Final Chapter
Somewhere in the wilds of Brazil, a devious militant base of evil stood, holding various weapons and experiments of destruction.
Right outside on the base's rooftop stood three figures.
One was of a young woman with short brunette hair adorned with two bun-like things at the sides. She wore a blue Chinese dress lined in white, and a pair of white boots.
Standing next to the young woman was an older man with neat blonde hair and squinty eyes. He wore an unzipped yellow athlete's jacket that revealed a muscular chest and silver military dog tags, a pair of camouflage pants, and a pair of leather boots.
And the last figure, suspended in mid-air, wore what appeared to be a blue military uniform and cap and conspicuous red cape that he kept draped around his body for the moment. He had a tuft of combed black hair, a noticeably big chin and villainous beady eyes.
"Mwahahahaahaha! So… you two have finally come, huh? Impressive…" the floating man cried.
"YOU MURDERER!! YOU KILLED MY FATHER, AND NOW YOU'RE GOING TO PAY!!" The young woman shouted in a vengeance.
"Of course I murdered your father, little girl! He was getting in the way of my plans, and there was no course of action more proper than that, right? And it looks like I'll have to do the same for you two." The evil man replied in a matter-of-fact tone.
"YOU HEARTLESS FIEND!" the young woman shouted.
"Nay, little girl. I am Harris, the Head of Shadaloo and destined Lord and Master of the world!" the evil man proclaimed dramatically.
"Unfortunately for you, America doesn't allow scum like you to roam around with ambitions like that. And with Interpol backing us up, you're in for a double dose of justice, my friend!" the blonde announced.
"Ha! Typical American and your crude sense of justice! It's about time I wipe fools like you and your Chinese friend out of existence for good!" Harris scoffed.
"NOT A CHANCE, HARRIS! IN THE NAME OF MY FATHER, YOUR PLAN ENDS HERE AND NOW!" The brunette shouted.
The grounded duo then got into their respective fighting stances and looked at each other for a moment.
"Carter, whatever takes place, remember this: Harris is mine to finish! I'll agree to taking him down together, but I will deliver the final blow, understand?" the brunette explained.
"Sure, Elli. I don't care how it all goes down in the end as long as we win this thing and crush Harris' ambition once and for all." The army man named Carter replied.
The sinister Harris let loose one more devious laugh.
"COME, THEN! SHOW ME YOUR MIGHT IF YOU BELIEVE SO MUCH IN YOUR "JUSTICE"! he mocked.
Elli and Carter nodded to each other, and then faced Harris once more. They then focused their energies and obtained a quick burst of physical chi in the air hands. Elli brought her hands forward in front of her, while Carter stretched his arms backward. In a flash, the two fighters' chi manifested completely, allowing them to unleash it upon their sinister foe.
"KIKOUKEN!"
"SONIC BOOM!"
Elli unleashed a violent blue orb while Carter crossed both arms in front of him and sent forth the power of a sonic boom in the form of a spinning neon gale. Both attacks were sent straight towards Harris, however the vicious dictator simply knocked both attacks aside like they were nothing.
"N-no… no way…" Elli uttered as she stared in shock.
"So, the two of you have obtained understanding of the concept of chi in your training, huh? Very nice! Unfortunately, your inferior ability stands no chance against my Psycho Power! Now tremble as you feel my might!" Harris sneered.
Suddenly, the malevolent dictator dove towards his foes in a spiral motion and quickly picked up speed. In the midst of his dive, Harris formed a deadly rainbow-colored aura all around his spinning body.
"PSYCHO CRUSHER!!"
Harris then drilled right through Elli and Carter in an instant, causing their bodies to be sent flying in various directions. Afterwards, the ambitious dictator stood erect in the air once more.
"Now do you understand, you fools? You never stood a chance against me!" Harris cried.
He then focused his attention on the fallen girl.
"And you… I'll see to it that you die by my hands as your father did! And it will be a savory death, I am certain of it." He smirked.
Further fueled by Harris' words, Elli rose with little difficult. The very air around her seemed to crackle with her violent chi.
"Harris… you…. YOU WILL DIE!!"
