Chereads / Dragon Ball: Mori's tales / Chapter 53 - Training begins

Chapter 53 - Training begins

The next chapter begins with the Saiyans and Shin approaching Mori, who is standing near the unconscious Elec, with Majin Buu still playfully bouncing around the group. Goku is the first to arrive and, with his usual carefree smile, asks, "So, Mori, what was that all about?"

Mori, slightly distracted from watching over Elec, glances up and replies nonchalantly, "Huh? Oh, this? Yeah, this is my kid."

The group, caught off guard, collectively falls silent, all except for Buu, who's still prancing around with innocent glee. Gohan, eyebrows raised in confusion, is the first to speak, "Y-your son??"

Vegeta, ever the skeptic, crosses his arms and grunts, "Since when did you have a son? That... thing doesn't even look fully human. And on top of that, he looks fully grown."

Goku starts snickering in the background, amused by the situation, while Shin, still unfamiliar with Mori's backstory, stays silent but curious. The tension builds as the group processes this revelation.

Mori, letting the silence stretch for a good two minutes, watches the confused expressions on their faces. Finally, unable to hold back, he breaks into a hearty laugh. "Well, duh, Vegeta, he's not my biological son. He's a result of the energy me and Cell left behind from our fight all those years ago. It condensed and... well, made him."

As he finishes his explanation, Mori reaches down, picks up the unconscious Elec, and casually throws him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The group's shock is still palpable, especially Gohan, who looks deeply intrigued.

Gohan cautiously adds, "So... if Elec is the result of your and Cell's combined energy, and since technically Cell had all of our genes, would that make Elec… well... our son too?" He trails off, glancing between Mori and Vegeta, the implications hanging in the air.

Before Gohan can finish his thought, both Mori and Vegeta shudder visibly, simultaneously cutting him off with a horrified "NO!" Vegeta looks particularly disturbed by the idea, shaking his head as though trying to rid himself of the thought.

"That... that is a terrifying idea, Gohan," Vegeta mutters, glaring at him. "Let's never speak of that again."

The moment passes with Goku still chuckling to himself, and Shin, still not fully understanding the situation, shrugs it off. The conversation soon shifts as they discuss the matter at hand—Majin Buu. With the pink, childlike creature still frolicking around, Shin brings up his concerns. "We have to do something about Buu. He may seem harmless now, but we've seen what he's capable of in the past."

Goku, ever the optimist, nods. "Yeah, but Buu doesn't feel like he has any bad intentions anymore. Maybe we can guide him, you know, make sure he doesn't do anything destructive."

Vegeta raises an eyebrow. "You want to nurture this overgrown blob of bubblegum?" His tone is sharp, but he doesn't outright reject the idea.

The group continues discussing Buu's future. Eventually, they agree to give him a chance, with the understanding that if things go wrong, they will take action. They plan to watch over him and nurture him, making sure he stays on the right path.

After the conversation wraps up, Mori turns to the others and says, "Well, this has been fun, but I've got to take Elec home and get him patched up." With Elec still draped over his shoulder, Mori gives a casual wave to the group. "I'll be in touch if anything major comes up."

With that, Mori flies off into the sky, heading back to his village. As he flies, his thoughts linger on Elec. "He's strong. There's no doubt about that. But he still has so much to learn."

Arriving at his home, Mori enters quietly, placing Elec down in a guest room. He observes the young man, noting the deep injuries from their intense battle. Mori's face softens slightly as he watches Elec sleep. *"You'll be fine, kid. You've got potential... but you've still got a long way to go."* 

After making sure Elec is comfortable, Mori walks to his own room, exhaustion finally catching up with him. His body, sore and battered from the fight, feels heavier than usual. Without even bothering to undress, he collapses onto his bed, groaning as he sinks into the mattress.

"Ugh... definitely feeling that fight now..." he mutters to himself before drifting off to sleep.

Several hours later, Mori wakes up, feeling slightly better but still sore. He rummages through his things, eventually finding a Senzu bean. Without hesitation, he pops it into his mouth, feeling the familiar surge of energy as his injuries heal instantly, and his body returns to its peak condition.

After stretching and feeling the vitality return to his limbs, Mori makes his way to Elec's room to check on him. Elec is still fast asleep, his breathing steady but slow. Mori studies him for a moment, then pulls out another Senzu bean from a small pouch. He places it on the nightstand beside Elec, along with a small piece of paper.

Mori scribbles a quick note: "When you wake up, eat this bean. It will heal your injuries. Come find me when you're ready. I'll be flaring a bit of my energy to make it easier for you to find me."

Satisfied with the note, Mori quietly leaves the room, stepping outside into the cool air of the village. He stands there for a moment, looking out at the horizon, pondering the events of the day. "Elec... Majin Buu... and whatever else is coming... I've got my work cut out for me."

Deciding to let Elec rest, Mori heads off to take care of other matters, knowing that when Elec wakes, their journey together will only be beginning.

Mori can be seen floating in the quiet expanse of space, surrounded by a sea of stars and distant planets. Hours have passed since he left Elec to rest, and the silence of space is both calming and contemplative. Mori's mind drifts as he stares out into the cosmos, reflecting on his recent battles and the new challenges ahead.

