Hero Team Fatal Fury Team Art of Fighting Team Ikari Warriors Team Psycho Soldiers Team Girls Team Korea Team Yagami Team Boss Team Bosses   1996 Edit Teams Sacred Forces Team Goenitz Team

| Kyo Kusanagi | Benimaru Nikaido | Goro Daimon | | Terry Bogard | Andy Bogard | Joe Higashi | | Ryo Sakazaki | Robert Garcia | Yuri Sakazaki | | Leona | Ralf Jones | Clark Steel | | Athena Asamiya | Sie Kensou | Chin Gentsai | | Kasumi Todoh | King | Mai Shirunai | | Kim Kaphwan | Chang Koehan | Choi Bounge | | Iori Yagami | Mature | Vice | | Geese Howard | Wolfgang Krauser | Mr. Big | | Goenitz | Chizuru Kagura |     | Kyo Kusanagi | Iori Yagami | Chizuru Kagura | | Goenitz | No Chizuru Kagura |

A year passed since the last tournament ended. It is the year of 1996, and once again, most of the past tournament's teams were invited to the ultimate fighting tournament. This time, the host was to be unknown, but it was certainly not Rugal; not just by the fact that the host was known to be a famous business woman, but also, the tournament broke it's own solemn seal of silence, and turned into a commercial, worldwide known event. The fights would be broadcasted by international T.V., and many sponsors would be watching the tournament. Soon, the King of Fighters tournament got as much attention as the Olympics or the soccer World Cup.

As mentioned before, the same teams of last year were invited, but most of them presented some interesting changes. Some of the more veteran fighters, such as Heidern and Takuma, retired from the battle scene, leaving their places to those of the younger generation. Takuma sent his daughter, Yuri, in his place in the Kyokugenryo Team, and the Gorgeous Team welcomed Kasumi Todoh as their new team-mate. Heidern gave his place to his student, Leona, a young woman with mysterious powers. Iori, after severely beating up his old partners, had made an eerie union with both of Rugal's secretaries: Mature and Vice. But the one team that got the most attention, was the most evil team: the one leaded by Geese Howard and Wolfgang Krauser. Both of them showed by themselves that they were pretty much alive, and ready to claim rights for the tournament. Alongside them, was one of Geese's lackeys, Mr. Big, who had a very bad grudge against the Kyokugenryo school. It seems that this year would be filled of passion and honour as well!

Before the main event began, Kyo, the fateful warrior that defeated Rugal twice in the past, was challenged by a mysterious man. Attending the invitation alone, Kyo faced this ominous man, whom offered Kyo a fight. However, even before the battle began, Kyo sensed a terrible power behind that man. The same power that Rugal possessed, and the one that destroyed him at the end. Kyo was even more anguished by the fact that the man was outrageously strong, making short work of Kyo in an instance. Kyo winded up in the hospital, forced to improve his techniques, and to fight him once more.

As fights took place, everything seemed to go perfectly on the outside: the battles went on with a more dramatic sense to it, the fighters putting their own life on the line in order to win, thus, creating much more intense fights to decide the winner. Personal vendettas, such as the Kyo-Iori, and the Terry-Geese rivalries, took central stage in the tournament. However, an evil presence surrounded the tournament. The shadow of Rugal wasn't quite gone from the tourney, and something even worse was presented to come. Iori and the new Ikari member, Leona, began to show powers far beyond those of the fighters' comprehension, and the entrance of Geese was also quite disturbing. What was all this ominous feeling about? As the life-and-death battles raged on, the sense of evil power remained more and more resident in the mind of the fighters. As the finals drew nearer, the host finally revealed herself: it was no other than Chizuru Kagura, latest descendant of the Clan of the Yata, the group in charge of taking care of the seal that was imposed over an evil power. Chizuru revealed to the competitors that the seal upon this dangerous power was broken ten years ago, and that now, it has began to run amok, now more than ever. She now needs the help of the strongest team in order to aid her in her quest to seal off the power once again. She called for the Hero Team, past champion of the two tournaments, and they responded. The Hero Team was invited to a very big stadium, property of the Kagura family. The many people united there was pretty impressive. Chizuru appeared in front of the Hero Team, and asked them, if they were worthy, then they should have a battle with her. However, Chizuru gave more attention to Kyo than any of the other two team- mates.

