Chapter 2: Challenge
"Look! It's King!" I heard one of the onlookers say as I walked through the crowded streets. I offered a kind smile and a small wave and went on my way. It's been a couple of months since the King of Iron Fist Tournament 4 and I've been a happier man. When I look back on myself over the past few months, I see just how pathetic I was behaving. I beat a man to within inches of his life and for what? Revenge? Armor King wouldn't have wanted revenge, he would have stopped after winning the fight.
I remember that night in the hospital. I sat there, ready to kill Marduk. I was focused, I was prepared. Heh, I wonder if I would have been prepared for the consequences: jail, losing Peter and probably throwing him out on the streets, disgracing my fans, disgracing Armor King. Would it have been worth it? I would have had the satisfaction of revenge, but would it hold up against all of the guilt?
"Hi King!" a small boy said to me as I walked. I stopped and knelt down to him and offered him my hand.
"Well hello there little one. What is your name?" I asked as the boy's parents seemed overjoyed to be having their child meet me.
"My name is Johnny!" he said with pride. He then shook my hand. "When I grow up, I want to be a famous wrestler just like you!" he told me. I laughed as I patted him on the head.
"It was nice to meet you Johnny. Remember to always listen to your parents, they have your best interests at heart." I said as the family began walking away. With a wave, I left and continued on my way home. Peter was probably worried sick, since I hadn't called or anything. I was wearing my new black pants with a snazzy black jacket. Peter calls it my "pimp outfit". He's such an odd one.
"Hey King! I know you're watching me!" I heard a voice say. As soon as I heard it, I cringed at the sound. It was without a doubt Marduk's voice. I looked around, trying to see where the voice was coming from. Suddenly, I heard my name being called again. I looked up to the store next to me. On it was a giant television screen. What I saw was shocking.
"Rwwwwwaaaaaaarrrrrr!" I roared as I saw Marduk wearing a mock imitation of Armor King's mask. 'How disgusting…' I thought to myself as I looked up. The people around me stopped to watch as well, wanting to see what in the world would upset me this much. Even the people on the streets looked at me with pity. They knew how much of a disgrace it was for Marduk to be wearing that mask. After all, he did kill Armor King and now he was practically making fun of him.
"King! I know you're watching, so listen up!" he said. I clenched my fists, ready for action right there and then. I had to try and calm down. After all, I was in public.
"You're a punk you know that King! You just got lucky when you beat me. But now I'm ready as hell and I'm gonna take you down! Be ready for me at the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5 so I can whoop your ass once and for all!"
With that said, the channel resumed to its normal news coverage. I was furious, to say the least. 'How can he do this! Who does he think he is! Didn't he learn ANYTHING from the last time! I guess not, so now I know what I have to do…' I thought to myself as I picked up my pace of walking towards my home.
"I won't let him disgrace my master!" I said as I walked through the crowd. Last time, I let Marduk off easy. This time, he won't be so lucky…