"How is this possible?! Why do you carry so many different energy signatures?!"
Piccolo's face twisted in disbelief. From Cell's body, he could pick up numerous familiar Ki signatures—Goku, Gohan, Master Roshi, Krillin, and several powerful unknown energies he couldn't even recognize.
What on earth was this creature? He was like a bizarre walking fusion of every fighter in existence!
However, to Piccolo's surprise, he couldn't detect the Ki signatures of Lin Xuan, Uchiha Madara, or Senju Hashirama within Cell's body.
Though he didn't understand why, Piccolo could tell that the energy signatures within Cell belonged exclusively to top-tier martial artists of Earth.
Why weren't those terrifying monsters included?
Though Piccolo hated to admit it, even after years of intense training on King Kai's planet, he still lacked the confidence to say he was stronger than Lin Xuan's group!
At that moment, Cell fixed his eerie gaze on Piccolo, letting out a grating, high-pitched laugh. "Well, since you're destined to be devoured by me anyway, there's no harm in telling you. My name is Cell, and I am an Android!"
"An Android?!" Piccolo blinked in confusion.
"That's right! Long ago, Dr. Gero began collecting genetic cells from the universe's greatest martial artists, combining them to construct me over decades of computer synthesis," Cell sneered coldly. "I traveled here from over twenty years in the future to complete my evolution!"
"Your bio-energy is exceptionally potent," Cell added, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Once I absorb you, I will be one step closer to my complete form. When I devour 17 and 18 afterward, my Perfect Form will be invincible!"
As he spoke, a sphere of energy condensed in Cell's hands, firing straight at Piccolo!
"The Kamehameha?! Makes sense if you carry Goku's cells!"
Piccolo sneered in disdain. "However, if that's all you've got, a creature like you won't be beating me!"
Red light flared from Piccolo's palms as a high-powered energy beam shot forth, colliding directly with Cell's Kamehameha!
BOOM!
A deafening impact shattered the air, causing surrounding skyscrapers to collapse into dust.
In the middle of the highway, two green figures clashed at high speed. Under their violent exchanges, the surrounding buildings crumbled into rubble one after another.
Fortunately, the human population had already been devoured by Cell, so no civilians were caught in the crossfire.
Current Piccolo was vastly stronger than in his past life. Even though he had yet to fuse with Kami, his training in the afterlife allowed him to stand toe-to-toe with this base form of Cell.
The battle grew increasingly fierce, moving rapidly across the countryside, leaving destruction in its wake.
"Fascinating! To think your strength is actually weaker than I anticipated!" Cell mocked.
Piccolo snorted coldly, though his heart grew heavier by the second.
He realized Cell's combat power surpassed his expectations. Despite his years of intense training under King Kai, he still couldn't defeat this ugly monster!
BOOM!
During another chaotic exchange, Cell maneuvered behind Piccolo with blinding speed.
SWOOSH!
The needle-sharp stinger on Cell's tail lashed out like a striking viper, plunging deep into Piccolo's left arm and frantically draining his life energy!
In a fraction of a second, Piccolo's arm withered like a dry branch.
"Damn it!"
Piccolo's face paled. With decisive ruthlessness, he swung his right hand, cleanly severing his own withered left arm at the shoulder!
At that moment, Cell's eyes flared as red laser beams shot out, slamming directly into Piccolo's chest and triggering a violent explosion!
BLAM!
Piccolo was blasted back hundreds of meters, tumbling across the ground before coming to a stop, his breathing heavy and ragged.
"HAH!"
With a sharp grunt, Piccolo's left shoulder bulged, and a brand-new arm regenerated in an instant, restoring him to full health.
However, unlike the original history, Piccolo hadn't encountered Android 17 yet, nor had he been defeated to force a fusion with Kami.
As a result, his current base strength was simply inferior to Cell's. If the battle dragged on, he would eventually be defeated and devoured.
Piccolo clenched his regenerated fist, his teeth grinding in sheer frustration.
After years of intense training on King Kai's planet, Piccolo had been full of confidence. Upon reviving and returning to Earth, his very first goal had been to challenge Lin Xuan to a duel, believing his new strength was sufficient to defeat that man.
Passing through this town, he had landed merely to investigate an anomaly—only to run headfirst into a nightmare!
What humiliated him even more was that his first opponent after revival was an Android, and he was actually losing!
Such a result was a severe blow to Piccolo's pride.
"Heheh-haha... You had better obediently turn into my nutrients!" Cell taunted, swaying his tail as he stepped closer to Piccolo.
In truth, Cell felt quite relieved internally.
Fortunately, he had absorbed the populations of several towns upon awakening, boosting his power significantly; otherwise, fighting this Namekian would have been quite risky.
Now, however, the tables had turned.
Cell stared at Piccolo with burning hunger.
This Namekian was vastly superior to ordinary humans. Absorbing his bio-energy would give Cell another massive power boost before he hunted down Androids 17 and 18!
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T/N:
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