"Is this... the legendary 'subduing enemies without fighting'?" Antonov watched the surveillance footage, his cigar dropping from his mouth. "Too powerful! This team is definitely the biggest rival on my path to the championship!"
If Cloud knew his slacking was being interpreted as kingly dominance, he'd probably laugh himself off the sofa.
However, beneath this seemingly joyful and harmonious fighting festival, a sinister undercurrent was quietly stirring across the world.
...
Late night. The rooftop of an abandoned skyscraper.
Terry Bogard stood facing the night wind. During the KOF tournament's break, he was up here adjusting his condition.
"Sigh, this year's newcomers really are something else..." Thinking of Shun'ei's bizarre power, he couldn't help but pull his cap lower.
Just then, from the shadows behind him, a low voice dripping with oppressive menace suddenly rang out.
"Heh heh heh... How pathetic, Bogard."
Terry's muscles tensed instantly. He spun around, assuming a fighting stance. "Who's there!"
In the shadows, a blurred half-transparent figure composed of dark crimson energy slowly materialized.
He wore a familiar black tailcoat, his single eye gleaming with venomous light. That signature arrogant smile remained chilling even in energy form.
"It's been a while. My collection seems to miss you dearly."
"Rugal Bernstein!" Terry's pupils contracted sharply. "Weren't you... dead?!"
"Dead?" The energy-form Rugal let out a piercing cackle. "For those of us who pursue the ultimate in martial arts, death is merely an appetizer before another feast! Soon, very soon I'll return... with even greater power, to turn all of you into my eternal collection!"
Before he finished speaking, his energy form began destabilizing, flickering violently like a television with bad reception.
"It seems... time is up. Terry, enjoy what little peace you have left! Wahahahaha—"
With that maniacal laughter, Rugal's energy form completely dissipated into the night wind, leaving only a sulfurous odor behind.
Terry stood motionless, his expression grave to the extreme.
He could feel it—that Rugal just now was no illusion. That suffocating malice was something he would never forget.
"What... is happening?"
...
A hidden castle deep in the Black Forest. Once a NESTS branch facility.
Now its master was K', investigating NESTS remnant clues with his partner Maxima.
Late at night, K' stood alone at the castle's highest tower, gazing at the distant moonlight.
A faint rustling sound, like fabric rubbing, came from behind him.
"Still troubled by your origins?" A majestic yet cold voice spoke.
K' didn't turn around, merely snorting coldly. "Igniz... you persistent ghost. Can't you even leave me alone in my dreams?"
Behind K', a magnificent figure composed of pure white light slowly manifested.
He wore that signature battle garb befitting a self-proclaimed god, wearing a compassionate yet hypocritical smile.
"I am no illusion." Light-form Igniz spread his arms as if embracing the world. "I've merely returned early, to see my future new world. An ideal paradise with no foolish humans—only gods and their servants."
"Lunatic." K' squeezed the word through clenched teeth.
"Soon you'll understand—I was right all along." Igniz's voice dripped with seduction. "That door is about to open. All the departed strong ones will be re-selected. And I shall descend as a god, ruling over all! K', return to my side, and you shall receive glory second only to mine!"
"Shut up!" K' spun around, his right glove erupting in blazing flames. "Want to fight? I'll keep you company!"
Yet light-form Igniz merely smiled and shook his head, his figure gradually becoming transparent.
"The time for battle has not yet come... Keep that power of Kusanagi safe. Soon, it will prove useful..."
The voice faded. The light vanished completely.
K''s flames swung through empty air. Looking at the vacant space behind him, his eyes filled with unprecedented irritation and unease.
...
A remote mountain deep in Japan. The ancient sealing grounds of Orochi.
Shingo Yabuki, Kyo Kusanagi's most loyal disciple, was following his master's orders to periodically inspect this place and check for any abnormalities in the seal.
"Phew... Nothing wrong, thank goodness!" Shingo wiped his sweat, preparing to head down the mountain.
Suddenly, the surrounding air temperature plummeted. A thin layer of white frost appeared on the ground.
A gentle voice tinged with eerie allure spoke from behind him.
"Excuse me, young man—you appear to be Kyo Kusanagi's disciple."
Shingo jumped in fright. Turning around, he saw a handsome young man in avant-garde clothing, smiling at him. The youth's body was semi-transparent, surrounded by ice-blue cold air.
"Y-You're... Chris?!" Shingo recognized him—one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi from back then!
"Correct." Chris gave an elegant bow. "However, we're not alone in returning."
As he spoke, another energy form materialized beside him—a burly figure with fierce eyes, his entire body radiating an oppressive earthen power. It was Yashiro Nanakase.
Yashiro folded his arms, speaking coldly: "We're just here to scout ahead. The world is about to change!"
With those words, both figures faded like phantoms, dissolving into the air.
Only Shingo remained, trembling in place—half from fear, half from cold. He scrambled down the mountain, immediately dialing Kyo Kusanagi's number: "Master! Bad news! The dead are rising!!"
...
Similar scenes were playing out across the world.
At the ruins of Those From the Past, Saiki's chaos-infused energy form delivered speeches to empty wastelands.
Atop the Himalayas, Mukai's stone-like energy form merged with the wind and snow.
At various NESTS facilities, memory fragments of both Clone Zero and True Zero replayed their final moments like ghosts.
...
A global tea party of the dead was underway.
...
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