Just as the entire arena was about to erupt in thunderous cheers and applause—
A voice rang out.
It was gentle and benevolent, yet carried an overwhelming divine authority, as if descending from the highest heavens themselves. It echoed softly in everyone's ears.
"The so-called King of Fighters... how interesting."
"Well then..."
"Let me try being one too."
The moment those words fell—
WHOOOOSH—!!
An eerie, violent gale erupted from nowhere inside the sealed Tokyo Dome, carrying with it an aura of calamity and destruction.
The wind was impossibly cold. Savage.
It howled through the stadium with such force that the spotlights overhead groaned in protest before shattering one by one.
Every soul present felt as if their very spirits were being frozen solid.
"This wind..."
Up on the VIP platform, Chizuru Kagura's usually confident and proud face had turned deathly serious.
She shot to her feet and barked out a series of commands to every security officer in the venue.
"Move! Evacuate all spectators immediately! Everyone out—NOW!"
"All fighters, prepare for combat!"
"The man who brings calamity... he's here!"
Her eyes blazed with grim determination.
Goenitz's declaration—dripping with the gravitas befitting a god—echoed through the silent Tokyo Dome like a final judgment. The atmosphere in the entire arena froze solid in an instant.
That terrifying gale, appearing from thin air and reeking of doom and annihilation, was like an invisible giant's hand crushing the heart of every person present.
Tens of thousands of spectators, along with media reporters from around the world, stood frozen in place as if struck by a paralysis spell. Not a single one could move.
Their faces were masks of pure terror.
They didn't know what was happening.
All they knew was that something had arrived—something so horrifying that even drawing breath felt like a luxury.
In the competitors' area, the situation wasn't much better.
These elite fighters—men and women who considered themselves battle-hardened veterans who had "seen it all"—were in no better shape.
Sure, most of them had heard legends about the "Divine Tribe of the Heavenly Nation" through various channels.
But when they actually faced this man—the leader of the legendary "Four Heavenly Kings of Orochi"—they finally understood with crystal clarity...
That aura of pure existence, warping space itself, making their very souls tremble in terror!
That divine pressure treating all creation as mere grass and dogs, as if the entire world lay crushed beneath his feet!
They couldn't even muster the strength to lift a single finger.
How... how were they supposed to fight this?!
This wasn't even combat in the same dimension!
This was like a bunch of max-level players suddenly encountering a GM sent by the game company to ban their accounts!
...
"Hmph. What a pathetic bunch of mortals."
Goenitz, wearing his immaculate priest's vestments, descended slowly from midair to the center of the arena.
He didn't even spare a glance at the fighters who were practically dying where they stood from his overwhelming presence.
His emotionless golden eyes swept past everyone, locking onto that one figure who had acted like he was completely unaffected this entire time—Cloud.
A gentle smile spread across his face.
"Cloud, was it?"
"We meet again."
"This time... your little tricks won't work anymore."
Clearly, he still harbored a grudge about their last encounter at Kagura Shrine, where Cloud had blindsided him with that "Ya Sakazuki + Mu Shiki" combo and actually managed to wound him.
But even in this atmosphere of absolute despair and oppression—
Several roars of defiance and stubborn resistance shattered the deathly silence!
"Don't... don't get so full of yourself! You... you fake priest!"
"We're not... just lambs for you to slaughter!"
It was Kyo Kusanagi! Terry Bogard! Ryo Sakazaki!
These men who stood at the pinnacle of "mortal" achievement, whose willpower was forged from steel itself!
Through sheer force of will and their unbreakable warrior's hearts, they had somehow broken free from Goenitz's terrifying divine pressure!
Crimson flames of the "Sun"!
Golden aura of the "Legend"!
Orange fists of the "Invincible Dragon"!
Three domains representing the absolute peak of mortal combat power unleashed without restraint!
From three different directions, they transformed into three streaks of light, charging toward that god-like, invincible man with the tragic determination of warriors facing certain death.
"Orochinagi!"
"Power Geyser!"
"Tenchi Haoh Ken!"
Three ultimate techniques—each capable of leveling a mountain—launched simultaneously!
But facing this combined strike that would make any "quasi-Boss level" fighter pale with fear...
Goenitz merely shook his head slightly.
His expression was that of someone watching three moths throwing themselves into flames in a pathetic suicide attempt.
"I told you already."
"Below 90% Absolute Domain, all your attacks are meaningless before a god."
Goenitz didn't even shift his footing. He simply raised his right hand casually.
Then flicked it forward.
"Return to nothing, wind."
"Yami Doukoku!"
In that instant, the world lost all sound. All color.
Endless black hurricanes erupted from within him, surging forth like a mad tide!
In the blink of an eye, those three ultimate techniques—brimming with "hope" and "defiance"—were swallowed up like candle flames being snuffed out.
The attack continued unabated, slamming into the chests of the three men who stood frozen in disbelief.
Pfft—!
Three arcs of blood traced beautiful curves through the air.
...
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