KOF: Rise of the King of Fighters

After all the teams had been introduced, the host stood in the center of the stage, smiling, and announced, "Now, we're about to begin the exciting part! The eight teams will be randomly assigned to four thrilling matches. The winning team from each match will advance to the semifinals and continue to compete for the championship. Let's look forward to this intense competition!"

After speaking, he pointed to the huge electronic screen behind him, which then began to flash the names of the participating teams randomly. The audience stared intently at the screen, their hearts filled with tension and anticipation. As time passed, the screen finally stopped flashing, displaying the match information for all the teams.

Soon, the match maps for the eight teams were released.

Japan vs. Dragon Tigers.

Superpowered Warriors Team VS. Fatal Fury Team.

Women's Fighters Team VS American Athletes Team.

Ikari vs. South Korea.

As the matchups were finalized on the big screen, a commotion erupted in the audience. The crowd was excited, discussing their favorite teams and expressing concern for their own. Meanwhile, backstage, the participating teams were preparing intensely, making their final push for the upcoming battle.

The host stared wide-eyed at the match information on the screen and exclaimed, "Wow, what an amazing matchup! Well then... let's have the long-awaited match between the Japanese team and the formidable Dragon Tiger team for the first game!"

His voice was full of passion and excitement, as if he could already see a spectacular duel about to unfold.

Upon hearing the news, the audience became excited and applauded and cheered enthusiastically.

"Let's immerse ourselves in this visual feast and feel the thrill of the intense clash between the top three fighters of the Japanese fighting tournament and three strong members of Karate Kyokugenryu!"

As the host announced, apart from the two teams participating in the first battle, all the other players quickly returned to their respective rest rooms to prepare for the next challenge.

Kyo Kusanagi glanced at the three members of the Kyokugenryu group opposite him, his gaze settling on Takuma Sakazaki.

"What's wrong, Kyo?" Goro Daimon noticed Kyo's serious gaze, which was completely different from his usual proud and confident demeanor.

Kyo Kusanagi snapped out of his daze, turned to look at Benimaru and Daimon, and said, "Takuma Sakazaki is my dad's good friend and a master of Kyokugenryu. I'll deal with him in a bit."

Benimaru naturally agreed, but he was still somewhat unwilling. He ran his hand through his smooth blond hair and said in a very narcissistic tone, "Alright, what can I do? I'm such a handsome man. In that case, I'll give you this Grandmaster title for now." After saying that, he deliberately struck what he thought was a very dashing pose.

Upon hearing this, Kyo Kusanagi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a mischievous smile, and he retorted mercilessly, "Yes, after all, I am the Japanese champion, this is a symbol of strength!"

Upon hearing this, Benimaru immediately objected, saying, "So what if you're the champion? You're not as handsome as me, and you're not good at studying. If you keep going like this, you'll repeat a grade."

Kyo Kusanagi, however, remained unyielding and continued to retort, "Hmph, so what if you're handsome? I'll steal all your thunder, and then you won't be famous no matter how good-looking you are! Let's see what you do then!"

Benimaru's face twitched at the retort, and he was about to say something when Daimon quickly stopped him, looking at the two of them with a helpless expression. Daimon was already used to their arguments, and he hurriedly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, can you two stop arguing? The competition hasn't even started and you're already arguing like this..."

……

The atmosphere in the Ikari Warriors' rest room was tense and serious.

Ralph kept a close eye on the battle lines on the television screen, closely monitoring the evolving situation and promptly reporting back to Haderen.

"Sir, the first match is between the Japanese team and the Kyokugenryu team. It seems that Takuma Sakazaki will be facing off against Kyo Kusanagi."

After hearing the report, Haderen thought for a moment and then continued to issue orders.

"I've already seen it on TV. You need to beat the South Korean team and advance to the semifinals."

"Also, the ship seems to be heading towards international waters, which could lead to some big commotion."

"receive."

