Who exactly was she?
Put simply, she was the ceiling of combat power in Street Fighter…
or rather, in the entire Capcom series.
Though she’d been mistakenly rumored to be the “spirit granny” at the origin of all spiritual power, or the “magic old lady” at the origin of all magical girls, this was in fact a matter of mistranslation.
According to Takayuki Nakayama, the chief director of Street Fighter 5 and 6, Ingrid’s power originated from the Crest of the Eternal Goddess, also known as the [Natural Code].
Time, for her, did not flow in a linear, one-way fashion.
She could even, by her own will, travel through different timelines and temporal nodes via dimensional-reduction projection, imposing interference to prevent different timelines from collapsing due to power imbalances.
On the level of lore, she was rather similar to Marvel’s Living Tribunal?
For this progenitor of spiritual power, whose age couldn’t be calculated by ordinary reasoning, Yang’s current strength…
really wasn’t worth a second glance.
And just as Yang recognized Ingrid and was pondering whether he could slip away while she was still asleep— Meanwhile, the ball of light that had returned a step ahead of Yang shed its glow and turned into a cute plush doll.
This purple monad could be regarded as Ingrid’s avatar familiar—in essence, a small life-form formed from the aggregation of higher-dimensional energy.
And now, the monad first stared for a while at Yang, who had followed it home, then began making “wah wah wah” noises while repeatedly bumping into the tightly-closed-eyed Ingrid beside it.
As if sensing something, the plush-doll-form Ingrid’s eyelashes trembled twice.
Then Ingrid opened her eyes, and after sensing for a moment, a flash of surprise crossed her crimson eyes before she turned her gaze toward Yang at her side.
“Oh my my my, someone actually managed to cross through pure nothingness to arrive within this gap between dimensions…” Saying this, Ingrid introduced herself: “Higher-dimensional being, mediator, angel, Crest-bearer—call me whatever you like, but I am the legendary cosmic-scale mysterious beautiful girl, Ingrid~~ yohohoho~” Toward the end, Ingrid let out the light giggle unique to a century-old loli.
But then, turning her gaze toward the utterly bewildered Yang, she said with great interest: “Come to think of it…
Big Brother doesn’t really look all that strong~” …Big Brother?
Enough already, you old hag.
Though he knew that, facing an existence of this level, he shouldn’t even dare think such a thing, some things are just like that—the more you try not to think it, the harder it forces its way in, just like instinct…
Well, since he’d already thought it, he might as well go all in.
Watching Ingrid call him “Big Brother” with such an adorable, cutesy face, Yang too revealed a gentle yet polite smile.
The old lady sure is cute~ And it was just as Yang thought this that Ingrid’s movements paused.
Though she tried to cover it up, Yang could still see with perfect clarity the corners of her lips twitching.
“This…
Big Brother seems to be thinking some very rude thoughts.” Saying this, Ingrid stared at Yang a while longer, then, as if noticing something, her smile froze, and with a face full of suspicion she stroked her chin and said: “Hmm…
why do I feel…
like this is the first time I’ve met you?” “Of course it’s the first time.
This is my first time here too,” Yang answered with a straight face.
And looking at Yang’s stiff face, Ingrid, as if catching on to something, revealed a ‘you’re up to no good~’ smile and said: “Even though it’s your first time here, Big Brother, you seem to know me~ So then, come—let me take a look at where exactly you came from~” As she spoke, Ingrid extended a finger and pointed at Yang from afar.
Then.
Nothing happened.
Yang fell silent, not knowing what Ingrid was up to.
And gazing at the unmoved Yang, Ingrid’s face showed thick surprise, her crimson eyes brimming with astonishment that then turned into curiosity.
“No past or future?
Then how did you appear in the present?
Or rather—have you also mastered a Crest?” The Crest—the source of Ingrid’s power.
Though she was asking, Ingrid quickly shook her head: “No, I don’t sense the aura of my own kind on you…
Hmm, so let me take a good look at where exactly you came from!” Saying this, a mischievous grin appeared on Ingrid’s face, and she crossed her hands into a triangle before her eyes, forming the rune of the all-seeing eye.
