Kyo, in an attempt to distract Iori, runs towards him to distract him.

Hey, Yagami! You still haven't "vanquished me" yet, have you? Some fighter you are!
K... K... KYOOOOOOO!

Orochi Iori immediately rushes him, grabbing his face and pinning it to the floor, and smothers him with several flaming explosions.

In doing so Yagami swiftly jumps aside from the spear... and into Kyo's fist.

I don't think so, Yagami! This ends here!

---

Oh, ha, ha. You may as well give up already. Your days of turning Defteros into your own minion are ov--
--No! I refuse to perish! I am the Kremling Alpha!
...
What just happened?
(Darn it, I need one of those.)

Proteus turns around. Defteros, unfortunately is currently unable to.

Wh-- oh. It's you.
Who?
That's not important.
I'm not even going to ask how, as implying logic to how you got here is a slippery slope in of itself. But what I am going to ask is what you're doing here.

Iori knocks Kyo down. Before he can proceed attacking, however, he sees Ashura charge at him, temporarily shifting his focus.

Owoaaagghh!

He throws a flame pillar in Ashura's path.

---

image

...How long has this been running?
How long has what been running?

First, I'm'na need you to punch this dummy.
Isn't that kind of a rude name to call it? I'm sure it's as smart as the rest of us!
No, that's not-- *sigh*-- It isn't sentient. It isn't a thing. It's an object. Just punch it.
Okie dokie!

Defteros forms a fist and gently taps the dummy.

How was that?
...

---

What do you mean I've come up with a terminal virus?
Oh, yes, it's, uh, it's one that has a 1/99,999,999 chance of appearing in random robots. Unfortunately, you are one of the few that have come down with this. If unchecked, it can completely infect and internally destroy any robot it touches.
Is there any way this can be fixed?
Glad you asked. All I need to do is go into your robo systems, check your data for this virus, and give you a special antivirus application that will be installed to prevent further appearances.
Yay!
Also the antivirus will reprogram you do to my bidding.
Wh--

Orochi Iori, now in a fully savage-like state, slashes at Kyo, who can barely react in time to avoid it.

Owoooaaghhh!
Hnngh!
!
Damn it!
(Oooooaghh!
Aagh!

Kyo, unfortunately to slow to dodge now that Iori's speed and power has been doubled, gets caught in an onslaught of slashes, each of which more painful than the last.

(This is bad! Iori's mind is completely gone due to the influence of Orochi's power, and on top of that, he's stronger than ever! If I don't end this fast he'll go on a rampage of destruction-- or worse-- Orochi could use his body as a host to return!)

Meanwhile, in a remote Training Room...

...
Thou art quite the durable individual, container of sand.
...
...But deeply rooted unto mine own blade and mine own shields art the spirits of an unyielding era of warriors! You feel the wrath of not me nor my weapon, but the indomitable might of all vikings! Have at thee!

Viking Man slashes at the Sandbag with a powerful Viking Slash Flame.

---

Viking Slash Flame (Cutter/Flame)- A Viking Slash which upon impact gives the Viking Sword a flaming trail, setting the opponent ablaze should they be hit.

Meanwhile, a hidden Proteus hides in the shadows of a remote location.

..Hmmm. Where to spread evil now? I've gotta up my game, and do something so diabolical, that--
But why? Isn't that what bad guys do?

Proteus yells a uncharacteristically high-pitched scream from sheer shock at being found out by Defteros.

HSNIQANIRUANQWIUYTTQAGFB. WHERE. DID YOU. COME FROM.
And weren't you on that robohalla place or whaddyacallit?
Uh-huh! Regacron said I had to leave, though...
.....Why?
He said it was too dangerous, and that something very, very, bad might happen soon.
Wow.
I didn't wanna leave, so he forced me out. I just saw you and thought that you looked like you were having fun.
...
...
Ohohoh. Belieeeve me, Defteros. Fun is the perfect word to describe what I have planned for the both of us.
Now come on, you can follow me to my base. We have cookies~!
Ooh!

Proteus and Defteros teleport away to the unknown. A feint word can be heard during the teleport.

...Awesome.

Meanwhile with the SNK characters, an extremely fatigued Kyo seems to have Iori, who has slumped down to his knees, down for the count, though excessively panting.

....
Yagami... give it up already. This.. fight... is over.

Kyo approaches Iori, who seems to be mumbling something.