"Protect the blade... We're on our way now, be careful." Haderen gave his final instructions before hanging up.

Clark stood in the doorway, warily surveying his surroundings. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he remained highly alert at all times.

Yan Yue, on the other hand, sat quietly cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and concentrated all his strength to activate his sensory abilities.

[Perception Domain] Open! Spiritual energy surged from Yan Yue's body and instantly spread out.

Yan Yue's consciousness gradually penetrated the ship's interior, and the outline of its inner hull slowly emerged in his mind. Although the image was still somewhat blurry, it was enough to glean some key information. The internal structure of nearby ships was complex, requiring Yan Yue to concentrate fully on using his mental power and also employing Nen.

Time ticked by, and fine beads of sweat appeared on Yan Yue's forehead as she continued to explore the unknown space...

……

The atmosphere at the competition was tense and exciting. All eyes were on the center of the stage, where a fierce duel had begun.

The first match will be between Ryo Sakazaki and Goro Daimon. Both are formidable fighters, promising a thrilling and exciting encounter.

The battle had begun. Ryo Sakazaki's eyes sharpened as he swiftly charged towards Goro Daimon, his fists raining down like raindrops.

【Fierce Slash Fist】! This move is extremely fast and incredibly powerful.

However, Goro Daimon did not back down. He crossed his arms and steadily blocked Ryo Sakazaki's attack. Despite the enormous impact, he remained standing.

Seeing this, Ryo Sakazaki knew that his Ryūken (Slashing Fist) could not cause any real damage to the gate, so he quickly jumped back to create distance between himself and his opponent.

Immediately afterward, Ryo Sakazaki launched another attack. He leaped forward, spun once in the air, and kicked towards the door. This move, called "Flying Swallow Gale Kick," was even faster and more powerful than before.

Unfortunately for him, Goro Daimon easily blocked Ryo Sakazaki's attack and knocked him back with a powerful punch.

"Wow, that's incredibly strong!"

The defense of the goal was watertight, thwarting Ryo Sakazaki's attacks time and time again.

Ryo Sakazaki felt as if the gate was a mountain standing in front of him, completely unshakable.

Ryo Sakazaki was not discouraged; on the contrary, he was somewhat excited. This was a battle between strong opponents, and only a duel between strong opponents could make Ryo Sakazaki use his full strength.

So Ryo Sakazaki continued to look for an opportunity, and he charged forward once again.

【Fierce Tiger Thunder God】!

This time, Daimon crouched down and delivered a powerful upward punch, colliding with Ryo Sakazaki's downward chop.

[Brushing the hair]

With a muffled thud, Ryo Sakazaki was sent flying by a punch delivered to the door. The audience gasped in surprise.

But at that moment, Ryo Sakazaki seemed to have discovered a weakness in Goro Daimon's defenses, so he unleashed his signature move without hesitation while still airborne.

Super Special Move: Haoh Shohoken!

A large, blue energy wave surged towards the gate like a ferocious beast. However, Goro Daimon remained calm, a hint of confidence flashing in his eyes.

"You're the one who should have shown your weakness!"

He sidestepped Ryo Sakazaki's attack, quickly rolled close, grabbed Ryo's leg with one hand, and threw him to the ground.

Izumo Investment

"boom!"

With a loud crash, a tremendous force, like a mountain, struck Ryo Sakazaki. He couldn't help but cry out in pain and fell to the ground. He knew he was in trouble and wanted to get up immediately to continue fighting, but he found that his body was not obeying his commands.

Just then, a figure rushed towards Ryo Sakazaki with heavy footsteps and the screeching sound of wooden clogs hitting the floor. It was Goro Daimon! His imposing presence, like a mountain pressing down, made Ryo Sakazaki's heart tighten.

Ryo Sakazaki reacted quickly, flipping himself up and trying to launch another attack. However, Goro Daimon's defense was impenetrable, and he easily blocked every move Ryo made.

