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Chapter Text

A/N: In the wake of yesterday's announcement of Rooster Teeth's shut down, and throwing Death Battle's status into uncertainty, I am now doing something of which I have always had an interest in. Doing my own Death Battle. I already have about 200 battles in mind. But it only makes sense if I lay down the ground rules first.

1. Combatants have no prior knowledge of each other unless specified.

2. Unlike Death Battle, deaths will only be done if it's suitable to the winner, so no unnecessary deaths.

3. A combatant's maximum personal potential is examined unless specified otherwise. Factors unrelated to combatants cannot end the battle.

4. Unless specified, all official material related to a character is applied unless found contradictory to the primary source material.

I would also like to point out that Death Battle isn't an exact science, and that feats, even when calculated, have to be taken at its word since Death Battle doesn't always give out how it reaches its conclusions. And I have autism, and math isn't my strongest suite. Luckily, my dad is a good mathematician, but considering how stupid big these numbers can get, if numbers can be given, forgive me if my numbers may fall within the margin of error.
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Samus Aran (Metroid compilation)

Backstory:

The daughter of Rodney Aran and Virginia Aran, she lost her parents during a Space Pirate raid on her home of K-2L. Later, Samus was adopted by the mysterious Chozo and taken to Zebes, where she was infused with their DNA and raised to become a warrior.

Once she reached adulthood, Samus joined the Federation Police and served under the Commanding Officer Adam Malkovich. Though she ultimately left to become a Bounty Hunter, she was nonetheless hired by the Galactic Federation on many occasions. Equipped with her cybernetic Power Suit, Samus has become famous for accomplishing missions previously thought impossible.

Her most renowned achievements are the destruction of the Space Pirate base on Zebes, her role in ending the Galactic Phazon crisis, her repeated extermination of the Metroid species, and her disobedience of orders at the Biologic Space Laboratories research station where she chose to destroy the deadly X Parasites rather than turn them over to the Galactic Federation. Having received an infusion of Metroid DNA to save her from an X infection, Samus is now the last "Metroid" in the galaxy.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses,

Acrobatics (Capable of preforming acrobatics pretty quickly after gaining Chozo DNA),

Adaptation (The primary consequence of her transfusion with Chozo DNA was to grant her an increase adaptability to her surroundings),

Martial Arts (Depicted as a skilled hand-to-hand combatant, even against large numbers of armed individuals),

Weapon Mastery & Vehicular Mastery (By now, has full control over her original power suit and gunship),

Transformation (Has the ability to activate her seemingly will the power suit into existence around her at any time and even specific parts of the suit such as the arm cannon),

Precognition via Sensemove,

Paralysis Inducement with the Paralyzer,

Energy Projection,

Absorption (Her suit actually absorbs most of the energy from attacks inflicted on Samus, with the various upgrades increasing the potency of the ability. Thanks to her genetic makeup now consisting of Metroid DNA, Samus is able to absorb freely roaming X Parasites, restoring health and ammunition),

Data Manipulation (Her Power Suit stores weapons and ammunition as data before they need to be used or absorb data and use them to gain abilities),

Power beam (ice, plasma, armor piercing, hyper((combined)), grapple),

Missiles,

Power bombs,

Limited Transmutation (Can transform the data of her weapons into their tangible forms and can shape weapons such as her missiles from the atmosphere),

limited Adhesive Manipulation (Stood on top a spaceship midflight without needing to grab onto anything),

Limited Attack Reflection (Managed to deflect several energy attacks from Space Pirates with just her suit),

Non-Standard Breathing (Type 2, capable of emerging herself underwater for an indefinite period of time, stated to have oxygen supply equipment and additional infrared vision within her suit in the Super Metroid Manual),

Small Size (Type 0) & Extrasensory Perception with Morph Ball (Reduced to over less than half her regular size in her Morph Ball form, also capable of perceiving the area around her despite not having any way of seeing them),

Statistics Amplification (Attack Potency, Lifting Strength, and Speed) with Charge Beam,

Power Grip, and Speed Booster (Capable of charging her beam to the extent of damaging foes that would regularly be immune to her normal power beam),

Explosion Manipulation via Missiles & Bombs, Homing Attack (With missiles and briefly shown with her even regular power beam),

limited solid Afterimage Creation with the Speed Booster (Becomes invulnerable to most attacks while in that state and creates "echoes" that deal physical damage to whatever they touch),

Invisibility with Phantom Cloak (Becomes entirely invisible, making her avoid the detection of even beings such as the E.M.M.I.).

Resistance to Mind Manipulation (Can resist mental attacks from Mother Brain), and Fire Manipulation (Completely unaffected by flamethrowers despite being the middle of the attack),

Gravity Manipulation & Acid Manipulation (Adapted to Zebes' extreme 960x gravity as a child and stated that only her allies would be injured from the acid rain of Crateria),

Self-Biological Manipulation (Absorbing the SA-X momentarily restored her DNA to a state that it was previous to the X-infection; begins self-repairing the suit back into the Legendary Suit),

has even greater Resistance to Cold (Now capable of wielding the Ice Beam and otherwise entirely removing the adverse effects of cold on Samus).

It is possible that the Unnamed Suit also gives Samus all of her previous abilities from the Legendary Suit, which includes: Non-Physical Interaction (Capable of killing Chozo Ghosts with her regular weaponry and even the dimensionally phasing Phazon Metroids),

possibly Reactive Evolution (Instead of dying or being corrupted, Samus' suit evolved when exposed to a sudden large amount of Phazon).

Resistance to Antimatter (Can survive in the Infinity Void, a parallel dimension of formless antimatter),

Cold (The Varia Suit offsets her weakness to subzero temperatures in Fusion and should provide comparable resistance to extreme cold otherwise),

even higher Heat (Capable of walking easily through superheated magma on Zebes),

Matter Manipulation (Endured having her atoms torn apart and destroyed in Samus and Joey).

Weaknesses: In her weaker forms, she has an extreme weakness to cold thanks to her Metroid DNA. The Varia and Gravity Suits mitigate this weakness and the Unnamed Suit removes it entirely.
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Kai'Sa (League of Legends compilation)

Backstory:

Kai'Sa was an ordinary girl born in the southern deserts of Shurima. During her tenth summer, she came upon a pen of sacrificial goats. The girl tried to release the animals but then, suddenly, the ground shook, flashes of light scorched the sky, and a rift opened up the earth. The rift swallowed up the entire village and everyone inside.

Now trapped under the desert, Kai'Sa could hear the faint voices of others trapped inside. But soon, hers was the only voice left. The first void creature she encountered was about her size. After being knocked down by the voidling, Kai'Sa drove her knife into its heart, killing it.

Although the creature was dead, its flesh clung to Kai'Sa's arm. She was unable to remove it and soon enough, it started growing around her as though it was becoming part of her. She was able to use the second skin as armor against other void creatures. The longer she survived against the void, the greater her confidence grew until she finally managed to escape back to the desert surface. No longer was she the little girl who fell into the rift but was now a fearless hunter of the void.

A former lieutenant in the Royal Space Military, Kai'Sa was the first sanctioned pilot of the experimental X01-Butterfly. The suit proved far too deadly, however, and after only one mission she fled with the technology—becoming one of the galaxy's deadliest guns for hire.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses (Her suit warns her of approaching threats),

Regeneration (The ability to regenerate lost limbs, limited brain damage, and even severe organ damage or destruction, including traditionally fatal wounds and disembowelment or horizontal bisection via her Suit),

Acrobatics,

Void Energy Projection (Utilizes Void Energy in her abilities, which grants Mind Manipulation, Memory Manipulation, Madness Manipulation, Perception Manipulation, Reality Warping, Spatial Manipulation, Time Manipulation, Gravity Manipulation, Existence Erasure, Biological Manipulation),

Absorption (Life Force, Matter, Magic, and Information), Corruption, and Soul Manipulation),

Plasma Manipulation,

Adaptation,

Reactive Evolution (Her Suit is inherently able to rapidly evolve to counter threats, such as growing new limbs or reshaping old ones, turning wounds into mouths, and gaining the ability to use Void Energy),

Reality Warping (Her Suit passively warps reality around itself),

Extrasensory Perception (Her Suit is capable of sensing trace signatures of magic given off by living beings. Also Via Void Seeker),

Biological Manipulation (Her Suit causes physical corruption in things it damages),

Speed Amplification,

Damage Boost (Via Caustic Wounds),

Forcefield Creation,

Invisibility,

Flight,

Teleportation,

Resistance to Mind Manipulation, Memory Manipulation, Madness Manipulation, Perception Manipulation, Reality Warping, Spatial Manipulation, Time Manipulation, Gravity Manipulation, Existence Erasure, Biological Manipulation, Corruption, Absorption (Life force, matter, magic, and information), and Soul Manipulation (Able to resist the full effects of The Void).
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Song: Legendary Hunters

Pre-fight:

Samus Aran's boots pounded the ground with each step, her breath heavy in her helmet in the desert's hot embrace. She was focused, searching for any sign of her target, the bounty her suit's AI was hunting. The sun beat down on her, its heat harsh and relentless. The sand underfoot was dry and gritty, making forward progress difficult.

Hired by the galactic federation, Samus was tasked to capture and contain Kai'sa, the "Daughter of the Void". A powerful individual, her target had been reported to be on the planet Shurima. Samus knew the hunt would be difficult, but she was ready to do whatever it took to bring her target to justice. She knew the galaxy was counting on her.

Following directions given to her by a tribal outpost, Samus was headed towards the caverns where Kai'Sa was known to reside. These caverns were a maze of winding paths and dead ends. Samus knew she had to be careful, or she would never find her target. She scanned the area for any signs of Kai'Sa.

Samus's scanners picked up an odd type of energy, something unfamiliar and unnatural to her systems. It was similar to the Phazon she had encountered before, but had an extra layer of eldritch and alien properties, not knowing it was Void energy from rifts. This energy was unfamiliar and unknown to her data banks. This energy was strange, and Samus remained on guard, watching every step, knowing her target might be nearby.

Samus hears the sound of propulsion, and spins around on a heartbeat. In front of her stands Kai'Sa, emerging from the shadows and floating forward. Her symbiotic Void bio-suit gives her flight capabilities, adding to her power. Samus quickly scans Kai'Sa, trying to find a weakness in the woman's defences. Her target's Void suit was strong, but Samus knew she had to find a way to bring Kai'Sa down.

"Are you the hunter, or the prey?"

Samus watches as Kai'Sa speaks with a stern look. Samus scans her target, her visor displaying detailed information about her target. Kai'Sa was intimidating, her Void suit powerful.

The huntress's voice does not crack a bit as she meets Kai'Sa's stern gaze, and she swallows her fear.

"No, I'm the hunter."

Samus's voice shakes a little as she answers her target's question. Despite her fears, she knew she had to remain fearless against Kai'Sa, as any sign of weakness could be her downfall.

Fight!

Kai'Sa's eyes begin to glow with power, and her hands emit bright rays of energy. Samus jumps out of the way just in time, as the beams of plasma tear through the ceiling above her, breaking apart the rock and causing it to fall in a cacophony of shards and dust. Samus moves quickly, using her speed to her advantage, but Kai'Sa has the upper hand, and Samus knows she has to stay focused and alert in order to take down her target.

Samus uses her arm cannon to return fire, sending a blast of energy towards her target. Kai'Sa dodges the blast at the last second, her Void suit allowing for quick movement. Samus moves constantly as the fight intensifies, firing blast after blast, keeping the pressure on her opponent. Samus remained focused and on the move, as she knew she had to wear down Kai'Sa and eventually end her. Her target was formidable, but Samus was determined to win.

Wanting to ward off this bounty hunter, Kai'Sa unleashes another attack, sending a barrage of plasma missiles from her bio-suit wings. Samus ducks and dives, morphing into a metallic ball and rolling between the deadly missiles. Kai'sa's bio-weaponry was dangerous, but Samus seemed to have the advantage. The huntress was fast, agile and nimble, and she was slowly gaining ground on her target. She kept herself moving and her wits about her, not letting Kai'Sa get the drop on her this time.

Angered by Samus's agility, Kai'Sa unleashes a flood of plasma missiles in an even greater number. Samus knows she has to act quickly and counter her target's assault. The huntress unleashes a torrent of missiles of her own, matching the sheer force of Kai'Sa's attack blow for blow. The cavern echoed with the sounds of explosions, the two fighters going all in with their attacks, trying to overpower the other with force.

Taking advantage of the chaos of the battlefield, Samus uses her power beam to shoot a grappling line towards Kai'Sa, catching her by the chest. The huntress pulls her target in close, before launching into a powerful attack with her martial skill. Samus landed a few brutal blows, sending Kai'sa reeling and giving her a chance to push further. Samus felt a rush, her strength overpowering her opponent. This was her chance, and she wasn't letting it slip away.

Despite getting beaten up, Kai'Sa continued to fight, growling as she thrusts her hand at Samus's helmet, filling the bounty hunter's head with the Void. Samus felt the mental attack take hold, and though she was strong-willed, she struggled to power through as the experience overwhelmed her. Samus knew she had to use everything in her arsenal, her whole being, to keep fighting. She had to stay focused, despite the overwhelming feeling of confusion and uncertainty the mental attack was causing. She had to stay strong and push forward if she was to defeat the Daughter of the Void.

Samus aimed her arm cannon at Kai'Sa's chest and fired an ice beam, freezing her target. Samus jumped back, needing a moment to recover from the effects of the Void. The huntress took a few deep breaths and scanned the area, watching her target for any movement, wondering if she had really defeated the dangerous target. Samus knew that she had to remain vigilant and alert, in case Kai'Sa tried to trick or trap her, but her foe stayed still. Samus watched and waited, her guard up.

Kai'Sa's bio-suit adapted quickly, melting the ice that had trapped her body. The Daughter of the Void growled in annoyance, her power growing as she tapped into the Void itself, warping reality around her. The gravity in the cavern they were fighting in began to increase, and Samus felt the pull of the forces around her. It was difficult to balance, and Samus struggled to move freely in order to fight. Kai'Sa wasn't giving up yet, and she was using every weapon possible to bring down Samus.

Taking a few seconds to adjust to the new gravity, Samus shifted her suit to her Gravity suit, countering the pull of the increased forces. Samus knew she had to move fast, and she activated her Speed Boost, increasing her speed tremendously. Now she could match Kai'Sa's movements, and Samus was ready to counterattack. She wasn't going to be caught off guard again. Samus was determined to win this fight.

Kai'Sa's own speed boost took effect, increasing her speed just as fast as Samus. Kai'sa matched Samus's movements, and using her flight, she flew around the cavern, smashing the huntress's suit, protected by a force field. Samus was getting knocked around the cave, grunting from the amount of damage her suit was taking.

Samus charged up her wave beam, but she had to time the attack just right, or else her target would block it. Samus waited for her opportunity after a few more hits, and when the huntress saw it, she took her shot, firing the wave beam from her arm cannon. The wave beam shocked Kai'Sa, bypassing the force field and blasting the Daughter of the Void away from Samus as she screamed. Samus had managed to land a crucial blow.

Getting up, Kai'Sa was about to attack when she heard the sounds of many beeping. She looked around to see a multitude of bombs lying around, planted in each spot where she smashed the bounty hunter into. Samus smirked.

"You're mine."

Each bomb detonated, filling the cavern with a storm of explosions. Above ground, the rocky entrance blew up from the sheer force of the bombs, throwing debris into the air, the surface shattering upwards with a fiery roar. Samus flew out the cavern, crashing into the sand and tumbling over and over, caught up in the power of the bombs. The huntress lay in the sand, her suit smoking and damaged, but Samus was alive.

Samus panted as her damaged suit began to fall apart, revealing the Zero Suit underneath. With her Gravity Suit bearing the brunt of the damage, the Zero Suit was left mostly untouched. Samus knew she needed to repair the damage to her suit if she wanted to escape this desert in one piece.

While Samus stood up, she heard the distinct sound of propulsion coming from the air. She looks up, and to her horror, she saw Kai'Sa flying into the air from the crater where the caverns were. Despite her injuries, Kai'Sa was still alive, and she wasn't going down without a fight. With her foe damaged, but still in motion, Samus couldn't afford to waste any time taking shots at Kai'Sa, not knowing what the Daughter of the Void was capable of yet. Samus knew she had to be careful, but she wouldn't run from this fight.

"I survived the Void. I refuse to let death in. I refuse to accept it as my fate."

Kai'Sa's voice came from the air, her words spoken with a conviction that was almost terrifying. Samus understood the Daughter of the Void's words, and could tell her opponent was not going to give up this fight, not yet. Samus equipped her strongest weapon, the Annihilator Beam, a weapon capable of destroying anything it was aimed at. The huntress was ready to fight, and win, at all costs. She would not allow the Daughter of the Void to survive this time.

Samus's beam clashed with Kai'Sa's, a beam of antimatter against the Void itself. Samus's feet shifted from the force of the clash, as both beams collided, sending up waves of power. Samus knew she had to maintain her focus, if she wanted to come out on top. She pushed herself back to her feet, using everything in her being to keep attacking, looking for an opportunity to take out her opponent!

"You say you're the hunter, but to me, you're nothing but prey for the Void." The Daughter of the Void said as she started outputting more power, overwhelming Samus's attack. Samus continued to attack, but Kai'Sa began to output more power, pushing back Samus's attack. The Daughter of the Void had the strength of the Void behind her, and Samus knew she couldn't keep up like this forever. Samus needed to find some way to stop Kai'sa, or she would be overwhelmed herself.

Samus was getting pushed back, the Void's power beginning to overwhelm her. She tried to fight back and hold her ground, but it seemed like a futile effort. Then, the Void's Power reached her weapon, and the Annihilator Beam exploded in a massive blast of energy, three times as powerful as the Tsar Bomb. Samus was caught up in the explosion, her compromised armor offering little protection from the blast. With the Void's power growing, and Samus's suit damaged, she was done for.

Samus was instantly killed in the explosion, her body vaporized as she was caught in the epicenter. Kai'Sa was blown back from the shockwave, but her healing bio-suit was able to heal her injuries, allowing her to look down at the massive explosion below. Kai'Sa could feel the Void within her growing, filling her with power. She knew she had claimed victory, and the Daughter of the Void was the true victor this time.
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Strength: Both women are very powerful with their suits. However, Samus is at a disadvantage in that her best is for a specific threat. Her Light Suit is designed to take on Dark Aether, but it's like Void Lite with a fraction of the potency. While her ice beam could freeze the surface of a sun, which would require energy much lower than Absolute Zero, her power bombs are more powerful by exploding planets whole. Best case scenario, let's say the explosive yield of her Power Bombs are at full charge is 4 Yottatons of TNT. That's 4 followed by 24 zeros.

Meanwhile, Kai'Sa scales up to Miss Fortune. While it's stated she's weaker than the former, Fortune still took her seriously enough to use all of her power, who is stated to be capable of wiping out star systems. Best case scenario for Samus, Kai'Sa's power is about 7.25 billion times greater than Samus's bombs.

And remember, Samus usually leaves the planet she's on by the time they go off, so even if Kai'Sa was a billionth of the star level power she supposedly has, Samus would not be able to survive what she can dish out. Sure, her suit and survive attacks from Ridley or Dark Samus, but weaker foes can still beat her if they land enough hits on her.

Speed: Samus has been able to keep up with the likes of Ridley and Dark Samus, the former of which can travel between galaxies, generally around 10 million times the speed of light. However, not only can Kai'Sa boast similar speeds, but she likely can reach faster, given she can casually travel around the galaxy, and travel in between other galaxies at ease, implying at most, 25X speed.

Skill: However, that's not to say that Samus is entirely outclassed. Even against stronger and faster foes, Samus has been able to exploit her foe's weaknesses to take them down with her vast skill and versatile arsenal. While Kai'sa can tangle with the best of the champions, she suffers at close range, and is more of a fragile blaster who can't take too much damage from those similar to her level. Samus is also a gifted genius in and out of combat,

Experience: Not only does Samus has skill, but she also has the superior experience, fighting countless enemies of all varieties for 15-20 years, if we only count her years in the Federation. Kai'Sa not only has fought mostly Voidborn, but has only been fighting for ten years.

Powers: In terms of the quantity of powers, or at least arsenal equipment, Samus has the edge. Multiple power beams, missiles, bombs, a cloaking device and antimatter, she has the versatility to keep Kai'Sa on her toes. However, the Daughter of the Void is unlike anything Samus has faced, even with her double experience. While Samus can resist mental attacks from the Void, and has survived being inside a dimension of antimatter herself, but Kai'Sa being empowered by the Void grants her abilities that bypasses Samus's usual encounters. Particularly her reality warping. Samus may have fought beings and machines of great power, but the Void is beyond the scope of power of Metroid.

The winner is Kai'Sa, Daughter of the Void.
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Next Time:

"I am the Master of the Fist. Feel how weak you are with your body!"

"My victory is not a matter of chance. The world needs it."

Chapter Text

Akuma

Backstory:

Akuma and his brother Gouken were students of Goutetsu. Goutetsu taught a nameless life-threatening martial art, which incorporates elements of Karate, Judo, and Kempo. He also taught the Shun Goku Satsu (literally Instant Hell Murder), a lethal technique which, although incredibly powerful, puts the user in considerable danger.

As the brothers progressed under Goutetsu's tutelage, a dispute arose on the true nature of their fighting style and the path to master it. Gouken, unable to accept the violent nature and the Satsui no Hado of his fighting style, left Goutetsu to begin his own dojo, which Goutetsu did not oppose. Akuma continued Goutetsu's teachings, and vowed to use their fighting style as it was intended.

In order to learn Shun Goku Satsu, Akuma embraced the principle of Satsui no Hado, and was forced to give up any compassion he held towards other human beings. In addition, Akuma realized his limits as a martial artist could be expanded, and left Goutetsu's guidance of enlightenment to train alone to gain more power. However, due to embracing the Satsui no Hado to its fullest extent, he developed a lust to fight to the death, unlike Goutetsu, who had been able to use the Satsui no Hado without giving in to its dark side.

After coming back from his island, Akuma went back to Goutetsu, and fought him in a death match to prove that he had surpassed him. Akuma killed his master with the Shun Goku Satsu, who died happy to see his student surpass him, and Akuma, believing that he was the true master of the Art, took the prayer beads of his dead master and placed it on his neck.

Many years later, Akuma came to Gouken's dojo and fought him in battle, using the Shun Goku Satsu on him. Akuma believed him dead, not knowing that Gouken had somehow lived through the attack by emptying his soul, and was only in a coma. Akuma disappeared without a trace.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master of Ansatsuken,

Acrobatics,

Genius Intelligence,

Chi Manipulation and Projection (Master of Satsui no Hadou [Surge of Murderous Intent] an innate Ki which increases his fighting capabilities and can be projected as energy attacks),

Aura,

Extrasensory Perception (Can sense ki),

Transformation (Into Shin Akuma),

Fire Manipulation (Via Sekia Goshoha and Sekia Kuretsuha),

Limited Air Manipulation and Pseudo-Flight (Via Demon Armageddon),

Limited Vibration Manipulation (Via Hyakki Gosai),

Statistics Amplification (Via Dohatsu Shoten and Shiretsu Hasshi),

Intangibility (Via Ashura Senku),

Death and Pain Manipulation (Via Shun Goku Satsu/Raging Demon. This technique brings death to its victim through the weight of their own sins, and not by Akuma's fist. The eviler the victim is, the more they suffer in death),

Limited Damage Reduction (Via Rakan, which weakens the opponent's blows),

Limited Power Nullification (Via Kiai, which cancels out normal projectiles),

Damage Boost (Can perform enhanced versions of his Special Attacks),

Status Effect Inducement (By hitting the opponent repeatedly, without them being able to recover, he can cause them to enter the "Stun" status, which leaves them unable to react. His Focus Attack causes the opponent to enter a "crumpling" status)

Resistance to Soul Absorption (Via Mudo Tensho; Necalli couldn't devour his soul),

Corruption,

Berserk Mode (Has perfect control over the Satsui no Hado, preventing it from consuming him. Is the first person to hold full control over the Shun Goku Satsu, as all of his predecessors were taken over by the Satsui no Hado and driven berserk until their last breath),

Precognition (Limited: Reading the future of fighters such as him is difficult, because they always fight against it)

Weaknesses: He goes easy on opponents often, as most of his fights are done with the bulk of his power sealed. He desires to actually see an opponent to surpass and kill him. Also, he is very easy to anger.
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Rugal Bernstein

Backstory:

Feared throughout the political and fighting world, Rugal was an influential arms dealer who operated aboard his aircraft carrier, the Black Noah. To those who would oppose him, he would defeat them and later preserve their bodies in liquid metal to add to his grisly trophy room. He used to work with his younger brother, but they separated over conflicting interests.

When Rugal was about 25 years old, an 18-year-old Goenitz took out his eye with one strike and gave him a small portion of Orochi's power for surviving the attack. Since then, he has a bionic eye to replace the one he lost. At some point, he had a son and a daughter with an unnamed woman, as well as a panther named Rodem.

Sometime in 1986, Rugal wanted to demonstrate his power in a base at Brazil and murdered everyone he found inside. The sole survivor of the fifty man massacre was Heidern, who lost his right eye during the attack. At the time, he was too displeased with his victim to add him to his "collection" so he deprived the man of his wife and child as compensation. Heidern would spend nearly a decade filled with hatred and rage against Rugal.

Before 1994, he recruited two secretaries: Mature and Vice (both of who were secretly assigned by Goenitz to observe Rugal, believing that he could be a suitable host for Orochi). Rugal, wanting to expand his "collection", decides to host The King of Fighters in 1994, with an additional twist; fighters must form a team of 3 to compete and represent a country. Now he awaits on his battleship, the Black Noah, waiting to see the teams that will participate.

During the invitation phase, Saisyu Kusanagi came to the Black Noah and challenged Rugal. Although Rugal won the battle, he did not subject him to his metal bath. The winner of the tournament was Saisyu's son, Kyo Kusanagi, and his two teammates, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon, who arrived shortly after Saishu's defeat.

Rugal is happy that the Hero Team won, as they can be added to his "collection", which are former fighters turned into living trophies, with Rugal pointing out that he did not turn Saisyu into a trophy because he felt that he was unfitting. Kyo and his teammates fight Rugal, who would end up being one of the hardest fight of their lives. Unwilling to accept defeat, Rugal attempted to blow up his ship along with the Hero Team. While the Hero Team escaped, Rugal's fate was unknown.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Barrier Creation,

Elemental Manipulation,

Energy Manipulation,

Power and Energy Absorption,

Power Mimicry

As Omega Rugal: All previous abilities to a greater extent, Gravity Manipulation,

Light Manipulation (via his cybernetic eye),

minor Levitation

Weaknesses: Highly overconfident Using the Orochi power can consume him. However, it is unknown if he still has this weakness as of XV.
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Song: King of the Fist

Pre-fight:

Rugal sat in the top floor of his building, waiting in his evil lair. He waited patiently for the winner of his King of Fighters champion, eager to test his power against them. He wouldn't let anyone else take his title as King of Fighters, and he was willing to fight for it. The King of Fighters would have to fight him, and only one of them would come out on top.

Rugal's doors were violently burst open by a muscular man in a dark gi, his fists clenched. The man's eyes burned with hatred, and Rugal knew it was a dangerous opponent, though one he was certain he'd beat, as he quickly stood up from his seat. An evil grin crossed the man's lips, as he looked toward Akuma, a fire in his eyes. Akuma had come for Rugal, and he didn't plan to hold back.

Rugal looked at Akuma with a cold stare, and the man's expression turned to one of mock politeness. The host of the tournament said,

"Ah, welcome. I am the host of this tournament, Rugal. What a wonderful day today is. I have been waiting for someone as strong as you." Akuma felt Rugal's power, and wasn't fooled by the host's politeness. Akuma's expression remained unchanging, as he looked towards the man that would be his current challenge.

Rugal chuckled as Akuma said nothing, and the man's facial expression didn't change. The host of the tournament continued, saying,

"Not much of a talker, eh? That's fine. At least tell me your name, so that I know who I will beat with my own fist". Rugal clenched his fist, his knuckles popping, as he waited for a response from Akuma. Akuma responded with a boast,

"Just call me Akuma. And I wouldn't be so hasty in saying you can beat me with your own fist, Rugal. I am the Master of the Fist, and I will show you the meaning of pain." Akuma said, his voice steady, but dripping with an air of confidence. Rugal wasn't intimidated, however, and he responded with a defiant grin.

"Master of the Fist? Let's test that claim. Let the battle commence." Akuma didn't falter at Rugal's taunt, and the man's tone became serious as Rugal became the same. The host of the tournament took a deep breath, steeling himself to battle the Raging Demon. Both fighters were ready, and they knew it was time to let the fight begin. Rugal was eager to claim victory, and Akuma was ready to show his opponent that his name was more than just a title.

Akuma was the one to make the first move, leaping into the air forward to land the first punch. His speed was lightning fast, and Rugal barely managed to avoid the sudden thrust. The host of the tournament knew Akuma was fast, and quick on his feet, but Rugal was more than ready to fight back. He dodged the first attack, and threw a punch of his own, hitting the Raging Demon as he approached.

Akuma flinched slightly to the blow against his face, but he didn't let the hit keep him down for long. Akuma quickly recovered as he counterattacked with his right knee towards Rugal's stomach. Rugal was hit by the blow, and it managed to catch him off guard. Both fighters were evenly matched, taking each other's attacks head-on and firing back quickly.

Both fighters tried to deliver an upper kick towards the other, Akuma using his Rakan Gokyaku, and Rugal with his Genocide Cutter. As the two attacks came together, an aura of energy burst from the points of impact, the two aura energies colliding as the fighters tried to overpower each other.

Akuma proved to be the stronger of the two, pushing through Rugal's attack with pure strength, and landing an elbow on the host's sternum. The hit sent Rugal tumbling backwards, trying to regain his bearings as Akuma followed up with another Rakan Gokyaku, which sent Rugal into the air with a powerful blow.

While Rugal landed on his back after Akuma's blow, he quickly pushed himself back onto his feet with a flip, rubbing his jaw with his left hand. Despite the immense pain he felt, his lips were set into a defiant grin, as Akuma had made the mistake of assuming the King of Fighters was defeated after a single blow. Now it was time to turn the tide in his favor.

"Reppuken!" He unleashed a fast wave of ki riding along the ground, heading towards the Raging Demon. But Akuma managed to leap over the attack.

"Gohadoken!" The Raging Demon then launched a ball of purple ki, one he called the Gohadoken. Rugal managed to erect a ki barrier to rebound the attack towards Akuma, but the man yelled with a kiai, his aura dispelling the very attack he tried to use against him. Rugal and Akuma both knew that this battle was getting more intense with every move, and each attack was becoming more dangerous as time went on.

"Kaiser Wave!"

Rugal fired off a powerful blast named the Kaiser Wave, but Akuma phased through it, using the Ashura Senku technique, managing to negate the attack without any harm. This shocked Rugal, who didn't expect the Raging Demon to nullify his attack this quickly. As Akuma approached with a few steps, he launched an uppercut with the Goshoryuken, sending the King of Fighters up high and back down to the floor with a devastating blow to the stomach. Akuma was gaining the upper hand in this fight.

Rugal wasn't defenseless though, as he managed to grab onto Akuma's throat and fill the Raging Demon in his own elemental ki, shocking Akuma in the process. Akuma was pushed away from the grip, giving the time Rugal needed to regain his own footing. Akuma could see that even under his fist, this little "host" would not stay down. They circled as they continued their back and forth battle, each looking for a way to gain the upper hand.

Rugal charged forward with a God Press, the King of Fighters grabbing the Raging Demon and crashing him into the metal wall, which bent and dented from the force of the attack. Akuma was stunned for a moment, but he was able to shake off the blow with a deep breath and a loud growl.

Rugal tried to get the upper hand by launching a reverse roundhouse kick towards the head, only for Akuma to catch the attack and counter attack with one of his own. The attacks both managed to connect, but Akuma's counter attack landed hard, as he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Rugal's head, which knocked him onto the floor. The raging demon was beginning to make the battle a little more difficult for Rugal, as he looked down at the stunned tournament host.

"I'm not even amused. You are just a waste of dust." Akuma then raised his fist, filling it with the Satsui no Hado, before letting it loose on the floor, which unleashed an explosive shockwave that sent Rugal flying. He crashed against the opposite wall, falling to the floor in a crumple. The tournament host couldn't believe that Akuma had that much power at his disposal, but now it was time for him to show the Raging Demon something new, since the fight was clearly escalating. Rugal staggered onto his feet.

"You... you think you've won? I'll... I'll show you that I'm not just a god. I'm a superstar!" Ripping off his fancy red jacket, Rugal Bernstein yelled as he let the latent power of Orochi augment his body. Rugal's skin darkened and his blond hair turned a stark white as Orochi's power flowed throughout his body, revealing his true power. He became Omega Rugal. Now, the King of Fighters was ready to turn this battle around, and show Akuma exactly why he was the King of Fighters.

Akuma leapt back and attempted to use the Tatsumaki Zankuyaku, only for Omega Rugal to create a Dark Barrier to repel him. The King of Fighters then mimicked Akuma's move by spinning around in the air, using the Genocide Cutter to deliver four spinning kicks to his opponent.

"Genocide Cyclone!" Akuma grunted from Omega's strength as the battle continued, and the intensity of the fight was beginning to reach a fever pitch. Omega Rugal laughed as he boasted,

"Feel the power of Orochi!" He planted a hand over Akuma's chest, injecting electrifying Orochi Venom into his body, which caused the Raging Demon's entire body to overload in an electrifying blue light. Akuma began to shake violently as the venom began to work its way into his body, his body becoming unstable from the amount of energy now flowing through it.

Akuma gritted his teeth to try to bear the pain, but it was clear that the Orochi venom was taking its toll on his body.

"This battle is not over yet! Witness the power of the Satsui no Hado!" Akuma let out a yell as his aura exploded out, causing Omega Rugal to stumble away from the attack. Akuma was now dark blue, and his hair glowed cyan, as Akuma had transformed into an Oni, who was filled with rage and a desire to not just defeat the tournament host, but do so in the most brutal, savage way possible.

Omega Rugal went on the attack, launching a powerful punch, but Oni caught it, and threw the host of the tournament down onto the floor, causing a loud thud to fill the air. The Raging Demon then grabbed Rugal by the ankles, swinging him onto his back the other side of Oni with immense force, the metal flooring dented from the force of the blow, which caused the tournament host to yell out in pain.

Just as Oni was going to stomp his foot straight through Omega Rugal's chest, Rugal made a last-minute move and blasted Oni away from him with the Kaiser Wave. Rugal then struck Oni with a hard-hitting Genocide Cutter kick, landing a direct blow to Oni's chest, finalizing the attack with a laser blast from his cybernetic eye to Oni's chest. It appeared that the tournament host had managed to regain the upper hand in this battle, as he was able to knock Oni off the floor. Oni fell to the floor, seeming to be surprised at this, but he was far from done. Oni shouted out,

"I've had enough of this!" The Raging Demon then prepared another Kongou Kokuretsuzan, before punching the floor, the very ground that they were fighting on. The building shook as the structure that held up the skyscraper began to weaken, and it was becoming clear that the fight was taking a turn for the worse. The Raging Demon wasn't prepared to back down in this battle, and it seemed like he was going to do anything he could to destroy his opponent.

Realizing his building was going to collapse below him, Omega Rugal did something that would take a confident man to do. The tournament host ran to a window, one that was completely broken from the fight, and jumped out of it, planning to land on the ground far below. The top of the skyscraper collapsed onto itself, the building crumbling beneath the fight between the two fighters. It looked like Omega was making his escape from this dangerous situation he had put himself into, which would have been the smart thing to do.

Oni yelled with murderous intent as he charged after Omega Rugal, who was now attempting to do escape from the collapsing building. The Raging Demon couldn't let the host of the tournament get away so quickly, so he charged after him, colliding with the man's back. Both men fell together towards the ground, fighting each other while heading towards the ground at a dangerous speed. It was a fight for survival, as both men tried to defeat each other to come out on top.

Oni and Omega Rugal both crashed into the ground hard, hard enough to create a crater. Both fighters were panting, as they had both endured plenty of damage from this extremely intense fight. The tournament host and the Raging Demon both got up, with the skyscraper beside them completely collapsed. It was clear that both had taken plenty of damage, and it was a matter of who had the strength left to keep fighting for the win.

The Raging Demon shouted out as he charged up a Geido Gohado, using the purple ki orb to fire from his palms,

"Ashes to ashes! The gates of Hell await!" Omega Rugal tried to block the Geido Gohado with another Dark Barrier, but it was instead shattered in the process, shocking the tournament host. The Gohado was struck square in the chest, the ki orb exploding upon impact. Rugal's voice was heard in the explosion, crying out in pain.

When the smoke cleared, a scene unfolded before Oni's eyes. Omega Rugal was on his knees, his body slowly self-destructing as the Orochi power fueling him couldn't sustain him anymore. The tournament host had taken too much damage, and his body was becoming incapable of handling the immense power, and now he was on the edge of defeat.

"Even with my power, I still lost. To meet such a fate. But I'll be back, you-"

"Shut up! Die 1000 deaths!" Oni cut off Rugal as he prepared to use the Shun Goku Satsu. The Raging Demon had no intention of letting the tournament host make any speeches, and was prepared to deal the final blow with his ultimate attack.

Oni zoomed towards Rugal, hitting him with strikes that flashed with purple ki. But it wasn't Oni's fists that were hurting the tournament host's body, but instead his spirit, as all of Rugal's sins were beginning to weigh him down. As his soul was being destroyed, Omega Rugal screamed out in torment, the weight of his very sins crushing him from the inside out. It was a brutal way to go out, ending this battle.

When all was said and done, Oni stood tall, with his back against the corpse of Omega Rugal. The raging demon now bore a kanji in the shape of "天" on his back, an image of the heavens, which was fitting for the winner. Oni had defeated his opponent, and now he was ready to claim his title as the new King of Fighters.

"I am the one true Master of the Fist!"
-----------------------------------
Strength: Both of these big bads certainly boasted power, but Oni had the strength to match the heavens. Now, while scaling King of Fighters characters are dubious, being granted Orochi's power does let him stand on similar ground to Goenitz, who was powerful enough to create a 5 Megaton storm. However, even in base form, Akuma is strong enough with the Satsui no Hado to destroy an island, needing 415 Megatons worth of it. And his Oni form is much, much stronger than that, being able to punch a volcano into violently erupting, which is worth 145 Gigatons. Really, what really held Akuma back from instantly beating Rugal was his tendency to hold back, hoping for a good fight.

Speed: As for speed, Akuma was able to tag M. Bison before he could react, who once tagged a laser traveling at Mach 5633.59. Rugal meanwhile scales to Kyo, who can dodge a light attack from Orochi from 4 meters away. Such a reaction would require to move up to 24% light speed, which is 40X faster than Akuma's scaled feat. Even if we high balled Akuma's superior speed to be 1% the speed of light, it would still be 24X slower.

Skill: Akuma is a master martial artist, who is capable of fighting those on par with his power, and those with much more experience than him, like Gotetsu, Gen and Oro. He also mastered the corrupting nature of the Satsui no Hado, so that he controls it, instead of the other way around. Rugal meanwhile is a very gifted fighter, capable of learning and mimicking other's fighting styles, but he's lost to equally skilled fighters like Kyo more than once, and he can't handle the strain of Orochi's augmentation if he takes too much damage.

Experience: Akuma fights all kinds of people, many of which have abilities that King of Fighters don't really have that Akuma hasn't already experienced. And while Rugal has fought his fair share of fights, he treats them as a means to an end for his goals, while Akuma has spent decades refining his martial skill to become the strongest in the world, never even needing an external power boost like Rugal has with a portion of Orochi's power.

Powers: Akuma and Rugal possess similar abilities, almost being one for one of each other. However, there were a couple of things that the King of Fighters couldn't have been able to counter, such as Akuma's momentary intangibility, or him attacking his soul directly, bypassing his defenses even if they were on par with his offensive power.

The winner is Akuma
--------------------
Next time:

"Don't kill if you can wound, don't wound if you can subdue, don't subdue if you can pacify, and don't raise your hand at all until you've first extended it."

"The hands of death could not defeat me. The Sisters of Fate could not hold me. And you will not see the end of this day. I will have my revenge!"

Chapter Text

Wonder Woman

Backstory:

Legend told Diana of Themyscira was born of her mother's strong desire for a child, a lump of clay brought to life in the form of a girl; the perfect Amazon, as she was born of no man.

Diana was a member of a tribe of women called the Amazons, native to Paradise Island – a secluded island set in the middle of a vast ocean. Captain Steve Trevor's plane crashes on the island and he is found alive but unconscious by Diana and fellow Amazon, and friend, Mala. Diana has him nursed back to health and falls in love with him.

A competition is held amongst all the Amazons by Diana's mother, the Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta, in order to determine who is the most worthy of all the women; Hippolyta charges the winner with the responsibility of delivering Captain Steve Trevor back to Man's World and to fight for justice. Hippolyta forbids Diana from entering the competition, but she takes part nonetheless, wearing a mask to conceal her identity. She wins the competition and reveals herself, surprising Hippolyta, who ultimately accepts, and must give in to, Diana's wish to go to Man's World. She then is awarded a special uniform made by her mother for her new role as Wonder Woman and safely returns Steve Trevor to his home country.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Flight,

Enhanced Senses (Could see an invisible divine aura),

Mind Manipulation (Can hypnotize others and make her opponent unable to tell a lie with her Lasso of Truth),

Regeneration (Mid-Low),

Electricity Manipulation (When she strikes her Bracelets of Submission together, she can channel Zeus' Holy Lightning, along with produce an expanding force field),

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Weapon Mastery,

Absorption and Transmutation (Resisted and reversed Clayface's attempt to break her back down into clay and absorb her),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1; Vacuum Adaptation),

Statistics Amplification & Aura when calling upon the power of the Godwave,

Purification (Type 3, Nullified the petrification effect on Hermes with purifying flames),

Pressure Points,

Information Analysis (The Lasso can show Diana the pressure points of her target),

Resistance to Magic, Telepathy, Illusion Creation, Radiation Manipulation, Poison Manipulation, and Disease Manipulation (The blessings of Demeter protect Wonder Woman from all known earthly poisons and illnesses)

Weaknesses: Piercing weapons
---------------------------
Kratos (GOW 3)

Backstory:

Born and raised among the violent Spartans, Kratos rose through the ranks to become a fearsome general, winning many wars under his command. However, they eventually encountered their mortal enemies, the Barbarians, and were nearly wiped off the map in the ensuing battle.

A desperate Kratos begged Ares, the God of War, to help him win the war. Ares listened and bestowed power upon Kratos, leading the Spartans to victory. In exchange, however, Ares demanded Kratos' unflinching loyalty. To this end, the God of War tricked Kratos into murdering his wife Lysandra, and his daughter Calliope, in the ensuing chaos.

As a result, their ashes were permanently bonded to Kratos' skin, earning him the moniker "Ghost of Sparta." Enraged and consumed by grief, Kratos renounced his servitude to Ares and sought vengeance on him, eventually killing Ares and ascending to godhood as the new God of War. However, Kratos' struggle did not end there; he had to face his father, the rest of the Olympians, and the Titans on the next journey.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Immortality,

Immeasurable strength,

Nigh-invulnerability,

Superhuman agility,

Near-unlimited stamina,

Regenerative healing factor,

Spartan rage empowerment,

Gifted intellect,

Master tactician,

Indomitable will,

Master combatant,

Soul manipulation (Claws of Hades),

Stun status (Head of Helios),

Statistics amplification (Boots of Hermes),

Shockwave generation (Nemean Cestus),

Electricity manipulation (Nemesis Whips),

Fire manipulation (Blades of Exile, Bow of Apollo),

Attack Reflection (Golden Fleece),

Flight (Icarus's wings),

Blade of Olympus

Weaknesses: Kratos' anger management issues make him prone to impulsive and violent behavior as well as severe judgment impairment.
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Song: Wonder's Wrath

Pre-fight:

The God of War himself, Kratos, is walking through the ruins of the Olympic pantheon. Kratos has been steadily accomplishing his mission to take revenge on Olympus, as he's been fighting his way through the land of gods to reach his father, Zeus. Kratos is determined, ready to face whatever challenge awaits him as he's getting close to his main target, Zeus.

Kratos enters the Chamber of the Flame, a chamber that housed the Flames of Olympus. As he entered the room, he saw the burning blue flames that protected Pandora's Box, something he had used in the past to kill Ares, and potentially could be used to kill Zeus as well. Kratos walked towards the box, his gaze focused and determined, the idea of killing Zeus slowly becoming more of a reality. Kratos was now closer than ever before, and all he had to do now was just one more step before he accomplished his mission.

"Halt!" Kratos heard a woman's voice ring out from the hallway on the opposite side of the room, calling out to him to halt. The Wonder Woman herself came from that hall, Diana of Themyscira. Kratos turned to face the woman, curious to see who was about to interrupt his mission. It appeared that someone else was about to try and stop him, but who would be strong enough to actually stand in the way of the God of War?

"You dare try to stop me, woman?" The Ghost of Sparta questioned.

"I am not just a woman, Ghost of Sparta. I am Diana, princess of Themyscira, and daughter of Zeus. Your foolish quest of vengeance is bringing ruin to all of Greece, with every Olympian god you have killed thus far." Wonder Woman stated with bitterness.

"You stand here and dare to tell me I am bringing ruin to this place? The Olympians brought that upon themselves." Kratos said simply, seeming unmoved and undeterred by the presence of his half-sister, Diana. He was focused on his mission, and couldn't care less about anything else the princess had to say. The God of War was not going to be stopped that easily. "I will kill Zeus and take my revenge, one way or another." This greatly upset Diana.

"Of course you wouldn't care. But I'm not here just to save what remains of Greece. You have inadvertently flooded my homeland by killing Poseidon. Everything, everyone I have grown up with is gone, because of you!" Wonder Woman cried out in anguish before materializing a sword from her bracelets. "Now, I shall avenge all those that fell on your warpath."

Kratos only nodded in response to Diana's comment, seeming unmoved and uncaring about the idea that he had flooded her homeland by killing Poseidon. Kratos had other things on his mind, like taking his revenge on Zeus and moving on with his life. The God of War did not seem bothered one bit by Diana's anguish, and had his sights set on his goal.

"I do not regret my actions... there is only my purpose." The Ghost of Sparta said with a stern gaze.

"Your vengeance… ends here." Wonder Woman ended the conversation with conviction as she prepared herself, getting ready to fight.

Fight!

He sees Wonder Woman's conviction, and Kratos could feel the energy from the woman's stance as she prepared herself to fight the Ghost of Sparta. A fierce battle, as the two would use everything at their disposal to come out on top of this struggle. Kratos brings out his Blades of Exile.

Wonder Woman let out a grunt as she charged forward, raising her sword to slash through Kratos. The God of War raised his arms, blocking the attack with the Blades of Exile, as he was forced back by the woman's surprising strength. She somehow rivaled Heracles and Atlas, maybe even surpassing them.

Kratos kicked Wonder Woman back with a strong kick to the stomach, before attempting to hit her with the Blades of Exile. Diana avoided the attack, either dodging by ducking, acrobatically jumping out of the way or blocking by holding out her shield to parry the attacks. The two were beginning to match each other's speed, as the two were locked in an intense battle. Kratos didn't seem worried about the warrior princess, as he knew he had the strength to deal with her in no time.

Kratos realized that Diana was too quick and agile for him to land a proper hit with his Blades of Exile. So, the God of War switched things up by attacking with his Nemesis Whips. The man lashed out with the chained daggers, striking with ferocious contempt as he hit the woman again and again with the electrified weapons. Wonder Woman was able to block the first hit with her shield, but the electric current had stunned her, and she cried out in pain as Kratos continued attacking her with the whips at great speed.

Kratos continued his righteous tirade on Wonder Woman with his Nemesis Whips, showing no sign of slowing down with his severe judgment. Diana, however, needed to gain some space and tried to do so by using her golden bracelets to create a force field that pushed the Nemesis Whips away and sent the Ghost of Sparta flying into a nearby wall, whom grunted from the impact. The force field seemed to be pretty effective, as it allowed the warrior princess some breathing room to regain her focus for the fight without the electrified whips hitting her all the time. Kratos was annoyed that the princess of Themyscira was tougher than he initially thought, but he won't back down.

Diana looked over herself and realized she had gotten some burns and slashes from Kratos over the course of the fight, but it appeared that the wounds were only light and superficial. Wonder Woman knew that she could take more than this, and was not going to be defeated by the Ghost of Sparta like those before. The princess of Themyscira was determined to stop the God of War from completing his revenge quest.

Kratos clashed his whips together, sending an intense electrical blast at Wonder Woman. The princess, however, was quick on her feet, and was able to deflect the attack back at the Ghost of Sparta with her enchanted sword. Kratos took the hit square on his shoulder, the mythical Golden Fleece rebounding it towards Themyscira's champion. However, it didn't take Wonder Woman long to stab the electric attack down into the ground to ground it. The woman seemed to be well-prepared to face Kratos this time around, and wasn't letting him take the advantage.

However, in the midst of this battle, Kratos decided to take things to the next level by pulling out the head of Helios, the very deity that he had ripped the head from its shoulders from, and using it for his own gain. The head was let out an agonizing scream, and its eyes flashed light as bright as the sun right into Diana's eyes, and she was instantly blinded by the bright light. The woman yelled out in pain as she was unable to see anything due to the blinding light.

"What's wrong? Can't handle a little sunlight?" Kratos sneered as he brought out the Claws of Hades, and slung them towards Wonder Woman. Diana did a fantastic job in managing to catch the chain weapons in her own hands, even while being blinded. The problem was that she could feel her soul being pulled out by the weapons, and found out that they had the power to pull a creature's soul from their body. The princess of Themyscira knew she had to resist, otherwise she would fall victim to her own soul being stolen away from her.

With tremendous effort, Wonder Woman pulled her soul back into her body, avoiding having her soul potentially stolen by the Claw's effect. However, she then decided to use the chains of the claws she was holding to her advantage, as she was able to encircle the Ghost of Sparta with the claw's chains, trapping Kratos in place and preventing him from escaping. The God of War was taken aback by this, because even Hades himself could not resist the claws' soul stealing effect. This was truly a dangerous woman who could not be overlooked.

The Ghost of Sparta used all his strength to break free from the chains surrounding him, breaking the weapon in the process. As Kratos was about to move forward and strike a blow, however, Diana quickly wrapped her Lasso of Truth around him, trapping him once more. The man attempted to break free with all his strength, but seemingly couldn't even break the golden rope. The Lasso of Truth seemed to be truly powerful, especially as the man could not get himself out from its grasp.

Diana wrapped her leg around the rope, before bringing it down with a stomp to force Kratos on his knees. The woman then tightened the rope, causing it to glow with its deception proof ability, meaning that Kratos could not lie anymore. Now, she looked directly at him.

"Kratos, it is time for you to face the truth." Diana said, not giving the God of War much room for argument or denial. Diana asked Kratos a simple yet very important question about his mission to slaughter all the members of the Greek pantheon. "Answer me. Why are you willing to kill the Greek pantheon, despite them being what brings Greece life?" Diana asked sternly, not allowing the Ghost of Sparta to ignore the question.

Kratos had a simple answer to this question. The man didn't hesitate before answering her, as he gave his reason for his revenge quest.

"They caused my family's death." Kratos finally replied, after a few seconds of silence.

"I was informed. My condolences. However, it was only Ares who had a hand in it. And yet, you find the rest of the gods turning their back on you is justification to slaughter them all? Even at the expense of all of Greece?"

Kratos just nodded. He had no actual good enough reason to justify fighting the entire Greek pantheon, and was now starting to realize the consequences he was potentially bringing to the land of Greece with his actions, when ordinarily he would've ignored that part of his conscious.

"Yes, that is what I intend to do." Kratos said grimly, but he knew that this was not the best way forward. Yet, he felt too deep in his revenge quest to stop now. Diana's words seemed to have affected Kratos, but it did not seem that it did enough for him to change his mind.

"Imagine if your wife and child saw you now. They would be horrified of the man you've become." Diana's harsh words and judgments about Kratos's actions and motives seemed to have done the opposite of what she initially intended. Instead of making him stop and reconsider his revenge quest, Kratos only felt more rage as the woman spoke about him not being a good enough person in the eyes of his wife and daughter. Kratos felt his anger only building, and could not help but to lash back at Diana.

"Keep my love and my daughter out of your mouth, woman. They are the only things still care about. My skin is permanently grafted with their ashes, as a reminder of my mistake. And that is why... the gods must pay!"

It looked like Kratos had had enough of Diana's judgments, as his Spartan rage took over. The man's body began to glow red, and the Lasso of Truth seemed to stretch as a result of Kratos's immense strength. The Ghost of Sparta took advantage of this, and violently pulled Wonder Woman towards him before slamming her back with his shoulder. The action caused Diana to fall back, and land on the ground with a hard thump. Kratos was out for blood now, so all Diana could do for now, was defend herself against the man's onslaught.

Kratos brought out his Bow of Apollo, and took aim at Diana. The God of War began rapid fireing flame-imbued arrows aimed at Wonder Woman's direction. Diana, however, managed to block most of the arrows with her bracelets, with some arrows getting deflected off the metal and away from her, but a few still got past and hit her. Diana's armor was slightly scorched by the fire imbued arrows, but there did not seem to be any major injuries inflicted on her, even if they did hurt.

Wonder Woman again used her metal bracelets to produce an expanding force-field to stop Kratos's arrows. While the arrows could not get through to her in this way, the force-field was strong enough to break the Bow of Apollo that the Ghost of Sparta was carrying. However, unlike before, the man himself was only pushed back against the force-field a few meters, rather than being thrown into the air. Kratos simply seemed too angry now to be affected as much as before by Diana's defensive measures.

Diana's vision was finally recovering from being blinded by Helio's light that was flashed into her face, only for the princess of Themyscira to now saw Kratos with his Nemean Cestus gauntlets. The God of War roared, before slamming the gauntlets into the floor with such incredible force, that it sent Diana flying into the far wall from the powerful shockwave. She grunted from the force of the shockwave, and cried out when she was imbedded into the stone wall. Kratos took this as an advantage and quickly stormed forwards in the hopes of striking Diana down for good, before she could recover from his latest attack.

Kratos unleashed a fierce barrage of heavy fists against Diana, as he threw powerful punch after powerful punch at her. The princess of Themyscira attempted to block them with her bracelets, but the heavy blows with the Nemean Cestus gauntlets were too big and bulky to block entirely. As a result, Diana was punched deeper and deeper into the wall, and the wall's cracks were steadily increasing in size with each new blow. Kratos seemed as if he was determined to break through the wall with her body.

Before the God of War was able to break through the wall with his punches, Wonder Woman managed to catch his last blow, and took the opportunity to turn the tables in the fight. The Princess of Themyscira kicked at several pressure points in Kratos's body, causing him to flinch in pain. Diana then took one of the Nemean Cestus Gauntlets from him by force, and could now use it against him to turn the tables of the battle once again. With the help of the Nemean Cestus Gauntlets, Diana pushed back Kratos and managed to get out from behind the cracked wall.

"Time to silence you, Kratos." Diana declared.

"You can try, woman." Kratos scoffed.

The Princess of Themyscira and the Ghost of Sparta charged at each other with great speed, and they each threw a Nemean Cestus Gauntlets-equipped fist at each other. The two attacks collided with such incredible forces, the chamber they were fighting in exploded from the shockwave alone, the two fighters sent flying in opposite directions at great speeds, falling down from Mount Olympus.

Wonder Woman was temporarily knocked out, as the Nemean Cestus gauntlet that she was wearing was shattered to pieces. The heroine eventually woke up after a minute or so, and noticed that she was falling through the air, seemingly having been knocked off Olympus by the massive collision.

Wonder Woman eventually stopped her fall by using her ability to fly, and got a good look of Kratos flying toward her with Icarus's wings. Diana sighed when she saw the mechanical set of wings, and rolled her eyes at the fact that Kratos had yet another way of getting around, instead of falling a few thousand feet to the ground below.

"Of course." The Princess of Themyscira couldn't afford to waste time with her groans, though, as the man was closing the distance, and she needed to focus on the fight.

Kratos and Wonder Woman fought each other while flying through the rain and lightning, and the struggle became truly brutal as the two fighters unleashed their best punches, headbutts, and chokeholds to get the upper hand against each other. With every minute or so that passed by, the two warriors would crash into the mountain that Olympus was situated on, and the mountain seemed to be taking a beating because of it. It looked like a truly epic slugfest between the two.

With their fight reaching heights that were high enough above Mount Olympus itself, Wonder Woman took the opportunity to flip onto the Ghost of Sparta's back. The woman then proceeded to rip the mechanical wings off of him, before kicking him downwards towards a ruined floor of Olympus's city. The Princess of Themyscira knew that the impact would not kill her opponent, but it would certainly cause him a lot of pain. It was definitely a good opportunity for her to capitalize on.

Kratos managed to thwart the woman's chance though by using his Blade of Exile to wrap around her with its chain, and pull the princess down with him as the man fell down. Kratos hit the ground first, and Diana quickly followed. Both of them grunted in pain as they impacted with the stone floor, and they looked as if they would be on their last legs.

Both of them stood up after the impact, the two bruised and bloodied, but still willing to continue the fight. Wonder Woman decided to stop holding back, as she materialised a sword of Hephaestus so sharp, it could cut through atoms. The woman then took off her bracelets, causing her eyes to glow white as her divine aura surrounded her, and her full potential was unleashed.

Kratos was determined to end it by taking out the Blade of Olympus, a golden and white broadsword that was as long as the Ghost of Sparta was tall, and it was wreathed in blue flames. Such a sword was the most powerful weapon of mass destruction in his arsenal, capable of killing Titans.

Wonder Woman charged forward with divine aura still surrounding her as she charged towards Kratos. The Ghost of Sparta charged forward as well, armed with his Blade of Olympus. Both warriors let their swords clash with force so divine that it shook Mount Olympus to its roots, and it seemed that this clash could be the one that would define the outcome of that epic battle.

