Kale moved on instinct, fury driving her forward.
"Stay out of this!" she shouted as she charged the golden Great Ape.
Her punch cracked into Vegeta's open palm. His hand dipped a fraction—then closed around her like a vice.
Vegeta let out a low chuckle. "Legendary Super Saiyan? That's it?"
He squeezed.
Kale screamed.
"Relax," Vegeta said, almost amused. "You're supposed to be my match—the future God of Destruction I'll be measured against. We were always going to fight. I'm not killing you. I'm just putting you in your place."
Inside, he was practically giddy.
After all these years… I finally get to do this.
Broly used to grind me into the dirt. Now it's my turn.
He tightened his grip again. Kale thrashed, but she couldn't break free.
"I told you," Vegeta said, voice turning sharp. "This is Gohan versus Cell. Stay out of it."
He slammed her into the ground. Kale bounced and rolled, clutching her stomach and gasping.
Vegeta strode after her, looking down with contempt. "Still want to interfere?"
Kale could barely draw a breath.
Cell, meanwhile, let go of Gohan and turned toward Kale, eyes gleaming.
Perfect. This is my chance.
He shot toward her at full speed.
As he passed Vegeta, the golden Great Ape's eyes narrowed.
Cell's face shifted—too late.
He tried to cut around Vegeta's thigh, aiming for the only opening.
Clap.
Vegeta snapped his legs shut and caught Cell between them.
Blood burst from Cell's mouth as the pressure crushed the air from his lungs. For a sickening moment, it felt like his insides were being wrung out.
Vegeta reached down and plucked him up like a toy. "And where do you think you're going?"
Cell struggled, but he couldn't budge.
Vegeta sneered. "Cell, you're nothing special. Complete body or not."
He squeezed.
A wet crack ran through Cell's arm—shattered.
Cell screamed.
"Oops," Vegeta said with a laugh. "Guess I squeezed too hard."
Cell shook with rage.
"Accident"? You did that on purpose—damn you.
Just wait. Once I absorb the Legendary Super Saiyan's cells, I'll kill you.
Vegeta snorted and tossed him away like garbage.
Cell bounced across the ground and rolled right to Kale's side.
The moment Cell realized where he'd landed, his eyes lit up.
He forced himself up, his broken arm already regenerating.
"Vegeta… thanks," he said, almost delighted.
His tail shot out, stretching like a spear straight for Kale's back.
"Kale!" Gohan yelled, throwing himself in the way.
He knocked the attack off line.
Instead of Kale's back, the tail punched into her arm.
Kale gasped, the sound strangled in her throat.
"You're really starting to annoy me," Cell snarled, kicking Gohan away. "I'll deal with you in a minute."
He glanced at Kale. "An arm is enough. I'll take what I need."
The tail pulsed.
Kale's body was already wrecked from Vegeta's beating. She couldn't fight it. Her arm visibly withered as Cell drained her life essence.
"Let her go!" Gohan roared and charged.
Cell expected it. He kicked Gohan under the chin and smashed him back down, then sped up the drain.
Krillin's face went paper-white. "He's absorbing Kale's cells!"
"But he's already complete!" Yamcha blurted. "His tail can still extend?"
"This monster…" Tien said, horrified.
"If he gets Kale's cells," Piccolo said grimly, "we're in trouble."
Goku's eyes sharpened. He was already ready to move.
"Ka—!" Merus started, alarmed. This had escalated too fast.
If nobody stepped in, Kale would be drained dry.
"I'll go," Jiren said, stepping forward.
Merus's eyes lit up. "Good."
Bardock and Broly stayed still—Ken hadn't given any order.
Zeno-sama watched without expression, like it was still just entertainment. Still, even he looked tense now, staring at Kale and Gohan.
Jiren was about to launch—
Thud.
Vegeta moved first.
The golden Great Ape drove a single finger down like a falling mountain.
Cell shrieked as the blow punched him straight into the ground. At the same time, the tail ripped free from Kale's arm and disappeared after him into the earth.
"Kale!" Gohan scrambled to her side.
She was unconscious.
"Give her a Senzu Bean!" Vegeta barked. "Now!"