Elec... Cell... Saiyan blood... Mori muses, piecing together the strange amalgamation of energies that formed Elec. He feels a subtle change in the atmosphere, and before long, Elec's energy signature appears on the edge of his senses. Mori turns just in time to see Elec flying toward him, his expression calm yet determined.

Landing nearby, Elec greets Mori with a respectful nod. "I'm feeling better... stronger, actually."

Mori raises an eyebrow. "Stronger, huh? That's interesting." He gives Elec a measuring look, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "It seems you might have inherited a Zenkai boost. Makes sense, considering you're technically the offspring of me and Cell."

Elec tilts his head, intrigued. "A Zenkai boost?"

Mori folds his arms, floating a little closer to Elec. "It's something unique to the Saiyan race. After every battle, especially when they're pushed to their limits or near death, their strength increases dramatically. It seems like you've picked up this trait, given your connection to both my energy and Cell's." 

Elec nods, absorbing the information. "I see." His voice is calm, but there's a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

For a few moments, the two remain in silence, staring out into the endless void of space. The stars twinkle faintly, and the vast emptiness between them seems to stretch on forever. It's a quiet, almost meditative pause, the kind that only warriors accustomed to the loneliness of battle can appreciate.

Eventually, Mori breaks the silence. "Alright, enough of that. Let's get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving." Without waiting for a response, Mori takes off toward Earth, and Elec follows closely behind.

It doesn't take long before they arrive back at Mori's home in the remote village, a place filled with the simple comforts of life. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the house as Mori lands gracefully in the front yard, with Elec touching down just behind him.

Once inside, Mori heads straight for the kitchen. "Sit down, kid. I'll make us something," he calls over his shoulder. Elec silently complies, sitting at the dining table, watching Mori move around the kitchen with ease. The clinking of pots and pans and the occasional sizzle of food fill the otherwise quiet room. It's an oddly domestic scene, given the intensity of their last encounter.

After some time, Mori brings the food to the table. It's a simple meal, but hearty. The two sit down and begin eating. The clinking of utensils and the sounds of quiet chewing create a comfortable rhythm. There's little conversation at first—just the quiet companionship of two warriors sharing a meal.

Eventually, Elec breaks the silence. "So... what now?"

Mori, still chewing, gives a slight grin. "Now? We train. There's always someone stronger out there, and we're not gonna let anyone else surpass us. We've got to be ready for whatever comes next."

Elec nods. "I understand."

They fall back into a quiet rhythm, exchanging a few more words here and there, but mostly focusing on the food. After they finish eating, Mori clears the table and looks over at Elec. "You should get some rest. We've got a long day tomorrow."

Elec, though still filled with energy from his newfound strength, follows Mori's suggestion and heads off to the guest room. Mori, exhausted from the long day and his fight with Elec, retreats to his own room. For the first time in a while, his body aches from the toll of the battle. As soon as he hits the bed, the exhaustion overwhelms him, and he quickly falls asleep.

---

The next morning, the sun rises slowly over the horizon, casting golden rays through the windows of Mori's house. In the kitchen, Mori is already up, brewing tea and preparing breakfast. Elec soon joins him, still quiet but seemingly more relaxed after a night of rest. They share a simple breakfast together—toast, fruit, and tea—and the air between them is filled with an unspoken understanding of what comes next.

After they finish eating, Mori stands up and stretches. "Alright, today we're getting serious," he says, his tone shifting from relaxed to determined. "We're going to train, but not here. We need to head into space, far away from any solar system, where there are no distractions and no danger to anyone else."

Elec, having grown used to Mori's straightforward nature, simply nods in agreement. "Understood."

Mori walks over to a small cabinet in the corner of the room and retrieves a small pouch filled with Senzu beans, as well as several containers of food and extra sets of clothes. He tosses a few items to Elec. "Here. We're going to be out there for days—maybe even months. We'll need these to stay sharp."

With everything packed and prepared, Mori steps outside, taking a deep breath as the cool morning air fills his lungs. Elec follows, standing beside him. Mori turns to him with a smirk. "Ready?"

"Always."

Without another word, Mori takes off into the sky, heading into space, with Elec following right behind him. They leave Earth's atmosphere in minutes, the vastness of space opening up before them. Planets, stars, and galaxies stretch out in all directions, an infinite expanse that offers both mystery and challenge.

As they fly deeper into space, Mori can't help but glance back at Elec. The boy—or rather, the being created from his and Cell's energy—had come a long way in such a short time. But there was still so much to teach him, so much potential to unlock.

After what feels like hours of flying, they finally stop in the middle of a vast, empty stretch of space, far from any nearby planets or stars. It's completely silent here, the only sound being the faint hum of their own energy.

Mori floats in place, arms crossed. "This is where we'll train. No distractions. Just you and me." He uncrosses his arms and stretches his hands out in front of him. "We'll start with the basics, but by the time we're done, you'll have surpassed any limits you thought you had."

Elec, eyes gleaming with determination, nods. "I'm ready."

With that, Mori's energy flares, creating a shockwave that ripples through the surrounding space. Elec, not missing a beat, follows suit, his own power surging as the two prepare to begin their grueling, months-long training. The vastness of space stretches out before them, but neither warrior feels the weight of its infinity.

For them, it's just another battleground—one they intend to conquer, together.