Disclaimer: I don't own the KOF characters or anything related. I do own the OCs in the story however. Last chapter so I hope you like it.

Chapter 7: Emerging Questions

"I can't tell who that is standing up but I know it's Kyo," said Benimaru. Maxima quickly ran a scan to see clearer through the big commotion. He kept scanning, searching for some type of way to see. After one minute of scanning fighting data, the big cyborg grew a wide grin.

"Why are you smiling," asked Kula as Maxima continued to grin. He didn't answer the question and instead pointed toward the man standing up. That man slowly emerged through the smoke and that man wore an all too familiar red glove carefully fitted on his right hand. From that moment, everyone knew the outcome of the battle.

Yeah that's good ol' K' for you," smiled Maxima as K' panted.

"We have a winner," the women announced. "The winner of this battle is K' and with this victory the Hero Team are now the 1999 King of Fighters champions! Congrats!"

"Yes," screamed Kula as she celebrated with joy. Lin however remained emotionless as if the win meant nothing to him.

"Yeah we won," K' began, "so what's next?"

"I was getting to that. Your four have a special arranged meeting with the sponsor so follow me this way please."

"So we are going to 'meet' the sponser huh," K' said with a reckless grin. "I can't wait to meet this 'sponser' man for myself.

The women led the Hero Team to a tunnel and quickly jumped on another platform that descended lower. Meanwhile, the Japan were trying to see if Kyo had any serious injuries.

"Kusanagi-san," shouted Shingo," you gotta get up. Oh this isn't good."

"Take a pill Shingo," Kyo weakly stated," I'm fine. This isn't the first time I've been defeated." He slowly picked himself up from the ground and surveyed the scene.

"Where are they," he asked.

Benimaru answered," they woman took them to a tunnel. Apparently she is currently taking them to fight the sponsor of this whole tournament."

"But which tunnel. This place is like a damn maze! We could very well be lost inside this crap!"

"Calm down guys," the older Goro instructed everyone," now we got here so we have to follow that way out of here." Kyo however grew a grin.

"How are we going to get out of here," questioned Shingo.

"Who said we wanted to leave so early," Kyo chimed. "I've searched high and low looking for clues on who is NESTS and this is the closet I've ever been. I might never ever get this close to them again. This mysterious 'sponser' may have the answers to the questions that run through my mind. I want to see this guy all for myself!"

"Yeah this 'sponser' does have my interest peaked," Benaimaru added. "Besides, knowing this tournament, it's probably some guy with an ideal to rule the world and then later reveal that he has used this tournament for his scheme for world domination. Can't count how many things that has happened."

"OK then," Daimon interrupted," we got to find a way through this. So le's take the way the other team took."

The four quickly searched for a way through the tunnels and unbeknowist to them, Leona of the Ikari Warriors slowly followed them.

"Ralf, Clark," Leona carefully and quietly whispered, "we have located the Japan Team. We are currently surveillancing them in hopes of finding the main headquarters."

"This is Ralf," he answered," I'm currently underground surrounded by these high tech computers and stuff. It's dark in here so I can't really see much but the only thing I can see is something that looks like a machine currently running.

"That's probably the Trigger Data Commander told us about. Stay low, I believe there are Kyo clones in certain areas of the place.

"Understand."

"Commander this is Whip," she said. "I'm located something strange by the laboratory."

"Go ahead."

"Well, all of the Kyo clones seem to appear different from each other. From the different colors of their attire to the different colored headbands. Plus, I saw some walking to an elevator apparently heading down to the fourth floor." Leona quickly looked at a sign that read 'Floor Four'

"Ok then, I want you to follow them."

"Bu ma'am, if they detect me, they will easily dispatched-"

"That won't happen," she assured. "Besides, this is what you signed for when you joined our organization. You must be focused for situations like this."

"But-"

"That's an order," she firmly stated.

"Yes ma'am," Whip ended.