Ryo Sakazaki inwardly groaned; his moves seemed utterly ineffective against Goro Daimon. Just as he caught his breath, Goro Daimon seized the opportunity and unleashed his ultimate technique, "Hell's Paradise Fall!"

Goro Daimon grabbed Ryo Sakazaki by the waist, lifted him high, and then slammed him to the ground.

"Boom..." Several loud noises rang out, and severe cracks appeared on the floor of the arena. Ryo Sakazaki felt dizzy, as if all the bones in his body were about to fall apart. He fell heavily to the ground, spitting blood and unable to move.

However, the gate still wouldn't let go. He slammed Sakazaki Ryo down three times in succession, and then threw him out.

"Ryo!" Robert was immediately worried when he saw Ryo Sakazaki being attacked so powerfully.

"Brother! Be careful..." Yuri Sakazaki felt a pang of heartache as she watched her brother being severely injured in the rest room. Only now did she realize that what her father had said was true; this place was filled with world-class elite fighters, and even her brother, the Invincible Dragon, would encounter a powerful opponent.

"Ryo, can you defeat him...?" King, standing beside Yuri, was equally worried, but seemed to believe in Ryo Sakazaki. She placed her hands on Yuri's shoulders and silently watched the man in front of the screen.

However, Takuma Sakazaki did not show any worry. He knew his son well. At this moment, he remained calm, staring intently at the seriously injured Ryo Sakazaki, without saying a word.

Ryo Sakazaki crashed heavily to the ground from a great height with a dull thud. Blood dripped onto the floor, and bruises began to appear all over his body.

Even as he watched Ryo Sakazaki fall to the ground, Daimon remained vigilant, carefully observing his opponent's movements and preparing for a possible counterattack. The Invincible Dragon's strength couldn't be limited to this.

"Did we win?" Benimaru Nikaido looked at the scene before him, a smile playing on his lips. But Kyo Kusanagi, standing to the side, remained silent, watching Ryo Sakazaki slowly rise from the ground.

At this moment, Ryo Sakazaki was panting heavily, and his clothes were somewhat torn, but his fighting spirit had not diminished in the slightest; on the contrary, it had grown stronger. He murmured softly to himself:

"Goro Daimon, I admit you are a true master."

After saying that, Ryo Sakazaki began to gather his inner energy in his hands, and blue energy slowly emanated from his body.

"Hah—" With a roar from Ryo Sakazaki, his aura rapidly condensed, blowing away the dust around him like a storm, creating a strong sense of oppression.

The surrounding audience was thrilled.

Kyo Kusanagi looked at Ryo Sakazaki, whose strength had suddenly increased dramatically, and said with some doubt, "I remember that Kyokugenryu is a style that constantly breaks through all the limits of the body, and its strength and speed are extremely powerful."

“So…” Benimaru also began to realize something, and was momentarily surprised, “Could it be that Ryo Sakazaki is now at the point of breaking through his limits again?”

Kyo Kusanagi nodded solemnly and said, "It seems so."

At this moment, the gatekeeper's expression also began to turn serious. "So this is the Kyokugenryu Karate. I've learned something new."

"But I am also the strongest in the judo world, I will not lose!"

Immediately afterwards, the gate rushed towards Ryo Sakazaki at top speed, his hands ready for the next [Hell Paradise Fall].

At that moment, Ryo Sakazaki moved. He rushed towards the gate at a speed almost imperceptible to the naked eye and launched an attack with all his might.

Tiger Flame Fist!

Ryo Sakazaki unleashed a ki blast with one hand, which was immediately blocked by the gate.

However, in the blink of an eye, Ryo Sakazaki's punches and kicks still landed on the gate.

【Slaying Fist】【Extreme Flowing Dance Fist】!

After enduring several blows in pain, Daimon quickly reacted and blocked Ryo Sakazaki's attack.

"So fast!"

Soon, Ryo Sakazaki's attack came again, leaving the gate no chance to retaliate.

