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Piccolo: "@Son Goku, I'm sorry, Old Friend. If it weren't for my Namekian cells, your Warp Kamehameha would have finished him."
Son Goku: "It's not your fault, Piccolo. You don't need to apologize for that."
Krillin: "Goku is right. You can't be blamed for what Dr. Gero did. He's the one who stole your data to create such a monster."
Tien Shinhan: "It's a bitter pill to swallow. If Cell had even a fraction less of Piccolo's genetic material, Goku would have won right then and there."
As veteran Z Fighters, Krillin and the others were intimately familiar with the mechanics of Piccolo's Ki and his racial ability to regenerate. They knew the blame lay solely with the Red Ribbon Army's mad scientist. However, for the viewers across the Wanjie Multiverse, the scene was nothing short of a nightmare.
Sanji: "No way... Cell's entire upper body was vaporized. How is he still standing?"
Zoro: "I've seen men survive losing a leg or an arm, but surviving without a head or a heart? And he just grew it all back in seconds!"
Shanks: "If I had that kind of Ki-based regeneration, maybe I wouldn't be down a right arm. That's a terrifying advantage."
Across countless dimensions, warriors and civilians alike looked on with envy and dread. The ability to recover from such lethal damage meant that as long as a single cell remained, the fight wasn't over. They wouldn't have to fear permanent injury ever again. While it wasn't quite "immortality," the sheer potency of that regeneration made Cell feel like an unstoppable force.
Garp: "But why is Piccolo apologizing? Does he possess the same power?"
Genos: "I've recorded this data. During their first encounter, Piccolo's left arm was drained by Cell, and he tore it off to grow a new one instantly. I wonder if such biological regeneration can be integrated into cybernetic chassis?"
Sengoku: "So that's the connection. By harvesting Piccolo's cells, Cell inherited the Namekian's biology. If he can recover from being blown in half, how is it possible to actually kill him?"
In most worlds, opponents stayed dead once their vitals were crushed. The concept of a regenerating God-tier threat felt like a paradox.
Tanjiro Kamado: "There must be a weakness! In my world, demons regenerate constantly, but they still fall if you strike the right spot or use the sun. Every technique has a flaw."
Duanmu Yan: "@Piccolo, your regeneration must have a limit. Is there a core or a specific weakness we can exploit?"
Piccolo remained silent, his gaze fixed on the screen. He had no intention of revealing the secrets of his anatomy to the multiverse. However, a cold realization washed over him. If Cell truly shared his physiology, then Goku's attack should have worked—his head was gone.
Does Cell have a different core? Piccolo wondered. Or has he evolved the ability beyond its original limits? If Goku's maximum output couldn't do the job, then who could? Was there a hidden level of power beyond a Full Power Super Saiyan?
Garp: "Wait, I have a theory. Could Cell make the same mistake Frieza did? What if he kills Krillin and triggers Goku's rage, forcing him to ascend to Super Saiyan 2?"
The chat erupted. It made perfect sense! The legendary transformation on Namek was born from the ashes of Krillin's sacrifice.
Krillin: "..."
The bald martial artist stared at the screen, a cold sweat breaking out. Was he destined to be the universe's ultimate sacrificial lamb? Every time a new level of power was needed, did he have to die?
Yamcha: "No way... Krillin can't be the trigger every single time, can he?"
Tien Shinhan: "The logic is sound, but Goku is the one in the ring. How would Cell even get to Krillin?"
Piccolo: "Cell is unpredictable. If he gets bored or wants to pressure Goku, he might target the spectators. We are all within his reach."
Bulma: "Stop scaring the poor guy! Maybe Goku can just reach Super Saiyan 2 on his own through sheer training."
Vegeta: "Hmph. Why do you all assume Kakarot is the one who transforms? Have you forgotten the Prince of all Saiyans?"
Yamcha: "We haven't forgotten, Vegeta. We just see the power gap. Goku is clearly ahead of you right now."
Frieza: "Oh ho ho ho! Vegeta, your delusions of grandeur are as amusing as ever. A spectator shouldn't dream so loudly."
Vegeta gritted his teeth, his pride wounded. In this timeline of the Cell Games, he was a secondary character, relegated to the sidelines while Kakarot took center stage. It was an insult to his royal blood.
As the multiverse debated, the video continued. After a grueling exchange of blows that shook the very foundations of the Earth, Goku suddenly leaped back. He powered down, his golden aura flickering out as he suppressed his Ki.
Cell smirked, assuming his opponent was merely exhausted. "I'll give you a Senzu Bean, Goku. I want you at your best."
But Goku shook his head, a calm, tactical look in his eyes. "No. I've seen enough. I know the difference between our power levels now. I can't beat you."
Then, he uttered the words no one expected: "I surrender."
The silence was deafening. Across the dimensions, viewers were stunned. The Monkey King of the Dragon Ball world, the man who never backed down, had quit. Even Akira, watching with the tactical mind of a transmigrator, was taken aback by the sudden shift in narrative flow.
Goku wasn't giving up on the world, though. He looked back toward the Z Fighters with a confident smile. "I'm stepping down, but the next fighter will finish this. He's much stronger than I am."
At the edge of the arena, Mr. Satan—completely misreading the situation—began to panic. He assumed Goku was calling for him and immediately began faking a stomach ache to avoid the monster in the ring.
Goku ignored the antics. His eyes landed on a young boy standing among the veterans.
"It's your turn... Gohan."