Did Trunks power up in Grade 3?

[Pyro]

When Trunks was using Grade 3 to fight Cell, did he undergo a power-up at one point? I'm reading over the fight again and it appears that way. At first, Trunks is merely stalling so Krillin can get Vegeta away from the battlefield. Once Cell figures that out, Trunks says he's going to unleash his "true power," busts out a bigger aura, loses his pupils temporarily, and looks just like he's powering up. It's also interesting that before Trunks did his power-up, Cell never says anything more than him being strong, Krillin offers a senzu, and Piccolo doesn't declare Trunks has surpassed Cell until then either.

Chapter: 386 (DBZ 192), P4.4-5
Context: Trunks tells Kuririn he won't need a senzu for his fight with Cell
Trunks: “Because I will definitely win.”
Kuririn: “He’s incredibly confident.”

Chapter: 386 (DBZ 192), P5.3
Perfect Cell (to self): “He’s strong…! …So he was hiding this sort of reserve strength…?!”

Chapter: 387 (DBZ 193), P1.3, P2.1-3
Trunks: “What you’re about to see now…is my true power!!!”
Cell: “I see…It truly is magnificent power…You easily surpass me…But you can’t win against me like that…Absolutely not…”

Chapter: 387 (DBZ 193), P3.5.
Piccolo: “Absolutely incredible power! It’s even greater than Cell’s…! Un-unbelievable…!”

SSjG3 Trunks (full power) > Cell > SSjG3 Trunks (initial) >>> SSjG2 Vegeta

 

[Diamond Ryan]

Yeah, it seems like he powered up. Did his muscles increase in size when he did it? I would check myself but I'm too lazy.

 

[Pyro]

Maybe a little, but I don't think it's very noticeable.

 

[SSJ2]

The anime showed his muscles pumping up multiple times iirc. I don't think the manga made a big difference out of it, but I recall him flaring his aura.

 

[SSJ2]

The anime showed his muscles pumping up multiple times iirc. I don't think the manga made a big difference out of it, but I recall him flaring his aura.

 

[Diamond Ryan]

I was going to say that maybe that last power up was what caused his speed to drop so low, but if his muscle size didn't increase with the power up then never mind.

@Supreme Double post

 

[sei'taer]

He flares his chi and tells cell he's about to see his true power. Seems pretty obvious that he powers up there. Cell even wants to see how his perfect form compares also implying that trunks wasn't at full power.

 

[Pyro]

I actually noticed that the first kick Cell tried on Trunks, Trunks was able to dodge it point-blank. His short scuffle with Cell at that point doesn't mean a whole lot IMHO due to Trunks merely stalling, and Cell likely knowing this. Trunks couldn't land an attack, but he only really tried once, and the rest of the time was him being a meat shield until Vegeta was whisked away. I could buy Trunks' speed not being that reduced at that point.

The real fight began when Trunks went to full power and couldn't do a single thing at all. Cell was easily making a fool out of him.

 

[Pyro]

He flares his chi and tells cell he's about to see his true power. Seems pretty obvious that he powers up there. Cell even wants to see how his perfect form compares also implying that trunks wasn't at full power.

Yeah, the only reason I was asking was because it's not really a topic that's talked about too often. I was just making sure I wasn't going full retard yet.

 

[sei'taer]

Trunks was the one that was mentally challenged there. "I pumped more chi into my muscles than dad I am durr strongest", "I wonder why dad didn't do this when it was so easy?"

 

[Papasmurf]

I actually noticed that the first kick Cell tried on Trunks, Trunks was able to dodge it point-blank. His short scuffle with Cell at that point doesn't mean a whole lot IMHO due to Trunks merely stalling, and Cell likely knowing this. Trunks couldn't land an attack, but he only really tried once, and the rest of the time was him being a meat shield until Vegeta was whisked away. I could buy Trunks' speed not being that reduced at that point.

The real fight began when Trunks went to full power and couldn't do a single thing at all. Cell was easily making a fool out of him.

I'm fairly certain that's due to Cell toying with Trunks. There's really no reason to discard SSJg3 altogether (so much that Vegeta won't use it when he brags about having grade 2) if a non-FP version of it has the speed and increased strength from SSJg2.

Or, it could just be bad writing a la Ginyu flying at 90,000 Goku speed. Either way,