The last of the preliminaries were up next.
Ryu,Ken and the others were standing face to face with a final row of competitors and rivals that were also fighting for the top spot to be in the finals.'

Among them were the other four fighters Tung Lo,Nadji,the Grey Wolf and Bael Hoswang.

Nadji watched Ryu with a hard and icy look,she vowed to fight and kill him whether she was chosen to fight him or not.

The announcer stepped up to the ring between them all and made a final announcement.

"Okay fighters,"he said. "you've all made it this far,now all that's left is this.
Each of you must fight it out in one last elimination round.

Whoever is left standing shall go on to the tournament finals.
And the finals are something we'll discuss once this is all over. Now,await your turn to be called."

"Well this is it."thought Ryu. "I've got to fight through this last row,and stop Bison once and for all--and pray that no one else I know and love gets hurt."

Ken looked over at Steve,the grey wolf who was in deep thought himself.
"I was hoping to have the honor to fight Steve in the US toruneys,but this is a good a chance as any to see who is greater in the tournaments."

"There he is!"thought Bael. "The one who defeated me in the last tournament--Ryu!
No matter what,I must face and defeat him!"

Tung Lo saw Chun-Li and Fei Long as well as Ryu.
"I shall fight any of them to see how great their martial arts power is. And I shall win this for the glory of the Shaolin!"

"May the best fighter win."thought Steve.

Bison along with his main three henchman,Sagat,Vega,and Balrog all watched the action unfold on the video screen.

"There it is."said Balrog. "We get to see who we're gonna fight in the finals."
"I hope to have another shot at Chun-Li."said Vega. "She and her amigos shall pay for damaging my face!"
Sagat said nothing,he was still under Bison's mental control.

"Patience,friends."said Bison. "We shall see who we get first crack at,but by the time this is all over...the world's greatest warriors shall be mine to control!"
 

The matches started,and everything went on as planned.

T.Hawk was the first to defeat his opponent,
follwed by Honda who defeated his.

Dhalsim toasted his last opponent,then Dee jay pummeled his.
Zangief slammed another wrestler onto the mat,and Blanka shorted out his opponent.

Cammy tore into her opponent and became next of the finalists,and Chun-Li literally 'kicked'the crap out of hers.

It was now down to Ryu,Ken,Fei Long and Guile
against Steve,Nadji,Tung and Bael.

The next match was called--Guile VS Bael.

"About time."said Guile as he stepped up to the ring once again.
"I was getting restless.

Bael stood anxiously,but a bit dissapointed.
"I wanted to fight Ryu!"he thought. "But it looks like I need to do what I can to fight in the finals,maybe he'll be in there as well."

The Korean fighter took up his position as did Guile.
"BEGIN!"said the referee.

Guile made the first move as he thrust forward and did a backfist punch.

Bael ducked it and then did a leg-sweep spin,knocking him to the floor.
Guile flipped back to his feet and tried for another attack.

But before he could,Bael jumped into the air,spun around and let loose a series of barrage kicks down upon Guile.

The air force captain was hit hard and fast in the head and face by the kicks,but manage to jump away just in time.

Bael then landed on his feet and charged at Guile.

He jumped a foot in the air and began to do a cartwheel axe kick.
But just as his right foot came down at Guile,he caught his foot and then threw him across the floor.

"OOF!"went Bael landed on his side.
"You're pretty good so far rookie,"said Guile. "But not enough against the big leagures!"

"I'll show you who's the big leagure around here,american!"said Bael.

The Tae Kwon Do fighter jumped back up,jumped into the air and landed directly in front of Guile.

He then began to do a series of spin and flip kicks,but Guile simply ducked and blocked them off.

Bael then went for one last attack,and did a roundhouse kick.
But just as he did it,Guile dodged it,and then went for a new attack of his own.

"DOUBLE FLASH KICK!"

He slammed Bael in the chin so hard with the kick,he bounced into the air a meter long.
Guile then jumped up,did a second Flash kick and sent Bael flying across the ring,and out cold.

"HE DID IT!"said Chun-Li.
"Well i''l be."said Ken.

"GUILE WILL NOW ADAVANCE TO THE FINALS!"said the referre.

Guile stepped down from the ring,took out a small comb and began to comb his hair.
"Whew--he was good,but not enough against what the air force has to offer."

"I see."said Ryu. "Well,just wait till you set those skills against the rest of us,Captain."
"I look forward to it,as much as you,Ryu."said Guile. "But keep your guard up,there's no telling where and when Bison's baddies will strike next."

Ryu nodded.

"NEXT MATCH---FEI LONG VS TUNG LO!"called the referee.

"That's my cue."said Fei as he jumped into the ring.
The warrior monk did the same and faced him.

Whoa,a regular kung-fu match here huh?"said Honda.
"Yeah,between Bruce Lee and David Carridine by the looks of it."said Guile.

"Fei Long!"said Tung. "I come from the great temples of China,and have been assigned to show the tournament the great power and skills of the Shaolin."

"So you have."said Fei. "But why tell me?"
"I--have also been an avid fan of your films."said Tung.
"Imagine that!"said Ken. "A monk who's also a movie watcher."
"Some monks still long for the pleasures of the outside world."said Ryu. "But even I can't understand them."

"I have seen how you use your own style of Jeet Kune Do on and now off the screen. Now,I have at last come to face you and see which is the greater master of kung-fu arts."said Tung.

"Well..if that's what you've come to do,I gladly accept."said Fei. "But i've foguth your kind before,your styles are great,but all the same from the temple. Mine's one-of-a-kind."

"We'll see."said Tung.
"BEGIN!"

Tung made the first move as he jumped forward and thrust a dash punch at Fei.
Fei blocked it off and did a turn elvow swing.

Tung blocked it off and then slammed a few punces into his side.
Fei swung back around with a slash chop,but Tung ducked it and then landed a low kick into his stomach,knockign Fei backwards.

"Man!"said Ken. "He's a lot faster than Fei ever was!"
"He'd better come up with a counterrattack,or this match is done!"said Ryu.

Fei then did a Hop Kick,but Tung dodged it and then slammed a lunge punch into his chest.

Fei fell down on his knees,gasping for air.
"Huh!"said Tung. "You may be a great warrior on the screen,but you are a phony in the ring after all. You must've payed off those other fighters to let you win!"

Fei then chuckled and got back up.
"Wrong my Shaolin friend."he said. "I was just---toying with you a little. To see if you were as great as the other monks of the temples. But I see you are still just a learner in their ways."

"Wh-what do you mean?"said Tung.
"This--WAAATTAHH!"cried Fei as he slammed a thrust kick into Tung's stomach,knocking him down.

Tung then jumped back up again and charged at Fei.

He did a spin kick at Fei,but he ducked it.
He did another,but he ducked it again.

Fei then slammed an uppercut into Tung's face and then slammed a super Rekkakin into his chest several times.

"Yeah,go get'im Fei!"said Chun-Li.
Fei then charged up for a super Rising Dragon Kick,and then slammed him in the head with it.

"WATTA-YAAHH!"
"KRRAAAKK!"

Tung tumbeld out of the ring and fell down flat.
"THE WINNER--FEI LONG!"said the referee.

"YEAH!"said Fei as he jumped high into the air.

"Now all that's left are those two."said Honda pointing to Steve and Nadji.
"Yes,but can Ryu and Ken make it like the rest of us did?"said Dhalsim.

There was only one way to find out...