Gohan cracked his neck and stretched out his arms as he stood breathing in the morning air. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining, there was only a few small clouds in the sky, and he could hear birds tweeting in the distance. Also in the distance was the rumble of soldiers moving into formation, artillery adjusting their aim, and machine guns being loaded to fire.
He had thought about bringing a book out to read, but honestly he hadn't expected them to spend so long in preparations. He began to tap his foot impatiently. Just what exactly was taking them so long? Perhaps he should fly over and speak to them, or even just shout out that he was ready? Admittedly, they might take offence to that, though he wasn't too sure whether he cared or not. There was a childish side of him that wanted to taunt them into firing, but it was better he didn't. Not for the immediate moment, but for relations afterwards.
Thankfully, he heard the first boom as a cannon fired. Speed worked differently when your Ki rose in power, one could not always be precepting or moving at heightened abilities or life would simply not be practical. As part of gaining control over one's own Ki, one had to be a master of their reflexes as well. He could perceive every moment where the cannon fired and choose whether to speed up his perception or not. It allowed him to react with the appropriate speed to either a casual conversation or a gunshot.
For Gohan, he watched as the shell sailed lazily through the air from his perspective. He could hear the whistle as it moved through the sky, and watched it slowly spin towards him. Satisfied that there was nothing untoward that he had to be careful about, he relaxed as the shell suddenly sped up to a near instant speed and allowed it to hit him directly in the chest.
The shell exploded in a bright flash of light. Fire and shrapnel billowing against his unyielding body. With his Ki control projecting an aura around him, there was no damage to any part of his clothing even as it ripped up the earth around him. It was an impressively accurate shot, Gohan almost felt like finding the one who had fired and congratulating them. The fire burnt itself out of existence, and soon Gohan was left solely in a cloud of smoke. He waited for the second attack and cocked his eyebrow when nothing followed.
A realisation set in. They were still underestimating him; they had no concept of Ki yet. A shell like that would kill anyone it hit, even a Titan. Of course they thought he must have died, no matter what powers he had. He coughed, a gust of wind blowing away the smoke cloud that surrounded him to reveal his unharmed body. There were shouts of alarm and disbelief, and Gohan smiled to himself. Now they would probably take him a little more seriously.
The barrage that followed showed that they absolutely were. Every piece of weaponry they had opened fire. Cannon fire, mortar rounds, machine gun and rifle fire. Everything was unloaded upon him as he simply stood there. It was good that he'd chosen his location carefully, as he was slightly worried about the possibility of friendly fire as bullets missed him and travelled towards Liberio. He'd also considered the possibility that the Marley forces might take their chance to ignore him and fire onto the Internment Zone. That was something he was leaving to the Paradis Eldians to handle.
He sensed their Ki's as they moved around, a few flared which he was assuming was them intercepting artillery fire. He frowned but wasn't exactly surprised. Under the cacophony of noise, light, and smoke, he could hardly act to intercept shells without moving, which would defeat the purpose of the point he was trying to make.
The barrage continued for what felt like an eternity. In reality it was perhaps closer to several minutes. Immense amounts of ammo would have been used, but far from the entirety of their stockpiles. Enough that Marley were sure that if they were able to do anything to him, they would have already done it by now. Just as before, he waited until he was sure that they had ceased fire before a pulse of his energy blew away the cloud of smoke.
He got a clear view of the land around him now, the earth ripped to pieces in a now blasted hellscape. The ground was glowing as heat dissipated in areas, but most was a scorched and ashen black. He smelled the burning in the air, it tingled against his nostrils along with… a poison. They'd deployed poison gas. He flared his Ki, burning away the particulates and incinerating the atoms. Were it a more powerful poison it might have done something to him, but this worlds technology level wasn't strong enough to harm him.
He flared his Ki out more deliberately, scorching the area around him and annihilating any remnants of the gas. Better that he didn't leave any around to potentially hurt someone.
The Marley forces in the distance were in a completed shock as was expected. A good start, but he really needed to hammer in the point now. He spread his feet, bending his knees slightly. A super Saiyan transformation for him now didn't need so much preparation, but drama was the point, so he deliberately let his control slip.
He began with a deep breath, filling his lungs with air as he let the power build slowly. There was no calm and controlled rise, his aura bloomed wild and violent, the ground beginning to shake. As he began his first cry, the earth cracked beneath his feet. Deep chasms were ripped into existence and stone and debris rose through the air. Pieces of the earth were shredded apart, atomised, or even obliterated from existence against the power rolling off his body. The very ground around him shook, the feeling of an earthquake radiating through the land. His muscles bulged, his hair spiked, and slowly he began to glow. A golden aura building into light that was near blinding.
