"Hah. You think I'm leaving that easily?" Cell laughed.
"Hey!"
He suddenly braced both arms and forced them outward. A shriek tore out of him.
Clack.
Both of Cell's hands were cleanly severed by the cuffs.
"That's disgusting…" Gine went pale.
This monster was brutal even to himself. He actually tore his own hands off.
Cell grit through the pain and regenerated immediately.
"Huh? His hands grew back!" Gine yelped.
"What are you trying to do?" Kale frowned. "Try something like that again and I'll kill you."
Thud!
Cell shot her a sideways look, then snapped out a kick that slammed into her chest.
With a boom, Kale went flying, tumbling across the ground again and again.
When she finally hit the dirt, a swarm of little stars spun around her head in circles.
Merus: "…"
Bier: "…"
Merus pressed a hand to his forehead, speechless.
Kale… how are you this careless?
Even if you're not transformed, you should at least keep your guard up.
Kale had forgotten to transform, got caught once, and paid for it.
She passed out on the spot.
"A brat who still smells like milk, acting tough in front of me?" Cell sneered. "Lucky you weren't killed right there."
He casually picked up the cuffs and started walking toward Kale.
"Stop." Bardock's brow tightened.
"What, you—the guy who looks like Goku—trying to stop me?" Cell didn't even turn around. He kept walking like Bardock's words meant nothing.
"Suicidal idiot." Bardock snorted.
"And you think you can kill me?" Cell laughed scornfully. "Me, Cell?"
"Bardock, that monster doesn't look easy to deal with…" Gine blurted out, then turned to him with a sudden thought. "He's not a robot like that Android 19 guy, is he?"
"It's not impossible," Bardock said with a slight nod.
Cell halted and looked back at Gine.
A short silence.
"You know Android 19?" Cell huffed. "Going by the name, that one's an android too. Looks like this era has a few new androids I haven't seen."
"Hmph! Android 19 got his head slapped clean off by Bardock!" Gine shouted, trying to sound brave. "Bardock isn't someone you want to mess with, so don't try anything!"
To Gine, this monster looked dangerous.
If Bardock got hurt, everything would fall apart.
"Oh? That so?" Cell chuckled, completely unconcerned.
Android 19 was nothing.
"I only want my peaceful life left alone. That's all." Bardock's voice stayed calm as he looked at Cell. "That girl has a connection to me. Let her go, and you can leave."
"Do you even know who you're talking to?" Cell burst out laughing like it was the best joke he'd heard. "I'm Cell—the strongest in this universe!"
"I'm a God of Destruction, and even I wouldn't dare claim I'm the strongest in the entire universe," Bardock said, shaking his head with a quiet sigh.
You've really got nerve.
Bardock knew what the world looked like once you climbed high enough. The mountains ahead didn't get smaller—they got taller.
Some peaks, you'd never reach in your lifetime.
He'd trained for ages just to crawl his way to level 49.
With Gine by his side these past three years, his level had climbed noticeably—from 45 to 49.
And it still wasn't enough.
A level 50 God of Destruction was the weakest God of Destruction.
I'm not even level 50.
And ever since I hit 49, leveling has slowed to a crawl.
Is level 49 my ceiling?
"God of Destruction? Again with that?" Cell blinked, staring at Bardock like he couldn't place him. "You're a God of Destruction?"
Bardock didn't answer.
"Good." Cell's smile turned cold as power surged wildly from him. "Then let me see how strong a God of Destruction really is."
Whoosh!
Cell shot toward Bardock and drove a heavy punch at him.
Bang!
Bardock snorted and met him with a single kick.
"Aaaagh!"
Cell screamed as he spun through the air, rocketing straight up into the clouds.
Boom!
A heartbeat later, his body exploded into a cloud of blood mist.
One kick.
"Hmph." Bardock lifted his gaze to where Cell had vanished, then turned away like it wasn't worth thinking about.
"Huh? You kicked him away with one hit? He's that flimsy?" Gine stared, jaw dropping so wide she could've swallowed an egg.
"It's nothing." Bardock gave her a gentle smile.
"Then… what's Goku to you?" Gine couldn't hold it in anymore. She tilted her head, blinking up at him.
