Hero of Heroes Ch. 20 - Stalemate
By Night

Only rumbling of thunder could be heard in the dark skies above, as both warriors had stared at each other, giving each other hard looks for quite some time.

Their gazes were finally broken by Ryu, who had dashed forward with a straight punch... a punch that Akuma caught in his hand. Ryu wasn't normally a fighter who attacked first... but he knew he hungered for the battle more, and he should be the one to initialize it...

Ryu growled through clenched teeth as his arm strained to break free. Akuma merely stood holding Ryu's fist in his hand, grunting behind his closed mouth. Ryu groaned louder until his mouth opened into a full battle cry... and his free arm cocked back fully, preparing to strike for the demon's face.

Akuma was not intimidated by Ryu's yell, but knew that he must block the incoming punch. Akuma roared to compete with Ryu's battle cry, and he swung his arm outward to block the anticipated punch. But upon blocking, the demon could feel his opponent pull himself back and free his fist... and it immediately came back for another strike! The dark one blocked and retaliated with a punch of his own with his other arm... and both Shotokan warriors exchanged an endless crossfire of punches... both roaring in battle... and neither one landing a single punch on the other. Their arms swung at each other at blinding speeds, and yet both could see where each punch was heading. Through a countless number of blocks and swats, the crossfire was finally broken when Akuma stepped forward into his horse stance into a side punch.

The younger warrior's senses were fully alert, and through a lightning-quick reflex, he sidestepped, clutching his opponent by the wrist. Using the demon's own forward momentum, Ryu pulled his arm in the direction it was already heading, and he stepped forward, elbowing Akuma squarely in the chest. The impact caused Akuma to bend forward... and he soon felt Ryu's hand let go of his wrist and found his fist planted right in his face. Akuma reeled back, and an uppercut was landed right into his gut, causing him to topple forward again. Ryu used the forward movement to his advantage and immediately grabs the folds of the demon's gi, and he rolled back, using his foot to toss Akuma back on his way to the ground...

Hitting the ground hard, Akuma rolled forward, getting back onto his knees. He clutched at his chest and looked ahead, seeing Ryu standing, in full ready position. He looked into his determine filled eyes and gave an evil, sharp-toothed grin.

Ryu's eyes narrowed, returning an equally hard gaze. More thunder rumbled more rain poured down, and the lightning ripped through the skies above, lighting up the entire battlefield. He awaited his opponent's next move... This time demon... why don't you show me YOUR true power...

The inevitable attack came as Akuma catapulted himself forward and charged towards Ryu. Ryu charged forward as well, bringing his arm back, ready to knock the demon down with a clothesline. When both warriors came in close contact, the younger one swung his arm around, only to find it connecting with nothing except the air... Akuma's body slowly faded away... and moved around Ryu's, leaving a trail of shadows following closely behind him... Ryu's senses could detect his opponent's evil aura travelling behind him, and he brought his other arm around to deliver a backhand punch. Ashura senkuu... not this time, demon. Ryu's backhand was successful... and Akuma's backhand attack from behind was blocked.

The fighters stood in close proximity with each other's forearms straining against each other. Both Ryu and Akuma growled trying to see who's arm was stronger... but eventually their growling turned into grinning... both knowing their strength was about equal. Both warriors never had a battle as entertaining as this. Both enjoyed it. And both only wanted more. Their physical competition was complete... and now they both knew they needed to see how their inner energy compared!

Both flipped backwards a good distance away from each other... getting into a back stance, positioning their hands towards their hips... and began channeling their raw energy... The lightning streaking across the sky grew brighter, as if the power surging throughout the warriors was trying to conduct it. More and more energy was being channeled and summoned... and finally when neither could hold no more...

"SHINKUU... HADOOOOOOOKEN!!!"

"MESSATSU... GOU HADO!!!"

Both spheres of extreme accumulated energy headed toward each other with intense velocity, crashing into each other violently... and they exploded upon impact... sending sparks and smaller bits of energy in multiple directions. When the residue of the two colliding spheres dissipated, both warriors studied each other once again... Ryu giving Akuma a narrowed eyed, serious expression... and Akuma gave the same fiery gaze in return.

The demon could easily see that Ryu's skills have been enhanced. He was able to control his inner power much more fluidly... and his determination and alertness was impressive as well. But something was missing... what was it...? Ah, of course... Satsui no Hado. Akuma could not sense any signs of evil intent emitting from Ryu... yet his power is higher than ever. The demon knew that now was the time that he must steer him in to the path of evil...

"Ryu... you have not yet seen the limits of your increasing power!" the demon stated.

Ryu remained silent, still staring into the demon's flaming eyes.

"You still mourn the loss of your beloved master, do you not?"

He bared his teeth... growling beneath them...

"Unleash it! Use your destructive will!" Akuma held his hand in front of himself and closed it into a tight fist. "Put all your hatred into your fist... and use it to eradicate me!"

"The dark arts of Shotokan... are the forbidden techniques!" Ryu retorted, "A true warrior of Shotokan... never seals his fate to such evil!"

"They were forbidden because people feared its power... living a life of fear is not much of a life!"

Lightning and thunder were chaotic while both fighters stood facing each other in the violent storm...

"And you made the mistake of selling yourself to them..."

"Mistake? I think not." the demon raised his hands up in the air... "The power I possess... the power to obliterate any opponent... just think, my young warrior... what you can do with it!"

"I can obliterate you -without- giving into evil!" With that said... the warrior broke the conversation and stepped forward to attack.

"We'll see if you can do that..." Akuma placed himself back into his stance, ready for whatever attack Ryu will throw at him...

