Prelude to the End of the Final Countdown

Following a one-sided KOF tournament match where Alexi Martin decimates Ken and Ryu, leaving only a weakened Ryu for Kagero to defeat, the members of Rock Steady are kidnapped. 

The party decides to launch their own investigation. Alexi runs into Allen Domino who is shopping for exotic teas. Alexi slowly realizes that Allen is Light, one of Blackhawk's most dangerous men. However, though Allen recognizes Alexi he seems completely cordial and greets him like an old friend. Alexi attempts to shadow him but loses him.

Roy is almost run over by M. Bison's diplomatic car and hails a cab to follow it (yes, same cab driver the characters always get - he keeps changing cities/countries to lose them). After calling the others (Alexi, Kagero, Barahime, and Sarah), Roy and company invade the one story complex.

They are met by Darkness, Light, and Vanity who stand guard in an interior room. Darkness retreats after his compatriots are defeated, and the party follows him into the main room.

Blackhawk has set up a machine to transfer the minds of three Shadoloo soldiers into Chris, Yashiro, and Shermie. There are also, three goats, lots of technicians, and Mr. Sark. The device has already been activated so Roy shoots the tube leading to the magic rock. Sark throws himself out of the room and the game session as the room explodes. 

As everyone stands back up, Roy hears Miranda's seductive and terrifying voice speaking in his mind. He has switched bodies with Sarah! Since this has happened before, the party is a bit better equipped to deal with it. Alexi is switched with Chris, Kagero is switched with Shermie, Bara is switched with Blackhawk, Roy is Sarah, Sarah is Yashiro, and Yashiro is Roy. Darkness has suffered critical spiritual damage and requires healing. They all make a deal to join forces to undo this. Blackhawk knows of something with the power to fix it, the Ragnar stone, but it was stolen from him.

But there is a problem, Miranda is making continued assaults on Roy to sever his unnatural connection to Sarah's body which threatens to send him into Limbo.

Blackhawk leads them to the twin fortresses of the Jin brothers in the mountains of China. By way of a Shadoloo Phantom Hawk (stealth transport), they arrive quickly. It is also revealed by those that greet them that it is actually Overlord Blackhawk (those of rank second highest only to M. Bison) though of which area or branch is unknown.

After splitting forces to attack both fortresses simultaneously, the artifact is recovered and all is restored. Blackhawk is allowed to part with the Ragnar in order to heal Darkness.

On the following Saturday, Team Sacred Judo Punch (Barahime, Chizuru, Sarah) defeats Hunter's Reckoning, securing their place at the finale. However, the fight ends with an ominous air. For one moment during Sarah's match with Hunter, Miranda assumed control and used her supernatural strength to deliver a blow that turned the tide of the fight. A lingering memory of her presence in the fighting ring leaves all with a feel of terror. 

Afterwards, Alexi discusses the future with Chizuru (concerning Miranda, Orochi). Chizuru mentions the stars she had used to predict that Orochi's return would coincide with the KOF finale have had a recent addition. A new star has appeared (the light of its birth must have just reached Earth). There is an addition to the equation besides the 8 Orochi Kings and the 3 Sacred Treasures (latter being Kagura, Kusanagi, and Yagami).

In the week that follows:

Friday Night, The Final Seconds of the Countdown

Rose meets with Kagero. About Snapdragon who claimed to be her brother, Rose says she doesn't know of any brother. Rose then tells Kagero that she should stay close to her friend Alexi and shows her why in Tarot cards. He will have three chances to lose or save his soul. The Dragon, The Empress, The Tower. And for a moment, Kagero has her own vision of a figure in the top window of the tower which is crashing as a lightning bolt severs it. The figure is both triumphant and doomed. "Only the first challenge must be faced alone, the others include you and your close friends as much as it does him."

Alexi dreams, but it is not a dream. Max Hart approaches him with a warning. "If you choose to face the challenge that will come tomorrow (The Dragon), you may lose more than you can bear. Take this dagger, sleep, and I will guide you along the threads of 'the fate that should be' to your enemy to prevent this."

Alexi awakes standing above Chris with the dagger. Finally, he decides, "I won't be your pawn for murder," despite a commanding voice which shouts, "Kill the boy! Kill him now!" Afterwards, Alexi wakes in his own bed. Greatly troubled, Alexi then calls Max to determine if it really was him. Max denies any dealings with "dream stuff."

And finally, as morning is coming, Kagero awakes from a nightmare. Of this recurring dream of 1798 years ago, she can now finally recall the details. In it, she was a woman of the Yata Clan being strangled by one who looks like Yashiro (but at the same time is not). As Kagero leaves the body of the dying woman, the maiden's lips say to her, "Above all else, he hates women." With that, Yashiro rips a metal medallion from her neck and tosses it behind him though it is not heard hitting the ground.

The countdown has ended. The, perhaps final, battle is about to begin.