TEKKEN: BLOOD FEUD
Chapter 45: Epiphany
Throughout the world
The news of Heihachi Mishima's death spread like wildfire. Thanks to the satellites owned by Violet Systems, Lee Chaolan was able to broadcast the fight between Heihachi and Kazuya for the entire world to see. This time, nothing could be disputed. Kazuya had thrown his father into the pool of lava, thus killing for good. Because of this, Kazuya was now declared the official winner.
Still, there remained so much confusion about the ongoing war between the Mishima Zaibatsu and the G Corporation. Was it finally over? On news outlets, debates ranged over whether to consider the war over or not. One thing for sure, neither side had officially declared a ceasefire. Not even the Zaibatsu had done that despite their CEO being dead. In other words, the Zaibatsu was in a position it was in the aftermath of the King of Iron Fist Tournament 6, when Jin Kazama had disappeared.
Because of no victor being officially declared, the United Nations and the rest of the international community didn't know which side to embrace. The UN had dispatched envoys to both warring sides in hopes of getting some confirmation, but to no avail. As such, they had assumed that there was only an armistice between the two.
Now as for our heroes, they had each gone their separate ways. The death of Wang Jinrei at the hands of Revenant had been a huge blow to the battle against the dark influences that had begun plaguing this country in face of this ongoing war. But his final words had left an impact on his younger peers. He was entrusting them to safeguard the world, as well as rescue it from whatever darkness that sought to expand its influence.
Following the battle on Hawaii, Wang's body was taken back to China. He was buried on his favorite spot, the same place he would meditate every morning. It was on top of a hill that would give one a wonderful view of the Guilin Mountains. He was given a proper funeral and it was attended by Lee Chaolan, Lei Wulong, Lars Alexandersson, Alisa Bosconovitch, Ling Xiaoyu, Asuka Kazama, Baek Doo San, Yoshimitsu, Hwoarang, Shuwawei and the two agents from the UN: Master Raven and Raven.
Each of these people had experienced some changes in wake of the previous tournament and its aftermath. Xiaoyu and Asuka, having started off as rivals, had developed a friendly relationship back in Japan. They would often spend their time hanging out with each other, and Asuka had also gotten to know Panda and Miharu Hirano better. Despite having few things in common, Xiaoyu and Asuka was starting to grow closer as friends.
Hwoarang, who had entered the tournament against his teacher's wishes, had returned to South Korea. However, he had started to realize how much his fixation upon Jin had led him to make some stupid decisions. That's why Hwoarang had stopped disregarding Baek's warnings. In the meantime, he had also formed a friendship with Shuwawei base upon that of respect. There were even times that they sparred together under Baek's supervision. And while Hwoarang still desired to beat Jin, spending time with the people he cared about mattered to him most.
Lei had partaken this serious mission from Interpol to uncover the truth about the curse within the Mishima clan. But ever since learning about the truth, Lei knew that the Mishimas were never cursed to begin. That's why he was determined to end his case, and had been working on at his office for quite some time. And of course, he wouldn't need having Master Raven nag him, much to his relief.
Lars and Lee continued leading Yggdrasil against whatever oppression that dared to set foot in the world. Ever since Wang's death, the two men realized that the Acolytes of Pluton were too much of a threat to be ignored. Having "observed" the final fight between Kazuya and Revenant, Lars and Lee knew that the cultist was not dead. He was still alive and out in hiding somewhere. If left to his own devices, he could become a great threat to the world. In the meantime, Alisa had continued offering her assistance to them while also pursuing her friendships with Xiaoyu and Asuka.
Back in the USA, Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law had returned to San Francisco, where Marshall had happily reunited with his family. He was especially glad to see his son Forrest and vowed to never leave him again. However, Marshall was surprised when he realized how Forrest had perfectly managed to keep his dojo afloat of students. Seeing this made the father proud and he even considered making Forrest the dojo's substitute teacher.
Michelle and Julia Chang returned to Arizona, where their tribe lived. Even though they had seen much, Julia had vowed to not stop her reforestation program. But Michelle had warned her about what Wang had said, that the conflict was far from ever. To the Native American woman's surprise, however, Julia was confident that they would face the challenges and overcome them. As such, Michelle felt glad to be at her adoptive daughter's side once again.
Bob had returned to his fighting business, deciding to take a break from fighting for now. In the meantime, Rodeo had returned to his superiors at the US Military Command. Still, he felt ashamed over his failure to capture Revenant. Even so, his superiors had instructed Rodeo to still be ready for whatever events that would transpire now that Heihachi was dead.
King had returned to his orphanage in Mexico accompanied by Craig Marduk. The luchador was concerned about the orphanage's status, since the war had left it vulnerable. Surprisingly, he had found the place to be completely unaffected, as there were no signs of damage done to the building. More surprisingly was to see who had watched over the place in his absence. It was Marduk's parents. Marduk had contacted them and asked if they could watch over it while he was being transferred to the hospital in Seoul. With his worst fears dying, King was grateful for what they had done. They had helped rescuing his predecessor's legacy.
Eddy Gordo, Christie Monteiro and Katarina Alves had all returned to Brazil. The first thing they did, was to attend the funeral of Christie's grandfather. It had been hard for Eddy and Christie to part with him, especially Eddy, who owed much of his talents as a Capoeira fighter to him. Despite their trip having been quite a journey, there was one positive outcome of it. They had made a new friend in Katarina. Katarina was also happy to have finally made some friends, given that she had struggled a lot to make some in the past. She and Eddy had continued their romantic relationship. And Katarina had still vowed to bring back his father someday. But for now, she would wait and see how things would unfold in the world.
Lili had returned to Monaco, where her distraught father once again demanded to know where she had been. Using the excuse as she planned, Lili told him that she had been on a cruise in the South China Sea. Her father hadn't been buying it, and he accused her of lying. This set off Lili, and she in turn accused her father of doing exactly that. The rich girl went even further, revealing everything about Eliza…...let alone the fate she had been left with. That had only led his father to shut up.
Miguel Caballero Rojo had returned to Spain with little to do. But ever since he got back home, he had been visiting the grave of his younger sister frequently. The usually aggressive Spaniard had allowed his rage to dominate his mind for too long. Now, he wished to put it aside for once. He had since maintained some contact with Josie Rizal, despite her living far out on the Philippines.
Leo Kliesen had experienced similar things as Miguel had. Having returned to Germany, the blonde girl had often visited the grave of her late mother Emma. Even though she had failed to get revenge at Kazuya, the German girl knew that someday, his time would come. On the other hand, Leo hoped that the world would once again disavow Kazuya as this world's supposed hero.
Steve Fox had returned to Britain and spent most of his time visiting his adoptive family. Despite having figured out who his parents were, Steve would always consider those who had adopted him as his family. Still, he could not bring himself to tell them about the fact that he was a Mishima. Steve hated to even think of it. Still, he maintained contact with Lars, and they would often talk about Jin. Steve also maintained contact with Lili and Leo as well.
All in all, everyone had returned to their homes. Ganryu had fled to his chankonabe stable in Honolulu on Hawaii. Nina Williams had disappeared into the unknown. Claudio Serfaino had fled back to Italy in hopes of reassessing his strategy. Ever since witnessing the extent of Revenant's powers, the leader of the Archers of Sirius could no longer underestimate nor downplay the threat the Acolytes of Pluton possessed. Still, Claudio also felt the need to think about Kazuya and Jin, given how they would without question be targeted by the cultists once again.
