Roy is driving along one of the raised highways that crosses Tokyo Bay when he spies Saki driving with Ryofu Housen. Saki appears to be preparing to murder Ryofu so Roy rams his car into theirs. Once Ryofu hands Saki a pistol, a gun battle ensues with Saki sending disabled cars and a flatbed trailer cargo at Roy to slow him down. J'hana Group security arrives to take Saki and Ryofu away.

Miranda J'hana, Master of Ceremonies: "All audience members, welcome to the concluding battle of the VG tournament. You have all seen brave and powerful women overcome fear and shame in battles that strip away all but strength. However, there can be only one goddess. The victor of this battle will claim a $10 million prize, but greed is not enough be victorious in this fight. To prove this end, Reimi, if victorious, agreed to donate her prize to the WHO upon her entry into this tournament.

This is a battle that will NOT be over quickly. I hope you enjoy it. I thank you all for coming and hope to see you again next year. To remind you all, a VG winner cannot participate two years in a row. If there is a demand, we will definitely be back. Without further ado, the battle between the two most powerful women in the world!"

Reimi J'hana enters the ring to boos and jeers. She has become known as a heartless machine in the ring. In addition, rumors and speculation have abounded that the game is rigged in one of the most expensive and lavish examples of nepotism and favoritism in history. She has her fans. There are always those who root for the heel; however, the audible applause is reserved for Kanwuu, gang-boss of the Kanagawa prefecture in Kanto, with a holding in the Shibuya district of the ever-contested Tokyo prefecture. She hands her wrapped halberd to a lieutenant which drops to the ground with what seems the weight of an I-beam.

Fight Details (Highlight to read the overly descriptive blow-by-blow of the fight)

Kanwuu wins starting round placement and chooses to start within point blank range of Reimi. The bell rings, and Reimi springs forward with a short kick which Kanwuu nimbly evades. Reimi gets her guard up in time to block a fast and powerful roundhouse kick (2 pt). She then prepares to leap forward with a grab, but Kanwuu pirouettes around with dragon-strength back hand, forcing Reimi on the defense yet again and hurling her backwards into the ropes.

Determined, Reimi charges forward with a short kick, but Kanwuu blocks with her knee, throwing the attack wide and delivering a crippling strike with a single motion (for a 3 pt hit). Reimi has a split-second to realize that she cannot match the speed of Kanwuu's counterattack and is launched airborne by the flames of Kanwuu's Dragon Kick (total 8 pt) before she can finish the thought. Recovering from the stun as the fire flickers off her clothes, she rolls back and springs to her feet. Kanwuu shows her no mercy and hits Reimi with kicks that so move so fast they appear only as brief mirages.

An iron grip catches Kanwuu's ankle before a single kick connects, and Reimi's eyes say she's had enough. She flips Kanwuu backwards and drives forward into the falling opponent with her signature Rose Stinger, scoring a 19 point hit - enough to win most matches on a technical merit - and driving them forward against the ring edge. Reimi pauses briefly, then grabs a dazed Kanwuu and bashes her head against the turnbuckle. Grandstanding, she grinds a heel on the fallen warrior.

However, Kanwuu refuses to stay down and rises, ducking under a reverse hook kick. Reimi attempts to deliver a jumping short kick, but Kanwuu's tripping leg hook (2 pt) sends her crashing to the ground. Reimi barely gets her guard up in time to block. Six smashing blows batter Reimi and shatter her guard (5 pt).

The arena shudders from the force of Kanwuu's rising Dragon Kick which carries Reimi skyward. Kanwuu turns her back to accept her victory as flames

trail off Reimi's body that crashes to the mat (14 pt). However, Reimi's eyes do not close and her hands brace herself. She begins to lift herself on a single leg, and Kanwuu turns about, her face registering total shock. Kanwuu's hands form fists and a leg moves back, placing her in a defensive stance. It is only then she realizes that Reimi has fallen unconscious, mid-rise. She tightens her biker gloves and snatches back her halberd as she exits the ring.

End Detail

"Spectators, I present to you our champion!"

Kanwuu accepts the statue trophy from Miranda, looking like someone who's been beaten by a dozen drunks. Yet, she maintains her composure and radiates strength. Eyes are not on Remi as she resumes her rise and exits the ring. In her post-game interviews, Reimi is the picture of grace. One couldn't tell that she had just participated in the fight of the year. When asked of her defeat she replies: "Everyone should remember," she turns her head though still looking at the camera and her voice sounds as if it is directed at someone, "there is ALWAYS someone stronger. You're not invincible."

Jenny (Bonne Jenet) is in town looking to spend some time with Roy. They discuss the angel an old man in Canada described coming down as well as the body that was found that night … Jenny's grandmother, stabbed through the back.

