Insect Chirping

The sound grew closer.

"Beep-beep-beep."

It was not the electronic sound of ordinary machinery, but the chirping of some creature—like a cricket, yet a hundred times sharper. The sound waves, laden with a teeth-grinding frequency, echoed through the valley.

Android 17 slowly stood up and faced north.

For the first time, a subtle change appeared in his expression—not fear, but a certain... vigilance.

"Cell."

He spoke the name.

Cell.

Project S-2.

The ultimate biological weapon.

Gohan lay at the bottom of the crater, covered in blood, yet he stared fixedly at the approaching shadow. His heart was pounding—not because of fear; well, actually, it was because of fear.

But more than that, it was the feeling that it had finally arrived.

As a transmigrator, he knew the horror of this monster better than anyone.

It was not an ordinary android. It was a perfect life form created by Dr. Gero by fusing the genes of Saiyans, Namekians, and the Frieza race. It possessed the Saiyan's near-death power-up trait, the Namekian's regenerative ability, and the Frieza race's talent for surviving in space.

What was even more terrifying was its tail.

At the end of that tail was a needle-like absorption port.

It could drain a creature's energy dry just by touching it.

The shadow drew closer.

Gohan finally saw the appearance of First Form Cell clearly.

It was an upright insectoid creature about three meters tall. Its dark green skin was covered in carapace-like patterns, with sharp bone spurs protruding from its joints. Its head resembled a cricket's, and its two compound eyes glowed with a dark red light. Behind it, a pair of wings as thin as cicada wings were spread out, buzzing and vibrating to maintain flight.

The most horrifying part was its tail, which was about two meters long, ending in a needle-like object as black as ink that glinted with a metallic luster in the sunlight.

This was Cell.

And he was still only in his first form.

His combat power was at most fifty million; he couldn't even beat a peak Super Saiyan.

But once he absorbed Android 17 and Android 18...

Gohan couldn't help but shudder.

Perfect Cell.

His combat power would exceed the sum of Android 18 and Android 17.

He would easily slaughter a Super Saiyan 2 Goku.

"Yo."

Cell landed on the battlefield, about twenty meters from Android 17. He tilted his head, sizing up the android before him.

"Android 17. Long time no see."

Android 17 did not answer.

"No, I should say, I've finally found you." Cell grinned, revealing a set of jagged teeth. "I came here specifically for you."

"Cell." Android 18's voice came from the rooftop. "You know your current strength."

"Of course I do." Cell shrugged indifferently. "Around fifty million. I can't beat either of you."

"Then you—"

"But that doesn't matter."

Cell's eyes narrowed as he stared at Android 17.

"Because my goal has never been to defeat you."

Absorption.

Gohan recited the word in his mind.

He only needs to touch you.

Even if he just breaks the skin, your power will be stolen by him.

"That old fool Dr. Gero really thought I was some 'ultimate biological weapon'." Cell sneered. "He merely provided the nutrients I needed for evolution."

"Android 17."

Cell raised his hand and pointed to the stinger on his back.

"Can you feel it?"

"That is prepared for you."

Android 17's brow furrowed slightly.

"You want to absorb me?"

"No." Cell shook his head. "The word 'absorb' is too vulgar. I prefer to call it fusion."

"Integrating your power into my body."

"And then—"

Cell spread his arms, his voice filled with fanaticism.

"Become Perfect Cell!"

The battlefield fell into a brief silence.

"That bug..." Krillin muttered in the distance. "What did he just say? Absorb Android 17?"

"Can androids also... between each other..." Tien Shinhan's face turned ugly.

Piccolo stared fixedly at Cell, his pupils contracting violently.

He knew about Project S-2.

Dr. Gero had once mentioned that if S-2 were completed, Android 17 and Android 18 would no longer be a threat.

He had thought S-2 was some kind of new weapon at the time.

Now it seemed... it was simply a monster.

Gohan lay in the crater, watching it all.

A three-way melee.

Cell vs. the Androids vs. the Saiyans.

Are the enemies of enemies friends? No, in this world, the enemies of enemies are still enemies.

It was just that the enemies were also tearing at each other.

He struggled to sit up, but the intense pain throughout his body forced him back down.

Reverse Frequency Device...

Gohan reached toward his waist.

It was still there.

But he was too far from Android 17. Besides, Android 17 was so preoccupied with Cell that he hadn't noticed him at all.

A god-given opportunity.

Gohan gritted his teeth and began to quietly gather his energy.

"Android 17." Cell stepped forward. "Don't just stand there. Come, let me see your strength—"

"Stop."

A golden figure blocked the path in front of Android 17.

It wasn't Android 17 himself.

It was Android 16.

The giant android who had been silent from start to finish finally moved. His golden hair fluttered in the wind, and his deep red eyes looked straight at Cell.

