Testing the Waters

"In theory, I can't interfere with events at this point in time, but... as long as I don't affect the original course of events, there shouldn't be a problem."

The corners of Shin's mouth curled up. Since he was already here, wouldn't it be too boring to go back without doing anything?

"Cell, let me test what you're made of." Shin raised one hand and activated the "Creation" ability.

He created a person identical to Cell. However, the Cell Shin had created was merely an empty shell with the right appearance, though that was enough.

Shin looked down at Cell on the ground, raised his hand again, and activated "Creation," creating an isolated pocket of space that enveloped Cell.

The moment Cell was swallowed by the pocket space, his energy vanished from Earth. Almost at the exact instant Cell's energy disappeared, the fake Cell Shin had created seamlessly released his aura, replacing Cell's presence.

Inside the pocket space.

Cell frowned and scanned his surroundings. The environment around him had not changed, but the countless life energies he had sensed across Earth had suddenly vanished.

It was as if, in an instant, every living thing on Earth apart from him had died.

"What's going on? I can't sense anyone else's energy. Forget Son Goku and the others—I can't even sense a single ordinary person. What happened?"

Cell frowned in thought. The unknown unsettled him, but remembering that he was now in his Perfect Form, the immense power he possessed gave him ample confidence. No matter what had happened, he feared nothing.

Whoosh~

Shin appeared opposite Cell.

Cell frowned at Shin, who had suddenly appeared before him, and murmured, "Appearing out of nowhere... is it the same ability Son Goku has? Interesting."

"Was it you who made everyone's energy on Earth suddenly disappear? What did you do? Did you kill them all?" Cell asked.

Shin only smiled, saying nothing. He merely lifted a hand and crooked a finger at Cell, his provocation unmistakable.

Cell curled his lips into a grin. "Interesting. You actually dare challenge me when I'm already in my Perfect Form. Though the Cell Games haven't officially begun yet, warming up with you isn't bad."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Cell flashed in front of Shin and threw a punch at his face.

From Shin's perspective, Cell's swift speed was as slow as a crawling turtle. The incoming fist moved sluggishly, looking completely limp.

"So this is what it feels like to crush someone with raw stats? No wonder Supreme Kai, a gimmick-heavy character, couldn't beat those broken late-game cheats. The stat gap is just too huge."

Shin savored the pleasure of crushing a weak opponent. His posture remained relaxed as he effortlessly dodged Cell's attacks. No matter what Cell tried, he could not touch Shin even once.

The longer Cell fought, the more alarmed he became. He kept raising his power level, yet no matter how much he increased his speed, he could not even brush Shin's clothes. It left him utterly frustrated.

After fighting for quite some time, Cell's former confidence was gone, replaced by an exasperated question. "Do you only know how to dodge?!"

Hearing that.

Shin yawned. "It is rather boring. The current you still isn't enough for me to clearly determine what level my strength has reached."

"Let me end this farce."

The moment Shin finished speaking, Cell's biological instincts immediately sounded an alarm!

Cell was horrified. His mind wanted to evade, but his body had become sluggish from instinctive fear and could not keep up with his thoughts.

Whoosh~

Shin appeared behind Cell.

Cell gritted his teeth and slightly turned his head, his gaze locked tightly onto Shin. Then he saw Shin gently raise a hand and place it on his shoulder...

Bzz!!

Cell's face changed in terror!

A terrifying force that made him tremble surged from Shin's hand on his shoulder. In almost an instant, Cell was slammed into the ground, and the violent impact knocked him unconscious...

"Ah?!"

Cell woke with a start, gasping for breath. He looked around, but there was nothing unusual. Everything felt normal to his senses, and what had just happened seemed like a dream.

"What just happened?!"

Cell tried hard to recall it, but all he found was a hazy blur. He had forgotten everything that had happened, with only his body still instinctively trembling in fear.

Shin floated ten thousand meters in the air, no longer watching Cell. Cell was no longer worth his notice. Unless it was Frieza, Shin would not even spare a glance.

After all, that bastard Frieza really could grind Shin into the ground in a short time... if the Super setting was true.

Shin looked at the fake Cell he had created and raised a hand, erasing it.

"On to the next point in time."

Whoosh~

Shin traveled through time and space once more.

A point in time several days later.

Shin looked down at Son Gohan, who had transformed into Super Saiyan 2, and Lightning Cell, who had just returned from the afterlife. He coolly assessed them. "So weak."

To Shin's senses, both Super Saiyan 2 Son Gohan and Lightning Cell were as insignificant as ants before his own life level.

"My potential unleashing is only at 3.88%, yet my strength already surpasses Super Saiyan 2? No... it should be far more than that..."

Shin's eyes flickered. He raised the Time Ring, preparing to activate it again. "This time, I'm going to the time point of the Buu saga. I want to see just how strong I am now!"

Age 774.

Above Earth.

After arriving at this point in time, Shin immediately released his divine sense and swept it across the entire planet!

When Shin's divine sense passed over the World Martial Arts Tournament arena, it paused, because he saw himself from this time point.

When Shin discovered his counterpart from this era, that Shin naturally discovered him as well.

The Shin of this timeline raised his head and looked toward the distant horizon. He smiled at his past self, then waved in greeting.

Shin's scalp tingled, but he still gathered his courage and carefully sensed his counterpart from this timeline...

Nothingness!

No matter how Shin investigated, he could not sense even the slightest trace of energy from his counterpart. It was as if the other Shin had completely merged with heaven and earth.

Although he could not sense any energy, that feeling of dread lingered in Shin's heart. He had no doubt that the Shin of this time point could erase his current self with a single thought!

"My future self... has already become this strong? Makes sense. I've only had the system for one year, while the me in this timeline should have had it for over a decade. His strength must be countless times greater than mine!" Shin thought to himself.

Shin's divine sense continued sweeping across Earth as he searched for Babidi's spaceship.

After only a few breaths, Shin locked onto the location of Babidi's spaceship, as well as Majin Buu's egg hidden in its deepest chambers.

"Found it!"

Shin's lips curled upward. With a single instant transmission, he arrived inside Babidi's spaceship.

Shin raised both hands and created an isolated pocket space, enclosing himself and Majin Buu's egg within it.

He also casually created a fake Majin Buu egg and left it outside. After all, he could not affect the normal development of this timeline. Otherwise, this timeline would split away from the main timeline and become a new parallel universe.

(End of Chapter)