NOVEL NEXT Chapter 60: Lisa
The next chapter begins with the tranquil night sky stretching across a quiet town. The stars shimmer like distant beacons, but atop John and Jake's modest home, an eerie scene is unfolding. Mori, seemingly asleep on the roof, tosses and turns, sweat pouring down his face as if he were locked in an intense battle. His brow furrows in torment, his lips murmuring fractured words. "N-no... why... I- I don't..." Each word is strained, laced with unimaginable pain and fear, as if his subconscious is fighting an unseen horror.
A purple aura, faint at first, begins to radiate from Mori's body—his Time-Skip ability triggering on its own. The very fabric of space around him shudders, rippling as though reality itself is bending. His body flickers in and out, phasing between moments of time, almost as if struggling to anchor itself in the present. The ground beneath him vibrates with power, and the roof creaks, buckling under the strain of the intense energy.
Suddenly, without warning, Mori's form disappears entirely, transported hundreds of miles away in a blink. He reappears in the vast, barren wilderness of the Arctic, his Time-Skip ability scattering his location unpredictably as though his power is spiraling out of control. The surrounding snow begins to melt from the sheer heat of his energy, the once serene landscape now disrupted by the tremors rippling outward from him. The ground itself cracks as Mori's Dovahkiin energy erupts, amplifying his Time-Skip's instability. Unleashing draconic power beyond comprehension, the disturbance causes fissures in the frozen tundra, splitting glaciers, shaking the Earth's core, and sending shockwaves reverberating across continents.
The scene cuts to Gotham City, its dark alleys and towering skyscrapers bathed in moonlight. Batman is engaged in a routine patrol, silently taking down a group of criminals. As he wraps up the last thug, his wrist communicator beeps. A red alert flashes on the screen—a planetary disturbance originating from the Arctic Circle, the likes of which could destabilize the entire region. A grim expression settles on his face as he taps into the League's emergency network.
"Clark, something's happening in the Arctic," Batman says, his voice tense. "Seismic activity off the charts, and it's not natural. I'm sending you the data now."
From the other side, Superman's calm yet concerned voice replies, "I'm already on my way, Bruce. Whatever this is, it's powerful. I'll check it out."
Batman doesn't waste time. He finishes securing the criminals, then heads straight to the Batjet. As he takes off, he sends out a priority alert to the Justice League, calling the team into action. He knows they'll need all hands on deck for this.
POV switches to Superman, who's already streaking across the night sky at superhuman speed, his cape flapping against the winds. As he nears the Arctic, his enhanced senses quickly locate the epicenter of the chaos. His keen eyes zoom in, and there, standing in the middle of the devastation, is Mori. The entire landscape is shaking under the weight of his unleashed power, snow and ice cracking and falling into newly formed crevasses. Mori's unconscious body is glowing with uncontrollable energy, his face twisted in anguish as his sleep is plagued by unseen nightmares.
Superman floats above, scanning Mori with his X-ray vision. "It's Mori," he reports through his communicator. "He's asleep, but his energy is fluctuating wildly. It looks like he's trapped in a nightmare, and the energy is reacting to his emotions."
On the other end, Batman's voice is urgent. "Don't get too close, Clark. His power could lash out."
"I'm not leaving him like this," Superman retorts, diving closer despite Batman's warning. He hovers above Mori, reaching out with his hand, but before he can even touch him, a wave of energy explodes from Mori's body, sending Superman crashing backward into the ice with the force of a freight train.
Superman groans as he pulls himself out of the crater, blood trickling from his lip. "That… was unexpected," he mutters, shaking off the hit. He activates his communicator again. "I couldn't even get within ten feet. This is worse than I thought. I'll wait for backup."
Meanwhile, Batman, in his Batjet, grits his teeth. "I'm on my way. Get a reading on his words. It might tell us what's causing this."
Superman, now standing at a safe distance, listens carefully. Mori's voice is weak but discernible. Between ragged breaths, he mutters, "Lisa... don't... please... live... can't..." Superman's eyes widen in concern.
"Lisa?" Superman repeats. "I think he's dreaming about someone named Lisa. Maybe a loved one?"
By the time Superman regains his full strength, the rest of the League arrives. Wonder Woman touches down first, her eyes narrowing as she assesses the situation. Green Lantern hovers above, forming constructs to contain the shockwaves. Martian Manhunter arrives soon after, floating silently alongside Superman. Flash speeds in last, vibrating as he stands to avoid the tremors.
"Can we get close?" Wonder Woman asks.
Superman shakes his head. "No. He's emitting energy bursts that knocked me back. He's talking in his sleep, though. I think it's some kind of nightmare."
Batman arrives moments later, descending from his Batjet. His sharp mind already processing the situation, he turns to Green Lantern. "Try containing him in a construct. That should hold his energy for now."
Nodding, Green Lantern creates a massive, glowing green bubble around Mori, its surface shimmering as it works to contain his power. The others hold their breath, waiting for the construct to stabilize. But within seconds, the energy inside spikes, shattering the construct into fragments of light, leaving the League stunned.
POV switches to inside Mori's mind. Here, we see a different world—one filled with towering mountains and a blood-red sky. Mori stands on a grand stone balcony, overlooking a world that seems on the edge of collapse. Beside him stands Lisa, her long, flowing dress swaying in the wind. She gazes out at the horizon, her face calm but resigned, as if she knows something Mori does not.
Mori's face is a mask of grief. "Lisa, why do you have to go?" His voice trembles with emotion. "There's got to be a way to save you, to stop them. I can fight them all. I can protect you."
Tears roll down Mori's face, unrestrained, as he grips the railing of the balcony. Lisa, in contrast, remains composed. She turns to him, gently wiping away his tears with a soft hand.
"The Dominion will never stop hunting me, Mori," Lisa says, her voice tender but filled with sorrow. "As long as I live, they will send wave after wave of soldiers. They want me dead, and they won't stop until I am."
Mori's voice breaks. "Then let me fight for you. I can't lose you—not you. Not after everything…"
Lisa sighs, her expression softening. "Let's spend tonight together," she says, leading him back inside their chambers. They lie down, wrapped in each other's arms, but the peace in Mori's mind is temporary.
Back in the real world, the League watches as the energy surrounding Mori suddenly dissipates. Batman turns to the others. "We need to get him to the Watchtower. Superman, Green Lantern, can you two transport him?"
Working together, Superman and Green Lantern lift Mori's unconscious body, careful not to trigger another energy surge. They bring him to the Watchtower, where Batman has already prepped a power-dampening room.
In his mind, however, Mori's dream has shifted again. He awakens alone, Lisa no longer at his side. Panic surges through him as he senses her energy moving away from him. He rushes through the dreamscape, desperate to find her. When he reaches her, he finds her locked in battle with soldiers of the Dominion, fighting valiantly but clearly outnumbered. The two fight side by side, but exhaustion begins to take its toll.
Lisa, realizing the fight is lost, rubs her stomach softly and whispers, "I'm sorry, Mori... but Leo and I won't make it to the end."
Before Mori can react, she charges into the fray, her energy fading fast. Mori screams her name, trying to reach her, but the soldiers hold him back. As her energy vanishes, Mori snaps, unleashing a storm of violence. He tears through the soldiers with blinding speed, his attacks fueled by fury and grief, but his rage comes too late. He collapses beside Lisa's lifeless body, cradling her in his arms, his heart breaking.
The real world trembles once more. Inside the Watchtower, the dampening room shakes as Mori's power spikes. His eyes snap open, filled with grief and rage.