[center] [img][/img] [url=https://imgchest.com/p/pg73d322oyr][img]https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/285910fa25c8.png[/img][/url] [h3][color=FF2400][u][b]Level 7 Ryu[/b][/u][/color][/h3] [sub][color=FF2400][b]EXP :[/b][/color] 6/70 ([abbr=The additional 10 EXP is earned after completing the first round]+14 pts.[/abbr]) [color=FF2400][b]Location :[/b][/color] The Pools, Esaka [color=FF2400][b]Word Count :[/b][/color] 3,014[/sub] [/center] While on his trip out of Beautiful Bay, Ryu had been contemplating what Skullo told him earlier in their bout. The notion of ‘great power, greater responsibility’ had been weighing on him lately, especially after witnessing the hardships that people outside of Esaka had to endure everyday. While he’d always led a fairly modest life, he couldn’t help but feel that he might’ve just been spoiled with the attention and glory that most Esakans willingly gave him. He knew that not all the people out there were fortunate enough to be gifted with the ability to fend for themselves, which led the street fighter to believe… [color=FF2400][i]What if my purpose isn’t just to fight for the sake of fighting, but rather… to fight for the weak?[/i][/color] Ryu clenched and tightened his gloved hand, raising it just beneath his pensive eyes. He’d never felt so conflicted since the aftermath of his first tournament victory against Sagat. Unlike fellow street fighters like Guile and Chun-Li, Ryu was hardly the one with the strongest sense of justice, so why did he want to play ‘hero’ all of a sudden? What was it that made him feel so… attracted to the notion of fighting beyond fighting? Was he really that tired of competition or was there something else? [color=FF2400][i]No matter! As long as I reach the top of the ladder, I will find the answer to those questions.[/i][/color] Perhaps, he needed to focus more on the bout ahead, instead of his so-called newfound purpose. Thankfully, the break between matches for the World Warrior tournament was slimmer than the rest, so he could just move straight to the next challenge without having to bore himself to death waiting for the next bout to come. Not long after, the gondola brought Ryu to his eventual stop. [img][/img] [center] [url=https://imgchest.com/p/a8463828g4x][img]https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/7d68e061c1d8.webp[/img][/url] ▶︎• ၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌၊|• 15:01 [sub][url=https://youtu.be/ZEXvnhCRjDg?si=QVBSLCqhoVdF2jP-]Theme of Northern River (Extended) – Marvel vs. Capcom 2[/url][/sub] [/center] Enter C-134, a spacious raft loading a number of barrels and an anchor attached to a pier pole by its right. Overlooked by towering cliffs, the raft was the makeshift stage where Ryu was scheduled to compete against Tiger according to the billboard that he came across earlier. Funnily enough, despite being an early resident of Esaka, Ryu had never heard of that name before. He thought Tiger could be one of those [i]gaijins[/i] flocking to the city lately. However, he had heard a glimpse of what Martial Masters—the middle tier dojo where Tiger hailed from—was all about, knowing how their fighters were the supposed experts of raw, physical strikes that made them more suitable for the Tekken tournament, instead. Upon stepping out of the gondola, Ryu was immediately welcomed by the sight of [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/cf9f3a7aed52.jpg]a burly, blonde man[/url] in a clergy uniform baptizing and immersing [url=https://fightersgeneration.com/characters4/donvalve-white.jpg]a chubby dwarf[/url] in the water. Surrounding him seemed to be his dedicated [i]followers[/i] praying along (or simply the fighters that the blonde had baptized, judging by their soaked state), alongside [url=https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/psx/c/ds3vsfel-7.png]a blue-eyed nun with peculiar paws[/url]. At first glance, the evangelist seemed to resemble Ken (blue irises, dark eyebrows, peak physicality, and long golden hair). However, as the street fighter closed in and took a thorough look, he noticed that the man’s hair was glaringly longer than his best friend’s—even more evident that his hair was kept in a ponytail. It wasn’t to mention that Ken had never done any missionary work in the past. Given the hairstyle, it was possible that this man was, instead, a different blonde gaijin—a friend he’d known for a long time. [color=FF2400]“Terry, is that you?”