[Ding! Initiating 'Plunder' on target 'Billy Kane' during combat! Target possesses strong willpower. Plunder difficulty: Extreme...]
[Plunder success rate: 15%... Forcing plunder...]
[Plunder successful! Obtained: "Billy's Staff Technique Insights (Fragment)" x1!]
A stream of exquisite staff-handling comprehension flooded Cloud's mind.
But in reality, Cloud was in deep trouble.
The three-section staff came alive in Billy's hands—sometimes thrusting like a spear, sometimes sweeping like a short rod, sometimes whipping like a flexible chain. His offense was relentless, seamless!
"Whirlwind Staff!"
"Assault Flying Staff!"
"Spiral Death Staff!"
One after another, Billy's signature techniques wove a net of death around Cloud.
Despair gripped Cloud's heart.
Billy truly deserved his reputation as one of KOF's formidable fighters. The pressure of each strike was incomparable to those small-time thugs.
Just as things reached their most critical moment—
A familiar, sun-drenched voice called out from the alley entrance!
"Hey, c'mon! C'mon! This many people ganging up on one? Not very gentlemanly, is it?"
A red blur stormed in like a whirlwind!
A young man in a red baseball cap and red vest—Terry Bogard!
"Power Wave!"
Terry's fist slammed into the ground. A golden energy wave surged forward like a ground-hugging tiger, instantly bowling over the surrounding thugs!
Billy Kane's expression darkened the moment he saw who it was. "Hungry Wolf Terry! You getting involved in this too?"
"Billy?" Terry looked surprised to see him, then scratched his head.
"Well, well. If it isn't Geese's guard dog. What's this—Geese Tower's branching out these days? Coming all the way out here to personally handle some scrawny kid?"
He pointed at Cloud, still "barely alive" on the ground.
Cloud's heart lurched at those words.
But immediately, a brilliant "hit-and-run victim" plan took shape at lightspeed in his mind!
Opportunity! This is the perfect chance to grab onto a powerful thigh!
So Cloud very "cooperatively" coughed twice and spat out some bloody foam (actually just bleeding gums).
He looked at Terry with a gaze that was weak yet somehow conveyed "rather die than yield," and struggled to speak: "Terry... th-thank you... Don't worry about me... Just go... I'll... I'll fight them myself!"
That performance deserved an Oscar nomination.
Terry's eyes gained a new layer of appreciation.
Not bad. Weak, but he's got guts!
Billy's expression flickered uncertainly.
He knew with Terry here, touching Cloud today wouldn't be so simple.
"Terry, this is Geese Tower's internal 'cleaning' operation. I suggest you stay out of it."
"Cleaning?" Terry glanced at the groaning thugs on the ground, then at the "critically wounded" Cloud, and his smile brightened.
"Looks more like organized crime bullying to me. Sorry, but there's nothing I hate more than ganging up on one person."
He dropped into his fighting stance. A powerful aura radiated from him.
"You want him? Sure. But first, ask my fists if they agree!"
Billy stared at Terry, then at Cloud's "defiant" face, and finally let out a cold snort.
"Fine, Hungry Wolf Terry. I'll give you this face. But next time, he won't be so lucky." He stowed his staff. "We're leaving!"
The black-suited men helped their wounded and retreated like a receding tide.
Soon, only Terry and the still-"playing-dead" Cloud remained in the alley.
"Hey kid, they're gone. Drop the act." Terry nudged Cloud's foot with amusement.
Cloud "struggled" to rise, looking at Terry with overflowing gratitude. "Terry! You saved me again! This debt of gratitude... I... I have no way to repay it, only..."
"Alright, alright, stop right there." Terry waved his hand, cutting off any "offering of oneself" speech. "How'd you end up crossing Billy?"
Cloud's eyes spun, and he launched into his "victim" performance.
Half-truths painted him as a poor soul who'd accidentally witnessed a gang deal and gotten hunted down. His glorious "brick ambush" achievements were scrubbed squeaky clean.
Terry bought most of it. He patted Cloud's shoulder sympathetically. "In South Town, this kind of thing happens a lot. You're lucky to be alive, kid. But your skills are way too weak. Next time, luck might not save you."
"I know!" Cloud seized the moment, putting on a troubled yet yearning expression. "Terry, your kung fu is amazing! Could you... could you maybe teach me a few moves for self-defense?"
This was his real goal!
Terry looked him up and down, considering for a moment.
"Teach you kung fu?" He scratched his head. "I don't have time to take on students. But... since you seem like a decent kid, if you ever have time, come by Pao Pao Cafe. I can give you some pointers on the basics."
He paused, then added: "But remember—true strength isn't taught by others. It's forged through your own blood, sweat, and fists. Understand?"
"Understood! Totally understood!" Cloud nodded vigorously.
Right then, the system notification chimed clearly in his head!
[Ding! Side Quest 'Meet the Legendary Wolf' complete!]
[Quest Rating: A (Host demonstrated quick thinking, successfully converting crisis into opportunity through 'playing victim' tactics. Commendable.)]
[Quest Rewards Distributed: Source Points x500, Random Skill Lottery Ticket x1.]
Success!
Joy exploded in Cloud's heart.
From that day forward, Cloud's life gained a new routine—visiting Pao Pao Cafe for Terry's "unofficial" guidance.