That spot appeared empty.
But Cloud reached out his right hand toward that patch of air.
"Divine Technique—Soul Extraction!"
An invisible yet overwhelmingly dominating suction force emanated from his palm!
That empty space suddenly warped violently!
A semi-transparent "soul form" of Dhalsim—sitting in meditation—was forcibly wrenched out of the void!
This was his true body!
A "divine consciousness" existing purely in spiritual form!
"Im...possible!"
Dhalsim's soul projected astonishment-filled thought waves!
His prized true form, hidden within the "realm of Emptiness," had been discovered so easily?!
"Nothing's impossible." Cloud held the soul like gripping a chicken. "Before absolute computing power, all your encryption is futile."
[Ding! Deep analysis complete! Successfully plundered special technique "Spirit Extension"!]
[Spirit Extension: Allows you to extend your spiritual power beyond your body for shaping, interference, or creating short-term illusions. This technique greatly improves your precision control over spiritual power.]
"I have lost."
Dhalsim's soul ceased struggling.
He knew—before this man, all his methods were useless.
He pressed his palms together in a Buddhist salute to Cloud.
"Your realm far exceeds mine. This humble monk has learned much."
As his words fell, his soul and all the duplicates on the ring dissolved into points of starlight.
At the ring's far end, his true physical body slowly opened its eyes, bowed again to Cloud, then silently left the ring.
He had lost with complete conviction.
...
Semifinals.
Cloud's opponent was exactly who everyone expected.
—The solitary seeker, Ryu.
This match was hailed as the tournament's "true final" come early.
One was a dark horse who'd emerged from nowhere, crushing all opponents with overwhelming force—the mysterious "Demon King."
The other was a long-established legend who constantly challenged his limits in pursuit of the true path of fighting—the embodiment of martial arts.
Their showdown commanded the attention of the entire world.
In the ring.
Cloud and Ryu faced each other across the distance.
This time, Cloud's usual laziness and casualness were gone.
His gaze had become unprecedentedly focused and serious.
Ryu, too, radiated a pure, powerful fighting spirit.
"Mr. Cloud!" Ryu bowed formally. "I can sense you haven't been using your full strength."
"For this battle, I hope you will treat me as a true opponent."
"Please—fight with everything you have!"
Hearing this, Cloud smiled.
"Full strength? I'm afraid that's not possible." He shook his head. "I might accidentally punch a hole through the planet."
Ryu: "..."
"However!" Cloud's tone shifted. He slowly removed his jacket, revealing a physique of explosive, streamlined muscle. "I can promise you this—in this fight, I won't use any special powers."
He meant Orochi's power, azure flames, lightning... all those extraordinary energies.
"I will fight you using only pure martial arts."
"This is my highest respect for you as a martial artist."
Incomparable brilliance exploded in Ryu's eyes!
This was exactly the battle he'd yearned for!
A pure contest that relied on nothing external, comparing only their understanding of "martial arts"!
"Thank you!"
Ryu let out a sharp cry and assumed the standard "Surge" style opening stance!
"Fight!"
The referee's voice became mere background noise.
Neither attacked immediately.
They simply stood still.
But every expert present could feel the air between them growing thick as water!
Invisible fighting spirit clashed and collided in the air!
This was a contest of "momentum"!
Finally, Ryu moved!
He didn't use Hadoken. Instead, he stepped forward with the most basic, most steady footwork, charging at Cloud!
An utterly ordinary straight punch aimed at Cloud's face!
But this seemingly simple punch contained skills refined through countless hours of training, perfectly concentrating his entire body's power at the fist's edge!
Return to simplicity!
"Here we go!"
Fighting spirit ignited in Cloud's eyes too!
He neither dodged nor evaded, assuming a standard Bajiquan stance—meeting the attack with a "Tieshan Kao" shoulder strike!
BAM!
Fist met shoulder in thunderous collision!
The alloy ring cracked beneath both their feet!
After one exchange, both stepped back!
"Shoryuken!"
"Oniyaki!"
"Tatsumaki Senpukyaku!"
"Shinkuu Katategoma!"
Both abandoned all flashy techniques.
They used only the most fundamental, most classic fighting moves!
Fist against fist, kick against kick!
Each collision produced a heavy boom!
Each exchange was filled with the most primal power and beauty of male combat!
It was a "textbook" battle that left every martial artist watching in mesmerized awe!
Yet as the fight progressed—
Ryu's heart grew heavier.
He realized... he was being completely suppressed!
No matter what technique he used, his opponent always countered with a similar-style but more refined, more perfect technique!
It was as if his opponent was an omniscient "martial arts AI"! All his attack patterns were within the other's "calculations"!
"Damn it!"
After prolonged futile attacks, Ryu finally held nothing back!
He leaped backward, creating distance, hands coming together at his waist!
A massive, pure Surge energy began gathering in his palms!
Blue light blazed to its peak!
"This move is the strongest attack I currently possess!"
"Take this, Mr. Cloud!"
"SHIN... KU... HADO... KEN!!!"
BOOM—!!!!!
...
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