The Universe, Nebula of God, Beerus' Planet
The constant betterment of oneself is an ideal held deep within the heart of any martial artist worth their salt. To train unfaltering, seeking to build oneself up where they lack are fundamentals. And yet, it could be said that rest and relaxation are equally as important to martial artists of any caliber in the same way pushing ones body past their limits can be. True to this, Gohan and Erasa were currently enjoying time spent letting their bodies recover by the lilac-coloured lake on Beerus' planet.
Goten and Trunks found themselves at the mercy of the menial grunt work today, and the remarkable silence from Beerus' palace could only imply they were either doing a fantastic job or nothing at all. Meanwhile, Videl, Piccolo, Tenshinhan, and Yamcha were currently hard at work, training near the far end of the planet under the careful guidance and tutelage of a Whis who had been promised more gourmet dishes than he could ever hope.
Sitting seiza on a cloth laid out by the lake, the couple were casually enjoying a warm drought of tea. The wind blew across the planet, creating a relaxing atmosphere that Gohan and Erasa found themselves thoroughly enjoying.
After another sip of tea, Erasa set the yunomi cup onto her lap, keeping a passive grip on it. "I wonder how she's doing...?" Erasa's breath was long and drown out, her eyes distant. The tea, while delectable, could not always absolve the issues of one's mind. "I know she knows why we're training...she's a smart girl...but I can't help but worry."
"I know," Gohan replied after a moment's deliberation, sipping his own tea to ease the stillness. "When we aren't training, my mind always goes solely to Pen. But she's fine. She's with my mother and grandmother, after all." A proud smile ran across his face. "Though, energetic as she is, I bet even they're having a hard time!"
Erasa laughed, the weight of her worry fading with the sound. "You're right. I'm sure she's doing fine."
"She's better off than I was when Dad had to train with the Lord Kaiō," Gohan noted in between another partaking of tea.
"Better off?"
"Situation-wise," replied the half-Saiyan airily. "I'm not happy, being away from her this long, but she has family to take care of her, and she doesn't have the weight of saving the world on her shoulders," His face darkened slightly, and he set his yunomi aside. "When I trained with Piccolo for the first time, the expectations of carrying the bulk of the battle against the Saiyans fell onto me. Piccolo told me I was going to be the trump card. However, I was four, and scared out of my mind." His dark grimace slowly morphed into a more relaxed grin. "Though because of that battle, and the battles that would come after it, I had to grow up quickly. I became stronger...but I don't want Pen to have to worry about that. We're both more than capable of protecting here, and we're becoming strong for her."
"Do you ever regret it?" His wife inquired cautiously. "Having to fight when you were so little against monsters like that?"
Gohan shook his head. "I thought I would. But, perhaps because times were dangerous, I was able to form bonds I don't think I would have had, otherwise. I'm an adult now, but I still look up to Piccolo. I just don't think Pen should be thrown into similar situations."
Erasa nodded. "You're right. We're here, and we're alive. So long as we can protect her, she can grow at her own pace. Pen will be fine."
Before agreeing with Erasa's notion, Gohan reached for his yunomi; to his surprise, the side of the cup had cracked, tea dripping from this new opening onto the grassy surface of Beerus' planet. The Saiyan-half looked ever warily at the split at the cup's side, unwilling to pick it back up. I've never been one for omen's...but I have a bad feeling about this...
Northern Capital Outskirts, Earth
Panic had settled into the Northern Capital. The vast majority of the city and its citizenry had been protected by the effects of the M.E.C.C., but those who weren't, at the tail end of the outskirts of the Northern Capital of Earth, had found themselves under siege by a near literal rain of fire. Those unlucky enough to come into direct contact were incinerated where they stood, leaving not even bones in the wake of the explosions, merely piles of ash. Others found themselves bombarded by the aftermath of the explosions; buildings were given the same treatment as bodies, and many people believed all was lost.
A timely arrival, however, had saved what survivors remained. A young man, clad in white clothing, had rushed through to the Northern Capital's outskirts, where the M.E.C.C. would not reach, and with the force of his own ki, managed to stave off the impending rain of fire. With tousled black hair and a sharp expression, Rayo had shown himself to have the makings of a saviour. Steadying his breathing, the man with an absurdly young appearance for his age let out a groan.
"That is some way of greeting someone," he wiped the sweat from his brow, surveying the settlement. Everything was nearly destroyed, and the survivors he'd managed to save were on the verge of breaking down. I can feel an enormous kion the other side of the Capital...I'm betting they're responsible for all of this. His expression worked in confusion. "What is that ki? I'm feeling five different people there...and two of 'em seem like I've felt them before..." Scratching his messy black hair, Rayo sighed. "This is just getting more confusing..."
"Please...you can't...leave us alone..." One of the injured tried to reach for Rayo, who knelt gently down to take their hand.
"I won't go anywhere until I'm sure you all are safe...my teacher has set up some emergency relief just down there," He shouldered the injured woman on his back. "She's a bit...abrasive, but she's a better healer than even Capsule Corporation's finest medicines." With these reassuring words, Rayo carried each and every surviving citizen to a what appeared to be a young woman with pale skin, sleek, dark brown hair, and platinum-hued eyes. Dressed in traditional garb, she had her hands placed on the torso of one of the many wounded, pooling her own ki into the body.
