Rugal Bernstein is a notorious and ruthless black-market arms and drug dealer whose immense wealth and power have left him bored, starved for a challenge worthy of his skills. To entertain himself, he decides to host a brand-new King of Fighters tournament, dispatching twenty-four invitations to the finest fighters scattered across the globe. Unlike the tournaments that came before it, this contest is a team-based competition, pitting eight teams of three against one another, each squad representing a different nation. Warriors from around the world answer the call, assembling their teams and traveling to test their strength against the very best. Yet behind the spectacle of the tournament lies a darker purpose known only to its host, one that awaits whoever proves strong enough to reach the end.