TEKKEN: THE COLD AND THE WARM


ACT 19: If You Want Blood

Inside a kitchen in the G Corporation's HQ, Jakarta, Indonesia

At the G Corp's HQ, there appeared to be a huge gala taking place in the highest floor. Judging by the banner hanging above the hall, it was a celebration of the conglomerate's continued war effort. However, one could say that they were also celebrating the downfall of their main opponent: the Mishima Zaibatsu. With their leadership being inadequate, the Zaibatsu was gradually losing their influence against their rivals.

At a kitchen, Anna Williams was cooking, already dressed in a black apron. She appeared to be cooking an Italian tomato sauce, the kind used for spaghetti dishes. But she was not alone in the kitchen.

Not far from where she stood and cooked, Bruce Irvin was leaning against the kitchen's countertop, observing his compatriot's cooking skills. There were security guards stationed around the kitchen. Lucky Chloe was also there, yet she was busy texting on her phone amidst all this.

Anna approached the pot with the tomato sauce, dropping some basil into the soup while mixing it with a wooden spoon.

"The secret to making this sauce's taste unforgettable is the basil. You want the youngest leaves from the plant. Otherwise, it's like mint. Overpowers everything" Anna commented to Bruce as she tasted the sauce.

Bruce mused to himself while hearing this. "Is that so? Man, you sure do have a great talent for culinary tastes, Anna" he complimented her cooking skills.

Anna smiled, appreciating Bruce's compliments. "Oh, I've always had great talent for those ever since I was just a girl" she told him, turning around to the counter in order to chop off some garlic onions. "What do you think, Chloe?" the Irishwoman suddenly asked the teenager.

Despite wearing her cat-like headphones, Lucky Chloe could still hear Anna's question towards her.

"Huh?" she looked away from her cellphone and glanced at Anna. "What kind of question are you asking me?" the teenager stared at her.

Anna resumed cutting the garlic. "About the food, silly. Don't you think it's great?" the brunette questioned her.

"Oh yeah, it smells good and all. Yummy" the otaku responded in a quite nonchalant manner.

Anna looked at her, seeing as how Chloe was continuing texting without even paying attention to her. She still recalled the little "talk" they had at that G Corp-outpost on the Kuril Islands. There, Anna had tried to make sure the otaku would not do anything against the conglomerate's interests.

Since then, things had gone smoothly between those two, yet Anna was not fully convinced just yet. She was not alone though. Bruce too harbored some doubts about Chloe's loyalty towards Kazuya.

"You know something, Chloe? There is a lot of things that you should be grateful towards us for" Anna's crimson lips turned into a smirk. "After all, you wouldn't have achieved your internet-fame without the G Corp sponsoring you" she tried to make the young girl look at her.

That worked, seeing as Chloe looked at her with a somewhat dumbfounded look. "Your sponsorship helped me?" she quizzed, only to burst out laughing.

Neither Anna nor Bruce understood why Chloe did that, and it ticked them off a little.

"What's so damn funny, shrimp?" Bruce rudely asked.

The otaku stopped laughing, almost breaking a tear. "You gotta be kidding me. If any of you believe that the G Corp is responsible for my fame, then you seriously don't know me" Chloe said with a mischievous grin. "By the time I won that global contest, I was already a superstar. Heck, my breakdancing videos were among the most viewed on YouTube. No way the G Corp helped me obtain my celebrity status" she spoke with so much defiance within her.

This stunned Bruce and Anna, seeing as how they'd never seen this snarky side of Lucky Chloe before. Still, this didn't stop either of them from questioning her further.

"You've been fixated upon your phone for so many hours these days. Care to tell us what's so special?" Anna took note of Chloe texting.

"Duh. It's my manager and agents, obviously. They've been worried sick about me ever since the war continued" Chloe answered, still facing the phone. "Because of the war, no country doesn't wanna hold a concert with me in it. Plus, I've lost millions of subscribers due to my image being associated with the G Corp's actions" she went on ranting.

Bruce shook his head. "So you're more concerned about your "fans" than anything else? Grow a thicker spine, girly" he ridiculed her.

That really set the teenager off, and she got off her chair and faced Bruce directly.

"Oh, so you're accusing me of being apathetic towards everyone else?" she asked, feeling offended. "Alright then, LeBron James. Let's be real here. Given that you're so enthusiastically in support of the ongoing battles, don't you worry for the marginalized people in the world? I bet this war will definitely make their lives more miserable than before!" the otaku didn't even hold back.

This made Bruce's eyes widen slightly, and he actually said nothing in return. That only encouraged Chloe to continue.

"You've always been so outspoken against injustices happening to those from poorer backgrounds. Yet right now, you stand there acting completely oblivious to their suffering. That to me is extreme hypocrisy" Chloe pointed out. But she was not done speaking. "Just imagine what's happening in Philadelphia right now. Are you still willing to act this nonchalant while it's neighborhoods are being….." she didn't get to finish speaking.

Without Chloe herself even realizing it, Bruce had stretched his arm across the counter to grab the girl by her throat. The grip was hard and Chloe was chocked.

"Bruce! What are you…" Anna was completely caught off-guard by this.
Still, nobody in the kitchen did anything to stop Bruce. The kickboxer faced Chloe directly in her eyes.

"You have run that mouth of yours for too long, punk. It's about time you stopped talking and started listening" Bruce spat out those words. "Nobody has the right to question my ideals and morals. Especially you, who has lived in privilege all her life without knowing how the real worlds works! It's a world filled with inequality and injustice!" he raised his voice.

Chloe struggled to free herself from Bruce's firm grip, as well as breathe amidst this man's aggression.

"War is nasty. That I don't dispute. But to eradicate this flawed system that the international community represents, we must tear it down by force. Racism. Homophobia. Whatever kind of bigotry it has allowed to perpetuate, it must be destroyed. Only then will people know true equity and peace" Bruce began opening up to not just Chloe, but also those around him.

With that said, he let go of the otaku, with her barley managing to compose herself. Yet Chloe could see Bruce's angry eyes gazing down to her. But he was not alone. Anna had also started to give the teenager some dirty looks.