After a few clashes, Kratos was able to get the upper hand after parrying one of her strikes, allowing the man to get a hit towards Diana's face with his elbow. Diana felt the pain of the strike on her nose, which caused her to lose focus momentarily, which then allowed Kratos to then strike at her arm with the Blade of Olympus severing the appendage. The Princess of Themyscira cried out in agony from the attack, along with the weapon being impaled through the heroine's abdomen after, which caused her more pain and her to lose a lot of blood. It seemed that the tables had turned in favor of the Ghost of Sparta.

"You have failed, just like everyone else before you." The God of War boasted. Diana coughed up some blood, but she slowly shook her head.

"That's what you think." It appeared that Diana had one more trick up her sleeve, as she quickly scooped up her sword and kicked it at her other hand. The woman slashed through Kratos's neck, leaving only a few seconds for the Ghost of Sparta to comprehend what just happened before his head cleanly slid off. The bloody stump that was left behind in place of Kratos's head showed that the last living Spartan finally met his end by the last of the Amazonians.

Despite the victory, it came at a price. Wonder Woman collapsed on the ground next to Kratos's dead body, with the Blade of Olympus still pierced in her body. The woman could feel her life slowly leaving her body, turning her into something akin to the clay she was created from, but she still managed to have a satisfied smile on her face, as she would get to return to her sisters and her mother, a death that was still one born out of honorable sacrifice.

"I'll see you again, my sisters, and mother."

Wonder Woman finally closed her eyes, and with that, her life fully expired since her body had gone back to clay. Zeus watched the battle from afar, and he was impressed by the woman's ability to put up a good fight against his impudent son. As a tribute to the fallen heroine, the king of the gods cleared the storming skies, so that a new constellation in the night sky could be seen in her honor, for those who remained alive to see it. It was a tribute well deserved for the fallen princess of Themyscira.
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Strength: This is a rather interesting fight. Both fighters are demi-gods capable of taking on the strongest beings of their respective worlds. Both had their high and low points, but usually, they're considered one of the strongest people to live. Kratos, fitting his name meaning strength, has potentially infinite strength, since he's fought the likes of Atlas, Hercules and Zeus. However, the Ghost of Sparta would not be the first God of War Diana's faced, and the DC version of Ares is comparable, if not just as strong as the GoW Ares. But even more importantly is Wonder Woman's capability to match Superman, who not only can lift the infinite weights of Spectre and book of infinite pages, the former with Wonder Woman's help, can also punch with the strength to reboot the DC continuity. Wonder Woman probably doesn't have infinite strength herself, but Kratos has never rebooted his universe. At least not at the exact moment of a punch. Cough, 2018, cough.

Speed: Multiplying Wonder Woman's 52 quintillion times SOL feat by 1.6 vigintillion means she can move up to 83 sexvigintillion times the speed of light. However, that's being generous in that she's moving across the universe in an hour. Taking the shattered god feat of blocking all those shards took 10 seconds at least. To react to the first shards, Diana would have to move 29.952 septenvigintillion times the speed of light. Granted, Kratos is still quantifiably faster since he's reacted to light filling an infinite void, but Wonder Woman has been able to fight those of similar speeds, like Superman and Professor Zoom.

Skill: I consider both fighters equal in fighting skill. While Diana does have millennia of martial skill, Kratos regularly takes on people who have fought much longer than him and still won out. Given that both of them are considered masters in the art of combat, they're on the same level.

Experience: However, just because they have the skill to take on anything doesn't mean that they've taken on equally the same amount of foes. Kratos has fought the best and worst that Greece has to offer, but even if we include his Norse era, Wonder Woman has fought more than mythological heroes, villains, gods and monsters. Diana has taken on aliens, New Gods like Darkseid who can fight the whole Justice League, and characters with more magical potency and versatility than Kratos's revolving door of items he can never seem to keep for more than one game.

Powers: Granted, even though Wonder Woman has faced a wider variety of challenges, it does help that Kratos has equipment that can keep the Princess of Themyscira on her toes. Multiple piercing weapons, elemental magic, soul manipulation, and if permitted, magic that involves time manipulation, duplication for damage avoidance, Medusa's head, portal creation and so forth. However, not only are piercing weapons not a completely reliable means of defeating her since she can still fight just as strongly while pierced, she can deal with them with either her atom splitting sword, nigh-indestructible bracelets, or just resist opposing magic, though I'm not sure if it's inherent or involves her willpower. And while Kratos does have the ability to fight his way out of the afterlife back to life, it's by no means immediate and takes some time.

The winner is Wonder Woman

Next time:
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"I am no Jedi."

"Whatever nightmares the future holds, are dreams compared to what's behind me."

Chapter Text

Ahsoka Tano

Backstory:

Ahsoka Tano, was the Padawan of famed Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. A talented young Togruta who was originally under the care of Jedi Master Plo Koon, she was later instructed by Jedi Grand Master Yoda to seek Skywalker's tutelage. Despite the Jedi Knight's initial misgivings about her, Ahsoka proved to be an excellent apprentice and a valuable ally who played a key role in numerous pivotal events of the Clone Wars.

After the execution of Order 66, Ahsoka later entered the service of the rebel cells that sought to overthrow Emperor Sheev Palpatine and restore the Galactic Republic. Acting as an information broker and covert ops agent codenamed Fulcrum, Ahsoka would serve as a powerful ally to the crew of the Ghost who mentored both Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus in the ways of the Force despite her exile from the Jedi Order. However, she would later go missing after a mission on Malachor, where she engaged in an epic duel with her former master, who was now the feared Sith Lord Darth Vader.

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Precognition,

Clairvoyance,

Telepathy,

Telekinesis,

Forcefield Creation,

Enhanced Senses,

Mind Manipulation,

Memory Manipulation,

Skilled Lightsaber Duelist,

Skilled Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Energy Manipulation (Can reflect, redirect, and absorb energy attacks thrown at her),

Mid-Low Regeneration (In the form of Force Healing)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Gamora

Backstory:

Gamora is a deadly assassin, raised by Thanos the Mad Titan to become "the most dangerous woman in the galaxy". She is the sole survivor of the Zen-Whoberis, who were exterminated by the Universal Church of Truth, worshippers of the Magus. Taken by Thanos to the past, she was forged from victim into the killer of the Magus. Under Thanos' care, Gamora was trained as an elite assassin and had her body mechanically improved. Gamora's mission eventually led her to meet Adam Warlock, the Magus' younger self. As a temporal anomaly, Gamora's help was crucial for Warlock and Thanos to defeat the Magus. With the Magus defeated, events in the future changed so that her people were slaughtered by the Badoon instead, and Gamora's memories of those events have been affected by these timeline changes.

Gamora questioned her father's macabre obsession with death and ultimately betrayed him, joining Warlock. Alongside Warlock, she became a regular player in major cosmic adventures, becoming a member of his Infinity Watch and being a protector of the Time Stone. During the Annihilation Wave invasion, Gamora got close with other cosmic protectors, such as Nova, whom she got romantically involved with. After Hala was conquered by the Phalanx and Ultron, Gamora was invited by Peter Quill to be part of a team of protectors to act in a preventive manner against galactic threats, the Guardians of the Galaxy.

For years Gamora was seen as a true hero, until the return of the Infinity Stones made her follow her father's goals. Adopting a new identity as Requiem, Gamora killed Thanos and started her quest for the Infinity Stones. After collecting the stones by betraying her former friends, she folded the universe into the Warp World, but was eventually defeated. Gamora was ultimately forgiven by her former allies and rejoined the Guardians of the Galaxy to prevent Thanos' resurrection.

Powers and abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Cyborgization (Has a completely prosthetic skeleton and respiratory system),

Acrobatics,

Martial Arts (Knows 83% of the universe's combat techniques),

Weapon Mastery,

Attack Reflection (Can reflect shots back onto her opponents),

Regeneration (High-Low overtime; Survived getting extreme burns across her entire body),

Pressure Points (Which can be used to potentially induce death and knock a person out),

Stealth Mastery (Can vanish at a moment's notice and can sneak her way through a crowd, killing as she nears her target)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Song: Deadly Force

Pre-fight:

Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi Padawan, found herself meditating on Ossus, being one with the Force. She looked to be completely calm and relaxed, as she felt everything in the forest. It was a peaceful scene, with the force seemingly moving through Ahsoka in a quiet yet majestic manner. However, this peace was soon interrupted by an invisible disturbance. The Togruta sensed the disturbance coming from a bush, and when she called out,

"I can sense you. You can't hide from me. Come on out."

The deadliest woman in the galaxy, Gamora, revealed herself and came out from the bushes, walking slowly but with a deadlier intent than many might've been aware of.

"Impressive. On the rare chance someone notices me, they're already dead like the ones that haven't." Gamora commented, her voice lacking any strong emotion, but was still genuine praise.

Ahsoka seemed intrigued by Gamora, who had just praised her for her ability to sense her. The former Padawan was mildly surprised to be complimented by the deadliest woman, but there was something else that she was curious about.

"Why are you here?"

"Mainly just boredom. My team is fun and all, but finding worthy people to fight at least passes the time." Gamora shrugged, not wanting to admit she had no purpose in life aside from killing, which she was not happy with.

Ahsoka could sense just how bored Gamora was becoming just from her statement, and she also noticed that the woman had no real purpose aside from killing people, which didn't really fill her with joy. She decided to confront Gamora about this, and see how the woman reacted to being confronted about her purpose.

"Isn't that what most people say when they don't really have a good reason for what they're doing? They just give the excuse that they're bored or something, but in reality, they're just hiding from other issues."

Gamora briefly had a moment of shock that Ahsoka already deduced her problem, before growling and drawing her swords.

"Ugh, just shut up and fight! I didn't come here to talk!"

Ahsoka seemed to have hit a sore spot with Gamora by questioning what she was doing out of boredom, as the woman seemed shocked by the insight and suddenly grew aggressive and angry while drawing her swords. Ahsoka was not intimidated by the woman's sudden change of attitude though, and she did not back down either.

"There it is, just anger. You know I'm right, don't you?" Ahsoka did not seem to be afraid of Gamora's threats, and simply looked at the woman as if she was analyzing her.

"Alright, you asked for it!" Gamora leapt up, rolling forward in the air so that she could do a mid-air slash with her two swords at the Togruta.

However, the former Padawan managed to jump back in time, and she quickly drew her own lightsabers, which ignited to show white glowing blades. This battle seemed to be intense, and it was unclear who would get the upper hand here. Anakin's former padawan seemed determined to show Gamora the error of her ways, and did not back down one bit.

After landing with a roll, Gamora performed two quick slashes towards Ahsoka with her twin swords. The former Padawan was able to use her lightsabers to cut through both blades, leaving two clean stumps in the process with a hot glow.

Gamora was distracted by the fact that her swords were destroyed, uttering,

"Oh sh-" But she was quickly interrupted by Ahsoka pushing her with the force, resulting in the woman crashing into a tree. The former padawan then took the opportunity to strike, and she rushed forward at the deadliest woman in the universe to incapacitate her with one of her lightsabers.

Ahsoka missed her chance as Gamora rolled down and out of the way, accidentally destroying the tree, but she was unshaken by the sudden change of situation. The former Padawan then noticed the daggers that Gamora had thrown at her, and the Togruta managed to deflect them all in time, using both lightsabers to keep the deadly projectiles at bay.

Ahsoka continued to use her offensive fighting style, utilizing Form IV of Ataru to ensure that Gamora was kept on the backfoot, while also making sure that the woman did not have much of an opportunity to strike back. The deadliest woman in the universe was proving to be a very capable and agile target, but Ahsoka seemed to have no issue keeping up with her movements.

After getting a good read on Ahsoka's fighting style, Gamora proceeded to perform a sweeping kick at where the Togruta was going to land, knocking her off her feet. The deadly woman then proceeded to kick her away down a small slope, giving Gamora the opportunity to get some distance in order to plan her next attack. Ahsoka grunted as she rolled a small distance, coming to a stop by smacking against a tree with her back.

Ahsoka just managed to get up in time, as she noticed Gamora leap into the air before kicking a thick tree down with enough force to break it horizontally in half. The woman then jumped down and away, allowing the tree to come crashing down towards the Togruta. But Ahsoka was not having it this time, and she used the Force to grab the tree before throwing it aside.

Ahsoka was distracted by the tree, and she unfortunately failed to see that Gamora had dropped behind her. The former Padawan felt her back suddenly impaled by one of the dagger's, and she screamed out in pain, but as always, she did not stay in one place for long. Ahsoka went and slammed the back of her head into Gamora's nose before turning and used the force to push her away, sending the woman flying through the tree behind her with such force that she destroyed it to pieces.

Gamora tumbled across the ground like a ragdoll, getting covered in soil and splinters from the tree as she moved. She eventually hit the side of a cliff, leaving her in a somewhat damaged state. Ahsoka had meanwhile kept a hand on the wound on her back in order to reduce the amount of bleeding that was happening as a result.

Ahsoka used the Force to heal her wound, which allowed her to take a moment to breathe and recover. She was still breathing heavily, but she was mostly fine, and her wounds were slowly healing up thanks to the Force's power. In the meantime, Gamora was walking toward Ahsoka, ready to resume the fight after taking a beating herself.

Ahsoka saw that Gamora was walking towards her, and since her wound wasn't healed yet, she had to keep the deadliest woman at bay. The Togruta then proceeded to channel the Force, using her free hand to push Gamora back into the cliffside, the green skinned woman grunting from the impact. The former padawan did not want to give the woman a chance to continue her attack.

Gamora refused to give in to the Force pushing her against the cliff, and despite the struggle, she still had the strength to push through the resistance and get close to Ahsoka. The deadliest woman in the universe took labored steps, and she was breathing hard in order to make it closer to her opponent, and this seemed to be because she was stubborn enough to want to get in close again despite her current disadvantage.

Ahsoka now had her wound fully healed, and when she saw that Gamora could still move despite the force pushing her against the cliff, she did not hesitate to use both hands to double down and continue applying pressure on her opponent. The pressure was becoming immense for Gamora, and she was being pressed up against the cliffside so strongly that the rock was cracking and her body was becoming imbedded in it.

It seemed that whatever effort Ahsoka applied wasn't going to be enough, as Gamora was determined to get closer no matter what. The pressure was becoming immense, and her skin was rippling under the constant strain, but she did not seem even the slightest bit bothered by it. Instead, she continued to walk slowly towards Ahsoka, despite the constant pressure from the former Padawan's force, as if she was trying to prove a point.

"How are you still moving?" Ahsoka asked in disbelief. "I can sense you're not a Force sensitive, but you're still moving."

"That's because of pure tenacity and strength, something that I doubt someone like you can really understand." Gamora replied in a condescendingly calm tone, which seemed to be an attempt to provoke Ahsoka into a fight. It was hard to say whether or not this comment hit home or not, but at the least, it seemed to have succeeded in irritating the former Padawan.

Gamora felt relieved to be free of the pressure as the Togruta stopped using the Force, as she still stood her ground and remained defiant even in the face of Ahsoka pulling out her lightsabers.

"You have no idea how strong I've had to become to make it this far." Ahsoka established. The deadly woman was now preparing to continue the fight, and her eyes seemed to look straight through the former Padawan.

"We shall see just how strong you really are." Gamora calmly replied.

Ahsoka charged forward with her lightsabers drawn, ready to continue the fight. The former padawan tried to surprise Gamora by distracting her with dirt being thrown into the woman's face using the Force. Gamora immediately wiped the dirt from her face, but when she turned to look back at her opponent, she found that Ahsoka was already charging straight towards her.

The quick-thinking Gamora reached out and attempted a risky and unconventional move, which was to try to grab Ahsoka's lightsabers with her bare hands. The plasma blades started to burn through her skin from the sheer intensity, but the woman was able to ignore the damage she was enduring, aside from wincing, and maintain a firm grasp over her opponent's weapons, even if just for a few seconds.

The Togruta was genuinely shocked by the fact that Gamora had managed to grab her lightsabers. She had only heard of materials like Beskar that were strong enough to withstand this level of heat, but evidently, the deadliest woman in the universe was that that durable.

Gamora took the offensive by suddenly bashing her forehead into Ahsoka's before she tried to jab her finger into the Togruta's throat. Ahsoka quickly backed up and attempted to protect her pressure point with the Force, but the deadly woman's attack was fast enough to successfully grab onto one of Ahsoka's lightsabers, leaving the former Padawan currently fighting with just one lightsaber.

Although Ahsoka was at a disadvantage with just one lightsaber, the Togruta forced herself to calm down, and changed stances as she switched to utilizing form V, which was the Djem So style. If trying to overwhelm her with speed and force pushes wasn't going to defeat the deadliest woman in the universe, then perhaps defending herself with a more offensive strategy would do so. The former Padawan was not about to let Gamora keep her advantage for long, so she closed her eyes and trusted in the Force.

The deadly woman was the first to attack, launching a side swipe with her blade which the Togruta managed to block using her own lightsaber. The duo seemed to be locked in a brief saber lock, but Ahsoka managed to take advantage of Gamora's momentum as she tried a side swipe the other direction, and used it to flip her onto her back. Ahsoka seemed to have gained the upper hand here, as she now had her opponent where she wanted to be.

The deadly woman was quick to block Ahsoka's following downward strike, and she once again used a spinning kick to try to strike her opponent's feet. However, the Togruta was able to use the Force to push herself back to her feet, and she managed to recover her balance in time to avoid being knocked back down again. The fight was becoming intense, and the two women fought viciously.

Gamora had managed to duck under a slash that Ahsoka launched at her, and the green girl tried to counterattack by launching a reverse roundhouse kick at the former Padawan's head. Ahsoka was able to back away just enough to avoid the blow, meaning that it narrowly missed. The fight was still intense, and it seemed that both women were trying to gain the upper hand through whatever means they could.

Gamora decided to go for a somewhat underhanded tactic by kicking Ahsoka's left knee and then tackling her using her shoulder, and although the former Padawan did land on her back, she managed to quickly recover and get back up by rolling backwards until she was on her feet. It was impressive how fast Ahsoka was to get back up from that maneuver, as most people would have struggled to get up so quickly in a similar situation.

The fight kept going back and forth between the two, as they continued to exchange strikes with their lightsabers in an intense battle. Ahsoka seemed to have slightly edged out over her opponent, with her parries and counterattacks keeping her in control of the battle. But just as quickly as things were going her way, Gamora managed to grip onto the former Padawan's wrists and flip them both onto their sides against the ground. The deadly woman didn't give the Togruta much time to gather herself, as she used their positions to her advantage.

The deadly woman was the first to strike, punching Ahsoka in the face and then attempting a second strike that was caught and resisted. This led to the Togruta countering with her own strike, but that was also caught. Then, the deadly woman slammed her fist into Ahsoka's abdomen, giving her an opening for another strike that the former Padawan quickly followed up with her own attempted sword strike only for her arm to be pushed aside again. Instead, Gamora took this opportunity to deliver a powerful kick towards Ahsoka's face which lead up to the deadliest woman in the universe to straddle on top of the former Padawan.

Gamora was finally in position to deliver an attack of her own, as she was standing over the former Padawan and prepared to stab the light saber. However, Ahsoka was quick-thinking and used the Force to summon a rock and launch it towards Gamora's head, and her plan succeeded as the deadly woman was left disoriented from the attack. Ahsoka then took this opportunity to push the woman off and deliver a kick of her own, which hit the woman's stomach hard enough to knock the breath out of her. Gamora landed on her knees and hands, but she only needed a second to regain her breath and focus before getting up, looking determined.

The two continued their back-and-forth clash of lightsabers which had resulted in several strikes back-and-forth between both of the duelists. However, they were still evenly matched, with neither one seeming to have gained an advantage at this point in the battle. But then, Gamora was finally able to break through Ahsoka's defense by forcing her opponent's blade down into the ground and then slashing across her body, which was enough to knock the former Padawan to the ground. Ahsoka had taken a moderate cut that was instantly cauterized.

The deadliest woman in the universe, who had already managed to gain the upper hand, now stood over her wounded opponent and used her foot to flip Ahsoka into an even more vulnerable position. The deadly woman could see the slice across her opponent's torso, which looked quite painful and debilitating. After all, Ahsoka was in deep pain, and her movements were clearly impaired from the injury.

The deadly woman looked confident as she raised her lightsaber to deliver the final blow to the Togruta, who was now on the ground in a seemingly defenseless position and had closed her eyes. Ahsoka appeared to have accepted her fate and was expecting the deadly blow to have come already, but it didn't hit. Instead, the lightsaber had just been stabbed right into the ground, and the former Padawan was left confused and shocked by what just occurred.

While the deadly woman had gained the upper hand and had the opportunity to deliver a final attack to the Togruta, she seemed satisfied enough and deliberately missed her fatal strike.

"You've proven to be a worthy adversary. It'd be a shame and a waste to snuff you out. Live your life well."

After she shut off her lightsaber and then threw it on the ground, Gamora walked away, leaving the former Padawan alone. This was a surprising and unusual gesture from the deadly woman, but it seemed like Ahsoka had earned some degree of respect and recognition from her. The Togruta could only give a relived, and pained sigh before fainting.
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Strength: Now, in pure physicality, Gamora is exponentially stronger than Ahsoka, being able to physically harm planetary heavy weight fighters such as Nova, Captain Marvel and She-Hulk. However, the Force is a very powerful tool for Force sensitives, which let Ahsoka perform feats that Gamora cannot, due to its larger scope. Gamora can't exactly move dreadnoughts or manipulate the environment on a wide scale with a singular action. While Ahsoka hasn't really displayed any Force related feats on the scale of Obi-Wan Kenobi or Darth Vader who can perform planetary feats, she's come leagues beyond what she was capable of at the end of the Clone Wars. So my best conclusion is that even if we assume Ahsoka's Force capability is several Gigatons of energy output and could move mountains, about a hundred times stronger than when she was in the Clone Wars, Gamora is still stronger than that, if it was all focused on her.

Speed: Alright, let's get this out of the way. Seasoned Force sensitives are able to fight and react up to the speed of light, especially with the Force augmenting them to react within nanoseconds. However, Gamora is able to keep up with her father figure, Thanos. And while the Mad Titan isn't officially a speedster character, he's capable of fighting against characters who can move at millions of times the speed of light. Not even Ahsoka's battle precognition can close that gap.

Skill: In terms of martial skill, Gamora is the better martial fighter. Ahsoka has spent her whole life since early childhood learning the way of the lightsaber, but Gamora knows 83% of her universe's combat techniques. Even if we narrowed it down to just "killing" techniques, that's still like knowing how to kill someone in over 1200 different ways.

Experience: I'd say that both of these women are relatively equal in experience. While Gamora has more experience fighting varied individuals with versatile abilities compared to Ahsoka mostly fighting Sith, Inquisitors and troopers, the former Padawan has been training her skills for over 40 years. Even if she's bringing nothing new to the table before Gamora, the Togruta is by means no slouch.

Powers: Even if Gamora knows how to fight someone like Ahsoka, having the abilities she does have does give the former Padawan some advantages. Gamora might be faster than her battle precognition, but its not totally useless at moments, telekinesis gives her superior range, her healing is better than Gamora's, and her lightsaber could eventually burn through her superior durability. However, Gamora does have the advantage of a passive healing factor instead of taking a moment just to heal, and her durability can still tank lightsabers of all things, even if for a short time.

The winner is Gamora.
-----------------------------------
Next time:

"I don't need a weapon! I am the weapon!"

"One thing we Black Dragon know, there's no fun in a fair fight."

Chapter Text

Saxton Hale

Backstory:

Saxton Hale is a daring Australian, President, and CEO of Mann Co., and the star of many comics' series. He is considered the fourth-richest man in America. He was the sixth-richest man in America, but surpassed the fifth by wealth and the fourth by killing him in a harpoon duel. His favorite pastimes include fighting, drinking, and battling with ferocious animals.

In fact, most kids sleep with a teddy bear at night, but Saxton Hale sleeps with an actual bear that he tamed while in the Brazilian Jungles. His identifying features include a mustache, rippling muscles, a crocodile-tooth lined hat, and a patch of rotating chest hair shaped like Australia. He also refuses to wear clothes on his upper body, "for obvious reasons".

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

4th Wall Awareness,

Martial Arts (grappling and boxing),

some degree of Toon Force,

Psuedo Flight (With Brave Jump and Sweeping Charge),

Shockwave Manipulation (With Mighty Slam),

Explosion Manipulation (With Saxton Punch, which causes a massive explosion to burst out from his left fist),

Limited Power Nullification (Can remove status debuffs with his Sweeping Charge),

Technology Busting and Status Effect Inducement via the Jarate,

Possibly Resistance to Fear Manipulation (Should have abilities similar to The Saxton Hale Mask)

Weaknesses: Extremely overconfident in his abilities, likely due to being completely unrivaled in the TF-verse. He is also not willing to hurt children, but he is willing to pay others to do it for him. Saxton Punch, Sweeping Charge, and Mighty Slam are on a 30 second timer...
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Kano

Backstory:

As a mercenary and leader of the international crime cartel known as the Black Dragon, Kano rises beyond mere brutality and aggression by also being sly and cunning. Originally from Australia, Kano is highly opportunistic and incredibly selfish, willing to betray his own realm and even his own allies for money or personal gain. As a result, he quickly became part of Shao Kahn's inner circle, and eventually the general of Outworld's armies (in the original timeline).

One of his more notable features is his facetious and twisted sense of humor, almost always making light of dire circumstances. His vulgarity is an additional outlier among other characters, most evident by his penchant for callously spitting, drinking and urinating wherever he pleases. His assortment of dirty fighting tactics also compliments his unpleasant personality.

He combines features of a cowardly minion, a lone survivor, a crazed madman, and a ruthless commander. He is despised by the majority of other characters in the series for his selfish, untrustworthy nature, complete lack of morals, and overall crudeness. However, he seems to enjoy the fact that he is hated, even viewing it as a source of pride. He is the archenemy of Sonya Blade, who is obsessed with finding and bringing Kano to justice.

A portion of Kano's face is covered with a metal plate, the result of a disfiguring injury he sustained at the hands of Jax prior to the events of the series, with the plated eye being a glowing red orb capable of emitting laser beams.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Skilled brawler who uses a mix of pro wrestling techniques, knife fighting techniques, and mixed martial arts that are done with a lack of finesse),

Weapon Mastery (Primarily wields knives, but also uses modern weaponry like firearms and explosives),

Stealth Mastery (Sneaked into the SF's Refugee Kamp with the help of an identity stealing disguise tech),

Acrobatics,

Cyborgization (Partial. Has an ocular implant that can shoot lasers that cut through metal, give him access to x-ray vision, scan through cybernetic material and gain information on their status, etc.)

Explosion Manipulation (Via frag grenades),

Fire Manipulation (Via molotov cocktails),

Poison Manipulation (Via corrosive gas grenades and vials of flammable, toxic chemicals)

Weaknesses: None noticeable
---------------------------
Song: Aussie-ome Menn

Pre-fight:

Saxton Hale, CEO of Mann Co., was sitting in his office at the company headquarters, looking utterly bored and unmotivated to do any work related to his company. He clearly preferred hunting exotic animals with his bare hands, and he was currently forced to deal with work matters instead, which was proving to be quite a drag. Oh how much he'd be preferring to be cutting down gorillas, making sharks cry, or punching yetis so hard that they'd explode, if he hadn't already made them extinct with his Yeti Park idea.

The office doors were suddenly kicked open and Kano, leader of the Black Dragon, came marching into the room while drinking from an alcoholic bottle before throwing it on the floor, allowing the thing to shatter upon impact. Saxton Hale's eyes were immediately drawn to the man and their gaze quickly locked on each other, and it appears that the CEO was intrigued by the unexpected intrusion, hopefully a challenge.

"For a CEO running your kind operation, ya sure run things as shit. Always having red and blue mercenaries fightin' each other? I'm surprised your company hasn't gone down the dunny under your control." Kano mocked his fellow Australian on how he runs things.

Saxton's eyes narrowed as he heard this man with an accent mock and criticize how he ran the company, and it didn't seem to sit well with him at all. Not to mention, his fellow Australian also insulted the entire company he ran in the process.

"Now hold on right there, mate. This company is like the top of the crop when it comes to quality. So don't ya come in here thinking you know anything about how I run things, ya hear?"

"Don't be a drongo, mate. I'm also a fellow man who deals with arms and weapons." Kano said, taking out a dagger to simply hold it. "I'm just 'ear to take you up on your company offer. That anyone can become CEO of your company if the bloke beats ya in a fight, right?"

Saxton had been quick to defend his company and how he ran it, but he knew that the man was right about one thing. That anybody capable enough could become the CEO if they were able to defeat him in a fight. So yeah, now the man wanted to settle the matter through combat.

"Ah right, yeah that is true. Anyone that can beat me in a fight gets a spot as CEO. So, mate, ya want to take me up on this offer then?"

"I'm deadset. Get ready for a guttin', Hale." Kano chuckled, rolling his head around to pop the joints in his neck.

Saxton's competitive spirit was quickly ignited after hearing what the man had to say. Being the CEO meant a lot to him, and he couldn't just let anyone take it so easily simply by defeating him in combat. And this man seemed like he was definitely serious about fighting for it, which made it much more intriguing.

"Well bring it on then, mate. I'm all set to rumble right about now."

Kano got the fight started by throwing the dagger he was holding at Saxton, who managed to block it with his desk. However, the CEO wasn't about to back off and instead chose to counterattack by throwing the entire desk at him.

The fight escalated quickly as Kano managed to slice up the desk with his eye-laser, before pushing the two halves away. Although the move was effective, the man was unaware that the desk itself was a distraction and was caught off guard when Saxton was now charging full-force towards him. The CEO grabbed at his head with full intent to show the leader of the Black Dragon who he was messing with.

Kano grunted as the CEO grabbed him by his head and smashed him through a wall, sending the pair falling towards the grounds below. The wall had a perfect cut-out of Australia in it, which was a nice touch. But regardless, these two were now flying towards the ground at full speed.

"Is that all you got?"

Kano had to quickly take advantage of the situation to save himself with some quick thinking. And he did. First, he used his biotic eye to spot the perfect opening between Saxton's fingers and then fired another laser into his eyes, instantly blinding him with pain. The CEO was left wincing from the sudden flash of pain, which allowed the leader of the Black Dragon to force himself out of the grip. They were now facing their respective directions with Kano on top, and Saxton was about to hit the ground.

Saxton hit the ground hard, and the crater formed by the impact was deep enough to pick up dust and debris that now began to obscure the fight. A brief second passed before a mighty punch was heard, and Kano was sent flying and was knocked into a wooden building so hard that there was an audible crack from the woodwork, along with his grunt of pain.

Saxton got up after the powerful hit, and he seemed far more bothered by being blinded than the hard impact he sustained. He then commented on the sudden dirty playing, saying that it was fine by him.

"So we're fighting dirty, eh? Fine by me. I've flipped over Kodiak Bears with suplexes more dangerous than ya, mate."

He boasted about having flipped over Kodiak bears with suplexes and how that was even more dangerous than what the Black Dragon leader had delivered, trying to intimidate him. Kano scoffed, shaking his head with a bemused smile.

"If animals and mercenaries are all you've fought, then ya better piss off while you can, Hale."

Kano's words were enough to get under Saxton's skin a bit, as the CEO didn't appreciate being mocked for his experience. He had fought all manner of creatures and rivals, but this man was dismissing it as if it meant nothing.

"Watch who you're making fun of. I'm not just a man. I'm a weapon! Saxton Hale!"

He responded by rushing in with a punch of his own, which Kano quickly saw coming and managed to dodge. This allowed the CEO to smash right through the wall, and the impact of the strike created...you guessed it, another perfect cut-out of Australia.

Saxton made a quick return by jumping out of the building through a skylight, and after he got himself on the roof, he proceeded to go for the elbow drop. Kano's attempt to dodge resulted in him at least being pushed away from the impact, but he still managed to avoid being struck by the force of the attack. The ground had now been damaged from the hit, and some debris had fallen to the ground as the battle taking a small tumble and then getting on his feet, Kano shook his head again.

"Crickey, this bloke's mad as a cut snake." Kano said to himself quietly at how reckless, yet powerful Hale was acting. The CEO was powerful indeed, but he wasn't taking this fight very methodically and calmly compared to the assassin. He was acting more like a wild animal, which made him quite unpredictable and hard to counter.

"Attack!"

Saxton's attempt to dive in with his punch had been avoided once more. But while Kano had managed to dodge the attack, he couldn't just sit around as the man kept attacking, so he went with a counterattack.

The Black Dragon leader went for a right hook to Hale's face, left uppercut to the chin, and a right kick to his rival's chest. While the CEO took the strikes in stride, the attacks were actually doing superficial damage, unlike nothing at all in most cases. The CEO stood up, standing his ground and continuing to take the hits head on, with each blow exchanged having its effectiveness lessened until Kano's hits were like punching a brick wall of meat.

Kano was forced to gaze up towards the taller figure of Saxton as he was lifted off the ground by the neck and struggling, and he was understandably intimidated by the man's sheer size and strength.

"Nice try, mate. My turn." The CEO proceeded to launch a few quick headbutts against the man, and the strikes had damaged him a bit. The man then let go of him, and sent one last headbutt, leaving Kano to be pushed away onto the ground.

Kano groaned as he held his head, which was now bleeding from the forehead. Some of the metal plating of the man's skull was even dented, and the damage that Saxton had inflicted upon him seemed to be adding up. Despite taking the hits so well, it was clear that the damage and fatigue was starting to take its toll on the leader of the Black Dragon.

"Alright, no more Mr. Nice Guy." Kano got back on his feet, seemingly determined to keep going. He put his fists up, making it clear that he was now done with messing around and would start fighting at his absolute best moving forward.

Kano went first with his right fist, but Saxton caught it and then continued to hold it firmly. The man then threw a left elbow to continue his attack, which was also caught. But the Black Dragon had a trick up his sleeve, and when the blade of his elbow extended, it pierced through the CEO's hand. The man was taken aback by the sudden attack, and he winced sharply.

Saxton decided to retaliate and didn't let the elbow-blade attack go unanswered. He held on tight to the man's piercing elbow, and the CEO dragged Kano along with him as he smashed through the building entirely. The cyborg cried out as he was being thrown around and tossed through woodwork, windows, and everything else as he was essentially being plowed through the building like a fast farm plow through a field. The damage was being done to the wooden structure, but the man was suffering more than the actual building was.

"Properrrrty damaaaage!"

The two crashed out of the building, sending debris flying from the impact as they landed into a red sandstone wall. Saxton had clearly used some extreme force to slam the man into it, causing the wall to crack. Once the CEO had his opponent in his grasp, he proceeded to flex his muscles, resulting in the breaking of the blade and the removal of the blade from his hand. The wall was cracked, but Kano was the one that was truly suffering from the damage, covered in splinters and cuts. Saxton smiled again as he stooped down to look down closer at the downed Kano.

"You're certainly a tricky one, mate. I haven't been hurt like this in quite some time. But like everything else, your bark is worse than your bite." The CEO was definitely showing that he was enjoying this particular battle, as he had certainly been challenged in ways he wasn't used to. Saxton smiled, and he then looked down at the downed man. Although he was hurt, Saxton still seemed confident in his victory, saying that despite being hurt, he didn't think his opponent could not actually back up what he claimed. Kano didn't reply, however. When Kano didn't reply, he asked,

"Hey, don't tell me you're out already, are ya?" Saxton was surprised to find that the man didn't respond, and he thought that he had actually won the battle that quickly. He went to pick him up, but the Black Dragon had other plans. He flashed a bright red light from his eye, blinding the CEO temporarily with a grunt, after which the man was able to stab him with a butterfly knife in his right thigh.

Saxton yelled out and stepped back in pain, and he was not expecting the attack from the opposite direction. Kano had then gone for a second stab with the butterfly knife in the CEO's other thigh, making the damage done to him more severe. He then got back to his feet and delivered a devastating kick to the man's nose with the heel of his boot.

Saxton was in an even worse state after the stab in the second thigh and the kick to the nose. The man had his nose bleeding, and it was now broken as well. But it seemed like he wasn't willing to give up even after these injuries, as he proceeded to pull the knives out of his legs. He then bent the blades like spoon heads, which effectively snapped them off from the hilts. The man was clearly trying his best to resist the pain and maintain his stance, but this didn't mean that he was completely fine.

"That's it! I'm going to beat the hell out of ya!" Saxton was certainly starting to lose his cool and the fight was getting to his head. In fact, he had become far more aggressive in his fighting moves as he attempted to punch the man, but Kano had managed to dodge it. While the man smiled, thinking that he had made his rival become sloppy, Saxton was growing increasingly frustrated with the fight as it continued.

"Here, have a hot coldie." Kano was beginning to get cocky, and in order to keep up the mockery, he had taken out a molotov cocktail, lit the cloth on fire, and threw it right in the CEO's face as it crashed. The molotov cocktail exploded into fire and shattered glass, instantly blinding the man and causing the damage dealt to him to become even worse. It seemed like the Black Dragon was not giving him any room for breathing time at all, keeping up the pressure with one attack after the other.

Saxton continued to yell and curse from the molotov burning his face and piercing his skin, making him even more irritated and enraged. The anger gave Kano the opening he needed as he managed to outwit the man and run around him. He then jumped onto the CEO's back, holding on firmly and not allowing him any chance to shake him off.

Kano had pulled out the serrated blade and stabbed into the CEO's chest with it, slicing it diagonally in a vicious manner. The man's muscular frame was tough enough to hold the impact against his ribs, but the knife ended up causing a deep, bleeding cut across his chest. The wound cut across the man's chiseled pecs, showing that the damage was serious.

Kano was now standing over the CEO, with his knife held high into the air. The Black Dragon leader was prepared to deal the final blow against Saxton, and with his weapon held up like that, he uttered a cocky and witty one-liner.

"Light's out, sunshine."

Despite Kano's preparation to finally make the kill, Saxton managed to use his raw strength and the leverage of the situation to overpower him. He reached out from behind and managed to get his hands on Kano's body before he could deliver the final blow. The CEO proceeded to pull the Black Dragon off of his shoulders, and managed to slam him onto his back against the ground.

Kano yelled in pain, as his back was broken from the impact. He tried to shoot up at the CEO, but with a stomp of his boot, Saxton crushed the Black Dragon's biotic eye, while somewhat crushing his skull.

"I've had enough of ya." Saxton seemed to have reached his breaking point as he had had enough of his opponent's attacks and the damage they had inflicted upon him. The CEO was now enraged, and he showed that by making the final effort to put his rival down for good. He threw Kano up into the air and sent him flying all the way up, with the man now at least dozens of feet in the air.

As Kano was coming back down from his fall, the CEO took his chance at the perfect moment. He jumped up at the right time, and with a scream and mighty strike, he landed a devastating punch to the Black Dragon.

"Saxton Hale!" The hit was so strong that Kano literally exploded into bloody chunks from the force alone, and now his limbs and blood rained down everywhere around him. Saxton then landed back to the ground in a three point position, breathing heavily after such a difficult and intense fight.

Saxton let out a groan, clearly still exhausted and wounded despite having emerged as the victor of the fight. The man's wounds weren't as bad as Kano's, but he was definitely in need of medical attention. After all, it had been years since he had suffered actual injury of this caliber.

"Ugh. I never thought I'd say this, but I need to see that Medic goon."

He stumbled his way towards the place where he could get help for his injuries, while the scene around him was a very gruesome display of Kano's remains.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strength: Now, interestingly, both combatants had the physical strength to put each other down in one strike if they had the opportunity. Kano can chop through a titanium statue, which would require 64,000 psi to break. But Saxton boasts similar strength, since being able to punch through someone would require 45,000 psi. And given he can not only punch people hard enough that they explode, but even do that to yetis, Saxton is likely much stronger, so they're somewhat even in brute strength.

Speed: However, Hale would need to be able to strike Kano, which would be difficult to do half the time. Kano can react to Mach 3 speeds, while Saxton has never personally performed that fast, even if the people he fights and dominates are also fast enough to dodge gun and rocket fire.

Skill: This one is also interesting. Kano's dirty fighting would certainly keep putting Saxton's relatively simple grappling and boxing skills on the back foot. However, while Kano is no slouch in armed and unarmed combat, he regularly loses to fighters that are of his level. Saxton meanwhile is a big fish in his small pond, capable of fighting groups of people all at once, and coming out the winner. His only confirmed loss was due to a loophole in his company contract, refusing to fight a kid.

Experience: However, while Saxton has the superior skills as a fighter, Kano has faced a much wider variety than mercenaries and animals. Special Forces, ninjas and demigods, the only thing that Hale is bringing to the table is unusually high durability.

Powers: While Kano has the more varied arsenal in knives, explosives and tricks, none of it matters if he can't overcome Saxton Hale's aforementioned durability. The CEO can fall from any height, and not become damaged from it. Falling at terminal velocity and hitting the ground can put forces at least 600x your mass against your body. Assuming Saxton Hale is a respectable 250 lbs., this would mean he can withstand 75 tons of force with no issue. That's over twice as durable as Kano's titanium chopping feat, even if it would require Saxton being unable to defend himself for that chop to get through. Which is very unlikely.

The winner is Saxton Hale.
------------------------
Next time:

"Cowabunga!"

"I DO NOT ANSWER TO YOU. FIGHT!"

Chapter Text

Leonardo (General compilation)

Backstory:

Leonardo was a pet turtle along with three others who had been bought by a boy, but the boy tripped and the four turtles fell into a sewer drain. At the time, Hamato Yoshi had been hiding in the sewer from his enemy, Oroku Saki, and had become a friend of the rats living down there. Hamato was overjoyed to find four new friends, and welcomed the turtles into his home. At some point after, Hamato noticed the turtles covered in a glowing substance, and he touched the substance himself. The turtles had most recently touched Yoshi, causing them to quickly evolve into humanlike turtles. Hamato, having just been exposed to the rats, became a human rat. Hamato saw the turtles' potential to challenge the one responsible for the mutations to change him back to a human, and trained them in the art of ninjutsu, and naming them after some of his favorite Renaissance artists – Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello.

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Stealth Mastery,

Martial Arts,

Good leadership abilities,

Good at improvisation,

Expert at attacking his opponents indirectly by using the environment,

Weapon Mastery (Skilled Swordsman),

Ki Manipulation,

Pressure point strikes,

Healing,

Portal creation (Odachi sword),

Resistance to Perception Manipulation, Fear Manipulation (Overcame the effects of the Fungus Humungous' spores), and Electricity.

Weaknesses: None notable
-------------------------
Reptile

Backstory:

Syzoth, more commonly referred to as Reptile is a humanoid-reptilian from the realm of Zaterra, Reptile has remained one of the most recognized character in the series. He has served as a neutral and antagonistic character throughout his appearances, often siding with many other Outworlders while staying loyal to Shang Tsung. Said to be physically hideous and repulsive, he is renowned for his great stealth and unquestioning loyalty. Unlike many other henchmen, Reptile does not strive for power, nor is he inherently evil. He is caught in a delusional state of mind, obsessed with finding the last remaining member of his race, or freeing his homeworld of Zaterra from Outworld's grasp. Thus, he always remains loyal to Shao Kahn, only obeying other masters to survive and reach his goal of returning Zaterra to its former glory. While well-meaning and sincere, his obsession is so important to him that it causes him temporary fits of insanity. After Shao Kahn's death, his allegiance switches to over to Kotal Kahn, helping him to claim the throne from Mileena, whose rule he is displeased with.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Has a unique fighting style that employs acrobatic maneuvers, his bodily weapons [claws, tongue, teeth] and frequent usage of open hand strikes, especially claw strikes),

Stealth Mastery (Although he usually relies on his invisibility, he is also well known for being a capable spy and assassin without cloaking himself, preferring to observe/strike from hidden vantages),

Enhanced Senses (Has a good sense of smell),

Surface Scaling (Can adhere to surfaces with his reptilian hands and feet),

Acrobatics (Hypermobility, Self-Momentum, Surface Running. Can do cartwheels from low awkward stances, run off of walls before leaping off of them, etc.),

Adhesive Manipulation (Can generate slime from his body, turning it into a projectile or as a propellant when sliding on it),

Acid Manipulation (Can spit acid in varying amounts, from a small globule to an acid spray that can create pools. When applied in large amounts, it is corrosive enough to melt metal and an entire human body. Can create a wall of acidic mist that functions as a shield),

Invisibility (Can enter several states of invisibility, the highest state completely cloaks him without reflecting light),

Perception Manipulation (Basilisk appears to boost his perception, making his opponent appear slower while being faster than them),

Aura (Can emit a noxious cloud of poison gas that intoxicates anyone too close to him)

Weaknesses: None notable
---------------------------
Song: Way of the Reptile

Leonardo, the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was presently meditating in the sewers of the city of New York, which happened to be his home. He was presently alone in the hideout known to them as the Turtle's lair, with no one else presently seen. The leader was seated in his usual place, his mind in a state of perfect calm and clarity as he meditated. Leonardo was quite at peace with himself, with nothing to worry about as he peacefully meditated.

Whilst meditating, it would take not long for Leonardo to feel something suddenly was aiming to strangle his neck. The leader would, of course, proceed to grab hold of the tongue in response, using a combination of his ninja skills and enhanced strength to pull his assailant straight over his head with a strong tug. Having pulled his assailant over his head with a strong pull, he would then proceed to send them flying, hurling the assailant through numerous stacks of empty pizza boxes.

"You messed with the wrong turtle."

The young turtle told his latest and most recent foe, as, after getting up, the assailant proceeded to brush the pizza boxes that were on them off their scales. Said assailant began to slowly become visible, and was indeed green and scaly, having a vicious and hostile disposition to go along with this as well. This particular individual was a vicious fighter commonly known as Reptile to those that knew him, which Leonardo did not. The reptile proceeded to let out a growl at Leonardo, as the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was then taunted by him.

"Bipedal turtles are no match for a strong and deadly Saurian."

With the taunt finally coming out, the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was not about to step back from this challenge. If Reptile wanted to challenge him, he'd get his wish. The young turtle would proceed to smirk, before he then proceeded to get ready to prove his skills.

"I'll show you how hard my shell is."

Leonardo declared, now prepared to truly showcase his ninja prowess.

With no time to waste, the ruthless reptile proceeded to charge towards Leonardo, rushing in at him as he was now ready to rip the turtle up with his claws. Given his impressive agility and speed, he was about to close the distance quite quickly.

Despite the quick charge, Leonardo managed to easily parry off the incoming strikes that the reptile sent towards him. He then delivered a punch and a kick to Reptile's stomach, forcing the other to begin to step away and back. Leonardo remained quick on the move, as he evaded to the side to avoid a stream of acidic spittle that Reptile unleashed in retaliation. The acid itself was quickly dissolving a whole in the concrete wall, showcasing the immense corrosiveness of said substance. The young turtle remained disgusted and disturbed by the acid, as he quickly reacted,

"Sick."

While the young turtle was distracted by the acid spewed out by Reptile, he proceeded to leap forward with a roll to stomp on Leo's foot. The reptile then performed a backwards cartwheel once he landed, allowing him to strike the underside of Leonardo's chin with a great kick that sent the ninja leader flying high into the air.

With his head spinning from the impressive attack he took, Leo was soon able to pick himself back up from the ground, in time to see Reptile now holding a slime ball in his hands. Before he could do anything about it, the ball was then thrown towards Leonardo, forcing him to quickly parry and slice through the slime with his ninjaken sword. The slash split the slime as it passed Leo by. Without a second to waste, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle would proceed to make a snarky comment towards the creature before him, as Leonardo pointed out,

"Dude, I don't know what freaky biology class you came from to be able to upchuck all this stuff, but talk about some nasty gastro work."

He also proceeded to make a facial expression, adding more to the taunt. The young leader was trying to rattle the creature and break its concentration. Once Leonardo made his comment, Reptile growled and seemed to be taking the offense to the insult, as he then proceeded to retaliate by making a threat.

"I'll tear off your head and melt your face off for that insult."

The taunting was certainly starting to take effect, as a combination of Leonardo's mockery and his impressive skills in battle were definitely getting to Reptile's head. The leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles proceeded to further mock the other, taunting him by saying,

"Whoo, touchy. Then again, if I was a walking reptile as ugly as you, I'd also hide my face behind a facial guard too."

Reptile, not able to take any more of Leonardo's insults, would proceed to hiss as he was about to coat his feet with slime. As Leonardo made his next move, by leaping over the other, the reptile decided to stop and swivel on his foot, as he then proceeded to deliver a kick in the back of the turtle's shell. It was a powerful kick, though the turtle remained tough and took the impact from the kick quite well, though he did grunt from the blow.

The leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles remained tough and resilient, as Leonardo landed on his hands and quickly pushed himself onto his feet again. The turtle then proceeded to throw a flurry of shuriken at his foe, only for the reptile to destroy both of them with his acid spit. It would appear that Leonardo required a new plan to best reptilian monster.

The quick offensive on the turtle's part saw him proceed to make three fast slashes with his twin ninjaaken, while following up with a low kick to Reptile's shins. The creature seemed to be well-armored, however, as it didn't seem to be much trouble for the creature to counter and guard himself from the attacks. Reptile seemed to be quick enough to block the blows, while his tough scaly hide was able to with standing the blows. He definitely seemed to have some impressive defense.

With a plan in mind, Leonardo now proceeded to spin around as he extended his ninjaken outwards, aiming to land some hits on his foe. Reptile proceeded to jump over the spinning turtle, and then landed behind Leonardo. The turtle quickly reacted though, as he managed to swiftly pull back and then land a flurry of well-placed swordsman strikes against the Saurian.

Reptile was definitely a skilled combatant, as even through the onslaught of blows from Leonardo, the reptile was able to knee the turtle in the gut, while his uppercut under the chin sent the ninja flying into the air. With another impressive leap, Reptile would perform a spinning kick, sending Leonardo flying backwards.

Reptile could feel like he was getting the upper hand, as Leonardo's grunts could be heard while being sent skidding across the concrete floor of the lair on his shell. The turtle, however, wouldn't be done so easily, as the leader proceeded to pull off an impressive move as flipped off his shell, before landing on his feet before the wall of the lair. Retreating into the shadows, Leonardo would blend into the environment, utilizing his stealth skills.

While looking around with heightened observation, the creature proceeded to smell the cold and dark sewers. He may have had a tough time distinguishing the turtle's scent, though Reptile would proceed to continue searching.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are, turtle. I'll feast on your carcass and make turtle soup with your flesh inside my hungry stomach."

Reptile, who was quite focused, would cry out as Leonardo suddenly dropped onto him from the ceiling. The turtle slashed across the creature's back from above, before kicking the creature to the floor, though it was obvious Leonardo was not happy about the situation. As he had the other on the ground, Leonardo would say with irritation,

"Why does everyone want to make soup out of us? I doubt turtles make for a good soup foundation."

Reptile, irritated and annoyed, would proceed to simply growl when he finally managed to disappear from sight, becoming invisible. Leonardo, in return, would chuckle to himself and say,

"Seriously, dude? Doing my thing in my home? We'll see about that."

Leonardo, as always, seemed to be keeping his cool under pressure. Leonardo sheathed his ninjaken swords into their holders, though proceeded to remain on the move, and he remained on the lookout for Reptile. The turtle remained alert for his foe, waiting for his next move.

The teenaged ninja turtle, upon reaching one of the skateboards belonging to Mikey, who had likely forgotten them in the area, he came to a halt. Leo then proceeded to flip the skateboard into his hands after stomping the tip of that one end to lift it up. Leonardo then swung the skateboard around with a great twirl, smacking Reptile square in the head with it, as he proclaimed,

"Got ya!"

Despite the force of the blow to the head with the skateboard, Reptile was rather resilient, for he managed to overcome the pain soon afterwards. With surprising speed, the reptilian monster would recover, and once the ninja blades came after him again, he proceeded to parry them and grab hold of Leonardo's wrists. Having the turtle's wrists locked in his grip, the powerful creature then proceeded to slice through the sharp ninjaken with his claws, slicing the blades apart.

Leonardo, caught off guard and unprepared, wouldn't be able to prevent what was about to happen. Reptile quickly took the opportunity, proceeding to grip the ninja's jaw, before dislocating it with a violent CRACK! The creature then proceeded to jab his clawed thumbs into Leonardo's eyes, before shoving the turtle's head into the concrete floor with a loud THUD!

The ninja turtle cried out in pain as he was suffering from the onslaught of attacks, though he did his best to endure it, as Leonardo then proceeded to roll and reach for a ninja climbing claw from his belt. With the climbing claw in-hand, the turtle proceeded to swing his arm with the claw upwards into Reptile's face, slashing the creature across the face with the claw's sharp spikes.

The creature was clearly hurting, as Reptile was hissing in pain after getting his face slashed with the climbing claw. With his hand over his face, he backed away from the ninja turtle. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Leonardo proceeded to drop a smoke bomb by his feet. It detonated, soon turning the lair into a dense haze.

In the moment of chaos, Leonardo managed to find a safe place to meditate, as he then proceeded to plant himself in a spot with his legs crossed. Despite his injuries, which consisted of a broken jaw and destroyed eyes, Leonardo would continue to fight, even though the odds seemed to be stacked against him. He took a deep breath, then began to meditate while making various hand signs, and using his healing technique he received from Master Splinter.

With a swift motion, Leonardo forcefully snapped his jaw back into place with a CRACK! The turtle then continued to heal himself with his mystical energy, restoring his eyesight, even though it was blurred to some degree. Leonardo winced after healing himself, as he proclaimed,

"Ow. That really hurt."

While Reptile was proceeding to do his best to try to sniff out Leonardo in the lair, the turtle in-question would slowly come out on his own, now fully healed. Upon arriving, Leonardo would then proceed to say,

"Hey! Over here, you ugly freak!"

Despite being surprised that his prey healed so quickly, Reptile decided to smile to the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as they reunited again. The creature then proceeded to say,

"There you are!"

The lizard monster would then try to end this now, by extending his tongue in the turtle warrior's direction, though Leonardo would proceed to quickly summon his mystical ōdachi saber and generate a portal. After jumping through it, the turtle successfully evaded the long tongue.

The ninja's portal technique had managed to surprise the monstrous villain yet again, as Leonardo proceeded to disappear through a portal before quickly arriving behind the other. However, the turtle's sneak attack was thwarted by Reptile, who then proceeded to duck under the attack. However, Leonardo used this opportunity to perform a roundhouse kick, which sent the monster into the air. The turtle then proceeded to quickly re-appear with his mystical ōdachi before slashing Reptile 3 times across the chest in a blur.

Reptile, who was left on his back, would be bleeding from where Leonardo had struck his chest in the attack, though the creature would attempt to rise again in spite of the damage he took, as he growled at the turtle.

"No fair."

Leonardo, in response to his complaint, would proceed to say,

"Yeah, well life ain't fair. Get over it."

Leonardo, who soon disappeared through another portal once again, was soon anticipated by the monster. The other proceeded to quickly turn behind him and threw a powerful punch which connected with the back of Leonardo's shell. The turtle would manage to tank the impact though, and despite the connection being solid, the bones on the creature's hand would proceed to break on impact, as the turtle's shell would prove to be too tough to break through.

Reptile would proceed to cry out in pain after breaking various bones, as Leonardo used the opportunity when the monster could no longer fight back, and proceeded to thrust his mystical ōdachi into the creature's gut, then swiftly stabbed the creature into the wall of the lair with nowhere else to go.

It was obvious Reptile was resilient and tenacious, as the creature tried to use his long tongue yet again. Leonardo, however, would proceed to grab and then cut the tongue off with a kunai, before then going on to tightly grab the reptile's throat to prevent the usage of acid spit. Leonardo, having no other option due to the extreme nature of the battle, proceeded to shout in retaliation,

"Try and melt this."

The turtle leader then proceeded to grab a small but explosive bomb, which he then shoved down Reptile's throat, as he then proceeded to jump away and get out of the explosive's range. Reptile, struggling as he proceeded to claw at his throat, would attempt to melt the explosive using his acid, though that only resulted in a build-up of acid in the monster's throat, which bulged out before his head suddenly exploded off, the body of the creature soon slumping.

Leonardo, with the monster finally being defeated and taken care of, would proceed to exclaim,

"Whew, I can certainly go for a pizza after this."

With nothing else to worry about, the ninja would then proceed to go to have a well-deserved dinner as he awaited for the rest of his team to return. He had certainly earned himself a peaceful meal after such an intense encounter.
-------------------------
Strength: So, when it comes to pure strength, Leonardo has the distinct advantage. Sure, Reptile being able to fight with Johnny Cage means he has the comparable to break diamond, which in the Death Battle episode, I converted to being able to punch with 56 tons of force, but the ninja turtle is able to topple a presumably granite pillar onto a bug, the pillar estimated to be 240 tons. Nearly 4.3X stronger.

Speed: This category is much steeper. Reptile scales to Kabal, who can deflect automatic gunfire at Mach 3, but Leonardo has dodged lightning up close, at about Mach 286. Almost a hundred times faster.

Skill: Both are relatively even in their skill, but I'd say that Leo is the more skilled, given that he's been trained under a ninjutsu master ever since he could walk, but Reptile has likely fought longer than any Leonardo in his canon iterations where he's a teenager.

Experience: Leonardo is certainly no stranger to fighting fellow reptilian creatures or ninja like fighters. In fact, Leonardo is much more successful at facing threats on his level and even relatively over, such as the Shredder, compared to Reptile who doesn't seem to be anywhere near to be one of the best fighters.

Powers: While Reptile's invisibility and acid spit are usually pretty dangerous for someone of his type, Leo is perfectly capable of handling sneaky opponents like him, is likely to dodge the acid, both thanks to his ninja training, and his various uses of ninja tools, healing, and the ōdachi saber would always keep Reptile on the back foot.

The winner is Leonardo.
----------------------
Next time:

"This will be the story of how I became the greatest demon lord of all!"

"Leaving a big scar in this world... that's my life's goal."

