[center] [img][/img] [img]https://imgur.com/kzRPhBS.png[/img] [h3][color=1E90FF][u][b]Level 9 Terry Bogard[/b][/u][/color][/h3] [sub][color=1E90FF][b]EXP :[/b][/color] 58/90 (+8 pts.) [color=1E90FF][b]Location :[/b][/color] Esaka’s Mid Tier [color=1E90FF][b]Word Count :[/b][/color] 7,447[/sub] [img][/img] [img]https://www.fightersgeneration.com/news2022/game2/stage/fatalfury1-howard-arena-stage.gif[/img] ▶︎• ၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌၊|• 3:15 [sub][url=https://youtu.be/6y_9JUuI0og?si=VcBm48axO5OidOdY]Four Thousand Years of Chinese History – Fatal Fury: King of Fighters[/url][/sub] [/center] [color=1E90FF][i]Well, well… Some things never changed…[/i][/color] It was still the same view—the same Chinese architecture with towering walls and bronze dragon sculptures that Terry had been familiar with for the early half of his life. The inside of the Fatal Fury dojo was about as broad as it was from the outside—a barren courtyard stretching farther to the back as a means to accommodate dozens of smaller traditional structures commonly found in Esaka’s Chinatown. As he strolled further, Terry scanned the familiar vicinity, his vigilant eyes taking a thorough attention to every miniscule detail that gave the dojo its recognizable look. It was mesmerizing. It was nostalgic. Though, he couldn’t help but notice that something was missing—a sight so trivial yet jarring. Where did all the students go? Fatal Fury used to be one of the most attended dojos around the neighborhood, yet why did its long-awaited comeback feel less… glorious? Less festive? As an alumnus, it did bug him how not a single soul was even bothered to check out what the dojo that was meant to be the predecessor of KOF had to offer. He still remembered how the exact arena he stepped into used to be packed from corner to corner by a group of passionate disciples willing to spar or practice or even experiment with new techniques. He was, of course, one of them, alongside his stoic brother Andy. Then, there were Joe and Mai who took the training less seriously, though they were exceptional enough to be vouched for the KOF dojo. His sweetheart Mary, however, was far more intrigued by solving cases than she was practicing her moves. While she wasn’t always present all the time, she always made sure to visit the dojo frequently just so she could spend more time with him. Nevertheless, the dojo felt far more lively when the brawny blonde was still around, but now? All he could do was just picture his friends practicing by the center of the arena, complete with the imaginary sights of Mai teasing Andy and Joe making fun of other students like a goofball that he was. [color=1E90FF][i]Man… I knew it should’ve never been closed. I don’t think the attendance was all that shabby all those years ago. Wonder why they did that to begin with. Hmm…[/i][/color] His reverie was cut short when he caught the sight of [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Tung_Fu_Rue]a familiar elderly man[/url] practicing alone under a swaying tree, sporting a long-sleeved Bajiquan uniform. His movements were gracious, his wrinkled face calm and composed. Despite his age, he seemed to be showing no signs of slowing down. Every flail thrown, every kick swung, they were all performed in a swift succession. If he didn’t know what he was, Terry would’ve mistaken the showcase of techniques for dancing, instead of practicing. From across the man, his strolling boots halted, a name quizzically called. [color=1E90FF]“Master Tung??”[/color] His astonished voice was audible enough to catch the attention of the practicing elder. With an equally surprised visage, Tung returned his student’s gaze, lowering his guard. “Terry…” There was a yearning silence emitted, as the two exchanged glances, albeit briefly. It didn’t take a while until Tung assumed [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/characters4/tung-ng-stance.gif]his fighting stance[/url], hands spreading open and knee raising just below his torso. Terry knew where this was going. Normally, he wouldn’t have turned down a sparring match, especially not from somebody as respected as his mentor. Even more so when he was still under Galeem’s influence, but certainly, that was no longer the case. The three-time KOF champion was no longer blinded, but he wasn’t in the best state of mind, either. So much of his energy had been drained following the fateful Teahouse scuffle, and he wasn’t sure if he’d give Tung his best shot. [color=1E90FF][i]But it wouldn’t hurt to try, would it?[/i][/color] Hesitantly, Terry raised his gloved fists, keeping them around his golden temples. His face strengthened, the barest hints of smirk playing by his lips. [color=1E90FF]“As you wished, master…”[/color] He didn’t even bother himself to perform [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/nf8/char2/terry-kof14-taunt.gif]his mandatory taunt[/url]. Not like he wanted to taunt the man he respected so dearly, anyway. He just wanted to impress his mentor, but was unsure if he’d fight well. And so, the brawny blonde and the bald elder circled one another, waiting for the right moment to strike. The sounds they made early on were loud enough to catch the attention of other fighters within the dojo, as they scrambled out of their rooms to watch from the top floor of one of the traditional structures. “Oh, look, a fight!” [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Preecha]a rainbow-haired Thai girl[/url] shouted in exhilaration, craning her head and readjusting her glasses. “Wait a minute… Is that who I think it is?” “Who are you talking about, Preecha? The blonde man with a hat?” [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Vox_Reaper]a young baldheaded man[/url] calmly joined, the bridge of his nose bandaged and his face decked with striking crimson tattoos. His eyes narrowed at the distant sight of Terry throwing a