Book 4: The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan

by Espeon804

Book 4. Humanity has proved itself a threat. Their ultimate creation backfires and becomes their worst enemy. A Bio-Android goes by the name of Cell - an insect like organism who absorbs anyone it can get to... but for what purpose? Saiyan, Human, Namekian, and Android are forced to join forces. This is indeed a dissonance. It seems that Goku is struggling with himself.

28. The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan

Chapter 28 Plot:

Chapter 28: "The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan" The true potential that was seen from time to time among the hybrids is here. And it brings a greater promise than foreseen! Perfect Cell has finally met his match! There's a chance! A major chance! The long fight can finally come to an end! But there is a major role that the warriors seem to have forgotten. Never should anyone lower the guard…no matter what. The consequences are life-threatening, after all…so what do you do? You push aside your grudges…and make up for your mistakes. Combine your efforts, even if it seems futile.

RETALIATION RINGS STRONG…

As Cell finds himself cornered, there appears to be no escape for him. For the very first time, He is experiencing emotions that should have never crossed him. But, it's not just it's raw strength that has him cornered.

Something else has changed within those young warriors.

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A/N: Espeon804 here with another great chapter!

PUBLISHED ON: MAY 5TH, 2024!

WORDS: 25,746

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Chapter Themes: Please DO listen to music when prompted in the story! It will make it even more epic!

Add to a YouTube URL and take a listen.

1) "Distortion World Remastered" (by Zame)

/watch?v=IObwU3RBS9c

2) "Lapis Philosophorum"

/watch?v=yhXK9sRpXKg

3) "Unofficial Super Saiyan 3 Gohan Theme" (By Saiyan Enigma)

/watch?v=HPyWjxNjmhw

4) "PMD2 - Planet's Paralysis Remastered" (By TGH)

/watch?v=wuvkILw0fso

5) "A Mighty Foe"

/watch?v=oG2a0LG1Zmo

6) "The Braveheart's Triumphant Return"

/watch?v=0mcHP1HYkds

7) "????"

/watch?v=iIYMn2B5bM8

8) "Universe Erased HQ Cover" (By Pokémixr92)

/watch?v=MdPL3--hZzo

9) "At a Battle's End"

/watch?v=t2dgyJtHmi8

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So a bit of a warning. This chapter is a gruesome one. This book is rated M…and this is perhaps one of the most violent chapters I've ever written.

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DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Dragon Ball franchise. Akira Toriyama was the brilliant mind behind it.

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Key:

"Talking"

"Foreign Language"

'Thoughts'

'Telepathy'

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Two more chapters to go.

-Espeon804

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-- Chapter 28: The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan --

There are several complex emotions flowing through the Saiyan prince.

Humiliation, for being shattered and laying helpless on the ground. He's unable to move, and everything hurts beyond words.

Confusion, for how everyone else around him was ready to accept death. They weren't even afraid, especially Kakarot.

Anger, for the stunt Kakarot pulled. The idiot knew the consequences of his death, something they've been trying to avoid all this time. And still, Kakarot didn't get angry. He didn't try to rethink his steps. He accepted the outcome. He went and threw his life away.

He died with that stupid smile on his face.

The power Vegeta is sensing flowing from those kids is nothing he ever experienced before. It didn't just skyrocket. The way it exploded was nothing his senses could ever be prepared for. His entire body is trembling, but he can't determine if it's because of the pain…or the twinge of fear that has the nerve to try to claim him.

Something changed in those kids, and it's not just their appearance that did.

That kind of power cannot be welded by a kind heart.

Everytime a pulse of their flowing energy blew past him, Vegeta found that it was hard to breathe. But why…?

Just looking at their deep blue eyes, it felt like it was crushing him. They weren't even looking at him.

How did Kakarot know this would happen…?

…

1) The cracking tiny bolts of lightning are stabbing his skin. Even through his clothes, Karot can feel it. It's in his veins—in his blood. He can hear it crackling in his ears. Anyone else would winch every single time, but instead, Karot takes a look at his hands. The bolts are there, too. He stretches his fingers, following the flowing energy. It's so strange. Even now, his father's death…it doesn't even bother him anymore. Nothing does, really.

Such flowering power. It burns so much, but it doesn't hurt. It only makes staying still unbearable.

Every time Karot looks at Cell, he wants to tear him in half. He wants to smash down his head…gut him like an animal…

Such horrible thoughts would spook Karot any other time.

He begins to move. Karot can hear several breaths being held, but acknowledging something so simple would be a waste of time. He walks past the Cell Jrs, and for a brief time, they are illuminated gold. They watch him with caution and uncertainty painted all over their repulsive faces.

Karot stops his pace, standing above the Oozaru head-shaped pendant that was tossed aside like trash. He plucks it from the ground, staring at the blank and hollow eyes. Shifting his feet, he turns around, following the same path, ignoring the countless eyes. He changes direction at the last second, until he stands before the broken and beaten crowd.

They don't speak. They just stare. Karot holds his hand above his head, and the pendant slips from his fingers. It falls on Tarble's head.

Almost in an instant, the blank eyes glow red. Tarble's entire body becomes highlighted with a soft blue glue that pulses once…twice…

He begins to shrink. The fur retreats backs into his body as if it never grew. The claws return to neatly trimmed nails. His muzzle flattens back to a flat face.

Tarble is back in his normal form. He lifts his head, and a thin rope falls on his face, making his eye squint. Before he can ask a question, Karot is already making his way back towards the battlefield.

Cell is silent, lacking any witty or snarky remarks. For him to allow Karot to roam this much means he at least, isn't stupid. Once Karot rejoins Trunks' side, the bio-Android is more cautious.

All there is left to do is clear the battlefield of anyone that could be caught in the crossfire.

As it seems, Trunks has the same thought.

"Father."

Raditz jumps at this. The tone in Trunks' voice is unrecognizable to the Saiyan. He looks at him, taken back by seeing the change in his son so close. The strong build up of electricity is keeping the front of his loose hair standing. He is convinced that the band keeping the rest of it tied back is on its last leg, just barely containing its resistance. But that's not what spooked him.

Those blazing blue eyes. Just looking at them, Raditz can feel so much power flowing through the iris.

Raditz can't form any words.

Is he intimidated?

"Kakarot," Trunks says. "Take his body somewhere safe. I don't think he would appreciate it if it were to get destroyed."

There was no reason to argue. Raditz was going to do so anyway. But, from the tone in Trunks' voice, he was dismissing everyone else from the fight. Not that Raditz was against it. No one is really in shape to keep fighting. But…Trunks' confidence is worrisome…if Raditz can even call it that. The kid believes he can take on Cell and his spawns without a problem?

Could he? It looks impossible.

"Why are you still here?" Trunks' voice snaps the Saiyan from his thoughts. "You're in the way."

'What the hell…?!' Any other time, Raditz would belittle him for this attitude. But, Trunks never behaved like this before.

He decides to let it go. There's no point.

But he can't move as he would like. How can he carry Kakarot to—

Raditz feels his body being lifted from the ground. He looks back, seeing Broly is responsible. Already, the burly Saiyan has slung Kakarot over his other shoulder. They are both being carried away to spectate. It's humiliating.

But there is nothing else he can do.

Upon rejoining the crowd, Raditz sits on the ground, using his hand to support his weight. Kakarot is laid next to him. His body must be getting cold already. It twists knots in Raditz's stomach. He can't get the sight of the impact that killed him out of his head.

Looking at Cell, he can't blame the enemy for not attacking yet. There is far too much uncertainty.

"Well…" Cell finally finds his words, hiding his uneasy nerves behind a smile. "This was unexpected. I suppose I can take back what I said about false promises. He wasn't lying after all. I suppose this means that this tournament is about to get very interesting…since the fighting won't be so one-sided—"

Trunks vanishes.

"What the—where did he—" Cell turns around. He looks in every direction.

Trunks appears in front of him, and Cell almost jumps.

In his hand! The Senzu Beans!

"How did you—" Cell glances over his shoulder. He could have sworn he had it tucked behind his wings! How did he know it was there?! "You! Give that back!"

Trunks turns heel and walks away.

Turning his back on him?!

"Don't you dare ignore me!" Cell lunges for the bag, and Trunks steps away, tossing the bag across the field.

Karot catches it effortlessly with a single hand.

"What?!"

Karot's hardened eyes fall on the spectators again. They are unnerved, but it means nothing to him. "Broly."

Broly catches the bag.

"Split what is left in half. Treat those who need it the most, first."

Broly nods once. He works on snapping the beans into halves right away. He drops it in Vegeta's mouth first, who takes it with little complaint. Then it was Turles, then Kauli, then Piccolo…and everyone else.

Slowly, everyone is on their feet, all except Vegeta, who pushes himself up enough to sit instead. The elder prince doesn't say a word. There is no telling what he is feeling now.

"So uh, this is well beyond a Super Saiyan, isn't it?" Krillin mutters. "What should we call it?"

"You're really thinking about that now?" Turles asks. He stretches his fingers. His body still aches, but it's far better than the agony it was under before.

His eyes fell on Kakarot. To think years ago, he would be happy to see him dead. It almost makes him sick.

"Did anyone else know about this?" Piccolo asks. He tenses his body, grunting as he sprouts a new pair of arms. He flexes them both, testing their mobility.

"I had an idea," Turles says. "Felt it trying to break the surface sometimes. What held the kid back was his own morality. At least, I think that's what it was."

"Yeah. Seemed that way with Karot, too," Nappa says. "As angry as the kid got, he didn't exactly want to fall too deep. He wasn't aware of it, but maybe a part of him knew something."

Gine takes a seat next to Kakarot. She places a hand on his head, feeling his hair. She's fighting back tears. Turles and Raditz take notice, and they join her side. Their presence alone gives her a bit of comfort.

"I think I understand why he would do it…but wasn't there another way?" Kauli asks. She is saddened, realizing she took her training with Kakarot for granted.

No one knows the answer. Maybe Kakarot didn't know either.

"Nothing could have ever prepared me for what I am seeing right now," Tien says. "When Goku said they had incredible power, I didn't imagine anything like this. They haven't even done anything yet, but the pressure I'm feeling…it's so intense."

"Their demeanors are different, too," Yamcha says. "But it looks like they are in full control. It's not the same explosive tantrum we've seen before."

Vegeta frowns. 'They aren't wrong. It is different. Did Raditz's brat actually take heed to my words earlier? Or was it Turles' training that allowed him to learn to control this power? Whatever it is, I need to understand it. This obviously isn't as simple as an upgrade from a Super Saiyan transformation. There's a certain mentality towards it. Something we are lacking…'

Cell hasn't moved yet.

'He let them use the Senzu Beans, not because he wanted to, but because he sensed it was too dangerous to try to reclaim it. The amount of malicious energy radiating from those two is almost overwhelming. It's no wonder Seleriak was so hesitant. He must have known something like this would happen. Now there is no reason for him to hold back. Let's see it then, Kakarot. This newfound power…'

The two young fighters turn their attention to the Cell Jrs, who all take a step back. It takes a moment for them to realize they aren't fighting alone. They look at one another, and they regain confidence. They begin to crackle again.

The young fighters' faces don't change.

They both vanish from where they stand. The Cell Jrs step away, confused.

Karot arrives in front of one, who is alarmed by his speed. Before the creature can utter a single cry, Karot throws his foot straight up, snapping the neck clean from the vertebrae. The Cell Jr's legs collapse on their own as its eyes appear lifeless. Its body explodes in an instant.

2) Just like that. Dead.

Its siblings stand idle, stunned.

Everyone is speechless.

Karot lowers his leg as his cold gaze remains firm where the Cell Jr once stood. Once the smoke clears, he turns to his next target.

He zips around one, who can't follow his rapid movements. A fist pierces right through its body as if it was made of paper. It, too, explodes.

He lands. The remaining Cell Jrs take several steps back. They begin to scatter to the skies. Karot follows them with his eyes.

A Cell Jr flies towards the audience quicker than anyone can react. It kicks Vegeta down and grabs a handful of his hair. He lifts his head, pressing its lengthening claws against his throat before the prince can protest.

"Really? Him? A hostage?" Karot is hardly phased. He takes slow steps forward, watching the Cell Jr's grin falter. "You're free to kill him if you want. I never respected him anyway."

Fear overtakes Vegeta's anger. "You little…!"

Seeing that its plan is ineffective, the Cell Jr. drops Vegeta in an instant, and it jumps back. Karot is a blur, vanishing from where he stands. The creature looks back, but its body is sliced in half with a single chop. Ribbons of blood rain to the ground before its body bursts like a bloody balloon.

"No way…!" Tien can't believe it. "We were getting thrown around by those things. And Gohan is just…!"

"It's not just the kid." Piccolo narrows his eyes. He tilts his head another direction, and all eyes fall on Trunks, who is approaching the other Cell Jr. It witnessed the demise of it's siblings, and now it realizes it is next.

Trunks leaps forward, and the Cell Jr. fires a Double Sunday. The attack is swatted and redirected like a fly. A roundhouse kick sends the creature crashing to the ground.

The Cell Jr. lands on its back. Opening its eyes, a heavy boot slams right between them and through its skull, crunching it effortlessly as if it were a berry. The body convulses like a dying worm as Trunks grinds his foot, treating it like the insect it truly is. The ground is painted with green, absorbing it through the dry cracks. Finally, it explodes, but it doesn't matter.

That's another one dead.

"What the…" Krillin is pale to the face.

"This is when I wish I can see what's going on. What the hell is happening?" Tarble is annoyed now.

Turles frowns. "You can feel it, can't you?"

Tarble's annoyance morphs into shock. "Their energy signals are vanishing in a blip. You're telling me…"

Cell watches all of this unfold silently. His expression is unreadable, but there is no doubt there is a lot of thinking clouding his mind.

Future Trunks steps back and turns away. His eyes fall on the next Cell Jr, who is taking nervous steps backwards.

"D-daaaaa?" Cell Jr. looks back at its creator. Cell simply brushes him off.

The shadow of Trunks' looms over the blue creature. Cell Jr. spins back to Trunks, pale to the face. It leaps back in an instant, unleashing a barrage of frantic energy blasts that overwhelm Trunks' body. He is swallowed up by the glowing and exploding clouds of dust as the creature continues its relentless attacks.

Trunks leaps out the smokescreen, fist balled and ready. A single punch impales the child-like insect through the chest, coating his hand with oozing green liquid.

The Cell Jr. can't even scream. A mouthful of green blood is coughed from its lungs. An angry cry from behind Trunks draws his attention. With a swift spin, the teen throws the mortally wounded Cell Jr. against its sibling, and he fires a ruthless blast that disintegrates them both.

Burning chunks of ashes flutter from the air. Everyone watching from the ground are speechless.

Raditz's mouth hangs open. 'Was this…what Turles was talking about?'

Turles is tense and nervous from what he is seeing. Next to him, Gine covers her mouth. The way they are killing them surfaces memories of the dreadful past.

"No way…" Yamcha whispers.

"It's like his Saiyan half completely took over." Krillin gulps. He looks back at Karot who is already pursuing a fleeing Cell Jr. "Both of them!"

The fleeing Cell Jr. cries out a desperate scream, but the ruthless child has caught up. Karot swings his arm with a chop, slicing through the neck of the Cell Jr. in a clean cut. Its head wears the dying expression of shock as it spirals towards the earth. The body flips back, blood spewing like a fountain before it bursts into countless bloody pieces.

