The King of Fighters: A New Beginning

The King of Fighters: A New Beginning (ザ・キング・オブ・ファイターズ/ア・ニュ一・どヂニンク) is an official manga adaptation of The King of Fighters XIV released by SNK and is published bi-weekly on Pocket Shonen Magazine online starting on January 1, 2018. The series is illustrated by Kyoutarou Azuma and marks the first Japanese KOF manga done in more than 20 years. A Tankōbon, which consist of the first five rounds, is release on August 9th, 2018 in Japan. With the exception of Love Heart and the DLC characters, the series stars all the characters present in the game.

Synopsis
''The history of the soul of the fighters who have burned themselves with scorching flames aiming at the strongest. That's the KING OF FIGHTERS! A monumental battle as "KOF" is now emerging with a new "power".''

Story
Two young men, one in a cloak imitating a cape and always wears a headset, and the other holding a pillow, accompanied by an old man, is on top of a skyscraper, watching the Antonov Super Arena. The young man in the cloak reflects on the extent of his powers and the decision to participate in the KOF. He concludes that it is time to face "that man". The old man then shows an envelope, whose contents lead to that arena. Soon after, they jump from the skyscraper, toward the arena.
 * Chapter 1: ROUND 1 - 1 ~MEMBER SELECT~ (Released January 1, 2018)

In the arena, an euphoric crowd greets Antonov, a self-proclaimed champion. He declares open the new KOF tournament and announces a Antonov-Girl. She explains the tourney rules: the famous 3vs3 combat and a challenge to anyone who wins him, besides the participating teams.

The first team to enter is the Japan Team, formed by Kyo Kusanagi, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon. Kyo shows his flames to the audience, ancestral family heritage, Benimaru shows off his electric powers and Daimon comes in with his massive strength. Then, the Yagami Team  appears, being mentioned the ancestral rivalry of their leader, Iori Yagami, with Kyo, and the mysterious ladies who accompany him, Mature and Vice.

A metal glove comes into play. His owner also shows a crucifix and a distant look, covered by sunglasses. It's K'. He is accompanied by his partner half human, half machine, known as Maxima, and a child with ice powers, Kula Diamond. The three are the K' Team.
 * Chapter 2: ROUND 1 - 2 ~MEMBER SELECT~ (Released January 8, 2018)

The Fatal Fury Team is announced with shouts from a young man. The young man is Joe Higashi, Muay Thai world champion and is accompanied by his teammates, the legendary brothers Terry and Andy Bogard.

The representatives of Kyokugenryu Karate enter the arena,. Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia, Ryo's best friend, shows the public the awe of the Dragon and the Tiger. But a certain girl, with her inexperience and conviction, takes the microphone for herself and boasts of her strength, as a student who still needs a lot of training, but doesn't hesitate to embarrass her teacher. This is Yuri Sakazaki. And so, the Art of Fighting Team is presented, with boos, laughter and encouragement.

The audience goes into exile with the leader of the next team. We are talking about Athena Asamiya, from the Psycho Soldier Team, who was accompanied by her friend Sie Kensou and Chin Gentsai, the master of the style "Drunken Fist".
 * Chapter 3: ROUND 1 - 3 ~MEMBER SELECT~ (Released January 15, 2018)

Always vigilant. Always alert. Always watch out for any suspicious activity hanging over the KOF tournament. It's the Ikari Warriors Team, which has Leona Heidern, Ralf Jones and Clark Still.

A red carpet is spread out in the middle of the arena. Around it, there are many security guards. These men are decorative figures near the shadows that enter the tournament. One of them is Billy Kane, a British who does everything to protect his boss. The other is Hein, a newly hired German butler. The two are lackeys of an ambitious man who does everything for power, Geese Howard, the most feared of South Town. They form the South Town Team.

The strength of the iron ball. The agility of metal claws. Chang Koehan and Choi Bounge want to go back to their old life of crime, and for this they have the help of a man whose words, costumes and attitudes cause strangeness to the common eyes and ears. He is Xanadu, the king of the underworld. The Villains Team comes on the scene, and, soon after, a man in a gi appears and picks up the microphone for himself.
 * Chapter 4: ROUND 1 -4 ~MEMBER SELECT~ (Released January 22, 2018)

This man is nothing more, no less than Kim Kaphwan, a Taekwondo master. There is no other word that Kim loves more than justice, and his inflamed speech was full of it, shouting out against evil in all his forms. Until interrupted by a very fiery and intimate couple in front of an incredulous audience. Kim's master and president of the International Taekwondo Federation, Gang-il, and his newest lover, the mysterious Luong, form the Kim Team.

