The Deepest Fear

Bulma's fingers hovered over the keyboard, refusing to come down.

On the screen, the newly decrypted data emitted a faint blue glow. S-2 Project: Cell. Those words were like a curse crawling up from the depths of hell.

"Fusing Saiyan genes, Namekian genes, Frieza's species' genes..." Bulma murmured as she read the text on the screen, "along with superior DNA fragments from various cosmic warrior races."

She rubbed her temples. "What is that lunatic trying to do? Create a god?"

Piccolo stood beside her, his brows knotted tightly.

And Gohan—Gohan said nothing.

He simply stood there, staring at one line on the screen: Ultimate Biological Weapon.

Cell.

The moment he saw that name, it pierced his heart like an ice pick.

It was the monster that even Goku's self-destruction had failed to destroy in the original story. It was the nightmare that had evolved into its Perfect Form after absorbing Android 17 and Android 18, its power overwhelming Super Saiyan 1. It was the perfect biological weapon with regeneration, the Saiyan trait of growing stronger after near-death, and limitless potential for evolution.

Cell.

The real Cell.

Gohan felt his fingernails digging deeply into his palms.

Three years later.

No, only two and a half years remained now.

Two and a half years from now, Cell would be born amid despair.

And Android 17 and Android 18... would be its nourishment.

"Gohan?" Bulma's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You don't look so good."

Gohan snapped back to his senses and realized that he had clenched his fists without noticing. He forced himself to loosen them and pulled out a smile. "It's nothing. I didn't sleep well last night."

Bulma gave him a suspicious look, but she did not press him.

She turned back to the screen. "There's more information... Wait, this description..."

A passage of text slowly loaded onto the screen:

Target Trait Overview:

1. Possesses Saiyan near-death enhancement and regenerative abilities

2. An Infinite Energy Reactor system integrated into its body

3. Can absorb specific targets to evolve its form

4. Real-time combat data analysis and learning system

5. Currently in the genetic sample collection stage. Estimated completion time...

Before the final line could finish loading, the screen suddenly flickered and froze.

"Damn it!" Bulma hammered at the keyboard. "Why did it blue-screen now of all times?!"

Piccolo frowned. "System overload?"

"No..." Bulma bit her lip. "That partition locked itself down automatically. It detected abnormal external access and immediately entered protection mode."

She slammed her fist against the desk in frustration. "Damn it! I was so close!"

Gohan stood still, but his mind was racing.

Genetic sample collection stage.

Needs to absorb specific targets to evolve its form.

Those two lines had already revealed too much. The conclusion that Cell needed to absorb Android 17 and Android 18 to complete its final evolution was practically spelled out.

But he could not say it.

He absolutely could not say it.

"Bulma." Gohan suddenly spoke, his voice so calm that even he was surprised.

"Hm?"

"That Infinite Energy Reactor system," he said, pointing at the remaining data on the screen, "can it be reverse-engineered?"

Bulma froze for a moment. "You mean... crack its principles?"

"Yeah." Gohan walked over to her. "If this thing can really provide energy forever, its core must have an energy conversion node. As long as we find that node—"

"Then we might be able to cut off its energy supply at the source." Bulma's eyes lit up.

Gohan nodded.

This was the only guidance he could offer.

He could not tell Bulma, "Cell will absorb Android 17 and Android 18," but he could suggest that the Infinite Energy Reactor might have a weakness. As long as Bulma followed that lead in her research...

If they really could find a way to cut off its energy supply, then even if Cell hatched, it would be nothing but useless scrap.

A perfect plan.

"You're right." Bulma had already begun scribbling on a sheet of draft paper. "If we can crack the reversal mechanism of the energy circulation system, then theoretically, we can make the entire energy system collapse... But that would require a large number of android energy samples."

"We can figure something out," Gohan said. "Uncle Piccolo saw those three androids before. We'll find a way to get at least some data."

Piccolo fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

Bulma continued burying herself in her research, while Gohan retreated to a corner and leaned against the wall.

This was only the first step.

The problem of Cell was far more complicated than the androids.

He closed his eyes.

Cell's true terror did not lie in its combat power itself, but in the speed at which it grew. Perfect Cell's combat power was roughly at the level of Super Saiyan 2—stronger than both Goku and Vegeta were now.

But that was not the most fatal part.

The most fatal part was this: as long as you could not kill it, it would only grow stronger and stronger.

Every injury would trigger its regeneration system.

Every regeneration would allow it to absorb its opponent's combat data.

Every absorption would bring it closer to perfection.

This was not a battle at all. It was a war of attrition that could not be won.

Unless—Gohan opened his eyes.

Unless they could destroy it completely before it evolved into its Perfect Form.

Or render its nourishment, Android 17 and Android 18, completely useless.

He looked toward Bulma's busy back.

Everything depended on whether she could find that weakness.

That night, in Capsule Corporation's backyard.

Gohan sat on the lawn, looking up at the stars.

Half a year of the three-year training period had already passed. Two and a half years remained.

Two and a half years from now, the androids would awaken.

And after that... Cell would appear.

Was there enough time?

His current combat power was roughly at the peak of Super Saiyan 1. If he continued following the original trajectory, then during the Cell Saga, he would be able to break through to Super Saiyan 2—the minimum threshold for fighting Perfect Cell.

