Seeing Lapis charge in, Cell was momentarily startled before a wide grin crept across his face.
To him, Android 17 was like a gift delivered straight to his doorstep — and the best part was, he had come alone.
With the energy Cell had already absorbed, defeating a single Android 17 was nothing difficult.
Upon hearing Lapis's voice, Mel quickly pulled her only remaining friend and hid behind him. Cell, confident and cruel, didn't even bother stopping them.
The value of absorbing one Android 17 was beyond compare — greater than all the humans on Earth combined. After all, his true purpose in devouring humans was to build enough power to absorb both Lapis and Lazuli.
Cell's mouth twisted into a grin, his voice low and hoarse.
"Android 17… I didn't expect you to deliver yourself to me. You've truly given me quite the surprise."
But Lapis ignored him. His attention was fixed on Mel.
"Are you hurt?" he asked quickly.
Mel shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm fine… but Maya—she's been eaten by that monster! We have to run!"
Cell frowned slightly. In his memory, Android 17 never cared about humans. Yet, the person before him—his movements, his energy—was undeniably Lapis. There was no mistaking it.
Lapis turned toward him, fury flashing in his eyes.
"You monster! I'll tear you apart!"
He broke free from Mel's grasp, his body becoming a blur as he vanished from sight.
Cell didn't even blink. His arm swung casually to the side, blocking Lapis's attack with ease.
The android's eyes widened in shock. "What!?"
Cell sneered. In a flash, he seized Lapis's arm and slammed him into the ground. The impact cracked the earth, sending tremors through the area as several people fell through the shattered floor.
Gritting his teeth through the pain, Lapis broke free, scooping up Mel and another girl before darting out of the collapsing building. The moment they escaped, the structure crumbled into rubble, swallowed by dust and smoke.
He set the two girls down on the open field before immediately turning back toward the ruins, ready to face Cell again.
The rescued girl stared at him in disbelief. "Mel… is that your boyfriend? Is he even human?"
Mel shook her head slowly. She knew Lapis was strong, but not this strong. In their daily lives, he always held back, afraid of frightening her. But Cell's attack had ignited something within him — a rage deeper than she'd ever seen.
A blinding light erupted from the rubble, and Cell shot out from it, unscathed. Lapis instantly unleashed a barrage of energy spheres, each one slamming into Cell's form.
Smoke filled the air once again, but true to the Dragon Ball rule — no damage ever comes from smoke — Cell emerged unharmed.
His sharp gaze locked on Lapis like a predator eyeing prey, sending a chill down the android's spine.
"Stop looking at me like that, you disgusting monster!" Lapis roared, firing more blasts.
Cell deflected them lazily, his irritation growing. "Pathetic."
His aura suddenly exploded, shaking the ground beneath them. The energy readings in Lapis's internal scanner spiked wildly. Seeing the numbers climb so high, he froze — realizing just how far beyond him Cell truly was.
Cold sweat formed along his temple, but retreat wasn't an option. Mel was behind him. He clenched his fists tightly, a spark of determination burning in his eyes.
"Mel will be protected by me… no matter what!"
He charged forward. His punch struck Cell's face directly, yet the creature didn't even flinch.
Cell smirked, amused by the disbelief on Lapis's face. Slowly, he raised his hand, ready to end it.
But before he could, a brilliant golden light enveloped his entire body.
Both paused — Lapis in confusion, Cell in shock. Neither understood what was happening.
And then, with a sharp pop, both the light and Cell vanished completely.
Lapis hovered in midair, scanning the area. No sign of Cell. It was as if he had been erased from existence.
He landed, staring at his own fist. "What just happened? Was that my doing? Could I really have that kind of power?"
Before he could think further, a familiar voice echoed all around him.
"Stop overthinking it. Cell's gone. I erased him. Now, go check on your girlfriend."
Lapis's eyes widened. "Brother-in-law!? Chiga? Where are you?"
"I'm at home," Uchiha Chiga's calm voice replied. "But I have to say, your performance just now was impressive. Well done."
Lapis scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Heh… so you saw that, huh? I couldn't just stand by. Mel's still here, I had to—"
"Lapis!"
He turned toward the voice. Mel was running toward him, her eyes filled with worry. She had stayed behind while her friend fled the field, unable to leave him behind.
If Chiga hadn't intervened, she would have perished along with the city once Cell absorbed Lapis.
Now, tears streamed down her cheeks as she checked him for injuries. Only when she confirmed he was unhurt did she exhale shakily.
Lapis pulled her close, whispering softly, "It's over. That monster's gone."
"Really? You're incredible, Lapis!"
"Actually," he said with a faint smile, "that was all thanks to my Brother-in-law."
___
Milestone
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus chapter.
I've been getting little to no Powerstones, don't be greedy with them 😪