A prehistoric wrestling fighter, whose skills in the ring were unshakable, King of Dinosaurs. A man who is known in his country for his fantastic skills in the ring, his tiger spirit and his eye patch. He is Ramon, the wrestling champion. A woman with an angelic name and she has only one thing in common with her teammates: the nationality. Angel, the sexy nymphet of teasing costumes, along with the two other wrestlers, form the Mexico Team.

A female figure enters the arena, wearing geisha clothes and a kitsune mask, as well as holding a bouquet of flowers. It may be a mysterious person in the eyes of the public, but when she strips off all her outfits, her identity is revealed. This is Mai Shiranui, heiress of the legendary family of Japan Ninjas. Another girl appears soon after, the proof of her fanaticism is in her black cap and her star-studded tank top. Alice comes as a new promise in the tournament. The Women Fighters Team is completed by a woman in masculine costumes, but with techniques with legs very effective. She's King. A girl whose personality and clothes are too bizarre for the ordinary eyes. She is accompanied of a man whose hood hides his face and secrets, and a young woman who hides her face in a mask that belongs to an ancient art from her country. They are Sylvie Paula Paula, Kukri and Mian, members of the Official Invitation Team, guests of Antonov. Fast fists, whose strength has already dethroned a well-known fighter, even if they have marks of a tragic accident that occurred years ago. Nelson shows the one that came when he enters the arena. A known bird in a tropical country. His owner has an exemplary gingado in her moves, but she really wants to protect her feathered friend of extinction. She is Zarina, a solar girl. But the third member of the South America Team doesn't appear right away, because he's using his ninja art to hide. Bandeiras Hattori, the precursor of Brazilian Ninjustu, comes on the scene.
 * Chapter 5: ROUND 1 - 5 ~MEMBER SELECT~ (Released February 5, 2018)

The last team appears. He is composed of an elder, whose wisdom helped two brothers and his greatest enemy, as well as several other fighters. The leader of China Team who is the grandmaster of Hakkyokuseinken master himself, Tung Fu Rue and his two last disciples, the sleepy master of Hakkyoku-Minminken with a pillow named Meitenkun, and last but not least, the cape-like jacket and headset wearing master of the illusionary Hakkyoku-Gen’Eiken, Shun’Ei. With all 15 official listed team has gathered, the tournament is finally begin.
 * Chapter 6: ROUND 1 - 6 ~MEMBER SELECT~ (Released February 12, 2018)


 * Chapter 7: ROUND 2 - 1 ~ORDER SELECT~ (Released February 26, 2018)

On the other side during the beginning of the tournament’s first round, something cracked on the top of the sky. A girl who dressed as shrine maiden like in a Samurai era and her pet hawk predicts this crack will led a bad phenomena during the tournament matches, sensing the soul of deceased evil ones comes from the cracks.

Cut to The King of Fighters tournament rules in Super Antonov Arena: 1. If a team wins 2-0, will be automatically a winner. 2. Ring out also occured in certain selected stages. 3. 10 counts of the fighters unable to get up also occured. The first match will be... none other than the fated battle between Japan and Yagami Teams.

The fated battle between Japan and Yagami Teams is about to begin. However, only the leaders of respective teams, Kyo and Iori, appear in the Arena while the others are nowhere to be seen. Kyo felt something suspicious on his teammates punctuality. Iori on the other hand, was not interested in his teammates, his only concern is defeating his rival. Both are focused on their unstoppable fated battle, which begins now in Maximum Tension and Burn to Fight !!
 * Chapter 8: ROUND 2 - 2 ~ORDER SELECT~ (Released March 12, 2018)

On the other side during Kyo and Iori’s fated battle in their first match inside Antonov’s office, Antonov’s assistant Yakov is suprised that this fated battle is highly rated by the viewers earlier, but feared that the other four of two fighters of their respective teammates won’t come. However, Antonov tells his Yakov not needing to summon the four fihters back to their respective teams, and leave alone their respective leaders’ highly rated fated battle, causing Yakov even worried more. Outside the tournament one of Kyo’s teammates, Benimaru and Daimon happened to be late for the tournament in separate ways, where Benimaru helps his fan girls who were stranded in forest to find the Arena’s location, while Daimon uses a train owned by Antonov to get to the Arena as fast as he can.
 * Chapter 9: ROUND 3 - 1 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released March 26, 2018)

Unfortunately, both Benimaru and Daimon found Mature and Vice respectively, who were briefly disguised as civilians in attempt to kill them without any blink before the match starts, but both Japan Team members manage to notice their killing intents, leading the fights begin outside the Arena instead. Daimon, who got injured earlier by Vice is disgraced of her dirty Sucker Punch attacks means dishonorable for a fighter, but Vice claimed that she’s not much of a fighter.