But that was only "the original trajectory."

This was "his trajectory" now.

He would become stronger. He had to become stronger.

"Gohan."

A familiar voice came from behind him.

Gohan turned and saw Goku walking toward him, carrying a bag of snacks.

"Dad? Weren't you in the Gravity Chamber?"

"I'm done training." Goku plopped down beside him and opened the bag. "Want something to eat?"

Gohan accepted a bag of chips, tore it open, and took a bite.

The two sat side by side in silence, watching the stars.

"You've had a lot on your mind lately," Goku suddenly said, in the same tone one might use to comment on the weather.

Gohan paused mid-chew. "...Have I?"

"You have." Goku turned to look at him, his eyes carrying an insight that seemed beyond his years. "Ever since Bulma cracked that chip, you've been distracted."

Gohan gave a bitter smile.

As expected of Goku. His battle instincts were terrifyingly sharp.

"I've been thinking about the androids," he chose the safest answer.

"The androids?"

"Yeah." Gohan looked into the distance. "I just feel like... things aren't that simple."

Goku tilted his head, seemingly pondering the meaning of those words.

A moment later, he grinned. "Who cares whether it's simple or not?"

"...What?"

"I mean," Goku said, scratching the back of his head, "no matter who the enemy is or how strong they are, we just fight them. Why think so much about it?"

Gohan was left speechless.

That was such a Goku answer.

"Dad, isn't that a little too simple and rough?"

"What's wrong with simple and rough?" Goku said seriously. "When Vegeta came, everyone thought we were finished. And what happened? We won. When Nappa and Raditz came, everyone thought we were finished too. And what happened? We still won. Then there was Frieza, King Piccolo..."

He counted on his fingers, growing more cheerful with every name. "See? Every time, lots of people thought we definitely couldn't win, but didn't we win in the end every time?"

Gohan fell silent.

"Gohan." Goku patted his shoulder. "I know you're smart and think about more things than I do. But sometimes, thinking too much isn't a good thing either."

He looked up at the sky, his tone unusually serious. "No matter what kind of enemy it is, there's always a way to beat them. We Saiyans are supposed to grow stronger in desperate situations."

Gohan looked at his father's profile.

This man who always seemed like a foolish kid had an unexpectedly resolute look in his eyes now.

Was it simple?

It really was.

But sometimes, that kind of simplicity was the best answer.

Gohan suddenly smiled.

"Dad, you're right."

"Of course I am." Goku proudly lifted his chin. "Your dad may be dumb, but he's not stupid."

Gohan rolled his eyes. "Didn't you just say you were dumb?"

"Being dumb and not being stupid are two different things."

"...Fine. Whatever makes you happy."

Father and son looked at each other, then burst out laughing together.

Their laughter echoed through the night sky, dispersing some of the heavy atmosphere.

At the same time, in the Gravity Chamber.

Four hundred and fifty times gravity.

Vegeta floated in midair, golden light flickering around him.

No, it was not purely golden—it was gold tinged with white.

The embryonic form of full-power Super Saiyan.

He maintained his transformation, feeling the violent energy within his body.

This light was brighter than it had been three days ago. It also lasted longer. From the initial thirty seconds, he could now maintain it for nearly a minute.

But it was still not enough.

He was still one final step away from becoming a true Super Saiyan.

Vegeta closed his eyes.

He remembered that moment.

On Namek, Frieza had strangled him with his tail and mocked him as "a flower grown in a greenhouse." That humiliation, that helplessness, that rage that wanted to destroy everything.

"Aaaah!"

Golden light erupted all at once!

The shockwave sent cracks racing across the walls of the Gravity Chamber!

A moment later, the light faded.

Vegeta returned to his normal form, dropping to one knee and gasping for breath.

He looked at his fist.

Just a little more.

Just a little more.

He recalled the moment Son Goku transformed—the golden light engulfing his entire body, his aura becoming almost tangible, his combat power rising geometrically.

That power.

I have to obtain it.

I must!

Vegeta rose to his feet and adjusted the gravity settings once more.

Four hundred and sixty times.

Continue!

Late at night, in Gohan's room.

Gohan stood by the window, looking out into the night sky.

Bulma's progress would still take time.

And Vegeta's breakthrough was close at hand.

Goku and Gohan's battle power continued to rise steadily.

Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

But Cell's shadow still hung over his heart.

He recalled what Cell had done in the original story—destroying West City, brutally murdering Piccolo, forcing Goku to self-destruct...

This time, he would not let the tragedy repeat itself.

Android 17 and Android 18 were fuel for Cell's evolution.

Then he would cut off that path at its source.

The Infinite Energy Reactor was the core of the androids.

Then he had to find a way to make it fail.

Cell was not invincible.

He had his own weaknesses.

Gohan clenched his fists.

Cell.

This time, I won't let you become perfect.

Outside the window, the stars glittered.

And deep in the universe, a strangely shaped spaceship was slowly crossing interstellar space, closing in on a certain blue planet.

Inside the spaceship, an unfinished life-form slept within a cultivation tank.

A name was marked on its genetic blueprint:

Project Cell-2

Cell.