light jab beneath, fingers holding his mandible. “Hmm… Yeah… That man does look familiar. I have to admit he’s got an interesting look in his eyes. Do you think he’s one of the dojo’s alumni Master Tung was talking about?” “Oh, c’mon, guys! You’ve gotta be joking, right!?” [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Tony]a tanned boy sporting a blue headband and a torn denim jacket[/url] chimed in annoyance, ten times more exhilarated for the ongoing fight than the other disciples. He hurried towards the wooden railings, stopping his strides right between the two. “That’s [b]Terry Bogard[/b], the three-time KOF champion and Master Tung’s best student! He talked about him a lot, how can you two not know??” Preecha widened her eyes at the boy, lips parting in a gasp. “Say what!?” she asked, her already high-pitched voice slightly raising. “No way! That’s Terry Bogard? The legendary [i]specimen[/i] from South Town?? Dude… I swear to God, my master was in the same team with him every year! I wonder if he knows what’s up with my master lately. Like, seriously, where the heck did he go?” Meanwhile, Terry didn’t seem to be bothered by what the younglings were chattering about. The fight was what he fixated on the most, even though he made it palpable that he didn’t quite give his all. The jab didn’t even connect, lacking the same strength that he’d normally exert onto his opponents. He couldn’t tell anymore if it had more to do with him not wanting to hurt his Master Tung or the fact that his current state of mind was impeding him. Just moments after he dodged out of the way, Tung retaliated, thrusting his palms alternately. Terry was, fortunately, quick enough to anticipate the bombarding sequence, hindering the impact with his parrying forearms. Loud colliding thumps were made every time the thrusting palms connected with the forearms. Eventually, Tung managed to break his student’s defense when he propelled a stabbing hand forth, the impact much stronger and louder than the prior rounds of striking palms. [b][i]WHACK![/i][/b] [color=1E90FF]“Gwahhh–!!”[/color] And it pushed Terry aback, his upright form close to faltering. He drew his parting forearms away from his front, now keeping his fists back around both of his temples. Traditionally, he would’ve quipped or said anything throughout a fight, but this time, he sealed his mouth completely. There was nothing to be joked about, after all, especially after seeing what he saw earlier. Tung didn’t say a thing, either, ever so tranquil and composed. When he saw another chance to attack, the Hakkyokuseiken expert drew his hands back to summon [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/news2023/char3/tung-fu-rue-realbout2-special.gif]a sizable sphere of energy[/url] between his palms, subsequently slamming it upon his student. [b][i]WHAM![/i][/b] And just when he thought the spherical energy connected… [color=1E90FF][b]“QUICK BURN!!”[/b][/color] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [url=https://imgur.com/a/Q8hbe43]Terry’s fire-laced left hook[/url] had managed to break through the energy sphere, shattering it into tiny translucent bits. He quickly followed it up with a [url=https://imgur.com/a/jxC8XU0]downward right flail[/url], riding his fire-laced fist towards Tung’s wrinkled face. [color=1E90FF]“And this!”[/color] When Tung was forced down, Terry took hold of the silky fabric of his shirt, shoving his mentor’s midriff against [url=https://imgur.com/a/0UR8tUc]his raised knee[/url]. When connected—and the upper half of Tung’s shorter frame bounced back up—the three-time KOF champion released the grasp to swing [url=https://imgur.com/a/is4QVwV]a clean uppercut[/url] against his mandible, instantly launching his mentor back with a small spark of energy. [b][i]BAM![/i][/b] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] “Woahh… Cool!” Preecha reacted with a look of awe, her glasses flickering at the distant sparkling impact. “He [b]really[/b] is a legendary specimen! Definitely needs to be studied further.” “Yeah, right, I guess [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Kain_R._Heinlein]Kain[/url] and [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Grant]Grant[/url] were right about him,” the baldheaded youngster opined, his keen eyes ever so observing. “Though I’ve seen smoother, swifter fights from KOF, I can’t deny that he’s got the raw strength to hold his ground against Master Tung. Just my observation, though.” “Gee… I know, right?” the headbanded boy jovially asked, tiptoeing and clasping the railing. He craned himself further towards the distant fray, wishing to get a better view of the two fighters. “He’s my hero—everything I wanted to be…” Tung reeled back, but quickly maintained a crouching position, his knee glued against the stony tiles. He gingerly stood, but just as he was about to steady himself, he’d already caught the sight of Terry closing the distance with a leaping front boot. Tung, reflexively, swung a kick forth, as he leaped and drew in his student’s direction, only for his wrinkled face to swallow the impact of his sneaker’s jaggy sole. [b][i]BAM![/i][/b] The leaping front boot immediately toppled the Hakkyokuseiken expert on his back, creating an audible thud upon collision with the rugged floor. The three-time KOF champion landed on his feet, halting far enough from and against his mentor’s position. When he turned around and saw that Tung had easily picked himself up, Terry tried to close the distance again, his boots leaving the floor. This time, however, he employed [url=https://imgur.com/a/dRP8V7z]a leaping clothesline[/url], spreading the leading arm outward. Unfortunately for Terry, before the riding clothesline could connect, Tung had already anticipated it with the ultimate version of the secret technique he passed onto him and his late father: [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/characters4/tung-super.gif]Senpuu