Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

On the battlefield below, Vegeta and Cell stood face to face, the air crackling with tension as their energies clashed. Vegeta, itching to prove his superiority, charged at Cell with a flurry of strikes, each blow aimed to crush the arrogant bio-android. But Cell dodged effortlessly, weaving between Vegeta's attacks with a mocking smile on his face, treating the battle as little more than a game.

Mori stood to the side, arms crossed, his sharp eyes tracking the fight. He was surprised at how easily Cell was toying with Vegeta. The prince's pride was about to take a serious hit if things didn't change soon. As Mori watched, he heard Krillin speaking in a hushed tone to Trunks, Piccolo, and Tien.

"The power Cell is showing... this isn't even a drop in the bucket compared to his full strength," Krillin said, his voice trembling with concern.

Mori's ears perked up at that. Not even a drop in the bucket? The thought intrigued him, and for a moment, he zoned out the rest of their conversation, his mind focused on Cell's hidden potential. How much stronger could this bio-engineered fighter really be?

Returning his attention to the fight, he saw Vegeta, visibly frustrated, charge up into the sky. Water droplets dripped off his body, a result of the earlier battle and the nearby ocean, and his expression was one of pure rage. The prince's energy began to shift, intensifying as he pushed himself into a new form—a hybrid of his wrath state and Super Saiyan. His golden aura flared violently, and his tail, normally still, whipped around erratically with the sheer force of the transformation.

Mori raised an eyebrow in interest. So, the prince still has some tricks left... he thought, watching carefully.

High above the battlefield, Vegeta stretched both arms outward, the winds around him growing fierce as the sky darkened. Electricity crackled through the clouds, and the waters below circled with unnatural energy. Vegeta's voice boomed over the island as he started to charge an attack. "Royal..." he began, and a deep crimson royal insignia formed around his hands, glowing with power.

As the energy in his hands swelled, the winds howled, and the air crackled with tension. Vegeta's eyes locked onto Cell, his mouth curling into a feral grin. "Royal Final Flash!" he roared, and with a powerful thrust, he unleashed the attack.

A massive, golden beam shot toward Cell, the royal insignia wrapping around it, amplifying its destructive force. Cell's mocking expression shifted into one of sudden realization. "Oh, no!" he cried, just before the attack struck him head-on.

The explosion shook the island, sending shockwaves rippling through the air. When the smoke cleared, Cell's left side had been obliterated, his body torn apart by Vegeta's devastating blast.

Mori, watching from his spot, smirked. "Oh dang, that must hurt," he remarked, clearly impressed by Vegeta's technique. "That attack was pretty cool."

Vegeta landed, breathing heavily but grinning triumphantly. He had done it. He had finally put Cell in his place. But his victory was short-lived. Before he could bask in his glory, Cell's body twitched—and then began to regenerate. Within moments, his left side was fully restored, as if nothing had happened.

Cell vanished, reappearing behind Vegeta, and with a single swift blow to the back of the head, knocked the Saiyan prince unconscious.

Mori sighed and shook his head. "Well, that didn't last long," he muttered. He flew down to where Vegeta lay crumpled at Cell's feet.

Cell turned to Mori, his expression cocky once more. "I must say, that was almost impressive. But you're all just delaying the inevitable."

Mori crouched beside Vegeta's unconscious body, then looked up at Cell. "Today, you aren't catching any Saiyan bodies," he said firmly. With one swift motion, he scooped Vegeta up and tossed him over to where Trunks, Piccolo, and the others stood watching the battle from a distance. "Take him and leave. Now."

The group hesitated, unsure whether to follow Mori's command. But Mori's tone grew cold, and with a slight flex of his energy, the ground trembled beneath them. His glare bore into them, leaving no room for argument.

Piccolo, ever the voice of reason, nodded. "Let's go. We're no use here." He motioned for the others to follow, and reluctantly, they grabbed Vegeta and took off, retreating to the Lookout.

As the group disappeared into the sky, Mori turned his full attention back to Cell. The bio-android smirked, watching them leave. "You really sent them away so they don't witness your death, didn't you?" he mocked.

Mori chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Me? Die? To you? Never."

Cell's smirk widened. "How about this, then, 'Mori'? Let's postpone this fight until tomorrow. I want to get adjusted to this new power of mine."

Mori thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Fine by me." Without another word, he walked over to a nearby rock, pulled out a capsule, and popped it open. A small container of food appeared, and Mori sat down to eat, completely unfazed by the tense situation.

Cell, watching this, chuckled to himself before flying off into the distance, leaving Mori to his meal.

---

Back on the Lookout, Piccolo, Trunks, and the others were trying to make sense of what had just happened. Krillin paced back and forth nervously, while Trunks kept glancing down at his unconscious father. Finally, Piccolo broke the silence. "Mori must want Cell to get adjusted to his new power..."

The others gasped in frustration. "What? That could be a disaster!" Krillin exclaimed.

Vegeta stirred, finally regaining consciousness. After Trunks handed him a Senzu Bean, he sat up, rubbing his head. "What happened?" Vegeta muttered.

Krillin explained everything: how Mori had sent them away, how Cell and Mori would fight the next day, and how the situation was growing more dangerous by the minute.

Vegeta listened silently, his expression unreadable. When Krillin finished, Vegeta glanced toward the horizon, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Tch," he muttered, "I hope you all aren't underestimating Mori..."

The group fell silent at his words.

"He may be human, but he... he trained me," Vegeta continued, his tone more serious than usual. "He helped me achieve a new state. But even that wasn't enough against Cell. I felt his power when I arrived. I tried to ignore it, but it was overwhelming. That power is undeniable."

The others exchanged shocked glances, realizing just how high the stakes had become. Mori, a human, held power that even Vegeta couldn't fully grasp.

---

Down on the island, Mori was lounging on his rock, watching the horizon as Cell continued shadowboxing a few meters away, adjusting to his new power. Mori paid him little attention, the scene growing duller by the minute. Eventually, Mori yawned, stretched out on the rock, and decided to take a nap, knowing the real battle would come soon enough.

The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the island. As the sky darkened, the tension between the two fighters hung in the air, unspoken but palpable. The next day would bring the true test.

Mori slept peacefully, while Cell's silhouette danced in the distance, preparing for what was to come.

---

The next day was on the horizon.