Vegeta floated down and landed with a soft click at the edge of the ring facing Cell who was just now pulling himself up out of the ground. He once again he had his arms crossed and his aura had vanished but he was still powered-up. "Looks like you just lost." he said with a smirk. "According to your own rules."
The Biodroid was on his feet again and turned to face Vegeta once more. "I suppose I have." he lifted slowly up into the air several feet and held out a hand charging energy in front of is palm. "This ring is too small. It's time to revise the rules." The ball of blue energy surged down and impacted the center of the ring before exploding and destroying it.
As the dust and debris settled it showed that Vegeta hadn't moved from where he stood. The piece of ring he'd been standing on was all that was left of it. "So, no ringouts then, eh?" Vegeta asked, smirking.
"No Cell Games." Cell replied. "I think I'll change this to my own version of..." Suddenly he smirked. "Yes, that will work nicely. I think it's time to revive an ancient tradition Vegeta. What do you say?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" he called up.
"Just a new set of rules. The same ones used in the Zetsumei Taikai."
Vegeta's eyes widened and his jaw slackened. "How do you..."
"Know about the Zetsumei Taikai?" Cell asked, smirking. "You forget, Vegeta, I have your memories up here." he said, tapping his head. "Well, the "you" of another time-line, but still you. And he knew of the Zetsumei Taikai. It's nice to know I wont have to explain it to you."
Goku looked over to Appla, who also had a shocked look on her face. "What's the Zatsum Taki?"
"Zetsumei Taikai." she corrected. "An old tradition from before the unification of Planet Vegeta, when the world was still known as Saiya. It was a common tradition that most nations followed. The line of royal succession wasn't determined by bloodline but power. When the King of a nation was dying, or had already died, those seeking to rule the nation, sometimes even those of other nations, would come to the palace.
"They would have two weeks to make the journey from the time of the announcement until the Zetsumei Taikai began. It was a tournament, a battle to the death between all those who wanted to rule the nation. The winner would be declared King, ruler of the nation. After the unification of the planet and it's renaming, the King of the time declared an end to the Zetsumei Taikai as a means of deciding rule.
"However, it was still held upon the death of a King for hundreds of years, as a celebration of their life. About a hundred years ago Prince Vegeta's grandfather decided to end the Zetsumei Taikai deciding that, instead of celebrating the life of their King upon their death, it would be better to celebrate the might of the warrior every few years. That was the start of the Sai-jin Games."
"That's a bit different than how I know it." Cell said. "In the time-line I am from the Zetsumei Taikai didn't end until Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta nearly wiping out all Sai-jins. So, Vegeta, shall we continue?"
"Cell Games, Zetsumei Taikai, it doesn't matter what you call it, you'll still end up dead in the end."
Cell smirked. "I'll take that as a yes." Suddenly Cell vanished appearing a second later right in front of the Sai-jin Prince. His fist shot out and smashed into Vegeta's chest with a loud crack, the Prince's eyes and mouth widened in pain. Just from the sound of it Bardock could tell that one of the Sai-jin's ribs and been, at least partly, cracked in the blow.
However, Vegeta shrugged it off quickly and dodged the biodroid's next attack before dropping low and sweeping his leg out taking Cell off of his feet. Quickly he lifted into the air over the other and then snapped his leg down smashing it into his opponent's stomach and smashing him into the ground where the ring had once been.
The Earth cracked beneath his impact and Vegeta used the force to push himself up higher. Purple energy flared up around his hands and he began to fire a volley of energy blasts down at the prone warrior. Each blast pushed him higher, Cell deeper, and sent debris flying about for hundreds of yards. A bubble of purple energy began forming over the attack point as the blasts built up on each other.
After several moments he pulled his arms back, charged golden energy in each hand, and then thrust his arms down together firing a much larger blast then the previous had been. It punched through the bubble of energy causing it to swell a moment later. And then it exploded savagely, a purple collumn of energy laced with gold shooting into the sky and reaching all the way up to the temporal tears before vanishing.
The collumn faded away slowly and then vanished, the glare going a second later. The force of the explosion had blasted away all the dust in the air giving them a clear view of the crater Vegeta's attack had created. It was at least thirty yards across and considerably deep, the bottom lost in pitch black shadow.
Vegeta floated where he was panting lightly. He'd put more into that assault than any previous. The power-up Cell had made earlier deemed it necessary. He wasn't drained, per se, he did still have a considerable amount of power, but the decline would put him at more than a slight disadvantage in the fight, even had Cell not boosted his own strength earlier.
The Sai-jin cursed under his breath as his mind focused and he sensed Cell laying at the bottom of the crater, no worse for wear. He drifted back quickly and dropped to the ground. His legs spread apart to increase his balance and he held his arms out. His golden aura flared up massively around him and then twin balls of golden energy formed around his hands.
He could already feel Cell drifting up from below, lifting higher and higher. He was moving at his own pace, taking his time, which irked the Sai-jin Prince. It was obvious his opponent didn't even consider him the slightest threat. However, even as slow as Cell was nearing him, he'd never have the time to charge his attack enough to kill him. Suddenly he smirked as an idea hit him.