Gouken[/url]. Concentrating his energy, Tung brought his hands together, activating [color=lightgreen][b]one gauge stock[/b][/color] in his possession. Once a swirling streak of pinkish energy emerged and burst, he spun in circles with both arms striking out, constructing a gigantic projection of his idealized, muscular self. The surprised Terry gasped upon getting ambushed, small crimson drops spewing out of his mouth as the whirling fists pummeled his torso over and over and over again. [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [b][i]THWACK![/i][/b] And just like that, Tung sent his student flying away, forcing his iconic cap to leave his golden head. He landed back on his feet the moment Terry reeled back across the stony tiles and halted on all fours. The former KOF champion let out a series of small, bloody coughs, shifting into a bending position. As Tung watched, he took out the yellow towel from under his pocket, using it to rub the sweat out of his hairless crown. “You fought well, Terry,” Tung complimented, then stowed said towel back into his pocket, “but I was expecting better of you.” When his eyes fell upon the cap perching on the floor, the Hakkyokuseiken expert picked, then handed the gaudy red accessory to his struggling student. Terry, in turn, took the cap and wore it back around his golden head, his wrist wiping the last crimson drop clinging to the corner of his lower lip. [color=1E90FF]“B– Been a hot minute, Master Tung,”[/color] he reciprocated, gluing his palms together and bowing as he managed a standing form. Tung returned the gesture. [color=1E90FF]“It was a pleasant surprise. I thought you didn’t take students anymore.”[/color] Tung snickered, nodding. “I didn’t, but then, the new chairmen were begging me to return. And at last, here I am,” he elaborated, spreading his open hands. [color=1E90FF]“Oh?”[/color] Terry reacted with arching eyebrows, his finger scratching his blonde temple. Strange, he thought. He’d looked around the dojo, but saw no signs of students training. It’s safe to say that he didn’t hear the chattering of the younglings, either, so he was clueless. [color=1E90FF]“So, where’s the students?”[/color] Shortly after, his ears caught the noises of footsteps, the striding echoes becoming more and more evident. Two of the new disciples—the rainbow-haired girl and the baldheaded man—made their entrance, as if to let Terry know that Tung wasn’t just instructing the air and whatnot. The Hakkyokuseiken expert shifted his attention to the arriving disciples, his eyes peering sidelong. “Ah, there they are!” Tung said, gesturing gaze darting between Terry and the younglings as he introduced. “Terry, this is Preecha and Vox. Preecha, Vox, this is Terry, the dojo’s former champion.” Preecha smiled and waved a gloved hand, her glasses glimmering sheepishly. “Hi! The Legendary Wolf, aren’t you?” “Master Tung told us a lot about you,” Vox added, crossing his arms together. “And here comes Tony!” Excitedly, the last of the bunch—the headbanded boy with a peculiar fashion sense—hurried towards the scene, halting his swift strides right between Preecha and Tung. He shot a wide, wide smile towards his brawny idol, a sheepish snicker leaving his mouth. “Remember me?” Tony asked, his voice barely deep for a teenager. “Oh, right,” Tung realized, slightly surprised by Tony’s arrival, “I forgot to tell you, Terry, but your biggest admirer is now part of the Fatal Fury family.” [color=1E90FF]“Oh?”[/color] Terry widened his eyes, a smile gradually playing by his lips in the presence of an old friend. He couldn’t tell how long it’d been since he last saw his fanboy. Tony was just a small kid when he acted as his support system just days ahead of his second KOF tournament. He’d never forget what he and his mother had done to help him mentally prepare himself against Krauser. He snorted, shaking his golden head. [color=1E90FF]“Man, oh, man… Tony! Sup, bud? Gosh, you’ve grown up, alright,”[/color] he greeted with a hearty snicker, gently patting his fanboy’s head. [color=1E90FF]“Still keep the hat I gave you?”[/color] “All the time!” Tony answered with a nod, revealing a plated cap from under his jacket. “It never left me, that’s for sure!” Terry giggled. [color=1E90FF]“Alright… It must’ve reminded you of me all those times, huh?”[/color] he asked jokingly. [color=1E90FF]“So, I see that Master Tung’s been mentoring you, and I bet he’s mentored you well. Ready to make your KOF debut, bud?”[/color] “You bet!” Tony exclaimed, giving Terry a thumbs up. “Told you, when I grow up, I wanna be just as strong as you are. Then, we’ll either face each other or we’re gonna be in the same team. Master Tung told me that I’m ready for the big leagues, right, master?” Tung snickered, gently caressing his thick, gray beard. “Close is a more appropriate term, perhaps,” he assessed, his calm voice a matter-of-fact. “You still have a long way ahead of you, young man, but I won’t discourage you from entering the KOF tournament this year if that means you’ll learn something from Esaka’s greats.” “So all these weeks, and it’s just ‘close,’ huh?” Tony responded, confidence faintly dropped as he sheepishly grinned and rubbed the back of his head. “But hey, ’least my techniques aren’t that shabby, amirite? I mean, you said it yourself, Master Tung, that you saw Terry in me.” “You sure aren’t, Tony boy,” Preecha encouraged, playfully nudging his arm with her gloved knuckles. “It’s why you’ll be with me and Vox as a team. The all-new, all-different Team Fatal Fury, amirite? Well, it doesn’t look like there are any other students outside of the three of us, anyway, so…” She hummed and shrugged nonchalantly. [color=1E90FF]“Wait, what did you say?”[/color] Terry asked, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief. He raised a pair of open hands. [color=1E90FF]“That can’t be right, ain’t it? There’s only three of you around here plus Master Tung?”