KOF: Rise of the King of Fighters

As the sun set, Angelina held Terry's hand tightly, tears streaming down her face, dripping onto Terry's cheeks. They stood in a desolate place, the only sound the howling wind. Terry's breathing was weak and rapid; his face was ashen, and blood stained his tattered clothes.

Not far away, on the grass lay Joe, covered in blood, and Andy, unconscious. Mai Shiranui was carefully tending to the two seriously injured men. Although she was prepared to face danger with Andy, seeing Andy covered in wounds still broke her heart.

Angelina looked up into the distance, her eyes filled with confusion and helplessness. She didn't know what the future held, or whether they could escape the enemy's pursuit, but all she wanted now was for Terry to live.

……

Rewinding to three hours earlier, Terry and his companions successfully evaded the assassins' pursuit and gained a temporary respite.

At this moment, Joe Higashi was driving a truck towards a safe area, with Andy sitting in the passenger seat. Inside the truck were Angelina, Mai Shiranui, and Terry, who had been shot multiple times.

Angelina held Terry tightly, silently shedding tears. Fortunately, although Terry had been shot multiple times, he managed to protect his vital organs and was not in mortal danger.

However, just when everyone thought they were out of danger, suddenly, a huge figure rushed out from the roadside in the suburbs and crashed into the side of the truck.

Giant Bomb!

A deafening roar followed: "Boom!"

The immense impact caused the entire vehicle to overturn instantly. Andy and Joe jumped out of the window the moment the vehicle hit, avoiding being crushed. However, the other three people inside the vehicle were unable to escape the powerful impact. They had to endure the violent shaking caused by the collision, especially Terry, who was already seriously injured and now suffered even more.

Just as Joe and Andy were about to rush to Terry's aid, two figures, one tall and one short, one fat and one thin, rushed forward. These two were Lightning and Hoxha, hired by Geese to attack Terry and his group. Lightning was tall, with well-developed muscles and fat, and his face was obscured by a wrestler's hood; Hoxha was short, dark-skinned, but muscular and strong, with a sly smile on his face.

Joe and Andy immediately assumed fighting stances, ready to deal with these two uninvited guests.

"Hoxha! It's you!" As a fellow Muay Thai expert, Higashi Joe naturally recognized Hoxha.

"Haha, we've been waiting for this for a long time." Hoxha ignored Higashijo and continued talking to himself, then attacked Higashijo.

Andy watched Raiden warily from the side. Although Andy's Shiranui-ryu ninjutsu was very agile, it was still quite difficult to deal with a strong and brute fighter like Raiden, and being in the wilderness made it difficult to use his agility.

After regaining her footing inside the container, Mai Shiranui hurriedly opened the compartment and, together with Angelina, helped the heavily injured Terry to a safe spot to watch the battle unfold.

Joe Higashi and Hoxha were both using the [Explosive Fist] technique in a fierce battle, their momentum equally intense and evenly matched. Andy, on the other hand, was constantly dodging the lightning's grabs and attacks.

Joe Higashi and Hoxha's fists clashed repeatedly, producing dull thuds. They moved swiftly, skillfully dodging each other's attacks and searching for an opportunity to counterattack.

Andy deftly dodged Lightning's repeated attacks by sidestepping, while simultaneously retaliating with rapid kicks. His eyes were focused and determined, constantly observing the opportune moment for an attack.

Suddenly, Andy spotted an opening in Raiden's defenses. He immediately activated his ninjutsu, teleporting behind Raiden and kicking him in the back. Caught off guard, Raiden staggered forward a few steps, but was not injured at all.

At the same time, Joe Higashi seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful knee strike, hitting Hoxha in the abdomen like a cannonball. Hoxha cried out in pain, but he quickly adjusted his position, increasing the distance between himself and Joe Higashi.

Just then, a fierce glint flashed in Hoxha's eyes. He suddenly pulled out a bottle of medicinal wine and took a large gulp. Immediately afterward, his skin began to turn red rapidly, as if it were on fire, and he charged towards Joe Higashi like a madman.

Hoxha displayed his ultimate move:

Ultimate move: [Super Dragon Strike]! His knees gathered immense power, charging towards Joe Higashi with astonishing speed and force.

