Chapter 37: The Cell Games Begin
The world held its breath.
The Cell Games had begun, and the fate of humanity hung in the balance.
All across the planet, people sat frozen in front of their televisions. Families clutched one another in fear. Reporters whispered anxiously into their microphones, their voices trembling as they narrated the battle unfolding before them.
And at the center of it all, standing tall in his Perfect Form, was Cell.
He exuded confidence—unshaken, unchallenged, untouched. His emerald exoskeleton glistened under the bright sun, and his tail flicked lazily behind him as he surveyed the warriors before him.
"Welcome," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with amusement. "I trust you've all prepared yourselves for your inevitable defeat."
The Z Fighters stood firm, their expressions unreadable.
Then, Goku stepped forward.
His golden Super Saiyan aura flared, flickering steadily around his body. His face remained calm, his posture relaxed—but Kara saw the truth beneath the surface.
She saw the sharp focus in his eyes, the quiet intensity hidden beneath his usual carefree demeanor.
"This is it," she murmured, never taking her eyes off him.
Cell's smirk widened. "Ah, Son Goku. I was hoping you'd be my first challenger."
Goku grinned, rolling his shoulders. "Figured I'd get things started." He raised his fists, shifting into his stance. "Hope you don't mind if I go all out."
Cell chuckled. "Not at all. In fact, I insist."
The battle began.
The moment their fists met, the entire battlefield exploded with force.
A deafening boom rang out as Goku and Cell collided, their impact splitting the sky apart. The ground beneath them trembled violently, cracks spreading like veins across the earth.
And then—they vanished.
Flashes of gold and emerald light danced across the sky, clashing at impossible speeds. The sound of their battle echoed through the heavens—a relentless storm of blows, blocks, and counterattacks.
Each strike sent shockwaves across the battlefield, powerful enough to level mountains. Every dodge was razor-thin, every counter perfectly timed.
From the sidelines, the Z Fighters struggled to keep up.
"They're so fast…" Krillin murmured, his eyes darting back and forth, barely able to follow their movements.
"They're evenly matched," Piccolo observed, his jaw clenched.
For now.
But then—it changed.
At first, the shift was subtle.
Goku's punches didn't land as cleanly. His dodges were just a fraction of a second slower.
And Cell noticed.
His smirk widened.
"You're good, Goku," he mused, sidestepping a punch with ease. "Stronger than I expected."
Then—he vanished.
Before Goku could react, Cell appeared behind him.
His voice was a whisper in Goku's ear.
"But I can see it now… you're reaching your limit."
Before Goku could turn, Cell's knee slammed into his ribs.
The impact sent Goku hurtling backward, crashing through chunks of rubble. He flipped midair, landing on his feet, but his breathing had changed.
It was heavier now. Labored.
Cell tilted his head, his grin widening. "I, however, do not have limits."
Then he attacked.
Relentlessly.
Goku dodged left—but Cell was already there.
A devastating punch to the gut.
A brutal elbow to the spine.
A blindingly fast roundhouse kick that sent Goku flying.
Goku was losing ground.
His body screamed at him to stop.
But he refused.
He kept fighting.
Cell lunged forward for another finishing blow—but Goku's aura erupted outward.
A golden explosion of energy ripped through the battlefield, sending a shockwave powerful enough to force Cell backward.
His hair spiked higher, electricity crackling violently around his body. His muscles tensed, his pupils sharpened with newfound intensity.
The very air seemed to hum with energy.
Cell actually stumbled back.
"What—?"
The Z Fighters' eyes widened.
"He's changed," Piccolo muttered.
Kara's lips curled into a smirk. "Super Saiyan 2."
With his newfound power, Goku launched forward with blinding speed.
Cell barely had time to react before Goku's fist slammed into his jaw, sending him skidding backward.
The force of the impact rattled the entire battlefield.
Before Cell could recover, Goku was already on top of him, attacking relentlessly.
A ferocious kick to the ribs.
A devastating punch to the face.
A brutal energy blast that engulfed Cell completely.
The Z Fighters watched in shock.
"He's actually overpowering Cell," Trunks breathed.
But Kara remained quiet.
Because she knew.
Cell wasn't done.
The smoke cleared—and Cell was smirking.
"You're strong, Goku," he admitted. "Stronger than I expected."
Then—he attacked.
And this time, Goku struggled to keep up.
The difference was small at first, but it grew.
Every attack Cell threw came faster. Every blow Goku landed took more effort.
And for the first time—Goku felt it.
He was getting tired.
Cell threw a devastating uppercut, and Goku barely blocked it in time.
His arms ached. His breath was ragged.
He knew it now.
He couldn't win.
But Cell was getting tired, too.
For the first time, Goku saw it.
The way Cell's breath hitched ever so slightly. The way his attacks—while still brutal—weren't as crisp as before.
Unlike Androids 17 and 18—Cell had limits in his stamina.
And Goku had pushed him past them.
But Goku's own stamina was fading faster.
Every attack he threw felt heavier.
Every movement came just a bit too slow.
Cell—now fully aware that he was the stronger fighter—began dominating him.
A devastating elbow to the chest sent Goku flying.
A crushing knee to the back made him gasp in pain.
A brutal energy blast struck him midair, sending him crashing into the remains of the arena.
Goku coughed, struggling to stand.
He could still fight.
But he wouldn't win.
And that's when he made his decision.
He dropped his stance.
"I give up."
The words echoed like thunder across the battlefield.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then—chaos.
"WHAT?!" Krillin screamed. "GOKU, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"
Piccolo's face twisted in disbelief. "Goku, you can still fight! You can still—"
Trunks clenched his fists. "No way… he was holding his own! Why would he quit?!"
And then, there was Vegeta.
His entire body tensed. His golden aura flared violently. His teeth clenched, his fists trembling.
"KAKAROT, YOU DAMN COWARD!" Vegeta roared, his voice filled with fury. "HOW DARE YOU QUIT WHEN YOU HAVE THE POWER TO FIGHT?!"
Goku didn't even look at him.
Instead, he turned to Cell.
Cell, for his part, looked stunned. His smirk faltered, his perfect confidence briefly shaken. "Oh?" he mused, regaining his composure. "Finally realizing you can't win?"
Goku exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Something like that."
Vegeta took a furious step forward. "EXPLAIN YOURSELF, KAKAROT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'RE—"
Then, Kara moved.
She stepped forward, completely calm.
Vegeta's eyes snapped to her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Kara ignored him. She knew.
She already knew the plan.
"Well then," Cell said, his smirk returning. "If you're done, who will fight me next?"
Goku didn't hesitate.
He pointed.
Straight at Kara.
"Supergirl," he said, his voice steady. "You're up."
The Z Fighters froze.
Krillin's jaw dropped. "Wait, WHAT?!"
Trunks' eyes widened. "Her?!"
Even Vegeta—still fuming—stopped cold. "You're putting OUR LIVES in the hands of a WOMAN who isn't even a SAIYAN?!"
Kara cracked her knuckles. "You bet."
Cell's grin widened. "This should be interesting."
To be continued...