On the arena.
Nakoruru slowly opened her eyes, looking at Choi Bounge dangling in mid-air, still struggling futilely, her gaze without the slightest ripple.
She took a light step forward, her form like a dancing butterfly, instantly appearing beneath Choi Bounge.
"Evil soul, please accept nature's purification."
"Flowing Wind Slash!"
She softly called out the technique's name, leaping high into the air. The treasured blade in her hand—Chichiushi—traced an arc of holy light, striking Choi Bounge with precision!
Following that was a flowing, elegant yet deadly combo.
"Victory Blade!"
She spun in mid-air like a dancing spirit, each rotation bringing a sharp slash that continuously cut into Choi Bounge's body.
"Eagle Hanging Drop!"
Borrowing Mamahaha's power, she changed direction again in mid-air and launched her final attack!
"Secret Art: Dance of the Flowing Wind!"
The entire process took less than five seconds.
When Nakoruru landed lightly and sheathed her blade, Mamahaha also released its grip.
Choi Bounge fell from the sky like a puddle of mud, splattering onto the ground.
His health bar had long since emptied. He had already passed out, foam at the corners of his mouth, his eyes full of the philosophical confusion of "Who am I? Where am I? What just happened to me?"
[K.O.]
[Perfect]
The system's cold electronic voice even threw in a "Perfect Victory" announcement.
Yes, no damage taken.
From start to finish, Choi Bounge hadn't even touched the hem of Nakoruru's clothes.
If Yun Ying's victory in the previous match was won through surprising "cross-dimensional skills" and superb execution—
Then Nakoruru's victory was pure dimensional crushing.
A merciless trampling of KOF's existing rules from a higher combat system.
"How... how is this possible?!"
"That girl... and that eagle... what are they?!"
"I hereby declare that Mamahaha is this KOF's true MVP! I will accept no arguments!"
Only now did all the spectators and fighters finally realize a terrifying fact—
Cloud's two teammates, who looked like mere "eye candy," were not only not decorative. Each one was more ridiculous than the last!
"Phew..."
Nakoruru let out a soft breath, bowed to the unconscious Choi Bounge with an Ainu blessing ritual, then turned to face her final opponent.
Across from her, Korea Team's captain—Kim Kaphwan—slowly walked onto the arena.
His expression could no longer be described as "ugly"—it was as if he'd just watched two of his disciples die (which, in a sense, wasn't far from the truth).
"Young lady!" Kim Kaphwan said seriously. "I can sense the aura of justice within you! We are of the same camp, but today I will show no mercy!"
"BOOM—!!!"
A powerful, suffocating aura exploded from Kim Kaphwan's body!
An aura filled with sacred majesty instantly enveloped the entire arena!
Absolute Domain—99%!
This was the strength of a veteran powerhouse!
Nakoruru felt as though her every movement was being restrained by invisible shackles.
That pure "spirit of justice" made this nature-worshipping priestess feel a hint of discomfort.
"Hangetsu Zan!"
A massive golden crescent-shaped energy blade, like a guillotine, screamed toward Nakoruru!
Faced with this strike powerful enough to split mountains, Nakoruru didn't dare take it lightly.
She ducked low, her entire body gliding just above the ground like a swallow in flight, barely dodging the attack.
"Hishou Kyaku!"
Kim Kaphwan pressed his advantage, his entire body launching forward like a cannonball, his legs trailing countless afterimages as he descended from above, unleashing a storm of attacks!
Nakoruru could only rely on Mamahaha's assistance and her own agility—far beyond that of normal humans—to continuously dodge and block through the gaps in his assault.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
For a moment, the arena was nothing but golden light and white shadows interweaving, the sounds of fierce clashes endless!
Everyone watched with their hearts in their throats.
"Too strong! Kim Kaphwan's power has gone up another level since last year!"
"That girl called Nakoruru is impressive too! To hold out this long against Kim Kaphwan's onslaught!"
However, those who defend too long will eventually falter.
Nakoruru's fighting style leaned toward agility and assassination. Head-on confrontation was not her forte.
In a gap between dodges, Kim Kaphwan caught a tiny opening in her defense.
"Now! Hou'ou Kyaku!"
Kim Kaphwan's eyes flashed with sharp light as he unleashed his MAX Super!
His entire body transformed into a golden phoenix, countless leg shadows wreathed in righteous fire spreading like an inescapable net, instantly engulfing Nakoruru completely!
"Pu—!"
Nakoruru could no longer dodge. She took the full brunt of the attack, a small spray of blood escaping her lips, her health bar instantly plummeting by more than half!
"It's over!" Kim Kaphwan pressed his advantage, preparing to deliver the final blow.
However, at that moment, in the eyes of Nakoruru—who had been knocked into mid-air—those pure orbs flashed with determination.
She looked at what little remained of her health bar, then at Kim Kaphwan, whose momentum was at its peak.
She knew she had no chance of winning.
But...
She couldn't lose.
Because behind her, Mr. Cloud was watching.
"Mamahaha... I'm sorry..."
In her heart, she quietly apologized to her partner.
Then, with her last reserves of strength, she activated her strongest technique—the one she was most reluctant to use... her forbidden move.
A soft, holy white light suddenly radiated from her body, and an aura of compassion for all living things spread outward.
Her health bar, at this moment, stopped declining. Instead, it began to... burn!
"This is... the final... guardian..."
Her voice was ethereal and sacred, as if coming from the distant heavens.
Alarm bells rang in Kim Kaphwan's heart as an unprecedented sense of crisis enveloped him!
He tried to retreat but found his body locked by some invisible force, unable to move!
Nakoruru transformed into a white shooting star, carrying an unstoppable will to protect everything she held dear, and crashed into him!
...
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