Cloud stared at the mission panel and let out a long, heavy sigh.
He gently pushed aside the flock of beauties surrounding him and rose from that sinfully comfortable sofa.
"Ah, truly the life of a workaholic."
Walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, he gazed down at the roaring crowds and battle-charged atmosphere of the tournament venue below. A hint of resignation flickered in his eyes—along with a spark of excitement at finally getting to stretch his muscles.
The KOF 2000 tournament had officially begun amid thunderous fanfare and feverish anticipation.
Fighters from across the globe threw themselves into combat like they'd been injected with pure adrenaline, clashing in arenas throughout the city. They fought for glory, for prize money, and for the chance to witness whether the legendary "Boss Cloud" would once again descend to "farm some noobs."
The entire world seemed intoxicated by this festival of fighting.
Yet none of them knew that behind this grand spectacle, a certain scheming rat was quietly executing his "backdoor invasion" plan.
...
Low Earth Orbit
A space station bristling with menacing technological aesthetic—like a steel behemoth—hung silently in the cosmic void.
At its center, a grotesquely oversized cannon stretching over a kilometer in length slowly adjusted its barrel, ultimately locking onto a precise target on Earth below: South Town, the sleepless city made famous by the KOF tournament.
This was the main venue for the competition.
This was also one of NESTS's most hated locations.
Inside the station's control room, a man in a white trench coat with close-cropped silver hair watched the screen displaying massive combat energy data streaming in from tournament venues worldwide. A satisfied smile crept across his face.
He was Clone Zero—a high-ranking NESTS executive and the actual commander of this "Zero Cannon" operation.
"Heh heh... foolish mortals." Clone Zero observed the fighters battling intensely on screen, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do you think this is your arena of glory? No. You're wrong."
"You're nothing but power banks charging my conquest of the world!"
"The more fiercely you fight, the more powerful your energy, the more terrifying this Zero Cannon becomes! And your precious South Town will be the first sacrifice reduced to ash under divine artillery fire!"
He spread his arms wide like a conductor orchestrating a symphony of madness, speaking in rapture: "Come now! Fight harder! Go wilder! Play the most magnificent overture for the glorious destruction that's about to descend!"
...
South Town, KOF Main Venue, Premium VIP Suite
Cloud sat with his legs crossed, accepting bites of cantaloupe lovingly fed to him by Mai while watching various teams battle their way through the brackets on the large screen.
"Tsk tsk, that Benimaru kid—can't pick up women to save his life, but he's got some decent moves in a fight. And Shingo too, that crooked-mouth war god potential is really showing." Cloud commented like a sports analyst pontificating from his throne.
Just then, a familiar—but this time unusually urgent—warning tone blared through his mind.
[WARNING! WARNING! Detecting ultra-high energy signature in low Earth orbit! Energy source: NESTS Zero Cannon!]
[Energy charging complete! Target locked: South Town Main Venue! Estimated firing time: 60 seconds!]
[WARNING! This attack has reached city-annihilation level! Upon impact, all of South Town and surrounding areas will be instantly reduced to rubble with zero survivors!]
[System Trash Talk: Host! Stop slacking off! Your home's about to get raided! If you don't get off your ass, your girlfriends are going up to heaven along with South Town! Move it—time to show them what a real savior looks like!]
Cloud's expression instantly darkened.
He swallowed the cantaloupe in his mouth, the lazy amusement in his eyes replaced by ice-cold killing intent.
"Clone Zero... NESTS..." He rose slowly, dangerous light glinting in his gaze. "These sewer rats actually have the balls to play for keeps."
"Mai, Aoi—stay here. Don't go anywhere." He issued the instruction to the worried women beside him, then vanished from the suite in a flash.
The next instant, his figure appeared in the sky above South Town's main venue—hundreds of meters in the air.
He hovered there, gazing down at the city still lost in celebration below, his expression growing gravely serious.
"Hey! Terry! Ryo! And all my old friends in South Town who can hear me!"
Cloud's voice wasn't a shout, but it rang clear and direct in the minds of every top-tier fighter in South Town simultaneously—as if he'd been granted "global broadcast" privileges!
"Stop fighting! All of you, put down whatever you're doing and look up!"
"Some clueless delivery boy just sent a big package to our South Town!"
"Right now, I need your strength! Immediately! This instant!"
...
Cloud's sudden "telepathic transmission" froze every elite fighter in South Town in their tracks.
On the arena where Fatal Fury Team was locked in heated combat with the Art of Fighting Team.
Terry had just launched Robert flying with a Power Geyser and was about to press his advantage when Cloud's voice exploded in his mind. His head snapped up, eyes wide with shock.
"Cloud?"
Across from him, Robert also halted mid-Haoh Shoukou Ken, his face grave.
"That voice... it's him! Something's wrong!"
...
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