KOF: Rise of the King of Fighters

Brazil, deep in a mysterious tropical rainforest.

A helicopter, its engine humming softly, hurtled through the dense canopy of trees and landed slowly in a wide-open space. This land, surrounded by lush greenery, seemed like a jewel in nature.

As the helicopter landed smoothly, a massive and robust military facility came into view. The base resembled an iron fortress, surrounded by towering walls and watchtowers, exuding an aura of authority and vigilance. The interior was compactly laid out, with various buildings and training grounds arranged in a harmonious and impressive manner.

As Yan Yue stepped out of the aircraft, she immediately sensed a tense atmosphere. Soldiers bustled about, clad in uniform camouflage and carrying advanced weaponry, their movements swift and methodical. Each soldier exuded a resolute and focused aura, raising expectations for the combat effectiveness of this place.

The entire base was filled with a serious and rigorous atmosphere, which instilled in Yan Yue a sense of mission. He knew full well why he had come here and was aware of the challenges he was about to face, but he was fearless.

Yan Yue had changed into a brand new set of military uniform. He wore a black tight-fitting short-sleeved shirt with a camouflage bulletproof vest, showing off his fair skin and lean muscle lines; he wore military green trousers and black military boots, looking like a new recruit. He also wore a black military cap, which covered his blind eyes.

Yan Yue took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset, and prepared to face the next task.

At this moment, two tall and robust officers strode towards Yan Yue with steady and powerful steps. Their figures were like two impregnable fortresses, giving people an endless sense of oppression.

One of the officers had dark skin, a sun-tanned bronze that exuded masculinity. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's, piercing and focused, making it difficult to look directly at him. He wore a black bulletproof vest that accentuated his strong physique and defined muscles. His posture was upright, as straight as a pine tree, each step carrying unwavering determination. A bright red turban contrasted sharply with his dark skin, making him appear even more imposing and radiating immense power.

The other officer was slightly different from the first; his skin was a bit paler, but he exuded the same unwavering spirit. He was burly, almost as tall as the first officer, displaying unparalleled authority. His uniform was the same as the first, a black bulletproof vest that emphasized a soldier's fortitude. A military cap covered part of his face, adding a touch of mystery. He also wore sunglasses, making his expression unpredictable, giving him a calm and composed air, revealing a restrained confidence.

Yan Yue sensed their presence and knew without a doubt that the two were Ralf and Clark, Heidern's right-hand men and members of the Ikari Warriors. Their arrival filled the space with a tense yet expectant atmosphere.

Yan Yue stood still, silently sensing the approach of the two officers. His heart was filled with anticipation and nervousness, wondering what changes this meeting would bring. When the two officers were not far from Yan Yue, he hurriedly stepped forward, extended his right hand, and said, "Hello, my name is Yan Yue, and I come from China."

Ralph and Clark first gave Yan Yue a standard military salute, showing their respect and welcome. Their eyes were firm and serious, revealing the unique temperament and dignity of soldiers.

Ralph and Clark then smiled and shook hands with Yan Yue, introducing themselves: "Hello, Yan Yue, my name is Ralph Jones." "Hello, my name is Clark Steele." Their tone was friendly and warm, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Yan Yue had previously received instructions from Heidern via telephone and was assigned to the mercenary headquarters. Ralf and Clark had heard that Yan Yue possessed special sensory abilities that allowed her to easily gather intelligence, which would be extremely helpful for the Ikari Warriors in investigating the inside story of the King of Fighters tournament.

Therefore, they decided to temporarily add Engetsu to the Ikari Warriors and give him three months of intensive training to cooperate with the military in preparing for the upcoming World King of Fighters tournament. This would also allow Heidern to secretly assist the Ikari Warriors.

“Welcome to our base, Flamemories.” Ralph patted Flamemories on the shoulder warmly. “Come with us, we’ve prepared accommodations for you.”

Yan Yue followed Ralph and Clark through the corridor and into a simple room. The room was not large, but it was clean and tidy.

"This is your temporary accommodation. If you need anything, just let us know," Clark said, pointing to the facilities in the room. "Get some rest. Training starts tomorrow."

Yan Yue nodded and said seriously, "Okay, I understand."