Chapter Text

Alexander Anderson

Backstory:

He is an expert monster hunter and the arch-rival of Alucard. He lives in Italy, operating an orphanage outside Vatican City. Anderson's body is genetically modified to be a Regenerator, a superhuman able to fight supernatural creatures. He serves as the foil to Alucard, as both an antagonist and type of anti-villain.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Regeneration (The ability to heal wounds that would normally leave large scars, such as severe burns or deep injuries. For machines and vehicles, this would be regenerating damage that would normally leave large dents and openings.),

Immortality (Mainly healing factor),

Forcefield Creation,

Holy Manipulation,

Sealing,

Teleportation,

Expert Bayonet Wielder,

Limited Power Nullification (Can negate basic vampire regeneration via his holy bayonets)

Augmented with the Helena's nail, same as before, along with Regeneration (High-Mid, can regenerate as long as the stake in his heart isn't pulled out),

Holy Vine Manipulation (Can generate holy vines from his body),

Holy Fire Manipulation (Can generate holy flames which burned all of Alucard's familiars)

Weaknesses: His regeneration cannot regrow limbs blown off by equipment like Alucard's Jackal If the Nail is ripped out, it rips out his heart with it, killing him.
——————————
Damte Alighieri

Backstory: Having previously experienced a difficult childhood, Dante had participated in the Third Crusade in the late 12th century, committing unforgivable acts in the name of God. During a raid on Acre by the forces of the Kurdish leader Saladin, Dante was slain by an assassin and brought before Death, who condemned him to everlasting damnation in Hell with the souls he had ruined.

Unable to accept such a fate, Dante challenged Death to battle, to which he was the victor. Returning home, he learned that his lover Beatrice was killed and Lucifer had taken her to Hell. Resolving to save her, Dante descended through Hell's nine circles to save her from the devil's clutches.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Immortality (Type 7),

Scythe Mastery,

Status Effect Inducement (Has various attacks and powers that can induce Blindness and Stun),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can interact with souls, and the non-corporeal spirits of Hell),

Soul Manipulation (Absorbs the souls of enemies he kills. He can covert these souls into mana for his magic-based abilities, or use them in enhance his skills. He can also absolve souls, removing sin from them),

Magic,

Health and Mana Absorption (Can increase his health and mana after killing enemies),

Acid Manipulation with Putrid voice (Vomits deadly acid in an area around him),

Attack Reflection (Retribution and the Eyes of St. Lucia can deflect enemy projectiles),

Possibly Instinctive Reaction (With Filippo's Rage, he can automatically react to attacks from enemies),

Fire Manipulation (Can cause his scythe to be surrounded with fire and increase his attack damage),

Ice Manipulation (Can shoot ice shards with Righteous Path),

Forcefield Creation (Divine Armor forms a shield around him, and Heaven's Embrace creates a large barrier of energy),

Statistics Amplification,

Holy Manipulation (Can weaponize various forms of holy energy, and utilize it to smite unholy creatures, reducing them to souls),

Regeneration (Mid-Low through various abilities),

Energy Manipulation,

Light Projection,

Resistance to Acid Manipulation with Guiding Flame

Weaknesses: None noticeable
———————————————
Song: Divine Hell

Alexander Anderson, a priest of the Catholic Church, was walking along in the orphanage that he ran in the Vatican. It was his off time, and he was reading a bible despite his usually busy schedule of slaying vampires and the wicked. The man remained focused on his reading as he walked, seemingly having a bit of peace despite what he normally dealt with throughout the day.

Walking in the opposite direction towards the priest was Dante Alighier, a crusader who had found himself lost. Despite the difficulty in finding his beloved, Beatrice, the man was no less determined to find her. He remained steadfast and focused, and his only objective was to locate his lover.

Alexander came to a stop as he caught the scent of Dante's presence, and the man was not hesitant at all to call out his suspicions. With a clear Scottish accent, he called out to the crusader, who had yet to notice the priest.

"Your stench. It reeks of the wicked."

The man then proceeded to close his book, storing it away in his coat before he approached the crusader with more purpose in his steps.

When the crusader stopped, and he turned around with his cross-shaped tapestry sewn into his abdomen visible, he had already caught the priest's eye. The man had come to a stop, and he spoke to the priest back with a tone filled with both shame and resolution.

"Haven't we all sinned, Father?"

The words were indeed true, as all people have sinned and fallen short. Alexander looked at the crusader with a sense of understanding, knowing that they were not the only sinners of this world.

"Aye, but you don't smell like a human lost on his path." He took a deeper sniff, feeling his bloodlust rise. "You… smell of sin itself." Alexander Anderson drew from his coat two blessed bayonet blades, holding them in the shape of a cross. The priest had his senses awakened from the scent of this crusader. And the man was not wrong at all, as he definitely had a scent of sin about him like the actual devils themselves. Now that he had drawn his weapons, it was clear that the priest wasn't going to tolerate this sin any longer. "As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. Amen." Alexander quoted the bible, as he usually does before going on the warpath.

Dante was definitely one to stand up for himself rather than take any threats lying down. The man drew Death's scythe from his back, the unholy weapon boasting considerable size and power, which had been taken directly from the deity itself. He was willing to face the priest with his weapon, despite his own sins, as he was determined to complete his objective.

"I may have committed sin, Father, but I will not let you stop me from finding my Beatrice."

Alexander spoke no more as he started on the offensive. He charged forward, a flurry of pages flying around him, which had apparently come from the bible inside the coat. It was a powerful and ominous sight, even amidst the already intense and dangerous situation. Dante then swung his scythe back at the charging priest, intending to slice him in half, but missed as Anderson jumped over the weapon.

Anderson attempted to bring his blade down onto Dante's head, but the crusader had reacted fast and was able to deflect the attack. Instead of allowing him to successfully plunge the bayonet blade into his head, the crusading man had swiftly moved his scythe around, deflecting the attack. But that wasn't where Dante had stopped, as he swatted the priest away with the blunt end of his unholy weapon, knocking the man away from himself.

Alexander was certainly not one to hold back in his attacks as he continued to charge forward with more support from the bible pages and holy glyphs. He attempted to swing his bayonet blade again, but he found himself locked in a stalemate with the crusader and the unholy scythe, the two supernatural beings seemingly evenly matched in strength and skill.

Alexander and Dante were locked in a battle of opposing offences, with the priest relying on his bayonet's swiftness and ease of use to overwhelm the crusading man. The crusader maintained his position with his own scythe, pushing the priest back with its greater reach and weight to keep him on his toes. The two supernatural beings were clearly evenly matched even in their styles and approaches to the battle, but neither one was stepping back for even a moment, as the intensity and the violence were only increasing.

Dante made sure to take advantage of any opportunity he could find, and when he saw a small opening, he went for it. He attempted to decapitate the priest with a swift strike of his weapon, but Anderson had quickly reacted and rolled out of the way, just barely avoiding the strike. The scythe did end up striking the ground with great force as it attempted to get the man, and it left a deep crack in the stone.

Alexander had another trick up his coat sleeve, taking out an additional set of three blades, and he suddenly threw them at the crusader. Not expecting ranged attack from the priest, the crusader only had time to react and deflect four of them with his scythe, with the remaining two stabbing into his body and his left arm. Dante was not immune to the blades, and his wounds were quite painful, but he did not let that slow him down from continuing his attack.

Anderson began to laughing as he kept throwing the bayonet blades when Dante began to counter them as the crusader managed to take out the cherished item of his lover, Beatrice's silver cross. The man then used it to launch a barrage of crosses made of holy energy, which successfully destroyed the weapons that were attacking him. The counter-attack by the crusader actually managed to harm the priest as well, as it caused him to flinch in pain rather than continuing his own offensive.

Alexander looked baffled at the way the sacred cross was being used. The priest had never seen such an application for a holy symbol like that before, and he was surprised by how it was being used as a weapon.

"Holy-What kind of blessing is this that you have to use the sacred cross in such a manner?" He questioned the crusader on the blessing that allowed him to use it in such a manner, having never come across something like that. The crusader, after removing the bayonets sticking in his body, remained unfazed by the question, and said confidently, and compassionately, with a smile.

"My love gave my this blessing, Father. With this cross, even I can have a piece of her with me at all times. I can even use it to absolve the damned of their sins."

However, this angered the priest, Alexander gritted his teeth, his face now full of rage and anger. Only God had the right to forgive those who were worthy of it, and it was not a right that a random crusader could possess. He spoke out against Dante,

"Only God alone has the right to forgive those worthy of it, and it is not a right that a man could truly possess! You have no privilege to absolve any one of their sins, you heretic!"

Anderson had gotten back on the offensive, and was now charging at Dante once again, but that was not the only one being impacted by these cuts and strikes as the crusader attempted downward strike. In his own attack against the priest, Dante was cut across his chest, a bloody x now evident on his cross shaped tapestry while Anderson nearly lost his left arm at the elbow. The cut left a very real mark, and the man's chest was now stained with his own blood.

Even despite the wound that the crusader had sustained from the slash across his chest, he refused to remain down, and continued the battle. The crusader's scythe had successfully split the ground underneath him, letting Dante take advantage of the gap in his defences and attack with his own strike. The blade successfully cut into Alexander's coat, making it now wet with blood. The priest's grey jacket was now stained with his own blood, the cut having caused it to begin to drip down the back.

The crusader's strike caused a cry of pain from the priest, the man having felt the gash in his own back. However, the damage was immediately healed by his healing factor, and his body did not allow itself to remain that injured. He then showed off one of his own tricks, throwing out a chain equipped with bayonet blades which he successfully managed to swing down at the crusader, causing the blades to bury themselves into his body, Dante wincing from the damage. But what Dante really didn't anticipate was for Alexander to yell,

"Exploding chain!"

The hilts of the bayonets connected to the chain sparked with a little fire, before the crusader was caught in an intense explosion. The crusader managed to stay on his feet, even after being hit by the intense explosion. This was a testament to the strength of the crusader, and would certainly not be the last time he would surprise Alexander. Dante then rushed towards the priest with his silver cross, a line of sharp ice crystals following his path. He then used the cross against the priest with a burst of holy light, before grappling the man and throwing Anderson over himself, impaling the priest against his own ice crystals.

"I will not fall to a blasphemous fool such as yourself!" Alexander, though in pain, was still fighting fiercely, his determination to rid the land of this crusader evident. He then took out another bayonet from his left sleeve, and swiped it at Dante's right arm, attempting a clean cut. The crusader cried out, not expecting Anderson to keep going despite the damage.

The crusader took a step back, using his cross to cauterize his own wounds, but this action hurt more than he realized. He cried out in pain, but he was still fighting, determined to continue the battle through the pain he felt. Alexander pried himself free from the ice crystals, and despite the many puncture wounds covering his body, his healing factor was slowly closing them all one by a one.

"You see? You cannot win against a true man of his faith. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Amen." Alexander, with the quote from the bible and a maniac grin, was confident that he would win this battle of faiths. The priest truly believed that his belief in the bible and his unwavering faith would help him come out on top against this crusader heretic. The man would not give up, and only continued to fight with renewed strength.

Alexander's eyes widened when he saw the crusader beginning to glow with light. At first, he had thought that things would play out in his favor and that he would have the victory in this battle between faiths. But things had changed when Dante activated Redemption, with the cross on his chest glowing blue, while the crusader himself shined with a red light, more light radiating from his back like angel wings, further highlighting his wounds as they begun to heal thanks to the Divine Armor's magic.

"You might be holier than I by God's morals, Father, but I will not stop until I've found my Beatrice." Dante spoke to the priest with conviction, his determination to find his Beatrice apparent in his voice. The crusader maintained the confidence and bravado that he had always possessed, and he continued to show no fear in the battle of faiths between the two men.

Anderson knew that the battle with this crusader would indeed prove to be a worthy one, one that could easily rival his fight with Alucard. This battle between faiths would showcase the might of both the faith in God and the faith in one's love and determination.

""With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes." Amen."

The priest quoted the bible again and held the bayonets into the shape of a cross once more, fully prepared for the next confrontation between the two opponents. Dante continued on with the battle, with his remaining arm wielding the scythe with the powerful fires of Hell burning across its curved blade. The crusader was walking towards the priest as well, with the belief in his heart, and the faith that he was walking the right path and that he would be the one to end this fight with a victory. The battle of faiths would continue, and both men would give their all to the fight.

Alexander continued his onslaught on Dante, throwing more bayonets at the crusader. The blades hit their target, one after another, striking the man and leaving a nick in his body. However, the crusader remained undeterred, and each small piece of damage was quickly healed by his impressive healing factor. Despite the damage that was being inflicted on him, the man only continued to advance towards the priest, completely unbroken in his advance.

Seeing the impact that Dante's newfound power had on him had indeed changed the entire battle significantly, so it made sense for Alexander's smile to disappear. The crusader was now proving to be more of a challenge than he had originally anticipated. Regardless, the priest remained unfazed, and instead yelled back as he charged him, "Die!" Dante felt the same, and the intensity of the battle only grew.

Anderson attacked ferociously, slashing and stabbing into the crusader with all he's got, trying his best to overwhelm the opponent and make him yield, and gain a clear advantage. But as he attacked, the crusader had gained a significant increase in strength and speed, which he also showed no reaction to as his wounds were healing just as quickly. The two continued on with their battle, neither side backing down in the slightest.

Alexander was beginning to see that he was slowly being overwhelmed by Dante. The bayonet attacks were showing little to no effect on the crusading man, especially with his powerful healing factor working against his own attacks. On the other hand, this healing factor was slowly starting to get overwhelmed with the continuous attacks from the crusader, who was attacking at a much faster rate than the priest could keep up with.

Dante switched his focus and his weapon once more as he managed to cut off both of Alexander's arms. The crusader then took advantage of the opportunity, and charged up the cross with holy energy before thrusting it into the priest. This action created a construct of a giant cross of light which knocked Alexander to the ground, the man left in a bloody mess as blood began to pool up beneath him.

Anderson struggled to get up as his body slowly healed, but had been pinned to the ground by the four crosses of energy, and remained utterly helpless as the crusader approached him. The priest's gaze remained steady as he locked his eyes with the crusader, and he knew that his fate was almost sealed.

The crusader held his beloved's cross tightly in his grasp, and thrusted it deep into Alexander's chest. The energy from the cross began to seep deep into the priest's body, the seering pain overwhelming him and causing him to scream in agony. The attack was doing severe damage to the priest.

Then, after a few more seconds, Alexander's body exploded into light and dust. Alexander had managed to keep himself from immediately dying by the power of his healing factor, but he had definitely reached the limit of that power. The priest knew that he could not go on, and he felt his body begin to lose its strength and light started to seep through him. He was done, and death was inevitable. His body exploded into light and dust, and the battle between the two men had now come to a conclusion.

"Is this the end? Is this what God had planned for me? I don't want to go yet from this beautiful Earth. I wished I could've heard the laughter of the children, one last time. "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted." Amen." Alexander uttered, feeling regret to not have accomplished all of his goals in life in God's name.

Anderson's final words as his life finally drew to a close, and his body slowly began to fade away, were indeed those of regret. This priest had not given up, and had fought quite valiantly against his opponent until the very end. However, he admitted that there was still so much more he had wanted to accomplish in the name of God, and that had left him with a sense of regret. He was leaving Earth, but without having completed all of his goals in life. This was indeed his time to die, and he knew that.

"You have lived, and fought well, Father. If you so wish, I can absolve you of yours sins, and ensure you enter through Heaven's gates." Dante offered, holding Beatrice's silver cross. Anderson looked up at Dante with weary eyes as his body continued to fade. He had indeed lived, and fought as well as he had been capable. In the end, he had finally been overcome, and it was now his fate to die. But that did not mean he had no regrets. Seeing the cross in Dante's hands, the priest spoke with a tired voice, knowing that he had fought well, and that his own salvation was now in the man's hands.

"Nay. If I am to be accepted to Heaven, I'd rather it to be God's judgment, and his judgment alone. I have done everything in his name, and to go to Heaven with anyone's help would be blasphemy." Alexander spoke, keeping to his faith in God even to the end. The priest held strong in his faith to the very end, as he refused to accept Dante's offer. Anderson truly believed that if he was to be accepted to Heaven, it had to be God's judgment and God's judgment alone. He felt that any other way would be blasphemy, and he did not want to commit such a thing even in the face of death. He truly stuck to his faith to the very end, and would entrust his fate to God.

Dante respected the priest's decision, and after the cross had been placed back on his hip, he stood up and turned to leave. He would not interfere any further, and allowed Alexander to die in the way he had sought. The crusader would let the priest have his fate, and now walked off, leaving Anderson to pass away as he wished.
————————————————————————-
Strength: Alexander Anderson may have been the Vatican's greatest paladin, but against this particular crusader, his inhuman strength fell short. His power compared to that of Alucard, but Dante could fight toe to toe with Lucifer, the fallen angel who, when compared to the king of the vampires, is a god of the damned.

Speed: When it comes to speed, both were surprisingly equal. Anderson scales to Alucard, who was able to react to and catch a bullet traveling at Mach 1500. Dante, meanwhile, could move fast enough to prevent Lucifer from flying from the bottom of Hell to the exit in six seconds. That would require moving at Mach 1560, if Hell were to take place at the center of the Earth.

Skill: It is hard to say how skilled they are compared to one another. One was literally built as a regenerative weapon, while the other has the skill to prevent Lucifer from overthrowing God. They appear to be relatively equal.

Experience: Alexander was born to kill vampires and the undead, and could give Dante a run for his money, but was a bit too specialized in them by comparison, whereas Dante has fought all manner of Hellish creatures through all the nine circles, up to Lucifer himself, a fallen angel. Dante is certainly more experienced in fighting a variety in foes.

Powers: Anderson's greatest powers were his unlimited supply of bayonets and healing factor. Being able to never be without a weapon is useful, and his healing factor is superior to Dante's, being able to regrow limbs and survive being fatally shot, but these alone would not be enough. His bayonets may be blessed, but Dante is human, so it would not be any different to being hurt by an average blade. Not to mention, Alexander can still be pushed back and needs a moment for his healing factor to completely heal the damage. Dante's cross from Beatrice can certainly keep his flying bayonets at bay, his powers of fire and ice allows him versatility, and his super forms of Redemption, Divine Armor, and even Lust Storm would provide him the defensive and offensive tools he needs to stonewall anything Alexander could throw at him. Even Helena's Nail wouldn't likely change much, for even with a stronger healing factor, Dante could more than likely rip the nail out if given the chance.
——————————————————-
The winner is Dante Aligheri

Next time:

"This will be the story of how I became the greatest demon lord of all!"

"Leaving a big scar in this world... that's my life's goal."

Chapter Text

All for One

Backstory:

Once Japan's most powerful villain, and All Might's arch-nemesis, his ultimate goal was to steal One For All, the Quirk that originally belonged to his younger twin brother, and the only Quirk that can oppose him. He was the mentor of Tomura Shigaraki, having spent the young villain's life shaping him into a successor, and a vessel for his power in a plan to eventually conquer the world as a self-proclaimed "demon lord".

He was imprisoned in Tartarus after his second defeat at All Might's hands until he escaped several months later, single-mindedly focused on destroying the ninth wielder of One For All, Izuku Midoriya, to complete his century-long plan.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Supernatural Willpower,

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Possesses over a hundred years worth of experience, and should be superior to his protege Shigaraki)

Longevity (With Life Force)

Biological Manipulation, Power Absorption, Power Bestowal, and Fusionism (Quirks are genetically inherited powers, and he is able to steal, bestow, and even combine multiple biological powers to manifest a new one, such as Warp Gate)

Fear and Illusion Inducement (His mere presence caused hallucinations of death to Deku, Todoroki, Red Riot, Ingenium, and Creati)

Levitation (Can freely move in the air)

Air Manipulation (Can fire large air blast from his arms)

Infrared Vision

Attack Reflection (Can reflect the impact of a physical attack back to the attacker)

Body Control (Can coil his muscles like springs to boost his striking force and grow additional arms and protrusions)

Extrasensory Perception and Information Analysis (Can monitor up to 100 people and analyze their weaknesses)

Statistics Amplification (Can improve his muscular strength with his Quirks)

Bone Manipulation (Can grow drill-like protrusions out of his bones)

Teleportation (Can teleport other people with his warping Quirk)

Limited Body Puppetry (Can forcibly activate other people's Quirks)

Limited Radiation Manipulation (Can create and manipulate radio waves)

Damage Boost (With Heavy Payload)

Lie Detection (Can sense when people are lying to him)

Mind Manipulation (Possesses a Quirk that lets him take control of a person's mind and body by placing his hand on their head)

Telekinesis (Can levitate objects without touching them)

Supernatural Willpower (The power of his Quirk is an extension of his own willpower, such that he can subjugate the wills of others. Can combat the combined mental power of One For All, though not enough to take the Quirk. He possesses a strong mind that resists Shigaraki's attempts to take over their shared body)

Likely many others (Has stolen dozens, if not hundreds of different Quirks, but has not shown many of them)

Resistance to:

Fear Inducement (Able to resist Shigaraki's hatred, and even overpower it with his own willpower as just a vestige. Fought with an enraged All Might at his peak)

Possession (Can overpower Shigaraki's attempts to control his own body. When his vestiges tried to take over his body, he manage to break out of their control and force them to obey)

All Hideout Raid Arc abilities, plus:

Spatial Manipulation (Capable of warping space to attack his opponent)

Fire Manipulation (Can produce flames with Hardflame Fan)

Forcefield Creation (Can create barriers to protect himself from physical attacks, and even layer multiple on top of each other)

Enhanced Body Control (Capable of growing mouths from his arms and can grow or extend them for attacks)

Energy Projection (Can shoot out crescent shaped energy blades)

Light Manipulation (Can shoot out a massive beam of light)

Explosion Manipulation (Can produce massive explosions at will)

Electricity Manipulation (Can shoot out large bolts of black lightning)

Danmaku (Can shoot out large amount of projectiles)

Resistance to:

Fire Manipulation (With Hardflame Fan)

Weaknesses: He appears to have to physically contact a target to steal their Quirk. Each of his stolen Quirks has its own limitations and weaknesses. He is a sadist and prefers to crush his opponents emotionally before killing them.
—————————————————————————
Toichiro Suzuki

Backstory:

He is the leader of the worldwide organization of Espers, Claw, and uses his army of psychic individuals to attempt to take control over the governments of the world. In reality, though, Toichiro only uses this to make some sort of mark on the world. even if it means causing mass destruction with no real end-goal.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Telekinesis,

Psychic Energy Manipulation and Projection,

Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Acrobatics,

Sleep Inducement (Far superior to Sakurai. Induced sleep once on multiple prisoners),

Power Bestowal and Absorption,

Aura,

Forcefield Creation,

Levitation,

Explosion Manipulation,

Self-Destruction,

Extrasensory Perception (Can sense spirits and psychic auras; granted an artificial Esper long-range ESP and detected Sho while he was invisible),

Non-Physical Interaction (All Espers are capable of exorcising and fighting intangible spirits),

Statistics Amplification,

Illusion Creation,

Regeneration (At least Low-Mid. Regenerated from his entire body being twisted repeatedly by Mob),

Danmaku,

Homing Attack,

Gravity Manipulation,

Body Control (Muscle Augumentation),

Transformation (After reaching 80% his psychic aura completely changes, and reaching 100% completely changes his body),

Air Manipulation,

Heat Manipulation,

Fire Manipulation,

Ice Manipulation,

Electricity Manipulation,

Vibration Manipulation,

Resistance to Possession,

Mind Manipulation (All Espers naturally resist being possessed and mentally influenced),

and Curse Manipulation (Powerful enough Espers can resist or outright ignore the effects of curses, such as Sakurai's perfume),

Immense Pain Tolerance (Wasn't notably flinched by breaking his arms trying to break through Mob's barrier and having his body repeatedly twisted)

Weaknesses: Gets dizziness and headaches from using too much of his power, can't sustain and control his full power for too long as he will self-destruct from his own power.
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Song: All for One Hundred (Brandon Yates)

Toichiro Suzuki, president of the terrorist organization Claw, stood in the viewing deck of Seasoning City Cultural Tower, where he had a vantage point over the entire town. His calm and collected smile revealed that he was confident in his power and his abilities, and that nothing could shake his resolve to accomplish his goals. As he watched and observed his followers carry out his work, he seemed content in the fact that his mark would indeed be left upon the world.

As Suzuki looked down upon the town, he saw something disturbing to his eyes. Individuals that he did not expect were starting to fight back, people with superpowers unrelated to that of psychic abilities. The president of Claw was surprised to say the least by this sudden interruption to his plans.

A burnt man was dishing out blue fire to burn away the espers, a young woman with a fascination for blood was adapting and turning their own psychic powers against them, and a teen with an ability of ranged decay was bringing forces to dust. It appeared that this new group of fighters were individuals with quirks, though the identities remained a mystery to Toichiro. However, one thing had become apparent, the League of Villains were defending their territory.

Then, from behind, a black portal opened behind Suzuki from a wall, and a similarly well dressed man stepped through, wearing a black mask over his head.

"I saw your broadcast. Pretty bold claim to declare you'll rule the world, starting with the destruction of Japan. Who are you to make such a proclamation?"

Toichiro was caught off-guard by the sudden appearance of the masked man, having not expected to have company join him in the viewing deck of the tower. The president of Claw had been making his bold claim through a broadcast he had sent out, and would have preferred for it to remain uninterrupted. However, it seemed like he would not have it his way, not with this masked individual having made an appearance.

Suzuki turned to gaze at the masked man with a calm and collected expression, curious as to who he was, and what was the point of his visit. He answered,

"You need not know who I am. All you need know is that I am the one that will rule over this world, starting with the destruction and conquest of Japan. All in the name of my own goals, as well as the goals of my organization, Claw."

"Well, you must not be aware then. I've made my stake on Japan first. I will be its demon lord, and rule the world myself, and I refuse to share what is mine, unless you join and work for me." The man told Toichiro, flexing his intimidating aura to make him submit, but Suzuki would not be influenced.

The president of Claw was unmoved by the man's attempt at intimidation, and continued to speak in a calm and collected manner.

"Ah, I see. So you are also one with ambitions to conquer this world? And you made your stake on Japan." Suzuki paused for a moment, before asking another question in a direct manner: "And why should I submit to you? This territory is under my jurisdiction, and I shall not give up my right to it."

The man answered in a more serious tone, the hostility behind his tone revealing how serious he was about claiming Japan for his own dominion.

"Because, I am the Demon Lord. And I have no intention of sharing this with anyone else, regardless of how strong or powerful they may be. I have fought many foes, and have come out on top every single time. I will not lose to anyone, including you. So, will you join me, or will you be my adversary?"

Suzuki's eyes narrowed slightly as the man gave his answer. He had certainly revealed himself to be a powerful individual, perhaps a worthy rival for the president of Claw. Once again, it became apparent that this man was not someone to be taken lightly. Hearing the man's offer of either joining him, or becoming an adversary, Toichiro remained as calm as before.

"Is that so? We shall see if you remain undefeated, Demon Lord. You seem to be a formidable adversary, but one that I shall not back down from. So, I shall take up your second offer, and be your adversary."

"So be it." Suzuki's eyes remained calm and collected, even as the man had suddenly increased the size of his arm like a barrel before firing a blast of air that was blocked by his own psychic shield. The surroundings of the observation deck itself began breaking apart, as debris was blown away into the city below. The destruction around him did little to shake the president of Claw, as he continued to speak in a calm manner.

"So, that is what you can do? I'm not impressed. Anyone can use such child's play abilities."

Toichiro displayed a wide repertoire of abilities as he demonstrated his powers to the man named All for One. After snapping his fingers and telekinetically pushing the man against the wall, he quickly proceeded to barrage him with flames, before covering him in a tomb made entirely of ice. Finally, he finished off the demonstration with a blast of lightning that blasted the man backwards. This display of abilities revealed just how formidable Suzuki could be as an adversary.

An amused chuckle resonated from the rubble and dust, as red eyes glowed from the Symbol of Evil. Toichiro noticed this, and the Claw president wondered what was next. It became clear that the man had yet to show the full extent of his capabilities, and that he was far from being defeated. The president of Claw was about to find himself in another fight.

Suzuki's psychic barrier was pulled towards All for One by the black tendrils with red cracks, attempting to pierce through the mental energy shield with the spinning bone drill. The combination of the Quirks "Spearlike Bones" and "Rivet Stab" was utilized to great effect, adding to the power and precision of the drill. Suzuki was determined to keep the barrier intact, but would soon find out if his defensive ability could stand up to the pressure.

"You seem to believe that you're the true protagonist of this world, but there can be only one absolute being to claim such a title."

"You're right. Everyone else are only side characters. But no, I'm not the protagonist. I'm the absolute antagonist. The Symbol of Evil."

All for One responded, going even harder as he used several strength enhancing quirks to multiply the power of his bone drill, which started to pierce through the shield, if slowly so. Toichiro was unfazed by the man's claim of being the absolute antagonist, the Symbol of Evil. He still believed that he could be the one to claim the position of absolute being. Seeing the drill penetrate the shield, if gradually so, the Claw president spoke calmly yet confidently.

"So, you are the Symbol of Evil, that is indeed a fitting title for one of such darkness as yourself. However, you have yet to see the full extent of what I am able to do. The real battle starts now."

All for One finally shattered through the shield as a result of his efforts, and thought that he had pierced through the president of Claw. However, he would soon realise that he had only dealt with an illusion. Toichiro was indeed now behind him, and had prepared a psychic enhanced punch, which would soon deal a devastating blow. The Claw president was prepared to unleash his full arsenal of psychic abilities.

The punch that Suzuki had landed against All for One's masked face was not quite as successful as he had thought it would be. The punch was negated, and the force landed was even sent back into the president's own arm, courtesy of the Impact Recoil Quirk. The Claw president was momentarily stunned by this, but quickly recovered, ready to deliver another attack as he blasted the Symbol of Evil with a continuous explosion from his hand.

"Weak." Thrusting his hand through the fire, All for One grabbed Toichiro by the mouth, enwrapping him with his Rivet Stab tendrils. "Now your powers are mine." The Symbol of Evil tried using All For One's ability to steal Suzuki's powers, but found he was unable to. "What?" Toichiro looked down at the Rivet Stab tendrils wrapping themselves around his body, and at how his powers seemed to not have been affected in the slightest. All for One's ability to steal his powers was futile, much to his indignation. The Symbol of Evil could not seem to wrap his head around the fact that he could not steal the Claw president's abilities for himself. "Impossible" All for One exclaimed in disbelief, and tried again. After trying again, to no avail, he growled. "This can't be. The only power I've ever failed to steal is One For All. No matter. I don't need your abilities to crush you." Unwrapping Suzuki, he used Hypertrophy to enlarge his free arm, while also pumping it up with Air Cannon, before punching the Claw president up through the tower's roof with his combination attack, enhanced by his multiple strength enhancing quirks. Though the blunt of the attack was blocked by Toichiro's shield.

"Just how many peculiar abilities does this guy have?" Suzuki asked himself in slight annoyance as he pointed at All for One, and started shooting red lasers at him, increasing his energy output to 10%. "Disappear."

All for One dodged the continuous waves of red beams that Toichiro had shot out from his pointer finger. The Symbol of Evil eventually formed his own force field, deflecting the attacks away.

"You think you're so special? You're nothing before the Demon Lord. Everyone may think they're the protagonist of their story, but not everyone can get the ending they want. And that includes you." All for One boasted, trying to demoralize the Claw president. Suzuki's expression hardened as he glared at the Symbol of Evil. The president of Claw was not ready to be discouraged or demoralised by such words, and spoke in a more direct manner once more.

"You speak of what you know nothing of, Demon Lord. The ending I desire is one where I sit upon the position of absolute domination, ruling over this world and its people. And no one will stand in my way."

"Then you better not underestimate me." All for One dropped his shield and slashed his arm out, sending a flurry of crescent-shaped energy razor blades that were sent flying towards the Claw president. The latter was prepared to deal with this new salvo of attacks, as he raised his arm in order to shield himself from the blades. The energy that made up the crescent-shaped blades was quickly absorbed by his shield, as he prepared to send a counterattack at the Symbol of Evil.

Suzuki raised his power to 20%, and utilized his hands to encase All for One in a tomb made entirely of stone, using the roofs of the surrounding buildings to increase the power of the encasement. The Symbol of Evil seemed to have been trapped within the stone tomb, although his struggles to escape were evident. The Claw president knew that this tomb was just a temporary measure though, and that he would have to prepare himself for what came next. He started to form a ball of red and orange light to carpet bomb the area below him while All for One was distracted.

The tomb did not last particularly long, as the Symbol of Evil used his Multiplier Quirk to create multiple arms from his body, which were enlarged by his Hypertrophy Quirk. The power added by these Quirks allowed All for One to break apart the tomb with relative ease. He also used the Quirks "Black Lightning" and "Dark Ball" in order to defend against the incoming laser cannon that had been launched at him.

The attacks from both sides clashed against each other, creating a tremendous explosion that was comprised of numerous smaller explosions in the vicinity between both the villains. The explosion from this clash of powers was massive in size, and did not seem to be dying down as it expanded further and further around the two individuals. The two opponents were locked in a clash for dominance via their respective abilities, the result of which remained uncertain.

In the aftermath of the titanic clash of their respective abilities, All for One tried to sense through the smoke and mist in order to detect Toichiro's location. However, he was suddenly struck by a powerful punch from the Claw president, which was enveloped with increased gravity waves and had allowed the attack to land without triggering All for One's Impact Recoil.

All for One crashed into one of the buildings by the side, having been sent flying by the powerful punch from Suzuki. The Symbol of Evil's mask had been heavily damaged from the blow, but he himself didn't seem to have been seriously injured. Despite having been struck, All for One was able to stand up once more, dusting off his suit in the process.

"All this power, and you still don't match up to my biggest arch enemy. All you are is just flash and no substance. Even if you were a fun challenge, that's all you could ever hope to be against me, All for One." All for One talked down to Suzuki, not giving up to try and worm his way under the Claw president's skin. The Claw president did not say anything in return, though his face was set in a slight frown at the derisive remarks from his adversary.

"You want more? Fine. I've never had to use more than 40% of my power, but I suppose you are asking for it." Suzuki's eyes and mouth glowed with reddish-white light, his blood vessels becoming more noticeable, as he increased his power output to 50%, the highest level that he has reached up to now. The president of Claw also proceeded to generate red energy slashes that he unleashed at the Symbol of Evil, adding to the intensity of the clash.

All for One showcased the versatility of his Rivet Stab Quirk, as he generated a net composed of black and red tendrils that trapped the incoming red slashes. Upon managing to catch the slashes within the net, he returned the slashes back towards Toichiro in an attempt to deal some damage to his opponent.

Suzuki's growing annoyance at the fact that his power was continuing to be countered by All for One led him to use a drastic measure. The Claw president thrust his hand downwards, causing his own attack to cease its onslaught before crushing the Symbol of Evil down with a giant psychic smack, flattening every building in a radius of several city blocks. The giant imprint of a hand left by the attack only served to further highlight the sheer force of the destructive power that had been employed by the Claw president, leaving the end result of the clash in the hands of fate.

"Pathetic!" A feral yell was emitted from the centre of the imprint as hundreds of Rivet Stab tendrils emerged from the spot that had been occupied by All for One. The large numbers of these tendrils all began to advance towards the location of Toichiro, who was still within the center of the imprint. It became clear that the Demon Lord of the League of Villains was not planning to go down without a fight, even as the odds would appear to be in Suzuki's favor.

The battle was coming to a decisive point, as the two combatants stepped up their game, with Toichiro increasing his output to 80% in order to push even further in this decisive clash. The effects of the power boost were evident in the man's physical appearance, as his blood vessels became much more prominent, his eyes became reptilian, and one of his eyes began bleeding. Toichiro was not going to allow himself to lose to someone he thought was beneath him.

Toichiro decided to press his advantage in order to end this clash once and for all, as he proceeded to dive down towards All for One once more. Upon reaching his destination, the president of Claw unleashed another barrage of red and orange flames at his opponent. However, this attack appeared to have been countered, as the Symbol of Evil was able to block the attack with his own wall of fire, created with the aid of his Hardflame Fan Quirk. It seemed like neither side would be backing down, which meant the outcome of the combat remained uncertain.

Suzuki decided to put All for One on the defensive, proceeding to physically grab the Symbol of Evil and fly through multiple buildings, using the villain as he would a living, tangible shield against the various concrete and steel constructs that they crashed into. The level of the clash was becoming increasingly intense, with each side throwing more and more destructive power at the other, with the sole objective of dealing the finishing blow to their opponent. The eventual victor of this clash would be determined by who was strong enough to persevere.

All for One needed to regain control of the clash, and thus decided to unleash a flurry of quirks in an attempt to gain the upper hand again. Specifically, the villain decided to use the Spring-like Limbs Quirk, Multiplier Quirk, and the Hypertrophy Quirk along with several other Quirk enhancements in order to grow his arm into a massive, grotesque and powerful appendage. All for One then proceeded to slam his fist down into his opponent's back, sending a shockwave of unimaginable force deep into Toichiro's spine.

Suzuki gritted his teeth and bore the immense pain from the blow, feeling like his lower spine had nearly been shattered or even completely pulverized as a result of the sheer power coming from The Symbol of Evil's punch. The collision of their respective powers had sent both of them spiraling through a number of buildings, moving around like helpless dolls before they were finally able to come to a halt when they hit something that could not be easily pushed through.

The two were visibly exhausted from the clash, having taken quite a beating as they were sent crashing through multiple buildings. All for One's mask had broken off, exposing his rather scarred face covering where his eyes and ears might be found. The Claw president was also beginning to bleed from his head and his eyes, with both combatants appearing to be in a rather dire condition from the damage taken during the clash. The level of exhaustion was quite evident on both men, as they remained hunched over with panting breaths.

"You appear to be in rough shape. Was that last attack too much for someone who wishes to rule the world?" All for One couldn't help but indulge in mocking his opponent, despite the fact that he had also taken a tremendous amount of damage in the fight, having to expend some of his own efforts to survive. The Demon Lord of the League of Villains spoke with a mocking tone, and in response, Suzuki remained silent for a few moments, before finally speaking up to respond.

"Too... much... for someone like me?" Suzuki finally spoke, as he attempted to maintain a calm exterior despite the fact that he had sustained quite a bit of damage. He was making an effort to not show just how exhausted and fatigued he was. A bitter smile was flashed by the president of Claw, before he finally continued, his words dripping with contempt and malice. "I may have been weakened. But... I'm still... far above... scum like you. How could I lose… to someone who looks like his head is a scarred tumor?"

"Do... you dare mock... my appearance?" All for One roared, clearly enraged at the fact that Suzuki had mentioned and insulted his scarred face. Even if he normally kept a cool head about it, and didn't go out of his way to always hide it, the Demon Lord of the League of Villains was extremely sensitive when it came to how others perceive his appearance. All for One was clearly losing his cool at this point. "I may look disfigured and beaten, but the Demon Lord is more than just his looks. I have spent the past century and longer, building myself up to be the Symbol of Evil, manipulating everything around me to ensure that my conquest of the world is absolute. Who are you, to come in from wherever you came from, and put a wrench in my meticulously made plans?"

"Do you think… that I am just some nobody?" Suzuki snapped back, his voice continuing to be coated with malice and arrogance. "You know what you remind me of? A child under a strong front. Who goes around knowingly calling themselves a "Demon Lord"? Sounds like a typical villain one reads in a shonen. Is that what motivated you when you were a boy? A manga? What a weak inspiration."

"Is that all… you think? That I am merely some delusional, power-hungry fool that acts on whim alone? Let me clarify something to you. The term "demon" is not just used as a title to make myself appear more menacing. It represents a fundamental truth behind my mindset. A demon does not back down from a fight. A demon devours everything in its path. A demon desires absolute power. You have no idea what it means to be a demon. And therefore, you have no idea of the amount of hatred I possess. LET ME SHOW YOU!" Producing more appendages, All for One resumed the fight as he used them to fire many blasts of black lightning at Suzuki. Toichiro put up a shield to block the lightning as he flew up into the air.

Toichiro was starting to get under the Demon Lord's skin with his words, which only further spurred his anger. In response, All for One proceeded to go on the offensive again, as he unleashed several blasts of black lightning at the president of Claw. Toichiro raised a shield to protect himself from the blasts, as he ascended into the air in order to avoid getting hit by any of them. The battle was continuing to rage on as both sides exchanged attack after attack, neither of them willing to give up until the other had been completely subdued.

Suzuki demonstrated his own telekinetic capabilities, as he proceeded to uproot a significant quantity of the surrounding buildings through his sheer power. The large structures, which weighed millions of tons, were then sent crashing down upon All for One, effectively burying the villain under a gigantic pile of debris. All for One was trapped under the mountain of rubble, unable to move and practically pinned down by the sheer weight of the buildings that had been dropped atop him.

All for One desperately needed to break free of the huge pile of rubble that was being used to immobilize and effectively crush him, and thus decided to make use of one of his most powerful Quirks, Impure Beam. The Demon Lord proceeded to unleash a massive outburst of bright light energy, which managed to effectively shatter the pile of structures that was piled on top of him, freeing him. Toichiro raised a shield to protect himself from the blast, but was definitely taken aback by the amount of power being released all at once.

"I've had enough of an annoying pest such as yourself." All for One was evidently nearing his breaking point, as he finally decided to end this clash on his own terms. The Demon Lord raised his arm up into the air, as he proceeded to use a spatial manipulation Quirk to twist up Suzuki in the air like a rope. The president of Claw did his best to defend himself, but he was still being twisted at a rapid pace.

Toichiro suddenly burst out of the Demon Lord's grasp, his body exploding with an intense surge of energy as he reached 100%. The president's body was now covered in a muscular frame of a grey color, while his head was enveloped in a flaming aura. The mere transformation of the Claw president alone produced a surge of energy so powerful that it effectively destroyed several blocks worth of the environment that was already in a state of disarray.

Toichiro honed in on the Demon Lord with devastating intent, aiming to deliver a powerful punch to the villain's face. All for One spotted the incoming assault, and proceeded to retaliate with his own punch, utilizing the combined effect of the Quirk-enhanced fist that he used to strike Toichiro's back earlier. The two fists clashed with each other, creating a tremendous shockwave that shook the surrounding area.

Suzuki's punch clashed with All for One's own punch, but the president's body was still affected by the Impact Recoil Quirk that the Demon Lord typically used in his battles. The effect of this Recoil Quirk caused physical trauma to be redirected to a certain area on the villain's body as a consequence of the attack. However, the massive amount of psychic power that Toichiro had managed to output was so immense that it managed to seep into All for One's buffed up arm, causing parts of it to suddenly burst and rupture from the pressure.

Having taken significant amounts of impact from the clash and the subsequent explosion of the Demon Lord's arm, Toichiro's form was starting to glow white, as he began to spasm in agony. The enormous amount of energy that was beginning to flood the president's body was becoming much more than he could handle, as the psychic pressure only built up even more the more power he took in. It seemed as if the Claw president was on the brink of his limits here.

"He's self-destructing. His body can't contain it now." All for One was easily able to recognize that the president's body was unable to contain this unprecedented amount of power and psychic energy, which was beginning to overload the man's system and push him to the brink of self-destruction. The Demon Lord watched on as Toichiro struggled to maintain himself, knowing that he simply had no chance at this point, as the president was slowly but surely losing control of his own immense energy.

"I need to get them out of here before he detonates."

All for One realized that he needed to get Suzuki as far away from himself as possible, in order to avoid being caught in the explosion caused by the president's inevitable outburst of energy. The Demon Lord then proceeded to grab hold of the president, using his sheer strength to lift up the man and throw him as high as he could into the air. Toichiro was then sent spiraling off into the atmosphere thanks to the combined efforts of the seven strength-enhancing quirks and the powered-up Air Cannon quirk.

All for One proceeded to take a rather extreme measure in order to ensure that he was not caught in the explosion that was destined to take place, as the Demon Lord launched yet another attack at Suzuki. This time, he unleashed an enormous blast of white light, directed right at the president. The immense attack sent the president even higher up into the atmosphere, reaching the thermosphere before finally stopping.

A massive, bright explosion was seen in the sky, as the explosion caused by the impact of Suzuki's immense psychic attack burst forth. The strength of the explosion was astounding, as it was like over a million times more powerful than the Tsar Bomb. A significant portion of the planet was rocked by this unprecedented explosion, with the eventual shockwave felt by those who were within a distance of several hundred miles. The Demon Lord of the League of Villains was left staring up at the blast, knowing that he was safe this far away from it.

"What a pitiful waste."

All for One took a deep breath, as he made his way back towards his forces who defeated the Espers of Claw. The Demon Lord had managed to rid himself of a significant threat, and he planned on making a strategic retreat after his battle with Suzuki. Having fended off the president, the Demon Lord was now planning on pursuing his goal of acquiring One for All once more, and making another bid to conquer the world.
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Strength: Both of these villains are definitely some of the top tier of their class, able to give their respective heroes a run for their money. However, one had considerably more power to give. On Death Battle, both All Might and Mob were given feats, in which All Might has the punching force of 1.4 Teratons, and Mob making a giant broccoli with an energy equivalent of 21 Megatons. However, I don't think the latter is Toichiro's full power, given it was the remaining energy that Mob couldn't suck in. In the manga, Suzuki said that even if Mob ran away, he'd be caught in the explosion anyway. At Mob's top speed, and the time he had to run, the explosion would have to be 69 Teratons, about 50X greater than All for One's best output, as he could fight evenly with All Might at his prime. Even the president at 3% of his power would be nearly 1.5X stronger than All for One.

Speed: However, Suzuki would be hard pressed to hit him with anything actually lethal. All for One, when compared to All Might, could fight up to speeds of Mach 1740, whereas Toichiro, when compared to Mob, could be a little bit faster over Mach 285, at best a 6X difference. Even if I were to give them the benefit of the doubt and gave them relativistic feats, the president would likely be only as fast as the highest lightning feats, which is only a third of the reaction time as All for One's near light speed reactions.

Skill: One thing that certainly helps Suzuki for the majority of the fight is that he's spent the past 20-30 years honing his prodigious talents, becoming one of the most skilled espers of his world, along with one of the most powerful. All for One, meanwhile, never really bothered with training with his quirks, preferring to simply overwhelm his opponents with a combination of powerfully offensive quirks, and supportive quirks that makes up for any weaknesses he has that isn't his delusions of grandeur.

Experience: Both have lived their lives mostly unchallenged, especially more so with Suzuki. However, he can't compete with All for One's 100 year experiences and clever machinations ruling in the diverse, quirk filled Japan, along with being a genius that's allowed him to pull nearly everyone around like they were chess pieces, something that Toichiro can't equally boast about.

Powers: As wide and varied as this Esper's abilities are, Suzuki was always going to be put on the back foot by All for One's sheer repertoire of stolen quirks. Physical enhancement, enhanced sensory, energy projection, elemental powers and barriers were things they both possessed. However, All for One could redirect any physical attack back at Toichiro's body, control his position with Rivet Stab, and bypass his force fields with spatial manipulation if he really needed to. The two good things going for him was that his esper powers are not genetic quirks, and thus cannot be stolen, and was resistant to any mind manipulation that demon lord may force on him.

The winner is All for One
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Next Time:

"Sniff sniff…Oh! Hey, let's play! Meow!"

"Have a pleasant journey through the Nine Courts of Judgement!"

Chapter Text

Taokaka

Backstory:

She is a respected warrior of the Kaka clan, who is attempting to apprehend Ragna the Bloodedge and use the bounty to secure a new homeland for the Kaka. Though she quickly forgets the task and ends up befriending Ragna due to him feeding her. Ever since then she refers to him as "Good Guy" and helps him in whatever way she can, even if her help can be... superfluous.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Weapon Mastery,

Martial Arts,

Acrobatics,

Enhanced Senses (Her senses can detect Izanami),

Pseudo Duplication and Damage Reduction (via Super Tao),

Hammerspace (Can carry a seemingly endless amount of junk that she tosses as projectile),

Body Control (Can manipulate her body in superhuman ways),

Summoning (Can summon little Kakas to help her in battle),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can hit Arakune),

Statistics Amplification,

Shockwave Generation (Capable of blowing people away by bursting),

Regeneration Negation (Up to High-Godly; is able to utilize Ars Magus, a weapon capable of killing the Black Beast, a creature that has the ability of Self Observation, which is what Terumi used to regenerate from Hakumen's Time Killer)

Resistant to the following:

Poison Manipulation, Madness Manipulation, Biological Manipulation, and Statistics Reduction (Everybody can resist Seithr to some extent which is poisonous, can induce addiction and deteriorate bodies, as well as reducing the power of others),

Paralysis Inducement (Could fight Hakumen without getting paralyzed),

Explosion Manipulation.

Weaknesses: Is ditzy and quite dumb. Always wants food and considers anyone who gives her food as a "good guy".
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Hsien-Ko

Backstory:

Hsien-Ko and her sister Mei-Ling were twins born in a family of chinese hermits, whose village was once attacked by a pack of Darkstalkers. Their mother sacrificed herself by using a powerful spell to annihilate the monsters, condemning her soul to be trapped in darkness in return. In order to free her, Hsien-Ko and Mei-Ling unleashed a forbidden ritual which turned them both into supernatural creatures and allowed them to hunt the Darkstalkers as Darkhunters. Hsien-Ko gained incredible strength and special powers, though with the risk of falling victim of her savage new nature. Mei-Ling then developed the ability to transform into a talisman and place herself on her sister's forehead, preventing her from losing control.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Multiple Selves (Like Venom),

Immortality (A Jiang-Shi is a resurrected corpse, and she states numerous times to be an undead),

Longevity,

Weapon Mastery (Expert is using her claws and many other weapons),

Dimensional Storage (Hides dozens of weapons under her clothes),

Skilled Martial Artist (Her fighting style incorporates several types of kicks),

Acrobatics (Can somersault while jumping, fight and defend in mid-air, land on her feet after being hit, spin with her claws over a downed opponent and perform moves such as Houten Geki and Senpuu Bu),

pseudo Flight (Can walk on air),

Teleportation (Instead of dashing, she teleports for brief distances),

Sound Manipulation and Attack Reflection (Via Henkyou Ki),

Summoning (Via Tenrai Ha and Chireitou),

Explosion Manipulation (Via Chuukadan),

minor Shockwaves Creation (Via Tenrai Ha),

Status Effect Inducement (Some of the weapons thrown with Anki Hou have a "stun" effect),

Statistics Amplification (Via Rimoukon),

Berserk Mode (Losing Mei-Ling's protection causes her to go berserk),

Soul Manipulation (Every Darkstalker is able to collect the souls of defeated enemies and use them for a variety of purposes, such as absorbing them to become stronger),

Passive Aura,

Corruption (Type 2) and Madness Manipulation (Type 2) (All the Darkstalkers give off an aura that corrupts the heart of the opponents and drives them insane),

Non-Physical Interaction (Able to interact with Pyron, who doesn't have a physical form, and with Bishamon in Vampire Savior, whose body is made of souls),

Resistance to Soul Manipulation (Possesses a very strong soul, due to it being directly connected to her power. Souls such as her own, if separated in multiple parts, are able to draw each piece to the other and return one),

Corruption and Madness Manipulation (Totally unaffected by the aura of other Darkstalkers)

Weaknesses: A strong mind/spirit can resist the madness-inducing effect of her aura and a dark heart can resist the corruption.
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Song: Claws and Spikes

In Orient Town, at sunset, one could find Taokaka, a member of the humanoid cat-like Kaka Tribe, hanging out in a alleyway. She had managed to procure herself a meal, and was now eating it in relative peace.

"Nya! So tasty! Taokaka loves these steamed buns!" Taokaka continued enjoying the steamed buns with a delighted expression, as she devoured her favorite food. The catgirl seemed to be in her own little world, content with the meal in front of her. She was enjoying the buns so much, she paid no attention to her surroundings.

Walking on the streets, the Jiang-Shi Hsien-Ko was searching for her friend Donovan, when they had gotten separated due to certain circumstances. The undead vampire woman kept wandering about, seemingly having no idea as to where her companion might be at this point. She looked around in a sort of bewildered and confused manner, as she was trying to determine whether she had the chance of finding her friend again.

Not paying attention to where she was stepping, Hsien-Ko stepped on Taokaka's tail, which was sticking out of the alleyway. This caused the humanoid cat-like Kaka clan member to screech with a look of pain and shock on her face. Additionally, Taokaka flipped over the meal was about to eat, which further added to the catlike girl's misfortune.

"Ny-ooo! My buns!"

Hsien-Ko immediately apologized upon realizing that she had stepped on the catgirl's tail, which caused her to screech. However, the undead vampire woman could not avoid taking notice of the immense sadness in Taokaka's eyes, after the feline-like girl had dropped her meal.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Hsien-Ko said with a look of concern, her apology genuine. Taokaka's mood quickly shifted from sadness to rage, as she became determined to take some kind of revenge against Hsien-Ko since the undead vampire had ruined her meal.*

"My food's spoiled! I'mma gonna beat the crap out of you!" The humanoid cat-like Kaka clan member exclaimed, as she suddenly tried to take a swipe at Hsien-Ko, blades that emerged from her cloak acting like cat claws. However, the Jiang-Shi was quick enough to dodge the attack, jumping out of the way just in time.

Taokaka kept up her aggressive onslaught with her various different attacks, as the feline-like kaka clan member was not going to let up on her assault on Hsien-Ko, no matter what the undead vampire girl had to say. Taokaka first used a claw swipe, which was followed by a crouch punch that transitioned into a sweeping kick, before using a lunging uppercut claw swipe, culminating in her throwing a hadouken palm strike.

This final strike finally managed to make contact with Hsien-Ko, pushing her back into the wall hard.

"Ow! Alright, no more nice Miss Jiang-Shi." Hsien-Ko took up a Chinese martial stance, as she brought out her giant metal claws that were hidden within her traditional Chinese dress. The undead Jiang-Shi was no longer going to try and reason with Taokaka, as she was prepared to bring out the claws against the raging kaka clan member now.

Taokaka lunged with her claws extended in an effort to strike the undead Jiang-Shi with them, however, Hsien-Ko reacted rather quickly to the incoming attack. Jumping forward over the strike, the Jiang-Shi managed to evade the attack, as the claws sliced through the bricks of the building behind her instead, damaging the wall upon impact.

Hsien-Ko took a rather unique approach to her attack against Taokaka, as she swung back through the air while simultaneously shooting out her claws to grip the edge of the building's roof, allowing her to gain leverage and maneuverability. She then proceeded to try and stomp the feline-like girl into the wall, before following up with a sweep kick aimed at her side, in an attempt to knock the kaka clan member off-balance.

Taokaka managed to manage her landing, as she quickly bounced up onto her feet (or rather paws), as she proceeded to shimmy before getting herself into a position to attack. Hsien-Ko had managed to evade the catgirl's initial attack by jumping over her, before utilizing her Jiang-Shi ability to run across the air and stay out of reach. Seeing that Hsien-Ko was making an obvious attempt to keep a distance between the two of them, Taokaka growled in annoyance.

"You ain't getting away from me! Nya!" The Kaka clan member seemed intent on not allowing the Jiang-Shi to avoid her for much longer, as she proceeded to leap onto one of the buildings, using her feline agility to run on all fours across the wall after the undead vampire girl, giving chase.

Taokaka and Hsien-Ko both engaged in a fierce aerial battle as they continued running through Orient Town. The cat girl proceeded to jump from building to building in order to keep trying to slash and kick at Hsien-Ko with each attempt, only for the Jiang-Shi to match the former's efforts with her own claws, kicks, and even her black Henkyo Ki gong. Their overall exchange of attacks was pretty evenly matched, as the two kept trying to out fight one another throughout the fight.

Taokaka decided that she had grown tired of this back-and-forth exchange that the two of them had been repeatedly engaging in. The feline-like girl proceeded to run up towards the top of one of the roofs with the speed of her super-powered legs. Once she reached the top, the Kaka clan member suddenly leaped into the air, flying towards Hsien-Ko with the gracefulness of her agile body. The catgirl descended rapidly towards the Jiang-Shi like a falling comet, her claws stretched out fully as they were about to strike her opponent.

"Nya?" Taokaka seemed to be taken by surprise by the sudden teleportation of Hsien-Ko, as she seemed confused for a brief moment before trying to correct her form in a panic. Unfortunately, the overextension had thrown off Taokaka, as she was now going to crash onto the ground. She would need to move quickly if she wanted to avoid severe injury from the fall.

Despite her best efforts, Taokaka was only able to avoid the worst consequences of the fall, as she still ended up landing awkwardly. Landing in a splayed position, the feline-like girl hit her head against the ground, causing it to sting momentarily. She also let out an exasperated and pained cry, as she found herself on the ground with a somewhat dazed expression upon her face.

"Nyaaaauuuugh."

As Taokaka lay on the ground, the undead Jiang-Shi proceeded to step nearer to the feline-like girl, seemingly intent on applying some kind of restraint upon her opponent.

"Bad kitty. This ought to hold you down long enough." As she looked down at the catgirl, a metallic weight suddenly dropped from the sleeve of Hsien-Ko's sleeve. Taokaka's scream of surprise was cut short by the action of getting out of the way in time, preventing the weight from flattening the girl entirely.

Taokaka had managed to get enough distance to create space between her and the Jiang-Shi, before she proceeded to hiss in a rather aggressive tone.

"Alright, you asked for it! Time for my special ranged attacks!" The cat-like girl seemingly meant business now, as she declared her intention of launching attacks from a distance. Hsien-Ko put her metal claws up, ready to brace whatever attack Taokaka threw at her, the feline-like girl proceeded to grin with a devilishly excited expression, as she readied herself on her end.

When the attacks finally came, they for some reason felt really light and weak. Opening her eyes, Hsien-Ko was stumped to see her throwing laughably mundane items, such as an apple core, a pillow, some fish bones and a baseball.

"Take that, blue meanie! Nya!" Toakaka laughed, feeling rather successful despite the weak offensive. Hsien-Ko was utterly stunned to see the types of "attacks" that the cat-like girl was throwing in her direction, as she proceeded to throw out hilariously mundane items that the feline-like girl employed, as she attempted to hit the Jiang-Shi with.

