

After Vegeta lets the incomplete Cell go to absorb Android 18, Trunks attempts
to stop Cell. When trying to escape Trunks' onslaught and get closer to
Android 18, the incomplete Cell used the Solar Flare technique to blind Trunks
and the others.

Solar Flare is a good technique to be used when the fighter attempts a quick
getaway. However, in this case, Cell is still in the same area and it is made
obvious that he attempts to absorb Android 18. Why can't Trunks sense Cell's
energy level at this point? Why can't he sense Krillin's energy level to judge
where Cell will end up going and prevent Cell's completion?


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2014-10-11T08:58:20.833
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2014-10-21T21:54:40.810
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question
dragon-ball
Why doesn't Trunks sense Cell when Cell uses Solar Flare just before absorbing android 18?


You are right, Cell ends up using Solar Flare.

It is hard to get a definitive answer (because the question is pretty
speculative), but I will argue that:

  * Solar Flare has been shown to be incredibly disruptive every time it was used - in the manga, everyone affected by it was made helpless for at least ten seconds - having Trunks stop in mid-air because of it is not inconsistent with previous uses of that ability;
  * I do not remember any character in Dragon Ball that could fight effectively while blinded, or without using his eyes - by implication, it means that there is nothing to suggest that ki sensing could replace eyes if someone was blinded. However, even if you find an example of someone that did fight without his eyes, you would still have to find something that Trunks would be capable of doing it;
  * The time that Cell took to absorb Android 18 was extremely short - I mean, if you look at the sequence depicted in the manga, it goes:

    1. Trunks blasts Vegeta to distract him;
    2. Trunks begins flying towards Cell, who is a few steps away from Android 18;
    3. Cell uses Solar Flare;
    4. Everyone is blinded;
    5. Cell gulps Android 18 down;
    6. The cloud generated by Trunks' blast around Vegeta dissipates;

I mean, damn, how long did it take Cell to absorb Android 18 after blinding
everyone? 3 seconds? The disruption from Solar Flare clearly seems to be
enough for this purpose.

However, I agree that the scene, as depicted in the anime, does not really
make sense, as Android 18 and Krillin attempt to fight against Cell, while
Trunks and Vegeta are completely forgotten about. It _could_ be argued that
they were affected more strongly because they were closer to Cell when he used
Solar Flare, but that explanation seems dodgy.


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