The wind howled as the Z-Fighters soared toward Cell's location. The Earth below passed in a blur of forests, mountains, and rivers, but the growing tension made the journey feel eternal. Gojo floated lazily behind the group, hands still tucked in his pockets.
Goku, flying at the forefront, glanced over his shoulder. "Gojo, you sure you want to come along? Cell isn't like anyone you've fought before."
Gojo's blindfolded face turned toward Goku, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "You're underestimating me, Son Goku. I'm not just some rookie who wandered into this mess. If anything, he should worry about me."
Vegeta, flying a little ahead of Trunks, scoffed loudly. "You talk too much. Just stay out of my way when the fighting starts, or I'll deal with you myself."
Trunks, ever cautious, stayed silent, glancing uneasily between the mysterious stranger and his father. He could sense Gojo's immense power, but the fact that he didn't use ki made him unpredictable. Trunks couldn't help but wonder if this man was more dangerous than he appeared.
"Quiet, all of you," Piccolo growled, his sharp gaze fixed on the horizon. "We're almost there."
As the group neared a rocky plateau, the air grew heavy with tension. A chilling presence loomed ahead, and there, standing amidst the ruins of a small village, was Cell. The bio-android had already absorbed Android 17, his form now bulkier and more powerful, though not yet Perfect. His green exoskeleton gleamed in the sunlight as he turned his cold, calculating eyes toward the approaching warriors.
Cell smirked as the Z-Fighters landed before him, their expressions grim. "Ah, the welcoming committee has arrived," he said, his voice smooth and confident. "How thoughtful of you all to gather here. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down after I become Perfect."
"That's not going to happen," Goku said, stepping forward. His golden aura flared as he transformed into a Super Saiyan, the sheer force of his energy shaking the ground beneath him. "We're stopping you here and now!"
Vegeta stepped forward, cutting Goku off. "No, Kakarot. This fight is mine." His aura erupted as he transformed into Super Saiyan Grade 2, his muscles bulging slightly with the increased power. "I'll show you the true power of a Saiyan elite!"
Cell chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "By all means, Prince. Entertain me."
The fight began with a thunderous explosion of energy as Vegeta lunged at Cell. His punches and kicks came in rapid succession, each one leaving shockwaves that rippled through the surrounding area. Cell blocked and countered effortlessly, smirking all the while.
"You've gotten stronger since our last encounter," Cell remarked, catching one of Vegeta's punches and twisting his arm. "But it's still not enough."
Vegeta snarled, breaking free and unleashing a barrage of ki blasts at point-blank range. The explosions engulfed Cell, but as the dust settled, he emerged unscathed, his smirk wider than ever.
"Pathetic," Cell sneered. He countered with a powerful energy wave, forcing Vegeta to dodge at the last second. The blast struck a nearby mountain, obliterating it in an instant.
As Vegeta and Cell clashed, the other Z-Fighters watched intently, ready to intervene if necessary. But Gojo, standing at the back of the group, looked bored.
"Is this all?" he said, yawning. "I was expecting something more exciting."
Cell's head turned sharply toward the voice, his expression darkening. "And who might you be?"
Gojo stepped forward casually, his blindfolded face aimed directly at Cell. "Just a tourist passing through. But I've gotta say, you're kind of disappointing for someone they hyped up so much."
Cell's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of irritation. "You dare mock me?!" His aura flared as he fired a ki blast directly at Gojo.
The blast sped toward the sorcerer, but as it reached him, it stopped midair, frozen by Gojo's Infinity. Cell's eyes widened as the energy dissipated harmlessly.
"Interesting," Gojo said, tilting his head. "Your energy is different from anything I've seen before, but it's still not enough to get through my defenses."
Cell's expression twisted in anger. "We'll see about that!" He charged at Gojo, his speed creating a shockwave that shook the ground. He aimed a devastating punch at Gojo's head, but just as with Vegeta's attacks earlier, his fist stopped inches away, unable to breach the invisible barrier.
Gojo chuckled. "Nice try, but you're out of your league."
With a flick of his wrist, Gojo activated his Cursed Technique: Blue. A surge of gravitational force pulled Cell toward him, catching the bio-android off guard. Before Cell could react, Gojo struck him with a precise, open-handed strike that sent him flying backward, crashing into a nearby cliffside.
The Z-Fighters stared in shock. Even Vegeta, who had been preparing to re-enter the fight, froze mid-step.
"What… what was that?" Trunks asked, his voice filled with awe.
Piccolo narrowed his eyes. "He's manipulating space itself. That's no ki technique—it's something entirely different."
Cell emerged from the rubble, his expression a mix of rage and fascination. "You're an interesting one," he admitted, brushing dust off his exoskeleton. "I'll give you credit—you caught me off guard. But don't think for a second that you've won."
He raised his hands, charging a massive energy attack. The sphere of ki grew larger and larger, crackling with destructive power. "Let's see your precious barrier handle this!" Cell roared as he fired the blast.
Gojo remained calm, his hand rising as he activated Cursed Technique: Hollow Purple. A surge of energy—purple, swirling, and unstable—erupted from his palm, colliding with Cell's attack. The two forces clashed in midair, but Gojo's technique quickly overpowered Cell's, disintegrating the ki blast and hurtling toward the bio-android.
Cell barely dodged in time, the edge of the attack grazing his shoulder and leaving a smoking, jagged wound. He gritted his teeth, glaring at Gojo. "What are you?!"
Gojo smirked. "The strongest."
Before the fight could escalate further, Goku stepped between them, his hands raised. "Hold on! If we keep this up, we'll destroy the whole area. Cell, you want to fight me, right? Save your energy for the Cell Games."
Cell's eyes narrowed, but after a moment, he smirked. "Very well. I'll play along for now. But don't think this is over." With that, he flew off, his laughter echoing across the battlefield.
Gojo turned to Goku, his smirk fading slightly. "You let him go? Bold move."
Goku shrugged. "The Cell Games are our best chance to beat him. We'll need everyone's strength for what's coming."
Vegeta scoffed, turning away. "Do whatever you want, Kakarot. I'll handle Cell myself when the time comes."
As the Z-Fighters prepared to return to the Lookout, Goku placed a hand on Gojo's shoulder. "Thanks for the help back there. You're pretty strong. Want to stick around and help us train?"
Gojo grinned, his confidence returning. "Why would I do that Goku? You let him get away."
And so, Gojo Satoru found himself unexpectedly in the battle against Cell, his presence adding a new layer of unpredictability to the challenges ahead.