SPIDER-MAN-KING OF FIGHTERS CH.9!

Ryo Sakazaki and Jhun Hoon faced each other in the makeshift arena of flame that surrounded them,the finals were about to begin.

"FIGHT!"said the Kingpin and the match began.

Ryo made the first move as he threw a Koh-Ken fireball. Jhun saw what was coming and jumped into the air over Ryo and then landed the bottom of his shoe atop his head,and bounced off.

"Whoa-d'ja see that?"said one of the patrons in the audience. "What footwork-pun intended."

Jhun landed back on his feet with a cocky grin. "Lucky.that's what."thought Ryo. He then went into a different attack. Ryo thrust into his lightning legs knockout kick and thrust both legs at the Korean.

But before he could make contact,Jhun merly dodged the attack and thrust one of his legs into Ryo's back!

Ryo fell to the ground and let a wince of pain. He then rolled back onto his feet and prepared for another attack.

"C'mon Ryo."said Jhun. "You're a good fighter,but my form of Tae Kwon Do is like nothing you've ever faced."

"So say those who think they're invincible."said Ryo. "But I've taken down better than you." The Sakazaki then figured out a new kind of attack.

He then sprang into the air and fired an air Koh-Ken at Jhun. Jhun was taken surprise by the attack and was hit in the fireball and staggered backwards.

Once Ryo landed back on his feet and rushed at Jhun,ready to do some real harm to him. Jhun saw what was coming and did the same.

The two warriors then collided their legs into each other and began to trade off a series if kicks,both trying to gain an advantage.

Jhun tried for a sweep kick,but Ryo jumped over it and did a scissor kick on Jhun's chin.

Jhun then went for a different approach. Just as Ryo landed back on his feet,Jhun then thrust out his foot into his abdomen and lifted him upward with it.

"HEY!"said Ryo. "AW MAN,NOT THIS!" "Yeah---THIS!"said Jhun.

He then threw Ryo down to the ground with the kick lift. "WHOA!"said Spidey looking down. "That guy must do a lotta jogging!"

Ryo rolled back to his feet,ready for anything. Jhun then went into his Full Moon Slice Attack and swung his leg at Ryo with a series of energy slicer blasts at him.

Ryo managed to block off the attack just in time with his arms crossed up at it. But just as he thought Jhun was going to end off the attack,he got kicked right in the abdomen by a foot thrust.

"Okay karate boy!"said Jhun. "Prepare to fell my most powerful attack yet!"

Jhun jumped into the air and was about to unleash his Rising Phoenix Boost! Jhun then sailed down at Ryo.about to unleash a furious attack.

"NO YA DON'T!"said Ryo. Just as Jhun was directly in front of Ryo,the Sakazaki unleashed his Super Ko-Hoken and blasted Jhun away and out onto the pavement arena.

Kim saw what had happened out in the openening of the arena and reached out for Jhun to take his hand. "C'mon Jhun-reach---REACH!"he pleaded.

Jhun used all his remaining strength to reach out and touch Kim's hand.

Kim then pulled Jhun out of the arena and went up to face Ryo. "You were ready for Jhun,Sakazaki."he said. "But are ya ready for Kaphwan Kim?"

"I'm ready."said Ryo. "But not for this match I'm afraid. Robert.?" As Robert Garcia entered the ring,Ryo lightly touched his palm. "I'm sitting this one out,you up to it?" "I'm always up to it."he said grinning.

"Sorry Kim."said Ryo. "But one needs to conserve strength." "No problem."said Kim. "Just as long as we get this match underway." "Be on your toes Rob."said Ryo. "I'm ready for anything!"said Rob. "Bring it on!"

The next match went into action as Robert fired a Dragon Blast Punch. Kim leapt over the projectile and rushed at Robert with his crescent moon slash kick.

Robert got hit in the right shoulder and staggered away in pain. "Man,he must've strengthened up his legs better than before."thought Robert. "Well.that's not gonna save him from my attacks!"

Robert jumped at Kim and did a hurricane spin kick at him right in the abdomen. Kim grunted in pain,but then caught Robert's spinning leg and threw him back.

Robert then landed onto his back and then sommersaulted backwards to a sqaut position. "I've gotta use a surprise attack of some kind."he thought. "And I've got just the attack for it."

