The sky trembled with tension as dust clouds curled into the horizon. Rykon stood at the edge of the shattered arena, his arms crossed, his Saiyan eyes narrowed in anticipation. So… it's finally happening.
Cell hovered midair, his emerald skin gleaming with the radiance of his own arrogance. His tail flicked lazily behind him, and his lips curled into a smirk.
"Well, who's first?"
Rykon's teeth clenched. Cocky bastard.
Before anyone else could step forward, Goku calmly leaped into the cratered stage, his orange gi stained with battle scars but his eyes sharp with determination.
"I guess I'll go first, if that's okay."
Cell's smirk widened. "For the sake of transparency, I was hoping to save you for second to last."
Second to last? Rykon's heart skipped. Damn it. Was he saving me for last?
Goku flexed his fingers and dropped into his stance, the iconic pose of a warrior ready to give it everything he had. His aura flared, and in the blink of an eye, he shot toward Cell.
They collided—two forces of nature, clashing like thunderheads in the sky. Goku's elbow aimed for Cell's neck, but Cell's hand snapped up with inhuman reflexes, catching the blow effortlessly and tossing Goku back.
"Damn, he's good." Rykon's jaw tightened. He could feel it. This fight is on a different level.
Again they clashed, fists and kicks trading blows in a blur too fast for human eyes. Goku's foot caught Cell across the jaw; Cell's fist struck Goku's face in return. Both fighters recoiled, but neither dared touch the ground outside the ring. Pride kept them anchored. Saiyan pride.
From the sidelines, Mr. Satan puffed up his chest and grabbed the microphone. "Heh! I could beat both of them with one hand tied behind my back and blindfolded!"
The crowd roared, unaware of how little they truly understood.
Rykon scoffed. Idiots…
Above the shattered arena, Goku and Cell's forms blurred in and out of vision. Rykon's Saiyan eyes could track them, as could Gohan's, but the humans? They were left in the dark.
Suddenly, Goku landed a heavy strike, sending Cell spiraling toward the edge of the ring.
Krillin's eyes widened. "LOOK! HE'S OUT OF THE RING!"
But Rykon's gaze narrowed, calm. "It's not over."
Tien squinted, all three of his eyes open. "What do you mean?"
"Use all three of your eyes, Tien. Look closer."
And there it was—before Cell's body touched the ground, he reversed his flight and hovered back to the ring, completely unharmed.
"I'm sorry," Cell chuckled. "Did you think you defeated me?"
Goku wiped the sweat from his brow but smirked. "I knew it wouldn't be that easy."
"Then let me reveal to you—little by little—the true power of perfection."
For nearly half an hour, they fought in the sky, their voices lost to the wind. Goku's breath grew ragged.
Man… this guy's good. His heart pounded in his chest. I'm tired. No, more than tired—I'm spent. And I hate to admit it… but I don't think I can beat him.
Cell grinned wickedly. "Goku… I'm having way too much fun to stop now. Eat a Senzu Bean, why don't you?"
Trunks clenched his fists. "If we give Goku a Senzu and all team up, we can win this!"
"No way," Rykon snapped. "That would ruin the fun."
"What?!" Trunks barked, but Vegeta's voice cut through, cold and sharp.
"You have no pride as a Saiyan, do you? Kakarot would rather die than win that way."
Trunks bit his lip, furious but silent.
And then it happened. Cell's eyes narrowed.
"You almost fell out of the ring before. Perhaps it's time to change the rules."
Goku's eyes widened. "What are you doing?!"
Cell extended his hand toward the ring—and fired.
A massive blast barreled toward the arena. Goku's scream echoed across the battlefield.
"EVERYONE! GET AWAY FROM THE RING! NOW!!"
Rykon's instincts kicked in. "EVERYONE, GET AROUND ME! QUICK!"
Krillin blinked. "Huh—"
"Stop asking questions, bald man! JUST DO IT!" Vegeta barked.
With no time to hesitate, even Mr. Satan and the cameraman clung to Rykon as he conjured a protective Ki barrier. The explosion engulfed them in white-hot light.
When the dust settled, the arena was gone—but Goku's friends stood unharmed within Rykon's shield.
Goku sighed in relief. "Smart thinking, Rykon."
Rykon let the bubble fade, and the group tumbled to the ground.
But then came the moment that shattered the battlefield's rhythm.
"I forfeit," Goku said calmly.
Rykon's heart stopped. Wait—WHAT?!
Cell's eyes widened. "You're joking."
"I'm not." Goku crossed his arms, his voice steady. "You win."
The Z-Fighters erupted in chaos.
