Rochefort Estate,
Monaco,
As Lars deftly manoeuvred the sleek white private jet through Monaco's airspace, Alisa sat beside him, her eyes scanning the horizon with a mix of anticipation and concern.
Suddenly, Lillie sauntered in from the back of the plane, her presence commanding attention.
"Who would've thought I'd have a military commander as my personal pilot?" Lillie remarked with a playful smirk, eyeing Lars teasingly.
Alisa's expression tightened slightly, her loyalty to Lars evident as she shot a glare at Lillie.
Brushing off Lillie's comment, Lars turned to her with a serious expression.
"How confident are you that Eliza will agree to our proposal?" he inquired, his tone betraying the weight of their mission.
Lillie's confidence shone through as she replied,
"Oh, don't you worry. Eliza owes me a favour, so she'll be inclined to listen."
Leroy, who had been meditating in the back, interjected with a determined tone, "And if she doesn't, we'll make her listen."
Lars couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at the thought of the challenges ahead.
"If only things were that simple," he muttered under his breath, his mind already racing with contingency plans.
Alisa sensed his unease and reached out to grasp his hand, offering a reassuring squeeze and a comforting smile, turning his mid way frown into a mild chuckle.
After a few minutes of flight, Team A touched down on Rochefort's private helipad.
Lars glanced around with a hint of surprise at the sight, prompting Lillie to boast about her family's wealth.
"What can I say? This is just one of the perks of being elegant," she quipped with a smirk.
Led by Lillie, Lars and the team disembarked from the plane and followed her behind the estate.
"I apologise for the lack of welcome." Lillie suddenly apologised without turning her head, her tone solemn as she continued,
"As time is just one of the things we are short on right now."
She only received nods and silent admissions before she led them underground; making their way from stairs they arrived at a wooden door adorned with drawn demonic markings in what seemed like blood. Without any hesitation Lillie leaned in, pressing her ear against the door before knocking.
"Eliza, we have company. Open up," Lillie called out.
But there was no response. She knocked again, yet the silence persisted. On her third attempt, frustration crept into her voice, as he raised her volume,
"Open up, bitch! I have coffee for you..!!"
With a sudden creak, the gate swung open, unleashing a wave of dark aura. Lars, Alisa, and Leroy instinctively assumed defensive stances, preparing for whatever lurked behind the malevolent darkness.
Suddenly, a bat-like creature flew out, perching itself on Lillie's shoulder and whispering in her ear,
"Where is my coffee?"
Lillie recoiled in disgust, scolding the creature as she backed away.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to morph into such a disgusting creature?" she exclaimed.
In response, the bat began emitting black mist and with a burst of smoke transformed into a woman with pale, icy skin and dark, serene hair topped with large demon-like horns.
With frustration and anger burning in her eyes, she clenched her fists like a petulant child.
"Where is my coffee?!" she demanded fiercely.
"You will get your coffee, but first, listen to what our guests have to say," Lilie replied firmly, asserting her authority.
"I have no interest in human trivialities. What I need is my coffee. I am under no obligation to listen to anyone until I get my coffee," Eliza retorted petulantly.
Growing frustrated, Lilie lunged towards Eliza, gripping down her chin with anger and issuing a threat.
"Listen here, you old hag. You owe me for hooking you up with the world's finest coffee and curing your unbearable sleep syndrome. Like it or not, you are going to help us, understood..?!"
In response Eliza's eyes widened with anger and malevolence while Lilie stood her ground, unwavering.
Seeing the situation escalate, Lars intervened with charm,
“Bonjour, Mademoiselle. We apologise for the rude interruption in your daily affairs, but forgive me as the situation at hand is of utmost urgency. We would be immensely grateful if you would listen to our request."
Suddenly a twinkle flickered in Eliza's eyes as impressed by Lars's approach, she pushed Lilie aside and took Lars's hand.
"Oh, I like this one. See, Emilie, that is how you treat a lady. Come, darling, tell me your request in private," she remarked, hooking her arm through Lars's and leading him into her quarters.
Observing this, Alisa frowned with jealousy and anger. Leroy, noticing her reaction, smiled reassuringly.
"Don't mind, sweetie. He's just doing what's best for the mission," he said before following Lilie and Lars into Eliza's quarters.
"No...!" Eliza interjected firmly after listening to Lars's plan of having her fight against Kazuya to stop him from destroying the world.
"But Miss Eliza, we—"
"Listen, sweety," Eliza interrupted, rising from her throne and pacing around the group.
"As much as I used to enjoy fighting, after being in endless wars with Escariots and Marksman, I've long left the days of being a demon queen. I know Lilie had you believing in my abilities, but it's Satanus we're talking about. Even if we were to believe that we could defeat him with our so-called 'team effort,'" she turned her back to the group upon returning to her throne, "it's not worth the effort. And what do I gain from fighting for you?"