"Another one, huh?" When she spoke, her voice was accompanied by the weight of age that her face clearly lacked. "Just lay them out on the mat, I'll get to them all in due time."
"You sure you've got this?" asked Rayo, gently placing one of the bodies on a carefully lain out sheet of carpet.
"I may not be able to see them, but I can feel their life forces just fine," replied the woman quickly. "You're too young to be underestimating me, boy."
"You really are a crabby old woman," replied Rayo, grinning. "In that case, this should be all of them. I'm going to leave them in your hands, Karashina. I'm not suited towards anything other than punching someone in the face, and I feel like leaving whatever is going on unchecked is just going to end badly." He gave resigned shrug. "It feels like at least five people out there though..."
The woman called Karashina shook her head. "No...your senses are misleading you. Its ki may feel like multiple signatures at first, but it is in fact one entity." Her blind eyes shifted, gazing off into the far distance. "I can feel it; as if various different spiritual energies have been forcibly bound to one another. If I were to liken it to a sphere, it wouldn't be a single colour, but a shifting kaleidoscope."
"Well, that certainly makes things simpler," Rayo punched the inside of his palm forcefully. "I'm gonna go pay whoever it is a greeting."
Northern Capital, Earth
Bright yellow feet clacked against the ground of the Northern Capital. Cell took his first steps into the city, and the result was to be expected. At first, complete, stunned silence, the Earthlings who knew of Cell — either those who had been adults at the time of the Cell Games, or the children of those who had grown up — stared at the insectoid in abject horror. The silence was shattered, quickly however, by the sound of panicked, bloodcurdling shrieks of terror.
A sinister smirk crossed the Bio-Androd's face. The terrified expressions on the faces of Earthlings truly never does grow to bore me... He noted. As he walked, he made no motion to attack a single soul — no, what is the point of putting on a show without an audience? — though those unfortunate enough to be in Cell's immediate path were thrown back by the force of his ki. The street itself — crafted from metal — ripped itself apart in the wake of Cell's 'casual stroll'. Even amidst the amusement, Cell was in search of one simple building, which had not only survived two decades since he'd been gone, but thrived.
The Zed Television Broadcasting Corporation — often shortened to either ZTV or ZBC — was the sole provider of televised material to the citizens of Earth. In the wake of Bulma's technological improvements, the Northern Capital native company was the first to accept them whole-hog wasted no time in improving itself. Now it provided content to the entire planet — and some fringe cities on Mars — making it into a MegaCorp of its own.
Cell was nothing if not a fan of theatrics. He had returned.
And the whole world would know.
Intense pressure warped the translucent doorway of the ZTV building, leading up to a powerful explosion. Shards of glass blew inwards to the lobby, frightening employee and visitor alike. Through the fading smokescreen trailing off his body stepped Cell. Surveying the room, the Bio-Android cast his eyes upward. His wings outstretched, ignoring the panicked shrieks, Cell ascended, the ceiling — and thus the floor of the next level of the building — giving way to his ascent.
"I-I-Is that...?!"
"...N-No d-doubt about it! That was Cell!"
"W-What are we gonna do?!"
"We've g-got to tell Mr. Satan!"
Cell rose ever higher through the ZTV building, carving his way through the ceiling with utter effortlessness. Cell hummed a familiar tune during his ascent — to him, this wasn't an act of terror. Simply a small errand he needed to run. Even at his leisurely pace, it took mere moments for Cell to reach his intended goal: the live broadcasting room. This is the room where news reporters would typically give the daily news.
Now, for the second time in Earth's history, it would be used to announce Armageddon.
Seeing the insectoid arrival, many of the employee's faces filled with panic. Many began to scatter, their voices reaching a fever pitch ("IT'S CELL!) yet still more stood their ground, pooling together what little ki they could and launching it towards the intruder.
At this, Cell was astonished. The ki collided with air around him, fizzling out when his own ki overwhelmed the incoming attacks. "My, aren't you a brave lot?" The Android mused. "I didn't think anyone other than Gokū and the ragtag bunch he called fighters were capable of using their ki. It seems more than the cities have changed since I've been away."
"W-We don't want to hear anything from you, Cell!" shouted one of the employees. "Earth isn't the same as when you held your tournament!"
"Right!" another one chimed in.
It was obvious to anyone with working sight organs, however, that these Earthlings were scared. And with good reason. Nevertheless, several employees of the Zed Television Broadcasting Corporation placed their hands together, ki merging into a sphere of moderate size. With great effort, the inexperienced group launched the round blast of ki towards Cell. It traveled, lacking in speed, but they were confident in their efforts...
...only for the sphere to meet the same fate as the previous attempts, fizzling out before it even touched Cell under the sheer weight of his ki.
"You've all got a great fire in your eyes!" Cell grinned, having moved not a muscle in spite of the pitiable attempts to take his life. "However..." There was an immense increase in the surrounding pressure of the air. Every Earthling within the building felt only a moment's crushing heaviness on their bodies, before they passed out, collapsing to the ground in crumpled heap. The walls and floods began to crack, but none of the equipment was damaged — Cell needed it, after all. "You're all a distraction. I have an announcement to make."
Ensuring that this performance of his would be set as a global emergency broadcast, Cell positioned himself in front of the camera for the entire planet to see.
"Greetings, citizens of the Earth — and our extraterrestrial guests!
Many of you know me well, but for those out of the loop my name is Cell.
