"I'm saying... you two!" Cloud felt his stomach starting to hurt.
"The finals are tomorrow! Our opponent is Kyo Kusanagi! KYO KUSANAGI! Could you please show... even just a tiny bit... of tension?!"
Commander Zuo paused his polishing at this, raising his head to look at Cloud with those hawk-sharp eyes.
He said flatly: "My lord, weapons are instruments of ill omen. Before battle, the heart must be still as water—only then can one slay generals and enemies. Though that Kyo Kusanagi has demonic energy protecting him, he has not... yet fully matured. Under my blade, it would be... but a single stroke's work."
Baobao looked up, mouth stuffed with cookies, speaking unclearly: "Boss, don't worry. If we can't beat him later, I'll... I'll bury him under the Sydney Opera House. I checked earlier—the soil there is nice and soft, easy to dig."
Cloud: "..."
He felt a heart attack coming on.
Communicating with these two "non-humans" was simply too exhausting.
Just then, the system in his mind issued an unprecedented, extremely serious warning.
[Ding! Final Battle Warning!]
[Detected: Host is about to face this world's Child of Destiny—Kyo Kusanagi!]
[According to World Balance Laws, extra-dimensional overpowered forces (Commander Zuo, Feng Baobao) will be severely restricted and unable to effectively threaten him.]
[System Forced Quest Modification: In the finals, Kyo Kusanagi MUST be personally defeated by Host!]
[Simply put: Those two bugs can't help you fight the BOSS. Kid, you're on your own!]
"WHAT?!"
Cloud's entire being went blank.
There was such a setting?!
System, are you screwing with me?! Nerfing my teammates at the critical moment?!
[Host, please understand. Think of it like playing an online game—you can bring two GM-privileged accounts to clear trash mobs and elite monsters, but the final boss MUST be conquered by your own hand, or the game cannot properly settle rewards.]
The system's explanation was blunt, but Cloud understood.
In other words, he could "get carried" through the earlier matches.
But this final confrontation required him to... personally step up and face that blazing "Child of Destiny" head-on!
An unprecedented, mountain-like pressure crashed onto his shoulders.
But immediately, that pressure transformed into a blazing, unprecedented... fighting spirit!
"Good... very good!"
Cloud slowly rose, his eyes erupting with stunning light!
"I've been wanting... to face him myself!"
He gazed at the brilliant city nightscape outside the window and clenched his fist.
Kyo Kusanagi...
Child of Destiny? Protagonist halo?
I, Cloud, will see today whether your "protagonist" fate is harder, or my "Fourth Calamity" fists hit harder!
...
The next day, the Sydney Opera House was packed to capacity, buzzing with excitement.
The world's eyes were focused here.
"Finally... our turn?"
Kyo Kusanagi walked slowly onto the stage, his gaze burning like flames, locked onto his final opponent—Cloud.
"Cloud!" His voice brimmed with royal confidence and fighting spirit. "Your teammates are interesting. But this farce ends here. The KOF championship can only belong to Japan Team!"
"Is that so?"
Cloud also stepped onto the stage, facing him.
He extended his hand toward Kyo in a "come at me" provocation.
"Funny coincidence—I also think it's time... to show the world what a real protagonist looks like."
...
"The Final Battle! Dragon Nation Team, Cloud, versus Japan Team, Kyo Kusanagi!"
When the announcer roared those two names, the entire world seemed to go quiet.
All eyes focused on the center of the ring—on those two figures, both young, both overflowing with invincible confidence!
HUMMMM—!
Almost simultaneously, two completely different yet equally suffocating auras erupted!
Crimson Kusanagi Flames and golden Battle God Spirit collided and intertwined in the ring's center, causing the air itself to crackle and pop!
Kyo's body burned with Absolute Domain 30%'s royal fire!
Cloud erupted with Absolute Domain 25%!
"What?!"
In the spectator area, Terry and Ryo shot to their feet simultaneously!
"25%?! When did this kid's realm...?!"
Mai Shiranui, Yuri Sakazaki, Athena and others stared at the familiar figure on stage like they were seeing a monster.
They knew Cloud was strong, but they never imagined... he'd already reached the level where he could face Kyo head-on!
"Interesting... so interesting!" Kyo's face broke into a fervent grin. "Cloud! You really didn't disappoint me!"
"Cut the chatter!" Cloud roared and launched his attack!
He had perfectly integrated the combat techniques plundered from all those fighters into his [Battle God Style]!
"Battle God Style: Night Parade of a Hundred Demons!"
His figure instantly split into dozens of afterimages, attacking Kyo from all directions like ghosts!
Within them was Mai's agility, Ryo's power, Heidern's ruthlessness, Robert's speed!
Facing this all-encompassing, nearly flawless assault, Kyo merely... smiled dismissively.
"Fancy tricks!"
"Style 108: Yami Barai!"
He casually swept his hand, and a crescent of crimson flames hugging the ground shot forward like the Reaper's scythe, instantly incinerating all of Cloud's afterimages to ash!
Then he pressed forward, a seemingly ordinary straight punch carrying heat enough to burn all creation, driving straight at Cloud's face!
BOOM!
Cloud crossed his arms to tank the blow, his entire body blasted back over a dozen steps, searing pain exploding through his forearms!
...
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