"Emily?" Vegeta looked at her, stunned. "What are you doing here?"
"Stop asking so many questions!" Emily snapped.
Cell stared without blinking, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Half of this woman was here… but where was the other half?
Vegeta clicked his tongue. "Tch. Don't meddle. Get lost—far away."
"You… what did you just say?" Emily flared up. "Is that any way to talk to someone?"
Cell burst into laughter, delighted to pour fuel on the fire. "Hahaha! Vegeta, you're really letting a woman keep you on a leash?"
"Shut up!" Vegeta's forehead twitched with bulging veins. "If you don't want to die, keep your mouth closed!"
Cell immediately stopped.
Yeah… better not provoke this lunatic right now. Once I'm complete, I'll deal with him properly.
"Emily, go back!" Vegeta barked.
"Hmph." Emily turned away and vanished.
Vegeta didn't find her sudden appearance—or disappearance—strange at all. He could guess it easily: Emily was at Bulma's place, and Ken was definitely there too.
No one but Ken could pull off something like this.
"She vanished?" Cell froze, rubbing his eyes. "Who is that woman? She's not just some ordinary human, is she?"
"Cell," Vegeta said coldly, "if you want to become complete, then go absorb the Androids. Hurry. If I change my mind later, don't blame me when I go back on my word."
"Fine. I'm going." Cell snapped out of it and shot into the sky.
No time to gossip. Becoming complete comes first.
Krillin was hiding behind a boulder, watching Android 21 and Android 16 from far away.
Do I really have to shut Android 21 down?
The thought twisted his chest. The memory surfaced instantly—Android 21 leaning in and kissing him.
The first girl who ever kissed me…
His fingers trembled.
Clack!
The remote slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a crisp snap.
The sound immediately caught Android 21 and Android 16's attention. Both turned toward him at the same time.
Krillin froze.
"You?" Android 21 blinked—then her eyes dropped to the remote on the ground.
That's… the emergency shutdown controller. The one meant to stop me, Android 17, and the others.
Dr. Gero built that thing specifically to restrain us. If it activates on me, I shut down instantly.
So why is it here?
"Sorry…" Krillin swallowed hard. "I just… can't do it." He stomped down and crushed the remote to pieces.
Android 21 stared at him, wide-eyed, shock glistening in her gaze.
"Run," Krillin said, voice low and urgent. "Don't let Cell absorb you. Please."
Android 21 fell silent.
Three seconds passed.
"Why would you do that?" she asked. "That thing would be the most useful weapon right now."
"I… it's because…" Krillin stammered, his face turning red. He couldn't force the rest out.
Android 21 tilted her head. "Why is your face so red?"
Krillin didn't answer.
High above, Cell was already moving.
Vegeta folded his arms with a smug grin. "Good. I'll wait here. Once you're complete, we'll fight properly. Right now you're so weak I'd get no satisfaction killing you."
"I'll go find them." Cell nodded, sounding almost polite. "Thanks."
But as he turned, his eyes caught Android 21 and Android 16 in the distance.
Android 21… she's here!
I've searched everywhere for her—and she's just sitting there.
Finally. I found you!
"Perfect!" Cell said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Found her!"
"Oh?" Vegeta's eyes widened, then he smiled. "That lucky? The Android's right here?"
Cell rocketed toward Android 21.
Android 21 was still talking to Krillin, completely unaware Cell was already closing in.
When Cell dropped in beside them, all three snapped to attention at once.
The moment Krillin and the others recognized him, their faces turned a sickly pale.
"Didn't expect me, did you?" Cell grinned.
"Bastard!" Android 16 forced himself up through clenched teeth, ready to make a final stand.
Cell's smile only deepened. "Don't strain yourself, Android 16. You're barely holding together. Besides… Vegeta is going to help me become complete."
"Vegeta…!" Krillin ground his teeth. "Ken was right about you!"
Android 21, strangely, went calm. She stepped forward and shielded Android 16 behind her.
"Not bad," Cell said, amused. "You know you can't escape, so you're offering yourself up."
"The mistakes I made… I'll pay for them myself." Android 21 took a deep breath and walked toward him.
"Good girl." Cell's grin widened. "You're so obedient I almost don't want to absorb you."
"Android 21!" Android 16's voice broke, like a cry.