I am an Android, created by Dr. Gero of the Red Ribbon Army!
Many years ago, I threatened your insignificant little ball of dirt and water when I hosted the Cell Games!
I can sense you're worried, but I assure you there is no need to fear the inception of a second Cell Games!
No, I am not after something as droll as that. Indeed, we're here to play a different game, Earthlings.
My goal now is simple — revenge.
And I am here to broadcast this intention to every single one of you!
Within three days time, I will destroy all trace of intelligent life throughout the entire planet.
I will begin with each and every one of your Capitals, and work my way downward, until I have snuffed out the last Earthling settlement without fail."
A profound silence stillness followed this announcement, however, Cell was not yet finished.
"And now for my message to you, Son Gohan.
I don't know where you are — not on this planet it seems — but I know this will reach you one way or another.
Until you return to fight me, I will steadily but assuredly take away everything that matters to you.
You will feel despair, and I will reduce you to nothing but a husk before I exact my revenge. That I promise you."
Within moments, the entire world was aware of Cell's declaration. The global emergency broadcast function overrode everything — television sets, P.S.A's, even MatterWave assistants who were tuned in to the news — were sending Cell's message out to the world. The reactions around the world varied by individual; every Earthling knew the name 'Cell'. Even young children who hadn't yet been born when the Cell Games occurred had heard about it from their parents, older siblings, or simply seen video footage — though heavily edited and could more fairly be called 'Mr. Satan Propoganda' — of the historic event that had gone down in Earth's history. To the Earthlings, this was a reason to panic like no other.
The extraterrestrials who visited the planet were met merely with perplexity for their efforts. They had no history with Cell; Earth was a rest stop; a trade port and place of business. Yet it seemed they were about to become caught up in something not worth their time or money. Before any of them could use their common sense to flee, however, Cell had taken action. He promised the Earthlings to destroy each and every Capital City.
We'll start with the Northern Capital.
Walking towards the centre of the room he now occupied, Cell closed his eyes, breathing in deeply. "The Northern Capital...784 kilometres of land occupy this main city...housing approximately three million people..." Cell lazily extended an arm, flicking a finger towards the heavens. "I appreciate your cooperation, Earthlings of the Northern Capital! This is where I bid the lot of you adieu!" His declaration was followed by a surprised daze on the face of those around him. Nothing had happened; a simple flick of the finger had been followed by nothing.
A nervous chuckle began to spread throughout the staff members. Had they been saved? Was this all a hoax?
The answer quickly became a very plain no. The first change everyone noticed was a shift in pressure; they began to float into the air, none of them applying powered flight via their own ki. The tiles on the floor, which had begun to rattle, dislodged themselves, floating into the air as well. This pattern replicated throughout the entire building, until it disassembled akin to a puzzle. Only Cell remained unmoved, this strange bend of reality passing him over in its entirety.
Its captured inhabitants unable to even make a sound, the whole of the Northern Capital was enveloped in a blinding white light.
Lasting only moments, the luminescence enveloping the Northern Capital began to diminish, the light extinguishing to give way to the ruin it left. With the sole exception of Cell himself, nothing remained. It couldn't even be stated that the city had been flattened, as one would have described the Eastern Capital when the Saiyans arrived so long ago. No; utter and complete eradication was all that could be used to describe what Cell had performed. The buildings, the people — everything wiped away in a flash that left no trace anything had been here other than an imprint.
The insectoid Bio-Android dusted himself off lightly. "Nearly two decades of construction and improvement, all vanished in a single go. At least the Earthlings know I'm not saying any of this in jest." His pink eyes flashed, and he cracked the bones in his neck. "Now, to make good on my oth—" The words lost themselves on their way out of his throat and into the air, losing form and collapsing into the flap of lips, Cell feeling his body forced back by a powerful blow to his perfect jawline.
Through his angled vision, Cell saw the shape of a young man — appearing no older than his late teens — with his body leaned forward, the offending fist that had struck him outstretched. His youthful face was brimming with anger, and a soft, blue ki emanated from his body in flames. Cell could tell the type this boy was immediately — an up-and-coming hero. He straightened his body to his full upright height, a smirk crossing his pallid face.
"Now this is an interesting development!" said Cell, beaming. "I was surprised when those Earthlings attacked me earlier; that punch of yours had some real force behind it! Who are you, kid?"
"Rayo," replied the young man hatefully. "And I'm the guy that's gonna lay you flat out!"
The smirk on Cell's face grew from a budding one into an ear-to-ear grin. "You know, this isn't how I planned it. But in a way, this will be even better!"
His eyes flashing dangerously, Rayo spoke again, forcing calmness. "...How do you figure that?"
"I was going to wipe out all but a handful of people on the planet, maybe toy with someone that he knows and then make him squirm just long enough that they can die only minutes before he arrives," replied the Android conversationally. "Or, not at all, and I leave this world in a burning ruin. But now that so much time has passed, the cities can actually protect themselves." He glanced at the ashes of what used to be the Northern Capital, before barking a laugh. "...Mostly!"
Burning in the back of his head was that single, unnecessary finishing statement. The blue flame that enveloped Rayo was burning more intensely yet, and the young man clenched both fists at the side of his body. "Talk all you want; by the end of this, you won't have anything to be smug about!"
Waggling a finger to reprimand the young man, Cell tsked with a click of the tongue. "I don't think you understand the position your in. You're nothing but the prelude to this planet's destruction; and the warm-up to my ultimate revenge!"