Leona quickly hid behind some boxes and waited. Soon, four Kyo clones stepped out of the elevator, surveying the scene. Leona carefully observed the mannerisms of the clones, trying to conceal her identity. The clones soon departed and headed toward a set of stairs that were alongside the elevator. Leona carefully followed them as they descended down the stairs to the basement. The basement was then followed by an elevator them led downward. Leona used her stealth tactics to follow minutes later.

"Commander," she whispered on her walkie-talkie," I've just seen some clones apparently on their way down this place. I suspect that this sponsor's headquarters lay underground although I'm not sure how steep it is.

"Follow them," Heidren answered," Clark has informed me that he is around some vector entitled 70599 and according to him, that's where the sponsor is at."

"Yes sir."

Meanwhile, the Hero Team found themselves about eighty feet underground from the site of their last battle.

"Where in the hell are you taking us," asked K' who was clearly irritated by the constant walking.

The women quickly answered, "We are almost there so prepare yourselves.

They got off another platform and found themselves in front of a door that was entitled 70599.

"70599," Kula said in confusion.

"Yup, this is the site of your final battle with the sponsor of this tournament. Well, let's go."

She slowly opened the door that revealed a room seemingly made of nothing but machinery. The floor consisted of a design which looked more like a circuit board than a pattern, and it lit up every so often with red lights that seemed to move across the floor. In fact, there were red lights almost all over the room, flashing and blinking along with the various devices. Standing in the middle of the room was a blond haired man sporting an all black attire which included a black trenchcoat.

"Krizalid, I brought the winning team over here to start the final battle," she stated.

"Good work Anna," he stated. He finally revealed his face from the darkness.

"Welcome to the final match in the 1999 King of Fighters Tournament," he began." I am Krizalid, the sponsor of this tournament as since you four are the winning team, you will now face me."

"Whoa, this guy's data is off the charts, Maxima whipsered to k'. This guy gives a sensation of power and a vibe of evil inside him. He's nothing I've ever scanned before."

Krizalid smirked slightly after. As everyone remained silent, it was the soft spoken Lin who spoke up first.

"Where is Ron," he demanded with a firm tone. Krizalid just laughed evilly before a spotlight shined on him.

"I wouldn't worry about Ron if I was you," he stated.

"So you're our final opponent…If that's the case, why don't you stop talking and let's fight!"

"Don't get reckless K'," Maxima reminded him.

"I don't need no help to take this guy. Give me five minutes and this will be all over with!"

Krizalid just laughed," don't hold back because I won't!"

A good ways from Site 70599, the Japan were being forced into a confrontation with the two Kyos that had mysteriously appeared. Once again, it seemed that they needed to come up with some kind of plan. Luckily, Kyo managed to conjure up one really quick.

"Listen, let me handle this one," he started. "I'll catch up with you guys later but now, try to find the sponsor's hideout."

"I don't know Kusanagi-san, a concernced Shingo stated, who's knows how many clones are in this area let alone in this place. You will get killed if you fight by yourself."

"I actually agree with the kid, chimed in Benimaru, there is no way you can take on these clones by yourselves. Who knows how dangerous they are."

"I understand your concerns but I need to do this alone. Trust on this one ok?"

"Fine," Daimon spoke up," handle your business here. You better catch up with us."

The three left as Kyo launched an attack to the Kyo clones in the orange attire.

For a big boss, you're pretty amateur!"

K' looked down on Krizalid who was was collecting himself. Their fight was a bit long, both men were going back and forth in terms of attacks but it seems that K' is slowly swinging the fight toward his direction.

"So was this some kind of joke? Or are you just the side dish?" K' said smugly as he crossed his arms.

"Of course not. This is only the beginning." He suddenly asked. "Anna, is it done yet?"

"Yes, sir. The battle data has been completely downloaded into your system." Anna checked the information that showed in her phone. "There's nothing abnormal as far as I can tell. You are now able to continue with the plan"

"Battle data? Downloads? What is he talking about?" Kula asked Maxima.

"It's nothing good," said Maxima. Lin remained silent as usual.

"I think now is the time to explain what's going on." Krizalid stood to his full height. "My name is Krizalid, my associate, Anna and I, have been using your battle data in order to activate our brand-new weapons and technology."

