Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

The next chapter begins with the Justice League receiving a sudden alert from the Watchtower's advanced sensors. Something is approaching, fast. They have no idea what it is, but the energy readings are off the charts. Batman, as always, is the first to react, immediately pulling up the incoming threat on the large monitor in the Watchtower's central command room.

"We need to send out a team. Superman, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern—you three are the only ones who can operate in space without support. Get out there, find out what's coming," Batman commands, his voice low but urgent.

Superman, standing tall with that familiar confidence, nods. "We're on it."

Mori, leaning casually against the far wall, watches as the League members prepare. He doesn't say anything at first, merely observing how they work together, quickly falling into their roles. A small grin plays across his face. It's fascinating to him how Earth's heroes always seem to have their own way of handling things, even in the face of the unknown.

Batman brings up the security feed on the massive screen. The image flickers as the three heroes exit the Watchtower, floating in space as a distant figure becomes visible, rapidly moving toward them. Whoever it is, they're clearly in bad shape, limping through space with a trail of debris following them. The figure is beaten, battered—barely alive. 

On the screen, Superman approaches the figure cautiously. "Hold on, we're here to help. What happened?" he says, his voice calm and steady.

The figure, now clearly an alien, collapses as Superman draws near. The alien's body is riddled with injuries, blood seeping from deep wounds, and their breaths are shallow, labored. With a strained gasp, the alien looks up, blood trailing from their mouth as they rasp, "Coming… back… DarkS—"

And with that, they die.

In the Watchtower, the silence is thick. Mori, still leaning back, whistles softly. "Well, that's dark... Pun intended." He chuckles, amused by his own joke. But his humor is ill-received.

Wonder Woman, standing nearby, turns on her heel, fury flashing in her eyes. "How can you laugh at a time like this? Someone just died, and you make a joke about it?"

Flash, standing beside her, adds, "Yeah, dude, that's seriously messed up. Have a little respect."

Mori's grin fades, and he straightens up, his expression hardening. "You'll learn soon enough," he says coolly. "In this universe, you have to find light in every situation, no matter how grim. I didn't know that person. Why should I feel some kind of guilt or sadness? It's a tragedy, sure, but am I supposed to go on some revenge spree for someone I've never even met?"

Wonder Woman and Flash both take a step toward Mori, their anger simmering just beneath the surface. The tension in the room builds, but before things escalate further, Batman steps in.

"That's enough," Batman says, his voice carrying the weight of authority. Wonder Woman and Flash stop, though they continue to glare at Mori. The tension doesn't leave, but the immediate threat of confrontation is diffused.

Mori smirks and turns to Batman. "Now, that's funny. How is it that the *weakest* person in the room has the most authority? Ay, Bats, I like you. You've got guts. But I've gotta wonder, what gives you the right to lead? How can someone with no powers command gods and warriors like them?"

He walks toward Batman, a subtle flare of energy emanating from him. Mori's Ki spreads out, unnoticed by anyone else in the room, as he covertly inspects Batman, intrigued by this powerless man who stands toe-to-toe with beings far stronger than himself. 

Before anything more can happen, the other heroes return. Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Green Lantern re-enter the room, carrying the lifeless body of the alien.

As they lay the body down, the League gathers around, discussing what the alien might have been trying to say before they died. The room is thick with tension and unease. It's Batman who finally speaks, his voice steady but grim.

"They were trying to say 'Darkseid.' Darkseid's coming back."

The air in the room shifts immediately. The mention of Darkseid is enough to send a ripple of dread through the Justice League. Everyone goes quiet, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Mori raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Darkseid, huh? Who's that?"

Superman, his jaw tight with worry, explains, "Darkseid is the ruler of Apokolips, a god of tyranny. He's one of the most dangerous beings in the universe. His ultimate goal is to enslave all living things to his will using something called the Anti-Life Equation."

 An ominous silence in the Watchtower as the Justice League processes the alien's death and the impending threat of Darkseid's return. The tension is palpable, like the calm before a storm. Batman, standing rigidly with his arms crossed, looks over the alien's lifeless body. The room is bathed in dim light, shadows playing off the solemn faces of the League members. 

"We need to prepare," Batman says, breaking the silence. His voice is measured, deliberate, but there's a noticeable edge of concern in it. "We don't have much time. If Darkseid is returning, we have to assume the worst."

Superman nods grimly. "Last time, we barely managed to push him back. If he's coming with more power this time... we'll need all the help we can get." 

Green Lantern glances over at Martian Manhunter. "Do we even know where he'll strike first?"

"Not yet," Martian Manhunter responds, his deep, calm voice resonating through the room. "But we know his methods. Darkseid seeks absolute control—he'll likely start by eliminating any resistance in the universe before focusing his attention on Earth. We may have time, but we need to be ready for an invasion at any moment."

Mori, still lounging against the far wall, observes the exchange with a bemused expression. His eyes flicker with interest, but he remains silent, letting the League talk. As the conversation unfolds, he tilts his head slightly, raising an eyebrow at the weight of their words. Darkseid—the name intrigued him. But the Justice League's worry about this figure? It was almost... amusing.

Batman turns his attention to the monitor again, pulling up every bit of data they have on Darkseid. Images of Apokolips flash across the screen—an industrial wasteland, burning with fire and choked with smoke. The League members silently regard the imagery, knowing that their world may soon face the same fate.

"Darkseid's influence is spreading faster than before," Batman says, gesturing to a series of planets on the monitor that have already fallen to Darkseid's forces. "We need to establish an early warning system across our galaxy. Lantern, can the Corps assist with this?"