[/color] The prayers halted, as Ryu’s questioning voice drew the attention of the people around him. Hopefully, they didn’t find him ridiculous for assuming that each and every Caucasian man in the city with blue eyes and long blonde hair was either Ken or Terry. The evangelist didn’t immediately answer the street fighter’s question, though. It was only after he finished baptizing and whispering the words “repent to Jesus” to Donvalve when he finally approached Ryu, greeting him with a peaceful smile. “No, brother Ryu, I’m [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/characters5/tiger-martial-masters.html]Tiger[/url] of the Martial Masters Dojo,” the evangelist revealed, then brought his knuckles and palm together, bowing respectfully. “It’s a pleasure meeting you. Suppose you’re my next opponent, yes?” Ryu bowed back. [color=FF2400]“That you are, indeed,”[/color] he confirmed, while straightening his posture. It was a coincidence that the man whom he thought to be the erstwhile King of Fighters was, in reality, his second opponent. [color=FF2400]“I’m sorry if I just disrupted you.”[/color] “It’s fine, brother Ryu. I’ve been expecting you, actually,” Tiger reassured, his voice as soothing as his smile. “I’ve heard a lot of stories about you. They said you’re the best that the Street Fighter Dojo has to offer. It’d be an honor to challenge and fight the man himself.” Ryu snorted, grinning at his opponent flattering him. [color=FF2400]“You’re only overselling it. I’m still on a journey to self improvement,”[/color] he claimed out of humility. Then, the street fighter looked around him, reciprocating the curious glances that some of Tiger’s [i]followers[/i] had been giving the two. [color=FF2400]“I see, you have a lot of admirers. You must be the best of the Martial Masters Dojo, I assume?”[/color] Tiger grinned, flattered, close to snickering. He reciprocated their glances, as well. “Oh, these people?” he asked with a gesturing thumb, then shifted his gaze back around the street fighter in front of him. “They’re not my admirers, frankly. They’re the admirers of God. These people are the lost sheep that God has told me to save from the influence of evil. After all, brother Ryu, I’m a servant of God, first and foremost. I don’t wish to participate for the sake of winning a championship. My goal has always been to spread the word of God through these tournaments. I feel that even the toughest of us still needs salvation more than anything, especially in these end times.” Ryu nodded—more of a sign of understanding than anything. [color=FF2400]“Well, I suppose that’s pretty admirable, Tiger,”[/color] he told the martial master, then cast a glance over his own clenched hand. Once again, as the silence broke, he began contemplating. For some reason, his first two opponents had to remind him of his renewed purpose—the final piece of puzzle that he hoped to find through the World Warrior tournament. He drew a deep breath, then looked Tiger in the eyes, a hint of determination present. [color=FF2400]“Frankly, although our beliefs are different, I share the same sentiment with you. As somebody who’s formerly blinded by what you might call ‘evil spirits,’ I can sense that the dark energy has been spiraling wildly around this city, especially lately,”[/color] Ryu admitted, then gestured and fixated on his clenched fist. [color=FF2400]“And that convinces me that these fists aren’t solely for competition anymore. There are people to be saved—some we have failed.”[/color] He closed his eyes and let out a stifled exhale, the recent incidents still lingering in his mind. “I know, brother Ryu,” Tiger reassured with a pat on the shoulder, his hand still a little wet from baptizing Donvalve. “The world has grown colder and darker lately. It’s been burdening you, hasn’t it?” Ryu opened his eyes wide. [color=FF2400]“Wait, how did you—”[/color] “God’s wisdom has never been untrue, brother Ryu,” Tiger simply answered, the soft beam on his face still intact. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re hesitating. You’ve been unsure if the path you took is the right one. You just haven’t found your calling just yet.” Ryu listened and pondered, raising an eyebrow slightly. [color=FF2400]“You… think so?”