All Stars Fighting Tournament

Chapter 1: The Aftermath of Defeat

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The CvS tournament had come to an end, but for M. Bison, defeat was not an option he could easily accept. He retreated to his subterranean base, stewing in the bitterness of failure.

Elsewhere, Rugal Bernstein, equally wounded in pride, returned to his private jet en route to his sprawling mansion. He looked over at his trusted enforcer, known only as Geese Howard, and demanded, "What went wrong?"

Geese, cool and collected, replied, "You got overconfident, Rugal. You underestimated the competition."

Rugal scoffed. "I possess powers beyond any of them."

"Power is nothing without control," Geese replied. "You go berserk, and your blind rage consumes you. It's nothing but wild attacks without any tactical sense."

Rugal glared at him. "And what about you? Your precious Aikido failed against Saisyu Kusanagi's son-Kyo, wasn't it?"

Geese nodded, accepting the jab. "Kyo surpassed his father."

"Impossible... unless Saisyu let his son win. I thought I had him under control," Rugal muttered, still fuming.

"Your control isn't as absolute as you think," Geese warned.

Rugal's mind churned with possibilities. "This isn't over."

"Perhaps you should consider an alliance with Bison," Geese suggested. "The two of you combined might-"

Rugal interrupted, a gleam in his eye. "Combine powers? Fuse my abilities with Bison's?"

Geese raised an eyebrow. "Not what I had in mind, but... maybe there's a way to enhance both of you."

Rugal's lips curled into a sly grin. He called over the flight attendant. "Arrange a meeting with Bison-and bring more wine."

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Back at the fighters' club, the tournament warriors gathered to unwind, exchanging stories of close calls and hard-won victories. In one corner, Terry Bogard sat with his brother, Andy, and their friend, Joe Higashi, each nursing a cold beer.

Terry's eyes caught sight of someone new across the room. "Whoa... who's that?"

Joe chuckled. "That's Chun-Li, man. Didn't you see her take down Bison?"

Terry grinned sheepishly. "I was a bit preoccupied, trying not to get barbecued by a certain flaming opponent."

Andy nudged him. "I think she's looking at you."

Terry brushed him off. "What? No way."

Joe laughed. "Are you blushing?"

Terry smirked. "Of course not."

At that moment, Chun-Li walked toward them, but just as Terry was about to say hello, she stopped short and turned her attention to Guile, who had just returned from the restroom behind them.

Joe shook his head, amused. "Now that's awkward."

Terry watched her leave, only to notice her glance back and give him a playful wink as she stepped outside.

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Meanwhile, in Rugal's mansion, he confirmed the details for his meeting with Bison. In the solitude of his private lab, Geese's words echoed in his mind: You lack control. He knew his blind fury had cost him in battle, his strength turning into a hindrance rather than an advantage.

Rugal considered his options, seeking a way to maintain focus even in the midst of berserk rage. His thoughts turned to Akuma-another warrior who tapped into dark, primal energy but managed to wield it with precision.

"If he can do it, so can I," Rugal muttered to himself.

Days later, Rugal met with Bison in the conference room of his mansion. They discussed a mutual goal: economic and political dominance. Both had failed in their recent conquests, but together, they could accomplish what neither could achieve alone.

After hours of planning, they finalized a plan to host a worldwide fighting tournament. It would be the largest ever staged, drawing in fighters from every corner of the globe, offering lavish prizes to lure even the best of the best.

When the announcement aired on television, Bison's face filled the screen, his voice oozing with charisma.

"Fighters around the world," he declared, "we are hosting the ultimate tournament. Prove your worth, and claim one million in cash, along with other unmatched prizes. But be warned-only the strong survive. Think you can face me in the finals? Show me. Let the games begin."

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