The Four Heavenly Kings: Yashiro & Shermie, Earth and Lightning

KOF '97 features a team that looked unremarkable at first but turned out to be the saga's biggest surprise — the New Faces Team. And two of its members, Yashiro and Shermie, are a pair of the Four Heavenly Kings.

The New Faces Team's true nature

The New Faces Team is three people: the sunny kid Chris, the elegant Shermie, and the muscle-bound Yashiro. Early in the '97 tournament they seem like ordinary young fighters with a hint of mystery. Only at the midpoint does the truth surface — they're all Hakkesshu, and their real reason for entering is to drain fighters' life energy for Orochi's revival.

Yashiro Nanakase: the power of earth

Yashiro is the team's leader, brash and straightforward, his style heavy and crushing, tied to the "earth" seat. His moves land with seismic force, every blow as heavy as his build. In the story he's one of the revival plan's executors and the team's most hard-boiled bruiser.

Shermie: the queen of lightning

Shermie is the team's most eye-catching member: blonde, tall, flirtatious. She's tied to the "lightning" seat, wielding lethal, flashy moves — a classic femme fatale. On the surface she seems languid and easygoing, but underneath she's razor-sharp, an indispensable piece of the plan.

Sacrifice for the revival

Yashiro and Shermie are utterly loyal to Orochi. To gather the life energy needed for its revival, they attack opponents without mercy, draining their strength. When Chris resolves to offer his own body as Orochi's vessel, the two gladly stand guard and even sacrifice themselves to complete the ritual — a loyalty that lends this pair of "villains" a tragic shade.

The kings' roster

So far three of the Four Heavenly Kings have appeared: Goenitz (storm/heaven), Yashiro (earth), and Shermie (lightning). One remains — and the most crucial — the "sunny kid" Chris. His true identity is the saga's most shocking twist.