Capsule Corporation headquarters, Bulma's home.
"There!" Emily squealed when she saw Vegeta appear in the projection. She grabbed Trunks's tiny hand and bounced it excitedly. "Trunks, look! That's Daddy! That's Daddy!"
"Eeh-ya, eeh-ya…" Trunks reached toward the image as if he recognized him, little fingers grasping at air.
"He already knows his dad," Emily said proudly, smiling.
Bulma hesitated, then blurted, "Emily… do you really think Vegeta can pull this off?"
"Of course he can," Emily snapped, glaring at her. "Why wouldn't he?"
Bulma blinked, completely lost. "What did I say? Why are you mad?"
Emily just huffed, face sour.
Bulma leaned closer to Ken and poked him with a finger.
Ken stared back.
Could you not?
"Why did Emily suddenly get angry?" Bulma whispered. "Do you know?"
"Maybe it's her period," Ken said casually.
"No," Bulma said, shaking her head. "I'm pretty sure she finished two days ago."
"Then maybe a new round already started," Ken said with a straight face.
Bulma burst out laughing.
Trying to get her to bleed out or what?
Emily ignored them, turning back to Trunks with a bright smile. "Trunks, Daddy transformed. Isn't that exciting?"
"Eeh-ya!" Trunks seemed delighted.
In the projection, Vegeta's energy climbed higher and higher, flooding outward in a brighter, denser gold.
Bulma watched closely. "It doesn't look like a huge change. He's just… more golden. The light's stronger. That's what a year of training gets him?"
"Strictly speaking," Ken said, "It's about ten times stronger than a normal Super Saiyan—roughly sixty times his base power."
"Oh," Bulma said, impressed. "Another tenfold boost. That's incredible."
"See?" Emily said, proud. "Daddy's amazing, Trunks."
Right then, Krillin dropped from the sky and landed beside them.
"Ken, why'd you call me?" Krillin asked, then stared at the projection in surprise. "Huh? Is that Vegeta?"
Ken lifted his right hand. A remote control appeared in his palm.
"Krillin, this is the emergency shutdown remote for Android 21," Ken said. "Get within ten meters of her and press the button. She'll stop functioning. After that, you can destroy her easily, and Cell won't be able to complete his body."
"Destroy Android 21?" Krillin's face tightened. He looked like he wanted to refuse with every fiber of his being.
"You object?" Ken asked, smiling. "She's an android. And if Cell absorbs her, things get ugly fast."
"No—no, I'm not refusing," Krillin said quickly, shaking his head. Then he hesitated and asked, "But… if Cell really absorbs her… are you saying even you wouldn't be able to beat him?"
"I'm saying that if I don't interfere," Ken replied, still smiling, "you're all going to get wiped out if Cell becomes complete."
Krillin fell quiet.
Emily snapped first. "What are you talking about? You're saying even Vegeta can't beat him?"
Ken didn't even look at her.
Krillin nodded slowly, the remote suddenly feeling heavier in his hand. He glanced back at Vegeta's overwhelming energy in the projection and wavered.
"Vegeta's ki is insane," Krillin said, stunned. "Has he already surpassed Cell? Did he really finish training in that weird room? Is this what a year did for him?"
"With Vegeta's personality," Ken said with a sigh, "he might let Cell complete his body just so he can fight him at full strength. Go shut down Android 21. Now."
"You're right," Krillin said, expression grave. "I'll find her."
"No need," Ken said, pointing upward at a corner of the projection. "She's right there."
Krillin focused—and sure enough, he spotted a beautiful figure in that corner.
Android 21.
They're there?
"Go," Ken urged. "You've seen the situation. If Cell notices her, he'll absorb her immediately."
"Okay," Krillin said. He didn't hesitate anymore. He shot into the air and flew toward Vegeta and Cell at full speed.
On the island, Cell was staring in disbelief.
The moment he felt Vegeta's power, his mind practically stalled.
How is this possible?
How does Vegeta's ki feel this strong?
Vegeta moved first. He struck so fast Cell didn't even register it—one punch drove deep into Cell's body.
Only after Vegeta pulled his fist out did the pain hit, hard enough to bend Cell forward.
Android 16 and Android 21 were just as stunned.
Vegeta followed with a flying kick to Cell's face.
Cell slammed to the ground—then snapped back up with a quick spring, blood already running from his mouth.
"Show me what you've got, Cell," Vegeta said.
Cell's smile turned cold. "So you've got a few tricks."
He threw a heavy punch at Vegeta. Vegeta slipped aside, caught Cell's arm, and used it to whip him into a brutal suplex.
Cell crashed into the ground.
Furious, he scrambled up.
Vegeta's next kick launched him again.
Cell smashed into a mountain lined with massive rocks. The slope collapsed and buried him under rubble.
Cell lay in the broken stone, face twisted in rage.
Vegeta drifted closer until he hovered right in front of him.
Cell pushed himself up, teeth clenched, and glared. "You want me to get serious?"
"I thought that was all you had," Vegeta said. "Stop holding back and come at me."
Cell's grin widened. Power exploded from him in a sudden surge.
