Every fighter in the world wore a grave expression.
From that monster, they sensed many familiar yet despised presences.
"This feeling... it's Rugal!" Terry's fists cracked under his grip.
"No... there's NESTS scum too!" K''s eyes blazed with fury.
"And... Orochi's presence?" Chizuru Kagura's face went pale.
Verse seemed to notice these "old friends" below. Its body of countless grudges writhed eerily, and then a horrifying scene unfolded.
A tentacle of energy extended from its body's surface, assuming a familiar pose in the air.
"Kaiser Wave!"
A cold, arrogant voice emerged from within Verse—it was Krauser's!
Immediately, a massive purple-black energy wave fired from the tentacle, hurtling toward the panicked audience.
"Not on my watch!"
Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia leaped simultaneously, launching a combined "Ryuko Ranbu." Golden qi-waves collided with the purple-black Kaiser Wave mid-air, triggering a violent explosion.
Then Verse's body writhed again.
"Dark Orochinagi!"
Chris's voice! A purple flame appeared from nowhere, attacking the nearest Kyo Kusanagi!
"Bastard!" Kyo roared, his body erupting in crimson flames. "Orochinagi!"
The same technique, different flames, collided mid-air—eroding and annihilating each other.
Verse seemed like a child with a new toy, beginning a frenzied "performance."
It mimicked Mukai, petrifying the ground into massive rock spires. It even mimicked Igniz's "Blade of Divine Light," slashing countless destructive light-whips through the air!
[System notification: Multiple high-intensity soul imprints detected within Verse.]
[Analysis complete... Following key souls identified:]
[Orochi Chris (Fragment)]
[Flame Demon Kyo Kusanagi (Ancient Clone Memory)]
[Divine Igniz (Data Backup)]
[Lord of Those From the Past, Saiki (Will Echo)]
"Unforgivable..."
A killing intent cold enough to freeze the entire stadium flashed briefly from Cloud.
He patted the shoulders of his two stunned teammates.
"Kula. Shermie."
"Huh? Here!" Both snapped to attention.
"Slacking time is over." Cloud's face wore a gentle smile, yet that smile carried a chilling edge. "Time to clock in."
...
Facing this patchwork boss composed of countless grudges—Verse—fighters from around the world showed remarkable unity.
Their response: Hit it first, ask questions later!
"Whatever you are! Eat my Burning Fist!"
Heavy D! from the USA Sports Team charged forward, his flame-wreathed fist smashing into Verse's writhing body.
The fist sank in without resistance, as if punching cotton candy.
"Huh? Didn't connect?" Heavy D! froze.
The next second, Heavy D!'s confident face appeared on Verse's surface.
Then an energy arm—a perfect replica of Heavy D!'s down to the muscle definition—extended outward, delivering an even more powerful punch that sent Heavy D! flying.
"My technique...?" Heavy D! traced an elegant parabola through the air, his face a canvas of philosophical confusion: Who am I? Where am I? Who's hitting me?
This scene made every fighter preparing to charge hit the brakes.
"This thing... can absorb and replicate our attacks?" Kim Kaphwan arrived at a grave conclusion.
"What a troublesome opponent!" Terry pulled his cap lower, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "But that only makes it more worth challenging! Andy! Joe!"
"Got it!"
The Fatal Fury Team needed no words for their coordination. The three spread into a triangle formation, attacking simultaneously from three directions.
"Power Geyser!"
"Zan'eiken!"
"Screw Upper!"
Three completely different but equally powerful forces struck Verse from three angles, triggering massive explosions.
But when the smoke cleared, Verse's body had only distorted slightly—and actually grown larger.
Terry's, Andy's, and Joe's faces all appeared on its surface. Then it simultaneously extended three different energy arms from its body, perfectly mimicking all three techniques—with even greater power!
A massive energy geyser, countless shadow fists, a raging tornado—instantly engulfing the Fatal Fury trio.
"Tch, bunch of amateurs, just charging in blindly."
With a cold snort, Iori Yagami finally moved.
He didn't use flames. Instead, his form flickered like a ghost, appearing behind Verse, both hands transforming into claws aimed at its core!
"Ya Otome!"
This was his ultimate combining body techniques and killing intent!
His claws plunged deep into Verse. But Iori's expression instantly changed.
His hands felt as if they'd reached into a swamp of countless vengeful spirits. A cold, chaotic power surged through his arms, frantically trying to corrode his soul!
"Get off me!"
Iori roared. Purple flames erupted, forcing back the corrosive power as he quickly retreated.
"See that, trash? This is how you fight!" Kyo Kusanagi couldn't resist a taunt before following suit.
Instead of large-scale techniques like Orochinagi, he concentrated his crimson flames at his fist.
"Final Battle Art—Mu Shiki!"
One punch, three stages—the essence of Kusanagi-style ancient martial arts!
Flame power compressed to the extreme, drilling into the exact spot Iori had just struck.
BOOM!
This time, Verse's body finally showed a gaping hole.
But before Kyo could smile in victory, the hole rapidly healed under the writhing of countless grudges.
Then from within Verse came two voices.
One was Iori's cold laugh: "Heh heh heh... Your flames are nothing special."
The other was Kyo's roar: "You call that an attack? You think that'll hurt me?"
...
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