"Shit…" Kauli takes a step back. "He's just a kid…!"

The remaining six Cell Jrs are all pale on the face. They take several steps back, trembling.

They scatter to the skies, fleeing and screaming.

Karot vanishes from where he stands, only leaving behind a small cloud of dust as evidence of his incredible speed.

He becomes visible in front of two juniors. They recoil back, startled, and they turn around, but too late. Karot twists his body into a roundhouse kick. The impact of his foot snapping through its body is almost like a gunshot. The flying halves burst into pieces.

The other looks back, screaming at the sight. Karot vanishes again. It stops, frantic.

Karot is right in front of it. An axe kick rips the head from the body. It bursts, unable to contain the unstable energy.

"Dying…" Broly mutters. "So fast…"

The Cell Jrs are fleeing. They are trying to escape death, but the young fighters are too fast for them to outrun. The remaining four have separated to different paths in hopes to throw them off.

But Karot is chasing them down, unphased by their change of paths. Once he is close to one, a chop snaps it in half. He flies off just before it could burst.

Three remain. Karot is breaking them one by one; Another is snapped in half. The other explodes from the inside after getting kicked through the body.

The last one makes a desperate dive for the ground, avoiding a blast that would have otherwise disintegrated its body. The speed of its panicked flight leads to an aggressive landing as it nearly trips over its own feet. Just as it was relieved that it escaped Karot, it looks ahead, and becomes paralyzed with fear.

Trunks stands before it, looking down at the frantic creature.

The Cell Jr, steps back before making a run for it. It doesn't go far. Its head is grabbed. It's being pulled back. It kicks at the ground as it tries to escape the vice grip, flailing and screaming in a way that sounds almost like crying.

It's crying out for Cell, almost in the same manner a child would plead for their parents.

Trunks' lips curl back in disgust. He tightens his hand, and the shell begins to crack. The screams increase in volume. A glow rotates from Trunks' palm. The Cell Jr's cries come to an abrupt end as a blast shoots right through its head and down the field.

It stops kicking. Its body goes limp.

He lifts his hand, and the last Cell Jr falls on the ground, headless. A boot crushes what's left of its body. It bursts upon impact.

No cheering. No shouting. Silence hangs in the air as everyone tries to comprehend what they just witnessed. No matter how they look at it, they can't scale the weight of the shift.

High above, Karot makes his landing. His focus turns to Cell, who seems to realize he is the only one left.

The bio-Android crosses his arms with a frown. "I will admit, that was unexpected. Not one of my precious children was given any mercy."

Trunks flicks the blood from his hand, not paying him any mind.

Seeing that he is ignored, Cell tries something else. "I thought the idea of hurting children would bother you, Trunks."

Trunks glances at him at last. "Those spawns had to be neutralized."

Cell opens his mouth, but he seems to rethink what he was about to say. He frowns, crossing his arms again, his attention towards the ground as he begins to think. Another glance at the young fighters, and he speaks. "You've surprised me. I never anticipated this raw power would come from the same person who was sobbing on the ground several rounds ago. You've only managed to kill my children because they are inexperienced and insignificant. It will be different from here on out."

Trunks watches Cell settling into a fighting stance. He doesn't try to shift to the defensive at all. He remains standing, staring, which only agitates Cell further.

Cell lunges with his first attack. His fist makes contact, but it goes right through Trunks as if he were a ghost. His very image is fading. Cell is forced to stop, almost tripping over his own feet. He looks behind him, and Trunks stands there, watching.

Cell looks at his fist, puzzled. He turns his body around and tries again. It's the same result.

"How…" Cell glares at him. He lunges with a frenzy of attacks, but Trunks is dodging every single one. His punches are a blur as he tries to land a single blow, but the young fighter is dodging just as fast. Cell jumps back, confused and almost frustrated. He realizes Karot stands behind him. He attacks him too, but Karot is just as limber as his cousin. Cell strikes nothing.

'What is this?!' Cell begins his second wave of attacks against Karot, his third against Trunks, his fourth against them both.

He can't land a single hit in any of them!

Judging from the look on his face, he isn't toying around. The growing frustration becomes more noticeable each time he misses. He screams, pulling back an arm. He swings a heavy punch, and Karot vanishes from range. Cell's fist shatters through a boulder instead, reducing it to pieces.

He steps back. He turns around. There, they stand. Cell growls, stomping his way over, but they don't move. They don't flinch. They just watch him, uncaring. That makes him angry the most.

"You think this is a ga—"

Trunks backhands Cell across the face, snapping his head completely backwards. The Android falls to the ground chest-first, his body twitching as he struggles to fix his dislocated head. They make eye contact, and for a brief second, Cell appears intimidated.

From his perspective on the ground, they tower over him with a pressure he never felt before. Their faces remain unchanged, with a focus that can't be broken.

…

"Are you seeing this?" Krillin asks only for confirmation that he isn't hallucinating.

"I can't believe it." Tien's eyes haven't left Cell ever since he was brought to the ground in such a disrespectful manner. "I'm seeing it with my own eyes, but…it took all of our combined strength to do as much as stall Cell. And that was before he ate the Senzu Bean. But now it's like…it's like…"

Cell is back on his feet. He twists his head back to its normal position. He begins his attacks again, but none of them are landing.

"He has met his match at last."

All heads turn to Vegeta, most wearing stunned expressions…to hear it from Vegeta out of all people.

The prince remains seated, with his signature scowl worn on his face. Despite how still he is sitting, his clenched fist is trembling with his nails on the verge of breaking through the skin.

Vegeta's lip part, but he closes his eyes, taking in a breath. "I always knew that Saiyan hybrids had unique capabilities. It's nothing new to hear. But this is unreal…"

"You implied that before, that there are other hybrids in the universe somewhere? They aren't the only ones?" Krillin asks.

"...Maybe. But the possibilities are so small," Vegeta says. "Kakarot isn't the first infiltration soldier who grew fond of the planet he was supposed to conquer. He wasn't the first to have offspring with one of the natives. It's treated like a taboo, something the king never outright stated, but had a loathing towards. He would have killed him at first sight."

"He would?!" Yamcha gasps.

"That's right," Nappa says. "Saiyan blood is so potent, that even a halfbreed can still transform at the sight of a full moon. The Saiyan tail doesn't go away so easily. Even if they didn't have it when they were born, there were cases when a hybrid had one sprout to the surface when their lives were in grave danger. But that's not what matters. The tail is just the physical evidence of Saiyan blood. Even without it, you will know if someone is a Saiyan by just how powerful their rage can become. Even an individual with a third or fourth of Saiyan heritage can display incredible might. Saiyan blood can turn even the most cowardly hearts into a fierce warrior. But it usually swallows their minds and takes hold of them. They remember nothing. That is what made them so dangerous."

"But if it's so strong, why was it treated like a taboo?" Kauli asks.

"Because the king labeled them as unworthy," Nappa explains. "He made sure anyone who wasn't full-blooded felt inferior, and that every Saiyan would treat them as such. Because of that, he had no problem making sure every existing hybrid got exterminated. They would tell you it's because a hybrid shouldn't exist. But the truth was, he had them killed, out of fear of being overthrown."

The Earthlings are stunned. "You're serious?!"

"It's not hard to understand. The reason is right before your eyes. We've seen what they can do when they are cornered. We've seen what happens when their limits are pushed. This is the result when they finally break them."

Vegeta brings his fist close to his face. He can't cool his anger. But, he knows there is nothing he can do.

…

Cell misses his attack once more, punching a massive hole through the ground. He tears his hand free, sending chunks of the ground flying. He turns around, meeting their faces. "Why…why can't I land a single hit on them?!"

They don't even try to attack him. They haven't tried ever since they went through this change. It only angers Cell more, knowing that he is being mocked. This can't possibly be it, not for him at least…

"Take this more seriously, damn it!"

Karot huffs. "Fine."

Cell paused. He wasn't expecting a response.

"Trunks."

Trunks looks at his cousin, objecting to the suggestion at first. But after several seconds, he caves, dipping his head. He takes several steps back before kicking himself into the air. He flies backwards, landing on the edge of a cliffside.

Before Cell can ask, Trunks answers. "Karot has decided to make it a little more fair for you. I will sit this out for a little while. Maybe that will give you the window to actually land a hit on him."

'What?!' Cell clenches his fists with a growl. 'What nerve does he have, to give me a handicap?! I am perfect! I am the most complete lifeform standing in this sad rock—no, the universe! I'll kill this brat for trying to make me look like an utter joke!'

Cell lunges from the ground, soaring towards Trunks with a scream. The teen doesn't move. Karot doesn't pursue him. It only makes him more angry.

'Do they really think they are superior? Whatever I felt, it was just a power spike! Nothing else! I was kind enough before, but this time, I'll paint them to the ground! The ungrateful little—'

Cold and chilling.

It shoots through his core, to the pit of his stomach. Just mere yards away from Trunks, and his body won't move anymore. His balled up fist hangs over his shoulder, mid-punch, trembling like a leaf. He can see it, and it doesn't make any sense. It's like…his entire body locked up against his will.

It happened before with Tarble. Looking at Trunks, his face remains unchanging. But the intense pressure surrounding him…it's almost like a wall. Thick, swirling, and overwhelming. Cell can't pierce through it. Instincts are screaming that if he tried, the outcome would be…

…instant death…?!

No.

'Stop…it. Stop trembling…! Why am I trembling…?' Cell finds himself moving back, ever so slowly. 'This…what the hell is this? Is this…fear? No. It can't be! I am not afraid of this adolescent brat! So why? Why am I moving back so suddenly? Why does it feel like if I got any closer, he would have…'

Something isn't right. His eyes don't leave him. Cell knows Trunks is watching him, silently hoping he will come closer.

Cell lands on the ground. He looks at his hands again. They still tremble. He curses below his breath, trying to stop it.

"You were wise to come back down." Karot says. "I knew you would, anyway. There was no point in chasing you."

"You…!" Cell turns around.

"Afraid, aren't you?" Karot asks. "Seems you're not so much of a dumbass after all."

Anger. It returns at full. Cell screams out in fury, throwing a heavy punch.

But it phases through, and he strikes nothing.

Karot stands behind him. Cell meets his glare once he turns around. Cell charges, but Karot leaps over his head and lands behind him once more.

…

"It's as if they switched roles or something," Tien says.

"That's not the only thing. Did you see that?" Krillin's attention is on Trunks. "Cell was just a leap away from attacking Trunks, and he changed his mind."

"A wise decision." Nappa says.

"Huh?"

"I can't tell you what Seleriak is thinking…but if he made Cell back off without doing anything, I think that warrants a reason to worry. I can't imagine what kind of world he grew up in. Something tells me we are about to find out soon."

Everyone else looks at the teen. He's watching the fight. If he knows he is the center of attention, he doesn't pay it any mind.

Turles is the most concerned of the bunch. He looks at Raditz, and no words need to be exchanged. He already understands.

…

Cell misses again. His next missed attack almost throws him off balance. He anchors his foot on the ground, growling through clenched teeth.

He has had enough.

"Don't think for a second that you are special! I too, can break my own limits!" Cell flares his energy as he begins to power up. His screams increase in volume until his voice begins to strain. The air around him swirls as a nasty whirlwind, sending jets of dirt spewing across the rocky terrain in several directions at once.

Cell's aura glows brighter, blinding and strong, increasing in size until he cannot be seen anymore. He pushes himself further, and another wave breaks free. A powerful gust tears through the audience, almost blowing them away. The ground caves beneath Cell's feet as he sinks deeper into the earth. The earthquake splits cracks through the ground, collapsing boulders and sending fragments flying like bullets.

The crowd can't comprehend what they are sensing. It blows Cell's previous power-ups out of the water.

"Yow! The entire planet feels like it's about to explode!" Krillin shouts.

"You've got to be kidding!" Tien gasps. "He gets stronger even now?!"

"Typical of a Saiyan! Always waiting until the last minute to show off their true power….!" Piccolo grunts. "He can practically kill us in a single blow right now!"

Vegeta is speechless as he stares at the brilliant display. He is almost sweating bullets. If he tried, even at full strength, it would do nothing. Not even a single budge. Not a single scratch. That is what his body is telling him.

The Namekian is right. They are dead if Cell decides to turn towards them. Even with their combined efforts, he would bulldoze through them all.

Soul-crushing pain. It was already devastating before, but now it's developing into despair. It's disintegrating his pride into dust, throwing it into the wind.

Useless isn't the term. His very existence is hopeless now.

Despite it all, Karot stands, unmoving. And high above, Trunks watches from his post. He's not concerned in the slightest.

There is no way…

…

Finally, it is all over. Cell stands at full strength, with power that broke the wall that held him back before. The grin on his face widens as he takes note of the audience's fear. He begins to chuckle, his confidence returning at full. "Before, I believed it would be no fun to go all out. I was lying earlier. The last time I powered up, I was only using 70 percent of my true strength. But thanks to you, I didn't just amp it up to 100. No…I broke those limits just as you have! And now—"

"Is that really it?"

Cell's grin is wiped, replaced with utter shock. Karot is staring at him, wearing a frown full of dissatisfaction.

Everyone else is just as stunned.

"What did you just say?" Cell asks, his disbelief shifting to intense anger. He crouches close to the ground, preparing his launch.

"You're not deaf."

Cell lunges, and the swing of his punch sends a gust tearing through the ground.

Karot blocks the blow with his forearm. A shockwave pulses through the air upon impact, almost ripping eardrums. Cell's arm shakes as he tries to break through the block, but Karot's is completely still.

Cell clenches his teeth and pulls back. He punches with his other arm, and the result is the same. His punches become a blur, and the constant shockwaves send loose gravel flying.

Jumping to one foot, Cell swings his leg. Karot catches his shin before it can make contact with his face. He tries to pull free, but Karot's grip is far too strong.

He's not even trying…!

Cell tries again, jumping back into the air. He is anchored from flying.

Karot draws back his free hand, forming a fist. It makes contact in an instant, just below Cell's ribs. The strong blow booms like a cannon as his shell cracks across his torso.

3) Cell can't scream. His mouth hangs open. He begins to drool. His leg is freed, and he is on the ground. One hand digs into the ground for support as the other clamps around his chest. Cell is on his knees, unable to cough. He sputters. His legs give in. He lies face-first against the ground. Karot steps back, silent.

He gulps in air at last. Cell's coughing is heavy. He pushes himself to his knees again, shaking.

"Get up," Karot demands.

The climb to his feet feels near impossible. Cell's foot slips. He almost falls back to the ground. Once he can stand, standing up straight is out of the question.

His fingers feel the cracks the child left behind. He looks down at his torso. He left a small crater at the point of impact.

Now he's pissed.

Cell vanishes, now at full speed. He appears behind Karot, throwing a punch.

He is struck by a heavy uppercut instead. It slams his jaws shut, splitting his teeth. His entire body is thrown back to the ground. His jaw, crooked and bloody. The air is knocked out of him again. He spits, his blood merged and splattering on the ground. He tries to stand, but he stumbles back to the ground.

'H-how…how did…only two blows…! So why…why am I so…d-damanged…?!'

Not a single peep escapes from anyone. Nappa is the only one who moves, taking a few steps forward as he tries to sort out what he is witnessing.

They are all seeing it, but it's hard to believe.

Cell is standing again. He takes another deep breath, and he pushes the shell back to its normal position. The cracks merge, and everything is repaired. He can breathe normally again.

Karot beckons him forward.