[/color] “Mhm… I’m certain of it,” Tiger confirmed, only nodding once. “And just like all the fighters I met today, I hope that I can help you find the purpose that God wants you to pursue…” As his voice trailed off, the evangelist grasped the silky fabric of his clergy shirt, removing it in a blink of an eye to reveal [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/nf8/char5/martial-masters/tiger-martialmasters-art-highres.jpg]his iconic look[/url], comprising a long-sleeved shirt that was partly unbuttoned, a pair of red suspenders, and a golden cross necklace around his neck. He rolled each of the sleeves just below his elbows, more out of habit than practicality. “...Through the heart of battle, that is, as God wills it! You said it best, brother Ryu.” [color=FF2400]“The answer lies in the heart of battle,”[/color] Ryu reiterated his iconic line, grinning almost to himself. He loosened then released his grip on the string of his duffle bag, letting it drop flat near his toes. His headband was tightened, his face stern and his karate stance taken. [color=FF2400]“Fine, as long as I can learn something from this battle. [i]Koi[/i]!”[/color] [b][i]DING![/i][/b] [b][i]DING![/i][/b] The metaphysical bell rang, and as they roared in anticipation, the nearby spectators flocked the prior gondola to give both competing fighters some space. A golden streak emerged out of the water, travelling towards the raft to display the following cue: [hr] [center][color=FFD700][b][h3][sub][u]RYU VS. TIGER[/u] ROUND 1 – FIGHT![/sub][/h3][/b][/color][/center] [hr] Then, the glittering gold dispersed into a timer and a pair of health bars floating above both competitors, as well as a pair of power meters lingering close to their feet. The street fighter and the martial master began to circle each other, gauging eyes locking as they waited for the right moment to score the first attack. Eventually, it was Tiger who broke out of his kung fu stance, dashing forth to deliver a light blow, then a heavier one, followed by an [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/nf8/game3/martial-masters/gif/tiger-martial-masters-kick-animation.gif]axe kick[/url]. In anticipation, Ryu dashed back, maintaining distance separating him from Tiger. Since the raft had been rocking uncontrollably, he might want to keep himself steady and avoid getting tossed into the water. The more Ryu distanced himself, though, the more Tiger closed in with a dash to pressure his opponent. For somebody who preached ‘love thy neighbor as thyself,’ he was surprisingly ferocious in the ring. Like an actual tiger, so to speak. As he managed to corner Ryu, the martial master hurled a downward flail that was sure to bend his opponent down, a yellowish streak accentuating the motion of his slamming fist. [b][i]BAM![/i][/b] [b][i]CLASH![/i][/b] Fortunately, Ryu managed to parry the downward fist with his forearm, resulting in a blueish hitspark. Swiftly, the original World Warrior champion retaliated with [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/c600baa2f5f5.webp]a three-hit combo[/url] comprising a body blow, a low kick, then a spinning sidekick, working on the martial master’s midriff and shin. It was the spinning sidekick which eventually knocked Tiger several feet to the back, close to plunging him into the water. When his back hit the ligneous ground, Tiger instantly reeled back, halting on all fours as if mimicking the stance of a tiger. He took a moment to glance skywards, noticing that his health bar had been depleted slightly, while Ryu’s remained whole. “Heh. Impressive. I guess now I know why you were the champion. You always have an answer to anything.” [color=FF2400]“Focus!”[/color] [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/2e0d00b43676.webp]A sudden burst of light[/url] radiated out of Ryu, as he charged himself with energy and lightning. He brought his palms together, drew them back, then thrust them forth once a blue energy sphere was created. [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/952d8a3abaa2.webp]An amplified fireball[/url] was unleashed, his battle cry exclaimed. [color=FF2400][b]“HADOUKEN!!”