Italian Airspace,
In the plane of Team C, tension hung heavy in the air, mirroring the gravity of their mission. Hwoarang focused on piloting the plane, while Jin sat beside him, his thoughts shrouded in a veil of sadness evident in his eyes.
Alan, sensing Jin's unease, decided to reach out, the bond forged through shared experiences urging him to offer comfort.
"Hey, Jin. You seem a bit off. Is everything alright?" Alan's voice held genuine concern as he addressed Jin.
Jin remained silent for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, seemingly oblivious to Alan's caring words. However, before he could respond, Asuka approached, her hand gently resting on Jin's shoulder as she called out to him.
"Ni san..?" Asuka's voice was filled with concern, her eyes searching Jin's face for any sign of distress.
Startled from his reverie by Asuka's touch and voice, Jin quickly apologised, his demeanour shifting as he addressed her.
"Forgive me. I was lost in my thoughts," Jin admitted, his tone tinged with a hint of remorse.
Concern etched on her face, Asuka pressed further, prompting Jin to open up about the source of his troubles.
"Is something wrong?" she inquired, her voice soft yet insistent.
Jin hesitated for a moment, contemplating his response, before Hwoarang interjected with his own words of wisdom, drawing from the teachings of Master Baek.
"Share, dude. Master Baek always used to say that sharing your problems with loved ones brings solutions from unexpected places," Hwoarang advised, his gaze fixed firmly ahead.
Jin couldn't help but smile at Hwoarang's words, the memory of his master's wisdom bringing a sense of comfort amidst the turmoil of his thoughts. With a sigh, Jin turned his seat towards Asuka and Alan, ready to unburden himself.
"I was with her... when I was unconscious. I met her," Jin revealed, his voice tinged with a mixture of longing and sorrow.
Alan leaned in, his concern deepening as he sought to understand Jin's revelation.
"Who?" he asked softly, eager to offer whatever support he could.
"My mother... Jun Kazama," Jin replied, his voice barely above a whisper, laden with emotion.
I barely remember anything after that first punch. Everything became a blur, fading into darkness as I lost consciousness. When I finally awoke, I found myself lying in a puddle, disoriented and confused. Slowly, I sat up, taking in my surroundings.
Before me stretched a serene grassland, enveloped in a strange yet soothing mist. In the centre stood a towering tree, its branches reaching toward the sky like outstretched arms. Squinting my eyes, I could make out a silhouette standing beneath its canopy.
As I approached, memories began to stir within me. The tree reminded me of one from my childhood, where my mother and I would often picnic together. With each step, the sense of familiarity grew stronger, until finally, I stood just a few paces away from the stranger.
"Excuse me, wh—-" I began to speak, but before I could finish, the stranger turned to face me, revealing herself to be none other than Jun Kazama. My mother.
Her presence washed over me like a wave, filling me with a mixture of disbelief and longing. She wore her white overalls and raven-printed scarf, her short hair framing her face in a comforting embrace. And when she smiled at me, it was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
"I missed you so much, my boy," she greeted me, her voice soft and filled with warmth.
For a moment, I could only stand there, speechless, as the reality of her presence washed over me. Then, with a surge of emotion, I stepped forward and wrapped her in a tight embrace, feeling her warmth and love envelop me like a protective shield.
After our embrace, tears welled up in my eyes as I replied, "I missed you too."
Cupping my face in her palms, my mother lowered my head to kiss me on my temple.
"Why cry, my boy? Here, sit down and have some apples," she said, her voice filled with tenderness and love.
We sat down on a familiar picnic mat from my childhood, and she passed me an apple. As I took a bite, the world outside faded away, replaced by a sense of peace and comfort. For the first time in a long while, I smiled with genuine joy.
Seeing me smile, my mother asked, "How's my big boy doing?"
"I... I am fine, mother," I replied, trying to hide any signs of disappointment or pain.
But my mother saw through my facade. "You know, I can tell when you lie, right? You squint your nose when you lie."
"I don't want to talk about it. I just want to stay here with you, forever," I said, holding her hand tightly.
She gently placed her hand on mine and said, "I know, sweetie, but you can't abandon the people outside. They need you... your father needs you."
Her sudden mention of him took me aback, and I raised my head to look at her with shock-filled eyes.
