Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

After hearing the news that Goku had died and two Saiyans were arriving in 11 months, Mori decided to check on everyone close to him. His first stop was Chi-Chi's home, Mount Paozu. As he flew over the familiar landscape, his heart was heavy with the burden of Goku's death. Landing near Goku's house, he found Chi-Chi sitting by herself, staring out at the horizon.

"Chi-Chi," Mori called out softly, walking over to her.

Chi-Chi looked up, her eyes red from crying. "Mori... you've heard the news, haven't you? Goku... he's gone."

Mori nodded, crouching down next to her. "Yeah. I heard from the others. I just wanted to check on you. How are you holding up?"

Chi-Chi wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "I don't know... I thought he'd always be here. And now, Gohan... he's out there training with that demon Piccolo. I don't want to lose him too."

Mori sighed, knowing how much Chi-Chi loved her son and how hard it was for her to accept that Gohan needed to train. "Gohan will be fine. Piccolo's strong, and he knows what's coming. Gohan needs to be ready."

Chi-Chi remained silent, still overwhelmed by the recent events. Mori didn't have many comforting words—he knew the weight of loss, but it didn't make the pain easier to bear. After staying with her for a short while, Mori excused himself and took to the skies once again.

---

His next stop was Gohan. Mori flew toward the mountains where he could sense Piccolo's energy. After some time, he found the two training in an open field, the young boy struggling to keep up with the harsh drills Piccolo put him through. Piccolo stood tall, observing Gohan's progress as the boy threw weak punches into the air, sweat pouring down his face.

Mori landed nearby, catching Piccolo's attention. The Namekian looked at him with his usual stern gaze. "What do you want, Mori?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"I came to check on Gohan and... to see how strong I've gotten," Mori said, glancing at the boy, who had collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Piccolo raised an eyebrow. "Check on your strength, huh? Well, I can tell you right now—you've far surpassed Raditz."

Mori felt a rush of satisfaction hearing that. Raditz had been a formidable enemy, and knowing that he was now stronger than him was a relief. But Mori knew he still had a long way to go. The Saiyans coming would be much more powerful, and even surpassing Raditz wasn't enough to stop them.

"How's Gohan doing?" Mori asked, watching as the boy struggled to stand up again, determination in his eyes despite his exhaustion.

"He's coming along," Piccolo replied. "But it's not going to be easy. He's got potential, but he needs to toughen up—fast."

Mori nodded, understanding the situation. Gohan had immense latent power, but without the proper training, that power wouldn't mean much when the Saiyans arrived. Mori knelt down beside Gohan, offering him a small smile. "Keep pushing, Gohan. You've got more strength in you than you know."

Gohan nodded weakly, grateful for the encouragement, before collapsing again.

---

After checking on Gohan, Mori knew it was time to prepare for his own training. Before heading back into space, he made one last stop at Capsule Corp. to visit Bulma. Walking into her lab, he found her surrounded by gadgets and machinery, working on some new device.

"Hey, Bulma," Mori called out, getting her attention.

"Mori!" Bulma greeted him with a smile. "What brings you here?"

"I need more capsules. The food ones. I'm going back to train, and I'll be out there for a while."

Bulma nodded, walking over to one of the storage units and grabbing a set of capsules. "You're really serious about this, huh?"

Mori nodded as she handed him the capsules. "I have to be. If Goku were here, he'd be pushing himself even harder. I need to do the same. We don't have much time."

Bulma's expression softened. "Just... be careful, okay? I know you're strong, but don't push yourself too hard."

"I'll be fine. And... can you let the others know? Except Goku—I'll tell him myself when I get back."

Bulma gave him a nod, and Mori said his goodbyes before flying off into the sky once again.

---

Mori left Earth behind and ventured deep into space, returning to the part of the galaxy where comets and meteors resided. This was where he had trained before, putting his body to the test in the most extreme conditions imaginable. But now, with the clock ticking, he needed to push himself even harder.

After arriving, Mori found a large asteroid belt surrounded by comets and floating debris. He landed on one of the larger rocks and immediately began his training. First, he focused on honing his strength, lifting massive boulders and tossing them into space like they were nothing. The weight of the comets served as perfect training tools, challenging his muscles in ways Earth's gravity never could.