"Y'know, you're something else," Rayo replied venomously. In the space of a single step, the ebony-haired young man closed the distance between Cell and himself. His foot, coated in the vibrant blue ki which had before covered his entire body, rose upward in a powerful kick; his entire aura was centred around that one limb. "Every word you say pisses me off!" In response to the kick, Cell immediately stepped back, allowing it to pass harmlessly by him as if it had never been a threat. In response, Rayo spun on his heel, taking to Cell's back, only to receive a powerful elbow strike directed towards him. With both hands, the young man repelled it, leaning back to avoid a striking front kick aimed for his head.
Leaning on his right hand, he countered with another kick of his own, which Cell parried using his carapace-covered forearm; he then leapt over Rayo entirely, landing behind the boy, and with a powerful two-palm press, forced him from their spot. The ground erupted from this show of force, Rayo propelled along the scorched ground, his legs digging into the dirt. The young man steeled himself with the flow of ki to his feet, stopping dead.
I can see how he was able to destroy the Northern Capital so easily, Rayo thought to himself. He's somethin' else. That one blow should have broken my back. So this is Cell... Turning to face Cell again, Rayo began to leap agilely in place, stretching his muscles with swift punches into the air. He hadn't had a real fight in some time, so he was feeling rusty — yet the anger coursing through his entire body was more than enough to make up for the time he'd spent only in training and mock battles. Kicking off from the ground, Rayo burst forth, the ground exploding beneath his feet from the weight of his movement.
Cell's incoming straight punch phased through a flickering image of Rayo — the Zanzōken — followed by the gentle wafting of cyan light. The true body of Rayo was gripping his wrist tightly, extending his hand in a finger-gun motion. His fingertip glowed with a sphere of blue ki, pulsating akin to a heartbeat. The only following words were Rayo's declaration of his attack name, and the explosion as the blast expanded massively in size, engulfing Cell entirely, yet never touching the surface of the planet; a testament to the immense control his teacher had beaten into him.
Rayo's feet touched down again, letting his hand go limp. The smoke that enveloped Cell waned quickly, quickened by the pale hand that reached out, pulling the smokescreen away and revealing Cell that was uninjured. The Android dusted his body off, grinning. "You are something else, boy. Your strength packs a wallop, but that attack was something all its own. I was nervous I'd get nicked."
"Making a fool out of me, bastard?" hissed Rayo.
"Hardly," replied Cell. "You're doing that just fine all on your own, boy. Now, I think we've felt each other up enough to get the measure of the contender. But if you intend to keep playing this little game with me, half-hearted efforts will only get you killed."
"You talk a lot of shit, bug man," said Rayo, though he didn't deny what Cell was saying. Tightening his fists at his sides, the ground crackled, bristling with bio-electric tendrils, extending outward from Rayo's feet. Then, Rayo let loose a powerful shout. His body became engulfed in a pulsating aura of ki, gentle like a flickering ember before expanding into a conflagration. The energy spiraled like a storm before settling and adopting the shape of his body, clinging as a vibrant attachment.
"You wanted to see my full power," said Rayo, gesturing to the shimmering cloak of light around his form. "Then there — judge it with your body!" In an instant, Rayo moved. With ease, the man reappeared within a cerulean blur before Cell, raising his left leg swiftly. This, however, wasn't a simple kick; following the arc of his leg, he released a massive blast of ki, surrounding Cell in his entirety and shooting high into the sky.
A first since their battle had begun, the force of the blast lifted Cell off his feet and into the air. He felt it push against him, and the Bio-Android pushed back, cleaving the blast in half; by that point, however, he was already floating above the ground, with Rayo nowhere to be seen. This was rectified, however, when a streak of light came rushing Cell. Rayo's body seemingly blending with his aura, the young man's body became truly visible when he came to a halt mid-air, swinging a hook towards Cell's face. Anticipating the strike, Cell avoided the blow, striking Rayo with his elbows just as the man slipped by him.
Rayo spun in mid-air, his foot connecting with Cell's face in a powerful blow. Shrugging it off with a grin, Cell responded with an attack in kind; a powerful strike to Rayo's jaw; repayment for how the fight began and more. In another instant, the two clashed. Fist struck against fish, knee collided against knee, each blow creating a shockwave which reverberated across the planet. Cell's smile showed that he was having a time befitting a Saiyan in battle, whilst Rayo's expression betrayed only righteous fury. Enlarging a sphere of ki in his palms, Rayo thrust the orb at Cell, causing it to engorge further, shoving Cell from the air into the ground, tunneling deep under the former Northern Capital. His body coming to rest in a crater of rubble, the Android pushed the debris off of him before standing back up, peering out towards Rayo, who floated well above the crater.
A quick jab was all that sufficed to create a barrage of ki bullets from Rayo's fist, raining down towards Cell. The Bio-Android manoeuvred through this hectic rain with ease, avoiding each and every solitary bullet without fail, launching himself into the air and using his own head to offensively assault Rayo. The blow winded the man, staggering him; Cell followed up with a sharp combination of a hook and a kick to the chin, only exacerbating the damage caused. Gripping both hands, he slammed them into Rayo's chest, forcing him through the air at breakneck speeds. Pursuing with ease, his wings spread, Cell appeared above Rayo, adding the unnecessary flourish of a spin to the following strike; the blow collided with crushing force, and Rayo fell to Earth like a meteor.
