The underworld's invading army had been decimated, with their strongest leaders eliminated. Cooler, Cell, and other major threats had all fallen before the Saiyans' overwhelming power.
People watching television couldn't help cheering as familiar faces like Krillin and Yamcha swept through the remaining monsters like a storm across the broadcast screens. Goku, Vegeta, and the other top-tier fighters moved too fast to be properly recorded, appearing only as brief blurs.
Many cosmic soldiers who'd lost their leaders simply surrendered without resistance—they were dead souls anyway and didn't mind dying again. With this, everyone had successfully resolved the crisis, leaving only Raditz to eliminate the source in the underworld.
But... it seemed everyone had forgotten about Android 17, fighting far away at his nature preserve.
Only Android 17 remained locked in desperate combat, facing multiple androids in battle on the far side of Earth. Viewed from space, circles of light rose from the planet's surface—disc-like spots containing enormous energy, their brilliant radiance illuminating the void.
The explosions shook Earth like an egg with its shell cracking. Thick silver lightning crashed down from heights of thirty thousand meters, countless branches blasting tiny electric arcs. Rumbling thunder followed seconds later.
Android 17 slid across the ground, digging his fingers into the earth before his back struck rock, carving massive spiderweb cracks. Lightning flashed before his eyes, thunder roared in his ears, yet his stern face showed no emotion.
His favorite outfit hung in tatters, numerous wounds covering his face and body.
"Hahaha, Android 17! Have you seen it? My new creation is superior to you, leaving you completely helpless." Dr. Gero waved his remaining arm mockingly, the other having been severed.
"He eliminated two of our companions," Hell Android 17 stated coldly from the sidelines.
"Don't talk so much," Dr. Gero snapped at his creation. I'm trying to gloat here—you don't need to point out inconvenient truths. He somewhat regretted that his new Android 17 lacked sophistication and seemed excessively cold.
As his latest work, Gero had given Hell Android 17 no emotional redundancy, creating an artificial human who executed orders perfectly with eternal energy and power exceeding the original Android 17. But this rigid personality often frustrated the doctor.
Several large fragments lay scattered across the battlefield. Androids 19 and 14 were completely destroyed, the slightly stronger Android 13 barely survived, and Android 15 had lost an arm just like Gero.
Only Hell Android 17 fought intensely against the original, maintaining a slight advantage.
Gero had made some miscalculations. He hadn't accounted for Android 17's tremendous growth in this world. Hell Android 17's strength exceeded the original's only marginally—insufficient for easy victory. When the androids attacked together, their lack of coordination proved less efficient than individual assaults, allowing Android 17 to eliminate two of them.
Still, facing multiple opponents had left Android 17 severely injured and gradually falling into a disadvantageous position.
"Old man, I didn't expect you to learn bragging skills in Hell," Android 17 said, pushing himself up from the ground. He wiped blood from his mouth and clenched his fists.
Killing intent flashed in Gero's eyes as his aged lips twisted into an exaggerated grin. "You'll be speechless soon enough. Finish him off."
"Already on it." Hell Android 17 raised his hand and fired a shockwave directly at his counterpart.
Android 13 nodded silently before releasing his energy cannon. "Understood."
"Eliminate Android 17."
All three androids fired at Android 17 simultaneously. As unlimited energy models, they had no stamina issues. Once their assault began, it became an overwhelming barrage of endless energy blasts!
Android 17 gritted his teeth and leaped skyward, returning fire, but his beloved nature preserve suffered terrible destruction. Turbulent waves of energy crashed in all directions, airflow swirling chaotically as continuous bombardment drew lines between sky and sea.
Countless droplets of energy pursued Android 17, shooting from one end of the ocean to the other. His figure moved so fast it seemed unreal, tracing countless arcs from sky to ground while dodging the tremendous assault.
However, a dark figure suddenly appeared directly in his path, moving faster than Android 17 himself.
"I can read your movements."
Hell Android 17 spoke coldly, instantly releasing the attack he'd been charging with both hands. It merged with subsequent energy waves from Androids 13 and 15, creating a massive blast capable of shattering space that exploded around Android 17. The sea's surface was vaporized by red-hot energy, creating a enormous crater as cold seawater continuously poured in with loud hissing sounds.