Cell growls. 'What does this child think he is?! He truly believes he has me cornered?! I…I will not be bested! Not by a Saiyan brat! I am the perfect lifeform! I cannot be defeated! He will have to be reminded that his fate is inevitable!'

He fires one blast, then another. Both are dodged with little effort. The third sends dirt into the air. Cell grins as he forms a pair of Destructo Disks that hover above his fingertips. He launches them both, and quickly follows with a storm.

Karot catches them both before redirecting them like blades. They slash and slice through the frenzy, reducing the threat to fluttering specks of light. He sends what he caught flying back at Cell.

Cell is forced to duck. Behind them, the ground is sliced through.

Krillin is stunned. "He just redirected them?!"

"He saw what you did, didn't he?" Yamcha asks. "Redirected it the same way, too."

"Now that you point that out…" Krillin recalls how he turned Cell's Destructo Disk against him. Was the kid watching every single thing they did? He only saw it once, and he still managed to do it flawlessly.

Like father, like son, perhaps.

Karot beckons Cell forward again. He's just standing there, waiting.

"Don't…don't you mock me!" Cell draws his hands back and fires a Double Sunday. Karot swats them both off course, sending them flying in another direction. Angered, Cell fires again, followed by another. The air is screaming with each blast. Small craters are dug all over the ground as their paths continue to be distributed.

Cell fires a Masenko. It too, is swatted aside like an insect. It shoots towards Trunks, flying over his shoulder. Not even the tiniest flinch.

"Alright…you want to play that game, fine! Let's have it then!" Cell throws down his arms, and his aura is swallowed by intense, wild purple energy. He lunges to the skies, flying further and further away.

"Wait a second." Tarble leans forward.

"Is he—" Vegeta stands.

Lifting one foot high and pulling both arms back over his shoulder, Cell rests the back of one hand against the palm of the other. The energy begins to build there, intensifying with every passing second. He hovers a great distance from the surface, but he doesn't care. "Even if you do dodge this, you know what will happen, don't you?! So how about you take it head-on, you little brat?! But just know if you do, even at your level, the damage you still sustain will be too much for you! So try to counter it! You won't be able to stop it regardless, because you won't know which one is coming! That, I can promise you!"

Karot is unphased by his ranting. The distant purple light is nothing more than an angry flicker to him.

He doesn't get into position to block, or to counter.

"Has the kid lost his mind?" Tien asks. "He's just standing there! Did he hear a single word that monster said?!"

Gine is just as confused. "Don't tell me he actually thinks he can take it head on! Even if he does, the radius of that attack might still break through the core!"

"If he can stand firm against the Galick Gun, it won't pierce through so easily," Vegeta says. "He might be waiting for the right moment."

"We don't know if it's the piercing-type!" Tarble snaps at them both. "Which one is he using?!"

"Oh, damn. That's actually a good question." Raditz gasps.

"You can't tell?!" Yamcha asks.

"I can't see, genius!" Tarble shouts.

"O-oh. Right. Uh…Vegeta?"

"Tch. I hate to admit it, but I don't have a damn clue. Cell actually thought this through. Both techniques are built the same way. We won't know until halfway after it's fired…and Cell is counting on that!"

Krillin seems ready to bolt, but there is nowhere to run. "So that's what he meant…! When he said it doesn't matter what Gohan would do! How do you act against something you can't predict?! Two of the three options won't work! The odds aren't looking good!"

"The only way he can stop it is if he knows which type it is…!" Raditz looks at Trunks. "Hey! This would be a perfect time for you to do something! Seleriak!"

But Trunks merely glances at his father before turning his attention back to Cell. He crosses his arms instead, not worried in the slightest.

"What the hell, kid!"

Cell laughs, heading the panic from the ground. "That's right! No matter what you think you know, regardless of how you act, this planet is finished!"

He thrusts both hands forward with a scream, and the blast is fired in a wild, zigzag fashion. It descends towards the ground faster than any previous Galick blast was unleashed. The entire ground is painted purple.

And everything is shaking.

"GOHAAAAAN!" Krillin screams.

As the blast comes closer, the air is being pushed back. The ground around Karot is pulsing. His eyes remain fixed on the blast. In no haste, he lifts a single arm before pushing it out in front of him, and he screams.

Deep purple and crackling with energy. A large energy sphere is formed above his head.

Cell laughs. "That won't work!" He parts his arms out wide, and his blast screams as it splits into two. They both spread out and make a sharp turn around the sphere in an instant.

"IT'S A BURST!" Vegeta and Tarble shout.

Karot's looks between the two blasts flanking him and towards the ground in a massive radius. He spreads out his fingers and throws his hands to the side, and the sphere narrows into a dome that swallows him, taking the blasts head on. It's like thunder, roaring against the surface as it tries to pierce through. Karot plants his feet, feeling the heels digging into the earth as the dome begins to waver.

He thrusts both hands forward. The dome is unleashed in a single pulse, firing back, repelling Cell's attack.

"Wh-what the?!" Cell's eyes widen as he pulls back, and he is swallowed. A massive explosion bursts through the air and rips through the ground as a shockwave. This time, everyone is knocked down. A giant wall of dirt engulfs them, clouding their field of vision.

Seconds pass, and the wasteland is revealed as a massive sand pit. One by one, the spectators pull themselves free, shaking sand from their hair.

"Bleh! I got sand in my mouth!" Kauli spits.

Raditz groans at the sight of his own hair. It would take hours to wash it all off, if he gets lucky enough to see the end of the day. The thought doesn't linger long as he remembers Kakarot. He is on his knees in an instant, searching.

"I got him…" Turles pulls himself out of the pit, with Kakarot slumped over his shoulder. He loses balance and face-plants to the ground.

Gine walks over and helps Turles to sit. She takes Kakarot to her lap. A distant golden glow grabs her focus, along with everyone else's.

Karot remains standing, lowering both hands, staring at the sky.

"What was that…?" Raditz wonders. "Was that my Shining Friday…?"

"...or my Electric Dome…?" Gine can't figure it out either.

Tarble almost can't find his words. His tail is stiff. His face has gone pale. "That…my…my Galick Burst is designed to imitate a single target. So how…how did he react like that? It's not supposed to be countered…!"

"Not only that, he somehow managed to bounce it back…" Vegeta can't fathom it either. "Doesn't make any sense. That shouldn't be possible…"

"Not unless he used Gine's defensive technique. But it was different. I don't know what that was." Nappa frowns. "Whatever he did, it blew Cell's attack out the water."

"Where is that freak anyway…?" Kauli wonders.

Everyone is searching the sky for a sign of him. Broly spots him first, as he points high above his head.

"Oh, shit…!" Kauli gasps.

Everyone else's jaws fall open at the sight high above.

4) Cell is nothing more than a seared and floating torso with a head attached. Every limb had been completely blown off, with the crown of his head gone. Every part of what remains of his form is shaking. Blood is oozing. His eyes are bloodshot with unspeakable fury.

Tien eyes are wide. "He's still alive after all that…? That attack would have ravaged the core of this planet!"

"Maybe if it were the kid's own attack, it would had killed him. All he did was deflect Cell's own, using it against him," Piccolo says.

"That means he doesn't stand a chance if he takes another blast, right?!" Yamcha asks. "That's it! He can finish off Cell here! He's vulnerable right now!"

"That's true!" Raditz realizes. "You hear tha, kid? The tournament is through now! Finish Cell off so we can get out of here!"

Fear floods Cell's face as Karot looks at him straight in the eyes. He begins to tense his body, trying to speed up the healing process. The overwhelming damage is making it far too difficult.

"Judging from the damage that attack dealt on your body…you held back the blast at the last second," Karot says. "And no. I am not giving you credit for staying alive here. You couldn't have possibly predicted that. Your ego wouldn't allow it. You threatened to destroy this planet, but all that blast would have done was damage the core, turning this planet into a ticking time bomb. Even someone who claims to be the embodiment of perfection…is afraid of dying."

"You…you…lie…!" Cell wheezes.

"Deny it if you like. You brought this upon yourself. But this isn't over for you. I know you can still fight. How many times have you healed yourself up? Looks like it's not worn down just yet, so you should be fine."

"How about you don't give him the opportunity him do that?!" Nappa shouts. "Didn't you hear what your uncle said? This is the prime time to finish that bastard off!"

"I'm trying to prove a point here."

"Wha…what point?!"

"He said he's not afraid of dying, right?" Karot's eyes harden. "I would like to have that theory tested."

"No wise person would let someone kill them!" Raditz shouts. "He won't come down until he's healed up! Just disintegrate him already!"

Karot doesn't move.

"Hello?! Didn't you hear me?! I said—"

"Quiet. I'm experimenting here."

"You…!" Raditz doesn't know what else to say. He turns to Nappa, but he can only look back. He looks at Turles, but his brother's attention is not towards his nephew.

There is concern all over Turles' face. Raditz has a feeling. He follows his gaze.

Is Trunks wearing the faintest of smiles? Or is he imagining things?

A strained scream from Cell grabs both of their attention. The bio-Android cries out as a fresh set of limbs sprout out. His wings return last, and the burns all over his body fade within seconds. He makes his slow descent towards the ground, looking at both hands before glaring at the child that put him through so much pain.

"Big mistake…" Cell sneers. "You're forgetting my Saiyan cells. I've only grown that much stronger!"

"Then you should be able to keep up." Karot beckons him again. "Come on.

Cell is hesitant, but the curling finger is turning out to be a huge mockery to him. He springs forward, soaring towards the young fighter. His punches are more powerful as he promised, all in a blur. But this time, Karot is blocking instead of dodging. It only angers him even more.

Shockwave after shockwave booms through the field. Cell throws a punch and pulls back at the last moment, delivering a strong kick instead. It connects under Karot's chin, throwing his head back.

He grins. He laughs. Finally! He—

His foot is being pushed back down. Karot is moving his head back down…overpowering his leg…!

Karot grabs his ankle. He faces the palm of his hand towards him.

A blast pierces through Cell's chest, exploding off his back. The impact knocks the bio-Android off his feet and to the ground, gasping.

Karot stares him down, lowering his hand.

The hole in Cell's chest is beginning to close up. He's back on his feet, but this time, he takes a step back. No matter what he does, the kid throws it back right at him.

He can't think of a solution…!

"My dad…before you killed him, you remember what he said to Trunks and I, right?"

"I…" Cell does remember. It's not like he didn't overhear it.

"If one of us kills you…we won't have to fight anymore." Karot says. "Somehow, it looks so easy to do now. You can't touch me, Cell. And now you are shaking, because you know that I have the power to obliterate you. This fight…it's completely one-sided. It's pointless. Funny though. Despite all the pain you've put us through, and how finished you seem to be, I have no desire to kill you."

Upon hearing those words, Cell's face twists. But the twinge of fear does not go away. Now, he is uncertain, trying to make sense of why he is being told this.

To answer his question, Karot takes a step aside. "But, he does."

Cell is alarmed now. He looks up towards the cliffside.

Trunks' eyes are crushing Cell's weight to the ground. The entire time, he was watching, waiting…and now…

He steps off the edge of the cliff, dropping to the ground. His landing is heavy, kicking dirt into the air in a thick cloud.

He steps out, his golden aura flowing strong. The small bolts of lightning jump and snake around his body, growing more intense on the occasion. With every step forward, Cell has to fight the urge to step back.

He felt it again. It was suffocating.

Trunks stops, just a few yards away. He's just standing there…was he waiting? He wasn't making any calls for Cell to make his move, not like what Karot was doing.

But that doesn't matter. Regardless if Trunks challenges him to step forward or not, Cell won't move. Not because it feels like a trap, but because his body won't move forward, even if he wanted it to. The only direction it would go, is back.

It's a sickening feeling. Why? Why won't his body listen to him? He can feel it even now, how his foot takes the tiniest step back.

"He was right." Trunks takes another step forward. Cell steps back. "Teacher…Teacher was right about a lot of things. Why did it take me until now to realize it? Ever since the possibility crossed my mind, I've been too afraid to accept it. Idiotic. But now, it doesn't bother me anymore Cell. You can't avoid the truth, after all. That's why…you are trembling like leaf, isn't it? You know exactly what I am referring to, don't you?"

He can't speak. If Trunks is as strong as his cousin, then what can he do?! Just what can he do?! But, it's not his power that has Cell spooked. No…it's something far worse. Far more sinister. Everyone can feel it.

"No amount of words will describe just how much I hate you."

The loathing in Trunks' voice, is nothing anyone ever heard in anyone's tone before. Ever since he transformed….

"At first, I thought I hated Teacher for all he did. But then, I believed I truly hated myself for being such a failure in every possible way. But you…you? Hah…you've taught me what that feeling really is. I don't just want you to die, Cell. All of these…ugly and horrendous thoughts, they kept crawling through my skull. Every single time I look at you…"

Cell leaps back and fires a Special Beam Cannon. Trunks swats it aside. It explodes in the distance, to Cell's disbelief.

"Do you know what Teacher would always said? He said I should stop letting my Human emotions get in the way. They are holding my back from what I am truly capable of doing. Before…I was so scared of the idea but. Now…nothing scares me anymore."

Cell takes a step back.

"I'll never be accepted as a Human anyway…so what's the damn point? Even if I do return home, there is no one waiting for me. I'm unwanted there. So…why am I wasting my time? What am I suppressing all of these horrible thoughts for…? For the sake of everyone here watching me? Such consideration…such compassion is what held me back… It would be so much easier…to let go of it all…"

Trunks pauses. Normally, he would be fearful of the idea. The regret…the things he would do. But…

No. Tarble told him to stop being afraid. Turles told him to stop restraining it. Vegeta told him to stop crying. Kakarot told him if he did all of that, he wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

Let everything go…because it's in the way.

His Teacher truly was right…

"Compassion really is…a weakness…"

5) "Seleriak…?!" Gine gasps.

Cell's face begins to lose its color. Without thinking, he fires a frenzy of blasts right at him. To his horror, all they do is bounce off, as if his aura is a shield.

Ineffective! That can't be right—

Trunks slams the palm of his hand against Cell's chest. A blast pierces straight through Cell's back. The bio-Android can't even scream as he spits out blood instead. He falls, sitting on the ground. His shaking hands hovering over the wound.

Trunks turns his hand around, lowering it for a glance at the palm. It's still stained from the Cell Jr he killed. Any other time, he would be disgusted. But at this moment, there is only indifference. An extermination that had to be done.

It's almost too bad Cell was already getting back up.

"Healing already…? Looks like you're adapting fast." Trunks says. He steps back, watching as Cell's gruesome wound begins to seal. "Right. Right. There's a limit to how much you can heal. We didn't break it yet, did we? So now the question is; How many times will I have to kill you until you stay down?"

Cell is familiar with this scenario.

He refuses to go through the same endless waves of pain that Chille has to endure! He had seen everything through his programming!

He won't give another Saiyan that kind of satisfaction!

He decides to attack that wall, no matter how suffocating it is. He is positive that there is a way to shatter it.

So he finally throws his punch.

It's caught. Trunks twists his arm around, snapping the shoulder. Cell's scream is muffled as a hand clamps around his mouth. Streaks of light leaks from the corners.

A blast shreds through his skull, engulfing it in an instant. His headless body falls limp. Seconds pass. The neck is already bulging, and it spits out a new head. Cell wheezes on the ground. He looks back. Trunks is still there.

"Still fully functional, huh?" Trunks lifts his foot and kicks Cell back to the ground. He fires a massive blast at point-blank range. Cell vanishes within the light of it.

