"Sigh..."
Cloud let out his signature sigh, full of "champion's troubles," for the Nth time.
"I've lived my life without worldly ambitions, keeping to myself. Why... do so many girls keep lusting after my body?"
Just as this pre-match period was filled with "gunpowder" and "gossip"—the opening ceremony finally began!
...
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"Fighting enthusiasts from around the world!"
The host's passionate voice, capable of igniting the entire venue, echoed throughout the Tokyo Dome through the speakers!
"Welcome to the opening ceremony of the 1996 King of Fighters World Tournament, exclusively sponsored by the Kagura Financial Group!!!"
Accompanying his soaring cry and the ocean-like roar of the crowd—
A brilliant white figure, radiating holiness and nobility, slowly rose from a platform to the center of the arena, like a fairy descending from the moon palace!
In that instant, the entire bustling Tokyo Dome fell into an eerie, time-frozen silence.
Everyone's gaze was completely captivated by this woman who seemed to have stepped out of a painting!
She wore a pure white miko outfit brimming with classical elegance.
Her long, lustrous black hair was tied high with a red ribbon.
That exquisite face, flawless to the point of perfection, carried an innate, queen-like nobility and confidence.
Those phoenix eyes, bright as obsidian, sparkled with a radiance that could outshine the stars!
She was the chairwoman of the Kagura Financial Group!
The guardian priestess of the "Yata Mirror," one of the Three Sacred Treasures!
And the true "host" of this KOF '96 tournament—
Chizuru Kagura!
"Wow... who... who is that?! She's too beautiful!"
"My god! She's the chairwoman of Kagura Financial Group?! So young?!"
"I hereby declare! From today on, she is my new goddess! Athena Asamiya who? Don't know her!"
After a brief moment of silence, the venue erupted in howls even more frenzied than before!
Countless male spectators felt their hearts pierced by Cupid's arrow in that moment!
And even those fighters in the competitors' area—who considered themselves "well-traveled"—were equally stunned by Chizuru Kagura's "nation-toppling" beauty and the terrifyingly deep power emanating from her!
"Such... such powerful qi..." Ryo Sakazaki's eyes filled with gravity.
"This woman... is no ordinary person." Even Terry dropped his usual carefree attitude.
Even the normally "arrogant" Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami unconsciously narrowed their pupils upon seeing Chizuru Kagura!
From this woman, they sensed an aura of "divinity" that shared the same source as their own—perhaps even purer and more vast!
Only Cloud, watching the "little girl" basking in everyone's worship like a queen under the spotlight, wore a smile of "proud father" satisfaction.
He knew this proud "little phoenix" had finally...
Spread her wings and soared.
"Welcome, fighters, to the stage of KOF '96."
Chizuru Kagura's voice, transmitted through the microphone, reached every corner of the venue.
Her voice was clear and pleasant, carrying a hint of girlish liveliness, yet also containing a queen's majesty!
"I know many of you are confused about this year's tournament."
"Why is the format so special?"
"Why is our Kagura clan the host?"
Her gaze slowly swept across every fighter present, her eyes becoming incredibly sharp!
"Because..."
"A storm capable of overturning the entire world is approaching."
"And we need to gather the strength of all the world's strongest fighters to... face it!"
"KOF has never been a battle for one person alone!"
"It is a shared battlefield for all those who possess the soul of a fighter!"
"So..."
Her face broke into that confident, challenging queen's smile once more!
"Show me everything you've got... and entertain me!"
"The final victor will not only gain supreme glory and the right to challenge the King of Fighters!"
Her gaze casually flicked toward the rest area where Cloud sat, and deep in those eyes flashed a mischievous, challenging gleam that only Cloud could understand.
"They will also receive... a personal reward from me, Chizuru Kagura."
BOOM——!!!!!!
Her declaration, dripping with "ambiguity" and "temptation," instantly pushed the venue's atmosphere to its absolute peak!
Countless male fighters felt their blood ignite completely in that moment!
Their eyes blazed with passionate flames!
Challenge the King of Fighters?
Who cares about that?!
What we want is... the goddess's "personal reward"!!!
And Cloud, watching the "little girl" on stage freely radiating her damn charm, felt his temples throbbing.
Well played.
I treat you like my "future wife," and you're out here... creating rivals for me in front of the whole world?!
Just then, he felt a sharp pain in both arms.
Mai Shiranui and Yuri Sakazaki—their small hands filled with "murderous intent"—had already left two bright red pinch marks on his arms.
And Athena was also locking onto him with a "you'd better give us a reasonable explanation" death glare.
"Sigh..."
Cloud let out his signature "life-is-suffering" sigh for the N+1th time.
"This damn, uncontainable charm of mine..."
...
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