Chapter Two
You don't know me... this voice that speaks in your mind... but I know of you... your bloodline... and your fight against your father. For so long, you two fought to destroy each other. However, what neither of you realize is that your personal battle has done more damage to the realms than even the Elder Gods can comprehend.
Your act of heroism in Outworld means nothing now... not with this new threat over you head, the threat that you helped to build overtime.
The fact that I can speak to you in your mind makes one thing clear... it is too late to undo the damage of my inevitable return. You are both in too deep in your fight to back out now. No matter how much you try to cease your rivalry, you of all people know that he will not do the same.
However... if you truly wish to undo the damage you have created, there is one option available to you if you wish to stop me from being released from my shackles and wreak havoc upon the universe. The fact that you run a large corporation will benefit you greatly in order to achieve this.
The rewards, if you accept this single option instead of ignoring it, will benefit you greatly. However... sacrifices will have to be made in order to achieve this... this is your one chance to set things right... even if the way to go about it is unconventional...
Three Months Ago, Japan, Unknown Area
A light snowfall fell from the heavily clouded sky as a large group of people gathered in front of a podium placed upon a stage. A handful of them represented the press, but many more of them wore heavy, black military gear with each soldier holding a rifle in their hands.
The press had arrived some fifteen minutes ago, and they didn't have to wait long before they were presented with their sole reason for being here this morning. Coming up to the podium to speak to them was Jin Kazama – the CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu.
Jin took up the mantle seven months ago after defeating his great-grandfather, Jinpachi Mishima, in the Fifth King of Iron Fist Tournament. The tournament had taken place two months after the events of the Universal War. As one of The Four who ultimately saw the end to Shao Kahn's reign on the realms, Jin would have been hailed as a hero... if anyone beyond the Chosen Ones knew of The Four's identities.
It was indeed for the best if the world never knew, especially now.
Initially, Jin had gone into isolation, returning to his home on Yakushima Island in order to figure out what to do from there concerning his bloodline. However, a month later, the soldiers of G-Corp, the company currently run by Kazuya Mishima, managed to find him.
In the middle of fighting them off, Jin had given in to his devil side, his form changing. Jin had blacked out during that time, but upon awakening, he found himself in another part of the forest with everything around him destroyed. Later, he would learn that all the soldiers who attempted to take him out were killed.
For the next few days, Jin was plagued with nightmares of the devil, waking up each night in cold sweat. More than once, he was sure that his struggle would ultimately consume him.
Then he learned of the upcoming King of Iron Fist Tournament through an invitation that was left behind for him by an unknown person. Ironically, this was exactly what happened when he was given an invitation to the Blood Tournament more than a year prior. Jin had never learned who gave him that invite all that time ago, and he couldn't help but wonder if whoever left him the one for the latest tournament was the same person from previously.
It didn't take long before he heard on the news of Heihachi Mishima's missing presence (Jin had not seen him since his time in the realm of Keisei during the Universal War) as well as the rumor of G-Corp attending the tournament. That latter fact alone gave Jin the incentive to participate in the tournament. The Mishima Zaibatsu may have provided grim memories for the young man, but he was not about to stand by and watch Kazuya swoop in and merge the two companies together... Jin didn't even want to imagine what would happen to Earth if that came to be.
The host of the tournament remained a mystery throughout the two-week long tournament. Not many participated due to the event taking place so shortly after the war with Earth still recovering. A few of the Chosen Ones, however, did attend as contenders including his cousin, Asuka Kazama, for their own reasons.
Jin came on top of the competition, beating everyone including Kazuya, and he eventually earned the right to face the tournament's mysterious host.
It came as shock to Jin that the host of the tournament was none other than Jinpachi. Jin only heard of the man through Heihachi only twice... the time that he used to run the corporation and the time that he was told that the old man was dead since before Jin was born, nothing more. Through Jinpachi himself, Jin learned the horrifying truth of his fate...
Thirty years earlier, Heihachi succeeded in a coup, overthrowing Jinpachi from his position and taking over the Mishima Zaibatsu. Later, Jinpachi attempted to overthrow his son, but had ultimately failed. He was shackled and imprisoned underneath the compounds of Honmaru, where he would eventually die of starvation... at least until a mysterious, evil spirit reawakened him some months ago.
Jin knew of the destruction of Honmaru, which occurred five months before the Universal War, but it seems as though no one realized what occurred underneath the rubble in the aftermath of G-Corp's raid.
Even afterwards, Jinpachi stayed in hiding until the Universal War was brought to Earthrealm. Once Heihachi went MIA, Jinpachi seized the opportunity to take over the Zaibatsu during his son's absence. Behind the scenes, it was he who gave the okay to set up the Fifth King of Iron Fist Tournament. He merely waited until the war's end to begin setting things into motion.
In the end, as he revealed to his great-grandson just before their battle; at the crater where Honmaru once stood of all places, all Jinpachi wanted was someone to defeat him so that he could be free from the entity that resurrected him before it completely overtook his mind. Jin sympathized with Jinpachi's plight due to his own experiences with the devil gene. Whatever took over Jinpachi was sinister and needed to be purged before things became worse.
After a seemingly long battle, Jin was able to grant Jinpachi's wish, destroying the entity within and setting his spirit free. Jinpachi's body turned to ash after he thanked Jin for freeing him.
This event, though bittersweet, resulted in his win in the Fifth King of Iron Fist Tournament. It also granted him the CEO seat of the Mishima Zaibatsu. The only reason Jin accepted the position was so that there was no chance for Kazuya and G-Corp to get their hands on the corporation's powerful assets. He was not about to let that happen.
And if Heihachi planned to take back the Zaibatsu, whenever he came out of hiding, well... the old man was in for a rude surprise.
One month into his new job, a voice began to speak in his head... at first, he wondered if it was part of the devil within his veins. However, the more the voice spoke, the more he came to realize that this belonged to someone else... someone who was a threat to the universe. It offered him only one way to stop the owner of the voice from being freed since the cycle had already began...