The blast dies. Cell is on his knees, gasping as the massive hole through his chest begins to close up. Through all his agony, he sends the teen a heated glare.

'Why does he keep letting me heal back up? It would be much easier to attack me in an endless frenzy…!'

As his wings grow back, a realization dawns on him.

Trunks isn't looking at him. He's watching his wings.

The wings are always the first to stop regenerating.

'He figured it out…!'

Cell springs to his feet, spreading his wings as he kicks himself back.

'I need time to think of a strategy—a way to get away from him before he kills me for good!'

Cell's eyes focus on one thing.

He only has one sho—

Trunks appears in front of him in a flash, pulling back a balling fist.

Cell's body is lifted from the ground as the air gets shoved out his lungs.

His mouth hangs open. He can't speak. His hands clamp the arm of the first that has buried deep into his stomach. He coughs out a mouthful of blood, trembling with unspeakable pain. Warm liquid is drizzling on his hands. It's a heavy and endless leak. Cell's heart begins to sink upon realization that Trunks had broken through the shell like it was nothing. Blood is trickling down the teen's arm.

Meeting his gaze, Cell is hit with a grave sense of dread.

…

Gine shakes her head, holding back her tears.

"Why are you crying?" Vegeta asks. From his tone, he's annoyed by it.

"He didn't want to do any of this…" Gine whispers.

"He made his decision. There is nothing you can do," Vegeta said.

Gine looks at her hands. "I held him. He was shaking. He was traumatized. He just wanted to sleep."

Vegeta scowls, but Nappa places a hand on his chest before he can say anything.

"Is this…what you were talking about, Turles?" Nappa asks, curious.

"The pressure…yeah. This is exactly it," Turles says. "He was capable of this the entire time…and finally we are seeing just the sort of thing he's been running from. The very person his teacher wanted him to be."

…

Trunks yanks his hand free, unbothered by the purple mess that coats it all the way down to his elbow. Cell is on the ground, bleeding out. He can hardly move.

Trunks watches as Cell's body begins to repair itself. He looks at his petrified face. "Yeah. That's right. I figured it out."

He slams his foot down on Cell's arm. The snap followed by a scream floods the air.

"Seleriak! What are you doing?!" Tarble cries out. "Stop letting him regenerate! If you destroy his entire body, he shouldn't be able to come back!"

"I understand what you are saying, but what I don't understand is why." Trunks asks, looking at the prince with a bone-chilling glare. "What would be the point? His regeneration goes beyond anything we've ever seen before. I won't deny it. He is the ultimate lifeform. For as long as any part of his body survives, he'll only come back. Even if I do destroy him as you said…what about his blood that's on the ground? On you? Would it really make a difference? I don't think I have to explain my process to you, do I?"

Cell screams as he tries to attack. Without acknowledging him, Trunks grabs him by the head, crushing the skull like a melon and throwing him through the ground.

Upon hearing the gruesome sound, Tarble gives his response. "Wearing him down. Yes, I am aware! But if he shares the same weakness as Chille, then killing him repeatedly won't be necessary! I'm aware he's an insect! He likely lacks a brain and a heart, but you've seen what fire can do to him! Just burn him! You're more than capable! Your anger is justified. I understand. But this is unnecessary! We can move on. We've won! We can—"

"I'm sorry? We? Since when did you actually put forth effort into doing anything?" Trunks asks him. "The last time I checked, you and Vegeta were scrambling like flies trying to fight this damn insect. Ironic, isn't it? In fact, none of you were able to bring down Cell like this. Sure, you had a few good punches, but it was nothing like this at all. Besides, fire? He doesn't deserve fire. He knows exactly what he's getting out of me."

Cell is healed and back on his feet. Trunks fires a blast that shoots through his neck. The bio-Android sputters out blood, grabbing his neck.

"Killing him with fire is a sentence he doesn't deserve. You don't give a kidnapper a slap on the wrist. You don't give a murderer a night to think over their actions. And you certainly don't give a serial killer a couple years of jail time. It's a great insult to all the lives he's killed, and the families he has forever torn apart. To let him have it easy…just isn't justice."

Tarble opens his mouth to speak, but what can he say? Trunks isn't ranting out of blind anger, not like he did before. His eyes are full of indescribable rage, but they are still blue. Not a single strand of fur on his tail is standing.

Those words are coming from someone who is thinking clearly. Someone who sees every single word as true.

"He's going to die a hundred more times, and I'm going to make sure he feels each and every single death," Trunks continues. "So why worry? It's not like I'm playing with my food, not like what Kakarot or Vegeta would have done. I'm well aware he grows stronger each time he heals, but his power still can't reach me, no matter how many times he is revived. He's beginning to realize that, so see it as me giving him a proper punishment. In the end, he still dies anyway."

His tail whips to one side, almost as if the sentence excited him.

"And…Teacher would be so proud…to see me dealing with a threat like this properly."

Tarble doesn't want to believe what he just heard.

Trunks looks back at Cell, watching as the wound heals back up. "And you. Weren't you the one who told me that my Human-half is pathetic? You were the one who wanted to see this. Now that you got what you wanted, you're well aware that you bit off way more than you can chew. Typical of an arrogant moron."

Cell clenches his teeth, glaring at the furry limb that taunts him. "The real arrogant one…is you!"

Cell leaps forward.

His hand clamps around Trunks' tail.

Trunks freezes in an instant, his face shifting to shock.

"Hahaha…I got you…!" Cell grins. "You can be as strong as you like, but once your tail is broken, you won't be able to do as much as move a finger!"

He squeezes with all his might, shifting the bones beneath his fingers. He twists his hand in a quick motion, and the tail snaps. The scream escaping Trunks' mouth echoes for all to hear.

"That idiot! He let his guard down!" Vegeta shouts.

"Oh, no!" Kauli gasps. "Trunks!"

Karot leaps over in a hurry, but he slows down to a complete stop. The screaming is shifting.

Shifting into the faintest laugh.

Cell's smile vanishes as he sees a grin forming on Trunks' face.

"Gotcha."

Cell doesn't register it at first. "Wha—"

Trunks slams his fists at the sides of Cell's head. Something cracks. Cell screams and grabs his skull. Trunks kicks his chest to force him to stagger. He snatches one of his arms and twists it around with a loud snap. He tears his arm clean from the shoulder.

Cell falls on the ground. Trunks tosses the arm, chuckling through his own pain.

"Seleriak…" Alarm is in Raditz's voice.

Trunks stumbles. It's clear that his body wants to give up. His legs are shaking, weak and strained. Trunks holds his breath for a second, releasing it through a pained hiss. His trembling hand reaches for his broken tail. His fingers curl around the base, tightening.

"You actually thought…that would do something. Sorry to disappoint you, but I've had my tail snapped in half so many times…as punishment for my constant defiance! Something Teacher loved to inflict on me ever since I was a little—kiiiIIII-IIIIIID…!"

Trunks begins to pull, screaming towards the sky as every fiber within begins to tear. A final pull, and the tail is ripped out, to everyone's shock. He holds it high for Cell to see. His grin widens at the look on Cell's face.

Cell is at a loss for words.

Everyone is. Several eyes are fixed on the dangling tail. The chuckling they are hearing turns into a strained laugh.

The corners of his eyes hold back tears as he speaks. "But don't worry… This thing will always be a vermin that keeps coming back…!"

"Seleriak…" Tarble feels himself sinking.

This isn't right.

His future counterpart…just what kind of pain did he put him through to think that is normal…?

"He…he's insane! He just ripped out his own tail!" Krillin shouts.

"No…no, it makes perfect sense. A Saiyan with a broken tail is practically useless. He didn't have any other option," Nappa says.

Turles frowns. "It's not the first time he's done it either…but I still can't fathom how anyone can willingly do that to themselves…"

Everyone looks at Turles now. "Wait. You're telling me he did this before?!" Vegeta asks.

"A few times when he was growing up. He told me he hated being a Saiyan," Turles says. "I didn't want to believe it…but then he did it right before my eyes when we were training, all because it got in the way."

"You…that's insane." Raditz looks back at his son, seeing him tossing the tail aside. "I know our tails can grow back, but it requires certain circumstances for that to happen. Usually when our lives are in grave danger…"

His voice trails off.

"Now you get it," Turles says. "Exactly why I'm worried sick right about now. The kid isn't fully grown yet. Saiyans usually lose their tails once or twice in their lifetimes. He lost his more times than you can count on both hands."

"And it grew back each time…" Raditz whispers. His heart is sinking. "Seleriak…what kind of hellhole did you grow up in…?"

Tarble is petrified. Everything he felt, everything he heard…the things Trunks said…he doesn't want to believe it. That horrible desperation on Trunks' voice…he didn't want to do this. He never did.

He's breaking down before them.

"What…what kind of monster was I…?" Tarble whispers.

Cell's frantic thoughts nearly drown out his surroundings. 'This goes against everything I learned from the programming! A Saiyan treasures their tail too much to discard it so carelessly! But this freak just ripped it off like it was nothing! Doesn't that stunt their power, or something?!'

"Finally…I don't need this thing anymore…" Trunks rips the Oozaru chain from his neck. The pieces rain on the ground. The pendant falls flat between his feet. He kicks it aside, stepping towards Cell. "I don't think you understand it…just how much of a burden it is to be a Saiyan. Gaaah. This side effect is so damn annoyiiiiing…but for once…I can put it into good use…"

'What's going on…? Why isn't he getting weaker?!' Cell crawls backwards with his one hand. It's like the dangerous pressure doubled. 'Does the tail drawback only apply to pure-blooded Saiyans?!'

He caught a glimpse of his eyes, and he thought he saw it flash red for a second.

"Right after a Saiyan loses their tail…their aggression levels spike tremendously…as a last resort for self-preservation…"

Cell knows.

It happened with Kakarot. When Chille ripped it off.

"I have to reign it in to not let it consume me…otherwise, I would only make a mess of things instead of doing what needs to be done…"

Trunks leaps and kicks down Cell with both feet, standing atop his chest. He crouches down, looking at him. His eyes are having a war, shifting between red and blue. He squeezes them tight, tilting his head back.

"Stop it…and let me finish what I came here to do!"

Purple and pink static builds on the palms of both hands, forming into a pair of massive, crackling spheres. Illuminated by its light, a dark, sickening snarl is work on Trunks' face. He draws both arms back as the spheres rotate faster.

'I…I have to get out of this!' Cell panics. 'But my body…! Won't…!'

Red, piercing eyes. Jaws snap open with a low and guttural growl.

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

Trunks thrusts both hands down with a savage scream. His fists pierce through, and he lifts Cell from the ground. The spheres scream as Trunks begins to pull his arms apart.

Kauli and Gine cover their mouths as the bio-Android tears in half. The Weekend is unleashed, burning through Cell's body, swallowing the halves within. As it fades and weakens, all that remains is an arm and a leg Trunks holds in each hand. He stands, hunched and winded, his body splattered with blood. The red color of his eyes begin to fade.

'I…I can't believe it…' Vegeta's mouth hangs open. 'I didn't think the kid actually had it in him to do that …!'

Karot stands by, still cloaked by his golden aura. He almost shares Vegeta's thoughts, but he comes to his own conclusion.

It had to be done. There is no point in fretting over how it is done. Dead is dead.

Trunks speaks up, his voice in a rasp. "That's…that's seven. Seven times you've died… Hurry up and regenerate yourself…let's make it eight… I can do this all day if I have to!"

Several seconds pass, and there isn't a single sign of Cell. Trunks frowns, looking at what remains of him.

"Has his regeneration finally slowed down?" Gine asks, her voice wavering. "I really hope that finished him…"

Piccolo is a bit shaken by what he just witnessed. "I don't sense his energy anywhere…"

"If he's lying dormant, then trying to sense his energy is impossible. It's just a merge of our own," Nappa says.

Raditz sniffs the air. "It's…hard to tell at all. Tarble, can you sniff him out?"

"The scent of his blood is scattered everywhere. I can't give you a clear answer," Tarble answers. "Seleriak really did make a mess of him."

"You would think future you would teach him how to kill cleaner," Vegeta scoffs.

"You're forgetting that future me was influenced by that cursed demon who took pleasure in painting the ground with blood. It wouldn't surprise me if that was how Seleriak was taught to fight."

With that realization, Vegeta looks back at Trunks, who throws aside Cell's arm out of frustration.

"Where are you hiding?!" Trunks shouts. He turns around, glaring towards the sky. "You can't stay dead forever!"

Raditz isn't liking what he is seeing. He feels dread creeping in.

"What's taking Cell so long to pop up?" Krillin wonders. "You don't think he ran away, do you?"

"That could be a possibility…there's no way he can win this fight," Yamcha says.

Trunks stomps through the ground, wearing a snarl. "I know that didn't kill you! Come back out, you bastard! THIS ISN'T OVER!"

Silence lingers. Eyes search. But Cell is nowhere to be seen.

Tarble turns with a quick step. "He's underground!"

"Again?!" Raditz looks beneath his feet.

"Where below?!" Gine shouts.

Tarble holds out his hands for silence. He is completely still.

"Seleriak!"

The ground bursts behind Trunks. Cell rockets out, his body twice its normal mass. His power is massive.

"DAAAAAMN YOOOOOU!" Cell throws his fist down towards Trunks head.

But it's Cell who is struck with a heavy blow instead—an elbow strike that pushes his stomach to his back. The air is forced out his body as he coughs out a mouthful of saliva. Another blow against his temple breaks through the shell.

Karot leaps back as Cell drops to his knees. No matter how many times Cell tries to stand, he is back on the ground, drooling, and in a world of pain. His mouth quivers as he tries to speak, but his words are caught in his throat. He slaps his hands over his mouth as his chest begins to swell.

Unsure of the situation, Karot and Trunks take cautious steps back as Cell hunches over. His body shakes as he heaves. He tries to resist, but he heaves again. The third time, bile is forced out, making several heads turn away.

Karot almost leaps back as an entire body hits the ground.

Cell's heavy breathing becomes hitched the second his eyes fall on the motionless body slumped below.

"Well, I'll be damned…" Raditz mutters. Turles' face has gone pale. Gine rushes over to catch him before he can faint again.

"It's…Android 17…!" Nappa's shouts.

"I…I beg your pardon?" Tarble blinks a few times, almost as if he's trying to see for himself, despite how impossible it is. "You're telling me that's what he regurgitated? Just now?"

"He can do that?!" Kauli asks. "But how is that possible?! A whole Android? After being blasted time after time throughout this tournament?! He should be dead!"

"I don't know. He looks kinda dead to me," Yamcha says.

"I'm not talking about that kinda dead! I mean he should be in pieces! How the hell is he still together?!"

"Perhaps it's the way he was absorbed," Tarble says. "I doubt you can fit two Androids in a vessel as small as Cell. My only conclusion is that…the process got reversed somehow."

"Reversed…?" Kauli is repulsed. "He absorbed him through his tail!"

Looking at 17, Trunks can tell that he's not moving at all. It's Impossible to tell if he's alive. He never had an energy signal to rely on. But to see him like this is surreal. Throughout his entire life, he was being tormented by him and his twin sister. It feels like a twisted dream. Appearing lifeless in such a disgusting state.

But finally…

Trunks faces the palm of his hand towards the Android, gathering energy within seconds. Behind him, he can hear Cell making his move back towards him.

"No…!" Cell gasps. "Don't you DA—"

Karot sprints and leaps. He throws a kick under Cell's chin, sending him flying back. He lands next to Trunks, but he doesn't make a move to attack again. It's easy to understand why.

