Part 32, Chapter 157.

PART THIRTY TWO: RAGING DOKKAN

Chapter 157

Translated by npberryhill, Edited by Guilarai

As the surviving warriors scrambled to strategize, Son Bra suddenly reappeared between them. Cell was the first to feel her presence, before her body was even visible. But the perverse smile she was wearing gave him chills.

“SHE'S THERE!” he cried, warning his allies just as her teleportation ended.

Just as the others became aware of her arrival and location, Universe 18's Cell and Gohan, who had seen her appear in front of them, rushed straight at her with fists raised. But the Saiyan no longer intended to allow the blows. She would be the one delivering the attacks, and she was going to hit her marks.

She teleported away again, stepping behind her brother, and slammed her fist into his back at full force. A huge crack was heard, as Son Gohan was thrown to the other end of the arena under the horrified eyes of the group.

“Who's next?” she sneered.

With the exception of the Piccolos, everyone threw themselves into battle with her. Son Bra continued to smile and unleash her aura fully. She easily blocked the blows of Cell and Universe 16's Gohan with one hand each.

Meanwhile, Universe 16's Piccolo was taking in the full situation, while Universe 18's Piccolo had joined Son Gohan to give him a Senzu. He was appalled when he realized his friend's critical condition.

“His spine has been shattered,” he noted with concern. “She’s striking to kill!”

"I have an idea," exclaimed his Namekian double telepathically. “Bra doesn’t understand our native Namekian tongue. But I’ll bet Cell and his Juniors do! We can communicate with Majin Buu and the Gohans through them!”

As Universe 18's Piccolo took it upon himself to feed the Senzu to the badly injured Gohan, Son Bra skillfully dodged all the attacks that came her way. Whether it was Majin Buu and his multiple blows, the Heloïtes armed with the God’s Blades, Cell or Son Gohan, none of their assaults bore fruit. Son Bra was definitely way too fast for them. Gohan was forced to relive the desperation he’d felt against Freeza back on Namek, when the latter was literally making sport with him, Piccolo, and Kulilin. The three of them had given their all against the Frost Demon, who further crushed their spirits with each attack that he dodged or shrugged off. The nightmare was happening all over again.

“Step aside!” Nedwook exclaimed, extending and aiming his arm at Son Bra.

Everyone took cover, while the two Heloïtes jointly exclaimed: “Ultra Waver Ball!”

Two balls of pure energy swooped down upon the Saiyan. But such slow moving attacks, however dangerous they might be, didn’t scare her. With a Kiaï, she bounced the balls far off into space. This was the moment Majin Buu chose to follow with a Kamehameha that Son Bra stopped with a finger.

While she was busy with these various attacks, Cell and his Juniors received a message from Piccolo of Universe 16 in the Namekian language:

"Listen quickly! We’ve got to keep her occupied and try to create an opening! Micro-Cells, teleport Majin Buu and Gohan around her as much as possible and attack her from different angles!”

Cell gave a slight nod to convey that he was validating the strategy, and his Juniors relayed the message to their fighters. Luckily for them, Son Bra didn't hear them, their voices drowned out by Majin Buu's surging wave. But she saw their lips move, and understood that her enemies had devised a tactic.

"It's getting interesting," she said to herself, smiling. “Give it all you can, and I'll show you what it's like to have all your hope destroyed!”

She created a Kikoha in her outstretched hand and hurled it at the Djinn. But at the moment of impact, the latter disappeared, to the surprise of Son Bra.

He reappeared to her left, and tried to hit her. But the Saiyan sensed his apparition and blocked his blow with ease. However, when she retaliated, she received a violent kick from Cell who had also teleported, throwing her a few meters back. It was then Gohan's turn to move in the same way, ready to hit her after landing.

But as he would’ve struck her, Son Bra teleported upwards and her brother's kick whistled through the air. She appeared at a respectable distance, rubbing her chin that Cell had aimed for.

“Not bad,” she admitted, frowning. “We're going to change up the fighting style a bit.”

She quickly placed her arms in front of her, palms open, not aiming specifically at an opponent. Recovered, Universe 18's Son Gohan came to join the others with Piccolo.

“What is she up to now?” he asked his double who knew her better.

“No idea. Knowing her, anything is possible,” the other replied, summoning his aura.

Exasperated by ceaseless talking, Cell wasted no time and teleported behind Son Bra to smack her with all his might, only to encounter a solid energy shield he couldn't get past.

“Nice try, but your teleportations are already tiring me,” the Saiyan sneered. “My turn to show you what I can do. It's time to dance! Sokidan!”