After considering his options for a while, Jin had eventually accepted the terms.
To this day, he has yet to figure out who was behind the voice.
For the last six months, series of events unfolded for the Mishima Zaibatsu that led to this point. The months included covert missions and cooperation from other global companies and militaries. Some accepted his proposals. Other did not. He had his ways of dealing with the latter, though not everyone had suffered the consequences just yet.
For the most part, things were settled, and the events were now being set and ready... the moment has come to make a very important announcement to the press, one that would ultimately get the wheel into motion.
Jin was flanked by four armed men in Mishima Zaibatsu issued military gear. The soldiers were a part of the Tekken Force, the military branch of the corporation which Heihachi himself had started. It was one thing the old man got right and benefited Jin greatly, especially with G-Corp recently building their own military branch to counteract them.
Upon getting on the stage, Jin turned to the viewers, taking a moment to give them a salute. Immediately, all the soldiers around him stood at attention and saluted as well. The stance was brief before Jin put his arm down and approached the podium.
"At ease," he ordered. Immediately, the soldiers dropped their arms in almost perfect unison.
Jin began to speak once all was quiet again. "I will make this announcement as brief as possible... for the last six months, events have been set into motion in order to get the Mishima Zaibatsu to where it's at today. I first want to thank the corporations and military units around the world who pledged themselves to our cause."
The cameras from the press began to flash, but he managed to ignore them. Despite that, it wasn't hard for him to notice the cameramen broadcasting his speech to the world. Next to them, reporters held their microphones in their hands, ready to hound him with questions once he was done speaking.
"However," Jin continued. "Not everyone was on board. It's no matter, however, especially now.
"It's been over a year since the Universal War nearly saw to Earth's destruction. Even now, we are still rebuilding. This is something the Zaibatsu is aware of, and it is well documented that we had generously helped with the cause of helping the needy. With this in mind, let it be clear that sometimes... we must sometimes sacrifice our original goals in order to make another necessary."
Jin began to hear the whispers from the press starting, but he ignored him as he spoke again. This time, he made his voice louder. "First and foremost, I am officially declaring the Mishima Zaibatsu an independent nation. Although we are primarily in Japan, all compounds within their proper gates will be a part of it's own country. The facilities outside Japan will also be considered a part of this new nation.
"This decision will give us the leeway to set our own regulations and government, allowing us to achieve what we believe must be done for the greater good. With that, and due to the lack cooperation from certain military branches and other corporations - the guilty parties know who they are - the Mishima Zaibatsu will be declaring war on these branches. I also declare future war on any nations who choose to oppose us in response to this announcement. No questions will be answered for the press at this time."
With that all out in the open now, Jin immediately took his leave just as the press went wild at his revelation. Some wanted to interview him while others were horrified by this announcement, especially considering how he was not clear on his reasons for declaring war on the world. Once again flanked by soldiers, Jin began heading towards the helicopter that was waiting for him to take him away from the scene before chaos erupted.
Soon, Jin and the four soldiers were on the helicopter, which departed the grounds as soon as they were settled. Only one thing was on Jin's mind in the aftermath of his speech...
So it begins.
Present Day – Shaolin Temple, China
"Okay, let's try that one more time," said Kung Lao as he stood straight on the lei tai of the Wushi Academy. It was the middle of the day, and the sky above were heavily clouded. The Shaolin monk suspected that it was most likely going to rain tonight judging by how low the clouds were and the moist humidity in the air. He figured earlier that this would be the best time to get some training in before the rain came.
In front of him was a young, African-American man named Kai, who arrived at the Shaolin Temple just a few months ago in what's supposed to be a temporary stay. Kai's response to Kung Lao's suggestion was to jump forward with a flying kick, which Kung Lao immediately ducked underneath before taking a couple of steps forward. Kai landed on his feet and the two turned to each other again. From there, they continued with their sparring session.
Prior to the Blood Tournament, Kai had trained under Kung Lao's best friend, Liu Kang, during the time of the Fallen Elder God Shinnok's war. Afterwards, Kai began to wander the Earth to seek enlightenment. With the exception of his current visit, he only came back once after Liu Kang's death to pay his respects.
Kung Lao was surprised to learn that Raiden had asked Kai to help watch over Earth during the Blood Tournament. Kung Lao had been asked to do the same. Initially, he had thought that Raiden had requested it just so Kung Lao didn't seek revenge for Liu Kang's death since his murderer, Shang Tsung, would be there. That could still be the case, but either way, it turned out that Kung Lao wasn't the only one to be asked for that kind of assistance. It did make him wonder who else was asked to watch over Earthrealm during the Thunder God's absence.
Kai did try to seek out Raiden during the Universal War to see how he could assist. However, by the time he reached the Thunder God's Sky Temple, the war was just days away from ending, and the temple itself was in ruins. It was Kung Lao who had to inform Kai of Raiden's demise.
Though Kung Lao's ally, Fujin, did inform him that a new Protector was chosen, they've yet to learn their identity. That was more than a year ago. With the current war going on now, Kung Lao did wonder if there was any kind of danger that threatened mankind like during the Universal War.
Perhaps Earth is not truly in danger right now if the new Protector hasn't involved us yet, the Shaolin guessed.
The thought left him just as he parried a left hook from Kai. Kung Lao then followed with a hand strike to the abdomen, but Kai blocked the move with his forearm before attempting to execute a forward punch, which Kung Lao jumped away from, leaving some room between them.
Kung Lao got into a fighting stance before a smirk came over his face. "I know I've mentioned this before, but you've really improved since you were here under Liu Kang's tutelage. I bet he's watching this from the Heavens and is very proud of you."
Kai smiled. "I'm sure he is." He then noticed something over his sparring partner's shoulder. "Though I'm certain that our training session has ended for right now."