For days on end, Mori trained in solitude, fighting against the very elements of space. He would push himself to his limits, punching and kicking through solid rock, his fists bleeding from the effort. Every time he felt like giving up, he reminded himself of Goku's determination—of how effortlessly Goku had always surpassed him despite all his own hard work.

The comets themselves became his opponents, as Mori used them as both target practice and training dummies. He flew toward them at breakneck speeds, dodging their icy tails and slamming his fists into their frozen surfaces, shattering them into countless pieces.

But Mori didn't stop there. He sought out planets with extreme environments—planets with scorching heat that threatened to melt his very skin and planets with freezing cold that chilled him to the bone. Each time he landed on a new planet, he trained harder than before, adapting his body to withstand even the harshest conditions.

Some of these planets had gravity up to five times that of Earth, making every movement feel like he was dragging himself through thick mud. But Mori pressed on, knowing that every ounce of effort was necessary. He could feel his body getting stronger, tougher with each passing day.

The training was grueling. Mori faced challenges that brought him to the brink of death more than once, but he refused to give in. Every time he got knocked down, he pushed himself back up, determined to grow stronger. His Saiyan-like ability granted by Shenron began to show its effects—after every near-fatal encounter, he would recover stronger than before, his power increasing at a rapid rate.

As the months passed, Mori's body adapted to the harshest of conditions, and his strength skyrocketed beyond anything he had ever imagined. The comet fields and extreme planets that had once pushed him to his limits now felt manageable, and he knew he was finally closing the gap between him and Goku.

---

After spending eleven grueling months in space, Mori hovered above a large asteroid, surrounded by the remnants of shattered meteors. His body, scarred and worn, showed the effects of his relentless training, but his power had grown exponentially. Every challenge, every near-death experience had pushed him beyond his previous limits. His amplified ability—granted by Shenron—worked exactly as he hoped. Each time he faced death, each time he pushed himself to the edge, he felt the surge of strength that followed.

The environment around him was harsh and unforgiving. The cold of space no longer bothered him, and even the intense heat from nearby stars seemed distant as his body had adapted to the extremes. Mori had fought comets, used meteors as his training partners, and found planets with gravity far beyond what he had ever experienced on Earth. On those worlds, his muscles had ached under the pressure, but day after day, his body had adjusted, grown tougher, and his resolve had only strengthened.

Sitting cross-legged on the asteroid, Mori closed his eyes, focusing on the quiet vastness of space. His mind, body, and spirit had aligned during his time in the cosmic wilderness. For months, he had tested his strength, pushed his mind to stay sharp, and fought through trials that would have killed him if he hadn't adapted.

"Almost ready..." Mori whispered to himself.

He had decided not to return to Earth just yet. Goku's death had already lit a fire within him, but he knew that if he returned now, he wouldn't be satisfied with his strength. The Saiyans were coming, and though he had far surpassed Raditz, Mori wasn't sure if it was enough. His goal was clear—to be the strongest, to face any challenge that came his way and to make sure he could fight alongside his friends when they needed him most.

For Mori, returning to Earth now felt premature. If he went back without being absolutely certain he was ready, he would have doubted himself during the fight. That was unacceptable. So, with only a few more months left before the Saiyans would arrive, Mori stayed where he was, training relentlessly.

In the stillness of space, Mori trained his ki, focusing it inward and outward, unleashing bursts of energy into the surrounding asteroids. He would fly through the debris field at unimaginable speeds, dodging and destroying meteors with precise strikes, pushing his reflexes to their limits. When he needed a greater challenge, he sought out the densest and largest rocks in the field, focusing all his energy to shatter them into tiny fragments.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, but Mori never stopped. He wasn't the same person who had left Earth after Goku's wedding. The Mori who now sat in space was stronger, more focused, and prepared for whatever lay ahead. His thoughts occasionally wandered back to his friends, to Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, and Bulma. He hoped they were preparing as hard as he was. They would need to be.

But for now, Mori's only companion was the endless stretch of stars and the harsh, unforgiving environment around him. There, he would continue to push himself, forging his body, mind, and spirit into an unbreakable force.

He had come far, but the real test was yet to come. And when it did, Mori knew he would be ready.