The Challenge of the Perfected Form

He closed his palm into a fist and felt that power gathering at his fingertips, compressing bit by bit before suddenly bursting forth.

Then he looked up, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. There was relief and satisfaction in his smile. "So this is the perfect form? It's... beautiful." He slowly closed his eyes, as if savoring the thrill brought by the power he had just gained.

Not long after, he opened his eyes again, a sharp glint flashing through his pupils.

His gaze shot like an arrow across several kilometers, piercing through the forest, rocks, and a veil of mist to lock precisely onto two figures—a red-haired man and a graceful figure beside him.

"The red-haired Saiyan, and Android 18." A dangerous smile appeared at the corner of Cell's mouth, the standard expression of a predator exhilarated by the sight of prey.

He licked his lips. "Perfect. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down one by one. Looks like fate wants me to settle things with both of you here."

The moment he finished speaking, the space around him suddenly twisted.

Cell's figure seemed to be wiped away by an invisible hand. In an instant, all that remained was a shallow footprint and a cloud of kicked-up dust.

The next second, he had appeared silently ten meters in front of Chen Hao.

A fierce gust of wind erupted, sending loose stones and dead leaves flying everywhere. Even the air trembled from the impact.

The grass beneath his feet had been pressed into a small depression by that force.

That speed was practically teleportation.

"Hello, red-haired brat." Cell greeted him with a smile, his voice low, confident, and faintly provocative.

His hands hung naturally at his sides, but his body was already taut, ready to strike back at any moment.

Cell tilted his head slightly, his eyes full of relief and smug satisfaction. "I should thank you for helping me make that choice. If you hadn't severely wounded Vegeta, I wouldn't have absorbed him so smoothly. Vegeta's cells are even more formidable than I imagined... his anger, his pride, his power—they've already fused into my blood. This feeling is incredible."

As he spoke, he slowly raised his right hand and spread his fingers, as though gently caressing that invisible power.

Chen Hao remained where he was, arms folded across his chest, calmly sizing Cell up.

A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes like ripples spreading across a lake, before everything settled again.

The creature before him had long since shed its ugliness and savagery, replaced by sculpted perfection and an indescribable confidence.

That pressure was like an invisible giant hand pressing in from every direction, making the air feel as heavy as liquid metal.

Chen Hao silently assessed him. Perfect Cell truly lived up to the name. Just standing there, he was already far stronger than Frieza had been.

In the Dragon Ball World, that strength could probably rank among the top ten.

But—that was all.

Chen Hao tilted his head slightly as he looked at Cell. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes, only faint disdain. "You think becoming perfect means you can defeat me?"

Cell's smile stiffened, though it quickly returned to normal.

He spread his arms as if he wanted to embrace the entire sky, the shell on his chest reflecting a cold, hard gleam beneath the sunlight. "Why not? The power I possess now is something a Saiyan in a mere basic form like you could never understand."

He lowered his gaze to his fist. The force of his aura made the surrounding air hum, and every blade of grass on the ground flattened.

"The last time you grabbed my tail, it was only because I hadn't fully digested Vegeta's power. That was a humiliation... but things are different now."

Cell raised his head and fixed Chen Hao with a blazing stare. His entire body suddenly leaned half a step forward. His foot struck the ground with a dull boom, and cracks spread outward from beneath him. "Now, in front of me, you won't even have the chance to make a move."

Android 18 walked over to Chen Hao's side. She wore a form-fitting training outfit, her long hair stirring lightly in the wind.

Her fists were clenched so tightly that her fingertips had turned white. The pressure Cell radiated left her face extremely grave.

The tension in the air was like a bowstring drawn to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.

She looked up at Chen Hao, swallowed, and asked in a low voice, "Chen Hao... can you handle this?"

Chen Hao did not answer at once. Instead, he slowly turned to look at her.

His gaze was as deep as a cold pool, as though it could see through anything.

Moonlight fell across the side of his face, casting a faint shadow.

His lips parted slightly, and his voice came out low and clear. "You said that as long as I rescued Android 17, you'd listen to anything I said, right?"

Android 18 froze.

She stared at Chen Hao, her mind replaying the battle from moments ago—how he had rushed in at the critical moment, how he had single-handedly snatched Android 17 back.

She took a deep breath, then finally nodded. "Yes."

"Then stand farther back." Chen Hao's voice carried absolute authority. "I don't want you getting caught in it."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and stepped forward.

The rock beneath his feet shattered instantly, cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.

He faced Cell directly, standing tall and straight as a pine while his robes snapped loudly in the gale.

The currents of air around them suddenly grew heavy. Even the birds and beasts in the distant forest fell silent, as though heaven and earth themselves were holding their breath.

"Cell, do you know something?" Chen Hao raised his right hand and pointed a finger toward the sky.

A faint smile touched his lips. "I won't even need to transform to deal with you."

The smile on Cell's face froze at once. His dark red pupils contracted, as if something invisible had struck him.

He was furious, yet he laughed. The roar of his laughter shook the air, carrying thunderous rage. "What arrogance! Do you think I'm still that Cell who had to run away? I'm perfect now!"

His aura exploded.

In an instant, a tidal wave of energy burst from his body. The ground beneath his feet shook violently, and even the mountaintops several kilometers away shattered as if struck by an earthquake, with rubble raining down like stones.

An aura flared around Cell, its crimson light illuminating the battlefield and bathing several hundred meters in a blood-red glow.

The air was scorching, making even breathing difficult.

"Do you feel it?" Cell spread his arms and tilted his head back, savoring the power. His voice was filled with crazed pride. "This is my strength! Did you think you could still block me as easily as last time?"

He lowered his head to look at Chen Hao, his eyes brimming with provocation and killing intent.

Chen Hao remained calm, with barely any change in expression.

He stood where he was without moving, letting Cell's waves of energy sweep past his robes and hair.

Chen Hao raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. "That's it?"

"What?" Cell's voice abruptly rose, as though he could not believe what he had heard.

"I said, that's all the power you've got?" Chen Hao casually picked at his ear, clearly not taking him seriously.

He even blew the dust off his pinky finger. "The display's impressive enough, but the power's a little lacking."

His words were like cold water splashed straight onto a red-hot iron plate, instantly sharpening the atmosphere.

Cell's face darkened. His arrogant smile twisted into a savage grimace, veins bulging across his forehead as his teeth ground together with a creak.

He glared at Chen Hao, the fury in his eyes nearly solidifying. "Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"

Cell raised a hand and thrust out his palm.

A blast of light shot from his palm—the bright white sphere spun as it tore through the air, hurtling forward with a piercing howl.

But this energy blast was not aimed at Chen Hao. It was aimed at Android 18 behind him!