Alan slowly regained consciousness, the sound of two men arguing pulling him back to reality. Blinking his eyes open, he found himself lying beside two distinct figures.
One was a muscular man, shirtless except for his blue military cargo pants and utility belt, his body adorned with scars and muscles rippling with strength. The other man wore a cultured attire, with a dark green Ghutra wrapped around his head and a military outfit indicating his Middle Eastern origins.
As Alan tried to focus on their conversation, familiar voices broke through the haze. It was Hworang and Asuka, standing by his bedside almost unscathed. Hworang stepped forward with gratitude, acknowledging Alan's heroism.
"Nice work, Hero. You really saved our asses back there," he commended, while Asuka bowed respectfully, adding her thanks, "Thank you very much, Alan-san."
Alan's smile was modest as he listened to Hworang and Asuka express their gratitude, but worry soon creased his brow.
"Jin... where is Jin?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Before Hworang could respond, the same figure as before stepped forward. The one dressed in Middle Eastern military attire, his presence commanding respect. With a slight hint of a Middle Eastern accent, he introduced himself,
"Hello, Nice to meet you, hope you are well now. I am Shaheen, commander of the Middle East division in the UN peacekeeping forces."
Alan nodded respectfully, acknowledging Shaheen's introduction. Shaheen continued, his voice carrying the weight of authority,
"Last our crew informed us they noticed Jin Kazama flying towards the east. We have high beliefs that Claudio Serafino is luring Jin to the battlefield in Japan. So we decided to head over there as well. And on the orders of Lee Chaolan, we have sent one of our best investigators behind Jin Kazama, Leo and Lei Wulong."
With a determined expression, Alan struggled to get out of bed and limped badly, taking Asuka's support and making his way to the pilot's seat where the other man stood.
He glanced at the control screen and saw they were crossing Shibuya, the devastation of the city once again coming into view. As Asuka expressed her dismay at the destruction, Alan's resolve strengthened.
"Such devastation," she remarked, her voice tinged with sorrow. "When will this war end?"
Alan's gaze hardened as he replied, his determination shining through.
"Soon," he said, his eyes fixed straight ahead, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
After a few minutes of flight, the jet touched down near the border of Kyoto. Alan stepped out of the plane and squinted his eyes, spotting the Hachijo village in the distance. But before they could proceed, they encountered something remarkable – an army, large as they could have hoped had gathered, united in their cause.
The sight filled Alan with more hope and optimism as they made their way towards the army's base.
As they approached, Alan was greeted by the familiar faces of his companions – Lars, Alisa, Lee, Leroy, Nina, Anna, Steve, Paul, and both of the Laws, among others. Lee and Lars rushed over to greet Alan, expressing their relief at his safety.
"Oh my friend, we almost thought we lost you," Lee said, his expression one of genuine concern.
"We are glad you are safe, Alan," Lars added, echoing Lee's sentiment.
Alan nodded, a smile spreading across his face. Lee and Lars noticed the positive change in his demeanor, taking it as a good sign. Lee then took hold of Alan's wheelchair and pushed him towards a vantage point where they could survey the army below.
From their vantage point, Alan saw over a thousand soldiers, each ready to fight for their cause. Among them were familiar faces – Ganryu leading the JSDF elite corps, King, Marduk, and Armor King with the JSDF brute force division, Yoshimitsu and Kunimitsu leading the ancient soldiers of the Yoshimitsu clan.
There were also forces from the Middle Eastern and European divisions of the UN, the Brazilian Defense Force led by Eddy Gordo, and two powerful beings – the Queen of Vampires, Eliza, and the Ancient Demon Ogre.
The sight brought tears to Alan's eyes.
"See, Alan, finally a ray of hope, all because of our joint effort," Lee remarked, his gaze fixed on the army below.
"Yes," Alan replied, his voice filled with newfound hope.
The newfound hope was short-lived as Alan squinted his eyes and noticed the Hachijo Village constructing a giant throne in red, resembling the colour of blood. Lee noticed Alan's change in expression and explained, "They have been building it since morning, and by the looks of it, they are almost done."
Alan's expression turned serious as he realised the throne's purpose. Suddenly, the earth trembled, and everyone got on guard. Alan noticed the atmosphere above the Hachijo Village change, ominous black clouds of thunder starting to appear.
From a high tower near the vantage point, a man yelled, "He is here!"
Everyone shifted their gaze toward the village. Lee quickly gestured for a soldier to bring a large screen, amplifying the view of the village, allowing them to see and hear clearly what was unfolding.