[/color] And he came into the dojo expecting to find his vanishing friends since they used to instruct new students together before the dojo’s initial shutdown, only to learn of a harsh reality revolving around the dojo’s failed comeback. What could go wrong, though? Was his master’s reputation not enough to draw more attention to the Fatal Fury brand? “Well, um… duh! I know, right?” Preecha asked, sheepishly darting her eyes elsewhere from under her glasses as she rubbed the back of her neck. “I mean, we could’ve had more specimens applying for Master Tung’s dojo, and it would’ve been fun! Heard there used to be over, what, 15 to 19 students, is that it? Gee, I swear there’s just something so sussy about the specimens around here…” “No, Preecha, none of you seems to understand. There’s more to the failure than meets the eye,” Vox chimed, calmly giving his assessment. “I thought Master Tung had told you. The dojo’s been closed since Rock, [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Shun'ei]Shun’ei[/url], [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Meitenkun]Meitenkun[/url], and other newer faces graduated, but that was ages ago. There’s been more dojos opening in the Middle Tier since, so nobody ever runs out of options. In the end, it all comes down to bad timing. The dojo was reopened about the same time the market was oversaturated. Bottom line. I just never thought it would’ve been so bad that one of the chairmen decided to step down and pull out his funding.” “So, we’ve always meant to be failures, huh?” Tony asked, his voice dropping and shoulders slumping. Terry shook his head, bringing himself out of his reverie. [color=1E90FF]“No, no, no… None of you guys are failures, you hear me?”[/color] he encouraged, despite trying to cope with the sad, new reality that—regardless of its storied reputation—the exact dojo where he started it all in Esaka had become one of the least attended dojos around the neighborhood. [color=1E90FF]“I used to start it small, too, with my team. You might be small in number, sure, but you’re never too small to start something big. Let’s just make Master Tung proud, alright? Both my team and your team. And it ain’t just for Master Tung, but for many others who should’ve been here with us right now…”[/color] The brawny blonde sighed, being slapped by another harsh reality that most of the other alumni were still missing indefinitely. Tung, noticing his student’s abrupt shift of mood, gave him a gentle pat to the back, trying to calm him down like a father would to a son. “It’s alright, my students. Whoever said so, they must’ve tried to bring us down like they used to, I’m certain of it,” Tung reassured, as if speaking from experience. While the younger trio was given a glance, his eyes clearly fixated more on his older, seasoned disciple. “Terry, my son, I know it must’ve been difficult for you lately. You look like you need company. Will you stay with us for a little while? I can make you a tea egg if you’re hungry.” Terry clenched his lips, giving Tung’s offer a consideration. While not wanting to bother his mentor, he knew he couldn’t deny a kind offer from somebody with the wisdom and honor of one Tung Fu Rue, even when he was as [i]gleaming[/i] as nearly anyone else in Esaka. His lips parted, words of affirmation slipping out of his tongue. [color=1E90FF]“I… think so, Master Tung,”[/color] he hesitantly accepted, then picked his duffle bag over his shoulder, [color=1E90FF]“but like, I don’t wanna bother you here. You were training, and I’ve already had something to eat. This wolf’s full, alright?”[/color] Tung lightly shook his head. “No, Terry, you will never bother me. I raised and trained you and Andy for years. You’re already like a son to me,” he reassured, then gave the brawny blonde one last pat to the back. “Let’s get inside, shall we? You must be tired.” And so, Tung guided his disciples to the nearest traditional structure, continuing their conversation there as they savored the tea eggs he’d made earlier. [img][/img] [center]──────── 《 ✪ 》 ────────[/center] The evening was near. It’d been a long day that Terry decided to change, ditching his usual getup for [url=https://kofjav.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/terry-xiii-khung-den-2.png]dull, tinted jeans and a dark tank top with the words ‘Fatal Fury’ written all over its shredded front[/url]. The same baseball cap, however, was still intact. As he left the house, Terry strolled back towards the arena, tightly wrapping his hands along the way. They felt a lot stiffer after all the smashing he did throughout the day—even worse after he let out a Power Stream during the Teahouse scuffle. Upon arrival, he’d stumbled upon the view of Tung practicing his moves again, the warm sunset cascading over his smaller frame. He propelled a couple of gracious palms and an elbow strike before initiating a stance, spreading his arms out and raising a tucked knee. The stance remained still for a bit longer before the Hakkyokuseiken expert drew his limbs down, bringing his hands together and letting out a relaxed breath. He twirled his head, giving the upright Terry a glance past his shoulder. Terry, in return, decided to greet his mentor, his voice one of admiration. [color=1E90FF]“I see, you’re training again, Master Tung,”[/color] he initiated. [color=1E90FF]“Don’t you feel like taking a break for a bit?”