Curious, Kung Lao turned to see what Kai was looking at. Coming down onto the lei tai was one of the monks living on the temple grounds. Like many others here, he were the traditional orange robes and black slippers, and his head was shaved clean.
The monk stopped just a few feet away before bowing his head to Kung Lao, who returned the gesture, before speaking. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Kung Lao, but there's something that needs your attention right away."
Kung Lao frowned a little with concern. "Is something the matter?"
The monk immediately shook his head. "Oh no, I'm sure everything is fine. However, we have a visitor among us, a young lady. Said she came all the way from the Middle East to visit the temple. She had a request... and I thought it was best that you spoke to her about it. I'll let her explain. She's waiting just outside the main temple."
Kung Lao nodded. "Okay, we'll be there momentarily."
The monk once more bowed his head before making his leave. Kung Lao began to do the same with Kai following close behind.
Kung Lao then thought of something. "I just realized... we haven't had a lady on the temple grounds since the Universal War."
"I recall that you mentioned an Outworld native being here previously to train under Bo' Rai Cho when he was here," said Kai.
"Li Mei," Kung Lao reminded him. He then took a deep breath. "The Universal War does seem like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?"
"It has," Kai agreed. "And you and the rest of the temple have done great work in helping to aid the nearby villages who suffered in the attacks."
"Well," Kung Lao replied. "I did have a promise to uphold, but regardless, I would've offered any aid I could. I just wish we had a better chance to fully recover before this new war began..."
"I don't think you've ever mentioned what that promise was," Kai pointed that since he's heard the Shaolin mention it in passing before.
Kung Lao sighed, tipping his head a little so that his bladed-rimmed hat shielded his brown eyes. "Let's just say that there's some blood that needed to be washed off."
Kai whistled low at that. "Sounds heavy."
"Not as heavy as it could've been. That's all I'll say on the matter."
The two didn't talk for the rest of the walk, and it wasn't long before they reached the main temple. Right in front of the first set of steps, a raven-haired woman stood. She wore a simple red long-sleeve shirt, black pants, and black sneakers. A pair of gold bracelets adorned her wrists as we as a pair of medium sized matching hoop earrings dangling from her earlobes. The only thing she had with her was a large black dufflebag, the only indication that she had indeed traveled a long way to get here.
The young lady stared at Kung Lao with curiosity. "Are you the leader of this place?" she asked.
"Actually, the Elders here are the leaders," the Shaolin responded. "But unless it effects the temple as a whole, I can try to help you with whatever you need. My name is Kung Lao..." He pointed at his companion. "This is my friend, Kai. Who are you? The monk who spoke to you said that you came all the way from the Middle East."
The woman nodded. "My name is Zafina. I came here because my visions have foreseen bad omens due to the war now upon our world. I've planned to stop it anyway I could. While trying to figure out where to start, my crystal ball has shown me this place."
Kung Lao raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you didn't hesitate to tell us of your abilities."
"Because in times like these, I cannot withhold them no matter what those outside my village perceive me as."
"Fair enough," Kung Lao said. "I hoped your skills helped you during the last war."
"In a way they did," Zafina replied in a matter of fact. "Though my village was lucky... the Universal War never reached us, though that didn't mean that we avoided being affected in some way. This war, however, is now affecting my village directly."
"How?" asked a curious Kai.
For the first time since arriving, Zafina felt a little hesitant, mainly due to what she was about to request. "Before I explain everything... if it's possible, I wish to visit Liu Kang."
Kung Lao frowned over what she just asked. "I'm sorry to say that you're too late by two years. He passed away."
"I know," Zafina replied. "Sorry, I should've clarified. What I meant was, I wish to visit his tomb. My visions had seen his face, and I believe he has some important role involving this war, more than likely in spirit... even I can't really explain it. I feel that visiting his tomb may give me the answers I need."
For some reason, Kung Lao wasn't comfortable with the idea, especially with Zafina still being a stranger he just met a couple of minutes ago. Ever since Raiden, in his dark form, tried to reanimate Liu Kang's body during the Universal War, Kung Lao worked hard to make sure no one else tried to disturb the site again. Only those living within the grounds, as well as their most trusted allies like Kai, were allowed to visit the grave.
"It wouldn't hurt to let her visit," Kai spoke. "As long as we both accompany her to the mausoleum."
Kung Lao was hesitant for another moment before he sighed. "Okay... I guess that's the best way to go."
"If you're worried about my presence there, I assure you my promise to be respectful," Zafina mentioned.
Kung Lao immediately sensed the sincerity of her words. That alone made him feel a little better about taking her to Liu Kang's tomb. He nodded to her. "Okay, let's go."
From there, the three of them began heading off the other side of the temple grounds where the mausoleum was located. None of them said a single word throughout the ten minute walk. Zafina did notice how lovely and well-kept the grounds were here. Living in the desert her entire life, she was amazed how green everything was; the trees and heavy forest surrounding the temple and the freshly cut grass that emitted its herbaceous smell. At one point, they walked through a wooden bridge that crossed over a large pond filled with lotus flowers and lily pads. The pond also had koi fish, their scales in colors of white, black, and orange, swimming in the water.
Everything here felt so tranquil... you could almost forget that there was a war going on beyond these grounds.
Soon they reached the mausoleum entrance. Many of the above-ground graves were lit with incense and candles, brightening their surroundings. They headed towards the back section where Liu Kang's body was laid to rest.
"This is his tomb," Kung Lao announced. Briefly, he took a moment to remove his hat from his head before taking three unused incense sticks from a nearby vase on the wall. He took the time to light them up before giving one to Kai, the second to Zafina, and keeping the third for himself. The Shaolin then placed the incense amongst the others at the base of the tomb, with Kai and Zafina doing the same.
"Liu Kang," Kung Lao began to speak. "I hope you don't mind, but we have a guest who wishes to pay her respects to you."
