Just as Cloud had casually healed Terry's internal injuries with his miraculous "Battle God Golden Flame" and delivered his declaration of "my turf, my rules," the atmosphere in the Hundred Herbs Hall courtyard turned electric.
The Bogard brothers looked at this friend whose strength had become even more unfathomable since KOF, and the flames of hope for revenge reignited in their eyes.
Mai and Yuri gazed at Cloud with starry-eyed admiration.
Those looks seemed to say: As expected of the man I chose—so domineering!
However, just as this classic "hero team reunites, morale surges" storyline was about to unfold, an ill-timed voice—arrogant and brutal—thundered from the front hall of the medicine shop!
CRASH—!
A tremendous boom, and the medicine shop's weathered wooden door was brutally kicked in from outside, exploding into a shower of splinters!
"Everyone inside, get the hell out here!"
A voice as grating as a duck's squawk, dripping with impatience, echoed through the entire shop.
"Stop hiding! We've already turned over every rat hole within a five-block radius! This dump is the only place left! Be smart and hand over those two stray dogs! Otherwise, I'll turn your 'Hundred Herbs Hall' into 'Hundred Herbs DEAD'!"
Accompanying this arrogant tirade, over a dozen burly men in black suits and sunglasses—radiating "I'm a bad guy" energy—flooded in like a tide, cramming the small front hall to bursting.
At the front of the group stood a tall, thin man wearing overalls printed with "I ♥ Rock 'n Roll," sporting a shock of upswept blonde hair and a toothpick dangling from his mouth. He impatiently tapped his metal staff against the floor.
Those eyes—cold as a venomous snake—swept through the dim interior of the medicine shop.
It was Geese's most loyal "guard dog," the pinnacle of South Town's staff fighting—Billy Kane!
In the courtyard, Terry and Andy's faces turned ugly the instant they heard that voice, instinctively moving to charge out.
"It's Billy!"
"That bastard actually tracked us here!"
"Don't move."
Cloud extended his arm, stopping the impulsive brothers.
The easy smile had vanished from his face, replaced by a calm as cold as an ancient frozen lake.
"Looks like our welcoming committee arrived earlier than expected."
He turned to Mai and Yuri, speaking softly: "You two stay here and protect Terry and the others. I'll handle the trash outside."
"Cloud, by yourself?" Mai's eyes filled with concern.
"Relax." Cloud flashed her a reassuring smile. "It's just dealing with a guard dog. Doesn't require the whole family."
With that, he straightened his collar.
Alone, he slowly pushed aside the curtain and stepped into the front hall surrounded by dozens of menacing thugs.
...
"Oh? Finally decided to come out?"
Billy spotted Cloud emerging from behind the curtain. He was momentarily surprised, then a smile both shocked and cruel spread across his face.
He narrowed his eyes, carefully examining this youth who had left such a "memorable" impression on him—like appreciating a piece of art he was about to personally shatter.
"Well, well. If it isn't the cockroach with nine lives—the Brick Knight himself." Billy's tone dripped with cat-and-mouse amusement. "What's wrong? Being King of Fighters not good enough? Had to come back to this dump of a city to die?"
"Well, well. If it isn't the guy I already beat once." Cloud's expression didn't change as he threw the words right back. "What's wrong? Last time I thrashed you wasn't satisfying enough? Brought all these guys this time so I can round up the numbers and get you all a group discount at the hospital?"
Cloud's cutting mockery instantly turned Billy's already cold face completely black!
His defeat at Cloud's hands at the underground arena, in front of everyone—that had become the biggest stain on his entire career!
"You're asking for death!"
Billy wasted no more words. An aura far more powerful and violent than before exploded from his body!
VWOOOM—!
A pale red Absolute Domain—filled with brutality and ominous energy—expanded outward with him at the center, instantly enveloping the entire medicine shop!
Though that power was still immature, only about 5% strength, it was genuine—the mark of a "domain-level fighter"!
"What?!"
In the courtyard, Terry and Andy watched through the gap in the curtain, their faces changing dramatically!
"Billy actually... he's also..."
"That's right." Cloud observed this dramatically transformed Billy, his gaze still calm—even carrying a hint of pity.
"Absolute Domain... Looks like Geese really spared no expense to boost the strength of his guard dogs."
Cloud's Mind's Eye could clearly "see" that the Absolute Domain power within Billy was riddled with impurities and flaws. It was like a fruit that had been forcibly ripened—looking fine on the outside, but already rotting within.
This power wasn't something Billy had cultivated himself. It had been forcibly "injected" into him by Geese through some sinister method!
This forced-growth approach could cause explosive short-term power gains, but the price was burning through all of one's life potential!
"Shut up!" Billy had clearly been struck where it hurt. He roared in humiliated rage, "Today, I'm going to use this brand-new power to tear you, you suicidal Brick Knight, into pieces!"
"Super Fire Whirlwind Staff!"
He bellowed, and the metal staff in his hands spun at high speed, generating such friction with the air that it burst into roaring flames—forming a fire tornado over six feet tall that swept toward Cloud!
...
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