The two clashed in an instant, fists and feet colliding in bursts of energy. Their figures flashed through the air, and massive mountains crumbled one after another under the force of their battle.
"Not bad! You're way better than Android 11 and 12. I'm actually impressed you've lasted this long! But unfortunately, I don't have all day. I hate dragging things out—so let's end this quickly! Haaah!"
With a punch, Goku forced Android 19 back, then instantly powered up to the peak of Super Saiyan 1. In a blink, he landed a heavy blow to android 19's gut, sending him flying. Goku vanished again, reappearing to smash 19 into the ground with a kick. Before he could even hit the ground, Goku flashed once more, braced his hands on the ground, and launched 19 back into the sky with a double kick.
A flurry of attacks followed. In mere moments, Android 19 was in tatters—his body battered, bleeding (oil?), and riddled with sparks as broken circuitry crackled across his frame. It was a miserable sight.
"I'm not really into torture, so I'll just put an end to this now!" Goku shouted as he unleashed a powerful Ki blast, obliterating Android 19. With a grin, he turned toward the sky.
"Dr. Roco, Dr. Gero, I know you're watching. Collecting data on me, huh? Heh... Just sit tight and wait for me. I'll find your lab—and when I do, I'm wiping you both out!"
"Damn it, he's already on to us! Dr. Roco, what should we do now?" Dr. Gero asked nervously, glancing at his partner.
"Relax," Roco said calmly. "Goku is indeed a powerful opponent… but we still have our secret weapons. It's time to let Android 17 and 18 join the fight."
"Are you serious? You're actually going to release them? Don't forget—they nearly killed us last time!" Gero exclaimed in shock.
"We don't have a choice. Once they defeat Goku, we can just activate their shutdown protocols. For now, let's get them operational. To buy us some time… send out Android 15."
With that, Dr. Roco opened a lab chamber door, revealing a tall, muscular android.
---
"According to the original story, Dr. Gero's lab was located in a cave… I wonder if that's changed," Goku muttered, then used Instant Transmission to appear in the ruined city destroyed earlier by Androids 11 and 12. Spotting a large mountain behind it, his eyes lit up. "That must be it!"
When he arrived, he found the cave all right—with remnants of the lab still visible—but the place had long since been abandoned and covered in cobwebs.
"Looks like Roco's involvement really has changed things. So where did they relocate to?"
Flying out of the cave, Goku glanced at the scanner in his hand—still no signal. Looking over the wreckage of the ruined city, he suddenly had a thought. "Could they be underground?"
With a flash, Goku appeared among the ruins. He raised a hand and fired a Ki blast at the ground, blasting a massive crater into the earth.
"Just as I thought—the city has secrets beneath it!" Goku's eyes gleamed as he leapt into the depths.
Beep beep—
Suddenly, the scanner began to alert. Goku looked down and saw a yellow dot moving rapidly toward him. He smiled. "Looks like I'm in the right place. And here comes a welcoming party."
A large figure appeared before him.
"Another one that didn't appear in the original… What number are you? A Bio-Android? Or a Cyborg?"
With a cold expression, the android replied, "Bio-Android. Android 15."
"You look pretty strong. You here to fight me?"
"My mission is to stall you—not to fight to the death," Android 15 answered flatly.
"Wow. You actually said that out loud? That's… kind of stupid."
"It doesn't matter. I know I can only hold you off for a while—but that's enough."
"You really overestimate yourself," Goku snorted. With a flash, he transformed into Super Saiyan 2 and vanished. A sharp strike of his hand sliced Android 15's head clean off.
"Too bad. I'm not the type to get beat up first before showing my true strength." Goku glanced at the android's headless body, then formed a Ki Disc and shredded it into pieces. One final blast reduced the remains to ash.
He opened a heavy iron door and looked inside. "Looks like I really did find the right place. Now… where would those two be hiding?"
Looking around the lab, he finally locked eyes on a door at the far end. "There, huh?"
He strode over and kicked the door open.
"Welcome to our lab, Goku," Roco said. "But this is where it all ends."
Roco and Gero each opened a containment chamber. Two very familiar figures stepped out.
"Android 17 and 18… huh?"
"So even Android 17 and Android 18 are making their debut, huh?" Goku's gaze lingered on Android 18 for a moment before he scanned the room, eyes landing on the last bio-pod. "The one inside this pod must be Android 16, right?"
"Huh? You actually know who they are? I'm curious—how exactly do you know about their existence? We've never released them before," said Dr. Gero and Dr. Roco, both looking at Goku in shock.
"Judging by your reaction, their names haven't changed. That's good. It would've felt weird if they had," Goku replied coolly, then turned to Android 18, waving casually. "Hey there! Android 18, right? A beauty like you wouldn't want to be my enemy, would you?"
