Cell swept out with a roundhouse kick, but Goku nimbly sidestepped and barely avoided it.
Cell's right straight followed like a shadow. Goku leaped into the air, lightly tapped Cell's shoulder with his toes, and flipped over him to land behind him.
Cell spun around sharply, both fists raining down in a relentless barrage. Goku crossed his arms to block, but the brutal force drove him backward, his feet scraping across the ground as he slid toward the edge of the ring.
Krillin and the others watching clenched their fists tightly, cold sweat sliding down their temples.
Only Malvis, Trunks, Gohan, Vegeta, and Piccolo could see through it—the two of them had not used their full strength at all. They were merely testing each other.
On the ring, Goku had already been forced to the edge. Cell swung a vicious right hook—only for it to cut through empty air, leaving behind nothing but an afterimage. Goku had already flashed behind him.
"That move is too old-fashioned." Cell's tone was calm as he leaped forward with a headbutt.
Goku raised his arms to block, but he was still pushed back several feet. Once most of the force had been dissipated, he suddenly planted both hands on the ground and drove both feet hard into Cell's abdomen, kicking him high into the air.
How could Goku let such an opportunity slip away? He immediately flew after him, gathering energy between his hands as he moved—a brilliant blue Kamehameha Wave rapidly condensed in his palms before blasting out amid violent surging air.
Cell remained unhurried. With one clean, decisive hand chop, he deflected the energy wave into the high sky behind him.
In that instant, Goku flashed behind Cell and drove a hard punch into his lower back.
Cell grunted in pain, then