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[h3][color=1E90FF][u][b]Level 9 Terry Bogard[/b][/u][/color][/h3]
[sub][color=1E90FF][b]EXP :[/b][/color] 66/90 (+3 pts.)
[color=1E90FF][b]Location :[/b][/color] Banishing Flats, Esaka’s Mid Tier
[color=1E90FF][b]Word Count :[/b][/color] 2,444[/sub]

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[color=1E90FF]“Oh, hey, Pit! Sup?”[/color] 

Similar to when he encountered the Seekers for the first time, Pit was one of the first to welcome Terry to the lobby upon his arrival. Teeth bare, his smile widened, his bandanged hand waving vigorously. The puzzled glance given to him by Primrose didn’t go unnoticed. He knew a few of them must’ve been wondering why he wore what he wore at the moment. He could’ve admitted he was broke, but then again, he didn’t want to sound more miserable than he already was following the Teahouse debacle.

[color=1E90FF]“Yeah, it’s alright, though. I knew you were busy investigating this side of the city with the detectives,”[/color] Terry reassured, oblivious to the fact that Pit had been searching for a [i]kameo[/i] partner the whole time. Could it be the cuddly puppy he brought along with him? [color=1E90FF]“Aww… What a cute dog, buddy! Where’d you meet him? What’s his name?”[/color]

Just before Terry could approach and pet him, the oddly ferocious chihuahua had taken a seat next to Primrose. It seemed that he enjoyed being around the crimson-clad dancer. When the topic of money was brought up, his perky glance was noticed, though Terry didn’t get to reciprocate those adorable, shimmering eyes since he’d been arguing with Nadia about the method she used to attain her bags of zennies.

[color=1E90FF]“Okay, look, first of all, I didn’t know your name,”[/color] Terry admitted, holding out both of his bandaged hands in Nadia’s direction as if it would’ve made her less exasperated. [color=1E90FF]“And second of all, you made it sound like you’ve just stolen something from Kazzy. And I don’t doubt that any of y’all could’ve handled something that sounds as big as those Guardians of… whatever. It’s just that…”[/color] He paused, lowered his eyes, then sighed, pursing his lips wryly. [color=1E90FF]“I was just… scared, y’know. Scared that I’d lose you guys, too. I just can’t afford to lose more peeps in my life, is all.”[/color] He shrugged, then lifted his eyes to search for the feral one’s, his voice calmer. [color=1E90FF]“Again, I’m sorry, okay? Are we cool now, err… ‘Ms. Fortune’?”[/color]

Even when he’d apologized, Nadia was already pissed off by his prior comments that she decided to stride out of her initial position. The brawny blonde scratched the temple of his head, then looked away, his expression a mixture of remorse and puzzlement. Did he just ruin the mood? He thought so. Normally, he would’ve been the one who brought warmth and joy to the conversation, but, oh, well... Perhaps, that was what having a horribly rough day at a horribly rough place did to a traditionally jovial man.

[color=1E90FF][i]Okay, calm down, Terry. It’s okay, it’s okay... ’Least you’ve said sorry, haven’t you?[/i][/color]

Now more composed, Terry gave ear to the elaboration provided to him by Zenkichi, nodding at every word spoken out of his mouth. He was particularly surprised by the mention of the effect of Galeem’s curse and the supposed conspiratorial figures running this peculiar new world from behind the curtains. It appeared that the Four Kings—if they were some of the remaining Guardians mentioned—were far more omniscient than they were in their previous lives, making them sound closer to gods than they were megalomaniacs with exceptional gifts. The thread began to unravel, and now he’d come to understand why Tung, Geese, Tony, and anybody he’d encountered after the Teahouse scuffle shared the same crimson features that Zenkichi was describing—no matter if they were good or evil. To think that he used to share those same features sent shivers down his spine, as he caressed both of his bare, muscular biceps.

[color=1E90FF]“Oh, Gee… N– No wonder! So, that’s why everybody but us had the same [i]gleamin’[/i] eye color, ain’t it?”[/color] he asked, both horrors and concern evident through his sky-blue eyes. [color=1E90FF]“Gosh, dude… Guess now I know why I’ve been having a bad hunch about this place. Even before Ammy gave me that heart thingy, I knew something was just… off around here, but I could’ve never pointed it out. I thought I hadn’t been feeling like myself the whole time, either, till those memories came flooding back into my head. It was kinda overwhelming at first, true, but at the same time, it feels… freeing. Relieving. Sorta like I was being born again or something.”[/color]

Then, there was this thorough explanation by Zenkichi about the reaction the gleaming might show upon being told about the existence of Galeem and the specific details revolving around the World of Light. Terry, in a way, was no stranger to this already, even before he was set free. Even pointing out the flaws of his own dojo and questioning Esaka’s tier system would raise a few eyebrows, let alone declaring the existence of a greater, almighty being that was Galeem. Or it could also elicit a different reaction, like the one shown by Geese when Terry accidentally revealed a small fraction of what he saw the moment he received a friend heart.

