Run, Android 17! Piccolo's All-Or-Nothing Struggle!

Cell touches down on the tropical island where Piccolo and Android 17 have been fighting, and his arrival changes everything in an instant. The bio-android's power has grown enormously since the encounter in Gingertown, nourished by the thousands of human lives he has consumed across the countryside. Piccolo immediately understands the severity of the danger and warns Android 17 that Cell intends to absorb him in order to achieve a more powerful transformation. He urges 17 to run while there is still a chance to escape.

Android 17, arrogant and entirely untested against a truly superior opponent, dismisses the warning with casual indifference. He steps forward to fight Cell himself, confident that his limitless energy reserves will carry the day as they always have in every previous encounter. The exchange is brutally one-sided from the opening blow. Cell swats away 17's punches with contemptuous ease and counters with strikes that send the android tumbling across the landscape, demonstrating that raw energy reserves mean absolutely nothing when the gap in combat power is this enormous. Piccolo realizes that if 17 is absorbed, Cell will become exponentially more dangerous. He makes his decision without hesitation: he will fight Cell directly and buy as much time as possible, even knowing that victory is beyond his reach.

Piccolo throws himself at Cell with everything he has remaining, landing a barrage of attacks that momentarily push the bio-android back across the island. He manages to intercept Cell's tail just as it lashes toward Android 17, preventing the absorption through sheer force of will and determination. But Cell recovers and counterattacks with devastating precision. The Namekian takes a direct hit that sends him crashing into the ocean, and when he resurfaces, his body is broken and barely functional, unable to mount any further resistance.

Cell casually walks toward the stunned Android 17, his tail swaying behind him with predatory intent. The absorption is moments away, and no one on the battlefield has the power left to stop it.

High on the Lookout, Gohan suddenly freezes. He can feel Piccolo's energy fading rapidly, the life force of his oldest friend and mentor guttering like a candle in a storm. The boy's face twists in anguish, and he tries to rush down to help. Goku stops him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. He tells Gohan that going now would mean certain death; he simply is not strong enough yet.

Gohan can do nothing but stand and watch from above, tears streaming down his face, as Piccolo's signal continues to weaken. Below, Cell advances on Android 17 without resistance.