Steam is rising from Cell's body, spreading out until it cloaks him whole. He is howling on his hands and knees. Strong pulses of energy leaks from his body. But with every single pulse, it feels weaker than the last.

Trunks lowers his hand, intrigued by what he is seeing.

Cell's colors are changing.

Every trait of his perfect form is fading. The green and orange of his previous form begins to surface. The shape of his body…

"He…he reverted back…!" Krillin gasps.

Cell gasps as his tail shoots out. He caught the blur of it from the corner of his eye. He looks to his side, seeing the limb exposed once again. He lifts his hands from the ground, seeing that they are green again. It's as if he forgot about the pain as he stands, looking at his body.

"No…! This…this can't be happening…!"

His voice has deepened back to its guttural state. He covers his mouth, repulsed by the sound of it.

Trunks takes a moment to take in the current shift of things. The corners of his lips twitch. "Deny it if you want. It doesn't make much of a difference to me."

Cell turns to face him, fear clear on his face.

"You standing here in your semi-perfect form tells me that you're no longer a nuisance to kill."

Cell moves back, trying to distance himself as Trunks begins to make his way over.

"When a Human is at the face of Death, they cower and scream, crying and begging for their lives. But, when a Saiyan is at the face of death, they usually face it with a maddening grin, stupid and foolish bravery. So then, Cell…tell me. Which trait will you show me? If I were you, I wouldn't try to present myself as a sniveling coward in my final moments. It's not exactly an ideal way to leave this world."

Cell realizes he is being mocked. Using his own words against him…!

'This can't be…! I had everything I wanted! Everything…! And these Saiyan spawns stole them from me…! My perfect body…! Tarnished and ruined…!'

Trunks plants the palm of his hand against Cell's chest.

Cell gasps.

A blast tears through his core. He is sent flying back, bleeding out and hitting the ground. He lies there, his mouth gaping. The wound is closing, but not as fast as he would like.

A bright light swallows him. Another blast.

Cell's healing body collapses on the ground. To his horror, his wings don't fully come back. It's small. Easy to miss. Only the tip of them are missing, charred and fractured. But that's the only sign Cell needs.

That's the only sign Trunks needs.

He is on his feet again, almost petrified.

'No, nononono….how is this the same brat I've killed before?! It doesn't make any sense…! This power exploded out of nowhere, and now he's going to…! Monsters…both of them…!' He glares at Karot, whose been watching silently the entire time. 'These Saiyan spawns are abominations that plague everything I've ever worked for…! And they are going to kill me for good?! I won't allow it! I WON'T ALLOW IT!'

Cell is screaming.

His energy explodes, ravaging the ground around his feet.

Trunks vanishes and reappears right above Cell. He kicks him across the head, splitting the shell and sending fragments flying. An uppercut shatters his jaw, sending him crashing on his back. Trunks makes a brutal landing—slamming both feet through Cell's stomach. The booming impact sends a destructive wave through the ground. Cell is buried in a crater, with his torso flatted like a bloody pancake.

Trunks leaps back and lands, leaving the Android withering in agony. He allows him to crawl out, and does nothing as he collapses on the ground. He looks down at him, his lips forming a faint smile.

Cell is heaving again, salivating. He is on one knee, clamping a hand over his mouth as he tries to hold everything down.

Again. He's unable to contain it again. Turles is covering his ears and turning away the second he sees a glimpse of it.

"Ain't no way…" Kauli gasps.

On the ground…

"The other Android…" Nappa narrows his eyes.

Android 18 is in no better shape compared to her brother. In fact, if he is still alive somehow, she looks a lot more dead. But it doesn't matter. Her being outside of Cell's body was all that was needed.

"Now I see," Raditz says. "The effect has to be the same. He did that on purpose!"

Cell reaches out a single hand towards her, but he's body gives up, cloaked in steam again. Once again, he's losing more of his modified features.

He's back to his imperfect form. On the ground, devastation and dread floods his face. He continues to cough and wheeze, only stopping as he hears approaching footfalls.

"Look at your face. So ugly. Must be a shame," Trunks snickers, facing the palm of his hand towards him. "Poetic, even. Because if I remember right…this is how you looked when you killed me."

The glow is enough to send Cell's fears through the roof. The demonic Saiyan, almost painted in his blood, staring him down with that cold-blooded gaze.

'I can't…I can't keep dying…! Not like this…! I need them back!'

His slit eyes fill with rage.

"Give them BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"

His screech tears through the air and his surroundings, blowing Trunks away. Cell is on his feet, screaming towards the sky. The earth is shaking as his flaring energy doubles in size.

Every person is covering their ears as their whirlwind blows past. But it's Tarble who is brought down to his knees as his nails dig into his skull.

"Not…again…!" Tarble screams.

Cell's tail slams through the ground with a loud, reverberating boom. He takes a deep breath before he begins to bellow. One step forward, and his foot sinks into the earth. His entire body mass is expanding.

Trunks moves forward, but the howling tearing through his eardrums are making it hard to move as he would like. He fights the urge to stay on the ground. But he knows his mind isn't playing tricks on him.

It keeps getting louder.

And deeper.

Trunks stops. He and Karot tilt their heads back as a growing shadow cloak over their bodies. Their eyes are fixed on the raging insect that rapidly grows in size. His limbs are twisting, and a second pair of arms shot out from his back. His abdomen is swelling as the wings grow in length, buzzing a horrible sound. His lengthening beak splits into two, like a pair of mandibles. His screech is no sound any pair of ears ever heard before.

"What the hell IS that?!" Kauli shrieks.

Raising a single first, Cell throws it towards the young fighters. Trunks and Karot leap away in the nick of time. The ground caves and shatters under the weight of the impact.

Cell pursues them both, swinging and swatting at them both. Each swing is faster than the last. Trunks is nearly blown from the sky as the air from the next swing pushes him back.

"He doesn't have the Androids anymore, so how is he doing that?!" Krillin shouts.

"I think I have an idea…" Piccolo is disturbed. "Although I can't pin down if this is Namekian or Saiyan DNA doing the work here…"

"Does it matter?! He's changed!" Raditz shouts. "We have to do something!"

Turles is speechless. His face has gone blue.

"Bah! Everyone except Turles! We have to go!" Raditz lunges from the ground, but a stray blast makes him pull back.

Karot lowers his hand. "This isn't your fight. Stay out of our way."

"What?!" Raditz shouts. "Have you lost your mind?! Do you not see that thing?!"

"All he did was make himself a bigger target. Easier to hit, really." Trunks says. "If you get in the way, all you are going to do is wound up killed."

"I don't think you understand the weight of the situation here—"

"That wasn't a request." Trunks' piercing eyes makes Raditz's body freeze up.

He decides to stand down.

Trunks and Karot prepare as the giant stomps closer. They both launch themselves forward, working together to strike a kick across the beast's face.

Cell is slung to the ground, churning the earth as he skids across.

Karot huffs. He was expecting better.

The giant climbs to his feet, and he charges again. He is sent back into a stagger this time. Another blow breaks through the shell. He bellows in pain, but it's short-lived as Trunks dives and slices his neck open with a quick chop. The giant falls to the ground, choking.

Trunks flicks his bloody hand. A twisted smile.

"You only made yourself far too easy to kill, you idiot."

The giant is back to his feet, and he's instantly thrashed by the two young warriors. He grows more angry, more frustrated with every blow, every death. Finally, Cell has enough. His mandibles open as it glows from the inside.

Trunks rockets down and kicks both feet against the top of his head. Karot strikes his lower jaw. Cell's jaws slams shut with a loud clamp, and raw energy rips from the corners, along with smoke and blood. Cell's scream is muffled as he staggers back. The two warriors leave him there to bellow. His mouth is bleeding, and the mandibles are cracked.

Enraged and wounded, Cell continues to swat at them. With every miss, he is punished with a streak of gold striking him across his body. He is knocked back. His chest plate is cracked. He is nearly knocked from his feet. A gut punch from Karot sends him to a stagger.

One of his arms is blasted from the middle. Karot lands on his shoulder, firing a blast that raptures his left eye.

Cell snarls and lunges at Karot, but he's sent back by an uppercut instead.

Karot lands on his mandibles, unphased by the glare. "I almost feel sorry for you. You've grown so desperate, that you transformed yourself into this hideous thing just for the slightest chance. Maybe it would have worked, if you were in your perfect form."

A single hand faces his head.

Cell's jaws snap open. An ear-splitting screech ripples the air, flying past Karot's entire body, ripping through his ears. Karot's mouth is wide open, his screen inaudible, as he loses balance and falls back.

The giant snatches him from the air, squeezing him in a single fist.

Karot's energy bursts. Cell's fist explodes into pieces. The giant screams as Karot flies free. He turns to face him, preparing a blast.

Cell's entire body jerks back, churning dirt beneath his feet. Confused, he tries to take a step forward, but he is restrained. He's pulled back again.

He looks back. His feet slips underneath him, and he falls towards the ground. He hangs a foot above the surface, then higher—he's being lifted higher…!

Trunks ascends higher towards the sky, holding on to the monster's tail. He turns his body, swinging his arm in a wide motion. Cell begins to move against his will. Trunks' momentum builds as he spins in one spot. Cell is slung around in a circle, building speed until the air around them.

"You're forgetting one thing!" Trunks shouts over the monster's howling. "I've used to fighting giants like you! This is nnnnNOTHIIIIIIIING!"

At the last word, he shifts direction, hauling the monster over his head in a gigantic arch. Using the motion with the added gravity, he slings Cell towards the ground.

It's like a bomb went off. Chunks of earth rockets from the surface. Ripples of air shoot towards the sky, and debris is carried with it.

Hovering high above, Trunks doesn't do as much as blink as a rock bounces off his shoulder. Instead, plastered all over his face was a satisfied, but twisted expression. He relaxes his arms, steadily lowering himself towards the ground. His boots click on the surface. His aura continues to flare strong.

Climbing out of the deep crevice, Cell's cracked body no longer fuses. His face is tattered and torn, bleeding purple and leaking. It repairs itself slowly, as his cells only focus on repairing what is mandatory.

"So, that's your limit…" Trunks turns his body, cupping his hands towards his flank. Light-blue energy begins to gather and condense into a spinning sphere. A whirling hum intensifies as it grows in size, pressing against his fingers. "In such a pathetic and ugly state too. That's perfect…"

Cell's eyes fall on the young Saiyans. As he fears, Karot lands by his cousin's side, getting into the same stance, building the same energy. Their forms, illuminated blue and gold as their cold gazes fall to Cell.

The beast who doesn't know when to stay down.

Recognizing the glow, feeling the intensity of its focused power, Cell clenches both fists, sweating bullets.

Death…

He's staring right at his demise.

But it's not death alone that scares him. No…

Those kids and their twisted faces…no, they are not children. Cell already determined that.

Those monsters…especially Trunks.

That demonic…spawn of a…

He's grinning. He's grinning! He knows Cell can't heal fast enough to escape…! His legs are still shattered…! He just needs more time…!

And he keeps…!

"TRUNKS! SNAP OUT OF IT!"

Raditz.

The Saiyan is furthest from the crowd. He must have ran ahead, but realized he wouldn't reach his son on time.

For the Saiyan to scream his son's Human name is alien to hear from his mouth. But, it did the trick. Trunks looks back, staring right at his father. It took every ounce of effort for Raditz not to back down from those eyes alone.

"S-son…I need you to listen to me…" Raditz says. Behind him, Turles and Nappa walk up, just as concerned. "You can't kill him, not like that."

"What?" Trunks growls.

"Your rage doesn't yield, I get it. But watching you this entire time, I tried to brush it off as me being skeptical. But the longer it went on, the more it became clear you were slowly beginning to take joy in what you are doing. To kill him like this is wrong. You need to calm down."

Wrong?

Him? Calm down…?

"Since when do you get to decide…what is right or wrong…?" Trunks asks, almost laughing at the irony. "Coming from a Saiyan who has committed countless acts of genocide…who do you think you are…?"

"I understand that, but I need you to listen. Just listen to me!"

"I'm wasting my time talking to you." Trunks turns his attention back to Cell, who has healed both of his arms. He was crawling, dragging his feet, but he freezes again. "See, look. He's already halfway back to normal. Let me finish the job I came here to do."

"Not with your face looking like that, son!" Raditz shouts. "I can tell that Kamehameha isn't at its strongest! You're holding it back, just enough so it would kill him, but not in an instant! You're planning to make his final moments nothing but agony so that you can hear him screaming! And that…this isn't like you!"

"You are wasting my time…!" Trunks pulls his arms back further, but one of his arms is grabbed. He snarls towards Turles. The Saiyan is spooked, but he doesn't move.

Turles realizes he can't get through to him. Trying to reason with someone who just became a Super Saiyan is hard enough. But someone on a level like Trunks…?

He can't just back down now.

"Raditz is right. There will be no recovering from this if you proceed," Turles says. "You were so reluctant on killing…or did you forget? It seems that the moment you realized just how easy it was…you started to have a little too much fun."

"Those Androids…put us through so much pain. So why should I make anything easier for them—"

"You're being consumed by bloodlust, and that is not a good look on you." Turles narrows his eyes.

A growl rises from Trunks' chest. The accusation seems to strike a nerve. If he still had his tail, it would be lashing without a doubt.

"He's not wrong," Nappa says. "That kind of thing will eat you alive. Take pleasure in killing your enemy like that, and it will become the only thing you will seek in every future battle. But that's just the beginning. Soon, you'll find the killing growing too stale. So you start to get creative with how you kill your enemies. Then, that gets too stale. That's when you begin to kill them slowly, making them plead and beg for the sweet relief of death that you will begin to deny them. That's how the torture starts…and you are raising a lot of red flags here, kid. Maybe your Teacher would have wanted this, but what about your mentor?"

Trunks' snarl shrinks. He gives Nappa a puzzled look.

Karot of the future…he always hated the way Tarble handled things…always said it was unnecessary. But Tarble…Tarble always had his fun in the end.

His twisted fun…it always ended with somebody screaming…

Sinking. It floods Trunks' stomach as he lowers his arms. Was he actually about to do it…? What did his face look like?

Was it the same twisted look Kakarot wore? Yamcha? Gine….?

Was the demon trying to cloud his heart just now…?

"Seems I've finally broken through that cloud of yours," Turles says, patting Trunks' back. "He's nearly back to his feet. So finish him off, and do it properly this time."

They step back. Trunks turns his attention back to Cell. His lips part into a snarl again, but for an entirely different reason.

"You almost had me, you wretched beast."

He parts his hands further. His Kamehameha doubles in size. His eyes, cold and focused.

"Come on, Gohan! Full power now!" Trunks shouts.

"Right!" Karot seems relieved.

Cell can sense it.

That is more than enough to kill him….!

Another horrific screech. Cell's eyes are overtaken with a red glow. His entire body begins to swell as his aura triples in size. The strong wave of power is almost overwhelming, taking the young fighters' breaths away.

And it keeps rising.

Nappa can sense the intensity. It's not normal. Nothing he ever felt had ever rapidly climbed before. It's still weaker compared to the young fighters, but at the rate it's going…!

"Damn! We were a second too late! He's combining Saiyan primal strength with a Super Saiyan might!" Nappa shouts.

"So he can't control it. All he's doing is hurting himself," Trunks frowns.

