"It's nothing. I'm off," Goku said, waving goodbye to Cell.
Zip!
In the blink of an eye, Goku was back at his home on Mount Paozu.
"Father, how was it? Are you sure you can beat that guy Cell?" Gohan asked nervously. "He shouldn't be as strong as Uncle Broly, right?"
"Probably not," Goku nodded.
"That's a relief!" Gohan sighed.
...
The days passed one by one.
Just as Goku had predicted, the King's Royal Guard eventually launched an attack on Cell.
However, Goku wasn't on Earth at the time. Instead, he had taken Gohan and Piccolo to the Sacred World of the Kai to continue sparring with Broly.
Piccolo really didn't want to go.
Especially considering how terrifying Broly was, Piccolo didn't have an ounce of confidence.
Vegeta hadn't been idle either. He returned to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for another full year of training.
Through that year of hard work, Vegeta made fresh progress, and his expression grew even more confident.
Trunks also entered the chamber, honing his skills for a year as well.
After that year of intense training, Trunks had pushed his Super Saiyan God power to its absolute limit.
Two more days passed.
Piccolo returned to the Lookout.
Goku and Gohan were at home, bored and watching TV.
"Friends across the nation, we have some good news to report," the host's voice was filled with excitement as he announced, "The super-genius martial arts champion—Mr. Satan—has decided to participate in the terrifying Cell Games!"
As the words fell, a man looking quite imposing walked out from backstage, holding his fists high.
"This is Mr. Satan!" the host introduced.
"YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!"
The audience members' eyes looked like they'd been injected with adrenaline; the crowd was boiling over.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Satan?" the host asked. "Your opponent, Cell, is a terrifying monster who wiped out the entire army."
"That cowardly Cell set off explosives beforehand. I saw through it immediately," Satan laughed contemptuously. "If it's purely about martial arts, he's no match for me. I, Satan, will definitely defeat that bluffing madman. Just you wait and see!"
"WOW! WOW! WOW!"
The audience erupted again, everyone excitedly chanting Satan's name.
Gohan: "..."
Gohan quietly wiped away sweat, feeling utterly speechless.
"Father, who is this guy?" Gohan asked, stunned. "He doesn't really intend to join the Cell Games, does he?"
"Gohan... he's Videl's father," Goku said to Gohan with a mysterious smile.
"Huh? My future wife's father? So that's my father-in-law?" Gohan's lip twitched slightly, and he forced a brave smile.
"Exactly," Goku nodded.
Gohan was at a loss for words.
"Eh? What are you two talking about?" Chi-Chi heard them and walked over curiously. "What wife? Gohan, you're so young. Do you already have a girlfriend?"
Gohan: "..."
Goku grinned, not knowing how to explain.
"That won't do! You're too young to be dating!" Chi-Chi scolded seriously, hands on her hips.
"I... I don't have one, Mother..." Gohan replied, his face turning red.
"Good," Chi-Chi nodded and went back to her chores.
Gohan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Father, the Cell Games start in three days. Aren't we going to train?" Gohan asked.
"No more training. Let's just get some good rest," Goku nodded. "Do whatever you want to do."
"I... I want to go see the Videl you mentioned," Gohan scratched his head, looking more and more embarrassed.
"Sure, no problem," Goku didn't object, then rested his chin in thought. "But I don't know where the Satan family lives right now."
"It's okay, I'll go ask around," Gohan smiled.
Goku didn't stop him.
Afterward, Gohan left home and flew high into the sky.
News of Mr. Satan joining the Cell Games had quickly spread across the world.
So, it was easy for Gohan to find out where Satan lived and where his future wife, Videl, went to school.
Right now, both Gohan and Videl were only nine years old. At this age, they were still in elementary school.
...
Orange Star Elementary School.
"Honestly, is there still no school today?"
A little girl with twin tails, carrying a schoolbag, stood at the school gate. She looked up at the empty school and muttered to herself.
"Isn't this Videl?" a middle-aged woman walked over, looking at the girl.
"Hello, teacher," Videl greeted her quickly, then asked curiously, "Teacher, why isn't there anyone at school?"
Teacher: "..."
The teacher was truly speechless.
How can you not know why there's no one here?
The world is about to end. Who would come to school for classes?