"If you think you can claim to be like any of us standing here, you're fooling yourself. A spoiled girl like you will never understand what suffering is" Bruce soundly rebuked Chloe. "I'll make sure Kazuya is notified of your correspondence with your so-called fanbase. That should remind you where you stand among us. End of discussion" he said before taking his leave.

With Bruce gone, Anna couldn't help but to snicker as she watched Chloe struggle to composer herself. But she didn't do it for long, and returned to cooking the tomato sauce.

"You heard what Bruce said. Be careful where your loyalties lie. I'm certain that your dearest fanbase would hate to see you disappear from the face of the world. So do as all a favor and shut your little piehole, Unlucky Chloe" Anna insulted the teenager as she continued coking.

Chloe slowly got up on her feet, yet she didn't respond to Anna's words. She turned around and walked away from the Irishwoman.

Apparently, Lucky Chloe was not as affected by Bruce's harsh words as anyone would've believed. The teenage otaku took a seat at the kitchen's corner. She turned on her music, pretending that she was not listening to anyone around her.

But deep inside, she appeared to harbor a burning determination. And it was done so out of defiance. Chloe began reflecting on Bruce's harsh words towards him.

"You're probably right, Bruce. I will never be anything like you and these freaks. A shame that it took you THAT long to figure out" Chloe insulted Bruce and the others on the inside. She proceeded to go log onto her email account and read some of the messages she'd sent to a certain policeman. "Because I already have already figured out a way to bring this damn company down to its knees. And all of you will be exposed for the big hypocrites you are!" the blondie didn't even hold back her scheming thoughts.

That's right. Chloe wished for nothing but to see this company fall. Even so, she needed to tread carefully. While neither Bruce nor Anna possessed any trust towards her, Kazuya, for some particular reason, did. That only convinced the otaku to continue feigning loyalty towards the G Corp.

But even as she rolled with it, Chloe still couldn't expect Kazuya to trust her for so long. It would only be a matter of time before he started doubting her loyalty.

"I know the kind of danger I put myself in for this. But it's totally worth it!" Chloe said so herself, gulping as she tried to be a little more optimistic.

While there was so much taking place at the gala itself, Kazuya was nowhere to be seen. Why? He was currently inside his office.

Even as everyone was having fun out in the open, Kazuya was all alone in this office. The lights were switched off, yet the lights around Jakarta made it possible for him to see anything.

Gazing out through the window, the Japanese man was in deep thought. He had declared war upon the entire world. As such, he had completely changed the image of the G Corp. No longer were they the brave heroes standing up to the Mishima Zaibatsu's aggression. In fact, many faces of the international community now considered the G Corp worse than their rivals. There was even an arrest warrant issued for Kazuya, as well as for Bruce, Anna and other important associates.

But none of that mattered to Kazuya. He'd already done that with zero regrets. No matter how much bloodshed was created in this war, he never had second thoughts.

"The entire world now fears my name. As soon as I have disposed of anyone foolish enough to challenge me, it will bend to my will" he noted, clenching his right arm tightly.

The more he reflected on his recent actions, the more Kazuya realized a fact that even he hated to admit. Given his desire for world domination, as well as making sure only the strongest were fit to rule, Kazuya had started to become more like Heihachi. Indeed, the similarities between son and father were becoming more apparent with each passing day. There were even some in the international community that said Kazuya was worse than Heihachi.

Was that something he really wanted to be remembered as? A man no different from the father he hated so much.

"It appears…...that I have become more like you…...Heihachi" the Japanese man admitted, slowly lowering his head to face the floor.

As he did that, Kazuya closed his eyes, his mind drifting back to his troubled childhood. These included the very moments Heihachi had killed his mother, as well as thrown him down into a volcano.

"What's with that look on your face? You seem quite troubled" this made Kazuya open his eyes.

He didn't even turn around, still facing the floor as this familiar voice haunted his mind.

"Do not deny yourself, Kazuya. The feeling of superiority is an amazing experience. There is no shame in embracing it" the voice came from none other than his deceased father: Heihachi Mishima.

The late Patriarch of the Mishima clan stood there, wearing an overconfident smirk while crossing his arms. Why he was there inside an office, nobody could know. Even so, Heihachi kept staring at his son.

"Being strong and hardened is what it means to be a Mishima. We are warriors at heart. Even you, cursed as your blood is, know that very well" Heihachi spoke, his eyes never leaving sight of Kazuya. "That is why you accepted my challenge. There was no other way to victory except defeating me! You followed your instincts as a true Mishima. So why then, with the entire world at its knees before you, do you have these doubts?" Heihachi got even bolder with this question.

Even as he listened to every word his father said, Kazuya still refused to turn around. He knew that Heihachi was dead, yet he could now hear these sorts of hallucinations inside his mind.

Heihachi grinned, starting to see what the pattern was. "Is it about your mother? Foolish whelp! Have you forgotten everything I told you in the depths of Pu'u 'Ō'ō? She never loved you! Nor did she love me!" the elderly man sounded bitter as he said those words. However, the tone of his voice also hinted to how hurt Heihachi was. "That ungrateful, deceitful wench was an assassin, cursed by a demonic lineage! Kazumi's main objectives was to kill us both! She and that wretched Hachijo clan sought to prevent us from restoring the Mishima name to its greatest! A pity she failed eliminate me" he struggled to even hide his shattered heart.

Finally, Kazuya had turned around, possessing enough courage to look at his late father standing there. The expression on his face was quite solemn, coupled with the deep frown.

"With Kazumi gone, there is nothing you need to grieve for. Break free of her wisdom of lies and embrace your own destiny" the voice of his father continued to bite him.

That said, Kazuya began taking slow steps towards Heihachi. This encouraged the elderly man to continue speaking.

"What are you waiting for, Kazuya? This is what you wanted! Hear the Mishima's calling and start making yourself this world's true ruler!" Heihachi called out.

Kazuya continued moving, his face remaining unchanged with each step he took.

"You have already everything that you desire! A devil inside you, a powerful army, and loyal subjects! Let go of your weakness and do something good for once in your life!" the late Mishima Patriarch never stopped.