"Now,while he's down!"thought Kim as he strode forward. The Korean then jumped up and sailed downward using his Dive Kick for just such an attack. "NOW!"thought Robert.

The italian jumped into the air at Kim and did a Flying Dragon Slice right on Kim's chin!

While the two fighters were still in mid-air,Robert then did another fierce attack.

He did a lightning fast series of kicks against Kim and then knokced him back down to the earth with the last one.

Kim landed upon the bridge street outisde the arena,and was out cold. Robert landed back onto his feet and then flexed a muscle in identification of his victory.

"MATCH ONE IS CONCLUDED!"said Fisk. "THE AOF TEAM ARE THE WINNERS!"

The crowds cheered wildly in response to the first victory. "Wow-he's better than I heard."said Spidey. "But I wonder how well he'll do against Terry or K?"

Ryo and Robert stood in front of the crowds and raised their fists in the air to gratify their success. "Nice to see the boys from the AOF haven't lost their touch after thesee years."said Terry. "Just you wait fellas!"said Robert. "THE KOF is gonna belong to us once again like it did when the KOF first began!"

"We'll see about that old-timers."said K. "You haven't faced the rest of us yet." "We're ready for what comes next."said Ryo. "Just you wait."

Kim and Jhun walked by the AOF team and looked at them. Ryo and Robert looked as well.

Kim and Jhun just bowed to them and the AOF team did the same. "Wait till the next KOF guys."said Kim. "We'll show ya what Tae Kwon Do is really made of." "We will,see you then Kim."said Ryo.

"ATTENTION!"said Fisk into the microphone. "MATCH TWO OF THE FINALS IS SET TO BEGIN! WILL THE FLAME TEAM AND HEROES TEAM PLEASE REPORT TO THE ARENA!"

"That's our cue."said K. "We're up next sensei."said Shingo. "Then let's not be hasty."said Saisyu.

Both teams walked up to the flame arena. "Whew-feel that heat."said Shingo. "Be careful not to get too close Shingo."said Saisyu. "You might really get burned,and not by anyone's flames."

"I'll be careful sensei."said Shingo. "Do you want me to go up first?" "Hmmm...no.not yet Shingo."said Saisyu. "If you are to learn more,than you must fist observe to learn."

"Yes sensei."said Shingo. "But.be careful,K's a pretty powerful and deadly fighter." "That's what they all appear to be at first."said Saisyu. "But no one can be called a master unless they've perfected everything that acquires them to do. So be on your toes Shingo."

"Yes sensei!"said Shingo.

The next two warriors entered the ring as the next match was about to begin.

WHILE BACK AT THE HIDDEN BASE..

The mysterious stranger who was aiding the Kingpin in the KOF watched the screen with a certain rage and glee at the sight of the one who was responsible for the downfall of the NESTS after the KOF'01.

"K.."snarled the stranger. "Whether or not you'll make it to the final match here in the base,you shall be mine,one way or the other. And once I do,you shall pay for everyone you have betrayed and destroyed.Zero,Igniz,Foxy.and once I do,Kula,Whip.even both Angel and K999 shall be next as well. Once I have completed this contest,the Kingpin's empire shall become my own-and NESTS shall rise again!"

Just then,some dark suited accomplices came in wheeling in some strange cybernetically entombed being inside.

"Excuse me sir.?"said one of the men. "But the prototype has arrived. Where do you wish it to be placed?"

"Why in the Final Match arena of course."said the stranger. "Once it is placed I shall have the necessary programming placed within it."

"Yes sir."said one of the two men as they continued to cart the casket to the secret location.

"And within that casket..shall be the weapon for the destrcution of whoever makes it here to the final match."

As the two men continued to cart the cyber-casket to the arena,some of the ice frsot flaked off of the glass window atop it,revealling the face of..KYO KUSANAGI!

NEXT IN CH.10,FINALS TWO:SHINGO/SAISYU VS K/MAXIMA AND THEN BOTH KOF TEAMS OF PAST AND PRESENT,NAMELY RYO AND TERRY FACE OFF! WHO SHALL BE THE FIRST TO MAKE IT TO THE FINAL MATCH AND THE MYSTERIOUS NESTS MAN? FIND OUT NEXT CHAPTER.