"Android 16… goodbye." Android 21's voice shook as tears spilled free. "Being able to see you again… I'm glad."
"Mom…" Android 16 whispered, so faint it was barely sound.
Android 21 stopped cold. Her whole body trembled, like she'd heard something she wasn't allowed to hear.
"W-what did you just say?" She turned back, staring at him.
"Nothing." Android 16 gave a small smile and pulled her behind him. "This time… like before… let me protect you."
"You…" Android 21's pupils tightened. She stared at him in disbelief.
Android 16 smiled—and lunged straight at Cell.
"Android 16!" Android 21 screamed, her voice tearing.
"Idiot." Cell frowned and kicked.
Bang!
Android 16 flew backward, smashed into a distant mountain, and tumbled down.
Smoke curled off him. One glance was enough to tell he was finished.
"Android 16!" Android 21 panicked and rushed toward him.
"Hmph. I'm absorbing you now." Cell flashed in front of her.
Thud!
His fist drove into Android 21's stomach.
She gagged and spat up a mouthful of sour fluid.
Cell's tail snapped forward, reshaping into a massive suction organ, and swallowed her up in an instant.
"Stop!" Krillin roared, charging in and slamming a punch into Cell's face.
Cell didn't even flinch, letting Krillin hit him as if it meant nothing.
"Android 21!" Android 16 called out with the last scraps of power he had.
Cell finished the absorption quickly, draining Android 21 completely.
His body began to convulse violently.
Krillin trembled and instinctively backed away.
"He's finally becoming complete," Vegeta said, smiling with absolute confidence. "Now I can teach him a real lesson."
"Vegeta!" Emily shook with rage.
"Let him become complete," Ken said calmly, watching. "Perfect timing—I want to see what Vegeta's year of training actually produced."
Bulma frowned, sounding genuinely baffled. "Krillin… did he seriously fall for Android 21? He even crushed the remote you gave him."
She huffed. "Good thing I didn't make it. If he crushed something I built with my own hands, I'd never forgive him."
Ken said nothing.
Boom!
A deafening roar shook the island as Cell's energy swelled higher and higher.
Smoke rolled across the battlefield in thick layers. When the wind finally tore through it, a new face and body stood revealed.
Perfect Cell looked almost identical to the one everyone knew: a slightly handsome face, dark speckled markings, his tail reduced to a small stub near his lower back, and a more compact frame than before.
"So that's Perfect Cell?" Bulma asked Ken.
Ken nodded. "That's him."
"Vegeta is unbelievable," Emily fumed. "He knows it's a trap and still walks straight into it!"
"Don't get too worked up," Bulma said. "That's just Vegeta."
Vegeta sneered at Perfect Cell. "So you're 'complete,' and you're shorter than before. Big deal."
Krillin trembled, too scared to even speak.
Vegeta dropped from above and landed directly in front of Perfect Cell, smiling like he'd been waiting his whole life for this.
"Vegeta," Perfect Cell said, perfectly polite, "would you mind helping me warm up?"
"Sure," Vegeta said. "From warm-up… to cleanup."
"Then I'll be in your care," Perfect Cell replied, courteous to the end.
Krillin glanced aside—then noticed Android 16 twitching faintly in the distance.
He hesitated for only a heartbeat before making his choice. He rushed over and hauled Android 16 upright.
"Thanks…" Android 16's voice was weak.
"No need." Krillin took a steadying breath. "I'll get you to Capsule Corporation. I'll ask Bulma to fix you."
"Why would you do that?" Android 16 asked, confused.
"You're Android 21's son, aren't you?" Krillin said bitterly. "I heard you call her 'Mom.'"
So she had a kid…
And he's already this big…
Why do all the women I like come with something like this?
"You… you heard that?" Android 16's expression shifted.
"Aren't you supposed to be a pure machine?" Krillin asked, genuinely confused.
"Not now… I'm out of power…" Android 16 shook his head and collapsed against Krillin.
Krillin didn't hesitate anymore. He slung Android 16 over his shoulder and shot into the sky.
Behind him, Vegeta and Perfect Cell had already started.
"Hyah!" Vegeta roared and drove a savage kick in.
Cell blocked it with ease. He glanced at Krillin escaping with Android 16, showing no interest in stopping him.