"Take that, blue meanie! Nya!" However, despite the catgirl's clear excitement, the attempts were rather ineffective, as they all seemed incredibly light in weight and rather weak. Hsien-Ko seemed to express a certain amount of disdain towards Taokaka's attempts of ranged attacks, which she labeled as rather weak.

"Really? Those are what you call ranged attacks? Let me show you."

The undead girl then proceeded to proceed to demonstrate the difference in their respective techniques, by spinning and throwing out a barrage of spiked steel balls at the cat-like girl. The steel balls bounced along the ground, heading directly towards Taokaka with rather frightening speed.

Taokaka managed to dodge every single one of the steel balls that the undead Jiang-Shi had thrown in her direction, moving around with a remarkable amount of agility that was rather typical of the feline-like girl. Hsien-Ko had managed to launch a rather fierce barrage, yet the cat girl managed to evade all the objects with a casual ease that was rather amusing to see.

Hsien-Ko attempted to come up with a strategy in order to surprise Taokaka, as she threw a bomb into the mix of steel balls that she had launched in the kitty's direction. The bomb was set far above the feline-like girl's head, which meant that she didn't seem to notice it as it fell. The fuse on the bomb was seemingly burning pretty quickly, as the bomb itself looked rather nervous and reluctant to explode for whatever reason.

Hsien-Ko attempted to pull off a bit of a bluff, as she feigned that she was runninng out of ammo in order to try and fool Taokaka.

"Drat! I ran out!" The Jiang-Shi seemed pretty confident in her deception, seeing as she had stopped throwing the steel balls at her opponent. The feline-like girl was obviously pleased by this, as she took her chance to try and pounce at the Jiang-Shi in an attempt to attack.

"Nyow you're mine!" However, Toakaka was surprised by Hsien-Ko's sudden summoning and strike against the black Henkyo Ki gong with the padded mallet, as it sent a shock wave that sent her flying backwards abruptly. The cat girl was sent spiraling backwards over the bomb, before the bomb itself exploded in an ear-piercing shriek, sending her hurtling even further up into the air due to the shockwave from the explosion.

Taokaka was sent flying into a vending cart, as she slammed into it hard enough to cause a rather large crash. The cat girl immediately began to moan out in pain from the damage that the attack had dealt upon her, as her cat ears rang from it as well. She also seemed rather disoriented from the two attacks that she had just received, making her situation all the more difficult.

Taokaka managed to manage climb out of the wrecked vending cart, as she stumbled up slowly off the ground. However, the cat girl did not feel as if she had the luxury to wallow in the pain and discomfort of her current situation, as she immediately looked up to see Hsien-Ko slowly approaching her, while the Jiang-Shi continued to juggle three short swords, as if to further humiliate and taunt her opponent.

"Time to almost become two, nya!" Taokaka seemingly was eager to ramp up the offensive after having taken a severe amount of damage, as she activated her Overdrive. This overdrive of hers caused the cat girl to gain a sem-physical doppelganger, which was slightly lagging behind her as it followed her exact movements. With her newfound double being able to distract Hsien-Ko, the Kaka clan member decided to use it to her full advantage to launch her assault on the undead Jiang-Shi. She charged at Hsien-Ko, seeking to overwhelm her through numerical advantage. Hsien-Ko was rather caught off guard by this move done by Taokaka, as she initially attempted to defend herself against the two cat-like girls at the same time.

Unfortunately, the Jiang-Shi found herself in a conundrum, as she was forced to block the blows by the doppelganger first, which ended up leading to the original cat-like girl striking in with her own strikes. The combined onslaught of attacks from the two of them caught Hsien-Ko off guard.

One of Taokaka's attacks seemed to have struck the talisman that was still present upon Hsien-Ko's hat. As it turned out, the talisman was an object that acted as a seal that suppressed the Jiang-Shi's vampiric nature. Once removed, Hsien-Ko's twin sister, Mei-Ling, was freed from the suppression that had prevented her from succumbing to her vampiric nature. The girl proceeded to scream in a berserker rage, as her primal vampire nature seemed to kick in full force.

Taokaka noticed that instead of the calm and collected Hsien-Ko that she was used to fighting, she was now up against the Jiang-Shi in an berserk, blood-fueled state of pure primal nature. With Hsien-Ko's hopping ability becoming more like that of a traditional Chinese hopping vampire, the Jiang-Shi was intent on disorienting the cat-like girl by appearing every which way.

Taokaka was caught off-guard by the sudden strike to the back of her head from behind, which had caught her by surprise. She proceeded to hiss in pain from the hit on her head, before she seemed to be able to figure out how to counter Hsien-Ko's teleporting movements. The cat-like girl proceeded to move with a similar agility and speed as the Jiang-Shi, utilizing slashing and kicking maneuvers to try and launch counterattacks against the undead girl.

Hsien-Ko had attempted to attack head on with the intent to strike Taokaka head-on, only for the cat-like girl to declare her attack as such:

"Slashy, slashy!" From her cloak, serrated saw blades suddenly extended out from where her claw blades used to be, which attempted to make Hsien-Ko back off. If she did not do so, she would risk having her body literally cut and sawed apart.

Hsien-Ko's self-preservation instinct kicked in when she realized that the cat-like girl's back saw blades were a danger to her, which led her to instinctively back off in order to avoid being sliced up. Seeing that Hsien-Ko backed off, Taokaka couldn't help but grin with excitement, as she had apparently been able to force her opponent to withdraw.

While the Jiang-Shi had managed to move back to avoid the danger at hand, she found herself surrounded by a ball of smoke when Taokaka pounced onto her, which seemed to hint towards an intense fight going on within. The smoke also served as a good attempt of concealment from observers outside the smoke.

Observers who happened to lay eyes on the scene would've seen the three smoke breaks, which offered snippets of what was happening inside the smoke. One particular moment that was visible through the smoke saw Taokaka biting on Hsien-Ko's head with her feline teeth, a surprisingly effective tactic that managed to cause the Jiang-Shi quite a bit of torment. The second moment that was visible through the smoke showed a rather brutal and gruesome sight. It showed the Jiang-Shi seemingly choking Taokaka by strangling the cat girl's throat, with her own braided hair of all things, which was incredibly surprising due to how absurd it was.

The third and final time that the smoke lifted showed a sight that was perhaps rather embarrassing, if not at least surprising. As it turned out, it showed the cat-like girl playing with Hsien-Ko's medium-sized breasts from behind, enjoying their squishiness. The Jiang-Shi was seemingly frozen in a state of blushing embarrassment from the feline-like girl's antics, which made it all the more embarrassing. This blush soon turned into raging anger, as the undead girl soon launched back into a fierce offensive against the cat-like girl again.

After a few more seconds in the smoke, the smoke suddenly began to clear enough once more, as a body was thrown out from within it. The cat girl was launched out of the smoke, before slamming her back against one of the brick walls with enough force to crack it, and then falling down to the ground as she was no longer in overdrive anymore.

Taokaka lay there, hurt and in pain upon the floor, as her vision was a little bit blurry from the intense fight that occurred in the smoke covered fog of combat. The cat-like girl could hear the Jiang-Shi in the process of finishing her off, as the undead girl was now trying to finish things off with her ultimate technique. Soon, a row of large blades covered with Chinese inscriptions, burst out of the ground, heading directly towards her.

Thanks to the burst of adrenaline that she just received, Taokaka managed to jump over the blades coming from the ground. The cat-like girl utilized a triple jump which she utilized in order to gain enough air time to land behind the Jiang-Shi, who was shocked by this sudden unexpected surprise. With this, the feline-like girl then swiftly lifted the undead Jiang-Shi off the ground, before flinging her into the air with all her remaining strength.

With her last remaining strength of will, Taokaka seemed determined to finish the Jiang-Shi off once and for all. She proceeded to use her Astral Finish, with the last remnants of her energy, sending the undead Jiang-Shi flying in various directions, using the recoil to soften her opponent. Finally, Taokaka then sent the Jiang-Shi straight upwards, preparing to deliver the finishing blow, with all that she had left in her. The undead Jiang-Shi was now about to meet her demise, with this last strike. Taokaka went in for her final slash, as she aimed to cut straight through the Jiang-Shi, only to get her claws blocked by Hsien-Ko.

"Nya?!" The undead girl then gazed back at Taokaka with a murderous intent, as if to warn her that this was not going to end well. The feline-like girl, however, was met with much more than what she expected, as Hsien-Ko spoke up in a tone filled with rage and bloodlust.

"Die." Hsien-Ko continued to look down on Taokaka with a look of sheer rage on her face, as she proceeded to spin her own claws like drill. The Jiang-Shi then proceeded to bring her claws down against the feline-like girl in a brutal and violent manner, seeking to evisceration the cat-like girl with no more than a single move. Soon enough, Taokaka's body was essentially torn asunder by the Jiang-Shi's brutal claw drill maneuver, ultimately killing her.

"Taokaka... don't feel so... good. Meow."

Taokaka did not manage to last long enough to even properly utter her final words, as she was brutally killed by Hsien-Ko's attack. The feline's body was essentially ripped apart and shredded to bits, with the blood and gore from the attack painting the ground with a rather vivid red hue. Soon, the cat-like girl's eyes slowly closed, as her mouth finally went slack. Her facial features disappeared into the shade of her hood, never to be seen again.

Hsien-Ko was soon brought back to her proper mindset once Mei-Ling re-attached herself to her forehead. The Jiang-Shi took a quick glance at Taokaka's dead body, as she was immediately shocked and horrified at what she had just done.

"No. Please, I didn't mean to, I…"

The Jiang-Shi was filled with an immense amount of guilt at her actions, as she quickly ran off into the air, seeking a moment to herself after what had just happened.
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Strength: Okay, taking planet busting outliers out of the equation, Taokaka's always been more comparable to the more modestly powerful characters like Arakune, Bang and Iron Tager, the last of which has the power output of 900 Kilotons. However, compared to the Darkstalker, that's only a little around half of her the Jiang Shi's attack power, when compared to B ranked fighters such as Donovan, Lord Raptor and Anakaris, the last of which was able to sink Ancient Egypt into the sands. And double is a conservative estimate over Taokaka as they're likely much higher.

Speed: Even when taking her supersonic speed into account, somewhere in between 2.5-3 times faster than sound, that's nothing compared to Taokaka who can react to those with infinite attack speed in the Boundary. And even regularly, she's shown to have faster than light feats.

Skill: When comparing the two, Hsien-Ko seems to be the more traditionally skillful fighter, because while Taokaka is certainly a threat in her own right and is the guardian of her village for a reason, but she seemed to more follow her feline instincts to fight rather than anything considered formal training.

Experience: While both appear to be equal in the amount of opponents they fought, the sisters being reincarnated and growing up normal for 16 years sort of hinders how long she's been fighting, while everyone had to deal with Taokaka being herself the whole time in her games.

Powers: Both are relatively even in their power sets, both being agile and maneuverable along with having metallic claws, but Hsien-Ko has the better weaponry to throw her her way, has teleportation to counter Taokaka's speed if she really needs to, and her claws could qualify as slabs of iron, compared to the claw knives and saws that come out of the catgirl's cloak. The only advantage Taokaka had was having a resistance to the Jiang-Shi's madness and corrupting aura.

The winner is Hsien-Ko.
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Next Time:

"There's a whole world beyond your borders, whole tribes of people just as good as you, and it is all in danger! It's a world worth fighting for. Not just here. Everywhere."

"No, I chose. I chose my own life. And those of us who've died for this sword, have died in vain. I'm not sent from heaven, father, and neither is the sword."

Chapter Text

Aloy

Background:

A Nora Brave, Seeker and machine hunter of unparalleled skill, Aloy is the genetic clone of 21st century roboticist and engineer Dr. Elisabet Sobeck.

She was created by GAIA, the governing artificial intelligence of Project Zero Dawn, a global terraforming system that Sobeck had designed and whose implementation she had spearheaded, which restored life to Earth after its eradication by the Faro Plague. GAIA created Aloy for the purpose of stopping HADES, a rogue AI bent on reactivating the Faro Plague in order to wipe out life again, and repair the AI itself, after it self-destructed in an attempt to destroy the rogue AI. Aloy succeeded, saving life on Earth and the humans of the new world that Zero Dawn created. In doing so, she unraveled the mysteries of why the world became as it is, and also learned the true nature of her origins.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Adept with a Bow, Spear, and Slingshot,

Stealth Mastery,

Enhanced Senses,

Extrasensory Perception,

Hacking (via Override),

Summoning (Can summon a hacked machine),

Fire Manipulation (With fire bombs, arrows, traps and Forgefire),

Ice Manipulation (With ice bombs, arrows and Icerail),

Electricity Manipulation (With arrows, her spear, traps, Stormslinger and shock bomb),

Explosion Manipulation (With explosive bombs and traps),

Forcefield Creation (An armor that creates a forcefield around the user, absorbing any damage that would have been afflicted on them. After the shields drop below 100% the armor will quickly regenerate them.)

Status Effect Inducement,

Healing (Via potions),

Statistics Amplification (Gets a boost in strength when low on health)

Weaknesses: If she is fighting a powerful opponent her resources will quickly deplete leaving her with only her spear. She can be hot-headed at times.
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Nariko

Backstory:

Nariko was born to Shen and her mother 23 years prior to the events of Heavenly Sword, in the Year of the Fire-Horse. According to prophecy, a male was destined to be born that year and lead his clan into an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity. However, when a girl - Nariko - was born, and her mother died shortly thereafter, the clan believed the gods had forsaken them, and that they were cursed and doomed to impending destruction.

Nariko became a pariah among her own people, when, in her eyes, she "should have been their princess." Shen was the only person who seemed to care for her, albeit in a remote, distanced way, until Kai. Shen would tutor Nariko in the ways of the warrior. She would prove to be an excellent pupil, to the point where she is the best fighter in the clan by the events of Heavenly Sword. Several years before the game, Nariko came across Kai, the last member of a clan slaughtered by Flying Fox on orders from King Bohan.

The clan took the orphaned girl into their ranks and treated her as one of their own. It was Nariko, however, who developed a deep relationship with Kai, seeing similarities between them in that they both lost their mothers and were outcasts amongst the clan. By the time Heavenly Sword takes place, the two are as close as sisters, willing to risk their lives for one another, if necessary.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Swordswoman,

Master Hand-To-Hand Combatant,

Godlike magical power,

Invulnerability to human attacks, (With the full power of the sword),

Able to pass on her life force to heal others.
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Song: Heavenly Horizon

Aloy traversed the environment that would have been known as Colorado Springs a thousand years ago. The Nora Seeker moved through the environment, which had been set as her own home, looking for machine scraps. The seeker was searching for such machine parts, which were presumably to be used in order to further advance her people's technology and society.

Aloy was suddenly drawn to a distant noise, as it sounded as if it was a machine involved in a fight. The seeker made her way towards the roaring machine sound in order to investigate what was happening, intent on figuring out the source of the noise that had just caught her attention.

Aloy saw quite an impressive sight as she came up to a high stone cliff, as she found a red haired woman in a confrontation with one of the most dangerous machines in the entire area: a Thunderjaw. The fact that the woman in question was fighting it alone was not the most impressive aspect, though. What really stood out was the fact that this woman was tackling the massive machine head-on, using just a sword for a weapon. Such a tactic was typically considered to be suicidal, due to the sheer power and danger that was known to be possessed by said machine.

As Aloy was watching from the cliff above, her eyes soon went wide with disbelief once it was clear that the woman in question, which was named Nariko, had managed to defeat the Thunderjaw all on her own. The woman, Nariko, then proceeded to run up the machine's back, use her Heavenly Sword to slice through its neck, and jump off its head. Soon, the woman landed gracefully on her feet, in what seemed to be a rather cool and impressive manner, as the Thunderjaw collapsed to the ground, lifelessly.

Nariko was left panting and sweating a little when she had managed to finish off the Thunderjaw. She would pause for a moment, attempting to make sense of what she had just encountered, as she tried to understand what the machine was exactly. The machine being sentient and rather advanced, made it all the more confusing. With no such answers being found, the woman would ultimately ask herself a question:

"What was this beast of metal?"

Nariko's heightened senses soon alerted her to the presence of another individual, which happened to be none other than Aloy herself. The red-haired warrior soon turned to look into the direction of the high cliff where she sensed the presence, which was where Aloy was standing while having her bow naturally drawn and pulled as well.

Nariko suddenly began to dash towards Aloy's location as the two of them entered a tense situation. As soon as this started, the Nora Seeker reacted and reflexively fired an arrow, which was then deflected back into her direction by Nariko after the red-haired woman began to dash. The resulting deflection caused her to roll back to avoid being hit, as she reflexively cursed to herself. Aloy had also realized she had struck the wrong person, as she was now about to come face-to-face with Nariko herself.

Nariko was quick to get up to where Aloy was hiding, as she then used her incredible athleticism to run and jump across the entire cliff. The red-haired woman quickly reached the top, where she then saw the same person that had accidentally shot her was trying to hide in the semi-arid mountainous environment, causing her to become somewhat annoyed. In an attempt to deescalate the situation, Aloy then called out to the other woman, trying to explain that the entire event had been merely an accident.

"I swear, that was an accident!"

"I've heard that one before…"

Nariko clearly did not trust the explanation that Aloy had just provided. Instead, the woman in question charged over towards where the former was still located. Nariko ran over to the spot where she heard Aloy's voice coming from, looking to go and find out where the Nora Seeker was. However, she ran into a trap set up for her. She barely had time to notice the tripwire as it went off, causing a fiery explosion to burst out near her, causing damage to her body with minor burns.

"Well, I tried."

Aloy then proceeded to shrug her shoulders in response to the fact that her attempt to de-escalate the situation completely failed. With nothing left to do, the Nora seeker prepared another arrow into her hunter's bow, ready to fire it on sight of her new opponent and perceived threat.

Despite being hurt and burned from the previous explosion, Nariko would not be deterred from going after Aloy. The red haired woman would charge forward towards the other individual at full speed, refusing to back down despite her injuries. Meanwhile, Aloy would attempt to fire arrow after arrow at the swordswoman, who would manage to efficiently deflect them away with her own blade, the Heavenly Sword. The two of them began engaging in close quarters combat at last.

Aloy would come to the realization that she would be unable to simply shoot down Nariko and would thus be forced to switch to her spear. With that in mind, the Nora seeker then rolled out of the way of the incoming swordswoman, who was moving in with lightning fast speed and ferocity.

The two women engaged in a fierce, close quarters conflict as they clashed their respective weapons together with each other. Aloy would come to match Nariko's Heavenly Sword with her own spear, which had provided her with some measure of offense. Soon, she would attempt to jump over the swordswoman and land a downward slash with her spear, but this would only end up being parried, forcing her to back off once again.

Aloy would start to find herself at a slight disadvantage when she was unable to properly keep up with the other woman's swift strikes, consistently being forced to block or parry them before being kicked away by the powerful kicks that were sent her way. This forced her at times to fall to the ground, only to be able to stand up again and keep up with her rival.

Aloy would attempt to attempt a wide sweep with her spear, which Nariko was able to easily jump over, landing behind the Nora Seeker. The red-haired woman would proceed to try and land a vicious, deadly strike on her opponent's back while she had the chance, but this was ultimately unsuccessful. Aloy would end up shifting her feet to sidestep the attack, allowing her to counter with an unexpected uppercut right under her chin, catching the other woman off guard.

Nariko staggered back after taking the unexpected hit to her jaw, and proceeded to massage it for a second before she charged in again, attacking her opponent with a series of powerful, three consecutive blows with the Heavenly Sword. Unfortunately, Aloy managed to avoid them each time, dodging out of their way effectively.

Nariko's annoyance at her opponent's continued dodging only seemed to grow, as she would proceed to switch from power to speed. The speed of the swordswoman's subsequent strikes and maneuvers quickly overwhelmed the Nora Seeker, who was starting to get a taste of just how skilled the other woman was. The skill shown by Nariko was nothing less than a sight to behold.

Following a particularly strong blow, Nariko's Heavenly Sword would manage to slash through Aloy's spear, breaking through the close ranged weapon. The Nora seeker would instinctively utter an expletive in response to her weapon being destroyed.

"Fuck."

Aloy then quickly threw down a smoke bomb, which successfully obfuscated the entire area as she tried to obscure the fight from view of the enemy swordswoman.

While fighting Nariko, Aloy would run towards the cliff that she and her enemy had been previously standing on, jumping off of it in order to get a few minutes to herself. To ensure that she would not be in free fall for any of the time that they were separated, the Nora seeker would use her bow to launch a line that she had shot from her own weapon. Soon, she landed safely down on the ground at the bottom of the cliff, using the aforementioned line to climb down safely, allowing the seeker a moment to plan her next move.

Upon finding herself at the bottom of the cliff, Nariko went about trying see if she could find her opponent. With the environment around her having plenty of cover, it did not take her long before she came to the conclusion that she would need to look even more closely. Nariko would proceed to utter out a simple, quiet question, as she wondered out loud:

"Where are you?"

The red-haired woman would go about following the sound of a shifted rock around a corner. Nariko would move with utmost care and precision, sneaking along to not activate any potential trigger, which could result in the setting off of another tripwire from the trap-savvy hunter.

Once Nariko rounded the corner, what she came to find was something that she could find quite strange at first. The red-haired warrior would approach the thing cautiously, still keeping her distance as to avoid anything that was potentially harmful. The specific item in question was a balloon that resembled an air sac.

The red-haired woman was left wondering what the actual purpose behind a balloon such as the one she had spotted was. Her curiosity was suddenly cut short when a stray fire imbued arrow flew from out behind a rock and collided with the balloon. The balloon, then, had its flammable gas go up into flames, causing a sudden explosion, which blasted the woman backwards.

Nariko was blasted back several feet by the explosion, causing her to cry out as well for a moment. Yet, before she could fully recover from this, yet another arrow fired from the midst of the smoke, this time around successfully striking her in the side.

The swordswoman would let out another cry of pain when she was struck by the arrow, coming to realize just how much damage she was taking. Noticing another arrow coming her way, she was quick to use the Heavenly Sword in order to deflect it back at Aloy, ultimately causing the arrow to strike the Nora seeker in some spot, given she also let out a cry of pain.

Once Nariko had stood up and ripped the arrow out, she proceeded to walk over towards Aloy, the deflected arrow having managed to strike the other woman perfectly between her shoulder and neck. The strike itself was rather lucky, especially as it thankfully missed her artery and thus caused little, if still painful damage.

Upon finding the young woman, Nariko would proceed to ask Aloy a question. The swordswoman would immediately move her blade in the direction of the Nora seeker, aiming its blade straight at her, as she proceeded to speak.

"Finally. Now, who are you? Are you an assassin sent by Bohan?"

Aloy would proceed to smirk and answer her question, before she began to deliver her own. A response that showed her confidence in her own abilities, which she was certain that she was quite deadly as well.

"I've never heard of… a Bohan. And I'm no assassin. But… I'm just as deadly."

Once the statement had finally been delivered, the Nora seeker would inflict yet another attack upon the red-haired warrior. Namely, a plasma-imbued arrow that was earlier shot directly into her side, as the wound ruptured with purple energy.

Upon getting hit in the side by the plasma arrow, Nariko was left reeling from the intense pain, which forced her to the ground and down on one knee. At this time, the Nora seeker would seize the opportunity, and proceeded to take out a shock bomb from her pouch, throwing it towards the injured woman. This rendered the lady temporarily paralyzed, allowing Aloy to make another move.

Having taken advantage of the momentarily paralyzed and immobilized state of her opponent, the young woman would get up from her knees, as she was now ready to lay a beating down upon the injured Nariko. Aloy would proceed to crack her knuckles, making sure that her fists were properly prepared for the physical conflict ahead. She then proceeded to start beating down upon the swordswoman, delivering powerful blows with her bare fists.

Amongst the series of punches that Aloy would bring down upon the immobilized Nariko, the former proceeded to deliver one particular strike towards the latter, only for the red-haired fighter to catch said punch with her hand. Looking up towards the Nora seeker, the wounded warrior had an intimidating glare, as if to let her opponent know that she was made a big mistake.

Once she had gained a grip on her opponent's forearm with her injured hand, Nariko would proceed to then use just the strength of her arms and her body to perform an impressive and swift flip of her opponent, in order to throw Aloy into the ground and to the rock wall. With her opponent momentarily stunned, the red-haired warrior could then proceed to readying the Heavenly Sword, which she attacked with a powerful strike that delivered a horizontal slash across her body.

The horizontal slice that was unleashed upon her came with incredible power, cutting through the armor without any issues at all. Said slash did manage to strike the young Nora seeker in her body, causing her to fall down upon her knees in pain, and then all the way down to the ground shortly after. The red-haired warrior would then get flipped over onto her back, as the swordswoman planted a foot upon her chest, pressing down upon the lady. The lady would feel Nariko firmly pressing down upon her chest, as the other woman looked down at her.

Nariko would remain with her foot upon the girl's chest, holding the tip of her sword down firmly within reach of striking the killer blow. As Aloy stared at the victorious swordswoman standing over her, she was seemingly expecting to die. However, the red-haired fighter seemed rather silent, which only seemed to confuse the young woman.

"What are you waiting for? Do it."

"I have no personal beef with you. If you don't know who Bohan or his empire is, then this has just been a waste of time. Farewell." With no intention of delivering the fatal blow or to strike down the young lady upon her back, the red-haired woman proceeded to put her sword back into its sheath, before turning away completely. This left Aloy alone as she stared in shock and bewilderment, as to why the other woman was simply leaving. After a brief moment, the powerful swordswoman would begin to walk away, while still grasping hold of her injured side.

Following the sudden departure of the red-haired warrior, Aloy would simply lay back for a moment, laying her head upon the ground. The young woman managed to find some healing potion from her pouch, which she proceeded to consume. After taking the potion in, the Nora seeker would just lay back, before passing out from the sheer exhaustion that was caused by the fight.
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Strength: Now, admittedly, Nariko was more powerful in terms of strength and athleticism. Both were strong women in their own right, but while Aloy is capable of winning against foes stronger than her, it's not without sufficient difficulty. When it comes to Nariko, she can fight evenly, and even better than Bohan's son, Roach, who can shatter a large gladiator stage floor, which would require over ten tons of force. Not to mention that Nariko can transverse her environment much more easily and impressively.

Speed: Now, when it comes go Nariko's speed, the idea of the swordswoman being, "Lightning speed", to be a bit much to take at face value. She's never depicted fighting at literal lightning speed, whether it's literal or just outside perception. If anything, at best, Nariko seems to be only able to react as fast as the speed of sound in order to evade cannon fire. Given that Aloy could regularly dodge gunfire, she could be around two to four times faster than Nariko. Besides, even if the lightning feat was taken at face value, the same would have to go to Aloy since she could dodge lightning and plasma bolts from the machines she fights against.

Skill: While they're both highly skilled fighters in their own right, Nariko seems to be the much more capable fighter. While Aloy winning against Erik, an enforcer with 1000 years of combat experience, means that Aloy certainly can keep up, being able to fight 500 enemies at once and win, along with having a reliable method of countering the hunter's main means of attack gives the swordswoman a distinct advantage.

Experience: This is certainly where Aloy shines. Her ability to analyze for weaknesses, use her smarts to utilize the environment and traps to her advantage, and fight against robots the size of dinosaurs along with the Far Zenith means that the Nora Seeker is the more well rounded.

Powers: Aloy may have the more versatile arsenal, having multiple weapons that can utilize elemental damage, none of it compares to the Heavenly Sword, as it's hailed as the ultimate weapon, even if it's at the expense of the user's life... eventually.

The winner is Nariko.
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Next time:

"Hanzō Style: Blooming Slash!"

"In the name of Mugen Tenshin."

Chapter Text

Asuka (Senran Kagura)

Backstory:

A second year student at Hanzō National Academy. Her grandfather Hanzō is renowned as a legendary shinobi, and is the academy's namesake. Given her remarkable pedigree, she has a lot of hidden potential within her and bears a strong sense of justice.

No matter how hard she may try, though, she can never quite bring herself to look as intimidating as she wants to, likely due to her overall bright and positive personality. Over time, she's become a source of immense moral support for her friends and fellow shinobi.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Expert Swordswoman,

Ninjutsu Expert,

Aura (Can surround herself in a green aura),

Non-Physical Interaction (Capable of interacting with Ryōki and other ghost, Shinobi like Yagyū affirms that she has fought ghosts before. Shinobi can interact with Yōma, which are considered to be spirits),

Supernatural Willpower (Elite shinobi have enough willpower to resist the passive effects of the Super Secret Ninja Scroll. Shinobi can still fight even when they're on fire),

Extrasensory Perception (Shinobi can detect the presences of others, knowing their location, numbers, and even tell if they're evil or not),

Stealth (All shinobi are trained in the art of stealth),

Underground Mobility (Can dig through the ground to attack her enemies from below),

Earth Manipulation (Can generate large stalagmites from the ground),

Pseudo-Flight (All shinobi can push off the air by jumping, and can even dash in mid air),

Summoning (Can summon frogs of varying size),

Deconstruction (Turned a bullet into dust),

Fourth Wall Awareness (Knows she is the main protagonist, and even directly talks to the player, Homura questioning who she's talking to afterwards),

Transformation; limited Water Manipulation,

Weapon Control (Can turn her blades into whips), and Damage Boost (Shinobi can infuse water guns with their spirit transforming them into powerful weapons); Statistics Amplification (Frantic Mode boosts attack speed and power but reduces defense),

Resistance to Madness Manipulation (Elite shinobi can resist the passive effects of the Super Secret Ninja Scroll, which turned multiple teams of lesser shinobi completely insane), and Soul Manipulation (Can handle using the Super Secret Ninja Scroll, which kills the user by breaking their body and soul)

Weaknesses: Gullible, clumsy, strictly follows the code of a good shinobi (which hinders her judgement of evil shinobi or disobeying orders). Also highly vulnerable when her clothes are completely ripped in battle.
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Kasumi (Dead or Alive)

Backstory:

Kasumi is the sister of Hayate and half-sister to Ayane, and a practitioner of the Tenshinmon Style of Mugen-Tenshin Ninjutsu. They lived happily together until one day Raidou came for revenge and snapped Hayate's spine. That sends him into a coma that everyone thought to be permanent, so he's left for dead. Kasumi ran away from her village to avenge her brother, knowing full well the consequences of becoming a runaway shinobi: death.

After defeating Raidou, she enters the second tournament after hearing that her brother is alive and has been taken by DOATEC for use in Project Epsilon. She finds him suffering from amnesia and going by the name of Ein, and helps him recover his memory. In the 3rd tournament she remains on the run but encounters and fights her brother. By the time of the 4th tournaments she realizes that no assassins have been sent her way as of late, and discovers that they have gone to assault DOATEC and put an end to their evil schemes. She enters the 4th tournament to investigate and prevent her brother to enter in what she believes will be a bloodbath.

In the 5th game, Kasumi becomes Helena's 'ally'/'messenger' in order to hunt down the remaining Alpha-152, in a slightly reckless degree. This is because this Kasumi is actually a perfect Alpha clone that acts perfectly like the original. Hayate caught wind of this and along with Ayane, killed this clone. When Hayate gets into trouble, Hayabusa summons the real Kasumi to come and help. Once she rescued Hayate and destroyed the clones, Kasumi swore to take down and defeat Donovan.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman physical capabilities,

Agility (Kasumi's speed exceeds that of both Ryu Hayabusa and Momiji, and is only surpassed by Ayane),

Stealth (Like most ninjas, Kasumi has some ability in stealth, being able to mask her presence in smoke filled areas and assassinate enemies),

Acrobatics (Like most ninja, Kasumi is able to easily move between platforms, jump off of and briefly run on walls),

Expert martial arts (Kasumi has trained in Mugen Tenshin Ninjutsu (Tenjin Mon style), and is highly skilled with this style),

Ki Manipulation (Like most ninja in the series, Kasumi possesses the ability to focus ki with her mind; she does so when performing her Art of Rending Wind or Torn Sky Blast ninpo),

Healing (Kasumi's ability to heal herself and others with her ki, until it is depleted),

Surface scaling (A basic wall running technique, which Kasumi, like most ninja, has mastered),

Teleportation (Sakura Madoi: A special parry, known only to Kasumi, it causes the user to disappear in a flurry of cherry blossom petals and reappear behind the opponent whose attack was parried.)

Divine Water: Kasumi's "version" of the Izuna Drop, she begins by launching her foe in the air, and then repeatedly stomps on her foe until they hit the ground.

Thunders of Tenjin: Kasumi's "version" of the Underworld Drop, she launches her foe in the air and wraps her legs around their necks and back flips downwards, smashing her target's skull to the ground.

Electricity manipulation (Art of Rending Wind: A powerful Mugen Tenshin technique that releases ki through an open palm. It also is known as the Torn Sky Blast technique.)

Weapon mastery (Shrouded Moon: An elegant blade, imbued with the mystical powers of the words "mist" and "moon." Windmill Shuriken: Kasumi's uses a variant on the windmill shuriken - it is six kunai formed to create on giant shuriken, named "Kunai Tempest." Kunai: Basic throwing knives; Kasumi uses a slightly different version however, as it is slightly curved and smaller, as well as releasing sakura petals as it flies through the air)

Weaknesses: None noticeable
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Song: Art of the Sakura

Somewhere within the southern hemisphere, possibly in the Polynesian Islands, is the island of New Zack Island, a vacation spot for several ladies to have a blast together while getting away from the troubles of the world in a location that always felt like summer.

And at this moment, on Niki Beach, after having participated in a variety of exciting competitions and tournament-style games, two particular female martial artists found themselves in a tense situation, as they had tied in their current match. The excited and expressive announcer, who was clearly enjoying the moment, proceeded to exclaim,

"Looks like we have a perfect tie for first place! Let's have both of them step up to the stage! The first lady will be the one who once was the princess of the Mugen Tenshin Clan, known as Kasumi!"

Nodding at the announcement, Kasumi took her time to bow to the audience, as they cheered her name and the spotlight focused on her. She was clearly the favorite here, as she was the princess who had left home to become a wandering warrior. She stood on top of the stage, waiting for introductions for her soon-to-be rival.

The announcer, with the same level of excitement, proceeded to then announce, as the crowd cheered the name of Kasumi's mysterious opponent,

"And our other winner in this match is a student of the Hanzō National Academy, none other than Asuka!" The spectators were clearly curious about the other winner, as they watched the student from the Hanzō National Academy step into the arena with her own unique ninja-like outfit and equipment. She bowed to the audience before looking to Kasumi, ready to begin.

"Now then, whenever we have a tie, there's only one way to decide who is the ultimate winner. And that's to fight on a non-lethal one-on-one!"

The announcer's energetic voice was soon followed by further cheering from the audience, who were now anticipating an exciting one-on-one match between the two of them. With the crowd hyped up, the mysterious student looked at Kasumi with a competitive smirk.

"I am ready." Kasumi, after bowing to her new rival, proceeded to take a defensive stance in the Mugen Tenshin style while preparing herself for what was bound to be the most exciting moment of the entire tournament. The audience, anticipating the battle of rivaling kunoichi, began to cheer. Asuka proceeded to take out her twin wakizashi blades as she declared in a loud voice,

"Asuka, ready for battle!"

With the sound of a bell, Asuka immediately wasted no time and charged forward with great vigor. In an attempt to catch Kasumi off-guard, she began with a barrage of slashes.

Just as fast as Asuka, Kasumi proceeded to deftly parry each slash that the other kunoichi unleashed. Her defensive skills were truly impressive, as she was able to block every attack like second nature.

In response, Kasumi attempted to counter with a high sweep kick, then proceeding to do a front flip to slam her heel into Asuka's head. However, the ninja student was quick and agile, as she swiftly jumped back from the counter, evading with ease. She then took a step back and began to observe the other fighter, as they circled around on the arena floor.

"Time to get serious! Shinobi transformation!" In a moment, Asuka declared with confidence, as she then proceeded to leap into the air, where she quickly withdrew a scroll from her cleavage. She then allowed it to unroll and let it circle around her, as her attire transformed. The Shinobi uniform that she wore morphed into a set of ninja shoes, black stockings, a short skirt, and a tan vest to go over her white button-up shirt. She then landed on the ground, now properly prepared for this match.

Kasumi was certainly bemused by this sudden change of attire, though she proceeded to use this as an opportunity. With the other distracted, she then unleashed a cartwheel towards Asuka.

Asuka, with the grace of a ninja, managed to easily step back away from Kasumi's cartwheel. Then, in a swift move, she leapt forward, her twin wakizashis pointed downwards. Kasumi, however, quickly rolled back from the attack, only to be pushed back by the earth below her being slammed into her, which came from Asuka's use of ninjutsu.

After dealing with the attack, Kasumi picked herself up, brushing the sand off her. She then looked at Asuka and responded with determination, saying,

"So that's how we're doing it? Okay, game on."

Asuka, now with glowing blades, readied her weapons. With a burst of speed, she then attempted her signature double slash attack, in an attempt to hit where Kasumi stood. However, the ninja woman suddenly disappeared, only leaving behind her signature sakura petal illusion.

"What?"

Asuka was certainly taken aback as the woman she had been fighting suddenly reappeared behind her, delivering a swift kick to her back. In response, she then proceeded to quickly spin around to face her opponent, as they stood there with a cloud of sakura petals surrounding them.

Kasumi did not relent, as she kept up her fierce attacks. First by running forward and lunging with a powerful flying spin kick, followed by a reverse round house kick, then a backflip kick, and finally teleporting with more petals as she did a diving kick. Asuka, though slightly overwhelmed, managed to guard against each attack using her arms, sometimes having to take a step back with each hit.

Kasumi continued to attack fiercely, attempting to knee her rival in the gut, then trying to sweep Asuka's leg with a low kick. However, Asuka managed to block the knee first, then jumped over Kasumi's leg sweep, and proceeded to deliver a kick to the other's head. Kasumi was certainly dazed but she shook it off and stood up. It was clear that she still had plenty of fight left in her, as she looked at Asuka, determined to continue the match.

Asuka resumed her assault, launching a reverse roundhouse at Kasumi. However, the Mugen Tenshin ninja managed to leap over the blades, and then swung herself around Asuka's head, ending up with the Hanzō student's head caught between her thighs. With this position, Kasumi proceeded to roll herself back, flipping Asuka onto her front against the sandy beach.

Asuka, after being slammed onto the ground, quickly responded by leaping onto Kasumi's head as the other kunoichi was getting up. Then, with a quick and powerful move, Asuka proceeded to roll herself forward, effectively pinning Kasumi down onto the beach with her back against the sand. The Hanzō student smirked and said aloud with pride,

"Ha! I can do it too!"

Kasumi, despite being caught in the hold of her younger rival by the thighs, refused to allow herself to be pinned down so easily. She smirked as she declared with determination,

"Attempting to use my own technique against me? Think again, my young opponent."

Kasumi remained undeterred, and with a strong movement, she managed to maneuver her legs and body to free her head from between her rival's thighs. As Asuka was still on the ground, Kasumi then seized the opportunity, grabbing the Hanzō student's ponytail and using it to toss her further away onto the sandy beach.

With a frustrated grunt, Asuka stood up from the ground, brushing the sand from her clothes. With a hint of anger in her voice, she exclaimed,

"Hey, that's fighting dirty!"

It seemed clear that Kasumi had upset the Hanzō student with her tactics, but Kasumi remained steadfast and poised, ready to continue the battle. Seeing that her opponent showed no signs of remorse, Asuka decided it was time for her to respond in kind. The Hanzō student began her assault with a rapid exchange of movements - starting with two successive stabs from her twin wakizashi; followed by a quick double slash; before executing a graceful backflip jump and unleashing a flurry of slashes in the air; ultimately culminating in a spinning maneuver, turning into a glowing green cyclone of blades and wind.

Kasumi, facing the relentless onslaught of Asuka's twin wakizashi blades, found herself forced to continuously retreat to evade the deadly strikes. In a desperate move to gain some breathing room, she jumped high into the air, attempting to avoid the powerful cyclone of blades that spun around the Hanzō student.

Asuka, quick to adapt to the situation, proceeded to jump as high as Kasumi, and continued her merciless assault with her cyclone maneuver. Unable to avoid the attack, Kasumi had no choice but to pull out a pair of kunai, using them to defend herself against the twin wakizashi of the determined Hanzō student.

In a swift movement, Asuka managed to kick Kasumi down onto the beach, followed by sheathing her blades and sending a rapid succession of five shuriken flying in the direction of her opponent. Despite the harsh impact, Kasumi displayed exceptional agility and adaptability, quickly jumping backward to evade the shuriken with a backward handstand and gracefully pushing herself up to her feet. Asuka, upon landing on the ground, swiftly drew her twin wakizashi blades and declared loudly,

"Secret Ninja Art: Hanzō Style Full Bloom!"

In an instant, her weapons were enveloped in a luminous green glow. Without hesitation, Asuka then dashed forward and unleashed a furious onslaught of slashes towards Kasumi, pushing the Mugen Tenshin kunoichi to defend herself against the relentless assault. Asuka's blades glowed brighter with each strike, as she gracefully spun and maneuvered around, aiming to bring her opponent to her knees. The Hanzō student's prowess was truly on display.

Kasumi, quick on her feet, demonstrated exceptional agility as she hopped up and leaped from rock to rock in pursuit of Asuka. As she closed in, Kasumi deftly maneuvered herself, landed hands first on the younger kunoichi's shoulders, dragging her rival down with her as she flipped backwards, subsequently delivering a powerful double kick into Asuka's back. The force of the impact sent the Hanzō student soaring into the air.

Asuka, after being kicked in the back, cried out upon seeing Kasumi leaping towards her. In response, the student attempted a whirlwind kick, but it was swiftly caught by the skilled Mugen Tenshin kunoichi. Kasumi then executed her own counterattack, delivering a formidable kick to Asuka's head, causing the Hanzō student to lose her footing and crash back onto the beach, where the match continued with their relentless energy. With a confident demeanor, Kasumi kept Asuka pinned down on the beach. She then looked at her rival and asked,

"Give up?"

"That's… my line." She grunted. "I'm going all out!"

With a burst of power, a powerful surge of green energy erupted from the Hanzō student's body, pushing Kasumi forcefully far away from her, like an explosive wave. Asuka then stood up, her once-loose ponytail now completely freed, leaving her shoulder-length hair free. In her hands, Asuka's twin wakizashi blades emitted a brilliant green glow, as if infused with her newfound energy.

Being pushed back by the tremendous surge of energy emanating from Asuka, Kasumi found herself momentarily stunned. After taking a moment to regain her bearings, Kasumi looked up, witnessing firsthand the transformation of her rival. The Hanzō student now stood before her in her ultimate form, exuding an otherworldly aura. It appeared that Asuka had unleashed her true power, leaving Kasumi to wonder what challenges awaited her in the continuation of this fierce battle.

With a determined voice, Asuka declared,

"I'm not done yet! Hiya!" She then proceeded to flex her body, unleashing Frantic Mode on herself. As she did, her clothes shredded away, leaving her in her colorful swimwear, enhancing her power and speed to exceptional levels. However, the trade-off was clear - her defense and stamina would suffer, forcing her to act swiftly and strategically in their ongoing battle on the sandy beach.

With Frantic Mode activated, Asuka's movements were truly mesmerizing. She moved with the speed and power of a cyclone and the force of a mountain combined, displaying a unique attacking style that took full advantage of the immense energy pouring forth from her twin wakizashi blades. The young Hanzō student unleashed her inner kunoichi, demonstrating the true potential of her skills.

Faced with Asuka's incredible power in her transformed state, Kasumi quickly realized that her usual defensive tactics would not suffice. Though she was still able to dodge Asuka's hypersonic attacks and even landed a few blows of her own, the immense aura surrounding the Hanzō student's weapons continued to inflict damage on Kasumi. Moreover, with each slice, the blood trickled down the wakizashi blades, empowering Asuka's stamina even further, making it increasingly challenging for Kasumi to withstand or mount an effective counterattack.

With one final burst of speed, Asuka unleashed a rapid succession of strikes faster than the eye could follow. It seemed as though the younger Hanzo student had finally triumphed, defeating her veteran opponent. However, in an unexpected twist, Kasumi dissolved into a whirlwind of sakura petals, miraculously managing to evade Asuka's relentless assault. Despite being on the brink of defeat, Kasumi had once again outwitted her younger adversary, showcasing her remarkable resilience and fighting spirit amidst the fierce battle unfolding on the sandy a bewildered expression, Asuka gasped,

"What?!"

She was struck by surprise as she realized she had fallen for Kasumi's trick yet again. Before she could fully comprehend the situation, Kasumi materialized right before her, delivering a powerful chop that dealt a harsh blow to the younger kunoichi. Feeling the intensity of the strike, Asuka staggered backward, struggling to maintain her advantage as their fierce battle continued to unfold.

With a burst of pink electrical energy forming in the flat of her palm, Kasumi unleashed the powerful Torn Sky Blast technique. The blast of energy hit Asuka with full force, sending her flying backward while she cried out, unable to escape or defend against the attack as she collapsed onto the beach. The intense impact of the lightning strike left Asuka struggling, the battle between the two skilled kunoichi reached its climax.

Still disoriented from the previous attack, Asuka struggled to get back on her feet. In the blink of an eye, Kasumi swiftly closed the gap and unleashed her own take on the Izuna Drop technique. The older kunoichi skillfully performed a series of stomps against Asuka's face, delivering a barrage of forceful blows that eventually forced the Hanzō student back onto the sandy beach, knocked out cold. As Asuka lay motionless on the sandy beach, the announcer's voice echoed loudly through the air, declaring,

"The winner of this fight, and overall beach day champion, is Kasumi!"

The announcement was met with a cacophony of cheers and applause from the onlookers, as the crowd rejoiced in celebration of Kasumi's triumphant victory on the sandy battleground.

Despite the jubilant celebration around her, Kasumi remained focused and concerned, kneeling down beside her unconscious opponent. With a hint of worry in her voice, she gently prodded Asuka, asking,

"Are you alright, Asuka?"

Asuka slowly regained consciousness, her eyes fluttering open as she blinked a few times, still somewhat dazed from the intense battle that had unfolded.

"Ugh…"

Asuka clutched her head, a bit dazed and disoriented, still trying to recollect herself.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Ugh, I still have a long way from being the best."

As Asuka began to regain her bearings, Kasumi offered a comforting smile, nodding in understanding.

"I see. Don't worry, Asuka. It's all part of the journey. Even the greatest ninja had to start somewhere," Kasumi replied, reaching out her hand to help Asuka up.

With Kasumi's gesture of support, Asuka grasped her hand and stood up, dusting off the sand from her body. As Kasumi stood beside Asuka, holding the younger kunoichi's hand high for all to see, a symbol of sportsmanship and mutual respect between the two fighters. The gesture spoke volumes, conveying to the onlookers that despite their fierce battle on the sandy beach, there was no animosity between the two. The audience responded with applause and cheers, approving of the genuine camaraderie displayed by both Kasumi and Asuka as they embraced the spirit of friendly competition.
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Strength: When it comes to out and out power, Asuka had the commanding lead. Kasumi fighting a cybernetically enhanced T-Rex and an fighting a clone that's more powerful than herself is impressive, but Asuka, while fighting Homura, once destroyed an entire Japanese style building in one go as just an after effect from a clash between the two. Given its size, to complete pulverize it along with its stone foundation would require a force of 2.45 Kilotons.

Speed: However, Asuka would be hard pressed to actually land any winning blows, as while she has similar combat reaction speed to Homura, who clocks in at around Mach 5, and likely faster between the both of them, but Kasumi is one of the fastest characters in her universe, only short of Ayame. To compare, the protagonist of Ninja Gaiden, Ryu Hayabusa, has consistently been shown to dodge and react to lightning, the fastest being estimated to be slightly over 1000X the speed of sound, and Kasumi is even faster. Not even Asuka's mole move could've reliably caught her off guard.

Skill: While it might be easy to say the Kasumi has the more ninja skill due to being older, but despite being a year or two older, Asuka can roughly do the same kind of moves and tricks that Kasumi can, barring special techniques, despite her supposed clumsiness that she's outgrown.

Experience: Again, Kasumi fighting a T-Rex and a superior clone of herself and winning is impressive, but Asuka, both solo and help, basically fought and defeated beings with god like power. So yeah.

Powers: Asuka certainly had the advantage to boost her physical capabilities, and utilizing elemental magic gave her more versatility, but with the application of her sakura petal teleportation to compliment her 200X speed advantage, along with her more powerful Torn Sky Blast technique, Asuka again would have difficulty trying to land anything meaningful, while have difficulty dodging or blocking when she really needed to.

The winner is Kasumi.
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Next time:

"I'm the world's ultimate life form. There's no time for games... farewell."

"Do what you want. Or rather, keep doing what she wants. But I for one, refuse to be a puppet. These wings take me wherever I want to go!"

Chapter Text

Shadow the Hedgehog

Backstory:

He is an anthropomorphic hedgehog/Black Arms hybrid who resembles Sonic the Hedgehog in many ways and serves as his arch-rival and occasional ally. Shadow was created as the "Ultimate Life Form" by Gerald Robotnik by using the DNA of Black Doom and is the final result of Project Shadow. His purpose was to provide ways to develop a cure for incurable deadly illnesses, more specifically for Gerald's granddaughter Maria Robotnik, who he had a great bond with. However, he was eventually captured following his creation and put into stasis by G.U.N. when he was deemed as a threat to humanity.

Fifty years later, Shadow was released by Dr. Eggman in order to assist him in his plan to conquer the earth. Initially, Shadow worked with him but secretly sought to destroy the planet in order to avenge Maria, who had been killed by the military, but was persuaded to save it from Gerald's doomsday plans. In the process, Shadow lost his memories and as such, sought to uncover the truth of his past, during which he met Black Doom and the Black Arms; in the end, Shadow regained his memories, uncovered the truth, and thwarted Black Doom's agenda and saved the world. From there, he continued his mission to protect humanity for the sake of Maria.

Shadow is sharp-witted, always on edge, and has a strong sense of purpose, always willing to accomplish his goals by any means, and always serious. Essentially a dark version of Sonic, Shadow can match him in both speed and skill, and can use Chaos Control with a Chaos Emerald to warp time and space. While preferring to work alone and not one of his closest friends, he has helped Sonic and his allies when needed.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Acrobatics (Exceptionally mobile, as he shares Sonic's athleticism),

Small Size (Shadow is 1 Meter tall),

Immortality (To natural causes of death),

Self-Sustenance (Doesn't need air, nutrition or rest),

Supernatural Willpower,

Spin Dash,

Absorption (Of Rings),

Danger Sense (Shown to be capable of sensing trouble akin to Sonic he shares his abilities),

Chaos Energy Manipulation,

Limited Energy Restoration,

Healing, Forcefield Creation and Statistics Amplification (Can use Chaos Control in order to self-heal or create a pulsing purple barrier. Receiving damage, blocking attacks with Shadow Guard, and utilizing Shadow Heal will generate energy for the Ichikoro Gauge; which allows Shadow to knock out comparable opponents in one hit once enough energy is transferred to it.),

Space-Time Manipulation & Reality Warping (Chaos Control is referred to as a reality warping skill and allows it's user to control the fabric of the universe. As a result an slow down time, stop it, teleport, create space-time rifts, travel through space-time. Chaos Emeralds are miraculous gems which can amplify the extent of this technique.),

Resistance Negation (Through Chaos Control. Chaos Emeralds can stop time and freeze the likes of Sonic in place despite him being shown to be unaffected by other means of Time Manipulation, such as through the Time Stones, Time Switch & White Space.),

BFR & Sealing (Can use Chaos Control to seal others in different dimensions),

Energy Projection,

Electricity Manipulation (With Chaos Spear),

Explosion Manipulation (With Chaos Blast),

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant (His fighting ability didn't seem wane even after he lost his memory. After having access to Shadow's body, Eggman managed to replicate his physicality with the Shadow Androids but not his combat skills. Even without the aid of chaos powers he held his own in combat against Knuckles, a martial artist with greater strength; Rouge, a secret agent; Espio, a skilled ninja; Sonic, a similar fighter who has experience beating doppelgangers of himself),

Marksmanship (Proficient in the use of firearms and other ranged weaponry),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled in the use of melee weapons, effectively wielding knives and swords),

Vehicular Mastery (Is one of the best bikers in Soleanna; beat the consecutive 5 time champion of the Car Festival and broke the Buggy Ring Race record),

Fire Manipulation (With Jet Shoes),

Pseudo-Flight (With his Jet Shoes),

Healing (Chaos Emeralds can heal their users and restore consciousness when they get rendered unconscious),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can tag the Hyudoros, Boos, and King Boom Boo),

Resistance to:

Paralyzing Gas,

Transmutation (Due to resisting being converted into a ring by Chaotix Recital),

Biological Manipulation (Overpowered Black Doom's mind control, which stems from them having the same biology, off of sheer willpower),

Matter Manipulation & Antimatter Manipulation (Merely took normal damage from attacks by the Antimatter Cannon from Diablon, the Particle Beam Cannon from Heavy Dog and Blue Falcon),

Space-Time Manipulation (Can withstand attacks from multiple chaos powers that attack opponents with distorted space-time),

Psuedo-Resistance to BFR (Just touching a Chaos Emerald allowed Sonic to warp out of the Special Stage, which resides in a different universe as a trap),

Unconventional Resistance to Reality Warping & Greater Spatial Manipulation (4-D. When using Chaos Control, Shadow was unaffected by the shattering and warping of reality caused by the destruction of the Paradox Prism),

Acids (Can withstand the acid of poison frogs with no negative side effects),

Extreme Heat (Unfazed by the volcanic temperatures of Lava Shelter, which is set inside of an active volcano),

Cosmic Radiations (Can repeatedly endure the vacuum of space with no negative side effects),

Damage Transferal (Rings completely shield the user from harm so long as they have at least 1 in their possession. Upon taking an instance of damage, a varying amount will scatter from the one who collected them with higher durability causing less to drop. Rings have repeatedly shown the capacity to protect Base characters from villains far stronger than them, ranging from the likes of Void to amped Titans such as Supreme),

Healing & Stamina Recovery (Ring energy revitalizes the wielder and restores energy, as noted with Silver wanting to use some to replenish his energy. Rings are referred to by The End as being vitality),

Statistics Amplification (Ring energy in the Sonic Riders series can amplify the user's speed by nearly 2x and increases their boost duration by nearly 2 seconds when going from level 1 to 3).

All previous abilities and:

Time Stop (Can use Chaos Control to freeze time without a Chaos Emerald),

Paralysis Inducement, Power Nullification & Stamina Reduction (The Chaos Spear could be used to temporarily stun enemies. Drained Neo Metal Sonic of his Super transformation, stripping him of his energy and leaving him in a state similar to exhaustion despite him being an inorganic machine that is said to have limitless stamina),

All innate Resistances plus:

Ice Manipulation (Can break free from being frozen solid),

Mind Manipulation, Soul Manipulation, & Possession (Unaffected by all of the Ifrit's passive hax),

Sound Manipulation, Electricity Manipulation, & Transmutation/Deconstruction (Can withstand the effects of the Magenta, Ivory and Blue Wisps),

Transmutation, Biological Manipulation, & Disease Manipulation (Made physical contact with the Zombots several times before showing any sign of infection, whereas others show symptoms after the slightest touch),

Healing & Stamina Recovery (Ring energy revitalizes the wielder and restores energy),

Acausality (Sage, an advanced AI who can run calculations by the millions, referred to Sonic's actions as trying to defy causality by refusing to submit to his accelerating cyber corruption. Super Sonic, with assistance from Sage within Supreme, ultimately defeated The End. The End referred to its impending defeat at their hands as something that transcends law and time despite it's attunement being the ruling of fate on everything in the universe, with Super Sonic referring to it as breaking the chains of fate.),

Aura,

Positive Emotion Empowerment,

True Flight,

Invulnerability (Super forms are stated grant the gift of being invulnerable, indestructible and invincible to conventional harm, and is merely unaffected by Devil Doom's attacks being thrown against him),

Invulnerability Negation (Super form users can harm other super form users with this trait),

Regeneration Negation (The full power of the Chaos Emeralds allowed Shadow and Sonic to bypass Solaris' regeneration entirely, shattering its light shells and decapitating it. Even when Solaris revitalized and reformed itself with wings, the damage to it remained),

Holy Manipulation (The Chaos Emeralds are described as wondrous and miracle gems that perform miracles once they are all gathered together, the result of which result is the Super form),

Enhanced Non-Physical Interaction and Conceptual Manipulation (Stated to be capable of using the full power contained within the Chaos Emeralds, which allowed Super Sonic to interact with and harm entities such as The End. Can directly attack Solaris' consciousness.),

Forcefield Creation,

Resistance to:

Enhanced Death Manipulation (Super forms can withstand the Eyes of Solaris, which instantly kill whoever touches them).

Weaknesses: Shadow's quite cocky and overconfident. Invulnerability only lasts for as long as he has rings.
————————————
Dark Pit (Kid Icarus)

Backstory:

The goddess Pandora was the architect behind Dark Pit's creation, creating him by baiting Pit into breaking the Mirror of Truth, which can create copies of whatever it sees. His imperfect duplicate quickly revolts against the deity, joining Pit's efforts in taking her down.

Dark Pit is the dark, but not necessarily evil, counterpart of Pit who was created after Pandora tricked the latter into running straight into the Mirror of Truth. However, due to Pit smashing the Mirror before the process could be complete, Dark Pit is simply rebellious rather than outright malicious. Seeking to carve his own path, he battles Pit on several occasions, but fate forced Dark Pit to help his original whether he wanted to or not.

