Disclaimer: I don't own Tekken.

Thanks for all the reviews. Only two more chapters…

Chapter 35 – Time is running out

After Jin's last attack, the crowd was in total silence. No one had ever seen a young fighter as good as Jin. Ling wasn't surprised; he had the blood of Kazuya Mishima and Jun Kazama, two powerful fighters.

This time Heihachi knew that it wouldn't be that easy. Jin wasn't an amateur anymore, he had grown up and he was probably even stronger than Kazuya when he was his age.

Ten more minutes and one of the fighters was on the ground. To Ling's relief it was Heihachi. Jin had sent his grandfather to the floor and now he knew that he could win. It was payback time for everything that Heihachi had done to him, to his mother and even his father. Jin had recently discovered that Heihachi had killed Kazuya during the second Iron Fist. Intentionally or not, Jin wouldn't forgive him, even knowing that Kazuya was the devil and he had never deserved Jun's love.

Lying on the arena's floor, Heihachi was shocked. How could that miserable ungrateful bastard do that? Why was his grandson so strong?

Things weren't happening as planned.

Trying to avoid a humiliating defeat, Heihachi planned his next attack with caution. He couldn't fail. Jin had to be punished.

It all happened so fast that Ling could hardly believe her eyes. Jin had blocked every single kick and punch that Heihachi threw at him. Then, Jin used his knee to hit Heihachi's stomach several times. He was extremely fast and watching Heihachi's face, Ling could see that he didn't even know what was happening. The fight was over when Jin finished his grandfather with a powerful uppercut.

Heihachi was knocked out and he remained there for two minutes. Jin was immediately declared the winner of the third Iron Fist Tournament.

Ling congratulated him and watched as Heihachi was being helped by Dr. Abel. Then, she let her emotions overcome the situation and hugged Jin tightly. The crowd started to leave when the trophy and a check were given to Jin. Jin wasn't too happy with the prize; he had only entered the tournament to win against Heihachi.

-'Here…this is for your dream…'-Jin said giving the check to Ling.

-'What? But…this is yours…you won.'-she said.

-'You need that more than I do.'

Before Ling could thank him or express her happiness, Heihachi and Dr. Abel approached them.

-'Congratulations…you won fair and square.'-Heihachi declared, putting his hand on Jin's shoulder.

For a moment, Jin was confused and didn't know how to react. He didn't expect Heihachi to congratulate him. Ling was happy, because finally she could hope for reconciliation between them.

A few seconds later Jin knew he had been fooled. He started to feel sleepy and his strengths abandoned his body. His legs paralysed and he blacked out. Heihachi grabbed him and tried to look surprised.

-'Jin! Is he ok? What's wrong?'-Ling asked worried.

-'Poor kid…he must be tired and injured…I was a bit hard on him during the fight. We have to take good care of him. Lets take him…'-Heihachi announced.

-'But…we were supposed to…'-Ling started. They were supposed to meet Julia in about half an hour.

-'Yes?'-Heihachi inquired.

-'To celebrate…'-Ling lied.

-'Well…you can't celebrate without the winner, can you? Come with us…we'll take care of Jin together and then we can all celebrate.'

Ling had a bad feeling about that, but everyone had already returned to the hotel and she was alone. She couldn't face Heihachi on her own, but she couldn't leave Jin behind either.

Worried about Jin's health, Ling accepted to go with them. What if Jin was badly injured? She had to know if he was alright.

In the meanwhile, Hwoarang was starting to believe that they would never free Michelle.

-'It's been more than thirty minutes…just accept your defeat.'-Hwoarang said behind Julia's chair.

-'No. I'm not leaving my mum!'

-'I'm not saying we should leave her. We just need to find another way.'-Hwoarang took something from under his shirt.

-'A gun? You have a gun?'

-'Duh…of course…'

-'But the cell is too small…you can shoot my mother.'

-'Are you joking? I know how to use a gun since I was a kid…'

-'But…what if…'

-'Trust me.'

When Hwoarang was aiming, Julia managed to find the code. She was relieved because she didn't really trust in Hwoarang's skills as a shooter.

-'Wait…I've got the code…'

Hwoarang lowered the gun, feeling a bit disappointed.

Julia opened the door and Hwoarang took Michelle outside her prison cell. He couldn't deny the resemblances between Julia and her mother.

-'Now, we have to go back the way we came.'-Julia said. She was feeling like a criminal leaving the crime scene.

-'Where are we taking her?'

-'To the hotel…'

-'We'll be noticed and someone will tell Heihachi where we are.'

-'We won't be there when he arrives.'

Hwoarang didn't ask any more questions. It was obvious that Julia had a plan, so the only thing he would have to take care was a safe way out.

They were about to leave, when Julia noticed something in the next room. She opened the door and saw a glass capsule and someone or something inside of it.

Hwoarang followed her, taking Michelle on his arms.

-'What is it?'

-'It's…Ogre…Toshin…'-Julia said in a whisper.

-'Where?'

-'Inside that…'-Julia pointed to the capsule in front of them. Hwoarang saw a green liquid, but he couldn't see anyone.

-'Are you sure? I only see green water.'

-'He's there…He has a body of his own…The God of Fighting is alive.'

Julia didn't know if she was fascinated or terrorised with that idea. She only knew that Ogre had to disappear or they were all in great danger.

-'Give me your gun!'-she asked suddenly.

-'Why?'

-'Isn't it obvious? I need to kill this thing. My mother worked hard to keep this monster away from mankind, but Heihachi managed to free him. I have to try…'

-'You said that the Toshin was a spirit.'

-'So?'

-'If he's a spirit a bullet won't kill him.'

-'He has a body now…I have to try. It might be our only chance.'

Before Hwoarang could give his gun to Julia, the capsule with the green water exploded. The impact made Hwoarang and Julia fall in the ground and a powerful force hit the walls. Ogre was free again; a powerful soul had waked him up.

In that same moment, Heihachi was arriving to his headquarters. He was checking on Jin, when the jeep they were travelling was suddenly hit by something. They were already inside the perimeter.

-'What's that?'-Ling pointed to a silhouette.

-'That's a big problem…'-Heihachi answered.

-'What shall we do?'-Dr. Abel asked.

Heihachi didn't answer because he saw Jin rising up and getting out of the jeep. He had given him a sedative, strong enough to put him sleeping for almost three hours, and yet, Jin was already awake.

-Jin, are you ok?'-Ling asked, following him.

Jin remained in silence. His face was different. He could feel someone calling him. He could feel the smell of evil in the air. Once again, he had to fight, but this time, not as Jin Kazama, but as the devil himself.

The black marks on his chest and forehead were the proof that Jin was no longer the same.

-'It is true…'-Ling said.-'He's the devil…'

-'Yes, he is…in this state, he's invincible. Maybe Ogre can defeat him, but a normal human couldn't even make a scratch on him.'-Heihachi explained.

-'Now imagine the strengths of someone with Jin's power combined with Ogre's…'-Dr. Abel continued.

-'We need to stop them. Jin might die.'-Ling begged.

-'We hope not. I still need him.'-Heihachi said calmly.

-'That's your grandson out there. We need to help him!'-Ling insisted.

-'He doesn't need our help. If you go there…you'll die.'-warned Dr. Abel.

Ling stopped. Jin and Ogre were now face to face. As creatures of the darkness, they could almost communicate without words, but Ogre decided to speak.

-'I want your soul boy…'

-'Come and get it…if you can.'-Jin said with a grin.