The bright sun hung high over the Lookout as Goku, Mori, Gohan, and Mr. Popo stood waiting for Vegeta and Trunks to emerge from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Nearly a full day had passed—22, almost 23 hours—and the tension was starting to build. They all knew that whatever was going on below them was getting worse. Goku paced impatiently, glancing at the chamber's large door every few moments, while Gohan sat beside Mr. Popo, trying to stay calm.
Mori, arms folded, stood silently, his focus split between the chamber and the rising power levels far below the Earth's surface. He could feel it, as could Goku and Gohan—Piccolo's energy was spiking. Whatever Piccolo was up to, it wasn't training. He was fighting the androids.
Suddenly, Gohan sprang to his feet, his face determined. "Dad! Piccolo's in trouble, we need to go help him!"
Goku raised a hand, shaking his head. "Gohan, no. You'd only get in the way."
Mori nodded in agreement. "Goku's right. You and your father are too weak to do anything against those androids right now. If you go out there, you'll just get hurt."
Gohan looked down, fists clenched in frustration, but he understood. He wasn't strong enough, not yet. "So... what do we do?" he asked quietly.
Mori rested a hand on Gohan's shoulder, his voice calm but firm. "Just wait for Vegeta and Trunks to finish in the chamber. When they come out, they'll be far stronger than the androids and possibly even Cell."
Gohan bit his lip, nodding reluctantly. He hated waiting, but there wasn't much else he could do. After a few moments of silence, he glanced up at Mori and asked, "Mr. Mori, if Dad and I are going into the chamber next, who are you going in with?"
Mori froze for a second, as if the question caught him off guard. He looked at Gohan, a smirk creeping onto his face. Goku, noticing Mori's reaction, rubbed his chin and asked, "Yeah, Mori. What's your plan?"
Mori chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Me? Hahaha, I don't need that chamber. I'm far stronger than all of you right now."
Goku raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, right. I never told you, did I?" Mori said, scratching his head. "I used the Dragon Balls to wish for an enhanced version of the Saiyan Zenkai when I was 17, after our little fight. Every time I push myself to my limits and recover, I get way stronger."
Goku's eyes widened in realization, and he nodded. "That explains a lot." Before Goku could say more, Mori's expression shifted. He could sense a sharp increase in power far below them. It wasn't just Piccolo anymore. Cell's energy was rising rapidly, and it was clear the situation had escalated.
Mori frowned. "I'll be back," he told Goku and Gohan. "But before I leave, Goku, either before you enter the chamber or after, head to Namek. Find a Namekian named Dende and bring him here. We'll need new Dragon Balls."
Goku nodded, taking the advice seriously. "Got it."
Without another word, Mori stepped to the edge of the Lookout and leapt off, flying at high speed toward the battlefield. As he neared the location, the sensation of Cell's energy became overwhelming. Piccolo was in serious danger.
Mori arrived just in time to see Cell raise his arm, ready to deliver a fatal blow to Piccolo. The Namekian screamed, "Hurry, 17! Run!"
Before Cell could strike, Mori called out from above, gathering everyone's attention. "Oh, so you're Cell," Mori said with a smirk. "You're quite ugly, aren't ya?"
Cell paused, his hand hovering above Piccolo's prone form. He looked up at Mori, confused by the appearance of this stranger. "Who are you? I've never seen you before, nor heard of you," Cell growled.
Mori descended to the island, landing in front of Cell with a casual air. "Oh? Then you must be from a different timeline. Makes sense if you don't know me."
Piccolo, struggling to rise, shouted at Mori. "Blow up the androids! If Cell absorbs them, he'll become even stronger!"
Mori's curiosity piqued. "Is that so? How much stronger?"
Cell smirked, his arrogance bleeding through. "Stronger than you can imagine. Even if all of you Z Fighters attacked me at once, I'd still come out on top."
Mori folded his arms, smiling. "Isn't that interesting." Without warning, Mori moved to Piccolo's side, grabbed him by the collar, and tossed him toward Tien, who had been watching from the sidelines. "You and Krillin should leave," Mori said to them. "This fight's about to get messy."
Piccolo, Tien, and Krillin exchanged glances, unsure of Mori's intentions. But before they could argue, Mori turned back to Cell, his demeanor shifting. "Alright, roach," he said, walking toward Cell. "Let's see this 'power' you're so proud of."
With a sudden burst of speed, Mori punched Cell in the face, sending the bio-android flying through the air. Cell recovered quickly, but the shock was evident on his face. "What... are you? How are you this strong? I just devoured a whole city—I should be leagues above anyone on this planet right now!"
Mori laughed, floating casually above Cell. "The name's Mori. And I'm the strongest. Now, are you done?"
Cell snarled, charging at Mori in a fit of rage. But Mori dodged effortlessly, delivering a powerful kick that sent Cell crashing back to the island. Mori appeared behind him before Cell could react, punching him in the head and sending him spiraling into the sky. As Cell ragdolled in the air, Mori yawned, clearly unimpressed. He flew up to meet Cell, grabbed him by the head, and flew downward at breakneck speed, driving Cell into the ground with a brutal piledriver.
Stepping back, Mori brushed his hands off. "I'm bored. You're weak. What happened to all that power you were talking about?"
Cell, enraged, pushed himself up from the ground, his body trembling with fury. "If I had absorbed the androids, you'd never be able to lay a finger on me!"
Mori's face went blank. "Okay." He walked over to Android 17, who was standing in shock, and grabbed him by the neck, dragging him toward Cell.
"Stop!" Tien and Piccolo shouted, but Mori ignored them. 17 struggled, kicking and punching, but it was useless. Mori tossed him at Cell. "Here. Absorb him."
Cell's eyes lit up with excitement, and without hesitation, he began the absorption process. Mori watched with mild disgust. "This better be worth it because that is disgusting."
As Cell completed his transformation into his second form, his power surged, shocking everyone on the island—except Mori, who looked unimpressed. Even Goku and Gohan, far away on the Lookout, could feel the dramatic rise in energy.
"Is that Cell?" Gohan asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Goku nodded, deep in thought. "That's him, alright. But Mori's still fighting."
Back on the island, Mori glanced at Cell's new form and sighed. "Honestly, I preferred the first one. You somehow got even uglier."
Cell smirked. "I am Semi-Perfect Cell. And you won't be able to lift a finger against me."
Mori laughed, but mid-laugh, he sensed two familiar energies approaching—Vegeta and Trunks. Realizing his time was up, Mori sighed in disappointment. "Well, that's a lie, but unfortunately, it's not my turn to fight anymore."
Cell blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Mori pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "The prince and his kid are coming. They'll handle you from here. I'm sitting this one out."
As if on cue, Vegeta and Trunks landed on the island, their power radiating off of them. Mori stepped back, crossing his arms as he watched Vegeta step forward to confront Cell. The fight between them unfolded as expected, with Vegeta's arrogance allowing Cell to reach his Perfect Form.
Mori, watching Cell's final transformation, chuckled. "Well, Bug, I'll give you this—this form is a lot better than the other two."
The fight was far from over.