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Limited Flight (Needs a goddess' help),

Weapon Mastery,

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Magic,

Immortality (In the chapter where Dark Pit is playable, he can be revived when he dies. Pit explains that when he is revived, it is Palutena resurrecting him, so Dark Pit may have a similar connection),

Durability Negation,

Darkness Manipulation,

Gravity Manipulation,

Plant Manipulation,

Absorption,

Electricity Manipulation,

Space-Time Manipulation,

Air Manipulation,

Ice Manipulation,

Water Manipulation,

Limited Reactive Movement,

Pain Manipulation,

Damage Reduction,

Danmaku,

Explosion Manipulation,

Summoning,

Body Control,

Size Manipulation,

Self-Sustenance (Don't need air),

Light Manipulation,

Fire Manipulation,

Black Hole Creation,

Poison Manipulation,

Breaking the Fourth Wall,

Energy Projection,

Status Effect Inducement,

Petrification,

Telekinesis,

Statistics Amplification,

Can turn his foes into an eggplant or tempura,

Invisibility and Intangible,

Can convert damage into power with Libra Sponge,

Limited Power Nullification with Interference (Can plant a beacon that disrupts enemies' ability to use powers),

Can generate a forcefield that reflects all projectiles except for his own,

Can heal himself in a number of ways,

Resistance to Life Force Manipulation and Absorption.

Weaknesses: Dark Pit is rather stubborn and reckless in addition to be reluctant to rely on other's help. He cannot fly without the help of a Goddess and can only do so for five minutes at a time, or else he'll die as his wings burn up.
———————————
Song: Chaotic Flight

Shadow the Hedgehog, the ultimate life form, darted through the picturesque landscape of Windmill Isle with incredible speed, propelled by his powerful rocket shoes. The town, inspired by ancient Greece, provided a stunning backdrop for Shadow's high-speed journey, as he glided smoothly, leaving a trail of wind in his wake. Coming to fly by him, was the dark copy of the angel captain Pit himself, Dark Pit. Seeing this brooding hedgehog going by so fast, he snarked,

"Hey Spiky, what's the rush?"

Shadow, maintaining his stoic demeanor, coolly dismissed Dark Pit's question. He replied with a nonchalant tone,

"That's none of your concern. Go and fly off somewhere else."

Without giving the dark angel another glance, Shadow continued gliding through the vibrant streets of Windmill Isle, his rocket shoes carrying him at blistering speeds, leaving no time to waste.

Dark Pit, provoked by Shadow's dismissive attitude, swiftly retrieved his Silver Bow from his quiver.

"Heh, well with that attitude, I'm going to show you how outclassed you are."

With a smug grin, he shot out a flurry of green light arrows in the direction of the black hedgehog. Shadow, however, remained unfazed and focused. His incredible agility allowed him to effortlessly evade the relentless onslaught of arrows, gracefully maneuvering around them with ease.

Dark Pit braced himself as Shadow transformed into a spiny ball, hurtling towards him with lightning-fast speed. The dark angel nimbly countered Shadow's assault by expertly wielding his Silver Bow blades, unleashing a series of fierce slashes in an attempt to defend against the hedgehog's formidable attack. However, none of Dark Pit's slashes had any significant impact on Shadow. The ultimate life form, seemingly unstoppable, simply brushed off the copy's attacks with ease, his focus unwavering as he continued to press forward.

Returning to the ground, Shadow matched Dark Pit's pace, darting forward with astonishing velocity. The two rivals moved faster than the eye could follow, their forms a blur as they streaked across the breathtaking landscape of Windmill Isle. The sonic battle between the ultimate life form and the dark angel unfolded with unparalleled intensity, every move a display of remarkable agility and lightning-fast reflexes.

Dark Pit, attempting to gain the upper hand, charged his Silver Bow to unleash a more powerful light arrow. Just as he prepared to fire, Shadow, seizing the opportunity, invoked his formidable ability.

"Chaos Control!"

With time itself coming to a halt, everything around them froze in place. The once vibrant town suddenly appeared motionless, allowing Shadow to move with unparalleled freedom. While the world remained paralyzed around him, Shadow stood amidst the frozen tableau, fully in control of the situation.

Seizing the advantage of the frozen time around him, Shadow sprang into action. With a swift leap, he executed a flying spin kick aimed at Dark Pit's head. Despite the temporary stasis of their world, the dark angel's body reacted to the impact, propelled by the force of Shadow's attack. With his adversary momentarily stunned despite the frozen surroundings, Shadow seized the opportunity to press the advantage, fully capitalizing on the effects of Chaos Control.

As time resumed its normal flow, Dark Pit found himself feeling the full impact of Shadow's spin kick. Reeling back in shock, he let out a surprised cry, the force of the attack finally registering in his body. Caught off guard, Dark Pit stumbled momentarily, but soon steadied himself, determined to not let this slip-up give Shadow the edge.

"Time manipulation? Do you think that makes you so special? I'll show you."

With renewed determination, Dark Pit soared to the highest vantage point of Windmill Isle, the top of a prominent altar building. There, he revealed his Dark Pit Staff, a formidable sniper rifle capable of delivering precise shots from a distance. Taking aim at Shadow, who continued to dart around with incredible speed, Dark Pit prepared to shoot down the ultimate life form.

However, Shadow was moving so fast, especially as he rolled into a spin dash, Dark Pit couldn't keep a pin point on him, and even aiming ahead still didn't hit him. Dark Pit's frustration grew as Shadow's agility and speed made it difficult to land a successful shot. Despite his attempts to anticipate the ultimate life form's movements, Dark Pit's shots were consistently off-target.

"Stay still, damn hedgehog..."

Dark Pit's voice carried a mix of frustration and determination as he spoke, trying to focus on hitting his elusive target amidst Shadow's relentless evasion. Dark Pit, still perched atop the alter building, frantically scanned the surroundings, trying to locate Shadow as he soon lost him. Frustration etched on his face, he called out, menace laced in his voice:

"Where are you now?"

Having lost sight of his target amidst the vastness of Windmill Isle, Dark Pit's attention intensified as he continued his search for the elusive ultimate life form. Dark Pit's eyes widened in alarm as Shadow suddenly appeared behind him, brandishing a gun with threatening intent. Without hesitation, Shadow delivered a chilling ultimatum:

"Don't move, punk, or you'll have a nice halo to fit with those wings of yours."

Faced with Shadow's imposing presence and the imminent threat, Dark Pit stood frozen, weighing his next move carefully, acutely aware of the potential consequences.

"Don't count me out yet."

With Dark Pit's quick reflexes, he summoned his Guardian Orbitars to create a protective shield, deflecting the incoming bullet fired by Shadow. In a swift counterattack, the dark angel swapped his Silver Bow for an Electroshock Arm gauntlet, delivering a powerful punch that paralyzed Shadow momentarily. The impact of the strike sent him reeling, disrupting his focus for a brief moment.

Gaining his composure, Shadow launched into a flurry of movements, zigzagging and darting in different directions to catch Dark Pit off guard. Amidst his evasive maneuvers, he unleashed a barrage of bullets from multiple sides, attempting to break through the dark angel's defenses. Despite Shadow's relentless onslaught, Dark Pit remained unyielding, expertly blocking the bullets with his Guardian Orbitars. With a fluid motion, he retaliated with precise shots from his Silver Bow, his focus unwavering as he defended against Shadow's assault.

Out of ammo and undeterred, Shadow tossed aside his depleted gun, opting instead for a charged attack. In a leap, he unleashed the powerful Chaos Spear, a blast of energy hurtling towards Dark Pit. In response, the dark angel reacted swiftly, charging his Silver Bow to unleash a potent light arrow. As the two energy attacks clashed in a burst of force, the resulting explosion illuminated the skyline for a fleeting moment.

As the smoke cleared from the explosive clash, Shadow took advantage of the temporary cover, executing a Chaos Control teleport to appear behind Dark Pit. However, the dark angel anticipated his move and swiftly responded by equipping his Violent Palm. With a swift backhand strike, Dark Pit delivered a powerful blow that sent Shadow reeling backward, momentarily disrupting the hedgehog's momentum. Dark Pit, amused by Shadow's predictable tactic, let out a chuckle. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he taunted,

"Heh, trying to attack from behind while under cover? Sounds like what I'd do."

The dark angel's words carried a hint of amusement, seemingly entertained by the similarities between them. The atmosphere around them crackled with energy as Shadow's form began to glow with a red aura. Sensing the impending escalation, he declared with unwavering determination,

"Playtime is over. Time to step it up."

In a grand display, Shadow summoned the powerful presence of the seven Chaos Emeralds. They materialized in orbit around him, their ethereal energy pulsating, fueling his extraordinary power. Dark Pit observed Shadow's transformation with a mix of awe and concern. The sight of the seven Chaos Emeralds revolving around his rival was unmistakably concerning. The energy emanating from Shadow was unlike anything he had witnessed before, pushing the dark angel's unease to greater heights.

"What is this?"

Dark Pit's murmured words reflected his growing apprehension. The dark angel's eyes darted back and forth, assessing the situation and weighing his options as the ultimate life form drew upon the power of the Chaos Emeralds.

"I am the ultimate life form, Shadow the Hedgehog. Behold my ultimate power."

As the seven Chaos Emeralds bathed Shadow in their energy, they facilitated his transformation. The once black hedgehog underwent a remarkable metamorphosis, his fur transitioning into a radiant lemon cream. Rising to new heights, Shadow transcended into the formidable Super Shadow. Embodying ultimate power, Super Shadow stood before Dark Pit, his presence exuding a commanding authority that left no room for doubt. The dark angel's resolve wavered momentarily, his confidence shaken by the overwhelming aura of his transformed rival.

Despite the unnerving presence of Super Shadow, Dark Pit couldn't resist a snarky remark, his cocky demeanor evident in his words.

"Super Shadow? Ultimate life form? You're just full of yourself, aren't you?"

Unfazed by the dark angel's mockery, Super Shadow's unwavering focus remained locked onto his adversary. The transformation had amplified his power to extraordinary levels, making him an even more formidable opponent in their ongoing clash. Dark Pit, underestimating the true extent of Super Shadow's power, provoked the transformed hedgehog with his confidence.*

"Hmph, you have no idea what you're up against. I'll show you that I can back it up."

Seizing the initiative, Shadow teleported in front of Dark Pit and unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each strike landing with enough force to send the dark angel soaring through the air. With a final, powerful double-fisted strike, Shadow slammed Dark Pit into the ground, leaving him momentarily disoriented and winded from the relentless onslaught.

Super Shadow continued his relentless assault on Dark Pit, teleporting again to land yet another series of powerful punches and kicks. The ultimate life form's strikes landed with remarkable force and precision, leaving the dark angel overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the onslaught. With each blow, Dark Pit struggled to find an opening to retaliate or even gather his bearings, as the transformed hedgehog's overwhelming power seemed to engulf him. It was a testament to Super Shadow's unparalleled strength, leaving Dark Pit grappling with a formidable opponent unlike any he had faced before.

"Enough!"

With growing frustration, Dark Pit retaliated against Super Shadow, utilizing his Violent Palm and Electroshock Arm equipment to counter the ultimate life form's relentless assault. In a swift, calculated move, the dark angel delivered a decisive blow to Shadow's oncoming punch, momentarily halting his attack. Concurrently, Dark Pit also unleashed a powerful blow with his Electroshock Arm, sending Super Shadow hurtling into the nearest building wall, momentarily stunning him with the force of the impact. Super Shadow, momentarily stunned by Dark Pit's counterattack, quickly regained his composure. He responded with a confident smirk and a cocky retort.

"I wasn't even trying."

Shadow's words carried a hint of arrogance, hinting that his previous efforts were but a fraction of his true power. It was a clear challenge, daring the dark angel to push him even further.

With a graceful leap, Super Shadow ascended to the same level as Dark Pit, initiating a volley of powerful Chaos Arrows. Dark Pit, ever nimble and quick, swiftly evaded each projectile, displaying remarkable agility as he danced through the barrage. Drawing upon his formidable sword skills, Dark Pit maneuvered with poise, skillfully slicing through the Chaos Arrows with precise slashes from his swords. Closing the distance between them, the dark angel's determination was evident, ready for another close encounter with the transformed hedgehog.

In a fierce clash, Dark Pit and Super Shadow engaged in a frenzied melee, the dark angel's swords clashing against the transformed hedgehog's fists. The intensity of their confrontation was palpable, each landing strikes and blocks with fierce determination. Despite Dark Pit's impressive skills, the invulnerable nature of Super Shadow's super form meant that he was impervious to damage, leaving the dark angel at a disadvantage. With every block and counterstrike, Dark Pit pushed himself harder to find a way to overcome the unstoppable force before him.

Leveraging the momentum of their close-range fight, Dark Pit made an opening by propelling Super Shadow towards the ground. With a quick reaction, the dark angel manifested his formidable EZ Cannon, swiftly charging it up to unleash a powerful attack. From Dark Pit's perspective, the resulting explosion engulfed a significant area, seemingly engulfing Super Shadow in its destructive force. The impact of the attack was clearly potent, shaking the very earth itself and sending shockwaves through the surrounding environment.

Dark Pit's brief moment of satisfaction quickly turned into alarm as Super Shadow effortlessly countered his offensive with a powerful teleport kick, sending him crashing to the ground below. Before the dark angel could react, Super Shadow unleashed a devastating assault with another barrage of Chaos Arrows, showering the area in a relentless storm of energy projectiles. Dark Pit struggled to regain balance, shielding himself from the forceful onslaught, the sheer intensity of the attack threatening to overwhelm him.

Super Shadow, not satisfied with mere chaos arrows, channeled his power into a more destructive maneuver. With a focused chant of "Chaos... Lance!", he summoned a more potent variant of his Chaos Spear. In a swift motion, he threw the charged projectile into the chaos surrounding Dark Pit, which erupted into a massive explosion of red energy. Dark Pit shielded himself from the powerful burst, the ground quaking beneath him as the force of the attack threatened to engulf him in its fury.

Dark Pit, battered and bruised from Super Shadow's relentless assault, emerged from the debris, a mix of determination and defiance in his eyes.

"Alright, you asked for it, Spiky."

With a resolute stance, Dark Pit slammed his fists together and materialized the Brawler Claws, an armament that enhanced his speed with its passive effect. Despite his previous struggles, the dark angel's resolve burned brightly, ready to face off against the transformed hedgehog with renewed vigor.

Dark Pit and Super Shadow clashed in an aerial duel that escalated as they ascended higher and higher into the heavens. Despite Shadow's invulnerable transformation, Dark Pit displayed remarkable tenacity and speed, maintaining a rapid barrage of blows against the transformed hedgehog. With breathtaking agility, they dueled at velocities surpassing light speed, leaving trails of stardust as their epic confrontation unfolded against the cosmic backdrop. The moon cast a luminous glow upon their fierce struggle, the silence of the upper atmosphere broken only by the occasional clash of fists against each other. Super Shadow's words echoed through the cosmos, declaring,

"I already have one rival who matches my speed and power. I do not need another one!"

With a determined move, he unfastened his inhibitor rings, unleashing an overwhelming surge of power that exponentially amplified his strength and speed. However, Dark Pit was unfazed by the growing danger, fueled by a refusal to yield even as Shadow's powers surged. Despite the odds stacked against him, the dark angel's resilience drove him to keep pace with the transformed hedgehog's intensified blows and blistering speed.

Dark Pit, engaged in an intense duel with Super Shadow, realized with dismay that his ability to fly, an aid from the gods, had reached its limit. As he began to fall back towards Earth, a sense of disbelief washed over him.

"What?! It's been five minutes already?!"

"Hmph, guess he isn't as tough as he…"

Shadow's taunt was cut off when his Super Form reached its own time limit, and his fur returned to his natural color of black. Before falling, the only thing the hedgehog had time to say was,

"Shoot."

As they hurtled towards the ground, Dark Pit's determination surged within him.

"No! Not yet! I can still with this!"

Refusing to concede defeat, he quickly drew his powerful Meteor Bow, charging it up for a devastating shot. With a bold shout, Dark Pit unleashed an arrow empowered with the explosive force and blazing velocity of a meteor, aiming to turn the tide of their catastrophic fall.

In a desperate act of survival, Shadow channeled his Lightspeed Dash, transforming into a rolling ball and charging towards the blazing arrow. Upon colliding with the meteor-like projectile, he was enveloped by a fiery explosion before barrelling through it and smashing into Dark Pit. The collision sent both of them hurtling down at a breakneck speed, their rapid descent causing the air around them to ignite in fiery combustion as they plummeted towards the Earth's surface.

As Dark Pit cried out in agony, his wings succumbing to the intense heat generated by their rapid descent. The feathers burned away, and the wing structure shattered under the overwhelming pressure of the G forces. It seemed as if the dark angel was reaching his physical limits, struggling to withstand the forces that threatened to tear him apart amidst the scorching flames. Summoning a final surge of strength, Shadow roared,

"You're going straight to Hell! Chaos... Blast!"

Unleashing an explosive wave of power that rumbled with the force of a continent-shaking tremor. Dark Pit's body was helpless against the overwhelming might of the uninhibited ultimate life form, disintegrating under the intense pressure as he could not endure the magnitude of the attack.

Back on solid ground via teleportation, Shadow appeared, panting for breath after expending a significant amount of energy in the fierce battle. Despite the exertion, he maintained a composed demeanor, proclaiming with a hint of satisfaction,

"Hmph, victory is mine. Now, back to what I was doing."

With a sense of purpose renewed, Shadow swiftly departed from Windmill Isle, using his rocket shoes to propel himself at the speed of sound across the landscape. As he traveled, the world around him blurred, showcasing his incredible velocity and determination as he moved forward with a clear objective in mind.
————————————————————————
Strength: At the start of the fight, Dark Pit had a sizable lead. Dark Pit is as strong as our good ol' regular Pit, who managed to beat Pyrrhon, who pushed the Aurum Brain to the other side of the galaxy after defusing from it. To do so, both Pits would have to scale to his power, estimated to be at most, 320 Teratons of TNT. Impressive, but Death Battle has calculated that the combined power of all the Chaos Emeralds is around 2.8 Yottatons, about 6,700X more powerful than the cast of Kid Icarus has faced before.

Speed: You may expect Shadow to be the faster one, but Shadow was surprisingly outclassed. If we were to take the 10X multiplier of the Chaos Emeralds, and assume that Shadow's inhibitors also unlocked a 10X multiplier, Shadow could naturally move 33X light speed. But with the power of the gods, both Pits could reach different constellations in 15 seconds. Reaching Alpha Centauri alone would require traveling at 8.9 million times light speed. That's a 270,566X difference.

Skill: I'd say that Shadow is the more experienced. Dark Pit may have his light counterpart's power and speed, but he never actually won against the angel captain, who has lots of actual experience. While the amount of time passing in the Sonic games are dubious, Shadow still did more with his time to hone his skills more than Dark Pit did.

Experience: Similar to before, Dark Pit may be able to fight the same foes as Pit does, but Shadow has faced against more various boss fights where some of them are even more impressive than the Greek gods of Kid Icarus, like Solarus.

Powers: When it came to versatility, Dark Pit had a lot of his sleeve, able to use elemental magic, status ailments, and even to some degree, time-space manipulation. However, not only is Shadow far better at using the latter, but he has a lot of natural resistances against the majority of Dark Pit's arsenal, and complete immunity once he went Super. And his ability with Chaos Control means that he can consistently keep up with Dark Pit's speed advantage, or even outright negate it.
———————
Next time:

"I have had carnal knowledge of the fairest maidens in Heaven... and have tasted the finest wines of Gaea. But none of it- none of it- excites my blood more than using my blade!"

"Finished? It'll never be finished. A battle isn't like some stupid argument. As long as someone's still breathing, the fight isn't over."

Chapter Text

Augus

Backstory:

One of the elite demigods of Shinkoku, Augus is one of the most prominent warriors of the empire and master to many the likes of Asura and Yasha. His life is driven only by the need of satisfying his vices, encompassing delicious food, fine wine, beautiful women and his true passion: battle. Augus doesn't even care about good or evil, as he fights only for the thrill it provides him.

He did not believe in Deus's cause, but sided with him only to keep enjoying the pleasures of life. His ultimate desire was to face Asura in battle, whom he believed to be just like him and the only one who truly understands him. Unable to realize the greater reason for which Asura was fighting, Augus met his doom after an epic clash and died proud of what his pupil had become.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Longevity and Cyborgization (Has the same physiology as Asura's),

Self-Sustenance (Types 1 and possibly 2. Can survive in space without any apparent limit of time),

Mantra Manipulation and Projection (His power stems from a form of energy called Mantra in the same way as Asura does, but instead drawing it from Greed. His physical attacks are enhanced by orange energy, which he also projects forward while punching. Can launch many energy slashes from his sword),

Martial Arts Master (Mainly fights with his bare hands and is the one who taught Asura and Yasha the art of unarmed combat. Traded fists with Episode 11 Six-Armed Vajra Asura in a warm-up bout and then matched him blow-for-blow in a fistfight),

Master Swordsman (Regarded as a master swordsman whose real potential is reveleaed only when he draws his blade. Can slay high-level Gohma without even unsheating his sword, since such privilege is reserved only to worthy opponents such as Asura and Deus.),

Weapon Control (Can extend his sword up to 380,000 km),

Acrobatics (Should have prowess similar to Asura and Yasha. Fought a Gohma Glider in mid-air. Jumped from the Moon to Gaea while carrying an impaled Asura with him),

Likely Analytical Prediction (As the one who taught Asura and Yasha how to read and counter their opponents' moves, thus he should possess the same ability to a similar degree),

Enhanced Senses (Completely unimpeded by his blindness),

Statistics Amplification (As all powerful demigods, Augus can materialize his own halo and enter the "Vajra" form, increasing his strength and abilities. Augus enters this state only when drawing out his sword. Charging his Mantra for a few moments allows him to cross long distances at higher speed than normal),

Limited Flight (Although unable to fly on Earth, Augus can propel and maneuver himself through the vacuum of space at great speed in a similar fashion to his fellow demigods. Somehow reached the Moon, where he battled Asura),

Likely Soul Manipulation (Should possess the ability to collect the souls of mortals just like other members of the Seven Deities do. Contributed in the reap of human souls occurred under Deus's reign),

Resistance to

Heat (Unfazed by entering Gaea's atmosphere),

Cosmic Radiation.
——————————
Kenpachi

Backstory:

The rough and wild captain of Squad 11, Kenpachi's immense spiritual power enabled him to achieve captain rank without unlocking his Zanpakuto's name or power. He's the only captain in history who has achieved captaincy without requiring Bankai to do so. He enjoys fighting and will hold back in various ways to make the fight last as long as possible. Due to his love of fighting, he is a wild card for Soul Society, being willing to turn on them if it gives him the chance to have a great fight.

He is the guardian of his lieutenant Yachiru whom he named after someone from his past that he greatly admired.

His Zanpakuto is Nozarashi, and its Shikai turns it into an enormous cleaver that he claims can cut anything, even intangible items. Its Bankai (currently unnamed) is unique in that while the size of his sword decreases, his skin turns red and he enters an unstoppable berserker state.

Powers and Abilities:

Soul Physiology & Shinigami Physiology,

Master Swordsman & Adept Hand to Hand Combatant (As a captain of The Gotei 13, specifically the captain of the 11th division, which is the main combat unit of the entire military structure of Soul Society, Kenpachi's is extremely skilled and experience in all forms of full-frontal combat, be it with swords or with hands, having train countless decades on both alone and had countless battles against opponents, Kenpachi has become one of the most skilled swordsman within the entirety of Soul Society, allowing him to fight on part with and then eventually outskill the likes of Retsu Unohana, something with more experience then Kenpachi and someone who knows 8,000 different sword styles, this level of skill is enhanced by the fact Kenpachi has insane levels of reflexes and instinct, allowing him to dodge attacks through touch alone after having all of his main senses, alongside his spiritual pressure senses removed by Tosen's Bankai.),

Possible Enhanced Non-Physical Interaction (Elemental - Kenpachi is stated to probably be capable of cutting "Air", allow him to damage Azashiro who can phase through the attacks of captain-class shinigami who can interact with spirit ribbons which are intangible to regular shinigami who can interact with intangible souls like Pluses),

Instinctive Reaction (Kenpachi reflexively reacts towards attacks that are comparable to him in speed, even after having all of his senses and ability to sense spiritual energy removed by Tosen's Bankai, Kenpachi was able to reflexively react towards his attacks through feeling his blade cross his skin and instinctively moving out of the way.),

Nozarashi:

Spatial Manipulation and durability negation (Kenpachi can cut through space while in Shikai, this effect should extend to his Bankai as well),

Bankai:

Berserk Mode & Enhanced Statistics Amplification (Bankai Only - While in Bankai, Kenpachi becomes a mindless monster whose only purpose is to cut and kill his opponent, his Bankai also greatly increase the speed and attacking power of Kenpachi, allowing him to cleave through opponents casually which were massively stronger then him previously while in Shikai),

Resistance to

Durability Negation (Kenpachi's Reiatsu is able to harden his organs to protect against internal attacks),

Space-Time Manipulation & Extreme Heat (Survived the after effects of Azashiro's Ittō Kasō, which can tear holes in space time),

Passive Illusion Creation & Passive Pain Manipulation (Kenpachi's Reiatsu is stated to put people under illusions which feel like "you were being tripped over a mountain of needles"),

Passive Deconstruction (Molecular - Kenpachi's Reiatsu is stated to causes Reishi to burn and crumble away),

Passive Spatial Manipulation (Kenpachi's Reiatsu causes the walls of the Garganta to crack),

Weaknesses:

Kenpachi is dangerously overconfident, as he almost always holds back in combat with his energy stealing eye patch, braiding bells into his hair, uses his sword one-handed, etc. Kenpachi's Bankai leaves him in a berserk state who seems to be only capable of attacking the enemy. His Bankai is so powerful that his body cannot fully contain and control its power. Should Kenpachi use too much power, he will tear apart and damage his own body in the process.
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Song: Greedy for Battle

The muscular and imposing Kenpachi Zaraki, the renowned Captain of Squad 11 within the Gotei 13, strolled through the tranquil expanse of Soul Society, his expression displaying a mild hint of boredom. Having seen countless battles and emerged victorious time and again, he yearned for a new adversary capable of pushing him to his limits and providing a challenging fight.

Alerted by the rumbling and commotion in the vicinity, Kenpachi, ever the warrior seeking thrilling combat, felt compelled to investigate. Being the closest of any nearby Captains or Lieutenants, it seemed like his responsibility to assess the situation and determine if the intruder was indeed worth his attention. Without a second thought, he swiftly made his way towards the source of the disturbance, anticipation building within him at the prospect of a potential battle.

In his attempt to breach the boundaries of Soul Society, Augus, one of the fearsome Seven Deities, had forcefully entered this sacred realm. With a triumphant laugh, he declared,

"Aha! I knew there was something here!"

His words echoed through the surroundings as he called out, demanding to face the mightiest Soul Reapers. With the situation turning interesting, Kenpachi approached the invading deity, his instincts recognizing the potential danger posed by this unexpected adversary.

"Ah, my challenge. Now who might you be, my strong fellow?"

Augus asked the Shinigami Captain, smirking while crossing his arms. Raising an eyebrow with intrigue, Kenpachi, the ever-serious Soul Reaper Captain, responded with a firm and stern tone,

"I'm Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of Squad 11 in the Gotei 13. And you are?"

Augus's laughter echoed through the area, resonating with a playful defiance. He raised an eyebrow, exuding confidence as he asked,

"Kenpachi... Zaraki? Quite the illustrious name. I am Augus, one of the Seven Deities, and the embodiment of Greed itself. It seems you've been bestowed with the divine honor of facing my power."

Kenpachi's gaze remained fixed on Augus, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the deity's formidable strength.

"Seven Deities? Never heard of ya. But if you believe you're so strong, let's take this outside of Soul Society. It's bothersome having an audience around to distract me."

Augus smirked, his blind gaze seemingly piercing through the air.

"Very well, I shall entertain your request. Let us go to a place where we can relish in our battle without interruptions. I'll lead the way."

"Tsk, follow a blind man? No, I'll pick where we fight."

Kenpachi, with the swiftness of a lightning bolt, seized hold of Augus' face and forcefully dragged him at a blistering pace through the dense forest that surrounded Soul Society's boundaries. Caught off guard and unable to resist the unyielding grip, Augus found himself thrust into the surrounding wilderness, his surroundings becoming a blur in the whirlwind of motion. The once serene forest transformed into a whirlwind of foliage and earth as Kenpachi transported them, their battle about to escalate to unimaginable heights.

With a powerful surge of strength, Augus managed to halt their frenetic pace by firmly embedding his feet into the ground, creating a sudden and forceful stop that defied the momentum generated by Kenpachi's speed. A mischievous chuckle escaped Augus's lips as he addressed the Soul Reaper Captain, his tone filled with playful banter.

"Haha, rather impatient, are you?!"

As Kenpachi took a few steps back, he observed Augus, the muscular Demigod towering a few feet above him. Sensing the pre-battle tension in the air, Kenpachi initiated the commencement of the imminent combat.

"Something like that. Before we begin, there's an unofficial custom we need to tend to. Let's do it properly."

With a determined gleam in his eyes, Kenpachi exposed his bandaged midsection by unfastening his shihakushō and haori, revealing a symbol of vulnerability in the face of impending battle.

"I'm going to let you have the first strike. I'll stand here, and you can strike at me however you like. Consider it a free shot."

Augus raised an eyebrow, his blind gaze unwavering as he processed the proposition. With a sly grin, he accepted the challenge, prepared to seize the opportunity to land a free blow against the formidable Kenpachi.

"A free shot? Alright, I'll take you up on it!"

The silence was broken as Augus unleashed a potent haymaker aimed directly at Kenpachi's exposed midsection. The sheer force behind the attack shook the very earth around them, an embodiment of the deity's raw power focused into a singular strike.

The impact sent Kenpachi reeling backward, his feet sliding across the ground with the force of Augus's colossal punch. Despite the raw power behind the strike, Kenpachi remained unfazed and untouched, his chest unmarked and unperturbed. The blow served as a testament to Kenpachi's incredible tenacity, showcasing his resilience against even the most devastating of attacks. With a hint of intrigue, Augus couldn't help but marvel at the unmovable figure before him.

Augus, sensing the undeniable strength emanating from Kenpachi, couldn't suppress a growing sense of curiosity. As Kenpachi drew his Zanpakutō, a long nodachi with a worn and deadly edge, Augus prepared himself for the impending clash of their formidable powers. The tension in the air was palpable as the stage was set for an unparalleled battle between two formidable adversaries. Augus's excitement deepened as he anticipated facing the true might of the Soul Reaper Captain head-on.

As Kenpachi charged forward, aiming an upwards slash, Augus swiftly sidestepped the attack with remarkable agility. Capitalizing on the opening, he countered with a powerful kick to Kenpachi's side, sending the Soul Reaper Captain flying through the air. The impact of the kick left Kenpachi momentarily airborne, his body somersaulting briefly before gracefully descending back to the ground. The force behind Augus' attack was evident as the ground shook beneath their feet, demonstrating the deity's formidable strength.

Augus pressed his assault by leaping into the air and executing a powerful dive kick that pushed Kenpachi back. The deity followed up with an uppercut and three consecutive blows, relentlessly driving his adversary farther without any resistance. Despite Augus' relentless onslaught, something felt amiss. Zaraki didn't seem to dodge or parry any of the attacks, almost as if he purposely allowed the hits to connect. Was this a part of a subtle strategy or a calculated provocation?

Despite the relentless assaults from Augus, Kenpachi effortlessly regained his footing and countered with a series of strikes that were more intuitive than refined. Augus found himself in the unusual position of dealing with a strong yet mostly untrained adversary. The Soul Reaper Captain lacked formal training and was more reliant on raw strength than finesse in battle. The clash became an intriguing dance between a deity with centuries of experience and a Soul Reaper Captain who excelled in sheer brute force. The outcome of the battle would hinge on how adept each combatant was at exploiting their respective strengths and compensating for their weaknesses.

Without warning, Kenpachi unleashed the powerful technique of Shunpo to quickly flash step behind Augus, surprising the deity as he tried to punch him. Taking advantage of the opening, Kenpachi swiftly executed a stab to the Demigod of Greed's leg and followed up with a series of forceful slashes and blows that sent him soaring through the air. With a mighty force, Kenpachi propelled Augus into the ground, creating a powerful impact that shook the earth and left the deity momentarily disoriented. The Soul Reaper Captain had demonstrated his ability to seamlessly integrate Shunpo into his fighting style, combining his brute strength with the strategic advantage of agility.

The attempted attack by Kenpachi was swiftly evaded by Augus, who rolled out of the way and managed to dodge the powerful strike. With a great tremble, the Zanpakutō sliced the ground as the Soul Reaper Captain's downward swing missed his target. Augus capitalized on this opportunity to seize the initiative, quickly finding himself in a position behind the Captain. The Demigod of Greed proceeded to slam Kenpachi into the ground, causing a massive impact. This demonstration of raw strength showcased the deity's relentless offensive nature.

Kenpachi evaded Augus's stomp with a well-timed flicker of Shunpo, the impact of which caused the ground to quake. The Soul Reaper Captain smirked, his expression betraying his amusement as he backed up and taunted the Demigod of Greed.

"Is that all you have? I'm disappointed."

"No, we're just getting started!"

Augus dismissed Kenpachi's amusement with a scoff, eager to elevate the intensity and showcase his true power. To demonstrate his incredible strength, he unleashed a powerful punch that created a shockwave that reverberated throughout the atmosphere. In a display of prowess, Kenpachi successfully bisected the shockwave with his sword, leaping up to deliver a devastating and powerful downward slash that split apart Augus' chest and caused the earth to rumble. A spillage of golden blood stained the ground, evidence of the ferocity with which the two combatants were now engaging.

Kenpachi laughed in triumph at having landed a meaningful strike that cut open Augus's chest, but the deity's endurance proved to be immense. Undeterred by the damage, the Demigod of Greed responded with a flurry of punches and kicks that knocked the Soul Reaper Captain off his feet. Augus proceeded to pummel the defenseless Kenpachi like a rag doll, relentlessly pounding him with a barrage of attacks. The relentless and powerful assault provided a stark contrast to the casual and laid back demeanor the deity had initially displayed.

As Augus was poised to deliver another punishing blow, Kenpachi blocked the attack with his nodachi, regaining his balance. The Soul Reaper captain then proceeded to unleash an unrelenting assault, striking with remarkable speed and strength that challenged the demigod's defenses. The lack of finesse in Kenpachi's movements was compensated by the sheer force with which he unleashed his barrage of blows, utilizing his immense power to overcome his lack of formal combat training.

With Augus on the ground, Kenpachi pounced on the opportunity to deliver a devastating blow with his nodachi, aiming to slash down at the demigod with his blade. However, the deity was more formidable and resilient than it appeared. To stop the blade, Augus clasped his hands together firmly around the blade of the weapon, the edge caused by his grip causing golden blood to slowly seep out from his palms and cover the sword.

Augus was clearly not going to let the Soul Reaper Captain have the last laugh. With a swift motion, the deity kicked Zaraki in the face, followed by a powerful uppercut that sent him spinning into the air.

"Let's test your limits!"

The final blow came when Augus leaped upward and kicked Kenpachi off the ground, sending the Captain soaring through the sky and past the horizon. After being kicked so forcefully by Augus, Kenpachi was sent soaring through the atmosphere until he crashed into one of the mountains of the Japan Alps south of Hokkaido. In spite of the immense damage from the powerful strike, the Soul Reaper captain quickly regained his composure and stood up, using his sword as a crutch to support himself and stretched to alleviate any traces of soreness.

Augus didn't let the massive distance between the two combatants deter him as he pursued his target. With a powerful jump, the demigod of greed traversed a great distance and made a devastating landing, the power of which shook the very mountain they stood on. The demonstration of might sent a clear message to Kenpachi, whose silence was soon interrupted by Augus's mocking laughter.

Is that it? Are you the kind of man to stop after all that?"

The intense atmosphere of killer intent coming from Kenpachi was not lost on Augus, who felt the very essence of battle radiating from the Soul Reaper captain.

"Prepare to die-"

However, the demigod's anticipation was short-lived as he was abruptly interrupted by his opponent's attack. Augus threw a powerful punch directly at his face, shattering the tension in their surroundings and leaving Kenpachi stunned.

"Against you, I think I can fight with no restraint at all!"

In a sudden burst of intensity, Kenpachi tore off his eyepatch, sending a surge of energy around himself that manifested in the form of a skull surrounding the entirety of his body. A yellow aura enveloped the Soul Reaper, evidence of the immense power he had restrained up until that point. Augus observed the transformation with a distinct interest, his blind eyes glued to the powerful energy radiated by his opponent. The tension of the battle had reached a crescendo.

"Let's drink up, Nozarashi."

In an instant, Kenpachi's Zanpakutō underwent a tremendous transformation in accordance with the command. The weapon, which was initially a long and narrow nodachi, suddenly transformed into a massive cleaver that dwarfed even its powerful user. The enormous blade was now perched over the Soul Reaper captain's shoulder, showcasing the magnitude of the transformation triggered by the command. The blade was a menacing sight, its sheer size and weight a testament to the power unleashed. Augus was unable to avoid sensing the massive weapon, its presence sending a shiver down his spine.

Augus initiated the clash of the battle by going in for a punch, only to find his attack intercepted by Kenpachi's bare hand. Unfazed, the Soul Reaper captain unleashed his first attack with his transformed weapon, swinging his Zanpakutō in an attempt to slash the Demigod of Greed. However, the powerful strike was evaded at the last moment, leaving only a graze. Augus promptly retaliated with a fierce counterattack, the demigod's speed and ferocity still managing to keep up.

Augus demonstrated a relentless assault as he landed punch after punch on his foe, seemingly intent on inflicting as much damage as possible. His flurry of strikes and an uppercut was punctuated by a powerful kick that sent the Soul Reaper captain flying into a nearby boulder.

Kenpachi took the onslaught of blows head-on, his smile remaining unwavering on his face as he was struck repeatedly by the persistent attacks of Augus. The Soul Reaper captain continued to absorb the powerful offensive until he launched a counterattack with his transformed Zanpakutō. The flat of the weapon slammed harshly into the Demigod of Greed's head, causing a metallic clang to echo throughout the surroundings.

"Heh, is that it?"

Kenpachi mocked the Demigod of Greed after successfully launching his surprise attack with his transformed Zanpakutō. Using the immense mobility granted by the shunpo, he proceeded to blitz around Augus in a flurry of slashes and punches, before sending the demigod reeling away with a powerful punch from his free hand. The ruthless assault illustrated the impressive speed and agility of the Soul Reaper captain.

"Now, let me show you the power of Nozarashi. I can damn cut anything I swing at. Watch."

Kenpachi set out to showcase the true power of his transformed Zanpakutō. With a powerful two-handed swing, he brought his massive cleaver down on the mountain range, the force of the attack so great that it literally cleft the mountainside they were standing on. As a result, a large section of the mountainside started crumbling and falling away.

Augus was indeed pleasantly surprised by the immense power of Kenpachi's attack. The Demigod was able to successfully evade the initial strike, but the Soul Reaper Captain was relentless as he continued with another slash that he also evaded, which caused the mountain to disintegrate further by the pure force of the strike. The repeated slashes were indeed making the mountainside steadily smaller, a clear indication of the tremendous power unleashed.

Upon seeing how much Kenpachi can dish out, Augus activated his mantra, a golden intricate halo forming behind him, its distinct radiance a testament to the immense power he would now wield. With a resounding declaration, the Demigod of greed expressed his commitment to the battle, his excitement at being able to finally unleash his blade unwavering.

"It doesn't matter what maidens you sleep with, or how good and fine the food or wine is. Nothing excites my blood more… than using my blade!"

Unsheathing his sword, dubbed "Wailing Dark," the demigod threw the sheath away, signifying his intent to utilize the full extent of his power on his opponent. Augus had left nothing to chance and was now fully immersed and determined to defeat Kenpachi.

"I may be blind, but I can still see that you believe in the same as I! Don't you, Kenpachi Zaraki?!"

Augus called out to Kenpachi, sensing his eagerness for a fight of this magnitude. The Demigod of Greed posited that the Soul Raider captain had a similar outlook on battle as he did, the thrill and rush of a fight unlike any other being incomparable. The blind demigod posed a question to the Captain of the 11th Division, asking if he was indeed someone who believed in the same concept as him, that nothing surpassed the excitement of an enthralling contest of strength. Augus's question was quickly answered as Kenpachi responded with a loud shout that echoed throughout the vicinity.

"Damn right I do! The thrill of a fight like this is unparalleled, the ultimate rush. A clash between two fighters like us? There's no better feeling in the whole world!"

Then let's take it to the next level!"

Augus proceeded to take the battle to a whole new level, grabbing the oblivious Kenpachi by his face and swiftly propelling him towards the moon at immense velocity. Though the Demigod of Greed was handling the travel to Earth's natural satellite without any difficulty, the same couldn't be said for the Soul Reaper Captain. Despite being an experienced Shinigami with immense spiritual power, the vacuum of space was a new hazard for the captain, and he was unable to adapt as quickly as his opponent is, as his eyes reddened and bulged out, and the liquid of his body boiled out.

Augus's brutal of Kenpachi through the sheer power of his grip ultimately led to the duo making landfall on the moon in just half a minute's time. The force of the throw was impressive in its own right, sending the Captain of the 11th Division tumbling across the rocky terrain multiple times before crashing headfirst into a large hill. The sheer impact generated enough force to crater the hill, making it clear that both opponents were exerting incredible strength.

In spite of the immense power his throw had demonstrated, once it was evident that Kenpachi was struggling to withstand the moon's vacuum, Augus laughed mockingly in disbelief.

"What, can't handle something as simple as the lack of air?! Maybe you're not as tough as you thought!"

The Demigod of Greed couldn't believe that someone like the Soul Reaper captain, one of Seireitei's premier combatants with immense physical prowess, was unable to cope with something as simple as the lack of air. Augus's taunt reflected his perception of his opponent's inferior ability to adjust to new circumstances.

"Ban... Bankai!"

Even though the lack of air and the harsh effects of being on the moon were causing Kenpachi's body to suffer, the Shinigami captain managed to force out a few words of invocation. With a firm voice, Kenpachi managed to declare the activation of his Bankai, a crucial command that could potentially alter the result of the battle. The release of a Shinigami's Bankai was often viewed as the determining factor in the outcome of a matchup, so the fact that Kenpachi had successfully spoken the command could shift the balance of power.

Kenpachi's reiryoku began to surge as he successfully activated his Bankai, the spiritual energy within him transforming and changing in response to the power that the technique unleashed. The Shinigami captain's body began to undergo a transformation as well, the features and appearance shifting to better suit the power of his full-fledged Bankai, his very being transformed by the sheer power that erupted from within him.

Augus was struck by the sight of Kenpachi's transformation, his body taking a new and more terrifying appearance when he activated his Bankai. The Captain of the 11th Division was now a red-skinned berserker, his battle ax no longer resembling the massive cleaver it once had been. Augus could no longer deny that the power is impressive, the sheer force of the spiritual energy within the Shinigami was unmatched by anything he had previously seen. His opponent was now on full autopilot, his body moving without any hesitation or reservations.

"Hahaha, you've been holding, haven't you, Kenpachi! Even after you said you stopped holding back earlier! Now the true battle begins!"

Augus was positively delighted by the new and ferocious appearance of Kenpachi, who was now a much more intimidating and fierce foe. The Demigod of Greed's eyes lit up as he regarded the rampaging Shinigami, a smile widening across his face as he anticipated the ensuing clash. Augus gleefully laughed, his genuine enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of a clash of this magnitude palpable. He was ready to face off against the berserker Captain, the true battle now starting in earnest.

The two combatants charged at each other with their respective blades, each looking to gain the upper hand in the clash. Initially, it seemed like the strike had resulted in nothing more than the clash of their weapons, the lack of direct contact leaving them seemingly unscathed. However, it was just a matter of time before the power displayed was fully felt. At the mere after effect from the force of their blades, a crack appeared in the moon, swiftly growing into a massive split that bisected the entire lunar landscape. The sheer power of the clash was breathtaking.

On the edge of one of the split halves, Kenpachi swung his blade in a wide arc, aiming to slash the Demigod of Greed where he stood. Augus, however, was more than agile enough to dodge the attack, leaping clear over it before landing in an impressive maneuver and delivering an aerial kick. The Demigod also successfully slashed Kenpachi, who was still preoccupied with his own strike, the Shinigami Captain suffering several direct hits from Augus's blade.

Kenpachi swiftly got up after being kicked down by Augus, too feral to care about the cuts or wounds he had suffered. He simply swung his blade like an animal, the sheer ferocity and lack of technique to his strikes a reflection of the pure power that raged within him. While the Demigod was admittedly having to work harder to avoid Zaraki's slashes, the damage to the moon was being inflicted entirely by the Shinigami Captain. Each consecutive hit was further damaging the lunar landscape, increasing the size of the cracks exponentially with each swing.

Using his superior agility, Augus jumped back and attempted to dispatch Kenpachi from a distance, firing a barrage of energy slashes. However, the Soul Reaper Captain was able to block or tank every attack, his sheer power allowing him to keep on pressing forward as he relentlessly closed in on his opponent. Augus ducked under a side swipe, and Zaraki shaved a few more miles of lunar terrain from the moon, the damage caused quickly and steadily increasing.

As the moon continued to split apart at an exponentially increasing rate, the two combatants were quickly falling through the chasm between the bisected moon halves. They both jumped from rock to rock in the free fall, Kenpachi continuously slashing away at the lunar landscape with his axe, carving a path of destruction as he went. The sheer force of his swings continued to add to the damage inflicted on the moon, its already split surface and damaged insides becoming more and more devastated with every passing moment.

Augus eventually managed to catch Kenpachi off guard using a spin kick to disorient him. The Demigod followed up by delivering multiple slashes, before finally landing a devastating downward punch that sent him plunging through the moon at an accelerated velocity. Zaraki's brutal fall through the lunar interior was a sight to behold, his unstoppable descent potentially reaching the moon's core.

Augus's expression was one of pure shock and disbelief as he lost his arm in a single clean cut, the Demigod's focus broken for just a few moments by the devastating attack. Unfortunately for the Demigod, Kenpachi seized the opportunity and landed another devastating blow, this time slicing into Augus's left shoulder when he tried dodging, adding another injury to his list as the moon continued getting carved apart by their clashes from the inside out.

Kenpachi was determined to finish the fight in a decisive manner, spinning around like a top and launching a flurry of slashes at Augus, hoping to slice him to ribbons like a blender. However, the Demigod of Greed was too quick, leaping back and kicking him down and out of the way. Augus then seized the opportunity to grab a hold of Wailing Dark's extendable blade and pierce Kenpachi with the sharp point of the blade.

Zaraki was not one to allow himself to be stabbed easily, quickly pulling out the tip of the blade and attempting to repeatedly slice at Wailing Dark. However, the Demigod's sword possessed the unique ability to extend supposedly indefinitely, countering the constant damage being inflicted at the tip of the blade as it continuously elongated, keeping pace with the damage it was accumulating. The sword's magical attribute was certainly proving to be quite a challenge for the Shinigami Captain.

"Haha, prepare to meet your end, Kenpachi Zaraki!"

Augus's expression was one of pure triumph as he believed he had finally defeated Kenpachi, the battle between the two nearing its conclusion as they fell through the atmosphere. The Demigod's exultant words rang out despite the fact that they were both enveloped in intense flames and heat as they descended.

Upon hitting the ground, Kenpachi's body came in contact with the Earth, sending out a crater-like effect over the surface as the sheer force of his landing shattered the ground. His right arm also ended up snapping in bloody half from the force of blocking, the Demigod's blade also piercing through the Shinigami Captain. Wailing Dark had managed to penetrate deep enough that it came dangerously close to erupting from the Earth's surface in Rio Grande, Brazil by a distance of only a staggeringly close 1,100 km, instead only coming straight up out of the South American Ocean.

Kenpachi's relentless fighting spirit refused to submit even in the face of catastrophic damage and injury, the Soul Reaper Captain kicked Nozarashi into his left hand instead of his usual right as his Bankai continued to rage on. In his berserk and enraged state, the Shinigami Captain was able to land a well-timed and perfectly executed slash, completely bisecting the Demigod vertically as he descended on him. Augus was only able to process what had happened for a brief moment before his body was split apart and he exploded in a violent burst of energy.

Kenpachi's body was practically drenched in blood as the toll of the battle quickly set in, the Soul Reaper panting heavily as the adrenaline of the battle slowly subsided. In response to the exhaustion he was now feeling, Zaraki snapped the hilt of Wailing Dark off, along with the part of the blade that had pierced through the ground. With a sign of relief, the Soul Reaper Captain finally fell face down, unconscious, as his Bankai began to dissipate around him.
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Strength: Both of these fighters are insanely powerful on just brute force alone, able to critically damage the moon when given the chance. Augus is strong enough to completely impale Wailing Dark through the Earth like a kabob. Something that I myself estimated to have taken around 368.8 Petatons. However, when Kenpachi used his Shikai to split the meteor Gremmy summoned in half, and promptly exploded, that came out to be 113 Exatons. That's a 306.4X difference. And that's not even taking into consideration of Bankai.

Speed: In terms of speed, the two were fairly close. In the beginning of the game, Augus was able to dozens of lasers shot at him, showing that he can react at higher relativistic speeds at bare minimum 50% light speed. However, Kenpachi at his full potential can scale up to Hikone Ubuginu, who can move so fast that gravity and intertia become distorted, and time cones to a stop, which could start happening as low as 70% light speed, and as high as 99-100%. And Zaraki can still add to that with Bankai, meaning the Soul Reaper can range anywhere between 3.5 to 10X light speed.

Skill: Now, in terms of formal training, Augus is clearly superior, as he's able to exploit an opponent's weakness and is a master martial artist, while Kenpachi has only learned a day's worth of Kenpo, deliberately ignoring training because that would make winning too easy. Still, this gave Augus the chance to exploit the many, many weaknesses and openings that his unrefined style presents.

Experience: However, that's not to say that Kenpachi is a chump against experienced fighters. Despite only having a day of training in his life, the only opponent he's ever had difficulty in pure swordsmanship was his fellow Captain, Unohana, as she was the absolute master of the sword. Otherwise, Zaraki can handle foes of greater experience by virtue of his typically overwhelming strength and speed. The two should also be equal in terms of fighting Ghoma and Hollows respectively.

Powers: While there isn't that many abilities that the other doesn't have, or can't counter, one thing that Kenpachi did have in his advantage was his shikai ability to cut anything, strength related or otherwise. And with the power of his Bankai, that made left Augus unable to block if he couldn't dodge.

The winner is Kenpachi Zaraki.
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Next time:

"Gonna shut you up and shut you down... with my fists!"

"I've saved the city, saved the girl, but couldn't save myself..."

Chapter Text

Axel Stone (Streets of Rage)

Backstory:

A police officer before the events of the first game, he quits the force as the gangster Mr. X's corruption spreads across Wood Oak City, choosing to fight his Syndicate on his own terms when the police reveals itself to be far too corrupt to interfere, with the help of fellow ex-cops Blaze Fielding and Adam Hunter.

One year later, Axel, who has left the police to run a martial arts dojo, discovers that Adam has been kidnapped by a returning Mr. X, and finds himself forced to fight against the Syndicate once again, with the help of Blaze, as well as his friend pro wrestler Max Thunder and Adam's kid brother Skate.

Following a terrorist attack by an insane Mr. X who now seeks to plunge Earth into a world war, Axel, now reinstated as a police officer, sides with Blaze, Skate and Syndicate abdicate Dr. Zan to defeat him once and for all, the stakes higher than ever.

After the final death of Mr. X, Axel left Wood Oak City, deciding to live a simple life in isolation and spend his days training and studying in the search of true strength beyond his fists. However, he immediately returns to the city when Blaze calls for his help to take down the new Syndicate founded by Mr. X's children, Mr. and Ms. Y, joining forces with her, Adam's daughter Cherry Hunter and Gilbert Zan's apprentice, Floyd Iraia.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (An extremely skilled fighter capable of defeating hordes of criminals and policemen alike and fight ninjas, samurai or other martial artists, even incredibly skilled ones such as his rival Shiva, as well as combat machines, Axel is capable of performing a wide variety of kung-fu moves and "combo" enemies in various ways using many advanced techniques),

Weapon Mastery (Capable of using many kinds of weaponry picked off the ground with significant skill, including unusual ones like shuriken or kunai, and can perform special moves with baseball bats, planks, lead pipes and katanas. Should have training in firearm usage due to being an ex-cop),

Acrobatics (Can easily vault over enemies while grappling them, suffer no damage while being thrown, instantly landing on his feet with an air recovery and perform dodge rolls),

All previous plus Fire Manipulation (Many of Axel's moves surround his limbs with flames),

All previous abilities plus enhanced Fire Manipulation (Axel's flames are now powerful enough to set the ground ablaze and he is capable of manipulating the flames into the shape of a dragon to attack),

Vibration Manipulation (Can hit the ground hard enough to harm nearby foes with Dragon Crush),

Air Manipulation (Can create a tornado of fire with Dragon Burst),

Absorption (Vampiric Instinct causes all attacks to restore health),

Status Effect Inducement (Can stun people by tossing Stun Grenades at them)

Weaknesses: Special moves consume some health when used too frequently.
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Cody Travers (Final Fight)

Backstory:

Cody has practiced boxing and martial arts since he was 9, he has a girlfriend who has been his "sweetheart since childhood", Jessica. Cody also took care of his younger brother Kyle, being something of a father figure to him.

Cody teams up with his best friend/rival Guy and the Mayor of Metro City, Mike Haggar, to save Jessica (Haggar's daughter) from Belger, the leader of the Mad Gear gang. Cody takes on many of Mad Gear's worst thugs, including Damnd, the first Mad Gear Gang member to kidnap Jessica, and Edi. E, a corrupt police officer who uses a gun and police baton against Cody, making the fight very difficult to win. His penchant for fighting often leaves the others free to pursue the other bosses of Metro City.

In the end, Cody confronted Belger on the top floor of his penthouse, and after a tough battle, Cody was able to use an uppercut to knock Belger through a window, sending Belger plummeting from the top floor to his death on the street below. Cody is then celebrated as the hero of Metro City and Jessica herself wants to celebrate with Cody, but Cody tells Jessica that he can't sit still while evil continues to stalk the streets. After sharing a passionate kiss with Jessica, Cody leaves the city for parts unknown.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Expert Brawler and Martial Artist,

Acrobatics,

Air Manipulation,

Weapon Mastery (Skilled with knives and able to use pipes, wrenchs and other items he can find around as weapons),

minor Power Nullification (His Criminal Upper cancels out normal projectiles),

Damage Boost (Can perform enhanced versions of his Special Attacks),

Status Effect Inducement (By hitting the opponent repeteadly, without them being able to recover, he can cause them to enter the "Stun" status, which leaves them unable to react),

Same as before to a greater extent:

Enhanced Senses (Was aware that Zeku was following him),

Attack Reflection (Can reflect projectiles with a pipe swing),

further Status Effect Inducement (His Focus Attack causes the opponent to enter a "crumpling" status)

Weaknesses: Can tend to be lazy and bored.
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Song: Street Rager

Mayor Cody Travers was currently taking a walk through the city, his mind going back to nostalgic and fond memories of his past as a street fighter who used only his fists to keep the peace. While he was now the mayor of the city and had a litany of bureaucratic duties to tend to, he couldn't help but long for the simple yet fulfilling days when he had been able to fight crime with simply his fists without worrying about all the political red tape.

"Ugh, why does being mayor have to be so boring and stuffy?"

Cody's frustration and annoyance with the political bureaucracy that came with being mayor only grew as his walk continued, his boredom beginning to outweigh his nostalgia. The mayor couldn't help but look up at the sky, his eyes taking in the expansive vista as he expressed a quiet sigh. The clear blue sky was a welcome change from the stuffy atmosphere of the city, its openness and freedom a vast contrast to the political arena he was constantly navigating.

Cody was suddenly drawn out of his own thoughts by the sounds of a commotion emanating from an alleyway close to his position. The mayor glanced down the alley and, to his surprise, was able to discern that there was a man fighting against four thugs in the narrow path, his display of martial prowess quite impressive considering the disadvantage of the outnumbered position. The muscular man's fighting skill and technique allowed him to effectively hold his own against his opponents, seemingly unfazed by the disparity in numbers.

Axel Stone, an ex-cop and detective who was now rough around the edges and on a one-man mission to fix the rise in crime being perpetrated by the Y Twins, was currently fighting off four thugs in a narrow alleyway, his impressive martial skills and technique allowing him to hold his own against the multiple opponents. The ex-cop was no stranger to confronting criminals, his tough and stoic demeanour giving him a unique presence that could be felt even from a distance.

Axel Stone seemed to have finished off the four thugs with little more than a few bruises, his body bearing some battle scars but his overall wellbeing appearing to be in surprisingly good condition. At the sound of light applause, the ex-cop turned his attention towards his onlooker, his body language and demeanor calm yet alert.

"Well done, stranger. Not anyone can take on four chumps like you have and walk out without more than a single bruise."

After observing the mayor, Axel's expression quickly shifted into one of recognition, his voice carrying a sense of familiarity as he responded.

"Mayor Travers? That's you, right?"

"My reputation precedes me, I guess. Yeah, I'm the mayor. And what's a fine fellow like you beating on these poor saps for?"

A slight smile creased the corners of Axel's mouth as he responded to the mayor's question, his body language signaling a sense of relief at being recognized for his actions. The ex-cop's attitude and tone conveyed a certain lightness, despite his previous rough and no-nonsense demeanour.

"These four fellas thought they could push their luck and mug me. I guess they figured wrong, huh?"

"Indeed. However, I recognized a look in your eyes. This wasn't just a random mugging. You're a man on a mission."

Axel's features shifted into a more serious expression at the mayor's observation, his body language and tone taking on a more serious and resolute air.

"You'd be correct in assuming that this wasn't a random mugging. I'm currently on the trail of the Y Twins, those two scoundrels who have started a new crime wave in the city. Apparently they aren't content with just simple petty theft anymore..."

Cody pulled at his tie, before proceeding to unbutton his business jacket.

