The Quest - Book 1 Ch. 30
By Eliad Sholomovich

Ifret raised his hand and it burst in flames. He thrusted it at Ryu and a fireball launched towards Ryu. Ryu dodjed and then he lunged and kicked Ifret.

Ifret stumbled back from the force of the blow. But Ryu fell to the ground.He held his foot. And slowly rose. "His skin is hot as fire we can't touch him" Ryu warned.

Ryu was hit by Ifret's fist. He flew backwards. He lay very close to the lava. He slowly rose to his feet. Ifret was about to ram into him.

Suddenly Ifret flew sideways. Chunli stood with smoke coming out of her hands. Ifret lunged and Chunli jumped over him.

Ifret raised his hand. and the lava around them rose like a wave. He pointed at Chunli.

Ryu rose to his feet. He ran to ty and save Chunli. Meanwhile Mariko and Mel both cupped their hands. Both shot a Hadouken. Both Hadouken's combined and grew into a huge projectile.

The huge Hadouken hit Ifret's back. He lost concentration and the lava returned to normal "Impudent Mortals You cannot win this battle"

Ifret jumped high he flew toward Mariko and Mel. They jumped to both sides avoiding the monster. Ryu remembered something. "Try to use the weapon's Shadowbane gave us" Ryu shouted.

The monster turned to Ryu. "You work for Shadowbane? You shall die a thousand deaths in your master's name" Ifret shouted.

Ryu gulped "No you don't understand.." Ifret cut his words. "Even if its a lie It matters not your death shall come anyway so save me the enpty excuses"

Ifret lunged once more. Ryu jumped above him. He turned around in the air and unseathed his sword.While descending he slashed Ifret's back.

Ifret growled in pain and slammed his fist on the ground. Fire burst from cracks in the isle. Chunli and The two youths were blocked away from Ryu and Ifret by a wall of fire.

"Now its personel you fool. time to die Mortal" Ryu was trapped between the lava and wall of fire. Ifret lunged. Ryu ducked and slashed with the sword it sank deep into Ifret's sideIfret screamed and nailed Ryu with a side kick.

Ryu was flung backwards. He held his aching chest as Ifret loomed above him. Ifret's blood dripped from his side.

"NO ONE INJURES IFRET AND LIVES TO TELL THE TALE. DIE YOU D*MNED MORTAL!!!" Ifret yelled

Ryu watched in Horror a Ifret was about to smash his skull with his foot. Ryu with sheer luck managed to dodge with his keen reflexes. Ryu quickly rolled under Ifret's legs. He slashed his back once again slashing deeper into the brown skinned back.

Ifret turned around in anger and shot a stream of flames at Ryu from his eyes. It hit Ryu's chest and pushed him back while lighting him in scarlet flames.

Ryu rolled on the ground and put out the flames. His chest was scorched and bleeding. His breath ragged and body fatiuged.

Ifret ran forward towards Ryu.Ryu reached for his sword but surprisingly it was of his reach.

Ryu channeled his Chi instead. "I've got one last chance.If I can just time this right" Ryu thought.

Ryu rose to his knees. Ifret raced forward. Ifret's eyes glew in red and his demonic growl heard threwout the cavern . The firewall disappeared and the rest of the group watched in horror.

"No ,Ryu!!!" Chunli shouted. Mel and Mariko closed their eyes. Ryu waited until Ifret was a foot distance from him then lept into a Shin Shoryuken. His body surrounded by blue energy.

He nailed Ifret. The cavern was filled with blue light blinding everyone. Ryu's fist was burned by Ifret's heated skin. Ifret's blood spilled when Ryu nailed Ifret's chest and opened it with his power.

Both their screams were heard. No one knew who won.When the blue flash subsided.Ifret fell from the collision and Ryu landed on his feet. He stood straight but held his chest with one hand.

Ifret slowly rose to his feet. Ifret loomed above Ryu. Ifret smiled and bowed "You have proven thouself mortal take the key of fire and continue your quest"

Ifret passed Ryu a small orange stone to Ryu shaped like a flame. Ryu's wounds were magically healed But not his exhaution. He collapsed to the floor. Chunli and Mariko helped him up. "Come on Honey, we gotta keep on moving" Chunli said in a sweet loving tone filled with concern. Ryu nodded and stood by himself weakly but still stood and walked.

