In the original timeline, on Earth.
Loren lay lazily on a lounge chair, enjoying the rare warmth of the afternoon sun.
Peaceful.
Leisurely.
Content.
Suddenly—
[Warning! Warning! A huge threat from a parallel timeline has been detected! Threat source locked: Ultimate Lightning Cell!]
Loren shot up from the chair, his relaxed expression instantly vanishing.
His eyes turned sharp.
"Event playback initiated…"
Cold, despair-filled images flooded Loren's mind like a fast-forwarded nightmare.
The time machine was stolen.
Two Cells traveled to a brand-new parallel timeline.
In that world, there was no Loren.
Everything was fragile.
Defenseless.
Future Cell easily devoured Android 17, Android 18, and Android 16, evolving into his Perfect Form.
Then he consumed every strong warrior of that world—
Goku.
Vegeta.
Gohan.
All of them became nourishment.
After that, he laid a trap.
Using Shenron, he lured the other Cell—who had achieved perfection through shortcuts—then devoured him as well.
Two Perfect beings fused.
An unprecedented monster was born.
[Ultimate Lightning Cell detected.]
[Combat Power Evaluation: 35,000,000,000.]
[Target Status: Current timeline locked. Returning via spacetime rift.]
[Estimated Arrival Time: 72 hours.]
"Thirty-five billion…"
Loren exhaled slowly.
Even his Super Saiyan Two, at full power, barely exceeded 5 billion.
This gap…
Was terrifying.
[The God-level selection system has been forcibly activated.]
[Please make your choice, Host.]
A light screen unfolded before his eyes.
[Option One: Ultimate Secret Technique — Escape. Use Capsule Corporation's backup energy to flee Earth immediately.
Reward: None.]
[Option Two: Protect tomorrow's sunshine. Gather all available forces in this timeline to confront Ultimate Lightning Cell head-on.
Reward: Undetermined.
Condition: Gather all Z Fighters to unlock the next stage.]
Loren didn't hesitate.
"Choose Two."
Whoosh—!
His figure vanished instantly.
On a small island.
The sea breeze blew gently.
Android 18 kicked at the sand, looking bored.
Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared before her.
"Loren?"
She was surprised—but immediately sensed something was wrong.
Loren's face was serious, devoid of his usual lazy smile.
"Something happened."
His voice was heavy.
"A very terrifying monster is coming."
He quickly explained everything—
Cell.
The parallel world.
The extinction.
Android 18 didn't hesitate for even a second.
She walked straight to his side.
"I'm going with you."
She trusted him.
Loren nodded.
He placed one hand on Android 18's shoulder, another on Android 17's, and the last on Android 16.
"Hold tight."
Buzz—!
Instant Transmission activated.
Kami's Lookout.
When Loren appeared with the three Androids, the Z Fighters—already in chaos over the stolen time machine—froze in shock.
"An… Android?!"
Krillin stumbled backward.
Vegeta's golden aura exploded outward instantly, his eyes full of hostility.
"Loren! What the hell are you doing bringing them here?!"
"Everyone—shut up."
"Listen."
"I'll keep it short."
Loren's voice cut through the tension.
"Bulma's time machine was stolen. You already know that."
"The thieves were two Cells."
"One from our era."
"One from the future."
"They went to a parallel timeline where none of us exist."
"In two years, they ate Android 17, Android 18, Android 16…"
"And Goku."
"And Vegeta."
"And Gohan."
"Basically—everyone edible in that world."
Each name hit like a hammer.
Android 18's fingers trembled slightly.
Vegeta's fists clenched so tightly they cracked, veins bulging on his forehead.
"That bastard…!"
"He dared touch Bulma's work—!"
"Calm down, Vegeta."
Loren continued.
"The key point is this."
"That Future Cell devoured everyone… then devoured his own kind."
"He evolved into something we can barely comprehend."
Loren paused.
Then spoke the number.
"His combat power is roughly…"
"35 billion."
…
…
…
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kami's Lookout felt suffocating.
No one spoke.
No one could.
Krillin's mouth hung open, his mind completely blank.
Thirty-five billion?
Frieza was barely over 100 million.
This thing…
Was the equivalent of hundreds of Friezas fused into one monster.
Vegeta's anger was instantly extinguished—like ice water poured over his head.
Despair.
Pure, crushing despair.
"H… haha…"
Krillin laughed dryly.
"Loren, you're… you're joking, right?"
"This is some sick joke… right?"
Loren didn't answer.
He simply looked at them.
Just then, a clear—but slightly trembling—voice spoke up.
"Then… what should we do?"
It was Android 18.
She looked at Loren, eyes filled with trust.
Loren met her gaze.
Then smiled faintly.
"Don't be afraid."
"I'm here."
Those three simple words erased the fear in her heart.
Her cheeks warmed unconsciously.
"WHAT'S THERE TO BE AFRAID OF?!"
Vegeta roared, breaking the heavy atmosphere.
"So what if it's 35 billion?!"
"I, Prince Vegeta, will never sit here waiting to die!"
"Kakar—!"
He stopped himself.
"…Goku! Let's go back into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber!"
Goku shook his head slowly, expression heavy.
"It won't work, Vegeta."
"Even if we train another year…"
"We can't reach that level."
"Then what do you suggest?!"
Vegeta roared.
"Sit here and wait to die?!"
...
Author's Note:
The fanfic Dragon Ball: I Became Invincible by Being a Lazy Salted Fish! Part 1 & 2 (Dragon Ball Z & Super) is now fully completed.
The entire story has been uploaded on Patreon as a dedicated collection:
📚 Dragon Ball (Chapters 1–343)
Organized into 42 posts, with multiple chapters per post for easy binge reading.
🔗 patreon.com/Shadow_demon_007
Thank you all for your continuous support and love for this story 💙
Full Story Coming Soon...