Three figures streaked through the sky like shooting stars, coming to an abrupt halt above the crumbling streets of West Capital. Below them, two familiar silhouettes toyed with eight terrified civilians like cats playing with mice, Androids 17 and 18.
"Gohan, Trunks," Karnel's voice carried a note of finality as he pointed toward the androids, "the time has come for you to claim your revenge. Go and destroy these half-human, half-machine abominations."
Trunks hesitated, his worried gaze lingering on Mai. Karnel caught the look and couldn't suppress a knowing smile. "Don't worry about your girlfriend," he assured the young Saiyan with gentle amusement. "I'll make sure not a single hair on Xiao Wu's head is harmed."
The words "Androids 17 and 18" left Gohan's lips like a curse. Years of suppressed rage ignited within him as golden flames erupted around his body. Without another word, he transformed into a Super Saiyan and dove toward Android 18, intercepting her just as she was about to deliver a killing blow to a cowering civilian.
With Mai's safety guaranteed, the last weight lifted from Trunks' shoulders. Not to be outdone, he too exploded into Super Saiyan form, his battle cry echoing across the devastated cityscape as he rushed toward Android 17.
Karnel glanced at Mai, noting the small bandage on her cheek, and felt a surge of protective affection. "Don't worry, little one," he said, softening his usually commanding tone. "Though Trunks may not be quite as strong as Gohan, defeating Android 17 shouldn't pose too much difficulty for him."
Mai's eyes remained fixed on the impending battle, worry etched across her young features. "Karnel," she whispered, "is Trunks really that powerful? Every time he and Gohan fought these androids before, he nearly died."
Are you questioning my teaching methods? Karnel thought with mild indignation, though he kept his expression patient for the girl's sake. "You have to trust Trunks," he said kindly. "After a year of my training, he's become far stronger than you can imagine. And even if he does encounter trouble, I'm right here. I won't let Android 17 claim another life today."
Mai nodded slightly, though her anxious gaze never left the four fighters.
"Well, well," Android 17 drawled, hands casually tucked in his pockets as he regarded Trunks with mock surprise. "If it isn't my old punching bag. I spared your pathetic life before, and now that you can glow gold and throw a slightly harder punch, you think you can face me?"
Despite his newfound power, Trunks remained cautious. The android before him had murdered his father Vegeta, underestimating him would be the height of foolishness.
"Android 17," Trunks spoke with deadly calm, "today I settle the score for my father Vegeta. I'm going to defeat you and send you straight to hell!"
Without another word, Trunks launched himself forward, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he closed the distance in a blur of motion, his fist aimed squarely at the android's face.
Meanwhile, Gohan wasted no time on words. The android that wore a human face but possessed no humanity deserved none of his breath. He materialized beside Android 18 in an instant, his kick connecting with devastating force and shattering the tense standoff into explosive combat.
The irony wasn't lost on Karnel, while the androids had been formidable when first created, they were forever trapped at that power level. No amount of time or effort could make them stronger. But Saiyans like Gohan and Trunks? They were living embodiments of endless potential.
Karnel knew better than anyone how dramatically their strength had increased over the past year. Gohan defeating Android 18 was practically a foregone conclusion, and while Trunks might need to work a bit harder, his victory over Android 17 was only a matter of time.
Still, even as Karnel watched the battles unfold with casual confidence, his divine senses swept across the entire planet, monitoring every fluctuation of energy and life force.
"Finally found you, little mouse," he murmured, his gaze shifting toward a spot roughly a kilometer to his left. "Your energy signature may be well hidden, but the tremors of your soul betray your location."
His piercing stare seemed to penetrate the earth itself, boring down through a hundred meters of rock and soil to where Cell's first form lurked in the darkness, waiting for his chance to devour the androids and achieve his perfect form.
Despite locating Cell, the key to drawing out his mysterious black-faced enemy, Karnel still detected no trace of his true target.
"You're hiding very well," he mused, lifting his eyes to the star-filled void above, "or perhaps you're not even on Earth anymore..."
Deep underground, Cell suddenly shuddered as an inexplicable chill ran down his spine. His grotesque features twisted with panic as he realized the impossible, somehow, he'd been discovered despite being buried a hundred meters beneath the surface.
How can anyone be this powerful? Cell thought in terror, before greed and bloodlust crept into his alien mind. But if I could devour someone with such incredible power...
"Damn... damn Saiyans!" Android 17 snarled through gritted teeth. His face was battered and bloodied, his once-pristine clothes torn and dirty. He glared at Trunks with the desperate fury of a cornered animal.
Trunks regarded the fallen android with the detached calm of an executioner studying his work. "Android 17, I've endured a year of training that would have killed most people several times over. You don't have any last words, do you? Then please... die!"
"Ultimate Flash!"
Channeling his father's signature technique and carrying Vegeta's memory in his heart, Trunks brought his hands together. A brilliant golden energy wave erupted from his palms, piercing the sky like a divine spear as it hurtled toward Android 17.
"Damn it! AHHHHH!" Android 17's scream of agony echoed across the ruined city as the Ultimate Flash struck him with devastating force.
BOOM!
When the energy dissipated, Android 17 lay motionless on the ground, smoke rising from his battered form. Whether he was dead or merely unconscious remained unclear.
On the other side of the battlefield, Gohan had been systematically dismantling Android 18, his superior speed and power allowing him to strike from every angle while she struggled to even track his movements.
"Special Beam Cannon!"
Gohan kicked Android 18 to the ground, then unleashed Piccolo's signature technique. The spiraling energy beam struck her center mass, launching her skyward in a spinning arc before she crashed down beside her fallen partner.
Both androids lay broken and defeated, their reign of terror finally at an end.