Ash struggled to stand, but Cloud's domineering power rampaged through his body like a bone-gnawing parasite, leaving him without even the strength to move a finger.
"Who... who exactly... are you..." He looked at the man walking slowly toward him like a god or demon, his eyes filled with fear and unwillingness.
Cloud walked up to him, squatted down, and patted that still-handsome face, smiling like a villain.
"Who am I? Not important."
"Just enjoy your hard-won defeat, Mr. Tool."
...
On the KOF 2003 battlefield, a conspiracy targeting the "Three Sacred Treasures" was completely strangled in its cradle under Cloud's unreasonable "spoiler-style" intervention.
And the bad blood between him and "Those From the Past," as well as that mysterious white-haired youth Ash, was now thoroughly established.
The KOF 2003 finals ultimately devolved into a farce.
Under the powerful intervention of Cloud—this "human cheat code" and "spoiler dog"—Those From the Past's script of "control Chizuru, unseal Orochi" was torn to shreds before it even began.
Botan, who had tried to ambush Chizuru, was severely wounded and fled in disgrace.
Ash, who had tried to steal the "Yata Mirror," was publicly "disciplined" by Cloud, beaten beyond recognition, and eventually carried away by his two teammates.
Their entire plan had fallen apart.
However, Those From the Past clearly had no intention of giving up.
Just as the announcer was preparing to declare the tournament ended due to "force majeure," the entire venue suddenly shook violently!
The sky instantly turned an eerie, twilight-like crimson!
The surrounding space began to distort and fold like jelly!
A heavy, oppressive atmosphere filled with death and foreboding descended from the sky, blanketing the land!
Everyone felt their bodies become incredibly heavy, as if filled with lead—even lifting a finger became extremely difficult!
"What... what's happening?!"
"Gravity... the gravity has increased at least tenfold! I can barely breathe!"
"Look at the sky! What is that?!"
Everyone looked up in horror to see, above the airship, a portal constructed of countless black rocks—like a rift to another dimension—slowly opening.
A tall, imposing figure slowly emerged from the portal.
His bronze upper body was bare, hard as rock. He wore pants with an exotic style on his lower half. His wild white hair flowed like a lion's mane, and his face was covered by a stone mask filled with cracks.
He simply hovered there, saying nothing, but the terrifying aura emanating from him—like that of an ancient demon god—was enough to suffocate every fighter present!
He was one of "Those From the Past" cadres, a wielder of absolute power who could control "rock" and "petrification"—Mukai!
"Lord Mukai!"
Botan, who had been severely injured earlier, had appeared beside him at some point, respectfully lowering her head.
"A bunch of trash." Mukai didn't even glance at her, his voice low and raspy like rocks grinding together. "Can't even handle something this simple."
His gaze swept across the fighters below who were treating this as a dire emergency, finally settling on Chizuru Kagura, as well as Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami.
"Three Sacred Treasures... Orochi..." he murmured, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Looks like I'll have to... handle this personally."
He slowly raised his hand.
"Since you won't willingly unseal it, I'll just... shatter you along with that prison!"
"Not on my watch!"
Chizuru cried out and boldly attacked!
She knew this man's goal was Orochi! She absolutely couldn't let him succeed!
"Kagura-Style Ancient Martial Art: Foundation of Zero!"
A massive white ring filled with sealing power flew from her hand, enveloping Mukai!
However, Mukai merely let out a cold snort.
"Parlor tricks."
He didn't even move. The space around his body automatically distorted, forming an impassable "absolute defense" constructed of black rock!
The famous sealing technique "Foundation of Zero," upon striking this stone wall, was absorbed and neutralized like hitting a sponge—all its power completely dispersed!
"What?!" Chizuru was horrified.
"My turn." Mukai's voice was like a death sentence.
He pointed at Chizuru through the void.
"Realm of Death."
The next second, the ground beneath Chizuru's feet suddenly "came alive"! Countless stone pillars constructed of black rock, like giant hands, erupted from the earth and firmly imprisoned her in place!
"Damn it!"
Just then, two flames filled with domineering and manic power simultaneously erupted!
It was Kyo and Iori!
Kyo roared. After Cloud's "whale-tier" treatment, his strength had long since returned to its peak! His strongest "Final Battle Art: Mu Shiki" transformed into a pillar of flame that pierced heaven and earth, blasting toward Mukai!
"Trash, get out of my way!"
Iori was even more direct, entering his "Crimson Flame" state! His power after comprehending "Mu Shiki" was more refined and terrifying than ever before! A beam of pure energy constructed from the will of "destruction" followed right behind!
These two forces representing the absolute pinnacle of "Solar Power," combined as one—their might was enough to make even Igniz blanch!
Yet Mukai watched these two flame pillars capable of destroying a city, his expression still as indifferent as ever.
"Flames? Interesting."
He slowly raised his other hand.
"But before rules, all energy is meaningless."
"Petrification."
He simply, softly, uttered two syllables.
The next second, something unbelievable happened!
Those two raging flame pillars, powerful enough to melt anything—halfway through their flight—actually... froze in mid-air?!
They seemed to have been hit with a "pause button," then in a manner that violated all laws of physics, rapidly transformed from "energy" state to "physical" state!
In the end, those two roaring fire dragons became two lifelike statues made of gray stone!
...
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