"WILL YOU SHUT UP!?" Kazuya roared, punching through his father's chest.

But even as Kazuya's right hand and fist was through, Heihachi was not bleeding. He remained frozen as his son kept looking at him in a quite emotionless manner.

"You are not real. You are dead to me and you have been that for a long time" Kazuya coldly said. His frown suddenly changed into a devious smirk. "So is my mother! She's means nothing to me as well!" he exclaimed while pulling his arm out of Heihachi.

The hallucinations appeared to stop, and Heihcahi was no longer haunting his mind. This pleased Kazuya, and he walked back towards the window to gaze out to the cityscape.

"My mother sought to kill me. Why would I ever consider holding unto memories of her? No decent person would ever do such. Mothers are supposed to love their sons after all" he spoke to himself. "But I never had one. However, I don't need a parent to make me feel loved" Kazuya continued.

As Kazuya kept watching, a single tear fell from his right eye. Surprisingly, the usually cold-minded man started reminding himself about the person he felt had played an important part of his life.

"Kazuya…" the very voice he thought of belonged to the woman he desired most. The woman he had truly loved more than anything. "There is a lot more to life. It's not always filled with pain. It can be filled with wonders. Serenity. Peace. Hope. And love" he still recalled the tender words that had changed him once.

The Japanese man put his right hand against the glass. He eventually did the same thing with his forehead. There was just so much going inside him emotionally.

"Sometimes I think you must be an angel. Perhaps you really are. For there has never been someone who understood me like you" Kazuya uttered out, only to look up in the darkened skies. "That is why I will do whatever it takes to bring you out of hiding. If I have to destroy the whole world just to accomplish that…so be it" he went on, only to pick up something from one of his pickets.

It was a picture. Judging by its quality, it seemed pretty old. However, this picture showed him a Japanese woman who stood in her fighting stance while briefly catching sight of the one who snapped that photo of her.

"You will belong to me sooner or later…...Jun Kazama" he finally uttered out the name of that woman.

It all became apparent now. The true reason for continuing this destructive war was all because of Kazuya wanting to bring Jun out of hiding. Unlike Jin, Kazuya refused to believe she was dead. He knew her to be not weak. Therefore, Kazuya would draw Jun out of hiding by creating much bloodshed as possible. Just like it happened before.

History was about to repeat itself.


In a cave of worship, somewhere in Thailand

Ever since escaping from that Thai military base, Fahkhumram had been staying inside a cave of worship inhabited by Buddhist monks. Having told them his story about who he was and how he was unfairly imprisoned by Thai authorities, the kind-hearted monks took pity upon him and decided to help shelter him.

Since then, Fahkhumram had tried to blend in with the monks, even though he struggled to understand their ways. Still, the Muay Thai fighter felt like he needed their guidance. Having been treated like a secret weapon by the Thai military, Fahkhumram was experiencing psychological traumas. He feared that he was slowly turning into a monster rather than a human. That's why he felt like he could not meet his wife and daughter just yet.

On the other hand, Fahkhumram was worried about his family. He worried about what would happen to them now that he was out of the Thai military's clutches. Would they try use his family as a bargaining chip against him? Fahkhumram feared such.

The enormous man woke up from his sleep, having just experienced a nightmare. Looking around, he noticed that there was no one around him. Fahkhumram then looked at his body. There were no scratched nor wounds upon him.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. It was all just a bad dream" Fahkhumram rubbed his entire face. "When will these images from the past ever end?" he wondered, worried about how his psychological problems would eventually consume him.

"Fahkhumram!" he tilted his head up and saw one of the children monks standing by the opening. "You are awake!" the cheerful boy smiled.

Given how bright and spirited this boy seemed, the Muay Thai fighter couldn't help but to return the smile. It was a sight he had longed to see in a long time. He couldn't bear to remember the sight of Thai generals and their sadistic smirks.

"S̄wạs̄dī txn chêā" Fahkhumram told the boy in a pleasant voice.

"The timing is just perfect. Breakfast is almost ready! Come outside! Everyone is waiting for you" the young boy said with so much excitement.

Rubbing his head, Fahkhumram weakly nodded his head in understanding. "C̄hạn k̄hêācı. I will there a soon as I can" he told the young boy as he rose up to his feet.

Despite his abnormal size, the young monk didn't seem intimidated by him in the slightest. Rather, he was amazed. Fahkhumram could tell by the look in his eyes.

"Woooow…" there was nothing but astonishment in the child's voice. "You're so tall! How did you get so big!?" the boy kept asking.

This awkward question led Fahkhumram to struggle for the right answer. Still, there was no way he could not respond to this happy-going child. Quickly coming up with a convenient excuse, the huge man decided reply.

"Let's just say that my training was harsh, even by the standards of the Muay Thai" Fahkhumram answered with a smile directed towards the child.

The boy watched him, his head tilted. Clearly, he seemed confused. "Is that so?" he asked, only to then smile brightly at Fahkhumram. "That's so cool! I wish I was as strong as you!" the boy once again expressed his admiration.

Chuckling lightly, Fahkhumram decided to make a move.

He and the young monk exited the cave and came to a hall, where there were two rows of small tables. These tables were so low that all the monks were sitting down on the long carpets on the ground.

The Buddhist monks soon took notice of Fahkhumram's presence and they all looked at him wide smiles.

"There he is! Our country's greatest hero" one of the monks called out.

"The powerful Fahkhumram!" another monk didn't hold back expressing his admiration of him.

As awkward as these praises sounded to him, Fahkhumram didn't say anything to make them stop saying them. He couldn't risk ruining the amount of compassion and hospitality those monks had given him.

"Sit beside me, young one" that voice belonged to the elderly teacher, who was saving an empty space for him.

The tall man took his seat, only to notice that he still a little high above the table. Even so, he took the plate of food that lied below him. It looked delicious. The plate had rice, vegetables and some meat on it.

As Fahkhumram tasted the food, his mouth started to water. He had not tasted such in a very long time.

"This is great" the tall man said before looking at the elderly monk. "How do you make something so good at a place like this?" he asked him.