Athena, Terry Bogard, Andy, Joe, Mai, Ryu, Ken are present in town. Chun Li is hunting Shadoloo and is elsewhere.

Kensou and Chin have entered eating contest in Bali.

A Shadoloo transaction will take place backstage at the concert after the second set.

Daigo and Jose Lethario are fans of the band.

Shadoloo agents are buying the unknown item from the Tenkyuu Clan.

Alexi and Roy disrupt the deal and The Misfits step up to stop them. As part of the Heel Team, they’ve been hired to provide security as well as the backdrop for the deal.

After Shadoloo and The Misfits are defeated, Alexi opens the box and inside is a shortsword with arcane markings. It appears to be a normal ninjato.

Lethario congratulates Alexi -- his crowning as a World Warrior, all the battles he has fought. "You’ve surpassed my level. I have nothing left to teach you." Jose shakes his hand. Then, surprises Alexi by flipping him onto his back.

Karen asks Kagero to partake of a ceremony with her.

"For my people there is something we sometimes do when we become very close to another. It is a rite of passage to bring spirits of the two close together - as well as to foretell their fortunes. What happens has significance on the future as well as bestowing certain gifts. It is a way of bettering out future if we are strong enough."

They (Karen and Kagero) meet at a bonfire with ceremonially garbed shapeshifters.

They enter the deep umbra, a shadow dimension of our own, through the fire. All is dark except the for the flickering aura from the two.

First challenge is of the Salamander (Roy) and the Phoenix (Bara). These phantoms take on an appearance of things you recognize in life.

First hit drives Bara into the shadows where the form of Scorpio impales her. The Falcon (Wu) comes to its aid.

The Phoenix is reborn stronger than it was and leaves the arena.

After the Trial of Beasts, they come to a tree composed of whirling smoke. It blocks the path. If it touches anyone, their light is extinguished.

While they contemplate the path, it’s branches surround them. The branches make diving strikes, only briefly revealing a passage. Both will be struck down if they take the opening. It becomes apparent that one of you must take a hit to allow safe passage through. Karen maneuvers herself in the way of the branches.

"If one of us makes through it, it will be you," Karen says.

Kagero moves to toss Karen to safety, and both are struck down. They wake up, outside the fire.

Garbed figures speak: "You have passed the Trial of Leo. Let us rejoice." Both put the safety of the other first.

Virgo Rising.

J’hana Group (JG) HQ mobilizes.

Armored troopers in black emerge from the JG HQ. Pan back to see that they encircle the whole building. New structures abound that were not there yesterday. Speculation is rising as to what they are.

The JG main office has locked down. Regular employees aren’t being permitted to work. They know nothing except it was declared as an offday. Still, most of the workforce doesn’t work on Saturday.

Indecision has plagued local government while trying to determine if any municipal codes are being broken.

The only higher authorities that have spoken have said: "The wellfare of Japan and the J’hana Group is synonymous. Hopefully, this is only a security drill, but we are here should they need to call on us for aid."

Experts are saying that any disaster that affects the JG could be disastrous for world economy.

The high numbers of ex-J’hana employees in important positions in the JSDF is likely to immobilize them in the event of being asked to take action against the JG. In fact, the US Military is likely in the same position.

Rose throws her favorite shawl over her shoulder and picks up her gloves. An evil goddess is about to be born and defeating the evil of the Psycho Power will be meaningless if the universe ends. Rose turns to her trusted friend and suddenly grips her head in pain right before slipping into sleep, her Soul Power no help against one of the most powerful psychics on the planet. Anton Sargossa catches her. "Sorry Rose, I cannot allow you to risk yourself." He sets her down gently on a nearby chair. "I'll be going in your place."

Alexi and Wu remember how they agreed to help Yamigawa Yousuke at the faux grave of Yamigawa Saki. He'll be there, they didn't doubt. Of course, they would have no compunction against help to destroy the monster his once innocent sister had become even if he hadn't asked.

The heroes pile into a pair vans, not unlike the A-Team. In addition to themselves, the Hungry Wolves of Southown and Goutetsu's disciples Ryu and Ken are along for the ride. After all, they wouldn't miss what might be the final battle of the very universe.

Vans smash through gates of the J'hana Group headquarters and it's automatic defenses spring into action; however, no faster than the heroes. Anti-personnel, anti-aircraft turrets, and a private army clash against martial artists supreme. The Yomi no Shinobi set up a perimeter with Anton Sargossa, prepared to direct their mental might through Kagero into an exorcism rite.

A small group of the heroes, Alexi, Barahime, Kagero, Roy, Bonne Jenet, and Wu invade Miranda's office. However, the entire floor is rigged to explode. Most leap to safety, but Barahime shields Alexi with her Ki, being resistant to fire.

Outside, Rugal appears and is on the side of the heroes! His dreaded secretaries cut a bloody swath through J'hana soldiers. He turns to the heroes and says, "She has my son."

