Chapter 15: Rising Flames and Red Fury

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The three Saiyans faced Cell Max, each of them emanating a fierce aura, their eyes locked on the towering figure before them. Cell's calm, assured smile sent a chill through the battlefield, contrasting sharply with the fierce energy crackling in the air. Vegeta's gaze flickered to Goku, his expression cold but determined.

'Gohan… hurt, barely conscious…' Goku thought, taking in his son's still form behind them, anger burning in his chest. 'I won't let this monster take another step.'

With a glance, Goku and Vegeta gave each other a nearly imperceptible nod, then ascended into Super Saiyan 2 in perfect unison. Lightning flashed around them, their auras spiking with raw, golden energy that lit up the battlefield. The ground trembled under the weight of their combined power.

Without a moment's hesitation, Broly shot forward, lunging at Cell with a speed that defied his massive frame. His attacks were a flurry of punches, each one powerful enough to splinter mountains, each strike aimed with the sole intent of overpowering Cell through sheer force. Cell met Broly's first strike, his expression unchanging, as he sidestepped and countered with a knee to Broly's stomach, sending the Saiyan crashing back.

The impact sent Broly skidding across the ground, but he dug in, his boots tearing into the rocky terrain, stopping himself just in time to see Goku and Vegeta flank Cell from both sides. Vegeta moved first, launching himself forward with an explosive dash and bringing his arm down in a powerful, chopping motion.

Cell raised his forearm in a casual block, absorbing the brunt of Vegeta's strike without even a shift in stance. Goku appeared on Cell's opposite side, spinning into a high kick that aimed to disorient Cell and create an opening. But Cell, faster than they anticipated, dodged backward, allowing Goku and Vegeta's strikes to miss and collide with each other's power.

'His speed… It's beyond anything we've seen,' Vegeta thought, narrowing his gaze as he pushed off the ground to adjust.

Broly let out a furious roar and charged back in, launching a straight punch at Cell's chest. This time, the force was greater, fueled by Broly's rising anger, and the ground cracked beneath him from the sheer weight of the blow. But Cell merely tilted his head, moving just enough to let Broly's fist slide past his shoulder, then countered with an open-palm strike to Broly's ribs. Broly grunted, stumbling back.

"Is this really the best you can offer?" Cell taunted, glancing between the three Saiyans with an air of boredom. "I expected more."

Goku's fist clenched, his eyes narrowing with resolve. "This isn't over."

He focused, gathering his ki into his hands before releasing a storm of Kienzan discs that whirled toward Cell in rapid succession, each one buzzing with lethal energy. The discs hurtled at Cell from different angles, but with precise movements, he weaved through the onslaught, narrowly avoiding each blade. Cell flicked his wrist, forming a small energy barrier around his body that deflected the discs with ease, dispersing them in flashes of dissipating light.

Before Cell could finish, Vegeta was above him, his hands raised, fingers splayed as he charged a massive Final Flash. The golden light blazed, filling the air with crackling power before Vegeta hurled it downward. Cell turned his head, taking note of the incoming attack, and his lips curled into a smirk.

The blast struck, an explosion tearing through the ground and scattering debris. For a moment, the battlefield was obscured in smoke. Vegeta's breath steadied, his gaze fixed on the billowing cloud, waiting.

But then, from the thick fog of energy, Cell's silhouette emerged, unharmed and stepping forward with calculated steps. Vegeta's heart sank, but he hardened his expression. Cell's laugh echoed across the wasteland.

"You think a technique like that could scratch me?" Cell taunted, stepping forward. With a swift movement, he charged at Vegeta, his speed a mere blur. Before Vegeta could react, Cell's elbow slammed into his jaw, sending him crashing into the ground with enough force to leave a crater.