The teacher chuckled beneath his long beard. "In truth, we do not make the food here. We are mendicants after all" he told Fahkhumram, who was astonished. "There is a village not far from this place. We send our brothers down there every day to gather their offerings to us. Those villagers have always been so kind to us

"Oh…...I see" the Muay Thai fighter noted. "C̄hạn k̄hxthos̄ʹ. I meant no disrespect" he apologized in Thai before sighing.

A monk sitting beside Fahkhumram had taken note of how he'd enjoyed his meal.

"It seems to me that this the first time you are eating a good meal in a long time" the monk said with a smile.

Fahkhumram nodded his head weakly. "Imprisonment offered me no comfort. Not even the meal" he spoke up.

Hearing this made the elderly teacher come up with an idea. Since Fahkhumram came to this place, he had taken a great interest in the young man and his legacy. That's why he felt like getting to know him better.

"Fahkhumram. If you do not mind, there is something I would like to show you after breakfast" he said, with Fahkhumram looking at him with surprised eyes. The elderly monk nodded weakly at him. "As a matter of fact, it can help you with finding the inner peace you desire most" he then revealed.

Fahkhumram couldn't believe what he just heard. Was this teacher willing to help him battle his inner demons? There was no way he could refuse such a generous request.

"Very well. And thank you so much" the tall man tried to find the right words to express his gratitude.

After eating breakfast, the old teacher took Fahkhumram to someplace special. It was a waterwall in the nearby rainforest. The Muay Thai fighter could not believe his own eyes. He'd never seen such before.

"A waterfall. I never imagined something so wonderful existed here" the Muay Thai man remarked.

The elderly man found himself amused at Fahkhumram's reaction. He then proceeded to walk towards the waterfall.

"There are plenty of waterfalls in this country, young one. But this one is special. And for a good reason as well" he said as he kept walking towards the large wall of water.

Fahkhumram stood and watched as the Buddhist monk suddenly disappeared behind the wall of water. That alone only convinced him to go after.

"What happened? Is there something behind the waterfall? I must see for it myself" he said as he walked towards the water.

Listening to the sound of the fall, Fahkhumram slowly walked through the wall of liquid. Despite getting it all over him, he didn't seem to mind it at all. He proceeded walking, closing his eyes as he did that.

Once he could no longer feel the water all over him, the tall man opened his eyes. What he was given sight of made his eyes widen in astonishment.

This was not just any ordinary cave behind the waterfall. Judging by the decorations and candle lights, it was a shrine. But for whom? Fahkhumram soon got an answer.

He looked up and saw a Thai mural painting on the rocky wall itself. It was a Muay Thai fighter, but not him. Fahkhumram stepped closer to get a better look at the painting. The man depicted in it seemed to be quite strong, no different from

"It can't be…" the tall man stammered "This man…he's…" there was no words to describe how enthusiastic he was.

The elderly monk chuckled. "Indeed. This is a shrine dedicated to one of the greatest fighters of our country's history: the one called…...Garuda" he revealed.

Fahkhumram fell down to his knees and looked at the mural painting. He knew everything about this Garuda. When he was just a young boy, Garuda was among those Muay Thai fighters he'd greatly looked up to. The name Garuda came from the mythical anthropomorphic birds from Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

"Garuda…..he was a great influence on me….." the tall man admitted as the monk took his seat beside him. "It is said that he possessed the speed and strength of the ancient deities themselves. I remember how much my kru encouraged me to know his history. I still recall watching his fights on television" Fahkhumram reminisced about his early childhood.

The elderly monk smiled. "Do you recall what happened to him?" he asked.

Fahkhumram lowered his head as he tried to recall it. Judging by the look on his face, he was saddened.

"I do not know the whole picture. But to my knowledge, Garuda was driven out of the branch as a result of him killing his opponents in each duel. It didn't take long before the entire Thailand started to fear him as a monster. He was eventually arrested and later died of old age during his incarceration" the Muay Thai fighter spoke.

A pained expression formed on the monk's face. Clearly, he didn't seem pleased with hearing what Fahkhumram had just said. The tall man couldn't understand why.

"Bah. That is only the half-truth" the monk looked at the larger individual with a deep frown beneath his beard. "Considering what you are going through, I expected you to at least not believe such urban legends" he continued on chastising Fahkhumram.

This didn't sit well with the Muay Thai fighter. He even rose up to his feet. "What would you know of my inner struggles? You know nothing!" he looked down at the monk, angered at his words.

Despite Fahkhumram being taller, the elderly man didn't flinch even once. His wrinkly eyes even narrowed as he looked up to the Muay Thai fighter.

"Watch your tone with me, boy. Looks can be deceiving" he said.

Before Fahkhumram knew it, the elderly man moved with such incredible speed. He managed to even land a kick in the middle of Fahkhumram's chest. Surprisingly, the tall man was sent flying as a result. Fahkhumram lied on the wet ground and looked at the fighting stance this monk was in. He couldn't believe his own eyes.

"That stance…it's impossible….." the Muay Thai fighter stammered.

The elderly man chuckled as he started to remove his upper clothing. With it, his well-toned torso was exposed.

"It has been a long time since I performed that move. My old bones cannot take much more of this" the monk complained.

What really caught Fahkhumram's attention was the bird-like creature tattooed on his chest. That alone told him only one thing about this mysterious monk.

"You are…Garuda…..you are still alive!" the tall man gasped in shock once he knew who this man really was.

"I am indeed. But these days, I prefer living as a follower of Buddha's teachings. I have shed my past as a Muay Thai fighter" the man known as Garuda replied.

Fahkhumram sat and looked at this man in awe. This was him. The one standing before him was the one of the greatest fighters of Thailand history: Garuda. Fahkhumram still recalled the many fights he'd watched on the television.

"How…...how are you still alive?" that was one of the many questions the tall man had for this elderly fighter.

Garuda closed his eyes, now trying to reflect on his actions of his past. From what Fahkhumram could tell, he didn't like doing so.

"Like you, I seized the opportunity to gain freedom by escaping the Thai military's clutches. But unlike your situation, I was never deemed a worthy weapon to be used for their own interests. Instead, I was imprisoned due to their fear of my bloodlust" Garuda explained how he had ended up in prison.

