Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Love..
In the stillness that followed, a single figure remained unmoved, standing just at the edge of the ruined battlefield. Gamma 2's frame trembled, his gaze fixed on the spot where his brother had stood mere moments ago. A hollow ache filled his chest as his mind replayed the scene, the sight of his brother Gamma 1 struggling, then fading, his energy forever absorbed by the monster now standing before them.
"My… brother…" he choked out, his voice barely a whisper. The words seemed to snap something within him, like the release of a tightly coiled spring. Gamma 2's fists clenched, his eyes widening with a sudden blaze of fury as he took a step forward, then another, his steps quickening as rage overtook him.
Before anyone could reach him, he broke into a full sprint, charging at Cell with every ounce of strength he could summon. Piccolo and Gohan moved to intercept, reaching out with warning shouts, but their words were drowned out by Gamma 2's yell, a sound full of raw, unrestrained anger.
"Stop!" Piccolo called out, his voice heavy with urgency, but it was too late. Gamma 2 was upon Cell, his arm swinging forward with all the force his body could muster.
The punch hurtled toward Cell's face, but just as it closed in, Cell's tail flicked around with blinding speed, morphing in an instant. The sharp tip of his tail extended and hardened, transforming into a needle-like appendage that pierced straight through Gamma 2's abdomen without resistance.
Gamma 2 froze, his outstretched fist halted mid-strike. His mouth opened in a soundless gasp as he looked down, seeing the sharp, obsidian-like spike protruding through his armor and body. His strength left him, his gaze still fixed on the tail that had run him through. In one fluid motion, the needle tip expanded within him, warping into a brutal, mace-like shape. It pulsed once, then exploded outward, tearing through his body from the inside.
Gamma 2's form crumpled, his energy dimming, even as Cell's tail expanded once more, reshaping into a gaping maw that consumed the remnants of Gamma 2. Each fragmented piece of the android's essence was drawn in, dissolving and merging with Cell's own power, each fragment adding to the steady, inexorable rise of his energy.
The onlookers stood paralyzed in horror, the intensity of the scene rendering them momentarily speechless. The proud, determined android that had fought alongside them had been reduced to nothing but fragments, absorbed without hesitation by the one they now faced.
In that silence, the air grew dense with energy as Cell's form began to shift again, subtle enhancements layering onto his frame, his muscles rippling with renewed vigor. His eyes, now sharper and brighter, glinted with a dark satisfaction.
"Well," he murmured, his voice as smooth and composed as ever, "such admirable loyalty. A shame it ended so… abruptly."
Gohan clenched his fists, his anger flaring. "You monster! You won't get away with this!"
With a quick exchange of glances, Trunks and Goten stepped forward, their determination mirroring Gohan's rage. They gave each other a nod before bringing their hands together in unison, chanting, "Fu…sion… HA!"
A burst of light engulfed them as their forms merged into one, creating the fusion warrior, Gotenks. His aura flared with a surge of golden energy as he powered up to Super Saiyan 3, his hair lengthening and his energy spiking with newfound strength.
Gotenks, now blazing with intensity, wasted no time. He dashed toward Cell, his fists crackling with energy as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. The rest of the fighters joined in, with Krillin and 18 launching energy blasts, and Gohan and Piccolo closing in with coordinated strikes.
Cell allowed himself a faint smile, observing their combined assault with something that bordered on amusement. Each strike that landed, every blast that connected, barely made him flinch. Instead, he responded with calm, calculated movements, deflecting Gotenks' punches, sidestepping Piccolo's strikes, and meeting Gohan's fury with effortless blocks.
An energy blast from Krillin struck his side, but Cell turned, unbothered, and launched a shockwave that sent Krillin skidding back. Cell's tail flicked out, its tip morphing into a sharp blade as he parried 18's rapid punches. With a swift motion, he redirected her attack and twisted his grip, seizing her by the arm.
"Impressive tenacity," he remarked, his voice disturbingly calm. "But ultimately… futile."
Before she could react, Cell's hand closed over her head. There was a sudden snap, the sound echoing through the battlefield as her body went limp. The silence that followed was profound, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Krillin's eyes widened in disbelief, horror dawning on his face as he processed what had just happened. "No… 18…!"
But Cell was far from finished. He let her body fall, then his tail morphed once more, coiling and reforming into the familiar mouth-like structure that was all too capable of absorption. The tail extended and closed over her, drawing her in with a methodical, unhurried ease. Her form faded, dissolving into particles of light and energy, all of it flowing back into Cell, merging with his own strength.
As he absorbed the last of her, Cell took a slow, deliberate breath, savoring the moment. He licked his lips, his gaze shifting to the remaining fighters with a glint of satisfaction.
"Exquisite," he murmured, his tone polished and sinister.
The heroes watched, stunned and shaken, as his aura flared around him in waves of red and green. His power was palpable now, a crushing force that weighed down on them, making it hard to breathe, hard to think.
With a look of polite detachment, Cell assessed the scene before him, as if they were merely pieces on a chessboard. And in that brief, chilling silence, the air was filled with a single, unspoken realization:
They were utterly outmatched.
....
The battlefield was silent, a vast emptiness filled with shock and disbelief. Cell's gaze lingered on the fading traces of 18's energy within him, his expression one of polite detachment and quiet satisfaction. The aura around him pulsed with deadly intent, casting an eerie glow over the devastated ground.
For a moment, there was only stillness, until a strangled, choked gasp cut through the silence.
Krillin fell to his knees, his eyes locked onto the spot where his wife had vanished, disbelief warring with horror. His hands trembled, and his breaths came in ragged bursts as he struggled to comprehend the loss. 18's presence, the life he had shared with her, was gone. The brutal finality of it clawed at him, filling his mind with a painful, consuming rage.
"E-Eighteen…" he whispered, his voice cracking.
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