"Oh, by the way, this is for you." With that, Clark handed over a pair of sunglasses, which seemed to be the same style as the ones he was wearing. "I heard you're blind; we didn't even notice just now."

Yan Yue felt a warmth in his heart and said gratefully, "Thank you, Commander Clark." He took the sunglasses, tried them on, and felt they fit quite well.

“Well then, we won’t bother you any longer. Get some rest.” Ralph patted Yan Yue on the shoulder, then turned and left the room with Clark.

After the door closed, Yan Yue was left alone in the room. He stood there, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings, feeling both excited and nervous. The Ikari Team, with its various missions alongside special forces—infiltration, intelligence gathering, assassinations, and direct combat—meant that Yan Yue knew how difficult the three-month training program with the Ikari Team duo would be. However, Yan Yue also wanted to become stronger as quickly as possible; this world still needed powerful strength to protect himself and those around him.

Yan Yue knew that the base was strictly disciplined and that he could not move around at will, so he walked to the bedside, sat down, pondered for a moment, and began to sit cross-legged in the room to cultivate his Qi.

The next day, Yan Yue got up very early and, as arranged by Ralph, went to the training ground, where Ralph and Clark were already waiting. Their expressions were serious, exuding a military air of authority.

"Today's training is basic physical conditioning," Ralph said in a loud voice. "It includes weighted running, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, weighted climbing, and other exercises. We have to push ourselves to the limit in each exercise."

Yan Yue nodded firmly.

Training began, and Yan Yue shut down all her Nen energy, throwing herself wholeheartedly into every training exercise.

Just like with the Hungry Wolf Team, Yan Yue's clothes were soaked with sweat. Although Yan Yue did not back down, he was exhausted quickly due to his poor physical condition and muscle strain. Yan Yue collapsed to the ground and could not move.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"He's fair-skinned and clean-cut, looks like he's never suffered any hardship, what's the point of him being a soldier..."

"Yeah, yeah, I don't understand why they had to call on a kid to train him."

This immediately drew laughter and sarcasm from the other training soldiers, with some even mocking that Yan Yue had gotten in through connections.

Yan Yue was also a little unhappy when she heard this. She did use connections, but she deserved it.

Yan Yue remained calm, remembering the soldier who had mocked her the most, and silently vowed in her heart: Laugh, laugh, I'll remember you. I hope you can always stay this way.

"I've heard that Yan Yue is proficient in cultivating spiritual power and internal energy, but due to a congenital injury, her body is very weak and her stamina is poor." Clark observed Yan Yue's performance from the side and secretly praised her.

“Yes, but I like this kid. According to intelligence, he was one of the people who defeated the overlord of South Town. He also fought to a draw with a master of the Karate Kyokugenryu style.” Ralph also saw that Yan Yue had a strong will and an indomitable spirit, which were exactly the qualities that soldiers needed.

However, Yan Yue still used her spiritual energy to get up and continue her high-intensity training for several hours before finally collapsing to the ground.

“Well done, kid,” Ralph said with satisfaction. “But this is just the beginning. The training ahead will be even more difficult, so be prepared.”

Yan Yue took a deep breath and replied, "I will try my best, sir."

After saying that, Yan Yue was carried to the infirmary.

The next morning, just as the sun rose, a piercing scream shattered the tranquility. The scream came from Yan Yue, who lay on the ground, drenched in sweat, his face contorted in agony.

Yesterday's intense training had overstretched all his muscles, causing him excruciating pain with every movement. Seeing this, Ralph wavered, even considering abandoning today's training plan. Clark shook his head and sighed, expressing his concern for Yan Yue's current condition.

The other soldiers couldn't help but laugh when they saw Yan Yue's comical appearance—his body stiff and trembling, yet still trying to move.

Ralph and Clark exchanged a glance and whispered among themselves. After a moment, Ralph turned to Yan Yue and said, "Yan Yue, I think you should rest for a while. In your current condition, you really can't continue with high-intensity training; otherwise, it will only worsen your injury. You can go and learn some theoretical knowledge with Clark first, and come back when you've recovered a bit."

