KOF: Rise of the King of Fighters

The sea was as calm as a mirror, without a ripple, and the stars in the night sky were like jewels, dazzling yet gentle. Yan Yue's body was completely relaxed, sleeping quietly on the sea, as if she had become one with the ocean.

Beneath the surface of the sea, a group of golden fish swam by, their scales shimmering with iridescent light, as beautiful as a dream. Yan Yue could even hear the faint sounds they made as they swam.

At this moment, Yan Yue slowly opened her eyes and woke up.

"Where is this?"

Yan Yue subconsciously tried to sense it, but found that her senses seemed unusable.

So Yan Yue stood up. The ocean beneath her feet, like a mirror, supported her feet without her sinking at all. Yan Yue looked around at the boundless ocean and the dazzling starry sky. Suddenly, she was startled.

"Huh? I can see now?"

Yan Yue lowered his head again, carefully examining the sea beneath his feet. The originally calm sea surface rippled with waves as he stepped on it.

As the ripples subsided, a face was reflected on the sea. It was the face of a young boy with long, glossy black hair of a moderate length, neatly combed; his features were clear and beautiful, and his skin was as white as jade. However, what was most striking were his golden eyes, which revealed a sense of solemnity and majesty.

Yan Yue lay on the sea surface, gently stroking her face, gazing at her reflection in the water, and couldn't help but sigh, "So I really am quite good-looking."

In this tranquil atmosphere, Yan Yue's thoughts gradually became clear. He sat quietly on the sea, feeling the sea breeze gently caress his cheeks, gazing at the fish in the distance, his heart filled with emotion.

He could see his past on the sea, along with the challenges and difficulties he had faced. Each scene unfolded before his eyes like a painting, allowing him to relive those unforgettable moments. These memories not only filled him with sadness and loss, but also helped him understand his own growth and resilience.

As the memories unfolded, a golden flame suddenly drifted slowly from afar. It shone like the brightest star in the night sky, radiating a warm and dazzling light. The instant the flame touched Yan Yue, countless images flashed through her eyes: ancient battlefields, primitive tribes, the arrival of natural disasters, a world in chaos between gods and demons… The images shifted rapidly, faster and faster, until Yan Yue's eyes could barely take it.

"Ugh—" Yan Yue cried out in pain, covering his eyes with his hands. He felt a strong shock, as if the whole world was spinning. He tried hard to see the images clearly, but they flashed rapidly like slides, making it unbearable for him.

Finally, Yan Yue couldn't take it anymore, her vision went black, and she lost consciousness again.

……

"Yan Yue... Yan Yue... What's wrong?" Suddenly, a girl's anxious cry broke the silence.

"Hey, Yan Yue... are you awake?" The girl called out again with a hint of surprise. Yan Yue heard the voice and felt it was somewhat familiar, but couldn't quite place it.

He slowly opened his eyes; his golden pupils were still dim, and the world before him remained pitch black, his vision not yet fully restored. However, he could sense that the surrounding light was becoming brighter, indicating that his eyesight was gradually improving.

Seeing that Yan Yue had responded, the girl shouted even more excitedly, "Yan Yue is really awake! Sister King, Yan Yue is awake..."

Yan Yue listened quietly to the girl's cries, trying to identify her by her voice. After a while, he finally realized that the girl seemed to be Sakazaki Yuri.

Yan Yue slowly sat up in bed, carefully taking in his surroundings. It looked like a traditional Japanese wooden room, filled with a traditional atmosphere. He guessed he was inside the Kyokugenryu Dojo, because the place felt familiar. He was lying on a mattress laid out on the floor, and surprisingly, Terry, Ryo Sakazaki, and Takuma Sakazaki were lying in the rooms next to his.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door, which was then gently pushed open. It turned out to be King, Mai Shiranui, and Robert, who had rushed over after hearing the news of Yan Yue's awakening. Seeing that Yan Yue was awake and sitting on the bed, their expressions immediately relaxed…

Yan Yue spoke with the others and learned that King was holding Hoxha back, while Robert and Billy were locked in a fierce battle, with Robert gaining the upper hand and seemingly about to defeat Billy. But just then, the building began to shake violently, emitting a deafening roar.

A while later, everyone saw Geese fall from the building and knew the battle was over. Billy and the others rushed downstairs to check the situation, while King and Robert hurried upstairs to find their companions.

"We were fighting the enemy downstairs when suddenly the whole building started shaking and there was a loud bang," Robert recalled, frowning.

King sighed and explained, "We didn't know exactly what happened at the time. When we found you, you were all unconscious and covered in wounds."

“Especially Terry, he was literally bleeding from head to toe! And he was wanted by the mob and couldn’t be taken to the hospital.” Mai Shiranui’s expression suddenly turned serious, but then relaxed instantly, and she continued, “Luckily, Robert and Yuri found a friend to help them, and a private doctor saved his life.”

Yuri Sakazaki smiled and nodded, recalling with a wry smile, "Yes, it was really scary back then, even Miss Angelina fainted."

Having roughly sorted out her thoughts, Yan Yue asked Bai He, "So how are Ryo and Uncle Sakazaki doing now?"

"They're fine now, but they still can't move around much and are lying in the next room."

Suddenly, Yan Yue remembered something and asked, "By the way, how long did I sleep?"

"Ten days."

"Is Nagis dead?"

Seeing Yan Yue's suspicious expression, Robert comforted her, saying, "Yan Yue, there's no need to overthink it after falling from such a height. Besides, his territory has started to be taken over by other gangs these past few days, and some of Terry's wanted posters have been withdrawn."

"Is that so?"

