Feeling Like He Can Do It Again

The powerful aura vanished as quickly as it had appeared, receding entirely into Son Gohan's body like drifting clouds silently retreating into mountain ravines, leaving not a hint of sharpness behind.

Had it not been for Krillin, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu inexplicably floating in mid-air, no one would have dared to believe what had just occurred.

"Gohan feels completely different than he did a moment ago, though I can't quite put my finger on what changed." Krillin swallowed hard, still hovering in the air, having forgotten to come back down.

"He seems... more mysterious. It doesn't feel like the Gohan we know," Yamcha said uncertainly.

"That energy, it's just... too powerful!"

Chiaotzu, filled with shock and suspicion, quickly flew down and clung to Tien Shinhan's shoulder.

"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't control my energy for a second there, but I'm fine now," Son Gohan said, waving his hands at the three of them apologetically.

He had experienced the sensation of near-death, released half of his potential, and barely grasped the essence of Mystic Gohan.

"He has actually surpassed his limits once again, yet this state isn't a Super Saiyan," Vegeta said, his shock laced with a touch of resentment.

"It's truly unimaginable. To possess such immense power while looking exactly the same on the outside," Son Goku said, pleasantly surprised.

"Hmph, as expected of Gohan," Piccolo said, his face full of gratification.

"It's... it's too incredible."

The Supreme Kai and Kibito were in total agreement that things were finally stable; even kneeling had its limits.

Cell was dumbfounded; that energy clearly surpassed his own. "Impossible! I will not let the same thing happen again!"

"Let's begin the second half," Son Gohan said with a bright smile, slowly walking forward.

Cell was forced back two steps by the overwhelming pressure of the aura, feeling as though he had suffered a humiliating insult.

"I will show you the full power of Super Perfect Cell!"

He released a terrifying aura, using a roar to mask his fear, and charged forward.

A pure white flame suddenly erupted around Son Gohan. He swung his large hand forward, his presence like an ancient demon god, blotting out the sky and sun.

Cell knew Son Gohan had been swatted away by him earlier and wanted to settle the score. He wouldn't give his opponent the chance, so he raised his hand and swatted back with all his might.

"Bang!"

As if they had swapped identities, Cell was sent flying backward, screaming in pain as his entire arm was twisted like a rag.

"Pfft!"

Hardening his heart, he tore off the injured arm. A new one sprouted instantly from the stump, covered in viscous bodily fluids.

"Again!"

Cell could not accept his failure. He was Dr. Gero's most perfect masterpiece, destined to rule the entire universe; how could he fall on a tiny planet like Earth?

He launched a series of fierce attacks, only to be blasted away time and time again. His body was battered and torn, green liquid flowing incessantly and splattering everywhere.

Cell's arrogant self-confidence was crushed into dust by every one of Son Gohan's punches.

"Aaaaaaaah!!"

Cell looked like a madman. He roared as he crawled up, glaring at Son Gohan with venomous hatred. "I won't let you get away with this! Die along with the Earth!"

As he spoke, he raised his energy to the limit. The ground beneath his feet began to crack, and his body swelled rapidly like a balloon.

"Hahahaha, I'm about to self-destruct! You all are going to be buried with me."

"There is nothing you can do but watch me explode. If I take even the slightest hit now, I'll detonate immediately!"

Cell's stomach had become a massive sack, the flesh on his face bunched together, his mouth squeezed into a thin slit as he spoke incoherently.

"Is this bastard crazy?" Krillin watched the scene in horror.

"Everyone, gather around me! Kibito, if things look bad, use Instant Transmission to take us to the Sacred World of the Kai immediately," the Supreme Kai commanded.

"What!?" Kibito was even more shocked by these words than by the sight of Cell's self-destruction.

Cell's body continued to expand bit by bit, nearing its limit.

"Why would I stop you from self-destructing?" Son Gohan spread his hands, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Pure white energy surged from his body, forming a sturdy energy barrier that encased Cell's bloated form.

"What are you doing!?"

Cell looked like a balloon blown to its breaking point, his fat, swollen face filled with terror.

Son Gohan grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "Weren't you going to set off fireworks with your own body? Come on, show me!"

Cell was filled with resentment; there was no meaning in dying like this, but he had lost all control.

Boom!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a dull thud. Son Gohan's barrier not only isolated the energy but trapped the sound inside as well.

A blinding white light, like a sun, erupted as Cell blew himself into powder. In the confined space, the power of this self-destruction was elevated to a terrifying degree.

The energy that should have ravaged and destroyed the Earth was entirely absorbed by the barrier, but the barrier reached its limit, shattering into pieces and dissolving into light, vanishing into the air.

Then, a bizarre thing happened. A tiny piece of flesh that had fallen to the ground began to multiply and regenerate.

Cell, who had already exploded, suddenly reappeared on the ground.

"What happened? I'm still alive?"

Cell looked at his hands in disbelief. He felt the energy within his body surging even more violently than before.

This was because he possessed Saiyan cells; having revived after death, his strength had increased significantly.

"Hahahahaha! Not only am I alive, but I've become even stronger!"

"Son Gohan, I owe this all to you. How should I properly thank you?" Cell laughed cruelly.

"You really don't learn, do you? Feeling like you can do it again?" Son Gohan mocked him without hesitation.

The passive talent of Saiyans to increase their strength through near-death recovery became less effective as one's own power grew.

For a Cell who had already reached the level of Super Saiyan 3, this boost wouldn't increase his energy by much.

"Then let's test it!"

A look of madness flashed in Cell's eyes as he gathered all his energy for his strongest strike.

A white beam of light as thick as a barrel shot out, carving deep trenches into the ground wherever it passed.

Son Gohan shook his head slightly. He chose not to clash beams. Instead, he turned sideways, kicked his right foot forward, and struck the edge of the beam with pinpoint precision.

"Bang!"

A thunderous sound exploded. The white beam suddenly bent at a ninety-degree angle, screaming as it shot into the sky.

A cataclysmic explosion erupted deep within the clouds, punching a perfectly round hole through the firmament. A massive vortex moved slowly, revealing the pitch-black void of space in its center.

In that moment, Cell's heart was filled with despair. He finally understood that no matter how hard he tried, he could never defeat the brat before him.

"Unable to grasp the gap in our strength, yet you dare to challenge Mystic Gohan? You don't even have a one-in-ten-thousand chance of winning!"

Son Gohan's eyes shone with a brilliant light. He stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering in the wind.