As the light faded, Trunks stood proudly in the sky. Super Saiyan 4's unique energy-absorption trait had neutralized most of the explosion's power.
Cell's figure had completely vanished. On the ground, a massive circular crater silently testified to the terrifying force of the explosion.
"Such... such powerful energy!" Everyone stared at the wild-looking Trunks in the sky, their faces filled with shock. That energy was simply too overwhelming—so overwhelming that they could not muster even the slightest thought of resistance.
"So this is the result of Trunks's training? Amazing!" Although Goku had long known that Trunks had surpassed everyone else, seeing his current form with his own eyes still made him sigh in amazement.
Vegeta did not say a word throughout it all. He merely clenched his fists in silence. The strength Trunks had displayed was no longer merely "surpassing him"—it belonged to an entirely different dimension.
He stared at the red figure in the air, countless emotions churning in his eyes: unwillingness, anger, pride—and a sense of relief he himself refused to acknowledge.
On the ground, Gohan struggled out of the dust. Looking at Trunks's upright figure in the sky, he was speechless for a long while.
Guilt flooded his heart like a tide—if he had not driven Cell into a corner, Cell would never have thought of self-destructing and taking everyone down with him. If Trunks had not acted at the last moment... Earth really would have been finished.
Trunks slowly descended from the sky. Once he returned to the ground, the red fur covering his body faded away, and he returned to normal.
Although Super Saiyan 4 was, in a sense, a form that could be maintained for a long time, being covered in red fur still made him uncomfortable—his normal state felt much better.
He walked