Piccolo's earlier attack had only been a test. Naturally, it couldn't kill Cell.
Soon enough, Cell reappeared before him, completely unharmed — just as Piccolo had expected.
Piccolo was filled with questions. He wanted answers before finishing the fight.
But Cell saw him only as prey.
Without offering any explanations, he launched into another assault.
Cell's techniques all came from the original owners of his cells.
Kamehameha, Special Beam Cannon, Hellzone Grenade — he used them freely.
The endless barrage of familiar techniques shocked Piccolo.
That strange aura — and the moves he knew so well — only intensified Piccolo's curiosity.
In truth, their power levels were evenly matched. If anything, Piccolo held a slight advantage.
But Cell's techniques kept surprising him.
So, to satisfy his curiosity…
Piccolo deliberately sacrificed one of his arms, pretending to fall into a disadvantage.
Cell laughed.
"Heh heh heh! Now you're finished!"
"You've lost an arm. You're no match for me now."
"Become my food!"
Piccolo wiped imaginary sweat from his brow and spoke with feigned panic.
"This is bad… I can't keep fighting you."
"You win."
Cell's excitement grew. He already imagined Piccolo turning into pure life energy.
"Hahaha! Finally accepted defeat!"
"Absorbing someone like you will perfect my body even faster."
He approached eagerly.
Piccolo raised a hand weakly.
"Wait. Since I'm going to die anyway… answer one question."
"What exactly are you? Why do you have my energy… and Son Goku's… and King Cold's?"
"And how can you use techniques like the Kamehameha and Destructo Disc?"
Seeing Piccolo surrender, Cell relaxed.
"Fine. You're about to die anyway."
"My name is Cell. I am an Android."
"Dr. Gero's computer created me."
"Long ago, he collected cells from powerful warriors and began combining them."
"But it took too long, and his lifespan was limited. He abandoned the project and instead modified himself into a mechanical body."
"However, the computer continued the research."
"Eventually, it produced the ultimate super-cell… and from that, my embryo was born."
Piccolo nodded.
"I see…"
"No wonder your energy feels so familiar."
Cell smirked.
"Exactly."
"Now stop delaying. Let me absorb you."
Piccolo asked quickly, "If Dr. Gero created you to kill Son Goku, why are you absorbing ordinary humans?"
Cell replied calmly.
"Because I was interrupted before reaching maturity."
"But setbacks mean nothing."
"I created larvae to gather animals and increase my growth."
"Then Vegeta destroyed the lab."
"Sensing danger, I escaped underground and began absorbing humans instead."
"Humans are everywhere — and their life energy is excellent."
"In just two days, my power has increased dramatically."
"Once I reach my limit, I'll absorb Androids 17 & 18 and achieve my Perfect Form."
"Then I will become the ultimate lifeform — the strongest being in the world."
Sweat appeared on Piccolo's forehead.
"Why seek ultimate power?"
Cell scoffed.
"What a meaningless question."
"The computer's directive is to create the strongest lifeform."
"And my Saiyan, Cold clan, and Namekian genes all drive me to grow stronger."
Piccolo's eyes sharpened.
"I understand now."
Cell grinned.
"Then the explanation is over. Time to eat."
Piccolo smiled suddenly.
"Sorry. I tricked you. Thanks for answering all my questions."
His arm regenerated instantly.
Cell froze.
"You let yourself be injured… just to make me talk?"
Piccolo laughed.
"You carry my cells but didn't realize my arm can regenerate. That's unfortunate."
Cell snarled.
"You sneaky bastard!"
Piccolo added calmly, "That idea came from Kami's wisdom."
Cell's pupils shrank.
"So you're the fusion of Piccolo and Kami!"
"No wonder you're this strong."
At that moment, Krillin, Yamcha, and Tien arrived.
They saw Piccolo — and Cell.
"What… is that Piccolo?" Krillin muttered.
"And who's that guy? His energy feels familiar…"
Piccolo spoke quickly.