As a torrent of spiritual power flashed, Yang could feel an inexplicable stream of information passing from Ingrid’s forehead into his mind, which made him subconsciously feel a surge of resistance.
Then, with a crack, Ingrid, floating in midair, felt as if she’d been smacked by something, and with a strange “wooaahhh~” cry she was blasted away.
A moment later, Ingrid, somewhat indignant, rubbed her forehead and came back over: “What the heck!
Rejecting me so easily—this has to be another Crest that hasn’t awakened yet, right?!” Saying this, Ingrid pointed at Yang with a face full of disdain: “Meanie!
You’re clearly one of my own kind who possesses a Crest, and yet here you are secretly cursing me as an old hag!” At this, Yang just looked blank, completely unaware of what Ingrid was going on and on about.
Seeing that Yang truly seemed not to know what was happening, Ingrid blinked and then said: “You really aren’t one of my kind?” “…I don’t know whether I am either,” Yang shrugged.
“You don’t know?” Hearing this, Ingrid nodded thoughtfully, then said: “Then do you know me?” “I do,” Yang nodded, then added: “Uh…
it’s like some kind of natural, instinctive impression.” “Oh~” Ingrid responded while continuing to nod thoughtfully, then said: “Then who else do you know?” Hearing this, Yang sank into thought.
Ingrid was probably asking about those who, like her, had mastered Crests.
In the lore, Ingrid came from an organization called CODE HOLDER.
Aside from Ingrid, the organization had two other known members, representing the Crest of the Fallen Angel and the Crest of the Thunder Goddess respectively.
Thinking this, Yang ventured tentatively: “ROOK and…
D.D?” “That’s right, it’s them~” Ingrid nodded, then stared at Yang for a while and said: “Though it’s still unclear whether you’re truly one of my kind, you not only already know about the other two fellows, you even rejected my peering…
Only a Crest can reject a Crest—even one that hasn’t yet awakened.
“Especially at your current level, by all rights you shouldn’t even be able to perceive the existence of the gap between dimensions, let alone resist me here…” “…So?” Yang asked probingly.
“So—you really don’t know anything?” Ingrid first dragged out the end of her words, then, with a face full of despair, lifted her head and sighed: “Tell me the truth—are you a new member or not?
You have no idea how busy I’ve been lately; the spiritual power across countless timelines has started having problems, and just handling all of this is going to work me to death!
If you really are my kind, then hurry up and admit it—follow Big Sis and I guarantee you’ll fully awaken in no time!” Saying this, Ingrid put on a “A reliable grown woman is right here!” expression and gave herself a thumbs-up.
And sensing Ingrid’s despair toward her work, Yang, after hesitating a moment, cleared his throat lightly and said: “Right now I’ll tell you in the most blunt, most direct, most un-roundabout, most decisive, most no-dawdling, most to-the-point, most no-nonsense, most no-beating-around-the-bush, most concise, most unconcealed, most explicit, most genuine, most lucid, most crude, most effective, most crisp, most hardcore, most trick-free, most utterly-not-full-of-fluff…
way: I don’t know.” “Eh…” Seeing that Yang really didn’t know anything, Ingrid tilted her head and wore a headache-y expression.
But then she quickly recovered her liveliness and looked at Yang with great enthusiasm: “In that case, let me see just how you found me!
The gap between dimensions I created may not be encrypted, but it’s not something ordinary people can sense~” With that, Ingrid spread her hand, and as a sun rune lit up, a vast surging stream of information emerged in her crimson eyes.
A moment later, surprise surfaced in the depths of Ingrid’s eyes.
“A near-death awakening relying on one’s own power?
How rare indeed…
But with a powerful soul, combined with the power of a Crest, this can indeed be achieved.” As she spoke, she turned her gaze back to Yang, examined him for a moment, then revealed a mischievous grin: “Hehe, I want to take a look at the essence of your current power.” “What is the essence of power?” Yang asked curiously.
