The next few days after the brutal murder of newly declared martial arts champion of North America,Michael(Blazefoot!)Raines,the front page was splashed with the words:”BLAZEFOOT MURDERED!” and was all over the local news and tv stations declaring what had happened.

The police were setting up an extensive investigation,as well as trying to figure out how Blaines had died.

The body of the now-deceased champion was placed on a wheel table in the city morgue and the chief mortician was trying to figure out the cause of death.

He studied the skin,chalk white as snow,and a set of deep puncture wounds on the neck.

Just then,a pair of policemen came in through the doors.
“Mr.Clarence?”said the cop on the left,a young black plainclothes man with shades on.
“Yes…?”said the man.

“I’m Lt.Harry Rawlins and this is my partner,SGT.Peter Clint.”he said. “We’re here about the body of Michael Raines,you said it was an unusual death case you have here?”

“Yes sirs,yes.”said Clarence. “If either of you have a strong constitution,I’ll show you the codition of the man’s body.”

The two detectives stood over the covered body and the man then removed the top of the sheet that covered the victim’s face.

“My gosh…”said Clint. “L-lookit his skin.”
“Yeah,chalk white.”said Rawlins.

“That’s not all officer.”said Clarence. “Take a look at the right side of his neck.
“Looks like a set of puncture wounds.”said Rawlins. “I have to determine---that it’s the work of—a vampire.”

“A vampire..?”said Clint. “Aw c’mon Harry,that’s nuts…that stuff only happens in Dracula and Blade movies and what not,and you know it!”

“Maybe.”said Harry. “But can you come up with a better explanation than this?”
Clint took a closer look at the puncture wounds. “Well…not at this time no. But whoever the killer was might have killed him in a vampire sense…maybe break apart certain parts of his body and pierce him with a sharp weapon of some kind.”

“Right…but how would you explain the drainage of blood in his body?”said Harry.
“Simple…he may have used some pumping device to drain his blood out after he killed him.”said Clint.
“I’m afraid that won’t suffice sir.”said Clarence. “According to the eyewitness,namely a local janitor who saw the whole scene unfold swear he saw the man’s attacker grab ahold of him by the neck and bit into him and he carrried no siphoning device with him even after he stole the car.”

“I kinda figured that as well.”said Rawlins.
“Well….it was just a guess.”said Clint. “But..vampires? C’mon---!”

“I know it sounds mucho loco Clint.”said Rawlins. “But---crazier things have happened around here---like rumors of that terrorist organization called Shadaloo’s been popping up—and our meeting with a dame named Chun-Li and her partner in the Air Force Nash. Giving us and the other boys the scoop on this Bison creep.”

“So you suspect it may have been the work of a Shadaloo agent?”said Clint.
“Maybe.”said Ralwins. “Li did tell us that Bison’s use of technology and some weird super-powers he created might have led to the creation of something…pretty monsterous.

Well anyways,thank you for your time Mr.Clarence. But—if you find anything startling in your studies—please contact us at the precinct.”

“Sure thing oifficers.” He said.

The two policemen then exited the room,as well as the morgue and went off to their squad car.
“Ya know what else is really creepy about this.”said Rawlins. “We have reports that is the fifth time that someone turned up dead in a major city the exact same way.Weirder still,that the victims were all martial arts masters as well.”
On the outskirts of San Fran in a millionare mansion owned by Ken Masters…

Ken sat in his study and read the front page news of what had happened.
“That’s a damn shame I tell ya.”he thought. “Blazefoot may have been cocky—but he worked hard to get where he was today. I wonder who or what killed him?”

Just then,Sean Matsuda,his pupil came in,sweating.
He wore his yellow gi and red gloves and bowed before his master.

“Ah,Sean.”he said. “Looks like you had quite a workout there.”
“You bet I---did.”he said trying to catch his breath. “I just came in to ask you if you if we’re going to continue with the next half of my Shotokan training?”

“Ah yes..I was busy with some phone calls to the stock market Sean.”he said. “But I think now we’re ready. Just head back out to the dojo in the barn and I’ll be with you shortly.”

“WICKED!”said Sean enthusiastically as he ran off for the barn in the side yard of the forest they lived near.

“Ah,the days of youth.”thought Ken. “Has it been that long for me,Ryu and the rest of the gang?”
 

INTERPOL BRANCH,NY CITY…

Chun-Li Xiang,Charlie Nash and Cammy White stood before the committee of heads of the Interpol organization in a large office room.

The front page of the San Franscisco times lay before them upon the table.
“If this is Shadaloo’s worse work yet—then they’ve obviously crossed the lines this time!”said Mr.Warner,the american head of Interpol’s american branch.

“But sir.”said Charlie.”We don’t know if it is the work of Shadaloo.”
“He’s right sir.”said Cammy. “It may very well be the work of that Gill creep and his lot the UTOPIA.”

“We don’t even know if it is the work of an terrorist organization Cammy.”said Chun-Li. “What we do know is that we possibly have a superhuman killer out there in the streets of San Fransisco---and this is the fifth time this month it happened in a major city.”

“What—you mean vampires?”said Cammy. “Get real luv,just cause my people came out with the daft films starring the likes of Christopher Lee and Gary Oldman,doesn’t mean we can go assuming it’s a Bram Stoker creation come to life.”

