Cell stared at him, completely lost. "…What?"
"Give me a second," Goku said, then walked over to the edge of the ring like he'd just remembered something important.
Cell's expression only got worse.
"Krillin," Goku called, "you have any cloth on you?"
Krillin blinked, baffled. "Cloth?"
"I do," Piccolo said. He lifted his hand, and a strip of black cloth formed in his palm. "This work?"
"Yes—perfect," Goku said quickly.
Piccolo flicked it over.
"Seriously, you saved me, Piccolo," Goku said, grinning as he turned back toward Cell.
Cell stood there in silence, like he was watching a prank unfold.
Up on the hill, Zeno-sama leaned forward. "Hey, what's the future Supreme Kai doing?"
"He's probably going to try Ultra Instinct," Ken said.
"Ultra Instinct?" Zeno-sama's eyes widened. "He already learned it?"
"Barely," Ken said. "He thinks Cell is the right opponent to train it."
"Ohhh." Zeno-sama nodded, satisfied.
Jiren's gaze sharpened immediately.
So you really do have it, he thought. Let's see what level it's at.
Vegeta clicked his tongue, irritated.
Kakarot… you've got time to show off in the middle of this?
In full view of everyone, Goku tied the black cloth around his eyes.
"All right," he said with a laugh. "Now I can't see."
Cell's face hardened.
So that's what this is? An insult?
"W-wait," Gine whispered, clutching Bardock's hand. "If Kaka does that… can he still win?"
"Kaka?" Bardock repeated, thrown.
"I was going to call him Goku," Gine said, trying not to laugh, "but you keep calling him Kakarot. So I thought… Kaka works."
Bardock stared for a moment, then muttered, "Saiyan names are random, but… in your past life, you really liked the name Kakarot."
"That was my past life," Gine snapped, cheeks puffed. "Don't lump me in with her."
Bardock had nothing to say to that.
Krillin wiped sweat off his forehead. "Goku… he really didn't need to blindfold himself, did he?"
"Shut it," Vegeta said with a faint, annoyed grin. "Kakarot finally found a way to sharpen his technique."
"Sharpen…?" Trunks echoed, still confused.
"Tch," Vegeta muttered, fist tightening. "Training Ultra Instinct right now… of course he is."
Cell's voice dropped colder. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but this kind of arrogance doesn't sound like you, Goku."
"Let's go," Goku said, calm and ready, standing still with the blindfold on.
"Hmph. You asked for it," Cell said—and vanished.
He reappeared behind Goku—
Goku's leg snapped backward in a clean counterkick.
Thud!
His heel slammed into Cell's face, leaving a clear shoe print.
Cell froze, stunned.
Goku grinned. "Heh. Right in the face."
Cell's fury exploded. "You bastard!"
He lunged and unleashed a storm of attacks.
Goku slipped and weaved, dodging on instinct—
Then Cell's fist caught him square in the nose.
Goku's head snapped back.
Cell flashed above him and drove a heel down hard.
Boom!
Goku slammed into the ground and carved out a deep crater.
A heartbeat later, he shot back up and faced Cell again—only now the blindfold was gone.
Cell sneered. "What happened? Lose your cloth?"
"It tore when I hit the ground," Goku said, scratching his head.
"I don't know what Ultra Instinct is," Cell said, voice low, "but I do know you've been holding back this whole time. Fight seriously. I didn't expect this to be this fun."
Goku shook his head, more frustrated with himself than with Cell. "Still not there… I thought my Ultra Instinct in base form would've improved more by now, but it's crawling. I've got a lot of work to do."
Cell gave him a mocking smile. "There you go again, talking like that. Honestly, ending this with some ring-out would be a waste. Let's stop pretending the ring matters. Fight outside it. That's where the real battle is."
He stretched a hand toward the arena.
Boom!
A ki blast swept the platform.
The ring blew open into a massive crater with a thunderous roar. Everyone scrambled back in time, and no one was hit.
"T-thank you…" the commentator stammered, staring at Android 16 shielding him. "Thank you!"
Mr. Satan clutched his head, shaking.
Greatest god in the universe… can't I get one moment to look cool?
I didn't even finish my act and I'm already back to being a joke.
"You two should leave," Android 16 told them.
"How can we leave?" the commentator protested. "Mr. Satan still has to fight!"
Mr. Satan stared at him like he'd lost his mind.
"Right, Mr. Satan?" the commentator said with a nervous laugh.
"Of course," Mr. Satan said stiffly. "But… let's watch from farther away."
I'm terrified, he thought, but I'm not letting anyone see it.
