Our story begins many years ago, when a martial artist named Goutetsu took under his wing two brothers named Gouken and Gouki.
Both brothers became very powerful and talented in the martial arts of Ansatsuken, or Assassination arts, but Goutetsu was also a practitioner of the Satsui No Hado, or Surge of Murderous Intent, a powerful technique destined to kill an opponent and use it to increase the user's strength, but with the cost of humanity.
Using it only sparingly and wisely, Goutetsu managed to master this dark martial art without being corrupted by it. Thus, he wanted his students to master it as well.
As the years went by, the two brothers developped their Ansatsuken skills on a very different way.
Gouki wanted to fully learn the Satsui No Hado even further than his master, while Gouken disregarded this dark martial artist, and turned his Ansatsuken skills into non-lethal techniques.
Soon enough, the two brothers began a rivalry, to show the other their technique was better. But it would soon turn into a deadly one…
It was a rainy night. Gouken was meditating when he felt something was wrong. He opened his eyes and got up, noticing his brother was gone.
'Where is he ? He never skips a night of sleep…' Gouken thought.
He noticed light coming from the training area, so he opened the sliding door…
And gasped at the scene…
His master Goutetsu lay on the floor on his back, a hole through his torso with blood coming out of it, with a man taking his master's prayer beads off his neck. The gasp caused the attacker to turn his head towards him…
Gouken couldn't believe it…
But the attacker was none other than his own brother Gouki. However his appearance was drastically different…
His skin turned darker, his red turned a bright hair, his teeth sharpened into fangs, and glowing red eyes replaced his original eye color. But more importantly, the kanji ten was burning on the floor and on his back, albeit the latter disappeared.
« B-brother… What have you done ?! » Gouken shouted.
« I have eliminated our master, brother. Now it's your turn. » Gouki turned completely towards him, as he placed Goutetsu's prayer beads around his neck.
« Gouki, what happened to you- » Gouken tried to reason his brother.
« Silence ! Gouki is dead… Now, only Akuma remains ! » Gouki, or rather now Akuma, declared.
It was then Gouken realized what happened to his brother.
« The Satsui No Hado… You let it corrupt you… » He gritted his teeth.
« And I have never felt so powerful ! Our master was truly a fool for not using it to its full potential ! But enough talk, have at you ! » Akuma charged at him with a fist.
Gouken blocked it, and dodged a few more, but he quickly realized his brother was now gone… and replaced by this demon.
« You leave no choice… » He sighed, getting into his fighting stance.
Soon enough, the fight turned a lot more violent, as both brothers used their most powerful techniques, like the Gohadoken or the Goshoryuken.
In the end, Gouken won the battle and lived another day. Akuma got up with a grunt.
« Hmph, you have won this battle, but you're only delaying the inevitable. You will not defeat me, as I have transcended humanity ! » Akuma glared at him.
« Transcend- You haven't transcended your humanity ! You have thrown it away ! » Gouken snapped.
« Believe what you want. One day, you will lose and I will finish you ! » Akuma ran away.
Gouken stood still, then fell on his knees, crying.
He lost his master and brother…
He took a shovel and dug a hole, then he wrapped Goutetsu's body in a cloth, then placed it in the hole, pulling the dirt over it, and placed a tombstone for his master's grave.
Once that was done, he went to sleep, or rather tried to.
The following day, he walked for several kilometers and arrived at another dojo. He knew very well the owner of this dojo. It was Retsu, his childhood friend. Despite Gouken being older than him by a few years, they were the best friends in the world.
« Gouken ? What are you doing here ? And what happened to you, you look terrible ! » Retsu asked in surprise.
« My master… is dead… » Gouken replied somberly.
« W-what ?! Who killed him ?! » Retsu said in shock.
« My brother… Gouki… » Gouken replied.
« W-wha… WHAT ?! » Retsu was speechless.
« He fell to the Satsui No Hado… He's calling himself Akuma now… » Gouken continued.
« Dear god… Come inside, old friend. I will make us some tea. » He led him inside the dojo.
The two of them sat together, enjoying their tea.
