MTLNOVEL Chapter 116: Hunt Begin!
Xiang Nan could hardly be unfamiliar with The King of Fighters.
He had even played it before.
But in his memory, wasn't it just an arcade game?
After receiving the intel, Xiang Nan immediately regrouped with the other three.
Of the team, Beishi was clearly the one who understood the KOF universe best.
Besides what Xiang Nan had heard in advance from Orban and Pigeon, the only other clues about this "placement match" came from a few players who had once returned to the Kengan Ashura world; they told him they, too, had arrived in Hunter × Hunter by first clearing a placement match. A couple of their members were first-timers in other worlds, though the captain seemed to have gone through Placement several times.
In short, for this first placement match, as long as Xiang Nan's squad could eliminate the system-assigned KOF players, nothing else should pose a problem—
much like when the Kengan players had tried to kill him and Manman back then.
"KOF is a multiverse," Beishi began once the four met under the electronic billboard that Xiang Nan had just glanced at.
"It contains elements from Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, Psycho Soldier, and more. Think of KOF as the main storyline; the other series are side stories set in the same continuity and share characters."
Judging by the blank looks on the other three faces, Beishi realized they had never heard of those titles either.
"Fine—just remember we're in the KOF world. From what I just dug up, today is the opening of the KOF '94 arc. The key characters involved right now are Geese Howard and Rugal. Although KOF as a game starts here, the in-universe tournaments had already been held many times in Fatal Fury and the like—always organized by Geese."
One teammate brightened.
"I've played the game, but never read the comics. Power level-wise, this world can't compare with Hunter × Hunter, right? Sure there are a few psychics, but most fighters just use martial-arts styles. Apart from people like Kyo Kusanagi or Iori Yagami, everyone else feels pretty weak."
As intruders, what they feared most was landing in a universe whose power system outclassed Hunter × Hunter—that would mean the enemy players would be terrifyingly strong. Now, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Beishi shot him a glance and shook his head.
"You're both right and wrong. In terms of raw feats the KOF cast can't match Hunter × Hunter. Nen abilities are richer and more varied, and hunters' overall level is higher. Because this world is still tied to 'Earth as an audience,' its power scale is calibrated to an Earth baseline—most characters are basically world-champion tier humans. Hunter × Hunter is a genuine otherworld: even ordinary limits of flesh are much higher there."
"However, the KOF cosmology is frightening. There's the will of Earth itself—Orochi—and organizations like South Town's Howard Group, arms dealer Rugal, NESTS, Those from the Distant Land, the Orochi clan, and so on. Setting aside the Three Sacred Treasures, many elites wield elemental or even conceptual powers—time, space, the five elements. While the system isn't as intricate as Nen, the sources of their power are on a scary tier."
Xiang Nan summed up:
"So the average combat level is lower than Nen users, but a subset of true top-tiers here far exceeds Hunter × Hunter standards, correct?"
"Exactly. Some of those powers embody rules or concepts. It's broken."
Beishi nodded.
"Many power sources in KOF can destroy or reshape the world."
The other two players fell silent. Their earlier relief evaporated.
"Still, KOF '94 is just the start of the main story, meaning the timeline has barely begun. Much like Hunter, this world might have only just 'opened up.' Player strength overall shouldn't be absurd yet—good news for us."
"Aside from a handful of monsters, the typical fighters are still within what I'd call 'normal' bounds—after all, it derives from Earth. Plenty of abilities are written from an Earth perspective rather than a full high-fantasy realm."
He added a final reassurance:
"As long as we don't provoke the really tricky ones, we should be reasonably safe."
Xiang Nan remained calm.
"All that is your hypothesis. We'll learn the real power scale once we meet other players."
"Let's first find a place to study the KOF '94 plot. Hostile players won't get here instantly. I expect once they arrive we'll be confined to some arena. Don't act rashly—take them out first, then move."
The others agreed. Beishi indeed needed to brief them properly.
"One more thing," Xiang Nan added.
"If the main plot has already begun, it's likely intruding players aren't just from Hunter. Other worlds' players may also be here—stay alert."
Even Beishi hadn't considered that; the three of them stiffened.
They soon checked into a hotel in nearby South Town—money, naturally, was stolen.
Setting foot on Earth again left them with mixed feelings; the place looked almost identical to their former world.
Inside the room, Beishi explained KOF lore and every detail of the '94 storyline.
"Rugal Bernstein is the hidden boss," Xiang Nan muttered after a while.
He'd heard the name but only now learned the facts: a global magnate and arms trafficker ruling the black market of weapons and contraband—rather like the Ten Dons. He's also a terrifying martial artist who turns defeated foes into statues, cruel and arrogant, possessing Orochi power.
"The public-facing boss is Geese Howard, ruler of South Town, presently allied with Rugal. He studied under Tung Fu Rue, hails from China's ancient martial traditions, and also practices Aikidō."
Xiang Nan observed:
"So the various fighting styles here can unleash energy waves and shock-wave moves—combat isn't pure brawling."
[System: Attention, hostile players have entered the designated zone. Player teams, prepare for combat.]
[System: 48-hour countdown begins—now!]
"So fast?!" All four received the alert at once.
South Town was large, but the system had clearly carved out a "battlefield."
One teammate panicked.
"Makes sense," Xiang Nan said, rising first. "If South Town starts the main plot and the KOF tournament is imminent, the place must already be swarming with players—close to us. The zone is limited and it's their turf; we can't do much yet, so let's scout first."
At the door he glanced back:
"Our world is basically a new server that hasn't formally marched across the multiverse. Outside Hunter, we represent all Hunters. Even if we die here, don't disgrace the name—or you'll hurt every Hunter player, especially newcomers."
The trio fell silent.
"Now—let the hunt begin."
Xiang Nan's eyes flashed coldly as he shut the door behind him.
~~~
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