From there, he looked over at the young woman before giving her a brief nod, then stepped away to stand next to Kai. The two watched as Zafina took a couple of steps forward before she kneeled on the ground just a foot away from the tomb.
"Since this new war began," Zafina began to speak. "I've had visions of bad omens yet to come. I've been asked by my Guru to find a way to prevent this new threat that looms over our universe. I had not known where to begin, so I had sought my crystal ball for help... it showed me your face, Liu Kang. It had left me confused because I knew that you had died some time ago... so visiting you was the next best way to figure out what this could mean. I don't know if you're able to show a sign, but if you can..."
In all honesty, Zafina wasn't sure what to expect when she closed her eyes, except for the hope that she would see yet another vision. At the same time, slowly and gently, she reached forward so that the tip of her fingers grazed the base of the tomb, hoping to establish some kind of spiritual connection.
This went on for a few minutes, but nothing happened, and the only sound surrounding them was silence. Kung Lao was just beginning to wonder how long he should let this go on when suddenly, a bright light appeared a few feet behind Zafina, like a ray of sunlight shining through a hole in the ceiling... which Kung Lao knew for sure there wasn't one.
"What the..." Kai uttered in surprise.
His words caught Zafina's attention. Snapping her eyes open, she turned around to see what was going on. Her eyes widened almost in awe once she saw the light... and by then, a human shape began to form within.
This last for just a few seconds before the light dissipated, and a person now stood there. He wore a white shirt, pants, and Chinese slippers over socks. Over the whole outfit was a v-shaped vest and sash colored in red and held by a black rope serving as a belt. Even with this outfit, Kung Lao instantly recognized the person due to his shoulder length black hair and red bandana tied over his forehead.
"Liu Kang..." he uttered in shock.
Liu Kang heard his name being said, but first, he turned to the young woman nearby. "I knew you'd arrive here sooner or later, Zafina."
He wasn't surprised when a shock look came over Zafina's face. "How did you know that?"
"The Elder Gods in the Heavens have foreseen your arrival here and wished for me to meet you. I plan to take on the new threat as Earthrealm's Protector, and under the wishes of the Elder Gods, seek your assistance. I merely waited until you showed up here."
"Wait a minute," said a surprised Kai. "You're Raiden's successor?!"
Liu Kang nodded as he turned to his former student. "That is correct, Kai. I had to keep that fact quiet while Earth recovered from the Universal War. However, things have become dire in the last few weeks. There's... a lot to explain, and I'm sure Zafina here knows a good amount of it."
He then turned to his fellow Shaolin. Seeing how pale his friend looked, Liu Kang managed to smile at him. "What's the matter, Kung Lao? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Kung Lao, who was still in shock over his friend's arrival (let alone revealing his new status) managed to snap out of it. "Uh... in a way, yeah..."
"Either way, I'm just glad you let Zafina in when you did. I wanted this meeting to be between the four of us."
"Um... yeah, of course..."
"So what's going on here?" Kai asked. "You mentioned that there's a new threat. Does it have anything to do with the war that's going on now?"
"Indirectly," Liu Kang confirmed.
"Normally, a war of this scale would not be," Zafina proceeded. "But with two evil stars in the mist of this war, it'll only get worse with each day that passes."
Kung Lao was a little confused. "And do we know exactly what this 'two evil stars' is about?"
Zafina nodded. "They have names you may be familiar with... Kazuya Mishima and Jin Kazama... according to my Guru, it has something to do with their genes, but that's all I know."
Kung Lao shook his head at that. "Jin... first a hero, now a villain... I fought alongside him during the Universal War. He was quiet and reserved with well-meaning intentions... I heard he took over the Mishima Zaibatsu months ago, but like everyone else, we all thought he would do good things. Needless to say, we're all in shock."
Zafina's tilted her head at what she just learned "You fought in Outworld?"
The Shaolin monk nodded. "I was amongst the chosen ones under the leadership of the Wind God Fujin, and the yoga master Dhalsim. We managed to get to Outworld in order to end the chaos once and for all... and won of course. Dhalsim was the only casualty on our side."
Hearing this made Zafina elated due to one thing. "Then... can I assume that you know the identities of The Four who ended the Outworld Emperor's reign?"
Kung Lao went silent at that as he turned to Liu Kang. Liu Kang spoke then, but first to his friend. "Yes, of course I do know who they are." He turned to the young woman. "Why do you want to know?"
"My Guru, the one who sent me on this journey, wishes for me to seek them out for their assistance. I have some knowledge of the legend of Ano Sentaku Bou thanks to the leader of the Manji Clan... though he never really went into details, and I didn't think it was important to inquire more information at the time. Even with my abilities, I cannot foresee who they were due to all the visions of bad omens I've been receiving these past few months."
Kung Lao smiled at that reveal. "So you know Yoshimitsu. He and his clan are good people. Speaking about them, as well as Dhalsim and The Four, it reminds me how many heroes we had involved in those dark times."
Liu Kang made a decision then. "Kung Lao... I plan to gather the chosen ones again in the fight ahead. Zafina will be helping us, so she'll know who they are sooner or later..."
Kung Lao took a deep breath at that. "Well... I guess it wouldn't hurt once we're actually all gathered together. However..." He turned to Zafina. "You might as well know the big kicker right now... Jin was one of The Four."
Zafina frowned at that. "That's... really disappointing to hear. No wonder you and your allies are in shock."
"Understatement of the year..." uttered Kai.
"We'll talk more about that later," suggested Liu Kang. "Just know, Zafina, that the other three can be trusted."
"Well... one of them actually may be up in the air when it comes to trust..." Kung Lao uttered.
Liu Kang eyed his friend, knowing exactly who he was thinking of. "We'll talk about it later..."
"Good timing because I had another question," Kai began. "You mentioned that this new threat indirectly involves the current war and it involves Jin and Kazuya. The question is, exactly how?"