"Android 16?" Cell raised an eyebrow. "You're going to block for him?"

Android 16 did not answer.

But his stance said everything.

"Interesting." Cell smiled. "The programs Dr. Gero implanted in you really do make you treat us as 'kin'."

"Unfortunately—"

Cell's figure vanished instantly!

"I am not your kin!"

Bang!

The two collided violently in mid-air, and the shockwave exploded, kicking up a sky full of dust.

"Android 16!" Android 18 exclaimed.

"I am fine." Android 16's voice came through, calm as if he weren't in a fight. "This person... is not as strong as I imagined."

No kidding.

Gohan thought to himself.

Fifty million against two hundred million plus; that's a fourfold difference.

Android 16 could turn Cell into scrap with a single punch.

But a strange smile curled the corner of Cell's mouth.

"Yes, I really can't beat you right now."

He was sent flying by Android 16's punch, crashing through two mountain peaks.

"But—"

The next second, Cell flew out of the ruins, completely unscathed.

"I will keep getting stronger."

Android 16's eyes narrowed.

"Regenerative ability?"

"That is only one of them."

Cell flew into the air and spread his arms as if embracing something.

"See that? Over there—"

He pointed to a rock in the distance.

Something was moving behind the rock.

It was a wild rabbit.

"That little thing can also make me stronger."

Cell's tail struck out like lightning, precisely piercing the rabbit's body.

The next second, the rabbit shriveled up, turning into a withered corpse.

And Cell—his energy had grown slightly stronger.

"See?" Cell licked his lips. "As long as it's a living creature, I can absorb it. Even if it's just a rabbit, it can make me a little stronger."

"And if it's you—"

He looked at Android 17, his eyes flashing with greed.

"If I absorb you, I can enter my second form."

"By then—"

"The entire Earth will be my prey."

"This monster..." Krillin's face turned pale. "He can really absorb other people's power?"

"Not just absorb." Piccolo's voice was heavy. "Did you see his wounds? The body parts that were shattered are regenerating."

"Regenerating?" Tien Shinhan frowned. "That's impossible—"

Before he could finish, Cell's left arm was blown to pieces by Android 16's punch.

But the very next second—

Those fragments seemed to come alive, squirming and aggregating rapidly, growing back into a complete left arm!

"How is that possible..." Krillin's eyes widened.

"The Namekian's regenerative ability." Gohan's voice came from the bottom of the crater, weak but clear. "Combined with the Saiyan's near-death power-up trait... as long as this monster isn't killed in one hit, he will only get stronger."

"Gohan!" Krillin rushed over. "Are you okay?"

"I won't die for now." Gohan gave a bitter smile. "But I can't move."

He struggled to reach out and point at Cell.

"Krillin, listen to me... that monster, don't let him touch anyone. Especially... Android 17 and Android 18."

"Why?"

"Because once he absorbs them—"

Gohan took a deep breath.

"The entire Earth is finished."

In the distance, Cell was engaged in a fierce battle with Android 16.

Android 16's attacks were still sharp, but Cell's regenerative ability had brought the fight to a stalemate. Every time he was shattered, he could instantly recover.

"Android 16, you're fighting hard." Cell was knocked away, but he laughed as he stood back up. "But you can't stop me."

"Android 17!"

He suddenly shouted.

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wouldn't it be better if you and I teamed up to take care of this annoying Android 16 first?"

Android 17 was silent.

Android 18 flew down from the roof and stood beside Android 17.

"Brother." Her voice was cold. "What do you think?"

Android 17 turned his head, looked at Android 18, and then at Cell.

"...I don't like that bug." He said. "The way he looks at me, it's like looking at a dish."

"Then—"

"But I don't like Saiyans either."

Android 17 turned toward Son Gohan, who lay at the bottom of the crater.

"So,"

A dangerous curve tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"let them fight first while we watch the show."

Cell's eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure?"

"What, are you afraid?"

"Afraid?" Cell laughed heartily. "I just think it's a pity. I originally wanted to absorb you first, but it seems I'll have to start with someone else."

His gaze swept across the battlefield and finally landed on Son Gohan, who lay at the bottom of the crater.

Son Gohan.

A half-breed Saiyan.

His combat power... was a little lower than Android 17's, but it was still decent.

"Then it will be you."

Cell's tail rose high, the pitch-black needle at its tip glinting coldly in the sunlight.

"I'll drain you dry first, and take the first step toward my perfect form."

Gohan's pupils contracted violently.

Oh, crap.

Why did he have to target me?!

"Cell!"

Android 16's fist came crashing down, but Cell was prepared. He dodged to the side and dove straight toward Gohan!

"Gohan!!"

Krillin's cry echoed across the battlefield!