The earth trembled as tectonic plates seemed to fracture. Magma erupted from underground fissures while tsunamis followed.
Gero looked pleased, though Hell Android 17 remained expressionless.
"That was close," Android 17 said, opening his hands to reveal an energy barrier covering his entire body. Outside, thick smoke filled a world of shifting colors.
"Pathetic tricks." Hell Android 17 snorted disdainfully and flew toward his counterpart.
Energy shields might stop ki blasts, but they couldn't prevent physical attacks!
BANG!
Hell Android 17's flying punch seemed to strike an iron plate, the tremendous shock force startling him. A tall, powerful man stood before him, blocking the attack with his massive fist.
Not only was Hell Android 17 surprised—the original Android 17 also looked mildly shocked before smiling at the newcomer.
Hell Android 17 didn't recognize him, but Gero knew this was Android 16, another of his creations. Android 18 and Zangya had arrived with him.
While others had forgotten about Android 17, Android 18 had thought of him immediately when the mutation began. When the world achieved peace without further disturbance yet Earth continued shaking violently, she'd instantly known something had happened to her brother.
So she'd brought Android 16 and Zangya to the nature preserve.
At the critical moment, they'd joined forces to block Hell Android 17's attack.
"Android 17, who is this guy? Why does he look exactly like you?" Android 18 asked.
"Heh, Gero's latest work—you're not seeing things," Android 17 replied, looking much more relaxed with a slight smile.
Android 18 gathered all her energy, clenching her fingers into fists. "That lifeless bastard never could leave well enough alone." She glanced at Android 17. "But this isn't the time to be smiling."
"We'll win together," Android 17 said confidently, stroking his hair.
The situation had suddenly shifted dramatically. While they chatted casually, Gero frowned and ground his teeth. Android 18 and Android 16 were powerful artificial humans who'd also grown stronger over time. One Hell Android 17 clearly wasn't enough.
Cold sweat beaded on Gero's forehead as his eyes darted nervously. "You're all traitors! I'll destroy every one of you!"
"Sorry, but you're out of chances," Zangya said. Using her instant movement technique, she flashed behind Gero and pierced his chest with her palm. Simultaneously, Android 16 and Android 18 destroyed Androids 13 and 15 respectively.
This demonstrated the clear power gap—not all androids were created equal!
Gero, his chest pierced through, wore a grim expression. With his last reserves of strength, he viciously pressed the button in his hand, crushing a square box-shaped device with his remaining power!
Androids 17 and 18 recognized that red button well. An emergency shutdown device? Or something else? They saw Dr. Gero's vindictive smile before he died.
Hell Android 17 immediately began wailing, his voice like a dragon's roar. The mighty sound waves could tear clouds apart, shake the earth, and turn the space between heaven and earth into a vacuum! His body became blazingly hot—so intense it distorted light itself, generating howling winds as his form glowed red from inside out with dazzling brilliance.
Gero's usual trick—the mutual destruction gambit at critical moments. However, the energy release this time exceeded any previous attempt. If unleashed on Earth, it would definitely destroy the entire planet and potentially spread to other worlds in the solar system.
"I've run the calculations—we can't stop this!" Android 16 announced after two seconds of analysis.
"He shares the same source as me. Let me try!" Android 17 reasoned that Hell Android 17 was essentially his copy with identical energy. Fusion might stabilize the reaction.
They had no time to debate alternatives—Android 17 had to attempt it immediately. He flew forward, opening his protective barrier as the two Android 17s overlapped within the brilliant light. The outside world could no longer see clearly as the radiance intensified.
"Android 17!" Android 18 screamed hysterically.
After a period of blinding light, no explosion occurred. Instead, the brilliance gradually diminished and the protective shield faded. Android 17's figure appeared unchanged—the same appearance, but his entire presence had become lofty and vast, like a newly born deity!
"I feel... stronger?" Android 17 clenched his fists uncertainly, speaking with disbelief.
Everyone stood stunned.