Cell Evolves

"Wait—Vegeta!"

Cell climbed out of the crater, blood at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes gleamed with calculating light.

Vegeta stopped and glanced sideways at him.

"If I evolve into my Perfect Form, I'll be able to fight you to your heart's content."

Cell kept his voice steady, every word precisely striking at Vegeta's pride.

"Don't you want to see just how strong I am in my Perfect Form? Vegeta, you don't want some unsatisfying fight either, do you?"

Vegeta turned around without saying a word, but something inside him jolted sharply.

Cell caught that subtle reaction.

He took a step forward, his tone growing more eager, carrying a seductive rhythm. "As long as I absorb Android 17 and Android 18, I can become Perfect Form."

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a proper fight with you then? What's the point of crushing those pieces of trash? Fighting me in my Perfect Form—that's what you call a battle."

Vegeta stood where he was, his arms folded across his chest.

His face remained as cold as ever, but inwardly, he was already wavering.

Crushing Android 19 and Android 20 earlier had not counted as a battle at all. At best, he had dismantled two heaps of scrap metal.

Son Goku was improving, Son Gohan was even more unfathomable, and Piccolo's strength had pulled far ahead.

He needed a stronger opponent—one who could temper him and drive him to breakthroughs and evolution in battle.

"Fine."

Vegeta made up his mind, a sinister smile appearing on his face.

"I'll see just how strong you are after becoming Perfect Form."

As soon as the words fell, golden energy flared.

Vegeta shot into the air, charging straight at Son Goku, who was sparring with Android 17 overhead.

Son Goku and Android 17 had been trading blows evenly, gradually settling into each other's rhythm.

Then, a murderous aura closed in from behind. Son Goku turned his head, catching a golden figure from the corner of his eye.

There was no time to dodge. He could only cross his arms to block.

Boom—!!

Vegeta's fist slammed into Son Goku's arms. A shockwave exploded through the sky, blasting a huge hole through the clouds.

Before Son Goku could react, the punch sent him sliding back dozens of meters. Once he steadied himself, he shook his numb arms.

"Vegeta? You—"

Vegeta ignored him. He backhanded Android 17 in the chest, sending him flying like a cannonball toward Cell.

"Dad—don't!!"

Future Trunks shouted urgently.

He knew his father's personality all too well.

He transformed into a Super Saiyan, golden energy erupting around him as he became a streak of gold and rushed forward, reaching out to grab Android 17.

Vegeta came crashing down from above.

With both fists clasped together, he hammered them down onto Trunks's back. Crack!

Trunks's golden aura went out instantly. He plummeted to the ground and smashed a deep crater into it with a boom, rubble and dust flying everywhere.

He lay facedown at the bottom of the crater, his fingers digging into the ground as he tried to rise. But the searing pain in his back left him unable even to lift his upper body.

The gap in their power was too great.

Cell watched Android 17 fly toward him, greed bursting from his eyes.

His tail opened, its tip transforming into a massive suction cup.

Android 17 twisted frantically in midair, trying to break free, but the suction held him firmly.

His fingers clawed into the ground, plowing ten deep furrows across it, yet he was still dragged closer inch by inch.

"No—!"

Android 17's cry was swallowed by the suction cup.

His entire body was stuffed into that writhing tail. Muscles and bones swelled and reassembled beneath the shell, creaking audibly.

Cell threw back his head with a satisfied laugh. Second Form Cell's terrifying energy burst forth without restraint, and the ground sank in a ring around him.

By the time Android 16 arrived, it was already too late. He stood at the edge of the ruins, his clenched fists crackling.

He looked at Second Form Cell—whose battle power surpassed his own by a considerable margin. Charging in would be futile, so he could only watch in silence.

Piccolo had not made a move from beginning to end. Standing on a distant rock with his arms folded, he watched coldly.

He had absolute confidence in his own strength.

Ever since fusing with Kami, Vegeta and Son Goku together had been no match for him.

What could a Cell, even one evolved to his second stage, possibly accomplish?

Cell completed his evolution.

He was a full size larger than before, his shell tougher, his aura more violent.

He flexed his newly grown joints, producing a series of sharp cracks, then turned to Vegeta with a meaningful smile curling his lips.

"As long as I absorb Android 18, I can evolve into Perfect Form. When that time comes—I'll definitely fight you to my heart's content."

Vegeta's blood rushed to his head.

The battle-hungry impulse in a Saiyan's bones surged through his veins like lava.

Android 18, consequences—his mind held only one thought: fight Perfect Form Cell, fight him without restraint.

He charged forward.

Full-Power Super Saiyan. Golden aura wrapped in lightning as he drove a fist at Cell's face.

Cell twisted aside. The force of the punch grazed his temple, and the gust it kicked up gouged a trench into the ground.

Cell swung an elbow backhandedly. Vegeta raised an arm to block, and a dull boom erupted as both their arms trembled.

Using the recoil from the block, Vegeta twisted at the waist and spun, whipping a kick at Cell's knee.

Cell pulled back his leg and leaped away, his tail lashing in from the side to coil around Vegeta's ankle.

Vegeta was yanked off balance, his body tilting in midair.

Cell gave a savage pull, dragging him over and driving a knee toward his abdomen.

Gritting his teeth, Vegeta forcibly twisted his waist in midair. His other foot stomped on Cell's face, letting him break free of the tail's restraint and flip back onto the ground.

"Is that all you've got?" Vegeta sneered.

Cell did not answer. He merely smiled, and that smile made Vegeta's fury rise another notch.

The two collided again.

Vegeta's fists came down like a raging storm, every blow carrying enough force to flatten mountains. Golden afterimages of his fists filled every gap.

Cell stopped dodging and met fist with fist.

Their two forces collided madly between them, shockwaves exploding in layer after layer as the surrounding ruins were pulverized into dust.

Vegeta's fist smashed into Cell's chest, cracking his shell. At the same time, Cell's elbow struck Vegeta's shoulder, and a dull crack came from the bone.

They were evenly matched, every punch landing solidly.

The more Vegeta fought, the more excited he became, that signature wicked grin hanging from his lips.

The pain in his muscles made the thrill of battle feel even more exhilarating.

Cell was smiling too, his gaze occasionally drifting into the distance as though calculating something.

Piccolo watched as well.

His brow was slightly furrowed, though his arms remained crossed over his chest.

A battle at this level did not yet require him to intervene.

Future Trunks finally climbed out of the crater. Kneeling amid the rubble on one knee, he watched the backs of his father and Cell as they fought, wanting to shout something—but in the end, he said nothing.