"I can answer that," Zafina said. From there, she told Kung Lao and Kai the legend of Azazel, or Majin Seiryu Ki, and the temple near her village, how the longer the war went on, the more powerful Azazel would be, and the dangers of opening the temple doors. For now, she held back the fact that she held the only keys to those doors, though she was sure that it was something Liu Kang already knew about.
"And here's where it gets worse," Zafina continued. "This... Outworld... they have a presence on Earth and have been trying to find a way to open the doors for sometime. Even magic stops them for now..."
Kung Lao's eyes widened at that. "And we're only finding this out now?"
"Only because it's being handled by the Manji clan right now," the Protector of Earthrealm confirmed. "They're managing to keep them at bay for now. They're not a full-scale threat, not until they know how to unlock the door."
"And I'm curious to know now who exactly from Outworld is walking on our turf."
Liu Kang frowned, knowing that the next news wasn't going to go over well. "The thing is... we hadn't had the chance to seize Outworld before Quan Chi took over as Emperor. The Elder Gods can no longer get involved in that affair."
The Shaolin shook his head at that. "Son of a..." he uttered as he slowly paced around the room.
"The major threat now is Azazel himself," Liu Kang pointed out. "The more this war goes on, the more powerful he'll become. He's at the point of being stirred... but who knows what will happen if he fully awakens within his chambers."
"Fun..." Kung Lao sighed. "Hopefully ending this threat will be a breeze compared to the Universal War."
"That depends on the events ahead," Liu Kang mentioned. "Either way, the next step is to gather all the chosen ones together again. I'm not sure of the precise plan just yet, except finding a way to get close to both Jin and Kazuya and cease the war...but I'll be speaking with Fujin later today. I'm sure the meeting point will be here on Earth. I just have to figure exactly where."
"And what about those outside of Earth?" Kung Lao asked.
"We'll be transporting them here if any of them want to assist again. I'll let you know more details as soon as I know. While we're on that..." Liu Kang turned to his former student. "Would like to join us in the fight, Kai? I imagine we'll need all the help we can get, and I believe you'll contribute greatly to our cause."
In response, Kai bowed his head to him. "I'd be honored, Master Liu Kang."
Liu Kang nodded as well before proceeding. "In the meantime, could you provide Zafina with lodging and anything she needs during the wait?"
"We'd be glad to," Kung Lao replied. "We'll see you once you have all the details set in stone. We'll wait for however long it takes."
"It won't be too long... no more than a day or two, I'm sure of that. Until then..."
With that, Liu Kang disappeared in a quick flash of fire, leaving his three allies alone.
Two weeks after the Mishima Zaibatsu declared war...
"We interrupt this program for breaking news report! Just moments ago, a conference took place between the press and the mysterious CEO of G-Corporation.
"Since the Mishima Zaibatsu, currently run by CEO Jin Kazama, declared war on our nations two weeks ago, their rival company, commonly referred to as G-Corp, remained silent despite the media pressing for comments. Yesterday, the corporation announced a press meeting to give their comments on the Mishima Zaibatsu's declaration.
"From the closing of the meeting, G-Corp's CEO quotes; 'In this time of war, it is only right that those who oppose it must stand up against our enemies. Therefore, my company, G-Corporation, will use their military forces to combat against our rival's Tekken Force in hopes of ending this needless war. Although we are aware that others will join our side, we believe ourselves to be the best opposition against our foes and will do everything possible to put a stop to their tyranny.'
"This is possibly the first hope given to the people of our world in this new war taking place just as we were beginning to finally recover from last year's Universal War... more will be reported as they come."
One month later...
Somewhere in the Middle East miles from The Temple of Azazel
The desert sands blew around in the light wind, the skies above cleared from any clouds. A small group of men approached a lone dome-like building, it's sandy color blending in with the rest of the environment. All were dressed in military gear that blended in with the sand, but only two of them didn't bother to wear helmets.
"The intelligence division reported this building to us a couple of days ago. They said that it... pretty much showed up out of nowhere," a tall, dark-skinned man reported. He was one of the two not wearing a helmet. "Personally, I find it suspicious that it's not too far from that temple we've been looking at ever since the Manji Clan took interest in the area."
"Hrm," the man's boss hummed. Reaching a hand towards his face, he removed his sunglasses before gazing up at the newly erected building. His eyes were of different colors – one brown, and the other red. For those who knew his face, there was no mistake that this was Kazuya Mishima, G-Corporation's 'mysterious' CEO.
With no expression on his face, Kazuya asked, "Any chance this might have something to do with the Manji Clan?"
"There was no reports of any of them being around this area," his second in command informed. "As a matter of fact, no one is sure who built this place, not even those from the nearby villages. I had planned to send some of the men to investigate before you arrived here."
A ghost of a smile came over Kazuya's face. "Well then, Bruce. I guess we'll have to figure out this mystery for ourselves."
Bruce grinned at that. Though he tried not to make it a habit, he personally loved jumping into a mission without completely knowing what they were getting themselves into. It made things that more interesting.
Except for Kazuya, the men prepared their weapons before, one by one, they headed to the mysterious dome with Bruce leading the way. It didn't take long before they were all at the front door. It was Kazuya who tested to see if the door was open first. Once he realized that it was locked, Kazuya's fist was briefly surrounded by red electricity before he used all of his strength to punch the door. Not only did it open, but it broke off the top half of it's hinges, leaving the door hanging somewhat downward. Still, it was enough to fit everyone through one at a time.
"Now let's see if anybody's home," Bruce quipped. He then peaked through the door to make sure that all was clear. Seeing only a set of stairs leading downward, Bruce began heading in. Two soldiers went in next before Kazuya entered. The others followed after.
For a while, they were forced to use their flashlights as they saw nothing but darkness. After going down the stairs, they went through a long, narrow hallway, it's walls and floor only built with concrete. Considering how recent the building was made, the faint smell of the material was also present.