Green Lantern nods. "I'll reach out to the Guardians and deploy whatever we can. We'll put a grid around Earth and key outposts to give us time to react if Darkseid gets too close."

As they strategize, Wonder Woman's eyes keep drifting back to the alien's body, her brow furrowed with a mixture of sadness and determination. She finally breaks her silence.

"This invasion—when it happens—it will be different than anything we've faced before. Darkseid's power isn't just physical. His presence is a force of destruction, one that breaks the spirit of anyone who stands in his way. We need to be more than ready. We need to be united."

Flash, standing beside her, fidgets nervously. "Last time, we were lucky. He could've wiped the floor with us. If he's gotten stronger, what are the odds we stand a chance this time?"

Superman turns to face the group, his jaw set with unwavering resolve. "We've all gotten stronger too. And this time, we're ready. We won't let Darkseid take our home."

It's then that Mori steps forward, breaking his silence with a lazy grin. "Alright, I've heard enough of the doom and gloom," he says, drawing the attention of the entire room. "Sounds like this Darkseid guy is tough, but you're making it sound like he's invincible. So what if he's got an army or some big plan to take over the universe? I've fought people who could blow up planets just by sneezing. What's so scary about this guy?"

The League members look at him, their faces a mixture of disbelief and frustration. Wonder Woman, still irritated by his earlier flippancy, steps toward him, her eyes narrowing.

"You talk lightly about this threat because you don't understand it," she says, her voice steady but intense. "Darkseid isn't just another villain. He's a tyrant, a god who will stop at nothing to enslave everything. You think this is just a game?"

Mori shrugs, unfazed by her glare. "I didn't say it's a game, princess. I'm just saying I'm not worried." His tone is relaxed, almost careless, but there's a dangerous edge beneath it. "If this guy's as bad as you say, then he'll show up eventually. When he does, I'll see for myself. Until then, you guys keep planning. I'll jump in when things get interesting."

Wonder Woman clenches her fists, clearly struggling to contain her frustration. Flash, standing next to her, scratches his head, his unease growing. "Dude, we get it—you're strong. But you can't just dismiss Darkseid like he's some low-tier villain."

Mori raises an eyebrow and crosses his arms. "Sure, he's got an army, a scary name, and some 'Anti-Life Equation' or whatever, but let me ask you this—can he destroy a solar system by himself?"

Superman, who has been watching Mori carefully, steps forward. "No. At least, not that we've seen. But his strength doesn't lie in brute force alone. He commands legions, controls minds, and has technology that we've only scratched the surface of. Darkseid doesn't need to blow up solar systems—he'll make them bow to him."

Mori listens, nodding slowly before a small, almost mocking grin creeps across his face. "Interesting. So he's a guy who likes control, huh? Power over people instead of just smashing them into the ground. Well, that makes him different from some of the folks I've fought. Still, I think you're underestimating yourselves. You've all fought him before, and you're still here."

Cyborg speaks up, his voice filled with caution. "Barely. And if he's stronger now, we might not be so lucky this time. Especially if he's coming for something specific, like the Anti-Life Equation."

"Anti-Life Equation?" Mori's interest is piqued. "That sounds… fun. What's that?"

"It's not fun," Batman says, cutting in. "The Anti-Life Equation is the ultimate weapon. It gives Darkseid control over all sentient life. With it, he can dominate the minds and wills of every living thing in the universe. There's no fighting back against it."

Mori's eyes gleam with curiosity. "Well now, that's something worth sticking around for. Sounds like Darkseid's got some interesting tricks up his sleeve."

The League stares at him in disbelief. How could someone be so casual about such a terrifying threat? But Mori is unfazed, his interest in Darkseid growing with every piece of information they provide.

Superman, however, narrows his gaze at Mori. "You're powerful, Mori, but don't underestimate Darkseid. He's not just another fight for you to enjoy."

Mori shrugs, "Maybe. But like I said, if this Darkseid guy comes for Earth, I'll be here. ." He smirks.

The room falls into silence for a moment before Mori stretches and yawns, his interest in the conversation waning. "Well, I'm bored now. You guys keep preparing for the apocalypse. I'm heading back to Earth."

Without another word, Mori disappears, teleporting out of the Watchtower and leaving the League to stare after him in exasperation.

---

Mori reappears back on Earth, directly in front of the same father and son who had taken care of him when he first crash-landed in this world. The two humans are in the middle of their daily chores when Mori suddenly materializes in front of them, causing them to jump in surprise.

"Y-you're back!" the father stammers, his eyes wide. "How did you—"

Mori waves off their shock with a lazy grin. "Yeah, yeah, I can teleport. No big deal. Listen, Earth might be in a bit of trouble soon. This guy named Darkseid is planning something. Probably some big invasion. So I'm sticking around for a while to keep an eye on things."

The father and son exchange nervous glances. "I-invasion? What do you mean? Are we in danger?"

Mori casually floats into the air and lands on their roof, sitting cross-legged as he watches the horizon. "Maybe. Probably. But don't worry, I've got it covered. Just go about your day like normal. I'll be up here, watching over you."

The father and son hesitate but eventually nod, unsure of how to respond to the powerful being now casually sitting on their rooftop. They retreat back inside their house, casting nervous glances up at Mori, who seems completely unconcerned about the looming threat.

As the sun begins to set, Mori looks up at the stars with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Darkseid, huh?" he mutters to himself. "Let's see what you've got."