On the other side of the campfire—
Leona, that cold and taciturn "flower among soldiers," sat quietly throughout.
She said nothing, only watching with those ice-blue eyes—the man who was bonding so easily with her two "meathead" teammates.
Her heart was in turmoil.
At first, when she learned from Ralf and Clark that her savior was the famous "King of Fighters" Cloud, her guard went up.
In her view, someone who could reach such heights must be deeply calculating, decisive in killing—perhaps even ruthless and cold.
But after these past few days together, she discovered...
She had been... completely wrong.
This man, though monstrously strong, had no airs about him whatsoever.
He would laugh so hard at Ralf's corny jokes that he'd nearly fall over.
He would childishly bicker with Clark like elementary schoolers over accidentally adding too much salt.
He was like the boy next door.
Sunny, easygoing, with a touch of irresistible warmth.
Especially when his gaze occasionally met hers—deep in those eyes wasn't scrutiny or probing, but an emotion she'd never experienced before: something called "heartache."
This man...
Could he somehow see through to her heart, which had been frozen for over a decade?
[Ding! Target Leona Heidern's Affection has changed: +10 +20 (He's completely different... from what I imagined... He... doesn't seem to... dislike me...)]
Just then, Cloud suddenly turned his gaze toward her.
"Leona."
"Hm?" Leona blinked slightly.
"The Ikari Warriors should have received an invitation for this year's KOF '96, right?"
Leona nodded.
"Are you... planning to participate?"
At his words, those ice-blue eyes instantly dimmed.
She unconsciously hugged herself, her voice becoming low.
"I... don't know."
"I'm... afraid."
She feared that demonic power lurking inside her.
She feared she would rampage again, hurt the people most important to her again.
Seeing her fragile state, full of "self-loathing" and "fear," Cloud felt a pang in his heart.
He slowly walked over and sat down beside her.
Then he spoke gently: "Power itself... has no sin."
"What's sinful is the cowardly heart that cannot control power."
"Leona, you're not alone."
"Go participate in KOF."
"Fight, grow stronger, face the deepest fears in your heart!"
"Tell that demon lurking inside you—"
Cloud reached out, gently ruffling her ice-blue hair—unexpectedly soft to the touch—and broke into a smile warm enough to melt ice.
"—the owner of this body is you, Leona Heidern."
"Not... it!"
"And if you're still afraid..."
His voice became infinitely gentle.
"...come find me."
"Anytime, anywhere."
"I'll help you."
In that moment, Leona froze completely.
She looked at this man before her, radiating an aura of warmth and safety like the sun itself.
Her heart, frozen for over a decade, melted beyond her control.
...
After bidding farewell to the Ikari Warriors team—now thoroughly "won over"—Cloud continued his "pre-tournament journey."
This day, he arrived at a European city pulsing with rock and punk vibes.
In a noisy live house, he "happened upon" a rock band performing passionately on stage—
"C.Y.S"!
The lead vocalist and guitarist was a tall young man with wild, flamboyant red hair, brimming with savage charisma—Yashiro Nanakase.
The bassist was a young-looking boy with smooth silver hair, features as delicate as a porcelain doll, carrying an androgynous beauty—Chris.
But the most eye-catching was...
The keyboardist and female vocalist!
She had long, wine-purple hair that exuded an intoxicating allure, and always wore a lazy yet seductive smile that could captivate any man.
She wore an extremely sexy pink leather outfit that perfectly outlined her bombshell figure. Those devilish S-curves, and those ample, springy hips swaying wildly with the music's rhythm, were simply... walking hormones!
She was the soul of C.Y.S, and the "sexy goddess" in countless rock fans' hearts—
Shermie!
[Ding! Detected: "Heavenly King of Orochi: Shermie of the Raging Lightning," "Heavenly King of Orochi: Yashiro of the Parched Earth," and "Heavenly King of Orochi: Chris of the Flames"!]
[Current Status: Unawakened.]
[System Commentary: Oh my, the three little ones are all here. Fan meet-and-greet? Host, I have a bold idea...]
Cloud looked at the three "young people" on stage, still unaware of their "tragic destiny," and a smile full of "mischief" curved at the corner of his mouth.
He knew that deep down, these three weren't bad people.
They were simply pitiful souls bound by the "fate of Orochi."
And Cloud, as a "helpful" Fourth Calamity—
His favorite thing to do was...
"Change the plot! Turn the bosses!"
...
When the set ended and the three band members emerged from backstage, drenched in sweat, a voice dripping with appreciation and flirtation suddenly sounded behind them.
"That was quite the performance."
"Especially... that beautiful young lady. The way your delicate fingers danced across those keys just now—it was more captivating than the most beautiful butterfly I've ever seen."
...
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