It wasn't long before they reached the end of the tunnel and entered a large, open space which let in the light of the sun through the glass ceiling above as well as the long, narrow windows on the wall, each one separated by a column. A pair of balconies were placed high and close to the ceiling, all made of gray bricks. The men stood on what looked like a t-shaped platform made with greek-style tiles shaped into various curves, it's gray and purple color giving off a shimmer from the light as though it was just polished. However, the platform had no barrier, and below it was what looked like a long fall into a pit of darkness. Towards the back of the room, opposite from where Kazuya, Bruce, and the others entered from, a large egg-shaped object that looked like a small chamber gave off a soft, white glow, emulating it's surroundings.
"What the hell is this place?" one of the soldiers asked.
"Looks like a fortress," another guessed.
"No shit," Bruce responded. "But the real question is, who built it?"
Suddenly, Kazuya lifted his hand up, a signal for his men to keep quiet. His eyes gazed around suspiciously in silence, making Bruce and the other soldiers with them wait with baited breath, wondering what their boss suspected. Anytime their boss suspected something being amiss, he was usually right for the most part.
"We're not alone," he announced quietly.
That was when the group noticed movement from nearly every direction, and they immediately aimed their guns at them. It didn't take long for the men to realize that their new opponents, though humanoid, all were dressed in black and seemed to move like shadows. Each one possessed glowing white eyes, the only other color on them.
Bruce's brown eyes widened in shock upon seeing these creatures. Still, he kept his composure as his finger tightened on the trigger of his gun, ready to fire. "What the hell are these things?!"
"Could be leftovers out in hiding after the last war," one of the soldiers guessed.
"I don't remember these guys from the invasion," Bruce mentioned.
That was when the small white chamber in the back of the fortress opened, catching everyone's attention. The shadows ended up turning towards that direction. Moments later, they kneeled down, bowing their heads, as someone emerged from the chamber.
"Ooookay," uttered Bruce. "I'm going to take a wild guess and assume that we're about to meet their boss. Any idea who it could be?"
"No clue," Kazuya replied. "From what I remember, they were serving the Outworld Emperor, Shao Kahn."
"... But Shao Kahn is dead."
"... Exactly."
When the chamber closed, the men were able to get a better look at the person approaching them. The tall man's skin was as pale as snow with red markings on his head and torso, his eyes seemingly matching them. The only thing he wore were black pants with black boots, a teal sash connected to a belt, and a strap around his middle hanging off a spiked pad over his right shoulder. Also one his belt were a pair of broadswords sheathed in their black scabbards.
"I don't know about you," Bruce whispered to Kazuya. "But he's definitely not human... nobody can be that pale and still be alive."
Before Kazuya could respond, the man spoke. "I had hope you and G-Corp would arrive here sooner or later, Kazuya Mishima."
Immediately, Bruce and the other soldiers aimed their guns at the newcomer. Meanwhile, Kazuya looked unfazed even as he folded his arms across his chest. "Are you psychic or something?" Kazuya replied. "Because I can't imagine how else you would know who we are. As you can see, G-Corp's military do not wear insignias."
The pale man smirked just as he was ten feet away from Kazuya. "Sorcerer, actually," he said. "My name is Quan Chi, I am the new Emperor of Outworld."
Once again, Kazuya was unfazed. "If you're the new Outworld Emperor, then clearly something here on Earth has caught your interest... if I had to make a guess, it has something to do with the Temple of Azazel. Why else would you build your fortress so close to it's location?"
Quan Chi smirked in amusement. "I'm impressed... you figured out the puzzle within moments. Usually, it takes time for even the Manji Clan to figure that out."
Kazuya huffed. "It wasn't that hard once you revealed who you were."
It was the sorcerer's turn to fold his arms in front of his chest. "Unlike Shao Kahn, I actually work alongside my minions in order to get things done. I don't just sit in my throne barking orders all day. Ironic, really... Jin Kazama is doing precisely that right now during this war that he started. At least someone like you, the main opposition of this war, is doing something about it. You and I have have much in common."
Kazuya raised an eyebrow at that. "And I'm quite sure that's all you and I will have in common. Clearly, you want something from me if we've been talking for this long instead of fighting. What do you want?"
"Huh... wanting to go straight to the point, I see." Quan Chi unfolded his arms and began to pace around the platform. Kazuya and his men remained their stance, ready for an attack at any given moment. "There is another thing we have in common... we both have interest in Majin Seiryu Ki, the legend that lies within that temple. You and your men wouldn't be out here otherwise."
Kazuya narrowed his eyes. "No... we wouldn't... but the only reason we even started coming out here in the first place is because of Kazama and his Tekken Force. I initially thought maybe this fortress of yours was their new compound, which was why I was willing to explore it in the first place. The legend within the temple is not our primary goal, but whatever is inside, it's possibly a catalyst that began the war... this idea is due to the Manji Clan's interest in this area since before Jin began his charade. We're mainly here to keep an eye on things around here. Our main goal is to destroy the Mishima Zaibatsu, nothing else."
"A noble cause," Quan Chi replied. "But let me ask you something... how many factions do you have on your side?"
"Quite a lot actually," Bruce mentioned. "Though there are a handful of 'neutrals,' like the Manji Clan, who haven't chosen sides."
"Then I can assume that you are the strongest faction."
"Indeed," Kazuya confirmed.
Quan Chi stopped his pacing before he turned to fully face G-Corp's leader. "I imagine that the Mishima Zaibatsu knows that. With that knowledge, imagine... it wouldn't be long before they take out all the weak factions. Soon, your corporation will be the last ones standing... what then?"
Kazuya realized exactly what Quan Chi was implying. "If you plan to ally with us, save your breath!" he called out bitterly. "I have no interest!"
"On the contrary," Quan Chi continued despite the rejection. "I think you'll find our alliance... beneficial."
Kazuya decided to amuse him before he called his men to open fire and take out Quan Chi. "How?"
