Chereads / Dragon Ball: Mori's tales / Chapter 45 - Finale of masked man arc

Chapter 45 - Finale of masked man arc

Mori standing in the middle of the battlefield, scratching his head while pouting, "Aw man, I got way into the fight, I didn't notice my mask broke off." His casual remark leaves Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan momentarily confused as they all process the sudden shift from battle to a lighthearted moment. Gohan is the first to snap out of his shock. With a huge smile, he rushes into Mori and wraps him in a tight hug. 

Gohan's sudden affection surprises Mori, but he laughs and hugs the young Saiyan back. "Alright, alright, kiddo, you're gonna crush me!" he teases, gently patting Gohan on the back before stepping away.

Vegeta gives a small, rare smile, crossing his arms, while Goku, as usual, grins widely. His signature smile lights up his face as he watches the reunion unfold.

Mori stretches his arms, looking at the trio, and says, "Well, I wanted our battles to last longer, but I've gotta say, you Saiyans have gotten strong. Way stronger than I prepared for."

Vegeta, ever the prideful warrior, smirks, nodding confidently. "Naturally. We Saiyans are the perfect warrior race. It would be a shame for us to not grow stronger after seven years."

Mori rolls his eyes, chuckling as he waves a hand at Vegeta. "Yeah, yeah, we get it—your race is overpowered." The playful comment makes Goku and Gohan laugh aloud, with Gohan nearly doubling over from the hilarity.

As the laughter subsides, Mori walks up to Goku, who is still smiling brightly, and pulls him into a short, warm hug. After breaking away, he steps over to Vegeta and offers his hand. Vegeta looks at the outstretched hand for a moment before clasping it firmly.

"You've gotten stronger too, Mori. How?" Vegeta asks with a raised eyebrow, genuinely curious about Mori's newfound abilities.

Goku chimes in, his eyes wide with excitement. "Yeah, Mori, you've got some awesome new abilities! You tapped that symbol on your chest and started vanishing during the fight!"

Gohan nods along. "And then the energy from that tattoo made you strong enough to keep up with Dad and me while we were in SSJ3 at full power."

Mori laughs heartily, waving his hands in front of him. "Hold on, hold on! That symbol on my chest is just for show, to be honest. But the ability you're talking about is called 'TimeSkip,' and the energy I used came from a race in the Otherworld that taught me how to control it."

Vegeta crosses his arms again, intrigued. "TimeSkip, huh? That's why we couldn't see you at times."

Goku's eyes light up with amazement. "That's so cool, Mori! Can you take it even further?"

Gohan adds, "Seems like you learned a lot while you were, uh... dead, huh?"

Mori grins, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah, I picked up a few tricks while I was gone."

Realizing the endless stream of questions might continue, Mori throws up his hands and laughs, "Alright, enough with the questions for now. I'm starving! Let's go eat, please!"

The Saiyans all agree, and soon the group heads off toward Capsule Corp. Along the way, they swing by the lake to pick up Goten and Trunks, who are still splashing around. The boys quickly jump out of the water, excited to hear about the fight but more thrilled to join the upcoming meal.

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At Capsule Corp, the dining table is piled high with food. Plates are stacked with roasted meats, bowls of rice, vegetables, and all kinds of Saiyan-sized portions. Bulma, Chi-Chi, and the others have prepared a feast worthy of warriors. 

As the group gathers around the table, the atmosphere is filled with light chatter and laughter. Goten and Trunks are seated together, happily munching on their food, while Gohan sits next to his father, stealing glances at Mori every so often, still processing the day's events.

"Uncle Mori!" Goten suddenly pipes up, his mouth half-full of food. "Can you teach me that TimeSkip thing? It looked so cool when you were vanishing all over the place!"

Mori chuckles, shaking his head. "You're a bit young for that right now, kiddo. But maybe when you're older, I'll teach you a thing or two."

Trunks, not to be outdone by his friend, leans forward. "Yeah, and what was that purple energy? That looked way different than anything I've seen before!"

Mori grins at the boys. "That energy is from a race called the Dovahhkin. It's ancient and incredibly powerful. But trust me, you two should stick to mastering what you've got for now."

Goku, with his usual appetite, chimes in between bites. "You know, Mori, that energy of yours really threw us for a loop. I don't think I've ever seen something like that before."

Chi-Chi, seated next to Goku, shakes her head, smiling as she watches her husband pile more food onto his plate. "Of course you haven't, Goku. Mori's been all over the universe, while you've been… well, eating!"

Everyone laughs at that, and Goku sheepishly rubs the back of his head.

Vegeta, ever the quiet one at the table, eventually speaks up, addressing Mori. "I'm not one for pleasantries, but you've impressed me today. I wouldn't mind a rematch soon."

Mori, taking a sip of water, smirks at Vegeta. "Oh, I'll be ready for you, Vegeta. But next time, let's not hold back from the start, alright?"

Bulma rolls her eyes, clearly used to the endless need for sparring in her household. "You boys are impossible! Can't we go one day without talking about fighting?"

The table erupts in more laughter as Vegeta mumbles something under his breath about "training" and "getting stronger."

As the meal continues, the camaraderie deepens. Mori exchanges stories with Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta about their training over the past years, while Chi-Chi and Bulma interject with humorous comments about dealing with their Saiyan families. The bond between them all grows stronger, solidifying the ties that hold them together—despite the battles, rivalries, and the ever-present need to grow stronger, they are family.

Everyone sitting around the table, full and content, as the sun sets outside Capsule Corp. The scene of friendship, laughter, and food creates a moment of peace amidst the chaos of their warrior lives.

 (Year-time skip for the Buu saga, or do a couple of chapters of Mori training with Goten?)