Inside the hotel suite.
Cloud was having his final "farewell" with his two "divine" teammates.
"Boss, I really gotta go now."
Baobao still wore that adorably clueless expression, but those pure, innocent eyes held a rare hint of reluctance.
She stuffed a half-gnawed piece of kangaroo jerky into Cloud's hand.
"Here, for you. It's the most delicious thing I've ever eaten. If you ever have someone who won't behave and needs burying, remember to give me a call, okay? I'll... come running whenever you need me."
With those words, her figure began to grow hazy and translucent, eventually dissolving into points of white light that scattered into the air.
"My lord, take care."
Commander Zuo maintained his iron-blooded warrior demeanor to the end. He offered Cloud a solemn fist-to-palm salute—a standard military courtesy.
"Though our encounter was brief, it allowed this humble Zhizhai to witness the martial arts of this strange world. Should fate permit another meeting, I would gladly fight alongside you again, my lord, to slay all the demons and devils beneath heaven!"
As his words faded, his imposing figure transformed into a beam of golden light that shot toward the sky and vanished.
Gazing at the now-empty room, Cloud felt an unexpected sense of loss wash over him.
Though his time with these two "cross-dimensional" teammates had been short, and most of it had been complete chaos...
It had actually been pretty fun.
[Ding! Temporary teammates Commander Zuo and Feng Baobao have completed their mission. Initiating return transport.]
[Calculating final rewards for KOF 94 storyline completion...]
[Congratulations, Host! You have exceeded mission objectives and claimed the KOF 94 Championship!]
[Final rewards distributed!]
Source Points ×80,000
Orochi Blood Fragment (Low-grade) ×1
Designated S-rank Bloodline/Skill Plunder Opportunity ×1
Special Title: Original King of Fighters (Useless—only increases the hatred of S-rank villains toward you)
Looking at the absolutely luxurious rewards displayed on the system panel, Cloud's little moment of melancholy was instantly obliterated by overwhelming joy!
Eighty thousand Source Points!
Plus an Orochi Blood Fragment!
And most critically... a designated S-rank bloodline plunder opportunity!
"Let's gooo! We're flying!"
Cloud excitedly paced two laps around the room, then issued his command to the system without hesitation.
"System, use the designated S-rank bloodline plunder opportunity! Target—the Kusanagi bloodline!"
Since the whole world already believed he was Kyo Kusanagi's "long-lost brother," wouldn't it be a disservice to his audience if he didn't make that "identity" official?!
[Ding! Command confirmed! Initiating completion and sublimation of Host's acquired Blood of Kusanagi (Degraded Version)...]
A surge of crimson flame power—far more overwhelming and pure than before—erupted from the depths of Cloud's bloodline like a volcanic explosion!
He felt an unprecedented intimate connection forming between himself and "fire"! As if flames were simply an extension of his own body!
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have successfully acquired the S-rank bloodline—True Blood of Kusanagi!]
[You can now perfectly control the Kusanagi Flames and learn all Kusanagi-Style Ancient Martial Arts without restriction!]
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Cloud snapped his fingers excitedly. A pure, royal crimson flame radiating sovereign authority blazed to life in his palm!
From this day forward, he was the genuine "Second Young Master of the Kusanagi Family"!
Next, he turned his attention to the fragment emanating an ominous purple glow—the "Orochi Blood Fragment."
"System, fuse it!"
[Warning! The Orochi Blood contains powerful negative will and destructive energy that fundamentally conflicts with Host's current True Blood of Kusanagi! Forced fusion has an extremely high probability of causing bloodline collapse and bodily explosion! Continue?]
The warning's consequences sounded severe, but if the Orochi Blood couldn't be fused, what good was it?
He believed that with the system as his "cheat code," it could definitely help him sort this out!
"Continue!" Cloud's eyes burned with madness and determination.
"Fortune favors the bold! I already dared to plunder a Child of Destiny's bloodline—you think I'm scared of a little bloodline conflict?!"
[...Host, you certainly have confidence in yourself.]
"No, I have confidence in you!" Cloud genuinely didn't dare gamble with his own life.
[Since you insist, the system will initiate the Bloodline Harmonization Protocol. Estimated cost: 100,000 Source Points. Using True Blood of Kusanagi as the dominant factor, the system will forcibly purify and absorb the pure power within the Orochi Blood Fragment. Confirm?]
"A hundred thousand?! Why don't you just rob me?!" Cloud's heart bled.
[Host may choose not to fuse.]
"...You win! Fuse it!"
[Ding! Source Points -100,000. Bloodline harmonization commencing!]
Cloud's Source Points were zeroed out once again.
BOOM—!!!
A wave of cold, violent, destruction-and-void-infused purple energy instantly surged into his body!
Simultaneously, the True Blood of Kusanagi within him responded like a challenged king, erupting with blazing crimson flames that clashed, bit, and devoured the purple energy in a frenzied struggle!
Two diametrically opposed "divine bloodlines" waged the most primal, most brutal "war for the throne" inside his body!
Cloud felt like his body had transformed into a nuclear reactor on the verge of meltdown!
One moment he plunged into an ice abyss, the next he was cast into molten lava! The soul-deep agony nearly made him black out on the spot!
[Warning! Host's physical tolerance has reached critical limit! Imminent collapse!]
[System protection protocol activated! Forcibly sealing Orochi power!]
Just as Cloud felt he was about to be torn to pieces, a gentle yet powerful force from the system intervened in the "bloodline war."
Like an impartial referee, it forcibly separated the two deadlocked powers.
Then it packaged the rebellious "Orochi power," compressed it, slapped a seal on it, and tossed it into some forgotten corner of Cloud's body.
When the dust finally settled, Cloud lay on the floor drenched as if he'd been fished from the ocean, gasping for breath in utter exhaustion.
[Ding! Bloodline fusion complete.]
[Congratulations, Host! Your True Blood of Kusanagi has evolved into True Blood of Kusanagi (Orochi Soul Remnant)!]
[Your flames will now carry traces of void and destruction, significantly increasing their power!]
[Warning: Orochi power has been temporarily sealed. Unsealing conditions: All Host attributes (Constitution, Strength, Agility, Spirit) must reach 200 or above.]
...
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