A restless energy began to permeate the air of South Town.
This wasn't the usual bloody tension that preceded gang wars—the violence and brutality that locals had grown accustomed to.
No, this was something purer. Something more primal.
Fighting spirit.
The catalyst? Mysterious pitch-black invitation letters, each stamped with the letter 'R,' had landed like stones cast into a still lake, sending shockwaves through the global fighting community.
"The King of Fighters 94" — KOF 94!
An unprecedented grand tournament inviting the world's greatest fighters to compete in three-person teams!
"Holy shit! KOF 94! It's finally happening!"
When Cloud received the heavy, textured invitation from Terry—still carrying the faint scent of gunpowder—he felt it in his bones. His very DNA seemed to vibrate with excitement.
For a transmigrator, especially one who loved fighting games, what did this mean?
It meant the main storyline was finally freaking starting!
All that underground fighting, romancing beautiful women, and living in luxury villas? That was just tutorial content. Daily quests in the starter village.
But the KOF tournament? This was the real "major patch update." The epic raid where heroes emerged and gods clashed!
He opened the invitation. Inside was a brief but domineering declaration, along with detailed competition rules.
The organizer's signature bore only a single mysterious letter—R.
"'R'? Rugal Bernstein..." Cloud's eyes flickered with both excitement and gravity.
He knew better than anyone what that 'R' represented. It was the KOF series' first major boss, one of the most oppressive villains in fighting game history—that deranged arms dealer who loved collecting fighters and turning them into statues!
The moment his fingers touched the invitation, his dormant System chimed to life.
[Ding! World-level plot event "KOF 94 Tournament" detected!]
[Main Quest officially activated: Challenger of KOF 94!]
[Quest Objective: Form a three-person team, participate in the KOF 94 tournament, and reach at least the Top 8.]
- Top 8 Reward: 40,000 Source Points
- Top 4 Reward: 50,000 Source Points, 1x Random A-Rank Skill Lottery Ticket
- Champion Reward: 80,000 Source Points, 1x 'Orochi Blood Fragment (Low-Grade)', 1x Designated S-Rank Bloodline/Skill Plunder Opportunity, Unlock Special Title: 'First King of Fighters'
Staring at that dazzling array of rewards—especially "Orochi Blood Fragment"—Cloud's breathing grew ragged.
Orochi Blood!
That was one of the most core, most broken power systems in the entire KOF universe!
Possessing it meant unlimited potential and a ticket to the realm of gods!
He'd already awakened his Absolute Domain, but that was more of a personal breakthrough in power and state of being.
Orochi Blood, however, represented something on an entirely different level—power rooted in bloodlines and divinity itself!
"I'm doing this! I have to!" Cloud clenched his fists. "I'm gonna beat Rugal so hard he'll shit himself!"
His confidence was through the roof.
With his Absolute Domain at 10% and his "Frankenstein monster" of a martial art—the utterly broken Shiranui Battle God Style—he was certain that at this point in time, aside from Rugal himself and a handful of hidden powerhouses, nobody could touch him!
Plus, Cloud was improving almost daily. By the finals, even he was curious to see how strong he'd become.
However, dreams are beautiful. Reality? Not so much.
When he excitedly set out to assemble his "dream team," an extremely practical problem slapped him in the face—
He couldn't find any teammates.
...
The atmosphere in Cloud's villa living room was... awkward.
"So..." Cloud looked at the two beautiful women sitting before him, testing the waters. "You're telling me you're forming your own team... without me?"
"What do you mean 'without you'? That sounds so harsh!" Mai crossed her arms, looking completely justified. "Us girls forming our own team is perfectly natural! What would it look like if a grown man like you tagged along?"
"Exactly!" Yuri nodded vigorously beside her, her cute face radiating excitement. "Mai and I already talked it over! We're going to England to invite King to join us and form a super~ amazing 'Women Fighters Team'! Doesn't that sound so cool?!"
Cloud: "..."
Great. I treated you like teammates, and you're treating me like an outsider?
He felt like an abandoned old man, forsaken by the entire world—forced to watch his "harem" skip off hand-in-hand to join other teams.
"You really have the heart to watch me fight alone?" Cloud tried playing the sympathy card. "What if I get triple-teamed by another squad and end up beaten black and blue? How could you live with yourselves?"
"Relax, relax~" Mai walked over and patted his head like she was soothing a child. The gesture was intimate, but her words cut deep.
"With your strength, even if you fought one-versus-three, probably nobody could beat you anyway. Besides, if someone does bully you... we'll just avenge you in the finals!"
Cloud wanted to cry but had no tears.
"What about Terry? Andy? Ryo and Robert?" He made one last desperate attempt.
"Them?" Mai shrugged.
"Terry and Andy will definitely team up with their buddy Joe Higashi to form the 'Fatal Fury Team.' That's tradition for them. As for Ryo and Robert..." She glanced at Yuri. "Did you tell your brother?"
"I did!" Yuri raised her hand, looking proud of herself. "I told him I wanted to team up with Mai and the others. He was super worried, but he agreed! He said he'll form the 'Art of Fighting Team' with Robert and Dad, and they'll 'protect' me during the tournament!"
When she said "protect," she specifically glanced at Cloud. That look clearly meant: My brother's gonna give you some special "attention" during the matches, you know~
Cloud felt his heart go ice cold.
Great. Every single one of them had their own arrangements.
In the end, I'm the clown?
(The KOF main storyline begins! The fighting tournament arc starts! Please give stones and collections!!!)