[color=1E90FF]“Man… And here I thought I was overthinking,”[/color] he remarked. [color=1E90FF]“You guys have no idea, but whenever I questioned a lotta stuff about Esaka and my own dojo, they always shut me down real fast. Y’see, they called me a lotta things because of that, alright? They thought I was a smartass, thought I was nuts, thought I was sticking my nose too deep into things I [i]won’t[/i] understand. Even most of the guys I thought would’ve cared, they dismissed everything that I said, too. Oh, and, by the way, this was before I knew anything about Galeem and the World of Light, so the things that I brought up were mostly about the city’s tier system and how KOF’s been losin’ its edge over the years. Nothin’ too world-breakin’, amirite?”[/color] 

Afterwards, Terry went on to go into full details on how both KOF the dojo and the tournament had been doing in recent years, assuring the other Seekers that they weren’t doing as well as it seemed to be. He talked about how the participation number had been slightly declining every year and how the tournament’s viewer count was especially worse. In fact, it was the lowest of the big four, making KOF almost like a laughing stock within the High Tier community. Aside from that, he also claimed to have tried to prevent the dojo from being demoted on a few occasions, mostly through collaborative events with other, bigger dojos where he was willingly assigned to represent KOF.

[color=1E90FF]“But that wasn’t much, honestly. I was just doing what was best for the business, and that was to save the sinking ship. Yeah, right, the sinking ship that I thought was my new home…”[/color] he added, trying to downplay his contribution. [color=1E90FF]“Y’see, all I did was point out that maybe it wasn’t about the collaborations or appealing to the niche side of our community, nope. I said maybe—just maybe—KOF would be better if some shady, out-of-touch guy wasn’t the one in charge of the tourney, but as y’all can tell, nobody listened. And the next thing I know…”[/color] His face dropped, coming to a harsh realization of the fruit of his boldness. [color=1E90FF]“...Almost all the peeps I care for are no longer here.”[/color]

He hadn’t lost hope, still. Terry knew he was going to find them one way or another. Although, after putting two and two together, it seemed more obvious now that Rugal [b]had[/b] to be the one behind the presumed kidnapping of his loved ones. If Geese’s prior eye gesture was any indication, there must’ve been something hiding within the top floor of his tower that Terry was yet to discover.

[color=1E90FF]“Yeah, right, y’know what, guys? I think Rugal’s involved in all the shitty stuff that’s been going on since I was brought here. You said that he’s one of those Guardians you’re chasing after, right?”[/color] he asked, his voice a hint of determination. He then crossed his arms, leaning against the fluffy backrest of the couch. [color=1E90FF]“I’m not surprised if he turns out to be a pawn for Galeem. That sunnuva gun was the one responsible for the destruction of my world, and some guy told me he’s gotta be the reason why my guys went missing in this one. I swear, if he ever [b]dared[/b] touch ’em, I’m so gonna beat the living hell outta that scum!”[/color]

He could feel his hand hardening, as he swung it over his face and bowled it. His face began to tense, as he reminded himself of the things he’d lost—his family, his friends, and the world that he once knew, all thanks to Galeem and one Rugal Bernstein. It was vivid in his mind how the latter tormented each and every one of his fellow KOF participants in the most unforgiving fashion, and to think that the same familiar figures had now bent their knees to the man responsible for their [i]deaths[/i]? Truly, it felt like a nightmare come true.

His tension soon melted when Cap arrived and gave him a clap to the back—a gesture that was quite reassuring. He thought maybe his teammate was right about not having to worry too much about identifying the Consuls. Getting to the finals of the KOF tournament was his main objective as of now, and even if he had to face one of the Consuls, he knew he could rely on the others more experienced with the matter like… just about anybody in the Seekers but newbies like him. Now that his question had been answered, he shifted his attention towards his team’s captain, giving ear to his story.

