Into the Climax

I have to bring everyone here. But where to look...

Okay, but listen to this, Amy!

So that's where you were! Hey, Mai and Athena! Hi, Amy!

Hiya, Aldo! What's up?

Woah!!! It's HUGE! Is this all for the tournament?

Yikes! What's going on?

Oh, I'm sorry! Are you okay?

Owie... Huh?

Ahhh!!! You're the lady who's always shooting fire out of her tail!

Tail?! As if! This is the traditional garb passed down to practitioners of Shiranui style ninjutsu...

...Wait. You're just that ice-user kid.

A little kid like you can't appreciate the subtle nuances of this outfit.

Hey! You can't make fun of me!

You're a meanie! You just shoot fire, and you're not even pretty!

Not, ! How DARE you say I'm not pretty!

Okay, okay! Calm down, you two!

It's a surprise to see you here, Kula. And you, K'.

Where did you all come crawling out of?

Yo! What're y'all doing here?

Well, if it isn't this town's Mr. Handsome!

I'd say this is quite the gathering.

Oh. Is this what the cat meant by all the possibilities coming together?

We have our six team members. Now all that's left is...

Yikes! We gotta stop them!

'Sup, Aldo? Something wrong?

There is! I need you all to follow me!

Hmph. Is that really as hot as you can get?

I could say the same to you. A little off your game today?

...Let me do you a favor by shutting you up.

That's enough, you two!

Aldo?! Why are you...

Wait, what was I just doing...

Give it a rest, dudes. The match hasn't started yet.

And what exactly are you all doing here?

Kyo, Iori, everyone... I have something to tell you all. You all came here because you received an invite from a cat, right?

Hey, how did you know that?

I need everyone to stay calm and listen. We're all...

...So in short, we were summoned from another world to defeat this phantom thing...

And this isn't even our first time experiencing this. Is that correct?

Yeah. I know it's hard to believe...

I see... So it wasn't all a dream I had after passing out at the Pao Pao Cafe.

To think that cat would have such a lofty goal...

Now I get why you all looked so familiar!

So I have a favor to ask you all...

You don't even have to mention it! You want us all to go find this phantom guy, right?

Thanks, Kula. When this is all over, I'll help buy some vacherin glacé for you.

Really?! Yaaay!

Children are so easy to please.

Now hold on, Mai!

Will you lend a hand too, K'?

...It's not exactly like I have a choice if I want to go back.

Thank you! It's huge help!

Tch. Just look at your face... I'm only doing this to get things over with as soon as possible.

I'll help, too! Anything for a teammate in need.

Or wait... Is it former teammate in this case?

It does feel a little funny, but we're happy to help out as best we can!

You can count me in, too!

'Course, I was excited for the KoF, but saving the world sounds like it'll be just as fun!

Precisely! An adventure across time and space... Sounds like something right out of a storybook!

Everyone...

And here I was all excited when you popped up...

Yeah, sorry I couldn't bring Andy. Once things are all said and done here, let's all go on vacation somewhere together!

We gotta work hard to play hard!

I suppose so... We'll elegantly save the world, and I'll make Andy look my way!

So, Kyo, Iori...what do you guys think?

You say we were summoned here to stop this so-called "phantom," who has the power of Orochi...

Yeah. We need you all so we can save the world.

That is quite the undertaking...

Hmph. A waste of time.

Iori, wait!

Even if what you say is true, I am more than enough on my own.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of fighting together myself. ...At least, not usually.

Kyo?

This is so weird... You know, we've never met before. But that face of yours when you're talking all serious about saving the world and asking us for help... It's weirdly familiar.

Oh, Kyo...

Hey, Yagami. I won't ask for your help, even with my dying breath. But... I think we can hold off on our own brawl until that bastard goes down. Don't you?

...Hmph.

Fine. Just don't get in my way.

Thanks, guys!

Wow! Shiny kitty!

You! Where did you, ?!

A wormhole!

This hole looks kinda familiar...

I sense a powerful presence on the other side. Almost like a concentration of miasma...

Now this sounds fun. Let's hop on over and kick its ass.

I'm in! Can't wait to see what we're up against.

If it's really as powerful as you say, defeating it will surely spread the name of Shiranui style ninjutsu through the world!

