The Powerful Android

Vegeta's offensive poured forth like a raging storm, his fists a dense, vicious blur. Yet Android 18, who had initially retreated while defending, gradually steadied herself. She no longer gave an inch, letting Vegeta's fists and kicks slam hard against her raised arms without budging in the slightest, as immovable as a boulder.

"He's amazing! I never realized Dad was this strong." Trunks could not help but exclaim. "I never thought he could fight that person evenly."

"This is bad," Piccolo said heavily, his tone grave. "Vegeta will be killed."

At his words, everyone turned to him in astonishment.

"Look carefully. It may not be obvious yet, but the android has already begun to suppress him."

Everyone immediately turned their attention back to the battlefield. Android 18, who had initially been firmly suppressed by Vegeta, had quietly reversed the situation. Vegeta's stamina was being constantly depleted by the intense battle, while Android 18, as an android, showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever. At first, Vegeta could barely defend himself, but before long, he was gradually unable to keep up and was forced back step by step.

Vegeta was blasted back by a strike. Filled with unwillingness, he gritted his teeth and charged forward again, throwing a vicious punch that Android 18 caught steadily. His other fist followed right after, only to be easily restrained as well. With both fists controlled, his guard was wide open. Android 18 drove a swift knee hard into Vegeta's abdomen. Before he could recover from the searing pain, she planted another solid punch into his face. Vegeta lost control and flew backward, crashing heavily into a massive jutting boulder.

Android 18 walked toward him at an unhurried pace. Watching that cold figure draw closer step by step, Vegeta leaned against the boulder as fury surged within him. A furious roar rang across the wilderness, and he suddenly burst forward, charging straight at Android 18.

Android 18 vanished in a flash, lightly leaping into the air and causing Vegeta's full-force charge to miss completely. Vegeta had barely turned around when a fierce rising kick slammed into his chin. He staggered several steps forward, about to regain his footing and attack again, when Android 18 flashed to his side and lashed a brutal kick into his left arm.

Crack.

The crisp sound of bone breaking was especially sharp and clear across the empty wilderness.

Clutching his broken left arm, Vegeta staggered and fell. Intense pain swept through his entire body, quickly forcing him to his knees. He threw back his head and let out an unwilling roar.

There was no fear in his emerald eyes as he roared, only disbelief, humiliation, and unwillingness. He had never imagined that after training desperately and striving to become stronger, he would ultimately be trampled beneath the feet of an android.

High above, Malvis hovered silently, taking in this historic scene from above.

"Dad!"

Trunks could no longer restrain himself. He instantly transformed into a Super Saiyan, gripped his sword hilt, and charged straight down toward the battlefield.

Android 18 spun around at the sound. Facing the sword slashing toward her, she neither dodged nor retreated, simply raising an arm to block it head-on. The sharp blade struck her arm hard, and the powerful recoil instantly sent Trunks flying backward. At the same time, cracks rapidly appeared where the blade had hit her arm, spreading quickly until a curved notch matching the contour of her arm broke out of the sword.

Trunks lowered his head to stare at the shattered sword in his hand, frozen in place. In the future timeline, he had fought the androids countless times, yet this sword had never been damaged. But in the very first formal clash with Android 18 of this timeline, his sword had broken.

In the instant he stood there stunned, Android 17 silently appeared behind him. A heavy double-fisted blow smashed into the back of his head, sending Trunks crashing hard to the ground as the broken sword flew from his hand.

"Bastard!"

Piccolo and Tien Shinhan roared as they charged down to the ground, while Krillin alone stood frozen in the distance, at a complete loss and tense from head to toe.

"H-He was defeated that quickly? H-He's a Super Saiyan too!" Krillin's voice trembled uncontrollably, filled with shock.

Piccolo had barely rushed close when Android 17 knocked him down with a vicious kick. Tien Shinhan, meanwhile, was seized tightly by the throat by Android 17, his breathing cut off as he neared suffocation. Seeing the two charge forward despite knowing they were outmatched, Vegeta ignored his severe injuries and endured the pain as he tried to rush at Android 17. But the instant he rose into the air, Android 18 grabbed his ankle.

At that moment, Trunks struggled to his feet and was about to attack Android 18. She seized Vegeta's ankle and swung his entire body up, smashing him down hard onto the newly risen Trunks. Father and son collided heavily and crashed to the ground, sending shattered rocks flying everywhere.

After suffering the devastating impact, Trunks's hair lost its golden color and returned to black as he dropped out of his Super Saiyan form.

Android 18 casually raised a hand to smooth her disheveled long hair. Krillin, watching from afar, felt a chill run through his entire body, panic filling his heart. Just then, Android 16 turned to look at him, the corners of his mouth lifting into a faint smile. Krillin hurriedly stepped back. Only when he saw that Android 16 had no intention of approaching did he relax slightly.

Android 16 slowly turned away, no longer paying attention to the chaotic battle below. Birds in the distance flew back one after another. He slowly extended his hand, and a small bird gently landed on his fingertip.

Piccolo slowly woke from the ground. Seeing everyone else lying helplessly on the ground, then looking at Tien Shinhan, whose throat was still being gripped as he clung to his last breath, Piccolo gritted his teeth, endured his injuries, and charged forward again. Seeing Piccolo attack, Android 17 casually released Tien Shinhan and let him fall. Piccolo threw a punch with all his strength, but in Android 17's eyes, it was far too slow. Android 17 countered with a vicious punch to Piccolo's abdomen. Piccolo spat out blood and crashed heavily to the ground, completely losing his ability to fight.

Vegeta, who had lain on the ground for a long time, saw Android 18's attention shift away and seized the fleeting chance to launch a surprise attack. He fired a ki blast straight at her. Android 18 turned, leapt into the air, and easily evaded the blast, then drove an elbow hard into Vegeta's face. Vegeta fell face-first into the dirt again. He had barely struggled to rise when Android 18 stepped forward and sent him flying once more with a knee strike.

Vegeta crashed heavily to the ground. Android 18 gave him no chance to catch his breath, stepping forward and stomping hard on his lower back.

"Aah—"

Vegeta let out an agonized scream. Yet the resilient Saiyan prince still refused to admit defeat, struggling with all his strength to crawl back up. Android 18 raised her foot and kicked him in the chest, flipping him onto his back.

"Looks like it would be safer if your other arm couldn't move either," Android 18 said flatly, raising her foot and stomping hard onto his still-intact right arm.

"Aah—!"

A shrill scream echoed across the entire wilderness. Moments later, his cries gradually weakened, and his hair faded from its dazzling gold back to black as he completely dropped out of his Super Saiyan form.

Android 17 leapt onto a huge boulder nearby. "Their hair returned to its original color, and that strange golden glow disappeared too. What an incredible phenomenon."

Android 18 turned to look at Trunks, who lay unable to rise. "The guy who charged in from over there was the same."

Above them, Android 16 was absorbed in playing with the small bird and failed to notice that someone had appeared beside him.

"You seem to like nature and small animals."

Android 16 abruptly turned at the sound. A tall man, nearly the same size as him, stood quietly at his side. He had no idea when the man had arrived, and he had not sensed his presence at all.

Malvis slowly extended his left hand. The bird that had been resting on Android 16's fingertip fluttered its wings, hesitated for a moment, then lightly flew into his palm.