Disclaimer: Same as before
Chap. 19
Ever since I learned martial arts, I always saw accomplishment. The opportunity to better myself and become stronger. To walk the path of a true warrior.
It's because of that that you are so strong, Ryu. You take a path very few take. But I'm going to let you on in a little secret. I've learned that the path may start with one, but ultimately the goal becomes many, fluid. The choices you will make in life will not change the fact that you are a warrior. A truer one than even me.
______________
Chun-Li carried Sakura to the boat they had used to get to the island. Quickly, Chun-Li placed Sakura down on the deck and started the engine. The boat moved away from the island at high speed, but when they reached a distance, it stopped.
"Why did you stop?"
Chun-Li pointed to the island and Sakura gasped. The center of the island was engulfed in white light and it went up straight into the sky. The island was also shaking, although from their distance it was hard to see. Lightning crackled around it and boulders began to fall from the ridges.
"That island won't last too long."
"I know." Inside, she hoped, Please make it out alive, Ryu.
The island. The two warriors had met again. The warrior bearing the crimson headband once again faced the creature forged from the elements of fire and ice; hot and cold. But this time, they were going to fight without holding back. No restrictions, no restraints, no hold barred.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"GRRRAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Their fists connected with each other, creating a shockwave. Ryu backed his fist away and let out a kick. Gill blocked it and let out one of his own. The ice froze Ryu, but that didn't stop him from hitting Gill with an uppercut. Gill's head flew up, only to come back down in a crushing head-butt. Ryu halfway fell before coming back with a Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku. The technique created a rush of wind that impacted with Gill's face and also shredded the ground. Ryu saw this and thought, Our normal techniques alone is powerful. I better be cautious of it. Gill rushed back at Ryu and flew behind him. Ryu teleported out of the way of the following punch and jumped at Gill with a knee. Gill ducked it and used a rushing knee of his own, similar to Sagat's Tiger Knee technique. Ryu was hit by it and Gill connected with a double head-butt while still airborne, causing Ryu to fall. However, Ryu rolled around and caught him in a sweep causing him to fall. Both fighters rolled away and Gill put his hands forward.
"Kenesis!"
A single ball of fire and ice was hurled at Ryu, causing the ground beneath it to rip apart. On instinct, Ryu side-rolled it and jumped back at Gill, hitting him with a jump kick. Gill reeled back again before grabbing Ryu, lifting him over his head and slamming him down with a powerbomb. Ryu instinctively moved away before Gill could smash his foot down. Back to his feet, Ryu rushed at him again and Gill swung at him. But Ryu anticipated that and Gill was open.
"Shin! Shoryuken!!!!!"
The first blow shattered the ground underneath him and the rest struck upward like a bolt of lightning. But before he could hit the ground, Gill suddenly stopped and hovered there before rotating to his feet with a smile on his face. Ryu was surprised. I guess that won't work again. I'll just have to keep trying. Gill suddenly flew at him and shot out another kick. Ryu ducked it and let out a fierce punch. But Gill managed to block it...with one of his wings! If that wasn't bad enough, he instantly clothesline Ryu with another wing. Ryu fell hard, but managed to get back on his feet. Looking up, he saw Gill fly at him like an angel of death. Again, instinct took over for Ryu.
"Shoryuken!"
Ryu flew up in a flash and the punch connected with Gill's chest, hurling him backward and shattering the ground again. Gill almost hit the ground but stopped just before he could. Gill rotated upward again and wiped his mouth. Then his already emerald eyes glowed even more and he went into the air. He outstretched his hand to the sky and he began to glow. Suddenly, a massive shower of fire and ice rained down on Ryu. He dodged the projectiles as much as possible, but a few of them still hit him. The remaining ones smashed into the ground and created deep craters. Ryu bent down, recovering from the attack and Gilll hovered down to the ground.
"What was that?"
Sakura seen the fire/ice shower and wondered about it. Chun-Li remained silent as she felt the tremendous power that came from the island. The island was now shaking more visibly than before and the boulders began to fall freely off the sides. She calculated that the island had less than ten minutes left before it collapsed. Suddenly, one of the boulders seem to part away and a small ray of light emitted. It was then that Chun-Li really began to worry.
The island isn't going to collaspe. It's going to explode!