Dust and rubble erupted from Rayo's landing spot in a plume. Cell made no move to pursue Rayo, no additional attack, merely waiting for the boy to make his next move. Within the mix of smoke and debris, steam began to issue forth with a rushing hiss! accompanying it. Blowing everything away in seconds, Rayo stood tall; across his body, extending from his chest outwards, markings began to spread like a creeping flame.
Seeing this — and feeling the substantial power increase — Cell felt excitement pulse through his body. The shockwaves of Rayo's rising ki pulsated through the air, seemingly causing the very atmosphere to vibrate. His aura, formerly a vibrant cobalt, had changed into an aggressive ruby-hued blaze.
"I'm impressed!" crowed Cell, his face alight. "And here I thought you were all talk, but it feels like you're actually capable!"
"Keep talking, Cell," replied Rayo, steam issuing from his mouth on his first breath. "You won't have a singe thing left to say when I've ripped you into pieces!" His feet lifted off the ground, Rayo floating ever higher into the air. Apart from him, Cell's own body began to emit a bright yellow aura, similar to a Super Saiyan. Rayo lunged first, striking Cell with his enhanced speed and strength. Cell rebounded, barreling forth and striking Rayo from behind with a quick chop. In a burst of red, Rayo flew along the ground, underneath Cell before reappearing behind him, striking him hard in the back with a crushing kick. Cell recovered quickly, and the two began to clash again.
Cell found himself amazed at Rayo's strength. This kid...this human... he's stronger than even Gohan was when we last fought in my Cell Games. To think there's humans who have surpassed Saiyans; it's quite ridiculous when I think about it!
The fight was beginning in earnest, Cell and Rayo dancing across the map. Explosive waves of force expanded from where the two collided – red vs. yellow, creating embers of brilliant gold. Rayo dove under an incoming strike from Cell, a red-clad uppercut to the chin being the fighter's response that sent Cell reeling. Taking this for an opening, Rayo unleashed a veritable barrage of punches; each blow impacted Cell's body, coated in ki. With the finally blow forcing Cell away, Rayo raised his fingertip. The crimson glow intensified around the digit, forming a cohesive sphere.
"Shooting Range: Gattling," From that singular point, multiple Shooting Range blasts were released simultaneously. Each blast melded with each other, becoming a single blast of immense force; a crimson curtain that covered the sky. Cell's vision was overcome by this ruby hue, blinding him from Rayo, the man's technique swallowing him whole. Rayo allowed this perpetual fire to continue for a solid minute, before lowering his 'weapon's. He'd felt every single blast make contact with Cell. No illusions. No tricks. Following conventional logic, that should have done major damage. Yet Cell's silhouette was clearly visible inside the smoke. When it cleared, Cell was floating, certainly not uninjured but at most singed.
"Now that was a marvelous technique! Not multiple blasts performed consecutively...but simultaneously, each and every blast at full power." A trickle of blood from his mouth was wiped away by a pale hand. "I could feel it...that technique pulls out all of your latent ki, focusing it into a single point before greatly expands the volume and strength — combining the principles of the Kamehameha and the Kikōhō, in fact. You've had one hell of a teacher, boy."
"It's a bit late for flattery, though I'm sure she'd appreciate the kind words from someone else," Rayo tried to talk tough, but he was beginning to feel seriously winded. That technique, if anything, was not meant to be one that the user or the victim just walked away from. The sheer amount of ki it pulled out, and for how long he'd used it; even a minute was exhausting.
A sinister chuckle escaped Cell's throat. He had seen what Rayo had been thinking, all from the man's body movement. "I see. You were hoping that grand technique would be enough to eradicate me. Let me tell you something, boy; warriors with far more history than you have tried."
With an audible hock, Rayo spat in Cell's direction, the glob landing at the man's feet. "This isn't over, Cell. You're some piece of work if you think you can just treat our planet like this. I know what you are, and I know what you did when you hosted the Cell Games all that time ago." His crimson aura, even when he was losing energy, did not falter. "I may not have a whole lot to fight for — but you bet your ass I'll fight for this planet!"
"Then fight until your body gives out, boy!" Cell goaded. Wasting no time, the dialogue was cut short. Rayo was the aggressor, yet his attacks were neatly avoided by Cell, who weaved in and around each and every blow. It took all of Rayo's effort now to maintain offensive pressure, Cell deftly avoiding each and every strike. The farce was quickly coming to an end; Cell's left hook crashed into Rayo's jaw, the fighter staggering downward. Despite the uncomfortable position in the air, Rayo spun, delivering a spinning kick towards Cell's abdomen. Much to Rayo's shock, Cell grabbed his incoming foot with his hand, and raised his free hand towards the lads face.
"You put on a good show. But this is game over, boy!" An invisible source of oppression exuded from Cell's hand in an ever-expanding wave — a kiai with enough strength to have been a kikōha all its own — rushed forward, smashing into Rayo. The kiai inflicted massive concussive damage to the young man, sending him discharging from Cell's grip like a bullet. When he crashed into the ground yet again, his crimson aura faded, and his marks receded.
Nothing was left but Rayo in his weakest state.
