[Ding! Target Omega Rugal's vital signs approaching complete dissipation. The Orochi Blood energy within his body is in an extremely unstable state! Initiate Ultimate Plunder? Warning: This action carries certain risks and may cause energy backlash!]
"Risks? I, Cloud, have never backed down from anything in my life!"
Cloud's eyes glittered with the light of a gambling addict.
"Fortune favors the bold! Strike while he's down! Suck him dry! Don't even leave his DNA behind!"
[Ultimate Plunder initiated! Forcibly extracting all energy sources from target... Detecting large quantities of "Orochi Blood (Berserk Version)"... Detecting Divine Combat Instinct (Low-grade)... Detecting "Kaiser Wave Ultimate Secret"...]
[Plunder successful! Congratulations, Host! You have obtained "Orochi Origin Power (Trace Amount)." Special talent Mind's Eye has evolved to Divine Eye! Acquired skill: Ultimate Kaiser Wave!]
BOOM!!!
A surge of dark energy—more overwhelming, more pure, and more violent than anything before—flooded into Cloud's body like a dam bursting!
He felt every cell in his body screaming in agony and excitement under this power's baptism!
His body seemed to be undergoing the ultimate metamorphosis from "mortal" to "demigod"!
And in his mind appeared countless combat insights, as instinctive as breathing! As if he were born to be a god of war standing above billions of living beings!
"Mr. Rugal."
Cloud felt the explosive power within him and offered three seconds of fake mourning to the corpse that had completely disintegrated into ash.
"Thank you, logistics captain, for once again delivering legendary equipment from across the globe. I'll take good care of your legacy."
...
Meanwhile, across the world.
On countless screens, the image of Cloud hoisting the championship trophy and being crowned king played on repeat.
Kyo Kusanagi clenched his fists, unprecedented flames burning in his eyes.
"Little brother... you bastard, you've gotten ahead of me..."
"But I absolutely won't give up! Next time, the KOF championship will definitely be mine—Kyo Kusanagi's!"
Elsewhere.
In Iori Yagami's crimson eyes flickered maddened battle-hunger and a trace of barely perceptible jealousy.
"Cloud... Very good! You've successfully... excited me!"
"Your blood must taste delicious!"
And in an unnoticed church somewhere.
A handsome man with a gentle demeanor, dressed in priest's robes, watched the broadcast with a smile.
He gently wiped a black-covered Bible in his hands, speaking in a magnetic voice like a hymn:
"What an... interesting variable..."
"It seems the Lord's glory shall descend upon this filthy earth... ahead of schedule."
...
When Cloud returned to his beachside villa in South Town, what awaited him was a victory party even grander and crazier than last year's.
The villa overflowed with beer foam, the aroma of barbecue, and various gossip with undertones of jealousy.
"Holy shit! Cloud! You soloed Rugal by yourself! You absolute freak!" Terry chugged his beer while yelling.
"Ahem, I prefer 'savior of the world, guardian of peace,'" Cloud corrected righteously.
Meanwhile, Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki had formed a "gossip alliance," huddled together whispering.
"Cloud's got so many new fangirls after the tournament..."
"Yeah, the way they look at him is so weird."
"...Do you think Cloud might get stolen by those vixens..."
Hearing this "secret conversation," Cloud felt his head starting to ache again.
The troubles of a champion were just this... simple and unadorned.
...
When the raucous party finally ended and night fell quiet.
Cloud finally had time to lie alone in bed and tally up his final haul from this KOF 95 journey.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Special side quest completed: Birth of the Ultimate "Babysitter"!]
[Quest rewards: 80,000 Source Points, Skill Book "Yagami-Style Ancient Martial Arts Ultimate: Ya Sakazuki," Skill Book "Kusanagi-Style Ancient Martial Arts Ultimate: Mu Shiki (Incomplete Version)," Special Title: KOF's Ultimate Babysitter.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! Main quest completed: The King's Road to Title Defense!]
[Quest rewards: 150,000 Source Points, Orochi Power Fragment (Mid-grade) x1, New system function unlocked: Bond Shop.]
Looking at that dizzying string of zeros and those two legendary "Ultimate Secret" skill books, Cloud felt like he was about to have a heart attack.
Overnight riches!
This was real overnight riches!
"System! I love you! Mwah mwah!"
[...Host, please maintain dignity. This system does not engage in such behavior.]
Cloud suppressed the urge to immediately go "whale" on purchases and turned his attention to those two skill books.
"Still not enough!"
Madness flickered in his eyes!
"System, activate Skill Fusion! Merge the Yagami Blood and Yagami-Style martial arts I plundered with my Kusanagi Heavenscorch Scripture into the ultimate fusion!"
[Ding! Two top-tier powers detected—same origin but mutually suppressive. This fusion will produce unpredictable mutations! Estimated cost: 100,000 Source Points. Confirm?]
"Confirmed! Max it out! Don't worry about the money!"
[Ultimate Fusion initiated! Analyzing the origins of Azure Flame and Crimson Flame... Analyzing the opposing unity of Yin and Yang...]
Cloud felt his body transform into a Yin-Yang Taiji diagram!
...
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