Ryu got out of the plane that landed in the airport of Bangkok in Thailand. He began to look around at the various people while carrying his bag.
« Hey ! I was waiting for ya ! »
Ryu turned around to see Ken approaching him. They fist bumped like they always done in the past.
« It's good to see you again, Ken. How have you been ? » Ryu asked him.
« Pretty good, I got myself a girlfriend ! Her name is Eliza ! What about you, found one yet ?~ » Ken elbowed Ryu's arm to tease him.
« Ken… You know it's not my thing to find a girlfriend… » Ryu sighed.
« I was just joking, buddy ! Come on, let's get to the bus ! » Ken gestured Ryu to follow him.
« Though I do congratulate you from finding one, how did you meet ? » Ryu asked.
« During one of my tournaments back in the States. We went on a date, and we agreed to hang out. Just before I took my flight to Thailand, she confirmed me her family accepted me since Eliza's sister, Julia, has a husband who's part of the US military ! » Ken explained.
« That's good to know. I heard Master Gouken's friend, Retsu, is going to be part of the tournament. » Ryu added.
« I met him near the bus ! We talked for a bit, how the last time we met him we were just teenagers ! We will talk while we are on my way to the tournament site ! » Ken nodded.
The two friends registered to the bus driver, as they sat next to each other, with every other participant of the tournament.
The bus began driving to the location of the tournament. It was going to be a long drive.
« So, you also joined the tournament, Ryu. » A bald man sitting in front of them turned around to face them. It was none other than Retsu.
« Retsu, it's good to see you again. It has been a long time. » Ryu smiled at him.
« Indeed, last time I saw you two, you were just teenagers ! And now you're both adults. I do hope to find out how strong you have gotten. » Retsu smiled back.
« Oh we have gotten stronger alright ! Just you wait, we won't hold back on you ! » Ken smirked.
« I won't hold back as well, but don't think I am just an old man. I am not rusty yet. » Restu chuckled.
« Is it true once we have been picked with someone else, we will have to go to their countries ? » Ryu asked.
« OI WHAT ?! You mean we went all the way here just to go back to one country ?! » Birdie asked loudly.
« Of course, it is not called the World Warrior Tournament for nothing. And haven't you read that on the announcement ? » Eagle replied.
« Uhh no ? I was eating when I read it. » Birdie deadpanned.
« Why am I not surprised ? » Eagle rolled his eyes.
« So guys, what's your goal from joining this competition ? » Joe asked loudly, causing everyone to look at him.
« I want to help my family, they need it. » Lee replied.
« I want to redeem myself. » Mike said.
« What do you mean ? » Ryu asked.
« I went to prison because I did felonies due to being poor… » Mike admitted, lowering his head.
No one said a word for a bit, until Ryu replied.
« You might have done these things before, but what matters is what you do now. You seek to redeem yourself, and therefore, you are a good person. » He said.
« Thanks man, I just wish people could see it that way… » Mike smiled but sighed.
« What about you old man ? What's your story ? » Joe asked Gen.
« My past is none of your concern, just know I am looking for a worthy opponent to defeat me. » Gen replied.
« Jeez, no need to be so rude old timer. What about, ninja dude ? Nice costume by the way. » Joe looked at Geki.
« That is not a costume, and my reason here is none of your concern. » Geki glared at him.
« What's with you guys, for real ? I'm asking a question. » Joe sighed.
« Well, sorry buddy, but you shouldn't press people into answering them if they don't want to. » Ken answered.
« Wait a minute… You're Ken Masters, aren't you ? » Joe raised an eyebrow.
« Yeah, why ? » Ken nodded.
« Because I used to be one, if not, the strongest man in the States before I got in trouble with the law… And I intend to show the world I'm not rusty yet by defeating you ! » He smirked.
« Well then, if we end being paired for the fights, we shall see if you're that strong as you claim you be. » Ken smirked back.
« Hmph, arrogance will be your downfall, young man. » Eagle shook his head.
« No one asked you, pops. » Joe rolled his eyes.
The rest of the ride was rather quiet, until they arrived at the arena, and the hotel where they would stay.