Faced with Hoxha's sudden burst of high-intensity power, Joe Higashi was unable to respond effectively and was knocked to the ground by the blow.

"Haha, what a great opportunity!" Raiden, who was standing to the side, seemed to have anticipated this moment. He abandoned his attack on Andy without hesitation, leaped several meters, and tumbled in the air as he crashed down on the ground.

Ultimate move: Lightning Bomb!

"Joe!" Andy finally snapped out of his daze from the battle and anxiously called out Joe's name, hoping he would notice the attack from the lightning. However, it was all too late.

No sooner had Andy finished speaking than lightning struck Joe Higashi like a bomb.

"Boom!" The powerful impact blasted the ground apart, sending a cloud of dust flying. Higashi Joe was stunned by the sudden attack, his body covered in blood and with multiple fractures, rendering him incapable of fighting.

"Joe!" Seeing this, Andy immediately ran desperately to rescue Joe. However, this action also revealed an opening. Hoxha seized the opportunity to attack Andy, who instinctively tried to block. While Andy was blocking Hoxha's attack, Raiden rolled and instantly grabbed Andy's arms with a grabbing skill. Andy did not expect that although Raiden seemed clumsy, he was so agile at the critical moment.

"Hahaha, worry about yourself first." Hoxha had barely finished speaking when he unleashed [Explosive Fist] directly at Andy.

"Ugh..." Andy's cries of pain rang out as he was struck by a series of heavy blows, and blood soon flowed from his body and mouth.

"Andy!" Mai Shiranui, who was watching from the sidelines, was shocked by the horrific scene. Anxious and worried, she immediately flew forward to rescue him.

Mai Shiranui swiftly unleashed numerous folding fans, which danced in the air, forming a dense wall of fans that temporarily interrupted Raiden and Hoxha's attacks. Andy, severely injured and coughing up blood from the Explosive Fist, seized the opportunity to escape, rolling away to stand beside Mai. The two exchanged a glance, understanding that they had to use their full strength now. Thus, they tacitly used a combined Fire Release ninjutsu.

[Shiranui Style Secret Technique - Dragon Flame Dance Formation]

Andy and Mai simultaneously formed hand seals and slammed their hands into the ground. The energy of the ninjutsu surged from the ground like a ferocious fire dragon, rushing towards Raiden and Hoxha. A circular array appeared beneath their feet, gradually solidifying into a towering pillar of fire that enveloped Raiden and Hoxha.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Mai and Andy quickly picked up the injured Joe. Just then, a screeching sound of car brakes rang out. It turned out that Angelina had cleverly stolen Raiden and Hoxha's car while everyone was fighting. Everyone got into the car and drove away from the scene.

Without the caster's support, the Dragon Flame Dance Array gradually dissipated. Lei Dian and Huo Kan saw that everyone had still fled. They exchanged a glance, feeling helpless.

……

Time returns to the present.

The group escaped to a temporarily safe no-man's-land.

"Dance." Andy slowly woke up, his voice weak.

"Andy! You're awake. Are you still in pain?" Mai Shiranui's eyes lit up instantly when she heard Andy's voice, and her face was full of concern as she hurriedly asked.

"I'm alright, Mai, but... Brother and Joe." Andy's injuries, though severe, weren't extensive, so he still had some mobility. He slowly stood up, his gaze falling on the injured Terry and Joe, a hint of sadness and loss flashing in his eyes.

Looking at the injured people before her, Mai Shiranui felt a pang of sadness. She knew that she was the only one who could do anything at this moment. So, she resolutely said to Angelina, "Miss Angelina, please take care of everyone. I'll go find a doctor to help." With that, she turned to leave.

"Wu!" Andy glanced at Wu with concern, but he understood that the situation was urgent and saving lives was the most important thing, so he didn't say anything more.

Looking at the beautiful, strong, and brave girl before her, Angelina felt a surge of admiration. She nodded firmly and said to Mai Shiranui, "Miss Mai, don't worry, leave this to me. I'll take good care of them."

Mai Shiranui smiled at Angelina, then reassured Andy, "Don't worry, they've only seen me as a ninja. I'll disguise myself in a bit."

