Hey there, had a good week? I took this time to rest a bit post-exam and catching up on some other stuff. But you don't care about any of that, you want to know who makes up the second half of this roster so here they are.
AUDITION #9: ROSA
"KOUF has been described before as a war zone but I think you took it a little bit too literally, Miss…?"
"Just Rosa is alright. You can't exactly blame me given my curriculum."
"It certainly speaks for itself. Here it says that you leaded the rebellion against King Leo, together with this Kim Sue-il, and emerged victorious."
"Ah, my sworn blood brother. I wanted to bring him with me to this audition but he's nowhere to be found these days. His work must be keeping him very busy. But enough about Kim, you want to know why I'm here."
"Exactly. Although, I can easily guess what your fighting style and reason to participate are."
"Yep, self-thought after years of surviving in the streets. You wouldn't know just by looking but this katana weighs a crap-ton. As for my reason, the group I lead would benefit greatly from all the advantages of being MIST Directive's sponsored fighter."
"That has been a pretty common but nevertheless good motive so far. Very well, Ms. Rosa, we'll be in touch."
AUDITION #10: LYZER SPINEL
"Welcome, please state your name and fighting style."
"..."
"Ahem...maybe you didn't heard me. I asked your-"
"Can you please skip this roll-call nonsense? You know exactly who I am, Misty."
"Did nobody ever teached you that no one likes grudge-holders?"
"Oh yes, it's totally holding a grudge being still upset that you robbed me of my identity to turn me into a bio-weapon. It's that what you told every NESTS's former operative that wasn't a selfish bootlicker like Angel or a raging psychopath like K9999?"
"You know all too well that that wasn't my call at the tim-"
"Oh, that's right, I didn't even get to be an operative. I was deemed "defective" and thrown into the garbage bin like so many others. I survived by the skin of my teeth by self-applying parts of others defectives and you don't want to know how I managed to do that."
"In that case, why in the world would you want to join the same organization I'm part of?"
"That would be the sweetest of ironies. With the same easiness you sent me to die, you will look me in the eye and smile as you make me your precious sponsored fighter.
"And what makes you think I'll even consider letting you enter this tournament?"
"I may not have the sheer firepower of K' but I'm still infused with the DNA of one of the members of Team Japan. You've seen what I can do."
"Tch, You aren't in any position to come in here and make demands, Lyzer."
"I can't wait to see how quickly you'll change your mind once you realize there's not many here on my level."
"You are still the same arrogant runt you have always been, I see. I should put you in just to see you get knocked down a peg or maybe a hundred."
"I don't care about how as long as I can participate...Oh and one last thing. If by some coincidence you happen to meet Nikaido at New Horizon, tell him that at the next KOF his life is forfeit."
AUDITION #11: SHEN WOO
"Look, there's no point in this presentation crap and you damn well know it. The public at home-"
"Wait, wait, wait...Shen Woo? What do you think you are doing here?"
"What kind of dumb-ass question is that? I'm here to fight the strongest around and get bloody while doing so."
"That's not what I've meant. I know for a fact that you will already participate in New Horizon as a member of Elisabeth Branctorche's team. Don't tell me you plan to fight in both events, it defies all logic."
"If I was a rational man, I wouldn't have become Shanghai's God of War, lady. Besides, you're really asking me to simply ignore another occasion to break some teeth?"
"Nevermind, it's clear that you are not even listening. I'm guessing Miss Blanctorche doesn't know about any of this?"
"Pfft, even if she does find out I'm so used to her endless lectures that I'm numb to them at this point. Hell, I don't need to worry about that, this event is so airtight against leaks that I can sleep easy at night. Thanks to you, obviously."
"Well, I'll be damned. You are less clueless than I thought. In any case, I have the feeling you'll be among the sixteen, Mister Woo."
AUDITION #12 LUONG
"My, you look absolutely splendid, sweetheart."
"I figured your "personal champion" should've been at his best. I'm Luong, by the way."
"We shall certainly see, Miss Luong. What brings you here at KOUF?"
"The jobs are getting pretty scarce lately so this little thing you're putting together it's the perfect place to secure a nice livelihood for myself.
"You think you have the skills necessary to deserve it?"
"Now that I've assimilated some of the Taekwondo techniques of my current lover, my victory has become a certainty."
"Taekwondo, huh? One practitioner of that particular martial art would surely shake things up a lot, more than that red-haired cretin certainly would."
