Overwhelming

"I'll go."

Goku stepped forward, golden aura blazing around him—Super Saiyan 1 at full power. There was no fear in his eyes, only burning battle intent.

"Dad!" Gohan instinctively tried to stop him.

"Don't worry." Goku turned back with a wide grin. "I'm just testing the waters."

Testing the waters?

Didn't he see what happened to Uncle Vegeta?

Gohan opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. This was Son Goku. Fighting was everything to him. Making him watch others fight without joining in was harder than killing him.

"Goku, think this through!" Krillin shouted from afar.

"Kakarot!" Vegeta roared from within the ruins. "Don't push yourself!"

But Goku had already charged out.

"Come on, Android 17!" His voice echoed through the mountains.

His golden figure tore through the sky, appearing before Android 17 in the next instant.

Hah!

His fist carried devastating force as it shot straight for Android 17's chest.

"Too slow."

Android 17's voice sounded beside Goku's ear. He sidestepped the blow and drove his knee into Goku's abdomen at the same time. He was so fast that Goku had no time to react.

"Urgh!"

Goku doubled over from the blow. Android 17 seized his hair and slammed him viciously into the ground.

Boom!

The entire mountain range shook. A massive crater appeared in the earth, rocks flying everywhere as dust filled the sky.

"That's it?" Android 17 looked down into the crater. "A Super Saiyan?"

He planted his foot on Goku's shoulder and ground down.

"I thought Saiyan transformations were supposed to be impressive. Turns out you're just a slightly bigger ant."

Holy crap.

Gohan's eyelids twitched wildly.

This wasn't merely overwhelming—it was a one-sided beatdown!

His dad's 150 million battle power was like that of an infant before Android 17!

"Goku!" Krillin cried out in terror. Piccolo and Tien Shinhan's expressions also turned grim.

"Cough... cough, cough..."

Goku crawled out of the crater, covered in blood, but the light in his eyes still had not gone out.

"Not bad." He spat out a mouthful of blood and grinned. "This is really interesting!"

Had the old man been beaten stupid?

What the hell was "really interesting" supposed to mean?

"Again!"

Goku charged Android 17 once more, holding nothing back this time.

Kaio-ken!

A red aura layered over the golden light, and Goku's battle power surged in an instant.

"Oh?" A flicker finally passed through Android 17's eyes. "Now this is a little more interesting."

The two clashed fiercely in midair, every exchange unleashing violent shockwaves.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

"That's incredible..." Krillin's eyes widened. "Goku can actually fight Android 17 for this long?"

"No." Piccolo shook his head. "Look at Android 17's expression."

Krillin focused his gaze, and his face immediately changed.

Android 17 was smiling.

A faint smile had appeared on that face that had been expressionless all along.

"As expected of a Super Saiyan." Android 17 rose to his feet and dusted himself off. "You're worth getting serious for."

Serious?

He hadn't even been serious just now?!

Gohan's pupils contracted sharply.

"Dad!" He flew toward Goku. "Are you okay?"

"I... I can still fight..." Goku crawled out of the rubble, covered in blood, but his gaze remained steadfast.

"Don't go." Gohan grabbed his arm. "You've already done enough."

"Gohan, you—"

"Leave the rest to me."

Gohan released Goku and turned to face Android 17.

Golden aura erupted from his body, brighter and more dazzling than Goku's. His long golden hair fluttered in the wind, and his energy was like a blazing sun.

320 million power level.

Super Saiyan 1 at its peak.

This is the limit of what I can do.

"Finally willing to step up?" Android 17 looked at Gohan. "Son Gohan."

"Android 17." Gohan's voice was low. "Let me see just how strong you really are."

"Fine." Android 17 stood up and dusted himself off. "Let's see how long the Saiyans' strongest hybrid bloodline can last."

Both of them vanished at the same time.

Boom!

The shockwave from their clashing fists tore through the sky, blasting a massive hole in the clouds.

"Gohan!" Krillin cried out. "He can actually fight Android 17 head-on?!"

"Not just head-on." Piccolo said grimly. "He's even suppressing Android 17!"

At the center of the battlefield.

Gohan's fists collided with Android 17's again and again, every blow triggering violent tremors.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

Gohan suddenly accelerated, circling behind Android 17 and throwing more than a dozen punches in rapid succession.

