Chapitre 131: Tekken
He stepped forward onto the stage. The arena continued to be loud as each spectator became eager to see how this sort of confrontation would unfold. That was especially given the anticipation around his opponent—a fighter named Lars.
But as Monga arrived at the center stage, everyone noticed Lars standing still, with his head down and arms crossed—a picture of relaxed focus!
"Is he sleeping?" someone from the crowd asked.
"Naw," another answered, "who could sleep in a tournament like that?"
To be frank, Lars was in that same stance since the first match ended, seemingly uninterested in anything happening around him.
Arthur understood the reason for Lars' detachment: none of the fighters so far had intrigued him. Much like Arthur himself, Lars didn't need to watch the matches unfold in front of him; he could feel the energy in the air, filtering out the unworthy from the interesting, using his instincts to gauge who possessed real power!
That's simply who Lars is. He was stated to be a pivotal character in the Tekken series, first making his mark in "Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion" and continuing as one of the main protagonists in Tekken 7.
He is notably the illegitimate son of "Heihachi Mishima," one of the franchise's most significant figures, as well as an unknown Swedish woman. Having led a rebel splinter group called "Yggdrasil," as a military soldier, his tagline, "the one who betrayed his own in order to build a new era," encapsulates his journey from a loyal soldier to a revolutionary leader.
Initially, he was a respected officer within the Tekken Force, known for his bravery and willingness to engage in frontline combat alongside his troops. However, as events unfolded and a character named Jin Kazama took control of things, Lars began to question the ethics of their militaristic operations, which were aimed at inciting global warfare.
His growing discontent led to a dramatic defection where he managed to sway a significant portion of Tekken Force soldiers to his side, forming Yggdrasil in protest against the Mishima Zaibatsu's oppressive tactics.
The narrative of Lars' character takes an intriguing turn when he encounters an android resembling a young woman during a raid on a Zaibatsu laboratory. Their journey became a quest not only to regain his memories but to uncover the android's origins, adding layers of complexity to his character.
Because of those events, he has a lot of charisma, a strong sense of justice, and a mercurial temperament. His leadership style is also quite persuasive; he garners respect and devotion from his peers—evidenced by the willingness of many Tekken Force members to join him in his rebellion.
Even as he is deeply committed to his cause, he possesses a short fuse, occasionally displaying impulsive behaviour, such as when he drew a weapon against his father during confrontations.
This anger and pragmatism is what makes him a flawed hero due to his emotional struggles amidst high-stakes conflict.
Strategically minded, he is at least able to adapt to challenges by leaning on his allies. Who knows if these same characteristics would be displayed since he was the only one in his group?
Where he shines the most is in warfare, often opting for a genuine approach over sentimentality. He is known to use force and tactics that others may shy away from if they align with his ultimate goal.
But what were this character's goals? If Arthur recalled, there weren't any notable names apart from Lars, who registered for his tournament. That meant that there were no other characters like Jin or Kazuma from different series in this world.
"Mr. Alexandersson, would you please take the stage!" the announcer loudly beckoned.
For the first time, Lars released his crossed arms with an unchanged demeanour. He then casually walked forward, eyes still closed. Everyone could practically feel the confidence exuding from him. As he reached the center stage, he stopped right in front of Monga and finally opened his eyes, revealing his how piercing they were.
"Holy moly, he's handsome!" a woman cried out. Lars ignored the comment.
Monga, a well-built fighter, steadied himself, but he showed no signs of alarm or unease. He observed Lars silently, sizing him up. When Lars noticed Monga's unshaken composure, he retained his straight face, intrigued by the man before him.
In the stands, William was on the edge of his seat, vibrating with excitement. He couldn't help but think of this match as some kind of "crossover" event, a unique interaction in a world that featured other characters from different universes.
His fascination was marred on his face, and Jada couldn't help but chuckle at his nerdy expression.
"What?" William whispered defensively with flushed cheeks. "This is epic! A Tekken fighter in this world! I bet Jasper's gonna be jealous when he finds out."
"Oh, come on, it's just a match," Jada said, rolling her eyes playfully. But she couldn't hide the smile creeping onto her face.
William tried to pivot by asking, "Have you played Storm 2, where Lars actually appeared in? It was one—!"
"This is gonna be good!" Margaret spoke, interrupting him.
Just as he was mustering the confidence to ask Jada the question he wanted, she playfully said, "Sorry, I couldn't hear because of Marge!" This prompted Margaret to look at the two with a wide grin. "Can you repeat that?"
"Never mind," he muttered, trying to recover his composure. The slight embarrassment settled in as quickly as it came. Perhaps he couldn't talk to Jada privately; at least he could enjoy this upcoming match.
In the center of the arena, Lars and Monga faced each other. The Stone shinobi introduced himself confidently, glancing at Lars, as he stated, "I can feel how strong you are just by looking at you."
Lars, maintaining his cool demeanour, responded with a dispassionate drawl. His tone was reminiscent of Zach Hanks, the English voice actor from the "Street Fighter X Tekken" video game: "That's not good that you can feel my strength…"
Arthur, despite his lack of indulgence in anime, found this moment worthwhile. He understood the underlying message behind Lars' words.
While Lars was not openly accepting praise, he was assessing Monga's capabilities, measuring the fighter's strength—both mentally and physically. It was a skill that only experienced fighters possess, a sixth sense gained through countless battles.
