Chapter 10: Desperate Measures

"E-Eighteen…" he whispered, his voice cracking.

The words barely escaped his lips before his energy surged wildly, untamed and raw, as if he could somehow bring her back through sheer will alone. His police uniform ripped away, disintegrating under the force of his sudden power. He staggered to his feet, his face twisted in fury as he glared at Cell, his fists clenched so tightly that blood seeped from his palms.

"You… monster!" he screamed, his voice hoarse and choked. With a burst of speed, he charged at Cell, his aura flaring wildly around him.

The others moved to stop him, their hands reaching out, but Krillin was beyond hearing. Consumed by grief and rage, he closed the distance, each step fueled by the aching void that had once been filled by 18. As he approached, he gathered his energy into a desperate, all-out attack.

Cell's gaze barely flickered. He watched Krillin's approach with the mild disinterest of one observing an insect.

With a flick of his tail, Cell's mace-shaped end transformed into a spiked club, swinging around with casual precision. The impact hit Krillin with a sickening crunch, and a wave of agony tore through his body as bones shattered, his ribs cracking under the force. His vision blurred, and he was flung back, the impact sending him hurtling across the landscape. He crashed into the distant mountains, his body limp and broken, lying in the rubble and teetering on the edge of unconsciousness.

Cell lowered his tail, turning his attention back to the group with an air of faint amusement, as if he'd merely swatted an annoyance from his path.

"Such a fragile thing," he mused, a hint of mockery coloring his tone. "Attachment, as endearing as it is, often proves to be a fatal flaw."

Gohan's hands clenched, his anger building, the injustice and cruelty of it all fueling his own power. "You won't get away with this!" he shouted, his aura flaring as he pushed more of his unlocked state. The raw energy poured off him, igniting the air around him with blazing intensity.

Piccolo's face was grim as he cast a quick glance at Gohan. His expression held a quiet resolve, a determination that was unyielding. Without a word, he began to grow, his body expanding, muscles bulging as he activated his giant form. In a matter of seconds, he towered over Cell, his massive fist poised for a crushing blow.

"Together, Gohan," Piccolo said, his voice deep and resolute. "We're not letting him take any more from us."

Gohan nodded, his eyes narrowed, the air shimmering with his ki as he moved in sync with Piccolo. They launched their attacks in unison, a coordinated assault meant to overwhelm even Cell's defenses. Piccolo's fist came crashing down, a powerful strike aimed at Cell's core, while Gohan closed in from the side, his fists glowing with energy as he aimed for Cell's blind spots.

Cell regarded their approach with a calm, almost bemused expression. As Piccolo's fist closed in, Cell shifted his stance, sidestepping with ease, his tail flashing up to intercept Gohan's strike. The resulting clash of energy sent shockwaves across the field, the ground cracking beneath their feet.

"You come at me with such urgency," Cell remarked, his tone almost courteous as he deflected their attacks. "But rage alone will not be enough."

Piccolo gritted his teeth, the force of his punch creating a gust that ruffled Cell, but didn't break his balance. Gohan aimed a rapid series of punches, each one blurring with speed as he pushed his power to its limits, yet Cell's movements were effortless, his tail weaving through the strikes with lethal precision, parrying each blow with a calculated grace.

"You're strong, I'll grant you that," Cell continued, his voice steady and detached. "But power without purpose is like a river without direction. All it does is carve through the earth, leaving destruction in its wake. A pity, really."

The words grated against Gohan's focus, feeding his frustration, and he lunged forward, aiming a fierce uppercut at Cell's chin. In response, Cell raised his palm, catching Gohan's fist mid-strike. Their energies clashed, a surge of force that sent sparks flying between them.

Piccolo seized the moment, gathering his energy into a massive fist. "Then let's give it some direction!" he roared, swinging down with a blow that made the ground tremble.

At the last second, Cell's eyes narrowed, his mouth opening as he exhaled a beam of concentrated energy. The blast struck like a lance, slicing through the battlefield in a destructive arc. Gohan and Piccolo were caught in the wave, their bodies blasted back as the beam tore through the earth, leaving a deep, smoldering trench in its wake.

The others staggered back, shielding themselves from the fallout. The landscape was unrecognizable, scorched and scarred, the remnants of the forest now nothing but ash and debris. Cell remained in the center, his posture relaxed, untouched by the devastation he had wrought.

Rising slowly from the rubble, Gohan and Piccolo exchanged glances, both breathing heavily, bruised and battered. They could feel the weight of Cell's gaze on them, a cold, calculating stare that measured them, dissected them.

"You speak of purpose," Piccolo spat, his voice laced with defiance. "But all you seek is power. You're nothing but a parasite, consuming anything in your path without care for life or reason."

Cell's eyes gleamed with faint amusement. "On the contrary, Piccolo. Power is a means, not an end. A means to an existence unbound by limitation." He tilted his head, his gaze cool and steady. "You strive for ideals that are mere illusions. Peace, purpose, honor, words created to bind those too weak to understand true freedom."

Gohan's fists tightened, his aura reigniting. "We protect what matters. And that's something you'll never understand!"

Without another word, Gohan launched himself forward, his fists glowing with energy as he unleashed a furious barrage. Piccolo followed suit, his giant form lending weight to each strike as they attacked together, their combined strength bearing down on Cell with relentless force.

Cell's face remained impassive, almost serene as he raised his hands, deflecting their attacks with precise movements. His tail flashed out in response, striking Piccolo with bone-shaking force, sending him stumbling back. Gohan pressed forward, refusing to let up, but Cell's expression held a faint smile as he sidestepped, maneuvering with a grace that seemed almost effortless.

And then, with a swift motion, Cell's hand shot forward, gripping Gohan's shoulder. Gohan's eyes widened, pain flaring as Cell's fingers tightened, digging into his flesh with merciless strength.

"Such admirable tenacity," Cell remarked, his voice barely above a whisper. "But tell me, how much longer do you intend to fight without purpose?"

With a powerful shove, he threw Gohan to the ground, the impact forming a small crater beneath him. Before Gohan could recover, Cell's tail arched overhead, preparing to strike again.

But Piccolo was there, intercepting the blow with a fierce punch that forced Cell back, if only a step. The strain was visible in Piccolo's eyes, his muscles taut, sweat dripping down his brow as he struggled to match Cell's strength.

"It's not about purpose," Piccolo gritted out, his voice thick with resolve. "It's about protecting the people we care about. Something you'll never understand."

Cell's expression remained impassive, though a faint glimmer of curiosity flickered in his gaze. "How quaint," he murmured, his tone as calm as ever. "And yet… so futile."

He opened his mouth, gathering energy for another blast. The ominous glow of his ki illuminated the battlefield as the heroes braced themselves for the next strike, knowing that this was a fight they could not afford to lose.

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