« I am really sorry to hear what happened to you, old friend. If there's anything I can do to help you, please tell me. » Retsu said.
« I… will be fine. I suppose I will retake my master's dojo and train some pupils, and I will make sure they will learn my version of Ansatsuken, where they won't kill any opponent ! » Gouken replied.
« That's good to know, Gouken. I will fully support you in your task ! » Retsu smiled at him, putting his hand on Gouken's shoulder.
« Thank you, Retsu. » Gouken smiled back.
Around the same time, in Thailand, an important match was happening.
« Ladies and Gentlemen ! The moment you all have been waiting for ! The title bout for the title of Emperor of Muay Thai ! In this corner, we have our undefeated champion and holder of the title… NUUAAAKAN ! » The announcer shouted.
Cheers followed as Nuakan waved at the crowd surrounding the fighting area.
« And in this corner, our undefeated contender who rose from the bottom, and now aiming for the title… SAAAAGGAAAT ! » The announcer finished.
Less cheers were given for Sagat, due to the majority supporting the current champion.
« Alright then, let's get this show on the road ! FIGHT ! » The announcer shouted.
And thus, the fight for the title began. Both Nuakan and Sagat were tough combattants of Muay Thai, who didn't hold anything back.
They each used their best techniques to fight, but in the end, the unthinkable happened…
Nuakan was finally defeated after several years of holding the title, as he was sent to the ground by an uppercut to the chin by Sagat.
« H-he… He did it ! Sagat won ! He is our new Emperor of Muay Thai ! » The announcer said out of shock and amazement.
Some cheered, some were too shocked of this outcome to speak, while Sagat approached the fallen Emperor with respect and gave him a hand to get up.
« Congratulations, new Emperor of Muay Thai. » Nuakan took it, and once he was up, he raised Sagat's hand in the air.
Cheers followed, as Sagat was given a red cape as reward.
After the fight, Sagat was approached by a fellow Muay Thai fighter.
« Emperor Sagat, my name is Adon, and I saw the entire fight. Nuakan was getting weaker dvery year, so it was time someone took his title. I would be honored if I could be your apprentice. » The man named Adon bowed to him.
Sagat considered the offer, it might be a good idea to have an apprentice as it could bolster his image of Emperor of Muay Thai.
« Very well, Adon. I will teach you all I know. » He nodded.
« Thank you, Master. I won't let you down ! » Adon bowed again.
A few years passed, and Gouken had opened his dojo. He even found his first pupil, a teenager named Dan Hibiki. The two had a somewhat good relationship, until Gouken discovered Dan's true intentions, and confronted him about it.
« You planned to use my training for revenge ! » Gouken scolded him.
« Why wouldn't I, Master Gouken ? Sagat sent my father in a coma ! » Dan defended himself.
« I'm not your master anymore. You're out of this dojo for good ! » Gouken replied.
« What ?! You can't do this to me ! » Dan complained.
« I can and I will ! I won't allow you to use my teaching to walk a dark path… Now leave ! » Gouken shook his head.
Dan left as he ranted along the way. Gouken sighed in disappointment, but luckily for him, he has a second pupil that would arrive in a few months, named Ken Masters, whose father is a good friend of Gouken, though they haven't seen each other for a good while, so it will be a good time to reunite.
Dan returned to Hong Kong, sad he couldn't learn much and frustrated by Gouken's decision. He went to the hospital, where his father Go Hibiki was.
Dan had been traumatized by his father's fight against Sagat, where one of his attacks had gouged Sagat's right eye, which caused the Muay Thai fighter to brutally beat down Go Hibiki. If it wasn't for the security, his father would have been murdered. But unfortunately, it left his father in a deep coma, and Dan needed to spend many money to continue the life support his father, sending him into poverty.
« Don't worry, Father… I won't abandon you…Never… » Dan cried on his father's chest, holding his hand.
It has been a year since Gouken fired Dan as his pupil and recruited Ken thanks to his father. He was on his way to his dojo, when he noticed a young child fighting against a tree.
« Hello young child, where are your parents ? » He asked him.
« I don't know… I have been on my own for a long time… » The young boy replied.