On the island, the battle reached an apocalyptic level. Each of their attacks caused damage to the island. All the trees that surrounded them previously were gone and the landscape was shattered and filled with craters. Ryu and Gill faced each other with neither of them doing any real damage to each other. As Ryu continued the fight, a revelation hit him. There was only one way to end this. As he looked at Gill, he could see that he came to the same conclusion. Gill hovered back and his hands began to fill with white energy. The very sight of it grew until his hands were no longer visible beneath it. As he did, Ryu stood in stance and cupped his hands together. The energy within his hand grew and formed, the same way Gill was. Lightning flashed above and thunder rumbled. The energy of the two warriors grew beyond anything neither had ever seen before. As this happened, Ryu prepared the energy.
"Shin!!!!!"
Gill's hands came together.
"Ryu!!!!"
Gill's hands raised into the air briefly before re-pointing them at Ryu.
India...
Dhalsim's meditation is disturbed by a high concentration of energy. What kind of power is that that can be felt like this?
Italy...
Rose has just returned to her home when a surge of energy froze her in her steps. Such power. It's...unreal. What creates such a force?
Russia...
Zangief is training with Darun Mister while R. Mika watched when Zangief let go of Darun.
"Do you feel that? Whoa."
"Yes my friend. But what is it? It feels like a storm, but it's not."
USA...
Guy was training himself when he suddenly stopped and froze. What the...That power...what creates that? It doesn't make sense.
Hong Kong...
Ken was just issued out of the hospital and was being wheeled out in a wheelchair when he told Eliza to stop moving.
"Ken. What is it?"
"I don't know. I feel... a tremendous wave of energy."
"Is it Ryu?"
"I'm not sure."
The island trembled violently and beams of light broke out of it. The energies made a bright light where Chun-Li and Sakura had to shield their eyes from it. On the island, the ground was no longer even visible and all that existed between Ryu and Gill was light and energy. Then the time came...
"Let us be judged!"
"HADOKENNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A wave of energy fired out of the hands of Gill, coming at Ryu with immense force. At the same time, Ryu lurched his arms forward and a bolt of energy was hurled upward at Gill. The two energies collided with a blinding flash of light. The light completely engulfed everything as the island nearly shook apart. The boat was pushed away as well and it nearly turned to it. The two women desperately held on as the boat rocked through the waves. The rumbling finally stopped and the light began to fade. Sakura and Chun-Li looked and were surprised by what they saw. The island was intact, more or less. However, the glow of light didn't stop and it began to grow again, faster this time.
"That doesn't look good. We better more away fast."
Chun-Li gunned the engine and the boat moved further away. Two minutes later, the island exploded in light again, only this time, the island exploded with it.
"No! Ryu!!!!!!!"
The island was gone. The only thing left in its place was a few trees that floated on the water. The two drove the boat to the area of the island.
"Where is he?"
Chun-Li looked in the water. Nothing. Nothing at all. She began to panic. No, he has to be around somewhere. Tying her hair together, she dove into the water, much to Sakura's surprise. Sakura waited and a minute later, Chun-Li stuck her head out of the water and then dove under again. She did this five times before finally swimming back to the boat. Exhausted, she sat down on the side of the boat, soaked wet. But as Sakura looked at Chun-Li, the water that was on her face wasn't from the sea, but from her own tears.
A week later...
Ken had sent out a search and rescue mission in the surrounding waters to find Ryu after the battle. But no trace of either Ryu or Gill were found. However, he scorched beads of Akuma where recovered and taken to Ken, but not knowing what to do with them; he threw them back into the sea. Nevertheless, everyone kept the hope that Ryu was still alive. Chun-Li believed it the most, waiting for him on the beach by the sea. For three days, she went there and returned, slightly more depressed than before. Then on the fourth day, she went there again. I guess he really is gone. But I still...feel him. But that may just be hoping against hope. Sakura still believes, and I want to. But...
Her thoughts wandered and she looked out at the beach. The sun was setting and it shone on the horizon. She watched it go down as it calmly fell. As she looked, a figure was seen walking toward her. At first, she didn't take notice. Then her eyes began to widen as she focused. The figure drew closer. Is that...? Could that be...no. It must be someone else. The figure drew ever closer. Even though the person face wasn't seen, an object fluttered in the wind. A headband. A red headband.