The brief alliance Claudio had formed with other fighters calling itself L'ordine had been disbanded. Shaheen and Zafina had gone home to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, respectively. Sergei Dragunov had possibly gone back to Russia. However, it was unclear where Bryan Fury, Feng Wei, Armor King and Kunimitsu had gone. And as for the leaders of the Resistance, no one knew where they were. Either way, Taiga Miyagi, Hu Yue, Isaak Lichtfeld and Rumi Kusakabe were still alive and out there somewhere. The same thing could sadly be said of Revenant.
For now, things around the world seemed quiet.
Two weeks after Heihachi's death, inside an apartment in Hong Kong, China
Lei Wulong had almost done it. Having been charged with uncovering the truth of the Mishimas by both Interpol and the United Nations, Lei had succeeded in unearthing everything. However, things had transpired ever since he had learned about the truth. Among them was Heihachi's death.
As he sat on his computer and started reading what he had worked on, the detective reflected on the words Heihachi had told him during their secret interview at the estate outside Tokyo.
"What did he mean by "reveal the truth and be judged?" I still don't get it, even after everything" Lei remarked, tapping on the keyboard on his computer. "And why am I even recalling it? Is it because of Heihachi's death?" he then wondered.
After puzzling the pieces together, Lei had to realize how all the events up until now, had no resulted as of a demonic curse. Rather, it was the result of a ambitious fighter, being reduced to insanity, paranoia and pride. Still, Lei could not help but to feel a little admired of the way Heihachi went down as a fighter. To the very end, the former Mishima Patriarch had faced Kazuya with his power and strength alone. He had not relied upon his old self, which was that of a power-hungry warrior desiring immortality.
But even as Heihachi's death was mindboggling, it was nothing when compared to the death of Wang Jinrei. Lei had mourned his loss greatly. He was still struggling with it, even as he along with Xiaoyu and other fighters had buried him. Still, Lei was forced to realize that Wang was now walking amongst the spirits of the great warriors. Needless to say, the revered laoshi was in a much safer place than the world.
Lei had vowed during the funeral to pursue the Acolytes of Pluton, as well as discover more about their "master plan". But until then, he would finish the ongoing case with the Mishimas.
"Truth be told, I'm lucky to be still alive. No normal person could understand the reality of everything I've seen…even a police officer such as me" Lei spoke to himself for some reason. "Our world was dragged into a war between humans and devils. I'm just one person, but it is my job as a detective to get the truth out, which is exactly why I'm writing this report now. One day, the fighting will end. I just hope that when it does, the world will be at peace" Lei concluded, having written what he just said on his computer.
Realizing that the report was finished, Lei saved it. He then closed his computer. But as he was finished and felt the need to get some fresh air, his phone suddenly vibrated. Snatching it, Lei could see that the message came from his good friend, Steve Fox.
The message read like this:
Hey. Sorry if I'm interrupting you or anything, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm doing what you've always suggested. I'm meeting him up close and personal. As much as I wanna punch his smug face, I've decided to respect your counsel. But remember, I'm only doing this out of respect for you, Lars and Lee. Talk to you later.
Lei chuckled as he finished reading the young man's text message. In fact, it only encouraged Lei to reply back to Steve.
I know that, Steve. And trust me, there might be a good outcome of meeting him. Heck, he might as well possess much knowledge about Nina and where she's usually at. But that's only my hypothesis. I wish you luck, buddy
After sending the text message, Lei opened the door to the balcony of his apartment. He wanted to get some fresh air from all the work he had done. Outside, the city life of Hong Kong continued as usual. Looking up to the skies, Lei could only think about the words Wang had given to him and the other fighters before passing away.
"We won't let you down, Master Wang. No matter how many selfish scumbags there are, the world will be protected. That I assure you" Lei spoke of the late master.
Inside the Law family home, Chinatown, San Francisco, USA
Paul Phoenix was now visiting the home of his friends, the Law family. Marshall had invited him for some fried rice and chicken wok, to which Paul gladly accepted. While Marshall's wife Linda was present, Forrest was nowhere to be seen. The Laws explained to him about where their son had run off to.
"You're saying what?" Paul asked, dropping the rice between his chopsticks. "Forrest has gone to New York in order to get more experience as a substitute teacher?" he asked them.
Marshall nodded. "You betcha! At some time while we were gone, Forrest met this guy who offered to teach him a few things about holding a dojo. I was skeptical at first. But after hearing Linda speak so positively about him, plus that he possesses so much golden things, there was no way that I could refuse" he went on.
Paul seemed amused to hear this. "Well, I'm glad on the kid's behalf. Hopefully he's grown to be more mindful about what is dangerous and not" the Judo fighter explained.
"Trust me, Forrest will be taken good care of by this man. While he may look old, he had extraordinary skills just like you and Marshall" Linda joined in on the conversation. "I'm just so glad that we don't have to struggle paying for his medical expenses anymore. We're barley making ends meet" she breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry, Linda. I took care of it with some well-deserved money earned from working as a dishwasher in Japan…..until I got deported back here, that is" Marshall suddenly came up with a lie.
Linda seemed to buy it anyway. "Oh, honey. You always know a way out of a dilemma. I admire you for it" she praised her husband, who received it with pride like any man would.
But Paul was dumbfounded, as he knew the whole truth about where Marshall had gotten the money from. It was "found" by Marshall at a corner in Chinatown, obviously where Chinese triads had been having their gunfights. As such, he was not impressed with his best friend's lie.
"I wouldn't call taking money from a…." in that moment, Marshall quickly grabbed Paul around his mouth, thus shushing him.
"Shut up!" Marshall whispered while looking at his wife. Linda seemed confused by his antics. "I'm trying to not make Linda distressed again. You mind?" he whispered more to Paul before removing his hand over his mouth.
Realizing how right Marshall was, Paul made a coughing sound. "Sorry. What I meant to say was….I wouldn't be taking honey from a bear if I were any of you…because that's because they get very angry if you do that…" Paul fumbled between his words.
Once again, Linda seemed to buy the lie. "Goodness, that's very useful information you're telling us, Paul. But what makes you think a bear will get angry?" she politely asked him.
"Maybe Paul's been fighting Kuma too much that he's beginning to develop a phobia towards bears" Marshall spoke up, taking a jab at his best friend.
Paul was pissed. "Screw you! We had a deal not to bring this up! And for the record, I'm over that crap!" the Judo fighter retorted yet the Laws seemed to be laughing out loud. Paul grumbled, feeling hopeless against the married pair. "I wish Forrest was here to back me up. I wonder how he's doing, anyway" Paul thought about the young man.
In an alley near Chinatown, New York City, USA
The streets of New York were bustling activity like any giant metropolis would. Even in the unclean alleys on Manhattan, you could always find at least two people hanging around doing something. But in an alley near Chinatown, there was a fight taking place. Two crooks were in ganging up on what appeared to be an old man carrying a stick to support himself. This old man had told the two crooks to stop picking on innocent citizens.
"Hey! What's de big idea, old man!?" a man with a Brooklyn accent demanded.
"Yeah, you know where you at!? Dis here iz da hood, dawg!" his African-American buddy joined in.
"Yuh heard him!" the Brooklyn-guy pointed out.
It turns out that the old man they were speaking to was in fact an African-American as well. But he was older, which was evident given his grey dreadlocks as well as his beard. He wore gold jewelry all over his outfit, and even his cane was gold. One would mistake him for being blind, given that he also wore sunglasses. But clearly, he wasn't blind.
"Heh. You're sayin' this is the hood, now? Boy, I've met thousands of dirtbags like you and they've all said the same thing every time I've confronted them. But to tell you the truth, that assumption's getting old. As does this lame tough-guy act of yours" the old man responded.
Neither of the thugs seemed to give much thought to what he said. "Da fuq's wrong wif you, stoopid ol' blind-ass nigga?" the African-American rudely asked him.