[/color] “Not yet. I thought you understood it as much as I do, Terry,” Tung answered, eyes back ahead and lower limbs parting, as he performed a series of flails and a subsequent double kick with a single leading leg. “We breathe fighting. We’ve devoted our lives to this. Once you enjoy the craft, you will never feel as if you want to stop.” Terry could see the truth in his mentor’s words, regardless. Fighting had been the core part of his life since the moment he was born, after all, so with or without Galeem’s influence, he wouldn’t stop craving for competitions, either. It was just sad that Tung and his new disciples were still yet to break out of the mind control, yet to learn the reality that’d dawned on him the moment Amaterasu slapped him with a friend heart. [color=1E90FF]“Right…”[/color] Terry agreed, then clenched his lips, gingerly nodding. [color=1E90FF]“You can never stop fighting. Well, [b]we[/b] can never stop fighting. We’re always meant to live this life, anyway. But at the same time, I’ve been thinking…”[/color] Tung halted, then turned around, fully facing his doubtful disciple. “Yes?” [color=1E90FF]“Welp…”[/color] His lips clenched again, tightening. His sky-blue eyes glimmered under the sunset, and his mind raced with possible words that’d made him sound less pathetic in front of his own mentor. [color=1E90FF]“Jeez, why am I feelin’ so blue all of a sudden?”[/color] he joked, forcing a snort. [color=1E90FF]“Dunno if you’ve caught up with what I’ve been doin’ lately, but, um… am I a horrible fighter? Am I really that bad? Do you think I’ve been washed since the moment I stepped outta this dojo?”[/color] Tung stifled his mouth, his face pensive. Something about his questions just etched his heart a bit, and he didn’t quite try to hide that sentiment away. “Terry, who told you that?” he asked, his lifted gaze searching for an answer. [color=1E90FF]“Oh, I dunno,”[/color] Terry reciprocated, then rubbed the back of his neck, his voice awkwardly faltering. [color=1E90FF]“I keep hearing that a lotta times lately, especially when I ain’t the KOF champ no more. Sometimes, I even thought of quitting when my regular team ain’t here anymore, but…”[/color] He sighed, puffing a cheek. [color=1E90FF]“I dunno, Master Tung. It’s just that it ain’t just me to quit, y’know. Like, whenever I was gonna give up for real, there was this voice in my head telling me that I gotta move on, keep going, and never look back. It felt like father or Lily or Sulia was speaking to me in that moment, and—”[/color] “Terry,” Tung calmly interrupted, grabbing his arms, “the principles of Hakkyokuseiken center around emotions. The energy flows better from within the more one rids themselves of negativity. Perhaps, I’ve been noticing that something has been straining you lately, and it shows. You’re furious. You’re bitter. It’s odd because you tend to control these negative emotions better than your brother could. Remember when I told you to think like a tree, instead of an animal?” Terry took a moment to ponder, then nodded, albeit hesitantly. [color=1E90FF]“I guess…”[/color] Tung continued. “I thought you’d understood the lesson the moment I taught you the school’s secret technique. After all, I didn’t choose you to inherit it solely because of your fighting prowess. What matters more is the content of your heart,” he elaborated, pointing a finger at the center of his torso. “You and Jeff were worthy because you both chose to live by natural principles. Strong-minded, good-natured, willing to use the [i]gifts[/i] for the goodness of others. All those qualities made a true champion, Terry, and I found them all in you. It matters less how many championships you’ve won. What is it to be proud of when one cannot control themselves?” Terry nodded the second time, then stowed his thumbs under the pockets of his jeans, slowly coming to realization. [color=1E90FF]“Right, there’s nothing to be proud of.”[/color] “Exactly,” Tung affirmed. “And need I remind you, Terry, that people look up to you?” Terry doubted, arching an eyebrow at Tung. [color=1E90FF]“Err… Do they all?”[/color] “Mostly,” Tung reciprocated with a slow nod. “I told the kids about your stories, all your accomplishments and how you always look after the little ones. They told me that you gave them hope, inspired them to stand for the weak and to give them their all. After all, there are very few fighting champions out there standing up for the less fortunate—who are always present for the little people to assure them that there is a better tomorrow—even though, sometimes, you have to tear every fiber of your being just to keep others safe. Youngsters like Tony need role models like you, Terry. You’ve been like a hero to them, and are you just going to throw that away?” Terry lightly shook his head. [color=1E90FF]“No, master…”[/color] Tung patted his disciple’s arms, the gesture both reassuring and uplifting. “So, keep on fighting, my son. Don’t let the doubters talk you out of it. And maybe someday, you’ll realize just how much you meant for those around you…” Then, the striding noises approached from behind, a deep voice resounding. “I beg to differ.” Terry shifted his attention away from Tung, facing the source of the voice, only to discover that it was… [center] [img][/img] [img]https://imgur.com/m4m3HlY.jpg[/img] [/center] [b][color=1E90FF]“Geese…!?”[/color][/b] “Surprised, surprised… Miss me?” Sporting his usual Aikido uniform, Geese was accompanied by [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Ripper_and_Hopper]two of his loyal bodyguards[/url], as he closed the distance between himself and the other Fatal Fury alumnus. He could see the tension all over Terry’s face, and it made him smirk. “Why so serious, Terry?” he scoffed, arching his brow. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” [color=1E90FF]“What are you doing here?”[/color] Terry asked back with a frown, quietly stepping forth. “Oh, didn’t you know?” Geese asked, standing still and crossing his arms. “I’m one of those chairmen they were referring to. The revival was my idea. It’s such a shame that it doesn’t work… quite as expected despite the marketing. It bothers me that we’d be demoted after the next batch of tournaments if we fail to attract new applicants.” Terry’s eyes went wide at the revelation. [color=1E90FF]“Chairman??”