Fahkhumram listened to this former champion. He was shocked at learning the true story about one of his greatest idols. Too see him being reduced to such fate wounded him.

"How did you end up here? Or more importantly, how did you manage to remain hidden by living like this?" the tall man asked out of curiosity.

Garuda looked at the young man, starting to see a lot of himself in him.

"I was once a prodigy, with my skills blessed by incredible speed. As such, my peers assumed that I was a Garuda in a mortal body" Garuda told Fahkhumram. "As my reputation in Thailand increased, I started venturing outside the country looking for challenges. This led me to the Fanjinshang Templ in China, where the annual Tiěquán Tournament was held" he continued on explaining.

This piqued the younger man's interest. "The Tiěquán Tournament?" he was keen on knowing more.

The elderly monk nodded. "Yes, young one. The Tiěquán Torunament was an annual competition where Chinese monks would invite fighters from across the East to determine which fighter was the strongest. The prize was simple: being acknowledged as the greatest martial artist. Sadly, it is no longer arranged, not to mention how today's generation are more familiar with the Mishima Zaibatsu's twisted interpretation of it. Curse those Mishimas for their bastardization" Garuda lamented while condemning the Mishimas.

Fahkhumram was starting to see the picture. This Tiěquán Tournament was sort of a predecessor to what would later become the King of Iron Fist Tournaments. Although the Thai man had heard a lot of about the latter, he had never found himself interested in entering such competitions Fahkhumram had preferred staying in Thailand.

"At those tournaments, were there strong fighters as well?" he suddenly asked Garuda.

Garuda chuckled. "Why of course. In my youth, there were some whom I fought against in those tournaments. Jinpachi Mishima. Wang Jinrei. Amar Varma. Those are only three of many other fighters I managed to fight and later respect. There was this Chinese Kenpo fighter I struggled to best. We parted ways on good terms after our fight" he told Fahkhumram about his many opponents and competitors in the past. "But even as I enjoyed the Tiěquán Tournaments, I was mostly content with staying in Thailand and continue with my career in the Muay Thai branch. Sadly, I was blind to how twisted the sportsmanship was" Garuda then admitted with a sigh.

Fahkhumram stared at him bewildered. "Muay Thai…...twisted sportsmanship…." he was confused at how he could say such.

Garuda looked straight at the taller man in his eyes. "Do not deny it, Fahkhumram. There is dark side to Muay Thai and it's meaning. Even now, most only care about blood and money, rather than the art of the fighting itself" the elderly man didn't hold back.

This made Fahkhumram reflect on what Garuda just said. Was he telling the truth? Had the Thai people only looked up to him due to his violent and bloody skills during the matches? He was very conflicted right now.

"For too long, I had fought battles just for the sake of entertaining sadistic audiences. To them, defeating opponents wasn't enough. Killing them was what appeased their twisted form of entertainment" Garuda told him. He even tried to show the many bruises he had on his body. "Because of my killing street, the Muay Thai world disowned me, thus paving way for my arrest. Such insolence! I was imprisoned for something the audience wanted!" he went on.

"I see…" Fahkhumram explained, taking note of the bruises on Garuda. "Then how did you end up here in these caves?" he asked.

"After escaping from the prison, I started to battle the withdrawal symptoms which I had developed during my incarceration. I journeyed across the land in search of a new place to call home. That is when I coincidentally came across the caves of worship, which were uninhabited by the time I arrived" Garuda told him with a weak smile. "Throughout the years, I dedicated myself to Buddha's teachings, discarding my past life as a fighter to find my inner peace. Since then, I live now as an old ascet" he revealed.

After listening to Garuda's story, Fahkhumram couldn't help but to wonder whether there was a reason for him in telling him that. The young Muay Thai fighter knew that something was up.

"Garuda…...why are you telling me all this….what is your purpose with me?" he asked the elderly master.

Garuda chuckled. "Did I not tell you back at the caverns? I said this would help you find your inner peace. That is what you desire most, am I right?" he reminded Fahkhumram.

The tall man was stunned, yet he realized how much Garuda was right. He lowered his head so that he faced his lap. His hands clenched.

"Even to this day, the nightmares from my days in captivity never goes away. At this rate, I don't think I am ready to reunite with my family just yet" Fahkhumram answered him. "But even so, I cannot imagine what the army will do to them now that I'm no longer in chains. I fear they will use my wife and daughter as bargaining chips against me!" he expressed his worst fears.

"Indeed. And that is why I will help you, young Fahkhumram" Garuda answered and stood up on his feet. "If you wish to prevail against the inner demons, then allow me to share with you some words of wisdom. But I warn you: the journey will be long and harsh. There is no guarantee that you will make it" he said.

But Garuda was in for a surprise when Fahkhumram kneeled before him. The enormous man was showing humility in face of the once-great Muay Thai fighter. There were even tears falling down his cheeks.

"It doesn't matter anymore. I will do whatever it takes…TO BE REUNITED WITH ME FAMILY!" Fahkhumram pleaded before the elderly master.

Garuda smiled, realizing that this man before him was truly committed to change himself for the sake of his loved ones.

"Then let us begin….my worthy apprentice" he said.


At the entrance to the Suez Canal, Suez, Egypt

This canal was the waterway between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Running across Egypt, it had ships coming in and out. Despite the ongoing war, there were ships still sailing through the canal. Neither the Zaibatsu nor the G Corp had so far attacked Egypt, thus enabling operations to continue as usual. But the Egyptians knew that it was only a matter of time.

At Suez Port, the Amphitrite was docked, ready to load some supplies and cargo for their trip to the Mediterranean. With Kometa having contacts with local sheiks, they were able to gate these weapons and cargos onboard with any suspicions from Egyptian authorities. It also enabled them to pass through the canal as well.

At the docks of Suez Port, dockworkers were making sure all the crates and other supplies were stashed and ready to be boarded. Not surprisingly, they worked under the watchful eyes of Kometa's soldiers. Lana Lai and her associates wanted to make sure no interlopers would dare disrupt their operations at the port.

Once everything was settled, the Amphitrite then started sailing into the canal, beginning it's transitioning from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.

