Chapter 12: The Final Gift

The bonus chapter coming in 3 hours and 20 min.

----

Gohan's world went silent, his gaze fixed on Piccolo's still form, the reality of the moment sinking in. It was as if the world around him had fallen away, the colors fading to a pitch black, save for a single, piercing line of crimson that cut across his vision.

And in that silence, his rage simmered, building, consuming... Like... A Beast.

And then..

..Something inside Gohan snapped.

A fierce roar tore from his throat, the sound vibrating through the battlefield as he unleashed the full depth of his grief and fury. His ki surged, pulsing around him in a chaotic storm, his energy spiraling upward as the transformation began. His muscles expanded and compacted, his aura flaring to life, wild and untamed, like a raging inferno.

His hair shifted, lengthening and turning a brilliant shade of silver-gray, his eyes transforming into a fierce, primal red. His aura crackled, a dense, almost tangible energy forming around him, darker and more intense than before, as if every fragment of his rage and pain had taken shape in this monstrous form.

Cell's eyes gleamed with intrigue, his mouth curving into a small, satisfied smile. He took a step back, crossing his arms as he observed Gohan's transformation with unhidden fascination.

"Yes… that's it," he murmured, the gleam in his eyes intensifying. "Show me the strength of a beast."

With a guttural snarl, Gohan lunged forward, his speed blurring as he closed the distance between them in an instant. His fist collided with Cell's torso, the impact creating a shockwave that sent cracks spidering through the ground. Cell slid back a few paces, but his expression remained calm, his stance unbroken.

"Not bad," he said, brushing dust from his armor. "You have a little more fight in you, after all."

But as Gohan unleashed a furious barrage of punches and kicks, the look of amusement faded from Cell's face. Each strike was fast, precise, yet to him they felt… light. The blows, though powerful, lacked the force he had expected, the weight that would give the battle meaning. Cell's face twisted with mild irritation as he deflected each strike, sidestepping Gohan's attacks with effortless grace.

"Is this all?" he muttered, catching one of Gohan's punches with a firm grip. "Is this all the power you can muster in this form?"

Gohan gritted his teeth, wrenching his arm free and throwing another punch, but Cell sidestepped, moving with a fluidity that only deepened the frustration within him. Each strike, each movement felt as if he were fighting against the very air, his attacks blunted by some invisible force.

Cell's irritation grew, a dark frown forming on his face as he parried another blow, his voice cold and cutting. "I thought I was fighting a beast," he spat, "not a cub."

With blinding speed, Cell's fist shot forward, striking Gohan's jaw with enough force to shatter bone. Pain exploded across Gohan's face, and before he could recover, Cell closed the distance, his attacks relentless. A knee slammed into his gut, the force knocking the air from his lungs as he doubled over. Cell's hand gripped his hair, pulling him up to deliver another brutal punch, sending him skidding across the ground.

"Pathetic," Cell's voice was filled with contempt. He seized Gohan by the collar, lifting him effortlessly. "All that power, and yet you're nothing but a disappointment."

With a flick of his wrist, he hurled Gohan into the air, moving with blinding speed to intercept him. Cell's elbow struck his spine, sending him crashing into the ground below with a sickening thud, the impact forming a deep crater beneath him. Dust rose in thick clouds, shrouding the area in shadows as Gohan struggled to move, his body battered, his vision dimming.

Cell landed gracefully beside him, looking down with an expression of disdain. "Is that it, Gohan?" he asked, his voice mocking. "Is this the extent of your rage?"

Gohan's muscles trembled as he pushed himself onto his hands and knees, his strength drained by the relentless assault. He could feel his consciousness slipping, his mind consumed by pain, the edges of his vision growing dark.

But then, through the haze, he saw a figure lying motionless nearby, Piccolo. The Namekian's breaths were shallow, his body broken, his regeneration barely keeping him alive, yet his gaze remained focused, his eyes filled with quiet resolve. With a final, agonizing effort, Piccolo raised his hand, a faint smile softening his features as he looked at Gohan.

"Gohan…" Piccolo's voice was barely a whisper, yet it cut through the fog of pain, grounding him. "You… you can do this. For everyone… for Pan."

With the last of his strength, Piccolo extended his hand, his ki shimmering in a soft, green glow that radiated from his fingertips. His life force, his essence, every last fragment of energy he possessed flowed into Gohan, filling him with renewed vitality, a final gift from his mentor. Gohan felt Piccolo's strength merge with his own, a bittersweet warmth that coursed through him, mending his wounds, reigniting the fire within him.

"Thank you… Piccolo," Gohan whispered, tears blurring his vision.

Piccolo's smile softened, his eyes closing as his life ebbed away. His hand fell limp, his body motionless, his spirit departing with a peaceful exhale.

Cell's frown deepened as he watched the scene unfold, irritation flashing across his face. "Still alive, are you?" he muttered, his tone dripping with disdain.

He strode forward, his gaze fixed on Piccolo's lifeless head. Without hesitation, he raised his foot, bringing it down in a brutal stomp. The sickening crunch echoed through the battlefield, the final, brutal punctuation to Piccolo's sacrifice. Cell's tail flicked down, absorbing the remnants of Piccolo's energy, his power surging with renewed intensity.

Gohan's gaze remained locked on the spot where Piccolo had fallen, his grief coalescing into a single, overpowering force. His heart pounded, his body trembling as he felt Piccolo's energy merge with his own, filling him with a strength born of loss, a fury that defied all restraint.

Something broke within him.

With a guttural roar, Gohan's ki erupted, spiraling out of control, forming a violent, blinding pillar of energy that shot upward, tearing through the sky. His aura flared with an intensity that set the ground trembling, a raw, primal force that shattered the earth beneath him, leaving a chasm where he stood.

Cell took a step back, a glimmer of satisfaction returning to his face. His eyes gleamed as he watched Gohan's power surge, his lips curving into a small, anticipatory smile.

"Yes… that's it," he murmured, his tone dark with amusement. "Let yourself marinate in that rage…."

Gohan's form shifted, his muscles expanding, his body growing in size and stature, his hair wilder, his eyes darker. His eyebrows faded, leaving a fierce, animalistic expression, his entire demeanor unrecognizable, primal, unhinged. His aura transformed, a chaotic storm of energy swirling around him, vibrating with a power that felt limitless, feral.

Cell's smile widened as he took in the sight, his own energy flaring in response, anticipation coursing through him as he prepared himself for the battle to come.

"Come, Gohan," he murmured, his voice a soft invitation. "Show me what you're truly capable of."

Gohan's response was a guttural roar that shook the world, his ki erupting as he launched himself forward, his fists blazing with energy, his body radiating a strength that was as terrifying as it was uncontrollable.

----

I felt sad for Piccolo while writing this...

Ahh.. what a pity.

Patreon: SaintNull

Give me time to write the advanced chapters as i have little time with work.