Though Kyo and Iori’s match continues, Antonov officials got an emergency interrupted announcement of the leaders’ respective team members began to fight outside the Arena separately instead, with the monitor recorded by the cameramen inside the helicopter found where the four of two remaining members fights. It is then, the Antonov officials decide to allow three battles in the same time, lives. Kyo realize why Iori always have highly suspicious of Mature and Vice’s plot behind the latter‘s back.
 * Chapter 10: ROUND 3 - 2 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released April 09, 2018)

As Benimaru’s battle against Mature in the forest begins, Benimaru attempt to counter Mature’s claw attacks with his Raikou-ken. However, it was a dirty trap by Mature on having Benimaru accidentally electrifies his own fan girls as well, due to the forest’s wet damp around him will cause the surroundings electrified as well, so Benimaru turned off his Raikou-ken before it kills his own fans and must fight without his thunder. Even much worst during Daimon and Vice’s battle on the top of the train, Vice attempt to endanger the civilians by knocking out the conductor and to make sure no one will stop the train, even enrage Daimon even more for Vice’s villainous act. Back in Benimaru and Mature’s battle, Benimaru is struggling against Mature, due to the her villanous set-up which forces him to hold back his thunder attacks.
 * Chapter 11: ROUND 4 - 1 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released April 23, 2018)

Goro also have a struggle on trying to hold back his full power while fighting against Vice for the sake of the endangered civilians. Just as Vice knocks Daimon with Catastrophe feet grapple, the civilians from front train manage to get out safely before the train where Vice and Daimon crashes along with the civilians in this. As Mature manage to overpower Benimaru, she tells Benimaru that "you know who" is coming back.
 * Chapter 12: ROUND 4 - 2 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released May 14, 2018)

As the resurrection of the master whom Mature and Vice use to serve is finally near, Goro finally caught her off-guard, by taking her away from the top of the train and finally use his full power against her, knocking with Konten Otoshi after weakening with Jiraishin. Once Vice is knocked out, Daimon attempt to stop the train, giving the civilians a great opportunity to brake the train and saving them at last. As Mature is about to kill Benimaru, when he realize she is indeed planning on resurrect none other than Orochi, Benimaru also realize since he is binded above the ground by her, and Mature still have the strings on her fingers, which binds Benimaru, he use his Elecollider to knock her out, telling her that Team Japan will never lose to someone like Orochi.
 * Chapter 13: ROUND 5 - 1 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released May 28, 2018)

Although both Mature and Vice are defeated, they can still send the fragments of Orochi’s powers, in a form of black lightning (temporarily Orochi’s signature skull aura) to the top of the crack in the sky that appeared out of now, then went to the body of Iori to eliminate Kyo, turning the Yagami into his wild form. Orochi’s transfer into Iori’s body also caught the attetion of a mysterious girl with a Samurai era shrine maiden dress and her pet hawk, even Kyo, who is now at a dire situation against his fallen rival.
 * Chapter 14: ROUND 5 - 2 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released June 11, 2018)

Although none aware of what happened to Iori, as the fight continues, Kyo’s life is in danger. While watching Kyo and Iori’s battle, Shun’ei ask his master Tung why Iori’s fighting style becomes so brutal, but Tung remained silent and serious, knowing Iori is not himself in this state. Benimaru began to rush to Kyo’s aid via helicopter passage, with his friend’s life is at a dire situation against the Wild Iori. Benimaru believes that the last time he remembered correctly back in the 90s tournaments, Hakkeshu, whom Mature and Vice being part of was already disbanded due to the death of its Four Heavenly Kings. Benimaru realizes that Mature and Vice chose Iori as the new host of Orochi, since to the latter’s clan made a blood pact with the serpent back in the ancient times after Orochi’s first physical defeat, then second defeat in 90s due to Orochi’s second Chris was destroyed when the serpent was sealed.
 * Chapter 15: ROUND 6 - 1 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released June 25, 2018)

Kyo keeps struggling on fighting his uncontrollable wild rival. As Wild Iori slashes the Arena’s rope behind Kyo, he uses Ya Sakazuki to lure Kyo into having no choice defending the civilians behind the latter, giving Orochi Iori a brutal opening attack with Yatagarasu. As a referee about to count, he noticed something even badder is about to be happen surrounding Wild Iori, as the latter maniacally laugh over his now heavily scarred rival. According to the girl with a Samurai era shrine maiden dress, there is something malevolent surrounding Iori and controlling him like a puppet with strings from above, in form of a eerie hand, not just Orochi, but also came from entire different universe, referring as “Wei Kamu”.
 * Chapter 16: ROUND 6 - 2 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released July 9, 2018)

