Long moved with agility, his eyes locked tightly on Electric Man as he calmly assessed his opponent's movements. With a low roar, Long unleashed his technique, displaying astonishing combat skill.
Demon Cry Roaring Slash Fist! Long vanished in an instant, appearing before Electric Man as fast as lightning. His fists slammed down like fierce tigers descending the mountain. The howling gale carried destructive force as it struck toward Electric Man. Electric Man hurriedly dodged, but he still felt the force of the punches. The powerful shockwave drove him back several steps.
Long gave Electric Man no chance to catch his breath. Explosive Spit Single Touch Palm! He spread his palms, gathering blazing energy within them. His hands began to tremble as piercing soundwaves vibrated, releasing an enormous shockwave. The shockwave rapidly spread toward Electric Man, forcing him to retreat again and again as he narrowly and awkwardly avoided the fatal attack.
Noticing Long's swift footwork, Electric Man decided to widen the distance and counter with ranged attacks. He began releasing spheres of electrical energy, powerful currents gathering in his hands into glowing balls. However, just as Electric Man prepared to fire one, Long used Flying Bridge Entangling Silk. He darted through the air like a swallow, making it difficult for Electric Man to evade or counterattack. Long rapidly closed in, then launched an Illusionary Foot Inner Fang at Electric Man's vital point. The phantom-like leg shadow instantly struck Electric Man.
Electric Man took the heavy blow and was forced back. He tried to use ranged attacks to restrain Long, but Long gave him no such chance. Long used Flying Hair Leg again, kicking out a succession of leg shadows at incredible speed and trapping Electric Man in an unbroken barrage. Under Long's relentless attacks, Electric Man's body began to sway unsteadily.
Electric Man wanted to find an opportunity to widen the distance again, but Long had already anticipated his intentions. Long used Illusion Demon Flying Light Skill, flying freely through the air and flexibly changing his attack direction, leaving Electric Man unable to respond. Watching Long's figure dance through the sky, Electric Man felt overwhelming pressure.
Electric Man decided to change tactics, attempting a lightning-fast assault with his extraordinary speed and electrical power. He moved rapidly and rushed toward Long, but Long seemed to have anticipated his actions. Using Push Hand Demon Step Foot, he cleverly evaded the ambush with unique push-hand techniques and nimble footwork.
Long smiled, cold light flickering in his eyes. He knew Electric Man's ambush was nothing more than futile struggle. Long unleashed an Illusionary Cry Roar, releasing a deep roar along with a Mind Shockwave that left Electric Man too stunned to retaliate.
Electric Man was struck by Long's Illusionary Cry Roar, and the shockwave nearly threw him off balance. He staggered, struggling to remain standing. Long seized the opportunity to attack. Gathering all his strength, he transformed into something like a demon. Boundless killing intent enveloped Electric Man, locking onto him in an instant as blood-colored souls wrapped around Long's palms and slashed toward Electric Man like blades.
This was Long's Super Special Move ultimate art—Blood Burial Soul Demon Slash! Electric Man felt incomparable pressure. Facing those blade-like palms, he felt powerless to resist. Long's attack was like a demon's strike; even the strongest defense could hardly withstand it.
"Super Gravity!"
A powerful force of gravity suddenly pressed down on Long, making his body instantly heavy. His movements slowed, and he found it difficult to move freely. Seeing Long's killing intent disperse, Electric Man quickly widened the distance between them.
"Thunder Blast!"
A violent bolt of lightning, accompanied by roaring thunder, shot toward Long.
"Illusionary Dream Vengeful Spirit Wall." Long condensed a powerful illusory wall before himself, seemingly solid and tangible. The Illusionary Dream Vengeful Spirit Wall blocked Nathan Hawke's lightning attack and reflected it back as an even more powerful shockwave.
Nathan Hawke snorted coldly, focused his mind, and unleashed his telekinesis.
Rumble rumble rumble...
When the smoke cleared, Long looked at the two people who had vanished without a trace, fury burning within him.
"Awake? Looks like you're quite stubborn."
At Kusanagi Castle, Electric Man lay on a bed after being treated by Kusanagi Shizuka, Kyo Kusanagi's mother, listening to Nathan Hawke lecture him.
"Hah. I just wanted to experience how the fighters of this world battle." Electric Man stubbornly refused to admit defeat.
"Hmph. You idiot, you should've widened the distance from the start, worn him down slowly, and kept him occupied until I arrived." Nathan Hawke could only concede that this guy was hopeless.
After a moment of silence, Electric Man asked, "That box?"
"What was inside is already in my hands." Nathan Hawke raised the disc in his hand for him to see.
"Then what about Ramon?"
"Him?" Mentioning that guy angered Nathan Hawke. If he had not been cautious, Ramon would probably have handed it to Dr. Keitz the moment he got it. If Dr. Keitz refused, Nathan Hawke would have had no choice but to use force and kill him.