"That's exactly the problem! His body can't contain itself! That much power unchecked is going to destroy the entire planet!" Nappa shouts.

"You're telling me he's a planetary bomb?!" Yamcha panics.

"That's fine!" Karot spreads out his hands further. The sphere of energy grows large. "I'll just blast him down before he blows up!"

"No! If that energy pierces his body, it will destabilize him and trigger the explosion! He needs to be completely vaporized!" Nappa screams. "That blast is too small!"

"Can't it get any bigger?!" Gine shouts.

"The Kamehameha Wave isn't meant to be something that spreads out!" Yamcha shouts. "It's always condensed into a single blast! No one has ever tried to alter it before!"

Karot's face floods with fear. "Oh, no."

Trunks grits his teeth, realizing the weight of the situation. He parts his hands, and the charging Kamehameha dies, replaced with building pink bolts that form around each palm. They double in size, bigger than his head. But looking at them both, it's not enough. He runs through every technique in his head.

None are big enough to swallow Cell whole! Nothing but…!

"What about the Spirit Bomb?!" Trunks calls back. "Can't you just make another one of those?!"

"I don't think I can make a giant one faster than he will be able to blow up!" Krillin answers. "I'm sorry! I…I don't know!"

"We can combine our attacks into one giant blast!" Karot shouts at them. "That should work, right?!"

Nappa frowns. "We only have one shot. If anything goes wrong…we could all die."

"Then what can we do?!" Turles shouts. "We are running out of time!"

Cell's body begins to crack. Light is spilling from the gaps. The earth is splitting, and the clouds high above are being blown away.

One person remains unconcerned.

Stepping over the uneven split, Kauli's attention is focused on the sky. She forms a frame with her fingers, looking through it with one eye.

"Found it."

"What?" Tarble picks up her low tone. "Found what?"

Now everyone is looking at her.

"Turles. I have a question," Kauli says.

Turles almost stammers. "N-now?! I don't see the—"

"Just answer it! How long can a Saiyan survive in the vacuum of space?"

"Wh…what?" Turles face twists. The trembling ground is a quick reminder that there is no time for other questions. "Not for very long."

"So a few seconds at best. That's all the time necessary, then." Kauli slips her watch from her wrist. "Listen. I don't really have any other bright ideas. Just don't chase after me. It's not meant for more than two anyway."

"What?"

Kauli rockets from the ground, soaring towards Cell.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" Turles screams.

She stops in front of Cell, ignoring his surprised look. She slaps the watch on the top of his head. "Sorry, but you're not going to taint their victory today."

A press of a button, and they both vanish from thin air. A single strong gust is the remnants of Cell's overwhelming power, weakening in seconds.

It happened so quickly and so suddenly, it takes several seconds for everyone to process it.

"Wh…where did they go?" Gine asks. "How did they…"

"The…the teleportation watch…" Karot whispers.

Fear floods Tarble's face. "Wait. When she asked about space, you don't think that she actually—"

The sky blisters orange as a distant explosion rips through the atmosphere. Everyone is forced to look away as the blinding light and wind attacks their eyes.

It settles. The sky is blue. Silence.

Cell's energy. It's gone.

Karot's aura dissipates. His golden hair drops. He's back to his normal Super Saiyan form. His eyes don't leave the sight of the explosion as he searches for any sign.

Trunks, too, loses the golden glow. His feet leave the ground as he scans the sky, hoping…

"Don't tell me…"

There. Something small. It's coming down fast. It's—

"Move aside!" Tarble zips past Trunks, and his weight is nearly anchored down as he catches what would look like a flying meteor to the normal eye.

He lands, holding Kauli in his arms. Her clothes are decorated with burnt holes. For a moment, he checks her head. His face floods with fear.

"She's so cold…she's not breathing!"

Gine leaps from the crowd before anyone else can react. "Put her down!"

Tarble does as instructed. "Her heart isn't beating. I understand what you plan to do, but her current temperature…it might do more harm than good."

"Spare her some of your energy. Can't you do that?"

Tarble blinks. It didn't cross his mind. He grabs her hands and closes his eyes. Everyone else crowds around as he flares his energy, siphoning it towards Kauli in small portions. The frost covering her body is rapidly melting. He only moves away when Gine nudges him.

Gine places her hand against her chest, squinting her eyes. Static builds on her hand, and she applies pressure with a single thrust.

Kauli's entire body jumps.

After a few seconds, Tarble shakes his head. He looks back, seeing Vegeta watching from behind.

Gine narrows her eyes. "We aren't losing anyone else today…! I couldn't save my son…let me save someone!"

Again. Kauli's body jerks.

Karot and Trunks watch in horror. Nappa crouches down next to Gine, monitoring. Turles' tail unravels from his waist, dropping as the third wave fails to have effect.

Gine pulls back, fighting back tears. "I can't…I can't do it again. Or I'll risk damaging her body…"

"One more time," Nappa says.

"What? But didn't you—"

"Weaken your charge until the last second. Spread the output just a bit more. You can do that, right?"

Gine looks at him. "It's not like there's anything else I can do."

She focuses, again. She cuts back her energy, pulsing it just as instructed.

Gine moves her hand back, staring. Everyone is…

Tarble's eyes go wide. "Her heart. It's beating…! She's…she's alive!"

A wave of relief.

"She's ok…!" Karot breathes.

"Well, what do you know…" Vegeta huffs and crosses his arms. "She almost threw her life away doing something so reckless. But it actually worked. These Earthling Saiyans…"

Kauli's eyes fly open as she coughs, rolling over to her side. She's wheezing, almost panicked. Nappa holds her down.

"Easy. Easy…you're back on Earth. Just about died out there though," he said.

"A-almost…?" Kauli manages to say. "For a second, I thought I saw a giant red man…or was it all a dream…?"

Raditz and Tarble both freeze. They decide to say nothing about it. At least for now.

"I'm just glad you are okay," Gine says. "You scared me for a moment. What were you thinking?!"

"Well…it's not like anyone else could just teleport Cell outta here…" Kauli answers. She sits up with Gine's help. "But there goes my watch. The last piece of that damn military I had. It was expensive as hell, too…"

"Where exactly did you go?" Gine asks.

"To the moon," Kauli says. "Or…at least where the moon used to be…"

"How the heck did you know to go there?" Turles is stunned, but relieved.

"Coordinates. Not that hard…" Kauli closes her eyes again. "Is he dead…?"

"Cell?!" Tarble takes a moment to try to search for anything. "I…it's hard to say. But I don't sense any mixed energy signals. He's not hiding anywhere either."

"Did… did we…?" Karot blinks.

6) And he begins to smile.

"No way…!" Krillin excitedly clenches his fists. "Hahaha…! We got him! We really got him!"

Vegeta huffs as he crosses his arms. "Well, it's about damn time!"

"YES! WE DID IT! NOBODY ELSE HAD TO DIE!" Yamcha jumps in the air with a fist pump. Once he lands, he and Krillin dance around in victory, leaving Tien feeling awkward and Piccolo annoyed.

"If you two don't stop hopping around, one of you will be dead!" Piccolo snaps at them both, causing them to be still in an instant.

Yamcha frowns. "Gee. We can't celebrate? Talk about lame."

"It's Piccolo." Krillin reminds him.

"Who said we can't feel joy about this?" Tarble calls him out from the distance. "Don't tell me you are incapable. Such a tragedy all too similar to Vegeta!"

"Don't you dare-" Vegeta glares at him, and he growls as the Saiyan chuckles. "Idiot…"

Nappa lets out a hearty laugh. "Chin up, Vegeta! Nobody else had to die! Hahaha!"

Trunks smiles at this. Nobody else had to die.

They won.

He watches everyone celebrate, laughing small. It was a close call. But as it seems, Kakarot didn't have to die for nothing.

Cell is gone… Earth is safe at long last.

Maybe he should join in the celebration too.

Gine is more relieved than happy. She stands still, folding her arms behind her head. "So now we can finally catch a break."

Turles shakes his head with a small smile. "I do have to agree. Maybe a day off doesn't sound like a bad idea. But what does one do on a day off?"

"You don't do anything." Kauli explains. "You just rest around or do simple activities, catch up on small tasks, perhaps."

"Sounds boring." Raditz notes. "No wonder why dad never took them."

Krillin scratches his head. "Saiyans actually had off days?"

"I doubt they would have vacation time." Tien says.

Tarble sighs. "But this entire fight was truly exhausting. We will need our energy back, so resting for the rest of today and tomorrow doesn't sound so foolish. I'm going to need a good long nap…"

Vegeta's expression tells them all that he doesn't plan on taking any breaks. No surprise that he would find it a waste of time.

"Shouldn't we head back?" Nappa asks them all. He walks over and lifts Kakarot from the ground. "We've spent more than enough time out here. I'm craving for something good to eat."

The mentioning of food would usually have everyone agreeing without a word. But Turles isn't so fond of it. "Kakarot died, and eating is all you can think about?"

"No you idiot," Nappa huffs. "It's something Kakarot would have done. We've known him long enough to understand his antics. It's the least we can do."

"...I have doubts my brother would want us sulking anyway," Raditz sighs. After several seconds, he raises both hands slightly with a small laugh. "I'll take care of this. This is going to be the biggest meal I will ever create. And with the few new recipes I've learned, it'll be rather interesting! Hah!"

"Awesome!" Krillin grins. "You should cook with your mom! I bet it would be the best!"

"You're going a bit overboard. We aren't your friends." Turles warns him.

Krillin takes a nervous step back. "It could make the food come faster though."

Raditz shakes his head as he facepalms. A few of the others laugh at this, while Vegeta growls lightly, annoyed with it all.

"Let's get a move on. I've grown sick of this terrain." Vegeta rushes them all.

"Uh…right!" Karot blinks. "We should go back."

Trunks nods.

"Think of it as a farewell party." Raditz says as he pats his son's shoulder. "It's been good for you to be here. I'll have to thank you. You saved our tails out here."

"Yeah… but Kauli is the one who really took care of that." Trunks says, not wanting much credit at all. "I almost screwed everything up. I guess I let my anger get to my head a bit too much."

"It's not just you, you know," Karot says. "That power…it's nothing I've ever felt before."

"Yeah. About that. When are you going to teach us how to do that?" Turles asks.

"Oh, no you don't." Vegeta growls. "If anyone is going to reach the limit breaker of Super Saiyan, that would be me!"

Some laugh. Others sigh. Vegeta doesn't think it's funny.

"So, what should we call it?" Yamcha asks. "Seems like an appropriate time to ask now."

"Seriously…?" Piccolo growls.

Krillin smiles. "How about 'Ascended Saiyan?' Huh? Huh?"

Yamcha chuckles. "And take away the already cool adjective? I don't know, man."

"Beyond Super Saiyan!"

"That's just generic."

"Ultimate Super Saiyan!"

"That's a bit on the nose…?"

"You've got to be kidding me…" Raditz grumbles. "These Humans…"

"Let them have their fun, buzzkill," Kauli grumbles. She nudges Tarble. "And stop carrying me like I'm a princess!"

"Then by all means." Tarble stands her on the ground. "Usually it's not recommended for anyone to walk after being revived."

"I think I'll be ok. I survived being crushed by a giant ape."

Tarble lowers his head. "Sorry…I just—"

"Don't kick yourself. You have a bad habit of doing that." Kauli looks behind her, meeting Turles' gaze for just a second. He looks away, and she scoffs. "And you stop with the tough-guy act, alright?"

"Make up your mind…what do you want from me?" Turles grumbles. For once, he's not annoyed by her. Just hearing her voice is all he needs right now.

"Oh! Oh! I got it!" Yamcha exclaims. "How about, 'Super Saiyan 2'! Yeah?"

"That's the dumbest one I've heard yet," Kauli says, shooting it down in an instant. "All you did was slap a number next to it. Making it sound like a movie sequel. The hell's wrong with you?"

Darkness surrounds Yamcha as he sulks underneath a spotlight.

Gine taps it once. "Where did this even come from…?"

A grunt comes from Broly. All heads turn towards him.

He's pointing at the distance.

The Androids. Somehow they survived the clash between Cell and the young fighters, but they've been displaced, just knocked a few feet further away.

"You…want us to bring them with us?" Kauli is uncertain. But her face is filled with disgust towards their current state.

"Seriously," Vegeta growls. "They can stay there and rust under the rain for all I care."

"For once, I actually agree with him." Trunks looks at the motionless Androids with disgust. "Why not put them out of their misery. They are half dead already."

"Just a moment!" Tarble counters. "Listen to me before you discard someone! They aren't inherently twisted. They had their lives stolen before their eyes. They were experimented on and turned into Androids. They didn't ask for that!"

Trunks would argue, but he is more surprised with how Tarble is pleading for mercy on someone else. It's not something he's used to.

"Oh no." Vegeta pushes past his brother. "I don't care."

Tarble growls. "I know you can care less about the lifeforms on this planet, but the least you can do is make up for the trouble you put them through!"

Vegeta stops, glaring over his shoulder. "I said, I could care less about their overall existence. Whether they live or die is none of my business. As long as they stay out of my way."

Tarble stops, leaving his brother on his own. He looks at Nappa, who shrugs.

Broly had already brought the Android twins over his shoulders. To everyone's disbelief, he isn't bothered by them in the slightest. Everyone allows him to past, especially Trunks, who takes a massive step back away from them. He is watching them all too carefully.

"You know…as scary as Broly looks, he has a good heart," Krillin says. "Maybe not all the Saiyans are all bad."

"Dude. Are you serious…?" Tien frowns.

"I mean…if you spend your entire life being told what's right or wrong by a tyrant…your sense of morality would be twisted, don't you think?"

Nappa huffs. "Saiyans were never exactly what you Humans would call, 'good people'. History would tell you that we've plundered planets long before we got involved with those frost demons. Wherever the fighting is, that's where we will go. If being good means sitting around and throwing candy, you can keep it."

Krillin and Yamcha exchange looks. They share a nervous laugh.

With every person Nappa passes, they can't help but look at Kakarot's lifeless form. It's still hard to believe that he was the first to die. Whether or not he deserved it wasn't the question crossing some of their minds.

Concerns towards Youzi are what lingers. It's not over yet.

"Don't worry, little brother…" Raditz says. "We will get you out of there, no matter what it takes."

"It's going to be difficult to explain this to his wife…" Turles says.

Karot frowns. "Well…we knew we weren't all going to make it out alive. But I'm just glad Cell won't be able to claim anymore lives. I do not want to see that face ever again."

Like lighting, a strong surge of energy jolts through their subconscious. They all turn back.

7) A burst of bright and blinding light explodes in the far distance behind.

All the warriors cover their eyes that are now throbbing in pain, all except Tarble, who is in a defensive stance, confused about what is going on.

A quick small blast fires and strikes Kauli on her right side. She screams out and falls back, hitting the ground.

"What the hell?!" Vegeta is trying to see, but it's impossible as the light continues to shine. "What's happening?!"

Feet away, Cell, in perfect form, has his index and middle finger pressed against his forehead, sparking with intense energy. With a grin, he throws his arm forward with the fingertips aimed for the down Saiyan. "SPECIAL BEAM CANNOOOOOOON!'"

Piccolo recognizes those words. "GET KAULI OUT OF THERE!"

"I'll block it!" Gine forms her forcefield, but the attack shatters right through it, to her horror.

Turles, Karot, and Trunks all fire the quickest blast they can unleash in hopes to cancel it out, but the powerful blast pushes past their own and demolishes them, like it's nothing.