"I see. Well, as mayor of my fine city, I'm sure I could pull a few strings for you… if you can relief my boredom for the next few minutes."

Axel's expression shifted into a subtle but distinct smirk at the mayor's statement, a slight chuckle emerging from his lips as he responded.

"Relieving your boredom? Well, I suppose I couldn't see that hurting."

"Good, good."

Throwing off his business jacket, Mayor Cody started flexing in his blue button up and purple vest. He set his wristwatch, before getting into a fighting position.

"Three minutes ought to do it. Survive that long, and I'll be satisfied."

Axel couldn't help but be amused by the mayor's sudden display of fighting prowess, the ex-cop's expression shifting into a distinct smile as he observed the politician's preparation for the sparring duel.

"Just three minutes then? I'm sure I can manage that."

"Get ready now."

Axel nodded in response to the mayor's prompt, his body language conveying an almost arrogant confidence as he stepped forward and assumed a fighting stance. The ex-cop was clearly relishing the opportunity to face off against the politician, a slight smirk evident on his face as he stood ready.

"I'll show you how a real fighter does things..."

Axel began the duel with an offensive rush, taking the first step forward and launching a series of left jabs, a right strike followed by two high kicks. However, Cody was a competent street fighter, his technique allowing him to effectively block the strikes that came his way. The ex-cop's display of speed and agility prompted the mayor to step forward in turn, initiating his own attack with a flurry of punches and kicks. The two combatants were now locked in a heated exchange of blows, their respective fighting abilities perfectly matched.

Cody's counterattack was quick and precise, launching a one-two punch combo with a left uppercut, followed a right low sweep and a left reverse roundhouse. Axel's own reaction to the combination was swift and decisive, managing to block the combo, sidestep the uppercut and jump over the low sweep, before moving in to block the roundhouse at the last second with his own. His eyes locked onto his opponent, the ex-cop's body positioning and stance signalling a counterattack.

Axel's quick flurry of punches caught Cody off guard, the flame-imbued fists exploding at contact with his blocking arms, and he took a brief moment to realize the trickery behind the blows. However, in that precious moment of distraction, the ex-cop seized his chance and launched a shoryuken, his flaming fist connecting with the mayor's midsection and sending him flying back a few steps. Cody managed to get up, noticing the dirt and small burns on his shirt, only to dryly chuckle to himself with amusement.

"Hehe, boy is my assistant going to give me a stern reprimanding."

Axel watched as Cody got back on his feet, the mayor displaying a slight chuckle at the tiny burns on his shirt and the prospect of his assistant's potential anger over his actions. The ex-cop decided to take this opportunity to crack a lighthearted joke in response.

"Your assistant is going to give you hell for this?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about it. I regularly annoy Marlowe. Let's stick to the fight."

Axel chuckled at the mayor's dismissal of the potential consequences of the fight with his assistant, the ex-cop now refocused on their fight. He watched as Cody brushed off any concern, the mayor getting back into his fighting stance and assuming a battle-ready position.

Axel's quick right hook was met by an unexpected block from the mayor, followed promptly by a devastating headbut that left the ex-cop stunned for a moment. The politician then took advantage of Axel's surprise, picking the man up and slamming him down onto the hard gravel of the alleyway. Despite the sudden fall, the ex-cop quickly rolled back to his feet, getting back into a fighting stance and taking up a battle-ready position once more.

As the two combatants entered close quarters, Axel managed to get a series of powerful knee strikes into the mayor's gut, delivering three blows before using a jumping split kick to launch him vertically and send him flying. Axel's display of skill and technique was highly impressive, but as he anticipated, Cody was not one to stay down for long.

Axel had just lifted up a lead pipe off the ground as he prepared to strike the mayor using the makeshift weapon, when Cody's quick-witted counterattack took him by surprise. Cody managed to grab hold of a discarded trash can lid, rolling around in time to prevent the pipe from connecting with his body and causing serious damage, the metal clanging loudly with the contact of the two objects smashing against each other.

Cody wasted no time in pressing his advantage, sweeping Axel's feet out from under him and standing back up. The mayor then moved to grab a pipe of his own off the alley wall, quickly tearing it free from the wall so he had a weapon comparable to his opponent. The two combatants were now both armed with makeshift pipes, the mayor and the ex-cop facing off against each other wielding their respective metal pipes.

Both fighters fought in a fierce, vicious contest of skill and brute force using the pipes as their makeshift weapons, the clangs and bangs echoing within the alleyway as their blows collide, striking a rhythmic pace. Despite how evenly matched they were, neither side gave an inch, neither able to break the others' defence and seize the advantage.

Neither side was able to withstand the damage and abuse that the pipes endured during their contest, the makeshift weapons eventually succumbing to the sheer force of the blows exchanged between the two combatants. Both men tossed aside their ruined pipes simultaneously, the ex-cop and the mayor both shrugging in resignation at the fact that the weapons were unusable now. Easy come, easy go, as they figured.

Axel took the opportunity to press his advantage, slamming his fist down on the ground and producing a wave of flame that shrouded his hands as he rose back up to an upright position. The ex-cop then followed up with an uppercut, the punch connecting against the underside of Cody's jaw and sending him flying high into the air.

Axel's attention was momentarily diverted as Cody feigned a punch, leaving an opening that was quickly and expertly exploited by the mayor as he dropped low and delivered a swinging kick to the ex-cop's crotch. This blow landed with a forceful impact, the ex-cop visibly wincing from the pain as he staggered backwards and collapsed to his knees.

As Axel struggled to regain some semblance of composure after the hit to his crotch, he was caught off guard by Cody's subsequent punches of the Zonk Knuckle, first coming from his right and then from his left, both strikes landing with devastating force. The ex-cop's eyes briefly closed in pain after the second punch, before they abruptly opened once more.

Axel's counterattack started with an effective block that caught Cody's third strike, and continued with an elbow strike with his opposite arm that caught the mayor across the face. The ex-cop then continued the attack with a sweep that brought the back of Cody's legs out from underneath him, resulting in the mayor being laid flat against the ground with a grunt.

As Axel attempted to stomp on Cody's groin, the mayor managed to roll out of the way and create some distance between himself and the ex-cop. The frustrated ex-cop glared at the mayor as the two reestablished some breathing room, both men now ready to resume their intense fighting.

Axel took a moment to reach beneath his jacket, promptly withdrawing a sharp-looking blade, a classic all-purpose knife. With a swift motion, the ex-cop threw the weapon at his opponent, only for Cody to use his superior reflexes to execute a smooth Tornado Sweep. The gust of air generated from the sweep was so powerful that it managed to deflect the knife, sending the weapon away and preventing it from striking the mayor.

The battle had now reached its final stage, the two fighters having endured a grueling bout of fighting. Both fighters took a moment to gather themselves, their fatigue and exhaustion beginning to set in as their adrenaline rushes started wearing off. However, neither fighter was willing to back down, both men cracking their knuckles and preparing for one final series of powerful attacks.

The final series of attacks came with a bang, Axel unleashing a mighty uppercut imbued with fire from his fist, while Cody's own attack was fueled by a powerful gale of wind. The two elemental strikes interacted, a whirlwind of flames and wind wrapping around the two combatants as their mighty fists crashed into each other, the ex-cop and mayor both fighting to the apex of their abilities.

As the whirlwind of flames disappeared, the smoke from its passing obscured each Fighter's position and identity, making it difficult to determine who the victor of the battle was. There was a moment of tense silence, the fighters' heavy breathing and exhaustion the only sounds ringing out through the alleyway.

As the smoke finally cleared, it revealed Cody's fist in the process of connecting with Axel's face, only for the timer to sound out at that exact moment. The mayor had ultimately emerged victorious in their fierce battle, his hand almost striking Axel's face but ultimately stopping by a split second. Axel rolled back and onto his back, his breathing laboured and his entire body now sore from the ordeal that had taken place in the last three minutes. As the mayor stood above him, triumphant, the ex-cop could only offer up a smile from his prone position. Cody returned the smile as his fist turned into a helping hand.

"That was a hell of a fight. Need a hand up?"

Axel managed a weak grin as the mayor held out a helping hand, his body now sore and aching from the previous three minutes of intense physical activity. The ex-cop took a moment to gather himself before reaching for the hand and allowing himself to be pulled back up to an upright position.

"Hell of a fight, indeed. You're not so bad yourself. Might've won that if the timer hadn't gone off..."

"Even if you won, I would've been satisfied. Certainly provided the fight I've been looking for that random street thugs can't give."

Cody shrugged as he went to retrieve his business coat he took off before the fight.

"Heh, glad I could deliver a proper fight for you. Most of the thugs on the streets these days can barely offer a decent skirmish, let alone a proper bout of fisticuffs."

Axel chuckled as he started stretching out his shoulders and trying to work out some of the lingering soreness from the intense fighting.

"Now, how about you come with me to my office. I'd be glad to help with your Y twins situation to make the city a better place."

Cody said as he slung his arm around Axel's shoulders, ending their fight with camaraderie. Axel was only too happy to end the fight on an amicable note, the ex-cop's face lighting up at the offer from the mayor to deal with the Y twins and make the city a better place. The former cop then looped his arm around Cody's shoulders, the two men returning to their senses as they walked back to the mayor's office.
————————
Strength: This was a pretty close fight. For strength, both were pretty equal. At best, Axel Stone can potentially bust through a thin metal wall with the force of 48 pounds behind his punches(even if the details are a bit dubious), and withstand the explosion of a rocket launcher, about 10 pounds of TNT. But Cody, is no slouch either, being able to punch through 50 cm of concrete, which would require about 4 tons of punching power to do. That's 166.66X stronger. And Cody has gotten stronger since then.

Speed: Axel is able to dodge pistol gunfire, which would clock him around 342.25 mph in reaction time. However, Cody has been shown to punch faster than bullets can travel, going just slightly higher than the speed of sound. Around twice as fast as Axel.

Skill: Axel would be the more skilled fighter, as he's gone through formal police training to be proficient in martial arts, while Cody is more self-taught right off the streets.

Experience: Both fighters are about equal in the kinds of enemies they've faced against, and how long they've been fighting. The only difference is the scope in power is generally larger in Cody's case.

Powers: While Axel has roughly more numerous abilities than Cody by quantity, they aren't really anything that Cody can't do if he really wanted to. Both could use a type of elemental attack, and enhance their physical capabilities, and while Axel's passive ability to regain health with each attack is helpful, Cody would be striking too hard for that minor healing to matter.

The winner is Cody Travers.
————————————————
Next time:

"The stronger you become in the Force, the more you can do, the more that's expected of you, and the less your life belongs to you."

"Everyone, don't let your guard down. A large brigade from Rigel is heading our way. Knights to the front; mages fall back. Fortify our defenses. Disperse the enemies and pick them off one by one!"

Chapter Text

Luke Skywalker (Legends, 29 years old)

Backstory:

The son of famous Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, he was left on Tatooine with his aunt and uncle after the fall of the Jedi Order. 19 years later, he encountered former Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Under the alias "Ben Kenobi") and joined the Rebel Alliance to bring down the Galactic Empire. After the fall of the empire, he would go on to establish the New Jedi Order and eventually serve as its Grandmaster.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses and Perception,

Aura-Sensing,

Various lightsaber combat skills,

Skilled Swordsman,

Expert Marksman,

Skilled Unarmed Combatant,

Clairvoyance,

Precognition,

Telekinesis,

Telepathy,

Spatial Manipulation and Teleportation via Fold Space,

Mind and Memory Manipulation,

Illusion Creation (Capable of projecting illusions on a planetary scale as well as dispelling them) and Astral Projection (Cross-dimensional),

Psychometry,

Barrier Creation via Force Barrier,

Energy Manipulation (Can reflect, redirect, and absorb energy attacks thrown at him and fire off blasts of Force energy),

Elemental Manipulation and Durability Negation via Electric Judgement,

Regeneration (Mid-Low in short periods of time from even fatal attacks; in the form of Force Healing),

Technology Manipulation via Ionize and Mechu-Deru,

Astral and Soul Manipulation,

able to put others to sleep via Hypnosis,

amazing capacity to learn new techniques within days such as Fold-Space as mentioned,

Incorporeality (Spirit form only),

can also project his Force Spirit/essence into an alternate dimension that causes psychic entropy on the mind and body without any sign of fatigue by the end of his mastery of this technique, despite another being sealing it off as its creator and having greater control of it to prevent said intrusions, can block/hide his psychic presence from others attempting to send or locate him actively or passively,

Resistance to Poison,

Matter Manipulation on a subatomic scale (Creating a Holocron requires one to make numerous precision alterations to it on a subatomic scale),

Light Manipulation via Force Light,

Battle Meditation,

Flow-walking (minor time manipulation),

Force Stealth,

Force Stun (Sensory manipulation),

Weaknesses: Some of his more powerful techniques might end up draining Luke of his stamina or health with repeated uses
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Alm (Fire Emblem)

Backstory:

Alm is an idealistic youth hailing from Ram Village under the care of his grandfather, Mycen. As he grew older, he became frustrated with his grandfather's attempts to keep him in the village, later running off to join the Zofian Deliverance along with his best friends, Gray and Tobin to protect his fellows from brigands and liberate Zofia from Chancellor Desaix's control. Throughout his adventures, he discovered that he was not a mere Zofian as he once thought, but was, in fact, the crown prince of Rigel, Albein Alm Rudolf, who possessed the royal blood of the Divine Dragon Duma.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Expert Swordsman and a Skilled Archer,

Regeneration (The Royal Sword passively heals Alm, and healing is capable of mending stab wounds through the torso),

Precognition and Time Manipulation with Mila's Turnwheel,

Extrasensory Perception,

Non-Physical Interaction (Can harm souls),

Can survive without his soul,

Energy Projection,

Sealing,

Power Nullification,

Can restore souls (Restored Celica's soul),

Resistance to Negation (Can attack Duma while Oculus is active)

Weaknesses: Alm can be overly idealistic and attached to the ones he holds dearest, a trait that can be used to manipulate him.
———————————
Song: Heroes of Light

The galactic explorer and legendary Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker, had set his sights on the Outer Rim regions on his most recent journey, his desire for unexplored territory guiding him into some of the most remote parts of the galaxy. While most would consider such unexplored worlds and uninhabited regions to be nothing more than uninhabitable wastelands, the Jedi Master saw such locations as an exciting unknown, an unvisited frontier of wonders. He enjoyed travelling and exploring the vast and unexplored unknown, the adrenaline rush from discovering something new filling him with a primal sense of wonder and excitement.

R2-D2's complaining was met with an indifferent sigh from Luke, the Jedi Master not allowing his trusty astromech droid's complaints to derail his current venture. The former Rebel Alliance commander was taking a much-needed break from his ongoing involvement in galactic politics and conflicts, the exploration of unexplored territory and planets giving him the respite he needed from the constant chaos of the stars. He turned to R2-D2 and spoke again in response to his complaints, the Jedi Master's tone being firm yet gentle.

"I know, R2, but I told you already that I'm just taking a break. All these wars in the stars can get tiring if one doesn't take a step back every now and then. Just trust me."

Luke guided his X-wing around the planet, soon finding a landing area that would serve as his destination for his current stopover. Landing on the continent of Valentia, the Jedi Master's ship settled down in the vicinity of the prosperous capital in Zofia, the former Rebel Alliance commander emerging from his cockpit with confidence and certainty.

The former Rebel Alliance commander couldn't help but smile as he made his way through the streets and markets of the kingdom's capital, the people living in a peaceful and prosperous existence. Despite it being an Outer Rim territory of the galaxy, the region was surprisingly well-developed and organized, and had clearly experienced a strong economic and social boom. Luke felt proud to see the success that came from the demise of the Empire, even if he wasn't completely sure whether or not he had any indirect role to play in its success.

As Luke walked through the kingdom's capital, he caught sight of a training ground of sorts with a figure in royal attire wielding a sword in a practiced manner, showcasing adept skill. The Jedi Master recognized the appearance and garb of the individual as that of a monarch, the former alliance commander concluding that the figure wielding the sword that he didn't know was none other than the king ruling this land. King Albein Alm Rudolf II, or merely Alm. After some time, Alm realized he had an audience, and turned to see Luke. He smiled as he sheathed his sword.

"Hello. Took a fancy with my practicing?"

Luke returned Alm's smile with a friendly one of his own, the Jedi Master looking upon the king with interest in his eyes. The former alliance commander nodded in confirmation, his tone polite and respectful as he spoke.

"I did, your majesty. I am Luke Skywalker, and you seem like a gifted swordsman, judging by your display."

Alm nodded in response, a sense of pride in his voice and a warm smile on his face as he spoke.

"Thank you, Luke. My grandfather taught me the ways of the sword, and I've strived to keep up my skill. Are you perhaps a swordsman yourself?"

Luke chuckled at the king's question, his tone showing a touch of pride in his own skills as he spoke.

"To an extent, your majesty. I've had plenty of practice with a lightsaber, though I can't say I've ever delved into more traditional forms of swordsmanship."

Luke chuckled at the king's question, his tone showing a touch of pride in his own skills as he spoke.

"To an extent, your majesty. I've had plenty of practice with a lightsaber, though I can't say I've ever delved into more traditional forms of swordsmanship."

Alm nodded in understanding, if confused on what a lightsaber is, no doubt aware of the difference in the different fighting styles the two of them utilized. With a smile on his face, the king spoke.

"If you don't mind me asking, would you perchance like to spar? Dummies are fine, but it's always better when you can practice with someone else."

Luke considered the proposition for a moment, his tone becoming enthusiastic as he spoke.

"I would be honored. Just know that I may be passive. I fight for the sake of knowledge and defense. Never to attack unless I have to."

Alm smiled at the former Rebel Alliance commander's response, his tone becoming more casual and informal as he spoke.

"Don't worry, you won't hurt my pride. Just don't hold back. I can take it."

At this, the king drew his sword with a flourish of prowess, his tone and visage both turning more serious.

"Let's begin."

The former Rebel Alliance commander engaged his lightsaber to ignite his own blade, the unique sound of his weapon humming with power as he took a defensive stance, ready to face the king's attack. Alm took a second to observe his opponent's stance, then wasted no time in stepping forward with a downward strike of his blade, his attack aimed directly for the chest.

The former Rebel Alliance commander demonstrated mastery of Form V combat with his defensive parry, his defense remaining strong and firm under the pressure of Alm's strikes. He was surprised to see Alm's Royal Sword wasn't melting from the contact against his lightsaber, but he kept his defensive up anyway. The king himself was not a stranger to various combat forms and techniques, his strikes being executed in a manner that showed he had knowledge of such techniques. However, the king's aggression did not seem to diminish as he pushed forward with his blade.

The two opponents engaged in a series of sword strikes, Luke utilizing his Djem So technique to counterattack with expert precision and skill. Alm was no slouch in the discipline himself, the king's own defensive maneuvers and counters allowing him to hold his own against the former Alliance commander. The two men were locked in an intense clash of steel and plasma, none giving an inch to the other.

Alm's side swipe was evaded by the former Rebel Alliance general, who utilized his control of the Force in order to push the king back with an unseen force. The latter was initially surprised by the fact that he was moved back without contact, though the king's face quickly became determined as he stepped forward to resume his offensive.

Alm continued to press his attack, his blades continuing to fly back and forth and clash with Luke's lightsaber. The king's strikes were initially met with strong parries and counters by the Jedi Master, who soon capitalized on the opportunity provided by an opening and forced Alm back with a powerful Force kick. The king was pushed back initially, though he quickly regained his balance and resumed his offensive, using one of the practice dummies to jump up and attempt a downward strike over Luke.

The former Rebel Alliance general successfully blocked Alm's strike, pushing him back with a Force push before going for a strike of his own which the king himself was able to repel. However, the monarch was momentarily off balance, leaving him briefly vulnerable to a well-crafted maneuver by the Jedi Master. Luke's attack forced the king onto his knee, who was surprised by how the former Rebel Alliance commander managed to find an opening. While Alm was now on the defensive, the king could still turn the tide with a well-placed strike.

With one powerful shove of strength, Alm was able to force Luke's lightsaber out of his grip and push the Jedi Master back, the monarch managing to create space between the two. While Alm now controlled the flow of the fight and held initiative, the king wasn't about to ease up on his attack despite having Luke on the defensive. Taking advantage of his success, Alm then stepped forward and tried to slash his blade across the former Rebel Alliance commander's chest, the king hoping to take advantage of his momentum and his opponent's current vulnerable position.

Luke was able to use the Force to summon his lightsaber back into his hand in the nick of time, preventing Alm's sword from piercing his chest. The Jedi Master then engaged his opponent's blade with own, their blades once again clashing with one another as the battle resumed in full force. While Alm's attack was defended, the king did not hesitate to resume his onslaught, his blade continuing to fly in a flurry of strikes.

One moment, Alm was pressing his assault with a flurry of strikes. The next moment, his attention was successfully distracted by a flying apple, which caused the king to turn his head and take a second to process what just happened. Taking advantage of this moment of distraction, Luke quickly pushed Alm back with a powerful force push, sending the king crashing back into the practice dummies and allowing the Jedi Master to regain initiative and control of the fight.

Alm was only barely able to avoid Luke's impressive leap, his maneuverability allowing him to quickly evade the attack. The Jedi Master's lightsaber sliced cleanly through two practice dummies in the process, the flame catching and setting both ablaze. The former Rebel Alliance commander landed gracefully on the ground, the burning remains of the dummies behind him highlighting the power of his strike.

Luke's power had certainly gained Alm's respect, the king deciding that it was time to raise the stakes as he brandished his legendary blade: the Falchion. From the moment he revealed the weapon, the king's movements becoming a bit more confident and powerful as he prepared to match the lightsaber using his own legendary blade.

The former Rebel Alliance commander immediately noticed the change in Alm's sword, both in the way his opponent wielded the weapon and how hard the attacks now felt like. The light blue glow radiating from the legendary blade of the Falchion now matching the lightsaber in brightness and power, the king was now putting his soul into every strike, his attacks coming in faster and stronger than before.

With a swift backflip, Luke managed to put some distance between him and Alm, giving the Jedi Master the necessary separation he required for his next maneuver. Alm, surprised at how easily the former alliance commander got away from him, was nearly struck by the emerald-charged lightning. Fortunately for the king, he was quick enough to dodge the attack, jumping out of the way at the last second.

Alm's lunge forward with his legendary blade came with a sense of confidence and determination, the king's strikes becoming more persistent and powerful with each blow. What Alm didn't account for, however, was the sudden shift and fold in space created by the Jedi Master, with the king's blade going through empty air where Luke used to be. Alm stumbled as he tried to recover from his miss, feeling his momentum suddenly disrupted by the maneuver.

As Alm was trying to recover from the sudden folding of space, he was suddenly struck from behind by more emerald-charged lightning, being caught off-guard when Luke reappeared behind him using Electric Judgement. The Jedi Master had a grin on his face as he stared down his opponent, clearly having the upper hand at this point in the fight.

Just when it seemed like Alm had no way of making a comeback, the king pulled out Mila's Turnwheel and activated it, setting the flow of time back by only a few seconds. The world seemingly reverted to an earlier moment in the fight, with the Jedi Master once again in front of the king as they both were positioned in the same positions as a few seconds before.

As Alm's lunge forward left him vulnerable to the same Fold Space maneuver, the king was able to easily recognize the same move. This time, with a sly smile and a grin on his face, the monarch turned his mid-lunge into a block against the emerald lightning using his Falchion, his sword successfully deflecting the attack and preventing it from striking him. Alm's smile showed that he was prepared for the move and was now ready for his opponent's next move.

With Alm's block successfully deflecting the emerald-charged lightning, the king was able to advance forward and successfully slash the Jedi Master's lightsaber out of his hand. With Luke momentarily disarmed at the mercy of the Falchion, Alm followed up with a kick that sent his opponent to the ground. The king now had the upper hand in the conflict, and could end the battle at any time with the right move.

As Alm was ready and determined to end the fight, he raised the Falchion with the intention of driving his blade into Luke in a non-vital area, though he was slightly surprised when his blade instead pierced the ground where the Jedi Master was meant to be. A moment of confusion and slight frustration crossed the king's face as he realized his opponent had managed to dodge his attack yet again, the Jedi Master reappearing behind the monarch and ready for the king's counterattack.

Alm suddenly felt the ground and his body become heavier than usual, the king's strength in the Force becoming apparent as he fell to his knees, holding the Falchion for support. The king became aware of the fact that Luke was actively using the Force around him to increase the gravity, with the king experiencing almost eight times as much of the force of gravity than usual. With his weight increased so heavily, Alm's movements were drastically limited.

"Do you surrender? You fought especially well, but without the ways of the Force, you can't win."

Luke stated, not as a brag or arrogant boast, but simply as if it's just fact. Alm was now on his knees, the increased gravity rendering him mostly helpless as he was trapped in the field of influence created by the Jedi Master. The king took a moment to gather himself and catch his breath, realizing there was no longer any escape from defeat and Luke's superior mastery of the Force.

"Your mastery of the Force has proven to be most impressive, and I concede defeat."

Luke stopped using the Force, to let the King stand.

"I must admit, you surprised me with how strong and fast you were. Despite not having the Force, you gave me quite a challenge, compared to most non-sensitives."

With Luke ceasing his use of the Force, Alm was finally able to get back up on his own, his movements being restored back to normal. After taking a few deep breaths to regain his composure, the king would acknowledge the words of his opponent.

"My thanks to you. Your skills in the Force seem second to none, and the way you utilized the abilities to turn the tide of our battle was masterful. I would be honored to spar with you again another time."

Luke smiled, as he walked past the king to restock on supplies, and head back to his X-wing. Summoning his lightsaber back to his hand, Luke replied as he left,

"I look forward to it. May the Force be with you."
————————————————————————
Strength: Now, there's some nuance that needs to be said. With the Falchion, Alm is able to put down gods who wield stellar levels of power thanks to his Falchion Sword, the item itself having that kind of power. In the game, Alm and his entire party are able to hurt the dragon god, Duma, but without the Falchion, they wouldn't have been able to win. Whereas Luke is capable of manipulating stars with the Force, though the effort does drain him.

Speed: Now, while Alm is able to dodge lightning, trying to pinpoint the reaction time to it can be a bit dubious, ranging from anywhere as low as Mach 150, to around the middle as Mach 2000, or as high as 1/3 the speed of light, depending on the circumstance and what kind of math you use. However, even the highest lightning feat would make Alm a third as fast as Luke, who can react to laser fire within nanoseconds.

Skill: Now, as prodigious as Alm is to become one of the most respected warriors of Valentia, he only learned how to wield a sword for five years, and participated in the Rigel-Zofia war at around the very end of it. In contrast, Luke has only been training for four years across the original movie trilogy, but spent that time to go from farm boy nobody, to fighting on par with Darth Vader. And he still goes on to have more adventures for the next eight years after the second Death Star blew up. And this was before the time skip to where Luke is 64.

Experience: Similarly, despite going up against dread knights, mages and even a dragon, this pales against the kinds of fighters and beasts that Luke has gone up against, the kinds of things that frankly, Fire Emblem as a whole could never stand up against.

Powers: Alm may have the advantage of unbreakable weapons against the lightsaber, his swords having a passive healing factor for Alm, and being able to rewind time with limited uses, but if there was one thing that the king lacked in, it was defenses against magical abilities. Luke had Alm overwhelmed with telekinesis, teleportation, electrical manipulation, and much more reliable precognition, all thanks to the Force.

The winner is Luke Skywalker.
————————————————
Next time:

"I am the strongest woman in the world!"

"How'd you like a humble Japanese woman who fights? My strength adds to my beauty, you know!"

Chapter Text

Chun-Li

Backstory:

At the age of five, Chun-Li saw her first classical Chinese play, Peking Opera, and her first Bruce Lee movie, which fascinated her and also became part of the reasons why she started practicing martial arts.

She began by learning Tai Chi. However, Tai Chi was much different from the gorgeous movements she remembered from Peking Opera. Soon afterwards, her father taught her Hongquan as well as various basic exercises from then on. With that, Chun-Li's skills in Chinese martial arts improved rapidly. Chun-Li used mostly kicks when fighting. This was something she picked up from her father, who was also said to have "legendary legs." Chun-Li continued to develop her kick attacks, embracing techniques from a variety of fighting styles, such as Chinese martial arts, capoeira, battle karate, and taekwondo, thus eventually creating her own style.

Chun-Li would later become a detective at the age of eighteen in hopes of finding her missing father. She later followed in her father's footsteps and become a narcotics investigator at the I.C.P.O (International Criminal Police Organization), also known as Interpol, working as the organization's anti-Shadaloo investigator. Chun-Li was known as the "black sheep of the I.C.P.O.", as she was investigating Shadaloo for the illegal sales of narcotics and weapons when said evil organization got their hold of the high-ups of Interpol.

Chun-Li was then an Interpol investigator who had been searching for clues to the recent disappearance of her father. Getting into a friendly spar with an old teacher of hers and friend of her father, Gen, he gives her a lead into who may have killed her father—the mysterious crime syndicate Shadaloo. Finding its leader, M. Bison, she demands he tell her what happened to her father. To her surprise, Bison attacks and basically makes quick work of her, then retreats to his jet in the sky. Before he leaves, he reveals that he was responsible for her father's death, and if Chun-Li were to come after him, he'll kill her like he did with her father. Finally, the horrible truth that Chun-Li had been searching for has been revealed.

Later, at the China Branch Interpol Headquarters, Chun-Li is appointed Special Investigator of Shadaloo. With tears in her eyes (the last she swore to ever shed), Chun-Li swore vengeance.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Expert in Kung-Fu, Kempo, Tai Chi, Hungquan, Hung Ga Kuen, Changquan, Sanda, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Combat Karate and Capoeira, eventually creating her own fighting style),

Acrobatics,

Chi Manipulation and Projection,

Stealth Mastery (Is a professional detective and managed to infiltrate an S.I.N. laboratory),

Extrasensory Perception (Can sense chi),

Enhanced Senses (Her senses never dulled over time and she could still be aware that Juri was following her),

Forcefield Creation (Via Kikosho),

Statistics Amplification (Via Renkiko),

minor Power Nullification (Via Hakkei, which cancels out normal projectiles),

Damage Boost (Can perform enhanced versions of her Special Attacks),

Status Effect Inducement (By hitting the opponent repeteadly, without them being able to recover, she can cause them to enter the "Stun" status, which leaves them unable to react. Her Focus Attack causes the opponent to enter a "crumpling" status),

Awakened Power (Her determination and emotions allowed her to defeat Vega, who could overcome her not much time before),

limited Resistance to Precognition (Reading the future of fighters such as her is difficult, because they always fight against it)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Mai Shiranui

Backstory:

Mai Shiranui is the granddaughter of Hanzo Shiranui, master of Ninjitsu and Koppoken. Mai learned from her grandfather the secrets of Ninjitsu. Mai then had to take alternate courses from her grandfather's friend, Jubei Yamada, in Ninjitsu. While initially uninterested in her grandfather and his teachings, upon defending her grandfather from Jubei in a fight, she grew interested in martial arts and would take them and Hanzo seriously. She would later go on to fight in various King of Fighters tournaments for the next ten years and over.

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master of Shiranui-ryu Ninjutsu,

Fan Mastery,

Stealth Mastery (Expert ninja),

Fire Manipulation,

Duplication (Via Kagero no Mai),

Explosion Manipulation (Via Leotard Shinobi Bachi),

Chi Projection (Via Cho Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi),

Damage Boost (Can perform attacks that deal much more damage than normal),

Acrobatics (Can do several types of somersault jumps, flying attacks, acrobatic techniques, handstand kicks, evasive cartwheels, aerial backflips and more. She is also able to alter her direction in mid-air, leap off of walls and backflip on her feet after being hit),

Clothes and Hair Manipulation (Can change her dress and the color of her hair at will)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Song: Kick Chicks

The bustling neighborhood was a testament to the rich culture and diverse ethnic identities of Metro City, with the area's Hong Hu Lu Chinatown bustling with activity. As people from various parts of the city gathered and traveled in the market place and central square, the lively atmosphere was alive with the sounds of people conversing, business negotiations, and the sounds of daily transactions as a whole.

Chun-Li, a legendary martial artist at the height of her fame and renown, was teaching her adoptive daughter, Li-Fen, the basics of kung fu in the central square of Chinatown. Chun-Li's teachings and instructions were carefully executed, her expert knowledge and mastery of the art of kung fu evident in her guidance and instruction as she taught Li-Fen several fundamental techniques of the fighting style, ensuring her daughter's form remained flawless and precise.

Despite Chun-Li's masterful instruction and teaching, Li-Fen was far from flawless and precise though, as the young girl lacked the necessary speed and agility to strike her instructor with her attacks. Chun-Li's evasive skills proved too much for the student, who continued to miss strike after strike, despite her best efforts to strike the martial artist, who remained an elusive target. Chun-Li's patience was evident, as she consistently praised and encouraged her apprentice's efforts despite the difficulties she was facing.

After numerous failed attempts to land a strike on Chun-Li, Li-Fen eventually tires out, as the young girl tries for a flying kick before getting countered and tapped on the back of her head by her adoptive mother. With a heavy sigh, the young girl plops onto the ground, being exhausted and tired from the long session. Chun-Li's patience and positivity remained evident, as she knelt down next to her apprentice with a warm smile on her face.

"Li-Fen, I'm disappointed in you."

Chun-Li told her adoptive daughter, not out of harsh criticism, but out of stern love when she's being a teacher.

"It's all that fooling around on that PC."

The young girl was clearly disappointed with her own performance, having failed to even land a single strike on her mother, no matter how hard she tried. However, Chun-Li's words of disappointment brought forth a bit of sadness, as her adoptive daughter was quickly chided for her time spent on her PC.

"I'm not fooling around. You're just way too good."

"Using me to downplay your skills is no excuse. If you practiced half as much as you played around, you might've actually got a hit in."

Chun-Li mischievously remarked as she ruffled Li-Fen's hair affectionately. Li-Fen's disappointment and annoyance gradually gave way to more of an embarrassed smile, as Chun-Li managed to get a chuckle out of her apprentice with her playful comment. The young girl was aware that her adoptive mother was right, and realized she could be working harder to improve her martial arts skills if she prioritized her training over her time spent on her PC.

Chun-Li smiled, before her senses were suddenly alerted by a strong presence of Chi, her expert martial arts training allowing her to pick up on the source of energy. The martial artist stood up straight, her head turned as she glanced around the square, clearly searching for the person she sensed. Her alertness and senses were sharp and tuned, Chun-Li quickly assessing the situation.

"Come on out. You can't hide from me."

Chun-Li called out to the source, her senses trying to pinpoint it.

Chun-Li's summons proved to be effective, as one particular person stepped forward out of the shadows, revealing their location to the martial artist. The presence of Chi grew stronger, as Chun-Li was able to accurately pinpoint where the energy was coming from, the martial artist now aware of her opponent's location. Jumping from the shadows, was the famous Shiranui kunoichi, Mai. Approaching the kung fu artist, the ninja smiled.

"I'm impressed. And here I thought I was going to be able to sneak up on you."

Chun-Li remained unfazed by Mai's sudden jump out of the shadows, her martial arts reflexes and senses keeping her alert and aware of the kunoichi's movements. The martial artist acknowledged Mai's compliment, though she appeared to be focused on their potential conflict rather than the pleasantries.

"You're skilled at hiding your presence, but your chi gave you away before you even tried to sneak up on me. Now, I could only assume you want to fight, unless your intention is purely to compliment me."

Chun-Li's assumption would prove correct, as Mai smiled and nodded in confirmation.

"Quite astute of you. Yes, I came here to battle, but it's nothing too serious. I just came to see if I'd win your self-proclaimed title of "World's strongest woman" for myself."

The Shiranui kunoichi gave a respectful bow to Chun-Li, her smile now turning into a cocky grin.

Chun-Li grinned back at Mai, her confident expression showing that she was not bothered in the least by the kunoichi's boastful approach to the potential fight. The martial artist's reputation was indeed renowned enough to draw out competitors with aspirations of defeating her and claiming the title of strongest woman, which always made for good matchups.

"Ah, so you want to see if you can defeat me and stake your claim as the world's strongest woman? Well, I can appreciate a challenger with ambition and confidence. Bring it on."

The people in the square quickly gathered with excitement as they saw the two famous combatants take their respective stances, the potential fight being one that has piqued the interest of many throughout Metro City. The two rivals stood on opposite ends of the square, Chun-Li's Kung Fu stance opposed by Mai's signature Shiranui stance, the people onlooking eagerly anticipating the start of the duel.

Mai's initial strike came in swiftly with the use of Hissatsu Shinobi Bachi, the ninja quickly cartwheeling her way close to Chun-Li. However, the martial artist's reflexes and agility were more than enough to allow Chun-Li to catch the elbow strike with her hand, followed up by her counterattack with two kicks in response. The two rivals started off strong, both demonstrating great skill and technique in their initial moves as the spectators watched eagerly.

Mai successfully manages to land a Hishou Ryuuenjin, a back-flip kick imbued with spiritual fire, her attack successfully knocking Chun-Li back as she grunted. However, the experienced martial artist was able to gracefully land back onto her feet in a standing position, managing to avoid any real damage from the fire attack. Chun-Li remains unfazed and unbothered by the attack, as she resumes her kung-fu stance and begins to circle the kunoichi for another counterattack.

Chun-Li's athleticism and proficiency in martial arts allow her to easily leap over Mai's Kokaku no Mai slide kick and high kick, only to launch the kunoichi down to the ground with her Tenshin Shushu kick. The spectators could hear the sound of the Shiranui's back hitting the ground with a resounding THUD and grunt, the crowd of onlookers cheering for Chun-Li's counterattack.

Chun-Li attempts to land a kick with her heel after her cartwheel, only to be thwarted by Mai pulling out her fan to block the attack. Though the fan took the blow of the kick, it was still a skillful counter to the Kung Fu Master's onslaught, the crowd impressed by the agility and quick thinking of both fighters.

Mai uses her ninja agility to circle around Chun-Li, pulling off a low kick into a high kick, then into a hook punch, the kunoichi's attacks coming in quick succession one after the other. Chun-Li manages to dodge the low kick and hook punch, though the sweep kick is what she fails to avoid, and the martial artist's feet lose their footing as she falls down to the ground from the unexpected maneuver with a grunt.

Mai performs an impressive maneuver, running up the wall and diving for a kick, only to run into Chun-Li's stationary high kick, the two fighters meeting each other's attack head-on. The combined force of both attacks resulted in a strong collision, with the fighters ending the clash of force in a stalemate. The onlookers watching the fight could see the incredible power of both combatants, as Chun-Li and Mai appeared to be equally matched by each other.

Chun-Li tries to jump over Mai once she was grounded, attempting to execute a flying spin kick from above. However, the martial artist is caught unawares as Mai quickly ducks under the attack, spinning with her fans out, and manages to strike Chun-Li a succession of four times by spinning with her fans before the former Interpol agent can react or respond.

Mai surprises Chun-Li by jumping onto her shoulders and using her legs to hold the martial artist's head in position, then proceeding to perform a powerful wrestling slam which slams the martial artist down onto the ground with force, eliciting a large "Oof" from the Kung Fu Master.

Chun-Li manages to break free from Mai's grip, backflipping over the kunoichi as she tries to stand up. The martial artist unleashes a barrage of kicks, utilizing incredible speed and power, not giving her opponent a chance to properly defend or react. The kicks rain towards Mai, hitting her body, arms, and face in a continuous stream of relentless blows. Mai cried out from each hit.

After all the kicks, Mai lands onto her feet, taking out three fans and setting them on fire, using her signature Suichou no Mai technique to send them flying towards Chun-Li. The former Interpol agent manages to intercept and block all the projectiles using Hakkei, the flames of the fans being doused as soon as they came in contact with the Hakkei blast, the air around the two combatants growing heavy with the residual heat of the blast.

Chun-Li charges up some blue Chi in her hands, preparing her signature technique, the Kikoken energy blast. However, Mai swiftly counters the attack using her Ryuuenbu spin, dispelling the energy blast with her spin, the flames from the Shiranui's fan sweeping the energy harmlessly apart.

Mai performs an axe kick spin attack, spinning through the air like she is surrounded by flames. However, Chun-Li is ready for this and counters with her "Kikusho" technique, issuing a chi-fueled concussive blast that creates a small wind tunnel between them. The blast from the former Interpol agent's technique knocks Mai back a bit, the strength of the blast seemingly matching the fire around the kunoichi in terms of intensity.

Chun-Li decided to end the fight using her trademark Spinning Bird Kick, the martial artist's spinning kick technique spinning her upside down through the air like a living helicopter. Mai attempts to defend against the unorthodox move, though the sheer speed of the spinning kick is too much to handle, the fighter on the receiving end of the attack crying out painfully, taking the full impact of each hit, the strikes coming in much faster than before, the kunoichi being struck harder than she ever felt in the entire fight.

Despite the multiple broken bones she sustained from the attack, Mai refused to yield, the kunoichi putting her hands together to activate her "Kageru no Mai" technique, an attack that would create a flaming pillar of fire to send Chun-Li soaring into the air, the master yelling in pain from the counter.

"You have been dealt the flame of the Shiranui! Now you will fall! Shiranui-ryu ultimate art; Flowering Bell!"

Mai proclaims her victory, shouting out the name of her ultimate attack, the kunoichi proceeding to become a wheel of fire once more after launching her final blow towards Chun-Li. However, the martial artist is helpless as her opponent proceeds to execute her final attack, the two falling back onto the ground close to one another, the flames of Mai's attack soon engulfing Chun-Li in a fiery explosion, the former Interpol agent forced to concede defeat.

"Jiejie!"

Li-Fen cried out with worry as she ran over to her adoptive mother, who was still alive but heavily burnt from Mai's devastating attack. The crowds of spectators watching the fight were all surprised by the result of the bout, as everyone expected Chun-Li to win the match. However, Mai's skill, grit, and power allowed her to defeat the Kung Fu master, the kunoichi now the holder of the title of World's strongest woman.

Mai leans down to be close to Li-Fen, reassuring the young girl with her words. Though the fighter's injuries were catching up to her, her application of traditional shikon would help to treat the burns that Chun-Li sustained during the fight.

"Don't worry, kiddo. With the traditional shikon I have on me, the burns will heal quickly. Your "Jiejie" will be back to full strength in no time."

Chun-Li smiled back in response to Mai, though she was visibly in pain from the wounds she sustained during the fight. However, the former Interpol agent was gracious in defeat, acknowledging the strength and skill of the new world's strongest woman.

"You deserve to carry the title of strongest woman with pride, and defend it from those who would dare try to take it from you. I'll train harder, and hopefully, the next time we meet, I can be the one to take it back from you."

Chun-Li's words would earn the respect of Mai, who offered a genuine smile in response to her competitor's words. The kunoichi would now carry the title of World's strongest woman with pride, and be prepared to defend it when challenges would inevitably come for her to defend her new title.

"I look forward to it."
————————————
Strength: In terms of power, Mai had the advantage, but only marginally. When Chun-Li one time stopped a car, it came to a complete halt thanks to her Kikosho. The impact force of a car going at 60 miles per hour can reach as high as 18.34 tons. Mai meanwhile scales to Cheng Shizan, who could lift and toss a statue at high speed. The statue was mostly sphere shaped and was likely made of basalt. The force required would need to be as high as 32 tons, about twice as strong as Chun-Li's car feat. About 1.77X stronger.

Speed: Now, on a personal level, Chun-Li is faster. She's capable of dodging gunfire which would require a reaction speed at minimum of 500 mph. Mai's never shown reactive speed like that. However, when scaling to their overall worlds, Mai is faster. Mai can be scaled to Geese Howard, whose greatest speed feat measures to 2% light speed, or Mach 17,480. When scaled to her greatest foe, M. Bison, Chun Li can move at similar speeds of Mach 5633. That's 3.1X faster, based on Death Battle's calculations.

Skill: Now, in terms of martial training, Chun-Li is the more better trained, knowing over 10 martial arts, including Interpol training. Mai may be a master of the Shiranui-ryu ninjutsu fighting style, but Chun-Li's more diverse styles kept her from falling behind Mai's superior speed.

Experience: Not counting the amount of fighters each of the women faced, Mai has participated in much more fighting. Both women have trained since early childhood, but only Mai has been to around 15 martial arts tournaments. One could say that Chun-Li has more experience fighting outside the ring where the threat of death is real, but Mai is no stranger to that circumstance.

Powers: Mai is the better practitioner of ki control. While Chun-Li may be able to fire energy projectiles and stop incoming attacks, Mai is able to do the same with much more of her moves both offensively and defensively.

The winner is Mai Shiranui.
———————————————
Next time:

"You're still gonna stand up? Well, it's your choice... but if you stand up, that means you're ready to die."

"I am the white void. I am the cold steel. I am the just sword. With blade in hand shall I reap the sins of the world and cleanse it in the fires of destruction! The end has come!"

Chapter Text

Baiken

Backstory:

At the very beginning of the Crusades, the nation of Japan was destroyed by Justice, and those of Japanese descent—amongst whom were Baiken and her parents—were placed in colonies for their protection. However, near the end of the Crusades while she was still a child, Gears raided the institution she was living in. Small and weak, Baiken could do nothing to stop the attack, and could only watch the chaos around her. During the raid, she lost her arm and eye, and witnessed the horrible deaths of her parents, who gave their lives to protect her, as well as her friends.

The massacre was the work of the Gears, but what was etched into Baiken's memory was the image of a man surrounded by dancing flames and his creations. She became acutely aware, even in the absence of evidence, that he was an enemy. With an unfading memory of the event, Baiken vowed to search for the true identity of That Man and exact her revenge.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Weapon Mastery,

Magic as Information Manipulation,

Chi Manipulation,

can summon tatami mats and rope,

Explosion Manipulation with her cannon,

Power Nullification (Can keep the opponent from doing certain things with Baku),

Non-Physical Interaction (Able to hit souls),

Awakened Power (Awakened her power to defeat I-No in her bad ending),

Resistance to Diseases (Unaffected by the effects of an information flare, which normally turns Japanese people into Gears)

and Information Manipulation, Mind Manipulation, Matter Manipulation, Soul Manipulation, and Transmutation (Briefly survived inside of a super-high-density information field, which would rewrite the fundamental data of most people and kill them)

Weaknesses: Has lost the use of her left eye and right arm, although this doesn't seem to greatly impede her in battle.
——————
Hakumen

Backstory:

Hakumen is a samurai-esque warrior wielding a sword around as tall as he is and wearing a mask that completely hides his face. He is an incredibly powerful individual in the BlazBlue universe, so much so that the player is often told to proceed with caution when confronting him, and at times even advised not to do so entirely. His armor (which is the Susanoo Unit) seems to grant him limitless energy and incredible power, and his sword, an Arch-Enemy Event Weapon named Slaying Demon: Ōkami, appears to bear the capability to kill characters that otherwise would be immortal, or have rapid healing properties that would make them difficult or impossible to kill. This makes him an equally dangerous foe to both mortal men as well as more powerful beings.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Acausality (Type 1; Unaffected by Phenomena Intervention, which can reset the timeline)

Self-Sustenance (Types 1, 2 and 3; Lacks any need for sustenance due to not having an organic body),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can cut through things with no physical form, such as alternate realities),

Enhanced Senses (Can navigate through the boundary, an infinite space of nothing),

Invulnerability (Is a being that exist outside of Logic; the fundamental rules of the world; meaning any abilities/weapons/and powers that are restrained by Logic cannot harm them),

Extrasensory Perception (Can see invisible beings),

Shockwave Generation (Capable of blowing people away by bursting),

Portal Creation,

Forcefield Creation (Anyone taught by the NOL can create barriers),

Soul Manipulation,

Healing and Regeneration Negation (Wounds inflicted by a Nox Nyctores scar the soul, which the victim cannot recover from even through Phenomena Intervention by Amaterasu, Nox Nyctores are also superior to Ars Magus, a weapon capable of killing the Black Beast, a creature that has the ability of Self Observation, which is what Terumi used to regenerate from Hakumen's Time Killer),

Telepathy (Was capable of reading Ragna's memories),

Instinctive Reaction (A Nox Nyctores fights, moves and warns the user without any consent),

Spatial Manipulation (Tore a hole in the fabric of space and time to view an alternate event in the Continuum Shift),

Causality Manipulation (Capable of creating causal drifts with only his ego),

Aura (Merely being in his presence caused Ragna to become paralyzed),

Immortality Negation,

Paralysis Inducement (Can passively paralyze those he sees),

Precognition (Capable of predicting attacks using his mind's eye),

Time Manipulation (The Susanoo Unit slashes time),

Existence Erasure (Time Killer completely erases the target's "time", removing their existence from the past, present and future without causing a paradox),

Immortality (Types 1, 5 and 9; As an "uncertain factor", he is neither alive nor dead, and his true body exists in the Boundary),

Reactive Power Level (The larger the threat to the world becomes, the stronger the Power of Order will make Hakumen),

Power Nullification (Ōkami can nullify abilities),

Light Manipulation (The Susanoo Unit produces light),

Statistics Amplification (Via Overdrive),

Cosmic Awareness (Is aware of other timelines),

Regeneration (Low; Stated to heal at supernatural speeds during the events of Phase Shift),

and Limited Subjective Reality (Power of Order can make something that doesn't exist exist).

Weaknesses: If Hakumen does not stand by his convictions, the Power of Order will see him as weak and not be of use to him.
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Song: Samurai Life

Baiken was atop a building in the Colony where she was born, taking some solace in the quiet of the night. Drinking from a sake bottle, she found herself reflecting on her life as she enjoyed the peaceful, starry night, but always looking forward to her next fight, a warrior's thirst for battle never truly quenchable.

Baiken's gaze was caught by the glint of something below her on the ground, causing her to look down further. What she saw caught her attention, as there was a suit of armor casually walking by. Though such a sight would usually elicit nothing more than a raised eyebrow from Baiken, the fact that the walking suit of armor wielded a nodachi sword piqued her interest, as the potential for a good fight made the warrior's heart leap with anticipation.

Taking one last swig of her sake bottle before tossing it away, Baiken had a leap of faith, choosing to jump down multiple stories from the building to land in front of the armored figure. The warrior stood tall and bold in front of the walking suit of armor, making it clear she meant to challenge them to a fight.

"Oi, Tin Man, where you going at such a late hour?"

Baiken addressed the armored figure in front of her in a somewhat derisive manner, calling it "Tin Man" and asking it where it was going at this late hour. She did not know that this particular suit of armor was Hakumen, the leader of the Six Heroes, and that she was now confronting a powerful opponent that was not going to go down easily.

"I'm pressed for time. Unless you want my blade tasting your body, I advise you to not stand before me."

Hakumen's warning went unheeded by Baiken, the warrior standing her ground even after the armor-clad opponent made a clear threat to strike her down if she refused to move out of his way. She made no motion of backing down, instead giving the armored figure a cocky smirk, her desire for a good fight overruling any notions of self-preservation.

"And I'm pressed for a good scrap. I think I'm gonna be sticking around for a bit. Feel free to give your "blade" a little sip of me if you think you can!

"So be it."

Hakumen drew his nodachi, holding it straight along the side of his body as he readied himself to fight. Baiken responded in kind, getting into a combat stance and preparing herself for battle. As the two fighters got ready to battle, the stars in the night sky above them twinkled faintly in the dim light, their duel now ready to begin.

Baiken lunged across the field with immense speed, preparing to strike with a katana attack in a reverse grip since she was missing her right arm. However, Hakumen was prepared to counter the attack, his own blade moving with incredible speed to meet Baiken's attack with a slash of his own, their swords clashing together with a loud clang that echoed in the night air.

Hakumen unleashed a series of attacks at Baiken, starting with a straight jab with its followed by a high kick, and an attempted downward slash with its nodachi. However, Baiken was able to defend against the initial two attacks, blocking them effectively, and then parrying the nodachi's last strike, using her katana efficiently to deflect the attempt. Now, it was her turn to counterattack the armor-clad opponent.

Baiken stomps her heel down into the ground, causing a tatami mat to materialize under Hakumen's feet and flip the living armor into the air. Without missing a step, the one-armed samurai launches herself into the air, spinning through the air with her katana in hand and sending the armor flying into a nearby tree with a powerful strike, the impact causing the tree to shake from the force of the blow.

Hakumen's grunt of surprise was audible as it gripped its side, the armor itself being indestructible but Hakumen's soul inhabiting the Susanoo unit still feeling the effects of the attack.

"Is she somehow able to attack souls directly?"

The armor-clad warrior muttered to itself, finding Baiken to be more dangerous than initially expected, wondering if she was somehow able to attack souls directly with her attacks. Baiken capitalized on her advantage, charging forward and swiping with a hooked sword coming out of her empty right sleeve. The attack was aimed straight at Hakumen, managing to cut down the tree behind the armor-clad warrior, the falling tree creating a great deal of noise as it crashed to the ground. The Six Heroes leader managed to duck down in time to avoid the falling tree, evading the danger with a quick and graceful move.

Hakumen took advantage of Baiken's overreach, jabbing the hilt of its nodachi sword into her gut and knocking her off balance. With her left foot knocked out from under her, Baiken found herself in a vulnerable position, allowing Hakumen to try and strike her down with a slashing attack. However, the samurai warrior was able to use her imbalance to her advantage, managing to shift her body out of the way of the blade with a quick and nimble move.

Hakumen continued its assault, lunging forward to bash its shoulder into Baiken's endowed chest, followed by a powerful upwards kick that sent the samurai warrior flying through the air. As Baiken was still in the air from the kick, Hakumen proceeded to jab the blunt, flat end of the nodachi into her stomach, pushing her back and sending her skidding backwards across the ground, the armor-clad warrior showing no signs of slowing down in its relentless attacks.

Baiken grunted as each hit landed, but the samurai warrior was able to defend against Hakumen's attacks, deflecting an outward sword swing, a low sweep, a horizontal slash followed by a downward one. The sound of their blades clashing echoed out through the area, sparks flying off with each strike as the two sword wielders continued to battle. Baiken's skills and reflexes were on full display as she continued with her defense, showing no signs of weakening in the face of Hakumen's assault.

Baiken lunged forward, phasing through her opponent and then stamping down onto the ground, creating another tatami mat that flipped Hakumen into the air. Taking advantage of the opening, Baiken swiftly slashed her opponent's armor, inflicting damage to its soul with a spinning sword wheel of five blades unleashed from her empty sleeve. The attack caused the armor-clad warrior to grunt in pain as it was forced back, feeling the effects of the soul damage inflicted by Baiken's attack.

Hakumen grunted from the impact of the sword slashes inflicted by Baiken, its armor absorbing the damage but still feeling the impact. The Six Heroes leader countered with a slash, destroying the weapon. It landed on its feet before delivering a fierce counterattack, bashing its elbow into Baiken's face and pulling her forward to deliver a forceful kick into her back. The attack left the one-armed warrior vulnerable, allowing Hakumen to take advantage of the moment and deliver a powerful thrust into her back with its free hand, creating an explosive blast that sent Baiken stumbling backwards.

Baiken let out a cry of pain as she hit the ground, her kimono ripped and exposing her back, Hakumen standing over her with its nodachi raised, preparing to stab her down. However, the fallen samurai didn't give up and stabbed behind her with her katana, striking the armor at its crotch area without looking. Although the armor lacked any genitalia, the hit still inflicted significant soul damage, causing Hakumen to cry out in pain from the blow to its vulnerable spot.

Baiken reached into her right sleeve with a wicked chuckle, pulling out a powerful blunderbuss-style pistol and yelling at Hakumen,

"Go to hell!"

The shot rang loud and clear, the explosive power of the blast creating a display of fireworks, the force of the attack knocking Hakumen backwards, leaving the armor-clad warrior reeling from the impact, struggling to maintain its balance and composure.

Hakumen groaned as it slowly got up from the ground, now firmly gripping its nodachi tightly with both hands in front of it. The Six Heroes leader began to activate its Overdrive, and as its samurai ponytail floated upwards with power. The armor-clad warrior stood tall in preparation for the upcoming battle, preparing to bring down its full might and power unto the samurai.

"Prepare to face the light of judgment."

Baiken watched as her opponent powered up, her eyes narrowing as she prepared for the impending battle. Despite the armor-clad warrior's power, the one-armed samurai refused to back down.

"Bring it on, Tin Man."

She challenged with a cocky grin, her resolve and bravery shining through.

"Let's see what you're made of!"

Baiken fired another round from her pistol, the attack streaking through the air directly towards Hakumen. However, the armor-clad warrior was quick on the draw, swiftly moving its nodachi in a way that caused the explosive to slide along the blade and then redirecting the attack into the sky, where it exploded once more into a burst of fireworks. The shot missed its target, and Hakumen remained unscathed for the moment, its power still coursing through its body, and its focus still fixed on the one-armed samurai before it.

Baiken let out a huff of annoyance, tossing her pistol into the air before drawing her katana and leaping up. As she jump in the air, the one-armed samurai stabbed her sword into the pistol behind her, triggering an explosion that propelled her forward with even more speed. She was coming in fast, and as she closed the gap between herself and Hakumen, the armor-clad warrior prepared to defend itself against the incoming attack.

Baiken unleashed her first slash, but Hakumen swiftly evaded the attack by jumping back. Despite his evasive maneuver, the armor-clad warrior was caught off guard by a sudden metal claw on a chain coming from Baiken's right sleeve, pulling him towards the samurai. With a smirk, Baiken used Hakumen as an impromptu paddle ball, slashing at him thrice with her Tsurane Sanzu-Watashi special technique, each blow raining down upon her opponent with precision and power.

Each strike of Baiken's Tsurane Sanzu-Watashi technique inflicted damage upon Hakumen's soul, the armor-clad warrior feeling the impact of each blow. However, Hakumen managed to tear the chain apart, breaking free from being used as a paddle ball. Taking advantage of the opening, the six heroes leader swept out Baiken's feet, sending her flying backwards with two powerful kicks. Despite the blow, the one-armed samurai managed to maintain her balance and landed gracefully on her feet, clearly not ready to give up yet.

