Yashiro Nanakase still wore that wild, unrestrained look, even toying with a bass pick in his hand.
Shermie was blowing kisses at the audience, as if this wasn't a tournament venue but her fan meet-and-greet.
And Chris, the first to fight—that innocent-looking golden-haired boy—had his head lowered, a faint, eerie smile at the corners of his lips.
"First match: Hell Band's Chris versus Fatal Fury Team's Andy!"
Fight!
"Let me experience the power of the Shiranui style!" Chris raised his head, face showing an innocent smile, but his words were full of provocation.
"Hmph!" Andy snorted coldly, wasting no words. His form blurred, instantly splitting into countless afterimages!
"Zan'ei Ken!"
The aura of a 99% development powerhouse expanded instantly!
The entire arena seemed to become Andy's personal stage.
Countless real and fake Andys attacked Chris from all directions!
Faced with this attack that would dazzle any opponent, Chris simply stood in place, motionless.
The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a cold indifference—like that of a deity looking down upon mortals.
"Too slow."
He uttered just three words.
Then, an indescribable, soul-shaking terror exploded from his slender body!
"BOOM—!!!"
Purple flames!
Purple flames like hellfire surged toward the heavens!
Those flames were filled with an aura of ominousness, destruction, and madness!
They instantly shattered Andy's proud "Shadow Domain" into pieces!
All the afterimages were reduced to nothing under the purple flames' scorching!
Andy's real body scrambled out of the flames, face written with shock and disbelief.
"This... this is... the Yagami clan's Azure Flame?! How is this possible?!!"
Not just him—the competitor spectating area had exploded as well.
Kyo Kusanagi shot up from his seat, staring fixedly at the boy wrapped in purple flames on the arena, his expression more dramatic than if he'd seen a ghost.
"Ya... Yagami-style Ancient Martial Arts?! Why does that kid know Iori Yagami's moves?!" He muttered to himself, his brain CPU overloading. "Could it be... could it be that guy... is the secret love child of Iori Yagami's father and some female fan?!"
This absurd guess earned him concerned "is he okay?" looks from Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon beside him.
"Kyo, calm down," Benimaru said, pressing his forehead. "Stop assuming everyone is someone's secret love child."
Meanwhile, in the VIP spectator section, Cloud's expression had grown serious.
"Here it comes... the awakening."
Yes, Chris had awakened.
He was no longer the innocent lead singer of a band, but one of Orochi's Four Heavenly Kings—the one who controlled the "Fate of Flames"—Orochi Chris!
"The game is over."
After awakening, Chris's voice had become androgynous and ethereal.
He raised his hand, a cluster of purple flame dancing in his palm.
"Dark Serpent Wave."
He slowly pushed out that palm strike.
It lacked the heaven-destroying, earth-shattering momentum of Kyo Kusanagi's "Orochinagi," and it didn't have the mad, murderous intent of Iori Yagami's "Ya Otome."
This technique held only ultimate eeriness and destruction.
The purple wave of flames, like a tsunami, instantly engulfed the entire arena.
Andy gave everything he had, unleashing his super move "Chou Reppa Dan" to try to resist.
But before the power of the "Fate of Flames," all resistance seemed so pale and powerless.
[K.O.]
The 99% Absolute Domain powerhouse, the genius of the Shiranui style, Andy Bogard—defeated.
One-shot kill.
The venue fell silent.
Everyone was stunned speechless by what they'd witnessed.
"How... how can this be?" Joe Higashi's jaw dropped. He hadn't even seen what happened before his teammate was gone.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and stepped onto the arena.
"Damn brat! Take this!"
"Explosive Hurricane Tiger Kick!"
His 99% development "Death Tornado Domain" fully deployed! Joe tried to use his strongest technique to avenge his teammate!
However, the result was the same.
Chris simply waved his hand lightly.
"Sunshine of Scorching Flames."
The purple flames transformed into two dancing butterflies, gracefully and elegantly passing through Joe's violent tornado, imprinting themselves on his chest.
[K.O.]
The Muay Thai champion, Joe Higashi—defeated.
Same thing—one-shot kill.
The Hell Band, with just one person—a seemingly harmless boy—had effortlessly one-shot two top-tier fighters from the Fatal Fury Team!
The entire Tokyo Dome fell silent as the grave.
An atmosphere called despair began to spread among the audience and competitors.
How could anyone fight this?
This wasn't even combat on the same dimension! The opponent was basically a GM with official hacks!
"Ha... haha..."
Just as everyone had sunk into silence, a hearty laugh full of unyielding will broke through the stillness.
Terry Bogard, the soul of the Fatal Fury Team, the eternal legend of South Town, slowly walked onto the arena.
He removed his cap, revealing those golden eyes that shone brighter than the sun itself.
He looked at Chris across from him, his face showing not the slightest fear—only burning fighting spirit.
"Hey, kid," he said with a smile. "Your flames are impressive, I'll give you that. But... if you think that's enough to beat me, Terry? You're about a hundred years too early!"
Chris looked at him expressionlessly. "Futile resistance."
"Is that so?"
Terry grinned, revealing his white teeth.
He slowly assumed a stance that everyone knew all too well.
"Pow..."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached every single person's ears with perfect clarity.
Then, the entire world seemed to change.
Heaven and earth shifted color!
The Tokyo Dome's holographic projection ceiling—which had been showing blue skies and white clouds—was instantly replaced by endless dark clouds!
A power surging from the depths of the earth itself—ancient and vast—began gathering into Terry's body!
Beneath his feet, the hardened alloy arena began cracking inch by inch!
His body radiated an unprecedented, dazzling golden light!
His health bar, at this moment, broke through the limit of green, transforming into... a blazing, golden flame... the Ultimate Form!
"—GEYSER!"
A roar that shattered heaven and earth!
...
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