"Does that mean I can expect you to call me back?"
"Well, keep the phone close just in case. I think you won't be disappointed."
AUDITION #13: KANG BAE DAL
"Oh, goodness gracious. I was just talking about you."
"But of course you were. It's hard to keep my name distant from the tongue of the populace."
"Negatively. Which you would know if you had any grasp on reality whatsoever."
"Hmph, I expected nothing less. So you're the billionth naysayer blinded to the prestige and fame I'm nothing but entitled to?"
"Kang, you lost at the first round of four straight KOUFs. Do you still not realize that we keep putting you in this event as a year-spanning practical joke?"
"W-watch how you speak to me, woman. You have in front of you the man who will outclass Kim Kaphwan and his worthless disciples in every conceivable way."
"You have to be completely delusional if you have convinced yourself that Mister Kaphwan is even aware of your mere existence."
"I won't stay here and let my name get besmirched like this. I'm leaving, and don't even think about calling me back."
"He will change its tune soon enough. My, it's so much fun riling him up like that, it's almost therapeutic."
AUDITION #14: XIAO LON
"I have a pretty good guess of you are, but please indulge me, for the sake of consistency."
"Xiao Lon...Hizoku assassination arts."
"I figured as much. I've found myself in quite a...predicament with the other members of your clan, but that's neither here nor there. Tell me, why you decided on auditioning for the Dark League instead of New Horizon? I know your brother will be there, if I recall correctly."
"Unlike the third crowned prince, my skills are still unrefined. Before I have any hope to assess properly our...particular family situation, I have to succeed in this tournament to prove my worth."
"Hmm, this has given a pretty good idea. Thank you anyway for coming here today. Anything else you would like to add?"
"Do not force me to talk more than necessary if I have no wish to do so. I hate it."
"A person of few words, I see. My apologies for making you uncomfortable, we'll have you know the results as soon as possible."
AUDITION #15: JYAZU
"As the usual saying goes, "You sure mean business", my masked friend."
"I wouldn't be so hasty to refer to me as a friend. My name is Jyazu, Grandmaster of the Jaguar Bujutsu Kyoku."
"This is the first time I've heard your name and trust me when I say that very rarely I utter such words. You must be an expert in covering your tracks."
"One kind of has to when every fool with a death wish comes after your head."
"And what is reason for joining KOUF?"
"It's twofold, you see. First, that spot is priceless for an apex predator of my kind. Hunting the strongest fighters in the world, mauling, maiming and breaking them to my heart's content with complete impunity? No way I'm letting this opportunity slip by. Second, it's also a gateway to acquire whatever immense power you and the MIST Directive are after."
"How do you know about that? Mere curiosity, I'm not accusing you of anything."
"Do not worry, I'm not judging either. My only interest is in reaching the top of the mountain, figuratively speaking. You can solve your petty squabbles by yourself."
"I certainly shall, much to my dismay."
"About how did I found out, well...the ears of the crow can never be closed."
AUDITION #16: VANESSA
"You have some nerve, showing your face here entirely unprotected."
"Don't I deserve at least some credit for the sheer audacity?"
"The only thing you deserve is a bullet between the eyes, but I'm willing to hear you out. Just make it quick, clear and concise."
"For a start, you already know we've been monitoring your movements since New Horizon was announced, right?"
"Not very well if they needed to send you here in person."
"The point is, in this whole tug-of-war you're the lesser evil, even though I still struggle to believe this myself after your involvement with NESTS. Heidern is willing to cooperate until we manage to get this whole mess somewhat under control."
"This is so preposterous, it makes me want to laugh out loud."
"Putting that aside, I'm a damn good boxer so maybe you can take that into consideration, pretty please?"
"I can't believe I'm actually willing to consider this. But know immediately that Heidern won't be getting anything from me and surely not because he send his lackey here to beg me for assistance because he hit his head against a wall in the New Horizon case. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind."
"Such a colourful vocabulary. And that's the mouth that kissed Igniz?"
"Evaporate, you military dog."
Sorry if it took so long to get this second part out, I may have relaxed too much. For those of you wondering who Lyzer and Kang are, the former is one of the best Kula edits out there, made by Juke Kisaragi, while the latter is the alternate striker of Jhun in KOF 2000 based on his prototype design. I gave them a sort of backstory to them and thought they would be unexpected picks. Tell me what your first impressions are in a review if you want. With that said, thanks for your patience and I'll see you in the next chapter.
