Suppressing with Life

While Cell was still talking at length, Tien Shinhan arrived above him, assuming the stance for his ultimate technique, the Neo Tri-Beam, and aimed at his target.

"Little fry, what exactly are you trying to do?" Cell did not take Tien Shinhan seriously at all and was somewhat puzzled by his actions.

"Neo Tri-Beam!" Tien Shinhan did not answer Cell. Instead, he roared, and a powerful golden energy wave blasted Cell into the ground. Android 18, who was nearby, was also thrown away.

As the dust settled, a perfectly square crater appeared before everyone. After firing that energy blast, Tien Shinhan was panting heavily. Clearly, that move consumed an enormous amount of strength and stamina.

Android 18 looked at Tien Shinhan, who had suddenly stepped in, in shock. She had not expected him to save her. Taking advantage of the time before Cell emerged, Tien Shinhan shouted at Android 18, "What are you standing around for? Get out of here!"

Only after saying that did Tien Shinhan sense Cell's energy rapidly rising toward the surface. He unleashed another burst and blasted Cell back underground. After Cell was forced into the earth again, Tien Shinhan did not stop. He repeatedly used the Neo Tri-Beam to bombard Cell, temporarily preventing him from escaping.

Taking the opportunity, Android 18 fled the small island with the badly injured Android 16. Before leaving, Android 16 gave Tien Shinhan a deep look, then left the battlefield to him. Cell tried again and again to charge out, but each time Tien Shinhan's Neo Tri-Beam blasted him back down. Though Tien Shinhan's attacks had little effect on him, Cell could not get out for the moment.

Under Tien Shinhan's repeated bombardment, the once-square crater had expanded to more than several times its original size. His stamina was gradually failing, and his strength was continuously declining. This was a completely desperate style of fighting.

At Kami's Lookout, Malvis watched the scene and nodded inwardly, acknowledging Tien Shinhan's courage. One bag of Senzu Beans, one pack of cigarettes—enough to keep Cell locked down for an entire day. Tien Shinhan's move might not have had much destructive power, but its crowd control was certainly strong.

After the prolonged, relentless bombardment, Tien Shinhan's body and mind had already reached their limits. Unable to control himself any longer, he collapsed toward the ground.

Without Tien Shinhan's suppression, Cell flew out of the crater. Once he emerged, he looked around in every direction, but Android 18 was already nowhere to be seen. "Damn it, she got away!"

Cell turned around and coldly stared at Tien Shinhan, who lay on the ground unable to move. He then flew behind him, landed, and looked down at him. "You can't move now, can you? I never thought such a third-rate nobody would ruin my plans."

Cell kicked Tien Shinhan in the waist, sending him flying and smashing heavily into the distance.

Inside Korin Tower, Korin was still searching for the Senzu Beans, but time had become extremely pressing. With no other choice, Goku could only use Instant Transmission first to bring them back.

Just as Cell flew into the air and extended a hand, intending to deliver a fatal blow to Tien Shinhan, Goku arrived beside Tien Shinhan in time, preventing Cell's attack from falling. The two simply stared at each other, neither speaking first.

"Goku?" Cell looked at the man below with uncertainty. After all, he had never seen Goku in person, only some outdated old records.

"You're Cell?"

"He... how did he appear here?"

"Looks like you really are a difficult monster to deal with. I'd love to settle this with you here, but there's no way I can beat you as I am now. So just wait one day. Once I'm done training tomorrow, I'll definitely knock you flat on your back."

Goku knew that the gap between himself and Cell was far too great right now. At this point, all he could do was stall for time.

Ha ha~ ha ha~.

Hearing Goku's words, Cell could not help finding them amusing. Though he clearly understood that this was merely Goku trying to provoke him and buy time, Cell was not worried. His current strength was already unmatched in the world, not to mention after he absorbed Android 18...

"I was wondering what you were going to say! You actually dare claim you can defeat me after just one day?"

"That's right!"

"What could you possibly accomplish in a single day?"

Cell found it increasingly entertaining and was about to toy with Goku further when Goku suddenly grabbed Tien Shinhan's hand and vanished to another place. Cell's eyes widened in utter shock. He had not seen how Goku moved at all. "That guy... How did he move? There wasn't even a trace?"

Over there, Goku had already successfully pulled the barely alive Piccolo from the surging waves and onto the shore. Holding onto Piccolo's faint energy, which was almost impossible to sense, Goku knew the situation was urgent. Perhaps Korin had already found the Senzu Beans by now.

Seeing Goku about to escape with the two of them, how could Cell possibly let them go so easily? His gaze turned cold, and a sneer curled across his lips. "Trying to run? Dream on, Goku."

With that, Cell charged without hesitation, pouncing directly at Goku like a ferocious beast. Facing the oncoming Cell, Goku did not dare let down his guard in the slightest.

He keenly sensed Cell's powerful energy rapidly closing in, so he abruptly looked up and met the gaze of Cell flying toward him. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and the atmosphere around them became exceptionally tense.

Just as Cell was about to reach him, Goku made a split-second decision. His figure flashed, and he vanished from the spot like a ghost. At the same time, Cell's fist smashed fiercely toward Goku, but struck nothing but air. At the critical moment, Goku used Instant Transmission and successfully returned to Kami's Lookout, leaving Cell behind, still looking around in every direction.

Cell's gaze continuously swept across the small island, but he could not find any trace of Goku. He decided to put Goku aside for now. At this point, Android 18 was more important. Taking advantage of the fact that she and the others had not gone far, Cell directly gave chase.

At Kami's Lookout, Korin had successfully found the hidden Senzu Beans and brought them over. After Piccolo and Tien Shinhan were fed Senzu Beans, both of them immediately recovered to full condition and were talking with Goku and Gohan.

As for Korin, after giving the Senzu Beans to Gohan, he ran back inside. He was still somewhat afraid of Malvis, a god.

When they spoke of Cell's current strength, Piccolo directly stated that Cell was already unbeatable. Whether it was himself, Goku, or Vegeta, none of them stood a chance. Finally, he turned his gaze toward Malvis, who was watching the show from the side. "Unless..."

Though Piccolo did not finish his sentence, everyone understood what he meant. But Malvis had already said that he would not interfere in their planet's affairs, so getting him to eliminate Cell was basically impossible.

At that moment, Popo suddenly came to report that Vegeta and the others were about to emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Hearing this, everyone hurried over to check on the situation.