The supplies on the Amphitrite were kept in the large storage halls. These were at the lowest deck onboard the ship itself. There was almost no person in them. That was evident given how dark it was. In fact, given how these large crates were storage, one could mistake it for a labyrinth.

However, Kometa still had guards patrolling the storage halls. Right now, two guards were inspecting the supplies, using flashlights to find their way around.

"Argh! It's too dark in here!" one of the guards, a baldheaded man, complained as he tried to inspect their surroundings. "Even the flashlight's not enough to get a good look of where we're going. This place's a maze!" he complained.

His partner, who had an afro, shook his head at his bald colleague's antics. "It's the storage halls, what do you expect? It's not like they're being used for anything else besides keeping the supplies" he pointed out.

The baldheaded guard shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever. Some lights would've been decent enough" the guard complained.

But just then, the couple of guards heard the sound of something slamming down on the floor. This made them both cautious.

"Did you hear that!?" the afro-haired man asked his partner, who nodded quickly.

"Yes. It came from around here! Let's go check it out!" the bald guard responded.

They both ran to the corner and turned around to see what it was. Once they moved their flashlights, the guards could see what it was. One of the large crates had been opened. It's left wall lied on the floor.

"Did someone just open this crate?" the bald guard asked as she flashed inside it. There was nothing in it. "It's empty inside. But why? I don't see any supplies" he then noted as he took a closer look.

The afro guy turned around and moved his flashlight.

"The supplies are the least of our concerns. I have a feeling that there's something in here. I'll go that way. You best search the opposite direc…" in the minute he looked over his shoulder, he was startled.

His partner was gone. The only thing remaining was his flashlight lying on the floor. The afro-guy lost his composure, even dropping his own flashlight.

"H-hey! Where did you g-go!?" he was frantic, only to be kicked from behind by someone.

This was Josie Rizal, the young kickboxer/model, who had joined Shaheen on a mission to infiltrate the Amphitrite. As soon as the guard was out cold, Josie took her time to asses her surroundings.

"Everything's clear so far" Josie noted only to look up to see someone standing on the large crate itself. "I take it you dealt with the other guard" she told Shaheen.

He nodded his head. "He has been given his naptime" Shaheen said as he jumped down to her level. "You did well with taking out this guard. But how do you get out of the crate so fast?" he was curious about her quick speed.

Josie nervously giggled while scratching the back of her head. "Let's just say that I have my secrets…as well as quick wits" she tried coming with an answer that sounded convincing.

Shaheen didn't bother pushing father. Instead, he made sure Josie paid attention to their surroundings. Right now, they were in the middle of this maze of crates and other supplies.

"Considering how these are the storage halls, we must currently be on the lowest decks of the Amphitrite herself" he took a few steps towards one direction. "Stay sharp from now on, Josie. We're now stowaways on an enemy ship. Kometa has eyes and ears everywhere you go. Finding out what their plans are…...will be a challenge" Shaheen noted as he made sure Josie paid attention to him.

Josie, despite swallowing a gulp, remained firm as she could. "That's true and all. But there's no easier way, is it?" she reminded him.

This made the Saudi Arabian man chuckle out of amusement. "Always possessing some spark within you. Your optimism never ceases to amaze me, Mrs. Rizal" he complimented her.

The two then started walking through the maze. It didn't take long before they arrived at the entrance of the storage halls. Taking caution of their presence, the duo moved out.

"If we are to have any success with this mission, then we need to find a way to blend in with everyone onboard. We cannot just waltz around like this" Shaheen told his partner.

"Sure. I suggest we start by infiltrating the galleys. Surely there are some outfits that we can "borrow" from" Josie came up with a mischievous idea.

Shaheen was already in favor of it. "Good idea. I say we go for it. But remember, this mission will be tougher than you can ever imagine" he reminded her.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it already" Josie reassured him. "But at the end of the day, it's all done for the greater good" she pointed out, much to the agreement of her partner.

Knowing what they needed to do, the pair proceeded further down the corridor, hoping to find a galley to get some disguise.


In an underground hall, La Défense, Paris, France

In this secret underground hall, there were two people standing in the middle facing each other. It was Jin Kazama and Lidia Sobieska. For some reason, Lidia had suited up her Karate outfit and challenged Jin to a duel. Jin, unable to let someone like her get away with taunting him, accepted her challenge.

Jin had also changed outfits and was wearing his black and red Karate gi pants, as well as his red gloves. Needless to say, he was ready for a fight.

"I know that it has been a long time since I last fought an opponent in a duel like this" Jin noted as he looked at his right gloved hand. He clenched it tightly. "But in the end, it will benefit me. It's also a chance of testing my powers without worrying about the demon inside me" he concluded before facing Lidia.

Each combatant appeared to be different motivations for them in having this match.

Lidia faced her opponent with so much determination in her eyes. "Before we start, I would like to give you some clearance" she said while clenching her fists tightly. "I will never forgive you for all the hardships you have caused for the world population, especially the Polish people. So therefore, I will use this match as a means of extracting some justice upon you!" Lidia then revealed.

Jin only faced her with nonchalance in his face. "Of that I can understand" he replied, raising his gloved arms as if he was to block someone. He then proceeded to stand in his Karate stance. "Can we start now? Pardon my insolence, but chitchat is not something I enjoy doing" the Japanese man then said.

Lidia smirked. She was apparently amused at her opponent's choice of words.

"Hmph. At least you and I share that one in common" the Polish woman noted. She started changing her position, determined to fight Jin. "Fight with honor, Jin Kazama! Osu!" she dared him.

Jin had taken notice of Lidia's stance. He seemed to know what sort of Karate Lidia was a practitioner of.

"I see. So she uses Shōtōkan-style Karate. Turns out the files I've read of her was correct" Jin thought.

During his tenure as CEO of the Mishima Zaibatsu, Jin had read several files of politicians across the globe. Among them, the one about Lidia seemed to catch his interest. He had learned about how the Prime Minister had won her first Karate world championship at the age of 18. Since then, Lidia had built quite a reputation, both as a fighter and a politician.