He roared, letting his power explode free from his form and billowing over the surrounding area. Soldiers cried out as they were knocked from their feet, and a wave of energy washed over the city. He maintained enough control not to hurt anyone, but let his power continue to look wild and unstoppable.
As his energy cooled and the super Saiyan aura settled into place, he calmed. The winds eased, all shaking ceased, and Gohan stood in clear view with the power radiating off of him. He made for an imposing sight. Otherworldly, impossible, a beacon of strength. A beacon of danger. The soldiers of Marley did not understand him, could not comprehend him, but his work was not yet done.
He needed to make the point clear, unmistakable. There could not be any doubt that he was not strong enough to enforce his will. He raised one hand, electricity crackling as a ball of Ki tore itself into being above his palm. The ball of energy glowed, holding form for a few moments before he began to pour power into it. Power rolled from his body and into the orb, and unstoppable wave of energy that built as the orb ballooned in size. It grew larger and larger, bigger than him, bigger than a building, bigger than the city.
More and more power flowed into the orb, a mere fraction of his overwhelming strength as it grew near endlessly. Gohan's limit was not his power, it was the barrier around the very planet itself. He let it grow until he new it would be reaching the edge of his reasonable limit. 100 kilometres tall, and 100 kilometres wide, the orb was impossible to miss. Gohan was barely visible beneath the orb, dwarfed by the simple expression of his own power.
Then, he let it explode.
With careful control, he ripped the orb apart, sending the energy exploding outwards in a disc that followed the world barrier. Yellow light covered the atmosphere, wrapping around the entire planet as it rippled outwards. Gohan carefully felt and controlled the energy wave as it moved, letting it slowly and carefully dissipate to not hurt anyone. He was fortunate that the barrier was so far away that he could minimise the energy and it wouldn't affect the atmosphere, that would have killed the planet if he hadn't been carefully planning his demonstration first.
As he let his hand drop, he surveyed the crowd that surrounded him. Oh yeah, the message had been received. He flashed over to the assembled generals who backed away with a yelp of fear each. Among them was the same general as before, along with the Eldian called Willy. Hovering over them he let the heat radiate from his body a little more before he spoke.
"So, have you all considered my words?"
The people looked to each other in consideration before Willy stepped forwards first.
"So then… if we don't bow to your demands, you'll kill us all?"
"Not exactly." They cocked their heads in confusion at him, feeling as though they had misunderstood his entire demonstration of power. "You're the one's in charge, you make the rules. Those below you are following out of fear or loyalty, maybe both. So if you don't cease your oppression of the Eldian people in their entirety, it will be you personally who faces the consequences."
"W-what? That's not how negotiations work!"
"Of course it is. I am negotiating with you, to change your rules. If you do not want to do that, then it will be you who is punished."
Willy looked to the other generals and nobles that had gathered with him. Each of them looked distinctly afraid of Gohan and his personal threats. Gathering his courage, Willy turned back.
"We are politicians who are beholden to our peoples will. You would seek to crush their culture and opinions in favour of their own. Even if we made such a choice, they would not accept it."
"Then they too will be forced to accept it." Gohan lowered himself down to glare directly into Willy's eyes even as the man took a hesitant step back. "Don't try and play off my sense of morality or justice. I'm here to end unjust oppression. If you think you'll be able to convince me to stand aside while that happens, then you're dead wrong. Marley will keep the peace, and it will not allow any more harm to come to those who don't deserve it. Then Marley will disarm. Completely."
The men assembled were aghast. To disarm their entire nation and surrender entirely to Gohans will was unthinkable. Yet each of them had been witness to his demonstration of strength. His immense restraint had not been missed, and everyone knew that he had the power to wipe them all out if he so desired. Some were beginning to realise he held the strength to destroy the entire planet if he wanted to.
"Marley would be destroyed." A man muttered. "The people would tear us apart, the Mid-East Alliance will conquer us."
"Don't you worry about them. I'm willing to give you protection just the same as Paradis has mine. And remember, they're going to be getting the exact same rules I'm giving you."
"You're going to order the entire world to disarm!?" One of the generals guffawed at him, reflexively looking over his entire army that had been assembled around them.
"That's right." Gohan held his hands out in a satisfied gesture. "Peace on Earth, whether people like it or not. No more war, no more oppression, no more suffering."
He dusted his hands as if it really was that simple.
"No more free will." Willy countered. "With only you and your chosen Eldians in charge."
