Chapter 85: Searching

As the television image flickered off, the atmosphere in the room became tense. Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions grim after witnessing the horrific scene from Ginger Town. A chilling silence settled over the group.

Krillin was the first to break it. "What was *that* thing?" he asked, his voice filled with shock and confusion. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable, as the memory of the grotesque creature on the screen haunted him.

"It seems," Trunks began, his brow furrowed in thought, "that was the creature that came out of the egg we found." His sharp intellect and instincts pieced the puzzle together quickly.

Tenshinhan, who had been quietly absorbing the situation, finally spoke, his voice resolute. "We need to do something about it. Now. Before it kills more people."

I, standing in the middle of the room, exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of the situation. I knew what lay ahead but couldn't rush into things too fast.

"We can't take this creature lightly. It's growing stronger with every person it absorbs."

I turned to Trunks and told in commanding but calm tone. "Trunks, go find Vegeta. We'll need him to help fight this thing."

Trunks nodded immediately, understanding the urgency. He quickly prepared to leave, his expression set in determination.

I then shifted my gaze to Goku and Tenshinhan. "Goku, Tenshinhan—head to Ginger Town. Track this creature down. See if you can get a sense of its power or find out where it's headed."

Goku, ever the warrior, nodded, his face serious. Tenshinhan, too, stood up without hesitation, ready to follow Kairos' instructions.

"And what about you?" Goku asked, curiosity in his eyes. "What are you and Krillin going to do?"

I paused for a moment, choosing my words carefully. "We'll investigate whether this creature has any connection to Dr. Gero. It's no coincidence that it appeared right after we defeated the androids."

The room fell silent once again as the others processed what Kairos had just suggested. The idea that another creation of Dr. Gero could be behind this was unsettling.

"You mean… this thing could be another android?" Goku asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

Kairos, though he knew the truth, gave a vague answer. "Who knows? But considering the timing, it's worth looking into."

Krillin nodded, though a hint of fear lingered on his face. "That… makes sense. We need to be prepared for anything."

Everyone agreed, the plan now clear in their minds. One by one, they left the lookout, each with a mission. Trunks flew off to find Vegeta, Goku and Tenshinhan rocketed towards Ginger Town, while Kairos and Krillin made their way towards the ruins of Dr. Gero's lab to search for any further clues.

As the group dispersed, only Master Roshi, Gohan, and Chiaotzu remained seated at the table, their expressions filled with concern. Gohan watched them go, his young face torn between fear and determination.

______________________________

As Trunks flew across the sky, he soon spotted his father, Vegeta, high up on a mountain peak. The Saiyan Prince , angrily fired off massive blasts of energy into the distance, each one shaking the nearby landscape. The air crackled with power, but Trunks didn't hesitate. He landed nearby and called out, "Dad!"

Vegeta stopped mid-blast, his sharp eyes darting towards Trunks. "What is it, ?" he demanded, with annoyed expression . "This better be important."

Trunks quickly explained the situation—the mysterious creature wreaking havoc and the possibility that it had come from the egg they had found. "We think it's another one of Dr. Gero's creations," Trunks said, his tone urgent.

Vegeta smirked, seemingly unbothered. "Another android, huh? If that's true, then it won't stand a chance against me. Let's go."

Without waiting for a reply, Vegeta shot into the sky, and Trunks followed behind him, his expression a mix of worry and determination.

---

Meanwhile, at the Lookout, Goku and Tien landed softly on the marble tiles. "Piccolo!" Goku called out, his voice echoing through the vast open space. They didn't have to wait long before Piccolo emerged from the shadows, but something about him was different.

Goku noticed it right away, his Saiyan instincts sharp as ever. Piccolo's ki was intense—far stronger than it had been before. His aura crackled with newfound power, and even his posture seemed more confident, more composed.

"Piccolo... your energy feels different," Goku said, excitement creeping into his voice. "You're a lot stronger now!"

Piccolo nodded, his expression stoic. "I've assimilated with Kami. We're one now." His voice was calm, but the underlying power was unmistakable.