"Father? That man is not my father. He is evil... He is the reason for your death..!" I said, standing up as anger surged through me.
"I understand your anger, Jin, but you too once walked the path of destruction before coming to your senses. Just like you needed the right people, he needs them too. Be one of those people," my mother urged, her voice filled with compassion.
Turning my back to her, I refused to believe her words.
"Still, he has gone too far. You see what he is planning, right? And no, he is the reason why you left me," I insisted, my voice trembling with emotion.
"You know, Jin, it's true what he says. He had nothing to do with my death. It was all your grandfather, Heihachi. He was the one who sent Ogre after us. To save you, I sacrificed myself. You were there, you saw it, right?" my mother explained, placing her hand on my shoulder and urging me to reconsider.
"No! No! He is the reason for everything bad that happened to us, to me!" I yelled, turning back to face her with tears streaming down my face.
"Think, Jin, think. Your father has nothing to do with it. He cared about me just like you do. It's not you speaking, it's your grandfather's poison..!!," my mother yelled back, her voice loudening with authority.
And she was right; I could see my reflection resembling Heihachi in her eyes. But before I could have time to think, a voice came from behind.
"Don't listen to her," the voice said. I turned to see a figure strangely resembling my mother, but instead of clothes, she had a violet aura covering her feet to her shoulders, her eyes glowing dark purple as she hovered over a puddle.
"She will make you weak!" the figure warned, her voice echoing with an eerie intensity.
"You know who I am," the figure commented ominously.
"Get back, Jin. She is evil, she will take over your mind," my mother warned, stepping in front of me to create a barrier between us and the figure.
"I am not evil. I am your strength. You know me. I am the one who always came for you," the figure said, drawing closer, floating in the air.
"Get back!" My mother's voice dripped with anger as she faced the figure.
"I came always for your rescue, whenever you needed me, whenever you felt lost, helpless, on the brink of death. I came to save you, to give you a chance for revenge," the figure continued to taunt.
As the figure floated, I felt a sense of familiarity in her words, almost like a part of me recognized her. Caught in the reflection of a puddle, I saw her resemblance to the other half of me—the Devil Gene. I understood who she was.
"It doesn't matter. He doesn't need you anymore. He can fight his battles without you now. Jin, get back. Don't listen to her. Get back, I said... you don't need he—-" My mother's words were cut short as the ground beneath us begun trembling.
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I looked up to see a giant demonic hand coming down tearing from the sky, toward me. Before I could react, my mother leaped in front of me, sacrificing herself to save me. The hand seized her and began to carry her away as she yelled out a final warning.
"Don't listen to her, Jin! Do not succumb to darkness. You need to believe in yourself. You have all the help you need outside. You can do it on your own. You don't need her!"
As my mother was carried away, her silhouette blurred, and I thought I heard the voice of Ling Xiaoyu calling for my help. But it was too late. I was frozen in place, my gaze fixed on the figure before me. She muttered with a smug look on her face,
"And you know what to do..."
And then I remembered shooting a burst of lasers and holding a woman in my hand before losing consciousness again.
As Jin finished his reminiscence, a buzzer sounded on the control screen, and Hworang commented, "Nice story, dude. Hate to put a halt to it, but we have arrived."
Jin, Alan, and Asuka stood up to see the century of Sirius Marksman beneath them, Alan asked Hworang, "So where will you land the plane? I don't see any helipads. And also, what is the plan?"
Hworang chuckled with surprise lacing his voice in response to Alan's question. "Landing? Plan?.. Dude, I'm gonna crash the plane right into the building, giving them no chance of preparation."
"Huh, what are you, a madman? What about the girl?" Alan retorted.
"Nah, they won't keep her at a place so obvious," Hworang replied confidently.
He stood up and went to the back of the plane, bringing out a trolley on which a shiny exoskeleton was placed. Alan was taken aback in surprise at the sight of it. Before he could inquire further, Hworang explained,
"Lee sent it for you. Said it was a gift." Alan glanced at Jin, who shrugged his shoulders in response.
"On the count of three, everyone will jump out of the plane,"
Hworang ordered. Alan, now in his new exoskeleton, Jin wearing his Gi, and Asuka positioned near the plane's exit, braced themselves. They felt a sudden gravitational pull as the plane, which was hovering in the sky moments ago, started descending.