“But the wounds on the victim were the same as the others.”said Charlie. “Puncture wounds on the neck and not a drop of blood in their body. How else would you describe that?”

“Which obviously points to the horrific expirementations of Shadaloo.”said one of the division heads. “They have been reported to create superhuman soldiers of different kinds.And id they’re latest is vampires,and using them to attack and kill certain martial artists..then we must act immediately.”

“We agree sir,but how do you propose we do that?”said Chun-Li.
“I have an idea.”said Warner. “Remember that the last victim was attacked and killed after the events of this year’s US martial arts tournament?”

“Yes.”said the three Interpol operatives in unison.
“Maybe..if the three of you as well as some of the other great street fighters you know of could participate in it,and find a way to lure the killer out of hiding..we might get them as well as Shadaloo themselves.”

“Sounds like a plan sir.”said Charlie.
“With all due respect sir,a pretty risky and far-fetched idea.”said Cammy.
“Perhaps.”said Warner. “But—you know as well as I do that Bison has always looked for the strongest fighters in the world to add to his army and since for some strange reason this horrid act of murders is only taking place in North America right now—it would be the perfect trap to lay out for this---vampire-esque killer—Bison or no—this must end!”

“Yes sir!”said the trio in unison once again.

“Here’s what the three of you are to do.”said Warner. “Li,Iwant you to call upon your friend,the famed Ryu Hoshi as well as anyone else in the World Warrior circuit you can call upon. Charlie you contact Ken Masters and get him to contact anyone else you know of who can help us with this. Cammy you do the same in back in your homeland.”

“Right sir.”said Cammy cynically.
“We’ll also discuss the terms of re-setting up the US martial arts contest in favor of redeeiming the title since Michael Blaines was slain the night after the tournament. We’ll discuss this further wih you all as well---dismissed.”

The trio saluted their superiors and then left the room.

Cammy crashed on a plush sofa and placed her booted feet on the coffee table.
Charlie went for coffe vending machine for a nice cup of joe.
Chun-Li then sat down upon a sofa to take a load off as well.
“I take it back.”said Cammy. “It’s a truly daft idea,re-organizing another tournament just to lure a killer out that may or may not be a vampire---what’s the world of spies and fighters coming to?”

“Come off it,Cammy.”said Charlie as he sipped his coffee. “You know as well as I do what madmen like Bison and Gill are capable of. Even if it isn’t them..we need to find out who or what is killing martial arts fighters…before this creep comes after someone we know—like Guile.”

Chun-Li remembered that Guile was called upon by the militarty to help with the situations in Iraq after the war was over. “At least Guile knows what he’s up against.”she said. “Well….i’m heading home to call up a few friends.”

“Same here.”said Charlie. “I just hope that Ken and Sean will agree to this operation.”
“Hey,if it’s for the defense of his title,he’s bound to.”said Cammy. “I’m off for the airport and back home,see you mates again soon---ciao.”

A small dojo temple in the countryside of Japan…

Ryu Hoshi mediatated under a waterfall,he sat cross-legged upon a stone,his shirt and headband off and his eyes closed,his thoughts in a deep state of meditation.

It had been months since Ryu faced and defeated Akuma during Gill’s World Warrior Tournament. While Alex battled Gill in the finals,Ryu went off in favor of finding and destroying Akuma.

It was a long and hard battle as they battled overtop a cliff that was over the deepest part of the ocean,but at the last minute due to a massive Hadouken attack,Ryu knocked Akuma off into the ocean.

Ryu couldn’t tell if Akuma vanished from the powerful Hadou fireball or simply fell into the waters and drown. Either way,he could no longer sense his fighter’s ki…so it was obvious that Akuma was no more.

Ryu was at least satisfied that he avenged his master’s death,but Ryu knew there were many other great evils like Akuma that were still out there. The usual menace of Bison and Shadaloo. Ryu knew that someday he and the other Street Fighters would have to put an end to him as well someday. The demon known as Garuda,he was as dangerous as Akuma himself—and the elemental being known as Gill as well as his own organization,the Utopia presented a formidable thorn in his side.

But Ryu as well as his fellow Street Fighters would one day put an end to the darkness that threatened their very lives,and peace would one day shine through again for everyone.

Suddenly,he felt something in the relam of ki and chi energy,something dark,disturbing and menacing.
A voice,a demonic and evil voice then called out to him.

“COME TO ME RYU…COME TO ME IN NORTH AMERICA…I AM WAITING FOR YOU!”
Then,in the darkness of his thoughts,an image of a winged creature emerged.

Was it a bat?
To Ryu’s horror,it was---A DEMONIC PRESENCE!

The demon’s eyes lit up and a set of razor sharp fangs rose from it’s mouth.

“GRRRRAAAAAGGHH!”screeched the monster.”YOU—SHALL—DIE!”
 

“AAAAAHH!”screamed Ryu as he awoke from his meditation.
Even despite the warm waters that were pouring upon him,he felt a terrible shiver.
It was something that he hadn’t felt in years…it was---FEAR.

Later that night,as Ryu went to bed,he thought about the vision he had.
Was it a dream? Or was it a vison of something that he had to face---something he had to fightwith his very soul?