"Looking around in the middle of a fight?" Vegeta snorted, speeding up into a heavier barrage.
Cell met him cleanly, blow for blow, tight and precise.
After a short exchange, Cell thrust a palm forward.
Vegeta raised an arm to block.
Smack!
Cell hopped back, opening distance.
Vegeta felt it instantly—the gap between them. His face darkened.
"You damn monster," Vegeta snarled, shaking with fury. "You weren't even taking me seriously."
Cell smiled. "Didn't I tell you? This is just warm-up."
"Then show me your real strength!" Vegeta exploded. "If you're playing with me, I'll never forgive you!"
"Fine," Cell said, still smiling. "I'll give you a taste."
His body blurred—and vanished.
In the next instant, he was behind Vegeta.
Vegeta jolted and snapped a kick up toward Cell's head.
Thud!
The kick landed squarely on the back of Cell's skull.
Cell's lips curled slightly. His head tilted a fraction—and that was all. No damage. Not even a stagger.
Vegeta jumped back, staring at him like he'd just met a nightmare.
Cell's smile turned mocking. "God of Destruction Vegeta… where did your swagger go? Go on, Vegeta. Laugh."
He drove a brutal kick into Vegeta's chest.
Vegeta's face twisted as he flew backward, punching straight through a massive boulder.
He stopped himself in midair, fists clenched tight, eyes burning with frustration.
"This gap is huge," Cell said coolly. "This fight is boring. Guess it's my turn to throw your words back at you."
Vegeta panted hard, fatigue creeping in.
Cell studied him, almost curious. "What did you say earlier? Ah—right. Ordinary energy is enough, no need for god power. So show me. Let me see your god power."
"Tch." Vegeta's jaw tightened. "Fine. You forced my hand. Don't start crying when you get beaten senseless."
"Then hurry," Cell said lightly. "If you die first, you won't get another chance."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. "Watch."
He lifted his right hand. A small, glittering energy sphere formed above his palm.
Cell blinked, confused. It looked ordinary—harmless, even.
"Cell," Vegeta said coldly, "I underestimated you. But you got arrogant in front of me. Do you really think I'd let you become complete if I didn't have a trump card?"
"Oh?" Cell grinned. "Then show me."
"Wipe that smug look off your face," Vegeta spat. He hurled the sphere into the sky without hesitation.
The ball shot upward like a comet.
"Shine," Vegeta shouted, raising his hand high and clenching his fist, "my moon!"
High above, the Power Ball blossomed into a radiant artificial full moon.
Cell stared up, stunned.
Vegeta threw his head back and laughed. "Hahaha! Cell—your time's up!"
At the same time, Vegeta's body began to change.
Fangs pushed out. Black fur erupted across him. His frame swelled and swelled, growing into a towering ape.
"A Great Ape…!" Cell's face shifted.
"Is that Vegeta?" Emily yelped. "Why did he turn into that?!"
Trunks yawned in her arms and fell asleep again.
"That's a Saiyan's Great Ape transformation," Bulma explained. "They see a full moon, and this happens."
Emily's cheeks went pink, her expression turning oddly shy. "Last time there was a full moon, Vegeta dragged me out into the mountains to 'have fun'… Was he trying to play some kind of transformation game?"
Bulma went silent.
Ken went silent.
"You really don't need to tell us that," Bulma said flatly.
"What are you implying? He just took me to the mountains—he didn't say we were doing anything…" Emily's voice trailed off as it finally clicked.
Bulma still said nothing.
Emily sucked in a breath. "But if he's that huge… you could get crushed…"
Bulma wiped sweat from her forehead without a word.
"Not crushed," Ken corrected. "Ruptured."
Emily froze.
Bulma froze.
Vegeta was already a massive black ape.
He roared and pounded his chest, grinning down at Cell.
Cell stayed calm, looking up at the giant beast without a hint of panic.
Then he read Vegeta's energy and frowned. "That's it? Your Super Saiyan boost earlier was at least fifty times. Great Ape is only ten. You got bigger, but your energy actually dropped. And this is your 'god power'? Disappointing."
"Keep watching." Vegeta's enormous body trembled.
In the next instant, golden light erupted across him.
He went Super Saiyan.
The black fur flared—then turned brilliant gold.
A Golden Great Ape was born.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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