Orochi

**Orochi** is the main antagonist and final boss of *The King of Fighters '97*. It and its followers are another interpretation of the mythical eight headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi. In the *KOF* series, Orochi was sealed 1,800 years ago by the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan. The three clan's descendants are charged with protecting the seal over it.

## Story

### Past

Orochi is a divine being who calls itself "Gaia's Will". It was supposedly born from the earth itself, manifested through floating emotions and substances of nature. Orochi's main power is "nothingness", implying that the god has no distinct gender. It is hinted to be the equalizing force between humans and nature. Since ancient times, Orochi was nature's guardian and was granted with many of its powers. It gained followers to its cause and eventually formed a clan. The eight strongest warriors were known as the Hakkesshu. As mankind began to grow in numbers, however, the natural balance began to crumble.

1800 years ago, Orochi could no longer tolerate the destruction as a byproduct of human progression and wanted to completely wipe humanity from existence. It used the powers gained from nature purely as a tool for chaos. Its clan and the human race waged war until the Kusanagi, Yata, and the Yasakani defeated it with three mystical treasures. The Hakkeshu and Orochi were defeated and sealed. Though kept in a suspended state, Orochi continues to feel that mankind pollutes the world.

### Orochi Saga

Orochi's loyal servants continue to work to break its seal until Orochi is able to break free from it. In *The King of Fighters '97*, Orochi possesses Chris's body and wants to continue its previous desire to cleanse the world. The three sacred treasures work together to defeat it and seal it away.

### Tales of Ash

By *The King of Fighters 2003*, a group of servants of another deity created by Gaia broke the Orochi seal. They are known as Those from the Past, and plan to take Orochi's power for their master, Saiki. Ash Crimson steals two of the three sacred treasures for seemingly this purpose, but in the end betrays them during the climax of *The King of Fighters XIII*. Once Ash disappears from the present, the treasures are restored to their rightful owners.

### Shun'ei Saga

#### The King of Fighters XIV

In *The King of Fighters XIV*, Orochi's soul was residing within Verse. After Verse is defeated, Orochi lands in Hungary, but cannot maintain itself without a catalyst as Chris was resurrected in a new body elsewhere. It is found and sealed once again by the three sacred treasures.

#### The King of Fighters XV

Chizuru Kagura senses a totally different anomaly involving Orochi. The seal is intact, but there are strange happenings that she describes as a total change, that involves this serpentine entity. Moreover, four of its heralds, the Hakkesshu, has been revived, and is seeking to once again break the seal holding Orochi at bay.

However, the seal holding Orochi remains intact despite the interference of Verse, Re Verse and Otoma=Raga.

## Personality

Orochi is a powerful being that plans to serve Gaia by all costs. It will protect her from anything, even from what she created herself. It shows no mercy to humans, citing their sins and their harmful self-destructive acts, although it grudgingly does acknowledge their potential to be able to change for the better, holding on to some hope that humanity may one day understand the pain of nature and tells them that they still has chance.

Orochi by itself is not a sinister being and only desires balance between man and nature. In the non-canon KOF Sky Stage, Orochi is fascinated by the likes of Kula Diamond, in what it describes as a creation of mankind with a pure heart and intention.

## Powers

As a force of nature, Orochi has a vast and incredible set of powers. It can give powers to the Eight Heads of Orochi.

* **Telepathy** - Orochi can project thoughts and talk to people mentally. It can freely read minds, especially its enemies, with no hindrances.
* **Telekinesis** - Orochi can move objects with its mind.
* **Translocation** - Orochi can translocate itself.
* **Possession** - Orochi can possess the mind of any of its followers.
* **Energy Projectile** - Orochi can release a projectile of energy from its hands.
* **Energy Pillar** - Orochi can create a pillar of energy from the ground.
* **Energy Redirection** - Orochi can create a rift in front of it which absorbs and redirects energy attack back to opponent.
* **Light Generation** - Orochi can create a powerful light that damages the enemy.
* **Regeneration** - Orochi can regenerate and heal itself.
* **Destroy Souls** - Orochi can penetrate the enemy's soul and destroy it.
* **Nothingness Manipulation** - Orochi's main power. As it is a God of Nothingness, Orochi has power over nothingness or voids.
* **Power Bestowal** - Orochi can give any of the powers below to its followers. Alternatively, it can also grant power via a pact, often by blood.
	+ **Pyrokinesis** - Orochi can give full control over purple fire. The fire has also tapping ability.
	+ **Electrokinesis** - Orochi can give full control over electricity and thunder.
	+ **Geokinesis** - Orochi can give full control over the earth.
	+ **Aerokinesis** - Orochi can give full control over air or wind.
	+ **Necrokinesis** - Orochi can give some control over death or death energy.
	+ **Superhuman Strength** - Orochi has superhuman strength and also it can grant strength to it's followers or others via pact.
	+ **Cutting Powers** - Orochi can give cutting powers (slashing hands, cutting aura, slashing projectile).
	+ **Snake Arms** - Orochi can give the power Snake Arms to anyone.
* **Incarnation** - Orochi can incarnate in any of its followers, particularly with any of its Heavenly Kings.

## Fighting Style

Orochi fights mainly with its powers. A very unique thing about its moveset is that while kanji are used, they all seem to have alternate furigana readings that give off somewhat different meanings.

Coincidentally, it also shares animation for some of its kick attacks with Rugal (his *Genocide Cutter* & *Double Tomahawk*). Orochi's version of Genocide Cutter, however, is a normal standing D button, which is mostly exploited by players by continuously spamming the button while moving forward to quickly deplete opponents' health bars. Orochi is also one of the few characters who has a move that only inflicts damage upon its opponent falling to the ground from a normal knockdown.

The aforementioned tomahawk kick was inherited by Mizuchi while he retires it completely in *98UM* in favor of a new set of kick moves. His Genocide Cutter (now called **Ukei**) imitation becomes a full-fledged land-based anti-air special attack, thus making Orochi somewhat more balanced than his '97 version.

## Fanon Appearances

### Game Appearances

* The King of Fighters 2000: Re-Bout - As a PS5 exclusive Maniac Striker for Leona
* The King of Fighters: Random Definition - As a sub-boss
* The King Of Fighters: Class C - Legendary Villain Team Mid-Boss
* SNK vs Capcom 2: SVC Clash - True final boss
* MUGENGERS: The Orochi's Origin - Final boss
* Playmore Conflict: Dark Legends - Sub-boss
* The King of Fighters Memorial - Sub-boss
* The King Of Fighters: Wing EX (Flash Game) - Final boss

## Gallery

The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match artwork