The Fisherman Reaps the Benefits

"Now you have nowhere left to run. Is this really all the strongest guy in history has got?"

As Piccolo waved both hands and shouted, "Die!" all the energy blasts sprang into motion, circling Android 17 before flying toward him one after another.

Explosions rang out nonstop, and Android 17 was engulfed in white light. As the blasts increased, the smoke gradually dispersed. The shockwaves had blown away the island beneath them, forcing the three to remain suspended in the air as they continued watching Android 17's position in the sky. A blue sphere of light emerged from the smoke.

It turned out Android 17 had raised a blue barrier that blocked all the damage.

"Too bad. Sorry to disappoint you," Android 17 said as he dismissed the barrier.

"Hmph. My attack is only just beginning," Piccolo said.

"How about we change locations? Otherwise, you'll destroy this little island beyond recognition. We need to protect nature, you know!" Android 17 said, pointing behind himself with his thumb before vanishing from where he stood.

The others vanished instantly and followed him. They arrived at a volcanic island. Ye Bai had really wanted to point out that the previous island was already gone, but there were still plenty of islands nearby, and Turtle Hermit Island was not far away either, so he said nothing.

After landing, Android 17 asked, "You really aren't like the old King Piccolo. But I'm not interested in your identity. It's quite remarkable for someone who isn't an android to possess this level of power. Still, I only want to know where Son Goku is. Looks like you still don't intend to tell me, right?"

"Your androids' goal is to kill Goku. How could I possibly tell you where he is?" Piccolo said.

"Since you don't want to talk, let's keep fighting. I'll beat you until you do. This time, I definitely won't hold back!"

With that, Android 17 floated over and landed before Piccolo. Once the two took up fighting stances, Android 17 instantly punched Piccolo in the left cheek, then drove another fist into his chest. Before Piccolo could recover, Android 17 struck the back of his neck with an elbow. After Piccolo fell, Android 17 braced one hand against the ground and kicked at him with both feet. Piccolo supported himself with one hand and backflipped away, not stopping until he had reached a safe distance.

Piccolo twisted his neck with one hand, spat out a mouthful of blood, and said, "You're pretty fast, but the force behind your blows is lacking."

"What? You sure talk big! You actually dare say that to me, Android 17, the strongest android in history?"

As soon as Android 17 finished speaking, he appeared in front of Piccolo. Piccolo had anticipated him and chopped at him with his hand. Android 17 leaped to the side, then came around behind him and drove another elbow into Piccolo's back. But Piccolo spun around and kicked Android 17 in the face. The two clashed once more.

Their repeated exchanges sent shockwaves through the entire island, splitting it apart. Before long, they collided and began a contest of strength. The clash of their overwhelming power caused the entire volcano to erupt.

They fought from the island into the sky, then from the sky into the sea, completely failing to notice another presence quietly approaching.

Meanwhile, Bulma was flying toward Kame House at top speed with the remote control she had developed.

Piccolo and Android 17 had already fought their way onto another island. Android 18 and Android 16 could only helplessly follow. The moment they arrived, they saw Android 17 and Piccolo trading blows. Neither bothered defending anymore; they were simply seeing who could take more punishment. You punched me once, and I punched you back once. The battle was incredibly intense. Before long, they separated, both bearing injuries.

"Even if we're evenly matched, the difference in stamina will show if this drags on. My energy supply will never run out," Android 17 said.

At that moment, Piccolo sensed a familiar ki nearby. He turned and looked up, only to see a terrifying figure.

"C-Cell..." Piccolo's mouth hung open, his eyes filled with shock.

Android 17 looked up. A green monster stood on a distant hillside. Android 16 and Android 18 saw the figure as well.

"This is bad. I was so busy dealing with Android 17 that I didn't notice him!" Piccolo said grimly.

"Who exactly is this strange guy? Could he be..." Android 17 muttered. Suddenly, his pupils widened in shock.

"The long-awaited day has finally arrived. The day I fuse with Android 17 and Android 18 and become complete. At last, my wait is over!" Cell said as he looked at Android 17 and Android 18.

"Hm? Who's this guy?" Cell suddenly noticed Android 16 beside Android 18.

"Judging by the symbol on that big guy, he should be an android made by Dr. Gero. Whoever he is, he's ultimately an outdated model—not someone worth my attention," Cell said, looking at Android 16.

Cell jumped down from the hillside and unleashed his ki. Countless human grievances seemed to radiate from his body, as though innumerable human souls were wailing within him.

His immense ki shattered the ground beneath his feet. The others stared at Cell in shock as he slowly walked toward them. Passing Piccolo, he said, "What will you do, Piccolo? If you want to stop me, then come at me."

"I never imagined your strength had reached this level. You monster, how many lives have you taken?" Piccolo turned around and demanded angrily.

"Taken lives? Nonsense! They should be honored to become part of my power!" Cell laughed and continued walking toward Android 17.

"Who are you?" Android 17 asked warily, taking a step back. Ye Bai's warning to him by the roadside still echoed in his mind.

"Android 17! That guy plans to kill you and absorb you so he can become complete! Why aren't you running?!" Piccolo shouted.

Cell suddenly thrust his tail at Android 17. Android 17 reacted in time and dodged, but Cell kept stabbing at him with his tail. During the evasions, Android 17 was caught off guard when Cell grabbed his wrist, slammed him to the ground, and pinned him beneath his foot, preparing to absorb him with his tail. Piccolo rushed in, kicked Cell away, and saved Android 17.

"You actually dared to sneak attack me," Android 17 said as he got to his feet and looked at Cell.

But Piccolo looked toward Android 18. Aside from Android 16, there was no one there.

"What's going on? You said I'd be absorbed by this monster. Was everything that guy said true?" Android 17 asked.