The real name of a shrine maiden in samurai era is revealed to be none other than Nakoruru, an actual shrine maiden from the era of Samurai Shodown who is indeed travelled to the future of present day due to its source of phenomenal timeline interference appearing in her home timeline, leading her to the future of present day of King of Fighters. She and her pet hawk, who is named Mamahaha began to fly towards to the tournament stadium to save Iori from being controlled a malevolent hand which kept his Orochi blood berserk. Kyo, who is heavily injured manage to get up to take his time distract Wild Iori. By luck, Nakoruru, Mamahaha, and Benimaru arrived to help Kyo as Wild Iori distracted, with Benimaru uses Raiha Jin Oh-Ken to paralyze Wild Iori, just as Nakoruru cut the malevolent hand’s strings off Iori’s body. Despite Benimaru’s dumbfound on saving Kyo without thinking of safe landing, Daimon arrived in time behind to crowd of fans, catches Benimaru safely. With Wild Iori is weakened, Kyo grabs him to snapped Iori back to his sense.
 * Chapter 17: ROUND 7 - 1 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released July 16, 2018)

Within his own conscious Iori wakes up to see himself immobilized by snakes, before he could process the situation Orochi's marking appears on his chest along with his hair slowly turning white. Once Iori became aware of Orochi's presence the snakes turned into hands. The hands grabbed Iori while chanting the word "power". Iori realizes that the hands are absorbing Orochi's power from within him. On the outside world, the strings that Nakoruru severed began to regenerate. Kyo tells Iori that he can't escape and unleashes his 524 Shiki: Kamukura technique, he then tells Iori that he can't remain asleep forever and those words allowed Iori to resist the Riot of the Blood and begin to use his own flames to burn the mysterious hands and its strings which surprises Nakoruru. After everything was settled Iori tells Kyo to get off him, and the moment he releases his grip they both deliver the finishing blow ending their fight in a Double K.O. Happy that there are warriors in this world as well, Nakoruru leaves with Mamahaha. With Japan Teams victory, the tournament advances to the next fight!
 * Chapter 18: ROUND 7 - 2 ~JAPAN TEAM VS. YAGAMI TEAM~ (Released July 23, 2018)

At night, Team China are having a training in a Training Room within Antonov Super Arena. However, Shun’ei’s red color illusionary left arm went haywire for temporary when they finish the training, as the team’s master Tung claim it has something to do with a previous battle between Kyo and Iori. The scene later explains the origins of Tung’s last two disciples. Once Shun’ei and Meiten finish their first step of training, Tung finally brought them the world of King of Fighters tournaments to gain more experiences, as a beginning to life normally. At the hospital room where all Team Japan members are hospitalized caused by Team Yagami, it is confirmed that only Kyo lost to Iori officially, as Kyo claimed it is because Benimaru and an unknown maiden known as Nakoruru interferes the match, and the blame is on Benimaru mostly for breaking the rules, despite trying to save both Kyo and Iori from turning the tournament into a bloodshed battle. Team Japan soon cut the discussion to focus on Mature and Vice’s plot on reviving Orochi and even much worst ones that the serpent, in which Kyo and Iori, even Nakoruru felt it too. Although Iori won the match officially, despite his team’s lost, Iori swears he will kill Kyo someday. Before departing, Mature and Vice were even unexpectedly to have a mysterious backer which came out of the crack controlled Iori into his wild state, at least they are still relive of having their plans work well to revive Orochi, and will keep continue to haunt turn Iori into Orochi on the possible future tournaments.
 * Chapter 19: ROUND 8 - 1 ~INTERVAL~ (Released August 27, 2018)

On the next day, the next match is a battle between Team China and Art of Fighting/Kyokugen Team. Although Team China arrived in Antonov’s Arena, the female announcer found the Kyokugen Team is at an abandoned building, demonstrate their signature Kyokugen Martial Arts, such as Ryo's karate chops the ice bricks on the top of the building which also being chopped through in the middle of those bricks, while Yuri and Robert cracks the building’s pillars on its lower floor with their kicks, then the Kyokugen trio finally went outside far away from the building to destroy it in half with the signature super projectile move Haoh Sho Koh Ken as the final demonstration. With the Kyokugen Karate demonstration is finished, the first match between Shun'ei and Ryo begins in Burn to Fight !!.
 * Chapter 20: ROUND 8 - 2 ~INTERVAL~ (Released September 10, 2018)


 * Chapter 21: ROUND 9 - 1 ~TEAM CHINA VS. ART OF FIGHTING TEAM~ (Released September 24, 2018)

Although by the time when the fight between Shun'ei and Ryo begins, Yuri unknowingly meant about Shun'ei to be “scary”, causing him ended up distracted by the awful past relating to his cursed illusionary power.