Carter managed to pick himself off the floor to rejoin the battle, only to see his partner mad with vengeance.
"No, Elli! Stop! Control yourself!" Carter shouted.
But it was too late. The determined Elli continued to run headlong into a very amused Harris.
"I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU! NEVER! HIYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"
Eve watched on with a solemn gaze as Mitchel and Gotz continued assuming their fearsome stances. Her eyes lingered back and forth as their bodies surged a violent intent.
"Very well, Mitchel… show me this strength that's meant to surpass the Dark Hadou…. It may power that may very well save this world in its darkest hour." Eve thought.
At the same time, Ann stood by with her camera ready, waiting for the photo opportunities she was sure the fight would present.
"Okay, man. You better make this the fight of the century! I don't think I can handle reporting two manslaughters in one day…" Ann thought.
Suddenly, both fighters brought their hands to their side simultaneously and accumulated chi within their grasp. While Mitchel generated his usual blue flame, Gotz' chi formed into a striking violet color. Immediately, they shot out their hands and unleashed their burning waves at each other.
"HADOUKEN!"
"GOU HADOUKEN!"
Both projectiles slammed into each other and canceled each other out. However, Mitchel's blue flame extinguished sooner than Gotz's.
"What the-- a stronger version of the Hadouken?" Mitchel thought in panic.
Immediately after the first attack, Gotz made his next move and slid forward, only to disappear a split second later.
"Oh crap!" Mitchel cried.
With little hesitation, the young fighter reacted by rolling forward, narrowly avoiding a Shoryuken from behind.
"You have… fairly good reflexes..." Gotz noted.
"You scare the living crap out of me, and then vaguely complement my abilities?" Mitchel growled. "So I see you've even mastered the split second movement technique in our school known as "Ashura". No wonder Karen had a tough time with you! Master Woody used to own her so much with that maneuver."
"So then learn from you're your rival's mistakes secondhand? That only solidifies your own doubts and weakness." Gotz scoffed.
"Hey, well at least it saved me a few surprise whacks upside the head!" Mitchel countered.
He then blazed towards his opponent with a sudden burst of speed, all the while slowly turning his hip to the side. Gotz observed the motion and squatted down in preparation. Finally, at mid-distance, Mitchel left into the air and shot out his leg.
"TATSUMAKI SENPYUKYKAU!"
At once, the warrior in white performed his whirlwind kick to propel himself towards his foe, however, Gotz leapt backwards into the air and generated flaming violet chi in his hand once more.
"ZANKU HADOUKEN!"
From mid-air, Gotz shot out a surge of violet chi right into the whirling Mitchel, knocking him out of his attack and onto the floor.
The determined Mitchel quickly picked himself, however, Gotz slid once more into his speedy "Ashura" maneuver. This time, he positioned himself right in front of the hapless fighter and leapt up again with his own leg shot out out.
"TATSUMAKI ZANKYKAYKU!"
The force of Gotz's whirlwind kick was so strong, that it juggled Mitchel mid-air and struck continuously and left his foe floating as he prepared for another strike.
"GOU SHORYUKEN!"
Gotz then leapt upward into a rising fist with greater intensity than a normal Shoryuken. After feeling the brutal fist, Mitchel fell with great impact while Gotz landed perfectly.
"D-Damn… Gotz fights as if he commands the very air around him… and what's with this "Gou" crap he adds at the start of most of our techniques? I've done stuff like that during my training in some crazy attempt to strengthen my attacks, but all it does is make me sound extremely lame. Is this to show the difference between the "True" Ansatsuken and the one Karen and I learned? Or is it an egotistical declaration of his "Mastery of the Fist?" " Mitchel thought as he struggled to pick himself off the ground.
Once Mitchel got back on his feet, Gotz initiated "Ashura" once more.
"Alright, this I'm just going to hold my position for a minute, and…"
As soon as Gotz revealed himself, Mitchel immediately grabbed him by the gi collar and tossed him forward. Gotz quickly flipped mid-air into recovery and was about to make a smooth landing, but Mitchel quickly brought his hands to the side again, and this time channeled a roaring red flame. With a fearsome cry, Mitchel thrust out his hands and launched the roaring projectile which nailed Gotz with an intense force that knocked him down and engulfed his body. Despite the damage done, Gotz recovered and picked himself up nearly at an instant.