Ken turned to Merus. "Want to set up another match?"
Merus blinked. "What?"
"You came here to train Kale, didn't you?" Ken said.
"I did," Merus said slowly, then hesitated. "But shouldn't we wait until Goku and Cell finish first?"
"Zeno-sama can keep up, right?" Ken asked, looking toward the hilltop.
"What do you mean?" Zeno-sama asked.
"Add another match," Ken said. "Let the two future Gods of Destruction warm up."
"That sounds great!" Zeno-sama clapped, instantly excited. "I can watch. Do it!"
Merus finally understood. "So… Kale versus Vegeta next?"
"Exactly," Ken said.
"What format?" Merus asked, clearly looking for Zeno-sama's preference. "Do we build another ring?"
"Just don't put it too far away," Zeno-sama said after thinking. "I need to see it."
"Then I'll rebuild the ring," Merus decided, lifting his staff. "Please wait a moment, Zeno-sama."
"Go on," Zeno-sama said, nodding.
Merus flashed down to the ruined arena. His staff glowed, and angel power spread across the crater like a tide.
In an instant, the platform stitched itself back together.
Nearby, Goku and Cell landed close by, facing each other again.
"Now the Earth itself is the battlefield," Cell said with a pleased smile. "Win by surrender… or die."
Goku didn't answer. He glanced toward Merus.
Cell noticed at once. His mood soured, and he followed Goku's gaze.
Who is that? he thought. That outfit… it even looks kind of like that Legendary Super Saiyan's style.
And what is he doing?
Cell's eyes widened as he watched the arena restore itself.
What?
I destroyed it. How did it come back?
Merus smiled and returned to Zeno-sama's side.
Zeno-sama nodded, satisfied.
Cell's irritation spiked.
I just made a point of destroying it, and you repaired it like it was nothing?
You think that doesn't make me look stupid?
Without hesitation, Cell fired again.
Boom!
The ring Merus had just restored was blasted to rubble all over again.
Merus turned his head, stared at the wreckage, and went quiet.
Then he sighed internally.
I forgot to reinforce it.
Perfect.
Do I go fix it again? That's humiliating.
Zeno-sama fell silent too, staring like he didn't know what to say.
Merus leaned toward Ken. "Maybe we wait. Let Goku and Cell at least settle this first."
"I'm fine either way," Ken said. "Ask Zeno-sama."
"All right," Zeno-sama said after a moment. "Let's see who wins first. If you start two fights, I won't know where to look."
Merus finally relaxed.
Next time, he promised himself, I'm reinforcing the ring.
Cell laughed loudly and pointed at the destroyed platform. "See that, Goku? That ring is your future too!"
He fired a barrage of blasts.
Goku dodged fast, slipping between explosions as the ground erupted around him.
Cell kept firing, hounding him nonstop.
Goku shot upward, cupping ki between his palms.
"Ka… me… ha… me…"
"Careful!" Cell laughed wildly. "If you fire from there and miss, you'll blow up the Earth yourself!"
"…me…"
Goku ignored him and kept charging.
Cell's grin tightened. "You're serious? Fine—don't blame me when the planet breaks!"
In a flash, Goku vanished.
Cell's pupils shrank.
Bad feeling—
Goku reappeared directly in front of him.
"N-no—!" Cell choked out.
"…ha!"
Goku thrust both hands forward.
The blast swallowed Cell whole.
The explosion ripped through the sky.
When the smoke cleared, Cell's upper body was gone—blown apart into scraps.
Goku exhaled slowly, staring at what was left.
Was he really that fragile? Did I just kill him?
If it ends here, Gohan won't get any experience…
"Yes! Goku won!" Yamcha shouted, pumped.
"So that's Instant Transmission!" Tien said, relieved.
Then Yamcha and Tien noticed Krillin and Android 16 looking grim.
"What's with you two?" Yamcha waved. "Cheer already!"
Krillin and 16 didn't answer.
Zeno-sama leaned toward Ken, sounding oddly disappointed. "Is it over?"
"Not yet," Ken said. "Cell can regenerate."
"Oh!" Zeno-sama brightened immediately. "Good."
So it's not finished, he thought happily. I can keep watching.
"Goku, watch out! He'll recover!" Krillin yelled.
Goku blinked—
Cell's legs suddenly kicked upward, and his lower half sprang up like it was doing a flip from the ground.
Goku stared, dumbfounded.
Cell's body rippled and flowed, flesh knitting back together until he was whole again.
Cell rolled his shoulders and smiled smugly.