"It's me — but I fused with Kami."
"And that thing is Dr. Gero's monster. The creature from the news."
"No time to explain — attack!"
"Right!"
Krillin and the others powered up.
Cell assumed a fighting stance.
"Arrogant fools. Do you really think you can defeat me?"
He barely acknowledged the others — only Piccolo posed a real threat.
But then he sensed something.
Vegeta's Ki.
Stronger than before.
Cell hesitated.
"No… too risky."
"I'll absorb more life energy first, then 17 & 18. Once I reach Perfect Form, I'll fight them."
He placed his hands beside his face.
"Solar Flare!"
A blinding flash erupted.
Everyone lost their sight for an instant.
When their vision returned, Cell had vanished.
Tien frowned.
"He used my Solar Flare… how?"
Piccolo wiped sweat from his brow.
"That monster can hide his energy too… this is bad."
At that moment, Vegeta arrived.
"You're all here? What was that energy?"
Piccolo nodded.
"Vegeta. So it was your energy he sensed — that's why he ran."
"You've become much stronger."
Vegeta smirked.
"And you… are you Piccolo? Your energy feels different."
"And who's this Cell?"
Piccolo explained everything he had learned.
Far away, Cell laughed.
"They didn't follow me."
"As long as I suppress my Ki, they'll never catch me."
Suddenly, three figures appeared above him.
His eyes widened.
"That's… Androids 17 & 18!"
A gleam flashed in his eyes.
"I was planning to find them after absorbing more energy… and now they've come to me!"
He also noticed Android 16.
"Who's the big one? Red Ribbon Army insignia… another Android. Outdated model — irrelevant."
In an instant, Cell appeared before them.
17 frowned.
"Who are you? Why block our path?"
16 shouted, "17, 18 — be careful! That's Cell!"
They stared at him.
A three-meter-tall insect-like monster, green spotted skin, tail tipped with a stinger.
"So this is the Ultimate Android?" 17 muttered.
Without warning, Cell's tail stabbed toward him.
17 dodged effortlessly and kicked him away.
Cell rolled midair and landed smoothly.
17 smirked.
"Good. We'll destroy you before you grow stronger."
Cell laughed.
"You still don't understand."
"You were born to become part of me."
"You and 18 are the nourishment required for my Perfect Form."
"In your dreams," 17 replied.
He charged.
18 attacked from behind simultaneously.
But Cell moved instantly.
He elbowed 17 away and clashed legs with 18.
Crack.
18's leg bone fractured.
She stumbled back, eyes wide.
Cell stood completely unharmed.
"Impossible…"
16 stepped forward.
"17, 18 — retreat. His power exceeds your calculations."
18 gritted her teeth.
"Are we already too late?"
"Don't think about it," 16 said. "Run."
17 snarled.
"I'm not anyone's food!"
He fired a massive energy blast.
The explosion engulfed Cell.
A mushroom cloud rose.
"Did we get him?" 18 asked hopefully.
16 stared calmly.
"No. He's almost completely unharmed."
The smoke cleared.
Cell stood there — uninjured.
Shock filled their eyes.
18's injured leg trembled painfully.
Cell approached slowly.
"Injured already, 18? Merge with me and you'll never feel pain again."
"Shut up!" she snapped.
His tail lunged.
16 stepped forward and blocked it with one arm.
Cell frowned.
"So you're a fully mechanical model."
"Outdated scrap."
"Move."
16 stood firm.
"I will hold him off. You two escape."
17 and 18 stared in shock.
"You're going to fight him?"
"My calculations show my energy level matches his."
Cell sneered.
"Ridiculous."
He attacked.
16 dodged and grabbed Cell's tail.
Rip.
The tail tore off.
16 tossed it aside.
"Now you cannot absorb them."
Relief flashed across 17 and 18's faces.
Cell laughed loudly.
"Too bad…"
"I have Piccolo's cells."
"My body can regenerate."
And in the next instant, their expressions turned pale.