[Ding! Congratulations to Host for successfully defeating Final BOSS Igniz! KOF 2001 main quest complete! Calculating rewards...]
However, the instant Igniz was erased, his final will—filled with hatred for the world—activated the space station's ultimate self-destruct sequence.
[ALERT! ALERT! Space station imminent disintegration! Thrusters set to maximum power, target—Earth! Estimated impact in 15 minutes! Impact will cause global ecological destruction, setting human civilization back one thousand years!]
The entire space station began to shake violently. Countless alarm lights flashed frantically. The massive steel dome began to tear apart, revealing the deep cosmos beyond.
"What the fuck! Flipping the table because you can't win?! Sore loser much?!"
Cloud looked at the blood-red countdown on the screen and couldn't help cursing.
But his face showed not a trace of panic.
Because just moments ago, he had obtained the highest control permissions for this space station through his plunder.
He simply snapped his fingers.
[Command received! Modifying space station flight trajectory... Modification successful!]
[New target: The Sun.]
[Estimated flight time: 7,200 hours.]
[Self-destruct sequence... cancelled.]
All the alarms stopped instantly.
The violent shaking gradually subsided.
This "Divine Throne," which had consumed countless resources and effort from NESTS, after losing its master, became a steel tomb drifting through the cosmos, heading toward the sun.
It would become the most brilliant firework marking the end of this era.
Cloud gazed at that beautiful blue planet in the distance and let out a long breath.
He glanced at the mountain of "war spoils" piled up in his System Space—representing NESTS's most advanced technology.
A deeply satisfied smile spread across his face.
"The KOF story... has ended."
"But my legend... has only just begun."
...
With Igniz having been formatted—human, server, and all—by Cloud's "metaphysics crushing technology" method, and the entire NESTS space station launched toward the sun like a "bottle rocket," the "NESTS Saga" spanning from KOF '99 to 2001 finally drew to a satisfying (for Cloud) close.
The world returned to peace once more.
Major media outlets hailed Cloud as the "Savior," "Guardian God of Humanity," and "Earth's Strongest Man." Honors and titles poured in like snowflakes, and there were people who wanted to erect a solid gold statue of him at his front door.
However, this "Savior," after elegantly declining all interviews and award ceremonies, once again chose to "hide his achievements and fame," returning to his beloved "retired official" lifestyle.
Though this time, his "retirement life" came with some new research projects.
...
Cloud's Luxury Estate, Third Underground Level.
Here, he had transformed the space into a super research base filled with cyberpunk aesthetics, rivaling Stark Industries' laboratories.
Countless holographic screens floated in the air, scrolling with dense data streams that would drive any scientist mad with desire.
[Genetic sequence maps: K', Kula, Angel... Data analysis in progress...]
[Zero-type battle armor energy core structural diagram... Reverse engineering in progress...]
[Artificial Intelligence Hera core code... Comparing with this System, optimizing...]
All of these were top-tier war spoils Cloud had "zero-dollar purchased" from NESTS!
"Tsk tsk tsk, that Igniz guy—sure, his brain was a bit chuuni, but his R&D capabilities were absolutely top-notch." Cloud sat in a floating chair with his legs crossed, drinking freshly squeezed juice made by Mai Shiranui's own hands while reviewing these pieces of black technology.
Right now, he felt like a player who had just cleared a game and inherited all of the final boss's assets, now taking inventory of his "loot."
Any single piece of this technology, if released to the public, would be enough to trigger a worldwide technological revolution.
But of course, Cloud wasn't going to do that. What he intended was to digest and absorb these technologies, transforming them into unique trump cards belonging to him alone.
"System, run a fusion simulation between Kula's genetic data and my Chaos Divine Bloodline data. See if we can give her a super upgrade without side effects."
"Also, Kula's Zero-type battle armor—it's ugly. Redesign the appearance. I want something both cool and badass. Best if it has a one-click outfit change function—one that can switch to bikini mode anytime."
"Oh right, change the name of that NESTS AI Hera. From now on, call her Friday."
Cloud issued commands methodically while the System faithfully executed them. A brand-new "technology empire" belonging solely to Cloud was quietly taking shape in the basement of this estate.
...
While Cloud was engrossed in "base-building" in the basement, his "harem" on the surface was also undergoing some new changes.
With the formal addition of Kula and Angel—two former NESTS members—Cloud's estate had become even more "lively."
Kula, this kuudere girl with the power of ice and snow, after breaking free from NESTS control and being completely "conquered" through Cloud's food and warmth, had revealed a side of herself that few knew about—she was actually a super clingy "little shadow"!
Wherever Cloud went, she followed like a little shadow, persistently trailing behind.
When Cloud watched TV, she curled up in a corner of the sofa, hugging an ice cream, quietly keeping him company.
When Cloud took walks in the garden, she followed behind him, occasionally reaching out her small hand to secretly, lightly tug at his sleeve, then quickly letting go, her little face slightly flushed.
She wasn't good with words, but those clear blue eyes were filled with dependence and attachment toward Cloud.
This "silent companionship" instead gave Cloud a different kind of warmth.
Interestingly, Kula and Yuri Sakazaki—two girls whose personalities both leaned toward "soft and cute"—quickly became good friends.
The two often went shopping together, watched anime together, researched the latest desserts, and were inseparable. The other residents of the estate jokingly called them the "Sweet Combination of Ice and Sugar."
...
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