Kryptonians: Man of Steel

Chapter 1703 Battle
The target was Bick's head, who was kneeling on the ground and almost unconscious!
"Ugh... gulp... uh..."

Bick's head was completely enveloped and swallowed by the slimy, cold mouthparts, and he let out a final, indistinct whimper filled with pain and suffocation.

A powerful, irresistible suction force emanated from inside his tail, acting on his entire body.

His strong body was pulled by this force, and began to slowly lift off the ground, involuntarily sinking into the evil tail.

Like prey falling into the jaws of a giant python, being slowly and steadily devoured alive.

His consciousness was rapidly sinking, and his vision was completely filled with thick darkness.

In the last remaining fragments of thought, an extremely complex mix of emotions surged.

The process of absorbing and digesting the piccolo appears to be slower than that of digesting the piccolo.

With his eyes closed, Cell was completely immersed in the exhilarating sensation of the power surging into him.

He could clearly "feel" that Piccolo's life energy, which was far more powerful and purer than Piccolo's, was surging into his limbs and bones like a flood breaking through a dam; Piccolo's battle-hardened cells were being forcibly broken down, branded with his mark, and then perfectly integrated into his own cellular structure, bringing about a qualitative leap.

Furthermore, a massive flow of information—including Namekian language, magic, knowledge of creating Dragon Balls, countless combat techniques and experiences, and even some vague fragments of memory—was frantically flooding into his brain, where it was rapidly organized, archived, and absorbed by his core biocomputer.

The already powerful and suffocating green aura surrounding him began to boil, expand, and rise uncontrollably once again!
This energy surge is far more dramatic and intense than when absorbing Piccolo!
If absorbing Piccolo was like a stream flowing into a river, then devouring Piccolo was like forcibly pouring in the power of an entire ocean!
This is because the "absorption of life essence" mode is more like an efficient but wasteful "harvesting" process, taking only the core part and breaking down the other "impurities," similar to a spider dissolving its prey with digestive juices before sucking out the juices. It's just that Cell's technology makes the process extremely fast.

The "complete devouring" at this moment is a thorough "wolfing down" of Piccolo, a "complete" consumption of Piccolo's existence, from his body to his energy, from his matter to his information, without wasting a single bit!

This mode maximizes the "assimilation" effect, the most perfect biological evolution mechanism in his body, and extracts 100% of the potential of the absorbed object, and may even produce a synergistic effect where one plus one is greater than two!

Cell could even feel that the structure of his body was undergoing subtle but crucial optimization, and that some minor flaws that might have existed (relative to the perfect form) were being corrected.

A thought, even one that slightly shocked him, welled up within him: 'This is astonishing… Just by absorbing Piccolo and Piccolo, my current power level has likely far exceeded Dr. Gero's calculated theoretical value for the "Perfect Form," which requires absorbing Androids 17 and 18! Even in my Perfect Form before, I could never have possessed such power! Of course, this was before absorbing Piccolo… So, once I successfully absorb Androids 17 and 18 and achieve my true Perfect Form… what unimaginable level of power will my strength reach? I… will become a true god!'

The idea made him so excited he almost trembled.

Cell was not a reckless person.

Despite his burning desire to immediately acquire numbers 17 and 18, he forcefully suppressed the urge.

The power gained from "completely absorbing" Piccolo is too immense and requires time to fully digest and stabilize, allowing this new power to perfectly integrate with oneself and become as easy to control as one's own limbs.

He concealed his presence for several days, like the most patient predator, quietly lying in wait, until he had completely taken over everything Bick had.

When he reappeared, he was certain that the power surging within this body was now completely under his control.

This time, he no longer hid, but chose to appear openly and honestly. Because he had absolute confidence.

His targets—numbers 17 and 18—are not alone at this moment.

They are gathering with Goku, a young Gohan, Vegeta, and Trunks.

These guardians of Earth, threatened by Cell, formed the "Z Fighters" team to track him down.

However, the lineup in this timeline is slightly different from the original historical lineup, with Tien Shinhan, Krillin, and others missing.

Because Tien Shinhan in this timeline did not receive Master Roshi's guidance in his early years, and continued to follow Master Shen, he eventually went further and further down the wrong path of pursuing money and power. He even mixed up with Launch and Chiaotzu, who also had similarly tragic fates, and started doing business as a pair of thieves. Naturally, he had no time or intention to participate in such a major event concerning the survival of the earth.

Cell's figure appeared in everyone's perception without warning, like a ghost. His undisguised power, evil, and aggressive aura instantly made everyone's hearts tighten.

"He...he actually showed up on his own initiative?"

Sun Wukong frowned, his usual ease replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He could sense that Cell's aura had undergone a complete transformation compared to a few days ago; it was now much deeper and more terrifying.

"No. 17! No. 18!"

Cell's gaze instantly locked onto his long-desired target, his eyes blazing with undisguised fervor and excitement.

His eyes were like those of a hungry wolf eyeing a delicious lamb, filled with an unyielding possessiveness.

Being targeted by such a monster that defies common sense and whose strength is unfathomable, Androids 17 and 18, even as androids without fear programs, felt a chill originating from their life instincts, a feeling called "creepy" that swept through their entire bodies.

They knew very well that even if the two of them joined forces, they would probably be far from being a match for Cell at this moment.

"Cell! You've finally stopped hiding!"

Future Trunks reacted the most fiercely.

He was eager to go home.

Upon seeing Cell appear, he didn't hesitate for a moment, letting out a roar as his Saiyan blood instantly boiled!
"boom!"

The golden flames were not released outwards, but were completely contained within the body, which was the Super Saiyan full power state!
His muscles bulged slightly, his eyes were sharp as knives, and with a swift movement, he left a faint afterimage in place. The next moment, he appeared in front of Cell. The longsword, forged by future technology, carrying all his anger and hope, sliced ​​through the air with a sharp whistle and slashed fiercely toward Cell's neck!
(End of this chapter)