Back when Tao Pai Pai and Master Roshi mentioned Goku, she'd been curious, sure, but it was so long ago she'd mostly let it go.
Now a monster had brought it up again, and she couldn't stop wondering.
"Don't tell me he's your long-lost brother from some other mother or something," Gine teased.
Bardock: "…"
"Goku… is my son," Bardock said at last, choosing honesty.
"What?" Gine's face went white. Anger snapped into place, brows drawing tight. "Your son? You already have a kid?"
Bardock nodded.
"You have a son, and you're still with me?" Gine glared at him. "That's disgusting, Bardock!"
"Let me explain," Bardock said, voice low.
"Then talk." Gine huffed. "And don't you dare tell me to be your mistress or something. I'm not going to be anyone's side woman."
"Gine… do you believe in past lives?" Bardock asked seriously.
"Hah. You've told me this before," Gine shot back. "You said we had two sons together. Don't tell me you're about to claim that 'Goku' is our son from a past life." She folded her arms. "Spare me. I'm not buying some corny story."
"It's true," Bardock said, half-laughing, half-sighing. "Please believe me."
How is that corny?
"So it really is that?" Gine stared, at a loss.
I was joking, and I guessed it right?
That's… ridiculous.
"Everyone talks about 'surprise fatherhood.' Am I supposed to be a surprise mom now?" Gine muttered, overwhelmed.
She thought about it for a moment.
"I want to meet this 'Goku,'" Gine decided.
"I haven't sensed Kakarot's ki in a long time," Bardock said, thinking it through. "I heard he went to the future. I doubt he's back yet."
"The future?" Gine blinked again.
"Vegeta's son came here in a time machine," Bardock explained. "He said something terrible happened in the future, so Kakarot went with him to deal with it."
Gine's head started spinning.
"Who's Kakarot? Another one of your sons?" she asked.
"Kakarot is Goku," Bardock said. "Kakarot is his Saiyan name. Goku is the name he got after coming to Earth."
"And that time machine thing… those really exist?" Gine asked, stunned.
"They do." Bardock's voice hardened. "But a God of Destruction never allows time to be changed." He paused. "Even if Kakarot isn't on Earth, I can take you to meet his son—our grandson."
Gine: "…"
She was genuinely speechless now.
A grandson. I already have a grandson.
And I'm still a complete innocent…
"Fine," she said at last, resigned. "Then let's go see."
"Alright." Bardock nodded. He wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted off, and flew toward Mount Paozu.
Right as they took off, Gine pointed down at Kale lying on the ground.
"What about her? We're just leaving her?" Gine asked.
"Don't worry about her," Bardock said. "She's only unconscious. She'll wake up on her own."
…
At Capsule Corp's headquarters, in Bulma's courtyard, Merus looked like he was about to cry.
Kale, you were way too careless.
You're supposed to be a future God of Destruction, and you got knocked out by a single kick from that guy?
Jiren glanced that way too, equally speechless.
Why would Merus pick someone that weak to be a God of Destruction?
I heard a God of Destruction and a Supreme Kai share the same life.
So one day I'll share my life with this God of Destruction named Kale…
Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?
If she gets killed someday, do I vanish too?
I don't want to be a Supreme Kai anymore.
I'd rather live free.
This would keep me anxious day and night.
Imagine I'm eating, and then I just disappear. That's a nightmare.
At least it'll take time before anyone becomes a true Supreme Kai or God of Destruction.
I'll decide then.
If that girl is really this weak, there's no way I'm taking the Supreme Kai role.
Unless they swap me a stronger God of Destruction.
That's final.
Jiren made up his mind.
"Cell's still alive?" Bier said, holding her staff and watching through the crystal orb. "That life force is stubborn."
"He blew into blood mist… and he's still alive?" Emily asked, shocked.
"Yeah." Bier nodded. "I can still sense he's alive."
"Merus, you need to train Kale properly," Ken sighed. "She's far too careless. Losing like that to Cell?"
Merus: "…"
Like your Vegeta didn't lose to Cell too.
"Merus, if you've got something to say, say it," Ken laughed. "No need to complain in your head."
"I'm not complaining," Merus said with a polite smile. "I just arrived and saw Vegeta losing pretty badly."