"That guy? Where is he? If it's him, he might be able to defeat Cell!" Piccolo quickly grabbed Android 17 and asked.

Android 17 turned toward Android 18. Just like Piccolo, he saw nothing except Android 16.

"I don't know. He was right beside Android 18 just now," Android 17 said as he turned back.

"This is troublesome! His name is Cell. He's a bio-monster created by Dr. Gero's computer. Right now, he's still incomplete. If he absorbs you and Android 18, he'll evolve into his perfect form. Do you understand?" Piccolo gave a brief explanation.

"Rejoice, brothers! Once I absorb you, a flawless, invincible superman will appear in this world!"

"The ultimate warrior Dr. Gero spent years tirelessly pursuing in his research," Cell said excitedly, spreading his arms wide and raising them as he looked up at the sky.

"Who wants to be absorbed by an ugly freak like you? As for the ultimate warrior, isn't he standing right in front of you?" Android 17 said, pointing his thumb at himself.

"Whether you like it or not doesn't matter. You are fated to be absorbed by me," Cell said, unable to resist flicking his tail.

"That mouth of yours that keeps spouting nonsense—I'll make it shut," Android 17 said, glaring at Cell.

"Run, Android 17! The enemy's combat power is far too great. We absolutely cannot let him become complete. That guy's goal is no longer merely to kill Son Goku—he wants to destroy the entire universe!" Android 16 shouted from behind Cell.

"I was wondering when you'd finally speak. And it turns out you're telling me to run? You really look down on me that much?"

Android 17 roared and charged forward, throwing a punch at Cell. Cell vanished and reappeared above Android 17, knocking him to the ground with an elbow strike. Piccolo rushed forward to save Android 17, only to be casually kicked away.

Cell walked up to Piccolo, who was sprawled on the ground, and kicked him flying into the distance.

"Even people as strong as Android 17 and Piccolo can fail?" Android 18 asked doubtfully from the side.

"No, their opponent this time is too strong. Android 18, you need to run while you still can! Android 17 never listens to anyone's advice. If he gets absorbed, no one will be able to deal with Cell. The world will end!" Android 16 said.

"Then what are you planning to do, Android 16?" Android 18 turned to look at him.

Piccolo watched Cell approach him, staggered to his feet, and held his hands loosely before his chest. After gathering energy for a moment, he fired a powerful energy blast at Cell.

Rumble!

The half of the island where Cell had been vanished. Seawater splashed into the sky and rained back down. When the dust settled, there was nothing left in that spot.

A moment later, Cell rose from the sea under the shocked gazes of the others. Golden energy flared around his body, and he was completely unharmed. After landing, Cell walked up to Piccolo before suddenly looking toward Android 17.

"Run, Android 17!"

Cell knocked Piccolo to the ground with one punch, then walked over and lifted him by the body. Piccolo's head drooped limply to one side.

"What a mess. Did I use a little too much force? I should've known better than to kill so many humans and absorb an excessive amount of life energy."

With that, he fired an energy blast through Piccolo's abdomen, blasting away half his body before tossing him into the nearby sea. Then he turned to Android 17.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"I advise you not to resist pointlessly. Sooner or later, you'll be absorbed by me anyway. There's no need to make your own flesh hurt," Cell said as he walked toward Android 17.

Cell looked at Android 18. "You'll be next after I finish him."

Android 18 stood frozen, able only to watch as Cell approached Android 17. Halfway there, Cell broke into an impatient run.

"Then let's fight! You call my resistance pointless? I won't lose to you that easily, you ugly monster!"

Android 17 shouted as he charged forward, leaping up and slamming toward Cell. Cell vanished in an instant, reappeared above Android 17, and sent him flying with a swipe of his tail.

Cell pursued him and thrust his tail at Android 17. Android 17 dodged before the tail could pierce him, but Cell instantly appeared above him again and kicked him down toward the ground. Landing beside him, Cell repeatedly stomped on his chest. He then kicked him into the air, jumped up, punched him back down, and began raining punches onto Android 17's face.

Once Android 17 had almost no strength left to fight back, Cell grabbed him, punched him in the abdomen again, and released him. Android 17 dropped helplessly to his knees, and Cell followed up with a chop to the back of his neck.

Android 17 could only lie face-down on the ground. Cell kicked him over, but Android 17 could only lie there and groan in agony.

Watching Android 17 get defeated so quickly from afar, Android 18 said, "Looks like running away is the smart choice."

"That's right! You need to escape by yourself! If both you and Android 17 are absorbed, this world is finished. Don't hesitate," Android 16 said.

"And you? What are you going to do?" Android 18 turned toward Android 16 and asked.

"Defeat Cell. I never expected the time to fight would come before I even met Son Goku." With that, Android 16 walked toward Cell.

"What are you doing, Android 16? Stop! You'll be killed!" Android 18 shouted.

Android 16 stopped, turned around, and called out, "You two are good people! You haven't slaughtered humans or animals indiscriminately. I've been very happy traveling with the two of you."

After saying that, Android 16 continued toward Cell. Meanwhile, Cell had his foot on Android 17's head as he said, "Now you don't even have the strength to stand, do you? It's about time I absorbed you."

Cell lifted Android 17 again. The tail behind him kept expanding, then began to cover Android 17 from the head downward. Android 17 forcibly gathered a little strength and held back the tail trying to envelop him, but it was useless. Just as the tail was about to swallow him—

Android 16 appeared behind Cell and tapped his shoulder. The instant Cell turned around, Android 16 punched him in the face and sent him flying. Android 17 fell to the ground, but struggled to raise his head and look behind him.

"Didn't expect another one who doesn't value his life," Cell said, wiping his left cheek.