K' and his team looked at him with looks of confusion on their faces.

"What's going on?" Maxima questioned. "I thought this was just a test of our abilities."

"And it was. But it was also a ruse to gather up data on some of the strongest fighters in the world and see who was worthy enough to participate in our plan. And judging by our current situation, I would say I did a pretty damn good job of doing both."

"What the hell does that mean," said an angered and confused K'.

"Well, if you give me the opportunity, I shall enlighten you." A monitor with a map of the world suddenly appeared behind him. "During our last battle, my special suit downloaded the data into the machines which surround you currently. They also downloaded data from the match you had earlier, so it has more than enough for us to use."

"Use for what?"

"To go to our new weapons, as I said before. But as you will see, we have 'unqiue' weapons." The screen behind him suddenly went to a camera image inside one of the many helicopters that was stationed all around the world. Sitting in rows on either side of the room were men wearing dark combat gear alongside NESTS bounty hunters Savreck Mack
and Karl Nills . The men however looked almost identical to Kyo Kusanagi.

"How many clones did you manage to even produce," said Maxima who was in awe.

"Enough to take over the world!"

Meanwhile, Whip had managed to run into Clark and Ralf. Even though they knew how to get in the tunnels, they didn't really have the greatest grasp of how to actually get to Point 70599. Every tunnel looked almost exactly like the last one, and that led them to back track constantly, running (literally) into dead ends, and seemingly passing by the same place over and over and over….

"How in the hell are we going to find this place," Ralf said in frustration.

"I don't know, this place is like a damn maze," Clark chimed in.

"We have to make a plan that way we don't continue to run in circles," Whip stated displaying her inner "Leona" if you will.

"Are those actual clones" Kula stated in amazement.

"Indeed it is young girl, Krizalid interrupted. Now you all must be wondering how we are able to produce such one of a kind clones. The reason why is our technology. We have the power to accomplish things that most scientists and companies can only dream of. Most of the data we gathered is based on Kyo's participation in '97 tournament that Kagura woman sponsored two years ago, right up till that 'incident' at the finals where he supposedly 'disappeared'. The information we got from that would have been more than enough to work with, but soon after that, we happened to come across the unconscious form him and that Yagami guy. He however turned out to be a total failure but Kyo's DNA was the complete opposite." The monitor changed back to the world map, parts of it marked with red dots. "You see those dots on the screen? Each one represents a unit of clones placed in a major city. We have them scattered all over the world, waiting for our signal."

"Signal? What are they supposed to be doing," asked K'.

"They will help us seize those cities, overpowering any defenses and allowing our organization to take over with relative ease."

"Is that the reason for this tournament?" "To use us for your evil scheme?"

"Heh heh heh…it was a lure, just like all of the other tournaments were. But more importantly it was a way to gather some of the best fighters in the world to determine who was strong enough to help us accomplish our goals. I knew that you were going to go far, but you exceeded even my expectations. Then again, I wouldn't expect anything less from my own clones."

For the first time in the whole tournament, K' looked genuinely shocked. "WHAT THE HELL YOU JUST SAY?"

"What? You don't think so? Well now, tell me this….do you remember anything about your past? Your parents? Your friends? Your childhood? Anything?" The frustrated expression on the face of K' was all the response Krizalid needed. "You can't do, can you?"

"Shut your fucking mouth," K' said with angered. "I remember leaving in the rain with Kula; that's all. There is no way that I'm your clone."

"I thought so. You're a clone, just like you're two others friends(pointing directly toward Maxima and Kula). The only difference is that you're cloned from me, rather than Kyo Kusanagi. It's a rather tough pill to swallow, isn't it?"

"So you're the one who killed Rocky," Maxima asked.

"I said SHUT UP!" K' roared. It was enough to silence everyone else.

"I see that cocky demeanor from earlier has now disappeared, Krizalid smirked. Now it's time to activate the Trigger Data."

"Trigger Data?" Everyone else but Lin repeated.

