I thought she will be similar to Chun-li because her Chinese dress at first. But her unique combat style centered around poison and claws is definitely a fresh take. A.K.I. stands out as one of the most original characters in Street Fighter VI. Personally, I do wish she had been the main villain instead of JP, who comes across as just an older guy in a salmon suit wielding a cainweapon. A.K.I.'s presence is much more intimidating, and her dark backstory adds to her depth. Capcom even released a novella detailing her past, from a child prostitute to a con artist, before Fang took her under his wing – pun intended. And you're right, she subverts the typical female villain archetype by exuding friendliness while giving off an undeniable aura of evil.