With awe and terror, everyone watched as Kazuya emerged from the black clouds, flapping his wings with thunder striking with each flap. His expression exuded anger and pride as he appeared in his full-fledged devil form. His three eyes glowed with a malevolent red hue as he took a good look at them before descending down.
Excitement mixed with ominous intent surged through the villagers as they saw Kazuya's arrival. Standing near the throne in the middle, the woman whose one side of the face was burned beyond recognition but showed signs of survival from her encounter with Jin started chanting, a song containing different names of the devil.
The entire village joined in chanting in unison as Devil Kazuya sat on the throne. The villagers yelled in unison, sending chills and waves in every direction.
With the woman manifesting her wings from her back, white in colour, she floated in the air, facing her villagers with her back toward Kazuya. She roared, "Now, with our king in presence, let us proceed with the ceremony to summon our God!"
"Summon their God?!" Lars exclaimed after hearing the woman on the screen. "What does she mean? Isn't Kazuya their God? Satanus?"
"Oh, sweety, you are so naive," Eliza replied, hearing Lars's confusion as she came flying near the screen. "What made you think that someone as weak as Kazuya can be Satanus?"
Surprised and shocked, Lee flushed with emotion as he asked Eliza, "What do you mean? Who is Satanus? And he is stronger than Kazuya?"
Eliza floated above the screen, shifting her gaze toward the village as she began to explain,
"What Kazuya is, is just a mere fraction of Satanus' energy. Satanus is the true king of Hell, who sought to annihilate the creation of the divine, what you call Earth."
Hearing that, Alan jumped into the conversation with worry and urgency in his voice, "Then they are trying to summon him! Shouldn't we stop them—"
Before Alan could finish expressing his concern, a large explosion shifted their attention towards the screen. The woman had lit a massive bonfire near Kazuya's throne.
As everyone watched the screen intently, waiting for the events unfolding in the village, the woman floating above the bonfire began chanting. Her voice grew louder as she gestured to her hundred soldiers, each with wings, to throw what seemed like body bags into the fire. The bags shook and screamed as if someone was trapped inside them.
Disgust filled the spectators on the other side of the screen as they realized the horrifying nature of the ritual. As the flames of the bonfire rose into the sky, the woman finished her chant and respectfully gestured for King Kazuya to step forward. With pride flushing rigorously on his face, Kazuya followed her command, floating near the fire.
Then, the woman gave her next command, her voice echoing across the village,
"Now, like a true king, sacrifice your soul and offer your vessel to Satanus, who shall be reborn and rule over this wretched world...!!"
Kazuya's expression changed to one of surprise and shock as he turned towards the woman, glaring at her with questions in his eyes.
"Yes, you must sacrifice your soul and offer this vessel, bestowed upon you by the benevolence of Satanus, for his arrival," she repeated.
With a sudden blur of motion, Kazuya lunged at the woman, grabbing hold of her neck and pulling her close. In a low, menacing voice, he whispered into her ear,
"What did you say? What God...?!!!"
As Kazuya turned towards the fire, the woman struggling in his grasp, he roared to the entire Hachijo village,
"There is only one God to you and the world, the one man in the sky, and it is I, the Devil! Behold Kazuya Mishima...!!!!"
Watching the scene unfold from the other end of the screen, Eliza commented,
"Now that is interesting..."
As the group watched intently, Kazuya raised the woman into the air with immense force pulsing in his grip before snapping her neck under his clutches.
Then, Kazuya ascended higher into the sky, his wings spreading wide, and the eyes marked on his wings and temple began glowing with ominous red light.
The fire's hue transformed into a stark scarlet, and Kazuya stretched his wings as though time had stopped for a moment. Scarlet lightning shot from his eyes and the markings on his wings, striking every villager, soldier, and the woman suspended in the air.
With each bolt of lightning, a dark red life force was sucked out of them and absorbed by Kazuya, causing the thunderous cloud above him to grow. With a flash of light, Kazuya took on the form of a cocoon and after some dreadful moments forcefully tore his limbs out, sending a powerful blast of aura throughout the village.
The blast imbued the lifeless bodies of the villagers, and a laser shot up to the thunderous clouds, penetrating them and turning the sky that matched Kazuya's appearance.
Lowering just above the fire, Kazuya's appearance shifted to that of a demon. He roared into the sky, and time seemed to flow once more as the army and group watched in frozen terror.
After his chilling roar, Kazuya yelled out a command,
"Rise, my undead! For now is the time for WAR..!!!"
* ** **** ****** * ** ****
With his command, the villagers, soldiers, and the women with demon-like wings rose, their appearances changed to dark red with white patches where their eyes should be, and animal-like teeth in place of their usual features. They charged toward the army with a menacing fervor.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"I think this is our cue..!," Lars yelled to Lee, who had been frozen until now. Lee snapped out of his horrored trance and yelled in response, "Start the Gjallarhorn...!!!"