Wolfgang Krauser's adopted son actually is the blood of none other than Rugal Bernstein!

Sargossa mentally searches for those the players seek. "They are underneath the complex. I can teleport you close to them, but I dare not search with my mind near certain things there."

Barahime discovers a passage to the underground and the heroes embark on the descent.

After descending a mile underground and walking an impossibly long hallway, Reimi and her triples approach. Obviously under duress, Reimi cordially instructs the party to prepare themselves. "To face my mother, you must first pass by me." She cringes in pain as things can be seen moving beneath her skin. She silenty crouches in that position for a moment before rising. Her face is now cold resolve when she speaks, "I should have you know, I am permitted to kill you!!" Reimi and the triplets attack with all their might. However, they are outnumbered and faced by opponents with everything to lose. The triplets are no match for the heroes; however, Reimi does not go down easily. It takes the combined might of many fighters.

After the battle, Bara hangs back to tinker with a control panel on the wall: the intercom. She programs Alexi's theme music.

As they approach doors which feel to be the final barrier, Kagero senses a balance occurring. The universe has righted itself. If Reimi was accumulating the Yang of the universe inside her, the recent battle must have finally been the last push that was needed. If true, Miranda's plan is now nearly complete.

Outside, the Yomi no Shinobi, Chizuru, and Anton Sargossa are concentrating to create a Kekkai to enclose Miranda. If she attempts to teleport, she will find that she must overcome their combined power to do so.

The Final Battle

The heroes throw open the doors to the innermost chamber. Miranda has a throne. Krauser to her right, Ryofu to her left. A holographic display of the room itself and the underground complex floats in midair between these enemies and the heroes.

Miranda: "Welcome. We have put this off for far too long."

Saki stops clinging to the steel ceiling with her fingertips and drops down upon Alexi with murderous intent.

And with lightning speed, Alexi locks Saki into a Iron Claw hold, not even caring about the injury she just dealt him. For the first time in his life, he has gained the upper hand on the unstoppable juggernaut known as Saki.

Wolfgang Krauser in full armor hurls a brilliant Kaiser Wave as he is engaged by Roy, Bonne Jenet, and Barahime.

Ryofu dives at Wu, striking for vital atemi points. Meanwhile, Kagero, armed with ofuda strips, proceeds to attempt to place them in the proper position on the walls to entrap Miranda in the kekkai. Kuan Yin draws protective circles on the ground to provide a refuge from Miranda’s Yin powers.

Miranda sits comfortably, using her Yin Control manipulate outcomes for the worse. Manipulating outcomes towards the worse being how she caused the turn of events that made Blackhawk blame Alexi for the accidental shooting of his new resurrected wife.

As Miranda catches onto Kagero’s goal, Alexi strikes a mighty blow that sends the light fading from Saki’s eyes.

Doors in the massive antechamber open, and Kromm Steinberg enters, dragging the body of his father by the cuff of his neck. He tosses the body onto the floor and joins the fight on Miranda’s side!

With disbelief in his eyes that Kromm has been working for Miranda, Krauser succumbs to the three powerful warriors and drops, but not before thanking his opponents for a good time!

Barahime intends to battle Kromm, yet Wu intervenes.

As Alexi turns to Miranda, no . . . his possessed wife, Saki rises again! Alexi feels enveloped with warmth and suffused with a soft white glow, that feeling from his dream. He is reminded of the angel that visited him and that claimed, "that Thing is not me."

With new strength, Saki charges Alexi, intending to finally kill him, when an awakened Reimi enters the room. "Saki!!!" She screams, prompting Saki to rapidly press the button controlling the pain-giving Cradle of Thorns implanted in Reimi’s body. Nothing happens. Reimi shouts, "Saki, feel my will!" And thorn-covered vines tear forth from her forearms, wrapping about Saki’s neck.

With a blurring ripcord motion, the vines leave Saki’s neck a ravaged bloody mess. Blood sprays from it in all directions as the last length of vine returns into Reimi’s body.

Saki’s pleads for help with her eyes, and Miranda raises a glowing hand in Alexi’s direction. A thin blast of unmeasurable strength streaks forth, and Alexi uses Saki as a shield. The beam strikes Saki in the side of the head and burrows a tunnel straight to the other side. Tears begin to well in her eyes. Alexi realizes Miranda did not miss. She says, "You were a rabid dog. I always knew I’d have to put you down."

Alexi releases Saki, and her body stumbles to and fro, refusing to die. He feels the spirit of the dream leave his body as the light of life leaves Saki. Yet, her body still wavers, refusing to fall. Her tear-streaked face, cracks a smile. Her existance has been purely for the love of Miranda, and Saki is happy to die by her hand if it pleases her.

Bracing himself, Roy fires his one anti-tank rocket, blowing Saki to smithereens and sending her to her final resting place.