Ifret disappeared and stairs of Black stone rose from the ground. The cavern's roof opened. The stair rose into the opening rose so high their ending was unknown.

"I guess thats are next destination" Mel sighed

MEANWHILE

Ken and the others surrounded the stone figured named Bash. Ken always the agressor attacked with a flaming Shoryuken. The figure laughed as the hit didn't even scrath him and neither did the flames.

Ken grabbed his fist. The figure punched him. Ken flew and slammed into a wall. He shook his head. "This guy's made of stone so we can't attack him with are fists but maybe.." Ken rose to his feet.

He unseathed the weapon Shadowbane gave him.He lunged forward and slashed downwards. The swords slashed the stone skin.It only made a slight scrath and the Bash laughed again and swung his massive fist.

Ken ducked and rolled away. "O.K .anyone have any suggestions" They all shook their heads. Ken mumbled "Great, Just great"

Bash picked up a massive stone. It threw it at Guy. Guy jumped and avoided the rock. But the figure them stomped it foot. Guy saw in horror as a spike of stone rose from the ground.

Dan lept high and tackled Guy in midair making both dodge the deadly pummel. "Thanks Dan" Guy said. Dan nodded and then both jumped to opposite sides to avoid being squashed by the Bash's huge fist.

Bash Raced forward towards Cammy. She summersaulted above him.He turned around with a backfist.She landed quickly and rolled under his feet and ran to safety.

Bash cracked his fists and growled. "Will you stand still you d*mn mortals." Bash yelled.

Ken then tripped on something. He looked to see what it was. He grimanced. It was a human skeleton. Beside it was a huge war hammer.

Ken picked it up "Sorry But I think I need this more than you" Ken told the skeleton.

He jumped and slammed the hammer into bash's back. Bash's back shuddered and cracked. Bash grabbed him by neck and picked him up.

"You're smart but not enough I'm afraid" Bash said and grinned. Bash lifted his other fist and was about to squash Ken like a annoying fly.

Dan channeled his Chi. He shot a Shinkuu Gadouken at Bash's back. Its crackes grew. Bash used his fist to nail Dan with a jarring backfist.

Dan flew backwards and crashed into the wall and fell limp to the ground. But thats exactly the distraction Ken needed. He raised the warhammer and slammed it right between the Bash's eyes. "Thats for Dan." Ken shouted

Bash's face cracked. Bash cried in agony. He let go of Ken. He clutched his face. Ken and the others back away.

Bash let go of his face. "You accursed mortals I'll smash you" Bash yelled and lunged blindly. The Sf group scattered avoiding the wild lunge.

Ken jumped onto Bash's back He slammed the hammer once more on Bash's skull. Bash's head shattered. Ken jumped off him."And thats for being so arrogant ya ugly piece of stone" Ken said

Bash body them rebuilt himself. The group cried in horror. Bash raised his hands "Wait don't attack.You are worthy opponents take the key of earth and continue your quest" He threw them a brown rock. Then he disappeared and so did their wounds.

The wall to their right opened. Leading them to another corrider. "Well lets go people" Ken said. They walked towards the corrider.

MEANWHILE IN DELCRATOR

Raziel was reporting to the master. "Mi'lord the mortals have beaten 2 of the guardians and approach the next two" Raziel said.

The Master spoke "Excellent Shadowbane was wise to choose them. By the way have you found him?" The master asked.

Raziel shook his head "I'm afraid not Master. We've searched everywhere He's vanished". The master growled "Oh nevermind and did you finish your mission?" The master asked.

Raziel nodded "Here it is Mi'lord" Raziel passed The master a large item wrapped in white cloth."Excellent. even if he is alive this weapon can stop him. I'm proud of you Raziel. Kain was a fool to betray you"

Raziel bowed "Thank you master" Raziel then left. The master laughed under his breath "Soon I shall take over Kain's destructive plans and rule the mortal realms its only a matter of time"

The master's laughter filled the room.