« Gentlemen, please follow me to the hotel so you can deposit your belongings in your room we will assign you for your stay. » A woman was waiting outside of the bus.
The group followed her, as each of them took their keys and put their bags in their rooms, before heading to the arena.
Everyone was cheering for them, some of the fighters waved at the spectators, while the others ignored them. Everyone noticed a lone fighter standing next to an empty throne. He had a microphone in his hand, and once he tested it and the crowd began to be silent, he spoke.
« Fighters, welcome to the World Warrior Tournament ! I am Adon, and I will participate alongside you, as I will give this mic to the host of this tournament, the Emperor of Muay Thai himself… SAAAGGAAATTT ! » Adon shouted.
Cheers erupted again, as Sagat appeared from behind the stand having his throne, as he took the microphone, allowing Adon to join the other fighters, as Sagat sat on his throne.
« Dear fighters, I welcome you all to my homeland of Thailand, and to the World Warrior Tournament, where you will prove your strength to the entire world. The last one standing shall face me, Sagat, in a duel, to determine who is the strongest fighter on this planet ! » He spoke.
Cheers continued, as some of the fighters began to be a bit nervous. Seeing Sagat in real life was more intimidating than on the posters.
« We shall now determine who is going to fight. As you may have noticed, you are eleven fighters in total. Therefore, in order to have pairs going for each round of the tournament, we need to have one fighter who won't participate in the main fights of the first round. Which means, that fighter will have to fight the losers of the first round, so we can get six fighters for the second round. Now, let us see who is the unlucky fighter who will sit this one out. » Sagat explained.
A woman began to shuffle papers in a glass box, then picked one piece of paper, and opened it…
« Ryu ! » She declared.
Surprised for a second, he sighed.
« It had to be me… » He lowered his head.
« Hey, don't worry ! You heard him, you're gonna fight whoever loses for one place in the next round ! You're gonna win this ! » Ken cheered him up.
« You're right… Thanks. » Ryu nodded, smiling at his friend.
« And now, it is time to designate the fights for the first round. Once it has been decided, you should all return to your hotel rooms to rest, then you will take a plane to whatever country your opponent is from. Now, let's begin ! What will be our first fight ? » Sagat spoke.
The lady began to grab two pieces of paper from the glass box…
« Gen versus Geki, with the fight taking place in China ! » She declared.
The two men stared at each other, not saying a word.
« Next is… Joe versus Eagle, the fight taking place in England ! » She continued.
« Alright ! I will teach ya a lesson, old man ! » Joe cheered.
« Hmph. We will see. » Eagle replied uninterested.
« Next up is… Lee vs Retsu, in Japan ! » She continued.
« This shall prove to be an interesting fight. » Lee scratched his beard.
« Indeed. » Retsu nodded.
« Then Birdie vs Mike, all the way to the United States ! » She continued.
« Alright big guy, we will see what you got ! » Mike said.
« Oh you will ! Don't think this belly right here makes me weak ! There's muscle underneath it ! » Birdie tapped his belly, grining.
« And finally… Ken vs Adon, taking place in this very arena ! » She finished.
« So, the famous Ken Masters will fight me ? This is a great opportunity to show that Muay Thai is the best fighting style ! » Adon said to himself.
« This will be interesting indeed… » Ken grinned.
« Now that the fights have been decided, you will all return to the hotel to relax, a welcoming party will be held there while we prepare your flights. The first fight between Gen and Geki will take place in three days, so take this time to train ! » Sagat ended his speech and left.
And so, our eleven combattants went back to their hotel, where the welcoming party started in the evening. There were food and drinks at will, Birdie sure was happy about it.
« Not too sad about not being able to participate yet, Ryu ? » Ken asked him, serving him a glass of champagne.
« I am, but like you said, I will have a chance to gain my place by proving I am strong. » Ryu sipped on it.
« That's the spirit ! Don't worry, I'm sure you will do fine ! » Ken placed his hand on Ryu's shoulder.
« Thanks man. » Ryu nodded.
After the party was over, each contestant returned to their hotel room, where they would sleep for the last few days before the beginning of the tournament.
The First World Warrior Tournament has begun…