Chapter 15: A Rematch of Fury
Terry Bogard. The Hungry Lone Wolf of Legend. The one who has defeated the Most Powerful Man in the World. The one who has witnessed the emergence of the Orochi clan and NESTS. The one who brings with him radiant and friendly smile to anyone he meets. The one, whom people revere, admire, respect, love, like and hate. The greatest fighter the world has ever seen.
Zofeah. The mastermind behind GVS2: Battle Revolution. The one with unbelievable fighting skill hidden beneath his robe. The one whose mysterious agenda has yet to reveal. The one who is claimed to take control of the Shishi power. The one with the Revolution in his hand.
Today, the river of Chao Praya and its people would witness one of the fiercest battles the world has yet to seen. The battle between the one who holds the Fatwa of the Revolution and the one and only Lone Wolf. A battle between Zofeah and Terry Bogard.
"Power Wave!"
A ground projectile was shot toward Zofeah. The organizer easily teleported away with his Wind Walker, however Terry was fast enough to eye his movement. Quickly he chased Zofeah and hit him with a Power Charge. Zofeah took a direct hit of the head-on collision and flung to the open air. As he was about to reach the ground, Terry immediately linked the Power Charge to a light Burn Knuckle, sending Zofeah right toward the river.
"HIYARGH!" Zofeah cried out loud and suddenly halted just an inch above the water surface. He turned around and air-dashed toward the ground and landed back. He looked at Terry and nodded, as if acknowledging the potential of the hungry wolf. He looked at his robe, realizing that it was badly torn from the Burn Knuckle. "Looks like I have to buy myself a new one," he half-sarcastically spoke and took off the robe, revealing the uniform of the WWII Japanese military officer.
"You're quite bulky," Terry spoke.
"I'm very flattered by your compliments, Terry," Zofeah replied and resumed his battle stance. "But I can sense the frustration emerging from your eyes. Is it because of the past event you had faced?"
Terry just sighed and lazily shrugged. "To be defeated by the old ex-Holy Knight 100-0… that's the most testing day I ever had. Hey. Why are you asking questions not related to this duel?"
(The FMV of Kliff celebrating his 100th victory over Terry in GGXX arcade tourney took place)
"Curiosity sometimes leads people to surprising facts," Zofeah remarked. "So, Terry. Are you ready for your 101st loss today?"
"Not this time," Terry spoke and dashed toward Zofeah. "Because this lone wolf will claim his first official Battle Revolution victory!" Then, he lifted his fist and let it be engulfed by energy. "And you're going to become my witness!"
"Alright, then," Zofeah uttered and lowered his stance. "Be my guest."
"POWER GEYSER!"
X-x-x-x-x
At the Sakazaki dojo.
Ryo suddenly opened his eyes. His usual meditation was disturbed by outside interference. Not by the constant confrontation between her sister Yuri and the assassin leader Venom (p/s: both Sakazaki Dojo and Assassin Guild merged to form one organization, the Assassin Dojo), but from a force coming from nowhere. He recognized it as evil, yet he could not determine whether it was the evil force of the Orochi clan or the evil doings of the NESTS. He could sense both his tiger and dragon spirit roaring and raging inside of him, demanding to be released to inflict disorder upon the earth.
"WAAA!" Yuri suddenly cried in dismay. "You're cheating! You can't use that cue stick!"
"Why not?" Venom demanded. "There isn't any rule of not using cue stick!"
"I don't care! You're cheating! Cheating!" Yuri shouted back at the Brit.
Ryo looked at both the people who were playing hopscotch, and couldn't help but to sigh. The presence of Venom and Zato-1 at the dojo had brought with them a total confusion. He paid no attention of the two assassins; however Yuri was very uncomfortable with Venom. Already mad when she was ignored by him, Zato, his brother and Robert during the Kyokugen/Assassin duel, she was now targeting Venom as her prime target of hatred.
Yet there was something he was more concerned of; more important than the evil force or the troubled relationship between Yuri and Venom. Ryo frowned and stared right at the reason a letter marked GVS2: Battle Revolution, laying flat in front of him. It had reached the dojo, but he did not open it due to the fact that he was getting bored of tournament invitations.
And today…
"I must find out what this evil presence is," Ryo thought and reached the letter. He opened the envelope and took out the invitation card and began reading its content. "Invitation to the GVS2: Battle Revolution tournament… this is very different from the usual KOF invitations I received. I should consider joining this tournament."
"ARGH! Now you're using the cue stick as pogo! No fair!" Yuri protested.
"Why can't I? Look, Yuri. You don't know the rules, so shut up," Venom spoke and jumped between the hopscotch boxes.
Veins popped on Yuri's head. She had it enough. "You made me angry! You won't like me when I'm angry," she warned.
Venom looked at her. "Oh?"
