Two months have passed, and the weather gets a little colder. Master has taken Ken and Ryu to Japan to learn from his own sensei, Master Goutetsu. His teachings could instill even more understanding to his pupils. Akuma has been left back since he could only do damage to Ken and Ryu's developing minds. In his time alone he stumbled upon a hollow tree that was the passage to where the sacred scroll lay. Cobwebs and other simple life forms dominated the place of worship that the scroll lay on. He lights the two wicker torches that hover on each side of the temple and goes to pick up the scroll. His mood changes to uncontrollable anxiety. "What's this?" He looks at the rolled up scroll. It has been sealed with a wax imprint with the symbol of "Ten" in it. He hastily removes it and gently unrolls the scroll. Blowing the dust off it he slowly begins reading the ancient Kanji script from up to down. Illustrations explained those which were difficult to write out. His eyes moved like lightning . His heart was beating rapidly and his grin slowly widened. He looked around just to be safe. Only the sound of leaves rustling and succumbing to the wind were heard above. He refocuses his attention to the manuscript.....
Those who seek to true path of Shotokan dare not read further. This is the forbidden, dark art of Shotokan. It has been labelled as Oni Messatsu no Shotokan or Shotokan of the Deadly Demon. These characters describe the evil side of Shotokan. Those of no honor or mercy choose this path. However, since we masters of this art teach that defiance is a choice, this has been written to see if the one who finds this scroll can resist the path of death.
Akuma just scoffed at such warning and headed straight for how to learn the Shun Goku Satsu. "Brother, sensei. You are fools for sealing away this technique. I will surpass your skills and become the ultimate fighter. I will conquer all!"
Of everything taught in Shotokan, the most important lesson is that of mercy. He who embraces mercy cannot and will not choose this way. Mercy is what separates humans from demons. The demons are in our conscience. They surface when one forgets the lack of mercy on any other living thing. If you have no mercy for another soul follow these steps toward Oni Messatsu no Shotokan....
He continued reading. His breathing increased exponentially and his muscles contracted and heaved as he prepared for the sacreligious ritual. Taking his gi off and placing it face down, he walks toward the front of the temple. On the left is the caricature of a demon's face with horns protruding. On the right was the statue of Buddha. With his right hand he slices his index finger one one of the horns of the demon's face. Then, with the blood dripping, he paints the symbol of ten on the back of his gi in the exact way the scroll shows. Next, putting the gi back on, he chants some words in Japanese. The last process was the most difficult, yet the only way....
Buddha embraces all souls who strive for inner peace and calm with the world. However, any who blatanly desacrates a statue of Buddha or renounces him is forever damned and shall never be allowed into his domain after death. Chant the words SHUN GOKU SATSU and attack the statue with all your fury and aggression. If you destroy it and survive, you have mastered the art. If you don't survive, you will suffer for eternity in the wrath of Buddha.
So, ignoring the warning, he chants the words for the first time, "SHUN GOKU SATSU". Suddenly, the ki within him glows, a black and purple aura surrounds him. He almost hovers toward the statue of Buddha, grabs it and pummels it with all the pent up anger that he has been holding for years. In a matter of seconds, he stops and stands there with his back protruding the symbol on his gi. The statue made of marble was obliterated. He looks down at his hands and revels in his power, but something doesn't feel right. Out of nowhere, his abdomen begins to churn and ache with pain. He kneels in agony, coughing up blood. His vision wanes, "No! I will not die. I have come too far to succumb to this," his voice becoming more brazen and deep," I owe no allegiance to Buddha. I WILL SHOW NO MERCY!" Those final words completed the test. His gut stopped hurting him and he stood up again. But another pain began infiltrating him. He began screaming out in as if tortured. His arms felt like they were going to explode, yet they were merely swelling up with muscle mass. So much that the gi sleeves tore off, exposing the bulging muscles of his arms. His chest expanded as well. His hair turned from black to a fire red and his skin darkened to fit his new art. The transformation stops and looks at his new self with the glory of a patriot, "I AM THE FIRST TO MASTER THE ART OF THE SHUN GOKU SATSU!" He engages in fits of excitement, punching and kicking the temple walls. Something distracts him, though. He looks back at the scroll, which is now hovering in midair. A voice speaks from it, "You who survived the technique is the first to do so. Yet, there can be only one. You have sealed your fate. It's only a matter of time before the demon within you drives you to death as well." The deep, shallow voice dies and the scroll disapprears. He laughs at the voice and initiates his first objective, to kill Master Goutetsu and Master Gouken, for they are his best competition right now. With the newfound knowledge he embraces a horse stance, drops his arms to a right angle. He focuses on the shrine in front of him. Within his vision the symbol of messatsu visualizes, all the while his hands build up with spheres of dark purple ki. He releases them together, "Messatsu!" The ki flies forth with the speed and fury of a dragon, "Go Ha Do!". The shrine explodes into particles. With that done, he disappears. His hunt begins.
