Gohan lay at the bottom of the crater, every bone in his body feeling as if it had been shattered.
It hurt.
It fucking hurt.
He wanted to curse someone out.
He'd spent all these years in the Dragon Ball world, thinking that with his knowledge of the future, he could make a name for himself. And what had happened?
At the start, Raditz had pinned him down and beaten him senseless. In the middle, Frieza had chased him all over the place. And now Cell had beaten him into the ground.
What the hell had I done in my past life to deserve this kind of suffering in this one?
"Gohan! Gohan!!"
Krillin's voice came from a distance, his footsteps drawing closer.
"Are you okay?!"
A small bald head appeared in Gohan's field of vision, its expression anxious.
"Uncle Krillin..." Gohan managed a weak smile. "I'm still alive."
"What do you mean, still alive? Look at those injuries!!" Krillin crouched down to examine Gohan, his expression growing grimmer by the second. "You've broken several bones, and your internal organs are damaged... If this keeps up..."
If this kept up, he'd die?
Gohan smiled bitterly to himself.
In an ordinary world, injuries like these would be serious. But this was Dragon Ball. Even a severed arm could be reattached.
The problem was that he first had to recover his strength.
Wait.
Recover his strength?
A sudden flash of inspiration crossed Gohan's mind.
Senzu Beans!!
Weren't those things supposed to restore strength and heal injuries in no time?!
Korin had a whole jar of Senzu Beans. Just one could instantly restore an exhausted body!
In the original story, Krillin often went to get Senzu Beans, and they'd saved the day several times at crucial moments!
"Uncle Krillin!!" Gohan grabbed Krillin's hand in excitement.
"W-what is it?"
"Quick!! Go to Korin Tower!! Get Senzu Beans from Korin!!"
"Senzu Beans?"
"Yes!! The green ones! You eat one and it restores your strength!!"
Krillin froze for a moment. "How do you know..."
How did I know? I fucking got transported here from another world!!
Obviously, he couldn't say that.
"There's no time to explain!!" Gohan urged him. "Hurry!! Every second counts!!"
Krillin hesitated for a second, then nodded. "All right! Wait here!"
He stood up and took a deep breath.
"Piccolo! Stay here and look after Gohan!"
"Understood." Piccolo emerged from the shadows, his expression grave.
"Uncle Krillin, hurry as fast as you can!!" Gohan shouted after him.
Krillin's figure disappeared into the clouds.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the city.
Cell hovered in the air, looking down at the metropolis below.
Neon lights flashed, and traffic flowed along the streets.
Humans.
Countless ordinary people.
Their energy was so faint it was almost negligible, but there were more than enough of them.
"Cell... What have you come here for?"
Dr. Gero stood on the roof of an abandoned building, wariness in his eyes.
"To find you, of course." Cell slowly descended. "Doctor."
"You...!"
"Relax." Cell spread his hands. "I'm not here to kill you."
"Then what—"
"I'd like you to do me a favor."
Dr. Gero frowned. "What favor?"
Cell smiled.
It was a cold, cruel smile.
"Give me the remote control... on you."
Boom!!
A skyscraper on the western side of the city collapsed with a deafening roar!
Cell shot out of the dust cloud, blood at the corner of his mouth—but it wasn't his.
A human, unconscious, was wrapped in his tail.
Shhk.
His tail pierced the human's body.
Gulp, gulp—the human's life energy was greedily drained away!
The body shriveled before their eyes. A few seconds later, all that remained was a dried-up corpse.
"One isn't enough."
Cell released his tail, and the corpse fell.
His energy... had grown stronger once again.
Still not enough.
He looked down at the city, a greedy glint in his eyes.
Nowhere near enough.
"Android 17."
Android 18's voice came from beside him.
"What?"
"Android 16 has caught up."
Android 17 turned around. Sure enough, a massive figure was descending from the sky.
Android 16 landed in front of them, his face expressionless.
"I have information."
"Go ahead." Android 17 folded his arms, his tone casual.
"Dr. Gero installed a control device inside Cell."
Android 17 raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"The remote control is with the doctor."
"If we get the remote... we can force Cell to stop."
Android 18 considered this. "So that old man is the key..."
"Wait." Android 17 cut her off. "You're saying we should go get a remote control?"
"And then make that bug stop?"
"That's right."
Android 17 let out a mocking laugh.
"Are you joking?"
He pushed up his glasses, a playful smile on his face.
"I have a power level of 300 million. Cell's got at most 150 million. I could stand still and let him hit me, and he still couldn't get through my defenses."
"Why would I need a remote control?"
"Why not just crush him?"
Android 16 fell silent.
Android 18 spoke up. "But he'll run."
"He'll escape the way he did just now, with a self-destruct or some other trick."
"Then he'll find a chance to absorb more energy and become even harder to deal with."
"That's why we need a way to finish him for good."
Android 17 frowned. "You want to go get the remote?"
