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The one who visits the
unmarked room is an old man near the age of ninety.
His long grey hair, and similarly grey moustache. The gourd
hanging from a string dangles as he walks. When he knocks on
the door with the gourd, the sound of a dry thud and sloshing
liquid resonates. The contents of the gourd: booze.
"You're in there, aren't you? Show yourself, you whippersnappers."
The door opens straightaway - but only a few centimeters with
the chain lock still fastened. The man who peaks out from the
crack is tan with silver hair, wearing a black leather jumper,
and the hand resting on the doorknob dons a red glove.
"You...if I'm not mistaken, are called Chin Gentsai...."
"That's my name, sonny, don't wear it out. I hoped you'd at
least remember the name of someone you've fought countless times
before."
"...Excuse me. So what the hell do you want?"
Chin wordlessly taps the chain lock, indicating his desire to
be let in. K' looks down upon the geezer from a difference in
height of 20 centimeters.
"Hey, K'. How about showing a little respect towards your elders?
Maxima appears, making Chin look up another 20 centimeters more
from K''s mug. "Master Chin, I presume. Do come in."
Maxima, reaching over K''s shoulder, undoes the chain and ushers
Chin Gentsai in.
"Hey, big guy. You need to teach your young charge a little
more manners..."
...bellows the one and only Chin, whose breath reeks of alcohol.
"...So?"
Chin scowls at "the young charge" who repeats his question with
his usual surliness. But the scowl is lost in his overly long
locks, going unperceived by the others.
"I am but a pathetic old man with a brief future before him."
"You don't look the part."
K' retorts quietly. Chin indeed looks as if he will no doubt
live another 200 years, but ignoring the chide he produces a
letter from his inside pocket. It's an invitation to the King
of Fighters.
"I know you love this, don't you? The KOF."
"Don't trifle with me, old man! Of all the things I loathe...."
Had Maxima not grabbed his shoulders, K' would have rung Chin's
neck.
"Would you do me the favor of desisting with the teasing of
my partner? He's not yet familiar with the ways of polite society."
"Bah."
"I sense it this time, too. That 'evil presence.' It exceeds
that of the time when the thugs from the Orochi and NESTS were
on the rampage.
"What's that to us?"
"Hey, pipe down and listen. ...Yet, Master, if that's the case,
wouldn't it be better if you had entered the competition the
same as always and ascertained the true nature of this evil
presence without even bothering with the likes of us?"
Chin lets out a sizable sigh.
"A keen observation. But this time that won't fly. Because of
those two...that is..."
...Kensou and Pao, who triggered the awakening of the mysterious
behemoth of a presence.
These two are now spending their days in rigorous training at
an undisclosed location to one day confront the presence.
"We four are going to sit this out. I'm sorry, but for now it's
the ideal choice."
"Wait. Did you say we four?"
"I certainly did."
"Even that cute idol goddess?"
"Athena? Indeed. Indeed."
Maxima, employing his "Maxima-devised" software, searches the
web.
He finds information available to the general public. The results
soon appear.
"I thought so. I checked the list of KOF participants and her
name's on it!"
"What?! ...What did you say?!!!"
Chin, being the Chin he is, is this time taken completely aback.
Behind her master's back, Athena has gathered together two other
members and completed her application to participate in KOF
before he had a clue.
"What is this treachery?! Why did Athena...? Hey, can't you tell
me, big guy?"
"M-Me? Tell you...? How should I know about this?"
Maxima winces at Chin, who begins to rant with a vigor that
quickly sobers him up.
"Dagnabbit! She told me she had to do a concert, and while she
was away from me, she must have...I don't understand her. This
time our foe cannot be stopped with some hastily assembled gaggle
of girlies."
"Just smack her into submission and drag her back with you,
old man."
"You don't know Athena's true nature...She's a kind kid, but she's
stubborn, too. Once she decides something, there's no going
back. She must have concluded that this time she's going to
face the 'evil presence' in her own way. She kept quiet because
she was concerned for me and the other two, I bet."
"......"
"Well, things being what they are, I can tell you everything.
Like why I've come to ask a favor of 'you two.'"
Chin begins to speak grimly and solemnly.
The "presence" this time resembles that of the Orochi but is
also unique.
Not only that, the inscrutable and unknown presence is surging.
And Kusanagi and Yagami are closely related to it.
The evil presence is mighty, comparable to the strength of the
Orochi, and it is difficult to say whether even the likes of
Kusanagi and Yagami could defeat it. What's more, these two
are still feuding among themselves.
But the situation is not without hope.
If the "evil presence" cannot sense that other being...
If the second Kusanagi, who was created by man, still exists....
"Now I understand, Master Chin. We're nothing more than "insurance."
"Insurance? You mean "sacrifices," don't you? Or just "openers"
for Kusanagi's main act.
"...You get the picture. I'm making a self-serving request."
"But during the tournament we just may come up against Kusanagi,
you know?"
"We'll drive off that bridge when we come to it. What's vital
is that there be mighty fighters to counter the 'evil presence.'"
"OK. I hear you, Master Chin. We have too much idle time on
our hands these days anyway. Entering KOF again with this guy
wouldn't be so bad. Hey, you don't mind, do you?"
"Hmph. Whatever."
"Thanks, whippersnappers. I owe you."
Chin for the first time deeply bows in gratitude.
"As you see, I am grateful."
"...Don't grovel. It's annoying."
Chin, continuing to bow, averts his gaze from K'.
"Well, it looks like we're in. Myself, K', and along with us...?"
"Curses. What'll we do about the remaining member? That young...you
know, that child with chestnut-brown hair. No, she won't do.
She's too childish. Much younger than Athena is, don't you know?"
"You need not worry yourself. I have the very pro we need."
"Pro?"
"You know, don't you, Maxima?"
"Ah, that dependable dominatrix is still around...but I believe
she is presently involved in a mission with that squad of mercenaries,
isn't she?"
"Ask me if I care! Make her a timely offer she can't refuse.
I leave the particulars up to you."
"Why do I get all the grief? Jeesh!"
Two weeks later. Whip, in debriefing as a result of the completion
of her mission, is promptly given another assignment.
"Link up with K' and Maxima. Form team. Enter KOF."
As did Chin, the leader of a band of mercenaries - Heidern -
also senses the presence lurking in the shadows of this year's
KOF and dispatches his squad.
Their struggle is just about to begin anew. |
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SNK
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