"The Shakunetsu Hadouken… how interesting, discovering that technique mid-fight without knowledge the proper knowledge and experience… it nearly rivals my own." Gotz uttered with a small smirk.
Mitchel gulped at seeing his foe's reaction, as well as realizing the sensation swelling through his body.
"W-what the… Was that the Dark Hadou I felt just now?"
Gotz then stomped into a horse stance and brought his hands to his side while channeling a crackling surge of chi in his grasp.
"But… it pales in comparison to THIS!"
At that moment, his hands seemed to hold the will of death itself ready to be unleashed.
"MESSATSU GOU HADOU!"
Gotz then sent a massive violet fireball straight at Mitchel, who quickly leapt above it and shot out his foot to deliver a jump kick in retaliation; however, he was quickly tagged by Gotz's Gou Shoryuken, sending him on the ground once more.
As Mitchel struggled to get up again, his foe watched on curiously.
"Unbelievable. This student of Woody is far better than I expected! Yes, he is worthy of the final test…" Gotz thought with a devious smirk.
Meanwhile, the psychic spectator nearly bit her lip as she sensed a sudden shift in forces.
"That boy… the Dark Hadou within him is reacting to Gotz' own power! It's rising to equalize the fight! But this reaction… it's like trying to fight fire with fire! Mitchel! Don't give in!" Eve thought to herself.
As soon as Mitchel stood up, Gotz had seemingly faded in thin air. Suddenly, the struggling Warrior was paralyzed by an overwhelming horror.
"N-no… this feeling! This violent air! It's not "Ashura" this time! I can't move… I can barely breathe… it's like all my fighting spirit is trying to tear me apart from the inside! No! It's--"
Mitchel suddenly felt his own violent chi and Gotz's meld into a hellish force coming right at him. The enormous shock anchored him in place, keeping him from reacting.
Suddenly, before him was the mental image of his darker sellf: bloodthirsty and ready to tear him limb from limb. As this demented doppelganger came closer and closer, Mitchel let out a ear-piercing scream… until four arms materialized from the shadows and held it back.
"Let go… don't be defeated by your own aggression…" a voice warned.
Suddenly, Mitchel snapped out of a nightmarish trance with and slid back. Gotz then reappeared, only to grasp at thin air.
With this chance opening given to him, Mitchel's body and soul swelled with overwhelming power.
"I refuse to loose… to the likes of you…" he uttered under his breath.
Before Gotz could recover, Mitchel knelt towards his exposed foe and brought his fist to his side. That very fist began to crackle with unearthly power.
"METSU…"
Gotz received an uppercut of considerable force to his gut, stunning his body and giving Mitchel just enough time to follow up his attack.
"SHORYUKEN!!"
Mitchel then delivered a rising uppercut that nearly sent both men into the clouds.
As gravity began taking the bodies back down to the ground, Mitchel's body spiraled to effectively slow down the descent, while Gotz's body began to tumble.
Eventually, the Mitchel made a clean, soft landing, while at the same time, Gotz slammed hard on his stomach.
"That power… I ended up tapping into the Murderous Intent to use it, but what I had just experienced might have been… the full power of the "Dragon Fist"… the "True Shoryuken… a force greater than the "Shun Goku Satsu". Maybe… just maybe this power is the key to rejecting the corruption threatening to consume me." Mitchel realized.
He then clutched his fist tightly and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I finally won…" he declared.
"Yahoo! You actually did it, Mitchel! After that guy nearly had you, you swooped in and beat him to a pulp! Taking down "The Master of the Fist" himself singlehandedly… you must be the strongest fighter in the world!" Ann exclaimed. "And I even got a lot of great pictures out of it! Especially with that last attack of yours! "METSU SHORYUKEN!!" Man, that was amazing!
The victor rubbed his head out of slight embarrassment.
"Ah, thanks… I guess. I think I'll have a few kinks to work out on that new technique of mine, but at least now I have a few new tricks up my sleeve." Mitchel muttered.
