"This power… this form… we are nowhere close. Not even remotely."
Goku let out a bitter laugh.
The Vegeta of this timeline felt the same.
As Saiyans, Gohan and Trunks shared that feeling as well.
While they were still striving to truly surpass Super Saiyan, the Vegeta from the past had already stepped into a realm far beyond them.
Nearby, Piccolo, Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin all fell silent, thinking the same thing.
He has already reached Super Saiyan Third Stage. Then finishing off Cell should no longer be a problem.
High in the sky, Vegeta looked down at Cell, who had once again lost his composure. A mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"How many more times do you think I can blow you apart, Cell?"
Before Cell could even react, Vegeta vanished from his position and reappeared behind him.
Without changing his posture, Vegeta drove a brutal kick straight into the back of Cell's head.
BOOM!
The impact sent Cell crashing from the sky into the ground, obliterating a mountain and shattering the earth itself.
Dust filled the air as smoke rolled outward in violent waves.
This single strike directly damaged Cell at his very core.
It was not just raw power.
During his earlier attacks, Vegeta had already left a mental imprint on the dark crystal inside Cell. As long as it remained within Cell's body, Vegeta could pinpoint its exact location and strike it with precision.
Even though the crystal constantly shifted position, as long as Vegeta's attacks were faster, it had no escape.
In short, with the dark crystal embedded inside him, Cell was trapped in a cage.
Completely at Vegeta's mercy.
After taking the hit, Cell recovered and surged upward in fury, attempting to counterattack.
Despite Vegeta's overwhelming strength, Cell did not truly fear him.
Immortality gave him confidence.
What he did not realize was that his fatal weakness was already firmly in Vegeta's grasp.
"So this is all you have got, Vegeta? You cannot kill me!" Cell shouted arrogantly.
The instant those words left his mouth, Vegeta appeared directly in front of him.
THUD!
A heavy impact echoed as Vegeta's knee slammed violently into Cell's abdomen.
The force was immense, enough to nearly tear Cell's body apart.
Inside him, the dark crystal took another devastating hit, forming a tiny, almost imperceptible crack.
The pain intensified.
Unlike before, when his body was destroyed instantly and quickly soothed by dark energy, this damage was continuous.
There was no relief.
Cell could only endure it.
"So this really is the only way to shut you up," Vegeta said coldly.
Lowering his knee, Vegeta finally uncrossed his arms.
He grabbed Cell by the throat.
Then, without hesitation, his other hand pierced straight through Cell's chest.
A horrific scream tore from Cell's mouth.
For the first time, he truly felt death approaching.
Against this Vegeta, he stood no chance.
The strength before him felt limitless.
Regret surged inside him, but it was far too late.
His only remaining reliance was immortality.
As long as I do not die, I can still escape and plan for later.
Then suddenly, Cell realized something was terribly wrong.
Something vital was missing.
His body began to destabilize.
When he saw Vegeta pull his hand out of his chest, Cell's eyes widened. Sweat poured down his face as terror finally took hold.
"Give it back…" Cell reached out weakly toward Vegeta, enduring excruciating pain as he tried to reclaim the dark crystal that granted him immortality.
Vegeta had torn the dark crystal out of Cell's body.
Using his mental power, he completely seized control of it, severing its connection to Cell.
"Give it back to you?" Vegeta scoffed, casually turning the crystal in his hand.
"Is this really yours? Keep acting tough, Cell. I preferred you when you were still arrogant."
Cell was horrified.
Only now did he realize how utterly foolish he had been.
Why had he not stopped earlier?
Why had he kept provoking Vegeta?
"No! Please, give it back! Without it, I will really die! I…" Cell begged desperately.
Pathetic.
Yet there was something detestable about all pitiful beings.
Vegeta stared at Cell, then at the dark crystal in his hand.
"Is this thing really that tempting?" Vegeta asked calmly.
"You are the ultimate android. You carry the cells of all of us. And yet you were willing to become a slave to this power."
"Look at yourself now. Like a dog. Living like a dog. A toy in someone else's hands. Is this really the life you wanted?"
The words struck deeper than any blow.
Cell was left speechless.
Suddenly, realization dawned.
His gaze fell upon the dark crystal, and he could no longer speak.
Yes.
He was Cell, the ultimate android.
He had lost.
But to become a slave to power at the very end was something he could not accept.
His body began to break apart, as though it had never truly belonged in this world.
The madness in his eyes faded, replaced by clarity.
Seeing this, Vegeta chose not to torment him any further.
"So you finally understand," Vegeta said.
"At least at the end, you earned a bit of my respect."
Cell froze.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Hearing praise from you really pisses me off. But… thank you. You helped me find myself again."
After a brief pause, he continued softly.
"And one more thing. Do not let the existence behind all this kill you too easily. It can control me and decide my life and death. Its power is far beyond anything you can fight right now."
He was not wrong.
Compared to that being, Vegeta's current strength was insignificant.
Even reaching the hundreds of billions would not be enough.
Unless he surpassed the very concept of numerical power altogether.
Cell faded away completely.
Vegeta remained standing in the sky, calmly controlling the dark crystal in his hand.
~~~~~~
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