KOF: Rise of the King of Fighters

Three more months have passed.

Thanks to Yan Yue's diligent training, her physical skills have improved significantly, and she can now condense more golden flames. Although her overall strength has increased, Yan Yue cannot guarantee that she can contend with a crazed monster like Rugal.

Therefore, in order to avoid any possible negligence or slackness, Yan Yue has always maintained a high degree of self-discipline and diligence, devoting herself to arduous cultivation every day.

At the same time, Terry and Ryo Sakazaki were also inspired by Engetsu's persistence, and also wanted to be able to help in a critical moment.

So every day, Ryo Sakazaki would go to the outskirts of South Town and venture into the remote mountains and forests to delve into the new essence of Kyokugenryu.

Terry, meanwhile, navigates the intricate streets and alleys of South Town, actively participating in various street fighting events. With his cheerful and honest personality and formidable strength, Terry not only befriends many like-minded fighters but also refines his Bajiquan martial arts style through practical experience, bringing him ever closer to becoming a top-tier fighter.

Locke often practices fighting with Yan Yue or Terry, and occasionally goes to Kyokugenryu to watch. When he gets tired, he goes back to Angelina's place to rest.

On the other hand, Takuma Sakazaki had already returned to his family's dojo. Besides running his yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant, he also devoted a significant amount of time to meticulously instructing his daughter, Yuri Sakazaki, and his student, Robert, in the Kyokugenryu martial arts. Under his strict yet patient tutelage, both of them made remarkable progress in their martial arts skills.

Meanwhile, at the Toudou-ryu dojo, located in another corner of South Town, Kasumi, through tireless efforts, finally managed to successfully manage her family's Toudou-ryu dojo. Although the number of apprentices currently enrolled in the dojo is not large, at least she has a stable home in this bustling city.

In addition, Kasumi gets along very well with King, Angelina and the others. She works at the bar every day and occasionally challenges Yuri Sakazaki to a duel. Everyone's life is quite enjoyable.

……

One night, a crescent moon hung high in the sky, radiating a bright light. It was like a beacon, illuminating a corner of the city.

At that very moment, a figure quietly appeared on the roof of the Gis Building.

Yan Yue hadn't been here for half a year. Yet, the place still retained the horrific state it had been in after the fierce battle—a scene of devastation and utter ruin.

Once, a fierce battle took place in this towering Gies Building. Now, although much time has passed, the marks left by that life-or-death struggle are still deeply etched on this building.

Due to the complex relationships and covert rivalries among the various factions, no one has dared to openly occupy the Gies Building. They are all waiting for the right opportunity, or rather, looking for a chance to break the deadlock in one fell swoop.

Standing on the rooftop, Yan Yue looked down at the city's night view. The brightly lit streets, the endless stream of vehicles, and the bustling crowds were all laid out before her. However, Yan Yue knew that behind this prosperity lay countless secrets.

Afterwards, Yan Yue walked to a place that was open and flat. Yan Yue stopped and looked around to make sure it was safe. Then she slowly sat down cross-legged, closed her eyes, adjusted her breathing, and entered a peaceful and tranquil state, preparing to begin cultivating her inner energy.

Just then, on another building not far away, a figure was hidden in the darkness. Upon closer inspection, it was still the same blonde woman dressed in a black, tight-fitting night suit. She held a high-powered night-vision binoculars, her gaze fixed intently on Yan Yue, who was cultivating on the top floor.

The woman observed Yan Yue intently for a while. After confirming that there was nothing unusual, she quickly reached out and pressed the miniature communicator clipped to her collar, and urgently called out in a low voice: "Report, Yan Yue has appeared on the top floor of the Gis Building once again."

A response came quickly from the other end of the communicator: "What is he doing right now?"

The blonde woman paused briefly before replying, "Judging from the current situation, he seems to be merely meditating and cultivating there."

Suddenly, the woman's eyes turned icy, filled with murderous intent: "I believe this is an excellent opportunity to eliminate them in one fell swoop! Please give the order!"

As she spoke, the woman glanced at the weapon case she had placed to the side.

However, there was a brief silence on the other end of the communicator. After a few seconds, a deep and serious voice came through: "Lianxin, let's withdraw for now."

Upon hearing the order, the blonde woman called Lianxin looked puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "What?...?"

The other party explained firmly, "Our primary task and goal right now is to deal with the 'Sanctions Alley' forces. As for Terry Flame and the Kyokugenryu group, although they have some strength, they can only be considered fighters within the neutral range."

