Mori stood in midair, his masked form emanating power, watching as Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan ascended to Super Saiyan 2. Golden auras flared around the trio, their power radiating in waves that shook the air around them. Mori could feel the intensity, but he remained calm. He wanted to test their strength, not overpower them just yet.
As the trio prepared to charge at him, Mori quickly established a mental link with Piccolo, who was watching from a distance, observing the strange events unfold.
"Piccolo, it's Mori," he spoke telepathically. "Don't worry, I'm just testing them. Let everyone know I'm not here to harm them."
Piccolo's surprise was palpable through the link, but before he could respond, Mori broke the connection. He had more pressing matters to deal with.
The trio, now fully transformed, darted toward him, their energy crackling in the air like a thunderstorm. Mori smirked behind his mask and began flying backward, deftly avoiding their initial strikes. He released the barrier around Capsule Corp as he flew, leading Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan away from the party and into a nearby wasteland.
As they approached the desolate landscape, Mori landed gracefully on the cracked earth. The wind blew dust across the scene as he waited for his pursuers to join him. Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan landed a few feet away, their expressions serious and focused.
Mori's smirk widened beneath the mask. For a moment, he decided to have a little fun. He stretched his arms out, crossing them in front of his chest, adopting a familiar stance—the one used by Cell during the Cell Games. His arms were extended over one another, hands clawed, exuding a dark confidence.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing the posture. "Cell!?" he barked in shock.
Both Gohan and Goku turned their heads toward Vegeta, confusion on their faces. "Impossible," Gohan said, his voice filled with disbelief. "Uncle Goku killed him years ago."
Goku nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yeah, and this guy doesn't even have green skin."
Before they could contemplate any further, Mori decided to up the stakes. In a flash, he extended his hands forward, charging a bright blue ball of energy in his palms—the Kamehameha. The iconic attack startled the trio. How could this masked fighter know Goku's signature move?
Without warning, Mori fired the Kamehameha directly at the three warriors. The energy beam blazed across the wasteland, but to their surprise, the attack dissipated upon contact with their defenses, causing no real damage.
Vegeta, seizing the opportunity, charged forward. His fist connected with Mori's masked face, sending him flying backward. As Mori's body soared through the air, Goku teleported beneath him, extending both legs outward in a powerful kick, launching Mori even higher.
Gohan, hovering above, was ready. He clasped both fists together and brought them down with force onto Mori's back, sending him plummeting toward the ground. Mori crashed into the rocky terrain below, a cloud of dust rising from the impact.
But Mori wasn't finished. He leaped back to his feet, his eyes locking onto Gohan, who was still mid-air. Without hesitation, Mori flew up with blinding speed and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to Gohan's hip, sending the hybrid Saiyan careening toward the ground.
Before Gohan could fully fall, Mori grabbed him by the leg, spinning him around with tremendous force and launching him toward Vegeta, who had just regained his balance. Vegeta barely managed to dodge Gohan's flying form.
Mori turned his attention to Goku, who was closing in fast. With a burst of energy, Mori charged at Goku, unleashing a rapid series of strikes, culminating in an attack Goku knew all too well—the Meteor Crash. Goku struggled to defend against the relentless barrage, his body taking hit after hit. To top it off, Mori pulled his hands back and charged a Galick Gun, much like Vegeta's own signature move.
"Galick Gun!" Mori shouted as he fired the blast at Goku. The purple energy beam collided with Goku, sending him crashing to the ground.
Both Vegeta and Gohan stared in disbelief. "He's using our attacks!" Gohan muttered, his eyes wide with shock.
Vegeta clenched his fists. "This masked fool is mocking us!"
Infuriated, Vegeta rushed toward Mori with a battle cry, fists flying. But Mori was ready. He blocked each punch effortlessly, catching Vegeta's final strike and twisting his arm, throwing the Saiyan prince over his shoulder and slamming him into the ground.
Vegeta growled in frustration but quickly got back on his feet, refusing to be humiliated.
As the fight raged on, Gohan, Goku, and Vegeta attempted to coordinate their efforts. The trio attacked in unison, moving with the speed and precision of seasoned warriors. Mori was forced to take them more seriously, blocking and dodging their combined attacks with increasing difficulty.
Mori smiled beneath his mask. They were strong—stronger than when he had last seen them. But he wasn't done yet.
Gohan and Goku unleashed powerful ki blasts, which Mori deflected with ease. Vegeta, meanwhile, charged up his energy, preparing to unleash his full power.
The trio powered up once more, aiming to push their Super Saiyan 2 forms to their limits. But before they could finish, Mori dashed forward, catching them off guard. He delivered a series of precise strikes to each of them, knocking Gohan out first, followed by Vegeta, and finally Goku.
With the trio unconscious on the ground, their energy drained from the intense battle, Mori stood tall. He removed his mask, letting out a deep breath. The test was over.
---
Back at Capsule Corp, the party continued as though nothing had happened. Mori reappeared, now maskless, walking calmly toward the gathering. Bulma noticed him first and waved him over.
"You're back!" she greeted with a smile.
Mori smiled back, though it was brief. "I just had a little sparring session with the others. They'll be fine."
As the others gathered around, Goten ran up to Mori, excitedly tugging at his arm. "Mori! Did you fight my dad? Did you win?"
Mori knelt down to Goten's level, ruffling his hair. "Yeah, I fought your dad, Goten. He's strong, but I managed to hold my own."
Goten grinned. "That's so cool! You should come to my next birthday too!"
Mori chuckled. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, kid."
With that, the party went on. Mori stayed for a while, talking with everyone and catching up with old friends. But as the day wore on, Mori felt the trio's energy stirring in the distance. They were waking up.
"Well," Mori said, standing up and dusting himself off. "Looks like I've overstayed my welcome."
Bulma looked at him with curiosity. "Leaving already?"
Mori nodded. "Yeah, I've got to get back to my village. But don't worry, I'll be around."
Before anyone could protest, Mori waved goodbye and took to the sky, disappearing into the horizon.
As he flew, he glanced back at the Capsule Corp compound, a smile forming on his lips. It was good to be back.
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