Hearing this, Yan Yue was somewhat unwilling, but he knew that his current condition was indeed not suitable for continuing training. So, he nodded, struggled to his feet, and followed Clark out of the training field.

In the days that followed, Yan Yue arranged his training and study tasks according to his physical condition each day. Whenever his body recovered slightly, he would immediately rush to the training ground; and when his body could no longer bear it, he would return to the intelligence department to learn from Clark how to use military equipment and the basics of wilderness survival. Although he could no longer see anything, Yan Yue quickly mastered this knowledge thanks to his amazing memory and keen perception.

As time went by, Yan Yue's body gradually adapted to the intensity of the training and began to grow stronger. His once slender frame was now full of power, and his well-defined muscles showed resilience and vitality. His endurance and physical fitness also improved significantly.

……

One day, more than a month later, the sun was shining brightly and a gentle breeze was blowing.

Several helicopters, like giant birds, roared across the rainforest. After circling for a moment, they finally landed slowly in a secluded and sturdy steel fortress base surrounded by rainforest.

At this moment, Yan Yue was in the base during a non-training phase, busy with several soldiers around him taking stock of medical supplies.

Yan Yue skillfully loaded medical kits onto the forklift, saying to the girl of similar age beside her, "Fio, these are all leftovers from the last field exercise."

"Received, Yan Yue, thank you."

Fio was a young woman in charge of logistics at the base. She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail and wore a yellow military cap, making her look very smart. She wore round glasses and was diligently recording the quantity of supplies in her notebook.

Just then, Heidern, who had just gotten off the helicopter, strode over. He was wearing a neat military uniform, his steps were steady and powerful, and his face had a serious expression. Behind him were Ralph and Clark, as well as a blue-haired girl who looked a little younger than Yan Yue.

As Hadiron approached, Yan Yue keenly sensed something, her brows furrowing slightly, her expression showing a mixture of seriousness and doubt.

As Hadiron approached, Yan Yue and the soldiers from the logistics department immediately stood up and gave Hadiron a standard military salute.

Haderen smiled and waved his hand, indicating that everyone didn't need to be so polite, and then nodded to Yan Yue as a greeting.

However, Yan Yue noticed that a young girl was following behind Hadilen. She was wearing a short military uniform, had a tall figure, but her eyes revealed a hint of indifference and aloofness.

is her?

Heidern looked at Yan Yue, whose physique had become much stronger than before, and a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face. He patted Yan Yue on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Yan Yue, this is my daughter, Liana."

Upon hearing her father's words, Leona remained calm and indifferent. She stepped forward, extended her hand, and said softly, "Hello, I am Leona Haderen."

Yan Yue stepped forward and shook Liana's hand, smiling as she replied, "Hello, Liana, my name is Yan Yue, and I'm from China. It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Yan Yue carefully examined the woman before her, and her doubts were immediately resolved. It turned out that the same evil aura she had sensed earlier, the same as that of Iori Yagami, was emanating from her.

Leona Heidern. Daughter of Gadeer, one of the Eight Orochi Warriors. Tired of the centuries-long struggle with the Three Sacred Treasures, Gadeer decided to escape his destiny ten years ago, leaving the Eight Orochi Warriors. He then lived a quiet life, married, had a daughter, and lived an ordinary life. However, the Orochi clan's fate seems to have been passed down to his daughter.

For some unknown reason, the daughter's bloodline went berserk when she was young, killing her own parents. She was then adopted by Heidern.

Thinking of this, Yan Yue couldn't help but feel some pity for Liana.

After a brief chat, Haderen led them into his office. As soon as they entered, Haderen cut straight to the point, saying slowly, "The mission is about to begin."

These words plunged the room into a deathly silence. Haderen stared expressionlessly at the four people before him, his gaze resolute and serious. He knew what this mission meant to him.

Haderen picked up a letter from the table. The letter was wrapped in a white envelope, sealed tightly with a red wax stamp, which also had a large "R" printed on it.

Heidern slowly handed them the envelope, explaining, "This is an invitation to the World King of Fighters Tournament."

Ralph took the envelope and carefully opened it. The letter contained little, but it was filled with mystery and tension.

Yan Yue's expression was serious; she knew very well what she was about to face.

The King of Fighters '94 is about to begin.