"Holy... holy shit!" Ralf stared slack-jawed, unconsciously letting a curse slip. "That entrance... was too fucking... badass!"
Though Clark's sunglasses hid his eyes, his slightly parted mouth betrayed his inner turmoil.
As for Whip—she was completely stunned.
A faint blush unconsciously crept across her delicate face.
So this was... the legendary strongest King of Fighters?
His presence was absolutely maxed out!
"Commander Heidern, it's been a while." Cloud smiled and nodded at Heidern.
The massive flames in the air slowly dissipated.
"Lord Cloud." Heidern also snapped back to attention, his face showing a rare expression that could almost be called a "smile." "Welcome to the Ikari Warriors."
His gaze fell on Leona behind Cloud, and a trace of gratification flickered in his single eye.
"Leona."
"...Commander." Leona gave Heidern a perfect military salute. Her voice was still cold, but carried a hint of warmth.
Heidern could clearly sense that the "Riot of the Blood" aura that had once made even him wary had completely disappeared from Leona. In its place was a more refined, powerful force under perfect control.
He knew that all of this was thanks to the young man before him.
"Alright, let's skip the pleasantries." Cloud got straight to the point. "Commander, you didn't summon me here just to have coffee, did you?"
"Of course not." Heidern stepped aside, revealing the three team members behind him. "I'd like you to inspect the results of their training over the past year."
...
In the center of the training ground.
"Come on! Show me your progress!" Cloud stood to the side like an examiner, arms crossed.
"Hehe, then let us serve you an appetizer first!"
Ralf laughed heartily and exchanged glances with Clark. Both simultaneously unleashed their fighting spirit!
"—Boom! Boom!"
Two suffocatingly powerful auras shot skyward!
Golden light blazed fiercely around their bodies!
Behind them even appeared... hazy "Ultimate Domains" composed of pure energy!
"Oh?" A flash of surprise appeared in Cloud's eyes.
Ultimate Power 20%!
"Not bad." Cloud nodded approvingly.
Ever since Orochi was sealed, Earth seemed to have entered an era of "spiritual revival." The energy concentration of the entire world had risen several levels.
Fighters' training speeds had rocketed up too—everyone was "competing" to new heights as if they'd been injected with stimulants.
He hadn't expected that even Ralf and Clark—these two tough guys known for their "muscles" and "physical techniques"—had both touched the threshold of "Ultimate Power"!
Though it was only 20% development, this was already a qualitative leap!
"Take this!"
Ralf roared and launched his "Galactica Phantom" at full power!
That fist, condensed with 20% Ultimate Power, even produced a series of sonic booms in the air!
Meanwhile, Clark moved like a ghost to flank from the other side, arms crossed, executing his strongest grappling technique!
"Ultra Argentine Backbreaker!"
One attacking, one grappling—their coordination was flawless, determined to give Cloud a "welcome gift"!
However, facing this pincer attack from both men—
Cloud didn't even shift his feet.
He simply turned to Leona beside him and said casually: "Leona, show them your graduation results."
"...Yes."
Leona nodded.
She slowly stepped forward.
Facing these two men who had once been like "big brothers" and "mountains" in her heart.
She slowly raised her right hand.
A force completely different from Ralf and Clark's "Ultimate Power"—filled with coldness, desolation, and nobility—erupted from within her!
Her pupils transformed into heterochromatic crimson!
—Dark Power 50%!
She didn't use any flashy techniques.
She simply... waved her hand.
"V-Slasher!"
A massive V-shaped slash composed of pure dark energy appeared from thin air, striking before her opponents' attacks could land!
"BOOM——!!!"
Ralf's "Galactica Phantom" was torn apart and shattered like dead leaves the instant it touched the V-Slasher!
As for Clark—he couldn't even touch the hem of Leona's clothes before the terrifying energy shockwave sent him flying!
Both men tumbled through the air like kites with severed strings, crashing down over ten meters away.
Though they weren't seriously injured—it had only taken one move. Just one move.
Leona had easily defeated both of them working together, in what could only be described as a "crushing" display.
The entire training ground fell deathly silent.
Ralf and Clark picked themselves up from the ground, dusted off their clothes, their faces full of shock, bitterness, and... gratification.
The "little sister" in their hearts—the fragile one they'd always needed to protect—had grown to a level they now had to struggle to chase... or even look up to.
"Did you see that?" Cloud's voice drifted over. "This is the power of bloodline."
"You two have touched the threshold of Ultimate Power, but you're merely using power."
"But her!" Cloud pointed at Leona. "She is controlling power."
"One word's difference. A world apart."
Ralf and Clark fell into deep thought at his words.
They knew Cloud was right.
They had immense power but didn't know how to precisely control it—they could only use the crudest methods to "smash" it out.
But Leona could wield that even more violent "Dark Power" as naturally as her own arm—precise, efficient.
This was the gap between them.
"Lord Cloud!"
Ralf suddenly bowed deeply to Cloud.
"Please... train us again!" Clark followed immediately, setting aside all his pride.
"We also want to become... stronger!"
In both their eyes burned an unprecedented hunger for power.
...
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