“Rather than the essence of power, it’s more like the essence of the person.” Seeing Yang’s curiosity, Ingrid was quite willing to help explain.
“Just like spiritual power, all spiritual power has a good-or-evil attribute, and depending on the origin of that attribute, it manifests completely different powers and forms of expression.
“At the current stage, though, it should probably manifest as your most intense emotion during combat?” “Oh, oh, then go ahead and look,” Yang nodded.
“I’m pretty curious too.” Having received permission, Ingrid began sensing the spiritual echoes Yang had left lingering in the space.
A moment later, Ingrid’s expression suddenly changed, and she turned to Yang and said: “…Lust?” Hearing this, Yang too was stunned.
Could it be that I’m that lecher?
Absolutely impossible, utterly impossible!
Thinking this, Yang said gravely: “Sense it more carefully…” “…Uh, War.” After sensing a while longer, Ingrid let out a sigh of relief: “You scared me to death—so it’s related to battle…
I thought my new junior was a lecher.” “There’s absolutely no such possibility,” Yang shook his head with utter conviction.
And having confirmed it wasn’t one of those concepts representing negative emotions, Ingrid didn’t dwell on it too much, but rolled her eyes and said: “In that case, how about I take a look at the world that birthed you?
Just one glance at the world’s form should be enough to figure all this out.” “Go ahead,” Yang shrugged.
Yang himself was quite interested in the world he was in, too.
Seeing this, Ingrid nodded enthusiastically, then came before Yang, and after sensing for a moment, extended her palm and, as if flipping open the pages of a book, lifted aside a corner of the dimension.
From Yang’s perspective, the other side of the canvas held only a great many layered, multicolored lines.
But what Ingrid saw was clearly different from what Yang saw.
The very instant she saw it, Ingrid revealed a surprised expression, and then her eyes burst with boundless brilliance, brimming with curiosity.
By the time that corner of the dimension slowly began to heal, a thick reluctance showed on Ingrid’s face.
Especially after the rift in the dimension had completely healed, Ingrid fell into a long silence.
Just as Yang was still pondering whether to give her a nudge, he turned his head—only to see Ingrid’s face covered with a somewhat fawning smile.
“Heh heh, my dear junior~!” “…Go on,” Yang subconsciously took a few steps back.
“It’s nothing really,” Ingrid said, rubbing her hands together a little excitedly.
“It’s just…
could I go play in your world for a bit?” Hearing this, Yang hesitated a moment, then asked: “Do I have the right to refuse?” “Of course~” Ingrid nodded, then said with some surprise: “You really don’t know?” “…Uh, know what?” Seeing that Yang truly seemed not to understand, Ingrid explained: “Generally speaking, a world that births a concept of the Crest’s tier, before its bearer has grown up, is usually in a state of absolute closure.
Unless the bearer dies before growing up, it almost never opens to the outside.
“Of course, if through some fortuitous coincidence one encounters another bearer ahead of time, then that other bearer can enter your world by means of a contract.” Hearing Ingrid’s explanation, Yang nodded thoughtfully.
Though he still wasn’t sure whether his power was a so-called Crest, judging from Ingrid’s attitude, he…
was perhaps safe?
Thinking this, Yang nodded and said: “Then what are you coming to my world for?” “For more—fun~” A trace of anticipation appeared on Ingrid’s face as she said: “You may not yet be able to comprehend just how chaotic the world you’re in really is—uh, I mean fun!
You get it, right?
“For beings like us who possess eternal life, boredom is the most terrifying enemy!
Ah, just thinking of the countless apocalypses that could happen in your world…
uh, I mean the fun things—I’m already getting uncontrollably excited!” “Of course, there’s one thing you can rest assured about,” Ingrid said.
“That’s the world that birthed you, so even I can’t macroscopically influence the progression of its entire timeline.
“At least, before you’ve truly grown up, this world’s timeline is absolutely independent and singular.
“And in exchange…
I’ll provide you with some extra protection?
