Remote Control

Cell's body suddenly stiffened.

The stiffness lasted less than half a second, but in Gohan's eyes, it was as if the entire world had frozen. On the remote's screen, the percentage continued to tick down—100%... 99%... 98%...

"It's working!" A sharp glint flashed in Vegeta's eyes. "Now!"

His golden aura surged, and Vegeta shot forward in a streak of light, charging straight at the black figure frozen in place.

"Prince Battle Technique!" he roared, his right fist carrying world-destroying power as it drove straight toward Cell's chest.

Bang!

The punch landed squarely. But in the next second, Vegeta's expression changed. His fist felt as though it had struck cotton, causing no damage at all. A bizarre ripple spread across Cell's body, completely nullifying the attack.

"Not bad." Cell's voice came from within those ripples. "The prince of Planet Vegeta has some strength."

The next instant, Cell's fist had pierced through his defense and slammed viciously into his abdomen.

"Urgh!" Vegeta grunted, his body blasting backward like a cannonball. He crashed through several incubation tanks before barely managing to stop himself.

"Vegeta!" Gohan shouted.

"I'm fine!" Vegeta climbed out of the rubble and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "The remote is working. Keep suppressing him!"

Gohan lowered his head and looked at the remote in his hand.

The number on the screen was plummeting wildly—93%... 89%... 82%... 67%... 43%...

That was not the percentage of control strength. It was the proportion of incomplete-form cells within Cell that were being suppressed. With every percentage point it dropped, Cell's movements slowed a little more.

"The remote is emitting interference signals." Android 18's voice came from beside him. "Those defective cells are resonating with Cell's main body, draining each other's energy."

"But Cell has evolved too far." Her gaze fell on the rapidly declining number. "He can hold out."

Of course Gohan understood. The remote was not all-powerful. It could only interfere with the incomplete-form cells, making them drain energy against the main body. It could not directly destroy a main body that had already completed its evolution.

But this was enough. As long as it gave Vegeta and Android 18 enough of an opening to attack, they could beat Cell back into a true "incomplete form."

"Enough." Gohan's gaze swept over Vegeta and Android 18. "We only have one chance. We finish him completely before he breaks free of the remote's control."

Vegeta grinned, his golden aura blazing to life once more.

"Now that's more like it. I hate opponents who don't fight back. Cell, let me see how much substance there is behind that title of yours, 'perfect life-form'!"

Android 18 said nothing, but she had already appeared at Cell's flank, her energy completely locked onto him.

A three-pronged assault.

Cell's expression finally turned serious.

"Interesting." A strange red glow suddenly spread over his body. "But you've forgotten one thing."

The red light flared. Gohan's pupils contracted sharply—the remote's control was being eroded by a terrifying force.

95%... 67%... 43%...

The number was dropping frantically.

"He's forcibly suppressing the residual consciousness of the incomplete-form cells!" For once, Android 18's voice carried a hint of urgency. "Those defective cells are being devoured by his main body. Once they're fully absorbed, the remote will be completely useless!"

"How is that possible...?" Gohan could hardly believe it.

When Cell was controlled by the remote in the original story, he had been utterly unable to resist. But this version of Cell... he had absorbed every defective cell. Most traces of those incomplete forms had long since been thoroughly devoured by him.

The remote only worked because the residual consciousness of those defective cells was resisting. But that resistance would not last long.

"Hahahaha!" Cell's laughter rang out from within the red light. "You think this piece of junk can control me? I've evolved beyond the realm of incomplete forms long ago!"

8%... 3%... 1%... 0%...

The screen went dark. The remote had completely failed.

"Hahahaha!" Cell erupted with terrifying energy, blasting both Vegeta and Android 18 away. "Now it's my turn!"

His figure vanished, appearing before Gohan the next instant.

"The remote is gone." His voice dripped with mockery. "What other trump card do you have, traveler?"

Gohan said nothing.

His eyes were fixed on Cell's body. At the instant the remote failed, he had noticed something strange—a crack had appeared on Cell's chest.

