Ch. 23 - I'm still standing!

[It seems like you guys didn't like the previous chapter. Yes, they know the weakness and with so many masters they could take on Shen with ease. However, it is so risky. Why? Because they don't know if Shen has many more cannons that would blast them off without them expecting and also, Jin being blasted off has put quite a pressure and slight fear on the cannon, it's a normal mentality of someone.]

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While the masters were arrested except for Crane who was on his way back to the Jade Palace, Jin who was flying in mid-air while the cannon ball was still sticking to him without halting was groaning in pain.

'F-fuck! I can't feel my arms!' Slowly as time passed, the momentum started reducing before it landed back on the ground along with Jin.

*Boom!*

As the clouds of the dust covers his vision, Jin's adrenaline finally stopped, allowing him to feel the maximum pain he should've felt earlier.

"AAAARRRGGHHHHH!" Shocking the nearby birds in the forest, Jin breathed heavily as he tried his best to stay conscious as the pain started to get worse as time passed.

'It hurts! Oh god, it hurts!' Whimpering in pain, the clouds of dust finally settled in, allowing anyone to see the mangled body on the large pothole on the ground.

His pants were burned in various places except for his crotch area, which might not look bad if it wasn't for the large scorching skin on Jin's chest, looking almost as if there was a hole on his chest. The scorched skin was so large that it looked similar to an X-shape that goes from his shoulders down to his waist, while the middle of it which is his chest has the largest scorched skin.

It kinda looks as if there's a circle in the middle of the X-shape. The circle shaped scorched skin must've been caused by the cannon ball itself while the X mark was probably caused due to the cannon ball breaking apart as before they landed on the ground. It kinda looks similar to a scorching sun.

'Oh fuck, this would scar me for life.' Jin scrunched inside as his beautiful and flawless skin was no more.

'But who am I to complain? Having a scar as big as this is better than having beautiful skin, scar adds to a charm, you know?' Thinking of this, Jin tried to stand up but realized that he can't feel all of his limbs, including his legs.

'Oh, fuck. Is this how I'm gonna die? It's quite ironic, I haven't even reached the final boss yet.' And just like that, Jin stayed on the ground for a few hours.

At first, Jin thought he would die just like this but who would've thought that his injuries would suddenly start healing itself, confusing Jin as he started to wonder what caused this.

'Is it my Angel Bloodline? But, that's impossible. God said that I haven't awakened it yet, so that only leaves one thing. Which is Jin Kazama's Template.' Jin started pondering to himself as he basked himself in the feeling of his injuries fading away.

'As far as I know Jin is a human, right? I only played Tekken 6 in an arcade once in a few months or even years, so I don't know much about Jin but maybe Jin is more than a human? I remember seeing one playable character that looks similar to Jin except for having wings and horns. Is he...a devil?' Jin's eyes widened in surprise. He doesn't know much about what he was saying but he felt like what he just said is true.

[A/N: Before y'all complain. Our dear MC doesn't play Tekken like an addict, like how he stated in the paragraph, he only played Tekken 6 once in every month and years. If you want to complain then suit yourself. Just know that I won't be responding to you.]

'I'll think about this later on, I have to get myself back up to my feet first and....' As Jin was thinking of this, the horror of the cannon suddenly flashed in his eyes, making him gulp in fear.

'Should I....go back? Wouldn't I just send myself to death, then?' Thinking of this, Jin thought that what he just said is plausible. Who in their right mind would send theirselves to their deaths?

'But...' Just in time, the face of Tigress replaced the horror of the cannon in his mind, her smiling face and blushing face brought him joy and warmth in his heart.

'....If I didn't go back. I wouldn't be able to see that smile again.'

And just like that, Jin's blood boiled as he made a decision.

***

"I still can't believe the Dragon Warrior was killed just like that. Who would save us now? With such a weapon, no one would be able to resist Shen." Behind the metallic bars, Master Rhino spoke as the rest of the masters listened to him.

"Jin is not dead!" Tigress on the other side of the prison, heard what Master Rhino said and immediately refuted.

"Face it, little kitty. Jin is de-."

*Bam!*

Suddenly, Tigress stomped her feet on the ground, causing a slight earthquake in the prison.

"Call me that again and I'll smash your head off right here and right now. There's only one person in this world who can call me that and it's not you." Tigress coldly glared at Master Rhino as her grip on the metallic bars slowly tightened, causing slight cracks on it.

"....Alright, fine." Master Rhino said before looking away. He may look calm on the front however, sweat was accumulating on his back as there is only one word he could give as his expression to Tigress.

'Scary...'

"Ugh, so much drama. Instead of fighting with each other. We should think about how we would escape this place and prevent Shen from using those weapons to conquer the world." Viper rolled her eyes and said, ignoring the glare that Tigress sent to her.

"Guys...." Po slowly said as he stared at his own hands, making everyone tense up.

"What's happening, Po?" Viper worriedly said.

*Glurr*

"...I'm hungry." Po said in a slight panic on his face.