"ARGH! Now I'm totally mad! Take this! RISING SPARROW OF DEATH!"
Again, Ryo watched as Venom was pummelled to near-death by the gigantic projectile Yuri fired at him. A silent chuckle emerged appeared inside of him to see his sister's hot-blooded acts.
X-x-x-x-x
Terry was idle at the place. His fist was on the ground, near a crater created a while ago. He had unleashed a maximised Power Geyser onto Zofeah. All the spectators watched, as dusts began to dissipate. Terry looked upward and was startled.
"He's gone…!"
Terry could swear the overdrive had hit Zofeah. He could swear to himself the blademaster had been engulfed by the massive explosion of the Power Geyser. And now Zofeah was gone. Where was he?
"Above you!" Terry responded to the local's shout and saw Zofeah jumping over him. The mastermind descended toward him and was ready in strike position, with both blades lifted upward. Terry instantly rolled to the side before the Spike Jab made contact. He stood back and watched at Zofeah who was opening his stance, only this time the blademaster was glowering at him with a murderous sight.
"I shall win this match," Zofeah spoke and pointed one of the kodachi at Terry. "Nobody is going to stand in my way, not even a lone wolf."
Terry just cooed. "Oh? Really? Does that mean you're ready to use all your strength?" he asked and opened his battle stance. "Show me what you've got. Come on! Come on!"
Immediately Zofeah dashed toward Terry and attempted to cut the lone wolf with his blades. Terry parried the attack and counterattacked with a Power Dunk. Zofeah was hit and sent to the open air, while Terry quickly broke the Power Dunk.
"Are you okay?"
The call of the unmistakable battle cry. Terry was ready to land his trademark overdrive onto Zofeah.
"BUSTER WOLF!"
For the second time, the Buster Wolf hit Zofeah. The situation was similar to the very first battle at South Town, where Zofeah was unprepared to face the awesome overdrive. Only today, the Buster Wolf was more powerful.
"Zofeah, victory doesn't belong to you only! It belongs to everyone!" Terry shouted and landed his combo on the blademaster. Zofeah was unable to execute Psych Burst Counter and was pummelled all over his body and nerve endings and joints. For a while, he seemed helpless in the eye of the hungry wolf, now more ferocious and more savage than ever.
"POWER GEYSER!" Again, the geyser explosion was unleashed. Only this time, it managed to hit Zofeah, and it hit him thrice. Zofeah crashed on the ground and was unable to move. Terry didn't make any moves; he stood at his spot, waiting for Zofeah to stand up and resume the battle. Yet after a while, the mastermind did not stand. He just lied flat on the ground. Terry waited for the fighter to react, yet he remained motionless. He was certain; the blademaster was defeated.
He could be wrong.
Zofeah stood back on his feet and panted breathlessly. His uniform was damaged, and blood was staining its fabrics. "It isn't done yet…!" he declared under hoarse voice, and retreated the twin kodachi into its former state. No; instead, he summoned the silhouette dragon figure and had it engulfed his body.
"Just like the last time…" Terry uttered. "Finally deciding to use all your strength, eh Zofeah? This wolf spirit will very grateful to have a taste of it."
"Never feel overconfident, Terry Bogard," Zofeah insisted and pointed his palm at the legendary wolf. "You will still lose to me."
Terry merely cackled and crossed his arms, and released a faint red aura from his body. Zofeah looked at the action and unpleasantly nodded. "Finally deciding to use that technique, Terry Bogard? We'll see whether your wolf spirit is bold enough to face this dragon flash."
"I'm ready for it," Terry replied.
x-x-x-x-x
The West Wing, White House, A Country.
Chipp finally breathed out in relief. The troubled duel between his wife Chii and her alter-ego, simply known as Dark Chii, had been ended. Yet if it wasn't for the help of his NSA agents, the duel could have destructed the building, leaving him with nothing.
"Dark Chii will return to this place," Dark Chii declared and walked away. "And Dark Chii will accomplish Dark Chii's mission to kill Chipp."
"Chii will protect Chipp from Dark Chii," Chii insisted. "Chii will fight Dark Chii for the sake of Chipp. Chii will not allow Dark Chii to lay a finger on Chipp."
"Chii- aww, whatever. I'd rather not be involved in this endless duel," Chipp uttered. Then he looked at the invitation and grumbled in concern. He knew he was finally able to live as a normal person, added with the fact that he was now the president of the A Country. He had wished not to involve in any tournament or duels or confrontations, because he realized there would be no significance behind it.
"Besides," he whispered and took a hold of Chii's hand. "I've finally got a lifetime partner, though she's a little strange for the most of the people." Chii looked at him and blushed. "What's wrong, Chii?"
