In the end, Maki Kagura was the one who cleaned up the mess.
She wore an elegant miko outfit with an ordinary household apron over it, skillfully frying eggs, toasting bread, and brewing coffee, radiating an air of serene gentleness.
"Everyone, come eat breakfast." Maki's voice was warm and calm, as if it could soothe any anxiety.
Beside her, Chizuru Kagura was elegantly using the Yata Mirror's illusion ability to occasionally make funny faces at Kula, who was drinking her milk nearby.
The dining table was already filled with stunningly beautiful women of various styles.
Shermie yawned while complaining about staying up late designing new fashion pieces. Even half-asleep, her languid French charm made her utterly captivating.
Leona sat ramrod straight like a soldier, expressionlessly taking small bites of her sandwich. But when Cloud pushed a cup of warm milk toward her, a barely perceptible softness flickered in those cold blue eyes.
Mature and Vice, the former Hakkesshu members, each held a glass of red wine, watching this chaotic morning show with great interest. They had long grown accustomed to this life—even enjoyed it.
As Vice put it: "Watching a bunch of legendary fighters argue over a piece of burnt toast is way more entertaining than plotting world destruction."
...
After breakfast came free time. The mansion's entertainment facilities would make any billionaire envious.
But for this group of powerhouses who had once stood at the world's pinnacle (or tried to destroy it), the most popular activity was, surprisingly, video games.
In the center of the living room was a holographic projection screen manufactured with [NESTS Technology], displaying the latest King of Fighters XV gameplay.
"Yagami! You shameless bastard! All you do is throw fireballs! Come fight up close if you dare!" A familiar voice roared.
Cloud looked over to see Kyo Kusanagi red-faced, gripping a controller, cursing at the Iori Yagami on screen.
And his real-life nemesis, Iori Yagami, sat on the opposite sofa, legs crossed, disdainfully manipulating the joystick with one finger.
"Hmph, trash. If you can't handle it, don't play." Iori sneered as his on-screen character delivered a clean "MAX Ya Otome" KO against Kyo's Kyo Kusanagi.
"Dammit!!!"
These two were Cloud's "special permanent guests."
Ever since world peace had been achieved, these lifelong rivals suddenly found themselves without purpose, restless with nothing to do.
Cloud simply invited them over, ostensibly to "discuss martial arts together," but really just to add some "atmosphere" to the household.
"You two, how old are you now, still fighting over a video game?" Cloud sat down in the main seat with a cup of tea, relaxed. "Want me to play with you?"
Kyo and Iori both turned their heads simultaneously, eyes filled with wariness and fear.
They would never forget the last time Cloud said "let's play." He had used only one character—Shingo Yabuki—and proceeded to Perfect their entire roster using Shingo's "incomplete" moves.
It was dimensional-level crushing, even more humiliating than being pinned to the ground with one finger in real life.
"Ahem, actually, I just remembered I need to work on my motorcycle." Iori decisively stood up and fled.
"I... I have plans to play baseball with Benimaru and Daimon!" Kyo also made a flimsy excuse and slipped away.
Watching their retreating figures, Cloud shook his head with an amused smile.
This warm, chaotic daily life was exactly what he had sought throughout his journey across countless worlds.
He took a sip of tea, feeling the power within him—the sharpness of [Heart of the Sword Saint], the serenity of [Power of the Wave], the harmony of [Yoga Mystic Arts], the majesty of [Orochi Divine Power], the precision of [NESTS Technology], and the all-encompassing [Dimensional Power].
He had become a god. A god in the truest sense, capable of protecting everything he loved.
He closed his eyes, savoring this rare peace.
But at that very moment—
Without warning, every divine power within Cloud simultaneously blared an ear-piercing alarm!
This was a tremor originating from the deepest part of his soul, a storm within his divine essence!
His tranquil [Heart of the Sword Saint] sensed a terrifying "gaze" capable of severing causality and tearing through dimensions. This gaze came not from any blade, yet was sharper than any divine weapon, filled with pure "cutting" intent.
The [Power of the Wave] flowing peacefully within him suddenly became agitated and restless.
It sensed a will completely different from the "Satsui no Hado," yet even more terrifying—an ultimate desire to return all things to nothingness.
The first to react violently was the [Orochi Divine Power]. This force born from Earth's will (Gaia) now writhed like an enraged giant serpent, letting out a soundless hiss.
It sensed an "anti-Gaia" consciousness of immense scale—one filled with loathing and hatred for life, for planets, for everything vital. It was like a walking cosmic black hole.
And in Cloud's mind:
[WARNING! Detected unknown high-dimensional interference!]
[Space-time barrier curvature anomaly! Non-logical observation anchor points detected!]
[WARNING! This world's coordinates are being locked onto by an unanalyzable massive consciousness!]
[Threat Level: UNPRECEDENTED]
[Recommendation: Immediately sever all dimensional links and activate maximum-level dimensional barriers!]
Finally, the all-encompassing [Dimensional Power] allowed Cloud to "see" the source of all this.
In his divine vision, the entire KOF world, along with the Samurai Shodown, Street Fighter, and other worlds he had traversed, appeared like beautiful bubbles floating in an endless sea of darkness.
And now, in the depths of that dark sea, a shadow so vast it defied description was slowly opening its "eye."
It wasn't a physical eye, but rather a focal point of will.
It merely "looked"—and the fragile space-time barriers groaned under the strain, rippling with dangerous waves.
That massive consciousness was ancient, indifferent, and filled with a hunger that viewed all things as sustenance.
It was like a cosmic behemoth that had slumbered for eons, awakened by the commotion Cloud had caused crossing dimensions and pacifying temporal paradoxes, casting a curious and greedy glance his way.
Hummm—
The teacup in Cloud's hand silently crumbled to powder.
The relaxed, cheerful atmosphere in the living room instantly froze.
...
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