"You know about the Cell Games, right?" the teacher asked.
"I know," Videl nodded slightly, her twin tails swaying. "But isn't my father there? My father can defeat Cell."
Teacher: "..."
The teacher quietly wiped away sweat.
Is your father really sure he can beat Cell?
"So, tell the school to start classes! I'm still waiting to go to school!" Videl pouted, looking serious.
The teacher covered her face.
Do you really want to go to school that badly?
I didn't see you listening this intently in class usually.
"Well... we'll have to wait until after the Cell Games to see if school can reopen," the teacher explained. "Videl, go home quickly. it's too dangerous outside."
"That guy Cell is so annoying. He's making it so I can't even go to school," Videl said, looking unhappy.
The teacher didn't want to talk anymore. She patted Videl on the head and turned to leave.
Videl stared blankly at the empty school, unable to help but miss the good life there.
Now, not only was school suspended, but even the malls and everything else were closed.
Even buying a snack was a huge hassle.
Videl shook her head and turned to leave the school.
However, after walking just a few steps, she saw a boy about her age walking toward her.
"Who are you? Are you here for school too?" Videl tilted her head and looked at Gohan.
"Uh... well..." Gohan rubbed his face, looking at the schoolbag on Videl's back, not knowing what to say.
What time is it, and you're still carrying a bag to school?
Does my future wife love studying this much?
Should I also start studying hard?
So we'll have something in common to talk about later...
Wait, that's not right!
My goal is to protect the Earth!
When Father and the others aren't around, I'm the one who has to carry the burden of protecting the world.
Studying can definitely wait.
"Why aren't you carrying a bag?" Videl noticed Gohan didn't have one and asked curiously. "By the way, what's your name?"
"Uh... I'm Son Gohan," Gohan replied shyly.
"Son Gohan? What grade and class?" Videl asked again.
"Well... I don't go to school here," Gohan replied honestly.
"You're not a student here? Then what are you doing here?" Videl looked him over and asked.
"Well... I'm..." Gohan scratched his head, not knowing how to put it.
"I know! You got separated from your family, didn't you?" Videl suddenly realized. "It's so chaotic outside... it's really not safe. You're so young; it's dangerous to be out alone!"
Gohan: "..."
But Gohan felt Videl had a point.
Many people thought the world was ending, so on his way here, Gohan had seen many instances of looting and violence.
Although Gohan had stepped in to stop them, it didn't have much of an effect.
This was the end of the world.
And Gohan had experienced similar things in his previous life, so it wasn't anything new to him.
This was all thanks to Cell.
Only by defeating Cell would social order return to normal.
Otherwise, everything was just empty talk.
"Follow me. I'll protect you," Videl patted her chest and gave Gohan a friendly smile.
"Eh? You're going to protect me?" Gohan was startled.
"Of course! It's dangerous out here, so make sure you stay close to me!" Videl said seriously, her expression growing solemn.
As they were talking, two large men holding daggers walked over from a distance.
When they saw two children there, the two men were overjoyed.
"Hey kids, where are your parents?" one of the tall men asked with a laugh.
"What do you want?" Videl frowned slightly.
"Cut the crap! Hand over everything valuable you have!" the short man said impatiently, waving his dagger. "Lead us to your house right now! Or else your little lives are forfeit!"
Snap!
Videl moved her hand and snatched the dagger right out of the short man's hand.
She was fast.
So fast that the short man didn't even have time to react.
By the time the two middle-aged men came to their senses, they found the dagger was already in the little girl's hand.
the short man was completely stunned.
What just happened?
How did my dagger get taken by a little girl?
Gohan was amazed.
My future wife is actually pretty strong!
Is her power level already around 10?
THUD!
Videl acted quickly. With a light leap, she delivered an uppercut that caught the short man right on the chin.
The short man stumbled backward and fell onto his backside.
"You damn brat! You're dead!" the tall man roared in rage, lunging at Videl with his dagger.
Videl wasn't afraid at all. She stepped aside to dodge the thrust, grabbed two of his fingers, and performed a shoulder throw.
SLAM!
The tall man was slammed heavily onto the ground by Videl.
Gohan was stunned watching from the side.
I take back what I said.
Her power level isn't just 10; it feels like it's at least 20.
That's incredible!
To have such a high power level at such a young age!
