[Ding! Target "E. Honda" has lost combat capability detected.]
[Plunder successful! Acquired talent: Body of the Yokozuna (Basic).]
[System Quest Progress: 3/10.]
In the subsequent rounds of competition, Cloud fully activated "stylish beatdown" mode.
He countered Spanish ninja Vega's "Flying Barcelona Attack" with Mai Shiranui's "Butterfly Fan."
He matched Hong Kong kung fu star Fei Long's "Rekka Ken" with Kim Kaphwan's "Phoenix Kick."
He consistently defeated opponents using their own specialties—the very techniques they took the most pride in!
He was like an omnipotent martial arts grandmaster, his skill pool bottomless, seemingly containing every fighting style in the world!
By the later rounds, the audience had stopped cheering for his victories.
They simply watched with numb, almost reverential expressions as this man performed one "personal tutorial" after another in the ring.
And the name "Cloud" spread like a virus throughout the entire fighting world.
Everyone knew that this "Street Fighter" tournament had produced—no, had been descended upon by—a true monster.
...
As the tournament progressed, the competition entered its white-hot phase.
After several brutal elimination rounds, only true powerhouses remained.
The atmosphere throughout the venue had shifted from the initial "free-for-all chaos" to something heavy and charged with tension.
Of course, this "tension" had absolutely nothing to do with a certain Mr. Cloud.
He continued steamrolling through, calm as still water.
Any fighter unfortunate enough to draw him as an opponent would silently retreat to a corner before the match, drawing circles on the ground and praying they could "die" with some dignity.
The name "Cloud" had become this tournament's biggest "BUG"—a "Demon King" that made all contestants tremble in fear.
Meanwhile, our Chun-Li and Guile, guided by Cloud's "official cheat-level" pre-match strategies, had both advanced to the quarterfinals without major incident.
However, the moment the quarterfinal bracket was revealed—
Chun-Li's expression changed.
On the big screen, next to her name, appeared a name she despised to the bone yet deeply feared.
—Vega.
One of Shadaloo's Four Heavenly Kings. A Spanish noble ninja who treated killing as art and blood as his paintbrush.
And one of the key perpetrators in the operation that killed her father!
"It's... him..."
Chun-Li stared at that name, her delicate fists clenching unconsciously, knuckles white from the pressure.
Her breathing grew rapid. Those beautiful eyes, usually filled with sunshine and justice, now burned with anger, hatred, and a deep apprehension she refused to acknowledge even to herself.
She couldn't forget—years ago, when she first tracked down Shadaloo's trail and confronted this man.
His ghost-like movement. Those razor-sharp steel claws that could tear through steel like paper. His cruelly beautiful words dripping with sadistic aesthetics. All of it had left indelible psychological scars.
That battle had been a devastating defeat.
If reinforcements hadn't arrived in time, she would have been killed.
It was the closest she'd ever come to death since becoming an Interpol agent.
"Chun-Li, are you alright?"
A steady voice sounded beside her.
Chun-Li snapped back to reality, finding Cloud and Guile standing beside her at some point.
"I... I'm fine." She forced a smile, but the slight trembling of her body betrayed the turmoil within.
Guile looked at her, concern breaking through his poker face. "Vega... that guy's no joke. He's too fast, his attacks too unpredictable. Chun-Li, don't let hatred cloud your judgment."
"I know." Chun-Li took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
"No, you don't."
Cloud shook his head, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
"Right now, your mind is in chaos." He looked into her eyes, speaking plainly. "Your ki has become extremely unstable because of your fear and anger. Like a pot of boiling water—looks impressive, but all the power is dissipating. Go up there in this state, and you won't beat him."
"I..." Chun-Li opened her mouth but couldn't argue.
Because Cloud was completely right.
"Then... what should I do?" A note of helplessness crept into her voice.
"What should you do?" Cloud smiled. He reached out and lightly flicked her forehead.
"Ow!" Chun-Li winced, instinctively covering her forehead, glaring at him with mixed embarrassment and irritation. "What was that for?!"
"Helping you clear your head." Cloud withdrew his hand with a matter-of-fact tone. "It's really simple. Fear comes from the unknown. Anger comes from powerlessness. The reason you're afraid of him, the reason you hate him—at the end of the day, isn't it just because... you think you can't beat him?"
"So just beat him. Problem solved."
The statement was simple, crude, yet brimming with unreasonable confidence.
Chun-Li was stunned.
Just beat him... and that's it?
Easy for you to say!
"Alright, stop moping around here." Cloud patted her shoulder. "Go prepare for your match. Remember, you're not fighting alone."
"I'll be watching from the stands. If you don't know what to do, follow my lead."
"I am your strongest ringside coach."
With that, he turned and strolled leisurely toward the spectator seats.
Watching his confident retreating figure, Chun-Li felt the wavering panic in her heart miraculously settle.
That's right.
She wasn't the person fighting alone anymore.
She had allies like Guile by her side.
More importantly, she had that unfathomably deep yet utterly reliable man.
"Chun-Li, you've got this." Guile nodded at her, offering an encouraging look.
"Mm!"
Chun-Li nodded firmly. The fire of fighting spirit reignited in those beautiful eyes!
...
"Next up! The quarterfinal match of this tournament! From China, the fighting flower of the police force—Chun-Li! Versus from Spain, the masked noble—Vega!"
With the announcer's passionate introduction, both fighters took the ring.
Chun-Li wore her classic blue qipao, looking sharp and heroic.
Her opponent, Vega, radiated pure "villain" energy.
...
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