"The 'Killer Instinct', as some may put it. That's the thing that will activate the clones, but it's important for another reason. The Kyo clones are perfect replications of the original. Their attacks, their mannerisms, even their speech is exactly like Kyo Kusanagi. They are basically better than the original version."

"GO TO HELL," screamed K'. Krizalid simply laughed.

Krizalid snapped his fingers, and the monitor turned off. The room slowly started to brighten as the machines that were active shut down and started to retract into the ground. What was revealed was a massive area filled with even bigger machines. Pipes and circuitry practically made up the walls, and there was a large space on the floor that was pulsing with light.

Slowly, something started to rise from the space. It was a large machine, with what seemed to be a round device in the middle of it, glowing with energy. It sat there for a few moments, before it abruptly shot out a beam of energy into the ceiling. The shockwave nearly knocked the fighters of their feet, but Krizalid stood firm.

"A little word of warning for you all…" He said casually. "I wouldn't get too confident because of what you did a few minutes ago. As I said, I only wanted battle data, so now, you'll be facing the 'real' me. And with that…."

The large coat that adorned him suddenly burst into flames, disintegrating and leaving him in a bodysuit; the one that he used to download the battle data…

"Your judgment day has arrived. Now, you die!"

Meanwhile, Kyo has successfully defeated the two Kyo clones and seems a little tired.

"Damn, those clones are actually tough but of course nothing beats the original Kusanagi flame," he stated. He then found a platform and descended further down the lair.

"Whoever you are, I'm coming for ya!"

"Typhoon Rage!"

K' was thrown into the wall by the sudden force generated from Krizalid's projectile attack. Slumping to the ground, he absentmindedly took note of everyone else's condition, which to put it mildly, wasn't very good.

Whereas Krizalid was somewhat weak in the first battle, he was absolutely unstoppable in the second one. He seemed to push away everyone's attacks with ease, preventing anyone from easily getting close to him. And even if they managed to do that, it took only a moment for Krizalid to push them back.

"What's wrong, ?"He taunted, "Have you realized that I'm the superior clone?" Krizalid knew that the revelation that K' was his clone was messing up his focus, which only made him easier to beat. Seeing him struggling to even land more than one hit on him was amusing. Despite that, however, he still hadn't gained enough data to activate the clones. That wasn't a big concern to him right now; he'll keep going as long as he had to as he enjoyed messing with K'.

"Come one K', fight!"

Suddenly, Krizalid turned around to see Maxima right behind him sizing him up for an attack.

"Too slow," Krizalid stated as he hit Maxima with a Typhon Rage that sent him and Kula to the nearest wall. Lin however charged with malicious intent. However, he easily grabbed Lin's right wrist and tossed him to the nearest wall.

"Face it, I'm unstoppable!"

"Says who," a familiar voice stated. That voice emerged from the darkness, it was Kyo Kusanagi.

"Hmm. If it isn't the legendary Scion of the Kusanagi Flame…" Krizalid mused. "I knew there was a chance you would be here. But there's nothing you can do as we already have your DNA."

Kyo just stared at Krizalid with intensity and soon ignited a flame from his right palm.

"Unlike yours, my flame is legit and rages hotter," he calmly stated. "You may have my DNA but you don't have the true power of the Kusanagi flame!"

"You want to test it out?"

"Let's go!"

Kyo charged at Krizalid, looking to hit his infamous Serpent Wave. But Krizalid's flame collided with Kyo's, causing a minor explosion. The smoke blocked both men's views, but Kyo continued to attack.

"You're not escaping," he stated as he actually hit Krizalid with his Fire Ball uppercut that engulfed him in flames before hitting the ground with a thud. K' slowly reached a vertical base in the corner as Maxima was rebooting his system and Kula was slowly recovering.

"So you guys serious think you're strength in numbers is good enough to stop me! Bring it on!"

It was K' who charged in first but was easily sent to the ground thanks to a Negative Anguish. It was Lin who then attacked by decomposed and then trying to suck Krizalid underground. The NESTS agent however quickly avoided the move and sent him to the ground with a Rising Dark Moon.