"Yeah, are your ears not wawhkin'!? Dis is our turf, so beat it!" his Brooklyn-speaking partner joined in.
In response, the old man threw his cane away. He then started folding his sleeves while moving his hands. To the surprise of the thugs, he even stood in what appeared to be his fighting position.
"Sorry, boy. But no can do!" the old man said in reply. "I've seen the pair of you skulking around Chinatown before. You've been picking on good Samaritans who're trying their best earn a living. In other words, y'all been stealing from them. No way I can let that slide so easily" he went on to challenge them.
The two thugs erupted into laughing at what he was doing, let alone what he said. Apparently, the old man wished to fight them.
"Bruh! You see dis shit!? He wants ta fight us, yo!" the African-American guy told his partner.
"Right! Like some stoopid old man could possibly beat us!" the Brooklyn-guy responded.
The old man realized that these bandits didn't take his warning seriously. He decided to just show them how serious he was. While the two thugs were too distracted by their laughing, he charged straight towards the Brooklyn-guy, kicking him in his balls. His partner was completely caught off-guard by this.
"AAARGHHHH! MY BALLS!" he yelled in agony before turning his wrath upon the old man. "Yuh son of a bitch! You're gonna pay fawh dat!" he was about to punch him, only for the old man to easily swat his fist away.
He then proceeded to punch the Brooklyn-guy on his face, sending him flying against a wall. The thug had stars swirling around his head. His African-American partner was enraged with what the old man did.
"You mothafucka! You hurt mah homeboy! I'm gonna beat yo ass!" he yelled as he charged at the old man.
The old man only responded with a smirk at him in return. "You asked for it, punk!" he said while suddenly punching at the thug repeatedly before sending him flying as well.
With both thugs on the ground and pinned against the wall, they looked up at the old man with fear in their eyes.
"Dayum, bruh…dis nigga's strong….dat's fo sho…" the African-American dude was baffled by this man's strength.
"Who…who in de hell are yuh…" the Brooklyn-guy asked him while shivering.
He was still smirking, feeling some form of satisfaction. "The name's Smith. Leroy Smith. These days I'm just a humble trader doing what needs to be done in hopes of keeping the streets of New York safe. Still, I don't mind using my Wing Chun to teach dirty crooks like you a lesson" he introduced himself before whistling.
Neither of the bandits seemed to understand what was going on, yet they could hear growling coming from behind Leroy's feet. A black pit-bull suddenly appeared, his ferocious teeth on full display. The two bandits cowered in fear by seeing the animal's aggression directed towards them.
"Eh…..nice doggie…" the Brooklyn-guy was trying to pet the animal, yet it barked at him. "AH! DOAN HURT ME!" he begged for mercy.
"Allow me to introduce my trusty partner. This is Sugar. Normally he gets along fine with people. But like me, he possesses a strong distaste for bandits such as you two" Leroy introduced his put-bull to them. He then leaned down to get a closer look at the men he had just beaten. "And I'm telling you now. Should you ever be caught harassing, scamming, or hurting good Samaritans in Chinatown or elsewhere in New York, I'll be coming after your sorry asses. Now get out!" he then threatened them while telling them to scram.
Feeling cornered and not wanting to infuriate the old man further, the two bandits screamed and ran away from him like a pair of children. Leroy stood and laughed at seeing them disappear from his view.
"Those guys won't be coming back here for a LONG time. Or probably never" Leroy joked, laughing at the end of his sentence. He then picked up his cane and called for his pet to follow him. "Come here, Sugar. It's time to go home" he told his pet.
As the pair exited the alley and entered the streets of Chinatown, they were met by a very distraught young man.
"Master Leroy!" the voice belonged to none other than Forrest Law. Apparently, the young man had been looking for him. "Where have you been? The students back at the dojo are getting impatient. They still won't listen to me!" he told him while Sugar had already jumped at him, indicating that he liked Forrest.
Leroy chuckled at the young man's outburst. "Relax, Forrest. I'm getting back. I just had to deal with a couple of scumbags who'd been harassing my neighbors lately" Leroy assured him.
The Chinese-American man shook his head slightly while petting Sugar. "You're quite the vigilante, Master Leroy. Almost like a comic book character from Marvel or DC" Forrest expressed his admiration.
Leroy scoffed as he took off, with Forrest and Sugar tagging along. "That may be true. But I'm only doing this out of common courtesy. You know how unreliable the NYPD are these days" he responded to Forrest's words.
"Well, I'm a San Franciscan, so I've little clue about New York" the young Chinese-American man said in return. He then started changing the subject. "Speaking of which, did I tell you about what my dad had witnessed? You know….." Forrest noticed Leroy nodding his head at him in reply.
"I heard it all. Wang Jinrei is dead. A damn shame. Along with my teacher, he was a great influence on my as a fighter" Leroy admitted.
After getting discharged from the hospital, Forrest had contacted Leroy Smith. He had wanted to learn a thing or do about teaching students at a dojo. And Leroy, seeing how young and determined Forrest was, happily accepted him. While his father had been overseas, Forrest learned more about Leroy.
Like many unfortunate New Yorkers, Leroy Smith came from humble beginnings. As a young boy, Leroy and his family lived in a time when criminals and gangsters dominated New York, even in the political establishment. Of course, many of these gangs were enemies, and the city became their own battleground. There was one shootout between Italian-American mobsters and Jamaican-American yardies. Among those killed in the crossfire was Leroy's family. Leroy survived, yet he was seriously injured due to a wound on his right eye. Feeling weakened, the young boy fell down the Hudson River, yet was eventually rescued by a Chinese merchant ship. The people onboard treated his wounds, yet Leroy was filled both hopelessness and a desire for vengeance against the gangs.
Leroy then left America and started traveling the world as a trader. While visiting Hong Kong, he came across the art of Wing Chun and was fascinated by it. He settled at a dojo and trained the art under the guidance of a teacher. It was also during that time Leroy became acquainted with Wang Jinrei.
"And of course, my teacher was not alone. There was also another fighter I grew to respect, even though he was my greatest rival ever" Leroy told Forrest.
He seemed a little confused. "A rival? Sorry, but I seem to have forgotten who it was again" Forrest responded.
All of a sudden, the pair stopped and Leroy looked to his left to see what appeared to be a picture taken from the newspaper. Leroy smiled a little as he looked at the man in the picture.
"Heihachi Mishima. He was my rival" Leroy revealed, watching the title that explained how Heihachi was now dead. "Among the many opponents I've faced, there was one man that I really wanted to beat. And it was the King of the Iron Fist himself. The last time we fought, which was many years ago, our duel ended in a draw" the martial artist revealed.
Forrest was now speechless. "Woah…..so he was your rival? I mean….that's sick! And you say your battle ended in a draw…that's awesome…" the young man spoke out of amazement.
That's right. Each member of the Mishima clan had a rival. Jinpachi had Wang. Kazuya had Paul, although Kazuya didn't necessarily consider him as such. Jin had Hwoarang, although Jin was not that much interested in him. But with Heihachi, it was Leroy who was his rival.
"While I could have entered these King of Iron Fist Tournament in order to settle the score between us, there were things more important that I needed to take care of" Leroy admitted, thinking back to how he had once desired to rid crime in New York once and for all. "Once I had learned everything I needed, I returned to New York and defeated every single gangster and mobster that had been terrorizing the streets of Manhattan in the past. In doing so, I would prevent more children and families from experiencing the things I did" he went on telling how he had spent his strength ridding the city of crime.
