True Super Vegeta

Inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Goku was fighting Gohan—or rather, Goku was guiding Gohan through combat.

Gohan was knocked to the ground by Goku's kick. Just as Goku was about to press his advantage and attack the fallen Gohan, he softened at the last moment and pulled back his hand, asking, "Are you all right, Gohan?"

Goku held out a hand to help Gohan up, but Gohan climbed to his feet on his own, took two steps back, and assumed a fighting stance again.

"Gohan?" Goku cried in surprise.

Gohan did not answer. He raised his ki, leaped into the air, and kicked at Goku. Goku sidestepped the blow. The moment Gohan landed, he formed an energy blast and fired it at Goku, only for Goku to casually swat it away. Goku looked at Gohan with a cheerful grin.

"Uncle Piccolo once told me that Dad isn't suited to be a teacher at all, because you're too nice to everyone!" Gohan shouted, continuing to gather energy blasts in his hands and hurl them at Goku.

Goku caught one of the incoming energy blasts and tossed it at Gohan's feet, still unable to bring himself to attack Gohan. As Gohan continued his assault, he said, "He said you're never strict enough with people. When he saw how spoiled I was, he immediately understood what kind of person you were. I don't want to be like that."

"Gohan!" Goku shouted as he defended himself.

"I finally understand what he meant now." Gohan did not stop. He kept attacking, until Goku finally kicked him to the ground.

"So I've been drowning in Dad's indulgence all along."

Gohan climbed back up and formed an even larger energy wave in his hands before hurling it at Goku. Goku casually slapped it back. After Gohan dodged it, he pleaded, "Dad! Can you train me as if you truly mean to kill me? If I really die because of that, then it just means I'm not strong enough!"

"If that's really how it ends, then it means I'll never be able to surpass you, Dad."

Gohan's pleading yet resolute words made Goku pause in thought. Then he transformed into a Super Saiyan and blasted Gohan away. Floating into the sky, he took up the stance for a Kamehameha. After hesitating for a moment, he still gathered the energy wave and fired it at Gohan.

"Only by putting yourself in a deadly situation can you be reborn. Otherwise, you'll never become someone truly strong, and I'll never become a Super Saiyan!"

Gohan got to his feet, stared at the incoming Kamehameha, and shouted. He thrust both hands forward, preparing to take the attack head-on. Gohan held back the Kamehameha, but its immense force drove him steadily backward.

"I absolutely won't dodge!"

Gohan forcibly stopped his retreat. The scene he had suddenly witnessed that day kept replaying in his mind—Uncle Piccolo falling before him, his words seeming to echo in Gohan's ears. Golden light burst from Gohan's entire body. With all his strength, he pushed forward, sending the entire Kamehameha back at Goku. Goku sidestepped it, and the energy wave flew into the distance before erupting in a massive explosion.

Goku looked down at Gohan, who had successfully transformed into a Super Saiyan and was gasping for breath, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

Elsewhere, Cell had already completed his evolution and successfully transformed into his Perfect Form. He stared at his palms, feeling the surging power within his body.

"So this is what your Perfect Form looks like? It doesn't seem all that impressive. Even your body has gotten much smaller than before," Vegeta said as he floated in the air.

Cell did not respond. He experimentally swung a fist forward, then raised his hand and examined it repeatedly. Once he was done, he jumped a few times, continually punching and kicking as he familiarized himself with his new body.

Vegeta descended and stood before Cell. "Looks like you got your wish and became Perfect Form Cell. Doesn't seem like anything special, though."

"That's quite rude of you to say. How about you help me warm up?" Cell said, rolling his joints as he looked at Vegeta.

"Fine! I'll finish you off while you're warming up," Vegeta said.

"Please do."

Cell was not angered. He merely smiled and held both hands before him like eagle claws. Vegeta also took up an attacking stance. Vegeta attacked first, driving a knee toward Cell's face. Cell blocked it with both hands, and Vegeta leaped behind him, launching a barrage of punches. Yet Cell turned and blocked them all.

