A few days had passed since the events of Havoc, and though the dust had barely settled, the energy inside the HWA Academy was anything but calm. In fact, the air was practically thick with anticipation, every student and trainer whispering about what was coming next. Fatality was next on the horizon and with it, an eventuality that some didn’t think they’d get to witness… the final bow of Red Dragon.

For years, Sensei Kenji “Matthew” Kiriyama had been the backbone of HWA since the Academy had opened its doors, shaping raw talent into future superstars, carving warriors from stone with his relentless discipline and unwavering belief. And now, after a lifetime in the ring, he would step through the ropes one last time. But not to face a rival, not to battle an enemy, but to stand across the ring from his most dedicated student, his greatest creation: Sean Parker. The Sky Assassin. Sora No Ansatsusha.

There was an unspoken weight to it all. This wasn’t just another match. It was a passing of the torch, a moment of reflection, a story reaching its final chapter. Sean had grown under Red Dragon’s watchful eye, endured his hard lessons, and pushed through his worst moments, including the day his body gave out, when a broken back nearly took everything from him. But Red Dragon had been there, as he always was, pulling him from the abyss with words that still echoed in his mind.

Now, the time had come for the student and Sensei to collide. One night. One match. One ending. The Academy buzzed with excitement, but behind closed doors, the two men had something far more important to confront: the journey that had brought them here.

Standing in the dimly lit private training room of the Academy, the faint scent of incense lingering in the air, Sean tightened his fists as he faced the man who had moulded him. Red Dragon, as composed as ever, stood with arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

(Red Dragon): How are you feeling, Sean-kun? Ready?

Like it always was, Red Dragon’s voice was calm yet carrying a weight that demanded respect. Sean exhaled through his nose, nodding.

(Sean): I think so, Sensei.

Red Dragon studied him for a long moment, his azure blue gaze searching him for any clues. He placed a hand on his shoulder.

(Red Dragon): Don’t overthink this, Sean-kun. We are not two rivals fighting over twelve pounds of leather and gold. We are fighting for something much more meaningful.

(Sean): And what’s that, Sensei?

(Red Dragon): Legacy, Sean-kun. You are not my blood, but you are my legacy. For over twenty years, I’ve watched you grow, I’ve watched you break and be put back together and become even better than I thought you could ever be. From a naive boy into the man you are today. And I couldn’t be prouder of that man you’ve grown into… the obstacles you’ve overcome.

Sean instinctively felt a shiver through the scar tissue snaking down his back and suddenly, he was fifteen again. The aftermath of that fateful moment. The initial incident, the ambulance ride, the paramedics, the panic, it all went by so fast. Sean had woken up groggy in a hospital bed, unable to move. He had tried to wiggle his toes, lift his legs. Nothing. Panic was setting. He looked around but nobody was there. Muffled voices could be heard though. In the window frame of the door he could see his Uncle Butch arguing with someone, gesturing. He couldn’t quite see the other person but he recognised the voice. English-spoken words but with a strong Japanese accent contouring through it. Sensei Kiriyama. To this day, he’d never seen him so angry.

Whilst he couldn’t make out the words being thrown, it was clear both men were incensed. But Sensei? He was thundering away, ramming his fingertip like a sword into Uncle Butch’s chest. His normal calm, stoic presence was replaced with a blazing dragon, scorching the earth with hellfire. What he saw next he’d never forget. Uncle Butch was avoiding eye contact like his life depended on it, almost like he was ashamed. He eventually looked up and thrust his own finger into Sensei’s face which was met with the most insane backhanded slap Sean had ever seen, catching both he and Uncle Butch off-guard.

In the ten years Sean had known him, he’d never seen Sensei raise his hands to anyone outside of a karate dojo. He always knew Sensei didn’t agree with Sean’s decision to become a pro wrestler so young but he was furious with Uncle Butch’s decision to allow it to happen. And after his accident, Sensei had blamed Butch for what happened and, truth be told, for a while, so had he.

Sean watched Uncle Butch walk away and Sensei walked into the room. Noticing he was awake he hurried to my bedside.

(Red Dragon): Sean-kun, you’re awake, let me get the doctor.

He pushed the “Assistance” button next to Sean’s bed before sitting next to him. Tears filled Sean’s eyes and his voice cracked, panicked, apologetic.

(Sean): Sensei, I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you! I’m scared! I can’t feel my legs! I don’t know what to do! Tell me what to do, please!

(Red Dragon): Īe!

Red Dragon’s voice was loud and assertive. Sean had felt like he was back in the dojo, being critiqued for his kata not being on form. But this time, almost immediately, his tone softened. He gently placed his hand on Sean’s face, fingers cradling the back of his head, gently stroking his cheek with his thumb.

(Red Dragon): Its ok to be afraid. Sean-kun. Fear is good and it can be harnessed. Right now, you need to use this fear. It tells you that you’re still alive. Understand?

Sean remembered, even when he was proven right, Sensei was never a man to say I told you so. Never rub your face in it. He never looked back. Always forward, no matter what. A few moments later, what Sean had presumed to be a doctor came into the room with a chart in his hands. He gave Sean a smile and a nod to Red Dragon.

(Dr Harris): Hello, Sean. I'm Doctor Harris, one of the attending physicians. Can you tell me if you can feel anything below your waist?

Sean shook his head emphatically.

(Sean): I can’t feel my legs, my toes, anything. Doctor, how bad is it?!

(Dr Harris): A combination of your body moving in an unnatural manner and the nature of your landing has caused significant trauma to your spine. You've had a significant fall, and there's a spinal injury. We've performed surgery to stabilize the fractured vertebrae, which is crucial for preventing further damage and complications. However, the impact was severe, and the damage was extensive. We’ve also conducted tests and reviewed the scans. I need to be straightforward with you….unfortunately, the damage caused by what’s happened means…I'm afraid it’s highly unlikely you’ll regain any function or movement from the waist down.