"Without the influence of Nanzhen, they don't pose a significant threat. So we don't need to pay them any attention for now."

Although Lianxin was still somewhat unwilling, she obeyed the order and replied, "...Understood." After speaking, she carefully put away the binoculars, picked up the weapon case, and turned to walk towards the stairwell, her figure gradually disappearing into the vast night.

At this moment, Yan Yue, who was atop the Gis Building, slowly opened his eyes, which had been tightly closed, as if awakened by the dawn. His deep, pool-like eyes shifted slightly, and his gaze then settled on the dark top of the building beside him.

"Just now... there seemed to be a strong killing intent coming from that direction," Yan Yue murmured, her words tinged with a hint of wariness and doubt.

"Why did that murderous aura suddenly disappear?" As soon as this thought crossed Yan Yue's mind, a sense of unease welled up in her heart.

Thinking of this, Yan Yue dared not be negligent in the slightest. He took a deep breath, gently closed his eyes, and began to focus all his mental energy on gathering power.

As spiritual power continues to accumulate

[Perception Domain] Open!

In an instant, an invisible energy wave rapidly spread outwards from Yan Yue's center. This powerful perception was like a giant spider web, enveloping everything around it.

At this moment, Yan Yue had entered a state of ethereal tranquility, where he could clearly sense every subtle flow of energy and change in atmosphere.

In the blink of an eye, Yan Yue's sharp gaze, like lightning, swiftly locked onto the figure that was sneaking around, attempting to escape from the rooftop. However, to his dismay, the figure he perceived was extremely blurry, as if shrouded in a thin mist, sometimes clearly visible, sometimes hidden in the darkness, making it impossible to discern its true form.

"Damn it! I absolutely cannot let you go so easily!" Yan Yue roared in a low voice.

Without hesitation, Yan Yue abruptly withdrew her senses, then stood up abruptly and formed hand seals.

In an instant, a faint, light blue aura seemed to be summoned by some powerful force, surging wildly throughout his body like a raging tide. As this aura swept across the land, the surrounding air seemed to be stirred into a restless frenzy, faintly emitting a low whistling sound.

[Nature Flow] Open!

"Drink!"

With a loud shout, Yan Yue's entire body's spiritual energy suddenly converged into a dazzling pale blue light.

Without hesitation, Yan Yue bent his knees slightly to gather strength, and then leaped directly towards the tall building. At the same time, he used his most skilled lightness skill—the Cloud Ladder Leap.

Supported by the power of her inner energy, Yan Yue transformed into a dazzling blue streak in the air, hurtling straight toward the top of the building opposite at incredible speed.

At this very moment, Lian Xin was carefully carrying the heavy weapon case, walking lightly yet firmly towards the exit downstairs. Every step seemed to carry a sense of determination and resolve.

Just then, Lian Xin, an elite assassin with keen intuition and extraordinary reflexes, felt a sudden jolt in her heart as a strong sense of crisis surged through her like a tidal wave. This sense of crisis was so clear and so imminent that she instantly went into a state of high alert.

Like a startled cheetah, she turned her head swiftly and alertly, her gaze sharp as lightning, glancing behind her. In an instant, her beautiful yet chilling pupils contracted sharply, as if stunned by something she had witnessed.

As far as the eye could see, a figure stood silently. It was Yan Yue! His entire body shimmered with a faint blue light, like a dazzling star in the night sky.

At this moment, Yan Yue stood with his arms crossed, his posture upright and motionless not far behind Lian Xin. His face was expressionless, and his golden pupils were fixed on Lian Xin, exuding an invisible pressure.

Yan Yue stared at the blonde beauty in front of her, dressed in a tight leather outfit. Her stunningly hot figure was simply breathtaking, even more exaggerated than Mai Shiranui and Mature.

However, Yan Yue remained calm, somewhat curious about the woman's identity. So, Yan Yue spoke expressionlessly, his voice icy: "Why are you targeting me?"

"..."

Faced with Yan Yue's questioning, Lian Xin remained silent. Her brown eyes were fixed on Yan Yue, and her hands gripped the mysterious weapon box tightly, as if she would open it and launch an attack without hesitation at the slightest provocation.

Sensing Lian Xin's heightened vigilance, Yan Yue felt a chill run down her spine and dared not relax her guard in the slightest.

Yan Yue said again in a deep voice, "You didn't intend to kill me just now, which is why I treated you with courtesy. I'll ask you one last time. If you don't answer, I'll take action!"