Hehe! Sounds like fun!

All right, then... Let's go!

Where are we?

It appears we have arrived some years before the era from which we departed. I surmise this is Darkest Noah when it was under construction.

The power I sensed earlier is getting stronger...

Let's get a move on. Whatever it is, I'll give it a good walloping.

"The King of Fighters," you say... An impressive idea. I shall set the plan in motion with EFE Corp. right away! Allow me to get in touch with my people...

You don't need to go that far, Owner... Because, you see, I will be the one to make that plan a reality.

Wh-What do you mean?!

Hehehe... Whilst you were lost in your own little world, I had all authority over this company transferred over to me.

You want to take over my company?! And here I believed you were a trustworthy and upstanding aide!

An aide? Did you really think YOU had power over ME? Enough with your drivel.

There's no way this can be legal... I'll just report you to the EGPD, and...

Ahhh, that reminds me. You have a daughter, do you not? A beauty at that. I seem to recall her wanting to become an announcer...

What did you do to her?!

Hahaha! Don't get me wrong. I haven't touched a hair on her pretty little head. And it'll stay that way...if you make the right choice, of course.

Urk... Very well... The company is...

That won't be necessary!

Are you okay?

Wh-Who are you?

We're here to stop Rugal.

You did great. We saw how you tried to protect the right thing.

You really did! I'm sure your daughter would be proud.

But who are you? You know my daughter?

Sure, something like that. It's not safe for you to be here, though. Just leave the rest to us.

Sorry for the trouble... I am in your debt.

Your plans stop here, Rugal!

And you are? I don't believe we've met...

...Although I do see some familiar faces behind you there.

I always thought you disappeared after being consumed by the power of Orochi. Who'da thought you'd end up here.

We can't have you come crawling back again, so I'll just burn you to the point that not even ashes remain.

Whimper and whine all you want. Things won't go like they did last time. If you insist on getting in my way, I'll just eradicate you all...

So you've finally decided to show yourself!

This is the one using the power of Orochi!

What do you want? These fools are my prey. Your appearance here is unnecessary.

Just thought I'd offer you a hand.

A useless offer. ...Did you, by chance, think I could lose?

I simply mean that it's a tad too soon for you to fight on your own. After all, I've only just tethered you to this world with the power of Orochi...

...And now we have quite the complication on our hands.

I see this was your doing... You meddlesome little Will of the Planet!

Will of the Planet?!

Is that so. While creating your little worlds of possibilities, you used this swordsman to anchor these visitors to this world. All without knowing how that would have unfortunate side effects for you.

I'm sure you all have seen what exactly is being gathered in that world, have you not?

The vitality generator... Could it be that the tournament was being used to gather negative energy from the people who came?

Precisely. Thanks to your feline friend's trial runs of the world, I was able to get quite a lot of delectably dark, powerful greed energy.

I can prove it. Allow me to show you just how much power I've acquired...

Hey, are you all right?!

Now, then...Rugal. I'm sorry to say, but your role ends here. I'll have you become a vessel. Your rugged physical form will make for a most excellent receptacle...

Grrr!

Hehehe... Did you really think I'd let you do as you please?

You said that in order to tether me to this world, you made use of the power of Orochi which lies dormant within me, yes?

In the past, I was unable to fully control this power and came up short against these brats. However, I do not make the same mistake twice. I've since learned the technique for wielding the power of Orochi, you see.

In fact! If I swallow you and the power of Orochi you're surrounded in, it will mean I have command of it all!

Perfect... This is it... This is the power I desired. It...consumes my entire being... GRAAAGH!!!

Does this mean that the phantom's the one who got taken over?!

Hey, now, that's just showing off.

Well, isn't that just nifty! Almost like some creepy monster waiting in the depths of a labyrinth or something!

Get serious, please! There's an enormous amount of dark power spilling out!

Well, it won't do any good to die now...

He looks so strong now! I LOVE fighting strong people, so this'll be fun!

You're right! Beating something as big as this will make me the strongest heroine for sure!

I don't know if you're a greed monster or a grease monster, but I'm gonna burn the true meaning of fear into you either way!

Heh. Perfect. Now I can roast you hot enough that you never come slithering back again!

