Vega had a slender, graceful build with flowing muscle definition. He was bare-chested, wearing only ornate purple harem pants.
A white metal mask covered his face, revealing only a pair of eyes brimming with malice and narcissism. On his left hand gleamed a three-bladed steel claw radiating cold killing intent.
He was like an elegant yet deadly viper.
"Oh ho ho ho..." The moment Vega stepped onto the stage, he let out a skin-crawling, effeminate laugh.
"And who do we have here? The little wildcat who barely escaped back then. It's been years—you've become even more beautiful. Your screams must be even more delightful to hear now, yes?"
These words, dripping with insult and perversion, reignited the fury in Chun-Li's eyes.
"Shut up, you freak!" she shouted. "Today, I'm going to arrest you personally—for my father and everyone you've murdered!"
"Arrest me? Heh heh, the whimpering of the weak." Vega extended his tongue and licked his razor-sharp claws. "Beautiful things should be utterly destroyed at the peak of their radiance. Come, little wildcat—let me perform for you the waltz of death!"
"Fight!"
The instant the referee called the start, Vega's figure vanished from where he stood!
So fast! Chun-Li's pupils contracted as she hastily assumed a defensive stance.
The next second, Vega appeared behind her like a ghost!
His steel claws, trailing a shriek of torn air, struck at the back of her neck!
"Triangle Jump!"
Chun-Li's reaction was equally swift! Her legs kicked off powerfully, her body soaring high, pushing off the ring's wall for a stylish backflip that barely evaded the lethal strike!
"Oh? Your reactions have improved." Vega let out an appreciative sound, but his hands never stopped.
Like a hunting spider, he leaped and climbed across the ring's walls and the overhead cage, his movements bizarre beyond comprehension!
"Flying Barcelona Attack!"
He dove down from the ceiling, hanging inverted like a hunting raptor, his steel claws transforming into a silver tornado of death that completely engulfed Chun-Li!
"Tenshokyaku!"
Chun-Li remained composed under pressure. Her legs kicked out in rapid succession mid-air, spinning like an inverted helicopter rotor, forming an impenetrable defensive net!
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Steel claws and boots clashed in the air, showering sparks everywhere!
The moment both landed, they were immediately entangled again!
Vega's attacks were filled with artistic flair. Every movement was like an elegant bullfighting dance; every claw swipe was precise and deadly.
Chun-Li, meanwhile, was completely on the defensive.
She felt like a small boat in a violent storm, liable to capsize at any moment!
Vega was simply too fast! His attack angles too tricky!
Chun-Li could only rely on her battle-hardened instincts to barely block and dodge, finding no opportunity to counterattack.
"Useless, useless!" Vega attacked while delivering "psychological warfare" in his seductive voice.
"Your kicks, though powerful, are too vulgar! No aesthetic value whatsoever! Like a country bumpkin's dance—how could it possibly compare to my noble ninjutsu?"
"Give up! Then bloom the most brilliant flower of blood in your life under my beautiful claws!"
These words pierced Chun-Li's psychological defenses like poisoned needles.
Shadows of her past defeat surged back.
She felt her movements growing stiff.
Her breathing becoming erratic.
Her ki, destabilized by her wavering heart, began to dissipate.
"Damn it..." Chun-Li gritted her teeth. A moment's lapse let Vega's claws rake a deep bloody gash across her thigh!
"Hss!"
The searing pain drew a muffled grunt from her, her stance faltering.
"Now!" Vega's eyes blazed with malicious light. Seizing this golden opportunity, his steel claws shot toward Chun-Li's heart like a viper's fangs!
"It's over!"
In the stands, every fan supporting Chun-Li cried out in despair.
Guile's face was tight with anxiety and worry.
Just as tragedy seemed about to repeat itself—
A calm voice resonated directly inside Chun-Li's mind, like enlightenment from above.
"Hey, Chun-Li, what are you spacing out for? That sissy over there is just giving you a massage. You actually think he can break your guard?"
It was Cloud's voice!
He was using the technique of projecting his voice directly into her mind!
"Cloud?!" Chun-Li mentally cried out.
"Don't get distracted—listen to me." Cloud's voice continued in her head, filled with unquestionable confidence. "This pretty boy, aside from being fast and able to climb walls, is completely useless. His strength is even less than that Shadaloo grunt you were chasing earlier. The reason you can't beat him isn't because he's strong—it's because... you have inner demons."
"You've been fooled by his flashy performance art! Shackled by your own fear and hatred!"
"Forget your hatred. Forget your fear! And forget all those fancy moves!"
"Now close your eyes and feel your ki!"
"What is your ki? Is it anger? Is it hatred? NO!"
"Your ki is the roar of tens of thousands of supporters behind you! It's the blazing fire of justice burning in your chest! It's the firm resolve you swore to protect this world with!"
"THIS is your true power!"
"Now, gather all of it! Don't think about kicking pretty, don't think about fighting beautifully! Just use the simplest, most direct, purest method to blast it all out!"
"With your strike that condenses all hope and fury, tell him—"
"Your sissy act is really, really ugly!"
Cloud's "toxic chicken soup" and "trash talk" tactical guidance struck Chun-Li's heart like thunder!
...
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