"It's simple, really," the sorcerer explained. "We'll help you and your corporation destroy Jin and the Mishima Zaibatsu. In return, you can help us with our goal... finding a way to unlock the temple."
"Didn't you mention that you're a sorcerer?" Bruce asked. "Why can't you open that door by yourself?"
"Because even my powers are no match against whatever magic sealed the door," Quan Chi replied. "It would've been done months ago if that was the case."
"That's a shame," Kazuya said almost sarcastically. "Still... what I want to know is why someone like you is willing to offer to ally with us?"
Quan Chi smirked. "Because if rumors of it's unimaginable power is true, it is a power that could be used to our advantage in our own ways. After all... power is everything."
That last sentence truly got Kazuya's attention. If anyone understood that saying more, it would be him. In the back of his head, he could hear Devil whispering...
'Even he has the same philosophy as we do! I'd say join him, even if it's only temporary. Find a way to unlock that temple to amuse him while he and his followers destroy the Mishima Zaibatsu for you. Let them do the dirty work! Once that temple is unlocked, that's when you swoop in and take the power for yourself. Then, destroy Quan Chi and his group, then finish what's left of Jin and the Zaibatsu! Indeed, power is everything.'
For once, Devil had a good idea.
"So," Quan Chi spoke again as he outstretched an arm for a handshake. "What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
Kazuya didn't move at first. Eventually though, he outstretched his own arm. To Bruce's surprise, Kazuya shook hands with Quan Chi, making their new alliance official.
Kazuya has to have an alternative if he's willing to join up with this guy, Bruce thought to himself.
Later, as Kazuya and the rest of G-Corp left Quan Chi's fortress, Bruce walked next to his boss as they headed to the waiting vehicles that would take them back to their base. Bruce spoke low enough so that only Kazuya heard him. "Not that I haven't been enough of insubordinate, but I can't help but wonder if any of this is a good idea."
"What do you mean?" Kazuya asked.
"Well..." Bruce started. "Ever since you yourself, once upon a time, took over the Mishima Zaibatsu over twenty years ago, I supported every decision you made. Perhaps it's because even after all this time, I feel like I still owe you after you found me wandering in a daze after surviving a plane crash. When you asked me to execute a coup to take over G-Corp, I went along with it even after leaving behind the mercenary life after the 2nd King of Iron Fist Tournament. I was honored when you asked me to become your second-in-command.
"My point is, I'm loyal through and through, no matter what. But I'm going to be honest with you, Kazuya... I have a bad feeling about this new alliance you made with Quan Chi."
Kazuya chuckled. "You have nothing to worry about. Of course I know they have an ulterior motive. He's only using us to get the temple unlocked so that he can have the power for himself. We'll go along with it, of course... but that power will be ours instead. We just have to stay on our toes until the time comes. Meanwhile, they'll be doing the dirty job by taking out the Zaibatsu for us."
"And what about whatever the hell is inside that temple?"
Kazuya smirked. "I have a feeling that no mere human can handle such power."
Bruce shrugged. "Well, you got me there. Okay... I'll go along with whatever plan you have. I trust your instincts. Just do me a favor... don't let this Quan Chi guy get even one step ahead of you. If he's as bad as Shao Kahn was, I don't even want to know what will happen if he got his hands on whatever is in the temple. I doubt we can afford a second Universal War."
By then Kazuya placed his sunglasses on over his eyes just as they reached the waiting vehicles. "I don't intend to."
Later that evening, Kazuya made an announcement to the press that was heard around the world at a dinner conference in Cairo. As always, he kept his identity concealed...
"As you clearly know, the war on the world proceeds, and G-Corp is continuing to do anything necessary to stop the tyranny of the Mishima Zaibatsu. However, we cannot do it alone and need all the help we can get. Therefore, I have a special announcement to make regarding the Zaibatsu's CEO, Jin Kazama. I am personally offering a bounty for up to one-hundred million dollars either given to the individual, or split evenly amongst a party. This substantial offer will be given to the one who does one of the following two actions; end the life of the tyrant, or bring him to G-Corp's main headquarters alive. I warn, however, that the latter will not be very simple, and the former may be your only option. To those who plan to take the challenge... good luck."
The Heavens
"I see things went according to plan down there," a voice said from behind the Protector of Earthrealm.
Liu Kang had been on a balcony of a building overlooking the clouded grounds when he heard someone speak from behind him. Turning around, he came face to face with the Wind God, Fujin. He smiled a little. "Yeah... I guess it did. To be honest, I'm surprised the Elder Gods were willing to let me help fight against what's to come this time around."
"Well, as an Elder God myself, as well as learning from out mistakes from the Universal War, not only did have a good argument stance due to my experience last year, but I think we've become a little more open-minded when it comes to the affairs of the realms."
"That meeting I initiated did take a while, especially with Hinote's reluctance."
Fujin rolled his eyes at that. "He's always been a traditionalist. Daichi and Mizu were as well, but I think the last war gave them a new perspective. Now with more Elder Gods getting involved in these kinds of decisions, it's easier to fight for our causes."
"And thus creating more of a headache when you have twenty different opinions from ten different people on what to do," Liu Kang added.
Fujin laughed at that. "That is true. But luckily, this one worked out a little better. We'll see how long that'll last."
From there, Fujin decided to get down to business. "Then again... this whole thing with Azazel has made them nervous. Shao Kahn was about dominance and merging the realms. Azazel is about destroying everything in his path if he's ever unleashed from the temple. With Quan Chi nearby, it's such a lucky thing that even his dark magic cannot unlock those doors... but I fear that someday, he'll find a way."
"And it may be sooner than we expect," Liu Kang added. "Unless we try to stop it."
The Earthrealm Protector then thought of something. "I wonder... if Azazel is somehow unleashed, would we be able to have The Four defeat him like they did with Shao Kahn?"