"Chii just thought of something," Chii uttered and held his hand in return. "Chii had been looking for the only person for Chii. Chii had been looking for that person for a long time. And now…"
"And now?" Chipp uttered and brought Chii's face to his, staring into her innocent eyes. "Chii, I don't care whether you're a Persocon or not. And I don't care of those damned people who cannot accept the relationship between us. Chii I know will always be Chii. Chii I know will always fight Dark Chii for the sake of her only person."
"Chipp," Chii spoke and cupped the ninja's face. "Chii is glad to see Chipp. Chii is happy to be with Chipp. Chii loves Chipp very much."
Chipp smiled and pulled the innocent girl into his arms. "I love you too, Chii," he uttered and embraced her softly. "If only I could forget the tournament once and for all…"
The same officer entered the office. "Mister President, someone wants to meet you," he informed. Chipp let Chii off his arms and looked at the officer.
"Did you say anything, officer?" he inquired.
The officer coughed and corrected his black coat. "Please excuse me, Mister President. But there's someone who wants-"
"Oh, so this is the place where Chipp works." Chipp was startled. The voice was very similar to him.
"Damn those security guards…" And again, Chipp gasped. That rough feminine voice. He knew it very well. Could it be…?
"Chipp!" Chipp was mistaken no more. Standing at the door were the two Japanese who used to accompany him before. The Japanese at the left was wearing official government suit, though the umbrella was still there. The Japanese at the right was unbelievably back to normal. The right arm, the left eyes, the pink katana…
"Anji? Baiken?"
x-x-x-x-x
Two hours had passed since Zofeah and Terry were prepared to execute their ultimate attack. All the spectators were anxious to see the outcome of the battle. The area of the Chao Praya River was tensely quiet, as the two fighters were waiting for the exact time to act.
Slowly, Terry preceded forward, his eyes focusing on the palm Zofeah directed at him. He knew that if he was careless, he would be facing the same attack Zofeah had used against him at South Town. The same attack by the name of Heavenly Dragon Flash, which had almost claimed his life. He knew that every step was crucial in determining the outcome result of the duel.
Then he saw Zofeah putting a hand on his erect arm, as to endure recoils. He recognized the stance; it was the start-up for the Heavenly Dragon Flash. He was not mistaken because the same orb was produced before the palm. He was ready.
"Heavenly Dragon Flash."
A gigantic energy beam was fired from the palm and hurled toward Terry. Zofeah was pushed from his position, enduring the heavy recoil produced from the energy-consuming overdrive. It seemed that Terry became its victim once again. Nothing could ever survive the massive force of Heavenly Dragon Flash.
Suddenly…
"Power Dunk!"
Out of nowhere, Terry pounced at Zofeah and hit him with the Power Dunk. Because he was prone to counterattack during the execution of the overdrive, Zofeah was not prepared to withstand the collision of the uppercut kick and was launched to the open air.
"Power…"
Terry halted midair and lifted his fists upward. He immediately plunged to the ground and slammed both fists on the ground.
"STREAM!"
A gigantic energy pillar blasted from the ground and trapped Zofeah inside it. Terry Bogard's new trademark instant kill – Power Stream – was revealing its powerful force onto Zofeah.
It ended. The Power Stream disappeared in the open air. Terry stood up and looked around, and he was upset. Zofeah was gone again. He checked the area around him, but he did not see any trace of the blademaster. He looked upward, yet the mastermind wasn't there, as well. Either he was finished off for good by Power Stream or escaped certain death, Terry was unsure.
Yet he knew of one thing: the score was now even. His defeat to Zofeah at South Town was paid off. For the time being, he would worry no more of the Battle Revolution organizer.
Or would he?
.
"Curse… the lone wolf is stronger than I thought!" Zofeah thought and ran through the dense undergrowth. He had escaped the Power Stream IK, yet in return he had to sustain serious injuries. His right arm, which was used to unleash the Heavenly Dragon Flash, was in critical condition. The Power Dunk had hit it, breaking several bones inside the arm. He was lucky to execute Wind Walker to escape Power Stream otherwise he would have been doomed.
Zofeah stopped at an abandoned Buddhist temple and sat under the huge statue of sitting Buddha. Panting heavily, he held his injured arm and grumbled under his breath. For a while, he was silent, staring at the floor. He was thinking of what Terry had told him during the battle. 'Victory doesn't belong to you only! It belongs to everyone!' "It belongs to everyone…?" he muttered and leaned against the statue. His injury was unbearable, and he decided to rest until he recovered. He decided that as soon as he was back to action, he would have to act more strictly as the organizer of the Battle Revolution. He would be merciless toward anyone who challenged him, including the lone wolf.
x-x-x-x-x
No one knows what it likes
To be the bad man, to be the sad man
Behind blue eyes…
No one knows what it likes
To be hated, to be failure
To telling all the lies…
(Behind Blue Eyes, Limp Bizkit)