Bringer of Death

Tournament Saga - Part 12: Devastation and Reform

Tournament Saga - Part 12: Devastation and Reform

Shock, anger, and despair showed in the faces of all the Z Fighters. It was like a bad dream. How could they have done so well, prevailing against Cell once again, only to have their victory snatched away?

The weight was heaviest in the mind of Trunks. He had risked everything to defeat Gero's creations. And yet, time and time again, the legacy of the evil genius had overcome them. The Z Fighters had defeated 19 and 21 with ease, only to find that 17 and 18 were stronger than Trunks ever knew. When it seemed as though 17 and 18 would fall, 16 had turned the tide. Then Cell, the most insidious creation of all, had outwitted them time and time again. Their victory had been stolen once more. Cell had won. Dr. Gero's evil had prevailed.

But how? Surely they had beaten him. The Brave Sword had done its work. It just didn't make sense.

Cell dropped to the ring and relaxed his hands. The wicked twin blades, each with the slightest curvature, were still attached to his forearms. Where had they come from? How had they defeated the Brave Sword, which now lay shattered on the ground?

"If you want to keep fighting, I'll be happy to oblige you," said the bio-android with a smirk. "But...unless I miss my guess, neither of the two of you have any remaining will to fight."

The son of Vegeta was livid, an angry growl rising in the back of his throat. "How did you just do that!? Where did you come from, Cell?! I don't believe it. It's not possible!"

The creature smiled cruelly. "It's simple, really. I told you before, Trunks. The two of you never had a chance of defeating me. Yet you refuse to believe you're beaten."

Cell chuckled. "The sins of the father truly are passed on to the son. Even when he isn't here, your pathetic father's weakness is coursing through your veins, making all your efforts futile! And where did the great warrior Vegeta run off to, I wonder? Whatever matters he claimed to attend to, your brave prince clearly used them as an escape from me, nothing more."

"You shut up! That's none of your business, you monster!" Trunks yelled, even more angry than before. "He's no coward and you know it!"

"Hmph. Just as staunch as ever, aren't you boy? So defiant, so defensive," Cell stopped, looking deeply into Trunks eyes and chuckling again. "But you're wrong."

"What did you just say!?" the youth roared.

Cell closed his eyes. "You really don't see it, then? Well, allow me to enlighten you," his smile quickly turned to hate. "I am perfection! There will never be another like me, and no other will ever be able to match me! Were even your worthless father here, as you so clearly wish, he would be nothing against my might. Don't you realize yet that it's hopeless...boy?"

Goku, his jaw taut, finally interrupted. "That's enough, Trunks." The Saiyan suddenly dropped to the ground outside the ring, acknowledging that the fight was over. "We did our best; it just wasn't enough."

"But...Goku?" gasped Trunks, shocked that the other Saiyan would give up so easily. "We can't quit! We can never stop, we can never give in! If we do, then all hope truly is lost!"

Goku was silent for a moment, thinking. How many times now had he been in this same type of situation? He certainly had the most battle experience to draw from, though against Cell that type of thing counted for little. Giving up was something he would never truly do, not when everything was on the line. But this time was different—it wasn't over...yet.

"Trunks," Goku began, his face gentle but also somber. "I don't know about you, but I was out there giving it my all. Cell's power has far surpassed my own now; I don't have a chance against him." Somehow, through all of that, Goku smiled. "But that doesn't mean this tournament is over."