It was at long last the day,it was April 12th in Thailand and the location was Angkor Wat,the holy temples where the annual Street Fighters World Warrior Tournament was going to be held.

Many fighters from around the world had come far and wide to gather and compete for the grand title of World Warrior.

Even Ryu Hoshi himself and the rest of the Street Fighters had arrived at the tournament.
As well as the other would-be challengers of Bael Hoswang,the Tae-Kwon Do,Tung Lo the Shaolin monk,and Nadji,the assassin warrior,as well as Steve Darre,the Grey Wolf, along with a whole bunch of others were gathering for the elimination matches.

Ken's wife Eliza had made sure he looked better than he did before his unfortunate encounter. he was wearing a realistic longe blonde haired wig over his scalp to hide his injured scalp.

He was also in top form again after several months of good training.
His wife Eliza had originally begged him not to compete in such a vicous competition,but he had told her that if he didn't compete with Ryu in the tournament,that there's no telling whether or not that these Shadaloo goons will attack him or anyone else again.

He promised Eliza he would fight bravely and hard and not let anyone attack or injure him ever again.
He also promised himself that he had a long awaited score to settle with Ryu himself as well.

Ryu and other fighters were there for the glory of the battle while others vowed to face Bison and exact their vengeance upon the madman.

While a few others vowed to face Ryu and some of his fellow fighters in the arena.

"So,"thought Dee Jay. "Dis must be de place."
The many fighters all gathered in front of a wooden and metal platform with a podium and a large flag that hung above it that read the words:"THE ANNAUAL WORLD WARRIOR TOURNAMENT:ELIMINATION MATCHES TODAY!"

A group of men in suits accompanied a chinese man in a lavendar suit up to the podium.
He switched on the mic and spoke into it.

"WELCOME LADIES AND GENTLMEN AND OF COURSE---FIGHTERS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD."he said. "I'M YOUR HOST AND ANNOUNCER DARREN CHO,HERE TO WELCOME YOU TO ONE AND ALL TO THE ANNUAL WORLD WARRIOR TOURNAMENT.

AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE OF THE LAST TOURNAMENT,IT WAS HELD BY ONE VIKTOR SAGAT,THE LOCAL CHAMPION OF THAILAND AND WAS DEFEATED BY RYU HOSHI,WHO IMAGINE HAS RETURNED TO DEFEND HIS TITLE. BUT--THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GAIN THAT TITLE FOR YOUR OWN AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS IN THIS NEW COMPETITION.

NOW,AS FOR WHO'S SPONSORING THIS YEAR'S FIGHT FEST--WELL...THAT WOULD BE TELLING NOW,WOULDN'T IT? WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH IS THIS.

YOU WILL EACH COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER IN THE ELIMINATION ROUNDS. THERE YOU WILL MET,COMPETE,AND DEFEAT EACH OTHER TILL ONLY A HANDFULL OF YOU REMAIN. OUT OF THE MANY FIGHTERS THAT ARE HERE ONLY 12 OF YOU WILL FACE EACH OTHER IN THE SEMI FINALS.

AND ONCE THE SEMI FINALS ARE DONE ONLY THREE OF YOU WILL REAMAIN TO FACE THE THREE CHAMPION FIGHTERS IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL AS ONE ANOTHER.

AND ONCE THAT'S DONE,ONLY OF YOU WILL REMAIN TO FACE YOUR FINAL OPPONENT IN THE SUPREME FINAL MATCH. YOU'LL FIND OUT WHO THEY ARE AND MORE ONCE THE FINALS BEGIN. SO,FIGHT HARD IN THE ELIMINATION ROUNDS AND MAKE IT COUNT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT.

NOW,ALL GATHER IN A STRAIGHT LINE TO YOUR LEFT AND ENTER AND REGISTER AT THE GRAND HALL WHERE THE MATCHES WILL TAKE PLACE.

GOOD DAY AND GOOD LUCK!"

The fighters all then began to gather in a straight line and lined up at the grand hall building where a small white cloth covered table and two monks were seated with an open registry book and a ball point pen was alongside it.

Many of the fighters all began to sign up and walk into the great hall.

It was a large and wide building that was built as the perfect place to hold such events like this.

There was also three fighting rings placed before them as well that were all white plastic tile and had a large red circle painted around it's center.

"Wow,"said Fe Long. "this place is huge,it's gonna be a lot more fun than that island tournament I was in once against that dorky crime lord with one hand."
Tung Lo saw Fei Long and was suddenly jolted with a feeling of excitment.
"Ah,I was hoping to find Ryu and Chun-Li,but he'll do just fine."

Bael Hoswang saw Ryu standing across from him with his back turned.
"It's--it's him!"he thought. "The one who defeated me at the last tournament. I must fight my way through to defeat him. I must and I shall!"

Nadji stood alone,trying to control her fury as she clutched her spear batons.
"I must control myself in the rounds,I must save my killing moves for Ryu and Ryu alone. I may get disqualified,but the contest matters not to me,only my revenge---for my father!"

Another announcer,one who was dressed as a monk with a long white beard stepped up to the first ring in front and carried a microphone.

"WELCOME FOLKS,TO THE TOURNAMENT ELIMINATION ROUNDS,I AM HERE TO LAY DOWN THE RULES FOR YOU. EACH OF YOU WILL BE CHOSEN TO COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ONE OF THESE THREE BATTLE RINGS.

