Within that white light of destruction, the small energy barrier held up by dozens of elite heroes swayed violently like a leaf in a storm. Though it cracked and reformed continuously, it never shattered!
It hovered in mid-air, protecting all of South Town!
"AAAHHH——!!!"
Beneath the barrier, every fighter gritted their teeth, squeezing out their last reserves of strength, pouring everything upward!
Blood trickled from the corner of Terry's mouth.
Ryo's gi shredded inch by inch.
Cracks appeared on Chin Gentsai's gourd.
They were using their flesh and blood to withstand the artillery of "gods"!
And Cloud, at the very front, bore over ninety percent of the pressure!
He felt his body being torn apart, bones screaming, blood boiling!
But he couldn't retreat!
Because behind him lay the city he swore to protect, the comrades he treasured, the people he loved!
"HOLD... THE... LINE!!!"
He unleashed an earth-shaking roar, converting the recently absorbed "Demon King Qi" and "Dragon Spirit" into protective power, channeling it all into the barrier!
Time lost meaning. It felt like an eternity.
Finally, the destructive beam exhausted its energy and slowly dissipated.
The sky returned to calm.
Below their feet stretched a massive, still-smoking ring-shaped crater.
But the city was saved.
And at that crater's very center, on a small "safety island" constructed of pure energy—
Dozens of heroes, though wounded and battered, remained alive.
Cloud slowly descended, surveying the devastated landscape of his home, then looked back at his exhausted companions—exhausted but with indomitable fire still burning in their eyes.
His gaze turned ice-cold with killing intent.
He slowly raised his head, his vision seeming to pierce the atmosphere, locking onto the failed cannon still hanging in space.
"Very good."
"You've successfully... made me take this seriously."
...
Having tanked a "city-annihilation level" attack and preserved South Town's "hero squad," Cloud's rage meter was now completely maxed out.
"Clone Zero, is it? NESTS, is it?" He hovered above the ruins of South Town, his expression cold enough to drop Antarctic temperatures another twenty degrees. "You've done well. You've successfully awakened my desire to demolish your house."
He turned to address the fighters behind him—still catching their breath but burning with vengeful fire.
"Everyone, that was just the appetizer. Now comes the main course!"
With Heidern and Norton working together, Clone Zero's secret base was quickly located.
The group would take the "Vengeance" express jet to an island in the Pacific.
"A VIP express jet courtesy of Mr. Norton—direct route to the boss room, no queuing, no trash mobs to clear." Cloud flashed a cold smile at the assembled fighters. "So then, everyone—ready to collect your payback?"
"HAAAH——!!!"
The response came as a roar of fury and battle-intent from dozens of elite warriors!
The next second, with Cloud at the lead, the "Avengers Assembly" of fighters piled into the jet like dumplings into a pot.
They had only one objective: send the bastard who dared poke the hornet's nest back to whatever hell he crawled out of—along with his entire base!
...
Clone Zero was still basking in his delusion of having "flattened South Town with one shot," already daydreaming about firing a few more rounds at the rest of the world.
However, his euphoria lasted less than three seconds.
The main control room's door—forged from super-alloy and several meters thick—suddenly exploded inward with a thunderous boom, kicked clean off its hinges by someone outside using decidedly uncivilized methods.
Immediately after, a mob of fighters radiating "we're here for blood" energy and murder in their eyes poured in like gangsters collecting protection money.
Leading them was the one man Clone Zero least wanted to see—the one he feared most: Cloud.
Cloud offered the dumbfounded Clone Zero a friendly international gesture, wearing his most "benevolent" smile. "Heard you're the one who just tossed a big firecracker at my front door?"
Clone Zero stared at these "ghosts" who should have been vaporized, his brain completely blue-screening.
"Im... impossible! How can you... still be alive?!" Disbelief was written all over his face.
"Nothing's impossible." Terry cracked his knuckles, producing a series of satisfying pops. "Because you messed with the wrong people."
"Enough talk!" Ryo was more direct, roaring as he assumed his battle stance. "Hand over your life!"
...
Facing this murderous "demolition crew," Clone Zero finally snapped out of his shock.
The pathological elegance and madness befitting a high-ranking NESTS executive returned to his face.
"Heh heh... hehehehe..." He began laughing softly, the sound growing louder, more deranged.
"Interesting, truly interesting! You actually managed to tank the Zero Cannon..."
"Since you've delivered yourselves to my door, then I'll..."
He ripped off his white trench coat, revealing a black combat suit covered in strange patterns underneath. A massive, malevolent aura erupted from within!
The entire island trembled from that power!
"...personally reduce you to dust beneath my lord's feet!"
And so, an ultimate showdown worthy of the term "clash of titans" began!
It had to be said—Clone Zero, as KOF 2000's end boss, possessed unquestionable strength.
His combat suit was linked to the NESTS space station's energy core, providing him with an endless supply of power.
His techniques were bizarre, flashy, and utterly deadly!
...
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