Cell descended to the ground himself, and began to take steps towards the young man. "I have to admit I'm amazed. I didn't think I'd meet such a capable Earthling! Not one that would eclipse even Gokū's ragtag lot during my previous peak. But—" He raised a hand towards Rayo, stopping ten metres short of him. "—in the end, an opening act is still an opening act. There's no way you can measure up to me now." A thin beam of ki jettisoned from his fingertip, the final farewell to Rayo...
...or perhaps it had intended to be this, yet a blur rushing by Cell sang a different tune. The kikōha collided with an invisible force, exploding on impact and creating an appropriately dramatic smokescreen. It cleared relatively quickly, revealing, crouched next to Rayo with her hand outstretched, emitting a barrier, the Android Qirka. Her hair, tied in pigtails, was swaying in the draft created by the halted kikōha, and she placed her free hand on Rayo's back. Narrowing her eyes, the gynoid peered through her spectacles at Cell.
Curiosity overcoming annoyance, Cell let his hand fall to his side. "Oh? It would appear I'm very popular today."
Dämon Island, Earth
Mr. Satan was living it up.
After years of paranoia, doubt and guilt plaguing his mind, he was finally left to be at peace. Sure the world thought differently of him but for the most part, it turned out alright. Even the debacle from the berserk cat-man from ten months ago was a thing of the past and the damage that was incurred was easily undone. He was surprised, in fact, just how quickly people were to forget the incident and wrote it off as just being another happenstance of the Tenkaichi Budōkai of the time.
Sighing, a content smile was spread over his wrinkled face, a broad jaw now far more gaunt than it once was. Even his physique had shriveled in comparison to his statuesque build he prided himself nearly two decades ago at his prime had shrank to being far more lean and thin. He wasn't weak, by any stretch, but he was far past the time where he could perform his patented Dynamite Kick on command without an ample period of warming up. Still, it didn't bother him, as he had no need to put his life on the line parading in front of freak shows; it was up to this new generation of weirdos.
Leaning back on a lounge chair of blue and white stripes, the once proud Champion of the World had a pair of bulging eyes over a sleep mask for a humorous contrast to his calm visage. With a pink bathrobe on, he was seated with a pair of hands placed behind his bushy afro, sighing behind his nostrils. The sun was high in the air, the air crisp and the scent ripe of salt and tropical aromas thanks to the private resort he was all but retired upon.
He wasn't alone, though. Mr. Bū kept him company and he was nearly inseparable from himself. Given the ordeal of passing the torch in a tenuous manner to keep people believing his act, the gum-skinned Djinn was pretty much his sidekick. After accepting a staged defeat the Majin had all but accepted his public role as being the hero while Mr. Satan was his adviser and mentor. He didn't necessarily have to understand it, but it was something of a script he clumsily repeats anytime the press attempt to corner him.
But they were away from the stresses of the paparazzi. They were on an island pretty far removed from the mainland, and the resort was staffed completely to accommodate the two of them; including their relatives.
Currently, Mr. Bū was thumbing through a newspaper, wearing an islander floral collared shirt that was loosely wrapped around his pudgy torso and partly down his arms. His lower end was wrapped in a pair of white matte swim trunks, his yellow gloves being the only thing as part of his normal outfit to be seen. The Djinn made noises of hums, grunts, and squints, looking to be studying recent events as listed by the flicking holographic pages before his slanted eyes.
"Sounds like you're concentrating pretty hard there, buddy," Mr. Satan commented with a chuckle. "Anything good on the light reading?"
"Bū study stock market," He replied in a graveled chirp.
"Oh yeah? How's that going for ya?" Mr. Satan inquired curiously.
"Bū don't think Kanran Auto will survive next season!" He exclaimed with a snort, his holes spewing steam out of his head. "Bū should buy up Meron Shipping shares though!"
Mr. Satan laughed at that. He had dabbled in economics, day trading and playing the stock market game since he retired. To think that his simple minded friend was actually understanding and trying his gloved hands at it astounded him. He was a quick learner, once he got past the hiccup with understanding words on written paper or holo-screens.
"Hahaha, it's a good thing the missus taught you how to read properly," Mr. Satan commented with humor, grinning broadly as he nestled against the cushion of his lounge chair. "Still, glad you're not bored. I'd almost think you'd want to go train with the rest of those...er, enthusiastic martial artists."
He had almost called his own daughter a freak; he'd feel bad if he lumped her in with the rest. Not that they were bad, per say, but it was hard for him to believe that his own child was ageless thanks to the cursed tattoo on her forehead. He wished she didn't have to wear a headband the whole time, but she doesn't seem to mind; or doesn't let it show.
She had left some time ago, officially, to train off planet. He wasn't the most pleased about it, but she was going with pretty much every able bodied individual who sought this regimen. It had something to do with the bizarre cat-man who caused quite a ruckus within the recent Tenkaichi Budōkai. He had expressed his concerns but he was too old to try and force the matter. She was a grown woman, and he believed she could make her own decisions.
Plus, he suspected part of the reason she journeyed with the rest was because of the Capsule Corporation boy was with the rest.
"Still, at least the Trunks fellow she hangs with has a good head on his shoulders," Mr. Satan thought with a wistful grin. "I might get grandkids sooner than I think. Very rich grandchildren, haha!"
A distant thuum was heard, following a rumbling crash of water. Pulling back the fold of comedic fabric from his eyes, he peeked out and saw the massive pool that took up two hundred meters of space within the outdoor resort's west side had a plume of moisture receding from way high. Furrowing his brow, he was tempted to shout, but part of him couldn't bring himself to rebuke the two relatives to the Djinn friend of his.