Hearing this answer, Yan Yue was still a little uneasy. He wasn't sure if Geese was dead or not, but he was certain that everyone was safe for the time being.

Sakazaki Yuri looked at Engetsu in front of her and smiled gently. Then she reached out and slowly hugged Engetsu who was sitting next to her.

Yan Yue: "?"

"Thank you, Engetsu, you are a benefactor to our family," Yuri Sakazaki said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. She hugged Engetsu tightly, as if to convey all her gratitude to him.

Yan Yue felt a surge of warmth in his heart; he sensed Sakazaki Yuri's sincerity and kindness. So Yan Yue gently patted Sakazaki Yuri's back and comforted her, "Don't say that. I just did what I should do."

Yan Yue gently pushed Sakazaki Yuri away and said calmly and seriously, "Don't take all the credit for this. It's the result of everyone's efforts."

Looking at Yan Yue, King couldn't help but exclaim, "But Yan Yue, your contribution is the greatest."

Mai Shiranui nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, Engetsu helped me a lot too."

Yuri Sakazaki nodded, looking at Engetsu's dull golden eyes, which were glistening with tears, but her sunny smile remained bright.

……

In the past few days, news of Giss's death spread rapidly, shattering the relative balance of power in South Town once again. Various factions began vying for control of this lucrative territory without hesitation. Similarly, the fame of those who defeated Giss and his two companions also spread far and wide.

More than ten days later, after everyone's injuries had healed somewhat, Takuma Sakazaki called everyone together and began to recount the whole story.

Ten years ago, when Gisbig and others were still engaged in open and covert struggles, Gisbig unexpectedly obtained a Tengu mask. This mask was an ancient magical artifact containing strange magic that could make a person powerful and also control the wearer's consciousness.

Although Geese was not as powerful as he is now, he still had countless people he wanted to eliminate. So, he meticulously planned and arranged a seemingly perfect car accident, successfully killing Takuma Sakazaki's wife and disguising it as an accident.

Not only that, he deliberately left some clues to attract Takuma Sakazaki's attention. As time went on, Geese gradually approached Takuma Sakazaki and cleverly used his anger and desire for revenge over his wife's death to plunge him into deep anguish.

Gradually, Takuma Sakazaki lost himself and eventually donned the tengu mask, a symbol of evil power. It was Takuma Sakazaki who had been secretly eliminating countless obstacles for Geese.

In fact, many years ago, Geese had sent the Tengu Takuma Sakazaki to deal with his senior apprentice, deliberately injuring Jeff Bogard's leg. This gave Geese the opportunity to kill his senior apprentice.

This is why the Terry brothers traveled thousands of miles to China, searching far and wide to avenge Tang Fulu. Meanwhile, the Sakazaki siblings, due to their father's sudden disappearance, had to struggle to make ends meet from the age of ten. They even sold their family dojo, plunging them into hardship. Fortunately, they later received help from their friend Robert, and their lives slowly began to improve…

Upon hearing this, everyone reacted with varying expressions and fell silent for a moment.

Looking at his two children, Takuma Sakazaki was filled with remorse. His gaze then turned to Terry and Andy, and he said in a trembling voice, "Children, I'm so sorry. I was blinded by hatred back then and didn't realize that this was all Geese's conspiracy. I also hurt your father and made you suffer so much." As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his cheeks.

Terry and Andy exchanged a glance, a complex emotion flashing in their eyes. Terry took a deep breath and slowly said, "Mr. Sakazaki, the past cannot be changed. We know you were a victim too, and Ryo and Yuri suffered greatly. Now, the most important thing is that Geese has also received his retribution, and everyone is safe and sound."

Andy added, "We were able to escape danger thanks to your temple."

Yan Yue nodded and added, "Yes, Uncle Sakazaki, my master and the others would be very happy to know that you are still alive and well."

"Yes, Dad..."

"Father, we have never blamed you..."

Looking at the children who had grown up before him, Takuma Sakazaki felt immense pride. They had all grown up, becoming more mature and composed, which reminded him of the difficult years he had once endured.

Takuma Sakazaki was moved to tears, and said in a choked voice, "Thank you, children... I always thought you would hate me because I couldn't give you a complete family and I couldn't be there for you during the best years of your lives. But now, seeing how sensible and strong you are, I am truly gratified."

Ryo Sakazaki stepped forward, gently patted his father's shoulder, and comforted him, "Dad, don't be sad. We all know you did it for Mom."

Robert nodded in agreement: "That's right, Mr. Sakazaki. You've taught us so much, showing us what true courage and love are. So please stop blaming yourselves."

Takuma Sakazaki wiped away his tears, took a deep breath, and smiled: "Alright, children. From today onward, I will no longer dwell on past regrets. I will cherish every moment with you and face the challenges of the future together."

They embraced tightly, feeling the deep affection between them. At that moment, Takuma Sakazaki understood that although life's path was rugged, with the companionship and support of family, all difficulties could be overcome.

He knows he still has a long way to go, but with the companionship and support of these young people, he firmly believes that everyone's future will be full of hope.

Angelina, supporting Terry's arm, gazed at the Sakazaki family. She had witnessed firsthand how deeply Geese had hurt them, and her eyes were filled with indescribable emotion. She leaned gently on Terry's shoulder and sighed, "It's finally over."

Terry took Angelina's hand and said gently, "Yes, it's over..."

Yan Yue sat calmly to the side, sensing Dong Zhang lying next to her. Dong Zhang was still in a mummy-like state. He was so moved by the scene that he was in tears, with tears and snot streaming down his face.

Yan Yue shook her head helplessly and sighed. The storylines of Art of Fighting and Fatal Fury were finally over.