"Merus, you're really growing up," Ken laughed and patted his shoulder. "You've learned to talk back."
Merus had nothing to say.
Like you're my elder or something.
"Wait." Merus narrowed his eyes. "Your angel halo… why is the color deeper?"
"What kind of eyes are those? You're only noticing now?" Ken sighed.
"Huh? It really is…" Bier stepped closer, curious, staring at Ken's halo. "I knew something felt different when I first saw you."
She reached out and ran a finger along Ken's halo.
Ken: "…"
"Are you serious?" Ken shot her a look.
"What, I can't touch it once?" Bier giggled, then pinched her chin thoughtfully. "This is my first time seeing a golden halo. Weren't you pale yellow before?"
"I'll touch yours too," Ken said, and casually ran his hand along Bier's blue halo.
"Ah…!"
Bier jolted like she'd been shocked, trembling hard. Her cheeks flushed bright red.
Merus: "…"
"You're awful!" Bier snapped. "You don't just touch someone's halo! If you do, you're responsible!"
"In your dreams," Ken replied.
Bier glared at him.
"Hey, Bulma." Emily leaned in, curious. "What's that halo even for?"
"Ken told me it's basically an angel's privacy," Bulma sighed.
"Privacy, but it's out in the open?" Emily asked, baffled.
"Who knows." Bulma snorted.
"Bulma, you should hurry." Emily lowered her voice. "That female angel looks like she's chasing Ken."
"Whatever." Bulma sounded like she'd made peace with it.
"I've never seen an angel whose halo can change color," Bier said, studying Ken up and down.
"Ken… what level are you?" Merus finally asked, teeth clenched. He didn't want to ask, but he couldn't not ask.
"Guess," Ken said with a grin.
Merus: "…"
If I could guess, why would I ask?
"I'm going to step out for a moment," Ken said, giving Merus a quick heads-up. He raised one hand. "Staff, come."
Whoosh!
His staff appeared in his hand instantly.
At the same time, the image that had been projected through the staff vanished.
Whoosh!
Ken blurred and disappeared.
And in the instant he vanished, he snapped his fingers.
A formless divine power wrapped around him.
Bier, curious, immediately lifted her staff and tried to track Ken through the crystal.
But when she looked, Ken's image turned blurry, like it refused to focus.
"Merus, look!" Bier panicked. "What's wrong with my staff? Did it break?"
"Break? How would that even happen?" Merus stared at her. "If your staff broke, you'd have bigger problems than that."
"Then what is it?" Bier asked.
"It means he's far above us in level," Merus said, voice dropping.
"Last time he asked me about levels, he was 65," Bier said after thinking it over. "It's been three years. How high could he be now?"
"We talked about that," Merus said quietly. "I guessed he might've reached level 70."
"Level 70?" Bier gasped. "That's the level only Zeno-sama's guards are supposed to have!"
"You made that same face last time," Merus said.
Bier: "…"
"You're kidding, right?" Bier muttered. "He really hit 70?"
"I don't know," Merus said, shaking his head.
…
High above the clouds, one of Cell's cells rapidly reshaped itself.
Dense muscle formed across it.
Another full minute passed.
Pop.
Cell finally finished regenerating and returned to his normal form.
Huff… huff…
He gulped air, sweat pouring, face deathly pale.
That monster…
He blew me apart with one kick.
Who is he?
He said he's a God of Destruction?
Gods of Destruction are allowed to be that absurd now?
Damn it!
I'm the first one who refuses to accept this!
I'm the strongest. So what if you're a god?
I'll find a way to kill you.
Once I absorb the Legendary Super Saiyan's cells, I'll surpass you.
But how am I supposed to absorb her cells?
Cell fell into silence again, completely stuck.
"You're done regenerating?"
A voice spoke behind him.
Cell jolted like lightning struck. He turned his head stiffly.
Behind him floated a man with silver-white hair, dressed in angel attire. A silver tail swayed behind him, and a golden halo at his neck shone like a true god.
"Ken?" Cell snapped back to himself.
"It's me." Ken smiled.
"When did you get here?" Cell stared, guarded and shaken.
Wait—why does he have no ki at all?
I can't sense a thing.
It's like he has zero energy inside him.
And yet he's floating in midair.
What is he?
