"Phoenix Flame Formation!"
His form blurred into multiple afterimages as his savage kicks rained down like a tempest, instantly sending the charging Ralf and Clark flying!
"Severing Wind Swallow Mirror Breaker!"
He extended his hand, blades shooting from his sleeves at tricky angles, forcing back Terry and Ryo's combined assault!
His base power wasn't actually superior to Terry or Ryo, but his high-tech combat suit was incredibly troublesome.
Even fighters of Terry and Ryo's caliber couldn't gain the upper hand in one-on-one combat.
However, Clone Zero wasn't facing just one opponent today.
He was facing an entire "Avengers Assembly" ignited by fury!
"Energy Slam Dunk!"
"Tiger Thunder God!"
"Venom Strike!"
Under Cloud's coordination as "commander," dozens of elite fighters launched what could only be described as a shameless wheel strategy!
Tag in, tag out, you're up, I'm done! Finish your combo, don't get greedy, fall back immediately and let the next guy in!
This "gang fight" tactic left Clone Zero—who was accustomed to 1v1 or 1v3 scenarios—utterly frustrated.
His flashy techniques couldn't be fully deployed at all.
"A bunch of... despicable insects!" Clone Zero, driven mad by the endless harassment, roared and finally decided to unleash his ultimate!
He leaped backward to create distance, then spread his arms as a terrifying energy began concentrating around him!
The entire island shook violently!
"Witness this! This is... the pinnacle of NESTS technology!"
"This is... the power of a god!"
He soared high, and behind him materialized a massive vortex of dark energy—like a black hole made manifest!
"Pairon Mephistopheles!"
In that instant, all light in the control room was devoured by that black hole!
Everyone felt invisible hands seizing them, rendering them immobile!
A soul-rending suction force emanated from the black hole, as if trying to consume their very lives and souls!
This was KOF 2000's infamous full-screen instant-kill super—the move that had made countless players smash their controllers!
"It's over! Everything's over! Become cosmic dust!" Clone Zero cackled triumphantly from above.
Yet just as everyone thought their doom was sealed, a lazy voice dripping with contempt rang out.
"Full-screen instant kill? Heh. Flashy garbage."
Cloud had somehow appeared at the very front.
Facing that all-consuming black hole, he merely extended a single finger.
"Universe's Mightiest Orochinagi!"
A blazing white flame erupted from his fingertip! This was divine fire.
No earth-shattering explosion—just silent, absolute domination!
The instant that all-devouring black hole touched the flame, it popped like a punctured balloon with a muffled puff, then was simply burned out of existence.
Clone Zero's triumphant laughter froze on his face as he plummeted from the sky like a bird with clipped wings.
"Puh—!"
Clone Zero spat a mouthful of blood, staring at Cloud with disbelief and terror.
"What... what kind of monster are you?!"
"Me?" Cloud walked toward him slowly. "Just a professional villain terminator."
"Kill me!" Clone Zero struggled, a fanatical smile spreading across his face. "Dying at the hands of someone as powerful as you—I have no regrets!"
"Want to die? Not that easy." Cloud smirked coldly. "Until I've squeezed out your last bit of usefulness, you don't even have the right to commit suicide."
Just as he prepared to completely subdue Clone Zero and interrogate him about NESTS's final stronghold—
A cold, petite figure suddenly appeared before Clone Zero, blocking Cloud's path.
It was Kula.
Her eyes remained icy, but in her tightly clenched small hand was a half-eaten "White Lover" cookie.
"By... Lord Igniz's command..." Her voice carried an almost imperceptible tremor. "Providing backup... for Lord Zero."
"Kula! Quick! Kill him! Avenge me!" Clone Zero, spotting his salvation, screamed hysterically from the ground.
Kula looked at Cloud and slowly raised her hand. Bone-chilling cold began gathering in her palm.
Cloud watched her silently, his gaze fixed on her ice-blue eyes—eyes that were clearly struggling intensely.
His face still wore that familiar, warm smile.
Time seemed to freeze.
Kula's hand trembled.
Two voices warred frantically in her mind.
One said: "Obey orders! He's the enemy! Kill him!"
The other kept echoing: "Here, try this strawberry lollipop..."
"You're a person, not a tool..."
"When this is all over, I'll take you to try every ice cream flavor in the world..."
That sweet taste, those warm words, that gentle gaze...
Finally, the cold energy in her palm slowly dissipated.
She lowered her hand and gently shook her head at Cloud.
Then she turned to face the still-screaming Clone Zero and, for the first time, spoke with firm conviction—with her own will:
"I... refuse."
"You... you dare... betray Lord Igniz?!" Clone Zero completely lost it.
But Cloud simply smiled with satisfaction.
...
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