As they were about to clash, Lars, Lee, Julia and all the other friends watched the fight taking place on the sidelines.

"You think this was the right thing to do, Lars?" Alisa asked him as she looked at the two fighters. "What if Jin fails to temper his devilish powers?" the android added more concerns.

Lars' gaze remained fixated upon Jin and Lidia. "We'll just have to see the answer for ourselves, Alisa" he replied. But he seemed to have more things to say about Jin. "Remember, Jin. Use this fight as a means of stimulating yourself. Try to reclaim your fighting spirit" he thought as he observed Jin.

Lee, already feeling entertained, pulled out his cellphone. He literally started recording the upcoming match.

"This is going to be quite the match. I best get a good angle of this" he remarked as he recorded the two fighters.

While those around him were confused at Lee's behavior, Lars shook his head at seeing such antics.

"Do you really need to record this, Lee?" he bluntly asked his adoptive brother.

But Lee only shrugged off Lars' complaints. "Relax. I won't post this clip on the Internet. Its best being kept on my phone as a treasure" he assured Lars before turning his attention to Lidia and Jin. "Besides, you really wanna get a good look at how THE Lidia Sobieska fights. I'm telling you: she's pretty hardcore" Lee commented.

Things were getting silent between Lidia and Jin, and it was only a matter of time before either of them would make their move.

Lidia was first, as she charged straight towards Jin, only to jump in the air. With her right foot up, Lidia was intending to delivering a powerful blow from above. But Jin knew what her game was. Using both gloved arms, he blocked her landing kick. Even so, he could feel how strong and powerful this attack was.

"Damn. I can see how she won those World Karate Championship tournaments" Jin gritted his teeth.

Lidia smirked. "Not bad, Kazama. But I'm just GETTING WARMED UP!" she was ready to punch Jin with her left fist.

But he dodged it, albeit narrowly. Lidia still wouldn't let him get away wit it.

"Not this time!" she moved her fight fist.

It managed to hit Jin's toned chest and he was sent flying across the hall.

On the sidelines, Steve, Leo and the others were stunned to so how strong Lidia's attack was.

"Bloody hell…" Steve uttered at what he saw. "That lady really knows how to throw a punch" the young boxer was in awe of Lidia's strength.

Leo chuckled. "Yeah. But I think those rumors of her being the strongest Karate fighter in the world are a bit exaggerated" she stated her opinion

Julia watched this fight with concern. "There's no mistaking it. Lidia Sobieska is indeed a powerful foe. I'm afraid that Jin will struggle against her due to him having to hold back his….." the brunette stopped thinking as she watched Jin ger up in his feet.

Wiping off whatever blood he had on his lips, the Japanese man seemed quite determined to continue on fighting.

"I will say….." Jin began speaking, his lips forming into a smirk. "That attack you pulled really felt like a real punch. I commend you for it, Lidia Sobieska" he complimented her.

Surprisingly, Lidia wore a smirk of her own. She didn't feel affected by her opponent's words.

"Save your flattery. Combat is all about testing your strength and agility, not your social skills" the Polish woman reprimanded him.

Jin got back in his fighting stance, this time enacting red electricity around his arms. Right now, he seemed very determined to fight Lidia.

"Well said. I couldn't agree more" Jin replied, moving his arms as if he was kicking someone. "So far, I've been holding back, afraid of hurting the leader of a country. But since you are serious with battling me, I have no choice but to respond in kind" the Japanese man responded.

Lidia moved her feet. "Then come at me with every strength you have!" the Polish woman dared him.

With that said, Jin and Lidia charged towards each other. Each of the Karate-combatants were eager to land blows upon each other. Those on the sidelines watched as the two exchanged kicks and punches upon each other.

In time, Jin and Lidia landed punches on each other's cheeks, resulting them in getting bloodied. Even so, the pain didn't stop the fighters from resuming their attacks.

"Is that all you got!? Hah! I've felt worse pain than this!" Lidia taunted her opponent.

Spitting out some blood, Jin readied his strong arms. "Just shut up and fight!" he retorted back, blocking an incoming punch from Lidia.

Jin had slowly started to realize something in his head. Could it be that Lidia had other motives for wishing to fight him? Was she secretly preparing Jin for his upcoming fights against the likes of Claudio, Revenant and Kazuya? The Japanese man started wondering whether she was doing this as a favor to him.

"It's time for me to put some dirt in your mouth!" Lidia said, clenching her right fist. "Everything I do now, I do it for the Polish people! And I have no intention of letting a wretched Mishima best me in combat!" she declared while stomping in the floor with her feet.

The be called a Mishima made anger boil within Jin himself. But he knew better than to let mere taunts and insults dictate his emotions.

Closing his eyes, Jin slowly started recalling back to his past on Yakushima. He memorized the days when his mother taught him what it meant to be a fighter. Jin had almost forgotten her mother's teachings when after Ogre attacked their home, and he had thrown his lot with Heihachi to defeat him.

But now, he would reclaim that forgotten wisdom, and hopefully use it to better himself as a man.

Lidia's fist was just about to hit Jin straight in his face. But she was tunned when Jin blocked her attack with just one hand. Red electricity enveloped all around him. Even so, stopping the incoming fist did cause an impact. Jin could feel the wind blowing in his face.

"You dodged my punch with just one hand…unbelievable…" Lidia remarked, only to move her left fist. "No matter! I still have more tricks to show you!" she was prepared to land another punch on Jin.

But this time, Jin would not let her get that chance. He powerfully swiped away Lidia's incoming fist, then proceeded to punch her repeatedly. It was done at a rapid pace.

After letting Lidia get distracted by the amount of pain, he proceeded to deliver a powerful uppercut. "FEEL MY POWER!" Jin exclaimed as his Polish opponent was sent flying into the air.

Those watching from the sidelines watched in awe as Lidia was sent flying up in the air. They were expecting her to be out cold right now. But that was not the case. Opening her eyes, Lidia moved her entire body, especially her left foot.

"IT'S NOT OVER!" Lidia bellowed and dived towards Jin in an attempt to crush him from above.

This actually caught Jin by surprise, and he was too slow to mount a defense against Lidia's attack. A crash occurred on the floor and it surprised everyone in the hall.

