Cell didn't give a damn about Android 16's supposed self-destruction. In fact, he was curious to test the limits of his new Perfect Form.
"Cell, let's die together!!"
With a final roar, 16 activated his internal bomb.
Cell finally realized something was wrong, but it was too late.
BOOM!!
A deafening roar shattered the air as a massive mushroom cloud billowed from the center of the blast. The shockwave was so violent that even the fleeing Android 18 was forced to drop into a defensive stance.
Goku and the others, watching from a distance, felt the surge. "Did that evil Ki just... vanish?"
They immediately rushed toward the site of the explosion.
As the smoke cleared and the dust settled, a bottomless crater was all that remained of the plain.
"Is Cell dead?" 18 whispered, staring into the abyss.
But her hopes were instantly crushed. A small mass of flesh—Cell's core—floated over the pit. Within moments, his body had completely reconstructed itself.
"That was close. But in the end, 16, you miscalculated."
Feeling the surge of even greater power within his body, Cell's arrogance reached new heights. "This power... Hahahaha!"
Dense arcs of blue electricity crackled around his body. He had unexpectedly entered his "Super Perfect" form—the state he was originally meant to achieve only after his resurrection on King Kai's Planet.
"Heh. Now then, 18. Let's see where you can hide this time."
Cell quickly calculated 18's flight path and rocketed after her.
Watching the monster rapidly close the gap, 18 felt a wave of despair. "How does this monster keep finding me?"
"Hahaha! 18, give up! Just become one with me!"
Cell reached out, the tip of his tail expanding once more. 18 felt a surge of pure revulsion.
"In your dreams, Cell! I'll die before I let you have me!"
18 prepared to trigger her own self-destruction. She felt a twinge of regret; she had only just woken up today. She hadn't even had the chance to buy a single nice outfit yet...
Just as 18 reached the brink of despair, a figure flickered into existence in front of her. With a casual motion, the newcomer sent Cell flying with a single, powerful kick.
18 stared at the broad back of the man before her, a strange light flickering in her eyes.
Heroic rescues never go out of style, do they? Provided the hero is handsome enough, of course. Otherwise, the "hero" usually gets a polite "I can never repay you in this life, I shall serve you as a beast of burden in the next."
"Hey. Treating a lady like that isn't very gentlemanly, you know."
Cell stabilized his body and looked at the intruder in shock.
"Son Goku?? Shouldn't you be bedridden? How do you not have the heart virus?"
Turles frowned. "I'm not Kakarot. I'm Turles. Get that through your thick head!"
It was getting annoying how everyone kept mistaking him for Goku.
"Turles? My computer has no data on you," Cell sneered. "Not that it matters. I'll kill you first, then absorb 18 all the same!"
At that moment, Goku and the others finally caught up. "That was sneaky, Turles! You totaly ditched us."
Seeing the whole group arrive, Cell suddenly changed his mind. "How interesting. This timeline really is different. Son Goku doesn't have a heart virus, and there's a man here my computer doesn't recognize. Very well... I shall hold a martial arts tournament!"
"A tournament?" Goku blinked, confused. What was this guy planning?
"That's right. I'll give you one week, Son Goku. One week from now, I will hold the Cell Games. If you lose, I will destroy the Earth. Spend that time getting stronger. Right now, you're all so weak I can't even work up an appetite!"
With a battle power now reaching 20 billion, Cell's ego had completely eclipsed his common sense. The Saiyan genes in his blood were screaming for him to show off and "play with his food."
"Good luck, Son Goku. I look forward to fighting a stronger version of you!"
With that, Cell turned and flew off.
He didn't give Goku or the others a chance to respond, leaving Turles standing there in silence. Seriously? Did this guy really just ignore me like that?
Cell's power level was nothing to Turles, but he didn't bother stopping him. After all, the System's attribute points were free for the taking once the fighting started.
Goku's expression turned solemn as he watched Cell vanish. "It looks like we need to head to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. This Cell is way stronger than I expected."
"The Hyperbolic Time Chamber?" someone asked.
"Yeah. One day outside is equal to a year of training inside."
Vegeta's brow furrowed. "Kakarot! If such a place existed, why didn't you say so sooner? Take me there at once!"
"Don't be so impatient, Vegeta. A person can only enter twice in their lifetime. But one year should be enough to handle Cell!"
"Hmph. One year, two years, it makes no difference. Kakarot, I'll be the one to finish Cell!"
Vegeta then turned to Turles. "Hey, Turles. Are you coming?"
"I'll pass. I already went in when Trunks was here."
"Fine then."
Goku grinned and waved the group toward the Lookout.
As the others flew off, Turles turned his gaze toward Android 18. Up close, she was undeniably stunning. She truly was the "Childhood Goddess" of an entire generation.
"Android 18, right? What are you going to do now? You aren't Cell's match on your own."
18 looked at Turles, a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "If it's alright... can I stay with you for now?"
Turles blinked, then nodded. "Sure. Follow me, then."
He'd be lying if he said he didn't have any thoughts about 18, but he was a married man now. He told himself he was just being chivalrous. (A total lie, of course.)
"By the way," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You can call me Lazuli."
"Alright, Lazuli. Let's go."
Turles led her back toward West City. As they flew, Lazuli watched Turles from behind, her thoughts unreadable.
Before long, they arrived at the Capsule Corp compound. Bulma froze when she saw Turles returning with a beautiful woman in tow. However, she didn't make a scene; she trusted Turles would explain himself.
"Bulma, this is Lazuli. She's Android 18," Turles explained. "It's a bit dangerous for her to be out on her own right now, so she'll be staying with us for a few days."
"Is that so?"
Bulma narrowed her eyes slightly, scanning the blonde Android from head to toe. "I see. I'll get a guest room ready for her."
She stepped forward and offered a polite, sharp smile. "Hello. I'm Bulma. Turles' wife."
Lazuli blinked. She had felt something was off since they arrived, but she hadn't expected him to be married.
"I'm Lazuli," she replied evenly. "Thank you for having me."