[/color] he asked with a raised voice, eyes darting back at his mentor. [color=1E90FF]“Is that true, master?”[/color] Tung hesitantly nodded, his face dropping. “I’m sorry, Terry,” he said, his voice one of defeat. “I have no choice.” Terry gasped, shocked. To think that the same power-hungry maniac who rotted South Town to the core was now running the Fatal Fury dojo to the ground and forcing his mentor to work for him… This had been too much, he thought. His eyes leaped between Geese and Tung at a swift pace, his mind trying to process the new revelation dawning on him. [color=1E90FF]“W– What’s going on here??”[/color] Terry asked rather spontaneously, face scrunching and disgust evident. “Oh, just the usual. As a good chairman, I need to check the dojo every now and then, won’t you agree?” Geese asked, taking a step closer. “But let’s not talk about the failed project that is the Fatal Fury dojo, shall we? Let’s talk about [b]you[/b], Terry. You see, I’ve been observing you since the day you kicked me out of the Geese Tower, and suffice to say, I’m surprised that you even still consider joining the next KOF tournament with a bunch of outsiders. It’s clear that you’ve always struggled to keep up with the majority of the roster since the moment you were vouched for the KOF dojo. Outside of your strength, there’s nothing going for you. You’re slow, sloppy even. Your techniques are predictable, and you lack a certain charm that makes names like Kyo and Iori a massive draw. And you have to wonder why Master Tung trusted Shun’ei and Meitenkun to Kyo, instead of you and that stupid brother of yours.” [color=1E90FF][b]“Hey!”[/b][/color] As Terry was close to flailing Geese, Tung quickly positioned himself between them, spreading his hands. “Geese, Terry, that’s enough!” Then, Geese placed a hand over his mentor’s shoulder, pointing a free finger at Terry. “Oh, and need I remind you of just how naive you are? Of how easy it is for you to be manipulated just because you feel like it’s the right thing to do? Because you’re called to ‘save the sinking ship’?” he questioned. “This is why you’re not a true fighter, Terry. Do you think you’re a wolf? Heh. Don’t make me laugh! You’re just a sheep in wolf’s clothing, that’s all it is. Eventually, your kindness leads to your downfall.” Once again, it was proven difficult for Terry to fully forgive the man responsible for the death of his father. He gnashed his teeth, his fists tightening. [color=1E90FF]“I’m [b]not[/b] a failure… My family’s [b]not[/b] a failure!”[/color] he objected, despite his initial hesitation. [color=1E90FF]“And don’t you dare talk about my brother like that! What makes you think you’re better than any of us, huh, Geese!? Think you’re so smart, so strong, so… tough just because you bet a young lady once to her death??”[/color] Geese arched his brow again, his smirk spreading further. He knew who he was referring to. “A traitor like her rightfully deserved so, Terry, get over it! It’s been years since you dwelled on Lily. Can’t you just move on and man up? I thought I told you to keep her dead body.” [color=1E90FF]“You bastard…”[/color] Terry retorted, his voice trembling. [color=1E90FF]“She was all I had, and you took her away from me! I still remember what you told her that night, and you know what you called her? ‘Ungrateful bitch,’ is that it?”[/color] “She [b]was[/b] an ungrateful bitch,” Geese confirmed, not a single remorse shown. “After everything I’d done for her, and this is how she repaid me? Siding with my sworn nemesis? She was like a daughter to me before that night. I should’ve known I didn’t take that slut out of the slums when she was little.” [color=1E90FF]“Well, yeah, but then, you abandoned your own family. Father of the year right here, folks!”[/color] Terry scoffed back, then gestured at Geese with his thumb, trying to catch both Tung’s and the bodyguards’ attention. [color=1E90FF]“And don’t tell me that you only shit on me because you can’t cope with the fact that some [i]sloppy[/i] nobody got your ass handed to you not just once, but twice, ain’t that right, buddy!?”[/color] Geese frowned and gnashed his teeth, his pride torn. As much as he refused to admit, he despised it every time somebody brought up all those times Terry managed to defeat a more seasoned competitor in him fair and square, especially when it came from the mouth of his own sworn nemesis. He clicked his tongue. “Fool, I am [b]not[/b] a mere weakling! I’m the mighty Geese Howard, goddammit! Put some respect on my name!” the infamous kingpin objected, his voice deeper and louder than the younger blonde. It didn’t last long, though, as he managed to lower his voice back, trying to keep himself composed. A scoffing smirk was curled. “And besides, unlike you, I have the connection and the wealth to back me up. Also, I can live with the fact that I’m a gaijin living in a Japanese city. While I tried to assimilate, you never even bother yourself to speak proper Japanese. Now, how many of us do you think have seen great success in Esaka, exactly?” Terry stifled his tongue, his lips clenching. While he rarely and hardly agreed with Geese in most cases, he couldn’t deny that people who shared their appearances often became subjects of ridicule in Esaka. Most of the time, they had to play second fiddle to their native rivals, often overlooked as a bunch of ‘Ken clones’ as they’d put it. [url=https://tekken.