At that moment, the door of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber opened.
Goku and Gohan stepped out.
Seeing Vegeta, Goku said in surprise:
"Oh, Vegeta—you've been waiting long?"
Nappa quickly waved his hands.
"No, no! We just got here!"
Vegeta snorted coldly.
"Kakarot, don't touch that Cell."
"When I come out, I'll deal with him myself."
Without waiting for a reply, Vegeta walked straight into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.
Nappa nodded at Goku and hurried in after him.
Gohan frowned slightly.
"Dad… are we really going to wait for him to handle Cell?"
Goku shrugged.
"Cell's hiding somewhere anyway—we'll leave it to fate."
"As long as he doesn't show himself, waiting a day or two doesn't matter."
Gohan nodded.
Suddenly, Gohan felt a powerful energy and his body tensed.
"What's wrong, Gohan?" Goku asked.
Gohan frowned.
"Dad, do you feel that? There's a really strong energy…"
Goku sensed it and nodded.
"Yeah… it feels like Piccolo."
Gohan was shocked.
"Uncle Piccolo? Why has his energy become so strong?"
Mr. Popo explained:
"That's correct—it is Piccolo."
"Kami couldn't tolerate Cell absorbing humans, so he fused with Piccolo to stop him."
Gohan froze.
"Piccolo fused with Kami… can he really become this strong?"
Goku nodded.
"Yes. If they had fused earlier in your future… things wouldn't have turned out that way."
"What?!"
Gohan was stunned for a long moment.
Then he lowered his head sadly.
"That's such a shame…"
"If they had fused earlier in the future… Piccolo wouldn't have died…"
He blamed himself again for not being strong enough.
Ever since training under Piccolo, he felt like he had never truly stepped up.
Piccolo had always protected him—and even died for him again against the androids.
Goku placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What's done is done. Don't carry that burden, Gohan."
"You know… when people die, they go to the afterlife."
"In your future, everyone who died was kind. They won't suffer there."
"Before long, they'll be reincarnated and finally be free."
"You're the only one left alive in your world… and that makes you the most unfortunate."
"You've had to carry all the pain."
Hearing this, Gohan's mindset shifted slightly.
He looked at Goku—feeling a bit unfamiliar with him.
In his future, his father had never taught him to think this way.
"Thank you… Dad."
Goku shrugged.
"You're thanking me? That's too formal."
"You know, I've noticed you're closer to Piccolo than to your own father."
"I'm kinda hurt, you know."
Gohan panicked.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Dad—I didn't mean—"
Goku laughed and patted him.
"Relax, I'm joking."
Gohan's expression softened.
Goku continued:
"Gohan, you've lived too heavily all these years."
"I want you to let go a bit."
"After you return and deal with the androids…"
"Find a girl you like and get married."
"You deserve a happy life."
Gohan nodded firmly.
"I understand, Dad."
"Alright, let's go eat something good."
"It's been a year since you've seen your mom."
"She'll definitely make you a feast."
Gohan smiled.
"Yeah!"
Inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber
Vegeta stepped into the endless white space.
The crushing pressure and ten times gravity weighed on him—
But compared to the frustration in his heart, it felt like nothing.
Nappa, however, was stunned.
"So this is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber… it's really endless…"
"I can't believe a place like this exists."
He looked at Vegeta.
"I bet Kakarot trains here all the time."
"That's why a low-class warrior like him became so strong."
Vegeta snorted.
"Hmph. Enough talk."
"Start training!"
"When I leave this place… I, Vegeta, will never lose to Kakarot again!"
Meanwhile… in a Small Town
Cell's tail pierced the chest of the last fleeing human like a venomous snake, absorbing his life energy.
Cell licked his lips, eyes filled with greed.
"Even after absorbing so many humans… it's still not enough."
"Not strong enough…"
He remembered Goku's overwhelming strength and hesitated slightly.
Suddenly, he sensed a powerful energy approaching rapidly.
"Such a strong energy… it feels like Piccolo."
"But how did he suddenly become this strong?"
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Did he fuse with Kami?"
Cell burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Excellent!"
"If Piccolo fused with Kami… the Dragon Balls are gone."
"That means the dead can't be revived anymore."
"This works in my favor!"
He calculated Piccolo's energy.
"If I absorb Piccolo… it'll save me from absorbing hundreds of thousands of humans."
"But…"
He hesitated, recalling Goku's instant transmission.
He didn't dare take the risk.
Although he wanted to absorb Android 18, he knew he couldn't rush.
The Solar Flare might work once—but not twice.
His priority now:
Hide.
Absorb enough life energy.
Reach peak second form.
Then defeat Goku—and finally absorb 18.
After a moment, he snorted coldly and vanished.
"I'll let you live a little longer…"
Shortly After
Piccolo arrived at the town.
It was empty.
Clothes, bags—even weapons—were scattered everywhere.
Piccolo clenched his fists in fury.
"Damn it… he's too cautious. He escaped again!"
He smashed a nearby wall in anger.
The Next Day – Capsule Corp
Bulma, Goku, Android 18, Piccolo, Gohan, and others sat together in the living room.
The atmosphere was heavy.
"This can't go on!"
Piccolo slammed the table.
The teacups rattled loudly.
"Cell refuses to fight me!"
"He's only absorbing humans and getting stronger!"
"And he hides his energy perfectly—I can't find him!"
Goku replied calmly:
"Don't worry too much."
"There's a limit to how much he can grow by absorbing humans."
Piccolo snapped:
"But are we just going to let him keep doing this?!"
"He's already absorbed hundreds of thousands!"
Goku shrugged.
"I know. But if we can't find him, what can we do?"
"And besides…"
"Once we defeat him, we can use the Dragon Balls to bring everyone back."
"No need to worry so much."
At the mention of the Dragon Balls—
Piccolo lowered his head.
"…Sorry."
"After we fused…"
"The Dragon Balls are gone."
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