"It's worth considering." Android 18 nodded. "The doctor is in the direction of the city, and so is Cell. If we can find the doctor first..."
"Such a pain." Android 17 snorted. "Fine, let's take a look. That bug won't be hopping around for much longer anyway."
Android 16 nodded. "Follow me."
The three super warriors vanished into the clouds.
"Cough... cough, cough..."
Gohan coughed violently, each spasm pulling at his wounds and making him gasp in pain.
Piccolo stood beside him, his expression complicated.
"Gohan."
"Hm?"
"You just told Krillin to get Senzu Beans... How did you know about them?"
Gohan's heart skipped a beat.
Shit, that was close.
"Uh..." His mind raced. "M-my dad mentioned them before."
Perfect. Blame Dad.
Piccolo frowned. "Goku mentioned them?"
"Yeah! He said there was a kind of magical bean at Korin Tower. Eat one, and it restores your strength!"
"I suddenly remembered just now!"
Half true, half made up. Flawless.
Piccolo was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "I see."
That worked.
Gohan breathed a sigh of relief.
Piccolo was an NPC after all. So easy to fool.
"Gohan."
"Hm?"
"Can you fight in your current condition?"
Gohan smiled bitterly.
He tried to feel the energy inside him. It was faint. Weak. Almost impossible to sense.
"...Not really."
Piccolo sighed. "Then rest for now. Krillin should be back soon."
"Okay."
Gohan closed his eyes.
But his mind was anything but calm.
Cell... what was he up to?
Androids 17 and 18 had gone after him... Android 16 had gone too...
The doctor was over there as well...
The remote, Cell, the doctor... What was the connection between them?
Why had Cell run away?
He clearly couldn't beat Android 17...
Unless...
He had another plan!!
Gohan's eyes snapped open.
He was going to find the doctor!!
Remove the control device inside him!!
Or kill the doctor and make sure the remote was gone forever!!
"Uncle Piccolo!!" Gohan struggled to sit up.
"What is it?"
"Quick!! Tell Uncle Krillin!! Have him tell Androids 17 and 18!!"
"Tell them Cell's target might not be ordinary people!!"
"It's Dr. Gero!!"
Piccolo froze. "The doctor?"
"Yes!! Dr. Gero installed a control device inside Cell!! He must be trying to remove it or destroy the remote!!"
"If the doctor dies... the remote will be useless forever!!"
Piccolo's expression changed.
"I'm going after Krillin!"
He vanished.
Gohan lay at the bottom of the crater, staring up at the sky.
I hope... there's still time.
City center.
Cell slowly descended onto the roof of an abandoned observatory.
Dr. Gero followed behind him, looking tense.
"Have you made up your mind?" the doctor asked.
"Of course." Cell turned around. "Doctor, give me the remote."
"That device can force me to shut down. I can't let you keep it."
"You!"
"Relax." Cell sneered. "I won't kill you."
"You're still useful to me."
"Once I've fully absorbed the energy inside me, I'll need your research..."
Dr. Gero took a step back. "You want to..."
"I want to become the strongest life-form."
A hint of madness flashed in Cell's eyes.
"And you... are just a tool."
He raised his hand.
Bang!!
A fist punched through Cell's body from behind!
"What?!"
Android 17 appeared behind Cell.
"With a power level of 300 million, do you think I need a remote to deal with a bug like you, who's only at 150 million?"
"Keep dreaming."
Cell coughed up blood, but the corner of his mouth curled into a strange smile.
"Is that so?"
Click.
The sound of machinery turning came from inside him.
"Android 17..." Cell's voice turned cold. "Why do you think I came to the city?"
"Not just to absorb a few ants..."
"I came to buy time."
Android 17's pupils contracted.
Buy time?!
What was he planning?!
Cell's body suddenly swelled violently!
"Damn it!!"
Rumble!!!
Another self-destruction!!
But this time, the blast was far greater than before!!
The entire observatory was razed to the ground!!
When the smoke cleared,
Android 17 stood there, charred all over but still upright.
Android 18 and Android 16 stood in front of Dr. Gero.
And Cell was gone.
"He escaped again!!" Android 18 gritted her teeth.
"This time..." Android 16 said gravely. "I'm afraid his goal is more than just getting away."
"What do you mean?" Android 17 wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Android 16 looked into the distance.
"He's looking for an opportunity."
"An opportunity... to achieve his perfect form."
Far away, on the other side of the city,
Cell crawled out of the ruins, covered in wounds, but with an even more crazed look in his eyes.
"Android 17, Android 18..."
"You're strong."
"But you don't know..."
"A true hunter always waits for the right moment."
His power began to rise again.
After absorbing a large number of humans, his power level had already neared
200 million.
And Android 17's 300 million...
The gap was shrinking.
"Just you wait."
Cell licked his lips.
"Once I've absorbed you both..."
"Then my true perfect form will finally descend."
Before you continue