A month later, the new King of Fighters tournament officially commenced.
Because the previous KOF tournament had attracted a lot of attention, many people in the Universe Chat Room were already waiting in front of their screens to watch the show from the very start of this one.
[Sengoku: The overall strength of this Planet King of Fighters is quite high. I believe it can be compared to Planet Terra. Of course, that's without factoring in Lott and his group.]
[Kizaru: I agree with that~ The strong are very strong, and there are many weak ones. Quite similar to the Hero Association.]
As the Japan Team led by Kusanagi Kyo and the Fatal Fury Team led by Terry Bogard took the stage one by one during the opening ceremony-
The many onlookers and gossipers in the group began heated discussions.
[Bang: Kusanagi Kyo's strength could probably rank within the top ten of the old Hero Association, but his personality is somewhat lazy, and he hasn't fully realized his potential.]
[Metal Bat: I'm more impressed by that red-haired guy with the spiky hair. I don't get why he tied a rope around his leg. Isn't he afraid of tripping?]
[Tatsumaki: @Metal Bat, Do you, with your own pompadour, have the right to say that about him?]
To draw a comparison, people like Tatsumaki and Bang are S-Class heroes, but so are Metal Bat and Puri-Puri Prisoner.
Yet the gap in their strength is comparable to the difference between an A-Class and a C-Class hero.
The same is true for the Planet King of Fighters.
Although they are all participants, the strength disparity between different teams and fighters is truly vast.
Top tiers like Kyo and Iori could secure a decent rank among the S-Class even on Planet Terra.
Fighters like Terry Bogard and Sakazaki Ryo would be at the lower end of S-Class.
Weaker ones, like Kensou Sie or Choi Bounge... would struggle to even make A-Class.
Initially, the focus of everyone in the group was on the newly entered Kusanagi Kyo, Terry Bogard, and others.
The main topic of discussion was also serious fighting techniques.
But when the next team came out... the tone immediately changed.
"Next, let's welcome... the Women Fighters Team!"
When the live commentator announced this-
Countless male group members from various planets, like Miroku from the Planet Yasha, Master Roshi from Earth, and Zenitsu from the Planet Demon-
All wished they could tear their eyeballs out and stick them onto the light screen.
[Zenitsu: I was really disappointed for a long time when I heard Sakazaki Yuri joined the Fatal Fury Team and the Women Fighters Team wasn't participating. Thankfully, they are still competing. Being alive is truly wonderful! Although this older sister replacing Yuri doesn't seem as cute as her.]
[Master Roshi: Young, you are still so young, boy.]
[Jiraiya: Master Roshi is right. How can a boy understand the charm of a dignified woman like Kagura Chizuru-san? The more aloof and noble a woman's temperament is, the more it sparks a man's desire to conquer her. I've decided, the next Icha-Icha Paradise will be modeled after Kagura Chizuru-san!]
Originally in this timeline, Jiraiya should have died.
However, because Genos and Ishigami caused a stir on the Planet Ninja-
The true nature of the Akatsuki was exposed early.
Jiraiya never infiltrated Amegakure to investigate, thus saving his life.
[Miroku: Doesn't everyone think King is also very charming? Even with short hair and wearing men's clothing, that androgynous charm is quite captivating!]
[Kazuma: What all you seniors say is true! But I still support Shiranui Mai!]
[Brock: +1]
[Krillin: +1]
[Shirogane Miyuki: +1]
[Gary Oak: +1]
[Marufuji Sho: +1]
As soon as Kazuma said this, it immediately garnered agreement from countless male group members.
Indeed, Kagura Chizuru and King each have their own charm, but the true goddess will always be Shiranui Mai!
While the male group members from various planets were making these lovesick expressions-
Their female companions from the same protagonist groups, like Nezuko from the Demon Slayer Squad, Kagome from the Inuyasha Group, and Iris from Ash's team, among others-
All showed expressions of disdain and contempt.
What a bunch of disgusting men!
"Next, let's welcome... the Lott Team... Huh!?"
The live commentator continued to hype up the atmosphere, but when he called out this name, even he paused in surprise.
Zenitsu, who had been drooling over Shiranui Mai, almost choked on his own saliva.
'Holy crap!'
'What the heck!?'
The already entered Japan Team, Women Fighters Team, Fatal Fury Team, and other teams also turned looks of utter shock towards the other player entrance.
"Th-This is no joking matter..."
