Message from the Author

Dear Fanfiction enthusiasts, this is the sequel to 'Streets of Rage- Beginnings', my first ever written piece. The premise of this book follows on from the end of the last book with the same characters and story continuation so I would recommend glancing back or reading the first book to catch up with the story so far. It has been a joy to write this piece which is almost completed now (December 2017).

The last book gave an introduction to each character and story so far starting with the team on Wood Oak Police Force exploring themselves and challenging their enemies in the syndicate. They may have a one up right now at the end of the last book but the syndicate are far from over! This instalment of the series continues with a deeper and darker story that takes it beyond the duties of three cops on the force. I very much hope you enjoy it, I am not a professional writer and still have a lot to learn but it is incredibly rewarding to put my creativity into this.

Disclaimer

This is my second ever written piece and fan fiction. It has been a pleasure to write- most of the time the words come out and the story happens in my imagination as I am writing each chapter.

For me, this isn't for money or fame (please no one sue me- the characters and premise are created by Sega plus some extras I've added to the story). My moto in life is feed my soul first and if something is worth discovering like writing to do this, the time I spend doing it and discovering myself is more rewarding than a paycheque or recognition.

So I hope you enjoy my first story. Like many others, I grew up playing the games as a kid and they were always special to me in life.

Prologue

The dawn of a new day appears as the fog over the empty green fields in the distance lifts. The air is a bitter cold as it is every morning but the ancient pillars once belonging to Saloa City have stood through this for thousands of years every sunrise no matter what the weather brings.

Akihiro Yamato's red eyes under his dark hood are wise and hold all the knowledge of the universe. He swings forward two swords, one emitting fire and the other with electric current one after the other, attacking his opponent. The young boy in front of him does all he can to block and avoid each weapon only using his body and his fast reflexes to find a way to counter attack. Yamato twists and turns with both swords while the boy continuously jumps and ducks. Eventually the boy jumps high enough, summersaulting forward before executing a high kick that stops one foot in front of Yamato's face with the other foot firmly on the ground.

Yamato: "Good, very good. Your fight grows stronger every day and you never let down your guard". He cuts out the fire and current before placing the two swords on the ground whilst the boy bows to his master.

Yamato: "Follow me".

They make their way towards the four pillars past the sacred garden.

Yamato: "Release your chi"

The boy sits on the ground, closes his eyes and emits two intensive flames from his hands.

Yamato: "You have come such a long way my student but there is still a great deal to learn. At 11 years old you are already on your way to mastering your own chi. Do you remember what Yamato Oshiro told you and the others the first night you arrived?"

Axel looks up at him: "Yes master Akihiro, our own energy is one with the universe." He controls the flames above his hands, twisting them and moving them around.

Yamato: "Remember also that there are two types of chi and every human is able to access one".

Axel: "Fire and Lightening from each side of the universe. Only a Yamato warrior can access both types of chi".

Yamato: "Unless a human contains both types in their blood line. That's enough for today."

Axel closes his palms, cutting out the flames.

Yamato: "Go back to the temple, morning lessons begin in an hour with the rest of the group. I will see you there soon".

Axel bows to his teacher before running back to his room to get ready for training with the rest of the group. He is Akihiro's top student who always goes the extra mile to learn and has the most fighting potential the Yamato warrior has ever seen in a human being. So far they have stayed up the entire night training as Axel barely sleeps with his mind constantly alert with not a single flaw of distraction or tiredness.

Akihiro takes a moment to meditate by the ancient pillars while the sun rises in the distance. He breathes in the cool air thinking to himself this is the closest feeling he will ever have to being human. As he opens his eyes he hears his young student frantically running back towards him "Master it's the temple! All the students are dead!"

Yamato Akihiro closes his eyes and focuses to understand what is happening as he can see through his vision and powers the devastation at the temple. Students lying in their beds poisoned and killed in their sleep.

