Riser, Chun-Li, and Tai Lung woke up in an unfamiliar cave, surrounded by the cool, damp air. Tai Lung, feeling an unfamiliar weight in his body, looked down at his hands in panic. His once-familiar fur had transformed, his form no longer purely animalistic but humanoid, a blend of his former self and something new.
"What… what has happened to me?" Tai Lung stammered, glancing at his hands and then at Riser and Chun-Li. "And you… you're not a chicken anymore, and Chun-Li… you're not a rabbit! What's going on?"
Riser stood up, stretching, and smirked. "Welcome to my world, Tai Lung. When you travel from world to world, your form changes according to that world's rules. In your world, only animals are sentient beings, so we were changed to fit in. Now, you're here, and the rules have changed again. You're not fully human, though—you're what we call a beastman in this world, a combination of your original form and human characteristics."
Tai Lung blinked, still trying to process everything. "So… I'm a beastman now? And you're human?"
Riser shook his head. "No, I'm a devil. And you? You're half devil, half beastman. Welcome to the chaos of this world."
Tai Lung grumbled, clearly confused and irritated. "This is… a lot to take in."
Chun-Li placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine, Tai Lung. We'll help you adjust."
Riser chuckled. "What's the matter, Tai Lung? The great tai lung is scared because of a little change?"
Tai Lung's pride flared at the jab. "I am not scared!" he retorted, puffing out his chest. "I'll get used to this new form in no time."
Riser grinned, satisfied with Tai Lung's fighting spirit.
The group made their way outside the cave, stepping into a burnt and desolate landscape. Smoke lingered in the air, and the ground was scorched black. In the distance, a massive brown bear stood, its eyes glowing with malevolence. The beast towered over them, its fur charred in some places, giving it a fearsome appearance.
Tai Lung, eager to test his new body, eyed the bear with a grin. "Let's see how I fare in this form. That thing looks like a good warm-up."
The bear—known as a Black Bear Guai—let out a roar, its claws digging into the earth as it prepared for a fight. Without hesitation, Tai Lung dashed forward, his movements fluid despite his unfamiliar body. The bear reacted instantly, turning into a black wind as it dashed to the side, moving unpredictably.
Tai Lung kept his focus, his eyes locked on the bear as it reappeared briefly before charging at him. The bear's body once again transformed into wind, making it hard to track. But Tai Lung remained calm, dodging just as the bear reappeared, narrowly avoiding a slash aimed at his chest.
When the bear got close enough, it unleashed a series of horizontal slashes, two in quick succession. Tai Lung dodged the first, then the second, landing several well-placed strikes on the bear's body in retaliation. But the bear was relentless. With a powerful swipe, it followed up with a ground slam that shook the earth beneath Tai Lung's feet. The force of the slam sent Tai Lung staggering back.
Riser, watching from a distance with arms crossed, called out, "Need a hand?"
Tai Lung, quickly regaining his footing, shot back, "No need."
The Black Bear Guai charged again, using the same erratic wind technique, but Tai Lung had started to read its movements. He dodged the bear's attacks whenever possible, weaving through its wild swings and landing hits whenever the opportunity presented itself.
The bear, frustrated, jumped into the air, aiming to grab Tai Lung. He dodged to the side, anticipating the move, and stayed on his toes as the bear transitioned the failed grab into another series of melee combos. Tai Lung moved gracefully, sidestepping each attack, his newfound form adapting rapidly.
The bear roared, stomping the ground in frustration. It unleashed two consecutive forward slams followed by a wide, sweeping arm attack. Tai Lung, with expert timing, dodged all three blows. As the bear completed its wide sweep, Tai Lung dashed forward, slipping past the arm with perfect precision and delivering a powerful blow to the beast's exposed side.
The bear staggered, and Tai Lung seized the moment. With a flurry of strikes, he overwhelmed the creature, forcing it to the ground. The battle ended with Tai Lung standing victorious, the Black Bear Guai tamed, panting heavily at his feet.
Riser clapped slowly, a grin on his face. "Well, looks like you've gotten used to that body pretty quickly."
Tai Lung smirked, his breathing heavy but controlled. "Told you I wasn't scared."
Chun-Li smiled warmly, her confidence in Tai Lung growing. "You did well."
With the battle over, Riser glanced at the surrounding area. "If you're done having fun, let's make our way home."
Tai Lung, still catching his breath, nodded. "Lead the way."