Ohh... whoaahhh....Kyo...
Huh? What on Earth are you--
!!!!
T-this is... Orochi's aura! But... But how--

Kyo stares at the Yasakani Jewel... which seems to be enabling this sudden nature from Iori.

(He must've tried sealing off Orochi on his own! What was that stupid lone-wolf doing!? There's no way in hell could've did that without me and Kagura's help!)
D... D... Duh...
....Die.
Orochi Iori AKA Riot of The Blood Iori
Demon of a Moonlit Curse

Owoaaaaaghhhh!
Last time he was like this, he put me and Shingo in a hospital! I have to knock him out before he does something wreckless!

Iori, now fully crazed, lunges straight for Kyo, who mutually does the same. Shingo begins to run forward, but Kusanagi holds him back.

Don't be stupid, Shingo. You'll only get in the way.
This coming from the guy I beat?
A., I never said I was planning on fighting. B, you got lucky. In a fight without reliance on randomized critical hits, you'd be done for.
Awww!

Proteus is knocked down to the ground. He gets up and dusts himself off.

Talk about a buncha clingy robots! Forget this! I've already done my piece, for all I care you dirty hunk-a-junks can off. I'll be off to do... various neutral to negatively moral actions. Adios!

The Shields all reappear and surround Proteus, teleporting themselves and him away due to the lack thereof ability from himself, all to a untraceable location.

Proteus uses his Eye Lasers towards the ground to project and propel himself into the air, landing on an invisible extended shield, giving the outwards appearance that he is floating.

Alright, it's been fun, but I think I'll just destroy this place and get this over with. You all seem... busy.

Proteus raises his index and middle fingers. Immediately, from the skies fall hundreds of shields which rain down and explode on their surroundings each at MFTL speeds, exploding before any action can be taking before them, each their own taking dozens of acres worth of damage with them. As soon as the Shields explode they disappear.

Alright, there we go. Now, time to go home and grab a bowl of my favorite cereal. Cinnamon Toast Cru--

---

Proteus 100% Neutral

Shields (20/20) ∞

Proteus deflects the slashes with several finger flicks.

Shields, Activate sequence Remote Chaotic Detonation Ethel. It's time to turn this forest into a green wasteland. Oh yeah, also shoot at any wildlife you find in the way, too. Human or no.

Activating Sequence.

Eight of the Twenty Shields go invisible and speed off each in a different direction, each one causing massive explosions in the forest.

Yeah... move, I know. But to be fair, there's not really much room for honor to begin with in the first place when you're a "bad guy".

---

Proteus 100% Neutral

Shields (12/20) ∞

That would be a no. Proteus is on Earth.

Proteus evades the shadow blades, while the Shields immediately rush to protect Proteus from the Buster Bolts. He lowers his Soft Drink in repsonse.

Woah, oh, hold on-- the frag are these guys? I swear, ya can't do the evil in peace nowadays without a coupla daft bastards stickin' their metaphorical noses inta ya bizness.

---

Proteus 100% (Healed via Soft Drink) Slightly Alert

Shields (20/20) ∞

Proteus is hit by most of the missiles, but out of irritation he grabs the last one and throws it in the nearest public area.

Ohohohoh, you all have gosh darn diddly delivered the dirtiest deed you can do.

Shields. Activate Sequence: High Ground.

High Ground Sequence Activated.

The Shields rise into the air above the Rookie UKR Squads.

They begin shooting a relentless barrage of rockets at them from above, targeting and immediately switching between targets. Once they stop, Proteus immediately begins zapping at them with Eye Lasers.

---

Proteus: 99.9% Iritated

Shields (20/20): ∞

---

Eye Lasers (Laser)- The user shoots a ray beam of concentrated light from their eyes at the opponent.

Instantaneously six Space Orbs float around Soul.

Who are you.
Oh my~! Is bwin bwother mwad~?
...I wouldn't call myself the altruistic type. And although it gets lonely, I am a loner. But I have a thin circle of things that for such I will not hesitate to murder in cold blood or oil. Anyone who lays the slightest finger of malevolence on Pop dies a slow and painful death. I'll say it again. Who. Are. You.
...I assure you. It's more than you deserve to know, but nonetheless I shall indulge you.
Think back. Back before this universe, before anything that happened during your absence. Other than any putrid Tournaments. What threads have you participated in? Better still, what was your true debut thread?
(...I've made minimal appearances... Almost everyone I met back then is gone now. But I can faintly remember an iota of what happened on the first post..)
....