Yamato: "You have to leave! Never return, you will be killed if you stay here. Keep running south until you find sanctuary".

Axel: "Let me help you they were my friends".

Yamato: "No, I said go now!"

The boy follows his orders, running as fast as he can away from the temple and not stopping. It is three days before he reaches anyone, crossing terrain and jungle and fending for himself to find food, water and shelter against the cold. Eventually he reaches a small village where some of the local community find him lying on the ground.

During the 6 years that Axel has been training here, as well as Ninjutsu, he has learned fluent Japanese and although he is almost passed out, he understands the locals when they say "he is just a boy, someone call a doctor now!"

It seems like days before Axel wakes up and it is rare for him to fall into deep sleep like this. The light shining through the window is blinding for his eyes as he has been asleep for so long. As he opens his eyes his blurred vision sees a tall bald man who appears to be a doctor. Who is this guy? He notices the Dr's robotic arm handing over some medication.

Axel who is shocked flinches and tries to leap out of the bed but realises there is a drip stuck in his arm.

The strange mechanical man replies: "Please, don't be afraid boy, I am a doctor here and I won't hurt you. You look like you have had a rough couple of days. If the villagers here hadn't of found you, you would most certainly be dead now."

Axel: "I need to go home back to Wood Oak City, away from here".

Dr: "When you are well I will make sure you get home, but I need to know first what happened to your master did you try to escape?"

Axel: "I don't know what you are talking about".

Dr: "I am an old student of Master Akihiro, like yourself I have chi and I use it".

Axel asks inquisitively: "How do you know all this aren't you like a robot or something?"

The Dr replies: "My name is Professor Zan Gilbert, I was once human like you but I was experimented on and changed by another scientist working for a syndicate organisation. Master Akihiro taught me so much about myself and my chi and sent me to research and find others with similar powers. His objective is to teach us, continuing his legacy from generation to generation."

Axel: "The other students in the temple were all murdered so he told me to run away".

Zan: "The other two masters at your temple were never fond of Ninjutsu being taught to anyone born from this world but it is against their religion to kill any student who is innocent. A stranger or one of the other boys must have done this".

Axel: "I was told not to go back there to find out. How am I supposed to continue with my training?"

Zan: "Your life is priority. I will take you back to your birth place and will help you with your training if you agree to keep your powers hidden from others and live a normal life. I am a wanted man and can't take any risks on you or myself."

Axel: "Why would you risk your life to help me?"

Zan: "It is my purpose. What we have is a sacred gift that must be used correctly in the world. There are very few of us with this power so we need to learn from one another".

Axel: "Why should I trust you?"

Zan: "Do you think I would keep you here alive if I wanted to hurt you?"

Two weeks later they fly back to Wood Oak City and Axel is reunited with his parents. Zan tells them everything about why he has returned and they agree that their 11 year old son goes back to school, lives a normal life in the day then trains with Zan at their dojo during the evenings. It is a huge lifestyle change and a lot of dedication for someone so young but they understand that this is necessary. In return, Axel's parents offer Zan safety and somewhere he can hide away from the public with his own lab to conduct his research. They spend the next six years living this way. Axel's parents understand he is no normal teenager and that he has this gift from the universe that must be preserved and kept secret. He can't do the normal things that other teenagers do like hang out every day with other kids, visit the cinema or the mall or play video games with his friends. Only one kid next door, Adam Hunter is brave enough to hang out with this strange boy who is always alone. Every Sunday when Axel has a break from his busy schedule, they spend time together playing basketball or practising their fighting which gets better and better as they grow up together.

Zan observes from a distance both boys playing basketball outside of his lab a few blocks away. It reminds him of his childhood and is something he encourages Axel to make to most of. Zan knows that one day this boy will grow up to become a force to recon with and will have to fight the evil of this world. If he fails, he must continue his bloodline so that someone of the next generation can win, but Zan knows that this boy has what it takes in him to succeed.