With that, Jack-8 flew into the sky with lightning speed, detonating above the village in a blast comparable to a nuclear explosion.
The explosion signalled to their army that war had begun, prompting Lee's group to charge forward into battle.
As the undead surged forward with unwavering determination, Lee's army matched their resolve, pushing through the chaos that enveloped the valley while thunderous cries reverberated through the Kyoto mountains. Laser blasts, gunfire, and the clashing of weapons filled the air, each side refusing to yield an inch.
Amidst the turmoil, Alan's gaze shifted to Kazuya, who loomed above the battlefield, his eyes scanning for a worthy opponent. With a worried expression, Alan turned to Lee.
"What about him?"
Lee's confident grin remained steadfast as he replied, "Don't worry, we have our own demons."
Alan redirected his attention to the screen, where Eliza and Ogre, ridden by Zafina, charged toward Kazuya. Observing their approach, Kazuya chuckled and assumed a fighting stance. However, the ground beneath the base trembled ominously, leaving everyone shocked.
The rumble returned, but this time originating from the battlefield. All eyes turned to witness Eliza, Ogre, and Zafina halting a few metres away from Kazuya, their attention drawn downward.
Another demon had entered the fray. Recognizing the familiar aura and silhouette, Eliza gleefully flew down to investigate, followed by Ogre and Zafina.
Lee, overcome with anxiety, hastily grabbed a transmitter and frantically shouted into it, "What was that?!!! Reply, anyone, what is happening?"
"It's Akuma," Jin Kazama's voice responded, catching Lee off guard. Accompanied by Xiaoyu, Lei Wulong, and Leo, Jin dismounted from the bike they had arrived on and walked toward Lee.
Lee, Lars, Alisa, and Alan rushed to Jin's side, checking on his well-being. Concern etched on his face, Alan inquired,
"Are you alright, Jin? What happened?"
Jin responded with a mild smile, gently passing Xiaoyu into Alisa's care before addressing their concerns.
Jin's gaze shifted toward the battlefield as he began to recount his recent ordeal.
"When I pursued Claudio," he explained, "I was fully in control, but my concern for Xiaoyu consumed me. We traversed hundreds of miles, dodging his relentless projectiles until we reached the shores of the Sea of Japan. I managed to shoot down Claudio's hoverboard, causing him to crash onto the sand below. Without hesitation, I flew down to rescue Xiaoyu from the cage in which she was trapped and freed her.
However, in my haste, I failed to notice Claudio's absence. He seized the opportunity to attack me with a powerful projectile enchanted by a talisman, causing me to revert to my weakened state. I did my best to defend against Claudio's relentless assault, but he had me cornered, ready to deliver a fatal blow."
"Just as Claudio was about to launch that devastating attack, a mysterious figure intervened. With a powerful energy blast, he sent Claudio flying and stood before me, a towering figure draped in a purple gi, adorned with Buddhist beads."
"I searched for Claudio, but he was nowhere to be found. It was then that Lei and Leo arrived, shedding light on the situation," Jin explained, gesturing toward his companions.
"Suddenly, we heard rumblings from the sky, and the mysterious figure turned to me, declaring, 'You are weak. I must handle this myself.' Then with incredible force, he launched into the air, and we followed, leading us here."
Lee and Lars exchanged a knowing glance, silently communicating their shared concern. Lee voiced his apprehension, his tone tinged with uncertainty.
"Are you certain, Jin? Can he defeat Kazuya? Kazuya has grown significantly stronger since Shibuya, and now he commands an army of undead devils."
"I'm not entirely sure, but—" Jin's response was interrupted by Alan's urgent call for everyone to focus on the screen. As they turned their attention, they witnessed Eliza approaching Akuma, offering a greeting,
"Well, well, if it isn't the legendary Akuma," Eliza remarked with a hint of intrigue. "What brings you to this trivial human battle?"
Maintaining his serious demeanour, Akuma's gaze softened slightly at the sight of Eliza by his side.
"Ah, the ghoul queen herself. It's been quite some time, hasn't it?"
"Six hundred years and four months precisely," Eliza replied, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. "But what compels you to join this battle among mortals?"
"Keeping a promise," Akuma responded stoically. "Would you oblige me, this duel, my fair lady?"
Eliza nodded in acknowledgment. "If it's a promise, who am I to stand in your way my lord?" With that, she gestured to Zafina and Ogre, and the trio ascended into the air, flying away from the battlefield.
