Chapter 44 Imperfect Cell
Before Carlos could pull away, Cell\'s knee came up like a hammer, smashing into Carlos\' elbow with a sickening crack. The bone in Carlos\' arm bent the wrong way, and an agonizing scream tore from his throat as he crumbled to the ground.
"Arrrgghhh!" Carlos\' voice was raw, filled with pain as it reverberated through the air. His body convulsed from the shock, but he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. His legs wobbled beneath him, but his resolve was unbroken.
"I can\'t give up," Carlos muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing with determination. His left hand clenched into a fist, and he charged at Cell again. This time, his blow was too fast for Cell to avoid.
With all his strength, Carlos\' left fist smashed into Cell\'s jaw. The sound of bone shattering echoed through the battlefield as Cell staggered backward, his head snapping to the side. Two of Cell\'s sharp teeth flew from his mouth, landing with a faint *clink* on the ground.
Carlos felt a rush of triumph surge through him. \'I finally got him!\' he thought, adrenaline fueling his next attack. He summoned his ability, his muscles swelling with power as his physical strength multiplied tenfold.
\'I have only been fighting him for three minutes, and this is the first time I\'ve landed a hit. I can\'t let this chance slip away,\' Carlos thought as he lunged forward, aiming to finish the fight. His left fist hurtled toward Cell\'s face again, but just as it was about to connect, Cell jerked his head back, his wounds already healed.
Carlos\' eyes widened in shock. "What? How—"
"You\'re strong, but in terms of speed, you\'re nothing but a snail." Cell\'s voice was cold and taunting. Before Carlos could react, Cell grabbed his left wrist, pulling him forward with terrifying strength. Carlos barely had time to register what was happening before Cell\'s forehead slammed into his face, sending him staggering backward.
Blood poured from Carlos\' nose as his vision blurred. He tried to steady himself, but Cell\'s next words pierced through the haze of pain.
"That\'s pathetic for an A-rank," Cell sneered as he reached out, ready to grab Carlos by the neck.
But before his hand could close around Carlos\' throat, a sickening *sploosh* rang out. Cell\'s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at his right hand—or rather, the stump where it had once been. Green blood gushed from the severed limb, staining the ground.
Carlos stood before him, panting heavily, his eyes burning with rage. "I\'m not done with you yet!" he roared, his remaining hand glowing with power. In one swift motion, Carlos swung his arm, a deadly arc of energy slicing through the air. The blow connected with Cell\'s neck, and for a moment, it seemed like the fight was over.
Cell\'s head lolled to the side as he choked on his own blood, his hand instinctively clutching at his throat. \'How is he able to land these hits on me?\' Cell thought as he struggled to stay upright. But just as Carlos was about to deliver the final blow, Cell acted with lightning speed.
Carlos\' fist, which had been aimed at Cell\'s forehead, was stopped mid-air as Cell tore off his arm in a brutal counterattack. Carlos\' scream of agony ripped through the battlefield as he dropped to the ground, clutching the bloody stump where his arm used to be.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Carlos writhed on the ground, the pain unbearable. His vision swam as he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. \'I should\'ve run when I had the chance. This... this monster is beyond an S-rank,\' he thought, his mind racing. \'We\'re all going to die...\'
Cell spat out the remnants of Carlos\' arm, disinterested in the flesh. "What a shame. I guess I\'m stronger than an S-rank too."
He opened his mouth, and from the depths of his throat, a deadly green glow began to form. Carlos could only watch in horror as the sun-like beam prepared to consume him. He closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
\'I\'m sorry... Tiana, Colby... I couldn\'t get you that toy... I couldn\'t be the father you needed...\' Carlos\' thoughts drifted to his loved ones as he awaited the end.
Boom!
The ground shook as Cell\'s beam struck with devastating force, pillars of smoke and steam rising into the air. The battlefield fell silent, save for the murmurs of the remaining fighters.
"Carlos... What the hell just happened?"
"No way... He\'s dead..."
"This monster is an S-rank? We can\'t win! We\'re all doomed!"
Panic spread through the crowd, but Cell barely paid them any attention. His eyes flickered with boredom as he snapped his sharp teeth together. "Pathetic. Now, which of you weaklings should I kill next?"
But before he could make his move, a voice cut through the chaos.
"So this is how brutal it gets when fighting you. I was wondering why this place looked so decorated."
Cell\'s head whipped around, his eyes narrowing in shock. There, standing over Carlos\' unconscious body, was a figure shrouded in shadow—unharmed by the beam that had moments ago decimated everything in its path.
Axel Teras.
For the first time, Cell felt a flicker of fear. \'How... how is he still standing? I didn\'t even see him move!\' Cell\'s mind raced, trying to comprehend what he was witnessing. \'Is this guy... a monster?\'
"You lost your tongue?" Axel\'s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it as he raised his hand, summoning a sword into existence. He took a battle stance, his eyes locked on Cell.
Cell folded his arms, his shock fading into amusement. "Interesting. You and I... we\'re alike, aren\'t we? We both grow stronger with every fight. We evolve, adapting and improving with every challenge.
I can see that much just by reading your mind."
Axel\'s eyes widened. \'He can read my mind?\' His grip on his sword tightened as he realized just how dangerous this opponent was. \'Damn it... am I that much of an open book?\'
But Axel forced himself to stay calm. "Then you should know that I plan to beat you without taking a single hit."
Cell\'s smile widened. "Let\'s make a deal, human. We\'ll fight until one of us drops, and in exchange, your people are free to kill mine if you win. My army will stop attacking and surrender without a fight. But if I win..." His voice dripped with malice. "Your people are mine."
Axel didn\'t hesitate. "Fine. But know this—I\'m going to win."
Lowering his head, Axel let his hair fall over his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. "My father once told me... that if you show your enemy your back, they\'ll eventually try to stab you. But if you study them long enough, you might just stop the blade in time."
He raised his head, his eyes burning with determination. "I\'ve already studied you down to the smallest detail, Cell. Try all you want, but you won\'t land a single lethal hit on me."
[Title unlocked: Authority of the Supreme]