Iori Yagami

Iori Yagami has chosen to exile himself in the mountains. After a tumultuous KOF XV tournament, marked by the return of the divine kings—Yashiro, Shermie, and Chris—he once again feels Orochi's growing power. The malevolent god is on the verge of awakening. He knows this, because his clan made a pact with the serpent 660 years ago, his power keeps increasing, and his mortal body struggles more and more to contain it. The blood riot fits are back, more violent than ever. The serpent constantly whispers to him to let go, to let himself be overwhelmed by the power. Orochi seeks to make him a host in order to manifest in the human world and wreak havoc. But he resists, just as he resisted before, when he prevented its return during the 1997 tournament with the help of the other two sacred treasures: the priestess Chizuru Kagura, guardian of the mirror, and his eternal rival, Kyo Kusanagi. During his isolation, he meets a young hiker whom he inadvertently injures. She witnesses one of his fits. As a proud man, he could not stand showing vulnerability. But the young nurse doesn't flinch. Not only is she not afraid of him, but she doesn't judge him—she treats him with consideration and respect, despite his sarcasm and sharp remarks, which were precisely meant to drive her away. When her wound heals enough for her to descend the mountain, she returns to civilization, leaving the man in his refuge with a bittersweet aftertaste. He fidgets with the business card she left him. His heart longs to see her again, but his reason forbids it. He is surprised that he did not slaughter her during his blood rage episode. He also notices that it has been several days since the serpent last spoke to him, giving him a bit of respite. He wonders if this is not linked to this woman. To clear his doubts, he finally decides to see her again.

Updated September 23, 2026