 trillion, and it continues to rise." Android 16's cold voice cut in as data flickered rapidly across his eyes.

Vegeta was just about to say something when the energy coming from above made him feel as if he'd plunged into an icy abyss.

"Cell's energy has changed. It jumped from five trillion straight to six trillion. And as Son Gohan's power rises, his own readings are rapidly matching it." Android 16's voice was utterly flat, yet it carried an oppressive weight.

High above.

Son Gohan wasn't particularly surprised to see Ultimate Cell restored. After all, he'd long since realized that Ultimate Cell, who had traversed multiple timelines, wouldn't be so easily killed.

He ignored Ultimate Cell's words and simply kept throwing punches.

Boom! Green flames surged once more as Son Gohan flashed in front of Cell. His right arm swung in a blur, smashing toward Ultimate Cell's face.

Bang!

Ultimate Cell raised his newly regrown left arm and caught the punch without budging. The violent shock wave swept the surrounding clouds away in an instant.

"Not bad strength, but your technique needs work." Ultimate Cell grinned savagely and countered with a chop aimed at Son Gohan's neck.

Son Gohan ducked beneath it, then slammed his right leg into Ultimate Cell's side like a battle axe.

A muffled impact rang through the sky. Ultimate Cell only staggered half a step before driving a fist into Adult Gohan's chest.

"Crackle, crackle..."

"Crackle, crackle..."

"Whoosh... whoosh... whoosh..."

"Crackle, crackle..."

"Zip... zip... zip..."

"Crackle, crackle..."

The two once again launched into the most primal, purest form of hand-to-hand combat.

There was no testing the waters, no holding back. Every strike was aimed at killing the other. They fought from ten thousand meters in the sky down into the depths of the crust, then burst skyward from the lava. Mountains crumbled and the seas surged backward in their wake; the two of them reshaped the entire face of the Earth as they clashed.

Son Gohan's assault was like a violent storm. The wildness of the Legendary Super Saiyan and his inexhaustible energy left him tireless and insensible to pain, growing stronger with every moment of the fight. Right fist, knee strike, roundhouse kick, headbutt!

Crackle, crackle!

The dense impacts blended into a single, continuous roar. Cracks appeared across Ultimate Cell's green armor, but the feverish look on his face only grew more intense.

"Yes! Just like that! Faster! Hit harder!"

Ultimate Cell laughed, then suddenly crossed his hands and struck a remarkably familiar opening pose.

Goku and everyone at Turtle Hermit House watched in shock and cried out together, "That's... a Turtle Hermit Style technique?!"

Ultimate Cell's movements became incredibly fluid, seamlessly balancing offense and defense. Every block precisely deflected Son Gohan's immense strength, and each one flowed directly into a counterattack. It was the very essence of Turtle Hermit Style martial arts, yet this monster wielded it to perfection.

Bang! Son Gohan's punch missed, and Ultimate Cell used his momentum against him, throwing him hard to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw.

Boom!

The ground caved in, leaving a bottomless crater.

Just as Son Gohan started to rise, four sharp whooshes came from overhead.

At some point, Ultimate Cell had split into four, taking up positions to the east, west, north, and south and trapping Son Gohan in the center.

"The Four Bodies Fist?!" Tien Shinhan sprang to his feet back at Turtle Hermit House.

All four Ultimate Cells raised two fingers to their foreheads. Purple sparks of electricity gathered wildly at their fingertips.

"Try this, Son Gohan," all four Cells said with a sneer.

"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo gritted his teeth.

Four spiraling purple beams, each with unparalleled piercing power, shot simultaneously toward Son Gohan at the bottom of the crater.

Son Gohan's face remained expressionless as green light blazed around him. He clenched his fists.

"Haaaah!"

His violent green aura formed a circular shield around him.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The four Special Beam Cannons slammed into the energy wall. After struggling against it for a moment, they were completely consumed by the Legendary Super Saiyan's unreasonable power.

"Oh? What kind of move is that?"

As he spoke, the four Cells merged back into one. Hovering in midair, he brought his hands together at his waist, a dazzling blue light erupting between his palms.

The Earth's entire magnetic field went violently haywire.

"Ka—" Cell drew out the word.

"Not good! He's going to destroy the Earth!" Goku cried in alarm and started to rush forward, but Piccolo grabbed him.

"Calm down, Goku!" Piccolo shouted. "Trust Gohan!"

"Me—" The blue sphere had already swelled until it was almost solid, and the energy inside was enough to vaporize the solar system.

"Ha—"

Son Gohan looked up at Ultimate Cell in the sky. From that angle, he clearly wanted Gohan to take the attack head-on. But what did Gohan have to fear?

He raised his right arm above his head and loosely curled his fingers. Rings of golden-green energy compressed wildly in his palm.

"—ha!"

A massive blue beam burst from Ultimate Cell's hands, hurtling toward Son Gohan with the force to destroy everything.

The power was immense. If it went unchecked, even a mere graze against the surface would tear the Earth apart.

Son Gohan didn't dodge.

Facing the world-destroying blue beam, he thrust one arm upward.

"Massive Masenko!"

A huge golden-green wave of energy crashed into the blue Kamehameha in midair.

Vmmmm—!

There was no deafening explosion, only a piercing hum as the two overwhelming forces ground against each other. The energies formed a massive sphere in the sky, distorting the space around it as they fought for dominance.

"Hahahaha! Come on, Son Gohan!" Ultimate Cell roared with laughter, then poured even more power into his hands.

The blue beam gradually overpowered the green light, inching closer and closer to Adult Gohan.

Son Gohan's gaze was cold. The veins stood out on his right arm as his powerful muscles bulged and writhed.

"As you wish... now get up there!"

Son Gohan let out a world-shaking battle cry. His power surged once again, and he snapped his right arm upward.

Boom!

The colossal energy sphere, powerful enough to destroy a galaxy, and Ultimate Cell were swallowed whole by Son Gohan's immense energy. The remaining force shot past the Earth's atmosphere and into the boundless reaches of space.

A few seconds later.

A burst of light, millions of times brighter than the sun, erupted in space.

The storm subsided.

Son Gohan lowered his hand and slowly rose from the crater.

He could sense that Ultimate Cell's energy hadn't disappeared. Like his own, it was still growing.

"Beep, beep, beep—"

Android 16's mechanical eyes flashed repeatedly.

"Son Gohan's battle power... is nearing ten trillion... but Cell's readings are holding at almost the same level..."

Ten trillion!

That number stunned everyone present once again.

They were both monsters.

High above, Ultimate Cell emerged slowly from the smoke, lightning crackling all around his body.

Zzzt—!

He looked down at Son Gohan, a satisfied smile on his face.

"That warm-up was very satisfying." Cell rolled his neck. "You're impressive, Son Gohan. You actually managed to push me into the Lightning State. It's been a long time since I've encountered prey like you."

Son Gohan's expression didn't change as he stared coldly at Cell.

"But I'm starting to get bored." Cell spread his arms arrogantly. "So I've decided to show you what true despair looks like."

Boom!

A terrifying surge of energy, unlike anything before, erupted from within Cell.