"Wonderful… WONDERFUL!!" a ravenous voice cried.
Mitchel turned to see the ruthless demon himself on all fours. To his horror, Gotz appeared to him like a ravenous beast. This hungry beast then got on his feat, with his arms swaying before him like a wild ape as he snorted.
"Gotz' Murderous Intent… he's finally found a potentially worthy foe…" Eve realized as the demonic aura filled the cave.
"Indeed… you possess the same power as I. And you hold it so splendidly! Forsake my foolish brother's foolish teachings and embrace it… let it flow through you. And when the "Murderous Intent" finally, truly awakens within you, then you will know. All the past battles that you've ever faced will seem like child's play." Gotz explained.
Mitchel felt a sudden chill down his spine.
"W… what?!" he cried.
Gotz then raised his hand and chopped the ground with tremendous force. The island floor began cracking apart, and the island itself trembled.
"The island… it's… it's crumbling?!" Mitchel exclaimed. "Gotz! WHY DID YOU DO THIS?!"
Eve remained composed while Ann was filled with panic.
"The island's sinking… Gotz is destroying the island! No… no! I can't die here! Not now!" Ann thought.
Gotz merely chuckled at the commotion.
"When you have learned to summon all your inner power, find me once more. Then we will truly learn who is more powerful." he instructed.
Immediately, the vicious demon had vanished into thin air, leaving only his violent aura to fill the air.
For a moment, a frustrated Mitchel stared at the spot his foe once stood, while Eve gazed at him sympathetically.
"You mustn't falter, Mitchel. You were right... you really do possess the will to reject the Dark Hadou. You just have to continue believing in that…" Eve uttered softly.
With the island continuing its collapse, little time remained.
"We have to go! Now!" Mitchel shouted.
Eve and Ann nodded back in unison. Then all three made a mad dash outside of the cave and towards the helicopter.
"HEY!! MR. MASTERS!!" Mitchel shouted.
Jeff turned around and saw the trio to his great relief. He then started up the helicopter as he awaited the passengers to come aboard. Soon enough, the three made it aboard, and the copter took off, and just in time.
The further away the copter fled, the more island that sunk.
As the destruction continued, Mitchel took one final look at the dying island. He took in a deep breath, then faced outside.
"SORE LOOOOOSEEERRRRRRRR!!"
Eventually, the entire chunk of land sank below the sea, before it could even fade from view.
And so, the remnants of Gotz's evil aura, along with the island itself, had vanished entirely…
Midway through the trip, Karen finally opened her eyes to see her friends safe and sound.
"Mitch…? Ann? Psychic lady? Where's…Dad?" she grumbled.
"Oh, Your Dad's piloting the copter right now." Mitchel explained.
"Ah, so my Karen's finally awake? That's good to hear!" Jeff cheered.
Karen turned towards the cockpit and smiled faintly.
"Heh… my Dad, the Copter Pilot. Seriously, who knew?" she said weakly.
"Just hold on, honey. We'll get you to the main land soon enough to get you healed up, okay?" Jeff replied.
"Thanks… Dad…" Karen rasped.
She then turned back to her good friend.
"So, Mitch… how'd the fight go? Did you stick it to him like I asked you to?"
Mitchel hesitated for a moment, and got shoved aside by Ann.
"Oh, boy did he ever! If only you could've seen it! It was like, "SMACK! CRACK! KAPOWEE! SHORYUKEN!" and whatnot! The fight was just that awesome, beating up Gotz like that!" Ann exclaimed.
Karen chuckled.
"Ah, so I see… guess you really did do better than I did, eh, Mitch?" Karen grinned.
The young victor took a deep breath and tightened his fist.
"As good as I did... that punk still held back… and now he wants a rematch. Once I pick up enough experience, he wants me to find him again... and I don't think he'll rest until he knows which one of us for sure is better. That Gotz is as hungry for good blood as ever…" Mitchel answered in frustration.
"Hey, at least you actually got in a few good hits and really let him have it when he played with you. I was just a sitting duck to that guy." Karen replied.
