Cloud had completely immersed himself in this decadent life of "embracing left and right," "drunk on beauty's lap," almost... forgetting about everything else.
Until, one day.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! After engaging in deep dual cultivation with Bond Targets, your Ultimate Power comprehension has reached... 99%!]
When this notification sounded in Cloud's mind.
He suddenly awakened from this "gentle paradise."
99%.
Just one final step away from that 100% "perfection."
He could clearly feel that the power within his body had reached a critical point about to undergo "qualitative change."
He also knew it was time to do something he had long wanted to do.
...
Kagura Shrine, forbidden grounds, Sealing Chamber.
Cloud and the Kagura sisters stood side by side before the [Yata Mirror].
"Are you ready?" Cloud asked the sisters beside him.
"Mm." Both Kagura sisters nodded firmly.
"Good."
Cloud took a deep breath and unreservedly poured his 99% Ultimate Power into the [Yata Mirror]!
"—Open!"
"Hummm——!!!"
Light blazed brilliantly on the mirror's surface!
A deep vortex, like the starry sky, slowly formed within the mirror!
Then, a powerful, violent force of wind, full of divinity and majesty, surged out from the vortex!
A figure wearing priest's robes with silver short hair, bound by countless chains, was slowly pulled out from the sealed dimension within the mirror!
It was Goenitz!
When he once again set foot on this land he had once tried to "purify."
He froze.
He looked at Cloud before him, then at the Kagura sisters on either side, intimately holding Cloud's arms.
He was stunned.
What... what is going on?
How did the descendants of the Three Sacred Treasure families end up together with this "Divine Son"?
And from the looks of it, it seems like one king with two queens?!
Are young people nowadays this wild?!
"Goenitz."
Cloud looked at this former boss with a face full of "questioning life" and spoke calmly.
"Long time no see."
"...Divine Son." Goenitz was silent for a long moment before slowly lowering his proud head, which had never bowed to anyone. "I, Goenitz, acknowledge that you are the new god of this world."
"I, and the wind I represent, willingly submit to you completely."
He was convinced.
Completely and utterly convinced.
"Very good."
Cloud nodded with satisfaction.
He knew he had gained another Heavenly King-level super enforcer under his command.
"Since you have submitted to me."
"Then I shall now give you... your first mission."
A hint of warmth flashed in Cloud's eyes.
"From today, your mission is to go to South Town."
"Protect Goniko."
Goenitz's body shuddered violently!
In those emotionless eyes of his, a glimmer of something called "humanity" flashed.
"...Yes, my Lord."
...
The illusion of world peace, like ice cream in summer, always melts so quickly.
One week later.
A certain day, high noon.
Paris, France. Beneath the Eiffel Tower, countless tourists were taking photos.
New York, USA. Before the Statue of Liberty, pigeons and tourists shared a peaceful scene.
Suddenly!
Without any warning!
Two thick blue-white energy beams filled with destructive aura, like spears of gods, came howling down from outside the atmosphere!
"—BOOM!!!"
"—BOOM!!!"
The Eiffel Tower, that elegant steel frame, was severed at the waist!
The Statue of Liberty, her raised torch, was reduced to powder!
The entire world, in that instant, fell into deathly silence.
Then came overwhelming panic!
"Terrorist attack! It's a terrorist attack!"
"The apocalypse! The apocalypse is back!"
"Run!"
Chaos once again descended upon the mortal world.
And the perpetrator, that mysterious organization that had long gone dormant—NESTS—used the world's largest hacker network to broadcast an extremely arrogant "demonstration" video to the entire world.
In the video, a cold electronic synthesized voice, devoid of any emotion, slowly spoke:
[We are NESTS.]
[What just happened was merely a small "fireworks show"—a test firing of our newly developed orbital weapon, the "Zero Cannon."]
[Now, we officially announce that a new KOF tournament is about to begin.]
[This time, we welcome all fighters from around the world to come and challenge us.]
[Especially... Mr. Cloud.]
[We have prepared a special "gift" for you.]
[The game has only just begun.]
As soon as the video finished playing, it spread to every corner of the globe in an instant.
The world was in complete uproar!
NESTS!
This mysterious organization that had been stirring up trouble behind the scenes of KOF 99 had finally stepped out from behind the curtain!
And their opening move was this utterly insane declaration of war against the entire world!
Their purpose was self-evident—to force Cloud to participate in their death game!
"Ring ring ring ring——!"
The harsh telephone ring shattered the tranquility of Kagura Shrine's back courtyard.
Cloud was lying on a rocking chair in the garden. On his left was the gentle-as-water Maki Kagura, peeling grapes for him; on his right was the adorable Chizuru Kagura, fanning him.
This outrageously "decadent" "retirement life" had nearly made him forget he was still supposed to be a "savior."
"Hello?" He lazily answered the phone.
"Lord Cloud!" From the other end came Heidern's voice, filled with urgency and gravity. "Something big has happened! Check the news now!"
Cloud frowned and activated the holographic projection TV beside him.
When he saw the world landmarks destroyed in the news and NESTS' arrogant "global announcement."
His eyes instantly turned cold.
"Snap."
The grape in his hand was unconsciously crushed into a puddle of purple juice.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"