Broly roared, his base form unable to keep up, yet he didn't retreat. Instead, he lunged, his muscles tense, fists clenched as he attacked again with even more fury. Cell dodged the oncoming blows with an ease that bordered on disdain, watching Broly's movements with a detached curiosity. He ducked under one punch, sidestepped another, then retaliated with a sharp punch to Broly's sternum, forcing the Saiyan back again.

'This isn't working…' Goku thought, his mind racing. 'He's stronger than any of us like this.'

Broly, undeterred, felt his rage grow as Cell's mocking expression bore down on him. The memory of Gohan's broken body flashed through his mind, fueling his anger. With a guttural roar, Broly's ki shifted, his aura thickening, growing dark and volatile. His pupils shrank, and his muscles tensed, his body expanding as he transformed into his Wrathful, or Ikari, form. His roar reverberated through the battlefield as the ground quaked beneath him.

Cell glanced at Broly's transformation with a smirk. "Interesting," he mused. "Perhaps you're not entirely worthless after all."

Goku and Vegeta exchanged a glance, both knowing they'd have to dig deeper. They closed their eyes briefly, then tapped into the well of godly energy within them. Red flames burst around them as they ascended into Super Saiyan God, their ki shifting into a dense, ethereal aura that wrapped around them like fire.

Without hesitation, the three Saiyans surged forward, Broly's raw power flaring in tandem with the godly energy of Goku and Vegeta. Goku moved first, his punches fluid and precise, each one landing with enough force to send shockwaves through the air. Vegeta followed, his strikes aimed with a deadly calm, every move calculated. Broly, now in Ikari, barreled forward with sheer aggression, his fists slamming into Cell with unrestrained fury.

But Cell met their combined assault with an unyielding resolve, blocking and countering each strike with brutal efficiency. Vegeta aimed a series of rapid punches at Cell's chest, but Cell caught his wrist, twisting him around and hurling him toward Broly. Broly intercepted Vegeta mid-air, steadying himself as Goku seized the opportunity, gathering his energy and firing a God Kamehameha directly at Cell.

The beam roared through the battlefield, lighting up the sky as it closed in on Cell. But Cell didn't flinch. Raising one hand, he unleashed a barrier of his own, effortlessly halting the beam before flicking it aside, sending it arcing into the sky, where it exploded harmlessly.

'I've never seen anything like this,' Whis thought, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed Cell's movements. He noted the subtle delay in Cell's reactions, the ever-so-slight vulnerability when Cell took hits to his head. 'A fascinating creation… but with a flaw.'

Beerus watched the battle with a growing look of impatience, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed. "They're only embarrassing themselves," he muttered. "To think this level of power would be enough… how disappointing."

Goku and Vegeta, breathing heavily, exchanged a look. Their godly forms had pushed them to their limit, and yet they hadn't even scratched Cell. In a blur, Cell closed the gap between them and struck Vegeta with a savage backhand that sent him sprawling. Before Goku could react, Cell was there, slamming an elbow into his ribs and sending him skidding back.

Broly roared, lunging at Cell with renewed fury, his Ikari aura flaring wildly. He grappled with Cell, their auras colliding in a chaotic blaze of power. But Cell's grin widened, and with a brutal knee to Broly's gut, he forced him to the ground, lifting him by the hair and tossing him aside with ease.

Cell's calm smile never faltered, his expression almost bored as he observed the struggling Saiyans. "You call this fighting?" he scoffed. "You're nothing but ants in the presence of a god."

Goku, now back on his feet, clenched his fists, his red aura blazing around him. 'He's still stronger than all three of us combined... but I can't stop now. I *won't* stop now.'

But before they could regroup, Cell raised a hand, gathering energy that swirled with a dark, ominous intensity. The attack formed, casting an eerie shadow across the battlefield, its sheer presence sending chills through even the seasoned warriors.

As they braced themselves, Goku and Vegeta locked eyes with a shared understanding: they'd push beyond their limits, even if it meant risking everything. And Broly, his anger simmering, his Ikari form straining, clenched his fists, ready to unleash his wrath.

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