Two large balls of Ki charged with lightning appeared in the palms of her hands. With a provocative smile, Son Bra teleported away, and her energy suddenly evaporated. Neither Cell nor the Gohans perceived her presence in the vicinity. Only the balls of energy remained.

"She's gone away again?" Phipsil asked, scanning the arena.

"No," Piccolo explained. “To maneuver the Sokidan, she must stay nearby. But that doesn't bode well.”

Suddenly, the balls began to move. One of them lunged straight at Cell, who was closest. He was prepared to dodge, but the attack came at him with much greater speed than he’d expected. As he leapt into the air, the Sokidan nicked his right leg and annihilated it, causing him to cry out in pain.

Just as fast, the other ball rushed towards the heroes, who had more time to avoid it. But the ball moved fluidly and acrobatically. She made unexpected movements that made her directions unpredictable. One of the Heloïtes was surprised by one of the Sokidan, and owed his survival only to his shield which managed to contain the attack. Trembling, the ball of energy slid over the shield and continued on its destructive course.

“What a vile annoyance!” Cell swore as he teleported alongside Son Gohan from Universe 16. “You may not like what I'm about to tell you, Gohan, but I'm about to rip your little sister's heart out!”

“She’ll have crushed yours before you can even touch her,” the Saiyan replied, dodging a new assault from the Sokidans. “To stop this technique we’re gonna have to find her!”

“Oh I have an idea to neutralize her for sure,” Cell continued, dodging in turn. “Let's give her the old “Raditz” Full Nelson! You immobilize her, and I’ll take you both out with a Makankosappo! You saw it work earlier, it's the only way for our attacks to actually reach her!”

“It’s up to you to try and pin her, then. Because only you would be able to survive it.”

“No offense, Gohan, but I know how to make a way better Makankosappo than you. And at this point, your death would be a small price to pay. I promise, if you sacrifice yourself, I will personally make sure that you are resurrected.”

“Nice redundant promise, Cell, we'll be resurrecting everyone anyway, including Videl,” Gohan replied, glaring at him.

While discussing strategies and grudges, the fighters tried to locate Son Bra while the murderous Sokidans continued their pursuit. But she had reduced her energy to the minimum, and was therefore nowhere to be found. The Heloïtes were using thermal sensors to try to spot the Super Saiyan 2's aura, which was giving off a tremendous amount of heat. They found something in the bleachers and rushed, but found only the body of a spectator made of lava.

Universe 18's Gohan hovered over the arena and looked around. Targeted by one of the Sokidans, he deployed his aura to the maximum and struck the energy with both hands. He managed to push it away, but his hands left him with a great burning sensation.

From the air, he saw Goten still leaning against the wall of Universe 18, injured but alive. He also saw Bra of Universe 18, outside the arena, terrified but spared by the Sokidan who seemed unaware of her presence.

Then he found her. Hidden behind a pile of rocks, Son Bra had reverted to base form, and had her eyes closed, concentrating on manipulating the Sokidans by following her enemies' Ki signatures. She had done that dozens of times with Vegetto during her training. She therefore had no difficulty in keeping her opponents, much weaker and slower, under pressure.

“Mini-Cell, transmit the message, I found her!” Gohan said to the offshoot in his hair. “On my position! Teleport me to her!”

“I can't, I don't feel her energy!” replied the frightened micro-Cell.

Son Gohan swore and rushed towards Son Bra. Focused on her technique within the arena, the Saiyan didn't feel her brother coming until too late. She opened her eyes, surprised by Gohan who was about to plant his fist in her face. It was too late to dodge.

As he struck, an image flashed through Son Gohan's mind. That of Bra, Vegeta's daughter, that of his own universe. Without transformation, the two Bra were exactly the same physically. And this resemblance disturbed him tremendously. She seemed momentarily as vulnerable and frail as her alter-ego.

This moment of hesitation allowed Son Bra to react and retreat a short distance. It was then that Cell appeared nearby. Without waiting, he struck in the direction of Son Bra with all his might, but the latter teleported away. Furious, Cell looked at Gohan.

"What the hell were you doing? Victory was ours!”

“I couldn't... I can't help but believe that she's still in there, somewhere…”

"Poor pathetic Gohan," Cell sneered. “I’d have preferred it to be your double instead of you. I did everything to ensure that he had no restraint, but you’re just the same naive kid you were all those years ago.”

Before Gohan could reply, Son Bra's energy erupted in the middle of the arena. Interrupting their exchange, the two nemeses went there.

Again in Super Saiyan 2, Son Bra was battling Universe 16's Gohan and Majin Buu. She quickly dodged the Heloïtes' Ultra Waver which destroyed part of the bleachers, and propelled Majin Buu with a kick into the ruins of the arena. The heroes resumed their teleportation tactics, but Son Bra managed to follow their movements, and parry all their attacks.