Nikaido Benimaru muttered under his breath, swallowing hard.
Kusanagi Kyo, who was usually quite confident, didn't look much better.
'Why would that man come to participate in such a low-level tournament!?'
Soon, three figures emerged from the shadowy player entrance.
On the sides were the familiar faces of Asamiya Athena and the largely insignificant Sie Kensou, who had participated in several past tournaments.
And in the middle was... a young man with bangs covering his face, his eyes and right hand wrapped in bandages.
Ishigami Yu!
"Phew..."
Sakazaki Yuri, who had just sat down with the Fatal Fury Team, let out a long sigh of relief and slumped in her seat.
'Thank goodness, thank goodness. I almost thought that man really came.'
"You scared me, my heart almost jumped out."
Shiranui Mai patted her chest. The ample curves beneath her martial arts outfit bounced heavily with the patting, making countless male viewers in front of the live stream screens stare wide-eyed, or rather, stand at attention.
"Ishigami Yu. I heard his abilities are very bizarre."
King looked at her two companions, "Everyone, don't let your guard down."
Shiranui Mai shrugged. To be honest, she didn't have high hopes of advancing anyway.
Kagura Chizuru pinched her chin with her slender fingers, thinking about whether she could contact that man through Ishigami to help contain Orochi.
Well, she's still stuck on Orochi.
She seemed not to know that the strongest one is already here.
…
"Don't hold me back. I want to fight more matches."
After taking their seats like the other teams, Ishigami said calmly.
This was mainly directed at Kensou Sie.
Originally, the last invitation was for Chin Gentsai, but the drunk old man, upon hearing about the situation, gave his spot to his disciple.
Ishigami had no choice but to bring this deadweight along.
Kensou Sie was angry but didn't dare speak up.
Meanwhile, 'Andy', sitting diagonally across the ring, glanced meaningfully at Ishigami and muttered to himself:
"The timeline has changed... Should I change my strategy?"
"Huh? Andy, what did you say?"
Noticing his brother's muttering, Terry looked over and asked.
"Oh, it's nothing."
Andy replied absentmindedly.
Similarly unsettled were the New Faces Team.
Nanakase Yashiro, Chris, and Shermie, whose exaggerated chest seemed ready to burst out of her pink OL outfit at any moment, exchanged glances.
'Uh... this... sh-should we still revive Orochi?'
Yashiro whispered, "Don't be afraid. It's just a tactical setback. That person isn't used to meddling in other planets' affairs. Proceed as planned."
After all teams were seated, the text on the large screen on-site scrolled and, after five seconds, settled on the first match-up-
Japan Team vs Lott Team!
"Starting off with something this intense right away!?"
Even King, the eldest in the Women Fighters Team, was a bit unable to hold back her surprise.
"Are we sure there's no foul play in this draw?"
Shiranui Mai also covered her mouth in shock.
"Speaking of which, Mai, aren't you going to look at your fiancé?"
King suddenly remembered something and pointed towards 'Andy' sitting diagonally across from them.
Shiranui Mai pouted and said:
"Whether that engagement still counts after Grandpa died is still up in the air."
In earlier years, when Andy first joined the Shiranui-style School under Mai's grandfather, Shiranui Hanzo, Shiranui Hanzo did indeed want to arrange a marriage between the two.
If things followed the original plot, they would have gotten together.
After all, Andy was the only male in the Shiranui School at the time.
It's a heavenly starting hand.
Not to mention someone like Andy who's decent-looking… even if you sent Ash Ketchum, he could probably have wooed Shiranui Mai.
But it just so happened that year, the Universe Chat Room launched.
The young Shiranui Mai learned about too many amazing and powerful people.
This made Andy seem a bit... weak in comparison.
You could say Shiranui Mai's mindset is a bit like that of a luxury store clerk or a high-end restaurant employee.
After seeing too many rich people, they start to feel like they are one of them... Cough, let's stop here for now and continued on the story.
"It's starting."
Chizuru Kagura reminded her two teammates.
As the shrine maiden guarding Orochi's seal, Kagura Chizuru had no interest in this kind of romantic talk.
When the time came, she would find a suitable man to continue her bloodline.
For Kagura Chizuru, whether she liked the partner herself wasn't important… whether they were excellent was.
And the man with the most excellent genes in the entire universe right now...
Kagura Chizuru's mind conjured the image of an arrogant, unruly back.
Then she shook her head vigorously.
'What am I thinking about!?'