At that moment, Cloud was leisurely enjoying afternoon tea at Kusanagi Castle when a long-absent—but scalp-tingling—system notification echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Major world-line shift detected! "Gaia's Will" has issued a severe warning!]
[Epic Main Quest Initiated: Destiny of a Thousand Years!]
[Quest Background: One of Earth's "World Wills"—Orochi—who has slumbered for 1,800 years, is about to awaken. His most loyal servant, one of the "Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi," the "Tempest of Breath" Goenitz, has descended upon the mortal world. In the name of "God," he is unleashing "Cleansing" massacres across the globe, clearing obstacles for Orochi's resurrection.]
[Quest Objectives:]
1. (Main) Participate in the KOF 96 tournament and stop Goenitz's "Blood Sacrifice" conspiracy.
2. (Optional) Save the guardian of one of the Three Sacred Treasures, the "Yata Mirror"—Maki Kagura.
3. (Optional) Uncover the thousand-year mystery of the Orochi clan.
4. (Optional) Facilitate cooperation between the Three Sacred Treasure families to seal Goenitz.
[Quest Rewards: Calculated based on completion rate. Base rewards include but are not limited to: 150,000 Source Points, Orochi Blood, Divine Technique "Mu Shiki (Complete Version)," Divine Technique "Ya Sakazuki (Complete Version)," Kagura Family Sealing Arts...]
[Quest Failure Penalty: World... Restart.]
[Warning! This quest's difficulty rating is: WORLD-ENDING! Host... proceed with caution!]
Looking at those familiar yet ominous names, Cloud nearly spat out the premium Da Hong Pao tea he'd just sipped.
Goenitz?
Orochi?
World-ending?!
"What the fuck?! System, are you kidding me?!"
Cloud roared internally.
"KOF 95's final boss Rugal—I just scattered his ashes less than six months ago! And you're already fast-tracking me into the next expansion?!"
"This version update is way too fast! Does the dev team not need breaks?! I, the player, haven't even finished my newbie protection period! And you're throwing me straight into Hell difficulty?!"
[Host, please remain calm. According to system analysis, the plot acceleration may be related to your butterfly effect—you've been flapping too hard. The extraordinary power you displayed in KOF 95, plus your tampering with Orochi Blood, has attracted Gaia's Will's intense attention.]
"..."
Great. So the clown was me all along?
Cloud felt like a player who'd gone on a rampage in the starting village and accidentally triggered the hidden boss early.
He gazed at the clear sky outside, but seemed to see an invisible, icy eye watching him from above.
An unprecedented sense of crisis washed over him.
He knew he couldn't keep being a "lazy fish" anymore.
"Goenitz..."
He murmured, eyes flashing with gravity and killing intent.
He knew better than anyone just how terrifying that man called "the Priest" truly was!
One of the most oppressive, most badass bosses in the entire KOF series! A man who could summon world-destroying storms with a snap of his fingers, who could tear countless experts to shreds with a laugh!
And...
Cloud's mind conjured the KOF 96 storyline.
He remembered now.
Before KOF 96 began, Goenitz personally attacked the "Yata Mirror's" guardian family—the Kagura clan—to weaken the Three Sacred Treasures' power.
With overwhelming might, he killed the then-current Kagura clan head—the elder of the twin shrine maidens—Maki Kagura. This loosened Orochi's seal and caused the serpent god's premature descent.
"Wait!"
Cloud's eyes went wide.
"I can prevent this tragedy!"
A bold—even crazy—plan rapidly took shape in his mind!
"System, locate the Kagura Shrine's position!"
[Location successful. Tokyo suburbs, Japan.]
"Perfect!"
Cloud's eyes gleamed with the light of tactical genius (or unhinged scheming).
He knew that Goenitz's actions, while seemingly random, must follow a pattern.
He would definitely strike the Kagura Shrine at a specific moment suitable for wielding Orochi's power.
And I, Cloud, as a "prophet" who knows the plot...
Can totally...
"I predicted your prediction!"
Without hesitation, he immediately found Kyo Kusanagi, who was busy "educating" Benimaru Nikaido at the dojo as usual.
"Kyo, I've got urgent business. Gotta run."
"Huh? Where to?"
Kyo sent Benimaru flying with an Oniyaki and asked curiously.
"To... save a beautiful woman whose life is about to be snuffed out."
Cloud offered a random excuse.
"???"
Question marks popped up over Kyo's head.
Without giving Kyo any chance to follow up, Cloud's figure transformed into a golden streak of light and vanished beyond Kusanagi Castle's horizon.
His destination was singular—
The Kagura Shrine!
Goenitz! You pretentious prick!
You think you're the "God" who controls everything?
Today, I'll show you what "dimensional crushing" from the "Fourth Calamity" really looks like!
I, Cloud, will not only save Maki Kagura...
I'm going to "steal" you, the BOSS, before your time!
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"