Andy didn't say anything more, only instructing, "Wu, be careful on your journey. Perhaps you could ask the Kyokugenryu for help; from the news these past few days, they seem to be fighting against Geese's forces as well."

"Okay." After saying that, Mai Shiranui used her transformation jutsu to change into civilian clothes and drove the car towards the city center.

……

Nighttime, inside the Karate Kyokugenryu dojo. Ryo Sakazaki is analyzing recently gathered intelligence with Engetsu.

"Yan Yue, is Terry Bogard really your senior brother?" Ryo Sakazaki looked at the yakuza bounty poster in front of him, which had Terry's image and name printed on it.

Yan Yue didn't know how Terry had suddenly been targeted by Geese's men, so she replied, "Yes."

"Why did Geese want to kill him? What was his relationship with Geese?" Ryo Sakazaki asked, still puzzled.

So Yan Yue recounted their feud from the beginning: "Gise and Terry's father, Jeff, were both disciples of my grandfather, Tang Fulu..."

After listening, Ryo Sakazaki said, "He just arrived in South Town, and his identity has already been exposed so quickly. It seems that Geese has a lot of tricks up his sleeve."

Yan Yue nodded and said, "We need to find him as soon as possible. Senior Brother is in great danger. The assassins under Giss's command should have already been dispatched."

Ryo Sakazaki nodded. "The King of Fighters tournament is in a week. Terry has a bounty on his head from the mafia, so he probably won't be able to participate."

A resolute glint flashed in Yan Yue's eyes: "No matter what, Terry will do his best to challenge Geese. We must also be prepared to deal with Geese at any time."

Ryo Sakazaki frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "If we can really defeat Geese, then the situation in South Town could change dramatically..."

Just as the two were talking, Yan Yue suddenly sensed a woman's figure appear at the entrance of the dojo. He immediately became alert: "Liang, it seems like a woman has come to the entrance."

"Oh? Who could it be? Could it be King?" Ryo Sakazaki asked curiously.

So the two of them walked to the door together. When they opened the door, a strange woman appeared before them. She had long black hair, tied up in a high ponytail, and wore a leather jacket and tight jeans, looking very capable and efficient.

"Is Mr. Ryo Sakazaki here?" the woman asked.

“That’s me,” Ryo Sakazaki replied.

"Hello, my name is Mai Shiranui. I've come here to ask for your help..." the woman introduced herself and explained her purpose.

"Mai Shiranui?!" Upon hearing this name, Yan Yue couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. He naturally knew that Mai Shiranui was Andy's girlfriend, and he wondered to himself, "Why would she suddenly show up at my door? What happened?"

"Huh, do you know me?" Mai Shiranui was a little surprised by Engetsu's reaction.

"Is he a successor of the Shiranui-ryu ninjutsu?" En Yue still wanted to confirm.

"Yes." Mai Shiranui nodded in affirmation.

It turns out she really is Andy's girlfriend. And isn't Andy's older brother Terry?

So Yan Yue continued, "Are Terry and Andy with you?"

"Who are you? How do you know?" Mai Shiranui instantly became alert, taking two steps back and preparing for battle at any moment.

"Miss Mai, don't get agitated. Yan Yue is Terry's junior brother, and we've been looking for him." Ryo Sakazaki noticed that Mai seemed to know something and quickly explained.

"Yan Yue... who exactly are you people? How do you know Terry?" Mai Shiranui seemed to have heard Terry mention you before, but she still looked at the two people in front of her with wariness and asked.

Ryo Sakazaki didn't say much, handing the wanted poster to Mai Shiranui. She took it and her pupils dilated in shock. The poster contained information about Terry, Andy, and Joe.

Mai Shiranui carefully looked at Engetsu and Ryo Sakazaki in front of her, and then thought of Ryo Sakazaki's rampage at Big Bar a few days ago. Her doubts gradually disappeared, so she let down her guard and slowly recounted what had happened.

Yan Yue looked worried after hearing this and said, "I'll go with you first. I know a little about emergency surgery."

"Okay, follow me." Mai Shiranui was delighted to see someone helping her.

Then Yan Yue went back to her room, took out a medical kit from her bag, made a plan with Sakazaki Ryo, and left with Shiranui Mai.