« What's your name ? » Gouken asked.
« Ryu. » The boy replied.
« Well then Ryu, I have a dojo where I train a fellow young boy like you. Would you like to join ? It would be more effective than punching a tree. » Gouken proposed.
Ryu looked at his bruised knuckles, then nodded.
« O-ok mister. » He said.
« My name is Gouken, now let me lead you to my dojo. » He began to walk alongside Ryu.
Soon enough, Ryu became his second pupil, and became good friends with Ken, almost like brothers.
Both were powerful fighters, but Gouken noticed something about Ryu… He fought similarly to Ken… yet differently at the same time…
Yes… He knew both of them would make great fighters.
Several years have passed, and Ryu ans Ken were now teenagers. They have started to improve their techniques to get even better.
However… An event would change everything…
Gouken was practicing with his two pupils…
When he felt an evil aura… One he had not felt for years…
« Master Gouken, what's wrong ? » Ken asked.
« No… Not now… » He went in the direction of the aura.
« Master, wait ! » Ryu shouted as he and Ken went after him.
Gouken stopped at the figure he stared in front of him. His brother Gouki, or Akuma as he called himself.
« You… ! What are you doing here ?! » He glared at his brother.
« Isn't it obvious ? I came here to finish you. » Akuma glared back.
He then noticed the two teenagers arriving.
« So you have apprentices… Then I will kill you, and take them as my pupils. » Akuma took his fighting stance.
« Don't you dare get close to them… » Gouken threatened, taking his fighting stance as well.
« Then let us fight to the death ! » Akuma charged at him.
Ryu and Ken watched their master battle his brother with dread but also great interest. Both were talented fighters, even after their last battle several years ago. They were not holding back, as it caused destruction around the area.
In the end, Gouken had defeated Akuma once again. The latter got up grunting, and glared at Gouken.
« You have defeated me again… But I grow stronger while you go senile. It's only a matter of time before I defeat you. » He left.
Gouken sighed as he turned towards his students.
« Master Gouken, who was that ? » Ken asked.
« My brother Gouki… Or rather what is left of him… He fell to the Satsui No Hado… a dark martial art. It grants its user absolute power, but at the cost of their humanity. You two must never allow it to take control of you, am I clear ? » He told them.
« Yes, Master Gouken. » Ryu nodded.
« Good, let us go rest for now, we will continue our training tomorrow. » Gouken told them.
After this encounter, they have never saw Akuma again. Thus, the years went by, and Ryu and Ken were now young men.
« My students, it's time for you to go around the world and face many warriors. Are you both ready to leave ? » Gouken asked them.
« Yes, Master Gouken ! I will go back to America and prove I'm the strongest man in the United States ! » Ken exclaimed.
« I wish you good luck, old friend. » Ryu gave him a friendly hand grab.
« You too, buddy ! See ya ! » Ken ran off.
« What about you, Ryu ? Where will you start ? » Gouken asked him.
« I will actually go around the world and fight like you said. I want to face many fighting styles and see how to counter them. » Ryu answered.
« I wish you good luck. You know Ryu, I believed from the start you have great abilities, like Ken. » Gouken smiled.
« Thanks Master Gouken. I will get going ! » Ryu left.
« They grow up so fast… » Gouken sighed.
And so, the two martial artists went their own way. Ken quickly became the champion of many American fighting tournaments, while Ryu went around the world to fight various martial artist. These actions brought the attention of Adon, who reported them to Sagat.
« Master Sagat… You should take a look at this. » Adon handed him the reports.
Sagat read them, and got more surprised and impressed as he read further.
« They are indeed powerful fighters… They could probably be an interesting challenge for me. » Sagat thought out loud.
« Then what shall we do about them ? » Adon asked.
« I have an idea. I will start a fighting tournament, where every martial artists would compete from all around the world, no matter their fighting style, and the last standing will have to face me to claim the title... of the World's Strongest Warrior. Plus, it will be a good opportunity for you to show me how much you have improved. » Sagat explained.
« I won't let you down, Master Sagat ! » Adon nodded.
« Well then… Time to spread the news. » Sagat said.