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Phoenix]Paul[/url], [url=https://virtuafighter.fandom.com/wiki/Jacky_Bryant]Jacky[/url], [url=https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Roy_Bromwell]Roy[/url], and Robert were some of the fellow Western ‘gaijins’ that fit the mold to perfection. That’s not to say that half-breeds like Ryo, Benimaru, and even Ken himself were safe from the stereotype. Then, there were guys like [url=https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Alex]Alex[/url] and [url=https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/Abel]Abel[/url] who tried to break the mold but failed miserably. So far, only Terry and [url=https://guiltygear.fandom.com/wiki/Sol_Badguy]Sol[/url] were considered the true gaijin champions, but even then, Sol looked ambiguous enough, while Terry had to endure the same treatment whenever his performances failed to meet the audience’s expectations. [color=1E90FF]“Geese, let’s be honest, you only conform to the masses because you’re scared of losing your influence,”[/color] Terry argued, stating the obvious. He extended an open hand, as he made his next point. [color=1E90FF]“See, Geese? That right there is exactly what I don’t like about this place. I don’t like it when we’re grouped into tiers or tropes. Everybody deserves the same chance of winnin’ in any tournament. Why can’t we just get along? Oh, and don’t get me started with the whole ‘gatekeeping’ BS. Still we all wonder why there’s barely any tourists around here, while this place’s got everything to make it Japan’s number one attraction.”[/color] Caressing his mandible, Geese considered, actually seeing the truth in Terry’s words. As a cunning businessman, he’d always been about making profits and showing dominance, after all. “Oh, believe me, I can change that,” he claimed. [color=1E90FF]“No, you ain’t, Geese!”[/color] Terry shouted, then pointed a finger, his glaring eyes widening. [color=1E90FF]“You see, maybe there’s a reason why you got dethroned many years back. We all know you’re just gonna run this place to the ground like you did South Town. You don’t get it, do you? My friends and I put our lives on the line everyday just to keep the city safe, and you ruined it! Just face it, Geese, you’re a trash leader. You’re no different than any of the Four Kings hidin’ up there.”[/color] “What the hell are you talking about!?” Geese asked with a frown. “I never ran South Town to the ground. It’s the catastrophe that—” [color=1E90FF]“No, that’s all lies! Lies, lies, and lies!”[/color] Terry interrupted, every fiber of his facial muscles tensing. [color=1E90FF]“If anything, you’re the reason why South Town’s missing from the map. You were about as responsible as Rugal and [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Mr._Big]Big[/url] were to all the crap that was happening in South Town.”[/color] “Fool! I don’t—” Then, realization dawned on Geese, a knowing look and a grin shot. While the kingpin hadn’t a clue of what really went on prior to the merging of the worlds, he wasn’t foolish enough to notice that Terry seemed to possess a piece of valuable information that none of the residents might otherwise know. His insistence and lack of blinking gave him away. “Ah, it seems that you know something that I didn’t know, yes?” Geese asked, his grinning lips parting further. Terry shook his head, the movement vigorous. [color=1E90FF]“Of course, I don’t! What are you—”[/color] He then halted mid-sentence, hand covering his mouth, realizing that he’d stupidly spilled what he just saw back at the Teahouse. “It’s fine, Terry. If you don’t wish to share it now…” Geese said, feigning reassurance. “And I’m sorry about your former teammates. You shall find them in the tournament, though. That, if you make it to the top…” His keen eyes peered over the distant sight of Rugal’s tower, gesturing at its peak where the finals took place. “Nightmare awaits…” [color=1E90FF]“Wait, what do you—”[/color] Before Terry could complete his question, a thunderous roar emerged from just above the dojo’s building, the once warm, reddish sky darkening. Geese held out an open hand in his direction, palm inches from Terry’s face, effectively stopping his approaching nemesis in his track. “No time to talk. It’s raining soon,” the kingpin refused before shifting his attention towards his bodyguards. “C’mon, boys, we’re heading back to Geese Tower!” Both Ripper and Hopper bowed, agreeing in unison. “Yes, master…” Terry could only watch, as Geese and his bodyguards approached the front gate, their figures becoming increasingly distant by each passing moment. He unclenched his fists, soothing the tension in his muscles. “Terry, I–” Quickly, the brawny blonde shifted back in his mentor’s direction, both the latter’s concern and remorse noticed. Deep down, working under Geese—even only as a mentor of the dojo that once belonged to him—had always been against his will. He was forced and threatened despite himself, and Terry understood so, with or without the elder man’s elaboration. [color=1E90FF]“It’s okay, master. Don’t feel bad. I knew you didn’t wanna work for that scum,”[/color] he reassured with a soft smile, his expression turning pensive the moment he looked back at the top of Rugal’s tower ahead of the dojo. [color=1E90FF]“But that makes me wonder…”[/color] [b][i]BZZ![/i][/b] [b][i]BZZ![/i][/b] Just as he mused, he could feel his linkpearl buzzing, the rapid noises sending vibrations into his ear. It had to be one of the Seekers making a call, but who could it be? Hopefully, he didn’t just make them worry about him, seeing that he’d left them hanging after the sparring-match-went-wrong. [color=1E90FF]“I’m… sorry, Master Tung,”[/color] Terry apologized before picking the duffle bag he rested just under the prior tree. [color=1E90FF]“I gotta go.”[/color] “You’re… leaving now?” Tung asked, his deliberate strides following his student’s hurried ones. “But it’s going to rain soon. Don’t you want to stay a little longer?” [color=1E90FF]“I wish I could,”[/color] Terry answered, closing in on the front gate, [color=1E90FF]“but I got a call from my team. I think I’ve kept them waiting for so long.”