Cloud's face showed not a trace of tension—if anything, he looked relaxed, even amused.
"Mr... Mr. Cloud!" Mr. Big nearly burst into tears at the sight of his savior. "You're... you're finally here!"
"Relax." Cloud patted his shoulder, looking at him like a little brother in need of protection.
"I said we'd work together, and I meant it. Have your boys handle perimeter cleanup and logistics. Leave the main course to us."
With that, he turned to survey the battlefield before him—a scene that had transformed into a living hell—and the two culprits currently engaged in their insane "energy beam" duel.
His eyes gleamed with the excitement of a hunter.
"Alright, everyone."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached every ally present with perfect clarity.
"South Town's grand cleanup... officially begins now!"
...
"Kaiser Wave!"
"Reppuken!"
At the center of the battlefield, Krauser and Geese—the two former "titans" of South Town—were going at each other like a pair of street fighters who'd completely lost their minds in a "long-range friendly exchange."
Dark gold imperial waves clashed with purple-black wind blades, colliding and exploding mid-air again and again!
Each exchange unleashed massive shockwaves that sent shipping containers and cars flying like toys!
"Geese! You despicable, shameless coward! How dare you scheme against me?!" Krauser roared between attacks.
He'd never felt this humiliated in his entire life.
"Hehehe... Krauser, my brother." Geese stood elegantly atop a distant crane tower, gazing down at everything with the smile of a victor. "To the victor go the spoils—that's how it's always been. If you want to blame someone... blame yourself for being so stupid."
"You...!"
Just as Krauser prepared to charge up an even more devastating Kaiser Wave to give Geese a "special delivery"—
A voice that made his scalp tingle whispered from behind him, ghost-like.
"Hey... you two bosses having your little bullet-hell game over here—did anyone ask the moderator's opinion?"
Krauser's heart seized. He whipped around!
Cloud had appeared behind him at some point, completely silent, completely unnoticed!
A fist wreathed in golden flames rapidly expanded in his vision!
"Heavenscorch Scripture—Aragami!"
BOOM—!!!
Krauser didn't even have time to react before that devastating punch slammed into his back!
"Guh—!"
He coughed up a spray of blood, his body rocketing away like a cannonball, smashing through several shipping containers into twisted scrap!
Meanwhile, Geese's pupils contracted sharply the instant he spotted Cloud—
But before he could respond, two lightning-fast figures appeared on either side of him!
"Geese! Your life ends here!"
Terry Bogard descended like a tiger from the mountain, his Burn Knuckle carrying every ounce of his fury straight at Geese's face!
"For Father!"
Andy Bogard struck like a soaring falcon, his Slashing Shadow Fist cutting off every possible escape route!
"Hmph, insignificant insects!"
Geese snorted coldly. Facing the brothers' pincer attack, he didn't dodge or retreat!
"Double Reppuken!"
Both hands thrust forward, two purple-black wind blades launching simultaneously. They intercepted the brothers' attacks and shattered them instantly!
Both Terry and Andy were sent flying backward, coughing blood!
But just as Geese prepared to press his advantage and eliminate these "thorns in his side" once and for all—
A terrifying presence surged from below, making even his heart skip a beat!
"Kyokugenryu Ultimate—Haoh Shoukou Ken!"
Ryo Sakazaki—the "Invincible Dragon"—had been charging below all this time!
A massive sphere of highly compressed orange energy, roaring with the fury of a caged tiger, shot upward like a cannonball toward Geese on his tower!
"Parlor tricks!"
Geese's eyes narrowed. He was about to counter when—
Countless flaming cherry-blossom butterflies materialized around him like phantoms, engulfing him from all directions!
"Ninja Art: Butterfly Fan!"
Mai Shiranui's attack!
Though it couldn't inflict real damage on Geese, it severely disrupted his vision and perception!
Now!
"Style 108: Yami Barai!"
Aoi Kusanagi—that seemingly harmless "little princess"—finally bared the fangs of the Kusanagi bloodline!
From her palm erupted crimson flames every bit as pure as Kyo's own!
"Damn it!"
Facing this coordinated barrage, Geese's expression finally changed!
He hadn't expected their teamwork to be this seamless!
He had no choice but to abandon his counter against the Haoh Shoukou Ken and pour all his fighting spirit into forming a solid "Rashomon" barrier before him to tank the storm of attacks.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!!!!!!
Flames and fighting spirit collided violently in mid-air!
The massive crane tower—dozens of meters tall—groaned under the assault, then collapsed with a thunderous crash!
The entire battlefield was swallowed by clouds of dust and the roar of explosions!
...
On the other side of the battlefield, a scene of an entirely different "aesthetic" was unfolding.
Benimaru Nikaido flipped his golden hair with flair, facing a squad of "Imperial Guards" armed with submachine guns. He tossed them a sultry wink.
"Ready to feel the electric massage?"
"Raikou Ken!"
Golden lightning crackled from his fingertips!
Beside him, Robert elegantly adjusted his tie.
"Really... even flashier than me."
"Muei Shippu Jinrai Kyaku!"
The blue swallow and the golden lightning tore through the enemy ranks like twin deadly tornadoes!
Screams filled the air as electricity and flying kicks dominated the scene!
...
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