Lars retaliated to Eliza's statement, saying, "You would be saving the world, yo—"
"Darling, I care about your world as much as you care about the spider in your house."
"Then what do you want?" Alisa impatiently asked, but Eliza remained silent, standing firm with her back towards the group.
Seeing this, Lilie jumped in with an offer that interested Eliza.
"What if I give you the head of the Marksman's leader...?"
"The hell are you talking about?" Lars whispered to Lilie in surprise.
"Just trust me, it will work," Lilie whispered back without changing her expression.
"Even if it does, how would you fulfill it? Whe—" Lars began, but once again, Eliza cut him off.
"And a battle!" Eliza turned back to the group with shimmering menace in her eyes, proposing her terms to support.
"What battle?" Lars asked.
"As a high-ranking vampire, I can't just help you. You have to earn it by defeating me in battle. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you," Eliza explained with authority.
"Seriously?" Lilie commented sarcastically.
"You can come out and fight too, Ninja," Eliza said, looking at a corner from which Raven suddenly jumped out.
After bowing to everyone, Raven replied,
"Very well..."
The sudden appearance from Raven surprised everyone, as they all glanced at Lars, who explained, "I had brought a little help just in case," with a mild chuckle.
"Rules are simple. You three have one minute," Eliza pointed at Lars, Leroy, and Raven. "Stay alive for a minute, and I'll help you to your heart's desire. Now, commence!"
With a battle cry, a dark aura started spewing out of Eliza's figure as she began to glow red and took a fighting stance. Seeing her, Lars, Leroy, and Raven followed suit.
Akasuka, Northern Japan
The atmosphere inside the plane of Team B was tense yet focused. Each one now in a refreshed state. Nina piloted the plane while Lee sat beside her, his expression a mix of determination and anticipation. In the back, Paul was training on a sandbag with Steve observing, their minds preoccupied with the upcoming challenge.
After a few moments of silence, Nina turned to Lee, curiosity evident in her voice.
"So, why are we heading to Ogre's Temple? I thought it was in ruins and abandoned after Jin killed Ogre."
Lee's gaze remained steady as he corrected her. "That's where you're mistaken. What Jin killed was the power that possessed Ancient Ogre. The real Ogre retreated into the temple's basement, where Heihachi sealed it in hopes of future use."
Nina's surprise was palpable, tinged with scepticism as she asked,
"And how can you be so sure?"
A sense of reminiscence filled Lee's eyes as he looked upwards at the plane's ceiling before explaining.
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"My grandfather, Jinpachi Mishima, used to tell me stories about the legend of Ogre. He believed that Ogre is the embodiment of cowardice, envy, and malice. Just as these traits cannot be fully eradicated, Ogre cannot be completely destroyed. He can be repressed, caged, or defeated, but never fully dispelled."
Listening with subtle amazement, Nina shifted her gaze forward and followed up with another question.
"And how do you plan to revive and control this embodiment of negative human emotions?"
"For the revival, I've been working on it for quite a while. I have a fellow researcher and a folklore expert waiting at the temple. As for control..."
Lee turned his gaze towards Paul and Steve, who were still engrossed in their training.
"We just have to trust in the backup we've brought."
Just then, a notification appeared on the control screen, indicating that they had reached their destination. Nina begun preparing to land the plane, commenting on Lee's plan with sarcasm.
“I don't know, sounds like a suicide plan to me."
Hovering gracefully over the ancient temple, Lee gave the signal to Nina to activate the plane's camouflage, ensuring they remained hidden from prying eyes below.
With a soft hum, the plane blended seamlessly into the sky, leaving no trace of its presence.
Descending from the plane using retractable pulleys, Lee, Paul, and Steve stepped onto the rugged terrain of the temple grounds, leaving Nina in the ship on standby.
Lee's sharp gaze scanned the surroundings, searching for any signs of their awaiting contact.
Suddenly, a presence loomed behind him, and he felt a warm breath tickling his neck. A familiar voice whispered in his ear,
"We've been waiting for quite a while, pretty boy..."
Lee startled and frenzied, quickly turning to see, Zafina, draped in her signature purple attire, her arm veiled in a white cloth pulsating with a dark purple aura.
With a raised brow and a hint of disappointment, she remarked,
"I thought you enjoyed surprises."
Regaining his composure, Lee bowed slightly in apology. "Forgive me, Zaf. I've been through some trauma. I apologize for overreacting."
Zafina, unfazed, moved toward a nearby crater, eyeing Lee.
“As much as I'd like to hear about your trauma, the matter at hand is urgent."
Seating herself by the crater, she called out, "Come out, Yoshi. The princess isn't in the mood."
On her call Yoshimitsu jumped out of the shadow of Steve Fox, startling him in the process with his new appearance, armour plated in enchanted metal and mask made out of some otherworldly creature's skin.