Forrest was impressed. "Woah…..you prioritized defeating criminals instead of participating in the tournaments? That's very commendable of you, Master Leroy" he admitted. "Anyway, I was only in one tournament. It wasn't that big of a deal, trust me. I only stepped in because of dad being busy with managing Marshall China…..although he wasn't necessarily keen on me entering it" he recalled to how his father had driven a restaurant chain once.
"Marshall China. Man, I used to go there every day while it was opened here in Chinatown. I was one of its frequent customers. Too bad it was shut down. The food was great!" Leroy mused to himself as he recalled.
It was at this moment Forrest felt the need to ask him this. "Hey, master. What is your take of Heihachi's death?" he asked Leroy, causing the old man to glance at him with a raised eyebrow. "Do you feel good that he's gone or…" he was interjected by Leroy speaking.
"Don't ever say such, Forrest. Remember, life itself is too precious to be wasted. One should not speak so casually about it" Leroy informed him.
"Right. I apologize" the Chinese-American man did so repeatedly.
Leroy then remembered the times he and Heihachi had clashed against each other in the past. "Now as for your question. I don't really know what to answer. On one thing, I loathe his willingness to continuing this war effort and conning the world into thinking he's some kinda hero. But on another note, I can't help but to admire how he went down as a warrior. He never had any devilish power to use. Heihachi used his own strength in battle. Needless to say, he faced his own end with dignity. That's something to admire, honestly" he said and proceeded walking towards the building that seemed to be where Leroy lived.
Forrest followed him, unable to take his mind off the things Leroy had just told him. Somehow, the young man wondered whether other martial artists shared the same thing about Heihachi. But such notions were unlikely, given Heihachi's reputation as a power-hungry madman.
In the middle of the Osakatenma Kawasaki Bridge, Osaka, Japan
Beneath this bridge lied the O River, one of the many rivers running through the city of Osaka. On this particular bridge, two newfound friends, Asuka Kazama and Ling Xiaoyu had been standing there for a while. Xiaoyu along with Miharu and Panda were visiting Osaka and they had called to ask if she wanted to spend some time with them. Asuka happily obliged, wanting to take a break from being the city's vigilante. They met once school was over.
While Miharu had gone off to buy something to drink, Xiaoyu and Asuka were waiting for at on the bridge. Panda was with them, watching as how Xiaoyu and her newfound friend were leaning over to watch the river below them.
"I never knew Osaka had that many rivers" Xiaoyu remarked, only to see Asuka staring at her confused. "Don't get me wrong. I have visited Osaka before, but I've only been to the center of the city" she reassured him.
"Really? Well, I guess you're right. I'm live in the center, so I'm pretty much stuck there" Asuka responded to her.
Now that she was with Asuka, Xiaoyu felt the time to reveal her this specific information was now. A part of her didn't really wanna do it, yet the other part just told her to.
"Listen….I was contacted by Lars and Lee not too long ago…" Xiaoyu spoke up, catching Asuka's attention. "They told me about something important…" she then stammered.
"And what's that?" the Osakan girl responded curiously.
Gulping, Xiaoyu decided to come clean. "It's about Jin. He's awakened from his coma" she revealed.
Panda was surprised, yet Asuka seemed pretty taken aback by what she heard. However, she was not necessarily angry at Xiaoyu.
"What!? And those two bozos didn't bother notifying me!?" she snapped, feeling the urge to go over to Violet System's HQ and have a "talk" with Lee and Lars. "They're so gonna pay for not letting me know sooner!" she muttered to herself.
Xiaoyu giggled at her. "You're welcome to do that, but I'm afraid you won't find Jin there" the Chinese girl revealed, causing Asuka to look at her dumbfounded. "That's right. When I asked if I could come see him, they told me he had gone to Europe" she went on.
"To Europe? For what?" the brunette asked her, to which Xiaoyu shook her head as a no.
"I've no idea. They didn't even tell me the reason" she responded. "But trust me, Asuka. You will get your chance to speak with Jin. I'm sure of it" Xiaoyu reassured her.
Rolling her eyes, Asuka calmed herself. "Alright. I'll be patient…..for as I possibly can be" she conceded.
Xiaoyu could suddenly notice Panda touching her. Clearly, she had been curious about something. And Xiaoyu, having known Panda since she was just a cub, could fully understand what she was trying to say.
"You're asking me if I'll travel to Europe to go after him?" Xiaoyu translated what Panda said. Smiling, the Chinese girl stroke her pet bodyguard's head lovingly. "I don't think so, Panda. That reunion can wait. I've had enough of traveling for a long while" Xiaoyu answered.
Asuka got beside Xiaoyu and started petting Panda as well. "Me too. It's good to stay home for a while. Especially since everything's quiet now" the Japanese teenager spoke in agreement of her friend.
"XIAO! ASUKA!" the loud and cheerful cry came from Miharu, having just returned from a nearby kiosk with some drinks. "I brought drinks to each of you! Yeah, you too, Panda!" she gleefully told them while handing Panda her drink which was a bottle of water.
"You're really a handful one, Miharu" Asuka remarked as she grabbed her drink.
"Well, you know what they say. We share, because we care!" Miharu said, causing her friends to laugh at her attempts to be funny.
"Hey there, everyone!" all the girls and Panda turned to their right and saw someone flying near them with her jetpack. It was Alisa Bosconovitch, the Russian android waving her hand at her friends. "I'm sorry I'm late. Did I miss something?" she asked as she sat on the bridge's counter.
None of the girls shook her head. "No, Alisa. You didn't" Xiaoyu spoke.
Asuka rolled her eyes at hearing the Chines girl's words. "I'm not so sure about that" she muttered, only to change her attitude with that of a smile. "So, shall we get moving?" she asked her friends.
Miharu seemed already to be the one most enthusiastic about this. "Heck yeah! It's girl time!" the Japanese teenager said, yet none of her friends seemed to grasp her hyperactive attitude.
Still, they began moving, passing over to the other side of the bridge.
Unbeknownst to the friends, somebody had been observing them from afar. In fact, there was a man standing on the top of a nearby building. He was spying on the girls through a pair of binoculars. It was Claudio Serafino. For some reason, he had gotten back to Japan. But for what reason was he stalking those girls for?
Removing his binoculars, Claudio smirked at what he had caught. "So, the rumors are true? Jin Kazama has awakened? And he is not in Japan any longer? Maledizione! And just when I had left Italia to come this far!" the exorcist cursed. But he soon formed a smug smile in response. "Then in that case, I might as well lure him to me by capturing you: Ling Xiaoyu and Asuka Kazama. Please forgive me for using you as bait….it's all part of maintaining the peace of the world. As such, the end justifies the means" the Italian man concluded, resuming his hunt for the two girls.
It appeared that despite Caludio having realized the danger Revenant possessed, he also thought Jin and Kazuya were pretty much threats to the world as well. Therefore, he would not end his demon hunting just yet.
"Desperate times calls for desperate measures. And since each of you have some form of connection with Jin, you are just what I need. I do not wish to harm you…..but should you refuse my offer…..you will be fought" the Italian man concluded, moving from his spot in hopes of getting closer to his targets.
Inside a military base, somewhere outside Bangkok, Thailand
Things were looking pretty busy inside the Thai capital of Bangkok. A field marshal was walking down the corridor accompanied by his subordinates, including a general. Recent events in the outside world had made many nations wary of the so-called armistice between the Mishima Zaibatsu and the G Corporation. The Thai government, having consulted with the king, expressed fears about a potential enemy invasion of their homeland. So far, Thailand was been one of the lucky countries in Southeast Asia to avoid being used as a battlefield. Still, the leaders in the Royal Thai Army knew better than to be gullible in wake of recent events.