Bang bang bang bang bang!

Android 17 staggered forward from the barrage.

"Beautiful!" Krillin shouted excitedly.

"No." Piccolo cut him off. "Look at Gohan."

Tien Shinhan focused his gaze, and his expression immediately changed.

Gohan's breathing was starting to grow ragged.

This is bad.

Gohan felt it too. His stamina was dropping rapidly. Maintaining a power level of 320 million at full output consumed far too much energy!

But what about Android 17? He was still calm, still composed, showing no signs of fatigue at all.

Is this the advantage of an android?

They don't get tired, they don't wear out, and their stamina is limitless...

"What, out of strength already?" Android 17 said flatly. "I thought you could last longer."

"Shut up."

Gohan charged again, but this time, his speed had clearly dropped.

Android 17 easily dodged his attack and drove a backhand punch into Gohan's abdomen.

"Cough!"

Gohan doubled over from the blow, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"Gohan!" Krillin shouted in terror.

"That kid's battle power is pretty high," Android 18 said from the rooftop. "320 million?"

"About that," Android 17 replied. "But he's already at his limit."

"How boring." Android 18 curled her lip. "I thought Saiyans were supposed to be impressive. Turns out he's already done after less than ten minutes."

Ten minutes...

It really had only been ten minutes...

But how much energy had I used in those ten minutes?

Gohan dropped to one knee, gasping heavily.

No.

The Reverse Frequency Device... as long as I can get within ten meters...

Gohan forced himself back to his feet and reached for the metal box at his waist.

Five meters.

Just five more meters...

Gohan vanished from where he stood, his Super Saiyan state unleashing its maximum speed as he became a streak of golden lightning!

"Courting death."

Android 17 raised a hand and thrust his palm toward Gohan.

Gohan did not dodge. He let Android 17's palm strike his chest while his arm had already reached for Android 17.

He touched him!

Just a little closer.

Five meters! Three meters! One meter!

Boom!

Android 17 grabbed Gohan's wrist and violently hurled him away. Gohan spun several times through the air before barely stabilizing himself.

He had failed.

Just a little short...

That one meter...

Was an impossible distance to cross!

"What was that?" Android 18's voice was wary as she stared fixedly at the metal box at Gohan's waist.

"I don't know." Android 17 looked at the metallic mark on his wrist. "But it's definitely nothing good."

"Son Gohan." All warmth vanished from Android 17's voice. "You've made me unhappy."

Unhappy?

Androids had emotions too?

Gohan let out a bitter laugh.

Boom!

A terrifying aura erupted from Android 17, more than twice as powerful as before!

He was going to end this fight!

"Gohan!" Goku struggled to his feet. "Run!"

"Run?" Android 17 sneered. "Can he get away?"

His figure suddenly vanished.

The next second, he was already in front of Gohan.

"Too slow."

Bang!

One punch. Gohan was sent flying backward.

"Too weak."

The second punch. Gohan was driven into the ground.

"That's all you've got."

The third punch. Gohan lay at the bottom of the crater, covered in blood and unable to move.

"Gohan!!"

Vegeta's heart-wrenching roar came from the distance. He had finally crawled out of the ruins, drenched in blood, madness blazing in his eyes.

"You bastard!!"

He charged at Android 17, every ounce of his strength condensed into his fist.

Without even turning his head, Android 17 struck back with a palm.

Bang!

Vegeta was blasted away. This time, he flew even farther, vanishing directly beyond the horizon.

"There goes another one." Android 18 yawned. "How boring."

"Hey." Android 17 walked to the edge of the crater and looked down at Gohan. "You're still alive?"

Gohan painfully raised his head. His body was already near its limit, and his golden aura had grown dim.

Damn it...

The Reverse Frequency Device... had failed...

What was he supposed to do now...

"I'll give you one more chance." Android 17 crouched down and held out his hand. "Tell me what that box was just now."

Gohan looked at him, and the corner of his mouth suddenly curled into a smile.

"You guess?"

Android 17's brows furrowed.

Just then—

"Beep—beep—beep."

An eerie electronic sound came from afar.

Android 17's expression changed drastically.

"That sound..."

He abruptly turned his head toward the northern horizon.

There, a dark figure was rapidly approaching. It was shaped like a giant cricket, with a mosquito-like proboscis on its back.

Cell.

He had arrived!