“She’s managing to predict us now!” Piccolo of Universe 18 warned them.

“Teleporting is not enough, her acuity is too developed,” the Namek’s double added, unable to find a parry.

Son Bra hit Universe 16's Gohan full force, and he only had time to cross his arms in front of him. He barely blocked, but was thrown to the other side of the fighting surface. Behind her, Cell also tried to land a powerful punch.

He suddenly felt the energy of the Saiyan disappear, and return behind his back. Just like with Hildegan, he could spot the reappearance of his enemy at the microsecond. He was going to teach her that he wasn't stupid enough to be caught by an attack that had already been used a few seconds earlier.

“Not twice!” he exclaimed, reversing his movement to hit Son Bra with a penetrating elbow right in the chin.

Unsettled, the Saiyan staggered back and cleaned the blood that was pouring from her mouth. She felt more and more frustrated: she’d thought she could end all of this in a flash. But instead, these pests were putting up quite the resistance, and even managed to hit her from side to side. They adapted too quickly to her way of fighting. Time passed, and Babidi was getting closer and closer to suffocation. She absolutely had to hurry and get rid of them.

Cell rushed after her. He noticed the determined look on Son Bra's face. He had carefully analyzed the slightest tics of Babidi's slave, and he had noticed that she always wore a certain look just before making a certain movement. He could see that she intended to teleport. But he knew she was no fool: Cell was able to track her movements and reach her wherever she reappeared. She had to be prepared to counter him. So he struck, anticipating any blow she might give him in return.

But the shock was immense when, instead of the expected counterattack, his fist encountered the sensation of a sheet of glass shattered into pieces. Son Bra's body had become a turquoise Ki statue shattered by Cell's blow. The perfect being had witnessed her fight against Cold, but in the heat of the moment he had completely forgotten about that ability. And he remembered with horror what had followed.

The solidified pieces of Ki came to be grafted to his arm which became considerably heavier. Helpless, Cell felt his body lean forward, then an intense pain shot through his body. Spitting out a spray of blood, he watched in horror Son Bra's leg stuck into his chest, cutting through both sides. His wings had exploded on impact.

Cell felt his strength leave him and his consciousness waver. In one fell swoop, Son Bra had returned at least twenty of his own. He collapsed to the ground, and the solid Ki began to cover his body to immobilize him.

Smirking, Son Bra reached out to him. “It was fun, but the show’s finally over. Farewell, insect.”

“You don’t know how right you are!”

Nedwook's voice rang out at the same instant he sent his slashing ray right at Son Bra. It only lasted a hundredth of a second, but the Saiyan couldn't afford any more mistakes. Her master was wasting away. She had therefore projected her aura in all directions, and was attentive to the slightest actions and gestures of each fighter. Nothing could surprise her now.

Instead of being hit by the beam, she teleported behind Nedwook and hugged his neck with her arms. The Gohans stopped, convinced that she was taking him hostage.

“Oh come on,” the one from the sixteenth universe grumbled.

"Don't worry about me, kill her!" Nedwook tried to shout while choking.

“Hehe, do you see those good Samaritans, little soldier?” Son Bra whispered in the ear of her prey. “Their morals prevent them from killing you to defeat the big bad. But that's okay, you're not going to stay alive.”

"Wi... Witch... You promised... To save us..." Nedwook tried to say, gradually losing consciousness.

Son Bra was silent for two seconds. Then she gave a big grin.

“Did I say that? Sorry, not interested. I was just waiting for the opportunity to pass your damn shield. You are weak, you will die weak.”

With that, she snapped Nedwook's neck. Under the horrified eyes of her opponents, the Heloïte's body fell lifelessly to the ground.

“Ned, no! You killed him!” Phipsil exclaimed, stunned by such a violent and terrible act.

She collapsed to her knees, her limbs trembling. Gohan of Universe 18 looked at her with pity and compassion. Dying for his part, Cell felt a deep despair rising in him. The game was over, she was going to kill them all.

Beside Son Gohan of Universe 16, Piccolo felt the same bitterness. “Darn it… Somehow, I still had hope that she was only pretending and taking advantage of Babidi to let off steam, but there can be no more doubt, it's the worst possible scenario… She's going to kill us one by one!”

Majin Buu cringed upon seeing the terrifying look Son Bra wore. She had exactly the same cruel and satisfied expression as Babidi. The Saiyan was intoxicated by this feeling of omnipotence that Babidi's spell had given her by breaking her spirit: the freedom to kill. She, who was beginning to realize the value of life, now felt the immense satisfaction of ending it. No more remorse. No more tormenting conscience. She was free.