There is a blur of movement. Something interferes, and a burst of green light forms into a blast that counters Cell's own. The two attacks clash.

"Huh?!" Raditz sees their back, recognizing who it is immediately. "Broly?!"

Broly's palms constantly pulse energy into the blast. He has his feet firmly pressed against the ground. Behind him, the Androids were placed on the ground.

"Broly?!" Cell is surprised.

The blast continues to push against his own. Broly grunts as he tries to push it back, but he's losing his footing. The blast weakens, but he doesn't give up. He pushes out his hand enough to force push Kauli out the way.

The two clashing attacks explode. Broly cries out in pain.

Smoke settles, and steam rises from a pair of crossed arms. They are bleeding horribly, shaking in pain. Slowly, they lower, revealing the pained expression on Broly's face.

Turles gasps. "B-Broly?! How did you…?"

"D-don't worry about me…" Broly gasps. "I'll be alright…"

Cell lowers his arm with a small sigh. "That was an interesting twist. It's such a shame you lack the strength to even come close to being relevant! You merely wasted your time! Franky, I find your untimely arrival quite annoying!"

Trunks snarls. "How the hell are you still alive?! You were blown into pieces!"

"Well, that's actually a good question. While I was out lingering in space…I was wondering the same thing!" Cell boasts. "But I came down to this conclusion; It appears your little theory about my regeneration wasn't so farfetched after all! I was nearly a goner, but despite the nasty explosion…a single cell from my nucleus survived. Thanks to my Namekian and Saiyan Cells, not only was I able to return in one full piece…I've returned far stronger than ever! Far beyond perfect! My only guess is that my cells still have my perfect form memorized within its structure. So alas! It was no loss for me! Can't say the same for you! And to think it only took one lonely little cell! Isn't biology fascinating?!"

Trunks' lips curl back. "THAT'S BULLSHIT!"

His energy explodes as he screams in fury, taking the ascended Super Saiyan form once more.

"Oh, now you sound like your father," Cell chuckles.

"If we have to kill you again, then fine! No matter how many times it takes, we will keep fighting!" Karot screams, ascending once again.

"I like your spirits. All the more reason to crush it in your final moments. But I hope you realize just how outmatched you truly are!"

Cell's energy shifts, displaying a brilliant and familiar gold. Small bolts of electricity jump around his form.

"No…that's impossible….!" Trunks gasps.

Cell laughs as he cups his hands towards his flank, building a Kamehameha Wave. "You're forgetting that I am the ultimate life form! Nothing is impossible with me! Even if you do kill me again, what good will it do if an explosion proves to be ineffective! I simply can't die! So I think it's about time you accept your fate! Fight back or cowar! It doesn't matter to me! Your deaths are inevitable!"

Trunks collapses on his knees, throwing a punch on the ground. If only he had killed him all at once before! Why did he had to make everything so complicated? He contributed to Cell's increased strength…!

"No…!" Trunks hisses. "It's all my fault…! If only…!"

"Trunks!"

Trunks looks up at his cousin.

"Get back up! This isn't over!" Karot shouts. "No matter what happens, we have to give that monster everything we've got! My dad wouldn't just quit, so neither should we!"

"That's easier for you to say….!" Trunks shuts his eyes. "You still have family here to motivate you. But what do I have left? Back home, there is nothing there! The Forgotten Past…it was left in the dust the moment Goku died! He's gone! It's happening again! There's no stopping it! The darkness of the future is coming!"

"Deep down, you know that's not true!" Karot shouts. "You said that while our timelines are most similar, they are still different in many ways! What happens here didn't affect your world, and the same goes the other way around! There is still hope! You can't just give up! The moment you do, you know what will happen! Your spirit becomes corrupted—you'll end up just like your Teacher!"

Trunks gasps.

"Your own world still has a chance to recover! You are its last hope, Trunks! You have to get up! Give Cell everything you've got, even if it hurts! No matter what happens, we are all beside you, right?!"

Trunks looks at him, and for a moment, his mentor takes his spot, wearing the same determined expression.

Even as a kid…

"...Yeah." Trunks is back to his feet. "You have always been beside me, Gohan."

They both begin to charge their own Kamehameha Wave. The intensity of the buildup is stronger than it ever was before.

"I couldn't save you before. You had to protect me because I got reckless. And now…you are doing it again, aren't you? Only this time…it will be different. I won't run away. I won't let the Androids kill you. I won't let anyone else die! That, I can promise!"

"Such bold determination!" Cell laughs. "But it will serve you nothing! It's over! HAAAAAAAA!"

He fires the massive blast, and it soars across the field.

"I don't think so!" Trunks shouts. "For as long as we are breathing, we can still fight! We can still win! This past will not be forgotten, Cell! It will thrive! It will become the FUTURE! HAAAAAAAAAA!"

He and Karot fire, and their blasts clash against Cell's. The air thunders, and the ground trembles. Light flashes as the blasts try to overpower the other, but it's Cell's slowly eating away theirs.

Karot and Trunks press their feet firmly against the ground. Another shout, another push, and the field is even again.

But only for a second.

They are being pushed back. Cell is grinning ear to ear as his blast slowly pushes further and further against the young fighters'.

On the ground, Turles tears apart his earlier discarded cloak using his teeth and one arm. He makes quick work wrapping it around Kauli's wound as she lies there, lethargic. "We just got you back! Don't you bleed out on me!"

"Cell is overpowering them!" Krillin shouts. "We have to do something!"

"Something?! Even if we do join in, what good will our added power be?! We are just lightweight here!" Yamcha shouts.

Tarble takes one look at Kauli, and his eyes harden. "Any amount of effort is better than none. But you're right. Even with our current strength…all it will do is buy them a little more time."

"So what do you suppose we do?" Tien asks.

"Stand by for now. I know what needs to be done." Tarble walks past everyone, and he speaks up. "Cell! I know you can hear me! Don't think that you have a clean victory! Not when the rest of us are still here!"

"Everyone is so preachy today, aren't they?" Cell asks.

"You may have the strength beyond a Super Saiyan, but it wasn't earned. It never was. The only reason you've gotten this strong is because of that DNA you've had formulated ever since you were a mere experiment. All of your battle experience was nothing more than stolen memories from the rest of us! You are no true warrior, because everything you've ever obtained was handed to you!"

"Hold it right there, prince. I had to work hard to obtain this Perfect Form. It wasn't just handed to me, not like everything else," Cell says. "Why we are having this discussion now makes no sense to me. But if you wish to speak of Saiyan dignity, fine. Go spend your final moments preaching if you'll like. It's a far better fate than a previous Saiyan I've encountered, I suppose."

"You mean Kakarot…?" Raditz snarls.

"Oh, no. Not Goku, I'm afraid. But does it really matter to you when you are about to die?"

Tarble's eyes narrowed. "I knew it."

"What?"

"Did you happen to come across another Saiyan during your travels?" Tarble asks him. Nappa gives him a questionable glance.

It's like Cell forgot about the two young warriors he's trying to push back, or maybe he doesn't care. "I just said I did. But when I found the poor sap, he was long gone already. I couldn't very well just leave him there so…I decided to eat him."

"That is…so gross…" Krillin grumbles. "Wait…who the hell did you…no way…"

"His face was hard to recognize, but he certainly was a Saiyan. I doubt he would be worth much if he were actually here. Especially now. He would be a fly. Half blind, was he? He hardly was worth more than an appetizer. Though…I did appreciate the extra Saiyan cells. It's perhaps the main reason my body is capable of this power!"

Broly is stunned, staring at the bio-Android, taking in everything he just said. "You…you ate…father?"

"Oh, so he was your daddy? I see the resemblance now, minus the scorched face…" Cell grins. "I technically didn't eat him. I absorbed him. He's a part of me now—you should be overjoyed!"

Broly's face begins to pale, he grips his head, hyperventilating.

Tarble leaps back. "Everyone, pull back!"

"What?" Vegeta is stunned. "What the hell did you do?!"

"RRAAAAAGHHHAAAAAAA!" The horrid cry of anguish can be heard for miles as the atmosphere feels the heaviest it has ever been. The air around Broly begins to distort as he digs his fingers into his air. Green aura cloaks his body as his feet sink into the ground.

"What in the…" Cell is intrigued.

"DAAAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAD!" Broly roars to the universe. "NOOOOOOOO!"

"What…what kind of power is this?!" Cell is alarmed. "It keeps rising!"

The thick green aura shifts to a yellow-green. It bursts, flowing around him as a thick and raging vortex. The air ripples in waves, distorting the colors around his body.

Almost as if…it's distorting reality itself…!

His black hair flows upwards, shifting to a yellow-green glow. His eyes had gone blank with mindless rage.

"He's a Super Saiyan…!" Piccolo grits his teeth. "But is it enough?!"

"The real question we should be asking is if he'll go berserk and destroy the entire world!" Vegeta shouts. He glares at Tarble. "So we have the boost we need, but thanks! It's going to kill us!"

"Hold on, Vegeta…" Nappa says. "Tarble wouldn't do this unless he knows what he is doing. I'm sure he has this planned while they were in the Time Chamber."

"He did?!"

Tarble smiles nervously. "No. This was actually an impulsive idea."

"What?!" Nappa and Vegeta gawk.

"I knew he was going to rage out of control. I knew I was going to put the planet at risk. But when you're up against that freak of nature…what other option is there? I hate to use Broly like this, but it's the only thing I could think of in a situation like this."

Broly's feet sink deep into the earth as he stomps towards them. Nappa steps in front of the two princes, uneasy.

"Uhhh…! I think Cell's the least of our problems now, guys!" Yamcha shouts.

"He's angry, but he's in so much pain. He has no closure… I will have to provide it later if we ever make it out alive." Tarble pushes Nappa aside.

"What are you doing?!" Nappa shouts at him. "He'll kill you in an instant! That power isn't stable!"

Tarble clenches his fists. "Broly! Broly! I know you can hear me! Your grief, it rings so strong and true! I can feel it radiating! But you mustn't let it consume you! Direct your fury towards the perpetrator!"

Broly roars and begins to charge forward at full speed. Everyone seems ready to bolt, but Tarble stands firm.

He screams at the top of his lungs. "NOT US! THE ANDROID! YOU HAVE TO KILL THE ANDROOOOID!"

Broly pauses, snarling. Slowly, he turns around, glaring at Cell.

"That's touching." Cell laughs. "Well then, Saiyan. Go ahead. Do your berserker blast thingy."

Broly snarls, charging a pair of green energy blasts at the palm of each hand. He thrusts them forward, unleashing them towards Cell. "CEEEEEEEEEELL!"

The launch is heavy, sending a shockwave that blows anyone nearby off their feet. Broly's own anchor deep into the earth as he roars.

Cell merely grins, as if he can recognize its hardly enough. "Such a powerful sob you have there, Saiyan! The climax of your pathetic little arc! Let's see how well it fares against the rest!"

Broly's attack clashes against Cell's, joining the battle. A thundering impact tears through the earth beneath them, digging a deep crater and spreading cracks across the trembling field.

The air continues to ripple and pulse, changing shade and color as raw power alone manipulates the atmosphere. Both warriors continue to push forward their attacks, but Cell is the one laughing.

Karot and Trunks push more energy into their own blasts. Broly grunts, his raging eyes wide as the Kamehameha Wave begins to eat through his own attack. He screams again, pushing forth all of his effort. A whirlwind picks up, blowing all the dirt of chunks of rock into a forming twister.

"You're kidding…! That's impossible!" Krillin screams over the wind.

"It's not enough." Nappa turns to Tarble. "It's not enough!"

Tarble snarls. "Damn! I thought it might just work! Even with his power added to theirs… gah! I can't do anything right!"

"Say that again, and I'll throw you right in the middle of that blast!" Vegeta snaps at his brother. "What is rule number 10 of the battlefield, damn it?!"

"Number 10…" Tarble mutters. "Stay true to your name and heritage as a Saiyan warrior. Do not allow anyone to take that from you…!"

"That's right! No one! Not even me! Not even Cell!"

"Vegeta…" Nappa is stunned.

"Everyone!" Vegeta speaks through a growl. "We're ending it here! We go all-out, or sit back doing nothing! Regardless or not this is your last fight, don't let it end with you dying as a sniveling coward!"

Everyone standing in the sidelines exchange looks with one another. They all come to a silent agreement.

Gine nods. "He won't get away with this!"

"Get up and fight!" Nappa agrees.

Raditz opens his mouth, but no words come out yet. To think Vegeta is doing something for someone else and not himself is entirely new for him. He never thought the day would come when Vegeta would be so considerate of everyone else's...

Pride.

Raditz slowly nods, looking back at Cell who appears amused by their efforts. Raditz's power bursts and flows around him as he takes the form of a Super Saiyan."PROTECT one another!"

Turles stands, rubbing his eyes before clenching his fist. With a vein throbbing on his head, joins in, transforming as well. "That's our pride for each OTHER!"

"We failed to do that much, and now it's the end for you, Cell!" Gine shouts. "We'll keep fighting until the very end!"

The three stomp into the ground as they scream in sync; "LET THE BLOOD FLOW!"

"I'll join in, too!" Tarble shouts as he embraces the transformation as well.

"Don't leave me out of this!" Nappa shouts as his own Super Saiyan power explodes.

Seeing the motivation returning, Krillin refuses to stand by. "Alright everyone! It's all or nothing! Ready?!"

"Power up!" Yamcha shouts.

"RIGHT! KAIO KEN…TIMES FOOOOUR!!" Tien's aura flares red along with the other two Humans. Piccolo takes a few steps forward before he powers up as well.

The amount of power is intense, but it may not be enough to eliminate Cell. But to see everyone willing to fight to the death to stop him, the eldest Saiyan Prince can't help but chuckle at their efforts. He transforms into his Super Saiyan form, joining in with the others at last. "I will not be bested by that insect! Never! I'll show you how your might compares to PRINCE VEGETA OF THE SAIYAN RACE!"

"Let's give it all we've got!" Raditz screams. He lunges towards the scene, unleashing his attack. "WEEKEEEEEEND!"

Turles joins in, unleashing his attack with one hand. "METEOR…BURRRRST!"

And Gine. "ENDLESS…THUNDERCRAAAASH!"

Nappa. "BREAK CANNOOOOON!"

Tarble. "GALICK…BURRRRST!

Vegeta. "FINAL….FLAAAAASH!"

Piccolo. "SPECIAL BEAM CANNOOOOON!"

Krillin. "DESTRUCTO DIIIIISK!"

Yamcha. "KAMEHAMEHAAAAAAA!"

And Tien. "TRI-BEAM…HAAAAAA!"

As all the blasts clash against the massive Kamehameha, Cell can only laugh over the thunder. "You know it won't work! Just embrace death already!"

"D…damn it AAAAAAAAALL!" Raditz shuts one eye and grunts as his feet drag and dig in the dirt. Everyone is being pushed back. The powerful gusting wind doesn't help, either. If he loses his footing…

All it takes is for one of them to slip.

Cell screams again, sending more pressure into the blast. It doubles in size, and the intensity almost blows some of the warriors away.

"Gaaaagh…!" Nappa stomps his feet into the ground for better grounding, but even that doesn't work. "Kid...! Can you hear me…?"

"Y-yeah…!" Karot speaks through clenched teeth.

"Listen…I know you hate your father. Alright? For all he did…everything these past few months…!" Nappa shuts his eyes, fighting to stay on the ground. "Thinking back…when he was fighting Frieza…heh. Things changed for the worst, didn't it? But it's not just him. All of us are to blame."

