Chosen Evolution: I can load the protagonist template

Chapter 394 The Ikari Team's Goodwill and the Psycho Soldier Team's Hostility (What kind of zongzi did everyone eat today?)
According to the normal procedure, the registered teams would gather in a separate venue to wait for the organizers to announce the specific rules and conditions for obtaining the invitation. However, Cheng Tian and his companion skipped this stage and followed the staff directly to a small conference room.

During the process, the staff also suggested that it would be better to call the remaining two team members as well, as this would make the following procedures easier.

So, Eileen went into the women's restroom alone, and then Leoli and two other women came out.

"Did we skip the preliminary selection stage?"

"I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, but our boss, Ms. Kagura, should be here soon to explain things to everyone. Please wait a moment, or if you have any needs, feel free to let me know."

After leading Cheng Tian and the others to a medium-sized conference room and answering Cheng Tian's questions, the staff stood directly beside the four people, waiting for them to choose a seat.

At this moment, there were already many teams in the conference room that Cheng Tian recognized at a glance.

This discovery further convinced Cheng Tian that he had most likely skipped the regular auditions, and that his legendary status had likely increased again.

For the teams that had already arrived in the conference room, Cheng Tian's team was also worth paying attention to.

Especially the "Women Fighters Team," when they saw that Cheng Tian's team actually had three women, their eyes naturally fell on the only man in the team, Cheng Tian.

Judging from the way the group walks, it's clear that Cheng Tian, ​​the only male, is the leader of the group, which makes them very curious about the origins of Cheng Tian's group.

"Oh?"

But in the waiting line, a guy wearing a red and green patterned headscarf and a military green vest suddenly froze when his eyes fell on Cheng Tian, ​​and then slapped his teammate next to him who was wearing a hat and sunglasses.

"how?"

The man in the hat and sunglasses remained very calm, showing almost no reaction.

"Look, look! It's Orange from the legendary Peregrine Falcon 004 squad!"

"where!?"

Before the man in sunglasses could react, the woman with a high ponytail, who was sitting steadily on the other side of the man in the headscarf, suddenly jumped up from her seat and started looking around.

Cheng Tian's gaze happened to fall on that direction.

The bandana-wearing Ralph, the sunglasses-wearing Clark, and the high-ponytailed Leona—these three contestants from "Heidern Mercenaries"—form the "Rage Team".

From the perspective of King of Fighters, Cheng Tian had no contact with them. However, from the perspective of Metal Slug, both sides were mercenaries belonging to the "government army" camp!
The "Rage" in the team name comes from the Rage series of early arcade and Famicom games, where the 1P2P mode is Ralph and Clark.

In Metal Slug 6, 7, and the enhanced version XX, the three members of the Ikari Warriors also joined the regular army as foreign mercenaries, becoming playable characters.

Clearly, Cheng Tian's completion of two main missions in Metal Slug, which increased his legendary status by 2, influenced the Ikari Team, making them aware of "Cheng Tian and the Peregrine 004 Squad's" achievements.

...No, it's clearly more than just something I've heard about.

Mercenary organizations, though fighting for money, can also develop a fondness for heroes on the battlefield, provided they are on their side.

At this point in time, the Hadran mercenary group has obviously not yet been hired by the government forces, but this does not prevent Cheng Tian's achievements from arousing their aspirations.

After all, the reputation and prices of an unknown mercenary group are incomparable to those of a mercenary group that has already completed some large-scale commissions.

With a slight thought, Cheng Tian directly led his team to sit in the empty seats on the side of the Rage Team.

"Hello, I'm Orange, the captain of the Olilly team. You're Ralph from the Heidern mercenary group, right?"

Cheng Tian, ​​who proactively extended his hand to Ralph, seemed completely unlike his usual sociable self. "Nothing compares to the achievements you've made. The Colonel has used your deeds to discipline us quite a bit."

Ralph, who had grasped Cheng Tian's hand, spoke sincerely.

The results achieved in the fighting competition can only represent an individual's combat strength at most, and cannot fully represent the ability to complete battlefield missions. Cheng Tian has already proven his battlefield value with two important missions.

What's most commendable is that Cheng Tian not only completed a series of large-scale battlefield missions, but also ensured the safe return of the entire 004 Peregrine Squad to the government forces. This is what Ralph and the others admired most.

He's capable and won't abandon his teammates—how wonderful!

"Is the colonel no longer participating in the war?"

Cheng Tianming asked the question knowingly.

"My old bones and muscles are old enough to retire, but we have our junior sister here."

As Ralph spoke, he made way for his petite Leona, bringing her into the view of Cheng Tian and the others.

Leona, her expression returning to its usual coldness, nodded slightly to Cheng Tian and the others.

In the three-person composition of the Ikari Warriors, Leona is like a younger sister to Ralf and Clark. Due to Heidern's overly militaristic teaching style, their emotional expression is actually too reserved. However, Cheng Tian's achievements and legendary status are so impressive that they inadvertently revealed some of their true emotions.

Now that everyone has adjusted, the conversation ended after the usual pleasantries.

"...Senior, what are you looking at?"

Diagonally opposite Cheng Tian's team, in the "Superpower Warriors Team" which included world-class idols and popular contestants, Kensou looked at the delicate little face beside him and asked with a worried expression.

At this very moment, Athena Asamiya, a world-class popular idol, is openly staring at Cheng from afar.

To be precise, she hadn't looked away from Cheng Tian since he entered the room, and it was only after being confronted by Shii Kensou that she slowly looked away.

"You idiot Kensou! Shut up!"

Athena did not answer her junior brother, but instead shut up, abruptly ending the conversation.

Her gaze wasn't what her jealous junior brother thought; it carried positive emotions like admiration and goodwill.

On the contrary, Athena's heart was filled with a kind of inexplicable hostility towards Cheng Tian, ​​which seemed to come from her bloodline; it was a purely negative emotion.

For some reason, the moment she saw Cheng Tian, ​​she not only suddenly felt inexplicable hostility, but her calves also started to ache slightly.

This made her fall into deep thought, while Cheng was completely unaware of it.

As one team after another entered, Cheng Tian, ​​who recognized the origins of these participating teams, became increasingly surprised, until the staff placed something resembling a gold-embossed invitation in front of each team.

When Cheng Tian touched the invitation, a new notification immediately popped up.

You have received an invitation to the KOF '97 tournament. You need to keep it safe for the next 72 hours to officially qualify for the competition.

　It suddenly occurred to me that I haven't eaten zongzi dipped in white sugar for several years...

　　
　
(End of this chapter)