THE RULES ARE SIMPLE,ANYONE WHO FALLS OUT OF THE RING,LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS,OR SURRENDERS,THE WINNER AND THE LOSER ARE ESTABLISHED. BUT...KILLING YOUR OPPONENT IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. AND ANYONE WHO DOES SO WILL BE DISQUALIFIED. WEAPONS MAY BE USED,BUT ONLY FOR DEFENSE AND ATTACK,NO LETHAL INJURIES EITHER. I HOPE THAT MAKES IT CLEAR.

NOW WAIT TO BE CHOSEN BY THE REFEREES AND YOUR NUMBER WILL BE ESTABLISHED.SO FIGHT HARD IN THE ELIMINATION ROUNDS AND YOU JUST MIGHT MAKE IT WITH THE SKIN ON YOUR TEETH."

Ken and Ryu stood together along with Chun-Li.
She hugged Ken,relived he was all right.
"You're looking better than ya did before Li."said Ken.
"As are you,Ken."she said. "But--pardon me for asking...didn't your hair---get---hacked off from what I heard."
"Don't tell anyone."said Ken. "But uh--wig of course."
"I thought so."said Li. "You're here for some payback?"

"Hey,if those bastards Balrog and Sagat are gonna be here,i'm all for a rematch or two. And of course--to take out the rest of these...Shadaloo creeps."

"The Shadaloos are what people like myself are here about though."said Li.
"What do you mean,Chun-Li?"said Ryu.
"See Capt,Guile over there?"said Li. "After my--outing from the hospital,I managed to trade info and files on the operations of this Shadaloo."

"Don't tell me---you're still after the ones who killed your father.right?"said Ryu.
"Wh-what's this about?"said Ken.
"A bit of a long story there,Ken."said Ryu. "Needless to say,it all happened after you left back for Hollywood after the last tournament."

"I uh--see."said Ken.
"You didn't have to know,Ken."said Li. "This is my battle and mine alone right now."
"Yeah,but...think about what you're getting yourself into Li."said Ryu. "And remember what happened when you fought that pyscho Vega,"

"I'm only too aware of that."said Li. "But I trained twice as hard for this and will be ready for anything."
"Yeah,but don't forget--"said Ken. "--you may have to fight either of us as well."
"If it comes to that,so be it."said Li. "Just please don't try to stop me okay? And good luck in the matches as well."

Li then walked over to a crowd that was gathering near one of the rings.
"She hasn't been the same--since her father was killed."said Ryu.
"So I see."said Ken. "I still can't believe you and her kept it from me though."
"Sorry about that,but you wouldn't have been able to do anything anyways."said Ryu. "She's convinced that these terrorists...killed her father?"

"Yeah,and what if they weren't?"said Ken.
"Then she as well as myself,will keep searching if we have to."said a man behind him.
It was Capt.Guile.

"Guile."said Ryu.
"You're here too huh?"said Ken.
"Yeah,and nice to see you're alive after all,Ken."said Guile.
"Hey,the fighting world just wouldn't be the same without me,right?"said Ken.
"I guess not."said Guile. "Anyways,i'm not really here to chit-chat,I just wanted to make sure you're bot all right and no other Shadaloo goons would make a reach for you again."

"Apprantly not,Captain."said Ryu. "But then again,for all we know..any one of these other fighters could very well be Shdaloo agents."
"No doubt."aid Guile. "Just keep on your toes,and stay alert--for anything."
"You bet we will!"said Ken."We're here to fight the best!"

"Well then."said Guile. "I look forward to the best as well,just watch out for me as well."
"We will,good luck."said Ryu.

Guile then disappeared back into the crowds.
"Wow,it's Ryu Hoshi over there."thought Dee jay. "And that's Ken Masters. This should be quite a match,and i'm gonna try an'take'em both on."

"You and me got some re-matching to make,Ryu."thought Ryu. "Just you wait.
Darren then approached Ken.
"Nice to see you made it,Ken."he said.
"S-Steve!"said Ken. "You made it!"

"You bet."said Steve. "And it's nice to meet you in the flesh as well,Ryu Hoshi."
Steve was dressed in a pair of grey gi pants with a black belt and bandage wrappings were tapped on his hands and feet and his long grey hair was tied back into a ponytail.

"Ryu..this is The Grey Wolf,the former champion of the US tournaments."said Ken.
Ryu shook hands with Steve.
"Nice to meet you."said Ryu. "And you must be the one who saved my friend's life."
"It was nothing."said Steve. "I do hope however that this tournament is all you says it is Ken."
"Trust me."said Ken. "You'll find the best competiton in the World Warrior tournament."

"Well..if this is to truly be my last battle before retiring,then I intend to fight my very best. So be prepared Ken,for anything--namely me!"
"You bet I will,old wolf."said Ken. "Good luck."

Just then,a referee stepped up and announced the group Ryu and Ken were in to line up to the first ring they were beside.
"All fighters line up to right here,and wait for your name to be called."

"This is it Ryu."said Ken."The fights are gonna begin,and we gotta figth our way to the top."
"Right Ken."said Ryu. "For everyone's sakes,we must win."

While at the same moment,M.Bison watched from his throne at the monitor screen as the tournament was about to begin.
"Soon,Ryu...very soon now,HAHAHA!"he said.