You're Taking Advantage of Me

"What are you planning to do, Android 16? Don't tell me you want to fight that monster?" Android 17 asked, looking at Android 16.

"There is no other way," Android 16 said.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?" Android 17 asked.

"According to my calculations, my strength should be enough to contend with Cell."

With that, Android 16 took two steps forward before instantly charging at Cell. To everyone's surprise, he was actually able to trade blows with Cell. As they fought, the two suddenly collided and began wrestling for dominance. Cell abruptly punched Android 16 back, then drove his tail into Android 16's neck as he said, "Pathetic. I'm going to absorb you."

Cell's tail gave a powerful suck, but he quickly realized something was wrong and exclaimed in surprise, "Damn it, you're actually a robot!"

Android 16 grabbed the tail lodged in his neck and clutched it in his hand. With a fierce tug, he swung Cell around and slammed him toward the ground.

Boom!

A deep crater was smashed into the ground. Cell burst out from beneath the rubble and flew into the sky, with Android 16 close behind. Cell suddenly stopped, spun around, and kicked Android 16 away. Android 16 did not stop until he crashed through half a hillside. Cell instantly appeared behind him, wrapped his tail around his neck, then moved in front of him and prepared to finish him with an energy blast.

Unexpectedly, two red beams shot from Android 16's eyes and struck directly into Cell's eyes. While Cell cried out in pain, Android 16 freed himself from the tail around his neck and kicked Cell toward the ground.

Cell crashed into the ground, creating an enormous crater. Android 16 landed at the bottom, stepped on Cell's tail, then grabbed it and tore it off with all his strength.

Amid Cell's screams, Android 16 casually tossed the severed tail aside. It continued to squirm on the ground.

"Now you can't absorb Android 17 and Android 18, can you?" Android 16 said as he stood before Cell after throwing the tail away.

"What a pity. You seem to have forgotten that I have King Piccolo's cells, haven't you?" Cell said as he got to his feet.

With a shout, the stump of his severed tail began wriggling. Before long, a new tail instantly grew from the wound, covered in disgusting fluid.

"I can still regenerate from damage like this."

With that, Cell flicked his tail, spraying the fluid across the ground nearby. The moment it landed, it corroded pit after pit into the ground.

"So if I want to stop you from becoming complete, I have no choice but to kill you?" Android 16 asked with a frown.

"Hehehehe, that's absolutely impossible," Cell said dismissively.

"How do you know it's impossible if you don't try?" Android 16 said, taking up a fighting stance.

Android 16 instantly charged forward, and Cell rushed at him as well. Android 16 kicked at Cell, but Cell easily dodged it. He leaped behind Android 16 and kicked him flying, then appeared in front of him before he could regain his footing and punched him in the left cheek. Android 16 slid across the ground, leaving a deep trench behind him.

Cell glanced at Android 17 before charging at Android 16 again. Android 16 rolled his prone body over and aimed his fist at Cell. Blue light glowed from his forearm, and with a sharp whoosh, his fist actually detached from his arm and blasted Cell away.

Android 16 immediately followed after him, grabbed his fist, and reattached it to his arm. He punched Cell to the ground again, then lifted Cell's body and slammed it down hard, smashing out a bottomless crater.

Android 16 removed both of his hands from his arms and aimed them at the crater. After charging for a long time, Android 16 shouted, "Hell Flash!"

A yellow beam erupted from each arm and poured deep underground. Powerful energy continuously burst through the ground all over the island, spilling outward. After a while, the light faded and the smoke cleared, revealing an island riddled with holes where the energy had punched through.

"That Android 16... he's actually that strong... Android 16..." Android 17 said in astonishment as he stood to the side.

"S-So amazing!" Android 18 was still standing at the edge of the island.

Android 16 turned to Android 18. "What are you still standing there for? Didn't I tell you to leave quickly?"

"What does it matter? Didn't you already defeat him?" Android 18 said, relaxing as she put her hands on her hips.

"I haven't defeated him. He only suffered a little damage. With his abilities, that attack wasn't enough to kill him. Android 17, you need to run too!" After speaking to Android 18, Android 16 turned and shouted at Android 17, who was still standing there.

"You want me to run? What kind of joke is that? He messed me up pretty badly just now. Even if I leave, I'm not going anywhere until I've cooled off! Didn't you say he was hurt?"

"Then I'll give him another punch and send him to his death." With that, Android 17 began looking around for Cell.

"Come out, ugly monster! What's wrong? Didn't you say you wanted to absorb me? I'm not hiding, and I'm not running. I'll stay right here until you're dead!" Android 17 shouted at the surroundings.

He completely failed to notice Cell concealing his energy as he floated up from the crater behind him. Cell's tail instantly expanded, enveloping Android 17 as Cell said loudly, "Hehehehe, I came out just as you wished."

Android 16 shouted, "Damn it!" and rushed forward, but he was too late. Cell's tail gurgled, and before long, Android 17 was absorbed into Cell's body. Android 16 stopped as he sensed Cell's energy rapidly rising, then turned and ran toward Android 18, shouting, "Android 18, what are you standing around for? Run! You can feel it too, can't you?"

Cell's entire body began to flash, and his form started changing. The claws on his feet became proper feet, purple patches appeared across his green shell, and his insect-like face began to look more human. His tail became purple on the upper half and orange on the lower half, while pale golden lightning crackled around his entire body.

"Run, Android 18!" Android 16 grabbed Android 18 by the wrist and quickly pulled her back.

However, Cell instantly appeared in front of them, blocking their path. "Do you really think you can escape in front of me? I never expected my speed to become so fast. Even I'm surprised."

After saying that, Cell turned to look at the seawater behind him. Seeing his reflection faintly mirrored in the water, he said, "Of course, that's because I absorbed Android 17. I wonder how much my power has increased."

The moment Cell turned around, Android 16 punched him in the face. Cell did not move at all as he took the blow. Then, amid Android 16's astonishment, he raised his right hand and fired a ki blast at Android 16's upper body, blasting him far, far away. When Android 16 landed, a piece of his head was missing.

"My power seems to have increased quite a bit."

Cell then looked at Android 18. "How about this? Running is pointless anyway, so don't bother. This time, it's your turn. Let's create the complete Cell together!"

Cell licked his thick lips and began walking toward Android 18. Android 18 took two steps back, only to suddenly feel herself bump into a solid body.

"Hey, I could sue you for feeling me up," the figure behind her said in a cheeky tone.

A familiar voice reached her ears. Android 18 turned around and slowly looked up, seeing that familiar face with the corners of his mouth curled upward. She froze.

Cell also stopped and looked at the newcomer. There was no information about this person in his data, but he did not care much. After all, he had absorbed Android 17 and entered his mature stage. The increase in his strength had made him somewhat overconfident.

"Oh? Who are you? Are you trying to play the hero and save the beauty?" Cell asked, the curve at the corner of his mouth still not gone.