Suddenly, Hworang came running, yelling, "Three! Three! Three!" And quickly, everyone jumped out of the plane.
The jet plane crashed into the sanctuary of Sirius Marksman, causing devastation to the buildings and havoc among the residents.
As soon as the plane made an opening into the building, the group flew in using Alan's exoskeleton, which propelled them with jet boots.
They made a heroic entrance inside the building as the plane exploded behind them. Hworang commented, "Knock-Knock!" before landing safely on his feet and continuing,
"Do you have time to talk about our Destroyer and Murderer of humanity, Kazuya Mishima?"
Before the group could even assess their surroundings, a voice echoed in the hall of the church.
"That's quite an entrance...!"
"Never took you for a show-off, Jin Kazama," remarked a figure descending the stairs of the cathedral, clapping slowly.
"Call it the effects of company, I'd say," Jin replied, assuming his fighting stance.
"Only if things were that easy..." The figure stepped into the light, revealing himself to be Claudio, the head of the Marksman. Draped in white attire, his right arm covered in bandages, he emanated an aura of malevolence as he landed in front of the group.
"C'mon, Jehova's witness, we don't have all day to talk about your lord and savior. Give us the girl, and we may spare you the chance of meeting Jesus Christ," Hworang taunted Claudio, pressing forward with sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"What girl?? All I have is the sacrifice," Claudio gestured toward a pillar, which quickly morphed into a cage, revealing Ling Xiaoyu lying unconscious inside.
"Ling!!!!" Jin yelled, his voice tinged with rage. He charged toward Claudio with a battle cry, "You bastard!!!! Release her now!!!!!!"
Reacting swiftly, Claudio's arm began to glow as he manifested a projectile with a blue hue and shot it at Jin.
Jin dodged the attack with a swift sidestep and continued his advance. Claudio continued to fire projectiles, each time Jin evaded with agility and determination.
With another projectile, Claudio yelled,
"Stay still!" and unleashed a larger one. Jin attempted to dodge, but the force of the impact sent him hurtling toward the group. Fortunately, Alan caught him in midair before he could hit the ground.
Alan gently placed Jin on the floor and inquired, "You okay, Jin?"
Jin remained silent, his body trembling with exertion, black aura emanating from his eyes.
Witnessing this, Claudio erupted in madness, demanding, "Yes! Give me what I want! Come out! Come out, demon, and let me have my destiny...!!"
Still shaking, Jin's eyes glowed, as he stood up with Alan's support. With a surge of determination, he forcefully shut his eyes and, with a determined murmur, declared, "No!! Not today!!"
Claudio's frustration boiled over as he witnessed Jin's unbreakable determination. "Marksman, come out!" he roared, his voice echoing through the cathedral.
In response, more than twenty soldiers armed with swords and dressed in white overcoats leaped down onto the floor, ready to carry out Claudio's orders. "Slay the heathens but leave the demon for me," Claudio commanded, his eyes burning with fervour. "For today, I shall become the instrument of God and rid the world from evil."
As the soldiers charged toward the group, Hworang's excitement surged. "Now we're talking!" he exclaimed, his adrenaline pumping.
"Try not to die, guys!" With a battle cry, he launched himself at the incoming enemies, his feet ready to meet their mark. Inspired by his bravery, the rest of the group followed suit, ready to face whatever came their way.
The chaos of battle erupted as punches and swords clashed in every direction. Alan, still struggling to control his suit, stumbled at first, but soon found his footing. With each punch, he gained confidence, swiftly dispatching soldiers with precise movements. Meanwhile, Hworang danced through the fray with unparalleled agility, his low kicks sending soldiers sprawling and his bicycle kicks launching them into the air like footballs.
Whistling with overconfidence, he reveled in the thrill of combat.
Asuka, employing the graceful techniques of Kazama style, moved with fluidity and grace, effortlessly dispatching soldiers and leaving them in a heap on the ground.
In the midst of the chaos, Claudio lunged at Jin with his sword drawn, but Jin deftly dodged the attack and countered with a powerful uppercut that sent Claudio soaring through the air. Seizing the opportunity, Jin dashed toward the cage where Xiaoyu was imprisoned. Claudio, determined to stop him, fired a projectile at Jin in mid air, but catching the glimpse of it from the corner of his eye, Jin rolled sideways and leaped into the air, meeting Claudio at his level. With a swift axe kick, Jin knocked Claudio to the ground.