Yes... This is it... This is the true awakening of power... Paint it all in the color of greed... Blanket the world in dark chaos!

He's still not down after all that?!

Heheh... I cannot be defeated. My thirst for blood and battle... The power of bottomless greed. I contain the totality of cravings and desires! What mere human could stop ME?!

No way... His power just keeps growing...

Damn. I thought I was just killing time. Who'da thought we'd end up doing something like this...

But sure, why not? I'll finish this.

I'm not taking orders from you, you know. This is my fight.

And after Yagami... Aldo, you ready?

You got it.

Your piddling flames don't work on me!

It's not just two people.

It's with everyone's power combined. We'll defeat you and save the world, Rugal Bernstein!

Let's do this, Yagami!

Just don't miss, Kyo!

Time to end this!

Take...THIS!!!

No... Impossible... I've surpassed...Orochi...the phantom... everything...

Is it...over?

Affirmative. There are no sensor results in our surroundings.

The dark power...disappeared.

Which means...it must really be...

Yep. We finally won!

Wow! The shiny kitty got even cuter!

It's the ticket kitty!

What...What exactly are you?

Pretty sure Rugal called you "meddlesome little Will of the Planet" or something.

I don't really think a normal cat can stop time or open portals to other worlds...

It almost sounds like you are an incarnation of a planet, itself.

The kitty? But how?

So this means we finally get to go home, huh.

Awww... But I wanna stay and play some more!

Now hold on a minute...

Oh, wait. But what if someone ate my ice cream I left in the fridge...

Kula. You can come and visit us any time. When you do, I'll be waiting with plenty of vacherin glacé.

Riica...

You're right. I'm sure Diana and Foxy are probably worried, too...

Let's go, K'.

You got a bunch of stories to share out of this, didn't you?

Sure did!

Bye-bye, everyone! I'm for-sure for sure coming back for more vacherin glacé!

I should head home, too. I don't want everyone to worry.

Me, too. I have to tell Andy all about my gallant escapades!

Hehe. I'm sure he'll be impressed.

Thanks to you too, Amy, for all the help.

I'm so sorry for roping you into all this...

No worries. It was...actually pretty fun, all things considered.

It was? Oh, I'm positive you'd make a wonderful idol!

Totally! You're more than strong and cute enough!

A-An idol? Sure, why not...

Thank you, everyone. It's been a pleasure.

Be sure to spread the word about how cool Shiranui style ninjutsu is in this world, too, everyone! See you around!

Time for us to head out too, Jenet.

Fine by me! My Lillien Knights are bound to be waiting for their captain anyway.

Even if I kinda wanted to look around here with you a little longer...

Sorry? I didn't catch that.

O-Oh, it's nothing! Nothing at all!

Oh, yeah. Why don't we drop by the Pao Pao Cafe when we get back? I was planning to meet Joe and Andy there, so they might be waiting.

Great idea! Let's tell them all about our great adventure!

You were a big help too, Cyrus. I'da liked to hang out some more...

Indeed. It is unfortunate... I would have liked to see more of your wolflike battle prowess.

Ha! In that case, we'll just have to spar the next time we meet!

I accept your challenge! I'll stay warmed up and waiting in the meantime.

See you around, then! Take care, y'all! Good luck out there!

Toodles!

So...are you two going to fight again when you get back?

Of course. With the threat of Orochi dealt with, there's no reason for us to work together.

Damn, man. You could at least say goodbye like a normal person...

Ridiculous.

I'll be waiting through the portal. We'll finish our fight there.

Hey! Wait!

You sure do remind me of a certain someone. Someone from our world who tries to stop us like you.

Sounds like they have it rough...

Eh. I do what I want either way.

Well, now I know what to expect from you two. If I ever see you guys fighting again, though, I'm gonna stop you. I'm not giving up on this.

Haha, sure. Actually, I wanted to fight you seriously at least once. Would you be down?

Sure. As many times as you want.

Great. I'll be on my way then.

It's been fun. Let's make sure to meet again. In the King of Fighters.

In the King of Fighters, huh...

An interesting experience indeed... encountering the culture of another world.

It really was. I can kind of get why they were all so enthusiastic.

If it became a permanent fixture in Elzion, it would surely get a high number of views.

...We should probably get going, too.

Definitely. You can count on it.