"What?!"
Akuma whipped his head around, that demonic face showing a dumbfounded expression once again.
This... this defied science!
Hit by my Shun Goku Satsu, how could he not even lose a sliver of health?!
"Your technique is indeed strong."
Cloud raised his hand and dusted off a speck of ash from his shoulder, evaluating in a voice dripping with humble-bragging:
"Condensing killing intent to its extreme, unleashing over a thousand attacks in an instant, directly attacking the opponent's soul and causality. Truly a killing blow that mortals cannot withstand."
"Unfortunately..."
A smile of "divine arrogance" slowly curved at the corner of his mouth.
"I'm not a mortal."
As he spoke, the miniature "sun" ignited on his body once more.
"Before Orochi, who represents nothingness, your so-called killing intent is like children's sparklers. Every attack you threw was returned to nothing the moment before it touched my body."
"This is the absolute gap between our levels of existence."
This was the truth.
Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu was indeed strong.
But Sunlight's Blessing operated at a higher level of law!
Akuma's attack value was "10,000."
Through Sunlight's Blessing, Cloud could achieve offense-defense conversion at "∞" (infinity).
How was anyone supposed to fight that?
"Throwing the match?" Cloud laughed. "No no no, I call it 'stopping at a touch,' making friends through martial arts. After all, such delicious ingredients like you—if I accidentally killed you, what a waste that would be."
Akuma: "..."
He felt that all the pride, all the dignity of his entire life had been pressed to the ground at this moment and ruthlessly crushed by this man before him.
Killing someone while destroying their spirit!
Pfft——
A mouthful of old blood sprayed from Akuma's mouth.
He hadn't been injured by attacks.
He had been... literally angered into internal injury!
The legendary "demon," Kibagami Genjuro, had been convinced by "martial arts" and had contentedly "ascended."
The demon before him now, Akuma, was being double-teamed by "philosophy" and "trash talk," nearly "retired" on the spot.
Just as this awkward and bizarre atmosphere hung in the air—
A laugh full of evil mockery suddenly echoed from above everyone's heads.
"Hehehe... hahahaha!"
"What a... wonderful monkey show!"
Everyone jerked their heads up.
A massive holographic projection made of countless purple data streams slowly materialized in midair.
In the image was that man in the red military uniform and cap—Bison!
"What a pitiful struggle." Bison spread his arms like a nobleman watching a stage play in a theater, speaking in a voice full of pity to everyone below.
"Whether it's your so-called justice or your so-called path of Asura—before my Psycho Power, it all seems so pale and powerless."
"Look at the ruins beneath your feet. This is what you so-called strong ones have brought—only destruction and chaos."
"And I, Bison, will end all of this!"
His image became even more solid, those purple eyes filled with godlike majesty.
"I declare the Street Fighter World Tournament officially concluded."
"Thank you to all the actors for providing such a wonderful performance and such rich data. My Psycho Drive is almost... full."
"As a reward—" His gaze fell precisely on Cloud, Chun-Li, Guile, Ryu, Ken, and the self-doubting Akuma.
"I, the Supreme Commander of Shadaloo, the King of Fighters, Bison—hereby formally invite all winners to my secret base in Thailand for the final coronation ceremony!"
"Come. Come before me."
"Witness the birth of a new world!"
"Witness the descent of a god!"
With that, his holographic image dissolved into countless purple points of light and scattered into the air.
All that remained was clear coordinates for a location in Thailand.
This was Bison's open scheme.
He knew he could no longer control the situation through his "sleeper agents."
He also knew that Cloud and Akuma—these two "monsters"—weren't something he could easily deal with.
So he simply played his final card.
He would lure all the strongest enemies to his "home court"—Shadaloo headquarters, which had been set up with every conceivable trap and had the Psycho Drive as backup!
There, he would possess the power of a "god"! He would eliminate them all in one fell swoop!
Then seize that perfect "vessel" he had dreamed of—Cloud's body!
"Damn it! That bastard wants to trick us all over there and take us out at once!" Guile punched the ground and roared in anger.
"This isn't an invitation anymore—it's a declaration of war!" Battle spirit rekindled in Ryu's eyes.
Everyone's gaze unconsciously focused on one person.
—Cloud.
Without anyone realizing it, he had become the absolute core and pillar of this "temporary alliance."
"Go, or not go?" Chun-Li looked at Cloud and asked softly. Her voice carried a slight tremor.
That was Shadaloo headquarters. Bison's lair. The final destination of revenge she had pursued for over a decade!
Cloud didn't answer immediately.
He glanced at the coordinates in Thailand, then at the girl beside him—fists clenched, delicate body trembling slightly, eyes full of complex emotions.
He knew she had to go.
This was her destiny as a daughter.
And her honor as a warrior.
"Of course we're going."
Cloud spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but filled with unquestionable resolve.
"Not only are we going, but I'm going to personally twist off Bison's head and get your revenge."
This declaration, full of dominance and tenderness, was like the warmest flood, instantly breaking through the last emotional dam in Chun-Li's heart.
Over a decade of searching. Countless brushes with death.
Carrying the blood debt of her father's murder, walking alone in the darkness...
All the grievances, all the pain, all the perseverance...
At this moment, it all seemed to find a harbor to anchor in.
She could no longer hold back her feelings.
She lunged forward, threw open her arms, and tightly embraced Cloud from behind.
"Mm..."
Suppressed sobs escaped her throat. Warm tears soaked the back of Cloud's clothes.
"Thank you... thank you..."
She buried her face deeply in Cloud's broad back, murmuring these two words over and over.
Cloud quietly let her hold him, releasing all the emotions she had accumulated over more than a decade.
After an unknown amount of time—
Chun-Li's crying gradually subsided.
She slowly released her arms, walked around to face Cloud, and raised that face—pear-blossom wet with rain, yet stunningly beautiful.
Those large, watery eyes fixed steadily on Cloud.
In her gaze was gratitude, dependence, but more than anything else—
A fierce, flame-like love.
...
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