Senzu Beans and Purgatory

A shooting star streaked across the sky.

Krillin was back.

"Gohan, Senzu Bean!"

He clutched a green bean in his hand, his expression both excited and tense.

The instant Gohan saw that bean, tears nearly burst from his eyes.

A Senzu Bean—the divine artifact that saved lives. "Give it to me!"

Krillin crouched down and stuffed the Senzu Bean into Gohan's mouth.

Crunch.

Sweet.

Then—boom! A warm current surged from his stomach through every limb and bone. His broken bones reset.

His damaged muscles healed, and the pain in his internal organs faded.

In just three seconds, Gohan felt as though his body had crawled back from hell into the human world.

"Whew."

He sat up and rolled his shoulders.

He was completely unharmed, even more energized than before.

"This stuff is seriously useful." Gohan could not help sighing. "If it could be mass-produced, I'd stockpile dozens of pounds of it."

What was the greatest gain from transmigrating into the world of Dragon Balls?

Not the Saiyan bloodline.

Not Super Saiyan.

It was discovering the bug-level existence known as Senzu Beans!!

Lost an arm or leg? One bean fixed it.

Internal injuries and coughing blood? One bean fixed it.

On the verge of death? One bean fixed it.

The only side effect was that eating too many made you sleepy...

Wait, didn't this thing also keep people from getting hungry for three days in the original story?

Forget it. He would think about that later.

"Gohan, how do you feel?" Krillin asked anxiously.

"Good enough to beat a cow to death." Gohan stood up and stretched.

His strength had returned.

His ki had returned too.

The oppressive force of 320 million battle power once more filled his body, golden aura flickering faintly around him.

"Where's Dad?" Gohan suddenly remembered. "He's hurt pretty badly too."

"Goku's over there." Krillin pointed toward a patch of ruins not far away. "Piccolo's taking care of him."

Without another word, Gohan picked up the other Senzu Bean from the ground and rushed over.

Amid the ruins, Son Goku leaned against a rock, his face pale.

Cough, cough...

He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood and smiled bitterly.

"The backlash from Kaio-ken... was still too much..."

With 150 million battle power combined with Kaio-ken, he had originally been able to suppress Cell.

But the price was severe physical overexertion. Right now, he could not even stand steadily.

"Dad!" Gohan's voice rang out.

Goku raised his head. "Gohan? You're okay now?"

"I ate a Senzu Bean." Gohan crouched down and handed over the other bean. "You eat one too."

"A Senzu Bean?" Goku's eyes lit up. "From Korin Tower?"

"Yeah. Eat it quickly. Once you're done, we're heading to the city."

Goku did not stand on ceremony. He took the Senzu Bean and popped it into his mouth.

Three seconds later—Bam! Golden aura erupted.

Goku sprang straight up from the ground, his eyes shining like two tiny suns.

"Oh, I feel fantastic!" He clenched his fists, his face full of excitement.

"Gohan, let's go."

Gohan's mouth twitched.

This guy recovered even faster than I did.

He had been half-dead just moments ago, and now he was bouncing around again.

Sure enough, he was Dragon Ball's number-one cheater.

"Dad, Cell is heading toward the city," Gohan said as he flew. "He's absorbing humans to replenish his energy."

"I know." Goku's gaze turned serious. "That's why we need to hurry."

Father and son turned into two streaks of golden light and sped toward the city.

On the outskirts of the city.

The battle had already begun.

Android 17 threw a punch that struck Cell square in the chest.

Bang!!

Cell was blasted back hundreds of meters, crashing through a skyscraper before coming to a stop.

"That's it?" Android 17 shook out his fist, his tone disdainful. "I thought you'd have some new tricks."

Cell crawled out of the rubble, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but his eyes remained icy.

"Android 17..."

"Don't rush. The real show is just getting started."

His aura rose once more.

200 million... 210 million... 220 million...

As he continued absorbing humans, his strength was steadily increasing.

"Damn..." Android 18 frowned. "He keeps dodging, and whenever he gets the chance, he absorbs humans. We can't catch him at all."

"Then we'll crush him completely." Android 17 rolled his neck. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

Android 16 stood silently before Dr. Gero, watching the battlefield vigilantly.

The doctor's face was pale, his forehead drenched in cold sweat.

Cell's target... was the remote control on him.

If the remote fell into Cell's hands... everything would be over.

Whoosh—two streaks of golden light descended from the sky!!

Gohan and Goku landed beside Android 17.

"Gohan?" Android 17 raised an eyebrow. "Your injuries healed?"

"I ate a Senzu Bean," Gohan answered briefly.

"A Senzu Bean?" Android 17 looked thoughtful. "That thing can heal injuries too?"

It was normal for androids not to understand Senzu Beans.

"How's the situation now?"

"Same as before." Android 17 shrugged. "This bug keeps running away. If we catch him, we hit him a few times. If he can't beat us, he absorbs humans."

"Annoying."

Gohan nodded, then looked toward the distant city.

The next second, he froze.