[Fierce Tiger Thunder God Strike] [Fierce Tiger Thunder God Power] [Flying Swallow Swift Wind Kick]!

As Ryo Sakazaki continued to unleash his attacks, his speed and power increased, leaving Daimon deeply shocked. Ryo Sakazaki's strength was far greater than he had imagined.

"The speed is getting faster and faster, and the strength is getting stronger and stronger."

As Ryo Sakazaki launched his frenzied attacks, his figure became like a series of afterimages, moving so fast that even the afterimages of his fists and feet could no longer be caught, and in an instant, the gate's defensive posture was disrupted.

"Could this be..." Robert's face lit up with joy. He recognized it; this was a technique from the Kyokugenryu style that could only be used after one had broken through their limits countless times.

Super Special Move: Dragon Tiger Frenzy!

The so-called "Dragon and Tiger Dance" is a chaotic combo that combines all the moves of the Kyokugenryu style and is performed at will in the fastest and strongest way.

Kyokugenryu is the simplest style of karate because its moves are essentially simple and straightforward punches and kicks, but it is also the most difficult because it demands extremely high levels of strength and speed. Ryo Sakazaki has already mastered Ryuko Ranbu and understood the essence of Kyokugenryu, proving his lineage from Takuma Sakazaki.

"Ora ora ora ora..." Ryo Sakazaki roared, his whole body radiating a dazzling light. His figure vanished instantly, then reappeared around Goro Daimon, kicking out one kick after another with lightning speed, each kick containing boundless power.

Facing Ryo Sakazaki's attack, Goro Daimon attempted to defend himself, but he found himself too slow to keep up with his opponent's pace. Ryo's attacks were like a dragon emerging from the sea, each punch carrying astonishing power, leaving Goro Daimon utterly helpless.

Goro Daimon's body endured Ryo Sakazaki's relentless punches, each blow bringing excruciating pain. He could only try his best to defend against the endless onslaught. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop Ryo Sakazaki's storm-like onslaught.

Finally, Ryo Sakazaki unleashed a powerful "Tiger Roar" uppercut. This punch, like a tiger descending from the mountain, carried a fierce momentum and struck Goro Daimon's chin directly. Goro Daimon was sent flying by the immense force, his body tumbling through the air before slamming heavily against the wall outside the ring, and then collapsing helplessly to the ground.

Goro Daimon's stamina had reached its limit, and he was unable to fight any longer.

A hush fell over the entire arena. The audience stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they were witnessing. Ryo Sakazaki stood on the ring, panting heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat and blood. He gazed at Goro Daimon lying on the ground, a faint smile on his face.

This thrilling battle ended so suddenly that people didn't even have time to react. However, at that moment, the host came to his senses and excitedly announced, "The winner is Ryo Sakazaki!" His voice echoed throughout the arena, eliciting thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.

"Great! We won! Haha..." The cheers of the female fighters echoed clearly in the lounge.

Soon after, Ryo Sakazaki also began to tire and, with Robert's help, stepped off the ring to take his place as the second fighter. Takuma Sakazaki helped his son back to his seat, a relieved smile on his face.

When Benimaru Nikaido saw Robert come on stage, a powerful electric current surged from his body, causing his long, loose hair to stand upright. Then, he turned to look at Kyo.

"Then, Jing, I'll play the second match. I'll go and face the strongest tiger."

"Yeah, don't lose," Kyo Kusanagi replied half-jokingly, "otherwise I'll be fighting three of you by myself."

"Ugh, you're such a chatterbox." After making a sarcastic remark, Benimaru leaped up and stood in front of Robert.

"Benimaru Nikaido, I've heard that your legwork and electric abilities are very powerful." Robert greeted him, seeing that he was also a master of legwork.

When Benimaru heard Robert praise him, he naturally responded politely, "The strongest tiger, I've heard so much about you. It would be even better if you could compliment my handsomeness."

The second match between the Japanese team and the Ryūkō team begins.