He landed beside Lee with a graceful flourish, his mask exuding an air of mystique.
"And to think I could have exacted my revenge today," he remarked cryptically.
Paul, sensing the rising tension, interjected,
"So, what's the plan?"
Lee nodded to Yoshimitsu and Zafina, signalling the beginning of the explanation.
"Yoshimitsu here, will commence a ritual. I urge you two to remain silent during this crucial phase. Once the ritual is complete, the crater will break open, revealing the cage below. Zafina will then manifest the soul of Azazel to lure it out."
Steve, his eyes alight with anticipation, posed the inevitable question, "And then?"
A confident grin spread across Lee's face as he replied,
"Try not to die before we capture him."
With a flourish of his katana, Yoshimitsu propelled himself into the air, the blade spinning with such speed that it transformed into a mesmerising propeller.
As he hovered above the crater, he began chanting in ancient Japanese, his voice resonating with power and purpose. The onlookers watched in awe, their anticipation building with each passing moment. After a minute of intense chanting, Yoshimitsu executed a graceful backflip, before coming down and driving his katana into the heart of the crater with precision.
The ground trembled as cracks spread across the surface, emanating an ominous orange glow.
With a swift motion, Yoshimitsu withdrew his katana and leaped back, just as the crater shattered and collapsed, revealing the darkness beneath.
Zafina stepped forward, unwrapping her arm to reveal its crystalline surface imbued with a purple hue. She began chanting in a cryptic language, her voice weaving through the air like an enchanting melody.
With her voice her arm began glowing and as the glow intensified with each passing moment. Mist began to rise from her arm, swirling and coalescing until the aetherial form of Azazel emerged through the mist.
And then with a primal cry, Azazel unleashed his fury toward the crater, but to no avail the silent apprehension of the air returned after the fading echo of its roar.
Undeterred, Zafina unleashed another wave of energy and roar from Azazel, her determination unwavering. Yet, silence greeted her efforts again, leaving a palpable sense of disappointment in the air.
Steve and Paul subtly approached the crater, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding events.
Looking inside it Steve remarked with a smug chuckle, dismissive of the spectacle before him.
"You can turn off your light show, lady. Nothing's happening," he remarked, stepping away confidently.
But Paul's keen eyes caught a glimmer of light amidst the darkness, and suddenly his warning pierced the air.
“Wait...wait...!! There's fire! There is Fire..!! Get back!" he shouted, urging the others to retreat.
As Paul dashed away, a deafening cry echoed from the depths of the crater, moments later, Ogre erupted from it, his fiery breath engulfing the sky in flames.
Circling above, he unleashed a deafening roar, signalling the beginning of the battle.
Lee, his resolve unshaken, rallied his comrades with a cry.
"New plan! Distract him long enough for Zafina to climb over and have Azazel take control. But above all..!! stay alive....!"
* ** **** ******* **** ** *
Eliza's Lair, Monaco
In Eliza's lair, tension hung thick in the air as Lars, Leroy, and Raven prepared themselves for the impending attack.
With a fierce lunge, Eliza soared towards them, her movements swift and deadly. The group scattered, each member diving aside to avoid her onslaught.
Reacting quickly, Lars seized a nearby table and hurled it at Eliza with all his might. She deflected the projectile effortlessly, her hand sending it flying across the room with a burst of energy.
Before she could regain her composure, Leroy launched himself into the air, delivering a powerful kick that sent Eliza hurtling towards Raven.
With lightning speed, Raven blurred into motion, delivering a flurry of slashes that struck Eliza from multiple angles and then kicking her, sending her flying downwards, where Lars stepped in, catching her and clutching her head in his palm and saying to her under his breath,
“Forgive me....."
Before delivering a devastating brain blast that sent her crashing into the stone wall.
Meanwhile, at Ogre's temple, Lee and his companions raced around the ancient wide clearing of the forest, their hearts pounding with adrenaline as Ogre's fiery breath scorched the air behind them. Lee signalled to Yoshimitsu and Paul, who nodded in understanding before springing into action.
As Ogre closed in on Lee, Steve emerged from below, delivering a powerful uppercut that sent the behemoth reeling. Yoshimitsu followed suit with a mid-air roundhouse kick to Ogre's face, while Paul executed a perfectly timed spartan kick from the opposite direction.
Seizing the opportunity, Lee leaped into the air, delivering a crushing blow to Ogre's chest with a high-rise kick. Zafina joined the fray, soaring high above the battlefield and landing down on Ogre, driving her Azazel-imbued claw deep into its nape, attempting to gain the upper hand in the fierce struggle.
As victory appeared within reach for Team A, Lars, Leroy, and Raven watched with eager anticipation as the broken wall revealed the next stage of their battle.