"Field Marshal, are you certain about this?" the general asked his superior as they walked through the corridor. "Even now, our neighboring countries have reported rather stable situations. No foreign armies has been spotted" he pointed out.
But the field marshal was firm in his belief. "That's insufficient evidence, General. Despite what the United Nations may claim, neither the Mishima Zaibatsu nor the G Corporation has been forthcoming when it comes to their strategies" he replied, thinking about the ongoing situation taking place in the outside world. "Heihachi Mishima may be dead, but the G Corporation still has their leader to give the commands. It's only a matter of time before they start attacking nations like Russia, China and the USA. That is why we cannot afford to be unprepared for the upcoming battle" the field marshal continued.
"Understood, sir. I see the picture" the general responded. "But is releasing that thing really enough to take on the armies?" he then got blunter with his superior.
The field marshal got surprisingly smug. "Calling him a "thing" would be an understatement, General. We are talking about a man who has been blessed by the spirits of the greatest Muay Thai fighters our nation has ever known. He even managed to survive after getting hit by a lightning. Needless to say, this a man with the spirit of the Garuda" he told his subordinate.
Recognizing his error of speech, the general apologized. "Right. I apologize, Field Marshal" he spoke in return.
The pair alongside some soldiers stood before a door that seemed to be containing something top secret. There was even a futuristic lock on it. The field marshal opened it with a keycard. Once the door was open, the pair entered followed by a couple of soldiers. It was dark inside, yet the lights soon switched on, thus giving everyone a clear view.
The room itself looked quite futuristic. But in the middle of it all stood an enormous man tied into iron chains. He wore tattoos across his face and torso, let alone had scars running across hi body. Given the binds wrapped around his arms and hinds, as well as his shorts, this man was indeed a Muay Thai practitioner. Right now, it appeared that he was asleep.
"Wake up, Fahkumram. This is the Field Marshal speaking" the military man commanded.
In just a few seconds, the tall man called Fahkumram opened his eyes. He then looked at the military men before him. The field marshal grinned as he looked at Fahkumram.
"Excellent. You are awake. There is so much that we need to discuss with you" the field marshal said, yet Fahkumram was only staring at him with dispassion. "Come now. Don't give me that look. You are the greatest asset to the Royal Thai Army. Because of your "assistance", we have managed to eliminate corruption throughout Thailand. There is no honor greater than serving your country under His Majesty's orders" the field marshal continued.
Fahkumram's eyes narrowed further. "Koh̄k" he said in response to the field marshal's words. "There still exists corruption. And I see it…right before me!" he spat at them, his hands clenching themselves tightly. Due to the locks, the large man was unable to break free. To be treated like some secret weapon only infuriated Fahkumram.
"Hold your tongue, peasant! You dare accuse us, His Majesty's army, of being corrupt!?" the general felt insulted by the Muay Thai fighter's words. "The nerve! You should be executed for spouting such…" he was stopped speaking when his superior did.
"General!" the field marshal got his subordinate to listen carefully. "We are men in uniform. As such, we will not let mere taunts and insults get the best of us. Is that clear?" he reminded the general about his duties.
The general responded by lowering his head as a sign of apologizing. "K̄hêācı" he responded in Thai.
With that being taken care of, the field marshal returned his attention to Fahkumram. "Do not forget everything you have accomplished under His Majesty's services, Fahkumram. Everything good deed comes with steps closer to freedom" he explained, yet founding himself quite regretful with saying this. "Which leads me to tell you the reason why we are having this conversation now. The Kingdom of Thailand of facing a great danger on its doorstep. For as the international community starts preparing for this so-called end of the global war, the G Corporation and its leader are using this armistice to ready themselves for new invasions across the world. His Majesty and his government fears that we may be next" the field marshal explained everything in detail.
Despite hearing all this, Fahkumram didn't seem worried at all. He was still facing the military men with a disapproving expression. "And why should that worry me? If the G Corporation has an interest in getting rid of you then I see no reason to worry. In fact, I should probably be thankful to them in getting rid of you corrupted scoundrels!" the Muay Thai fighter didn't hold back in expressing his hostility towards his captors.
The general was furious, and he went as far as to grab an assault rifle one of the nearby soldiers carried. He was about to pull the trigger and shoot at Fahkumram, only for his superior to intervene. Grabbing the weapon, the field marshal forced his subordinate to lower it gently. He then looked at the muscular man in chains.
"So you are saying none of this matters to you? Not even the safety of your wife and child?" the field marshal suddenly got under his captive's skin.
That only unleashed the anger inside Fahkumram. "Lūkkhrụ̀ng! Don't you ever dare mentioning them!" he raged at the field marshal, even moving his entire body. Fortunately for the field marshal, Fahkumram didn't break free. "You will not speak of them again! Especially since they are held captives by you!" he continued unleashing his anger.
The field marshal remained unmoved, yet he felt the need to respond to Fahkumram. "You wish them to be set free? Then assist our forces in defending our country!" he barked at the Muay Thai fighter. Surprisingly, the tall man's expression softened a little as he started getting the words into his head. "I am serious. In order for your family to be set free, you will fight against the enemy when they invade Thailand! Surely you realize how much is at stake here. Should the G Corporation succeed with their invasion, everyone dies. And that includes not just you, but your family as well. At this rate, you have no choice but to obey" the field marshal pointed out.
But Fahkumram was not convinced, and his anger was soon displayed for the military men to see. "Mị̀! I would rather die than fight under your orders! You can all go to hell for all I care!" as he spat out those words, he was suddenly electrified, causing him some pain. "AAAAAARRRRRGHHHHH!" Fahkumram yelled in agony.
This was probably due to the bindings, and the field marshal was even seen pushing on a remote. Once Fahkumram had calmed himself, the field marshal spoke up.
"Remember who owns you and your family, Fahkumram. We are the ones doing anything to secure our kingdom's borders. Whether you hate us or not has no relevance in this case. You will enter the battlefield and eliminate all enemy invaders threatening our people. Only when they are out of our home will you be given what you desire the most. And yes, your wife and daughter will be safe during the invasion. There is no reason for you to doubt our security" the field marshal explained, trying to convince the Muay Thai fighter to agree to their terms.
While panting deeply from the electroshock, Fahkumram eventually came back to his senses. He glared at the military men, still feeling resentful towards them.
"Laxeīyd. I will fight the invaders. But you WILL make sure that my family are well-protected" he agreed with the field marshal's orders.
The field marshal smiled smugly in return. "Xòt̄hong. Then we will let you know when the time to enter the fray is right. But for now, rest easy. Luckyly, we still have time to prepare our forces for any potential invasions. General, come with me" the field marshal said before turning around and leaving.
"Yessir!" the general responded.
This left Fahkumram all alone in this futuristic room. It became dark once again, yet he was still awake. No matter how many times he kept trying, Fahkumram could never stop worrying about his family. All that he wanted was to see them be set free. Then one day, he would free himself from this military captivity And after that, they would be together and find someplace safe to live their lives as a family.
In the streets of Cobham, Surrey, Britain
Having been on a long journey, Steve Fox had returned to the UK in hopes of continuing his career as a boxer. To his surprise, there was some boxing events that were taking place, and Steve was more than happy to participate in them and earn some cash. On the other hand, Steve had visited his adoptive family. He was happy to be with them, despite learning so much about his "real" family.
Right now, Steve found himself walking in the streets of Cobham, a village in Surrey and southwest of London. He was about to meet someone and truth be told, he wasn't particularly looking forward to it. And rest assured, it was not date.
Entering the bar called Fairmile, Steve walked up to the counter, asking the bartender for this specific person.
