Story of the Dragon Ch. 14
By Eliad Sholomovich

Guile lunged at Shadowbane followed by Ken.Shadowbane sidestepped at the last moment and spin kicked Ken. Ken blocked the blow but was flung a few feet back.

He rubbed his aching arm "Man, that guy packs a punch" Ken tried a right footed jump kick it hit home but when he landed the kick he felt increadible heat and pain. His foot had been bruised by hitting the armor and shadowbane channeled fire magic to heat his armor which added some serious scourch marks.

Ken landed on his foot and fell unable to support his body.Shadowbane loomed above him.Shadowbane picked him by the neck."Well,well,well Mr.Masters it appears your not in shape".

Shadowbane was about to break his neck when his feet were swept He got up with lightning speed and turned around and saw cammy standing ready.He smiled and flames danced in his eyes.

smoke came out of his nostrels. He took a deep breath and a stream of fire was realeased. Cammy jumped out of the way and the stream of fire hit a nearby car which exploded.

Cammy shouted "Cannon drill" and flew like a drill with amazing speed towards Shadowbane he dodged but was hit by a kick from Guy then a flash kick from Guile followed by a "Shinryuken" from Ken that gritted his teath when he jumped.

Shadowbane's cape now burned. Shadowbane's eye's widened he screamed "NOOOOO my cape".It was his fathers last gift to him before he left. Shadowbane had had enough games. He started to attack, throwing swift powerful blows that Cammy just couldn't block. A kick hit her stomach and it was followed by a chop kick and a stomp on her fingers.A loud snap was heard and then cammy's screams as her fingers shattered then he kicked her head and she fell uncontious

Ken tried to come to Cammy's aid striking at Shadowbane with many combos but without his right foot he wasn't that good. All his attemts were blocked and ken was punched in the chest with such force he was hurled 20 feet air and into a dumpster his left lung punctured and a few ribs broken

next Guy tried his luck. He grabbed Shadowbane's hip and tried to flip him but Shadowbane was too heavy he grabbed guy in return and squeezed him in a bear hug smashing his ribs and chocking him. just before he would die Shadowbane let go.

Dan saw Guy's trouble and he and Guile came to Guy's aid they both kicked at Shadowbane. The vampire's eye's glew in silver and the kicks passed threw him like he was made of hair. then they turned back to green he punched both of them and smashed their heads together they fell to the ground.

Ryu was know very cautious. He lunged at Shadowbane but when he was about to punch him he jumped above him and spun into the Shinkuu tatsumakisimpuukayaku and hit Shadowbane and then before letting Shadowbane think twice he hit him with the Shin Shoryuken. Shadowbane fell to the ground Ryu took his distance and shot a Denjin Hadouken but Shadowbane got up in lightning speed jumped over the projectile and started a vicious combo on Ryu.

He punched him and kicked him multipule times with all his might all over his body breaking bones ripping flesh and bruising him when Ryu in vainly tried to block. He then broke his left arm by twisting it backwards and shattered his right knee with a sweep kick.Ryu fell to the ground and then got kicked in ribs. The kick was so powerful he was picked up 3 meters in the air like a footbal and crashed into a wall. Ryu felt at least nine ribs break. Out of all of the group Ryu was the one Shadowbane hurt the most. Shadowbane grinned as he saw his opposers lying on the ground helpless

Shadowbane left them lying there.

Shadowbane laughed "Foolish mortals, did you honestly think you could defeat me" He then began to shoot lightning at the groung it created strange rune marks on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Ryu asked weakly . Shadowbane remained silent and then stood straight he lost his human disguise. "Now I shall summon the dark forces of the underworld and wipe the human race from existance. I wanted to let you live but you treachirous fools betrayed me. Know the world shall pay for the betrayel of two villians.

Ryu jaw was broken but it still gaped wide as his eyes when he saw the true form of shadowbane. "Thats what the man meant by vampire, and I failed" He groaned and crawled towards his friends.

He woke them up."I quess we failed" Ryu sighed He channeled as much chi as he could and saved Ken's lung and Guy's ribs the rest would have to wait. "Whats he doing" Guile asked weakly. Ryu shrugged "I guess we shall find out soon enough

Shadowbane began chanting words in an unknown lanquage the runes started to glow in various colors. And then six figures appeared a demon of fire. a woman with snow white skin and eyes. a water serpent, a man made of stone. and then a angel and the grim reaper. They spoke "Who summons the six spirits of creation" they spoke in unison.

Shadowbane bowed "I have summoned you to make the ancient sacrifice as you requested. I shall give you the souls of these worthless humans that have taken your place and you give me back my wife and son." The six looked at eachother and started to laugh. "Foolish vampire your race's souls are destroyed at death their is no hope for their return. And know our little puppet prepare to die"

They turned to him. He stood up now "I wanted to make peace with you spirits but as my ancestor Kain discovered you are backstabbing b*st*rds. You promised me that I would be with my family once I summon you back to the mortal plane".

The demon shrugged "So we lied, What are you going to do about it".

Shadowbane was shaking with rage his eyes glowing in red. "I shall destroy all of you". with the last remark he raised his hand and lightning hit it. the lightning turned into a 6 foot twisted sword with a skull hilt. "The soul reaver is the only weapon that can kill a spirit and after years of searching I found Kain's legendary blade right here on earth .Did you honestly think you could double cross me"

He started to fight with the spirits magic was hurled accompanied with screams of pain. A stray lightning bolt hit Ryu he went limp.

INSIDE RYU'S MIND

Ryu was dreaming. He saw Chun li and his friends being tortured. He all his other friends meet a similiar fate. He saw shadowbane laugh at him. but then he saw himself tied to a post and many people mourning him. "I mustn't let these feelings come true"

He gathered all his power and woke up. He saw the village burning. people were hiding from the battle that had just ended.

Shadowbane was sitting a few feet away his back to Ryu and beside him a few meters away the soul reaver.Ryu saw Shadowbane was severly injured. He was covered with blood and bruises. His armor was destroyed leaving him vulnerable.

Shadowbane was crying. "Why me? What have I done? to deserve such pain. to be betrayed again and again". He screamed so loud that the mountain shook . He thought to himself. "Whats the point? I'll never win .

Ryu started crawling towards the sword. He clenched his teeth to choke the screams of pain since both his left arm and right knee were broken. His friends watched and prayed that finally they would succeed.

Shadowbane sensed Ryu behind him. He got up slowly and grabbed Ryu by neck."Atleast If I can't rejoin my family I can destroy their murderor's race". He didn't see Ryu grab the Soul Reaver. Shadowbane started choking Ryu. Ryu was getting dizzy and weak. He knew he had only one last chance.

Ryu gathered his remaining strength and plunged the sword threw Shadowbane's chest. Shadowbane screamed in pain and let him go. "So the prophecy was right, You have won you have set me free from my pain and made me see how foolish I was. I apologize for what I've done". He then closed his eyes and fell to the ground and ceased to move. A portal appeared.

The portal was made of Chi meaning invisible to the naked eye. Only Ryu and his friends saw the beautiful woman pickup Shadowbane's soul and take him threw the portal. His pysical body than disentigrated.

That's when everything went black for Ryu.His last thoughts were of the woman he loved. "Forgive me Chun li"