"I believe the legend of Ano Sentaku Bou was only meant for the threat coming from Shao Kahn," Fujin said. "Dhalsim had mentioned about aligning stars that would occur for the prophecy to work... that time has passed. Besides, I doubt it would work again... not with Jin's current position..."
Liu Kang frowned. "Oh yes... I almost forget that he was one of The Four. Which reminds me... Kung Lao had some reservations about another one of The Four. I'm guessing Ivy..."
"It's not surprising," Fujin mentioned. "Especially since she was Outworld's Empress after all. I don't blame the chosen ones for their distrust, though not everyone feels that way. Maybe, if she helps in this fight, things may be different."
"Maybe... though I wonder about something. I know from watching her talk with the Guru from here that Zafina holds the keys to unlocking the temple doors. Is it right to keep that a secret from the others?"
"For now," Fujin suggested. "As long as those keys remain in the right hands, it's not something the chosen ones need to know right now... not until things become desperate. Only then can that knowledge be shared."
"How long do you think before things do become desperate?" Liu Kang asked.
Fujin frowned. "... To be honest, not long. The energy within that temple is growing worse each day. Worse, it's unknown if Azazel himself can break out of his prison on his own once his powers are fully grown and realized... that's a kind of risk all of us are not willing to take. Zafina will know when it's time to use the keys... but even that is a huge risk in itself. If he's not stopped right there at the doors, then the fight will be in vain."
"And what of Jin and Kazuya? Zafina mentioned the two of them being 'evil stars' had something to do with their genes."
Fujin tilted his head back a little as he took a deep breath. "Yes... I've always suspected there was some inner struggle within Jin... it's only now that I understand that whatever it is, it runs in the family, specifically his father. As for now... stop them anyway you can. The sooner we end the war, the sooner those powers will cease to increase. It's all we can do unless we come up with another solution."
A plan came to the Wind God's mind. "We'll gather all of the chosen ones together here on your realm. You focus on Earth, and I'll focus on the others outside the realm so that I can transfer them here with ease. However, until everyone is gathered together, try to be as brief as possible... we'll give them more details on what's going on then. Time is of the essence, and the sooner everyone is gathered together, the better."
"Sounds like a plan," Liu Kang agreed. He then remembered something. "Where exactly do you suggest will be our meeting point?"
A smirk came over Fujin's face. "Watching things over on Earth from the Heavens, Jin plans to make an announcement tonight. I believe that you'll get your answers then..."
Offices of the Mishima Zaibatsu, Unknown Area
In a long narrow hallway barely lit by the fluorescent light bulbs on the ceiling, Jin Kazama headed down to a small studio, prepared to make yet another announcement to the world. Just a few days ago, Jin saw Kazuya's broadcast, the one where he placed a bounty on his head. The young man decided to take a couple of days to decide what to do. It didn't faze him one bit that there were probably millions of people out for his head just for the money now. Still, under the insistence of his most trusted allies, he tightened security wherever he went.
Currently flanking him were two of his most trusted bodyguards. The first was Eddy Gordo, a Caepoira fighter who's father was murdered by Kazuya years ago. It was Eddy who chose to join the Mishima Zaibatsu when he needed the corporation's advanced technology to help cure the terminal disease plaguing his master, the one who taught him his fighting style. In return, Eddy would work for the Zaibatsu for an undermined amount of time. As of now, the best doctors working under Jin were trying to find a way to save the old man at one of their medical facilities.
The second bodyguard was, even to Jin's surprise at times, fellow chosen one Nina Williams. It was easy for Jin to hire Nina due to her combat skills and deadly assassination techniques. He realized how perfect she was for the job, and the fact that she accepted his offer was surprising in itself. How it came to be in the first place was a whole other story for another time.
It wasn't long before the three of them reached the small television studio. A chair and desk were set up for Jin, and the crewmen inside were ready to film. Tonight, Jin planned to respond to the bounty Kazuya placed on his head.
Before they entered the studio, Nina spoke up. "Are you sure this is what you want to do? After all, with the bounty on your head, you're opening yourself up more to the manhunt going against you."
Jin was silent for a moment before a ghost of a smile appeared on his face, though he didn't bother to turn his head to the blond-haired woman. "It's all part of the plan," was all he said before he opened the door to the studio and walked in. His bodyguards immediately followed him, keeping their eye on their surroundings in the process.
Once they were sure that everything looked good (and no signs of assassins were present amongst the crewmen), Eddy turned to Nina and spoke low enough so that only she heard him. "I wonder what kind of plan he has in mind this time."
Nina only shrugged in response. Either way, the two of them had a feeling that they were going to get their answer in just a few moments.
As Jin sat down at the desk, with his two bodyguards standing on either side of him (and away from the camera's viewpoint), the main cameraman spoke up. "How do you want to approach this?"
"Just make sure every network around the world is broadcasting this."
"Got it," he said before speaking quietly into his headset to those controlling the stations.
A minute later, the cameraman spoke up again. "Okay, sir, we'll be airing in five, four, three..." He fell quiet as he finished up the countdown with his fingers. He then pointed at the CEO, signaling him that he was now on the air.
Jin didn't hesitate to speak to those watching him now. "Do not mind the interruption to your networks, I will be short and to the point. This is in response to the bounty that was recently placed upon my own head by G-Corp's CEO. I'm sure they are more than plenty of you who wish to seek me out. In that case, I will give you one chance to earn that opportunity.
"Your chance will come in a form of a tournament created by yours truly. The Shikoken Tournament will take place on the resort Mishima Island located in the Sea of Japan. If you have what it takes, arrive at the port in Nagato, Japan at nine o'clock in the morning local time, two weeks from today, where the ferries will take you to the island. You can make reservations at any of the island's hotels and resorts. More details on the tournament will come in due time.
"On a small note, I personally would like to extend my... invitation... to the heroes who helped in seeing to the end of the Universal War." Jin then gave the camera a small, knowing smirk. "You know who you are."