The Hero Team won the emotive battle against Chizuru, but she stood up to tell Kyo and his two friends that the power that ultimately vanquished Rugal was, indeed, the power of the Orochi. Benimaru and Daimon did not understand, but it did seem to ring a bell in Kyo's head. He had heard from his father that the Kusanagi was destined to battle the Orochi once again, as they did 1800 years ago in order to seal the power. However, in the present day, the Orochi power was released by a messenger of Orochi, and that Rugal, in a haste to control that power, winded up being defeated and his right eye taken, but that he received the Orochi power anyway, the messenger knowing that it would kill him sooner or later. As they talked, a strong wind began to blow in the stadium, and suddenly, a huge gush of wind blew everyone away!

As the Hero Team got up, the festive and happy background had been morphed into that of death and destruction. The stadium was a bit less than destroyed, and a very big power began to surface. Chizuru was barely standing, badly wounded by the past gust. With her last breath, she tells Kyo to join Iori in order to seal the Orochi power. Kyo couldn't believe that he had to ally with his age-old enemy in order to seal the Orochi power. However, a strange voice emerged from the middle of the wind. Benimaru and Daimon did not know who that voice was, but Kyo knew for sure, since it was no other than the man who defeated him prior to the tournament. The surface materialized. The man introduced himself as Goenitz, and that he was the one would liberate the Orochi power completely. Kyo stood in front of him, daring Goenitz that he would be the one to stop him. Goenitz chuckled and warned Kyo the same result as the first battle. Kyo grinned and tells Goenitz he is not the same man he defeated earlier. Kyo tells Benimaru and Daimon to stand back, as they would only get killed by Goenitz subsequently. Soon enough, Kyo and Goenitz began the fight that would decide the fate of all mankind.

Kyo fought with every ounce of strength in his body, making a lot more effort than the battle he lost. However, it was not enough to match the humongous power of Goenitz, whom, unlike Rugal, did know how to control his power, and using it in a devastating way. However, even Goenitz had trouble subduing the brave Kusanagi, and was glad that he had improved. The huge bursts of power made the wrecked stadium tremble, and both auras were expanded to unimaginable heights. However, one blow sent Kyo flying away, and Goenitz was ready to dispose of him once and for all, until he was caught off guard by a mysterious man. Kyo recovered and saw that it was no other than Iori! He was surprised that he would help him, but Goenitz looked even more pleased. He laughed and tells Kyo that he is finished, since Iori himself possesses the power of Orochi. Not only Iori, but also the young Ikari woman, Leona, was of Orochi blood as well. Kyo was shocked. Was that the reason why Iori was able to launch purple flames? Iori just stood there, motionless. Iori than laughed maniacally.

He tells Goenitz that only he can kill Kyo, and that's that. Goenitz grumbled, and dared both enemies to take him on. So, two eternal foes forgot their rivalry for a while, and fought side by side against a common enemy. This time, Goenitz paid his overconfidence dearly. Facing both a Kusanagi and a Yagami was a huge mistake, and he even noticed that Iori was beginning to launch crimson flames himself! With a weakened Goenitz, Kyo and Iori winded up for the final blow. A huge crimson blast from both warriors was more than enough to take Goenitz away. Goenitz gasped. He kneeled down, and was living his final moments. Suddenly, Chizuru surged behind him. Kagura tells him that both the Kusanagi and the Yagami were both allies before the war, and both had aided in sealing the Orochi power 1800 years ago. Chizuru also demands payback, since Goenitz killed her sister in order to unleash the Orochi power. Goenitz grins, and tells Chizuru that the battle is far from over. With a gust of wind, Goenitz vanished in thin air.

The wind receded. Chizuru tells both Kyo and Iori that they should become allies once again, in order to face the imminent danger that would unfold in front of them. Iori grumbles, and says he has his own intentions. And has he walks away, Iori finally stops and begins to clutch his chest. He then launches a blood-curling scream, and spits out blood. Chizuru is surprised, and says Iori is now passing through the Riot of Blood, process in which the Orochi blood inside him begins to awaken. Iori begins to terribly freak out, becoming more monster than human. His team-mates, Mature and Vice, try to stop him, but they pay for their interference by being ripped away by the insane Iori. Kyo now stands alone, with the danger of Orochi still fresh in his mind and soul.