Gohan considered the man's words for a minute. Perhaps he was about to step out of line with a promise to be made, but he'd considered the possibility before already. "I could of course share my knowledge." Their surprised faces looked back at him, but Gohan could see too the slight tinge of hope in them. Perhaps it was the hope that they could overpower him, or just that it would mean they were not utterly defenceless. "However, before anything like that can happen, we will need your formal surrender and acceptance of our terms."
The men looked to one another, hesitating yet none could openly voice against the decision. Perhaps some wanted to continue fighting, but few saw any potential for victory in doing so. Even fewer were eager to put their lives up at risk in exchange.
"We will… need to review any terms in detail. This will take time and more people will need to be consulted."
Willy's expression may have been one of utter defeat, but Gohan looked positively thrilled. He'd not been looking forward to the possibility that he may have had to kill some people for them to get the message.
"Well not to worry, you'll have time to prepare until the queen arrives. You can discuss any details with her in person."
"With her? Aren't you…?" Willy looked at him in confusion, certain that Gohan had been the one in charge of the attack.
Gohan simply chuckled and waved off the man's bemused look. "No no no, I'm here to enforce. Marley is officially surrendering to the Queen of Paradis Island. We'll let her know that you're willing to accept surrender and she'll begin her journey. Let's say… three days' time? I'll let you know if anything changes."
A shining aura bloomed around him, and he blasted away without a further word, leaving the crowd to stand in defeated acceptance.
"Just like that…" One general muttered. They each looked around at the assembled firepower of their forces, every gun smoking from the barrage that they'd unleashed. Their most powerful guns, gases, even naval bombardment from some of the ships that had been brought closer to shore. Nothing had worked.
Gohan's display of resilience had worked to crush their hopes of being able to harm him. There hadn't even been so much as a scratch on his clothing when they'd seen him up close. And his display of power… Nobody in Marley had seen anything the likes of it before, but nobody in Marley would ever forget it. Gohan was beyond their power, and to fight him would only cause meaningless death and despair.
Others would not understand, those who had not been witness to it or simply had too few brains to control them. There would be riots, unrest in every city, each one would need to be quelled. There would also be retribution. Response attacks against Eldians across Marley. The only reason there hadn't been any yet was that soldiers had been ordered to isolate and contain all those within the internment zones as a preventative measure against additional rebellions. Such efforts would not be successful forever however, especially for those who were Eldians serving in the Marley military.
Willy pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. Things were going to get a lot more difficult before they got easier…
He turned and walked off, leaving the people to discuss amongst themselves. Already there were changes of minds, discussions about what they could do to fight, but they were half hearted at best and everyone knew they were doomed to fail. The shelling of the internment zone had failed just as spectacularly as the attack on Gohan, every single shell had been intercepted by the Paradis soldiers. Gohan was after all, not the only one of them who had incredible powers.
"Contact my team on the Mid-East front, I need an update about our weapons progress." Willy ordered one of his aides as he walked. He paused as he saw just how nervous the man looked and turned to face him directly. "What's the issue?"
"Sir, I… I've been trying to reach the team for over an hour. Nobody's receiving."
"What?" A chill settled inside of Willy. "What about the garrison commander at fort Salta?"
"Sir there's… there's nothing. From anyone."
Wind blew through the lands, picking up only dust and clothes from the former inhabitants. The fort was empty, all life removed. Every man and woman, every animal, every speck of life that could be taken, was gone. In the distance, a trench network lay filled with the tattered remains of Mid-East Alliance uniforms.
Everywhere one looked there was only the remains that showed life had once existed there. But there was nothing left, save for one being.
Cell stalked through the fort as it listened to the radio continuing to call out for an answer. With a distracted hand it smashed through the equipment, sending the wreckage sparking on the ground in pieces. Its mind was a whirling mess. Memories, memories of death and a golden boy who had delivered it. Memories of an attempt at revenge.
But more than any of that was the feeling, the sensations it had felt in its memories. And the sensations it had felt once again. As the wave of power rippled across the world, Cell had felt that power again, remembered its source so very well. One name was screaming in its mind over and over again.
Gohan.
The boy who had nearly killed him. The boy he had underestimated, who had shown power beyond what should have been possible.
Gohan.
Two matching blasts, struggling for domination over the other. His full power unleashed against a boys last grasp for strength and survival. Cell had been assured, their victory imminent, until one interruption had taken that success away from him.
Gohan.
Years of being reduced to a base and primitive form. Years of feeling caged, trapped in a mind that screamed to be more. Years of the hunger.
Gohan.
Rage of a kind the creature hadn't felt in such a long time was swelling in him. Anger, flashes of red, such intense feelings of a kind too much for the being to handle. The emotions were bubbling inside of it, stirring up the Saiyan cells that mixed in with the rest of its biology.
"Gohan."
