CRASH!
Zangief slammed heavily into the opposite end of the ring. The reinforced alloy platform was smashed into a massive human-shaped crater!
He lay in the depression, body twitching, eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth—completely incapacitated.
One punch.
Just one punch.
The "Red Cyclone," renowned for his strength and defense, was KO'd.
The entire venue fell silent.
The tens of thousands of spectators seemed to have been collectively hit by a "petrification spell," mouths agape, expressions frozen.
The guy who'd bet "he won't last thirty seconds" silently watched his betting slip fall to the ground.
In the monitoring room, Bison shot up from his throne!
Disbelief filled his purple eyes!
"This... this is impossible!" he cried out. "His power reading... at that instant... how high did it spike?!"
"Re-Report, General!" A researcher stared at the red warning lights flashing across his instruments, voice trembling. "The... the instruments... fried!"
...
In the ring.
Cloud slowly withdrew his fist, shaking his head at the unconscious giant.
"Told you my fists are heavy."
[Ding! Target "Zangief" has lost combat capability detected.]
[Initiating plunder protocol... Plunder successful!]
[Congratulations, Host! Acquired talent: Body of Steel. Successfully analyzed core technique: Spinning Piledriver.]
[System Quest Progress: 1/10.]
Cloud nodded with satisfaction. Under the monster-like stares of the entire audience, he put his hands back in his pockets and strolled leisurely off the ring.
...
Cloud's second match was against Brazil's beast-man, Blanka.
This guy was covered in green, with a head of orange-red hair—looking like a Super Saiyan.
His fighting style was pure wildcard.
"Fight!"
The moment the referee spoke, Blanka let out an inhuman roar, curled his body into a ball, and came rolling at Cloud like a high-speed bowling ball crackling with electricity!
"Rolling Attack!"
"Oh? A ranged projectile? And it's electric?"
Cloud smiled. He stood his ground, hands tracing a swift arc before his chest, then thrust forward!
"Hadoken!"
A high-speed rotating blue energy sphere of pure "ki" flew from his palm, intercepting the incoming green bowling ball with precision.
BOOM!
Hadoken met Rolling Attack in the center of the ring!
Blanka was blasted backward, tumbling through the air several times before barely landing on his feet.
His green fur stood on end—clearly rattled.
"ROAR!"
He roared again, opened his mouth wide, and discharged a massive fan-shaped burst of electricity!
"Electric Thunder!"
"Playing electricity games with me?"
Cloud's smile grew brighter.
He extended his right hand, fingers spread.
"Here—let me show you what 'the magic power of love makes the world go round' looks like."
"Moonless Thundercloud!"
A purple thundercloud infused with divine energy instantly formed in his palm!
The electricity Blanka spat out, upon contact with this cloud, flowed into it like a stream merging with the ocean—effortlessly absorbed!
"What?!" Blanka's beast-like eyes filled with shock.
His electricity... got eaten?!
"Fully charged. Now I'll give it back."
Cloud flicked a finger.
The purple thundercloud, now supercharged with Blanka's power, transformed into a thick purple lightning bolt that struck Blanka with lightning speed!
"AAAAHHHH—!!"
Blanka let out a blood-curdling scream, body convulsing, hair standing straight up, smoke billowing out, blowing a perfect smoke ring from his mouth before toppling over stiff as a board.
The scent of barbecue wafted from his body.
[Ding! Target "Blanka" has lost combat capability detected.]
[Plunder successful! Acquired talent: Lightning Affinity.]
[System Quest Progress: 2/10.]
Cloud shrugged and once again strolled off the ring under the now-numb gazes of the audience.
...
Cloud's third match was against Japan's sumo master, E. Honda.
"Kid, I watched your first two matches." Honda stood in his horse stance, expression grave. "You're strong. But sumo is Japan's national sport! I won't lose!"
"HYAH!"
He let out a sharp cry, his hands fanning forward in rapid succession!
"Hundred Hand Slap!"
In an instant, countless white palm shadows formed an impenetrable wall rushing toward Cloud!
"Getting in my face?" Cloud shook his head. "You're poking the tiger's head, selling miracle pills in Hell's courthouse."
Facing those lightning-fast palm shadows, Cloud advanced instead of retreating, his body suddenly dropping low!
He actually charged straight into Honda's embrace!
"Seeking death!" Honda's heart leaped with joy. His two thick arms clamped around Cloud like iron pincers!
"Oicho Throw!"
He would use sumo's mightiest throwing technique to slam this ignorant young man into the ground!
But the instant he applied force—
He suddenly realized he wasn't holding a person.
He was holding a thousand-year-old tree rooted deep in the earth, connected to the planet itself!
Using every ounce of his strength, he couldn't budge the other man one inch!
"How... is this possible?!" Horror spread across Honda's face.
"My turn."
Cloud's voice sounded in his ear like a demon's whisper.
"Judo Ultimate Art—KOF God of Throws Goro Daimon's—Tenchi Gaeshi!"
Cloud's feet seemed to have grown roots into the ground. His waist twisted, and a force both supremely skillful and utterly dominating exploded forth!
Before everyone's disbelieving eyes—
The sumo giant weighing over 200 kilograms was actually lifted into the air by the young man who was several sizes smaller!
Then, one magnificent over-the-shoulder throw!
BOOM—!!!!!
The entire coliseum seemed to shake violently!
Honda was slammed headfirst into the reinforced alloy ring!
Only his two legs remained visible above the surface, twitching continuously...
...
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