Thankfully, Ryo notice this, and attempt to snap Shun'ei back on his feet and let his full power out through their fists, which it works, as the real battle has finally begin.


 * Chapter 22: ROUND 9 - 2 ~TEAM CHINA VS. ART OF FIGHTING TEAM~ (Released October 8, 2018)

Shun'ei begins the fight by applying a materialized magic to his hand as Ryo deflects. The Kyokugenryu's master runs after his opponent, reaching his blind spot. But Master Tung's young apprentice attacks him with his powers, throwing him to the other side of the arena. The other members of the teams are astounded with such power.

Ryo rises and reacts, triggering a quick action of Shun'ei, to which the master of the Kyokugenryu takes advantage to apply one of the most famous blows, the Hao Shoko Huken. After taking the blow, Shun'ei reflects on the teachings he received while his master tells him that his pupil still does not know the world. And the young fighter says he's excited about it. Ryo, on the other side, realizes that his opponent wants to take the fight seriously.


 * Chapter 23: ROUND 10 - 1 ~TEAM CHINA VS. ART OF FIGHTING TEAM~ (Released October 22, 2018)

The fight goes on. Shun'ei, ready to show his true power and telling himself that he will control him, throws his coat and headphones and invokes a mysterious aura of power.

Old Tung reflects that the two image limiters, the jacket and the headphones, when removed, caused this. With a huge fury, Shun'ei goes with everything on top of Ryo. The karate master deviates from all the attacks of the young fighter, when he is attacked with an evil speed. With his powers in absolute disarray, Shun'ei tells himself that he wants to beat him in the best way possible, when his strength blossoms violently and uncontrollably. The members of the teams and the audience are apprehensive, and Ryo is amazed with such emanated power.

Chapter 24: ROUND 10 - 2 ~TEAM CHINA VS. ART OF FIGHTING TEAM~ (Released November 12, 2018)

The situation is tense. On one side, Shun'ei awakening his power, on the other the audience and the teams startled. Nakoruru, watching the fight, compares one of the hands awakened by Tung's young apprentice to the black hand that controlled Iori in his Riot of the Blood in his fight against Kyo. She notes that the rift that appeared during the fight with the two archenemies did not appear in this fight. In the ring, Ryo remains amazed at such power, but tells Shun'ei that the reason for his fear is "his own power." And challenges him, saying that the young man will not be able to defeat the "Invincible Dragon." In this, Shun'ei advances, without mercy, on the new master of the Kyokugen, who falls to the ground, with the nose full of blood.

When Shun'ei thought the fight was won, Ryo appears and applies his fatal blow, the Ichigeki Hissatsu: Tenchi Haoh Ken, punching the young uncontrollable fighter unconscious to the other side of the arena. Upon awakening, back to normal, Shun'ei, with the company of Meitenkun and Tung, watch the audience applauding the fight ended. Ryo greets his young opponent, who does not know if he is afraid of his power. Tung tells the young master of karate that his disciple still does not know much of the world. Ryo says he wants to face him again, when he dominates his power, and asks him to strive.

Shun'ei asks his grandpa if the KOF is high level, and the old master confirms. The young man says he wants to continue fighting because he has not yet fought against the notorious Kyo Kusanagi. Meitenkun says his friend changed his expression after the fight, a good sign.

The next fight is announced. It will be between The Mightiest Tiger Robert Garcia and the Sacred Fist Tung Fu Rue.

Chapter 25: ROUND 11 - 1 ~TEAM CHINA VS. ART OF FIGHTING TEAM~ (Released November 26, 2018)

At the beginning of the fight, the narrator questions about the "holy fist" of Tung Fu Rue. He talks about why Antonov is a self-proclaimed champion, even though the KOF has had several organizers over the years, and underscores Tung's first formal participation in the tournament, due to two reasons: being on a level that transcends victory and defeat and not show your true strength. On the side of the arena, Yuri trembles in fear to know that Robert fights with the Legendary Sacred Fist. Ryo is not shaken, and says that the Italian has the strength almost equal to his. The new pupils of the elder also show concern. Shun'ei comments that he has never won a training with Grandpa, as he likes to call him, and that he has never seen him in a real fight. In the fighting ring, Tung asks Robert to show "his true strength." And so, the fight begins.