NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46: Return!
The next chapter opens in the cold void of space, where Babidi and Dabura continue their dark task. Two months have passed since they began collecting the residual Starscourge Ki left behind from Mori and Cell's final, cataclysmic clash. What was initially thought to take a full year has been drastically accelerated. Babidi's face twists into a manic grin, the condensed orb of Ki pulsating with power in his hands. The once dull energy now glows with intensity, far exceeding his expectations.
"Yes! Finally, the energy is complete!" Babidi cackles with an almost maniacal glee, his eyes wide with excitement. "At this rate, we don't need to wait a whole year after all! We've gathered more than enough power to proceed ahead of schedule."
Dabura, standing beside him with his arms crossed and an unreadable expression, merely nods. "What now, Master Babidi?"
"We prepare for Earth," Babidi replies sharply. "But first, we'll gather a few more pawns. Earth will be crawling with resistance once we arrive, and we'll need a stronger force to awaken Buu safely." His voice dips with sadistic glee. "The revival of Majin Buu will be the end of those fools."
Just as Babidi and Dabura begin to depart, something shifts in the background, a distortion in the space where they had been siphoning the energy. Neither of them notices, too preoccupied with their newfound power. But as they disappear into the stars, a small, indistinct figure begins to form out of the residual Ki. It starts as a shapeless entity, swirling and dark, but rapidly takes on a physical form. The figure grows taller, solidifying into a humanoid shape reminiscent of Perfect Cell, though sleeker and more menacing. Its features sharpen, eyes glowing with a cold, calculating light.
The newly-formed creature looks around, taking in the stars, the distant planets, and the arcs of energy connecting them. Slowly, memories begin to flood its consciousness—memories of a fierce battle between two titanic forces, Mori and Cell, clashing in a fight to the death. The final explosion that annihilated them both now lingers in the creature's mind, vivid and undeniable.
"Cell..." the figure murmurs, his voice deep and echoing in the silence of space. "That was my name?"
For a moment, he stands still, pondering the weight of this realization. But then, as if rejecting the past, the figure clenches his fist, and a pulse of energy radiates from his body, shaking the nearby stars.
"No more. That name means nothing now." His eyes narrow with a newfound resolve. "I am no longer Cell. My name will be... Elec."
With that declaration, Elec's aura flares violently, shaking the planet beneath him. The energy courses through his veins, powerful and chaotic, signaling his birth as a new entity. With a smirk, he flexes his muscles and prepares to test his newfound abilities.
---
Back on Earth, the scene shifts to a much more peaceful setting. The bright sun beams down on Goku's home, where Mori and Goten are sparring in the front yard. The sounds of their playful fighting fill the air, Goten giggling with excitement as Mori throws slow, gentle punches, giving the boy a chance to practice his dodging.
"Uncle Mori! You're going easy on me!" Goten laughs, dodging another punch.
"Am I? Or are you just getting stronger?" Mori teases, grinning as he continues the light spar.
But suddenly, something changes. Mori's expression shifts from playful to serious in an instant, his body freezing mid-motion. A wave of confusion washes over him as a sharp, searing pain shoots through his head. His muscles tense, and without warning, he collapses to the ground, clutching his skull in agony.
"Aaaaagh!" Mori screams, his body shaking violently as the pain intensifies.
"Uncle Mori!" Goten cries out, his excitement instantly turning into panic. He rushes to Mori's side, trying to shake him out of his pain-induced stupor, but Mori's eyes are squeezed shut, his face contorted in anguish. His screams echo through the yard, sending a wave of fear through Goten.
"What's happening?!" Goten yells, tears welling up in his eyes. He frantically looks around, unsure of what to do. Realizing he needs help, Goten turns and sprints toward the house. "Dad! Gohan! Mom! Something's wrong with Uncle Mori!"
Goku, who had been lounging inside with Gohan and Chi-Chi, hears the distress in his son's voice. Without hesitation, he leaps to his feet and dashes outside, followed closely by Gohan and Chi-Chi. When they arrive in the yard, they find Mori writhing on the ground, drenched in sweat and clutching his head as if something is tearing through his mind.
"What's wrong with him?" Gohan asks, his voice filled with concern as he kneels beside Mori.
Goku quickly assesses the situation, his eyes narrowing in determination. He steps forward and places a hand on Mori's forehead, feeling the tension radiating from his brother. Without hesitation, Goku delivers a quick, precise strike to Mori's neck, knocking him unconscious to stop his suffering.
As Mori falls into unconsciousness, the tension in his body dissipates, and his breathing steadies. Goku gently picks him up, cradling his brother in his arms.
"Let's get him inside," Goku says quietly, his voice heavy with concern. "We'll figure this out when he wakes up."
---
An hour and a half later, Mori lies in a guest room, his breathing deep and steady, though his body still shows signs of the intense ordeal. In the kitchen, Goku and Gohan sit at the table, their expressions serious as they discuss the possible causes of Mori's sudden episode.
"Could it have been an attack?" Gohan suggests, leaning forward with a frown. "Someone targeting his Ki remotely?"
Goku shakes his head slowly. "I don't know. But something definitely happened to him out there, and it wasn't just physical."
"It's strange," Gohan continues, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Mori's always been in control of his power. Whatever caused this... it had to have been something extreme."
They both fall into a moment of silence, trying to piece together what could have happened. Thirty minutes later, Mori stirs in the guest room, his eyelids fluttering as he slowly regains consciousness. He sits up, rubbing his temples as the throbbing pain in his head finally subsides.
Hearing movement from the room, Goku and Gohan quickly enter, both of them relieved to see Mori awake.
"You okay?" Goku asks, walking over to sit beside the bed.
Mori takes a deep breath before nodding. "Yeah... I think so. But... that was intense."
"What happened?" Gohan asks, his voice laced with concern. "You were fine one second, and then you were screaming like something was attacking you."
Mori rubs the back of his neck, still trying to process the experience. "It's... hard to explain. My Ki... it feels like it was taken. But not the Ki in my body—it's the Ki I left scattered across the stars and planets after my battle with Cell."
Both Goku and Gohan blink in confusion.
"You mean... the remnants of your power that are still out there?" Gohan asks.
"Exactly," Mori nods. "It was like someone... accessed those remnants and pulled them back. But that wasn't the worst part. It wasn't just the Ki... it was my memory. Someone—or something—pulled the memory of that battle from me, and that's what caused the pain."
Goku and Gohan exchange worried glances, realizing the gravity of the situation. Whoever—or whatever—had accessed Mori's scattered Ki had the ability to not only steal his power but also his memories.
"We need to find out who's behind this," Goku says, his tone firm. "If someone's messing with your Ki, it could mean trouble for all of us."
Mori nods, though the exhaustion from the ordeal is still evident on his face. "I agree... but right now, I need to rest. Whatever that was... it drained me more than I expected."
Goku places a reassuring hand on Mori's shoulder. "Take it easy, bro. We'll figure this out when you're feeling better."
Mori smiles faintly, grateful for the support. He stands up and stretches, preparing to head back to his room, but before he leaves, he stops in front of Goten, who has been watching from the doorway with wide, worried eyes.
Mori ruffles the boy's hair, giving him a warm smile. "Don't worry, kid. Our training continues tomorrow. You're not getting out of it that easily."
Goten grins, relieved to see his uncle back to his old self. With that, Mori heads to the guest room to rest, his mind already racing with thoughts of the mysterious force that had reached across the stars to steal his Ki.