Arthur felt reassured that he had indeed brought someone special to the arena; Lars was the real deal!
The announcer, eager to bring movement back to the stage instead of allowing the competitors to continue their silent exchanges, didn't hold back: "Begin!"
Without hesitation, Monga launched forward, rushing to plant a punch square into Lars' face. But in a stunning display of reflex, Lars didn't budge. Instead, he casually raised one hand and caught Monga's fist mid-swing, halting him in his tracks!
Gasps erupted from the crowd. For a second, they were positive that Monga's hit was going to land, but now they were in disbelief.
"It's not good that you can feel my strength because," Lars mused, "I can't feel yours." And just like that, everyone was left in shock at what transpired next.
Lars jabbed Monga with his left fist, pushing him back as he followed up with a swift strike to Monga's side with his right. His movements were breathtaking, drawing awe from almost every corner of the audience.
Then, in one continuous motion, Lars elbowed Monga in the chin, landing the strike before he swung that same elbow down onto Monga's shoulder. The Stone shinobi staggered backward, but Lars dove under him, ready for the next maneuver.
Then, with a fierce punch, he struck Monga so hard in the abdomen that it lifted him off the ground!
A gasp pierced the arena as Lars soared past the slumping shinobi. With elegance, he pivoted just as Monga began his slow descent. Lars then delivered a sharp kick, sending Monga soaring back up into the air. Monga's body was like a projectile before Lars once again brought his arms together overhead and slammed down onto Monga's belly with a force that echoed.
With the shinobi's legs dangling helplessly in the air, Lars finished his relentless combination by delivering a swift kick to Monga's lower body, sending him sliding completely out of the arena.
All of this happened in mere seconds—a rattling display of skill and explosive violence that left the spectators momentarily stunned. Many stared in disbelief, yielding questions to one another about the sequence they had just witnessed.
Ony Arthur, and perhaps another player, had understood what had happened: Lars' sequence of attacks just now wasn't ordinary; it was the same choreographed ten-hit combo from his video game series.
This character was indeed dangerous among the other participants!
Lars stood there nonchalantly, brushing off the adrenaline as if it meant nothing to him. He looked around briefly before calmly declaring, "We have an injured. Send a medic."
Those who recognized the saying would also know that this was his victory quote for when he finished a battle.
The crowd could only blink in wonder at the spectacle they had just witnessed. Even the announcer, momentarily dumbfounded, finally sprung into action.
"And the match goes to Lars Alexandersson!" he boomed. "What a crazy display of skill!"
Lars' victory in the match against Monga was one to consider. He hadn't just won; he won without taking a single damage—a perfect match.
When the players watched Lars in action, they quickly understood that observing him live was a completely different experience than playing as him in a video game. His movements were executed with a speed and fluid motion that was almost beyond comprehension, making it nearly impossible for the naked eye to track his strikes.
That rapid pace, paired with an unpredictable fighting style, is what kept Monga at a constant disadvantage.
From the very beginning of the match, it was clear that Lars was not going to allow Monga any opportunity to recover or strategize. As soon as the announcer declared the fight to begin and Monga charged forward, Lars had effortlessly caught Monga's fist mid-attack, showcasing his quick reflex.
Once he caught Monga's fist, he unleashed a sequence of powerful jabs that pushed Monga back, illustrating the difference in power and skill between the two fighters.
His punches were sharp and precise, striking Monga's body with pinpoint accuracy. With no time for Monga to regain his footing, it was all said and done.
The speed, the combination—they were all too much for a regular shinobi to endure.
Ultimately, Lars' success lay in his ability to unleash a barrage of attacks without giving Monga a moment's respite. His fighting style, characteristic of a true Tekken fighter, emphasized relentless aggression and technical precision, allowing him to not merely win the match but to do so in a spectacular, dominating fashion.
'You pass…' Arthur secretly thought to himself.
William, still buzzing from the excitement of the event, couldn't help but cheer enthusiastically.
"That was amazing! Did you see his combos?" he said, beaming at Jada and Naruto, who also looked impressed.
"Wow," Naruto replied, practically starry-eyed. "I didn't think he would take someone out so fast…"
"I can't believe how intense he was!" Margaret added, still catching her breath from the adrenaline of the fight.
As Lars left the stage, maintaining his signature cool demeanour, he could hear the admiration growing around. These cheers were nothing new to him; he was well accustomed to recognition, but somehow, the atmosphere felt different. It was almost like it wasn't worth his time.
While Monga slowly regained his composure, Lars turned to him, noting an expression of resignation fading into respect.
"You did well," he bluntly said. But the hint of acknowledgment was clear in his voice. "You've got what it takes to be better…"
"Thanks," Monga said, trying to gather himself. "I guess I underestimated how fast you were."
Lars shrugged in response and said, "Fighting isn't just about strength; it's about understanding your opponent's movements."
Monga wasn't the only one moved; the Kages watching were just as impressed. Both of them whispered from one to the other how they would have liked such a "shinobi" to join their ranks. What caught their attention was that Lars didn't have any headband on, signifying his neutrality.
Even better than the Kage's high regard for Lars, almost everyone wanted to fight. They didn't mind whether they would win or lose; they simply desired the opportunity to face against a strong opponent who understood what it meant to fight.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone