Both Ryu and Ken have a match scheduled for today, so they sparred during the hour-long intermission in order to prepare. Not one of them showed signs of stopping. When they got done, they saw SCP-953 walking toward them.

"It's you," Ryu said after recognizing her. "It's been a long time."

"Too long," 953 replied. "I take it you both have matches today."

"You better believe it," Ken chimed in. "Don't know much about this thing though, except for Ryu tellin' me that this platinum haired woman told him about this vague conspiracy that might be behind it."

Valentine... "Well, after sparring with you guys a long time ago, I take it you won't go down without a fight here."

Twenty minutes later, everybody was back huddled around the arena. Quan Chi appeared via a portal while holding the head of a dead oni. He then tossed it aside. "The time has come for the second match," Quan Chi stated. "Ryu..."

"Good luck out there, man," Ken said as he patted Ryu's back. He then walked onto the arena.

"...vs Reptile!" At that moment, a thud was heard. Moments later, Reptile revealed himself, and he glared at Ryu, who simply went into his fighting stance.

"I shall taste your flesh..." Reptile said as he drooled.

"FIGHT!" Quan Chi yelled. With that, Reptile darted forward with a slide that left a trail of acid. He then performed general martial arts strikes, which Ryu masterfully parried before striking back with a hard, straight left kick that sent Reptile flying.

Upon getting up, Reptile produced a slime ball that quickly went towards Ryu, which he nullified with an advancing Hurricane Kick. With Reptile vulnerable, he did a three hit combo that consisted of a left jab, a right gut punch, and a left hook before grabbing Reptile, getting on his back, and using his leg to toss Reptile behind him.

Reptile then shot an acid shot from his mouth. Ryu was prepared for this, as he gathered energy in his palms. "HADOKEN!" Ryu shouted as he released that energy from his palms in the shape of a ball. Reptile was only phased slightly by this, as he soon hopped very high and, upon descending, pounced on Ryu, holding him down.

It looked as if Ryu might lose this, then, without warning, he kicked Reptile off him and followed up with a jumping right uppercut. "SHORYUKEN!" Ryu shouted as he did this. Afterwards, Reptile lay on the ground, unconscious.

"When you lost control," Ryu said to the downed Reptile, "you lost the fight."

"Winner: Ryu," Quan Chi announced. "Finish him."

Ryu turned his head towards Quan Chi. "I will not," he said. "It is against my nature." After saying this, he walked off the arena and back to the hotel.

On a smaller island a few feet away, a demonic creature (dressed in attire similar to Ryu, only it was colored purplish grey) stood as if he could watch the entire thing.

"Fool! You should have killed that creature," the demon spoke with somewhat of a raspy voice. "A fighter who refuses to finish off his opponent is not a true victor." A red aura soon emitted from him, and the back of his gi produced a Japanese mark of 'ten'. "Soon... I shall show you how atrue fighter gets things done!"

to be continued...