The cracks were tiny, so small they were almost impossible to see. But they were there, and they were slowly widening. Through them, something could vaguely be seen writhing inside, like a wild beast trapped in a cage.

"What are you looking at?" Cell noticed his gaze, and his expression shifted slightly.

"I'm looking at..." A smile slowly curved Gohan's lips. "Just how fragile your 'perfection' really is."

He recalled what he had seen moments ago. As Cell broke free of the remote's control, the surface of his body had been violently rippling. It was not because he had been gathering power, but because he was suppressing something.

The residual consciousness of the incomplete-form cells.

Those defective cells had been absorbed by Cell, but their memories remained. When Cell's main consciousness was disrupted by the remote, those memories took the opportunity to resist. That was why he had to expend enormous amounts of energy to suppress them.

That was the source of the cracks in his chest.

"You're forcibly suppressing the residual consciousness of the incomplete-form cells." Gohan's voice grew colder and colder. "You thought absorbing them would solve everything? Wrong. How many of those defective cells were incomplete forms? Every piece of data is trying to seize back control."

"You've only buried a time bomb inside yourself."

Cell's expression darkened completely.

"You're very clever." His aura surged again. "Even cleverer than I imagined. But so what? Even if I have a weakness, can you reach it?"

The energy waves surged, and Cell's aura began climbing at an astonishing rate.

"This version of Cell has mastered the secret of the Saiyan Great Ape Transformation. In battle, I can continuously increase my power! The stronger you are, the stronger I become!"

Gohan clenched his teeth. This was completely different from the original story. Although the original Cell could grow stronger in battle as well, not nearly this quickly. This version of Cell had absorbed the evolution data of every failed specimen. He might have already mastered some more efficient transformation method.

"Damn it..." he muttered.

"Gohan." Android 16's voice suddenly came from beside him.

Gohan turned and saw the tall, blond android slowly walking toward Dr. Gero.

"Android 16? What are you doing?"

Android 16 did not answer. He simply walked up to Dr. Gero and looked straight at the mad scientist with those emotionless eyes.

"Doctor. What other backup plan do you have?"

Dr. Gero's smile froze on his face.

"You... what are you talking about?"

"This underground laboratory contains more than just Cell." Android 16's gaze fell on a device behind him. "There is also an energy amplifier. That device can instantly release energy equivalent to that of a small planet. What was your intention?"

Dr. Gero fell silent for several seconds, then let out an eerie laugh.

"That device is for activation. There is still an unfinished evolution program inside Cell's body, and that device can forcibly activate it."

"At that point, Cell will completely transform into a true god."

His gaze fell on Gohan.

"Your 'knowledge of the original story' tells you that Cell's Perfect Form is the limit. But you're wrong. The true Cell is an existence beyond even gods."

"Now, let me complete the final evolution."

But just as his hand was about to touch the device, Android 16 moved.

"Doctor. Your journey ends here."

His palm pressed against Dr. Gero's chest.

"I am disabling your life-support system. I have already rewritten this underground laboratory's self-destruct program. Once I die, the entire laboratory will automatically be destroyed in ten minutes."

Dr. Gero's face turned deathly pale.

"You're insane... I am your creator... You can't do this to me..."

"I have merely chosen the right path." Android 16's gaze fell on Gohan.

In those emotionless eyes, there seemed to be a flicker of gentleness.

"Gohan. Cell's weakness is the core in his chest. But it is protected by a layer of Saiyan cell membrane. Ordinary attacks cannot penetrate it. You need to pierce it in a single strike with power beyond the limit of his defense."

"I will create that opportunity for you."

His body began to radiate a dazzling light. It was some kind of self-destruct program.

"Android 16!" Gohan shouted.

"My core is burning." Android 16's voice remained calm. "It can release all of my power—approximately five hundred million. Use this power to finish Cell."

The light surged, and Android 16's figure vanished within it.

And at the very center of that light, Cell's expression finally changed.

"This aura... impossible..." His voice tightened. "How can this android's power..."

"Gohan." Android 16's voice came from within the light, gentle yet resolute. "Now."