Emerging from the water, came the daughter —Carmina— first. A teal colored skin of malleable tissue, the swirled bangs rocked back and forth with abundant liquid of the freshwater pool. Her deep azure eyes blinked and her mouth contorted into a wide 'O' shape as she looked around for her mother. Her twin-tail antennae bobbed with her head's rapid movement, at one point even turning in a complete 360 that curled the folds of her neck's flesh. But then, the girl shrieked as she was pulled underwater.
Thrown up with another wide burst of parting of the pool's surface, Miss Bū followed afterwards up into the air. Her 'combed' gelatin bangs swiveled over her hairless brow, the Djinn antennae in the form of a ponytail whipping behind her as she ascended higher and higher in altitude. Miss Bū's darker eyes shined with mischief as her smile curled around as her hands stretched out elastically to catch her child in the air by the sides.
After a brief tickling wrestle in the air, the pair returned back to the pool in another big splash.
"Well, I guess not all of us can settle down like you," Mr. Satan commented with a smile, turning to look at Mr. Bū giving him a half-minded 'humph' in retort.
Looking back at the pair, he was reminded just how much energy these non-human beings were. They could have enough power to smash a mountain, tap dance around it and then lap around the whole solar system. But a single hour of watching television could put them into a day long coma. It was hard to predict what invigorated them and what bored them, especially when they had more complex minds than his rotund companion.
On observation of the two, he saw that they wore swimwear indicative of Bū's own costume. Carmina's was a one-piece of a black with purple accents, conservative for a child of her age, or at least, what she appeared to be aged as. Miss Bū however had a much more mature outfit, having black knotted yellow two-piece that cupped over her generous proportioned chest and highlighted the curves of her teal colored hips and-
Mr. Satan placed the eyeball-sleep-mask on before he let his mind wander where it shouldn't. The distant opening and closing of the pool-lot's entrance, however, brought his attention to a rapidly running pair of feet. Panting breath came, and Mr. Satan tried not to move from his relaxed posture, to show that he wasn't to be disturbed.
It didn't stop his attendant, Jūshi, from interrupting his relaxation.
"M-Mister Satan!" The employed servant stammered out, exasperation filling his voice as much as anxiousness.
"What's the matter, Jūshi?" Mr. Satan tried to dismiss him, rustling his back against the lounge chair. "Can't you see a man's trying to enjoy his retirement?"
"I-I understand th-this might be an inconvenience for you," He began to say, though from his tone he wasn't really apologizing to him. "H-However, something has just come up! The Earth is under attack!"
"What?" The former Champion inquired with a disgusted look construed on his face. Realizing how that might have looked, he cleared his throat and finally removed the sleep mask, allowing himself to sit upright on his chair to face the two-piece black over white suited man. He was holding what looked like a wrist-mounted device — a P.S.A.— likely where he got the information from.
Looking him up and down, Mr. Satan tried to ask in a tentative manner, "I mean, how bad is it? Maybe this is just a hoax-"
"I'm afraid it isn't," The aide shook his head, clicking a switch and revealing a sporadic montage of images of news images. A cacophony of blasts, hailing from the sky like shooting stars, impacted what looked like dozens of cities, all erecting the Capsule Corp's last resort defense against an invasion just like this. Blood drained from the former pro fighter, and his eyes looked at a familiar figure of nightmares smiling back at him from the screen.
Cell has returned, back from the dead.
"T-T-This is a b-b-bad pr-prank to p-play on an old man, J-Jūshi," Mr. Satan stuttered out, his whole body shaking and sweating within seconds of taking in the information of the outside world.
"Once again, I assure you that our information is accurate," The attendant shook his head with a look of sorrow over his face. "I'm sorry to ask you of this, after all that you've accomplished on your own. Our plight has never been worse than it has been now, not since nearly two decades when this very monster has murdered so many. But you're the only one who can stop him; you have before, right?"
"O-Of course I have!" Mr. Satan replied with indignation. If there was one thing he was good at, it was stomaching fear and putting on a brave face. This may be a nightmare scenario but surely all hope wasn't lost.
Nervously fidgeting, Mr. Satan looked down at his wrinkled palms, and weakly gripped them with an honest showcase of his current constitution, "Look at me, Jūshi. My prime has come and went. Even if I could, I'd have no chance against Cell, not as I am now. I'm not cut out for this."
"Then who can stop him?!" His aide inquired, recoiling with horror.
"Have no fear!" Mr. Satan sat upright, kicking the lounge chair aside with a fist raised for emphasis. "We still have the reigning champ, the strongest being alive and someone who can beat that stupid bug man's face in no time."
"Who?" Jūshi inquired.
"As if you need to ask," Mr. Satan chuckled, closing his eyes and placing his hands on his hips for drama. Then, with the flare of a stage actor, Mr. Satan pointed around with a shout at his dearest friend. "GET UP, MAJIN BŪ! THE WORLD NEEDS YOUR HELP!"
Turning around, Jūshi —along with Mr. Satan— looked over at the summer-wearing Djinn. He had all but was fixated on the paper that he was holding for what seemed like hours. But, once eyes were upon him, he was no longer looking with all the focus of an intense reader. Instead, his head was lolled back, his mouth opened wide and a thin line of drool escaped the side of his jaw with a balloon of moisture expanding and retracting from his nonexistent nose.
