NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: Calm
Mori waited backstage for the start of the elimination rounds, feeling the buzz of excitement coursing through the arena. After a while, he decided to head over to Goku, who was with his group of friends.
"Hey, Goku!" Mori called out as he approached.
Goku turned, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Mori! It's been a long time! What've you been up to?"
The two boys exchanged stories, catching up on the past three years. Goku shared his adventures, like training under Korin, encountering the Red Ribbon Army, and meeting all kinds of powerful foes. Mori listened intently, awestruck by Goku's tales. "That's so cool, Goku! You really know how to find trouble, don't you?" Mori laughed.
The announcer's voice boomed across the grounds, cutting their conversation short: "Alright, everyone! The elimination rounds are about to begin!" The boys said their goodbyes, and a time skip followed, skipping over the earlier rounds until the blonde announcer revealed the final eight: Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, Goku, Jackie Chun, Mori, Krillin, and Man-Wolf.
As the matchups unfolded, Mori found himself pitted against Chiaotzu. The white-faced martial artist walked up onto the stage, his expression as blank as ever. Mori, in contrast, seemed relaxed, his hands resting behind his head as he strolled onto the platform.
The announcer called for the match to begin, and Chiaotzu launched into action, thrusting his hand forward as he fired a series of quick Dodonpa blasts toward Mori. Mori dodged each one with ease, his body flowing like water as he sidestepped and weaved between the energy blasts.
"You'll have to do better than that," Mori teased with a confident grin. He blurred forward, appearing right in front of Chiaotzu with a swift jab that the smaller fighter just barely evaded.
Chiaotzu jumped back, concentrating as he attempted to paralyze Mori with his telekinesis. Mori's body froze momentarily, and Chiaotzu took advantage of the moment, dashing in with a flying kick aimed at Mori's chest. But just as Chiaotzu's foot was about to connect, Mori's body shimmered, and with a burst of energy, he broke free from the telekinetic hold, deflecting Chiaotzu's kick away with a casual backhand.
"I was just playing along," Mori said, his tone slightly mocking. He vanished from Chiaotzu's sight, reappearing behind him and delivering a light chop to the back of his neck. Chiaotzu crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Mori raised his fist in victory, grinning at the audience. "That was a nice warm-up," he thought to himself.
With Mori's victory, the tournament progressed. Tien faced Jackie Chun, their battle fierce and intense, but ending with Tien standing victorious after using his sheer skill and youthful energy to outlast the older fighter. Now, it was time for the rematch between Goku and Mori.
The two boys stepped onto the platform, each brimming with anticipation. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world faded away, leaving only the two of them and the thrill of battle.
The announcer's voice rang out: "Begin!"
Without hesitation, Mori and Goku leapt into action, their movements so quick that the audience could barely follow them. Goku launched a flurry of punches, but Mori blocked and countered with a roundhouse kick that forced Goku to duck. They exchanged blow after blow, neither one able to land a solid hit, but both pushing each other to their limits. The ground cracked under their feet as they exchanged powerful strikes.
Mori launched himself upward with a flying knee, but Goku sidestepped and retaliated with a powerful elbow aimed at Mori's ribs. Mori twisted midair, catching Goku's arm and using the momentum to throw Goku across the stage. Goku landed on his feet, his aura flaring as he dashed forward, unleashing a rapid combination of punches and kicks.
"Not bad, Goku!" Mori exclaimed, parrying each blow while still matching Goku's speed. "But you'll have to step it up!"
With a surge of energy, Mori's aura flared bright blue as he unleashed a barrage of ki blasts. Goku deftly dodged each one, closing the distance and catching Mori with a powerful uppercut. The force of the blow sent Mori skidding back to the edge of the ring, nearly knocking him out. But Mori dug his feet in, his grin widening.
"That's more like it," Mori said, wiping some dirt from his face. "Now it's my turn!"
Mori charged forward with incredible speed, his fist glowing with ki. Goku met him head-on, and their punches collided in the center of the ring, creating a shockwave that blew back the spectators' hair. Mori's eyes gleamed with excitement as he and Goku continued to clash, their movements becoming faster and more ferocious.
The battle wore on for nearly 40 minutes, the two fighters pushing each other to the brink of exhaustion. Although Mori was slightly ahead in power and speed, Goku's battle experience and natural tenacity gave him an edge. Mori sensed Goku's growing focus as he remembered how Tien had hurt Yamcha earlier in the tournament, fueling Goku's desire to win and face Tien in the finals.
Realizing this, Mori made a decision. He gradually began to ease off, subtly giving Goku an opening to exploit. Goku took it, delivering a spinning kick to Mori's shoulder that sent him tumbling out of bounds.
Goku was declared the winner, and the crowd erupted into applause, cheering for both boys' incredible display of martial arts. Mori dusted himself off and walked over to Goku, extending a hand with a smile. "Good match, Goku," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "You've really gotten stronger."
Goku shook his hand, grinning ear to ear. "Thanks, Mori! You were amazing too. I had to give it my all."
As the boys left the stage, Mori clapped Goku on the back. "I'll be in the stands cheering you on. Make sure to win this thing, alright?" he said. Goku, thinking for a moment about a muffin he had seen earlier, gave Mori a thumbs-up and nodded.
Mori wandered toward the crowd to watch the final match. He noticed Master Roshi and began to approach him. However, he paused as the next fight was announced: Goku vs. Tien Shinhan. Mori turned his attention to the stage, eager to see how the match would unfold.
The fight began, and it was every bit as intense as expected. Goku and Tien clashed with a flurry of punches and kicks, neither one giving an inch. The arena shook with the force of their attacks, and even Mori found himself in awe of their strength.
The battle continued, and Goku managed to outlast Tien in the end, securing his victory. As the crowd cheered, Mori walked over to Goku, who was catching his breath after the grueling match.
"You did it, Goku! I knew you could," Mori said, his voice full of admiration and excitement.
Goku grinned at Mori, sweat dripping down his face. "Thanks, Mori. That was the toughest fight I've ever had."
Mori clapped a hand on Goku's shoulder. "Come on, let's go celebrate. You've earned it."
With the tournament concluded, the fighters made their way off the stage, ready to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Mori walked alongside Goku, feeling a burning resolve grow inside him. The battles he had witnessed were nothing short of incredible, but now, more than ever, he felt the urge to surpass his limits.