Chương 18: Chapter 18: Broken Boundaries
Cell Max staggered back, his metallic body fractured and warped under the force of the Saiyans' final, unified assault. Goku, Vegeta, Broly, and Gohan had poured every ounce of their power into a purely physical onslaught, striking Cell from all angles in perfect, relentless synchrony.
They'd kept their ki suppressed, denying Cell the energy he needed to absorb and adapt. The result had been catastrophic for Cell's mechanical form; his armored limbs were cracked, his left arm dangled uselessly, and parts of his exoskeleton had broken clean off, exposing inner circuitry that sparked and flickered in the dark expanse of space.
But despite the damage, Cell's icy, calculating eyes remained steady. He assessed the Saiyans with a detached malice, his focus shifting from one bruised face to the next. Each of them was weakened and breathing hard, their auras flickering with exhaustion. Cell knew his own body was on the brink of collapse, but his mind remained sharp, and a plan was forming.
"This is it," Vegeta snarled, his voice ragged but resolute. His purple aura flickered around him, feeding off the pain in his body. "You're finished, Cell."
Cell Max didn't respond. Instead, he extended his remaining arm, sharp claws ready, and with cold precision, he shot forward, aiming to eliminate the Saiyans one by one. He might be battered, but he was still faster than them in their exhausted state.
Goku was the first to react, pushing himself, his instincts guiding him as he intercepted Cell's strike. But he was slower than before, his energy running low. Cell anticipated his move and twisted his wrist, driving his claws into Goku's side. Blood splattered, and Goku's eyes widened in pain as he stumbled back.
Gohan roared in fury, lunging at Cell, his movements wild and desperate. He struck with primal force, aiming for Cell's exposed circuitry. Cell dodged with a fluid grace, allowing Gohan's momentum to carry him forward, then slammed a knee into Gohan's back, sending him crashing into an asteroid that shattered on impact.
Cell took a brief moment to assess his own injuries. His body was reaching its limit, but he knew that if he could absorb even one of the Saiyans, he could repair himself and gain enough strength to overpower the others. His tail unfurled, the end morphing into a gaping maw, ready to consume the fallen warriors.
Broly, still raging but drained, charged at him, his golden aura flickering weakly. Cell met him head-on, deflecting Broly's fist and countering with a brutal kick to his knee, buckling him. Without missing a beat, Cell grabbed Broly by the throat, hoisting him up, his tail inching closer.
Vegeta forced himself to his feet, his body battered but his spirit unbroken. "Get your hands off him, you freak!" he shouted, lunging forward with a last burst. His fists crackled as he brought them down onto Cell's arm, forcing him to release Broly.
Cell snarled, an unusual display of irritation flickering across his face. "Enough of this," he muttered, his voice a low, controlled growl. He swung his tail toward Vegeta, striking him across the face and sending him hurtling back. In one swift movement, he retracted his tail, aiming directly for Goku, who was still struggling to stand.
But before he could make contact, a massive surge of energy flared from a distance.
"Stop." Beerus's voice resonated across the void, his tone carrying an authority that demanded instant obedience. He floated closer, his violet aura blazing with barely contained power. The God of Destruction's golden eyes narrowed, assessing the battlefield littered with Saiyans on the brink of death and a crippled Cell, still determined to kill.
Cell Max's analytical mind whirred, realizing that Beerus was the greatest threat here. He hadn't anticipated that the God of Destruction would interfere directly, but his plan was already in motion. He knew he had to finish this quickly or face total obliteration.
"Lord Beerus," Cell said, his voice dripping with mock respect, "surely a being of your stature has no need to intervene. These Saiyans chose to fight of their own will. Let them face the consequences."
Beerus's gaze hardened, and a flicker of wrath crossed his face. "Enough games. You've caused enough destruction, and I don't tolerate parasites who toy with life as you do."
Sensing that he was out of options, Cell chose his next move with cold precision. His broken body couldn't hold up much longer, and his ability to absorb ki attacks was worthless now. His only chance was to take Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan's strength for himself by absorbing them physically. His mind calculated every possible trajectory, and with a final surge of speed, he lunged for Goku, tail stretching toward the Saiyan's fallen form.
Goku, disoriented but still aware, managed to throw up a weak arm in defense, but Cell's tail lashed around him, pinning him down. Before he could fully process the threat, Cell plunged his tail into Goku's back, the maw at the end expanding to start the brutal absorption process.
"Goku!" Gohan cried, his energy flaring as he staggered to his feet, his Beast form roaring back to life. He charged at Cell, but Cell was prepared. Without releasing Goku, he turned and drove his clawed hand into Gohan's chest, immobilizing him as his tail shifted to ensnare him as well.
Beerus's eyes widened slightly, his hand raising instinctively to unleash a Hakai, but he hesitated, unwilling to risk the Saiyans caught in Cell's grip. "You dare!"
With Gohan and Goku partially absorbed, Cell's body began to pulse with renewed strength, his injuries remaining even as he drained their energy.
But Cell's moment of triumph was short-lived.
Vegeta, bloodied but relentless, forced himself up one final time. His Ultra Ego aura flared brighter than ever, burning with raw determination. "I won't… let you… win…" he grunted, charging at Cell with everything he had. He slammed into Cell's side with a last-ditch punch, aiming directly for the weak points in his exposed circuitry.
Cell hissed, the force of Vegeta's blow disrupting his concentration and severing his tail from Goku and Gohan. In a blur of motion, Broly joined the assault, his powerful fists smashing into Cell's chest, ripping away more of his damaged armor.
Realizing he was once again outmatched, Cell's calculating mind reached a chilling conclusion: escape was his only option. He summoned the last reserves of his energy, his body flickering with an unstable aura as he prepared to retreat.
"You're not going anywhere!" Beerus growled, his hand raised to deliver the Hakai. But Cell had anticipated this; he severed his own arm, using it as a decoy, throwing it toward Beerus to buy himself a fraction of a second.
The God of Destruction blasted the limb to dust, but in that instant, Cell darted into the distance, his form barely visible as he fled through the cosmos, broken and battered, missing a limb limb and tail. His escape trail was marked by scattered fragments of his damaged body, but his speed only increased as he vanished into the depths of space.
Silence fell over the battlefield, the weight of the Saiyans' defeat settling in.
Gohan, gasping and weakened, turned to his father, who lay unconscious, his body broken from Cell's partial absorption attempt. "Dad… stay with me…" he murmured, his voice cracking as he knelt beside Goku.
Vegeta staggered over, his gaze hard as he looked into the distance where Cell had vanished. "He'll be back," he muttered, his fists trembling with barely contained rage. "And next time… he won't be escaping."
Whis approached the fallen warriors, his staff glowing as he began to heal their injuries. "For now, rest. You've all done enough." His tone was soft, but his expression was troubled.
Beerus floated nearby, his gaze steely. "That creature dared to defy me," he said coldly. "Next time, I won't hesitate."
But within each of the Saiyans, the fire of determination was already rekindling. They had been pushed to the brink, and they knew that Cell's return was inevitable.
As they drifted through the stars, healed but humbled, they each vowed that when Cell returned, they would be ready, and they would make sure he paid for every life he had threatened.
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I spend so much time thinking at how to end this fight, and this was the more realistic way, Beerus was too much as a wild card.
Now the mc will need to find the chip
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Patreon: SaintNull
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