Tien blinked in surprise. He hadn't sensed the change immediately but now felt Piccolo's overwhelming energy radiating through the air. "You merged with the Earth-God?" Tien asked, his voice a mix of awe and confusion.

"Yes," Piccolo replied. "We're no longer divided, and as a result, I've become more powerful than ever."

Goku's eyes gleamed. "Awesome! Now I've got another strong fighter to challenge! I can't wait to see how much stronger you've become!"

Tien, on the other hand, remained silent, his heart heavy. *Everyone is surpassing me,* he thought, his fists clenching. Piccolo had grown stronger, Goku was always ahead, and even Trunks and Vegeta were in a different league. Tien felt left behind, despite all his training.

---

Far away, I with Krillin were flying over the landscape, eventually arriving at the ruins of Dr. Gero's lab.

The entire facility was a smoking wreck, still scorched from the blast Trunks had unleashed earlier. The ground was littered with debris, and it seemed impossible that anything of value could remain.

"Looks like Trunks really did a number on this place," Krillin commented, scratching his head as he surveyed the destruction. "Where do we even start?"

I didn't respond immediately, instead using my heightened spiritual sense to scan the area.

My mind extended through the rubble, searching for hidden compartments or underground structures. Though I could sense the path that led to the basement but I deliberately took his time, wanting to give Cell more of a chance to grow stronger.

After all, I craved an exhilarating fight, one that could push him to the brink as he knew - without any tough fight , I can't evolve and can't unlock my hidden potential.

Krillin, impatient and unsure of what to do, began firing random ki blasts into the wreckage. "Pew! Pew! Pew!" he shouted as he blasted through piles of rubble, hoping to find some kind of entrance but suddenly shouted . "Kairos, this is getting us nowhere!"

I, suppressing a chuckle, finally said, "Hold on, Krillin. I think I've found something."

I walked over to a seemingly unremarkable patch of ground and, with a flick of my wrist, revealed a hidden entrance to the underground lab. "Looks like we've got a way in."

The two descended into the dark, damp basement. The air was thick with dust, and the faint hum of old machinery echoed through the halls. Cylindrical chambers lined the walls, filled with strange fluids and unfinished experiments. Papers were scattered everywhere, detailing Dr. Gero's various projects and notes on the androids.

Krillin glanced around, his face wrinkled in disgust. "This place gives me the creeps…"

I, however, was more focused , eyes scanned the chambers, looking for something specific. But my frown deepened when I noticed that the embryo I had expected to find—the incomplete Cell—was missing. *The Cell that's causing chaos is the future version… but where's the one from this timeline?*

I didn't voice my thoughts to Krillin, instead maintaining my calm demeanor.

"We didn't find much here… but it's enough to know Dr. Gero was planning something big," I said aloud, keeping my suspicions to himself.

---

Meanwhile, Goku, Tien, and Piccolo flew over several cities, but something felt off. The streets were eerily quiet, and there was no sign of life anywhere.

"Where is everyone?" Tien asked, his eyes scanning the empty streets.

Piccolo, who had been concentrating, finally spoke. "It's the same everywhere we've been… No ki signatures, no people… nothing but clothes left behind."

Goku scratched his head, looking down at the piles of clothes scattered across the deserted cities. "It's weird, right? Like they just vanished! Poof! Gone!"

Tien grimaced. "They didn't just disappear, Goku. That thing… it must've absorbed them, like we saw on TV."

Piccolo nodded. "This creature is dangerous. We need to find it before it absorbs more people."

Goku, ever the optimist, tried to keep the mood light despite the grim situation. "Well, at least we know it's not picky about clothes!" he said with a chuckle.

Tien groaned, "Goku, this isn't the time for jokes…"

Piccolo smirked, despite himself. "Let's keep moving. If we find this creature, we stop it—fast."

They continued their search, each of them more determined than ever to confront the growing threat. Time was running out for them, and Cell was only getting stronger.