"Athena, you made it," Cloud greeted with a smile.
"Mm!" Athena ran up and bowed slightly, looking embarrassed. "Cloud, about last time... I'm sorry. I... I didn't mean to hide my abilities from you."
She meant her identity as a psychic.
"It's fine, I understand." Cloud waved it off. "Everyone has secrets. Like me—I actually have a secret I haven't told you either."
"Eh? What secret?" Athena blinked curiously.
Cloud leaned close to her ear and whispered so only she could hear: "Actually... I don't just write songs. I can also tell fortunes. I did some calculations, and your destiny... is missing me."
Athena's cheeks flushed crimson. She lightly punched his arm. "You're talking nonsense again!"
This scene was witnessed in full by Mai and Yuri from nearby.
Mai's lips had pursed so tight you could hang an oil bottle from them.
Yuri bit her lip, feeling like her beloved idol was about to be... snatched by that pig named "Cloud."
And so, a KOF 94 tournament brimming with gunpowder, gossip, jealousy, and all manner of strange flavors officially began in this chaotic yet lively atmosphere!
Cloud looked at all these faces so familiar from the games, feeling the blood-boiling fighting spirit in the air, and his lips curved into an utterly confident smile.
"KOF 94... here I come!"
"Are you all ready... for the arrival of this 'Fourth Calamity'?"
...
"Ladies! Gentlemen! Gamblers! Spectators!"
The announcer's voice, pumped full of adrenaline, thundered through the Colosseum's surround-sound system.
"Welcome to the greatest fighting spectacle of the century—The King of Fighters 94!"
"Here, the only rule is there are no rules! Here, power is the only truth! Here, you will witness who is the true—KING OF FIGHTERS!"
As his inflammatory roar echoed, the massive ring erupted with dazzling flames and streamers!
The crowd's thunderous cheers crashed like physical soundwaves, threatening to blow the dome off the arena!
...
Backstage, Competitor Tunnel.
Cloud stood at the front of his team, feeling that wave of passion that could set any man's blood ablaze, his own heart surging.
"This setup... way bigger than underground fights," he murmured.
"My lord, this place... reeks of killing intent." Commander Zuo stood behind him, hand already resting instinctively on his blade, eyes sharp as knives, looking ready to charge out and "restore the dynasty" at any moment.
"Boss, I'm hungry." Baobao tugged at Cloud's sleeve, pointing at a fat man eating popcorn in the stands. "That stuff looks yummy. Can you buy me some after we fight?"
Cloud: "..."
One ready to cut people down at any moment. One ready to eat at any moment.
Is this team really going to be okay?
Just then, the matchup for the first fight appeared on the giant screens.
[Round 1, Group A, Match 1]
[USA Sports Team VS Mexico Team]
"Oh? The American sports squad kicks things off."
Cloud immediately spotted the musclebound men he'd "rejected"—Heavy D!, Lucky Glauber, and Brian Battler.
Their opponents were three beefy men wearing Mexican luchador masks, bodies corded with muscle.
"Let's go watch."
Cloud led his two "uniquely styled" teammates to the competitor viewing area.
Several teams had already gathered—Terry, Ryo, Kyo, and others were all present, maintaining wary distances from each other.
The battle had begun!
Heavy D!, the USA Team's boxer, faced Mexico's lead wrestler.
Both were pure power-types, fighting with big, brutal movements, every punch landing with meaty impact. The crowd roared with excitement.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Muscle crashed against muscle with sounds like war drums.
In the end, Heavy D! proved superior. Spotting an opening, he unleashed a lightning-fast combination that hammered into his opponent's chest like a machine gun!
"KO!"
As the announcer screamed, the Mexican wrestler flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing to the ground unconscious.
However, the instant he hit the floor—something unexpected happened!
RIIIIIP—!
A crisp tearing sound.
Under the stunned gazes of tens of thousands of spectators, the Mexican wrestler's previously sturdy wrestling singlet suddenly burst apart as if torn by invisible hands, transforming into fluttering scraps of fabric!
All that remained was... a pair of boxers printed with cactus patterns, flapping desolately in the breeze.
The air froze solid.
Then the entire arena erupted in earth-shaking laughter, whistles, and gleeful hollering!
Backstage in the viewing area, dead silence reigned.
Every fighter, male and female alike, stared slack-jawed at that "refreshing" scene on the ring, their brains collectively crashing.
Cloud's mouth hung open wide enough to fit a fist.
"Did I... did I see that right?" He rubbed his eyes, stammering. "Lose a fight... and your clothes explode?!"
[Ding! System Notice: KOF 94 special rule detected—Exhaustion Clothing Destruction. When a competitor's stamina and spirit are completely depleted upon KO, their clothing bursts due to inability to withstand the energy impact. This rule pays homage to the original game's design. Please enjoy, Host.]
Enjoy?!