The moment Shun'ei stepped onto the stage, the lollipop fell from Cloud's mouth with a clatter.
Not because Shun'ei was particularly handsome, nor because his presence was overwhelming.
But because in Cloud's vision, this young man's body harbored an extremely massive, chaotic, and unstable interdimensional energy!
Half of that energy manifested as ocean-blue, the other half as molten red.
The two forces intertwined and collided within him, like a reactor ready to explode at any moment.
[System Alert: Detected high-concentration interdimensional energy aggregate. Initiating data analysis...]
[Analysis complete! Energy body designated: "Phantom Power." Composition includes space distortion, energy manifestation, dimensional interference, and multiple other complex attributes.]
[WARNING! Energy source trace analysis... 97.3% high-degree homology detected with Verse!]
[Comprehensive assessment: This individual is a potential key to triggering space-time anomalies. When his power completely loses control or is attracted by an external homologous force, there is an extremely high probability of tearing through the current world's space-time barrier, becoming a gateway for high-dimensional entities to descend!]
The string of system alerts instantly switched Cloud from "slacking mode" to "divine vigilance mode."
Verse!
This name was not unfamiliar to Cloud.
After integrating information from all the KOF world's timelines, he knew this was an interdimensional monster born from space-time distortion during KOF XIV—an aggregate of countless powerful fighters' soul fragments.
Its very existence was proof that the space-time barriers had become fragile.
And was there some connection between that "massive consciousness" watching their world and Verse?
"I see now... Antonov hosting this tournament, gathering the world's strongest fighters, is like lighting a bonfire in a dry forest. And Shun'ei is a barrel of gasoline with its cap removed, sitting right next to that bonfire..."
Cloud's gaze grew profound. He needed to understand the structure of this "key" before things became uncontrollable.
[Side Quest Triggered: The Key's Mystery]
[Objective: Analyze the Phantom Power within Shun'ei and successfully plunder its energy construct data.]
[Rewards: Interdimensional Energy Construct Blueprint, 50,000 Source Points.]
"Perfect timing," Cloud thought.
...
By now, the battle on stage had reached a fever pitch. Shun'ei was facing the Fatal Fury Team's ace—Terry Bogard.
Facing this legendary fighter, Shun'ei showed no fear. He roared, the Phantom Power within him erupting as two massive spectral hands—one blue, one red—materialized in thin air and launched a frenzied assault on Terry following his movements!
"Power Wave!"
Terry, ever experienced, sent out a ground wave that collided with the energy hands, triggering a violent explosion.
"This kid's power... it's bizarre!" Terry's expression grew serious.
Shun'ei's attacks became increasingly frenzied. His consciousness seemed to be getting devoured by that massive power, his eyes beginning to glow red.
"Shun'ei! Calm down! Control that power!" Old Master Chin shouted anxiously from ringside.
But Shun'ei could no longer hear him. The energy within him was spiraling out of control; the giant spectral hands grew more violent, even beginning to attack the arena floor and surrounding barriers indiscriminately.
"Not good!" Cloud's eyes narrowed.
If this continued, Shun'ei might completely rampage in front of everyone, and that would be a real problem.
"Kula, Shermie, you two stay here and watch TV. I need to use the restroom."
Cloud dropped this line and instantly vanished from his spot.
...
The competitor-only training area.
After the China Team's match ended, Shun'ei had been forcibly removed from the arena by Chin.
Though he had ultimately won against Terry through sheer power, everyone could see it had been extremely close, and his condition was highly unstable.
Now he was alone in an empty training room, furiously pounding a sandbag.
"Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!"
With every punch, those blue-and-red spectral hands would uncontrollably manifest, tearing the reinforced sandbag to shreds. The energy backlash even left deep gouges in the alloy walls.
"Why... why can't I control you!" He clutched his head, kneeling on the ground in agony, gasping heavily. That power was like a wild beast inside him, rampaging, constantly trying to break free of its cage.
"Because you've got your priorities backwards."
A lazy voice suddenly came from the training room doorway.
Shun'ei's head snapped up. A casually dressed man—almost unfairly handsome—was leaning against the doorframe, holding a can of cola.
"Who are you?" Shun'ei asked warily.
He could sense that this man before him had no "ki" fluctuation at all, like an ordinary person. But it was precisely this "ordinariness" that made him feel extreme danger.
"Just a passing concerned spectator." Cloud waved his cola, smiling as he walked in. "Here to offer you some advice. You're treating it like a beast, chaining it up, so naturally it fights back with everything it has. The more you fear it, the more arrogant it becomes."
"What do you know!" Shun'ei growled. "This isn't my power! It's a monster! A monster that could devour me at any moment!"
"Oh?" Cloud walked up to him, crouched down, and extended a single finger to lightly tap the bulging vein on Shun'ei's forehead.
"Then what if I told you it's not a monster—just a child throwing a tantrum?"
From Cloud's fingertip came a gentle yet vast power that instantly soothed the raging Phantom Power within Shun'ei.
It was like roaring floodwaters suddenly meeting a boundless ocean, instantly embraced and calmed.
Shun'ei was stunned speechless. He had never felt his power become so "docile."
"What... what did you do?"
"Nothing much, just said hello to it." Cloud withdrew his finger, stood up, took a sip of cola. "Kid, want to learn? Master this, and it won't be your master anymore—it'll be your... pet."
The word "pet" stung Shun'ei's pride deeply. He shot to his feet, eyes blazing with defiant fire.
"Don't look down on me! Take this!"
He roared, actively summoning the Phantom Power within him. The massive blue spectral hand materialized once more, tearing through space as it reached for Cloud!
...
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