The short man gritted his teeth and scrambled up, rushing at Videl with his arms flailing.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Videl unleashed a flurry of punches on the charging man.
Ten seconds later, the short man was face-down on the ground, unable to move.
"Get up! We're not done!" Videl stepped forward and kicked him twice. "A weakling like you thinks he can go around robbing people? You're trash!"
As she spoke, Videl even spat on the man.
Gohan was speechless.
Is my future wife really this fierce?
However, just then, the tall man pulled a handgun from his pocket and aimed it at Videl.
"Brat, go to hell!" the tall man pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The gun went off.
The bullet flew toward Videl at high speed.
Clack!
Gohan stepped forward and caught the flying bullet between two fingers, then casually tossed it away.
The bullet vanished in an instant.
The tall man was momentarily dazed.
The gun fired!
Where's the bullet?
Did I miss?
Also, that boy seemed to step forward to block it.
No, he caught it!
You think you can catch a bullet?
The tall man looked down at the barrel of the gun.
BANG!
The gun suddenly fired again.
It had misfired.
The bullet burst from the chamber and struck the tall man directly in the head.
Gohan: "..."
It really wasn't me.
I didn't control the gun; this isn't on me.
Hearing two gunshots in a row, Videl was terrified. She quickly checked her body.
Seeing that she was unharmed, her heart finally settled.
Then, Videl immediately rushed over and started frantically feeling Gohan all over.
Gohan: "..."
Where are your manners?
Even if you're my future wife, we're still kids right now...
This is really going too far.
"Are you okay?" Videl asked with concern.
"I'm fine..." Gohan shook his head.
"I clearly heard the gun go off... are you sure you weren't hit?" Videl still wasn't quite convinced.
"Really, I wasn't. He missed," Gohan smiled.
"By the way, how did he die?" Videl asked curiously.
"He missed just now... so he thought it was strange and looked down the barrel, and then it misfired... it really had nothing to do with me," Gohan replied, caught between a laugh and a sigh.
Videl: "..."
What an unlucky guy.
"Forget it, he got what he deserved," Videl said, showing no sympathy. She grabbed Gohan and said, "Let's get out of here. It's dangerous; the gunshots will definitely attract more people."
"Uh... okay," Gohan nodded obediently.
"Come home with me for now. After the Cell thing is over, you can look for your parents," Videl suggested.
"Well... I..." Gohan really wanted to tell Videl that he was just out for a walk and knew where his home was.
"Don't 'well' me. Stop dawdling and let's go," Videl snorted, dragging Gohan toward her home.
As for the short man from before, he had already passed out after Videl's beating.
On their way, they saw many large supermarkets being looted.
Everywhere looked like the end of the world.
Gohan had long since experienced such things, so he wasn't surprised.
Videl had a sense of justice, but she was still young and couldn't be everywhere at once.
Moreover, she was worried about Gohan being in danger, so she held his hand and led him quickly back to her home.
"Who is this kid?" Satan looked down at the boy in front of him, suddenly having a bad feeling.
To Satan, it felt like the cabbage he had worked so hard to grow was about to be rooted up by a pig.
"Father, this is Son Gohan. He got separated from his family outside, so I brought him home," Videl introduced.
"Is he your classmate?" Satan asked.
"Yes, yes, yes... my classmate," Videl lied without even blinking.
"Hello, Mr. Satan..." Gohan gave a shy greeting.
So this is my future father-in-law.
But I have to say...
He's really brave!
To challenge someone like Cell, who is practically a god, with a mortal body.
Should I try to talk him out of doing something so foolish?
Otherwise, Cell will beat him to death.
Gohan was ultimately more mature and felt that trying to persuade him wouldn't do much good.
Having experienced so much in his previous life, Gohan knew very well that even if you said something, the other person wouldn't necessarily change.
Only by experiencing it themselves would they potentially learn their lesson.
"Since he can't find his home, let him stay," Satan didn't object, his heart softening as he took Gohan in.
"Thank you, Mr. Satan," Gohan thanked him quickly.
"But let me make one thing clear: you're not allowed to have any funny ideas about my daughter," Satan threatened.
Gohan: "..."
How did you know I have 'funny ideas' about your daughter?
Wait, they're not funny ideas!