[/b][/color] Thankfully for Tiger, he’d already anticipated the Hadouken, rising out of his kneeling position to evade the fireball with a dash. When it reached its range limit, the fireball dispersed into miniscule particles, hitting nothing but air just inches from the martial master’s position. He had now stood eerily close to the raft’s precipice, but not to worry, since he already had a plan in mind for when Ryu closed the distance. And it did happen. As the street fighter closed in with a downward, diving kick, Tiger ambushed him with [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/555496551995.jpg]a flying shoulder tackle[/url], leaping out of the threatening position. [b][i]WHAM![/i][/b] [b]“CROUCHING TIGER!!”[/b] [color=FF2400]“Gwahh–!!”[/color] The shoulder tackle immediately connected with his torso, sending Ryu toppling across the shaky platform. The street fighter landed on his back rather harshly, both of his gloved hands thrown back just above the crown of his head. Surely, he was yet to be knocked out since the special move only depleted a quarter of his health bar. While still in mid-air, Tiger swiftly cancelled the Crouching Tiger into a heavy foot stomp, aiming to land just atop of Ryu’s front on both of his boots. [b][i]THUMP![/i][/b] Unfortunately for Tiger, the foot stomp was immediately whiffed when Ryu reeled out of harm’s way, connecting with the shaky platform, instead. Although teetering at first, the martial master quickly bombarded him with blows and kicks, just seconds after the street fighter picked himself up. Oftentimes, he mixed them up with several clawing attacks, unleashing his inner tiger. Ryu—having a better defensive approach—was quick to react to each and every attack with his blocking forearm, still receiving the barest hints of chip damage despite his effort. After clawing and attacking the street fighter with [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5f3f5dcf6c65.jpg]a flip kick[/url], Tiger went on to swing his fist upward, delivering [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/54b5e534ab2d.jpg]an energy-laced uppercut[/url]. [b][i]POW![/i][/b] Then another one with [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/3dc92d6b56a1.jpg]an alternating fist[/url]. [b][i]BAM![/i][/b] [b]“TIGER… CLAW!!”[/b] Yet both attacks still hit the forearm. Despite being blocked, the impact was enough to trigger a hitspark upon collision, faltering the street fighter’s defensive stance. Once the Tiger Claw was executed, the martial master quickly canceled it into a devastating body blow, jolting his opponent back and bending him down. He stomped the ground vigorously, his hand curling and raising. [b][i]THUMP![/i][/b] [b]“Hah!”[/b] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] [b][i]POW![/i][/b] After a small pause, Tiger followed the body blow up with a quick succession of [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/ce21db1f8d3f.jpg]kung fu punches[/url], his fists alternately working on Ryu’s torso and midriff. Eventually, he concluded the bombardment by [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/05fd8c61c5ee.jpg]propelling both of his fists forth[/url] akin to Sagat’s [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/np8/char/sfxtekken/sagat-sfxtekken.jpg]Tiger Shot[/url], blasting the street fighter back upon contact. [b][i]KA–POW![/i][/b] [color=FF2400][b]“Gahahhh–!!”[/b][/color] The impact of the last flail sent Ryu colliding with the anchor with a loud [b][i]clank[/i][/b], prompting him to bounce forth then lay on his midriff. As he lifted himself on all fours, the street fighter placed a hand over his torso and coughed drops of red, noticing that the flails had formed fist-shaped bruises across his partly concealed torso. Seeing a chance to exploit his opponent’s vulnerability, Tiger didn’t wait a moment to close the gap with a… [b]“TIGER ATTACK!!”[/b] …which saw the martial master shifting against the street fighter, then hurled himself forth with [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/6e72d8d447a0.jpg]a multi-hitting shoulder tackle[/url]. Sure enough, before the ramming special move could connect, Ryu had already leaped out of his prior position, assuming his karate stance once again. He did have to swallow the Tiger Attack eventually, even though fortunately, he didn’t have to absorb the full impact. Why so, you asked? Because by the time Tiger’s shoulder collided with his front, Ryu had already executed the [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/2a8f69767d10.gif]Kaze no Kobushi[/url], gaining Super Armor through both the