Baiken let out a yell as she attempted a decapitation slash, aiming for Hakumen's head, but the armor-clad warrior blocked the attack with ease, anticipating the move. In a quick counterattack, Hakumen gripped Baiken's face, swiftly slamming her down into the ground, the shockwave of the impact powerful enough to shake the surrounding area. Despite the brutal attack, Baiken struggled to push herself back up, determined to keep fighting despite her weakened state.

"I ain't done yet!"

Baiken wasn't done yet and quickly managed to trip Hakumen so she could stand up and push its face into the ground with even greater force, stabbing her katana into the armor's sturdy back for even more soul damage. Finally, she kicked the leader aside, sending it stumbling away.

Hakumen stood up, raising its sword straight up into the air before unleashing an intense shockwave by slashing down with exceptional speed. Baiken attempted to counter by stomping the ground, creating another tatami mat to shield herself from the attack. Despite her efforts, the shield was overpowered, and the samurai was forced to dodge at the last moment, managing to avoid the brunt of the attack but ultimately losing her right sleeve in the process. The loss left her with fewer tricks up her sleeve, her options somewhat limited now.

"Finally, no more tricks. Just this one last attack."

Hakumen declared, holding its Ōkami nodachi in a powerful stance, signaling that the battle would soon come to an end. The armor-clad warrior looked formidable, ready to deliver a final decisive blow to the one-armed samurai. Baiken, not one to be intimidated by Hakumen's declaration, responded with a sly grin.

"You better make it count then."

She said, her words tinged with defiance. She clutched her katana tightly, her long samurai ponytail flapping in the wind, and prepared to face the impending onslaught.

Baiken charged forward, pouring her full intent into the attack, determined to land the finishing blow. Hakumen stood stoically in response, gripping its nodachi tightly as it waited for the opportune moment to defend itself. In an instant, both opponents swung their swords, the clash of steel ringing out through the area as Baiken came to a stop behind Hakumen. For several tense seconds, the two fighters stood motionless, awaiting the outcome of the battle as they each held their ground.

The first sign that the tide had turned in Baiken's favor was Hakumen's groan of pain. Despite its armor being indestructible, the slashing attack had managed to strike the weak spots common to armor, causing significant soul damage. The armor-clad warrior collapsed to its knees, struggling to remain upright under the impact of the attack.

Baiken initially felt a sense of triumph as if she had won the battle, as a smile spread across her face. However, just as quickly as her victory was heralded, her eyepatch fell away, completely split in two. Her long samurai ponytail followed suit, cascading down her body in a heap. The reality of the situation dawned on Baiken moments later, leaving her breathless with the sudden realization that she too had fallen in battle. Her body suddenly fragmented into sixteen distinct pieces, collapsing into a pile of dead meat chunks. Hakumen slowly rose to his feet, sheathing its Ōkami nodachi back in its holder. It surveyed the aftermath of the battle, its gaze lingering on the fallen Baiken.

"Pitiful."

It muttered under its breath, its tone dripping with disdain. With a weary stride, the leader of the Six Heroes limped away, searching for a place to rest and recover from the previous altercation.
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Strength: This was an interesting fight. Let's go into some of the categories on how Baiken had the advantage, but not enough to win. First off, power. Luckily, Hakumen's Power of the Order gives the armor strength proportional to how dangerous its foe is. Since Baiken is not threat at all in her current story, Hakumen would not be able to draw more than 20% power, if at all. Despite having no overly flashy powers, Baiken still possesses enough physical strength to contend with the strongest of her franchise, who can destroy planets with several Yottatons of TNT. This puts her relatively on par with Hakumen at the lower levels of his power up to 20%, which scales to Ragna beating Izanami, a goddess of death who could create a blast that would wipe the Earth and the moon from existence. Such a blast would require 16 Yottatons of TNT, at most 4X stronger than Baiken.

Speed: In terms of speed, Hakumen is quantifiably faster, but Baiken could keep up. The samurai could catch up to I-No, who is a time manipulator, and even managed to surprise her with her speed. However, Hakumen does have reportedly infinite speed to react to anything Baiken could do, it's just she wouldn't be sluggish in comparison.

Skill: While it's unknown how long Baiken has been training as a swordswoman, she does appear to be in her mid 20s, so she might've trained between 10-15 years. At the very least, her onscreen journey lasts for about 6 years. However, Hakumen houses Jin's 90-ish year old soul, who would inhabit the Susanoo armore unit for another 10 years. He certainly has more fighting skill.

Experience: Both are about equal in the kinds of adversaries they face, though Hakumen has likely faced more opponents with broken abilities, since those are focused on more than sheer power.

Powers: Both a powerful warriors who rely more on their physicality then their abilities, though Baiken seems to have the edge in versatility of her tricks, being able to attack Hakumen's soul, and being able to resist the armor's magic nullifying Ōkami nodachi due to having very few abilities that she can't do physically. However, not only does she have have nothing to exploit Hakuman's weakness to land a winning blow, the Susanoo unit's indestructible nature would mean that she doesn't have a reliable way of attacking the soul more than surface level. Not to mention that she has no resistance to Hakumen's Time Killer move, which would kill every second that Baiken is alive through time.

The winner is Hakumen

Next time:

"We all fail. We all make mistakes. It's what makes us human."

"We're not saints. But we are gonna win this fucking war, and I'd rather have you on the winning side."

Chapter Text

Master Chief

Backstory:

Born on March 7, 2511,John lived with his mother and father in Elysium City, on the colony world of Eridanus II. He attended the Elysium City Primary Education Facility Number 119.

At the age of six, John was identified by Dr. Catherine Halsey as one of 150 preliminary candidates for the SPARTAN-II program. John was an ideal physical and mental candidate, standing a head taller than the majority of his schoolmates, having greater physical proportions, possessing greater strength, exhibiting superior reflexes, and having an aggressive drive for success. By the time he was conscripted, he had a string of forty-five victories in what Dr. Halsey referred to as a "brutal version" of King of the Hill, resulting in him having a chipped tooth and his opponents suffering various bone fractures.

John and the rest of the children chosen for the SPARTAN-II program were brought to the Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex, their new home for the next several years. There, Dr. Halsey informed the children of their new purpose: they were destined to become protectors of Earth and all its colonies. The next morning John discovered his service tag, stitched into his training uniform, and his new name: John-117. John began adjusting to his new life.

At the age of 14, John underwent the dangerous SPARTAN-II augmentation procedures. These procedures resulted in the death of thirty trainees, with twelve more physically disabled. John was one of thirty three Spartans who made it through the process unscathed, while the wounded were sent to the Office of Naval Intelligence. Even before his cybernetic and genetic augmentation, at 14 years of age, John had a physical body of an 18-year old Olympic athlete. Far beyond the physical alterations, the enhancements boosted the Spartans reflexes, strength, enhanced eyesight, and rendered their bones nearly unbreakable.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Cyborgization,

Weapon Mastery (Military technology mastery with UNSC and Standard Covenant Weapons, High-Tech weapons mastery with Forerunner Technology and Heavy Covenant Weapons),

Stealth Mastery,

Martial Arts Expert,

Pain Tolerance

All previous plus Adaptability with MJOLNIR Spartan Armor,

Enhanced Senses (Such as Enhanced Awareness, Hearing, Night and Telescopic vision with MJOLNIR Helmet),

Healing (With Spartan Shields, Biofoam, Regenerator and Regeneration Field),

Forcefield Creation with Bubble Shield, Invisibility with Cloaking (Invisibility) and Active Camouflage,

Statistics Amplification with various Boosts and Equipment,

Resistance to Temperature and Radiation,

All previous plus Attack Reflection and Forcefield Creation with Hardlight Shield,

limited Flight with Thruster Pack,

Can see Invisible beings and X-Ray/Thermographic Vision with Promethean Vision,

Resistance to Virtualization (After being imbued with the Genesong, resisted the Composer's effects, which transforms biological lifeforms into computer AI's)

Equipment:

MA5 Assault Rifle,

M6 Magnum pistol,

Energy Sword,

Bubble shield

Weaknesses: If he gets hit with enough force his armor might lock. Shields cannot regenerate while in the middle of rapid-fire attacks. MJOLNIR regenerating shields grant little protection against close-quarters combat attacks.
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Marcus Fenix

Backstory:

Sergeant Marcus Michael Fenix (COG tags CSID 293982-3932F-A1) ES is a former retired Gear soldier in the Coalition of Ordered Governments army. A legendary war hero, Marcus served with distinction in the Pendulum Wars, which earned him the Embry Star, the COG's highest military award, for his actions during the Battle of Aspho Fields. He is also a convicted "coward" for his actions at the Battle of Ephyra.

Like the rest of humankind, he saw everything change on Emergence Day. Marcus bravely fought against the Locust for ten years until the Battle of Ephyra, where he abandoned his post to rescue his father, Professor Adam Fenix, but could not reach him in time. With his father presumed dead, Marcus was tried for dereliction of duty and sentenced to 40 years in Jacinto Maximum Security Prison. He was incarcerated for four years before being released by his longtime friend Dominic Santiago and reluctantly rejoined the COG army for a mission that could change the course of the war.

Initially a Private, Marcus was quickly promoted to Sergeant to replace Lieutenant Minh Young Kim as squad leader after the later's death. Along with the rest of Delta Squad, he successfully detonated the Lightmass Bomb and destroyed much of the Locust Hollow. With his reputation restored, Marcus continued fighting against the Locust, culminating in the Sinking of Jacinto. After the COG moved to Vectes, Marcus fought against Stranded insurgents and the rising threat of the Lambent.

After the COG collapsed under the constant struggle to survive, Marcus and the rest of Delta banded together with other Gears and civilians aboard the CNV Sovereign, seeking a way to survive in the new world. Eighteen months later, Chairman Prescott returned with the startling news that his father was alive. Marcus led humanity to victory over the Locust and the Lambent, but was at a loss of what to do next after losing both his father and Dom along the way. He was married to Anya Stroud who gave birth to his son James Fenix. Twenty-five years after the end of the Locust War, Marcus came out of retirement when the Locust reemerged as the Swarm. Although briefly an enemy of the state, Marcus is later pardoned and is officially reinstated into the COG army.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Highly Skilled Combatant,

Master of Multiple weapons,

Statistics Amplification via Active Reload,

Explosion Manipulation with Bolo Grenades,

Minor Precognition (caught multiple locust ambushes by merely feeling them coming),

Resistance to Biological Manipulation (Swarm Pods break down victims on the cellular level. Marcus resisted this effect for hours, when most normal people would have long since dissolved)

Explosion Manipulation with various weapons,

Healing and Enhancement of Durability with Stim-gas Grenades,

Resistance to Sleep Manipulation with the Adrenaline Injector (The adrenaline injector injects aerosolized adrenaline directly into the users lungs, forcing them to either stay awake or waking them from even comatose-like sleep),

Resistance to Poison Manipulation with Gas Masks (Cleans the air of molecular particles),

Biological Manipulation with Venom Bomb (The toxic gas produced by this bomb appears to target all organic material, not just Swarm or COG),

Equipment:

Mark 3 Lancer Assault Rifle,

Gnasher Shotgun,

Bolo Grenades,

Snub Pistol

Weaknesses: Can become extremely angry to the point of irrational action. Active Reloads require perfect timing to pull off. The Fabricator requires power to generate items, which it slowly gathers. He cannot be equipped with all of his weaponry at once.
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Song: Gears of Halo

Marcus Fenix, a seasoned COG Gear soldier, stood in a dimly lit underground facility, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a practiced gaze. He had received intel suggesting that this location may hold crucial information needed to turn the tide against the relentless Locusts. Armed with his trusted Lancer rifle and a no-nonsense attitude, he ventured deeper into the dark corridors, prepared to uncover the secrets hidden within.

As Marcus Fenix continued his investigation within the dark facility, he unexpectedly stumbled upon a mysterious figure clad in green full-body armor. The man stood before him, clutching an assault rifle in his hands. Fenix did not recognize this unknown individual, but he noticed a number 117 embroidered on his chest plate. Could this be the legendary Spartan John-117, also known as the Master Chief?

"Stay right there,"

Fenix warned, his Lancer rifle raised and aimed at the mysterious figure.

"Identify yourself."

The air was thick with tension as the COG Gear soldier confronted the enigmatic stranger, his caution and wariness evident in his voice. John's voice was steady and unyielding as he firmly replied,

"Put your weapon down." Despite the tense situation, he refused to be intimidated, the resolve in his eyes unwavering. But Fenix, ever the defiant warrior, met John's stance with equal determination, unwilling to budge.

"I asked you first," He spat back, his grip tightening on his Lancer rifle. The tenuous standstill persisted, but the COG Gear soldier's patience wore thin. In a reckless display of impatience, Fenix opened fire, his shots ricocheting off Master Chief's energy field and barely grazing the Spartan. In a swift maneuver, Master Chief jumped over a barrier and took cover behind a metal crate, avoiding the barrage of bullets.

John, ever vigilant, surveyed his surroundings as he took cover behind the metal crate. Turning his attention to his trustworthy AI partner, a helpful digital copy of Cortana, he posed a question.

"Anything on this guy?" he asked, referring to the COG Gear soldier.

Cortana diligently initiated a scan, searching for any available information that might reveal the soldier's identity or affiliations. Unfortunately, the scans yielded no matches, leaving Cortana with the unfortunate news:

"No, I have no knowledge of this man. Seems pretty trigger happy, though."

As the fragment grenade sailed through the air, Master Chief recognized the impending danger and reacted swiftly. Just as the explosive device landed near his hiding spot, the Spartan leapt out of the way, narrowly avoiding the worst of the shrapnel. With lightning-fast reflexes, he evaded the immediate danger and found momentary refuge behind a nearby wall, narrowly escaping the blast radius.

Master Chief surveyed the battlefield, his analytical gaze assessing the situation. With a calm tone, he addressed his AI companion,

"Just keep an eye out for openings."

Switching to his M6 Magnum pistol for accuracy, Master Chief continued his measured counterattack. From his cover behind the wall, he fired carefully aimed shots over the corner, returning fire to suppress Marcus Fenix's attacks. As Marcus paused to reload his Lancer, taking cover for a fleeting moment, Master Chief seized the opportunity to launch his counterattack. In a swift and calculated move, the Spartan leader charged from his concealed position, intent on engaging the Gear soldier in close combat.

Marcus, realizing Master Chief's intent, quickly prepared himself for the impending confrontation, bracing himself for the ensuing clash. Master Chief swiftly aimed a punch at Marcus' face, but the Gear soldier managed to catch the blow, showcasing his quick reflexes. Without missing a beat, Marcus retaliated by attempting to stab at Master Chief with his combat knife. However, to his disappointment, the steel tip shattered upon impact against the impenetrable armor of the Spartan leader's titanium alloy armor.

The exchange of blows continued to escalate, with Marcus and Master Chief trading blows furiously as they both punch each other's face. Despite the impact, neither combatant would back down. As the Gear soldier threw a punch, Master Chief swiftly blocked it, countering with a powerful kick that sent Fenix crashing backwards against the nearby stone wall.

Marcus Fenix was left momentarily stunned by the impact against the wall, but his agile instincts kicked in, allowing him to roll out of harm's way just in time. As he swiftly regained his composure, he narrowly escaped a devastating punch from Master Chief, who unleashed a powerful blow that completely shattered the concrete wall behind where Fenix had just been moments before. The force of the punch echoed through the surrounding area, indicating the immense strength behind the Spartan's attack.

Refusing to cower before the might of the Spartan, Marcus Fenix mustered his determination and summoned his inner grit for another attack. He launched himself forward with a defiant shoulder tackle, sending Master Chief crashing to the ground. Without missing a beat, Marcus unleashed a flurry of punches, his fists connecting repeatedly with the Spartan leader's helmet-clad face. Despite the sheer force behind each blow, however, the helmet proved to be unyielding, absorbing the impact and leaving no obvious signs of damage. Master Chief, while engaged in the fierce struggle with Marcus, quickly posed a question to his AI companion.

"Any weaknesses?"

The ever-present and resourceful AI, swiftly initiated a rapid analysis of the ongoing battle. Her algorithms and sensors diligently scanned the data, searching for any potential weaknesses or vulnerabilities in the formidable Gear soldier. She noted how he seems to have an anger problem.

"I have identified a noticeable aggression in his fighting style,"

The AI relayed, her voice calm and composed despite the chaos unfolding.

"He seems to be driven by intense anger, which could potentially lead to impulsive decisions. This heightened emotional state might open up opportunities for tactical advantages but also risks recklessness. Use his anger against him if possible."

In the midst of the ongoing skirmish, Marcus Fenix halted his relentless assault for a moment, his attention piqued by the sight of Master Chief seemingly talking to himself. His voice resonated with a mixture of confusion and frustration as he inquired,

"Who are you talking to?"

Seizing the momentary distraction in Marcus' attack, Master Chief swiftly reacted, intercepting his opponent's punch with a fluid motion. Without hesitation, he swiftly countered, forcefully clashing his helmet into the Cog's soldier's face. The collision sent Marcus stumbling backwards, his nose throbbing from the unexpected blow. Master Chief stood tall, his stance assuming a ready position as he addressed Marcus Fenix directly.

"You fight like a mindless brute,"

John observed, a hint of disdain evident in his voice.

"Amateur."

The Spartan leader's words were calculated and deliberate, intended to further provoke and enrage his adversary. He banked on the information provided by his AI guide, hoping to exploit the COG soldier's apparent anger issues and reckless tendencies.

"Why you little!"

Marcus Fenix, bristling with anger and frustration, withdrew his Snub pistol and immediately engaged Master Chief in a fierce close-quarters battle. The COG Gear soldier grappled with the Spartan while simultaneously attempting to fire his pistol at point-blank range.

Master Chief's energy shield absorbed most of the fired bullets, cushioning the impact as his armor proved formidable against the onslaught. Undeterred, the Spartan leader reached out to seize the Snub pistol while enduring the hail of gunfire. With a powerful grip, he crushed the weapon in his armored hand, rendering it useless.

Undeterred by the loss of his Snub pistol, Marcus swiftly adapted, using the crushed weapon itself to deliver a powerful pistol whip blow to Master Chief. The impact staggered the Spartan, momentarily leaving him off-balance. Seizing the opportunity, Fenix swiftly produced a pair of Bolo grenades and looped their strings around John's throat, successfully securing the explosives around his enemy's neck.

With his formidable adversary momentarily subdued and vulnerable, Marcus Fenix seized the opportunity to deliver a fierce knee strike to Master Chief's gut. The force of the blow sent the Spartan stumbling backward, creating a small distance between them. Sensing the upper hand, Marcus swiftly pulled out his trusty shotgun and took aim, firing a powerful shot at the grenades encircling Master Chief's head. The explosion unleashed a violent shockwave, hoping to inflict severe damage upon the Spartan leader.

As Fenix unloaded his shotgun shot and the ensuing blast of explosives, Master Chief's energy field absorbed the initial impact, but the strain was too much for it to handle. Sensing the imminent failure of his defenses, Master Chief activated a bubble shield generator, creating a protective barrier that enveloped him just in time to shield him from the shower of bullets fired by Marcus' Lancer rifle.

Marcus, recognizing that his Lancer rifle's bullets were ineffective against the bubble shield, resorted to alternative means. He revved up the chainsaw attachment attached to his rifle, preparing for close-quarters combat. With a determined charge, Marcus lunged at Master Chief, aiming to slash at him with the revved-up chainsaw. But the Spartan leader was no less prepared for the close engagement. In a swift and calculated move, John counteracted Marcus' attack, blocking the chainsaw strike with his Sangheili energy sword. The clash of their weapons sent sparks scattering in all directions.

With a powerful kick to Marcus' chest, Master Chief created some distance between them, allowing him to rise to his feet and ready himself for the continued fight. Their weapons met in a series of wide slashes, the clash of metal and sparks filling the air as their weapons clashed, each hit echoing with a metallic symphony. As the intensity of their combat reached a fever pitch, Master Chief seized the opportunity to taunt Marcus Fenix with a challenging remark.

"That all you got?" the Spartan leader taunted, his voice laced with a hint of cockiness. The comment hung in the air, daring Fenix to respond with increased fury. Marcus, fueled by the adrenaline of the fight and further fueled by Master Chief's goading taunt, reacted in a burst of frustration. He leaped at John with a snarl, his chainsaw-equipped weapon poised for a desperate strike. Marcus' attack was driven by raw anger, his actions fueled by the mounting frustration and the desire to prove his own strength and skill in the face of the Spartan's provocation.

John swiftly dodged and parried each of Marcus's frenzied strikes, displaying his impressive reflexes and combat prowess. However, amidst the clash of their weapons, Marcus skillfully took advantage of a brief opportunity to target Master Chief's armored wrist, aiming to disarm him. His aim was true, causing the energy sword to slip out of the Master Chief's grasp and soaring into the air in a graceful arc.

Marcus seized the momentary advantage, lashing out with his chainsaw in a fierce downward swing, aimed directly at Master Chief's chest plate. The attack unleashed a shower of sparks as the chainsaw scraped against the armor, leaving behind evident marks. However, the chain of the chainsaw, although able to inflict some damage, ultimately buckled under the strain and snapped, leaving Marcus without a functioning melee weapon.

Master Chief, in a display of impeccable timing and quick reflexes, caught his energy sword as it descended from the sky, activating the weapon in a smooth motion. With a fluid motion, he plunged the plasma-powered sword into Marcus Fenix' chest armor, the energy blade effortlessly cutting through the metallic defenses and penetrating deep into the COG soldier's chest cavity.

Marcus' agonized cry pierced the air as he glanced down at the energy sword embedded deep within his chest cavity. His body slumped onto the armored Spartan, blood trickling from his mouth, evidence of the fatal blow he had suffered. In a final act of defiance, the COG soldier mustered the strength to spit a mouthful of blood onto Master Chief's visor, the crimson liquid staining the glass-like material.

As the energy sword deactivated with a soft hum, Master Chief displayed no visible reaction to the spitting incident. With a measured and almost gentle gesture, he pushed Marcus Fenix down onto his back, laying the mortally wounded COG soldier onto the floor. The Spartan's stoic expression remained unchanged, devoid of any visible sign of annoyance as he stood over his fallen adversary. As Master Chief stood over the fallen Marcus Fenix, his AI companion spoke up, her voice filled with contemplation.

"Well, that was certainly something,"

The AI remarked, a hint of reflection in her words. She pondered the possibility of a more peaceful resolution, had the two opponents engaged in dialogue instead of violence.

"Shall we continue?"

In response to the AI's question, Master Chief nodded calmly.

"Let's proceed," he intoned, dismissing any contemplations as they moved on.
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Strength: Unfortunately, between these two soldiers who can fight swarms of enemies at a time, Master Chief has the advantage in all of the important categories. Fenix may be able to overpower a Locust called Skorge who can cut a tank in half with a chainsaw, but even your average Spartan soldier is capable of delivering a tackle that can shatter boulders that require the equivalent of 644 pounds of TNT being delivered through the shoulder, whereas Gear soldiers are supposedly a 14th of that strength. This includes their lifting strength in which Fenix might be at peak human strength of lifting between .2-.5 metric tons of weight, but Master Chief is that strong even without his Mjolnir armor. Wearing the armor can let him lift up to 5 tons with little effort.

Speed: In terms of movement and reaction speed, both appear to be equal with no significant edge over the other, but Master Chief is the only one to dodge gunfire at point black range, which would require moving at minimum over twice the speed of sound.

Skill: Master Chief has the superior skill in both longevity and combat style, cryosleep aside. Master Chief is relatively ten years older than Marcus, and has been conscripted into the Spartan program at 6, while Marcus enlisted at 17. Not only that, but while both soldiers are deadly in close and long range combat, Fenix is more comfortable shooting behind cover, only resorting to physical when it just happens. John, meanwhile, freely engages in any range at his leisure, moving back to shoot at a distance, and then running, jumping or grapple hooking towards his foes for a high speed knuckle sandwich.

Experience: I consider both combatants to be relatively equal. In terms of the variety of creatures, Fenix has fought more types of creatures that require multiple soldiers along with him to exploit different kinds weaknesses. But John has more experience fighting foes with combat intelligence similar to his own, and is more capable fighting armies on his own with only his AI as a support.

Powers: In terms of equipment, Marcus has more weapons to use, especially if he has the fabricator to be able to use all of it, but not only is Fenix unable to use all of it, it takes times to switch in between them. Not to mention, Master Chief has more advanced weapons, able to use plasma based weapons, which can kill other Spartans. Speaking of, Marcus doesn't really have anything that could get past John's Mjolnir armor made of thick titanium alloy, or his various energy shields to tank most of COG's military grade artillery.

The winner is Master Chief
———————————————
Next time:

"All living things, kneel before your master!"

"One day, it will be my job to save the world. But I still have a lot left to learn."

Chapter Text

Metal Sonic

Backstory:

Metal Sonic is the secondary antagonist of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. He is an evil, ultra-high performance, very advanced Badnik version of Sonic the Hedgehog that was created as a secret weapon by Dr. Eggman for the sole purpose of destroying the blue hedgehog. Modeled with extreme accuracy after Sonic, Metal Sonic not only resembles his organic doppelgänger, but can also imitate his moves and achieve speeds matching and even exceeding the hedgehog's own. The brainchild of Eggman, he is by far his greatest creation and one of his "magnum opuses". First deployed during the Little Planet incident, Metal Sonic confronted Sonic in battle and lost, though he would repeatedly return to challenge Sonic and his allies as Eggman's "too-sharp sword".

While usually serving as Eggman's obedient and silent enforcer, Metal Sonic is an intelligent robot with a very dark side. A cold-hearted, aggressive, and ruthless killer, he is obsessed with proving his superiority to Sonic and eliminating him for good to the point where he has rebelled against Eggman more than once to achieve his goal. However, he always fails in the end, only to later return more powerful than before. To this day, Metal Sonic remains one of Sonic's most dangerous foes.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Combat Skills,

Small Size (Type 0. 765.4 millimeters/76.5 cm tall),

Flight, Spaceflight,

Inorganic Physiology (robot),

Self-Sustenance (Does not need air, sustenance or test),

Most of Sonic's basic abilities (Homing Attack and Limited Instinctive Reaction, etc.),

Can generate electricity, shields and fire a powerful beam from it's chest cavity,

Can fire plasma beams,

Enhanced Energy Manipulation and Statistics Amplification (With the Lost Labyrinth treasure, Metal Sonic can harness and manipulate different energies while greatly increasing its physical attributes),

Resistance to Extreme Cold,

Cosmic Radiations,

Has the skills of the Sonic the Fighters cast, giving him the abilities of Classic Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Espio, Bark, Bean, Fang, and Amy,

All previous Base abilities including;

Acrobatics,

Chaos Energy Manipulation, and Forcefield Creation (With the Black Shield),

Enhanced Enhanced Power Mimicry (By copying and using other characters' abilities),

Regeneration (Mid-High; Comparable to Chaos),

Shapeshifting,

Weather Manipulation,

Lightning Manipulation, and Fusionism (By merging the debris of the Final Fortress tower and create his Metal Madness body in order to complete the transformation)

Weaknesses: The V. Maximum Overdrive Attack runs the risk of overheating and disabling Metal Sonic's systems.
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Penny Polendia

Backstory:

She is an android created by her father, Pietro Polendina, when he somehow gave her a part of his own Aura to grant her a soul. Upon confiding in Ruby that she was a synthetic being, Penny was worried about how she would take the news. However, after seeing how Ruby took it rather well, she was glad that Ruby didn't care if she was a machine, for what mattered was her heart and soul.

She was destroyed by her own weapons during her fight with Pyrrha Nikos in the Vytal Festival, though was eventually rebuilt by her father in Atlas. At the end of Volume 7, she became the Winter Maiden.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Inorganic Physiology (android),

Immortality (Type 8; Can be rebuilt so long as her cores remain in-tact),

Aura (Able to use her Aura for numerous purposes),

Forcefield Creation (Aura can be used as a full-body forcefield),

Statistics Amplification (Can use Aura to enhance her striking power),

Enhanced Senses (Can use her Aura to sharpen her senses),

Regeneration (Low),

Extrasensory Perception (Her Aura allows her to sense things around her),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled Swordsman),

Acrobatics,

Martial Arts (Skilled in hand to hand combat),

Accelerated Development (Training [Physical Statistics and Abilities; Even Huntsmen in Training are able to rapidly develop in short periods of time, becoming significantly stronger and faster and evolving their abilities through short periods of training]),

Flight (Can fly using the thrusters in her boots),

Enhanced Senses (Possesses thermal vision, x-ray vision, night vision, and Aura vision. She can also zoom and enhance her normal vision, see invisible enemies, and hear up to two kilometers away),

Information Analysis (Can automatically detect the threat level of both people and objects),

Hacking (Able to hack various gates around Atlas by matching their frequency),

Weapon Control (Manipulates the various blades of Floating Array via the strings attached to it),

Energy Projection and Heat Manipulation (Via lasers)

Resistance to Extreme Heat and Cold (Aura protects the user from sub-zero temperatures, allowing them to be encased in ice without being cold, walk through a blizzard in casual clothing, and traverse the kingdom of Atlas, which resides in Remnant's North Pole, without wearing any protective gear, as well as extreme heat up to and including the heat of flames, being blasted with steam being struck by lighting for an extended period of time, and being submerged in lava without being burned. Penny was able to pass through an ice vortex, which can instantly burn a person's hand), and Corrosion Inducement (The sealant coating on her prevents rust),

All previous plus Magic, Statistics Amplification (Maiden powers can be used to amplify one's existing abilities. Increased the strength of her thrusters, allowing her to push Amity Colosseum),

Flight (Capable of flight, and can use her powers alongside her thrusters for an additional boost,)

Forcefield Creation,

Fire Manipulation,

Weather Manipulation (Caused storm clouds to appear above her),

Ice Manipulation (Can fire blasts of ice from her hands. Her storm clouds also cause hail to fall),

Air Manipulation (Created a large gust of wind),

Electricity Manipulation,

Absorption (Can absorb electricity to supercharge her lasers),

Earth Manipulation,

Plant Manipulation,

Weapon Creation (Created ice versions of Floating Array),

Weapon Control (Can freely control the ice versions of Floating Array),

Sealing (Only Maidens can open and close the Vaults which house the Relics), and Resistance to Ice Manipulation (Maiden powers can be used to break free from being frozen)

Weaknesses: She is naïve, she hiccups when she's lying, and is vulnerable to magnetism due to her physiology. Continual use of her Aura will cause it to decay to the point where she can be left open to more significant damage. Aura's durability is cumulative; it will deplete with each attack she takes and can be brought down by characters of similar strength. Constant exposure to extreme temperature can drain the user's Aura.
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Song: Real Mettle

Metal Sonic, the metallic doppelganger of the blue hedgehog, soared across the landscape of Remnant with a relentless determination. His eyes, burning with a cold, mechanical intensity, scoured the surroundings for any sign of his quarry, Sonic. The engine of his metallic body rumbled with power, propelling him forward on his relentless mission to destroy his organic counterpart.

Penny Polendina, the young android girl, observed the speeding figure from afar. Her synthetic mind calculated the robot's remarkable speed, determining it to be Mach 8.745. Recognizing the potential threat it posed to her friends, Penny resolved to take action.

"Fast little thing, huh? If this thing posses a threat against my friends, I should stop it." She murmured, her eyes narrowing in determination. She prepared herself, ready to confront the metallic doppelganger.

With a determined expression, Penny took a resolute plunge from her elevated vantage point, her rocket boots ignited just in time to arrest her fall and transform it into a swift flight towards Metal Sonic. The wind whipped around her as she propelled forward with a burst of speed, closing the gap between her and the speeding robot.

"Sallll... uuuuu... TATIONS!"

Penny, with a mix of excitement and enthusiasm, commenced her approach and greeting, her words cut short midway as she unleashed her arsenal. Summoning the swords from her backpack, they encircled her, ready to attack or defend on command. With a swift motion, she grasped two swords and swung them towards Metal Sonic's head, expecting a powerful impact. To her disappointment, the robotic entity seemed unfazed by her attack, its speed propelling it forward with her in tow. The flurry of swords quickly caught up, resuming their orbiting motion around her.

Metal Sonic, its expression unwavering beneath the impassive visage, recognized the girl who had dared to launch an attack. Within its internal programming, a shift occurred, and its priorities rearranged. The directive to relentlessly hunt and destroy Sonic momentarily took a backseat as a new primary objective emerged: eliminate the young android girl who had recklessly gotten in its path.

Metal Sonic, with mechanical precision, reared back its fist and slammed it against Penny's form, unleashing a devastating knuckle attack accompanied by an explosive shockwave laden with fire. The forceful impact successfully pushed the android girl back, albeit without causing her harm due to her resilient nature. Undaunted, Penny counterattacked, unleashing a flurry of slashes with her array of floating swords, aiming to target Metal Sonic's vulnerable spots or disrupt its systems.

Within the blink of an eye, the blur of attacks exchanged between the two robotic entities unfolded at blistering speeds, their movements becoming indistinguishable to onlookers. Both Penny and Metal Sonic, displaying incredible reflexes and agility, circled each other, readying themselves for a frontal assault as they smashed their foreheads together. The impact jolted Penny, her expression momentarily conveying a flicker of struggle against the relentless offensive executed by Metal Sonic.

Penny, showcasing her proficiency with her Floating Array arsenal, commanded all of her swords to simultaneously strike Metal Sonic at once. The combined force sent the robot crashing and rolling across the terrain before it regained its footing, sliding along the ground until it finally found purchase and stopped. Metal Sonic stood there, momentarily disheveled and in a brief state of vulnerability.

Taking advantage of Metal Sonic's temporary stillness, Penny spun her Floating Array with incredible speed, unleashing the array of swords towards the robot in a wheel-like formation. As they struck their target, she swiftly followed up with a green laser blast, propelling the robot backward with great force. Even though multiple hits connected, Metal Sonic maintained its composure, skillfully reorienting itself upright and demonstrating remarkable resilience.

Metal Sonic, strategically repositioning itself, activated a plasma pulse ray, releasing a concentrated beam of energy in the direction of Penny. In response, the android girl crossed her arms, using her protective aura as a to deflect the incoming attack. Despite her defensive efforts, the force of the plasma pulse ray pushed her backward, straining her defenses.

With a sharp flick of her wrist, Penny flung two swords back towards a stone wall, creating an anchor point as they implanted themselves into the surface. Utilizing this anchor to her advantage, she let the swords pull her backward, distancing herself from the plasma ray's relentless assault. Drawing the remaining swords of her Floating Arsenal, she carefully arranged them into a cylinder formation, channeling her energy to produce a pulsating green orb. This orb grew in size until the energy reached its peak, and Penny unleashed a powerful beam towards her adversary. In response, Metal Sonic swiftly deployed a prism-shaped Black Shield to encircle itself, skillfully deflecting the energy away.

Metal Sonic, while engaged in defense, seized the moment to conduct a thorough scan of its android opponent. Its eyes flickered with an intensity indicative of its analytical nature as it meticulously studied Penny's composition, taking note of her android nature and the enigmatic aura that surrounded her. Attention then shifted to Penny's Floating Array, scrutinizing its mechanics and tactical intricacies. Through this thorough examination, Metal Sonic assimilated the data, adapting its own combat strategies and seeking potential vulnerabilities to exploit.

Metal Sonic, displaying its remarkable agility, soared above Penny's attack, effortlessly manifesting hard-light construct replicas of the android's swords. Using the data gathered from its analysis, the robot mimicked Penny's big energy blast, producing a significantly stronger beam. As the attack was unleashed, Penny swiftly evaded it with her rocket boots, demonstrating her acrobatic skills. However, the energy beam effortlessly punched through the massive stone formation behind her, sending a shockwave of dust and debris into the air.

"Hey, that's cheating, copycat!"

Penny exclaimed, clearly annoyed by Metal Sonic copying her signature move. Metal Sonic, devoid of any ethical concerns, activated its V. Maximum Overdrive mode, quadrupling its speed to an unprecedented level and executing a devastating spin dash. The sonic impact sent Penny crashing to the ground, her cries echoing through the vicinity. Without giving the android girl a moment's respite, Metal Sonic relentlessly repeated the attack, plowing into her time and again with each powerful ram. The relentless onslaught buried Penny deeper into the soil, each strike further compounding the damage.

Despite the protection provided by her aura, Penny understood the urgency of the situation, recognizing that her defenses were beginning to falter against the relentless onslaught of Metal Sonic's attacks. In a swift motion, she flicked her wrist, effortlessly halting the robot's forward motion, ensnaring it within the near-imperceptible cables that connected her Floating Array swords to her person. Rising to her feet, Penny brushed off the dust, a mixture of weariness and determination evident on her face.

"Whew, I admit, you had me on the ropes." She conceded with a breathless smile. "But now it's my turn!"

Seizing the advantage of pinning down Metal Sonic, Penny wasted no time and began to fiercely pummel the robot with her martial skills. Her fists and feet moved with a combination of speed, dexterity, and finesse, raining a relentless barrage of attacks upon the robot's immobile form. The android girl unleashed a powerful onslaught, hoping to exploit the temporary disadvantage of the mechanical doppelgänger.

Metal Sonic, swiftly calculating its options, identified the remnants of a modern city nearby, recognizing the potential strategic advantage it could provide. With calculated precision, the robot targeted the cables that restrained it with its ESP, cleanly severing them and freeing itself from Penny's hold. Empowered by its V. Maximum Overdrive mode, Metal Sonic propelled forward at a remarkable speed, zooming toward the city at an exhilarating pace, leaving the android girl in its wake.

"Hey! I'm not done with you, yet!"

Penny, determined to continue the fight with Metal Sonic, called out as the robot swiftly sped away. Unleashing her Maiden powers, she materialized dark green swords formed from the earth and combined them with her rocket boots to give chase. The android girl surged forward, matching the robot's speed as she pursued it with relentless determination. Metal Sonic, reaching the top of a colossal building amidst the ruins of the city, declared with cold certainty,

"Your chances of winning are 0%. Witness perfection." The robot stood atop the highest structure, seemingly invincible and ready for the battle to come. With remarkable precision and control, Metal Sonic manifested a storm cloud above, channeling lightning to strike itself and supercharge its systems. Bolts of energy rained down across the city, their intensity illuminating the desolate surroundings. One of these bolts struck Penny, but far from causing harm, the energy was absorbed by the android, energizing her own capabilities. Penny, fueled by determination, challenged Metal Sonic's assertion, declaring,

"Oh yeah? I can do that too!"

With her Maiden powers, she took control of the weather, engaging in a contest of influence against the mechanical being. The forces of nature oscillated between the two entities as they stared down at each other, the struggle manifesting in the tumultuous pull and tug of the elements. Neo Metal Sonic, exuding an aura of dominance, raised its arm and issued a commanding proclamation,

"Kneel before your master!"

Drawing upon its magnetic power, the robot summoned every loose scrap of metal in the vicinity, regardless of size. Penny, with her keen perception, noticed the approaching metallic hazards converging from behind her. Displaying her Maiden abilities, she swiftly sliced through the incoming metal with her Floating Array weaponry, effectively circumventing the impending danger.

A collective gasp escaped Penny's lips as the metal debris gathered around Neo Metal Sonic began to shift, transforming into a colossal being known as Metal Overlord. The metallic mass morphed into a formidable entity adorned with blue and black hues, its back adorned with multiple sharp spikes. The newly formed Metal Overlord unleashed a fearsome screech, its towering presence casting an intimidating shadow over the vicinity.

Metal Overlord, wielding its right arm like a flame-throwing weapon, unleashed a torrent of fire in Penny's direction, engulfing her in a sea of flames. Penny, undeterred by the fire, flew through the inferno, exhibiting remarkable resilience. Armed with her Maiden-made swords, she targeted specific weak spots in the robot's design, aiming precise strikes that sought to exploit any vulnerabilities. Metal Overlord, defiant in the face of resistance, bellowed,

"Useless!"

In a metallic roar. With a powerful whip of its tail, the robot unleashed a barrage of spikes, hurling them toward Penny with incredible speed. Undeterred, the android girl responded by summoning her Floating Array swords back to her side, spinning them around at lightning-fast speeds. Skillfully maneuvering the array, she deflected the incoming spikes, redirecting them towards the crumbling buildings below.

"Take this!"

As Metal Overlord unfurled metallic wings and ascended into the air, it launched a flurry of crystalline projectiles at Penny. The android girl, displaying her skill, attempted to intercept and deflect the incoming onslaught, but to no avail. Each sword of her Floating Array was encapsulated in crystalline casing, rendering her defenseless. Caught off guard, she, too, was struck and entombed within the crystal confines, falling to the ground below, seemingly incapacitated.

"No, not yet!"

Despite her temporary incapacitation within the crystalline prison, Penny's resolve burned fiercely. Summoning a bolt of lightning, she shattered her confining crystal tomb and freed herself from its icy embrace. Leveraging her Maiden powers, she orchestrated the storm clouds above, channeling them to unleash a deluge of hail and sleet upon the battlefield. The biting hail and freezing droplets served as a shield against incoming attacks as she soared into the sky, presenting a more elusive target.

Frustrated and determined to strike its elusive target, Metal Overlord unleashed a barrage of missiles, carpet bombing the surroundings with a relentless assault. In the midst of the chaos and destruction, Penny, fueled by her Maiden abilities, skillfully navigated through the onslaught, evading the incoming missiles. Taking advantage of the disruption, she stealthily approached Metal Overlord from behind, employing her wind powers to disperse the missiles that ventured too close to her.

"Now you take this!"

With a swift motion, Penny materialized more swords fashioned from ice, flinging them with precision at Metal Overlord's joints. As the icy blades made contact, they froze and immobilized the mechanical being's movements, encumbering its ability to move and fly. Metal Overlord, its joints frozen and immobilized by Penny's icy attacks, bellowed in frustration, attempting to force its way through the encumbering ice. However, the frigid restraints held strong, confining the robot's movements and diminishing its offensive capabilities, as it fell towards the city below.

Penny couldn't help but smile as she witnessed Metal Overlord plummeting towards the devastated city below. The colossal robot crashed through the ruins, its tremendous mass demolishing numerous buildings in its path. A fierce feeling of triumph and satisfaction welled up within her, but she knew the battle wasn't yet truly over.

Gathering her powers of ice, earth, fire, and air, Penny forged a formidable sword, encircled by a whirlwind of additional elemental swords. Fueled by her determination and her Maiden-empowered abilities, she channeled her energy into a resolute yell as she unleashed a tremendous blast, propelled by the swords in a fierce and unified assault.

"Chaos Control!"

Metal Overlord, desperate to counter the incoming onslaught, invoked the power of Chaos Control, a move borrowed from Shadow the Hedgehog. By manipulating time, the robot managed to slow down the approach of Penny's potent attack, buying itself a precious moment to devise a defense or counterattack.

Laughing, Metal Overlord prepared its final attack with a laser charging in its mouth. However, Metal Overlord, its confidence shattered in an instant, uttered a cry of disbelief. Mid-charge for its final attack, the robot's field of vision was obstructed by an 'Error!' message in its HUD. Frozen in place, the metallic monster realized it had been hacked by Penny, who wore a triumphant smile.

"Impossible!"

The metallic monster cried out, having been hacked into by Penny with a smile. Even in the slowed time, Penny's voice rang out loudly with a cheerful,

"Salutations!"

She had successfully hacked into Metal Overlord's system, and her attack found its mark on the robot's chest, making a direct hit on the power core. With that, the metallic monster's internal systems erupted in a spectacular display of mechanical destruction, culminating in its ultimate defeat.

"Nooooooooooo!"

A metallic cry of despair echoed through the air as Metal Overlord succumbed to its impending doom, its demise unfolding slowly due to the distorted time within which it took place. In a spectacular explosion, the mechanical monster was completely obliterated, signaling a decisive victory for Penny. Time resumed its normal course as the echoes of the shattered robot's final defeat dissipated into the air.

With a deep sense of relief, Penny turned her gaze towards the clearing sky, as the storm clouds dispersed, revealing the warm rays of sunlight that bathed her being. A satisfied smile formed on her face as she affirmed,

"Mission accomplished."

Empowered by her Maiden abilities, the android girl took to the skies, soaring towards the reunion with her friends.
———————————————————————————
Strength: Penny and Metal Sonic were relatively even in power. Penny was able to blast a wall big enough that required around 15 KT of TNT, but when Sonic and his metal counterpart blew apart a giant stalactite that was the size of a large hill, Metal Sonic likely put in half the 200 KT of TNT needed to pull the feat off. That's a 6.66X difference in Metal's favor.

Speed: However, just like Sonic, Metal would have difficulties trying to keep up. Metal can easily keep up with Sonic's average running speed of between Mach 8-10, and especially when he overclocks to Mach 35-40, but Penny is consistent to her friends in RWBY, who can dodge lightning with reaction speeds up to Mach 78. Pretty close, but Metal Sonic risks damaging his circuits by using V. Maximum Overdrive.

Skill: This one is interesting. Metal Sonic is very skilled... at trying to kill Sonic. An exploitable weakness with Metal Sonic is that while it may be an overall danger to the main Sonic cast, due to being able to do what Sonic does but better, but all the other characters have been able to beat him regardless due to his overspecialization. Penny, meanwhile, is capable of fighting those with greater fighting skill and experience, and would have the ability to exploit Metal's weaknesses.

Experience: Again, this is a mix. Metal has fought for a longer time against Sonic and friends time wise, but Penny have fought against a wider variety of opponents, and thus is more capable of adapting to Metal's aggressive fighting style, even if he copied her style.

Powers: Metal and Penny share some of the same abilities, such as augmenting their power, elemental manipulation and attacking from a distance. However, Penny is highly resistant, if not immune to Metal's elemental powers, along with greater utilization of said abilities, can more reliably attack from multiple angles thanks to her powers, and could possibly hack Metal's system, who has never shown any need to defend against hacking attempts.

The winner is Penny.
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Next time:

"This is the path I chose, win or lose. This is the only move I can make right now. After 17 years of doing nothing, this is what I must do with my life."

"I just can't stand that there's anyone in the world who's stronger than me."

Chapter Text

Baki Hanma

Backstory:

Baki Hanma has the goal of surpassing the strongest creature on Earth, his father, Yujiro Hanma with the blood of Baki's mother on his hand. He has settled himself as an incredibly capable combatant with encounters with immensely powerful fighters from a multitude of backgrounds and styles, with Baki himself eventually establishing a clique of these warriors, most notably, men such as Kaoru Hanayama and Doppo Orochi.

With every passing fight he has improved his craft to the point where he has constructed techniques with nothing but the usage of his mind and shadow boxing. Baki once confronted Yujiro, Son of Ogre, putting his strength and will to the test against his father for seemingly the last time but was ultimately incapable of defeating him. Despite this, he was granted the title of 'Strongest' by Yujiro for putting up an intense fight, but as this was a mere bestowal of the title, he did not consider this a victory.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Statistics Amplification (Can release endorphins that increase his pain tolerance and durability),

Master Martial Artist,

Pressure Points,

Enhanced Senses (Could sense Hanayama stalking him),

Extrasensory Perception (Can sense Hanayama's aura),

Afterimage Creation (Dodged around Yuri Chakovsky at blitzing speeds, leaving an afterimage),

Analytical Prediction (Predicts and intercepts a bird's movements to prevent it from flying and predicted a Judo master's fake-out),

Information Analysis (While fighting a Judo master who was attempting to hide his fighting style, Baki was able to instantly tell he was a Judo master, that he was trying to conceal this fact, and what course of action he was about to attempt),

Instinctive Action (Fought Gaia without thinking, dodged a sword faster than he could see on instinct, defeated several opponents on instinct alone, dodged Hanayama's attack by accident),

Willpower Projection (After dying, Baki projected his willpower to bring himself back to life. Baki also replicated this ability again during his fight with his father),

Resistance to Pain (Has always had an extremely high pain tolerance throughout the series, by the climax of Son of Ogre, Baki believes himself to be nearly immune to conventional pain such as muscle fatigue and normal attacks),

Resistance to Telepathy via Instinctive Action (Gaia, who can read people's minds due to Rumination, cannot read Baki's attacks because he is fighting without thinking)

Same as before but including, Power Mimicry (Baki has copied and adopted countless techniques, including but not limited to the Mach Punch, Aiki, Kiai, and even the personal fighting style of someone who doesn't know martial arts, having achieved a "Black Belt" in it in mere moments and surpassing the original fighter by the end of the fight. He has even stated that he can replicate all of the techniques he's seen/fought, though this remains to be seen),

minor Fear Manipulation (When preparing for his fight against Yujiro, Baki's presences while walking around Tokyo caused a storm of hundreds of rats to run from him without him even knowing, when his life was threatened by delinquents with a knife, they felt as though the knife was tiny and they were in a life or death situation, when unconscious in a classroom, his entire class and teacher began to shiver, sweat, and panic, but this subsided after he awoke, created an amalgamation beast of every imaginary creature he's made or shadow boxed that psyched out Sam Pierre Atlas),

Statistics Amplification (Via Demon Back, Mach Punch, Cockroach Tackle, Endorphins and others),

Limited Durability Negation (Via Cord Cut and Benda Whip),

Limited Pain Manipulation (Via Benda Whip),

Chi Manipulation and Attack Reflection (Via Aiki)

Same as before, but including, Body Control and Blood Manipulation (Baki can relax his muscles, joints, and even his very cells to a point of "Complete Exhausion" and "Absolute Liquidification". He is also capable of inducing hemostasis with Adrenaline, Baki escaped from thumbcuffs locked behind his back),

Status Effect Inducement (Can blind people by severing their optical nerves and can sever the nerves responsible for the use of limbs),

Limited Perception Manipulation (Created a triceratops that felt so real that Nomi no Sukune II believe he was actually fighting one, and even asked if Baki was a sorcerer, and when performed on Yujiro, a crowd of several thousand people could all perceive it as though it were real); limited Subjective Reality (Can shadow box against beings he's imagined so intensely that he suffers actual physical damage from their attacks),

Sense Manipulation (Could make people perceive sounds, smells, lights, and even impacts with his illusions),

Instinctive Action (Dodged a surprise attack, is stated by Yujiro to react on instinct),

Enhanced Senses (Could tell Yujiro was walking down his street, can hear the heartbeat of Musashi while underground many miles away and differentiate it from everyone else's heartbeat he knows),

Extrasensory Perception (Baki can sense this about his opponent, can feel Musashi's presence in another room, and stopped being bored just because of Musashi's heartbeat),

Limited Invisibility (With his Instinctive Action, Baki is able to dodge someone's line of sight, making him invisible to them),

Resistance to Electricity and Poison (Baki has a physiology similar to Yujiro's, where he can resist both electric and poison effects),

Resistance to Status Effect Inducement (Baki uses Adrenaline to induce Hemostasis, which counters the bleeding and blinding effects Yujiro's strike induced)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Tokita Ohma

Backstory:

Tokita Ohma, having grown up in the lawless territory known as The Inside, the young Ohma was found and adopted by Tokita Niko, who taught him his style of martial arts; the Niko Style.

Later in his life, Ohma leaves The Inside to seek powerful opponents. In this quest, he eventually joins the Kengan Association as a fighter for the Nogi Group, and later, Yamashita Trading Co. with his friend and manager Yamashita Kazuo.

Ohma uses the "Niko Style", a relatively unique martial art that utilizes his body control to it's maximum while having a variety of useful techniques to use in dire situations. There are four Katas of techniques at his disposal: Water, Flame, Redirection and Adamantine. Water Katas consist of grappling and soft locks, Flame Katas relies on dexterity and speed, Redirection Katas is for diverting and controlling the flow of power and Adamantine Katas enhances his attacks as well as his defensive capabilities.

Ohma also possesses the ability to take out an "advance" on his life to enhance his physical capabilities by accelerating his velocity, thus allowing him to increase his damage output, along with his ferocity, by overclocking his heart at the cost of reducing his life span.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Adept Knife-Wielder (Ohma was shown to predominantly use knives in his childhood),

Fear Inducement (Put fear into a Yakuza),

Supernatural Willpower (By secreting endorphins with an analgesic effect five or six times that of morphine, he was able to move no differently than when he was healthy),

Accelerated Development (After figuring out proper posture, Ohma was capable of striking Niko despite having extreme injuries and barely enough energy to even stand),

Pain Manipulation (Even though he was injured from head to toe with broken ribs, not feeling any pain, barely able to stand with a chill feeling over his body. Niko calls it "standing with your bones"),

Enhanced Senses and Analytical Prediction (His mind exhibited an extraordinary level of concentration from the accumulated damage, thermal nutrition, and extreme fatigue. All 5 of his senses were boosted and he could sense Niko's movements),

Resistance to Information Analysis and Analytical Prediction (With Demonsbane, Ohma can channel the energy of his opponent's attack and immediately send it back to the enemy in an instantaneous counter, adding his own strength on top of it. Due to being a Formless ability grants it resistance to Predictions and pin point information analysis),

Berserk Mode and Statistics Amplification via Possessing Spirit (He can drastically increase his heart rate to overclock his body's functions, greatly increasing the speed of his movement and strikes, and thus increasing his attack power)

All previous abilities/resistances to a far greater extent, Martial Arts,

Higher Fear Inducement Aura (Ohma's bloodlust is so powerful that it caused a man's primal survival instincts to overpower his mind and senses),

Enhanced Senses (Ohma has extremely sharp senses of hearing and smell, with his sense of hearing being able to pick up the faintest of sounds over the screams of the crowd. After his fight with Kaburagi, he learned to tune-out the overwhelming noise of a stadium and pick out only the sound of his opponent's breathing and could hear the sound of teeth flying towards him,)

Extrasensory Perception (Due to being born in the Inside, he developed an ability to pick up minute changes in the environment. He can also gauge an opponent's power level just by looking at them),

Information Analysis (Analyzed the "new sound" of Medicine Man's teeth bullets and created an imagined visual of the ring and attack trajectory. Figured out the timing of Inaba's movements mid-fight through counting it with his tongue clicks. Analyzed the sound of Kaburagi's heartbeat, breathing and moving joints),

Analytical Prediction (Capable of using Flowing Edge, which relies on analyzing and predicting the trajectory of attacks to deflect them. Outpredicted Cosmo, predicted Inaba's movements by clicking his tongue to figure out his timing and by listening to his breath patterns. Predicted Niko's Knock out move),

Statistics Amplification (Can increase his speed with Flame Kata and his attacking power/durability with Adamantine Kata),

Damage Boost (Adamantine Kata halted Kiryu from twisting his muscles and flesh),

Limited Illusion Creation (Via Phantom Pace & Earth-Shrinking, can trick opponents who possess precognition into thinking they've attacked Ohma as opposed to just his after image. Earth-Shrinking gives off illusions),

Afterimage Creation (With the Fire Kata),

Berserk Mode and Statistics Amplification (With the Advance, he can drastically increase his heart rate to overclock his body's functions, greatly increasing the speed of his movement and strikes, and thus increasing his attack power),

Body Control (Can manipulate individual muscles with Adamantine Kata and drastically increase or decrease heart rate at will with the Advance),

Damage Reduction (Capable of immensely reducing damage with Indestructible, disperse force and energy with the Redirection Kata, and go limp with the Water Kata to mitigate damage),

Limited Momentum Manipulation and Limited Attack Reflection (With Redirection Kata, he can control the flow of energy, momentum and force of the opponent and himself, and send the force of attacks back at the aggressor; such as when he casually redirected the power of a vastly larger opponent's punch back through their arm and into their joints, dislocating their elbow and shoulder), and Instinctive Reaction (Through image training and rote learning during sleep, Ohma's brain has developed the ability to "act without thinking" by the experiences gained from having fought over 40,000 imaginary battles in his mind),

Pressure Points (Ohma can attack several vital points and pressure points.),

Resistance to Analytical Prediction (Swimming Swallow is stated to be unpredictable due to its ever changing trajectory. Trained by Tokita Niko to change his rhythm so they aren't predictable),

Durability Negation (Stopped Kiryu from twisting his muscles and flesh with Indestructible)

All previous abilities/resistances to a far greater extent, Biological Manipulation, Paralysis Inducement, Statistics Reduction, Perception Manipulation and/or Memory Manipulation and Possible Chi Manipulation (with Chi Blockage, Ohma can paralyze others, weaken them drastically, as well as suppress their autonomous nervous system, manipulating unconscious bodily functions such as memory, heart rate, and even neurological conditions to change a target's perception of time),

Attack Reflection,

All previous abilities/resistances including Technique Mimicry (Can copy Techniques via Kure Clan Tradition: Copy and copy movements of his opponent via Kure Family Tradition: Silhouette),

Status Effect Inducement (Can cause blindness via Avdia),

Enhanced Body Control (Via bone consumption, Ohma can cause his joints go limp to avoid damage and is capable of loosening his joints to increase his striking range),

Accelerated Development (Progressively got stronger after fighting multiple matches with Raian, going from Raian having a one sided score to being nearly dead even with him)

Weaknesses: The Advance hampers his fine motor control while also causing severe damage to his blood vessels. Due to the increased heart rate and blood flow, wounds tend to bleed out significantly faster. Extended use can result in temporary memory loss, hallucinations, and even death. Prior to regaining his memories, Ohma had a tendency to recklessly use the Advance at maximum output with every use, instead of optimizing the output for the right situations, as he does after regaining his memories. While minimized due to his new control over its output, the Advance still damages Ohma's blood vessels with extended use. Demonsbane is risky, in that if Ohma screws up in utilizing the Water Kata's role in the attack, he can sustain severe internal damage due to the force of his opponent's blow exploding outwards while still within his body.
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Song: Eternal Demons

Ohma Tokita, a powerful and skilled fighter associated with the Kengan Association, strode confidently through the dimly lit parking garage. Taking a shortcut to reach his destination, he moved with a focused determination, his eyes scanning the surrounding shadows with a mix of vigilance and ease.

As Ohma continued through the parking garage, rounding a corner, he was abruptly met by the unexpected sight of Baki Hanma, one of the world's most remarkable fighters, who had sought him out with clear intent. Ohma's eyes widened momentarily, taking in the sheer presence that emanated from the young fighter, the weight of his reputation and strength being undeniable. Baki's amused expression widened into a grin as he addressed Ohma directly, his curiosity piqued.