She's my future wife; that's not a funny idea.
"Father, what are you talking about?" Videl's face turned bright red.
"Mr. Satan, I heard you're going to challenge the Android Cell?" Gohan changed the subject.
"You know quite a bit for a kid," Satan patted his chest and gave a confident smile. "When the time comes, I'll show you how I beat that Cell until he's begging for mercy!"
Gohan was at a loss for words.
My future father-in-law is really confident.
Even I can't beat Cell.
...
Earth finally reached the fateful 17th.
During this time, Goku had used the Dragon Radar to gather all the Dragon Balls on Earth.
Mount Paozu.
Goku's home.
Goku was dressed and ready to go.
"Alright, Chi-Chi, I'm heading out," Goku said with a smile.
"Goku, where has Gohan been these past three days?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Gohan should be with Piccolo," Goku scratched his head.
"Be careful, Goku. You have to come back alive," Chi-Chi said with concern.
"Yeah, I know," Goku nodded.
"Gohan isn't joining the fight, right?" Chi-Chi asked again.
"Uh... yeah!" Goku's lip twitched slightly, not knowing how to answer.
"You have to keep your word. Don't let Gohan join the match," Chi-Chi urged repeatedly.
"I'm off," Goku waved goodbye hurriedly.
Zip!
Goku used Instant Transmission and vanished instantly.
Chi-Chi felt more and more that something was wrong.
"Gohan might end up joining the match too," Chi-Chi worried.
Zip!
In a flash, Goku appeared on the Lookout.
"He's here, he's here!" Krillin said with a smile.
"The day has finally come," Goku sighed deeply. He looked around and noticed that neither Vegeta nor Gohan was there. "Eh? Where's Vegeta?"
"He left already," Piccolo replied.
"Is that so? He's really eager," Goku laughed, then asked, "Piccolo, where's Gohan? Isn't he with you?"
"I was going to ask you the same thing. Why didn't you bring Gohan?" Piccolo's face darkened.
Goku: "..."
"I remember now... Gohan said he was going to find someone..." Goku scratched his head, suddenly remembering.
"Find someone? Who?" Piccolo was taken aback.
"His future wife," Sun Wukong whispered to Piccolo.
Picolo quietly wiped his sweat.
He's so young... and he's already going to find his future wife?
"Fortunately, I can sense Gohan's presence." Goku looked into the distance.
"Alright, let's get going." Picolo nodded and urged.
...
Cell Games Venue.
Cell stood in the center of the ring, eagerly awaiting the outcome.
"This day has finally come! Come on over here, Son Goku!" Cell's smile grew even brighter.
On a distant hilltop.
The cameraman was snapping away at Cell with his camera.
The host, holding a microphone, presided over the Cell Games Tournament.
"There are still more than 20 minutes until the Cell Games, which will determine the fate of the team. Perhaps because they're afraid of getting involved, there's not a single person watching around here," the announcer said in a deep voice. "Cell is standing motionless in the center of the arena, and our hero, Satan, has yet to appear!"
After waiting a while longer.
"Hey? That car!" The host's eyes lit up, and he excitedly announced.
The car stopped.
The car door opened, and Mr. Satan stepped out of the car with an imposing air.
"It really is Mr. Satan! Mr. Satan has finally arrived!" the host exclaimed excitedly.
Satan raised his right fist high, waved to the photographer's lens, and wore an extremely confident smile.
"Mr. Satan raises his fist in front of the camera, answering the eager questions of people all over the world." The host became increasingly excited.
"Satan! Satan! Satan!"
The viewers in front of their televisions were also in an uproar, chanting the name of Satan.
"Huh? Those are..." The host suddenly paused, noticing the two children getting out of the car. "Following Mr. Satan out of the car were two little boys and girls who looked to be only about nine years old! Who are they...?"
Viewers in front of their televisions were also confused.
Why did Mr. Satan bring two children with him?
"If I'm not mistaken, that little girl should be Mr. Satan's daughter," the host mused. "As for the little boy... could he be Mr. Satan's illegitimate son?"
Satan: "..."
Satan's face immediately darkened.
What the hell is this illegitimate child?!
What nonsense is this host spouting?
"Is that Cell?" Videl got out of the car and immediately looked up at Cell standing in the distance.
To be continued…
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