In Japan…
Retsu was returning to his dojo after fishing, when he noticed a poster about the First World Warrior Tournament in Thailand.
« Hmm… This could be a good opportunity to retrain myself. Plus, I could test how strong Ryu and Ken have become… » Retsu smiled at the thought.
Meanwhile, in a forest far from civilization, was the village of the Geki Clan, one of the oldest ninja clans in Japan. Their leader is Geki, named after the clan itself by the first Geki, was meditating.
« Grandmaster Geki. » One ninja gently opened the door to his grandmaster's dojo.
« What is it ? I am meditating. » Geki asked a bit irritated.
« We have found this, it should interest you. » The ninja handed him the poster.
Geki studied it, and smirked under his mask.
« Well then, this will be a good way to show the world the might of the Geki Clan ! I will participate ! » Geki declared.
In the United States of America…
Joe was a former champion of Savate, a French form of kickboxing, but due to troubles with the law, he lost everything and tried to live the best he could. It was at this moment he found the poster for the tournament.
« Alright ! This is exactly what I needed ! I'm going to be number one again ! » He pumped his fist in the air.
Meanwhile, a poor Afro-American man was getting out of prison for minor crimes, his name was Mike, and like the others, he saw the poster.
« I could accomplish my redemption with it ! Alright Thailand, here I come ! » Mike shouted.
In China…
Lee was a Drunken Fist master helping his sister take care of his nephews Yun and Yang. He too saw the poster.
'This will definitely help my sister and her sons… Time to show everyone the power of the Drunken Fist !' Lee thought.
Meanwhile, an old martial artist was staring at the poster. His name was Gen, a former assassin now master of various Chinese martial arts.
« Finally… some worthy opponents worth my time… I haven't felt like this for a very long time… » He mused.
In the United Kingdom…
Birdie was an overweight black man who loved eating, as he got out of a fast-food with takeaway food he was munching on, until he noticed the poster.
« Woah, the prize money is equivalent to ten million dollars ?! I could buy all the food I want ! Count me in ! » Birdie chewed on his food greedily.
Eagle was in his garden sipping tea when he saw the announcement of the tournament in a newspaper.
« I could split the money in half for me, and the rest to those I need… Very well then, I will be heading off to Thailand. » Eagle got up, pulling and spinning his trusty sticks.
And finally, both Ryu and Ken found the announcement as well. Ken was about to board on his plane, when…
« Ken ! » A woman shouted his name.
He turned around, and smiled.
« Eliza, I'm glad to see you before I leave. » Ken smiled at her.
« So, you're going to face off Ryu ? » She asked rhetorically.
« Yep, as well as other fighters. Did you tell your family about me ? » He asked her.
« Yes, they are. My older sister Julia doesn't mind you, since her husband is a fighter himself ! » Eliza replied.
The flight to Thailand is about to start. Please go onboard immediately.
« Well, that's good to know. I gotta go now, see you ! » He kissed her forehead.
« Good luck Ken ! » She kissed his cheek as he left.
Back in Japan, Ryu was saying his goodbyes to Gouken.
« You have grown so much, Ryu. I am proud of you. » Gouken smiled at him.
« Thanks Master. Is it true your friend is going to participate in the tournament ? » Ryu asked.
« Retsu ? Yes, he came here to tell me about it. He must have already left the country as we speak. » Gouken nodded.
« I have always wanted to fight him, I guess this is my chance. I will see you after the tournament, Master Gouken ! » Ryu left.
« Good luck Ryu… » Gouken watched him leave.
And thus, fighters across the world flocked to Thailand to win the grand prize of ten million dollars, and the possibility of fighting Sagat himself, with the chance of rising the prize money to a hundred million dollars, and gain the title of the World's Strongest Warrior.
This is how this crazy adventure began…
A/N:
Street Fighter I Cast:
Main Characters:
Ryu
Ken
Sagat
Adon
Retsu
Geki
Joe
Mike
Lee
Gen
Birdie
Eagle
Secondary Characters:
Gouken
Gouki/Akuma
?
Character Status:
Goutetsu: Deceased