mukai (kof)

The true final boss of The King of Fighters 2003.

He supposedly masterminded the events behind Orochi's unsealing in that tournament as a member of Those From the Past. His principle goes "Never underestimate humans", so he fights the KOF winners to test their strength.

He also helped puppeteer Botan into manipulating Kagura Chizuru (in 2003) and Rose Bernstein (in XI and XIII).

He also wanted to challenge the winning team in XIII, only to be defeated by the true leader of Those from the Past, Saiki. This, in turn, awakened Saiki's true power and created a gate that resets time when anyone enters it.

He fights using stone. He can create stone pillars from the ground, summon a boulder from the sky, or turn his opponent into stone.

He is often paired with Touhou's Hinanawi Tenshi, due to their geokinesis abilities.