c99: "Actions of the Dark Demon World",
"It's no use… he's just too strong," Number 17 muttered, staring at Li Xu like he was facing a force of nature.
"He's unreadable," Number 18 added, her voice edged with disbelief. "I didn't think the gap in power between us would be this massive."
"Sis, you're gorgeous. Why don't you try charming him into becoming your husband? Then no one would ever dare mess with me again!" 17 joked with a grin.
BOOM!
Before he could finish laughing, 18 punched him squarely in the head.
"Say something that dumb again and I'll rip your jaw off," 18 snapped, glaring at him with a mix of irritation and embarrassment.
"Okay, okay! You didn't have to hit so hard..." 17 grumbled, rubbing the growing bump on his head.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Meanwhile, the clash between Number 16 and Son Goku intensified. Fists, knees, and elbows flew as their brutal exchanges sent shockwaves through the air. Each collision created bursts of white ki that cracked the sky like glass.
BOOM!
Their fists collided once more, forcing both warriors to slide backward several meters before landing, muscles tense and auras flaring.
Son Goku looked exhilarated. "This is way better than fighting Super Android 13," he thought, his blood surging and every cell in his body responding to the thrill of combat.
Suddenly, Number 16 stepped forward and threw what looked like a normal punch except Goku noticed he was too far away for it to connect.
Then the unexpected happened: Number 16's fist detached from his wrist, shooting forward with rocket-like force. Caught off guard, Goku was struck squarely in the chest, skidding back and carving two deep trenches in the earth with his heels before finally stopping.
The detached hand flew back on a guided trajectory and reattached to 16's arm. He flexed his wrist slightly, checking the reassembly.
"What kind of technique is that?" Goku asked, eyes wide with interest.
"I'm a fully mechanical android. My combat systems are designed differently from bio-organic types like 17 and 18," 16 explained as he calmly walked away, showing no intention of continuing.
"Hey, wait! We're not done!" Goku called out, clearly frustrated.
"I was created to kill you," 16 said without turning back, "but I cannot. Therefore, I abandon the mission."
"But I was just getting into it..." Goku sighed, scratching the back of his head, clearly disappointed that the match ended so abruptly.
"Alright, the fight's over. Time to head home," Li Xu said, stepping in with a calm yet commanding tone.
"But what about them?" Krillin asked, nodding toward the trio of androids.
"As long as they don't pose a threat to Earth, there's no reason to act against them," Li Xu replied as he gestured for Bulma and the two children to follow him.
"But… they're androids, artificial creations," Krillin said hesitantly. Something about them still made him uneasy, but he couldn't quite explain why.
"Our timeline is different from Trunks' future," Li Xu explained calmly. "So don't let Trunks' warnings cloud your judgment. Dr. Gero is dead, and the androids have abandoned their directive. They're not hostile to us anymore."
Then he turned to his family. "Bulma, Li Yi, Bulla let's head back."
"Mm."
All three walked over to Li Xu, placed their hands on him, and with a soft whoosh, they vanished instantly using Instant Transmission.
"Gohan, let's head home too," said Son Goku. Although he hadn't gotten to enjoy his fight with Android 16 to the fullest, he knew the battle was over.
"Yes, Dad!" Gohan responded enthusiastically, hurrying to his father's side.
"Guess I don't need to worry anymore... not like I could do much anyway," Krillin muttered with a helpless smile.
"Krillin, even if the androids do turn against us, we've got Goku and Li Xu on our side," Tien Shinhan reassured him, his tone steady.
"Kakarot... I will surpass you," Vegeta growled under his breath as he took off toward The Lookout. If he wanted to push his limits quickly, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber was his only option.
Piccolo floated in silence, then after a pause, launched into the air as well heading in the same direction, but for a different reason entirely.
Back at his home, Li Xu returned to his own training. He wasn't too concerned about the Cell hiding in the shadows. If Goku and the others couldn't handle it, he was prepared to step in.
But then, just as he focused his ki, a familiar voice rang out again.
"Li Xu."
Kane's projection flickered into existence, her expression serious.
"Kane? Another Chrono Patrol mission?" Li Xu asked, raising an eyebrow at the sudden appearance.
"Not this time," Kane replied. "The Dark Demon Realm has begun moving again. This time, their target may be Earth in your timeline. Stay alert."
"Do we know who's behind it? How strong are they?" Li Xu asked, frowning.
"I don't have specific intel yet," Kane admitted. "But they're after dark energy. They prefer to operate in shadows and stir conflict to harvest that energy."
"Understood." Li Xu nodded in acknowledgement.
"If things escalate, I'll come back you up," Kane added. With a flash of pride, she smirked. "This time, I ended the call first."
Her image vanished, leaving Li Xu shaking his head with a faint smile.
He knew Kane's combat power wasn't exceptional nowhere near his current level. Her strengths lay in her command over time. If she pushed her Chronoa-enhanced ability to the extreme and paid the price, she could potentially trap even Angel-class beings in temporal stasis.
"The Dark Demon Realm… they must be after Cell," Li Xu thought, his gaze narrowing.
If the Demon Realm forces needed dark energy, they'd seek battles with overwhelming hatred or chaotic power. Of everyone active in this timeline, only Cell matched that criteria.
"They'll use him as a catalyst. Soldiers will block soldiers, and water will block floods. There's no way to find them while they hide," Li Xu muttered, dismissing the thought for now.
Three days passed.
While training in his gravity-enhanced chamber, Li Xu suddenly sensed two distinct and powerful ki signatures.
"They're finally here… and one of them definitely Demon Realm," he whispered.
One ki unmistakably belonged to Cell, but the other was darker, heavier and stronger.
"Why does Cell's energy feel like mine?" Li Xu frowned.
It puzzled him. The Cell from the manga timeline came from an alternate future where Goku was dead. Li Xu shouldn't exist in that continuity at all yet Cell's ki had a faint echo of his own.
"Husband, what's wrong?" Bulma and the kids, already attuned to energy, rushed in. They too had sensed the ominous auras.
"Nothing major. Just some rats creeping out of the dark," Li Xu said, trying to keep them calm.
"Dad, their energy feels wrong," Li Yi said, eyes narrowing. He could already distinguish the spiritual signatures malicious and chaotic.
In Dragon Ball, someone's ki reflects their inner nature. Evil ki carries a corrosive edge, and these two signatures were overflowing with it.
"Stay home. I'll handle it," Li Xu said, stepping away.
"Wait! I want to come too!" Bulma clung to his arm, fearful that he'd vanish using Instant Transmission before she could stop him. "I won't slow you down I promise!"
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