Lee hurriedly retrieved a transmitter from his belt and directed his concern to Eliza. "What's happening, demon queen..!?"
Hovering just above the chaos, Eliza responded to Lee's concern.
"Don't fret, my dear. You've been given unexpected aid. Be grateful."
Lee's worry was evident as he pressed further. "But do you believe he can take on Kazuya alone?"
Eliza's reply was laced with confidence and flair. "Don't speak so lowly of him, you imbecile. You have no idea who you're dealing with. If Kazuya is a powerful demon, then the one he faces now is the emperor of demons."
Zafina chimed in to reassure Lee, "She's right, Lee. I've sensed him. He's no ordinary fighter. He's some ancient evil."
With bated breath, everyone watched as the two titans faced each other.
Seeing Akuma on the battlefield, Kazuya flew down to confront him, his frustration evident in his voice.
"You're one persistent insect, aren't you?"
In response, Akuma performed the five chakra stance, his aura bursting forth as he declared, "Your journey ends here. Say your prayers...!!"
Amidst the swirling chaos, the atmosphere crackled with tension as Kazuya and Akuma faced each other, ready to unleash their immense power.
With a sudden surge forward, Kazuya propelled himself with the beat of his wings, unleashing a torrent of laser blasts towards Akuma.
Moving with lightning speed, Akuma countered each blast with a fluid hurricane kick, effortlessly deflecting the energy projectiles. Frustration flickered across Kazuya's face as he flew low, then launched himself upward, aiming a powerful uppercut at Akuma's chin.
To Kazuya's surprise, Akuma remained steadfast, unaffected by the blow. Instead, he channeled even more power, emanating a dark-hued aura that pulsed with increasing intensity. With swift precision, Akuma seized Kazuya's arms and delivered a devastating spartan kick to his solar plexus, sending Kazuya hurtling backward into a nearby boulder.
With lightning speed, Kazuya recovered and closed the distance between them once more. With a swift low kick, he swept Akuma off his feet, followed by a ruthless guillotine kick that drove Akuma back into the ground with bone-jarring force.
Akuma, undeterred by Kazuya's onslaught, intensified his power, causing the ground to tremble beneath them. Seizing hold of Kazuya's leg, Akuma tightened his grip as Kazuya soared upward, attempting a reverse axe kick aimed at Akuma's gut. Despite Kazuya's frustration-fueled attack, Akuma stood firm, absorbing the blow and maintaining his unwavering focus.
In response, Kazuya charged his energy beam, unleashing it towards Akuma with relentless force. Anticipating the attack, Akuma countered by letting go of Kazuya's leg and with a powerful hadoken, resulting in a colossal explosion that engulfed the battlefield in smoke and debris.
Seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, Akuma lunged forwards, tightened his grip on Kazuya's head and drove him down forcefully into the ground, creating a massive crater upon impact. Stunned by the blow, Kazuya lay momentarily motionless.
Still reeling from the devastating blow, Kazuya struggled to rise from the crater created by Akuma's relentless assault. With a fierce determination, he unleashed a primal roar that echoed across the battlefield, igniting his aura with an intensity that illuminated the surrounding darkness. The markings on his wings and eyes blazed with an otherworldly light as thunder clouds gathered overhead, crackling with volatile energy.
With a menacing glare fixed upon Akuma, Kazuya unleashed the full might of his energy beam, channeling every ounce of his fury into the attack. The beam surged forward with unstoppable force, tearing through the air like a celestial inferno aimed directly at his adversary.
Akuma, unwavering in the face of the impending onslaught, stood his ground with determined resolve, his eyes ablaze with fury. As the beam hurtled towards him, he braced himself for the impact, his aura pulsating with power.
With a deafening explosion, the beam collided with Akuma head-on, engulfing him in a maelstrom of searing energy. The shockwave rippled outwards, tearing the very fabric of the atmosphere as it cascaded across the battlefield, leaving devastation in its wake.
At the base, a wave of horror swept over everyone as they watched in frozen silence. The smoke from the explosion gradually began to dissipate, revealing the aftermath of the devastating clash, their worst fears were realised. The once formidable figure of Akuma stood amidst the wreckage, his body charred and maimed, a testament to Kazuya's ferocity.
In stunned disbelief, Lee's gaze shifted to Eliza, who hovered ominously in the air. Overcome with frustration and despair, he could no longer contain his emotions.
"WHAT THE HELL LADY!!!" he cried out, his voice filled with anger and desperation.
Eliza, unfazed by Lee's outburst, raised a hand in a calming gesture, silently urging him to wait. With a measured tone, she spoke, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "Wait...wait...Wait!" she insisted.