He brought his arms together quickly and merged the orbs of energy. With a cry, his already vibrant aura flared up even more. The muscles along his arms and legs began to ripple and expand, his power building. His hair stiffened and grew slightly, his armor expanding with his mucles, a wind flaring up around his body.
"So, he's going to use his full power form." Bardock said.
"But... why?" Trunks wondered. "It's too slow."
Even over his own cries and the sound of his power around him, Vegeta picked up the conversation, though just barely. Trunks had a point, his full power form was considerably slow. It would have been enough, at the start, to destroy Cell with ease. Power-wise at least. But it was too slow, he never would have caught his opponent. The speed Cell had displayed was proof enough of that.
However, the form did have its uses. His cries died down as he smirked, his muscles finally stopping their expansion. For the power boost, added energy to an attack, and faster charge time, the form was an exceptional asset. Without it he doubted he could have mustered an attack that would have budged Cell. With it, he would obliterate him!
His eyes narrowed as the other's head broke the surface of the crater. He'd hoped for another few moments to charge his attack, the golden energy pulsing madly before his outstretched arms and cupped hands. Still, he had no doubt the attack would be effective. "Time to die Cell! Super Final Flash!" he roared.
The force of the blast pushed Vegeta back a dozen yards, his feet digging out trenches in the Earth as he tried to hold himself in place. The rush of power washed out from him and the wave blowing dust and rocks away. As the force reached the Z Fighters it slid them all back a few feet.
"Ungh, no way!" Piccolo cried trying to keep his footing. Krillin was blown over and started grasping at the ground trying to find something to hold on to. Yamcha and Tien had already dug their feet into the ground in an attempt to keep their footing. Piccolo glanced back at the others and growled, a green glow forming around him.
Turning back to face the rush of power he thrust his arms out putting up a barrier between him and them and holding back as much of the force as he could. Feeling a power flare up beside him he looked over and saw Trunks, in Super Sai-jin, with his arms out as well helping with the barrier.
Meanwhile Cell's eyes were wide in shock as he stared at the attack only feet away. A second later the energy reached him and swelled before continuing on its way. The entire planet shook under the force of the attack, the shockwaves emanating from it washed out for hundreds of miles blowing even those in Capital City off of their feet.
Vegeta continued to fuel the attack for nearly a minute before the golden wave of energy began to shrink away. As did his bulk. His muscles shrank away rapidly, his hair reducing in size as well. The color of his hair faded away as it shifted to black once more. Now that the attack had ended they could all feel that his power had declined massively.
The dust settled slowly, no breeze to blow it away. As it fell to the ground it revealed Vegeta standing on wobbly legs, his arms hanging at his sides. He was panting heavily from the exertion, sweat running down his face. "Good... riddance." he breathed. "Freak." Suddenly his eyes snapped open. "N-no way!"
Everyone on the sidelines turned their attention from Vegeta toward what he saw. It took a moment for them to make out the dot that floated several yards away. All that remained of Cell was his head. And it did not look happy. Lumps of flesh started pushing down the base of his neck and then a spine shot down, ribs sprouting from it a second later. Then the exoskeletal chestplate formed.
A second later his entire torso was back to normal. Fully formed arms sprouted, first the left and then the right. Next came his legs. In less than ten seconds Cell had gone from just a head to perfect condition. And not just physically. His power was at the same level it had been prior to the attack.
Cell's sour look faded away into a smirk. "Poor Vegeta. All that power, all that effort, and for what? Your efforts were for naught." Cell floated down the few feet to the ground and landed gently, his power lowering to where it had been at the start of the fight. "Well, not entirely for nothing. You did give me the victory, after all."
"Why... you..." Vegeta growled. "I may not... have been able... to defeat... you. However, after an attack... like that your... power is going to... have taken a... hit too."
Cell's smirk turned into a grin and then he started laughing. "Poor deluded Vegeta. All you achieved was draining your own power and ensuring my victory, and your death. Before I became Perfect you would have been right. Recovering from such an attack would certainly have made a substantial difference in power. However..."
"However what?" Vegeta demanded, standing up straight again, some of his fatigue drifting away.
"However, I now possess unlimited energy. Thanks to the power cores I absorbed from 17 and 18. Granted, it takes a moment for the Proton conversion to turn the energy into Ki, but I will never run out of power. I will not grow tired. I will not be weakend by attacks or exertion. In short, Vegeta, you never stood a chance."
Vegeta didn't get the chance to respond. Before he could even start his reply Cell had crossed the expanse between them and smashed an open fist into his chest. A series of cracks resounded across the blasted landscape, audible indicators of the injuries he'd just received. The Sai-jin Prince fell to the ground a dozen yards from where he started, his ribs shattered, each broken in at least two places.
"Do you see?" Cell asked landing beside the fallen Prince. He had his arm out, palm aimed down at the Sai-jin, blue energy gathering. "I am the ultimate warrior, the greatest power in the universe. And you... you are nothing."
