Confrontation

Android 20 was Dr. Gero, the former chief scientist of the Red Ribbon Army.

After the army was destroyed by Son Goku, he created a series of powerful androids for revenge, even turning himself into an android.

"Dr. Gero, what you relied on were those tiny insect spy robots, weren't they? They followed us and transmitted combat data back to your laboratory."

"But your insect spy robots couldn't leave Earth or enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, so let me show you something interesting."

Boom!

Son Gohan unleashed a terrifying aura. In an instant, golden energy flames enveloped his entire body, with golden lightning crackling within them.

"Well? Can you still calculate my combat level now?"

"That's incredible. Gohan is countless times stronger than he was a year ago." Krillin and the others, standing close by, were stunned. It was their first time seeing Son Gohan in this form.

Dr. Gero was somewhat surprised. His brow ridge, bare of eyebrows, lifted slightly. "Beyond Super Saiyan... Unbelievable. It far exceeds any value I can calculate."

"Huh? You know about Super Saiyan?" Now it was Son Gohan's turn to be surprised.

Hadn't Dr. Gero voluntarily stopped all surveillance by his insect spy robots after Vegeta left Earth?

"Of course I do." Dr. Gero's eyes were sinister, carrying a hint of smugness.

"You were right about one thing. My insect spy robots cannot enter the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, because that is another dimension."

"Other than there, they have been around you at all times, including places beyond Earth."

After years of observation, Dr. Gero had discovered that this brat called Son Gohan was even harder to deal with than Son Goku.

That was why he had not sent anyone to ambush him this time. He intended to leave this greatest threat for a separate solution later.

"Looks like my information was outdated." Son Gohan stroked his chin, considering how to draw out more information.

"The mission here has failed. We can only activate the next plan. Android 19, retreat."

Dr. Gero grabbed Android 19 and slowly backed away, widening the distance between them and the others.

"You came all this way, and you still think you can leave?"

Son Gohan knew that once these two escaped his sight, finding them again would be harder than climbing to the heavens. Androids had no aura at all.

He raised his right hand. Two ki blasts wrapped in golden lightning shot toward the pair, each carrying surging energy.

Facing Son Gohan's fatal strike, Dr. Gero did not even attempt to dodge.

A confident smile appeared on his dry, gaunt face. "You cannot kill us."

The two ki blasts trailed golden flames as they struck in front of them the next second, just as they were about to touch Dr. Gero and Android 19.

Whoosh!

A green figure appeared out of nowhere, seized Dr. Gero and Android 19, and instantly teleported away with them.

Boom! Boom!

The two ki blasts passed through their afterimages and crashed into a mountain behind them, producing deafening explosions.

The massive mountain was leveled, countless rocks flying through the air as dust blotted out the sky.

"Cell?"

Though it had only lasted an instant, Son Gohan had clearly seen the newcomer. It was Cell in his first form.

"He can teleport too? But since when has he been so obedient to Dr. Gero?"

Son Gohan was full of confusion. He could not make sense of the situation at all and could only take things one step at a time.

"Damn it, they actually got away." Tien Shinhan was somewhat unwilling to accept it.

"Everyone, grab onto me. Let's go to my dad and see what's going on."

Whoosh!

Son Gohan teleported, bringing Tien Shinhan and the other four to where Son Goku was fighting.

This was a plateau surrounded by rocks. Dull impacts from colliding fists and kicks rang out continuously in midair, along with tearing whistles mixed with sonic booms.

Android 16, Android 17, and Android 18 had surrounded Son Goku, launching relentless fierce attacks at him from all directions.

The moment Son Gohan and the other five appeared, the three androids noticed them.

Android 18 had fair skin and a tall, slender figure. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she cast a cold glance their way and said calmly, "Looks like the plan failed. Let's retreat too."

They simultaneously fired countless energy blasts, forcing Son Goku back for a brief moment.

The three held hands and retreated. Cell in his first form appeared again and, with a whoosh, took them away.

The entire process was seamless, without the slightest hesitation.

"Since when did these androids become so close?" Son Gohan was growing more and more baffled.

"Could it be that Android 17 and Android 18 don't know that Cell has to devour both of them to evolve into his perfect form?"

"Hey, Goku, you aren't hurt, are you?" Krillin was the first to fly to Son Goku's side and ask with concern.

"No." Son Goku shook his head, looking somewhat excited. "Those three androids launched a surprise attack and gave me quite a scare. They're really strong."

Son Gohan could tell at a glance that Son Goku had been playing around. He was already at full-power Super Saiyan; if he had taken it even slightly seriously, he would have beaten all three of Android 17's group long ago.

"Dad, what exactly happened?" Son Gohan wanted to know the full story.

"I'm not sure either," Son Goku explained.

"I was training here when those three androids suddenly appeared. They claimed they had come under Dr. Gero's orders to kill me."

"Android 17 and Android 18 attacked together, but neither of them could do anything to me. Then Android 16, who had been watching, joined the battle. He was stronger than the first two."

"So the four of us started fighting. You saw the rest."

After hearing Son Goku's words, Tien Shinhan said in surprise, "Why are there so many androids? Chiaotzu and I ran into two as well—Android 19 and Android 20."

"What, there's something like that too?" Son Goku grew even more excited as the Saiyan battle-loving instincts stirred within him.

"Let's go. There should be more androids than this. We'll head to Trunks and the others now. Uncle Piccolo's aura erupted over there too."

Son Gohan felt that things were spiraling more and more out of control.

Whoosh!

Son Goku and Son Gohan teleported at the same time, bringing Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Krillin, and Yamcha to where Vegeta and the others were fighting.

The moment the six landed, they felt a piercing chill. They had appeared atop a vast glacier.

"Piccolo, Vegeta, Trunks, are you all right?" Son Goku asked them.

The three had already stopped fighting and were confronting a group of androids across from them.

"Uncle Goku, we're fine." Trunks waved at everyone.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly facing so many androids had nearly driven him to despair.

Son Gohan, meanwhile, looked at the other side and counted their numbers, confirming what he had suspected.

"Android 20, Android 19, Android 18, Android 17, Android 16, Cell in his first form, Lightning Cell, plus two Cell Juniors. Nine in total."

"Holy shit!" Son Gohan shouted, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"Are my eyes playing tricks on me? How can there be two Cells?"

"And fucking Lightning Cell—does that mean he can evolve into his perfect form without devouring Android 17 and Android 18?"

"Then what the hell are we even fighting for? We might as well surrender."

Son Gohan felt like he had asked every question he would ever ask in his life today. He was beginning to wonder whether he had really transmigrated here at all. How did he suddenly know nothing?