Suddenly, without warning, Eliza surged forward with incredible speed, launching herself between the group in a blur of motion. Lars barely had time to react before Eliza's powerful kick sent him, Leroy, and Raven hurtling through the air.
As they soared, Eliza empowered her hands with a mystical red and black energy, weaving them together to create a dome of pulsating energy around her adversaries.
With a swift motion, she unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, each one striking Lars, Leroy, and Raven with devastating force.
Then, with blinding speed, she lashed out with her razor-sharp claws, slashing at each of them in rapid succession, sending them spiralling away in different directions.
Meanwhile, Team B's momentary hope turned to despair as Ogre, refusing to be defeated, unleashed a ferocious counterattack. With a powerful swing of its tail, it sent Zafina flying through the air, followed by a blast of flame that knocked Lee off his feet.
Moving with lightning speed, Ogre kicked Yoshimitsu away and caught Paul with its snake-like appendage, binding him tightly before hurling him into a nearby tree.
With a thunderous crash, Ogre descended upon the earth, unleashing a shockwave that sent Steve hurtling through the air with debris.
Yoshimitsu, undeterred, leaped at Ogre with his katana drawn, but his attack was met with a brutal kick that sent him crashing to the ground. Ogre then seized him with its massive talon, pinning him beneath its enormous weight.
In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, Paul leaped into the fray, but Ogre easily caught him mid-air with its snake arm, crushing him in its vice-like grip.
Seeing their comrades in peril, Lee and Zafina joined forces, hurling a massive boulder at Ogre. But the behemoth was ready, unleashing a blast of flame that shattered the rock before it ensnared Lee and Zafina in his powerful grasp.
As the dust settled, Team B found themselves battered and beaten, trapped in the clutches of their formidable adversary.
In both battles, the tide seemed to turn as hope surged for victory. But once again, the tables turned when their trump cards entered the fray.
At Eliza's Lair, amidst the chaos, Alisa leaped into action upon seeing Lars and the others in distress. She shot her rocket arm forward, gripping on Eliza's head and slamming her into a nearby stone wall.
Seizing the opportunity, Raven, now freed from the energy dome, hurled enchanted kunai at Eliza's limbs, while Leroy and Lars moved with quickness and delivered a devastating combo of punches, incapacitating her instantly.
Back at Ogre's temple, Ogre's triumphant cry filled the jungle as it believed victory was assured. However, Steve, launched into the air, descended like a meteor and delivered a powerful blow to Ogre's head, incapacitating it.
Seizing the moment, Zafina stabbed Ogre's neck and began an incantation, which after moments ended with a blinding flash of violet lights and a deafening cry from Ogre.
As the creature lay still, Zafina rejoined the group, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Suddenly, the creature began to stir, its movements sending a wave of unease through the group. They braced themselves, ready for any sudden attack. Then suddenly it soared above in the sky, flapping its wings with shifted demeanour before the creature gracefully landed back on the ground, Zafina interpreted it as a sign of successful possession.
With bated breath, they watched as the creature opened its eyes, which glowed with a mesmerising purple hue. The sight further confirmed the success of their mission, filling them with a mixture of relief and anticipation.
Zafina smiled sternly shaking hands with Lee as she inquired,
"So what's next, pretty boy?"
Smiling on her words, Lee looked up and signalled Nina to bring the plane down before turning to the celebrating team, commenting,
"After confirming with the other teams, we'll initiate our next move with the Gjallarhorn."
Meanwhile, at Eliza's Lair, Raven assured the group that Eliza wouldn't move as long as the talismans were near her.
Lars, visibly surprised, shook Raven's hand and asked, "Where did you even find them?"
"Courtesy of Escariots." Raven responded.
Alisa, relieved, swiftly ran to hug Lars, confirming his well-being.
Lillie, with a hint of sarcasm, approached Eliza, leaning down she asked, "Now, will you help us, Mademoiselle?"
Eliza, bound by the talismans, pouted childishly, replying,
"Yeah, whatever."
As the group chuckled, Raven raised a crucial question,
"So what's next? The UN and JSDF are waiting at the border of Northern Japan."
With his words, seriousness spread in Lars's eyes, as he took out his transmitter and called Lee.
After a moment of ringing Lee picked up, and before Lars could say anything, Lee announced their success with pride, his voice loudly crackling over the device,
"We did it..!!! We have Ogre on our side...!"
"Nice work, Brother. We also managed to persuade Eliza as well. Any updates from Team C?" Lars replied.
"No, they haven't ca——" Lee's voice suddenly got interrupted by a static in the transmitter, and after a bit of radio crackle, a voice came through,
"H—He—-Hello, is anyone there? I—it's me, Alan,—Lee, Lars—-wh—-re——y—us."
Then just as it came, the voice disappeared with static and crackles, leaving both sides startled and anxious from Alan's broken words and whereabouts.