Cell's Idea

Defeat Accepted

Cell reverts from his bulked-up demonstration and calls Trunks a fool for relying on a transformation that trades everything for brute strength. The lesson clicks: this is why Vegeta never used Third Grade. Vegeta understood the form's fatal weakness. Having lost all will to fight, Trunks drops to his base form and tells Cell to kill him. On a distant island, Krillin senses that Trunks' energy has collapsed and feeds Vegeta a Senzu Bean so they can fly back. At the Lookout, Piccolo grimly tells Bulma that Trunks is about to die.

The Tournament Proposal

Cell prepares to finish Trunks but pauses to ask a question. He notes that both Vegeta and Trunks improved dramatically in a short time and wants to know how. Trunks refuses to answer. Cell shifts his question: could they grow even stronger with more time? Trunks admits he would not know until he tried. Cell then asks about Goku, and Trunks replies that Goku is training to defeat Cell and will succeed where he himself failed.

This pleases Cell. He announces a tournament in ten days, giving the fighters time to prepare. The format is simple: every challenger faces Cell one on one. If Cell wins, he moves to the next opponent. He tells Trunks to gather allies, train hard, and watch the news for the location, adding that they should bring plenty of Senzu Beans.

A Monster's Purpose

Trunks demands to know Cell's true goal. Cell explains he was created to destroy Goku, but that objective feels pointless now. What he truly craves is spreading absolute terror. He savors Trunks' horrified expression, waves goodbye, and flies off. Krillin and Vegeta arrive moments later. When Trunks relays the tournament plan, Vegeta scoffs while Krillin calls it insanity, but both Saiyans resolve to keep training. The damaged Android 16 then appears, requesting repairs at Capsule Corporation so he can compete. Trunks objects to helping one of Dr. Gero's creations, but Krillin vouches for him, arguing they need every ally they can get. Krillin supports the battered android as the group prepares to leave.