dark ink-like aura and the flickering light that surrounded him. While withstanding his opponent’s lunging shoulder, the street fighter spread his legs and lowered his shoulders, charging and drawing his leading fist back. Once the light surrounding him began to flash yellow (and his opponent shifted to face him), Ryu thrust an ink-trailed fist onto the martial master’s barely concealed torso, the arduous impact creating an enormous hitspark separating the two. [b][i]KA–POW![/i][/b] “Urghh–!!” The Focus Attack was so powerful it immediately brought the martial master down on his knees, his health bar greatly drained. But before he could peacefully topple on his midriff… [color=FF2400]“I’ll shatter you!”[/color] After taking another quick Denjin Charge, Ryu brought his palms together to create an amplified energy sphere, bashing his opponent’s cranium with the short-ranged [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5cf38bac9ebe.webp]Hashogeki[/url]. The Hadouken-esque palm strike was enough to draw the stunned Tiger out of the ground, launching him far away from his initial position. He flew past the shore, then eventually, plunged himself deep into the water with an audible… [b][i]SPLOOSH![/i][/b] …which caused splashes of water to spray wildly around the nearest vicinity, reaching out to [url=https://www.fightersgeneration.com/news2022/char3/bridget-guiltygear-strive-artwork.png]a yo-yo wielding [i]nun[/i][/url] and some other spectators watching from the gondola. The martial master’s absence within the designated stage prompted the metaphysical bell to ring the second time, declaring that the first round had been concluded. [b][i]DING![/i][/b] [b][i]DING![/i][/b] After the Heavenly Principles had decided to drain what was left of Tiger’s health bar, the metaphysical widgets dispersed and reunited to form floating golden letters that read: [hr] [center][color=FFD700][b][h3][sub][u]RING OUT[/u] ROUND 1 – RYU WINS![/sub][/h3][/b][/color][/center] [hr] [color=FF2400]“Your range is one fist short.”[/color] As a huge portion of the crowd roared in celebration, Ryu flailed the air once, then raised an arm, facing in the direction of the spectators. Another battle, another victory for the original World Warrior champion, even though he still had one round left to win the entire match. When he looked ahead, he noticed that Tiger had emerged out of the surface of the water, his hair disheveled and his clothes dampened. Climbing back onto the raft, he was immediately approached by some of his supporters, including Felicia, Bridget, and [url=https://fightersgeneration.com/nf8/char5/martial-masters/reika-martialmasters-official-art.jpg]a certain village girl[/url] clad in green and pink. Before they could make sure of his well-being, the martial master held out a raised hand in front of the girls, reassuring them that “it was only a small graze.” Ryu, equally concerned, decided to approach his opponent, forming the softest hints of a smile on his face. [color=FF2400]“Looks like somebody has been ‘immersed,’ hasn’t he?”[/color] the street fighter joked with a smirk. At the dry humor, Tiger snorted, close to snickering along. He shook his head, a gentle hand on the golden crown. “Ironic, isn’t it?” he asked. “Moments ago, I was the one immersing people in the water, and now here I am.” He spread his arms almost to gesture to his soaked state before bowing in front of Ryu. “Jokes aside, it appears that Father in Heaven has decided that you are the victor, brother Ryu. I’m not surprised with the outcome. You have Samson’s strength and David’s resilience. Surely, you’re the better fighter between us.” In reciprocation, Ryu bowed back, amazed by his opponent’s humility. [color=FF2400]“You’re way too humble, you know that, Tiger,”[/color] he told him. [color=FF2400]“You’re not so bad. I can go as far as saying that you have the potential to be vouched for the Street Fighter Dojo. Besides, this is only the first round. You still have a chance to prove yourself in the next one.”[/color] “Perhaps. Or should I say Amen to that?” Tiger agreed with a grin. “It’s not like I want to let God and His believers down, either. Hopefully, I’ll be able to perform better in the next round.” [color=FF2400]“That you have and you will, my friend,”[/color] Ryu reassured his opponent. [color=FF2400]“So, ready for Round Two?”[/color] [b]FIN.[/b]