[System: Unknown energy sample detected. Initiating deep analysis...]
[Analysis in progress... Energy composition: 70% pure negative emotions (anger, fear, hatred), 20% high-intensity bioelectricity, 10% unknown catalyst...]
[Energy characteristics: Highly corrosive and infectious. Can dramatically enhance host's physical capabilities but continuously erodes host's sanity and soul, ultimately reducing them to a puppet that knows only destruction.]
[Analysis complete. Conclusion: A crude, overbearing "stimulant-type" energy with severe side effects. Classified as inferior counterfeit product.]
[Initiate formatting and plunder?]
"Not yet." Cloud severed the mental link.
He'd gotten the information he wanted.
"So Bison's taking the tech-enhancement route, huh." He stroked his chin. "Getting stronger by absorbing negative emotions? Why does this sound like some kind of villain recharging station?"
Just then, the captured squad leader's eyes blazed with intense purple light!
"For Lord Bison!"
He roared and actually triggered his armor's self-destruct protocol!
"Not good! Fall back!" Chun-Li and Guile cried out in alarm.
"Fall back? What a waste that would be."
Cloud advanced instead of retreating, placing his hand on the squad leader's helmet once more.
This time, a golden gleam flashed through his eyes.
A surge of Orochi's will flowed into the soldier's body.
The energy core about to explode, the instant it touched this power, was like hot oil splashed with cold water—it instantly "fizzled out."
Along with it, the Psycho Power inside the squad leader was completely erased from its very source by this higher-dimensional force.
The squad leader went limp, losing consciousness entirely. The purple glow in his eyes vanished, returning to a normal human's eye color.
Cloud had actually forced a "bomb" about to detonate back from the brink—he'd "healed" him!
"Done." Cloud dusted off his hands. "Now we have a live one. Officer Chun-Li, the interrogation work is all yours."
Chun-Li and Guile had gone numb.
They stared blankly at Cloud, only one thought remaining in their heads:
Just how many abilities does this guy have that we don't know about? Is he really even human?
Could he actually be some deity who descended to experience mortal life in disguise?!
...
Interrogating the "purified" Shadaloo squad leader turned out to be surprisingly smooth.
Once stripped of Psycho Power's control, the man's willpower was thinner than tissue paper.
Chun-Li only needed some basic interrogation techniques before he spilled everything he knew like beans from an overturned jar.
Though he was just a low-ranking soldier without access to core secrets, he did confirm Cloud's earlier "spoilers."
Bison's purpose in hosting this "Street Fighter" tournament was indeed to screen for "vessels" with powerful fighting talent from around the globe, while using the massive fighting spirit and negative emotions generated during the matches to charge his "Psycho Power Drive."
"This guy is an absolute lunatic!" Guile slammed his fist into the wall after hearing the confession, leaving a spider-web of cracks in the solid surface.
"He's treating every fighter in the world as batteries for his power-up!" Chun-Li's eyes blazed with fury.
"Don't get so worked up. Look at it from another angle." Cloud lounged with one leg crossed, speaking casually. "His scheme actually gathers all the top fighters in one place, saving us the trouble of hunting them down one by one. This is called mutual benefit—it's a good thing."
Chun-Li and Guile: "..."
They realized there was simply no way to have a normal conversation with this guy and his bizarre thought process.
...
The tournament's regional qualifiers would officially begin in three days at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
During those three days, Chun-Li and Guile busied themselves analyzing intel, contacting informants, and making various preparations.
Our Alliance Leader Cloud, meanwhile, went into full "pre-tournament vacation" mode.
By day, he wandered through Hong Kong's famous food streets, sampling everything from Mong Kok's fish balls to Causeway Bay's typhoon shelter crab to Sham Shui Po's pig liver noodles, eating to his heart's content.
By night, he'd visit the bars in Lan Kwai Fong, experiencing this world's decadent nightlife.
His leisurely demeanor made it seem like he'd genuinely come to Hong Kong for a vacation.
One day, Cloud was at Victoria Peak, munching on freshly-bought egg waffles while taking in the magnificent view of Victoria Harbour.
Suddenly, his spiritual sense stirred.
He detected that somewhere in Hong Kong's remote New Territories, a pure, powerful, vibrant energy was continuously gathering and exploding!
That energy was like a beacon in the night, standing out distinctly amid Hong Kong's chaotic mix of auras—so different from everything else.
"Oh? It's that guy."
A smile of interest curved Cloud's lips.
"Looks like the protagonist is also grinding levels for the tournament."
Cloud quickly finished his egg waffle and dusted off his hands.
"Perfect—I've got nothing better to do. Might as well pay a visit and see what makes this world's Surge of Power tick."
With a thought, his form left a faint afterimage where he stood, instantly vanishing into the tourist crowd at Victoria Peak without anyone noticing.
...
Hong Kong, deep within Tai Mo Shan Country Park—before a massive waterfall in an area rarely touched by human feet.
RUMBLE—
The tremendous water flow cascaded down from a hundred-meter cliff like the Milky Way pouring from the heavens, crashing into the pool below, sending spray everywhere, producing a deafening roar.
Beneath that terrifying torrent—powerful enough to warp steel—a figure stood in a horse stance, rock-solid.
It was Ryu.
His upper body was bare, revealing muscles forged through countless trials, as solid as stone. Beads of sweat the size of beans, mixed with the icy waterfall mist, rolled down from his temples.
His eyes were closed, his entire consciousness immersed in the struggle against nature, against himself.
He was training.
He was searching for the deeper "Way" hidden beneath the "Wave."
...
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