Dragon Ball: Mori's tales

The chapter opens with the aftermath of the intense battle against Darkseid and Steppenwolf. The once chaotic battlefield now lay in eerie silence, the dust still swirling lightly in the air. Mori hovered above the desolate area, surveying the scene below with a faint smirk of satisfaction. The massive crater from Darkseid's defeat still smoked in the distance, a testament to the sheer power of their clash. As he floated down toward Superman and Wonder Woman, who were still catching their breath from the battle, he gave a sheepish laugh.

"Uh… I kinda forgot something," Mori admitted as he touched down beside them.

Superman raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Forgot something? What could you have possibly—"

"My trophy," Mori interrupted with a grin. "You know, for the memories." Without waiting for a response, he turned and began walking across the wreckage of the battlefield.

Wonder Woman exchanged a look with Superman, her expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "A trophy?" she muttered, shaking her head, but she followed him with her eyes, curious as to what he was up to.

Mori wandered through the debris, kicking aside rubble and bodies of defeated parademons until he finally found what he was looking for—Steppenwolf's massive, lifeless body, slumped on its side. His armor was shattered, his face bloodied and unrecognizable from the punishment Mori had dealt him.

"Ah, there you are," Mori said to the fallen warrior, crouching beside him. He stared at Steppenwolf's impressive horns for a moment, then tried to tug them loose. They didn't budge. He tried again, pulling harder this time, but they were stuck tight.

"Well, this is annoying," Mori muttered, glancing over his shoulder toward Wonder Woman. "Hey, uh, I need a hand here. Can I borrow your sword?"

Wonder Woman blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Excuse me?"

Mori gestured toward Steppenwolf's horns. "Yeah, these are stuck pretty good. Your sword seems sharp enough to get them off."

Wonder Woman gave him a perplexed look, then sighed. With a smooth motion, she unsheathed her sword and tossed it to Mori, who caught it effortlessly.

"Thanks, appreciate it!" Mori said cheerfully, before turning back to the task at hand. He raised the sword high, then sliced cleanly through the base of the horns with a few swift strokes. The blade cut through them like butter, and in no time, Mori held both of the massive horns in his hands. He let out a low whistle, admiring them.

"This sword is really sharp. No wonder people are scared of you, huh?" he commented, grinning back at Wonder Woman.

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. "You're a strange one, Mori."

With the horns successfully removed, Mori looked around and spotted a stray piece of string lying on the ground. He tied it around the base of the horns, slinging them over his shoulder like a hunter who had just bagged a prized kill. He tossed Wonder Woman's sword back to her, and she caught it mid-air, sliding it back into its sheath with a swift, practiced motion.

"Alright, all set," Mori said, patting the horns. "Thanks for the help!"

Superman, watching this bizarre scene unfold, shook his head in disbelief. "You really are something else, Mori."

"Yeah, people keep saying that," Mori replied with a grin. With a casual wave, he leaped into the air, rocketing off into the horizon, leaving the battlefield and the two bewildered heroes behind.

A few days later…

The city was dark and gloomy, even in the daytime. Tall buildings cast long, jagged shadows over the narrow streets, giving the place an ominous feel. The distant sound of sirens wailed through the streets, mingling with the low hum of city life. Mori wandered aimlessly down a sidewalk, his hands shoved in his pockets, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

He had been walking for hours, unsure exactly where he was or where he was going. The buildings all looked the same to him—tall, grey, and foreboding. The occasional flickering streetlamp and the graffiti-covered walls only added to the eerie vibe of the city. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of wandering, Mori gave up and sat down on a nearby bench in a small, rundown park.

"Man, this place gives me weird vibes," he muttered to himself, glancing around at the few people walking by. The city was alive with a certain kind of tension, as if something dangerous was lurking around every corner.

He leaned back on the bench, watching a flock of birds flutter past overhead. "Gotham, huh?" he whispered under his breath, now fully aware of where he had ended up. The stories he'd heard from the Justice League about this city didn't seem exaggerated now that he was here. It was gritty, dark, and constantly on edge. Just the type of place where someone like him might find some interesting challenges.

As he sat there, lost in thought, a man approached him with an easy stride, his hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets. The man had dark hair and a friendly, approachable face that seemed oddly out of place in such a grim city. His smile was warm and genuine, though almost unnaturally bright, like it belonged to a world far less cruel than Gotham.

"You look like you've had a long day," the man said, sitting down on the bench beside Mori.

Mori turned his head, squinting slightly at the brightness of the man's smile. "Yo, man, can you not? That smile's a little too much for this dark city."

The man chuckled, amused by Mori's reaction. "Sorry about that. I've been told my smile can be a little… blinding."

"Yeah, no kidding," Mori muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Anyway, you don't seem like the type of guy who'd fit in around here. What's your deal?"

The man shrugged, still smiling. "You're not exactly wrong. Gotham's not my favorite place in the world, but it's where I'm needed. Name's Richard Grayson, but you can call me Dick." He extended a hand toward Mori.

Mori stared at the hand for a moment before giving it a firm shake. "Mori."

"Nice to meet you, Mori," Dick replied, leaning back on the bench and crossing his arms. "So, what brings you to Gotham? Business or pleasure?"

Mori shrugged. "Neither. Just… passing through, I guess."

Dick raised an eyebrow, his expression curious but not prying. "Interesting place to pass through. Gotham doesn't usually get visitors unless they're looking for trouble."

Mori chuckled at that. "Trouble finds me whether I'm looking for it or not."

"I can believe that," Dick said with a nod. "Well, you've definitely got an interesting aura about you. Not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing yet, but I guess time will tell."

Mori raised an eyebrow. "You talk like you know things. Something tells me you're more than just some friendly guy hanging out in Gotham."

Dick smirked, his bright smile dimming slightly. "I guess you could say I know a thing or two about trouble in this city. But I get the feeling you can handle yourself."

Mori laughed. "Yeah, you could say that. But thanks for the concern."

The two sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the people pass by. Despite the gloom and tension of the city, there was an odd sense of peace between the two men. Mori felt a strange connection to this place—something he couldn't quite put his finger on. It wasn't home, but it wasn't hostile either.

After a while, Dick stood up, brushing off his jacket. "Well, I've got some things to take care of, but it was good meeting you, Mori. Be careful out here. Gotham can be… unpredictable."

Mori smirked, watching Dick as he prepared to leave. "Unpredictable, huh? Sounds like my kind of place."

Dick gave him a knowing look. "I figured you'd say that. Just don't let the city chew you up, alright?"

Mori nodded. "I'll be fine."

With that, Dick gave a final wave before disappearing into the shadows of the city, leaving Mori alone once again.

Mori leaned back on the bench, staring up at the darkened skyline of Gotham. Despite the city's rough edges and dark reputation, something about it intrigued him. The chaos, the unpredictability—it was a challenge. And Mori never could resist a good challenge.

"Let's see what Gotham has to offer," he muttered to himself with a grin, standing up and heading deeper into the city, ready for whatever came next.

(What place should Mori go to next, before We get started back with the main story?)