“Ha ha ha,” she laughed, spreading her aura. “Who's next?”

The heroes trembled before her destructive madness. Yet there was one who felt no fear. An aura emerged with strength, tinged with bitterness and anger. Son Gohan of Universe 16 couldn't take it anymore. He had seen his daughter die. He remembered Son Bra when Pan died; of her anger against Bojack; of her tears when she returned. He had seen his wife die, twice, in a few seconds. All his former enemies had just caused thousands of innocent people to suffer, and his pacifism was now a forgotten value.

This time it was his own half-sister who embodied everything he abhorred. He didn't want to kill her, because Son Bra's heart was good. She was only sealed away by dark magic. But Cell was right: at some point he had to take responsibility. Because of him, the dead were piling up. Despite all his efforts, Babidi had outplayed them, and had turned one of their own against them. Son Bra was now lost, and he had to take her down before she claimed any more victims.

“You overdid it,” he reluctantly admitted, stretching his aura to its fullest.

Without the locks Cell had helped raise, his power now imbued with deep rage caused the asteroid to tremble, raising dust and forcing his mates to cover their eyes. His alter-ego was surprised by the level of energy his double was reaching. He didn't think he could go any further beyond the magic level granted to him by the dean of the Kaioshins. Was this then the real definitive power he possessed? The one he had never really used, only prompted by anger?

From his shrouded in darkness eye, Buu inwardly whistled in admiration. Son Gohan was still full of surprises. But, unfortunately, this surprise would not really be useful…

From a respectable distance, Son Bra didn't flinch. She recognized that Son Gohan was displaying prodigious power, but all his strength would not be enough to hurt her badly. She was dizzying heights compared to her brother.

"You don’t dare come near me, huh?" she taunted him. “Go ahead, throw me your best Kamehameha!”

“As you wish,” Son Gohan growled, getting into position.

“Hey! Phipsil, is that it?”

A voice spoke inside the head of the remaining Heloïte, still shocked by the death of her brother-in-arms. It was Cell.

"What do you want?" she asked desperately.

“What Son Bra is going to do is…Too predictable, ughh!” Cell tried to communicate, gasping in pain. “She is bound to treacherously attack Son Gohan after… His attack. You have to protect him with your shield!”

The immense amount of energy Son Gohan was displaying prevented Son Bra from passing through the waves he was emanating, thus keeping the communication a secret. Phipsil wiped the tears from her cheeks and braced herself, more determined than ever.

"She's bound to avoid it!" Piccolo of Universe 16 said. “She'll never make the mistake of taking it head on, she's too cautious. We can't even get her from behind! We have to go and heal Cell at all costs, if we want to have any chance!”

“Wait, Piccolo,” Gohan of Universe 18 intervened. “I know what my double is thinking. And I agree with him. Like you said, she's on the prowl. If you move towards Cell, she'll kill you in a second. Take the opportunity to go there as soon as she is too busy with her attack!”

Son Gohan's Kamehameha finished charging. As soon as he could, the Saiyan sent all the energy he could towards his sister. With a sigh of disappointment, she teleported a few meters away from her previous position, dodging the huge wave of energy.

“Idiot,” she just said dismissively.

“Damn!” Piccolo tensed.

“Not yet!” Son Gohan said.

His double lunged to the right, waving his Kamehameha in pursuit of Son Bra. The Saiyan widened her eyes, and rushed towards the heavens. Again, the crashing wave pursued her.

“Is this your last stand, Gohan?” she screamed. “Too bad, it was well thought out, but useless against me!”

She teleported again, appearing right next to Son Gohan who moved his arms again. She was about to hit her brother, when Cell's telepathic voice resounded with force in everyone’s mind.

"NOW!"

Piccolo rushed towards Cell. Son Bra sensed that the Namekian wanted to heal the cyborg, but she couldn't stop his attack. Gohan was the priority.

However, Cell's signal also applied to the Saiyan. As she slammed into him, Son Bra's fist collided with a solid barrier, and shattered on it. Behind Son Gohan, Phipsil had activated her shield, sporting a look of hatred aimed at Son Bra.

“For Nedwook,” she growled.

"You basta..." Son Bra began to swear, before noticing that Son Gohan's huge Kamehameha was right behind her.

The crashing wave hit her with all its power, and exploded in an incredible blast. The Saiyan let out a terrible cry of pain as she disappeared into the flames and smoke. Piccolo didn't have time to reach Cell, and had to move out of the way to avoid the deflagration's range. Universe 18's Gohan, the other Piccolo, and Majin Buu were also knocked back by the super-powered shockwave.