Vegeta laughed, confidence only growing. "Oh? Your power jumped. Let's see how much that changes."
Cell flashed forward and drove a punch into Vegeta's face.
Vegeta's head tilted back slightly.
His feet didn't move an inch.
Then Vegeta slowly straightened, wearing a contemptuous smile as blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
Cell froze, staring at him like he was looking at a monster.
"Not impressive," Vegeta said, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. His laugh grew louder, wilder. "The difference after training really is something."
Cell's jaw clenched. "Bastard… are you really Vegeta?"
He felt like his entire existence was being questioned.
I'm not even fully complete yet… and I can't beat Vegeta?
How?
Vegeta jabbed his thumb at himself. "No. I'm Vegeta, the God of Destruction."
"God of Destruction?" Cell frowned. "What is that?"
"No time to explain," Vegeta said. "Use your imagination."
Cell's irritation spiked.
"Think about your own situation," Vegeta added with a light chuckle. "You should be feeling despair right now."
"You think you can scare me?" Cell snarled.
His tail stabbed forward, aiming to pierce Vegeta.
Vegeta hopped lightly aside, avoided it cleanly, and kicked Cell away. He chased, then drove a vicious upward kick into Cell's chest.
Cell screamed, eyes bulging, veins standing out as pain tore through him.
Vegeta appeared above him and smashed him down with a heavy punch.
Cell plunged into the ocean below. The sea erupted as waves swallowed him whole.
Krillin arrived near the island at that moment and immediately spotted Android 21 and Android 16.
"They really are here," he muttered. "And neither Vegeta nor Cell noticed."
He looked down at the remote in his hand.
All right.
I'll shut Android 21 down.
Krillin descended slowly, landing and moving toward Android 21 step by careful step.
Cell dragged himself out of the water, gasping, and looked up at Vegeta with pure unwillingness in his eyes.
"Let me tell you something else that'll shock you," Vegeta said smugly. "I haven't even used a God of Destruction's technique yet. For trash like you, ordinary energy is more than enough to beat you senseless."
"A God of Destruction's technique?" Cell blinked, confused. "What is that?"
"You don't need to know," Vegeta said with a snort. Then his face shifted into open disappointment. "So this is everything you've got. I thought you'd be stronger. Turns out you're just a fraud. Even killing you wouldn't make me proud."
The words hit Cell like a hammer.
It wasn't just an insult—it was humiliation. Like Vegeta had forced his pride into the dirt, ground it into the ground, and then spat on what was left.
Cell screamed, shaking with rage.
"Animal!" he howled. "You animal! If I become complete—if I become perfect—I'll never lose to him!"
Vegeta's eyes sharpened. He floated down until he was close.
Cell stiffened, instantly on guard.
"You just said," Vegeta said, amused, "that once you're complete, you can beat me—the God of Destruction?"
Cell stared.
What is he implying?
Is he… going to help me become perfect?
That's… perfect.
"Yes!" Cell shouted, grabbing the chance. "I won't lose to you! Once I'm complete, my power, speed, skills—my mind—everything will be flawless! The computer told me so!"
Vegeta kicked him away without warning.
Cell rolled across the ground and finally stopped in the distance.
Android 21 watched, stunned. "Did he pretend to be weak when he fought me?"
"That doesn't prove he was hiding strength back then," Android 16 said, shaking his head. "Something happened in these last few days."
They were so focused on Vegeta that they didn't notice Krillin quietly closing in behind them.
Vegeta walked toward Cell.
Cell forced himself up through the pain, glaring, fists clenched.
"The gap between us is this big," Vegeta said, genuinely curious. "And you think becoming complete changes that?"
"How many times do I have to say it?" Cell snapped, clenching harder—sweat already breaking out. "I will beat you!"
Vegeta said nothing.
Cell's smile returned, sly and coaxing. "You're thinking about it, aren't you? Come on, Vegeta. Saiyans are the ultimate battle race. You live for fighting—and the stronger the opponent, the more excited you get. I'm right."
Vegeta only huffed, refusing to answer.
"Let me become complete," Cell pressed. "Then we settle this for real. Didn't you just say it yourself? You haven't even used your true strength yet. Don't you want to fight me at my best?"
Vegeta's lips curled. "You do understand Saiyans. Fine. I'll grant you that much. I'll let you become complete."
He chuckled softly. "Beating you like this isn't something I can brag about."
Back at Bulma's home, Emily went pale.
"Vegeta, don't!" she cried, hugging Trunks and rushing up to the projection. "Don't agree to it!"
"Emily," Bulma said, shaking her head, "he can't hear you shouting like that."
"Then how do we tell him?" Emily spun back, looking from Bulma to Ken, then fixing her eyes on him.
"Go in," Ken said. "Tell him yourself."
"Go in?" Emily echoed, confused—then, without thinking, she stepped forward, still holding Trunks, and walked straight into the projection.
The world flashed.
Her vision brightened, the air shifted—and the scenery changed completely.
In the next instant, she was on the island.
Cell and Vegeta were right there.
Emily froze, stunned.
Then she snapped out of it and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Vegeta! Don't agree to him! Don't let him get what he wants!"
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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