Standing over Claudio, Jin grabbed him by the collar and lifted him into the air, delivering a relentless barrage of blows. With each strike, he yelled, "Now you stay down!" before finally sending Claudio flying with a powerful punch.
Jin turned and quickly resumed his dash towards the cage, his heart pounded with urgency. With a swift leap, he caught hold of a bar and pulled himself up, his focus solely on Xiaoyu.
"Ling... wake up!" he called out urgently, his voice filled with concern.
Xiaoyu stirred at the sound of his voice, her eyes fluttering open. "Jin... you...you came... for me... I missed you....so much," she murmured softly, her voice filled with relief in her slow fluttering eyes.
"Me too, Ling, but we need to get out of here," Jin replied, his words cut short as he was suddenly engulfed in a surge of electrical energy.
The shock jolted through his body, forcing him to the ground with a violent thud, his muscles convulsing from the force of the attack. Above him, Claudio hovered on his hoverboard, a malicious grin twisting his lips.
"You want her so bad? Then come and get her!" Claudio taunted, detaching the cage containing Xiaoyu and hooking it to his hoverboard.
With a menacing smirk, he conjured a massive projectile, aiming it directly at the cathedral's dome. "But first, try to survive this!" he exclaimed, unleashing the projectile with devastating force before fleeing from the cathedral with Xiaoyu.
The projectile struck with tremendous force, shattering the dome and sending debris raining down upon the group. Jin struggled against his electrical bonds, his frustration boiling over. His eyes glowed with an ominous black light as a dark aura enveloped him, crackling with energy.
Seeing Jin's distress, Alan and Asuka moved to help, but they were quickly beset by soldiers, their path blocked.
With a deafening cry, Jin unleashed a powerful explosion of energy, his body transforming into its devil form in a blaze of dark light. With a roar, he soared into the air, pursuing Claudio with unrelenting determination.
The force of Jin's transformation shook the already weakened dome, causing it to collapse in on itself. Alan acted quickly, swooping in to shield Asuka and Hworang from the falling rubble, but uncertainty hung heavy in the air as the group braced for impact from the much bigger debris, their survival hanging in the balance.
The deafening silence enveloped the chaotic scene, broken only by the sound of Alan's labored breaths. With a determined effort, he pushed aside the shifting boulder, revealing his battered form beneath. His exoskeleton emitted strained electrical hums and sparks from its joints as he struggled to his feet.
Surveying the devastation around him, Alan's heart raced with fear. Despite the terror gripping his mind, he knew he had to act quickly. With trembling hands, he reached for his transmitter, which was dangling precariously from its wires. Desperation fueled his actions as he pushed the buttons attempting to make contact.
"Hello... hello... is anyone there?" His voice echoed through the empty air. "Lee... Lars... where are you guys? Jin is gone, we need he—-"
Before he could finish his urgent message, the transmitter crackled and sputtered, before succumbing to the same fate as his exoskeleton. In frustration, Alan hurled it against the wall, the electrical crackle punctuating his anger as it sparked and fizzled.
Alan once again was overwhelmed by the familiar terror, his body drenched in sweat, heart pounding erratically, and breaths coming in rapid gasps. As his vision began to blur, a sudden flash of light pierced the engulfing darkness before him, revealing the silhouette of a woman with a radiant halo.
With a gentle touch, the woman lifted Alan's trembling chin and whispered softly,
"You are stronger than you think."
Summoning all his inner strength, Alan forced his eyes open and began to struggle to his feet. "She's right," he muttered to himself. "I can do this. I matter. I have a fighting chance. I won't give up...!"
With determination fueling his movements, Alan lifted unconscious Asuka and Hworang onto his shoulders, despite the struggle. Step by step, he pressed forward towards the opening created by the explosion of the plane. His body still drenched in sweat, Alan continued to murmur words of encouragement to himself, while he kept his eyes affixed on his strainly moving feet.
Suddenly, he felt a comforting hand on his head and heard a voice saying,
"You have done well, soldier. Let us help you now."
Despite his blurred vision and confusion, Alan raised his head in an attempt to identify the source of the voice. Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, darkness enveloped him once again, and he lost consciousness, kneeling down on the floor.