Kagero has now placed the final ofuda strip, adding to the teleportation kekkai a physical kekkai so Miranda cannot physically leave the chamber.

Reimi raises a hand and, with most of her remaining strength, she uses the power of raw Yang to heal the injuries of the heroes.

Kromm Steinberg, not quite the legendary badass, is knocked out by the uknown Wu. However, Ryofu’s mind has tipped over the edge seeing her "big sister" Saki die. The wandering fighter Miranda saved from the streets has gone completely psychotic. Ryofu charges Wu, screaming, "Murderer!" and unleashes her Suicide Ki Strike with the intention of aligning her chakras with Wu’s and killing them both!

Fortunately, Wu manages to throw her off by a hair, and though both are badly injured, the now unconcious Ryofu will live.

However now, Miranda realizes she must kill the intruders herself and unleashes her full power, that she is permitted on this plane with a physical body. The heroes retreat to the Yin dampening circles to weather her golden energy blasts and near-solid blasts of blue crystallized Yin energy. When she consumes half the room in golden fire, Rugal leaps back, have only been faking his defeat as a chance to observe his son!

Reimi attemps to challenge Miranda; however, her mother shows her that their powers are incompatible and cannot harm one another with them. However, Miranda’s fist is fully capable of knocking out Reimi with a single blow from a dashing punch that is invisibly fast. If her Yin powers are weak against the intruders, she will just have to use brute force!

Alexi now attemps to make telepathic contact with Sarah. Using Sargossa’s training to convince Sarah she must break free is now their only hope. Miranda picks Alexi as the threat and unleashes her attacks on him; however, his friends use their own bodies to protect him!

Barahime is nearly almost instantly killed from a single double backflip kick. Kagero is nearly dropped permanently from a lone roundhouse kick. One by one, the heroes are savagely beaten. Terry and Andy Bogard show up in the nick of time to help distract Miranda. Miranda does her best to overcome the teleportation kekkai; however, those concentrating outside hold strong. If they should falter one bit, they will die one by one from a power backlash until none are left, allowing Miranda to escape.

But now, Sarah has been contacted and, realizing it was Miranda herself who had her parents murdered, screams, "Get out of my body you Bitch!" Having been under the pressure of Miranda’s personality for months, most would have ceaed to exist. However, Sarah’s personality survived. Her strength of will having been made inhumanly powerful by the effort, like a diamond under pressure, she hurls the Goddess from herself!

A glowing golden cloud coalesces in midair. Two glowing eyes appear in it. As the power of a Goddess leaves her, Sarah uses the power to remake her body to what used to be her … with perhaps a few modifications. Vengeful, the spiritform of Miranda sends a deadly golden lance at Sarah first; however, Terry Bogard blocks it, suffering a wound that would have been fatal for the unprepared Sarah.

Having drawn a circle to transport Miranda to the Iron Hell during the conflict, Kagero now makes a symbol with her hands and sends the combined will of the ninja clan against Miranda . . . to drive her into the abyss where the Yama Kings awaits her!

Miranda is pushed towards the now open gate to hell. Her immaterial form solidifies into something near human to grasp the edges of the portal, and as Alexi contemplated tackling her into hell with a sacrifice of himself, Rugal’s Kaiser Wave blasts Miranda into another dimension.

He looks at the party and says, "She was a jerk."

*

In the Iron Hell, Miranda rises. In this realm, her spirit form has the shape of herself. She is surrounded by the ten Yama Kings, the gods of the afterlife. "Do not try me!" She warns. "Unlike you, I am a self-made God!" They pounce on her, and one of the Yama Kings is cleaved in two with a golden blade. However as the sound of a dying god echoes in the morbid hellscape, Miranda is torn to pieces.

When it is done, the Iron Empress says to survivors, "We shall each take a piece of her so she cannot threaten OUR dominion again." And the Yama Kings laugh, for someday their ambitions shall take them beyond their hells.

*

Kromm and Ryofu have left together. Both Rugal and Krauser attempted to claim the man viewed as their son, but sick with both, Kromm has now gone his own way, taking with him a kindred soul.

*

It plagued them for years, but the nightmare finally ended. The nightmare named Miranda; the nightmare named Saki.

Alexi embraces Sarah and does not let go. They are surrounded by friends who came knowing that none of them might survive. That the universe itself might end. Reimi’s murder at the hands of her own mother never came – to be devoured so that Miranda could become the universe. Ryofu’s final corruption did not come to pass, and that one who was fullly corrupted, from whom all good was removed . . . her spirit is now at rest.

One inquisitive voice asks Sarah as they leave if she retained any of the power at all. Sarah holds her hand in front of her, and in her upturned palm, a spinning blue crystal appears. She clenches her hand and the crystalline form vanishes in a flash of blue rays of light.

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