A Reversal

Senzu Recovery and a Warning

Krillin lies near death after a single casual kick from Perfect Cell. Future Trunks rushes over and feeds him a Senzu Bean while Vegeta, Cell, and Android 16 look on. Vegeta descends and taunts Cell, questioning whether beating someone so far beneath him is satisfying and wondering aloud if the transformation even boosted his strength. Cell grins, apologizes if he disappointed the prince, and invites Vegeta to warm up with him. Vegeta promises to finish things before Cell even throws a punch.

Once Krillin recovers, he warns Trunks that Vegeta has no chance. Despite lacking Saiyan-level power, Krillin can sense energy precisely. The kick that knocked him out was nothing more than a tap; Cell's true strength is almost beyond comprehension.

Hidden Power

Krillin adds that Cell is concealing a vast portion of his strength, then stuns Trunks by making the same observation about him. Trunks essentially confirms it. While Vegeta and Cell stare each other down, Krillin notes that Vegeta's stubbornness blinded him to what Trunks has been hiding. Trunks explains that both he and Vegeta surpassed standard Super Saiyan inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, but Trunks pushed one stage further without Vegeta noticing. He believes this is the form Goku hinted at, yet he could never reveal it, knowing his father's pride would shatter.

Round Two Begins

Vegeta opens with a heavy kick that Cell blocks. An elbow follow-up meets Cell's forearm. They trade blows evenly until Vegeta demands that Cell stop holding back. Cell replies that he is merely warming up. Vegeta furiously orders Cell to come at him for real. Cell vanishes and reappears behind Vegeta at impossible speed. Vegeta channels everything into a devastating kick to Cell's head, but it leaves no mark at all. Cell chuckles and mocks the Super Vegeta form. Krillin asks Trunks if he will step in, and Trunks replies that his father would rather be broken than saved.