"If you won't attack than I will," he stated as he sent a Typhoon Rage toward Kyo's direction. The projectile hit Kyo flush and he juggled that with a Lethal Impact. All three was kneeling on the ground' completely winded from the battle.

"There is nothing you can do to stop me. Soon, the world with tremble to the knees of NESTS!"

While Krizalid was boasting, he was unaware of the attack that was coming.

"Diamond's Breath," Kula stated as her kiss immobilized Krizalid for a breif second. Maxima followed that attack.

"M-4 Vapor Cannon!" The powerful blow sent Krizalid to the wall and for the first time in a while, he was weaken.

"Everybody, he's vulnerable," Maxima scanned," finish him off now!"

K', Lin, Kyo soon sized up Krizalid who reached a vertical base. It was the assassin Lin who attacked, using his most deadly move, the Thousand Hand Hacker. Krizalid was propelled to the air.

"You're not getting off that easy," Kyo stated as he connected on his Way of 182 punch that eventually led to the final blow.

"Time to burn in hell," he said as his Heat Drive landed flush and soon, Krizalid was on the ground, defeated and barely alive."

"You're finished," K' said in an arrogant tone.

"Well at least that freak is done for," Kyo painted. Suddenly, the entire Ikari Warriors team alongside the three remaining members of the Japan Team accompanied the other fighters.

"Damn," Ralf started," we missed all of the action. Oh well, at least he's no longer a threat." For some reason, Whip could not stop staring at Krizalid's body.

"But this is not the end," observed Leona. He's just one of their stronger fighters, but no doubt will NESTS come back stronger and harder next time."

It doesn't matter to me," K' stated," one by one I will defeat them all."

"It looks like we're about to get some more guests." an ominous voice said, "Of course, I can't allow them to get any information about what we've been doing, so I have no choice but to initialize the self-destruct sequence."

"Well, it's not the first time this has happened." Benimaru muttered.

Soon, the building began to crumble and immediately, all of the fighters ran, trying to find a way out. However, Whip stayed back and sat toward the body of Krizalid, who was still coughing blood.

"Sister," he weakly stated.

"That's enough," she stated. "It's time you hear the truth. I am not your sister."

"You're speaking nonsense," Krizalid interrupted before letting out another bloody cough.

"If we are silbilings then do you remember our parents? Do you remember anything about the past? Do you even know your actual name?"

Krizalid just stood there in disbelief at what he was hearing.

"So if I'm not your brother, than that means,"

"Yes, K' is my brother. And he's not your clone, it's vice versa. NESTS programmed you to believe that K' was your clone when in reality, you were made to destroy K'."

"I've been deceived."

"We all have. But we are going to destroy them. Me, my team, and K' will end NESTS."

"If that makes you happy then I can die in peace instead of regret and confusion."

"I will missed you."

Krizalid suddenly became lifeless and Whip quickly departed and escaped the building minutes later.

Outside the building was the Ikari Warriors and the Japan Team along with the Hero Team. Heidren was also present along with his medical staff and two helicopters. However, Kyo was not with the Japan Team.

Kyo was close to the exist, but at the last second, he was held down by at least ten Kyo clones. Twenty seconds later...

BOOM!

An explosion erupted, burning the whole building to the ground!

9:30 P.M. Heidren and his staff have surveyed the scene of the now burned down site of the final battles. He then was approached by one of his staff.

"Sir, we have found this in the scene," the man displayed the same white jacket Kyo Kusanagi was wearing.

"Is that all?"

"We also found the body of Krizalid sir."

"Retrieve the body and bring it back to headquarters."

"Yes sir!"

Heidren then though to himself," this is far from over."

_

The story is finally done! My first story is finally completed. Feels good to get my first story underneath my belt. I wanna say thanks to my friend SeprentKing 707 and all that commented.

Instead of the ending from the original game, I useed this ending as a cliffhanger for further things happenings next tournament.

Is Kyo dead? You just have to find out.

The next story will be a side story concerning the new chracters that will be introduced in the next tournament. It will mostly be OC centered so that will come out pretty soon.

Thanks again and see ya next time!