After solving Lin's team composition problem, Cloud set off for Japan. His next destination: Kusanagi Castle.
He needed to check on the "protagonist" Kyo Kusanagi, who had been used as a "blood bank" by NESTS for nearly half a year. Just how pathetic was he now?
Kusanagi Castle remained as ancient and stately as ever.
But when Cloud spotted Kyo Kusanagi in the rear courtyard dojo, he nearly burst out laughing.
Where was the "Child of Destiny" now?
Kyo wore loose loungewear, his face pale as a sheet of printer paper. His eye sockets were sunken, his dark circles so heavy they looked like smoky eyeshadow.
He slouched listlessly against a pillar, staring blankly at the cherry blossom tree in the yard—his entire being radiating "I have lost all will to live" energy.
"Yo, Kyo. Still looking like you've got kidney failure after all this time?" Cloud walked over and plopped down beside him without ceremony.
Kyo shot him a weak glare, lacking even the strength to roll his eyes properly. "Get lost."
"Don't be like that." Cloud patted his shoulder. "I came to check on you. I heard you're sitting out KOF this year? What's the matter—got traumatized from being drained and decided to retire as a house husband?"
"What do you know?!" At this, Kyo bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly animated. "I... I just need some time to... recuperate!"
"Recuperate?" Cloud raised an eyebrow.
He could sense that while the foundation of Kyo's "Blood of Kusanagi" remained intact, its vitality had plummeted to absolute zero.
Forget "Mu Shiki"—at this point, even trying to execute a simple "Style 108: Yami Barai" would probably leave him gasping for air.
[System Analysis: Target Kyo Kusanagi has suffered severe bloodline damage due to prolonged, excessive extraction of divine blood by NESTS. Significant power degradation detected. Current Ultimate Power: 10% (weakened state). Conclusion: Has fallen from "Child of the Patch" to "Patch's Abandoned Child."]
"Tsk tsk. What a tragedy~" Cloud shook his head.
Just then, a gentle young woman in a kimono approached carrying a steaming bowl of medicinal soup.
"Kyo, time to take your medicine."
It was Yuki.
She paused when she saw Cloud, then politely bowed in greeting. "Mr. Cloud. You're here."
"Yuki." Cloud smiled at her.
Watching this scene unfold, Cloud suddenly thought that despite Kyo's ruined strength, the guy seemed... oddly content?
The once-proud warrior, after experiencing such a major setback, had finally stopped being the "chuuni teenager" obsessed only with fighting. Now he had someone willing to stay by his side even at his lowest—a gentle girl who never abandoned him.
Perhaps this kind of "ordinary happiness" was more precious than any "KOF Championship" title.
However, not everyone shared that sentiment.
...
"Cloud! Please... please help Kyo!"
In another room of Kusanagi Castle, Kusanagi Aoi bowed deeply to Cloud, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Kyo has... he's never been this dejected before." Her voice quavered. "KOF is everything to him—all his pride. Now he can't even produce a basic flame. The blow has been devastating. He doesn't show it, but I know... in his heart... it's worse than death!"
"So please, Cloud! I know you must have a way! Please help him get back on his feet!"
Just as Aoi pleaded desperately, the familiar system chime rang in Cloud's mind.
[Ding! Intense emotional fluctuation detected! S-Rank Hidden Quest triggered: The Cousin's Hope!]
[Quest objective: Help Kyo Kusanagi recover his strength and confidence.]
[Quest rewards: 1. Source Points x200,000; 2. Chaos Divine Bloodline evolution +2%; 3. Kusanagi Aoi's affection maxed out!]
[System's Hot Take: Host! Look at this! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! As they say, keep the good things in the family~ Your nominal big brother is washed up now. His cute, pretty little cousin needs someone to "look after" her, don't you think? These rewards are basically free! What are you waiting for? Say yes!]
Cloud's eye twitched at the system's stream of shameless commentary.
This system was becoming more and more degenerate. It was even making jokes about "German orthopedics" now.
But... those rewards really were tempting.
"Alright, Aoi. Leave it to me." Cloud looked at the tearful, pitiful girl before him and gave her a reassuring "I've got this" smile.
He accessed the system shop and exchanged for a bottle of obviously extraordinary green liquid radiating life energy, along with several golden pills emanating a rich medicinal fragrance.
"This is Enhanced Life Holy Water, plus the Youth Edition of the Nine-Turn Revival Pill." Cloud handed the items to Aoi with a perfectly straight face while spouting complete nonsense. "Give these to your brother. Three times a day, one pill each time. I guarantee he'll be cured and back to dancing at the community square by tomorrow."
When the still-skeptical Aoi gave these "unbranded products" to Kyo...
A miracle happened.
After just one sip of "Life Holy Water," Kyo felt a warm, surging vitality spread through every limb and meridian.
His bloodline, dried up from excessive extraction, was like parched earth finally receiving rain—it began frantically absorbing this energy.
After swallowing one "Nine-Turn Revival Pill," he felt like his entire being was about to ascend!
The power within him shot upward like it had been injected with adrenaline!
[System Analysis: Kyo Kusanagi has consumed high-grade recovery items. Bloodline origin is rapidly restoring...]
[Current Ultimate Power: 10%... 25%... 40%... 50%!]
In just half an hour, Kyo's strength had rocketed from "trash-tier" back to a level rivaling his peak condition!
He sprang to his feet, right hand sweeping outward. A blazing crimson flame—more concentrated than ever before—erupted into existence!
...
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