"He's upstairs sitting at the couch by the end of the table" the bartender told him politely.
With that info, Steve went upstairs to the second floor. Even now, there were plenty of people socializing themselves with drinks, games or anything else. However, Steve has not looking for those. He eventually found a hooded man sitting by himself in a corner. The seat did indeed look like a couch. Frowning deeply, the blonde-haired man approached that person, taking his seat across him.
So far, neither of them spoke. There was so much noise by the singing and laughing that it didn't bother them at all. But the silence soon ended when the hooded man spoke.
"So you really came?" he said, speaking as if he was little surprised by Steve showing up. "Lars was under the impression that you would say no. Which is understandable, given who I am" he added.
"Drop all this nice-guy act, Jin Kazama. You know why I came here" Steve bluntly told the man's name.
In response, the stranger removed his hood. He was indeed Jin Kazama, with his black spikey hair, eyebrows and bangs. And right now, he and Steve were having this face-to-face meeting. Obvously, Jin would be having a reason for travelling this far to Britain in order to meet Steve.
"I know why you hate me. You hate me because of all the boxing competitions being cancelled due to my decisions" Jin spoke up.
Steve scoffed at his words. "That's only half of it" he responded, his disapproving eyes never taking off Jin. "Somehow, I ended up getting created as a result of your grandfather injecting the genes and DNA of your father into a woman in cryosleep" he continued.
"I assume you mean our grandfather and father" Jin responded flatly.
This really got Steve upset, and he even rose up from his seat angrily. But none of the nearby customers in the bar took notice of this, as they were already busy with being in their own drunken world. Steve glared at Jin, who remained surprisingly calm while looking up at him. Things were getting grim between these half-brothers.
"Don't you fucking say that. That old wanker Heihachi was never my grandfather! And as for Kazuya, he can rot in hell for all I care!" Steve blurted out, struggling to retain his composure.
Jin let out a deep sigh. "Settle down, Steve Fox. I have no intention of stirring you up. What I did was only stating the truth. Heihachi was your grandfather. Kazuya is your father. That literally makes us half-brothers" Jin pointed out to him, with Steve still standing there with his rage held back. Closing his eyes, Jin found himself smirking. "And don't worry, you're not alone to hate being related to these men by blood. I share that same disgust" the Japanese man insisted.
Steve sat down, still not amused with his half-brother's words. "Oh really? Well, your actions as the Mishima Zaibatsu's head tells me otherwise" the replied.
"That may be true. But you know the entire reason for why I started this war, don't you?" Jin asked him.
"You started the war in order awaken and then kill some ugly monster. So what? That still doesn't excuse you for starting a bloody war and cause sufferings to millions!" Steve rebuked Jin's attempt to justify it.
For some reason, Jin closed his eyes in return. Clearly, he was thinking about the decisions he had made in the past. The cries of many people murdered or killed seemed to haunt him in some way. Yet the Japanese man remained in control of his thoughts.
"You're correct. There was no absolute excuse for me in doing that. And I sincerely regret causing harm to those people" Jin told Steve with honesty.
The young boxer rolled his eyes in return. "Whatever. Either way, there's no way I'll forgive you for what you've done" Steve bluntly said, shutting down all hopes of finding forgiveness.
But Jin seemed unmoved by this rejection. "That's fine. I actually didn't seek forgiveness from you" he revealed to him.
Steve was furious. "Then why the hell did you even bring me out here? Is it because of you wanting to make new friends or something?" he wondered aloud, only for Jin to chuckle while shaking his head. "This is just ridiculous" he muttered while facepalming.
"You ask why I wanted to meet you here? Well, I'll give you the answer here and now" Jin revealed, thus gaining Steve's attention. "To put it in a simple way, curiosity is what led me wanting to meet you. All this life, I never knew that I had a brother living halfway across the globe. And I also know about you being the biological son of my former accomplice: Nina Williams" he answered.
"Fuck me" Steve cursed himself as he mentioned the assassin's name. "Thinking about it only makes this meeting more awkward" the British man revealed.
"As far as I'm concerned, I was unaware of Nina having a son. Couldn't it be said the same for you not yet knowing that she was your mother?" Jin asked this point-blank question.
This infuriated Steve. "Bollocks! I'd already done my fair share of research upon her years before we even met!" he claimed, only to slump when he thought about their first encounter. "But I can't say our meeting was…joyful" he said sarcastically.
"Nothing is really joyful, truly. That's only a word to describe something that makes you smile" Jin revealed, starting to get more personal this time. "As for me, I have an important quest to fulfill now that the world has been quiet for a long time. I must do this by myself. You don't have to get yourselves involved in it, Steve" he then told his half-brother.
"What?" Steve was confused. "I really don't understand what you….WAIT! Are you saying you want to kill Kazuya!?" he demanded from him.
Jin remained unfazed by that question. "I can't answer that" he told him.
"Why not!? You just said that you didn't want me to accompany you on whatever quest you speak of. Don't think for a second that I need some brotherly advice from you. I can handle myself just fine!" Steve pointed out.
The young Kazama smirked at him in return. "I can. I'm still your older brother" he pointed out, much to Steve's confusion. "While we were born in the same year, I'm still months older than you. Don't forget that" he added.
"Tch, that's stupid and you know it!" Steve said, only to see Jin stand up from his seat and walk out. This confused Steve and he wondered where he was going. "Hey! Where are you off to!?" he followed the Japanese man.
Jin and Steve eventually exited the bar together. From the looks of it, their meeting was coming to an end.
"I suppose our meeting is over. After all, I did promise you that it wouldn't last long" Jin said, yet he couldn't help but to look at Steve. "Did you wish for it to be longer?" he asked the young boxer.
"Hell no!" Steve replied, denying it to the fullest. "I'm glad that the meeting's over. I just…..didn't think you would take it so casually" the boxer remarked.
Jin found himself amused at his statement. "You're funny, Steve Fox. I will say, it was a pleasure to finally meet my half-brother" he admitted, all of a sudden reaching out a hand to him. "Perhaps we will meet each other again someday. But whenever that happens, I'm glad that you would be the person I would meet. You're much less annoying than some other friends I've made" Jin added with a hint of humor in his voice.
Watching Jin's hand, Steve had some reservations with shaking it with him. But a feeling in his gut just told him to do it. As such, Steve shook Jin's hand, only to add insults along the way.
"Don't push your luck, smartarse. The next time we meet, everything will be peaceful. And there will be no mentions of all that cursed Mishima-bullshit" Steve told Jin, surprisingly forming a smirk after saying that. "Still, I appreciated this meeting. Was getting bored of watching movies in my apartment, anyways" he then admitted.
"Naturally" Jin replied. "Until we meet again. Farewell, brother" he said before walking his way.
Steve shrugged off his words and was about to make his move. "Try not to get yourself killed, Jin. I won't be your knight in shining armor!" he told him as he took his leave.
And as such, each half-brother went their separate ways. Jin walked past some shops until he neared an alleyway. He had parked a motorcycle between these buildings. Both shops were closed, so there wouldn't be anyone snooping in this alleyway. Or so Jin thought.
While removing the covers and making sure that his bike stood, Jin realized that he was not alone. But he remained calm, as if nothing was bothering him at all.
"I assume you were watching us…Nina Williams" Jin looked over his shoulder to see whoever had been hiding in the shadows. And it was indeed he Irish assassin. She was dressed in her black motorcycle suit.
"Just what were you doing with him, Jin?" Nina demanded an answer, her arms crossed. "You can't possibly think he's Kazuya's child. There's no resemblance between the two of them" the assassin continued up.
