Unexpected Interloper

"Vegeta!"

Trunks practically roared, his face filled with fury. "Have you lost your mind? If you let Cell absorb Android 18, he'll evolve into his Perfect Form! We won't stand a chance against him then!"

"Enough, Trunks."

Vegeta did not even glance at his son, his voice as cold as steel. "I want to see just how strong Cell's Perfect Form really is. I'll defeat him myself. That's the only way to prove—my power is greater than his. I don't need any of you interfering."

"But Dad, this is too dangerous..."

Trunks's voice trembled. His fists clenched so tightly they turned white, his nails digging into his palms.

"I said, shut up!"

Vegeta suddenly turned his head, the crimson in his eyes burning at Trunks like flames. The force of his presence made him take half a step back involuntarily. "If you dare interfere, I'll beat you down first. Understand?"

A sinister smile curled across Cell's lips, his face brimming with smugness. "Vegeta, you truly are arrogant. Don't worry. Once I become perfect, I'll grant you a dignified death—this, I promise."

The moment he finished speaking, his tail shot toward Android 18 like black lightning.

The tip tore through the air with a shrill howl, sending pebbles flying everywhere in the shockwave.

Android 18's pupils abruptly widened. Her body instinctively tried to dodge, but she simply did not have time. She knew it perfectly well—there was no escaping.

At that critical instant—

A beam of golden light suddenly exploded between Cell's tail and Android 18!

Android 18 slowly closed her eyes.

Her strength ebbed away like the tide, and the little energy left in her body nearly vanished. She could no longer dodge.

Her limbs felt as heavy as lead, and every breath seemed to tear at her lungs.

The air became thick and stifling, as though the entire battlefield were holding its breath for its final moment.

That tail spike was about to pierce the back of her neck—

"Smack!"

The impact sliced through the deathly silence like a blade, and everyone's gaze instantly focused on Cell's sharp tail.

The tip of the tail was firmly gripped by a hand wearing a black glove.

Five fingers locked tight, the knuckles turning white. The fingertips seemed to have sunk deep into the grooves of the tail spike, clamping down on the ferocious attack without yielding an inch.

The tip halted less than three centimeters from Android 18's neck, trembling faintly in midair—as though even death itself had been forcibly seized by that hand.

In the sudden pause, dust swirled into a vortex, slowly circling the point where the hand met the tail spike.

The scene was eerily silent, leaving only the soundless struggle between hand and tail.

"Hmm?"

For the first time, an unusual expression appeared on Cell's face.

He tilted his head slightly, looking over his shoulder at the person who had suddenly appeared behind Android 18.

His pupils contracted, and the smile at the corner of his mouth froze.

He was a young man who looked to be around twenty.

He stood straight amid the dust-filled battlefield, carrying himself like an unyielding pine tree.

His fiery red hair flowed down to his waist like burning flames, swaying gently in the wind, with a few strands brushing over his high nose.

A black sleeveless vest clung to the smooth lines of his muscles, making him look powerful without being overly bulky. Every part of him blended strength with agility.

His red martial arts pants were cinched at the knees, the hems fluttering in the wind as though alive.

The black boots on his feet stood firmly planted on the fractured ground, leaving his entire body looking steady and solid.

Most astonishing of all was the faint aura surrounding him.

A layer of golden energy flickered around his body like a veil of gauze, appearing and disappearing as though it could erupt at any moment with enough power to destroy everything.

Those golden streams of light moved slowly across his skin like living creatures, occasionally sparking with arcs of electricity that streaked through the air.

Even the air carried a low hum—as if energy itself were whispering.

"Who are you?"

For the first time, Cell's voice carried gravity, like ripples spreading across a deep pool.

His gaze locked onto the young man like a blade, searching for some flaw in the other's eyes.

But the man merely looked at him calmly, his eyes as still as dead water, without the slightest ripple.

Lin Ze did not answer at all.

He merely slowly, inch by inch, loosened his grip on the tail spike, the soft sound of leather rubbing against it echoing out.

Once freed, the tail spike trembled slightly before Cell slowly withdrew it.

Lin Ze stepped forward, crossing those three centimeters to stand in front of Android 18—like an indestructible wall shielding her from danger.

"Sorry, just passing by."

Lin Ze turned and smiled at Android 18 behind him.

His smile was easy and relaxed, as though he had merely wandered into this chaotic battle during an afternoon stroll.

His gaze was gentle, and a slight curve touched his lips. "Ma'am, it looks like you've run into a bit of trouble?"

Android 18's eyes widened as she stared blankly at the back of the red-haired young man before her.

Her mind went completely blank. He was clearly right in front of her, yet she could not sense the slightest flow of "ki" from him.

It was as if he did not exist in this world at all—utter emptiness.

Yet that casual pinch and pause just now had clearly proven that his strength was unfathomable, his sharpness hidden within its sheath.

"You..."

Android 18 opened her mouth, but only managed to force out one word. The rest would not come.

"Android 18!"

Krillin struggled to raise his head, his face covered in dust and blood.

He forced himself upright, his arms trembling, yet he still stubbornly lifted his gaze toward the figure who had suddenly appeared.

The moment he recognized Lin Ze, hope rekindled in his nearly lifeless eyes.

He panted urgently, his voice hoarse. "Be careful! Cell is very strong!"

"I know."

Lin Ze nodded, his tone as calm as water.

His gaze returned to Cell, reflecting that perfect monster in his eyes.

He spoke softly. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire battlefield, every word like a nail driven into everyone's ears. "Cell is the masterpiece of the androids. As long as he absorbs Android 17 and Android 18, he can evolve into his perfect form. Vegeta wants to challenge Cell's perfect form, so he deliberately let Cell absorb Android 18."

As his voice fell, the entire battlefield seemed to freeze in an instant.

Everyone stood stunned, as if they had been immobilized.

Trunks sucked in a sharp breath, his pupils contracting as his breathing quickened.

He stared at the red-haired young man in shock, fine cold sweat beading across his forehead. "How does he know all that so clearly...?"

His voice was so low that only he could hear it, but the shock behind it swept across the battlefield like ripples.

Vegeta's expression darkened at once. A cold, vicious light flashed in his eyes, and veins bulged across his forehead.

He fixed his gaze on the seemingly casual red-haired young man before him, his voice low and dangerous. "Who are you? Why do you know about Cell?"

His fists clenched, and even the air seemed to grow heavy, the aura around him on the verge of erupting.