With tension weighing heavily on us, Goku and I bolted through the night sky, speeding towards Vegeta's faint, scattered ki signature, a flickering ember that told of danger.
Vegeta's energy was low, blending in with a chaotic mix of others—injured and weakened but still clinging to life.
I cursed under my breath; teleportation was useless if his signal was that faint. We'd have to reach him the hard way, fighting against time itself.
As we flew, I asked Goku , " What really happened ?!"
Goku's voice broke through the rush of wind. "It started with Vegeta finding Cell on his own. He thought Cell was too weak to bother with, that he could end it right there and move on."
Goku's voice grew grim. "Cell baited him, saying he should absorb the Androids so they could fight as equals. And Vegeta…his pride couldn't resist."
I clenched my fists, frustration simmering. "So Vegeta let Cell absorb 17."
Goku nodded, a dark shadow crossing his face. "Yeah. He held back the others, ignored our warnings, and let Cell transform. When he tried to take him on, Cell was already far stronger than he'd anticipated."
The words hung between us, tense and bitter. "Vegeta was too injured, outmatched,"
Goku continued, "and Cell didn't hold back. He nearly killed him. Piccolo and the others tried to step in, but…Krillin was knocked out with one blow. Trunks was hurt badly, and Piccolo—Cell destroyed his body with a Ki bomb."
I grit my teeth, my thoughts racing. Everything had gone exactly as it had in the original timeline—Vegeta's pride, his relentless drive for battle, had led him into a trap. And Cell had grown into a far greater threat.
Piccolo's urgent voice crackled in my mind, pulling me back. "Kairos, Goku—hurry up!"
We nodded to each other, picking up speed.
---
As we neared the city, we spotted the towering silhouette of a building—Piccolo's voice directed us there. And then, we saw them.
Hovering above the wrecked cityscape was Cell, gripping Vegeta in one hand, his eyes dark with triumph. In his other hand was Trunks, struggling weakly, his energy dwindling.
The sight struck us like a hammer—our expressions hardened as Cell's eyes shifted toward us, that twisted smirk deepening.
"Well, well," Cell called, his voice dripping with dark amusement. "You finally made it, but you're too late."
Before we could react, Cell's tail whipped forward, its stinger piercing Trunks, drawing the life from him in greedy gulps. Trunks' body sagged, his face paling, the life seeping out of him.
Goku and I froze, our instincts screaming to act, but Vegeta, bruised and bloodied, was held in front of Cell as a shield, Ki charged around Cell's hand, poised to deliver a killing blow if we made a move.
"Let go of Vegeta," I demanded, my voice sharp, controlled, but laced with fury.
Cell's smirk didn't falter. He stared back at me, defiant, unmoved by the threat. "You're not in a position to make demands," he sneered, tightening his grip on Trunks, who cried out weakly, barely clinging to consciousness.
Vegeta's face twisted with desperation and fury as he watched his son's energy drain away. "You…bastard!" he snarled, his voice filled with raw anger.
His muscles tensed, his body began to expand, energy radiating out in erratic waves. I could see the resolve in his eyes—he was going to self-destruct, taking Cell down with him.
Goku's eyes widened. "Kairos, he's going to blow himself up!"
Immediately we distanced ourselves and flew away .
Cell's expression faltered, a flicker of alarm crossing his features. He tried to toss Vegeta away, but Vegeta in return gripped Cell hand , it was too late.
Vegeta's energy surged outwards, his body igniting with blinding light. The world seemed to hold its breath for a second, and then—
BOOM!~~~
A massive explosion engulfed the area, a blinding flash of energy that sent shockwaves tearing through the city.
Goku and I had barely enough time to retreat, flying as far from the blast as possible. A tremendous roar echoed behind us as the landscape was consumed by an inferno of raw power.
Dust and debris flew in every direction, blotting out the stars and staining the night sky with smoke.
---
When the dust finally began to settle, we returned to the epicenter of the explosion. The destruction was absolute—the ground was scorched, debris lay strewn everywhere, and the buildings that had once stood there were nothing more than twisted metal and rubble.
"Do you…see anything?" Goku asked, his voice quiet, scanning the ruined landscape for any sign of life.
I shook my head, focusing my senses, feeling for Cell's ki. I could feel my heart pounding, hoping that Vegeta's sacrifice had been enough. But despite the devastation, something felt…wrong.
"Let's check with Piccolo," I said, reaching out with my mind, trying to keep my voice calm. "Piccolo—what's happening? Do you sense anything?"
Piccolo's voice responded, strained, "It's…hard to tell. There's something strange. I can't see clearly from here."
I felt a knot of worry twist in my chest. Cell was cunning, adaptable—if he had survived, there was no telling what he'd do next. And he'd only grow stronger from this.
"Let's regroup at the Lookout," I said, looking back at Goku, who nodded, his face set with grim determination. We couldn't afford to let our guard down, not now.