The city...

Was gone.

The once-prosperous metropolis had become a field of ruins.

Flames burned everywhere, and black smoke blanketed the sky.

Collapsed buildings and shattered streets were everywhere.

Even more terrifying, shriveled corpses lay everywhere.

Ordinary people... had been drained dry by Cell.

Gohan's pupils constricted.

This was Cell's "replenishing energy"?

He was really slaughtering humans on a massive scale!!

"Gohan." Goku's voice came from beside him, low and heavy.

Gohan turned and saw Goku's expression.

It was not anger.

It was... calm.

But that calm was more terrifying than any rage.

"Cell..." Goku's voice was very soft. "He's challenging my bottom line."

Boom! Golden aura erupted from Goku!

A crushing pressure swept across the entire battlefield!

Android 17 frowned slightly. "This energy..."

It was stronger than before!

Gohan sensed it too.

Dad's power level... was breaking through!!

"Gohan." Goku turned to look at his son, flames burning in his eyes.

"You deal with Cell."

"I'll protect the civilians."

"If anyone gets absorbed by that bug again..."

His voice turned icy.

"I'll personally send him to meet King Yama."

Gohan nodded. "Understood."

He looked toward the city ruins, his gaze sharpening.

Cell...

How many people had you killed?

Dozens? Hundreds? Thousands?

No matter how many.

Golden aura began to rise!!

Today would be your day of death!!

"Oh?"

Cell floated in midair, looking down at Gohan.

"Kid, you recovered pretty quickly."

"Just a Senzu Bean." Gohan answered coldly.

"A Senzu Bean?" Cell sneered. "That thing is indeed useful. But that's all it is."

"How much power do you have now? Have you fully recovered?"

"Want to know?" Gohan clenched his fists.

"Come and find out."

Boom!

Golden aura shot into the sky!

The pressure of 320 million power was like a tangible mountain!!

Cell narrowed his eyes.

Stronger than before...?

"Interesting." He licked his lips. "But it's still not enough."

"Once I absorb Android 17 and Android 18..."

"Your 320 million will be nothing but a joke."

Gohan sneered. "Are you sure you can absorb them?"

"Android 17 could smash your head with one punch."

"Android 18 could snap your spine with one kick."

"Android 16 could tear you apart into parts."

"Do you really think... you have a chance?"

Cell fell silent for a second.

Then he laughed.

That smile was cold, mocking, and carried a trace of... something eerie.

"Kid, you're very confident."

"But you've forgotten one thing."

Gohan frowned. "What?"

A flash of madness passed through Cell's eyes.

"Android 17 and Android 18... are strong."

"But their strength comes at a price."

"Price?" Gohan's heart sank.

What did he mean?

Could it be...

"Did Android 16 not tell you?" Cell's smile turned even more sinister.

"Those two androids... have a fatal flaw."

"As long as I find an opportunity..."

"Neither of them will escape."

A fatal flaw?!

Gohan's pupils contracted.

Damn it!! What weakness did Android 17 and Android 18 have in the original story?!

A control device?! No, that was on Cell!!

What else was there?!

He desperately searched his memories of the original plot.

Time stop? No, that was Android 16's ability...

Energy absorption? That was how Cell absorbed Android 17 and Android 18...

What else?!

What fatal weakness was there that I didn't know about?!

Sweat began to form in Gohan's palms.

Cell saw his reaction and grinned even wider.

"Looks like you don't know either."

"That makes this even more fun."

He turned and flew toward the heart of the city.

"Come on, Super Saiyan."

"Let's take our time and play."

Gohan stood where he was, his expression grim.

What exactly was Cell's trump card...?

Android 17 and Android 18's fatal flaw...

Damn it, my memories from before I transmigrated are too blurry!!

"Gohan." Android 17's voice came from beside him.

"Yeah?"

"Do you believe what that bug said?"

Gohan looked at Android 17.

"What do you think?"

"I think"—Android 17 pushed up his glasses, a teasing smile on his face—"he's trying to scare you."

"If he really had some kind of trick up his sleeve, he wouldn't have run away just now."

"Acting all mysterious now is nothing more than a way to stall for time."

Gohan thought it over, then nodded.

"You've got a point."

But what if?

What if Cell really does have some trump card...

I absolutely can't let my guard down!!

"Gohan." Goku's voice came through the communicator. "Cell's in the east! He's absorbing survivors!"

"Got it!"

Gohan powered up and shot toward the east.

Android 17 and Android 18 exchanged a glance, then followed.

Android 16 still stood before Dr. Gero, not moving a single step away.

The battle began once more.

And this time, Gohan felt a faint sense of unease.

What exactly was Cell's trump card...?

Android 17 and Android 18's fatal flaw...

What in this world was there that even a transmigrator didn't know?

He looked toward the distant city.

Flames burned.

The ruins stood silent.

And Cell's figure had already vanished into the smoke and dust.

Just wait.

Gohan's gaze sharpened.

No matter what trump cards you had, I would drag you out with my own hands!