Jin got on his motorcycle, still looking at Nina. "Well, I could say the same when it comes to resemblances between you and him. Minus the eyes and hair, that is" the Kazama pointed out, much to Nina's annoyance. Yet Jin was not finished speaking. "Anyway, please don't follow me anymore, Nina. I do not want to draw unwanted attention. Understand?" he then told her.
"This is what I get for all the times I've been having your back? How ungrateful" Nina sounded displeased with his answer.
Jin started the motorcycle, wanting to say some final words to the Irishwoman before driving off.
"I'm saying this for your own good. On this quest of mine, I have no interests with involving anybody. Only I alone will carry the burden on my shoulders. But if you insist on getting involved, then I'll tell you this: you will not survive for much longer" Jin said and he sped off into the streets of Cobham.
Being left all by herself, Nina leaned against a shop and looked up to the skies. "Tch, I was under the impression that things around the world had gone peacefully. Oh well, international media's not always the brightest" Nina thought of the situation.
Somewhere dark underneath the world's surface
Revenant had survived his encounter with Kazuya. With Hawaii threatened by the volcanic eruption, the cultists had fled themselves down to their hidden HQ. But the leader of the mysterious Acolytes of Pluton was now in a secret chamber, all alone by himself. He seemed to be in communication with someone. Whatever that thing was, it seemed to be an ancient being.
Surprisingly, Revenant was kneeling in front of this shadowy being. That only confirmed suspicions about the cultist being a brick in a much bigger game.
"The world has gone silent since news about Heihachi's death broke out. The Mishima Zaibatsu are fleeting under the leadership of his pet bear. But on the other hand, Kazuya Mishima and his associates have not used this opportunity to eliminate them" Revenant spoke up. The eyes on his mask glowed and he looked at the thing. "Still, that does not mean we should hide in the shadows anymore. Yes, we will use this opportunity to bring forth the Gods of Old. Don't you agree…." Revenant could notice the thing suddenly beginning to move.
Amidst the darkness, a couple of red eyes shined through. This creature began moving out of the shadows. Revenant was already standing up, looking at something that was quite recognizable to most fighters across the globe. He wore golden armor while his natural was skin gray and silver. His long hair was black. While appearance may had changed, this creature was an entity long thought to have been defeated during the King of Iron Fist Tournament 3.
"Ogre….." Revenant called out his name.
That's right. The so-called God of Fighting and Stealer of Souls, who had been defeated by Jin Kazama in his true form, was now standing there alive! How this evil being had managed to escape remained uncertain. But somehow, he and Revenant had formed some sort of alliance.
As their eyes finally met, Ogre did something very unthinkable. "No" he said, his voice as deep as the ancient chamber they were standing. "There will be no need for such baseless actions" he then said.
Revenant seemed to understand the language Ogre was speaking in. Or could it be that Ogre himself was now speaking the human language? Either way, the two dark beings were now conversing with each other.
"What do you mean? With our enemies too distracted, it's the perfect opportunity to…" Revenant was interrupted by the glowing red eyes coming from Ogre.
"Do not presume to command me, cultist!" Ogre rebuked him, thus forcing Revenant to keep his mouth shut. "The Gods of Old will return to this world when they see fit. But as long as our enemies still roam the world…..they will not come" the ancient demon continued.
Knowing better than to argue, Revenant eased off his wrathful nature. As powerful as he may have been, Ogre was in a completely different league than him.
"Then what is it you suggest, Ogre?" the cultist asked him.
For some reason, Ogre was smiling. This was unexpected, seeing as he was always seen frowning deeply. He was thinking about someone. "The world will come into chaos soon enough. More screams of pain and agony will surface as a result. And when all that happens…..she finally comes" Ogre revealed.
"She? You can't possible mean…." Revenant seemed to have figured it out.
"Yes. I mean her. That stupid woman and her guardian spirit! They managed to harm me! And I was humiliated by her abomination of a son!" Ogre felt wrathful as he spoke of the woman. But soon, he smiled once again. "Still, my time will come. Once she reappears, I will cut her down! And the same will happen to her child! Oh, how long I have waited for my vengeance to happen!" he exclaimed it out so proudly.
Revenant found himself chuckling in response. In fact, he was having some thoughts of his own. "Ogre. As much as I admire your strength, I can't help but to find your desire for vengeance annoying. It only distracts you for what you were meant to do!" he expressed his slight disappointment with Ogre. "However, I will make sure that you fulfill our end of the bargain. Once we cursed devils have been disposed of…...the Gods of Old will finally return to bring this rotten world back in order!" he added, also possessing some desires wishing to be fulfilled.
Whatever outcomes Ogre and Revenant desired, this dark alliance was bringing more danger to an already fragile world. But how long it would last, no one would ever know.
Months later…..
It was a disastrous sight! In the city of Chicago, there were ruined buildings and abandoned streets. This only hinted to the fact that there was going on.
The G Corporation, under Kazuya's leadership, had absolutely no desire to end their war effort. And to make matters worse, it had declared war on not just countries, but international organizations as well. As such, they declared war on the United Nations, International Criminal Court and even stronger countries such as the USA, Russia, China and India. Needless to say, Kazuya was now declaring war on the entire world.
As such, enemy armies marched into countries that had previously been spared from any invasion from either the G Corp or the Zaibatsu. Many people had already lost their lives as a result of Kazuya's warmongering.
Chicago was only one of the many cities in America and throughout the world, that had become a battlefield between the G Corp and the UN's army that had been formed in wake of the invasion.
On the top of one of the many skyscrapers in Chicago, Lars Alexandersson gazed out to what was once a thriving city. Smoke and ashes sprung up from everywhere. Nobody was safe in this warzone.
Lars was grim, watching the scenery of death and despair before. Despite having been in many wars before, he had never seen anything like this.
"Half of Chicago lies in ruins….yet the UN's forces have failed to mount up a counterattack….this does not look good" Lars thought as he watched everything die.
He could hear some footsteps behind him, yet Lars didn't care. Joining him were his two closest friends that had assisted him with leading Yggdrasil: Lee Chaolan and Alisa Bosconovitch.
"Looks like things are much worse than we thought" Lee admitted as he gazed out on the ruined cityscape. "The G Corp have no intention of ending the war, that is painfully obvious. Kazuya has really gone too far this time…" he spoke of dismay when mentioning his adoptive brother.
"Indeed, the G Corp have already begun invading Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, Mexico and Australia. Furthermore, it's confirmed that Malta, Iceland, Ireland, Tonga and New Zealand are under G Corp-occupation. It's only a matter of time before things become even more graver" Alisa revealed, she too horrified by what she witnessed.
The three friends continued to look, yet it was obvious that they were not alone. Lars had even taken notice of this person's presence, yet he was relaxed.
"Do you see this, Jin? This is what the world looks like without Heihachi. Kazuya and his associates have taken advantage of his death by resuming the war effort" Lars called out the person's name. And it was indeed his half-nephew approaching them. "You're the one who sent this world to hell, so it's no up to you to bring it all back. There's no one else who can do it. Do you understand?" Lars asked him firmly, even turning around to look at Jin.
As nonchalant as Jin seemed, he was determined to put an end to this war. "I know. It's all on me. There's no use in hiding in the shadows any longer. I must do this before this war consumes everybody" Jin said, even looking at his gloved hand before clenching it tightly. "The devil's blood run through my veins, so it's up to me to kill Kazuya. Whether I live or die, I don't care. All that matters is that I kill him before the darkness prevails" Jin said, even starting to show some of his powers of the Devil Gene.
Clearly, this was a sign that he was able to control the power he had so desperately feared. And with it, he would battle Kazuya, without any fear of becoming a mindless monster.