Krillin rushed in and shoved a Senzu Bean into Gohan first.
Gohan's stamina snapped back instantly.
Krillin immediately handed him another.
"Thanks, Krillin-san," Gohan said, then flew to Kale and pressed the Senzu Bean to her lips.
She couldn't swallow. She was out cold.
"Kale—wake up," Gohan pleaded, panic rising. "Please… just eat it. You'll be okay."
His chest tightened.
If she hadn't tried to protect me, she wouldn't be hurt like this.
"Gohan," Krillin called, "chew it up and feed it to her."
Gohan froze. His face went bright red...
Is that really what you're telling me to do?
"We don't have time," Krillin snapped. "You want to watch her die?"
Gohan's hands shook. He clenched his jaw.
"…Okay."
He bit down on the Senzu Bean, crushed it, then gently pressed the pieces to Kale's lips.
The cameraman zoomed in tight, giving them a close-up.
The commentator immediately went melodramatic. "Viewers around the world are moved by these two young heroes of the Cell Games! Let's remember their love story!"
He leaned into it even harder. "Young love—pure and fearless! Childhood sweethearts, destined from the start!"
Across the world, people actually clapped.
Then, a beat later, plenty of them snapped back to reality.
Wait—aren't we about to die?
Why are we applauding a romance right now?!
At Mr. Satan's house, Videl watched the broadcast.
"So touching…" she whispered, fists clenched. "I can't believe it."
Chi-Chi, meanwhile, looked ready to explode.
"Gohan! My Gohan!" she fumed, hands shaking. "The moment you turned Super Saiyan, I knew you'd become a little delinquent! You're nine!"
Yamcha slapped Krillin's shoulder, laughing. "Krillin, that was smooth. You just created a pair of childhood sweethearts."
Krillin laughed too. "Hey, I still don't even have a girlfriend, but watching a couple get together? I'll take the win."
Goku scratched his head, staring at the screen. "Huh… you can do that?"
Krillin blinked at him. "Goku… what do you mean 'can'? You've never—?"
Yamcha and Tien both turned to Goku at once, eyes wide with gossip.
"No," Goku said, dead serious. "Why would I?"
Krillin stared. "You're married. You have a kid!"
"So?" Goku asked, even more confused. "What does that have to do with it?"
Krillin went silent.
Yamcha went silent.
Tien's face turned bright red, and he refused to look at anyone.
Vegeta glanced over with disgust. "Kakarot… are you actually an idiot?"
"Just because you're a Great Ape doesn't mean you get to talk like that," Goku shot back.
Piccolo, being a Namekian, didn't react much. He just watched, expression flat.
Gine, on the other hand, was delighted. "Bardock, I'm so happy for Gohan! A girlfriend at that age!"
Bardock didn't answer. He genuinely had no idea what to say.
"Chi-Chi told me she and Goku met when they were kids," Gine said, smiling.
"Did they?" Bardock blinked.
"They even made a promise back then," Gine said softly. "He'd grow up and marry her. And when they did, they got married… and a year later they had Gohan."
Bardock nodded slowly.
"Then how did I meet you in my past life?" Gine asked, looking up at him warmly.
Bardock fell silent.
"Tell me later," Gine said gently. "When you're ready."
Bardock didn't argue.
Zeno-sama leaned forward, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Ooooh?"
Behind him, the two guards stayed stone-faced.
Majin Buu stayed expressionless too.
As a pony, he thought, I don't even qualify for expressions.
Ai pressed close to Broly, like something about the scene tugged at an old memory.
Bier murmured, "Did Kale just find true love?"
Merus suddenly felt a chill.
Wait… am I training a future God of Destruction, or am I helping Ken's future God of Destruction get a girlfriend?
In this world, "girlfriend" turns into "wife."
So am I really raising her… just for Ken to steal her away later?
A sharp impact snapped everyone's attention back.
Cell exploded out of the ground, flipping once before landing in a crouch.
Every gaze swung from Gohan and Kale back to him.
Cell grinned, voice booming. "Heh… heh… heh! I, Cell, have finally obtained the Legendary Super Saiyan's cells!"
[End of chapter]
[100 Power Stones = Extra Chapter]
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