A few seconds later, calm returned, leaving only thick smoke to evaporate little by little. Son Gohan of Universe 16 groaned in exhaustion, completely drained of his energy.

“Are you okay? Did we finally get her?” Phipsil asked.

"She's not dead," Gohan gasped, shaking. “She took the full force of the attack, then she teleported…over…there…”

His voice trailed off as he saw the nightmare that was happening before his eyes. The Piccolo that had tried to get to Cell had been ambushed by Son Bra, and shot by the Saiyan. Covered in blood, Son Bra was searching for the Senzus on the Namekian corpse.

“N… No!” begged Gohan, collapsing.

“Micro-Cell, quick, teleport me behind her!” Gohan of Universe 18 shouted at the offspring in his hair.

Immediately, he appeared behind Son Bra's back and was about to hit her with all his might. But he arrived a second too late. She had just swallowed all the Senzus that Piccolo had had in his possession. She dodged the attack and reappeared in the air, above the exhausted Gohan.

She glared at him, an unreadable expression on her face. She had been seriously hit by the Kamehameha, and she thought she was going to die. Having noticed this Piccolo rushing straight towards Cell, she had deduced that he was going to heal him, and had taken the opportunity to go help herself. Somewhere in her heart, a little spark was screaming at her not to do it, to give up, because it was unfair. But the darkness was too strong, and only her mission mattered: to survive, to win, to find her master.

Seeing her brother in such a state plunged her into a whirlwind of emotions. Unfortunately, the most evil of them had the upper hand over the others.

“Too bad, big brother,” she said sarcastically. “It was a nice attack, you are indeed one of the most powerful warriors in the universe. But I am far superior to you. My power is at its peak, I'm the best!!”

“I…I can’t take it anymore,” Son Gohan conceded under Phipsil’s desperate gaze. “I gave it my all, but it never ends…”

[[CH157-FatalityIncoming.png nocss left "Colo by ZenBuu and HomolaGabor"]

”The great hero giving up?” Son Bra continued with a sneer. “Are you sad, big brother? Can't you save everyone? Vegetto's going to make a funny face, ha ha ha!”

Universe 18 Son Gohan was also at his wit's end. They had no chance of beating her. It was then that the surviving Piccolo began to whisper to Majin Buu.

“Pssst, Majin Buu!”

“Eh?”

"You have the ability to heal, don't you?"

“Yes yes, I can make everything better!” Majin Buu rejoiced.

“The fight is not over. We proved we could have it. I will destroy the Senzu I have left to prevent her from regenerating. You are going to heal Cell and Son Gohan while we distract her!”

“Oh no, no!” Majin Buu refused, shaking his head. “I don't want to go there, she scares me too much!”

"Too late," Cell's voice sounded bitterly in their minds.

Further down, Son Bra summoned her Ki blade at the tips of her outstretched fingers.

“There, there. I will end your suffering, and free you from all this. Farewell, big brother!”

“GOHAN!!!” cried Piccolo.

“Teleport us, Juniors!” Son Gohan exclaimed.

But it all happened in a flash. Son Bra teleported behind her brother, giving no one time to react. With a quick gesture…

She sliced ​​Son Gohan in half.

Under the horrified eyes of the survivors, the two halves of his body landed brutally on the ground. Even Buu from Universe 4 was shocked by such violence.

Positioning herself next to her brother's top half, she gazed into his eyes, which were gradually losing their spark of life. In a final burst of vitality, Son Gohan of Universe 16 managed to mumble.

“Heh... Well... I didn't think that... You would go all the way…”

Somewhere deep inside Son Bra, the small spark that manifested earlier resurfaced and stung the Saiyan's mind like a sharp burn.

“Go…han?”

Seeing the confusion on his sister's face, Son Gohan knew before he died that he was right. His sister was still present, chained. He had been unable to bring her to her senses. He had given everything, without success. But he knew his little sister by heart. He was going to sow a small seed which he hoped the others would manage to make bloom in the mind of the sorcerer's slave, the only solution to fight against his spell.

“So Babidi is... the stron…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Son Gohan passed out.

Everyone else was entranced. Even Cell, awaiting immediate care, momentarily forgot his pain.

“To kill her own brother like this…” Piccolo murmured.

They only saw Son Bra from behind. So they were unable to see the expression on her face. Only Buu from Universe 4 was aware of the tiny tear at the edge of the Saiyan's eye, which immediately disappeared. Turning back to the survivors, she wore a sadistic smile and happily made an announcement.

“And that makes three!”