"Then we're all set. Let's do this, once and for all" Lars told everyone, and they began moving.
On the top of Mount Miyanoura, Yakushima, Japan
High above the sea, a lone woman was crying. This was none other than Kazumi Mishima. She stood there with her pet tiger Tora at her side. Many things had changed since she had last been seen. And right now, the spirit of Heihachi's late wife had a reason to be sad.
"It's already begun…." Kazumi said through her tears. "The prophecy that my elders at the Hachijo clan conceived…..has become a reality….all because of me!" she sobbed.
Tora tried helping her, but the sadness on Kazumi was too much to bear. She fell onto her pet tiger. Still in tears, Kazumi could only think about the things that had happened throughout her life.
"I now see the error of following my family's orders. I tried to fight its' corruption, yet failed. And all those who I asked for help….Jinpachi….and now Wang….are both dead…..because of my mistakes" Kazumi cried. "And even Heihachi died! And now, Kazumi has become a monster that is threatening to destroy the entire world" the beautiful woman continued sobbing.
"I know what you're thinking" Kazumi stopped crying and got up as she looked at someone approaching her.
This was a woman who had for many years been missing in action. While she had aged a little, she looked as agile and beautiful as she did when at a younger age. This middle-aged woman was thought to have been killed by Ogre, when Jin was just 15 years old. But in all reality, she was still alive.
She was Jun Kazama, Jin's mother and the one who Kazuya had secretly loved. She and Kazumi looked at one another, with Jun smiling weakly at the distraught woman.
"You and I both share the same feeling of not being able to prevent Heihachi and Kazuya from clashing. But sadly, such fate was meant to be" Jun spoke up, the woman sounding personal when speaking of Kazuya. "Even as I stood here, I could hear him calling for me, even whispering my name" she then admitted.
Kazumi smiled sadly in return. "Heihachi did that as well. But now, he is gone" she said while thinking about her former husband. "Even now, I can sense Kazuya becoming more consumed by the Devil as time pass by. I'm afraid that my pleas will no longer affect him" she conceded.
"It's not too late to rescue him" Jun suddenly spoke up, thus surprising Kazumi. The Kazama nodded at her. "Indeed. I know that I could never forsake him. For I love Kazuya….and he loves me. That is why he has now started this war. He longs to see me again. I must go to him" she told her.
"But are you willing to partake the risks, Jun Kazama?" Kazumi suddenly asked her.
"I am" Jun said, only to shed a tear as she also thought about someone else. "And then there is Jin. I fear that my absence has cost him to feel loneliness and hatred. I fear that those have contributed to the rise of the Devil's power" she then realized.
This time, it was Kazumi's turn to lift Jun's spirit. "Have no fear. The blessings I gave him has enabled Jin to finally master that power" she revealed, with Jun looking at her in surprise. "That's right. Compared to Kazuya, Jin still has light within him. That is why it was easy for me to pass onto my gift to him. Rest assured, he will never succumb to it" she insisted.
Jun wiped out her tears. "Thank you" she bowed gracefully. "I really don't know how I could ever repay you. You've done so many great things for me, even rescuing me from certain death at Ogre's hands" Jun expressed her gratitude.
Kazumi giggled in return. "There is nothing that you need to repay me with, young one. It happens to be that the hatred Heihachi and Kazuya shared between one another….only resulted in us meeting" she said, only to look outside in the distance. "But I would hate to see my son and grandson clash. This hatred must stop" she said.
Jun was petting Tora as she listened. Surprisingly, the tiger liked it and he purred in appreciation.
"Yes. We must find a way to end it all" Jun said, smiling as she joined Kazumi with gazing out the distance.
"It falls upon you and me now. Luckily, Jinpachi and Wang will be watching over us as we make this journey" Kazumi said, looking over to Jun. "But I wish you the best of luck on this journey, Jun. You will need it. And know that whenever you are lost, always call upon me and Tora. We will help you find your way" she said as both she and Tora suddenly vanished.
Smiling, Jun realized that it was time for her to make her move. She looked out to the distance and thought about the two people she cared for the most.
"Jin…..Kazuya….I will not let you destroy one another. That is what fate has decided" she spoke as if her son and the man she loved could hear her.
It was time for her to move out of the shadows and do what she had promised Jinpachi, Wang and Kazumi: saving the world from whatever darkness that was resurrecting itself. She had to make haste, for even as she stood there, the world was slowly dying. But that wouldn't stop Jun. Because she never gave up hope, the strongest weapon that one human could ever carry.
THE END
CREDITS
Written by Mr History 94
Based upon characters from Bandai Namco, Katsuhiro Harada, Seiichi Ishii and everyone else involved in the making of this franchise.
Cast of characters
MALE
Heihachi Mishima - Clancy Brown
Kazuya Mishima - Lex Lang
Jin Kazama - Brad Swaile
Lars Alexandersson - Taliesin Jaffe
Lee Chaolan - Grant George
Jinpachi Mishima - Alan Shearman
Wang Jinrei - Richard Newman
Lei Wulong - Robert Jeremiah
Marshall Law - David Vincent
Paul Phoenix - Eric Kelso
Baek Doo San – Vic Chao
Hwoarang - Johnny Young Bosch
Steve Fox - Gideon Emery
King - Fred Tatasciore
Craig Marduk - T.J. Storm
Eddy Gordo - Greg Eagles
Bo "Rodeo" Montana - Nolan North
Robert "Bob" Richards - Patrick Seitz
Yoshimitsu - Dan Woren
Ganryu - Paul St. Peter
Raven - Ogie Banks
Shaheen - Oded Fehr
Sebastian - Dave Mallow
Miguel Caballero Rojo - Liam O'Brien
Bruce Irvin - Khary Payton
JACK-7 - David Kaye
Gigas - Scott McNeil
Claudio Serafino - Troy Baker
Bryan Fury - Keith Silverstein
Feng Wei - J.B. Blanc
Armor King - Phil LaMarr
Sergei Dragunov - Matthew Mercer
Taiga Miyagi - Kirby Morrow
Isaak Lichtenfeld - Benjamin Diskin
Forrest Law - Todd Haberkorn
Leroy Smith - Dave Fennoy
Fahkumram - Travis Willingham
Revenant - Robin Atkin Downes
Azazel - Richard Epcar
Ogre - J.S. Gilbert
FEMALE
Ling Xiaoyu - Carrie Keranen
Asuka Kazama - G.K. Bowes
Alisa Bosconovitch - Cristina Valenzuela
Julia Chang - Annie Wood
Christie Monteiro - Erica Luttrell
Katarina Alves - Kim Mai Guest
Emilie "Lili" De Rochefort - Joy Jacobson
Eleonor "Leo" Kliesen - Vernoica Taylor
Josie Rizal - Ananda Jacobs
Nina Williams - Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Master Raven - Danielle Nicolet
Michelle Chang - Julie Ann Taylor
Anna Williams - Tara Platt
Lucky Chloe - Cherami Leigh
Jane - Erin Fitzgerald
Zafina - Leslie Wilkerson
Kunimitsu - Alycin Packard
Shuwawei - Michaela Dietz
Tamaki - Laura Bailey
Eliza - Tasia Valenza
Rumi Kusakabe - Caitlin Glass
Hu Yue - Stephanie Sheh
Angel - Debi Mae West
Kazumi Mishima - Karen Strassman
Jun Kazama - Colleen O'Shaughnessey
TEKKEN 7: BLOOD FEUD
Thanks for reading, everyone! I appreciate your feedbacks! Take good care of yourselves!
(For those who are Tekken fans, please read Tekken vs Mortal Kombat or Bandai Namco X DC Universe)