Another thunderous crack rang out and Cell was knocked flying off at high speed. As a streak of silver shot after him, Vegeta saw Trunks land beside him. The half Sai-jin knelt down and the Prince soon realized what he was doing. Closing his eyes he painfully swallowed the bean and a moment later was back on his feet, his body healed. Turning he looked off toward where Cell and the silver streak had gone.
Sakura had reached and overtaken Cell after her first kick to his head rather quickly. As soon as she did, she snapped out another kick that knocked him off in another direction and down into the ground. He slid a good two hundred yards before finally coming to a stop only a short distance from the others. The powerful half Tanarian reached them a moment later and landed as Cell climbed back to his feet.
"I believe I was next to fight you." She said. "So, let's get going."
Cell reached up and wiped a little blood off his chin. "Impressive. You're even more powerful than Vegeta. Still, you can't defeat me."
"I can and I will." she replied, slipping into a fighting stance. "No matter what it takes I will kill you. I will save this time from the hell that is the future I come from. No matter what."
"Well, you talk the talk well enough." Cell said smirking. "Let's see if you can back it up." With that Cell launched in at Sakura, his power climbing up to almost match hers as he did. He cocked back a fist as he flew. Reaching his target he launched a punch for her face but her arm came up and deflected the blow. She then countered with a left punch of her own but Cell managed to dodge it.
He retaliated with a knee to her stomach and then backhanded her. Using the momentum from being spun about, Sakura snapped out a kick to the side of Cell's head. The two broke apart for a moment and then charged in at each other again. A series of bright flashes and thunderous cracks sounded as they exchanged blows again. After a moment Sakura brought her right knee up into Cell's stomach, then her left. Pulling back a little she snapped her leg up smashing her foot into his chin.
Cell shot skyward and the powerful half Tanarian followed. She passed him quickly and then jammed her elbow down into the top of his head knocking him down again. With a cry she smashed her foot into his back and slammed him down into the ground. Dropping rapidly she tried to slam down into him but he pushed off and launched backward at the last second, her feet smashing into the ground instead, up to her knees.
Before she could recover Cell's foot smashed into the back of her head knocking her forward. Recovering, she spun around to attack him but he was gone. And then his fist slammed into the side of her head followed by a kick to her side. Her eyes and mouth snapped wide in pain. She lashed out with a backhand toward Cell's location but he was gone again.
This time he reappeared right in front of her. His hands grabbed her head and he slammed her face into his knee and followed that up with a spinning kick to her chest. The blow knocked her over onto her back and Cell brought the heel of his left foot down into her abdomen. Moving back half a step he then swung out his right foot smashing it into her head and kicking her a few dozen yards like a soccer ball.
Trunks gritted his teeth, his gloved hands clenching into fists. "I don't get it..." he said, watching the fight as best he could. "They're almost even in power... Cell's is actually a little lower than Sakura's. So, why is she having so much trouble? How's he beating her so easily?" He shook his head. "It doesn't make any sense."
"I don't know." Bardock said. "She's got a lot of skill, she's not making any mistakes. It's like... it's almost as though Cell is able to predict her attacks, like he knows what she's thinking."
"That's it!" Hotaru cried. "He does know what she's going to do!" The others glanced toward her as she spoke. "Remember what Cell told Vegeta? That he has his memories?"
"Ya, the Vegeta from the other time-line." Goku said. "But... I thought that Sakura wasn't in that time-line?"
"She's not." Piccolo said, frowning. He knew what Hotaru was thinking. "But before Cell absorbed 18 he also absorbed some of Sakura's energy and DNA. And along with it, her memories and knowledge. Unless she developed a new style her last trip into the Room of Spirit and Time he knows exactly how she fights. He knows what she's likely to do in a situation and can react accordingly."
Trunks growled. "Damn it!"
Sakura hit the ground from the kick, bounced a few more yards, landed again, and rolled a few more feet, before coming to a stop facedown. She pulled herself up to her hands and knees with a groan and stayed that way for a moment, catching her breath. Just as she started climbing to her feet again Cell charged across the expanse toward her and slammed his foot into her gut again knocking her another twenty yards away.
Coming down she hit the ground hard and slid a good five yards before stopping. Her aura sputtered for a moment but then came back again. Cell reached her location a moment later and thrust his foot down for her head. Seeing it at the last second she managed to just roll out of the way. Spinning and then backfliping into an upright position she plowed her feet into his chin in the process.
As she landed on her feet once more she thrust her arms forward, silver energy flashed and then blasted out slamming into Cell hard and knocking him sailing backward. Quickly she shot after him, her silver aura flaring up brightly and the ground shattering beneath her feet. Reaching Cell she pulled back her fist to launch an attack but his knee suddenly surged up and slammed into her abdomen catching her completely off guard.
Before she could recover, Cell reached up and grabbed her shoulders. Spinning over he put her between him and the ground and then dropped down slamming her into the Earth and pushing her along through the dirt and rock digging out a trench. They'd gone nearly a hundred yards before Sakura managed a counter. Her eyes flashed and Cell was knocked skyward yet again.
Vegeta shook his head. "She's lost a small chunk of her power. More than enough to give Cell the advantage. Blast him, what does it take to kill this freak?"
"This fight's not over yet." Trunks said. "Not by a long shot."