Eliza's gaze bore into Akuma's half-charred body as Kazuya confidently stepped forward, placing his foot on Akuma's form. With a smug smirk, he taunted,
"That's what you get for messing with a God...!!" Without waiting for a response, Kazuya took to the air, ascending to Eliza's level.
Before Kazuya could utter another word, the ground below them began to tremble violently, sending shockwaves rippling even through the air. Every soldier on the battlefield froze, their eyes fixed on the unfolding phenomenon.
Sensing a surge of energy crackling in the atmosphere, Kazuya glanced around in confusion, only to be interrupted by Eliza's ominous words.
"My mother always said, never leave a battlefield too early. Wars have a tendency to spring unexpected twists," she remarked, her voice tinged with foreboding.
Kazuya's gaze flickered down to Akuma's body, which appeared to pulsate with an otherworldly energy.
Suddenly, Akuma's form vanished, leaving behind an eerie emptiness. Before Kazuya could react, he felt a searing heat behind him. Turning, he came face to face with a newly regenerated Akuma, cloaked in darkness with ominous tendrils snaking around him. In a chilling whisper, Akuma declared,
"You showed me the God, now allow me to introduce you to the Devil...!"
With a powerful blow, Akuma sent Kazuya hurtling down to the earth, tearing through the ground as they plummeted. Akuma wasted no time, unleashing a relentless barrage of strikes upon Kazuya as they dug their way through the earth, carving a path of destruction, before with another devastating explosion of ground, they tore out of the earth, soaring in the sky.
Without pause, Akuma seized Kazuya mid-air, his tendrils gripping tightly onto Kazuya's wings. With a savage force, eliciting a demonic shriek and grumbling cry of agony, Akuma tore Kazuya's wings apart, before sending him crashing to the ground below.
Kazuya clashed on the ground and like a rag doll bounced back up metres below hovering down Akuma.
With a surge of energy, Akuma delivered a devastating assault known as "Thousand Deaths," striking Kazuya with the force of a meteor. Each blow reverberated through the valley, shattering the earth beneath them and engulfing soldiers and enemies alike in the chaos of battle.
The onlookers remained transfixed in a mixture of horror and awe as they beheld the raw display of power unfolding before them. Frozen in place, none dared to tear their eyes away from the screen, as though a single moment's distraction could seal their fate.
As the dust settled, from the ominous haze Akuma emerged out of the chaos, striding purposefully towards the battered, bruised and wingless Kazuya.
With a newfound sense of determination, Akuma's appearance began to shift back to that of a human, signalling his intent to deliver a final blow. Despite his injuries, Kazuya met Akuma's gaze with unyielding pride, refusing to surrender.
However, just as Akuma raised his hand to strike the decisive blow, he abruptly halted in his tracks. The onlookers watched in disbelief as the unexpected turn of events unfolded before them. Alan, shaken from his stupor, voiced his realisation with a mixture of worry and anxiety, his voice barely above a murmur, "No... Jin."
"Please, spare him...!!," Jin interjected, stepping forward to halt his father's imminent demise.
Akuma's voice roared back, "What makes you think I would listen to you..!!?"
Jin remained steadfast, meeting Akuma's gaze with unwavering resolve. "I don't," he admitted,
"But you would listen to reason. Look at him," Jin gestured towards Kazuya who had begun to revert back to his human form,
"He's already lost. No amount of devil gene could regenerate him fast enough to stand up and face you."
Akuma regarded Jin with a deadly gaze, his voice softened slightly as he admitted, "I have a promise to keep."
Jin processed Akuma's reasoning, then countered, "I know not of this promise you intend to fulfil, but if it's to kill this man here, then I promise you on my life, if you spare him now, I will ensure he never sees the light of another day."
Akuma stood facing the young man before him, grappling with a decision that defied his instincts. Despite his intense hatred for Kazuya Mishima, unwavering courage in Jin's eyes compelled him to reconsider. With a heavy sigh, Akuma acknowledged the depth of Jin's conviction, knowing full well the weight of his own promise.
"Hmph... I care not for your mortal words," Akuma finally spoke, his voice tinged with resignation. "As much as I would like to fulfill my vow without technicality, my principles forbid me from ending a helpless life."
With those words, Akuma turned away, leaving Jin to support Kazuya, who now sat battered and weakened. As Jin helped Kazuya to his feet, the latter whispered arrogantly in Jin's ear, "I am ashamed of you, Kazama."
Jin's eyes burned with anger as he retorted,
"At least you are still alive Y—" Before Jin could finish his sentence, he was stunned by Kazuya's sudden change in demeanour, followed by a violent fit of coughing blood.