Vegeta punched Cell's chest armor and knocked him back. Although the attack landed, it clearly did no real damage. Vegeta continued attacking, while Cell continued to do nothing but defend.

The two fought from the ground into the sky. Only when Vegeta forced Cell against a mountain cliff did he stop and say, "What's going on? Is this the power you gained from becoming Perfect Form Cell?"

Cell did not answer, merely curling his lips into a smile. Vegeta felt as if he were being toyed with and threw a punch at Cell's face. This time, however, Cell caught Vegeta's fist and flung him behind himself, switching places with Vegeta and pinning him against the cliff.

Cell threw a punch, driving it into the cliff beside Vegeta before Vegeta could even see it clearly. Then, under Vegeta's astonished gaze, Cell roared and his arm swelled. Countless pillars of energy shot out from the cliffside, yet none of them struck Vegeta.

The entire mountain cliff was reduced to rubble, and dust engulfed them both. Cell flew upward out of the smoke-covered area, with Vegeta following close behind. The two landed atop a massive boulder.

"Looks like you're finally willing to get serious and fight me with your real strength. But you're still no match for me. As far as I can tell, even after becoming Perfect Form Cell, you're nothing special," Vegeta said.

"Perhaps."

Cell smiled without refuting him, then turned and flew toward the sky. Vegeta chased after him, continuously firing energy blasts from his hands. Cell dodged every one of them, but when he flew higher, he discovered that the sky above was already packed with countless energy spheres.

Energy blasts continued to shoot up from below, while the energy spheres above began falling. Cell was caught between attacks from above and below, bombarded without pause. Yet when the smoke cleared, there was no sign of Cell.

"You really know your stuff, Vegeta! That attack just now was truly impeccable," Cell said as he appeared behind Vegeta.

Vegeta turned to look at Cell, feeling as though he had been toyed with. He glared at Cell furiously and roared, "What kind of joke is this?!"

Vegeta unleashed his ki and continuously fired energy blasts at Cell. This time, Cell did not dodge. He allowed every energy blast to strike him. When the dust cleared, Cell was completely unharmed, floating motionlessly in the air.

Seeing this, Vegeta charged forward in fury and kicked at Cell. Cell caught him by the ankle and casually threw him away. Vegeta steadied himself after tumbling through the air, then prepared to charge Cell again—only to realize he could not find him anywhere.

Cell stood on the ground below, watching Vegeta mockingly as he kept turning around in the sky in search of him. Vegeta looked down and finally spotted Cell staring up at him from the ground. He immediately charged down, throwing punch after punch.

However, Cell precisely caught both of Vegeta's hands. Vegeta kicked both legs at Cell's face, and Cell released his hands and leaped backward, retreating to a distance as he waited for Vegeta to continue attacking.

"Cell, you haven't been fighting seriously at all!" Vegeta said angrily.

Cell put his hands on his hips. "Didn't I say so from the beginning? This is only a warm-up."

"I want you to fight seriously! I beat you so badly—you must be furious inside, right? Even though you've become Perfect Form Cell, one thing hasn't changed. You still look exactly the same as when I nearly beat you to death earlier."

"If you don't accept that, then let me see exactly what power you gained after becoming Perfect Form Cell!" Vegeta shouted furiously.

"Then I'll make a token effort."

After saying that, Cell took up a stance. The thin wings on his back spread open as he charged toward Vegeta. He vanished under Vegeta's wary gaze, only to instantly appear behind him without attacking.

"I've already become Super Vegeta, and you still dare look down on me?"

Vegeta kicked Cell in the head, yet only managed to knock it slightly to the side. When he looked up, he saw Cell staring at him with a mocking grin. Vegeta leaped back to widen the distance, unable to believe his attack had done absolutely nothing.

"You're Super Vegeta?"

Cell walked toward Vegeta beneath his shocked gaze. Yet even after Cell approached, Vegeta still failed to react. Cell sprang forward and kicked him flying.

Vegeta was sent hurtling backward, smashing through several mountain peaks before barely managing to stop himself in midair.