Like a guardian of the path~” Hearing this, Yang nodded thoughtfully, then extended his hand and said: “Rather than me…
I’d much rather you protect my family.” “Then that’s even less of a problem~” Ingrid nodded briskly, then said: “Mm, your world is a bit special.
To avoid causing unnecessary effects, I’ll have to design this dimensional projection carefully~ Mm, for now, let me send you back first.” As she spoke, Ingrid pointed a finger, and Yang’s consciousness sank into death…
or rather, sank into absolute nothingness.
“Oh, right!” Just before he completely sank into the void, Ingrid’s voice surfaced in Yang’s mind: “Your body’s current condition is probably not great?
As your great senior, I’ve sent you a little gift—remember to check for it when you wake up~” “A little…
gi…ft?” Yang wanted to thank her, but his consciousness had already sunk into chaos, his spirit growing heavier and heavier, unable to respond.
……
There was no telling how much time had passed.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
In any case, by the time Yang opened his eyes again, what he felt was excruciating pain everywhere throughout his body.
Bones, muscles, even organs…
Throughout his whole body, every single cell seemed to be telling of an energy deficit.
So much so that, in Yang’s perception, he could quite clearly determine that many of his body’s nonessential organs—the liver and the like—had already fallen into a certain degree of shutdown.
The kidneys?
The kidneys were fine; the kidneys were perfectly well; the kidneys were the best.
As for the other aspects…
Was this the price of burning life energy?
Thinking this in his heart, Yang’s face showed little dissatisfaction, though.
Sagat, the Emperor of Muay Thai in the Street Fighter series, was also the final-stage boss of the first installment.
To Ryu, the protagonist of the Street Fighter series, he was both rival and friend—from the initial hatred over his defeat and the craving for revenge, for which he even awakened the Satsui no Hadō (lit.
“Surge of Murderous Intent”), to finally, bit by bit, coming to understand his true heart, and so reclaiming his purity as a martial artist, living in seclusion in a small mountain village teaching children Muay Thai, with a fierce tiger of the forest for company…
Sagat and Ryu followed similar trajectories in the martial way.
Although the Sagat of the present had not yet become the grandmaster-level figure of the future, even so, he was not someone a newcomer like Yang—whose actual cultivation time didn’t even add up to a single “kun-year” (an internet-meme unit of roughly two and a half years)—could go up against.
Thinking this, Yang tried to sit up, but the sharp pain that immediately shot through his left arm made him draw in a cold breath.
And with Yang’s motion of rising, Chun-Li—who had been sitting at the edge of the sickbed, dozing slumped over Yang’s legs—wearily raised her hand.
Thinking that Yang had, once again in his deep sleep, pitched a tent and bumped her face with it, she subconsciously brushed it aside.
It got brushed aside.
But the reaction was a bit off.
Why, this time, wasn’t it so hard that it wouldn’t go down and wrestled with her like before?
Lifting her head, Chun-Li then saw Yang, half sitting up, gazing at her with a face full of suspicion.
While lying flat, it had stood erect like a pole propping up the sky, and forcing it down would naturally lead to a wrestling match.
Now that he’d sat up, the angle had changed, so naturally it had concealed the weapon upon his person.
Upon seeing that it was Yang who had awoken, Chun-Li’s eyes, which still held a faint trace of drowsiness, quickly cleared from their muddled daze, and then, paying no mind to anything else, an excited smile broke across her face.
“You’re awake!” “Huh?
Ah, I’m awake, I’m awake.” Seeing Chun-Li’s concerned look, Yang nodded.
The weapon concealed upon his person—let’s leave that aside for now.
He had just struggled back from the brink of death—how would Chun-Li mind such a harmless little thing?
By comparison, he’d only just come out of a state of burning life energy, and yet the very first thing he did was fixate on this sort of thing…
Could it be that I’m that lecher?!
…
It absolutely couldn’t be.
Utterly impossible.
____ 👻🔥Seek: Walnut-chan🔥👻 🔥 New history: A Martial Arts Master Will Never Be Humiliated Let’s hit these goals: