Disclaimer: See previous chapters

AN: Sorry for the long delay. Writer's block can be a real hassle.

Chap. 33

Mediterranean Area

The helicopter lifted away as the team began to move out through the area. According to their earlier intel, the site of the last battle of the third tournament was secluded and known to only the last combatants. However they didn't have time to organize a search for them. 'As if that would do any good. One's gone and the other is nearly impossible to find.' Chun Li thought grimly. But if not for him, she would have never known the area at least. Now was just a matter of looking. The group spread out across the rocky beach, keeping low as they searched for anything out of the ordinary. Mikoto had gone out to the north, accompanied by Skullomania. Despite the danger, she was a little glad to be out of her mother's watchful gaze for a moment.

"Let's check over there."

The pair moved across the beachside over the rocks. Mikoto took the lead while Skullomania looked around in watch for any signs of life. It was then that he noticed something amiss

"Is that…a shadow?"

Mikoto looked over at him briefly before looking in the specified direction. On a curved edge of the beach was a lining of darkness on the hillside. It could have been mistaken for a shadow, save for the part where the sun was cast on the opposite side. Not only that, but there was nothing there to produce a shadow to begin with.

"Let's take a look."

Skullomania touch her shoulder, "Wait a moment. That area is too open." He indicated up on the hillside. "Let's go up around that way."

The young woman nodded and they climbed over the hill and toward the 'shadow', where they found out that it was in fact a trench. The edges were as dark as the inside, masking it from it actually looking like a trench. Peering inside, they gasped at what they saw. Within the trenched crevice was a building structure that looked like something out of ancient Greece or Rome. Various sorts of movement could be seen. Mikoto grabbed a pair of binoculars and peered through.

"What do you see?" Skullomania asked.

"Cargo crates…and those shadow guys. There's something else…"

She adjusted the binoculars for a closer view. Beside one of the crates was a giant silver capsule. Moving over the side, she saw more capsules lined up. And the worse part was that there seemed to be human forms within them. Dropping the binoculars, she began to turn to Skullomania.

"Let's head back before..."

But Mikoto stopped short when she turned around fully and found both herself and Skullomania face with a troop of shadowy soldiers.

'Ah, great…'

Dojo, Japan…

"This is crazy. What are we still doing here?"

Guy and Mel were out in front of the dojo. Both were searching the area looking for any clues as to where they may be able to find the kidnappers and hopefully their friends.

"We don't know where they went, so we need to find something that can tell us."

Mel gave a short huff followed by a deep sigh. Guy could only sympathize with the youth. Aside from being young and impatient, Mel was also quite worried about his friends, making him more edgy. Top off with the fact that he was tossed off a cliff and almost died and he was definitely not in a good mood.

"The sooner we find something, the sooner we can move." he concluded.

Mel gave another deep sigh and continued looking around when a sound caught his ears.

"Uhhh…"

The low moaning caught both their attentions and caused them to turn toward the brush. There arising out of the bushes was a single figure, clad in a dark uniform. Both instantly recognized him as one of the dark soldiers that had come earlier. He must have still been unconscious from the beating Shinji and Mel gave them. The man stood up and after seeing Mel, began to turn away, only to find the Bushin ninja right in his path. Guy stabbed his fingers forward and hit between the man's neck and shoulder before he could escape. The soldier planned to dash away, but none of his limbs would move. He was frozen stiff. Mel walked over and looked at Guy with amazement.

"Whoa. How'd you do that?"

Guy stared at the stunned soldier, "Secret technique. I'll tell you about it some other time. Right now…" His gaze hardened, "We have questions."

The prisoner replied with a strained voice, "I…will not…betray the master. So you…might as well…kill me now."

Mel frowned, but Guy replied coldly. "Not a problem."

Suddenly, Guy's hands went to work again, rapidly flashing across the soldier's throat. The man blinked once before he started choking. His eyes rolled backward as he felt the pain beginning to seep in.

"What you are feeling is your blood system being cut off from your brain. You'll die in less than a minute, during which the pain will become unbearable. I can stop it, but you know what the price is."

At first, the soldier remained silent, forcing his mouth to stay shut as he choked quietly. But after ten second, his mouth was agape and he began to spasm slightly. Finally…

"I…accept…"

No sooner than he said that did Guy's fingers move again, relieving the pain he felt. Again, Mel looked at him in surprise.

"Isn't that…?"

This time, Guy allowed a smile, "Where do you think she got it from?"()

'Cori..'

The eyes of Cori slowly opened and the girl found herself within a light purple expanse. Coming into form was a translucent form of a woman. Rose…

"Mother? Is…that you?"

The face of the Rose saddened somewhat, 'Yes…and no. I am what is remaining…within you.'

"Within me?"

'I had to protect you from the evil that seeks your life.' Rose explained. 'So I bestowed the last of my power to shield you. But it will not last long. Even now, he's working on breaking the shield and draining your power. If that happens, his evil will become unstoppable.'

"What can I do?"

'Now is the only time you can see the true nature of the Soul energy. The power that is tied in…to life itself. It is your best chance to fend against him.'

Rose lifted her hand out forward and a sphere of energy shimmered into form and hover between. Them Cori took a step toward the sphere and gently held up her own arms.

"I am ready."

'You always were.'

Shinji's eyes slowly opened into a dimly lit area. His head arose, only to feel a twinge of pain course through his body. 'What…? Cori! Mel!' Painfully, he stood up to his feet and found that the room was wider than he first thought. The edges and corners were still shrouded in darkness, but enough to just make out the walls. Also seeing that there was something by one of them.

"So you're finally up, kid."

The form moved out and Shinji saw that it was a dark-skinned bulky man. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt and thick boxing gloves. The man gave a toothy grin as Shinji backed off.

"Who are you?"

The man continued to advance, "Name's Balrog. And you're my opponent."

He tapped his fists together and slits suddenly opened up in the floor. Poles shot up attached to ropes, forming a square. Then the square itself lifted off the ground. Shinji looked downward and around, recognizing the scene he was in.

A boxing ring…

Balrog continued, tapping his fists repeatedly, "I gotta say, I'm getting paid quite a bit for pounding some punk kid into powder. But I'm not complaining."

Shinji continued to look around, but there was no exit in sight. Facing Blarog, he looked him over. The guy's figure was quite imposing. But the words of his sensei echoed in his mind.

"Do not fear your opponent. When you let fear take over, you will have already lost."

Shinji forced his fear away and raised his fists. The boxer grinned again and leveled his own fists.

"Good. It's a lot better when they fight back. Makes me feel like I've earned my pay."

Shinji was silent and simply shifted his feet. Balrog began to hop around in the ring and circle near the ropes. Shinji moved as well, but found his movements limited by the ring posts and ropes. Balrog then went on the attack, shooting a fast jab to the young fighter. Shinji reacted by ducking the punch and then sidestepping the second blow that followed. Balrog quickly twirled around and faced Shinji again, still grinning.

"You got the quickness. I'll give you that. But you're in my world. My rules."

Balrog suddenly hopped forward and came at him with a straight left. Shinji dodged aside again, but put himself within range of his right fist. Balrog's fist shot up into the youth's chest and pounded in. Shinji wasn't even able to gasp as he was literally hurled back against the corner. Balrog raised his fist in the air in a premature victory while Shinji struggled to regain his breath.

'Hits…like a…freight train…'

Shinji slowly returned to his stance and settled in. The pain from the blow was still ebbing within him, but Shinji focused through it. Balrog stopped his victory pose and resumed his stance. Balrog danced closer to Shinji, keeping him close to the corner. The boxer sooner lurched forward with another straight left, but instead of dodging it, Shinji raised his arm and blocked it. Barlog made ready to swing in with an uppercut, but suddenly Shinji shot forward and hit him with a punch of his own. Balrog was dazed for a second, but that allowed Shinji to launch another punch, to the chest this time. These were followed by a third blow to the face and a hopping knee to the chest. Balrog staggered back, but gave no signs that he was hurt badly. Balrog grinned and nodded his head in approval as he raised his fists again. Shinji reversed his stance, hoping that he could hold his own against this powerful fighter.

His life depends on it…

(): The 'she' I was referring to above is Xena. Hehehe.