The first spoken words in years escaped its grotesque beak. Vicious bile was spewed from its form as it swore an unrelenting vengeance against the being that had wounded it so. The power built and built within until it smashed into a barrier it didn't understand. The creature scratched and clawed at the ceiling of its power, like a wild animal thrashing in an attempt to escape. It roared its defiance, a manic and wild cry.
"GOHAN!"
The barrier began to fracture, little by little breaking away before it shattered. Cell sparked, jerking and twisting with violent spasms as its body rapidly transformed. The smaller form expanded out, its chitinous exoskeleton cracking and breaking. The creatures' insane cries gurgled as rapid changes drowned itself in fluid. An explosive wave of power washed out from its body and vaporised the fort. Such uncontrolled power levelled every structure and piece of earth in its path until only a crater remained.
Rising out of the crater, a being of immense power returned to control of its mind. The form of imperfect Cell rose up, power returning slowly to his body. Power… and such hunger. It was so much more powerful than before, so wild and uncontrollable. His strength wasn't back, he would need to replenish.
And his senses told him just where to find some new prey.
He could feel Gohan far away, glowing as a beacon of energy and taunting him. He wanted to go to him, to strike at the wretch. But he needed to feed. He was so endlessly hungry… He didn't understand it, all those years of being trapped in his primitive form holding him back must have built up his desires. A sliver of sanity ran through his mind and wondered about the origin of the barrier, just what had dared to trap his strength…
The thoughts were drowned out by ravenous hunger. His senses told him the closest one's, and with his power level suppressed he made his move.
Gohan's head jerked to the side, eyes wide and breathing stopped as he realised what he felt. That… that was his father. Except it wasn't because it hadn't just been his father he had felt. Piccolo, Vegeta, Frieza, and even King Cold. He remembered those signatures each, and he remembered especially the combination of them all.
Cell.
His breathing became sharp, shallow, and his body began to shake as he felt the monster once more.
"Gohan?"
Petra's worried eyes only grew as they saw the utter fear in his. Her hands gripped his, yet even so it took him several moments before he realised that she was there.
"Petra?"
"Gohan, what's happening, what's wrong!?"
"It's…" He swallowed. His mind was racing, thinking a million things at once. Cell was back, Cell was here, he was strong. What was he going to do? How had Cell suddenly appeared? Why had Cell shown up so randomly? Petra gripped him harder, squeezing his hands as she pleaded with him to return to her. Finally, he looked back at her. "It's Cell… I felt him, it's him!"
"The one that brought you here?"
A shuddering fearful breath escaped his body. "I… I have to go. I have to find him!"
His aura bloomed and he took off without another word, flying with fear gripping his heart and ice in his veins. He couldn't sense Cell anymore, but he knew what he had felt. That explosion of power had been unmistakable. His Super Saiyan aura burned brighter and stronger as he flew, power rushing through his body as he pushed himself faster and faster. By the time he arrived, it was too late.
Nothing was left but a crater. No sign of Cell, and his energy signature was suppressed. Gohan scanned the area, looking for any clue as to where Cell might have gone. As he looked around, all he could find were the scrapped remains of uniforms blowing in the wind. The only other remaining sign that Cell had been here.
He shook, hyperventilating as his worst fears were made reality in front of him. Cell had returned.
The machine buzzed loudly, waking a sleeping Bulma in her chair. She had often fell asleep in front of her machines, spending long nights calibrating and perfecting anything she could to try and make any kind of improvement possible. It had been a long time since she'd actually made much progress in that regard, often falling asleep out of sheer mental exhaustion as she failed to come up with anything.
As she blearily opened her eyes and scanned over the machine's readouts, it was as though coffee had been shot straight into her veins. A second reading! Another destination coordinate. She read through the information it spat out and frowned. It wasn't a second reading on Gohan, she didn't recognise what it was at first.
She had to take several moments to review the DNA files she'd sequenced into the machine before she found her match. It wasn't a detection of Gohan's DNA, it was a detection on Goku's. Not only his, but Vegeta's as well. She'd had his DNA stored on the machine's memory during some of her initial developments of the device and simply never scrubbed it away.
She frowned, almost reflexively moving to turn off the reading and ignore it as a glitch when something stopped her. Her genius brain was still waking up, but it was already putting together the pieces of the puzzle. Gohan had been detected, and now so had a pair of samples that shouldn't have been possible for what she was scanning for.
Unless…
"Oh no…" She jumped to her feet and re-read the report multiple times and hoped that she'd made some kind of mistake. That she'd read it wrong, and it wasn't what she thought it was. She'd made no mistake.
"VEGETA! Get down here NOW!"