"A Saiyan?"
18's eyes narrowed slightly as her mind rapidly turned over the information.
Aishi?
A Saiyan?
She scanned her internal database—
But none of the known Saiyans matched this guy's profile. Could he have come from somewhere else?
18 didn't dare lower her guard. She stepped slightly back, leaning against the mountainside behind her. Then she asked again, "So… what do you want?"
"Nothing much," Aishi replied with a small smile, casually flipping the control device in his hand. "I just overheard you saying the crisis was over. But… is it really?"
18 frowned slightly. Beneath her cool and beautiful expression was a hint of tension.
Her instincts screamed that this guy didn't come with good intentions.
That device in his hand—could it be?
Her eyes fixated on the controller Aishi held. It looked exactly like the one made by Dr. Gero—the one that could detonate the bomb inside her body, completely destroying her!
If that happened, she wouldn't survive.
Thinking about it, a sense of loss crept in. She hadn't even saved her brother yet… and now she was going to die?
Seeing her fall into silence, Aishi said, "No need to look so gloomy. I can help you."
"…Huh?"
18 raised her eyes, staring at him with suspicion.
And right then, right in front of her eyes, Aishi crushed the controller in his hand.
Her eyes lit up instantly—but just before she could celebrate, she blurted, "You're not going to kill me?!"
"You're not worried Cell will absorb me and become perfect?!"
"Small matter."
"As long as I'm here, you don't need to worry."
Aishi said with a gentle smile.
18 froze.
What was that supposed to mean?
They had just met. Why would he risk so much to protect her?
She didn't understand it—but she was grateful.
"Y-You should leave… Cell is definitely not someone you can handle!"
Such kindness.
Even now, she was concerned for him.
Indeed—
If it weren't for Dr. Gero's influence…
18 and 17 might not have been so cruel or cold.
Their only goal had been to kill Goku.
"Don't worry. I'm very strong."
Aishi said softly, smiling at her.
Looking at that confident smile—and remembering how he stood firm to protect her—18 felt her face grow slightly red.
After all, she was still just a girl with little experience of the world.
She hadn't met many people.
Romance was something unfamiliar to her.
Now she had met someone willing to protect her—even at the risk of his life.
Her heart… wavered.
Even though she still thought Aishi couldn't possibly defeat Cell, she was moved.
Of course, Aishi had no idea she was overthinking it this far. If he knew what was going through 18's mind…
He'd probably drag Cell into a training session for days.
——Vmmm!
Suddenly, a blinding white light burst through the sky. A massive energy wave was forming in Cell's hand.
"Number 18! Come out already!"
With a furious roar, he hurled it directly toward the island where Aishi and the others were.
——BOOM!
"Damn! 18! Aishi! Get close, now!"
16 shouted, preparing to take the full brunt of the attack.
This was a full-force blast from Second Form Cell—way beyond what they could block.
"Right!"
18 turned to Aishi and cried, "Come to me! I'll put up a barrier!"
"No need."
Aishi replied calmly, raising his hand.
In that moment, he gathered a radiant, deep-blue energy sphere—and, under their watchful gaze, hurled it toward the sky.
It flew straight for Cell's incoming blast.
BOOOOOM!!
The two attacks collided instantly.
In the very next moment—
In full view of everyone present—
The energy waves swelled and bloated on impact, releasing a searing heat that shattered the air.
And then—exploded!
The blast was neutralized.
And it had been just a casual attack.
Everyone watching was stunned.
16 looked deeply at Aishi—there was no way he could win against this guy.
Strong. Extremely strong.
He had suspected it from the start when his scanners couldn't detect the youth's power level.
Now it was confirmed.
As for 18, she stood dazed, staring at Aishi.
He didn't lie to me?
He really might be her salvation.
Above them—
Cell's eyes narrowed.
This ki… unfamiliar.
He was sure it wasn't from 16 or 18.
So then—whose?
Goku? Gohan?
No. Neither!
His face twisted.
"I don't care who you are—if you get in the way of my perfect form… I'll kill you!"
With that thought, he shot downward like a missile, flying straight toward Aishi and the others.
Meanwhile—
By the shoreline not far away—
The fierce duel between Trunks and Vegeta suddenly came to a halt.
"This ki…"
Trunks' face darkened as he turned toward the island.
"It was only there for a second, but… it felt insanely strong."
Vegeta also frowned. His expression was hard.
He didn't recognize that ki either.
"Tch. Who cares who it is—if they want to fight, I'll answer!"
Vegeta snorted and flared up with golden energy before blasting toward the island.
Zoom!
"Father! Wait!"
Trunks wanted to discuss a strategy first.
They had no idea who this person was—friend or foe.
But Vegeta was already gone. He had no choice but to follow.
Back on the island—
Cell had landed before Aishi and the others.
The two sides stared each other down.
From behind Aishi, 18 shrank back as Cell locked eyes on her—his greedy intent undisguised.
If he could absorb her, he would become perfect!
If he could absorb her, he'd pay Vegeta back for all that humiliation.
If he could absorb her—he'd be unstoppable!
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. His eyes glowed with anticipation.
"Ugh!"
18 shuddered at his gaze.
A chill crept up her spine. Cell's stare was disgusting.
She absolutely could not let herself be absorbed!
In her fear, her pale fingers unconsciously gripped the corner of Aishi's shirt.
She also leaned in slightly—
Unaware of what she was doing.
——Vmmm!
Suddenly, a flash of blue light appeared.
A small, unremarkable-looking energy blast shot toward Cell.
Its speed was terrifying—no one had time to react.
It was too fast. Too sudden.
Cell had no time to defend.
Not that it would've mattered—he couldn't block it even if he did.
BOOM!
Then—
——KRA-KOOM!!
The tiny energy ball detonated on impact.
In an instant, thick smoke billowed out.
Debris flew in all directions.
The ground cracked and split apart.
When the smoke finally cleared—
Cell stood there in utter ruin.
One foot barely holding him up.
From a distance—
He looked like half a corpse: half a body, half a leg, half a face.
Blood poured from his mouth. His face twisted in agony.
He was on the verge of collapse, like a dried-up tree.
Aishi's expression remained calm.
And that was with him holding back.
"Cell."
"As long as I'm here—you won't touch 18."
(End of Chapter)
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