Seeing Android 18 preparing to unseal pod 16, Trunks' face darkened. "Oh no! She must be stopped!"
Powering up into his Super Saiyan form, Trunks drew his long sword and charged toward Android 18.
However, before he could reach her, Android 17 intercepted him mid-air.
A ferocious battle instantly erupted between the two. The intense shockwaves from their clash shook the entire underground research facility, causing the walls and ceiling to crack rapidly, on the verge of total collapse.
BOOM!
Following another violent collision, half of the lab's ceiling caved in, threatening to bury the sensitive equipment and experimental logs below.
At that moment, Lin Xuan took action.
Waving his hand, he unleashed an invisible spherical barrier of temporal energy, enveloping the entire secret laboratory inside it.
Time Control!
In an instant, the movements of Trunks and Android 17 were slowed down to an absolute crawl, like snails creeping across glass. Even the falling boulders and debris floated through the air at an impossibly sluggish pace.
This was Lin Xuan's time-manipulation technique—capable of altering the flow of time within a designated domain, accelerating or decelerating it at will.
Lin Xuan had slowed time in the laboratory not out of boredom, but to preserve Dr. Gero's scientific records before they were crushed by falling rocks.
Unaffected by the temporal field he created, Lin Xuan strolled casually through the frozen laboratory.
Before long, he swept through the room, locating numerous thick stacks of technical documents and research logs left behind by Dr. Gero, detailing every aspect of Androids 1 through 19.
Lin Xuan had used Time Control specifically to ensure these invaluable documents weren't destroyed.
*Vegapunk is going to be thrilled to get his hands on these blueprints! This tech is infinitely more sophisticated than his Pacifistas!*
Stashing the research logs securely into his system inventory, Lin Xuan led Otsutsuki Kaguya out of the cave before deactivating the Time Control domain.
BOOM!
The instant the domain dropped, a violent firestorm erupted from the mountain peak as the subterranean cavern completely collapsed into rubble.
At the same time, two blurred figures shot out of the collapsing mountain, continuing their fierce duel in mid-air.
Moments later, Android 18 emerged as well, carrying the heavy pod 16 out of the rubble.
The mid-air battle didn't last long. Trunks' current strength was simply no match for Android 17, and he was quickly blasted down from the sky, slamming hard into the ground below.
Throughout the entire clash, Lin Xuan made no move to step in, standing idly by like a casual spectator.
Meanwhile, Android 18 pulled open the hatch of pod 16. Lying inside was a tall man with ginger-red hair clad in green armor—Android 16.
Seeing Android 16 emerge, Lin Xuan couldn't help feeling a tinge of disappointment.
In truth, he had harbored a slight hope that Cell might be inside the lab, but reality didn't align with his wish.
Lin Xuan knew that Cell was an organic bio-android created by Dr. Gero using genetic cells gathered from warriors across the universe. The awakening of Androids 17 and 18 meant that Cell would soon make his appearance in the world.
According to the original plotline, Cell was currently lurking somewhere in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to absorb Androids 17 and 18 to achieve his Perfect Form and gain god-like power.
*'I hope you don't make me wait too long, Cell!'* Lin Xuan mused.
At that moment, Androids 17, 18, and the newly awakened Android 16 all turned their attention toward Lin Xuan.
The pressure Lin Xuan exerted was noticeably far more suffocating than Trunks'. Androids 17 and 18 still couldn't comprehend how Lin Xuan had instantly killed Android 19 earlier.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Android 18 stared at Lin Xuan and taunted, "What? Aren't you going to step up and avenge your fallen friend?"
Lin Xuan chuckled, shaking his head. "No need. You guys are no match for me."
"Heh, what an arrogant bastard!" Android 17 sneered coldly. "I'd love to see if your fists can back up your trash talk!"
Android 18 turned to Android 16 and asked, "Do you want to fight him?"
Android 16 shook his head gently, replying in a flat tone, "I don't like fighting."
Androids 17 and 18 were caught off guard, staring at Android 16 in surprise. Android 17 then laughed mockingly, "Looks like you're a defective model!"
Turning back to Lin Xuan, Android 17 sneered, "Whatever! Let me be your opponent!"
Before the words even finished echoing, his figure blurred into a streak of lightning, charging straight at Lin Xuan. Electric arcs crackled around his right fist as he drove a punch toward Lin Xuan's chest!
Lin Xuan smiled faintly, instantly entering his Super Saiyan state. Coating his fist with a dense layer of black Armament Haki, he delivered a straightforward counter-punch!
BOOM!
The two fists collided in mid-air.
A sickening crunch of shattering metal and bone echoed out as Android 17's arm buckled violently, sending him hurtling backward like a cannonball and smashing straight through a mountain peak in the distance!
Androids 16 and 18 froze, their expressions shifting dramatically as they realized Lin Xuan's strength far exceeded anything they had anticipated!
----------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 60 chapters in advance on my Patreon: [email protected]//allbluestories