By Canice Gustave
The sky loomed ominously on the rugged landscape as the
howling wind threatened to tear up everything in its path. The
sun rarely ever came out of sight due to the constant billowing
of dark clouds. Few animals ever came here and the surroundings
seemed to be almost empty of any life. Even the plant life was
sparse and these were usually the type that could withstand the
harsh conditions. Waves were constantly pounding on the rocks
that lined the island’s jagged coastline. Assisting the
ocean in its assail was the overwhelming sound of hard rain, as
if the powerful bullet-like downpour fed its power to the dark
waters.
Once ago, this hidden island off the southern coast of Japan was
the training ground for the dark side of Shotokan, otherwise
known as Messatsu. The only clue to this island’s past were
the demonic statues that although they were weathered over the
years, still told the tales of the events that occurred many
years ago.
Before it’s use by the great masters of Messatsu, this
island was once used as a shrine to these images. However it was
during their period that the skill with the power to kill a
warrior in one swift, great attack within a short burst of
seconds was born. The reason behind this was to bring fear and
respect towards the Messatsu style, whilst separating their style
from the other legendary techniques, and so increase its power
and dominance over them. Such a technique needed hours of
meditation and spiritual focus to be achieved. After years of
intense training, the technique was soon created.
Eventually, it was used on a victim in battle. All seemed to go
according to plan, the attack was initiated, and within seconds,
the fated warrior was dead. Yet, a few minutes after the attack,
that same master suddenly fell to his knees, and after a few
seconds he was dead.
It was decided that since he was an old man, it was put down to
him being too old to harness the move. Two of the youngest
masters attempted the same feat, but they received the same fate.
Finally they realised that it was too powerful to be taught
without being killed, the scroll that taught the technique were
hidden, never to be seen by human eyes again. Over the centuries
the technique was forgotten, until one day.
Two students, Gouki and Gouken were taught the style Messatsu by
the great master known only as Goutetsu. Gouken and Gouki
embraced the style with no difficulty but Gouki became consumed
by it, slowly separating from his brother Gouken.
He started to train vigorously, even to the point of
unconsciousness, but he ignored the emotions and pain he felt,
eventually ridding himself of them believing them to be the
weakness of a warrior. One day while training on a tree trunk, he
stumbled upon the sacred scroll. Ignoring the warning they beheld,
he went on to learn and perfect the technique believing those
masters to be foolish for sealing a move with such power. He’d
returned back to Goutetsu, who upon seeing him knew of his
discovery and attempted to warn him of the results. Gouki laughed
at his futile pleas and challenged him to which he accepted. Both
fought well but Goutetsu couldn’t keep up to Gouki’s
speed and youth, yet he didn’t give up, hoping to stop Gouki’s
path of destruction. Then, all was over as Gouki unleashed the
move. The great master of Messatsu was dead. Like those doomed
masters, Gouki fell to his knees, as if he suffered from extreme
stomach pain, and it wasn’t soon before he fell.
Suddenly dark, powerful waves began to slowly radiate out of
Gouki’s supposedly fallen body. His raven coloured hair,
styled so it pointed upwards, was becoming a crimson red. His
muscles were starting to spasm, like they were going to explode,
but were actually swelling up with muscle mass. So much so that
the sleeves of his gi tore off, exposing his bulging arms, which
along with the rest of his body, was now darkened to fit his new
art. Gouki stood upright, and what were once his brown eyes were
simply red orbs, which were now glowing.
"I have mastered the art!" Gouki exclaimed in glory. He
suddenly felt something burning him. On the back of his midnight
coloured gi, the kanji symbol of "TEN" flared a blood
red, before it slowly subsided.
"Gouki is no more!" he cried. "Only the master of
Messatsu, Akuma remains!!" He turned to his dead sensei and
walked over to him.
"You were a fool…" he reached out, to the beaded
necklace that decorated Goutetsu’s twisted, contorted neck.
"…just like the others, to conceal the Shun Goku Satsu"
He used his finger to burn into the centre bead, using his chi to
depict the symbol that radiated from him moments ago. Placing it
around his own neck, Akuma grinned, exposing flaring teeth, with
canines exposed and he disappeared from the scene.
***********
In the heart of the island where this saga all began, was a cave
which lead to more of the island’s past. Flickering torches
aligned the cave’s entrance, but the source of light was
nothing in comparison to the eerie red glow which was now
emanating from the cave’s inner region. In the midst of it
all, sat a warrior in a state of meditation surrounded by
numerous candles that burned away the darkness of the cavern. The
aura of light was coming from him.
Ever since Akuma had killed his brother Gouken, he had secluded
himself on this hidden island, only leaving to make numerous
appearances within the Alpha Tournament. He had found no one
worthy enough to die by his hand, that was until he realised of
the hidden power Ryu held.
He has amazing potential. the dark Shotokan master
thought. My weakling brother chose well to train him. However,
it will be I who shall unleash the ‘evil intent’ from
him.
After a while, Akuma’s eyes opened and a grin flew across
his lips. Ryu could be the one that could defeat him. Among the
opponents Akuma had encountered, only the Shotokan apprentice had
the potential that matched his. Even the other one, Ken couldn’t
match his though he and Ryu were as skilled as each other.
Akuma’s laugh left echoes around the cavern as he left the
island. The weather continued in its fury.
Prepare yourself Ryu…, he thought. You are next
in line…