"Will he expose us?" Electric Man asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. I already have him under control. You should be more concerned with how long you've been asleep." Nathan Hawke patted Electric Man on the shoulder and left.
Electric Man looked at the calendar on the table.
"So I've been asleep for two days."
"Mr. Hawke, I sincerely invite you to help us deal with Storm Giamat." Kagura Chizuru bowed to Nathan Hawke.
"Actually, if the descendants of the Three Sacred Treasures joined forces, you would be fully capable of handling him." Nathan Hawke had also gone to watch the KOF matches over the past two days. Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami were indeed powerful. In close combat, Nathan Hawke admitted he would be no match for them. But if I could fly, how would you respond?
In terms of overall strength, Nathan Hawke was not afraid of them, but there was no need for it.
Nathan Hawke merely said calmly, "If you truly can't defeat him, I'll step in. After all, this is a long-standing grudge between your Three Sacred Treasures families and Orochi."
Hearing Nathan Hawke's reply, Kagura Chizuru thanked him with ladylike grace. "Thank you, Mr. Hawke. With those words, I can rest assured. If you ever need anything, you may come find me at the Kagura Group."
Kagura Chizuru left, taking her satisfying answer with her.
"Senior, don't you plan on going?" Nathan Hawke looked toward Goenitz, who was approaching from not far away.
Goenitz chuckled. "Miss Kagura is beautiful, isn't she?"
Nathan Hawke nodded, but replied, "But I have no interest in her."
"I'm getting old. It's time to hand the burden over to Kyo." Goenitz wore an expression of exaggerated elderliness that made Nathan Hawke want to punch him.
"Fine, fine." Nathan Hawke shook his head and left.
Although Nathan Hawke had agreed to Kagura Chizuru's request, he had no urge whatsoever to go.
The matters he had come to this world to plan had already been completed. Nathan Hawke had no intention of involving himself in what remained. He had only agreed because the Kusanagi clan had taken in the injured Electric Man, and because Kagura Chizuru had provided treatment resources for him after learning of the matter.
Three Sacred Treasures, you'd better follow the plot and defeat Goenitz. I don't want to go.
There was one day left until departure.
Nathan Hawke, Electric Man, Andrew, Ryoma Sengoku, and Dr. Keitz gathered together.
Nathan Hawke looked at the bandage-wrapped Andrew and asked, "Looks like you got taught a lesson."
"Uh..." Andrew had known his boss would say that. If Andrew had not listened to Nathan Hawke's advice not to fly, he would not have been beaten so badly when facing Iori Yagami.
"You did very well. You held out until the end," Ryoma Sengoku comforted him, though the smirk on his face betrayed him.
"Enough." Nathan Hawke cut them off. Then he looked at Dr. Keitz and introduced him. "From now on, Dr. Keitz will also be a member of our team. Ryoma Sengoku, you already told Dr. Keitz, right?"
Ryoma Sengoku's lips curled into a faint smile. "Of course. I had to do a lot of persuading before Dr. Keitz believed in the existence of another world—or rather, another plane."
Dr. Keitz was somewhat excited, though he deliberately maintained a blank expression. Whether all this was real, whether it truly was as Ryoma Sengoku had said, left Dr. Keitz deeply conflicted. He had once considered leaving, but after learning about the battle at the harbor, he discarded that thought. All that remained was his desire to explore "another world."
"Tomorrow, we'll go to the KOF Tournament finals venue." Nathan Hawke gave the order, while his eyes saw subtitles that no one else could see.
Time Remaining: 2 days.
Time Remaining: 1 day.
At the finals stage, dark clouds filled the sky, and the atmosphere was exceptionally grim. The slowly rising rumble and flashes of lightning seemed to hint at the terror of the elegant blond man standing before the Three Sacred Treasures families—Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Kagura Chizuru.
Marble pillars lay scattered and crooked, while many badly injured fighters were strewn around the area.
The wind grew more and more rampant.
"Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, Chizuru, we finally meet." Goenitz's voice was cold and elegant, and an evil aura emanated from him.
Kyo Kusanagi showed no weakness. His gaze was firm as he said, "Goenitz, the Hakkeshu's evil plan to revive Orochi will definitely fail."
Iori Yagami stared coldly at his opponent without saying another word. His aura was like an unfathomable abyss, sending chills through anyone who felt it.
Kagura Chizuru, meanwhile, was radiant with energy, her eyes filled with confidence and determination. "Goenitz, we will not let you continue doing whatever you please!"
The atmosphere on the battlefield was tense. Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Kagura Chizuru stared intently at Goenitz, ready to fight. Goenitz's gaze was cold as he faced the three opponents without fear.
"Is that so?" Goenitz sneered.
The instant he raised his hand.
The power of a storm swept toward the three of them.
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