"You can regenerate?" Goku said, surprised.
"I absorbed Piccolo's cells," Cell said, nodding. "So I have the same ability."
Goku's expression shifted sharply. "Then… does that mean… Gohan's cells—"
Cell frowned, not following.
Goku forced himself to think. "In your timeline… was Ken there?"
"No," Cell answered.
"Good," Goku said quietly, relief flickering through him.
So it's Gohan from another timeline, he thought. Not this Gohan.
"Let's keep going," Cell said, grinning. "Fighting you is fun, Goku."
"I feel it too," Goku said. "Even my basics are improving as we trade."
They collided again, blows cracking through the air.
After a few exchanges, Cell landed a heavy punch and sent Goku flying.
Goku slammed into a nearby mountain.
Boom!
His aura flared and shattered the mountain into chunks of stone.
Cell rushed in after him.
Goku fired a stream of ki shots, hammering Cell with rapid blasts.
Cell howled, face twisting in pain.
Enough!
Cell threw up a huge barrier, blocking every blast at once.
Goku drew a steady breath, watching through the dust.
Cell's grin turned vicious. "Not bad, Goku. You actually made me use a barrier."
"Nice!" Zeno-sama clapped again.
Nobody could tell who he was praising.
Cell dropped the barrier and smiled at Goku like this was a game he was enjoying.
"Well?" Cell said. "Now are you going to show your real strength? I know you've been holding back. This has been fun."
Goku just smiled—and the gold aura vanished.
He dropped back into base form.
Cell froze.
…What?
"I surrender," Goku said, looking up at him.
Cell stared like he couldn't process the words.
"Goku… what is he doing?" Piccolo muttered, frowning.
Gohan's chest tightened.
Here it comes.
"You're surrendering?" Cell said slowly. "You sure?"
"I'm sure," Goku said, nodding once. "I'm sending the next fighter."
"Oh?" Cell turned his head, looking past them toward Kale, then flicked his eyes to Vegeta. "Who is it? That girl? Or Vegeta?"
Vegeta snorted and stepped forward. "Kakarot, I don't know what you're thinking, but let me end this."
"Not yet, Vegeta," Goku said, shaking his head.
Then he looked straight at Gohan.
Gohan's throat went dry.
Of course it's me.
"Gohan," Goku called, "you're up."
Gohan drew a deep breath and nodded, face serious.
"Huh? Gohan?" Kale blinked—then clapped excitedly. "Yes! Gohan's going to fight!"
Merus glanced at her.
Why are you that happy?
Vegeta scoffed. "You're sending your kid to die?"
Goku flashed to Gohan's side.
Cell's face darkened. "Don't joke with me, Goku."
With everyone here watching, you're putting your son in?
I thought you'd send Vegeta, or that Legendary Super Saiyan.
If Kale fought, that would be perfect. I could absorb her cells openly and complete my body.
"Gohan," Goku asked quietly, "are you ready?"
"I… I can try," Gohan said, voice steady despite the nerves.
"Don't be stupid, Goku!" Piccolo snapped. "Gohan can't beat Cell! Yes, he's improved, but he's still nowhere near Cell. You've got plenty of fighters here—why are you sending Gohan to his death? Is he even your son?"
Gohan flinched.
Piccolo-san… please don't say it like that. You're making it sound like I'm adopted.
"Give him a chance," Goku said with a calm smile. "This is the best time to push him forward."
He looked from Piccolo to Gohan. "What do you think, Gohan? Dad believes in you. Go."
Gohan nodded, jaw tight. "Okay, Dad. I understand."
Goku patted his back. "Go get him."
Gohan didn't hesitate anymore. He tossed off his cape, rose into the air, and faced Cell head-on.
Goku turned to Krillin. "Do you have any Senzu Beans?"
Krillin blinked, then nodded quickly.
"Give me one," Goku said.
Krillin pulled one out and handed it over without thinking twice.
"Cell!" Goku called, then tossed the Senzu Bean up to him.
Cell caught it and examined it.
"It's a Senzu Bean," Goku said with a smile. "Eat it and you'll recover your stamina."
Krillin's face twisted. "Goku… even if you want Gohan to fight, why are you restoring Cell?"
"He's burned a lot of stamina," Goku said, thoughtful. "If he isn't at full strength, it isn't fair."
"Excellent!" Zeno-sama clapped, giving Goku glowing praise. "Future Supreme Kai, you're kind and brave—just like a Supreme Kai should be! You've got what it takes!"
Merus stared into the distance, speechless.
I should've made Jiren go up there and "perform," he thought.
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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