"Can you please not scare us like that?" Mantis said to him with a stern glare.

"Sorry. I'm just really hungry. At this time, I should be eating at least 5 bowls of noodles and 5 dumplings." Po scratched his head embarrassingly as Viper shook her head and sighed.

"So, what now?" She said.

"We do nothing. With that kind of weapon that even took Jin out, no offense Tigress but we stand no chance!" Monkey said with slumped shoulders.

"And what? We're just gonna rot here? Crane must've delivered the news to Master Shifu, so they're probably on their way here. For now, we just wait for their signal." Tigress calmly said to them when they suddenly heard a voice.

"Well well well. Looks like all of you still haven't lost hope. Don't worry. Tomorrow morning, I'll send you to meet your deaths and I'll make it as grand as possible!" Shen slowly walked out of the dark followed by the Soothsayer as he cackled madly before noticing Po behind the bars.

"You must be a panda. Forgive me for massacring your village but perhaps you should blame a certain someone for stating the wrong prophecy." Shen then 'kindly' smiled at Po as he 'apologized' while looking back at the Soothsayer who was looking at Po with a hint of worry and apologetic gaze.

Meanwhile, Po stared at Shen with complicated gaze that contains anger, fury and confusion.

Shen chuckled at Po's reaction before leaving as grand as possible by waving his tail feathers, under the complicated gaze of Po.

"You mustn't lose hope, masters. The Dragon Warrior is still among us." Soothsayer said to them, much to the Master Rhino and the rest of the Master Council's shock.

They know that the Soothsayer is a powerful fortune teller and everything that she predicted, always comes true.

"Are you sure, Soothsayer?" Tigress's excited voice cracked a bit as Shen's voice yelled outside the prison.

"Soothsayer!"

"Yes, Master Tigress. Now I shall take my leave." Soothsayer replied to Tigress's question before leaving hurriedly.

"Looks like there's still hope." Master Rhino shrugged his shoulders.

***

The next morning, the masters were taken outside in handcuffs as they were led in the middle of the city, specifically an empty area in the middle of the city.

In the empty area, there's only one thing that stands out which is a large and tall platform in the middle.

In there, Tigress and the rest were brought on top of the platform, under the worried gazes of the citizens of Gongmen City.

In front of them, Shen stared at them in satisfaction as his cannon slowly rolled behind him, stopping a few inches away from him.

"Citizens of Gongmen City!" Shen looked around and yelled in a loud voice, gathering the attention of everyone.

"Attention all! The time has come to rid our land of the so-called 'Kung Fu Masters.' Their existence threatens the order I seek to establish. Prepare to witness their downfall as a testament to my power and resolve! Prepare my cannon!" As soon as his announcement was made, Shen ordered his gorilla subordinate.

The entire area was flooding with not only the citizens of Gongmen City but also his own army which counts to thousands.

The gorilla nodded his head before aiming the cannon towards the top of the platform, where the masters reside.

Po gulped his saliva as he squirmed around, trying his best to escape. He hasn't said his farewells to his father yet and besides, while they were being escorted here, he found a delicious looking food that he wanted to try.

"Po, it's no use. Either we die here now or Master Shifu arrives in time to save us." Viper said, trying to comfort him.

"And also Jin. He will surely come. I'm sure of it." Without fear on her face, Tigress spoke, trusting that Jin would arrive to save them.

"Lord Shen. It's ready. On your order." The gorilla respectfully said to Shen, as Shen grinned in madness.

"Then what are you waiting for? Fire!" Shen roared in a furious frenzy, his voice echoing with madness.

Just when the gorilla was about to light the cannon to fire, a flying cane suddenly flew and landed vertically on the cannon before Master Shifu flashed and appeared standing on the tip of the cane.

"Master Shifu!" The Furious Six yelled in surprise and excitement.

"Only him? How about me? Won't my little kitty greet me?" Suddenly, they heard a teasing voice among them.

Turning their heads around, they were met with the sight of Jin, playfully smiling over them.

"Before you get excited. Hold on." Just when they were about to roar his name in excitement, Jin stopped them with a simple gesture before bringing his hand towards the rope binding them.

With a slight force of strength, the thick rope was suddenly ripped apart, freeing them.

"Okay. Now you can get exci- oooff!" Before Jin could finish his sentence, a fast blur suddenly flashed towards him before engulfing him into a hug.

"You came back. I'm glad." Burying her head on his chest, Tigress sighed in relief as if a heavy weight of her shoulders were lifted.

Shocked, Jin slowly accepted the hug and hugged her back.

However, it didn't last long when Shen noticed his presence and roared in shock.

"You! This is impossible! You're supposed to be dead!" Shen then pointed his daggers to Jin.

Releasing the hug, Jin stepped forward, allowing the entire Gongmen City to see his existence.

"You're right, it is indeed impossible but thanks to you I finally found my inner peace! Hear this, Shen!" Jin then exhaled before shouting.

"I'm still standing!"

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