"My goodness…" Lee exclaimed, still recording the fight with his cellphone. "That impact was incredible. I have never seen anything like that" the business magnate was still at loss for words.

"Are either of them alright?" Julia asked with concern as she, Steve, Leo and Alisa ran towards the scene.

Alisa was already doing some scanning through the dust. Once she got a good picture, she stretched her arms out, making her friends stop behind her.

The pinkette's concerned frown soon turned upside down. She looked over her shoulder to face her friends.

"It's okay. Both of them appear to be alive, though they have sustained some injuries" she assured everyone.

As the dust settled, everyone saw Jin and Lidia down to their knees. They appeared to be bloodied and bruised, yet they were still able to breath and look at each other. So far, none of them had spoken a single word.

After several breaths and panting, Lidia finally broke the silence when she spoke up.

"I must say…...your strength has managed to impress me, Jin Kazama" Lidia spoke up with a weak smile. "I almost envy you for it" she added.

Now it was Jin's turns to wear a weak smile on his face. "Don't be. Because as of now, you are the second strongest female fighter I have ever faced in combat" he admitted, closing his eyes to recall someone. "The strongest was my mother: Jun Kazama. No woman could ever surpass her. Except for you…." Jin then remarked.

A light chuckle came out of Lidia's lips. For once, she appeared to be flattered by Jin's comment. "If that's the case then I will take it as a compliment. In fact, I would have liked to face her in combat myself. Seeing as how strong you are, I can only imagine that your mother had a fighter's heart as well" the prime minister told Jin.

Jin weakly nodded his head in return, appreciating the words Lidia had said to him.

Not soon after, both Karate-fighters started to slowly get up on their feet. When facing each other, they bowed their heads respectfully towards each other. Such was a common gesture for practitioners of Karate. It was a sign of mutual respect towards one another.

"Lidia Sobieska. While I know this will not make up for my actions against the Polish people, I thank you for giving me courage I so desperately needed" Jin thanked Lidia while reaching out a hand to her. "Still, I hope one day we can have a rematch to determine which of us is the strongest. And of course, it's on different circumstances" he told her.

While Lidia seemed surprised at Jin's gesture at first, there was something within her which told her to accept the Japanese man's offer, as well as his gratitude.

Smiling, Lidia shook hands with Jin. They each looked at each with determined expressions,

"Very well. I accept your offer of a rematch. But only on one condition" Lidia sounded a bit firm as she said that. "Promise me that you will make up for your wrongs to this world. If you truly say you are against this Mishima-madness, then make good on your word. Fight and defeat against it. Only then will you and I have our rematch" the Polish woman was serious when saying that.

Jin had listened to every word that was said, and he hadn't opened his mouth to protest. This indicated to how he was in total agreement of this condition.

"Then so shall it be. I was once someone willing to disregard others for my own selfish interests. And I have no intention of repeating the same mistake. This I vow" Jin told Lidia as he looked her in the eye.

In time, Jin and Lidia were joined by Lars and all the others. Lee began giving them applause, clapping his hands as he faced both fighters with his extravagant smile.

"Now THAT was an excellent fight. You both did good out there" Lee praised them, using his trademark word to express something that impressed him. "Especially you, Mrs. Prime Minister" he then heaped praise upon Lidia.

She only shook her head at him. "I hope you did not do anything foolish at the sidelines, Lee Chaolan" she sternly told him.

Lee chuckled. "Of course not, madame. I simply observed your fight with my own two eyes" he told her.

"Yeah right…." Lars and everyone else thought as they watched Lee lie.

"Anyway, we better get those injuries treated. I'll get a wet towel or…" Julia was about to figure out how to treat their wounds.

"That won't be necessary, Julia Chang" Lars interrupted her. The Swedish man directed his attention towards Jin, although he made sure everyone around them heard this as well. "Now that we've gotten that thing cleared out. It's time that we begin our mission. Claudio and his Archers of Sirius are expecting you to be at Fort St. Elmo tomorrow morning" he told Jin.

This made Jin remember what the mission was. Closing his eyes, the Japanese man knew what he had to do next.

"I know. We should move out soon" he replied.

His friends were stunned to hear what Jin was saying.

"Hold the phone. You're all bruised up! Your injuries must be treated" Leo expressed her worries.

"Jin will receive treatment on the plane at Orly" Lars spoke up to ease Leo's concerns. "Right now, time is of the essence. We must make haste towards Malta" he went on.

"Are you for real?" Julia asked him with her hands rested on her hips.

"He does have a point, Julia" Steve spoke in favor of Lars' suggestion. "We now know where Xiaoyu and Asuka are being held. There's no sense in us waiting anymore. We'll go down there and free them from that smug bastard" the British boxer banged his fists.

"But we all know that it's a trap" Julia pointed out, taking a glance at Jin. "Claudio wants you specifically. Are you willing to fight him?" she asked Jin.

"If that's what it takes to rescue Xiaoyu and my relative, then so be it" Jin said, clenching his gloved fists. "I am aware of how messy the upcoming battle will be. But it's all worth it" he replied to his friends.

They smiled, glad to see how determined Jin was going through with this.

"But we should be cautious. There are certain underground actors that are more than happy to see the Archers of Sirius lose their holdings. I'm talking of course about the Acolytes of Pluton and Kometa" Lee suggested to everyone. "Speaking of the latter, I hear rumors about a certain assassin having eyes and ears upon this building. Clearly, he wishes to wait for you guys to move out and then strike at you" he then revealed.

"Edgar Grant. I thought I smelled a worthless twat" Steve expressed his low opinion of the Kometa-executive.

Lars had to smirk. "Fortunately, me and Lee happen to have a good plan on how to evade him and his nosy henchmen" he told everyone, having their eyes on him.

"What is your plan, Lars?" Alisa asked out of curiosity.

"Just stay awhile and listen. The plan may not be perfect, but you're gonna like it in the end" Lars informed them all. "It will most certainly make Grant the biggest fool of all assassins" he added with a mischievous grin.

While none of those around him could fathom what Lars and Lee had in mind, they felt like listening to it.

To be continued…