Krillin gasped. "He's forfeiting?!"
Piccolo's voice cracked. "WHAT THE HELL IS HE THINKING?!"
Cell's grin returned, cold and venomous. "If there's no one left to fight me, I'll destroy this planet."
"Oh, there's someone left," Goku said. His gaze shifted to the sidelines. "In fact… there's two."
Rykon's stomach twisted.
Two? Don't tell me…
Goku's lips curled into a knowing smile.
"These two are members of my family. Rykon. Gohan. Get down here."
Piccolo's eyes narrowed. (I get Rykon… but Gohan? He's just a kid!)
Gohan's hands trembled. "D-Dad… you want ME to fight Cell?!"
Rykon rested a hand on Gohan's shoulder. His voice was soft but firm. "It'll be fine, Gohan. Your dad wouldn't have chosen us for no reason."
They both descended into the crater, the air thick with tension.
Gohan's heart raced. Why me? I'm just a kid… Uncle Rykon is the better choice!
But Goku's voice sliced through his doubt.
"Don't ever say that again, Gohan."
Piccolo glared at Goku. "You had more energy left! Why not finish the fight yourself?!"
"Because it wouldn't be enough," Goku replied. His gaze was unwavering. "Gohan and Rykon are hiding power none of you can imagine. Gohan surpassed me in the Time Chamber. And Rykon? He's more dangerous than any of you realize."
The wind picked up as Cell chuckled.
"Fine then. No need to drag this out. I'll fight both of them at once."
Rykon's fists clenched. "You're going to regret that."
Gohan's mind swirled in chaos. I can't let Uncle Rykon fight alone. I have to do this!
They powered up together, their energy resonating like a symphony in perfect sync.
From the sidelines, Vegeta watched, sweat beading down his temple.
How did the brat's power rise this much? And Rykon… He was hiding this from me?!
Cell's grin faltered. "So Goku wasn't bluffing after all."
Goku tossed Cell a Senzu Bean. "Eat up. It's only fair you fight them at full strength."
"THANK YOU," Cell purred, eyes gleaming with malice. "Now it'll be easier to slaughter your family."
Rykon and Gohan attacked, their movements like mirror images, striking Cell from both sides. They overwhelmed him, forcing him back, forcing him down.
Together, they unleashed a unified blast—
"MASENKO… HAAAA!"
"PRIME… HAAAA!"
Their beams merged into a torrent of golden light, swallowing Cell whole.
For a moment, the battlefield was silent.
Krillin whispered, "They got him?"
But Cell emerged from the smoke, his body battered but alive.
"Well, well. So this is the result of teamwork."
Cell's energy flared. He multiplied.
Two Cells.
Then fifty.
Gohan's heart pounded. "Uncle Rykon! What do we do now?!"
Rykon's lips twitched into a grin. "Attack."
Dozens of Special Beam Cannons ignited around them.
Rykon formed a shield of blue Ki and handed one to Gohan.
"Use it to deflect the beams. Hit them all back."
Together, they weaved through the barrage, redirecting energy, destroying Cell's duplicates one by one.
When the dust cleared, only the real Cell remained—breathing hard, eyes wide.
But the battle wasn't over.
Cell gripped Rykon by the throat, driving a Ki blade through his heart.
Blood splattered across the ruined earth.
Gohan's vision blurred with tears.
"UNCLE RYKON!!"
The ground trembled beneath his feet as his scream tore through the heavens.
Electricity crackled around his body, golden hair whipping wildly in the storm of his rage.
"You're all going to pay," he whispered. His voice was cold. Final.
One by one, he obliterated the Cell Juniors. They died in an instant.
And then… it was just Gohan and Cell.
The rest of the battle unfolded in blinding flashes of light—Cell reverting to his semi-perfect form, threatening to destroy the planet, Goku's sacrifice, and the return of Perfect Cell from the brink of death.
But in the final moment, when all hope seemed lost, Gohan stood alone.
One arm broken.
One chance left.
His father's voice echoed in his mind. Believe in yourself, Gohan. Show me our combined power as a family.
Rykon's spirit stood beside him, fists clenched. He thinks you're weak. Show him he's wrong.
Gohan's eyes flared, tears streaking his face.
"I… WILL!!"
Kamehameha collided with Kamehameha, the beams roaring in the void between them.
Then—Vegeta's blast struck Cell from behind, tipping the balance.
Gohan's final cry echoed across the battlefield.
"HAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Cell's body disintegrated into nothingness, his perfection reduced to ash.
The battle was over.
But the echoes of their combined Kamehameha—their family Kamehameha—would be remembered for eternity.
[TO BE CONTINUED]