Sean remembered that numbness extending beyond just his legs. Everything had now gone numb. The tears formed again, filling his eyes, the saltiness stinging. All he could do was blink several times in a futile attempt to disperse them.

(Sean): You mean... I won't walk again?!

Sean’s voice had stammered and stuttered. He then heard Sensei’s voice. It was quieter as he spoke to the doctor to the side.

(Red Dragon): Doctor, can anything be done for him? The boy is young, with the rest of his life ahead of him. I can help him up here…

Red Dragon had pointed to his temple.

(Red Dragon): ….But this will be very hard for him to take.

The doctor’s voice was solemn.

(Dr Harris): I’m sorry, Mister Kiriyama but the prognosis isn’t positive and there is not much of a positive spin I can put on it either other than he’s lucky he can still breathe on his own which is nothing short of a miracle in itself. Sean needs to hear an honest account of the severity of his injury.

He looked away from Red Dragon and towards Sean.

(Dr Harris): Sean, I’m afraid it is highly unlikely you will gain any form of movement from below the waist down. The spinal injury you suffered is significant, causing permanent paralysis. I'm sorry to be blunt but it’s important you are aware of the facts and what it is you’ve suffered.

Sean’s heart felt like it was in his mouth, pumping a million times a minute. He could hear it pounding away in his ears. The adrenaline coursing through his veins was spiking. Fight or flight was kicking but he was incapable of either.

(Sean): Permanent? But…no! NO! There has to be something you can do? Please!

Sean remembered the tears flowing like a river to the point the stinging pain from the salt didn’t even register anymore.

(Dr Harris): I’m sorry, Sean. We've done all we can, and we'll still provide support and therapy to help you adapt to this new reality. It's a challenging road ahead, and we'll work closely with both of you to assist in adjustments and emotional well-being.

Sean was hysterical now. Desperate, nonsensical in his thinking.

(Sean): Is-is-there not a surgery you can do?! Rehab? I’ll do anything! Sensei, tell them, I can take it! I can handle it!

(Red Dragon): Ochitsuke, Sean-kun, ochitsuke!

(Calm down, Sean, calm down!)

(Dr Harris): We’ve done what we can from a surgical standpoint, I’m afraid. The damage is too extensive. The odds of this happening are really quite rare, it’s an eventuality that, even with the greatest skill and care, likely couldn’t have been prevented. Rest assured, we have counselors and support groups available to help you and your nephew navigate through this. We'll develop a comprehensive treatment plan to enhance your quality of life and ensure he receives the best care and support throughout.

Sean remembered that he and Red Dragon weren’t one from maudlin shows of emotion. But at that moment, there was nothing he wanted more than for him to wrap his arms around him and tell him it was going to be ok. But he knew that would be disingenuous. He was a realist before anything else, Red Dragon. He was not one to sugarcoat or embellish. He was a man of honor. And to mislead was to lie. To lie was to be dishonorable.

Doctor Harris shortly left the room, sensing the overwhelming emotion emanating from Sean as the tears continued to decant from his eyes. Sean remembered feeling lost. As always, Red Dragon’s words were well-thought, never wasted. Always with meaning behind them.

(Red Dragon): Sean-kun, life is never a straight path. When the koi swims its way up the river, it traverses many challenges on its way to Dragon Gate. But if something disrupts the koi’s path, and it cannot swim up the waterfall, that is not the end of its journey. What does it do?

Sean remembered just looking at Red Dragon; no strength to even formulate an answer. Just a pair of red, puffy eyes staring at him.

(Red Dragon): It turns around and it tries again… and again… AND AGAIN! Until it finds the strength to leap over the Dragon Gate and transform… becoming the dragon, Sean-kun.

He turned away for a moment, delicately pulling something out of the pocket of his jacket, cradled gently in the palm of his hand. Sean recognized it immediately. He was five years-old again, his little legs dangling off the chair in his dining room trying to get the paper to fold properly. He stared at the same paper crane Red Dragon had made for him all those years ago the first day they had met. For the first time, the smallest semblance of a smile tugged at the corners of Sean’s mouth.

(Sean): Patience and perseverance.

Red Dragon nodded his head in acknowledgement.

(Red Dragon): Hai. Resilience, Sean-kun. Even the smallest actions can lead you to create something beautiful. Just like every fold of this paper, every crease. All steps toward a final goal. Some of them are harder than others. Some require more time. Some require a little more patience and a little more perseverance.

Red Dragon placed the crane in Sean's hand and all he could do was stare at it, still that five year-old boy in his dining room, transfixed.

(Red Dragon): A leap of faith, Sean-kun.

He placed an assuring hand on Sean’s shoulder.

(Red Dragon): Just as my Sensei took one on me, I took one on you. And now, you must take one on yourself.

That was the moment that Red Dragon made a boy with no legs believe he could fly. Flash-forward 20 years, and here they were. Sean had tried to learn the lessons Red Dragon had bestowed upon him all those years ago. They were back in the present now, back in the Academy, standing side by side.

(Red Dragon): When we fight, do not let anything stop you. Don’t let me stop you. Attack me with everything you have, and in doing so, don't lose yourself in the process. Today I tell you, do not be afraid to claim what's yours, Sean-kun. And if there is ever a last lesson I can give you, remember this. At Fatality, no matter what happens, don’t go down without a fight. I am going to bring the Dragon out one last time and I expect to see Sora No Ansatsusha across from me when I do so. Can you do that for me, Sean-kun?
Sean stared long and hard at his mentor.

(Sean): Hai, Sensei. I can.

No more words were needed. They had said all they needed to say. It was now time for action. And the scene faded to black.