Another week, another trip to the market. Dan's training has been going extremely well over the last few weeks. His confidence has given him the courage needed to enhance his new techniques' strengths. Yet, he was not completely happy inside. All this diligent training was for naught. It's been months now and no sign or word of Sagat anywhere. He has been able to keep his rage stable for now, but it was creeping up on him again. He knew that Sagat would no doubtedly be in Thailand, since it's his homeland. But the country was way too big to explore individually. He needed a more solid location to search. Re-entering the market that won him fame for beating Yun and Yang, friendly smiles, handshakes and bows were given, almost in an orderly fashion. Some of the other teenage ladies looked at him in groups, then giggled as the spoke behind concealing hands and backs. Yup, Dan was on top of the world. He feels a tug on his pants, "Hey mister, could you do your winning chohatsu (taunt) again?" Dan looked down to see a yound girl, who was obviously a fan, ask him a favor. He gladly obliged. He extended his right arm in a right angled fashion and shook it violently, "Jodan ja ne zo" (this is a joke!). The little girl screamed in delight at it. Turning around she ran away, trying to mimic what her new idol did. Dan's face was aglow with affection. He definitely was living a better life than that of a few months ago. Turning into a side alley as a shortcut to the other half of the market, he felt a strange presence. No one was around yet it felt like he was being watched. He carefully placed his duffle down and looks around cautiously. "Who's there?! Show yourself!" One the scream of a cat falling off a trashcan lid responds. He turns the opposite way, but nothing. Turning back, a white and purple blur streaks past him. "Wha...what the hell are you doing?" The steak doesn't respond. Losing sight of him again, he looks around in an ordered fashion to catch him. Feeling a breeze behind him, he swings his right arm around in a backhanded attack. The figure grabs his wrist, locks it into submission, and with its free arm gives a solid shot to the ribs. Dan bends over in pain, "Ah, you bastard. What do you think you are doing?" "You are the one who beat up my nephews, no?" "Yeah, so what? They were asking for it." "Let's see how you fair against me, proud one." The mysterious figure formed a crane stance, with both index fingers protruding out. He wore traditional Chinese clothing with red full footed slippers. "Well, you asked for it, old man." Dan charges in with a jumping kick. The old man blocks it with his arm and responds back with a backhand. Dan falls to the floor in a thud. He gets up and tries the ground approach. He throws some well placed fists into the elder's chest, but is only momentarily phased. Dan attempts a fierce strike, but finds his punch a bit on the slow side. The old man merely maneuvers to the side and delivers a staggering combination. He executes several fast palm strikes to Dan's chest followed by a low kick to the shins and finished with a rolling technique that ended with double heels to Dan's face. Dan rolled backwards to stop his fall completely and rushes in with his fireball attack, "GA DO KEN!" He was close enough to hit the old man who was stunned. He then attacks with his new wind kick which the old man blocked almost too easily. Three kicks, three blocks. The old man speaks just before he reversed, "You are not ready for revenge!" "WHAT?!" Just then the old man streaks toward Dan. Dan didn't know what to do, but it was too late anyway. He felt several mild punches to his body but nothing serious. He found the old man behind him, standing there with his arms already placed into the exaggerated sleeves of his garb, "You are not ready at all." "What do you mean old man?" "Word travels fast here, boy." "How?" Finishing his sentence, he felt all those punches within him again, like deja vu, only this time he lost consciousness, falling limply into a puddle of water. The elder walks over to him and slips a piece of paper into his pocket and leaves as silently as he came. He barely hears the sound of shoes in fast pace running toward him. He couldn't speak because of the blood that was infesting his mouth. His vision started to return but could only make out shadows. Luckily, the voice heard was a light and friendly one, "Dan, are you o.k.?" His memory began to work vigorously. He knew that voice. It was a girl from his past, but who? "Oh, I haven't seen you for so long, and this is how I find you now. I'll help you up, c'mon." Who was it? He couldn't see still so it wan't clear. Carefully helping him up she limped him out of the alley with his duffle. Calling a rik shaw, she placed him gently down and directed the man to her home. Dan felt a bit safer now, since he was losing complete consciousness again. Then, it went black.
How was Akuma's initiation? Who do you think the girl is? Comments
Let's keep it going