"Still… that guy's convinced I can get good following his way and embracing the "Murderous Intent". He saw a dangerous power within me and almost creamed me with it. I didn't enjoy seeing that vision one bit when he nearly got me with the Shun Goku Satsu." Mitchel gulped.
"Shun Goku Satsu…? The Instant Hell Murder? Gotz got that heavy with you?" Karen gasped.
"Yeah, but…. somehow I found a way out of it. I felt a few presences… of those dear to me and those I look forward to meeting again, all holding back the vicious intent that nearly annihilated me… and I think I heard Master Woody advising me on how to get out of it." Mitchel explained?
"Shishou? In your unconsciousness? What? Does he think he's Obi-Wan Kenobi now, returning from the grave like that in spirit?" Karen asked.
"The world and its ways are mysterious indeed…" Eve uttered. "Even when one dies in the physical world, his or her essence live on in the memories of those they've touched. That is the essence of life…"
"So you decide to throw in a little sagely wisdom there, just because?" asked Karen.
"I can sense you two still mourn for your Master… just a little. Do not worry, just keep his memory at heart and honor his life. The Dead is ultimately like spilled milk, you can do nothing for them once it done." Eve advised.
Everybody stared at the blonde fortune teller.
"Wha?"
"So… it's stupid to mourn over the dead, because it's like spilled milk?"
"But what if it's Melon Milk? I really like that stuff!"
Eve went silent for a moment.
"Hm… I should work on a few of my sayings." She thought in embarrassment.
She then placed a hand on Mitchel's shoulder.
"So… young Warrior. Gotz himself has said your Dark Hadou holds enormous potential that may rival or even surpass his own. And I had saw, in your newest technique, that you were forced to bring out that power in the finishing blow. Do you intend to surpass Gotz now that you have seen it possible? And do you still intend to reject the Dark Hadou waiting to be unleashed in earnest? Either is possible, but not without consequences…" Eve warned.
Mitchel faced the sensual psychic with an eager grin.
"What do you think? I'm going to do both! I don't know for sure how exactly I unleashed the "Metsu Shoryuken", but I've immediately familiarized the surge of chi unleashed. I felt it… the power of the True Dragon. If I can tap into the full extent of "Shin", or Truth, as I've begun to do with my Hadouken and Tatsumaki Shinpukyaku, then perhaps I could develop the mightiest fist of all. I can't wait until I finally discover the "Shin Shoryuken!"" Mitchel cheered.
"Not unless I beat you to it first, Mitch! Remember, you still have rival lying right here beside you! I'm going to make up for this rest period of mine tenfold!" Karen declaired.
Ann chuckled.
"So, this will be my next scoop, huh? Mitchel Blaze and Karen Masters: The two Ansatsuken Practitioners that seek to surpass Master of the Fist. I'm expecting to hear about you guys a lot in international competition form now!" she exclaimed. "My Battle of the Century Story is just the beginning!"
"And so you have proclaimed your destinies as thus? Intriguing. Indeed, I intend to hear much more of you two as well. Perhaps it is the fighting spirit of you warriors that will provide a new light in this world." Eve added.
"Seriously…why do you have to speak like that? Is it part your job description or something?" Karen asked.
Eve grinned.
"I do it simply because it's fun to speak this way." She answered back.
Everybody else on the helicopter growned.
"What? Japanese Gangster like types to roll their "r'"s a lot. Don't I get to have liberties in how I speak?" Eve said aloud.
"Sure… if you enjoy sounding like a bit part in a Shakespeare play…" Mitchel uttered under his breath.
Eve shrugged, feeling perplexed by the reaction she received. She then gazed out deeply towards the vast oceans.
"Unfortunately, I'm too late. A decisive battle in the war against evil has begun without me. Hopefully, the two champions who fight will be able to fare well until I can make it. Yet, I feel that even with my power, the War will still not end."
She then turned to see the three young companions in good spirits.
"Still, it seems the world has been given new hope in those courageous souls. Let that hope guide us all to a brighter future…"
As the copter pals continued their good cheer thanks to a recent victory, the helicopter flies on towards a radiant sunset…
The End