Karot never expected to hear such words…

"But despite it all, even though the both of you were forced to fight…and having such a distaste for it…you still proved that you can be strong when you need to be! You proved when you need it most, it comes out…it does great things! Strength is from willpower…determination…and…pouring your heart into it! I think we learned that from you two!"

"Wha…" Trunks blinks.

"Only we Saiyans can understand the thrill of battle, the drive to get stronger everyday." Raditz joins in, understanding what Nappa is saying. "We get stronger after each fight. Battling is our lives! But the Humans…"

"We Humans understand the true meaning behind compassion…and willpower!" Krillin shouts. "We don't give up, which is why we keep fighting back even if we wish not to! We can read feelings and…we make mistakes, but we adapt to them! That's just what we do!"

Trunks begins to feel…that this once…everyone is...

"You know where we are going at, right?!" Gine asks.

"You have traits from both sides!" Nappa shouts as well. "Combine them together, and the potential that lies within you two packs more than just a punch! Let me ask you…is this all you have? I know you can do more, kiddos!"

"Mr. Nappa…" Karot doesn't know what to say.

Another wave nearly knocks them back. But, they hold their ground.

"This is it, right here!" Turles adds. "Living proof right here! You've shattered expectations! Karot! You've obtained power that well exceeds our own! And Trunks…you kept yourself together in a world full of madness! Don't you get it?! You're both stronger than us! Physically, and mentally!"

The two kids now seem to realize that.

"But don't think the rest of us will just sit back after this! We'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again!" Yamcha shouts. "We can survive today! We have to survive today!"

8) Nappa growls. "Because if Cell wins, there won't be an Earth to rule or…"

Piccolo looks at his direction.

"...an Earth to live in…or even a life to live!" Nappa has the Human's attention. "...can't be strong like everyone else!"

Kauli and Tarble focus.

"Can't be a king!"

Vegeta glances towards Nappa before looking ahead again.

"We all have something we want, but it won't even be given a chance if we lose here!" Nappa shouts. "This is it! Our final shot! For our sake…this planet's sake, and the fate of the universe even…! Look deep!"

Cell's blast begins to eat theirs away.

"We made it this far, and he can't win, you hear me?! All of us are here rooting for you! So plant your feet, hold your ground, put in all your POWEEEEEEEER!"

Nappa's powerful scream echoes over the destructive sounds. The beam struggle intensifies as their attacks start to push back Cell's. But Cell doesn't give in. His blast starts pushing again.

" This is the power of combined effort from unlikely forces!" Nappa screams. "This is…THE POWER OF DISSONAAAAAANCE!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Karot and Trunks step forward, unleashing their power to their max. Their blasts double in size, pushing Cell's attack back quicker than his was showing before.

"What the…?!" Cell grits his teeth.

The others scream loudly, pushing in every ounce of effort possible. The blasts merge and combine into a gigantic deadly burst of light. It pushes Cell's Kamehameha back faster, now eating its way through.

Cell doesn't even appear horrified. Instead, he chuckles to himself. "Well…isn't this a cheesy way to go? All of you arm and arm against all odds! Enemies to allies! What an incredible trope to end this story on!"

He bursts into powerful laughter.

His hands begin to burn as his blast is only a foot long, and it keeps shrinking, until finally, it hits him.

His smile is wiped clean, replaced with disbelief.

"Wh-what?! N…no…!"

It inches closer. His hands are beginning to burn, flaking off before his eyes.

"I'm…impossible!"

A single blue blast is fired and joins the others.

A single blast unleashed from Kauli. She gives him a weak smile.

"Take that…you son of a bitch…"

The added momentum was all that was needed.

"GAAAAAAAAAAAH! N-NOOOOOO!"

Cell is swallowed by the attack. His body begins to flake and burn apart. Every fraction. Every cell. Every nucleus.

"BUT I AM PERFECTIOOOOOOO-OOOOOOON!"

…and within seconds, he dissolves to nothing as every last bit of him destroyed. The blast fires off to the skies, shooting out the atmosphere, off into space.

Rocks and gravel rain down to the ground as a massive dust cloud swallows all visuals. It takes a single swipe of Gine's arm to clear the dust, revealing the heavily damaged field. She is out of breath. Her entire body is cloaked with angry bolts, and she bites back a scream as she collapses to the ground.

"Mother…!" Raditz wheezes.

"It's…it's okay. I'll be…fine." Gine gives him a weak smile. "It's just the recoil…nothing to fret over…"

Trunks and Karot lower their burning arms. They exchange looks, just as confused as everyone else.

"Is he…dead for real…?" Gine mutters. She tries to raise her voice, but it's raspy. "King Kai…please tell me he's gone…"

Silence. A few heads tilt towards the sky.

"Yo! King Kai? Can you hear us?!" Yamcha shouts towards the skies.

Everyone else looks up at the clear blue sky, waiting for an answer.

'I…I don't sense him anywhere!' The voice comes from nowhere, making just about everyone jump. 'Not a trace of Cell left! He's gone for good! You actually did it!'

It's like a massive wave of relief washed over everyone. Goosebumps. Deep breathes. Hearts lifted...

"Hahaha!" Krillin pumps a fist into the air. "YES! We did it! Now we can really celebrate! Cell is toast!"

"YEEEEEEEAH!" Yamcha and Tien jump into the air. Piccolo scoffs at this, but he doesn't complain this time.

The only one not overjoyed is Broly. He stares off into the distance where Cell vanishes before looking at his own hands. He is trembling, growling.

A single hand falls on his back. He whips around, meeting Tarble's concerned face.

"It's okay, Broly. All that matters now…is that your father is resting now." Tarble smiles. "So should you."

Broly stares for a while longer, and his Super Saiyan form drops. He stares at the ground. He nudges Tarble's hand away before leaping into the sky.

Tarble drops his smile. As he drops his own Super Saiyan state, he almost didn't notice Nappa approaching.

"How did you know?" Nappa asks Tarble. He too returns to his normal form. "It looked like he was about to lose sense of himself out there. I don't think…that him coming to his senses was supposed to happen."

Tarble frowns. "...We worked together in the Time Chamber to learn how to narrow his rage into one target. It's…not perfect. Still incredibly dangerous…but it's better than him lashing out at everyone else. There's still much work to be done, but I'm afraid I won't be much help anymore."

"Hm…?"

"I said I would do it. I'm keeping my word."

Nappa would ask more questions, but he is interrupted.

"We should hurry home. And I mean now." Turles' voice holds the spotlight now. "Kauli needs immediate attention. We can properly celebrate once she is stable."

Just looking at her, everyone can tell she's in no good shape. Tarble wastes no time lifting her from the ground, careful not to disturb the makeshift bandage Turles worked hard on. He turns towards Turles, who he sensed was watching him the entire time.

For a moment, they both stand, staring at each other. The tension relaxes the moment Turles abandons his own transformation.

Finally, Turles speaks. "I don't have two arms at the moment. That's the only reason I'm allowing you to carry her after what you did."

"I have many regrets, Turles," Tarble says in response. "But trust me when I say bringing harm to her is one of my greatest. It was never my intention. However, there is no excuse for why I couldn't reign in my anger. I don't expect for her to trust me anytime soon."

He takes another step, but he stops.

"As for you…I will see to it that you have a replacement as soon as we return to the ship. You have little to fret over."

The prince kicks his way towards the sky. Turles watches, almost glaring. He takes a look back at the ravaged land before leaping into the skies.

Vegeta huffs as he returns to his normal form as well. His feet leave the ground as he follows them.

"I guess…uh…we should help the others…" Krillin approaches 17, disturbed. He scoops him from the ground, trying not to gag.

Yamcha picks up 18. "Alright. Let's go."

They jump after Turles. Gine joins them, cradling Kakarot in her arms.

"Hey…dad…"

Raditz almost didn't register the shift in his title. He drops his golden form as well, meeting his son's exhausted gaze.

"I can rest now…right…? I know it's over. I know he's dead…but for some reason, my body refuses to relax right about now. I think…I need some extra confirmation…"

Raditz is a bit puzzled by this, but he answers. "Yeah. It's over and done. You don't have to fight anymore, kid."

Trunks forms a smile, and just like that, his Super Saiyan form drops. His lavender hair drops back to his shoulders. He gives his father a thumbs up as his eyes flutter shut. He falls back, right into his father's arms.

"Seleriak?" Raditz blinks.

Karot staggers as his own appearance returns to normal as well. "Good…finally."

He hits the ground, not as lucky to have someone catch him. But, not even a second passes as he is lifted into Nappa's arms. The general looks at him, checking to see if he is breathing.

"Looks like their bodies gave up," Nappa says. "We need to hurry. I don't want them to fall into a state of shock."

Hearing this, Raditz nods.

"And before you begin to worry…" Nappa unravels his tail, revealing Zhanshitao resting there…just barely alive.

9) Raditz can't believe it almost slipped his mind. At the same time, he's trying to understand why Nappa would take the time to pick him up.

"You don't need another loss. I'll tolerate the pest for a while longer." Nappa is careful with wrapping his tail, securing the arachnid. He takes off to the skies.

Raditz huffs. "I…didn't need your help." He follows him, joining the flight.

There are no conversations. Everyone flies in silence. Either everyone is too exhausted to speak, or there is truly nothing to say. After all that happened, and the brush with death they had, there is no stronger desire than to lie down and sleep the rest of the day away.

Despite the exhaustion, sleep won't come easy tonight. Troubled thoughts cloud the minds of many. They all share a common concern about the current state of the world. Kakarot's fate…the fate of the future.

The most troubled is Gine. It's clear that she wants to do nothing more than cry, but her priority to return to the ship first is the only thing keeping her from breaking down. Raditz is the only one who notices.

He narrows his eyes. "Don't worry, mom. I promise…I will save my little brother. No matter what it takes. That demon hasn't won. Not yet. Not anytime soon."

Gine nods once.

It's easy to want to accept the worst outcome, but Raditz refuses to hold on to that mindset. It sounds foolish in Raditz's head, especially after what Trunks said not too long ago.

His world was consumed by Youzi's ambition the moment Kakarot died. And Trunks was unfortunately born in a future filled with darkness and dread. A future ruled by a sadistic demon who corrupted the hearts of many. Even the most gentle of hearts were not safe. The moment they gave up and accepted that there was no hope anymore, they too, became monsters.

Looking at the unconscious teen, Raditz can't fathom how much pain he went through. It seemed that Future Karot held everyone together. But after he died, that was when Future Tarble lost himself in such darkness. He had no one to take out his endless wrath on except the very Saiyan he was raising. Between that, and the relentless attacks from the Androids, it's a miracle Trunks didn't get lost in the same darkness. But there is no denying that it almost claimed him. They all saw it. The way he fought Cell…the way he tore him apart again and again, it's a scene…that Raditz doesn't ever want to see his son go through ever again.

Just thinking of Trunks' present counterpart, that mischievous baby, it's enough to give Raditz the boost of motivation he needs.

"It won't happen again. Not here," Raditz says. "I will make sure you have a better future. That, I can promise."

---

A/N: Two remain.

The fight against Cell is finally over. My gosh.

This was the longest fight I ever wrote. The most DBZ thing I've ever done.

On another note, according to the details in this document, it was created back in 2018. That's incredible.

Chapters 27 and 28 went through so many changes throughout the years. Basically, I jotted down important plot points that would take place in each chapter. But when these chapters got completed one by one, some of these plot points changed. It's very interesting.

But what I do know is since 2018, I knew Trunks was going to reach the power of a SSj2 as well. Although how that power was handled got revised several times…it's nice to know I finally got another old document done.

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Possible Questions:

PQ1: "Super Saiyan eyes?"

A: I know the Super Saiyan eyes are either green, turquoise, or blue, depending on how it's colored at the time. But I kinda like the idea of the color changing depending on what level of Super Saiyan it is.

SSj= Turquoise

SSj2: Deep blue

SSj3: Maybe a light blue? Depends how future me feels about it.

PQ2: "Karot didn't play with his food?"

A: He would have, very much like his canon counterpart. But he figured he would lend Cell over to Trunks, as twisted as that sounds.

He didn't see any fun in killing something over and over again. But he knew Trunks had his eyes set on that.

PQ3: "What's with Trunks' behavior?"

A: It has been previously stated that this version of Trunks has a somewhat different personality when compared to his canon counterpart. But that basically goes for every DBZ character in the OTES timeline.

It's already been established what kind of environment he was raised in, and who taught him. All of that is implemented into the actions he took in this chapter.

What hasn't changed is his "no playing around" thing…almost. While he didn't hesitate to kill Cell, he still allowed him to revive each time. He stated his reason. But we know canon Trunks would have killed him and did everything in his power to keep Cell dead.

Seleriak on the other hand…took a page out of Future Tarble's book.

PQ4: "Androids 17 and 18?"

A: I won't tell you what I'm doing with them, but I had something planned for some time.

PQ5: "How did Broly not obliterate everything around him?"

A: Tarble mentioned how he worked with Broly on his to channel his anger. It's not perfect, at least not yet.

And what will Tarble do about his situation? Well…

PQ6: "Why didn't Gine or Kauli achieve Super Saiyan?"

A: Trust me when I say I really wanted them to transform. But considering there were so many happening so close back to back, it felt forced to let every Saiyan have it at that moment.

But yes. They are both capable of transforming.

PQ7: "What will become of Kakarot?"

A: There are still a lot of plot points that won't have closure in this book, I am aware. It's why I am so determined to work on book 5. But there won't be an immediate release.

I will dive deeper into this once the final chapter rolls around.

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Next Time:

*Insert DBZKai "episode preview theme" here*

Raditz: It's me. Raditz.

Raditz: (Relieved) That wretched fight is finally through. I thought it was never going to end.

Turles: (Angry) That damn demon has a hold of our little brother. I can't wait to see it, so I can destroy it myself!

Tarble: (Determined) But we have no leads on where Kakarot's spirit may be. According to King Kai, it's nowhere to be found! So what can we do?

ChiChi: (Wailing) WHAT?! HE'S DEAD?!

Tarble: (Panicked) Oh, dear.

Gine: (Determined) No matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, we will find a way somehow. I have faith that you can do it, my sons.

Gine: Next time on: "The Dissonance of The Earthling Saiyan"! Chapter 29: "The future is never over! It's time to part ways!"

Raditz: (Confused) The hell's going on? What's with the glow?

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REVIEW! REVIEW!

To be Continued in Chapter 29!

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Upcoming Chapters: (Read at your own risk!)

Chapter 29: "The future is never over! It's time to part ways!" With another harsh battle won, the warriors can only try to catch a breath. But the fight for sought peace is far from over. While humanity seems to slowly gain its senses… there is still an air of unease. Not everyone was able to rest in peace. The next mission is to gain back what was lost. However, it cannot be done with everyone. The timeframe has finally been meet, and it's time to say goodbye. Until next time! While they part ways, they fight for what they believe is right!

THE FINAL CHAPTER - Chapter 30: "What it means to be a warrior." In the present and the future… it's time to make a final score with old enemies. Raditz and the others begin their research to track and prevent anymore destruction. Future Trunks stands firm, stronger than ever, and ready to bring peace to his timeline once and for all. Meanwhile, Gine holds her promise to protect her children, no matter what. They all will encounter what was once a major threat. Never again shall they dare to bring any harm to anyone! What does it mean to be a warrior? The answer will vary, but a fight will always come!