[color=1E90FF]“Well, that’s great! Toldcha, right? You look like a million bucks,”[/color] Terry reciprocated, then grinned, his knuckles jokingly nudging Cap’s shoulder. [color=1E90FF]“I’m not surprised that you were gonna make an impression on the guys back at Breakers. After seeing you in action, I’m proud to say that both you and Ammy are ready for our tournament. Not gonna lie, but it looks as though you guys have been fighting longer than I have. You sure you’re not Robert in disguise, Cap? I mean, the way you fight and all, it… kinda reminds me of him. No cap, but if only the Kyokugen Dojo ain’t Kyokugen BBQ these days, I would’ve convinced Ryo to take you in.”[/color]

Shortly after, Amaterasu entered the lobby alongside the new member they’d encountered earlier at the Teahouse—her eyes as clear as he was now. He knew he hadn’t introduced himself in front of the latter just yet—more or less just dropping a brief [color=1E90FF]‘thank you’[/color] for her prior help before he went to the Mid Tier.

[color=1E90FF]“Yo, Ammy, sup? I knew you’d be back,”[/color] Terry welcomed with a big, enthusiastic wave, watching as the newly arriving Seekers closed in and sat with them. [color=1E90FF]“Hi, sorry, I wasn’t in the best condition when the fight ended. I thought I should’ve introduced myself earlier.”[/color] He held out a hand in the lalafell’s direction, a beaming smile worn. [color=1E90FF]“The name’s Terry. Terry Bogard. You can call me ‘Wolf,’ you can call me ‘Legendary,’ just don’t call me ‘Ken with a Hat’ like they all do, alright?”[/color] He giggled, then rolled his eyes at his own joke, finding the nickname more exasperating than it was amusing. [color=1E90FF]“And you are, buddy?”[/color] Oddly, his introduction and offer for a handshake were both left unreciprocated, as Yayama continued to slump her face against the table. He raised a puzzled eyebrow. [color=1E90FF]“Huh? Ah, okay…”[/color]

He could tell that the lalafell must’ve been overwhelmed by the influx of abandoned memories as much as he used to. Well, even now, he still tried to comprehend every grotesque detail surrounding the last moments of his prior life. While Terry was about to accept Band’s offer for a sparring match, suddenly, Yayama snapped and headed out of the building, telling the crew that she needed some air. Something about her abrupt burst reminded him of the way he left the other Seekers beforehand, and this was right after she received a friend heart, too.

[color=1E90FF]“Wait, pal, it’s still rainin’ outside!”[/color] Terry shouted, then extended a hand as if reaching out to Yayama, but he was too late. Her figure was now a miniscule, distant view rushing out of the entrance. She had him worried all a sudden. [color=1E90FF]“Sorry, guys, but… I gotta go. Won’t take a while.”[/color]

And so, he stood out of his comfy seat, strides subsequently drumming in the direction of the front door. As he was outside, Terry began searching for the new member, his sky-blue eyes darting left and right. He didn’t seem to be bothered by the raindrops cascading over his head—not when he needed to assure Yayama’s situation. Eventually, his gaze fell upon the alleyway situated just a couple of feet from the Banishing Flats. The alleyway was barely lit, though he could see a small figure hurling flails against the wall in a fit of rage, subsequently swinging her mighty sword against the evening’s cold breath. Seeing that she’d just been freed, he could feel the sentiment all too well. After all, his reaction to the suppressed memories was more or less the same as hers was. 

[color=1E90FF][b]“Wait, buddy, stop!”[/b][/color]

He wished he knew what her name was, so he could call her properly. The brawny blonde strode swiftly, entering the alleyway around the same time the lalafell rested her head atop her sword. He placed both of his hands over her shoulders almost reflexively, as if the comforting gesture would’ve made her stop flailing around.

[color=1E90FF]“Hey, buddy, are you okay? J– Just take it easy, alright? Don’t hurt yourself like that,”[/color] Terry told Yayama, his voice quiet and soothing. [color=1E90FF]“Just relax. Take a deep breath…”[/color]

He did just the same—inhaling and exhaling the cold, fresh air—since he figured he, too, needed to compose himself after the prior stages of grief. The former KOF champion gave the sword-wielding warrior a worried glance, finding pain and dread through her own. Even when she clearly was trying to put on a tough facade, her prior actions and the words that came out of her mouth didn’t lie. She needed help, he felt, and he was ready to lend her a hand.

[color=1E90FF]“Hey, look, I dunno how and when you were set free, but whatever it was that you saw in that moment, I feel you,”[/color] he reassured, close to breaking into tears at the thought. [color=1E90FF]“You’re not alone. I saw some horrifying stuff, too, after they gave me the heart. Care to talk about ’em, hm? I mean, if you don’t mind, of course. Maybe I can help you ease up a little.”[/color]

[b]FIN.[/b]