"You're unteachable!" Senior Asahi lamented, clutching his chest in dismay. "This is the essence of Kusanagi-Style Ancient Martial Arts—the perfect union of power and artistic conception!"
"What you're smelling isn't grilled meat, it's the fragrance of the Dao! It's the Zen of all things returning to their origin in ultimate flames! Can you feel it in your DNA?!"
Cloud's mouth twitched. Feel it? My DNA's practically tied itself into knots.
"Senior, I understand the theory," Cloud sighed helplessly, stuffing the grilled octopus into his mouth.
"But isn't this opening stance a bit too chuuni... I mean, too old-school? Every time before attacking, I have to strike a pose with my left hand pointing at the moon, right hand pointing at the ground, 'I alone am the honored one in heaven and earth,' then shout at maximum volume: THREE THOUSAND! WORLD INCINERATION! INFINITE! I feel like my vocal cords will enter the Infinite Hells before my opponent does."
"Nonsense!" Senior Asahi's beard bristled with indignation. "Ritual! Do you understand ritual?! This is a fighter's sense of ceremony! Just like that kid Kyo, habitually flicking his bangs before every move."
"The Yasakani clan's signature move back in the day was even more dramatic—they'd stop mid-fight to laugh maniacally at the sky for three minutes! It's all part of the persona! Without a resounding technique name and cool opening stance, how are you supposed to scam... ahem, attract fans during the KOF tournament broadcast?"
Cloud: "...You're truly a marketing genius."
After a month of "recuperation" in Mount Fuji's magma hot springs, Kyo's strength had rocketed upward. Especially under the "force-feeding" instruction of Kusanagi Asahi—this senior whose theoretical knowledge was MAX and combat experience rivaled a living encyclopedia—he had finally... "learned himself useless."
Yes, "learned himself useless."
Now whenever he closed his eyes, his mind was filled with images of Senior Kusanagi Asahi wildly gesticulating while demonstrating various MAX super specials, all while lecturing: "Watch carefully! This move is called Orochinagi—straightforward, brutal, explosive damage. The key is just going ham! The input command is down, back, down, forward + P. Simple, right? Come on, say it with me: +P! Yes, just like playing a video game!"
Cloud had been utterly floored at the time. So I've transmigrated into a real-life fighting game where I have to input commands on the spot?
And this ultimate technique "Three Thousand • World Incineration • Infinite" was even more heavyweight.
According to Senior Asahi, when unleashed, heaven and earth would change color. It could invoke the fire from the earth's core, forming a domain of absolute flames. Within that domain, all things would burn with no escape—hence "Infinite."
Its power was so great it transcended mere physical attack, reaching the level of causality-breaking strikes on the rules themselves.
Simply put: official cheat code, one-button screen clear.
"Alright, the sword is repaired, and you've mastered this heaven-sent fortune... I mean, this world-shaking sword technique." Senior Asahi patted Cloud's shoulder earnestly.
"It's time to descend the mountain. Go, young man, go create your own legend. Remember: when you can't win, shout your technique name—the more chuuni, the more powerful!"
Cloud: "...Thanks, I guess."
He carried the now-repaired Kusanagi Sword—its blade flowing with light like a breathing LED—to the crater's edge.
The restored Kusanagi Sword had gained a small USB port on its hilt. According to Senior Asahi, this was "keeping up with the times" for convenient charging and data transfer.
Cloud took a deep breath. He even wondered if plugging in a power bank would activate some hidden "fast-charging mode."
"Kyo, I'm leaving!" Cloud shouted toward the churning magma below.
"AWOOOO—!!!"
What answered him wasn't Kyo's familiar voice—lazy yet confident—but a resounding wolf howl.
Then the magma exploded with a "BOOM," and a head sporting the classic chestnut-style haircut shot out.
Kyo was shirtless, his muscular physique like an ancient Greek sculpture, golden flame patterns flowing across his skin, his eyes burning with roaring fire.
"Cloud! Wait a bit longer! I feel like I'm about to break through! My experience bar is at 99%! Once I hit max level and master the MAX super special, we can go knock Iori Yagami right out of his underwear!" Kyo roared excitedly, his voice echoing throughout the crater, shaking loose rocks from the walls.
Cloud's eyelid twitched. Good grief, other people go into seclusion to comprehend heaven and earth—you're just AFK grinding EXP? MAX super special? Why don't you get yourself a UR limited skin while you're at it?
"Alright, alright, you keep cheating. I'm heading down to find your love-hate best buddy." Cloud waved dismissively. "Remember: during training, stay humble, stay sober, quit smoking and drinking. Most importantly, there's no WiFi at the bottom of the mountain—forget about scrolling short videos."
Without waiting for Kyo's response, Cloud tapped his toe and transformed into a crimson streak, vanishing into the sky in an instant.
Any longer and he might've asked Kyo if those muscles were filtered with "one-click beauty shaping."
Tokyo.
As evening lights came on, this international metropolis revealed its cyberpunk side.
Cloud finally detected a faint but extremely distinctive purple light in an inconspicuous corner.
The aura emanating from that point was aloof and cold, like a waning moon hanging in a frigid night sky, yet with an unmistakable hint of... tsundere?
Found her! Cloud's eyes lit up. "Yata Tsukihime! Big data never lies—finding her means finding half of Iori Yagami's location!"
He confirmed the position—a traditional Japanese courtyard in Shibuya, completely incongruous with the surrounding modern buildings.
His figure flickered, soundlessly vaulting over the high wall and landing in the courtyard.
The courtyard was small but extremely elegant.
An ancient pine, a koi pond, a stone lantern.
Under the veranda, a girl with purple hair reaching her waist knelt, an ancient guqin placed before her.
She wore a deep purple kimono that made her skin look snow-white. Her profile was flawlessly perfect, long eyelashes lowered, her expression focused and cool—as if all the world's noise had nothing to do with her.
It was Yata Tsukihime.
...
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