"H-He's-"
"-asleep!" The Ex-Champion cried out, finishing for his aide with his own face stretching out and eyes bulging with horror at the sight. Rushing over to his companion, he tried to gesture him to wake up, shoving him and slapping his face. All it did was cause the unconscious Majin to giggle and snore a bit louder. Pressing his lips tight, the afro-headed man looked around with panic, pointing straight at Jūshi, "Get me some snacks, pronto!"
"S-Snacks?!" Jūshi inquired sharply with belligerence. "H-How...but why-?"
"Don't ask stupid questions! Just get me all of the snacks you can find, ASAP! The fate of the world depends on you!"
"Uh a-alright!" The weary young man hastily nodded, turning on his heel and running straight back into the resort's facility.
Once the door shut, Mr. Satan nearly jumped out of his skin as he heard a sneeze heard from behind him.
"Don't kill me, Cell-!"
"Cell?"
"Oh," Mr. Satan recoiled back, settling back into an upright posture as he saw Carmina blinking up at him. He was surprised he didn't hear her or the now proximate wife of Mr. Bū, but they were unnatural. Trying to shake it off, he straightened up his bathrobe and tried to explain it to her. "Well you see, a bad bug man threatened the planet awhile ago-"
"You mean like the kitty man, Beers?" The twin-tailed Djinn asked with a tilt of her head.
"Uh, sure, but way worse!" Mr. Satan urged, his hands stretching out to emphasize it. "You should stay here, where it's safe. Once I get your daddy awake, he'll go and flatten him for us."
"Well, that won't do," Miss Bū disagreed softly, making the balding man look up at the slender bodied Majin with owlish blinks. Placing a hand over her barely concealed bosom, she smiled with calm assurance. "We can do it for him. After all, it looks like he's sleeping, and I wouldn't want to disturb him."
"B-But I can't ask either of you to do that," Mr. Satan tried to argue, his hands raised up pleadingly as he looked at the two. "Bū's strong, but you two are family to me. I couldn't forgive myself if something happened to you two; and I don't think he would either."
"We'll be fine," His best friend's partner replied kindly, looking down at Carmina, placing a hand on her smooth scalp. "Isn't that right?"
"Mhm! Just you watch, Mr. Satan!" The twin-tailed child of Bū emphatically insisted with a broad grin and a fist of hers meeting an open palm. "We're gonna beat this Cell up real good!"
"Y-You guys," Mr. Satan teared up, feeling emotional from this sign of both bravery and fearlessness. Reaching out with his arms, the pair of Djinn accepted his hug with one of theirs. Patting them on the backs, he let the waterworks flow as he began to weep dramatically. "C-Come back, you hear?! I won't forgive ya if you don't!"
"We will," Miss Bū gently insisted.
"I'll bring you a souvenir!" Carmina cried out with a cheery chirp.
Releasing the pair, Mr. Satan staggered back and sat exhaustively onto the chair. A flash of pink from their own antennae and their bodies were clothed in costumes that were more befitting a violent confrontation. Wrapped in an aurora of raspberry, the two teal skinned Djinn explode from the poolside and rocket up into the blue sky. Before the Ex-Champ's eyes they were but blips within the horizon, leaving the snoring Mr. Bū and himself to wait for their hopeful return.
"Please," Mr. Satan hoarsely whispered, his eyes still fixed on the sky where they once were last seen. "Come back home..."
A/N: Hey, everyone! Super sorry for the delay on this chapter! The fact that, before this chapter, I updated Heart with Demod20 and Little Miss Devil alone, sorta had me enter some kind of burnout period. I had no drive for a good period of this chapter, and because of that, it took quite awhile to update. My lack of drive kept me pursuing literally anything else for awhile, and because of that, I denied everyone a chapter update. Mercifully, this is a pretty large chapter to make up for it, so I hope you all enjoy it. Demod20 was able to write the section with Mr. Satan for me, because I was struggling putting the ideas into words.
Now to go over name puns:
Jūshi (じゅうし) means importance, stress, or serious consideration", while Karashina (からしな) refers to "Leaf Mustard", i.e. the mustard plant.
Beyond that, let's do another character profile:
Name: Rayo
Age: ?
Blood-type: O
Birthdate: Age ?
Height: 172 cm (5'8")
Weight: 65.3 kg (144 lbs.)
Favourite Food: Shōyu Ramen
Marital Status: Single
Master: Karashina
Martial Arts School: Karashina's Way of Spiritual Instruction
Likes: Karashina's training regimens (will never say it to her face), eating ramen.
Dislikes: Those who callously harm other people, sweet food, insulting Karashina
Basic Trivia:
Most likely not a normal human.
Was not originally intended to appear after his first appearance in chapter 17, however, the author and his friend liked his basis so much that he has made more than that single appearance, culminating in this chapter here.
After the main cast went to train with Beerus and Whis, Rayo — who could have been considered an equal to Goten and Trunks individually — fell massively behind the main cast in power. Despite this, he is the strongest person on Earth, if the Dragon Team is not taken into consideration.
Rayo wants a rematch with Erasa, whom he considers a worthy opponent.
Anyway, that should conclude everything with this chapter. Thanks to Demod20 for proofing it. I will try my best to get a chapter up soon, so please bear with me!