...No way.
Yes way, "Soul". Despite my being older than either you or the Wily Omega, I was forced to be exiled and stripped of my name in favor of you. I lost my life. My purpose. My identity. I forgot who I was. And then... I find myself in a world filled with utter silence.
And you've returned, how?
I made my own portal and left. But fret not in the slightest. I do not care for world domination, senseless destruction or the like. I will be satisfied with your death.
But wait! I nearly forgot! You were going to give me a painful death, weren't you? Go on. Kill me.
....
That's exactly what I thought. You won't hurt your dear sister, will you? I thought not. How utterly pathetic.
Fortunately for you, I know better than to try to fight you with this pathetic body. But know this... "Soul"....

Pop suddenly falls down, unconscious. A voice lingers from above.

...You will never be safe from me.

---

Space Orbs (Space/Empty)- The user pulls out a ball of pure space energy that can not only absorb any and all attacks, but can put anything it touches in an infinite limbo.

...Why aren't we dead yet?
Oh, right, Regulus. He's de-- gone. H-he's gone.
So we aren't doomed then.
Oh no, we are definitely boned should any potential backups of him appear. But that won't be for.... a billion years time, four tops. So we still have some time left.
..Hmm. Well, that's a relief.
Oh yeah. Where'd that A. Rock guy and his friend go? Weren't they here a minute ago?
They left to do... something. I don't really have any idea as all I did them if it was for the tournament and they said no. Well, at least they'll be taking their hijinks with them.
...So we're alll alone?
Yeah, why?
Oh~...
...No reason.
I'm sorry wha--

Pop runs over and kicks the unsuspecting Soul through a wall. He gets up, confused as heck.

Look... if this is about using all your shampoo, I'm sorry. I'll by some la--

Before he can finish his sentence, he narrowly ducks another kick from the now pupiless Pop.

You idiot. This isn't about shampoo or any other trivialities. This is about you paying a price equal-- no, a cost tenfold more to mine.
Huh. And here I thought you were the furthest thing from the emo type.
...Dense as ever, are you? Let me put it in the forthmost simplistic manner of speech so that an dense airhead such as yourself can understand.
I am not Pop. Or rather... this isn't her speaking.
!?!?!?

Meanwhile, the Wario Museum is complete, marked with hundreds of visitors paying to be escorted inside, where, Wario himself shows off the gallery of items he's gathered.

Moving on from the Shine Sprites (shhh), THESE are the artifacts I found on my visit to Egypt! True treasures, indeed!

The crowd oohs and awes. Wario turns their attention to a large frame with the picture of a gold crown.

But during my trip there, I found the crown of an ancient spirit I single-handedly defeated to bring peace back to Egypt! This... is Shokorah's Crown. I stolllluhluhluhluhlent it from the Sprit of Shokora, an ancient Princess!

Someone in the crowd asks if Wario has it available for display. Wario scoffs.

Hell, no! I've seen (and caused) too many of these stupid heist headlines to leave it out in the open! Be it an evil Black Jewel, a pirate chick or anyone else, I'm not letting any wise guys try and steal it in plain daylight!

Wario triumphantly turns his back and raises a finger into the air with confidence.

That is why it is secure in the vault of the bottom floor in a room with top-level state-of-the-arc security room with built-in expert tracking cameras with hidden ammo, invisible lasers that fry all intruders, and an alert system that'll make so much noise the deaf will hear it! I guarantee you, there's no way ANYONE'S getting past that!

Wario chuckles to himself as he gestures for the visitors to follow him for his next exhibit.

[Hmm. Nah. Regulus's MKII Virus and Proteus's MKII Virus although similar are their own separate things. He took all samples and copies of his MKII Virus.]{spoiler}

...I just became a terrorist, didn't I?
...Cool. Bring on da heat.

Proteus, before he can finish eating his KFC and Soft Drink, is interrupted by the Deceiver Rounds, which... deceive him.

Agh! ! What-- how?

---

Proteus: 100 Iritated
Shields (20/20): ∞

Viking Man walks up to Dark Arle, greeting her.

...Warlock Arle, twas thy name? I hope we may find honour in competing in this tournament like valorous sportsmen-- and sportswomen.