The attack came... and Ryu swung his fist inward towards his opponent's face. The demon blocked with his forearm, and planned to retaliate, but an unexpected blow was followed... and he felt Ryu's heel make impact with his collarbone, sending him towards the ground.

The young warrior brought his extended foot back as he recovered from his powerful spinning hook kick, but soon felt his feet slip from underneath him... the demon had landed on the ground and immediately sweeped Ryu's legs, causing him to head earthbound. Akuma took this opportunity, and leaped up from his crouching position, grabbing Ryu's falling body... He launched into the air, holding a helpless Ryu in his arms, and flipped multiple times... finally crashing back into the earth... slamming Ryu's back into it. Hard.

Akuma jumped back onto his legs and turned around, looking upon a downed Ryu... From the moment Ryu started to attack to the present, had only lasted just a few seconds... and Akuma felt it was already over. He turned his back to him, showing him the symbol on the back of his dark gi, representing heaven... "Shoshi..."

He turned around to give Ryu the finishing blow... only to find him gone! The demon's red eyes widened in amazement, and he lifted his head up... seeing Ryu coming straight for him with a flying side kick. Akuma groaned as Ryu's surprise attack hit him squarely in the chest, causing him to reel backwards... Ryu landed close, and brought his knee up, slamming it into the demon's gut... and he stepped down and propelled his other foot with huge force... "JOUDAN SOKUTOU GERI!"

The demon landed in the dirt with a grunt, causing it to rise... and he backflipped, getting on his feet. Looking at Ryu, he saw that he was still in excellent fighting shape... his hyakki gosui appeared to have done less damage than he thought. "VERY impressive..." Through the loud crackles above... the demon simply grinned at the young warrior...

"Heh heh heh..." Ryu chuckled, and grinned in return...

Both grinning at each other... both loving the battle... and neither getting the upper hand on the one another... this was the battle they've both longed for. A battle where the tides can turn in one direction, and immediately turn the other... and now the demon decided he should turn the tides back in his favor... Akuma launched at Ryu with a flurry of punches and kicks, and Ryu returned his own flurry... each swing dodged, blocked and swatted... and the two combatants traveled beyond the plateau... and deep into the lush forest of the high mountain...

***

"YAH!!!"

"Mmm!!!"

The roaring battle cries of both Ryu and Akuma could be heard from a great distance... as both warriors fought each other up to the very peak of the mountain...

Ryu twirled on one foot, attempting to deliver a spinning hook kick... but Akuma ducked, attempting to sweep him below...

Ryu was able to bring his leg back fast enough and jump over the leg and he attempted to strike with his fist from above... but Akuma was quick, and he was able to block the attack with his arm... and both warriors just stood... staring... and smiling...

More lightning crackled, shining upon the smiling faces of the two. This battle was not going to end soon. Not soon at all.

Akuma swatted Ryu's arm aside and lunged... and the two were engaged in another clash of never ending techniques... neither of them tiring. Not one bit. Both completely filled with what seemed to be limitless amounts of stamina. The battle could go on forever...

But finally... Ryu raised one knee... and extended his foot into a side kick... his opponent doing exactly the same. Both kicks connected... impaling each other in the chest, sending them back quite a distance away from each other. The grounded warriors gave this time to catch a little breath... and Ryu was the first to stand, wiping his mouth of blood... Akuma standing a moment after, doing the same. Was there to be no winner to this seemingly eternal strife? The answer didn't seem matter... Whoever lost would die a warrior... a warrior falling gloriously in combat... where the battlefield would be the place his funeral... Is this the fate I truly desire? Ryu pondered... and he closed his eyes... To let myself die honorably... in the most grueling... most fascinating... and most finest battle my two fists have been a part of? The winds howled... and he could feel the strong gusts against his bare forehead... reminding him of the absence of his bandanna... I cannot...! Not while... The leaves... the rocks... and the dirt began to rise as Ryu's blue aura was beginning to sizzle with violent energy... Not while... I LOVE HER!!! Ryu began to glow bright... and his energy was increasing to extreme levels...

Akuma grinned... feeling the young one's power augmenting intensely... and he began to channel his own inner power himself... engulfing himself a large, red, fiery cylinder of flaming energy...

Nature around them seemed to respond as well as the power of the storm heightened... thunder roaring... and lightning streaking across the dark skies endlessly...

Ryu brought his hands to his hips... the demon doing the same... their palms eventually gathering the raw energy around them... summoning the sphere they've become so accustomed to using in combat... and the energy accumulated...

*FWOOOOOOOOOOOM*

A bolt of lightning struck down to the earth... hitting the tallest tree on the mountain... igniting the entire trunk completely on fire... and sending it toppling over... crashing between the two warriors with a loud thud.

In complete shock and interruption... the warriors lowered their hands... causing the stored energy to swirl away...

The trunk of the tree was huge... and the walls of the flames were too high to jump over. Ryu looked to the left and to the right... both ends too long to travel around... and he looked straight ahead and through the flames... he could see Akuma evil face...

They could've destroyed the tree with the immense energy they collected... but they both knew they'd rather use it destroying each other... and now... their battle appeared to be at a stalemate.

Can't go around... can't go over... Ryu pondered on how to continue this battle... and his thoughts were interrupted with the droplets of rain splashing against his face. The drops seemed to fall faster with each passing moment... and Ryu knew that he must wait... wait until the rain extinguishes the flames...

Ryu looked his opponent one last time before closing his eyes. He sat down slowly... and meditated... letting himself rest before the battle will continue... while his demonic opponent stood at the opposite side... pacing back and forth... studying the young warrior... smiling... waiting patiently like a graceful predator to kill its prey at the perfect moment...