[/color] Recognizing the urgency in his student’s voice, Tung was left with no choice but to let him go for now. While difficult, he could understand so, and was grateful enough to be given a chance to meet Terry, even just for a day. His wrinkled face softened, a faint smile playing under his thick, gray moustache. “Very well, I believe I cannot stop you, my son,” Tung accepted, then brought his hands together, giving him one last bow. “May our paths cross again. I wish you and your team all the best for the future tournament, Terry.” Terry, touched, halted his strides, tipping his cap and returning the bow graciously. It was hard for him, too, since Tung was like a family to him—his second fatherly figure aside from Richard, even. [color=1E90FF]“Thank you, master,”[/color] he sincerely said. [color=1E90FF]“I’ll see you around soon. Just let the kids know I’m counting on ’em for the next KOF.”[/color] As the two exchanged farewells, Terry continued striding past the front gate, parting ways with the dojo that helped launch his legendary career in the fighting business. He placed a finger atop the vibrating linkpearl, then held its protruding surface, making sure that he’d made a call for both the caller and the rest of the Seekers. [b][i]TAP![/i][/b] [color=1E90FF]“Hey, uh, it’s Terry,”[/color] he initiated the call. [color=1E90FF]“Sup? Yeah, I know, it’s been a long day. Sorry if I’ve been making you guys worry about me. I knew I fucked up. Big time. It wasn’t my intention to ruin the fight like that. I was also disappointed in myself that I didn’t get to fight to the fullest extent, but, um… in case some of y’all dunno, yeah, I see clearly now. I’m no longer blindfolded, thanks to Ammy and the rest. I thought I wanted to learn more about my purpose, of this entire ‘World of Light’ stuff that Sakura was telling me earlier, so I guess maybe we can talk about it somewhere less… crowded?”[/color] Then, Zenkichi informed them of Banishing Flats and its cost per night with Band chiming in and saying that he’d rented a room there for himself. Fortunately, the Fatal Fury dojo wasn’t exactly that far from their current position, so he’d be able to get there in time before it started raining. [color=1E90FF]“Banishing Flats? Yeah, I know that place. I’ll see you guys in a minute.”[/color] The entrance was near, the front door decked with wrestling’s big gold approached. Coincidentally, Terry did enter the Flats in about a minute, just moments before it finally rained heavily. He waved a bandaged hand at both his allies and the guarding Mecha-Zangief, quickly bottling up his woeful feelings with a smiling facade. [color=1E90FF]“Hi! Toldcha, right?”[/color] the hat-wearing bruiser greeted, then winked, striking a finger gun at the present Seekers. He approached and sat by one of the couches, settling his duffle bag on the floor right between his parted lower limbs. [color=1E90FF]“Don’t ask, I’m okay. Just feelin’ a bit sore, so I tapped my hands.”[/color] Not long after, Nadia entered with a fancy looking umbrella she’d probably found somewhere along the trip, subsequently revealing bags after bags of money. He was impressed, nodding and taking hold of his mandible, as his narrowing eyes inspected the bags worth close to a million zennies. [color=1E90FF]“Hmm… Why, that’s amazing, cat!”[/color] Terry complimented. [color=1E90FF]“But how did you—”[/color] Then, the kitty revealed how she earned the money, and all of a sudden, his eyes went wide. Not out of fright, surely, but out of surprise and concern. Terry knew fully well what the cold-blooded son of Heihachi was made of. Half-demonic, Kazuya was ten times more dangerous than Geese, with or without the latter’s [url=https://snk.fandom.com/wiki/Nightmare_Geese]Nightmare form[/url]. We’re talking about the man who’d survived several murder attempts by his own family, after all, and unlike his own arch enemy, he didn’t even need a magical scroll to survive getting thrown off a cliff. [color=1E90FF]“Wait, [b]what!?[/b] Are you nuts!? Did you even know who that guy is?”[/color] he asked Nadia. [color=1E90FF]“That Mishima guy you robbed from, he’s a war felon and a devil, cat! Like, literally, a devil. He almost started the third World War with that emo son of his for all I know. But hey, more power to you if you got to hold your own against him. Let’s just pray that he ain’t comin’ after us…”[/color] He sighed and covered his face with a bandaged hand. When a powerful entity was involved, he was actually more concerned about his allies than he was himself. He’d learned it the hard way after he started questioning the KOF dojo’s flawed system, and he’d hate to lose another possible family in the Seekers if the G-Corp did make them their primary target. Though, despite the concern, he knew he shouldn’t soften up. If pointing out Esaka’s corrupted system could bring a positive change, then so be it. Geese was right about him, after all. He just couldn’t shy away from doing what was right, even if it means sacrificing himself for others. [color=1E90FF]“Ugh, Gosh… Sorry, I didn’t mean to overreact. I just wasn’t sure what to be worried about: the fact that you just stole from a war criminal or you stealing something at all,”[/color] Terry apologized, bandaged hands gliding over the crown of his head. He wasn’t even certain why he was so bothered by that, but it most likely had to do with him being such a goody-two shoes. He thought burglary must’ve been part of the habits for Nadia because not even the detectives bothered with her anymore. [color=1E90FF]“But, yeah, anyway, forget it! I see you guys must be hungry now, amirite? Like always, I got a few places to recommend. Kyokugen BBQ is the closest, but also, there’s this rad chanko stew joint somewhere in this side of the city. The choice is yours, though. I just hope we can talk about, y’know, the [i]thing[/i] that brought us here and whether or not he has anything to do with Rugal, I guess?”[/color] Terry shrugged, hands opened, his dropping voice carrying a conspiratorial tone. Whatever that was that the other Seekers wanted to do, he still needed to unravel the threads, wishing to be enlightened about the subject. [b]FIN.[/b]