Back at Capsule Corp, at Bulma's home, Ken returned as fast as he'd left.
"Ken, where'd you go?" Bier asked, curious.
"Nothing much." Ken smiled. "I had a quick chat with Cell."
"Cell? What's there to chat about?" Bier blinked.
Merus also stared at Ken, confused.
Someone that evil should be destroyed, or at least dragged to the Galactic Patrol Prison.
What could you possibly want to talk about?
"I told him to host a tournament," Ken said, smiling.
"A tournament?" Merus echoed, then asked, "What kind?"
"Cell versus everyone," Ken explained.
Merus: "…"
Bier: "…"
Jiren didn't say a word.
That Cell guy is seriously unlucky.
This feels like he's about to get tortured by the gods.
What did you do to Ken to make him target you like this?
If it were me… I'd rather self-destruct.
"Did he agree?" Merus asked.
"He didn't want to at first." Ken smiled. "After I talked him through it, he finally understood."
"I bet your 'talk' hurt," Bier said, seeing right through it.
"Merus, this is a good chance," Ken said with a grin. "A simple sparring opportunity between our Supreme Kai and God of Destruction candidates."
"You're serious?" Merus's eyes lit up.
"Just sparring," Ken said, nodding. "Not the final evaluation."
"Then of course." Merus smiled broadly. "Honestly, I brought Kale and Jiren here to spar with your candidates in the first place." He added, "Mostly so they can get to know each other better."
"Then it's settled," Ken said. He didn't object.
He understood Merus's intent perfectly.
It was time to test them.
…
Cell rested an entire night before his energy finally started returning.
He spent that night thinking, and in the end, he decided.
Fine. I'll do what Ken said and host the tournament.
Then I'll find a chance to absorb Kale's cells.
Once I become truly complete, Ken, Broly, and Bardock… you three just wait.
I'll kill you with perfect rhythm.
I'm the strongest.
Even if you're gods, I'll cut you down.
You gave me this opening—don't blame me when I turn it on you.
Cell rose into the sky. Looking around, he decided the place he was in wasn't bad as a tournament site.
"I'll do it here. No need to run around," he muttered, extending a hand toward the ground below.
Boom!
A flat wave of ki blasted outward, leveling the area.
Then Cell lifted a massive boulder from the earth and yanked it free.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!
His hands flickered, slicing it clean into a perfect cube.
"Not bad," Cell said, pleased. His fingers danced.
The cube was carved into brick after brick.
With a wave, the bricks laid themselves out across the newly flattened ground.
"This will do for now. I'll decorate later." Cell looked it over, then hesitated. "Now how do I tell Ken?"
I can't sense his ki at all.
Whatever.
I'll go to a TV station. I'll announce it on broadcast.
He told me to be high-profile.
Fine. I'll show him high-profile.
Cell shot into the sky and sped toward the TV station.
Ken had Bulma call Krillin and the others and tell them to keep an eye on the news.
…
At Kame House, Krillin flipped through a book, glancing at the TV every so often.
Yamcha lay on the carpet with his eyes closed, resting.
"Hey, Krillin," Yamcha asked without opening his eyes. "What's Ken want us watching TV for?"
"Who knows?" Krillin said. "He said there might be major news today. Probably something about Cell."
"What happened to Cell?" Yamcha asked. "Didn't Vegeta lose to him?"
"Vegeta's too arrogant." Krillin nodded. "Of course he lost once Cell became complete." He added, "But Kale beat the hell out of him."
"Kale? The Legendary Super Saiyan you told me about?" Yamcha asked, startled.
"Yeah." Krillin nodded. "Back on Namek, she beat Frieza senseless." He sighed. "She couldn't stay rational after transforming back then, but now she can transform without losing herself."
"But still," Yamcha said, sounding wistful, "I feel like you and Android 21 actually fit together… shame she got absorbed by Cell."
"Don't talk," Krillin said flatly, face darkening.
Right then, someone on the TV screamed.
"What are you doing? Hey! What are you doing?!"
Krillin and Yamcha both snapped their attention to the screen.
"Cell… it's Cell!" Krillin shouted. "He showed up!"
Yamcha sprang up, eyes wide, staring at Cell on the broadcast.
On screen, Cell had just killed someone with a casual slap and shoved his way into frame.
"Call security! Call the police!" the host screamed.
"Aaah—"
Before the host could finish, Cell crushed him to death.
"That bastard!" Yamcha snarled.