"You're Son Goku? We were created with one purpose—to defeat you," Android 18 responded blandly, casting him a glance before walking toward Android 16's bio-pod, hand reaching for the release switch.
"What are you doing, 18? Android 16's control module hasn't been fully installed yet—you can't let him out!" Dr. Gero shouted in panic.
"What does that have to do with me?" Android 18 shot him a cold glance and continued pressing the release mechanism.
"Damn it! The stronger the android, the less effective the control program becomes!" Dr. Roco growled. "If you refuse to obey, then I'll just destroy you all!" He raised a controller in his hand, his tone icy. Android 18 immediately froze in place.
Android 17 looked at him calmly. "Are you sure you want to do that? If we're destroyed, then you'll be the next to die at Goku's hands."
"Are you threatening me?" Dr. Roco's expression turned sinister. "Fine then—let's all go down together!" With that, he decisively pressed the button.
But in the next moment, the controller disappeared from his hand and appeared in Goku's.
Turns out Goku had used his World Ring to teleport the device into his own hand, and with a flick of his mind, summoned it.
"I don't really care whether Android 17 lives or dies," Goku said, casually playing with the controller. "But if it's 18, I can't just ignore it."
"What?! The controller… when did you take it?!" Dr. Roco paled in horror.
"you don't need to know. You should just die," Goku replied coldly. Without another word, he vanished and reappeared behind Dr. Roco, delivering a vicious spinning kick that separated the doctor's head from his body. Then he launched a ki blast, vaporizing Dr. Gero before the man could even utter a proper final line.
"Damn it... I was too careless!" Dr. Roco's severed head landed nearby, still conscious and snarling. "Don't think you've won yet, Goku! When Nox awakens, he'll avenge me! You'll all die with me, hahahaha!"
Goku frowned. "Nox? Is that another android you created? I've never heard of him."
"He's not an android!" Dr. Roco shouted, laughing maniacally. "He's like Android 16—created from nothing using a breakthrough technique! And he's made from your genes, combined with those of several other elite warriors! When he fully awakens, you're all doomed!"
Dr. Roco's mangled head twisted into a grim smile. "And I'll let you in on another little secret—there's also an egg hidden somewhere in this lab. Gero and I created it together. It's an ultimate bio-android—not as perfect as Nox, but if it ever reaches its final form, it could still defeat you! Want to know where it is? Go find it yourself! I'll never tell! Hahaha—!"
"Hmph, looks like things really are different now," Goku muttered, stroking his chin. "This Nox guy came out of nowhere… but the egg he mentioned has to be Cell, right?"
Before he could think further, Android 17 stepped forward and stomped on Dr. Roco's head, smashing it into pulp. "Well, that's one way to guarantee our freedom."
Crack!
Pshhh!
At the same time, Android 18 opened Android 16's pod, sending the door flying with a kick.
Goku didn't react much—he wasn't particularly concerned about 16, so he made no move to stop her.
Android 16 slowly opened his eyes, stepping out of the pod as the lights in his pupils flickered. He turned his gaze to Goku and said in a cold, mechanical tone, "Son Goku, huh? Didn't expect to see you the moment I woke up." Without hesitation, he prepared to attack—his programming, now influenced by Dr. Roco, was even more aggressive than in the original timeline.
"You sure this is wise, 18?" Goku asked, raising the controller in his hand. "I'm still holding your switch, you know."
"Wait, 16!" Android 17 shouted, trying to stop him. But 16 simply kicked him aside and said coldly, "I have no obligation to listen to you. My mission is to eliminate Son Goku. That's all."
Clearly, with Roco's interference, this version of Android 16 was far more ruthless than his original counterpart.
"Bastard! Don't get cocky with me!" 17 yelled, picking himself up from the rubble and charging at 16. But 16 countered with a powerful punch that sent him flying again, shaking the entire underground facility.
"Don't force me to attack you," 16 warned Android 18 calmly. "My only target is Son Goku."
"You're definitely no ordinary android… you're the real deal," 17 muttered, brushing off the dust. "Fine. Looks like I'll have to go all out." He prepared to charge again, but Android 18 stepped in and stopped him.
"Hold on. Let's see how he does against Goku first. After all, the controller's still in his hands," she reminded.
"..." 17 frowned but backed off reluctantly.
"Well then… Son Goku," Android 16 said, locking eyes with him. The thirst for battle burned in his gaze. "I'm your opponent now."
It was clear—this Android 16 was nothing like the gentle giant from the original timeline.
___
Translator's Note:
Power Stones = Translator's Motivation™
No Power Stones = Translator's curled up crying in a corner 😢
Don't let me turn into a filler villain – feed me those shiny stones!