"I've been here since you started regenerating," Ken said, smiling. "So tell me—what are you planning next?"
"Whatever I'm planning is none of your business," Cell growled.
"You want to absorb the Legendary Super Saiyan's cells, don't you?" Ken asked.
Cell's expression shifted.
How does he know that?
"Alright." Ken's tone stayed calm. "I'll give you a chance. A chance that gives you at least some odds of getting those cells."
"Go on," Cell said, deciding to hear him out.
"You've heard of the World Martial Arts Tournament, right?" Ken asked.
Cell nodded.
"Then you host one." Ken smiled. "You run the event, call the fighters in, and fight them yourself. How does that sound?"
"A tournament?" Cell froze.
A wave of resistance rose in him.
You want me to host a tournament?
With what?
Bardock will kick me to death.
That guy is terrifying.
I'm not even close to his level.
Not even close.
"Relax." Ken said. "Bardock won't participate."
"You say Bardock won't participate?" Cell frowned. "How can you guarantee that?"
"If I don't let him participate, he won't," Ken said lightly.
"And he'll listen to you?" Cell stared, doubtful.
"My temper's improved since my level went up." Ken sighed. "I'm discussing this with you, not ordering you. That alone is more respect than you deserve."
"Hah." Cell's eyes sharpened. "You think you're Bardock? Talking about giving me respect?"
Whoosh!
A dark green streak shot in from the distance.
Cell's eyes widened, stunned.
That's Broly's ki-made avatar.
The Broly-shaped ki construct rushed at him at terrifying speed.
Cell's face twisted.
In that instant, he forced every shred of ki he had outward.
Bang!
The ki avatar's fist crashed into Cell's chest.
Pop!
Cell exploded into blood mist again, shattered into fragments by a single punch.
"Heh… I hit a little too hard," the ki avatar said, scratching his head awkwardly.
"Oof." Ken smiled. "That one clipped his core. He probably can't regenerate now." He tilted his head. "Still, I should patch him up a bit. If he just dies here, it won't help Gohan and the others train."
Ken raised his staff and released a thin layer of angel power over Cell's scattered fragments.
The angel power swept across.
In an instant, Cell's core was repaired.
Cell regenerated again.
A full minute passed before his body fully returned.
Huff… huff…
Cell panted, eyes filled with terror.
You've got to be kidding.
I got blown apart again?
Fine, maybe I can't beat Bardock, but I can't even beat Broly's ki avatar?
Cell suddenly felt pathetically weak.
And just now… he'd even seen the towering halls of the Other World.
Then someone yanked him back by force.
The shock was beyond words.
"You… who are you?" Cell asked Ken, voice shaking. He didn't dare show even a hint of disrespect now.
"So," Ken said with a smile, "are you willing to host that tournament now?"
"I want to know your goal!" Cell looked like he was about to cry.
If you want a tournament, host it yourself.
Why drag me into it?
"The goal is to raise Vegeta and Gohan's strength," Ken said, smiling. "And you want to get stronger too, don't you?"
Cell nodded hard.
Yes, I want to get stronger.
But then give me an actual chance to get stronger.
"I can promise you this." Ken smiled. "Bardock, Broly, and the others won't participate. The tournament will be limited to Vegeta and the rest."
Cell thought for a moment. "That Kale girl can participate too, right?"
"Of course," Ken said. "If you've got the ability to absorb her cells, I won't stop you." He added, "And the higher-profile you make it, the better. I want the whole world involved."
"Fine," Cell said with a snort. "Your words. Don't regret it."
"Go," Ken said, waving a hand through the air.
Boom!
A formless angel power swept over Cell.
Cell got hit squarely. His body spun uncontrollably through the sky.
Crash!
He slammed into the ground, carving a crater.
His whole body felt like it had come apart, pain everywhere.
And the fear in his chest only grew.
How is Ken this strong?
Is Android 21 right—will I never become the strongest in the whole universe?
So far, I already know four people stronger than me: Ken, Broly, Bardock, and Kale.
Damn it.
How did it turn out like this?
The computer told me that once I became complete, I'd be the strongest android.
So I really do need to absorb the Legendary Super Saiyan's cells?
What about Android 18 instead?
No. Don't think about that.
I'm going to make myself sick again.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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