"Vile monster," Krillin said, voice heavy.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the world, hello!" Cell smiled into the camera. "I'm going to borrow a little of your time to deliver some good news to all of you living in peace. This good news will make your days more enjoyable—and more thrilling." He tilted his head. "First, introductions. My name is Cell. You all know about the recent incidents where people were eaten by a monster, right? That monster evolved into me."
The people in the studio turned pale.
Cell's grin only widened.
Ken told me to be high-profile.
I came to a live broadcast. That's high-profile enough.
And if I couldn't resist killing a few people… that's not my problem.
"Back then, I gained a lot of life essence." Cell smiled. "For that, I'd like to thank you." He lifted a finger. "Don't worry—I don't need life essence anymore."
Some people felt a flicker of relief… and then the fear rushed back even harder.
"Now for the good news." Cell's smile turned smug. "Starting today, at noon on the 17th—nine days from now—I will hold a martial arts tournament called the Cell Games." He spoke like he was amused. "The arena is in the northwest of Central City. I've already prepared the venue." He spread his arms. "Unlike the World Martial Arts Tournament, your only opponent is me. Unlimited participants. One by one, you'll fight me. When one challenger loses, the next steps in. The more fighters you send, the better for you. I'm strong, but maybe you'll wear me down."
The viewers listened in dead silence, terror in their eyes.
"The rules are basically the same as the World Martial Arts Tournament," Cell continued, smiling lightly. "Surrender or admit defeat, and you lose. I'll show restraint, but if you die, that also counts as a loss." He shrugged. "That's all. Announcement complete. I hope the confident ones show up."
He raised his hand toward a nearby wall.
"Hahahaha!"
Cell laughed wildly as a huge blast erupted from his palm.
The energy punched through the wall and swept into the city outside.
The area it touched collapsed into rubble.
Cell turned toward the cameraman.
The cameraman hurried to keep the lens on Cell, terrified he'd be killed if he slipped.
"Don't you want to try?" Cell smiled. "Then I'll be waiting."
With that, Cell left.
…
In Universe 6, out in space—
"Giddyup!"
Zeno-sama rode Majin Buu through the cosmos like a racehorse.
Buu ran with pure joy.
Two guards followed behind Zeno-sama, never leaving his side.
"Whoa…" Zeno-sama yanked the reins.
Buu skidded to an immediate stop in the starfield, arms and legs stretched forward as if bracing.
The two guards landed at Zeno-sama's left and right in an instant.
"Hey, Left—got anywhere fun?" Zeno-sama asked the guard on his left.
"What would Zeno-sama like to play?" the left guard asked respectfully.
"Anything fun. Doesn't matter what," Zeno-sama said, then looked to the right guard. "Right, you too."
"Let's play a racing game," the right guard suggested after thinking.
"Bored of that." Zeno-sama shook his head.
"Hide-and-seek?" the left guard offered.
Zeno-sama shook his head again, disappointed.
The guards suggested a few more games.
Zeno-sama found all of them dull. He'd played them before and didn't care anymore.
"Buu, you tell me." Zeno-sama patted Buu's butt. "If it's a good idea, I'll give you your freedom."
Buu: "…"
Buu felt like happiness had dropped out of the sky.
Is he serious?
But Buu had gotten smarter.
If I do too well, he'll keep me.
Then when will I ever be free?
"Let me think…" Buu said, stalling.
Three seconds later—
"This is Universe 6, right?" Buu asked quickly. "Universe 6's Earth has tons of delicious food. Does Zeno-sama like good food?"
"Trying food once in a while isn't bad," Zeno-sama said after thinking it over. "Alright. Then let's go take a look at Earth."
"Yes!" Buu's eyes went watery.
Earth… I'm back.
Satan, I missed you so much.
Hope you're doing okay.
I'm bringing the Omni-King himself to you. I don't know if you can handle that.
Whatever. I just want to eat your cooking again.
"Oh, right—Ken is on Earth, isn't he?" Zeno-sama asked, turning to the guards.
Both guards nodded.
"Perfect." Zeno-sama muttered. "I'll ask him how that Supreme Kai training is going. Is he following my instructions and doing it fast?"
The guards didn't respond. There wasn't really a safe way to respond to that.
"If he won't train the Supreme Kai properly, then there's no reason to keep Universe 7," Zeno-sama said, clearly annoyed. "That Supreme Kai already ticked me off!"
The guards trembled, faces changing.
Universe 7's Supreme Kai… you'd better be careful.
But it feels like you're already doomed.
Whoosh!
Buu turned into a streak of light, carrying Zeno-sama straight toward Earth.
The two guards stayed beside him, never straying an inch.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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