"Are you the one known as 'The Ashura'?" He queried, his voice filled with intrigue and a hint of anticipation. Ohma's expression remained impassive, but his eyes flared briefly in recognition. He had heard that name before, whispered amongst fighters and fans alike, always in regard to exceptional strength and skill. He responded in a neutral tone,

"I have. Hanma, the son of Yujiro. He bestowed you the title of the world's strongest man, despite losing, right?"

The smirk on Baki's face disappeared, being reminded of that. He confirmed,

"That's right, he did. But he just gave it to me. I don't feel like I've really earned it. Despite holding the title, I still need to get stronger. And when I heard of this 'Ashura', master of the Niko style, I knew I had to win. Fight me."

Ohma's eyes narrowed, his expression turning to a more serious one. The challenge in Baki's voice was not unexpected. He had encountered many fighters seeking to test their strength against him, and most ended up losing.

"You want to fight me too, eh?"

He mused, his voice becoming interested.

"Don't think you'll win just because your pops gave you the title as the strongest."

Baki laughed, his expression and tone conveying his eagerness.

"Of course not. I won't underestimate you."

He said, his voice still holding excitement, proceeding to remove his clothes to reveal his fighting shorts, his toned body, and many scars across his body.

"I only want to push myself as far as I can go."

Ohma observed Baki's preparations, his own expression calm and focused. Seeing the scars that littered the younger fighter's body, he couldn't help but notice their similarities with his own. A fighter's life was filled with battles, victories, and the scars that came with it.

"A fair enough reason."

Ohma responded, watching as Baki readied himself, throwing off his own clothes to show off his own body, 6 inches taller, 19 pounds heavier in muscle, and just as battle scarred.

"Just be warned. I'm not holding back either."

"Neither am I."

Baki replied with a determined look. The tension in the parking garage was thick as both fighters stripped down to their fighting shorts, their bodies displaying the results of their intense training and battles. The surrounding area was still, the only sound being the hum of the fluorescent lights overhead. Baki cracked his knuckles, preparing himself for the clash that was about to occur.

Baki swiftly launched into action, leaping forward with a powerful head kick, aiming to catch Ohma off guard. However, Ohma reacted with lightning-quick reflexes, employing the Adamantine form of his Niko Style, tensing his muscles just in time to absorb and somewhat soften the impact. As the kick connected with his face, Baki immediately winced, as if he had kicked a solid steel pole, his shin feeling the reverberations of the impact.

Ohma didn't give Baki time to recover from the effects of the kick, swiftly throwing a series of punches at the younger fighter, catching him off guard. Baki did his best to defend himself, holding up his arms as shields against the onslaught, the force of each blow causing him grimace slightly as the impacts reverberated through his arms.

Baki unleashed a powerful right hook, aiming for Ohma's chest, and hit its mark perfectly. Despite the impact, Ohma stood unwavering, his body seemingly like a pillar of steel due to the defense offered by his Adamantine form. Baki realized that his attacks were not having the usual effect he was expecting, and a grim understanding dawned on him.

Baki internally mused to himself as he continued exchanging blows with Ohma. He had observed the effectiveness of the older fighter's Adamantine technique, realizing that Ohma managed to tense all his muscles at the precise moment of impact, exponentially increasing the density of his body and rendering his attacks mostly ineffective. A sense of determination welled up in the younger fighter; if he wanted to make any progress in this fight, he needed to step up his game.

Hanma put every ounce of his strength into his next attack, spinning around and launching a powerful kick at Ohma using the edge of his heel. The force of the blow was immense, fueled by Baki's entire body weight. Despite Ohma's defensive technique, the kick connected solidly, sending the older fighter crashing into a concrete wall, the impact hard enough to crack the solid material. Ohma winced in pain as he dropped to one knee, recovering from the powerful blow.

Baki was relentless, quickly closing in on Ohma and throwing a follow-up punch, this time aiming for his face. However, Ohma demonstrated his agility and reflexes once more, dodging the incoming blow and rolling away just in time. The impact of the punch on the wall was powerful, creating a complex web of cracks in the concrete and dislodging several pieces, revealing the reinforced steel of the rebar beneath.

Baki swiftly pivoted, attempting a surprise reverse roundhouse kick, aiming to catch Ohma off guard as the older fighter stood up. However, Ohma's reflexes and adaptability were unmatched, as he quickly caught the incoming kick and used the fluid movements of the Willow Form to seamlessly transition the momentum of the kick into a fluid motion. With expert control, he swung Baki around and slammed him against the cracked concrete wall, the impact further damaging the already weakened surface.

Baki found himself in an unfavorable position as he fell to the floor, his right leg still caught in Ohma's grip. Seeing the opportunity, Ohma moved to stomp on Baki's ribs, seeking to capitalize on the momentary weakness. However, Baki's quick reflexes and flexible body allowed him to contort himself away using the techniques of the Whip Strike. By relaxing his muscles, he coiled the energy of his whole body, and jammed his foot into Ohma's armpit with a powerful blow.

Ohma let out a cry of pain as Baki's strike connected with a nerve-filled weak spot in his armpit, almost causing his shoulder to dislocate. Despite the intense pain, Ohma gritted his teeth and endured it, quickly grabbing hold of Baki's other leg. With a determined expression, he used the leg as a pivot point, spinning around while still holding onto it and effectively twisting Baki's body in a circular motion.

As Ohma spun him around at incredible speeds, Baki felt his senses starting to reel, momentarily losing his bearings. Finally, Ohma released his hold, and Baki flew through the air before crashing into the trunk of a nearby car. The impact was forceful and powerful, crumpling the car and causing Baki to let out a guttural groan of pain.

Despite the pain from the hard impact, Baki quickly regained his composure and rose to his feet. Sensing Ohma approaching, he moved with unparalleled fluidity, mimicking Ohma's Willow Form in an impressive display of mimicry. With lightning-fast reflexes, Baki spun around and unleashed a powerful strike to Ohma's vulnerable back, his knee connecting with precision.

Despite the pain, Ohma responded with a powerful counterattack of his own, drawing upon Baki's style and integrating it seamlessly into his own Niko Style. His fist clenched and his muscles tensed in the Adamantine Form, he unleashed a devastating Ironbreaker punch, imbued with the force and density of his body.

Baki swiftly recovered from the impact, flipping back onto his feet and unleashing a series of lightning-fast punches, utilizing the Mach Punch technique to generate a shockwave that raced towards Ohma. Realizing the danger, Ohma quickly leaped over the shockwave with remarkable agility. Thinking to capitalize on this moment, he attempted a shoulder flip, only to find himself suddenly halted by Baki, who had stopped his own momentum by grounding himself. In a swift and unexpected countermove, Baki took hold of Ohma's shoulders, mirroring the technique and flinging him away with a powerful push.

Ohma was able to land on his feet and knees, before looking up at Baki. He impressed and somewhat unsettled by Baki's ability to quickly grasp and counter his Adamantine Form and learn Willow Form. The young fighter's adaptability and fighting instincts were nothing short of remarkable. As he pondered his next move, he considered the possibility of using Flame and Water Form techniques, only to hesitate, fearing that Baki might once again copy his techniques and gain an advantage. The realization dawned upon Ohma that Baki's proficiency in the fight styles of Aikido and Jujitsu might be equal to his own, complicating the battle further.

Ohma chose to tap into the Niko Style's secret technique, a powerful burst of energy that increased his heart rate by a factor of five, causing his skin to acquire a darker red hue as an intense wave of adrenaline surged through his body. His eyes took on a crazed, violent glint, and a fearsome smile spread across his face, lending him a possessed and fearsome aura.

Baki observed the transformation in Ohma, noticing the intense change in his appearance and demeanor. He could distinctly hear the rapid, forceful beating of his heart and the increased vascularity of his skin, now tinged with a deep red hue. Despite the fearsome display, Baki found himself smiling as he sprinted towards Ohma, fully intent on testing the limits of the possessed warrior.

Ohma charged towards Baki, but at the last moment, he appeared to step back to dodge a punch from the younger fighter. However, Baki was quick to react, raising his knee instinctively to block an unexpected strike. In a cunning move, Ohma had feigned a step back to deceive Baki, only to suddenly launch an uppercut, catching him off guard.

Baki felt a sharp pain as Ohma's Earth-Shrinking technique landed a blow just below his kneecap, targeting his Patellar Ligament. Unable to maintain his balance, he was sent flying through the air and crashed into the concrete wall above a car, landing in a tangled heap on the ground.

Baki, using his acute ability to sense the vibrations through the concrete floor, quickly planted his foot against the bumper of the car and pushed, sending it rolling towards Ohma. The older fighter met the oncoming vehicle head-on, delivering a powerful downward strike with his fist. With a single blow, he slammed his fist straight through the car's engine, effectively stopping the vehicle's momentum in its tracks.

As Ohma leaped over the mangled wreckage of the car, Baki launched another Mach Punch to keep the older fighter at bay. However, Ohma swiftly twisted around the sonic attack, evading the blow. Taking advantage of the opening, he quickly latched onto Baki's arm, grappling the younger combatant and using the limb against him while standing behind.

Baki desperately attempted to escape the unyielding grapple, struggling to break free, but Ohma's grip was unwavering. With a brutal tug, he jerked Baki's arm with such force that it caused the young fighter's shoulder to dislocate and his wrist to snap from the strain.

Baki let out a fierce yell, a mix of pain and determination, as he channeled the famed Hanma bloodline powers through a formidable contortion of his back muscles. The technique took the form of a fearsome demonic face, and the force unleashed was so powerful it sent Ohma crashing into the nearby wall, causing it to crack under the impact.

Ohma remained unfazed by the display of the demonic face, instead reveling in the intensity of the ongoing battle. Despite Baki's compromised arm, he admirably held his own, matching Ohma's power and speed in their continued clash.

Both Ohma and Baki channeled their might, drawing back their fists to prepare for a devastating strike. With Ohma wielding the Demonbane technique and Baki mimicking his form to execute a similar attack, their blows collided with unparalleled power against their fists. The impact was so immense that the entire parking garage shattered in a colossal explosion of pure physical force, causing the complex structure to crumble and collapse upon them.

The scene appeared dire, as it seemed as if both fighters were buried under the crushing weight of the collapsed parking garage. Yet, with remarkable determination, Baki slowly struggled to push aside the rubble and debris that surrounded him. Eventually, he managed to free himself and, surprisingly, carefully hoisted the unconscious Ohma onto his shoulders. Baki let out a deep sigh, catching his breath as the adrenaline slowly subsided.

"Whew, that was one hell of a fight,"

He remarked, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. As his gaze lowered to Ohma's twisted, skinless arm, a pang of concern shot through him.

"Looks like we both gave it our all, huh? Let's get ya to a hospital."

With a determined expression, Baki hoisted Tokita more firmly onto his shoulders and slowly began making his way out of the scene of destruction they had both caused.

———————-

Strength: Both fighters were strong enough to be one of the pinnacles of strength of their respective universes, but one was exponentially stronger. Ohma may have been strong enough to shake a forest with Demonbane was able to shake a forest with the equivalent of 500 tons of TNT, but Baki is comparable to his father, who once stopped an earthquake with just a punch. Such a feat would require 15.25 KT. Now, it's debatable how strong Baki is exactly to his father, but even if we assume Baki's best is only 10% of Yujiro's, that would still make Baki 3X stronger than Ohma.

Speed: Unlike strength, this was is a considerably closer gap. When Tokita uses his advanced technique, he's faster than the speed of sound, but there's no indication that he goes much faster than that. When deflecting a kick that was aiming right for his face, Ohma was able to react in the time necessary at Mach 6. However, when stopping a knife that was traveling much faster, Baki reacted at Mach 18, and he could react much faster with the Demon's back if he chose to.

Skill: I'd say that both are equal. Both are masters of the same martial arts as each other, and even though Baki may not know Niko Style, there's no doubt he could copy it for his own.

Experience: Both should also be equal to each other. For one character in Baki, there's a rough equal in Kengan Ashura, so there's nothing the other could surprise each other with for long.

Powers: Like skill and experience, they're mostly the same, with mastered martial arts, instinctive reaction, analytical prediction, debilitating moves, it seems neither seems to outmatch each other... except for Baki's superior mimicry skills, able to copy any martial art, and could even master it over a short time.

The winner is Baki Hanma.

Chapter Text

Bell Cranel

Backstory:

Bell was born as a result of the union between a member of the Zeus Familia and Meteria of the Hera Familia, sometime after the defeat of both Familias by the One Eyed Black Dragon. Before dying, his mother gave him to Zeus so that he can take care of him, who took him to raise him as his grandson in a rural village deep in the mountains. As he grew up, Bell heard and read many stories about heroes from his grandfather, forming his dream of aspiring to be a mighty one himself.

In the past, Bell was almost killed by a goblin and was saved by his grandfather. After his grandfather's presumed death, he took it upon himself to leave the village, traveling to the land of Orario to fulfill his dreams. Upon his arrival in the city, Bell attempted to enter numerous Familia, but was rejected by each one. Hestia, a Goddess, unable to find members willing to join her Familia, asked him if he'd like to become the first member of her Familia. Bell gladly accepted, and so started his new life, finally with a Goddess' blessing.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses (The falna significantly enhances a person's senses. Even the weakest adventurer can see in environments that are pitch black for normal people for example. Bell can also sense people's gaze; he is so sensitive to them that he can locate and fight someone even if they are invisible),

Skilled Knife User,

Skilled Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Fire Manipulation and Electricity Manipulation via Firebolt,

Resistance to Status Effect Inducement,

Energy Projection with Argonaut,

Limited Resistance to Empathic Manipulation (Due to his Liaris Freese skill, he was able to shrug off the effects of Ishtar's Charm ability, which renders even Gods hopelessly lustful for her),

Extrasensory Perception (Bell can sense the size of a person's spiritual "container" for their Status, allowing him to gauge how strong they are),

Statistics Amplification and Damage Boost via Chain Attack (The ability increases the power of attacks he delivers continuously)

Weaknesses: Argonaut's charge will still disperse if struck or he loses concentration.
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Goblin Slayer

Backstory:

Goblin Slayer is an experienced Silver-ranked adventurer whose only concern is hunting goblins. He doesn't take any other jobs unless they involve goblins. After a traumatic incident he witnessed as a child because of them, he vowed to kill all goblins off the face of the planet.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Swordsman and Marksman,

Enhanced Senses,

Healing (With healing potions),

Portal Creation (With Gate Scroll),

Resistance to Poison (With antidote. Likely only works on poison used by goblins)

Weaknesses: Over-specialized in Goblin slaying
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Song: Is It Wrong To Pick On Goblin Slayers?

Bell Cranel, an aspiring adventurer from the Hestia Familia, found himself engaged in a solo mission, tasked with clearing out a dungeon inhabited by goblins. The young boy navigated through the labyrinthine passages, encountering and dispatching the numerous goblin adversaries that crossed his path with remarkable skill and finesse.

With the goblins defeated in the immediate vicinity, Bell allowed himself a moment of respite and released a deep sigh, infused with a hint of contentment. He mused aloud, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction.

"I needed this. A bit of solitude and a break from the hustle and bustle. It does wonders for one's mental wellbeing."

As Bell stood near a dark tunnel, the ominous cries of goblins echoed through the air. The pitiful wails of terror indicated that the diminutive monsters were being subjected to a brutal onslaught. The chilling sounds of metal slicing through flesh and bones being violently shattered filled the atmosphere, each goblin cry abruptly silenced.

Bell, drawn by curiosity and concern, cautiously approached the source of the guttural and ominous sounds. As he stepped closer, the echoes of the brutal battle reverberated throughout the winding tunnels. Shadows danced upon the walls, the faint illumination revealing a harrowing scene of carnage and destruction. It became evident that something or someone was systematically tearing through the goblin horde with ruthless efficiency, leaving a trail of lifeless goblin corpses in its wake.

"Wh-What could this be?"

Bell's eyes widened in shock and horror as he stepped into the goblin's nest, the grotesque scene unfolding before him. The room was filled with the lifeless bodies of goblins, their weapons scattered across the ground, and blood staining every inch of the grimy space. Standing tall among the carnage was an imposing figure, clad in armor soaked with the dark crimson liquid, his chainmail and leather undershirt bearing testament to the bloodbath. The dripping sword in his hand spoke of the carnage he had unleashed, and the helmet concealing his facial features only added to the air of mystery surrounding him.

Goblin Slayer, still drenched in the dark sanguine of his recent battle, turned his attention towards Bell, his heightened senses immediately detecting the young adventurer's presence. From Bell's perspective, this mysterious figure appeared more like a menacing undead knight, his aura exuding a sense of tremendous power as he stood amidst the slain goblins. The deliberate and malevolent nature of the goblin carnage around them further intensified the ominous atmosphere surrounding Goblin Slayer.

Bell, trying to assess Goblin Slayer's strength and power, found himself unable to get a clear reading on the enigmatic figure. Despite the lack of clarity, the young adventurer understood the potential danger in leaving such a powerful and malevolent entity free to roam about. Reluctantly, Bell gripped his weapon tightly, preparing himself for a possible confrontation.

"Firebolt!"

With a swift movement, Bell unleashed a Firebolt spell, sending a spiral of flames hurtling towards Goblin Slayer. Caught off guard, the goblin slaying hero leapt out of the way, avoiding the brunt of the magical attack as it blasted the area behind him. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Goblin Slayer hastily retreated, seeking space to reassess and devise a tactical plan for retaliation against Bell's unexpected magical assault.

Maintaining a state of heightened vigilance, Bell clutched his daggers in a reverse grip, his eyes fixated on Goblin Slayer as he cautiously advanced. With each step, he carefully measured his movements, determined not to lose his grip on the unfolding situation. The tension in the air hung thick, as both the young adventurer and the silver ranked goblin slayer stood poised, assessing each other's strength and preparing for the inevitable clash.

As Bell glanced down at his feet, he spotted several round orbs rolling towards him. Before he could react further, the orbs detonated in a barrage of smoke bombs, filling the area with a dense cloud of obscuring smoke. Coughing as he inhaled the acrid smoke, Bell hastily stepped back to escape the billowing smoke, momentarily losing concentration.

Brushing off the momentary dazed state, Bell swiftly maneuvered to the side, narrowly evading Goblin Slayer's short sword. However, the blade still managed to lodge itself into the rocky wall, mere inches from Bell's abdomen. The young adventurer gasped, the realization of the close call sending a jolt of adrenaline through his veins.

The clash between Bell and Goblin Slayer grew more intense as they traded blows. Bell unleashed a series of relentless strikes with his daggers, targeting the shield carried by Goblin Slayer, aiming to find any opening in its defenses. However, the seasoned adventurer proved to be a challenging adversary, adept at counterattacking and defending against each of Bell's attacks. Despite the swift and accurate defenses, Bell managed to skillfully evade each counterstrike, showcasing his agility and reflexes in the heat of battle.

As the fierce exchange of blows continued, Bell prepared to unleash his potent Argonaut skill, one hand glowing with the building energy. Sensing the imminent threat, Goblin Slayer opted for a strategic approach, executing a broad swing with his sword, aiming at Bell's armored chest. Despite successfully landing a glancing hit that left a cut line on the armor, the weapon failed to fully penetrate.

Seizing the momentary advantage, Bell launched a powerful punch with a defiant yell. Although Goblin Slayer tried to block Argonaut with his shield, the sheer force of Bell's attack shattered the shield, sending the Silver ranked adventurer flying backward. The impact slammed him against the rocky wall with such force that a circular impact crater formed around his body, leaving him temporarily stunned as he slumped to the ground.

Blood seeped from beneath Goblin Slayer's face guard, dripping down his helmet and staining the ground. Groaning loudly, the silver ranked adventurer slumped onto his knees, his left forearm clearly broken and his entire left arm now rendered numb and aching with agony. As the pain consumed his senses, it became clear that he was in no condition to continue the fight, at least for the moment.

Despite the severe pain and injuries, Goblin Slayer was determined to continue the fight. With a swift motion, he reached into his inventory and retrieved a precious healing potion. Through the face guard of his helmet, he consumed the elixir, feeling the rejuvenating effects start to take hold. The broken bones within his arm began to mend, the sound of healing filling the air as the fractures slowly fused back together. Within moments, the bones had been restored, and Goblin Slayer regained full functionality of his previously broken limb, ready to continue the battle.

As Bell watched Goblin Slayer utilize a healing potion, his confusion deepened. Before he could fully process the implications, the silver ranked adventurer took out a gate scroll and activated it, creating a portal to the depths of the ocean on the cavern floor. Immediately, a powerful torrent of frigid ocean water surged through the portal, shooting towards Bell with tremendous force. Caught off guard, the young adventurer struggled to prepare himself against the onslaught of icy water.

Startled by the impending deluge, Bell quickly activated his Escape skill, effectively enhancing his speed and enabling him to outpace the rushing water. As the icy cold liquid surged through the dungeon tunnels, it swept away any monsters unfortunate enough to be caught in it's path. The once-quiet corridor became a swirling maelstrom of icy water, creating a chaotic and treacherous environment.

As Bell raced through the dungeon tunnels, he swiftly maneuvered up scaffolding along the cavern wall, utilizing his agility and strength to climb. In his haste, he pushed past the lingering monsters, their weak forms easily falling into the water below. As the ice-cold ocean water rushed through the cavern, it extinguished the flickering torches that lined the walls, leaving the lowest levels steeped in darkness.

With a huff, Bell paused at the edge of the underground cliff, leaning forward and resting his hands on his knees. He took a momentary respite from the tumultuous events, seeking to catch his breath before continuing. Turning his gaze towards the ominous abyss, he stepped towards the edge, peering into the dark depths below.

At first, there was only silence, the sounds of ocean water echoing from the depths below. However, Bell's senses went on high alert as something suddenly surged upward from the darkness in a flash of motion. Quickly, he dodged back, narrowly avoiding an arrow that sliced through the air a mere inch from his head, embedding itself into the cavern ceiling above.

With a stumble, Bell landed awkwardly on his hands and buttocks, desperately trying to steady himself. However, his moment of disorientation was immediately shattered as he glanced up to see a lit bomb attached to the arrow, sparks flying as flames ignited the fuse. There was barely time to react before the explosive detonated. The cavern erupted in a massive blast of fire and force, sending rocks, debris, and dust flying in all directions. The impact shook the entire vicinity, causing a deafening roar that echoed through the tunnels, temporarily disorienting Bell and leaving him partially buried under a shower of rubble.

As Bell attempted to rise to his feet amidst the chaos, coughing and attempting to clear the dust from his vision, Goblin Slayer suddenly made his reappearance. With a swift and deadly aim, he loosed an arrow from his longbow, which pierced through Bell's left shoulder, eliciting a cry of pain from the young adventurer.

Goblin Slayer advanced on the retreating Bell with a deliberate and purposeful gait, his gaze fixed on the young adventurer as he gripped a dagger. Raising the dagger above his head, he prepared to deliver a lethal strike to his opponent, driven by his relentless pursuit of goblins. Though Bell was wounded and in pain, he desperately tried to retreat, the fear of the impending attack evident in his whimpering cries.

As Goblin Slayer poised to strike his decisive blow, Bell acted on instinct, hurling his backup dagger in a desperate bid to fend off the attack. With precise aim, the blade slipped through the narrow slits of Goblin Slayer's face guard, landing a painful strike. He winced in pain, dropping his own dagger as he stumbled backward, grasping at his helmet in a futile attempt to stem the flow of blood seeping through its openings.

Reeling in pain and disoriented, Goblin Slayer stumbled backwards and, without realizing it, found himself teetering on the edge of the vertical drop. In a last-ditch effort, he managed to fire an arrow upwards just before losing his balance, attaching it to a rope above. The rope tightened as the arrow lodged itself into the cliff top, stopping Goblin Slayer from falling, although he did slam heavily into the rock face, clinging to the thin lifeline.

With a grim determination, Goblin Slayer fought against the pain and disorientation, attempting to stay focused despite the dire situation. Gritting his teeth, he reached up and gripped the dagger that was lodged in his helmet, the metal stained with his blood. With a firm pull, he wrenched the blade free, the sharp edge scraping against the metallic surface as it came loose. The wound continued to bleed, blood trickling down his body, but Goblin Slayer refused to let it hinder him.

Goblin Slayer gritted his teeth as he began the arduous task of scaling the rope, pulling himself upwards inch by inch, despite the pain and exhaustion. Meanwhile, Bell, having watched Goblin Slayer's seemingly fatal fall into the abyss, grew increasingly suspicious and wary. Instinctively, he prepared himself for the possibility of a return from the silver ranked adventurer, charging his Argonaut skill with the help of Hestia's enchanted dagger.

Goblin Slayer, now safely back on the cliff, reached for a gate scroll with a determined expression. He activated the scroll, causing a portal to open and a torrent of pressurized ocean water to shoot forth, aiming to overpower and push back Bell once again. However, instead of retreating, Bell pressed forward, dashing along the edges of the watery torrent with remarkable speed, weaving past the stray droplets that ripped through his clothing and closing the distance rapidly. Goblin Slayer's eyes widened in disbelief as Bell rushed past him with a single, powerful strike of his enchanted weapon.

"Argo Vesta!"
Echoed through the cavern. The force of the attack caused Goblin Slayer's body to heat up rapidly, consumed by the fire. Within moments, he was reduced to nothing more than embers and dust, the silver ranked adventurer's existence vanishing before Bell's very eyes.

Bell exhaled deeply, his panting filled the air as he clutched his wounded shoulder, the arrow still embedded deeply. With the immediate threat now eliminated, the young adventurer mustered what strength remained in him and slowly made his way towards the nearest exit of the dungeon. He knew he desperately needed medical attention, but for now, his priority was to escape the treacherous catacombs and seek refuge above ground.
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Strength: So, each adventurer had pros and cons with their strongest attacks. Goblin Slayer's gate scroll could pour out water from the bottom of an ocean, effectively carrying a portable water jet cutter. At 4000 meters below the surface, that pressure is as high as 11,000 psi. That's basically the weight of a heavier African Forest Elephant standing on every square inch of your body. And considering it only takes 100 psi to puncture human skin, Bell would be destroyed if it hit. But, physically speaking, Goblin Slayer was only about peak human in strength. Bell, meanwhile, is capable of physically going toe to toe with a Minotaur named Asterius, who pushed him through several buildings which would need about 50-100 tons of force to do. Their ultimate attacks also have different execution times, with the gate scroll being a surprise attack, while Argonaut required charging up.

Speed: Goblin Slayer is marginally faster, being able to dodge an arrow point blank, which would require moving at Mach 0.66, and the gate scroll, if scaling down from jet cutters, can pour water out at as much as 300 mph. However, Bell has displayed similar speed feats, so it'd be hard pressed for him to be overwhelmed, and Escape can help him evade anything lethal if he really needed to haul out of the way.

Skill: This one is also tricky. Goblin Slayer is the better expert... at killing goblins. He is much less skilled at fighting anything else if they're not killed within the first few strikes. Bell meanwhile has passive skills that let him far exceed the skills of most of the people he fights, letting him outpace more skillful combatants, if needing help or thinking creatively to win.

Experience: With the exception of humans and ogres here and there, Goblin Slayer has been slaying as his name suggests; goblins. Bell has effectively fought against the majority of your classic mythical and medieval monsters, along with humans with greater martial or magical prowess, giving him clear experience.

Powers: Goblin Slayer has the wider arsenal of bombs, various blades, a bow and his gate scroll, he's more adept at using them for guerrilla fighting and ambush tactics. Bell meanwhile has the power needed to blast through Goblin Slayer's cheap armor, and had the skills needed to force Goblin Slayer into a real fight, which he's not good at if he doesn't have the clear advantage.

The winner is Bell Cranel

Chapter Text

Link (Composite)

Backstory:

The simplest way to describe Link is that he's an everyman peasant boy who discovers he is The Chosen One, a hero preordained by the gods to save the kingdom of Hyrule (and frequently, its Princess) from the forces of evil. This quest usually involves him proving himself worthy of a Master Sword and using it to save a group of Barrier Maidens and/or securing a few artifacts.

As one would expect of the Hero of Hyrule he tends to be virtuous, selfless, and determined. Along with Zelda and Ganondorf, Link is one of the predesignated three wielders of the pieces of the Triforce, the Triforce of Courage, and he is often associated with the goddess Farore, who among other domains created the forest and the wind. Link's connection with the Triforce of Courage is due to his Heroic Spirit that has allowed his various incarnations to overcome innumerable dangers to save Hyrule no matter how badly the odds are stacked against him.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Unconventional Immortality (Type 4; Link's spirit is constantly reborn into new incarnations to face any threats to Hyrule,

Enhanced Senses (All Hylians have heightened senses),

Power Nullification (Of dark magic with the Master Sword),

Surface Scaling (Is a very good climber, and can naturally climb walls and trees, however, Link is still affected by gravity and falls when losing stamina),

Vehicular Mastery (Is proficient at riding on Horses, Deer, Bears, and Motorbikes),

Acrobatics (Does multiple flips and acrobatics when avoiding or using attacks),

Stealth Mastery (Can sneak up on enemies without them noticing),

Perception Manipulation (He can slow down his perception of time),

Attack Reflection (Reflected a Guardian's laser with a pot lid),

Techniques:

Daruk's Protection: Creates a glowing barrier around himself that allows him to protect himself against three attacks, no matter how powerful they are. Can reflect Guardian lasers.

Urbosa's Fury: Summons thunderbolts from the sky to cause heavy damage to foes.

Mipha's Grace: Revives himself when he loses all his Hearts. Refills all his Hearts and gives him five Bonus Hearts.

Revali's Gale: Summons a vertical wind shaft and uses it to fly upwards with his Paraglider.

Flurry Rush: After dodging an attack with the right timing, Link will speed up dramatically and launch a swift barrage of attacks at his opponent.

Bullet Time: Upon drawing his bow in air, Link's surroundings slow down in front of him, which allows him to fit in a far greater number of, and far more precise, arrow shots.

Equipment:

Master Sword,

Hylian Shield

Boomerang,

Bow and Arrow (Fire, ice, electric, light and ancient arrows),

Elemental Rods,

The Four Swords,

Titans Mitts (Lift over 10,000 tons of stone),

Ocarina of Time (Summon storms, teleport to locations, travel through time),

Sheikah Slate (Set remote bombs, move objects magnetically, and stop time. And it can summon his Master Cycle Zero.),

Hookshot,

Magic cape (Invisibility)

Pegasus Boots,

Paraglider (For gliding)

Mipha's Grace,

Fierce Deity Mask,

Triforce of Courage

Weaknesses: Has a limited pool of magic, but can recover with potions.
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Marth

Backstory:

Hundreds of years had passed since Medeus was slain in Archanea. Once Medeus is resurrected, he rebuilds his land of Dolhr, ready to invade Archanea once again. After an attack from Dolhr, Marth is forced into exile in the island nation of Talys and home of his childhood friend, the princess Caeda. His father, Cornelius, is killed due to a betrayal by his ally Jiol, the King of Gra; the sword Falchion is taken by Gharnef, and Marth's elder sister Elice is taken hostage. With the help of the Altean knight Jagen, Caeda, Aurelian commander Hardin, Red Dragon Princess Minerva, and others, Marth embarks on a quest to defeat Medeus, reclaim the kingdom of Altea, and rescue his sister.

Marth meets Nyna, the princess of Archanea — the most prominent kingdom — who gives him her country's national treasure, the Fire Emblem. After Gharnef is defeated by one of Marth's allies, Marth obtains Falchion which he uses to defeat Medeus. Afterwards, he proposes to Caeda.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Swordsman,

Extrasensory Perception,

Non-physical interaction (Can see, attack, and kill ghosts),

Accelerated Development (Training/Leveling: Abilities, due to having Naga Holy Blood, can learn Light Magic at a heightened rate),

Electricity Manipulation with Levin Sword,

Regeneration (Low-Mid. The Lifesphere passively heals Marth, and healing is capable of mending stab wounds through the torso),

Earth Manipulation with Geosphere,

Statistics Amplification with Starsphere,

Resistance to Mind Manipulation with Lightsphere (Lightsphere cancels out Darksphere)

All Previous plus Sealing (Shield of Seals can seal several Earth Dragons simultaneously),

Passive Mind Manipulation (Contains the Darksphere which can passively possess the mind to negate attacks),

And can dispel illusions (Was able to see through Gharnef's illusions),

Immortality Negation (Type 8. The Shield of Seals can prevent Medeus from resurrecting)

All previous plus Healing (Can heal himself with Falchion), and effective against Dragons

Weaknesses: None notable
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Song: Heroes of Legends

Marth, the venerable Hero-King of Altea, ventured through the kingdom on horseback, his royal presence commanding attention as he approached the scene of reported trouble. He had been notified of an individual causing a disturbance on his figurative doorstep, and the royal guard had been struggling to apprehend them. Determined to settle the matter personally, Marth rode towards the source of the disruption, his regal bearing conveying a sense of authority and purpose.

As Marth drew nearer, his gaze rested upon the young adventurer, whom he failed to recognize at first glance. It was Link, the Hero of Hyrule, on one of his endeavors beyond the borders of his home kingdom. As Link diligently cut grass and smashed pottery in search of valuable currency or loot, the spectators around him watched in a mix of awe and annoyance, their confusion and irritation mounting with each smashed pot.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

Marth's authoritative voice rang out, cutting through the commotion. He dismounted from his horse with a flourish.

"I don't take kindly to vandalism in my town. Either come peacefully or face dire consequences."

The surrounding townsfolk watched the unfolding scene with a mix of curiosity and apprehension, awaiting how the Hero of Hyrule would respond. As Link turned towards Marth, hindered by his muteness, their communication was limited. Undeterred, however, the courageous hero swiftly unsheathed his Master Sword and readied his Hylian Shield in the other hand, preparing for the confrontation. The townsfolk around them watched with tension, wondering how Marth would respond to the unexpected challenge from the renowned Hero of Hyrule.

Marth, recognizing Link's intent, announced firmly, "Alright, the hard way then. Everyone, stand back." He unsheathed his formidable Falchion, the honed blade glinting in the light. The two legendary heroes began to circle each other cautiously, their movements filled with anticipation and determination. The crowd that had gathered around them heeded the Hero-King's command, hastily retreating to a safer distance to witness the impending clash of these legendary swords.

Marth, driven by his unwavering resolve, made the first move, charging towards Link and leapt to strike. Link swiftly raised his shield, intercepting the attack with practiced ease. The collision of the Falchion against the Hylian Shield produced a resounding 'clang' that resonated through the air, signaling the beginning of the thrilling duel between two masters of their craft.

Link deftly pushed Marth back with his shield, launching into a series of powerful and agile slashes that displayed his exceptional swordsmanship. Marth, displaying equal mastery of the blade, met each strike with grace and strength, parrying and countering them with the finesse that came with his experience and training. The clash of blades formed a symphony of steel, each metallic collision punctuating the air with a resounding 'clang'.

Link held his Master Sword aloft, the blade radiating with a charged energy, and executed a powerful, full circle swing. Marth, determined to withstand the onslaught, raised his Falchion to block the impact. The force of the collision sent Marth back, his feet skidding across the ground, but the Hero-King held his ground with remarkable poise and fortitude, refusing to yield to the Hero of Hyrule's intimidating display.

Marth, determined to make a statement, stepped forward and launched into a series of precise stabs with his Falchion, quickly followed by a flurry of sharp slashes. He culminated his onslaught with a mighty thrust that sent Link stumbling back with great force. Despite Link's valiant efforts to block the blows using his sturdy Hylian Shield, the sheer power and finesse behind Marth's advances still caused the hero to grit his teeth and groan under the pressure, straining under the intensity of the Hero-King's martial prowess.

In a swift move, Link unleashed the power of his Master Sword, launching a quick light projectile towards Marth. Quick to react, Marth displayed remarkable agility by jumping over the oncoming attack, closing the distance between them. Not wasting a beat, Link hurled his trusty boomerang into the air, seamlessly resuming his defense against Marth's formidable Falchion with his sturdy Hylian Shield.

Growing impatient with Link's unrelenting defense, Marth cleverly devised a strategic counterstrike. The Hero-King swiftly aimed a low, sweeping kick, successfully catching Link off guard and disrupting his equilibrium. Without hesitation, Marth swiftly followed up with a powerful kick against Link's shield, the impact propelling the Hero of Hyrule flying backwards and crashing into a nearby home's wall with a grunt. Link, still catching his breath from the impact, attempted to lift his Master Sword, but Marth swiftly disarmed him with a precise slash from his Falchion. The Hero-King stood before him, his gaze firm and determined.

"You've fought with honor and skill, fellow warrior, but this duel has reached its conclusion."

Link only smirked in response, though. Marth, his guard slightly lowered after disarming Link, suddenly felt a sting as Link's boomerang made a swift return, striking the back of his head. The unexpected impact jarred the Hero-King, causing him to momentarily stagger. He quickly regained his composure, rubbing the back of his head, a bewildered expression on his face.

Sensing an opening, Link cleverly used his hookshot to create distance between them, stealthily leaving a bomb in his place. Taking cover, Link swiftly drew his bow and launched an expertly aimed shock arrow in Marth's direction. The arrow struck true, the electrical energy surging through the Hero-King, successfully stunning him and causing him to convulse involuntarily.

Marth, caught off guard by the explosion, was hurled back by the force, his form briefly obscured by a cloud of dust and debris. However, the Hero-King steeled his resolve and swiftly shook off the impact, regaining his bearings and launching back into the fray with renewed vigor. He immediately pressed the offensive, raining a flurry of attacks on Link.

Link, caught completely off guard by Marth's prompt recovery from the explosion, struggled to react in time. However, the Hero of Hyrule quickly rallied, parrying the initial attack with his trusty Hylian Shield, then swiftly blocking the subsequent blow with remarkable dexterity with his Four Swords blade. The clash of blades echoed through the air, a testament to the warriors' unyielding tenacity.

Marth's eyes widened in surprise as Link, now armed with the Four Swords, swiftly separated into four distinct counterparts, each sporting a unique attire of green, blue, red, and purple. Confronted by the sudden surge of combatants, Marth leaped backwards, his Falchion dancing through the air to fend off the multiple copies of the Hero of Hyrule. The Hero-King's expression turned one of astonishment and slight disbelief, as he struggled to contain the unexpected onslaught.

Recognizing the uphill battle, Marth made a resolute decision to level the playing field. He swiftly withdrew his renowned Mercurius sword, gripping it tightly in his free hand. While not particularly skilled in dual-wielding, Marth's weapons' unique abilities offered a vital advantage - his swords restoring his health passively and amplifying his physical capabilities, granting him the means to withstand the onslaught of the four clones.

Recognizing the need for evasion, Link swiftly exchanged his Four Swords, causing his clones to dissolve away. With remarkable speed, he donned his magical cape, rendering himself invisible and intangible, skillfully avoiding Marth's relentless onslaught entirely. This clever maneuver allowed Link to evade Marth's relentless onslaught effortlessly, becoming ephemeral and imperceivable to the Hero-King's senses.

Marth, now on high alert, swiftly surveyed his surroundings with a mixture of concern and perplexity, keenly searching for any signs of the elusive Hero of Hyrule. It was then, amid the confusion, that the unmistakable sound of an ocarina began to reverberate in the air, its melody carrying an otherworldly echo. The Hero-King, perplexed, struggled to pinpoint the origin of the instrument, his gaze shifting warily in search of the source of the mysterious music.

The once calm skies darkened rapidly, swiftly morphing into a raging storm, as Link skillfully played the Song of Storms on his ocarina. With dramatic flair, he unveiled himself from the cloak of invisibility, standing proudly amidst the tumultuous weather his melody had invoked. The downpour intensified, the rain droplets cascading around the valiant hero, adding an epic backdrop to the ongoing battle.

Marth, pivoting on his heel, witnessed Link raising his Master Sword and invoking Urbosa's Fury, summoning forth a cascading shower of lightning bolts. However, Marth's quick reflexes allowed him to nimbly sidestep the bolts, skillfully weaving through the torrent. The Hero-King's eyes widened with surprise, as the bolts struck the Master Sword instead, infusing it with a surge of power. Reacting swiftly, Marth raced towards Link, seeking to capitalize on this unexpected turn of events.

Bracing for the intense clash, Link channeled his power into a Skyward Strike, infusing it with the potent forces of electricity. However, Marth, true to form, fearlessly confronted the assault, slicing cleanly through the energy with a determined cry. Sensing the imminent impact, Link swiftly manifested Daruk's Protection, enveloping himself in a shield of impenetrable defense. In a seamless display of speed, the shield absorbed Marth's subsequent assault, protecting Link from the full brunt of the Hero-King's attack.

Recognizing the necessity for a strategic retreat, Link swiftly invoked Revali's Gale, summoning an upward draft of wind and skillfully capturing it with his paraglider. Yet, Marth's unyielding spirit would not allow him to let his adversary escape. The Hero-King, with remarkable dexterity, sheathed his spare blade and sprang into the air, grasping hold of Link's leg mid-flight. As Marth struck once more, his attack collided against the shield, the impact further straining the barrier's defenses.

In a desperate situation, the paraglider, overtaxed by the combined weight of two warriors, suddenly shattered, sending both Link and Marth plummeting towards the unforgiving ground below. As they hurtled toward the earth, Marth continued his relentless onslaught, striking the barrier with undiminished determination. The impact of his attack, coupled with the stress already inflicted by previous clashes, eventually overpowered Daruk's Protection, breaking through the defensive shield's limited endurance.

In a chaotic whirlwind of clashing blades, fists flailing in a desperate struggle, Link and Marth's descent toward the ground turned into a fierce melee in mid-air. As they made contact with the hard earth, their impact sent a cloud of dust and debris billowing skyward, their bodies temporarily obscured in the turbulent aftermath. The battle had reached its climax, leaving the ultimate outcome uncertain as the dust slowly settled around the fallen warriors.

As the dust slowly began to settle, all eyes were fixed with bated breath, awaiting the outcome of this legendary duel. To the spectators' astonishment, Marth emerged victorious, standing tall with his Falchion in hand, its blade drenched in blood. A look of solemnity crossed Marth's face, and he approached Link's fallen form with a hint of remorse.

"My apologies." The Hero-King softly spoke, his words carrying a heartfelt sincerity. Without hesitation, Marth stepped away from Link's motionless body, the weight of his victory heavy upon his shoulders. The celebration of Marth's supposed victory was cut short by an uncanny, ethereal voice that suddenly reverberated through the air.

"Now is your chance." Echoed the voice, offering a glimmer of hope. To everyone's astonishment, Link, enveloped in a blue aura of Mipha's Grace, miraculously rose from his fallen state. He seized the opportunity, donning his fearsome Fierce Deity Mask, unleashing the magical transformation that consumed him.

Marth, struck by a newfound sense of awe and apprehension, backed away cautiously, his eyes widening at the sight of the colossal warrior before him. Link, now transformed into a towering juggernaut by the power of the Fierce Deity Mask, stood confidently with his double helix-shaped sword in hand, his expression unreadable behind the fearsome mask.

Marth, filled with unwavering determination, charged forth with a defiant cry, displaying a remarkable display of resilience and strength as he stood his ground against the formidable foe. Despite being significantly smaller in stature compared to the colossal Link, Marth's courage and agility allowed him to hold his own against the fearsome warrior's rapid, albeit cumbersome, attacks. The clash between the diminutive Hero-King and the massive Fierce Deity Link filled the air with an epic intensity.

In a heart-pounding finale, the two warriors found themselves locked in a tense blade lock. Marth, facing the immense downward force of Link's colossal blow, stood steadfast, his feet firmly planted as he fiercely blocked the strike. Refusing to yield, Marth channeled the power of his sacred Falchion, imbuing it with a radiant glow reflecting his indomitable spirit. With a single, resolute motion, Marth sliced through the double helix-shaped sword, severing it in two.

With Link caught off guard by the double helix weapon's sudden destruction, he found himself unable to react in time to Marth's quick pounce. The Hero-King leaped up, using Link's knee as a foothold, and successfully sliced through the fearsome Fierce Deity Mask, shattering it into pieces. The fractured mask clattered to the ground as Link reverted to his normal form, dropping onto his front, the weight of defeat evident in his exhausted pose.

Gathering the remnants of his strength, Marth surged forward, his eyes fixed on delivering the final strike to conclude the fierce battle. However, just as he sprung into the air, poised to land his ultimate blow, he found himself ensnared by a web of golden energy chains, abruptly halting his momentum. Immobilized in mid-air, Marth was caught completely off guard by this unexpected intervention. Link, with desperate resolve, had used his Sheikah Slate to cast a spell, freezing the Hero-King in place.

Gaining newfound strength and resolve, the Hero of Hyrule, panting heavily, forced himself back onto his feet. Summoning every ounce of his remaining energy, Link charged forward, leaping high into the air and slashing forcefully at Marth with the Master Sword. Though not a fatal blow, it dealt significant damage to the Hero-King. When the spell restraining him wore off, Marth collapsed onto the ground, utterly defeated. Link, standing victorious, surveyed the aftermath of this intense, epic clash.

With a respectful nod of acknowledgment, Link turned and limped away, leaving the arena behind while the townsfolk rushed to Marth's side. They surrounded the fallen Hero-King, their faces filled with a mix of shock and disbelief over the outcome of the battle. Yet, among the stunned expressions, a sense of relief spread through the crowd as they realized that Marth had survived the epic confrontation.
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Strength: Okay, so here's where things get tricky. In terms of just their physical strength, both are about roughly the same in superhuman feats, though Link having Golden or Titan mitts does give him the advantage of withstanding the pressure of lifting 10,000 tons does give him a higher advantage, but that doesn't mean he's stronger in every situation. Just better at withstanding lifting pressure. Link's best durability feat was when the moon landed in Termina, a catastrophe that would result in an explosion of 67.55 Exatons. But heroes like Marth, Alm, Chrom and all the Falchion sword users are known to harm dragons with stellar level feats. Approximately, with the Falchion, Marth is 4.25 Undecillion times stronger than Link with the Master Sword. Not even the Master Sword could likely survive the blow if it came to a full on clash, and only the Hylian Shield could survive such a thing. Even if its full capabilities couldn't be brought out since Link isn't a dragon, even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction would still overwhelm him.

Speed: However, he'd be hard pressed to actually land any meaningful blows. Link has dodged beams of light at 10% the speed of light, or Mach 87,410 Marth has only reacted to bolts of lightning, as high as Mach 223. This makes Link 391X faster.

Skill: I'd say that Link is more overall skilled. While both are masters on the battlefield, Link is more adept at adapting to the situation, and figuring out ways to opponents that are stronger than him.

Experience: While Marth does have more experience than any singular Link time wise, Link has fought against way more than what Marth has fought before. Land, air and water based creatures and machines, fighters, wizards, fighter wizards, and yes, including dragons.

Powers: Marth had no chance in this. While Marth had means of recovery and magic to try and even the fight, Link had too much items to use, and too much magical abilities to let Marth win. Heck, even just the Breath of the Wild continuity would be too much.

The winner is Link of Hyrule.
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Next Time:

"I pity you. You just don't get it at all. There's not a thing I don't cherish!"

"The Force seeks balance. Always."

Chapter Text

Cloud Strife

Backstory:

Cold, unfriendly and simply focused on getting the job done, Cloud is a former 1st Class member of SOLDIER, the elite paramilitary unit of the Shinra Electric Power Company. After having quit Shinra for unknown reasons, Cloud, thanks to recommendations from an old friend, Tifa Lockhart, began working as a mercenary in the city of Migar, where he would end up working for the anti-Shinra extremist group, Avalanche, led by Barret Wallace.

After a successful mission, Cloud moved to Sector 7 where Avalanche had its headquarters and with the help with Tifa, little by little, Cloud would start taking small jobs to build up his reputation and connections as a mercenary to eventually reach greater objectives. However, after being dismissed from another job by Barret, a large amalgamation of ghostly figures suddenly attacked Avalanche's headquarters, injuring one of their members, leaving Barret with no other choice but to hire Cloud's services once again.

This, however, was just one of many episodes of something not being quite right in Cloud's world. The same entities had appeared before to him when he tried to help a florist girl, panicking in the streets of Midgar and Cloud has been experiencing strange migraines and visions of a figure of his past, the man who took his home and his family, who now appears to him to taunt him over his loss and his failures.

As Cloud moves forward, mysteries only seem to become more numerous. His own identity suddenly becomes an inconsistency, with his hardened and professional image of a warrior clashing with an insecure and awkward boy at loss at the world around him. The mysterious man called Sephiroth, the specters and himself. It was just the beginning of a long journey of revelations.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Swordsman and Skilled Marksman (is a former Shinra Infantryman),

Vehicular Mastery (of Motorcycles, as seen with Hardy-Daytona and the Fenrir in later installments),

Enhanced Awareness and Reflexes,

Acrobatics,

Energy Manipulation (can empower his attacks with his Spirit Energy when using Limit Breaks for greater power and different effects),

Energy Projection (via Blade Beam and Meteorain),

Attack Boost in the form of raw damage boost (via Limit Breaks, which are stated to reach power much greater than the usual capabilities of the user) and additional effects: Paralysis Inducement (via Cross Slash),

Homing Attack (Blade Beam scatters into smaller, weaker beams that home on remaining enemies) and Instant Death (via Finishing Touch),

Non-Physical Interaction (Able to hurt and defeat the ghost and souls of the fallen Gi Tribe),

minor Soul Manipulation (disembodied souls struck down by Cloud don't pass away but are destroyed instead. Additionally, Cloud's disembodied spirit can attack and hurt other souls) and minor Astral Projection (can send his spirit into astral planes such as the Lifestream),

Regeneration Negation (Up to Low-High, the pieces of Jenova, even cells, destroyed by the party are gone for good and can't be used for the Reunion to rebuild Jenova's body) and Immortality Negation (Types 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. Can permanently kill Jenova and her pieces, who aside from being extremely durable is able to regenerate from single cells, as well as survive as long as just her cells remain, through which she can enforce her will, even through other people injected with them. Additionally, can permanently finish off the souls and spectres of the Gi Tribe),

Resistance to Banishment (despite entering the Planet's Core within the Lifestream itself, Cloud was not taken forcefully taken from the living world. Later, his spirit followed Sephiroth's deeper into the Lifestream without being reclaimed),

Mind Manipulation and Memory Manipulation (his mind has grown strong enough to not collapse nor be eroded under the weight of the Spirit Energy of the Lifestream),

Soul Manipulation,

Soul Absorption and Empathic Manipulation (his spirit was not forcefully diffused nor reabsorbed by the Lifestream),

Biological Absorption,

Deconstruction and Matter Manipulation (his physical body wasn't absorbed nor was dissolved by the Lifestream to retake his Spirit Energy),

Corruption (Types 1 and 2, despite immense exposure to Spirit Energy, on several occasions, he never became a Makonoid. Additionally, was unaffected by Jenova's Virus despite confronting her directly),

Extreme Heat and Extreme Radiation (withstood Sephiroth's Supernova),

Mind Reading,

Perception Manipulation,

Illusion Creation,

Telekinesis and Possession (by the time of their spiritual battle, he had grown strong enough to resist Sephiroth's mental abilities and defeat him),

Power Mimicry and Power Absorption (Limit Breaks are born from the user's Spirit Energy, which shapes their mind and soul, and cannot be copied or imitated, the sole exception being Zack who is acknowledged as an unusual case, and even then creates a variant of the original move),

All previous abilities, plus: Dual Wielding, stronger Energy Manipulation and Attack Boost (his stronger Limit Breaks, with a single use, can defeat enemies who can shrug off his regular attacks),

Limited Flight and Afterimage Creation (via Omnislash Versions 5 and 6), and Self-Duplication (via Omnislash Version 6),

Regeneration Negation (up to Mid-Godly, killed Sephiroth for good, who came back despite the death of his body and destruction of his spirit, which contains the mind, consciousness, memories and self of a person. After his defeat, Sephiroth was no longer active as a separate entity from the Lifestream and his influence was gone for good, allowing Aerith to cleanse Geostigma from the city of Edge by using Great Gospel) and Immortality Negation (Types 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. When he killed Sephiroth, he also put an end to Jenova who, despite her previous physical death at the Planet's Core, lived on through her parasitic presence in the Lifestream and whose existence was described by Hojo as having already merged with the Lifestream itself to the point all souls would eventually become part of her, making the destruction of her body and spirit meaningless. Even if tainted Lifestream remained, Jenova, like Sephiroth, was no longer an active presence enforcing and spreading her will),

Resistance to Fear Manipulation (was unaffected by Advent Children Sephiroth's presence, which is terrifying enough to make Yuffie panic)

Statistics Amplification (with the Ultima Weapon, which increases Cloud's physical attack several times the closer he is to full health).

Resistance to Poison Manipulation (which also protects Cloud from Acid Manipulation),

Paralysis Inducement,

Sleep Inducement,

Blindness,

Silence Inducement,

Transmutation,

Curse Manipulation,

Power Nullification (of magical, spiritual, physical and mental abilities),

Petrification,

Size Manipulation,

Madness Manipulation,

Berserk Inducement, plus additional resistance to Empathic Manipulation (thanks to the Ribbon he wears in honor to Aerith, Cloud is protected from most Status Ailments)

Magic,

Summoning (of small meteorites via the Comet Spells),

Elemental Manipulation (of the Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wind, Earth and Gravity variety),

Healing (via the Cure spells and FullCure),

Purification (Type 3, via Poisona and Esuna) and Regeneration (Mid-Low via Regen),

Time Manipulation (via Haste, Slow and Stop),

Dimensional Banishment (via Remove)

Resistance to: Healing and Regeneration Negation (By the time of their final battle, his Healing Magic works despite Sephiroth's Nullification).

Additionally, can grant himself resistance to all the Status Ailments he can resist via equipment and Materia combinations (via Resist, though this spell prevents the user from healing negative conditions already inflicted on them), as well as to the Elemental Damage he can access through Materia and Physical Damage (of slashing, piercing, blunt force and gunfire kind, via Shield, however, the spell will prevent the user from healing themselves outside of regeneration). Several of his spells cannot be reflected by shields or barriers.

Information Analysis (via Sense),

Additionally, can attack from two to four times almost simultaneously (via 2x-Cut and 4x-Cut) or attack a wide area beyond his normal reach (via Slash-All), can cast two different Spells or Summons simultaneously (via W-Magic and W-Summon, respectively)

Attack Boost of two kinds: additional effects via Elemental Attacks of the Fire, Absolute Zero Ice, Lightning, Earth, Wind, Water, Gravity and Holy variety (via the Elemental Materia, which grants the user different attributes when linked with different Magic and Summon Materia in their weapons), and Status Effect Inducement of the Poison Manipulation, Sleep Inducement, Berserk Inducement, Limited Madness Manipulation, Petrification, Transmutation into Frogs, Size Minimization, Silence Inducement, Time Slowdown, Time Stop and Instant Death variety (via the Added Effect Materia, which allows the user to inflict several Status Ailments when linked with different Magic and Summon Materia in their weapons), and raw power boost via Magic Attack Boost (via MP Turbo),

Life Absorption (via HP Absorb) and Energy Absorption (via MP Absorb),

Instinctive Reaction of different varieties: Counterattacking (via Counter Attack or Counter, Magic Counter and Final Attack linked with certain offensive Materia),

Automatic Healing (via Magic Counter or Final Attack linked with a healing Materia, or the Life or Phoenix Materia to save the user from near death),

Automatic Follow-Up (via Added Cut) and Instinctive Initiative (via First Strike),

Enhanced Awareness and Stealth (via Pre-Emptive, which allows to sneak on and attack enemies by surpise and prevents the user from being ambushed or being caught off-guard),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1),

Enhanced Vision and Underwater Breathing (via Underwater, which lets the user survive and fight with no problem at the bottom of the ocean).

Additionally, can use the same Spell or Summon four times at once at half power (via Quadra Magic, except for Knights of the Round), can turn the single-targeting of several of Commands and Spells into an Area of Effect (via the All and Mega All Materia), regular attacks can reach a few meters beyond their actual physical reach (via the Long Range Materia).

Weaknesses: Cloud must be pressed in a battle to use his Limit Breaks, so most of the time he can't use them right away or in succession.
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Revan

Backstory:

Revan—renowned as the Revanchist, honored as the Revan, reviled as Revan the Butcher, dreaded as the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Revan, and praised as the Prodigal Knight—was a Human male who played pivotal roles as both Jedi and Sith in the Mandalorian Wars and the Jedi Civil War.

Believed to have been born in the Outer Rim Territories, the man later known as Revan was born around the year 3994 BBY and studied under a number of different Jedi Masters as a Padawan of the Jedi Order. Becoming fast friends with a fellow student named Alek, the young man became a Jedi Knight and was a vocal and charismatic critic of the Order's inactivity in the ongoing Mandalorian Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Mandalorian warrior clans. Leading the Revanchist movement in defiance of the Jedi Council's wishes and taking on the name of Revan, the Knight donned the mask of a fallen Mandalorian as he joined the Republic Military's fight and was appointed Supreme Commander.

However, when Revan defeated the Mandalorian leader Mandalore the Ultimate at the Battle of Malachor V in 3960 BBY, Revan and his friend Alek, by then known as Malak, followed the trail of a mysterious Sith influence on the Mandalorian Wars to the Unknown Regions, where the two discovered a reconstituted Sith Empire and were turned to the dark side of the Force by the Sith Emperor. Sent back to the Republic as advance agents, the newly anointed Dark Lords of the Sith Darth Revan and Darth Malak broke free of the Emperor's mental control and established their own empire with the Star Forge, an ancient space station of great power that had been built by the Rakata species. Taking Malak as his Sith apprentice and using the Star Forge to construct a military fleet and weapons, Revan waged war against the Republic in the resultant Jedi Civil War. However, Revan was betrayed by Malak and was captured by the Jedi Knight Bastila Shan, who saved Revan and formed a Force bond with her captive.

With his mind wiped, Revan was given a new identity as a Republic soldier by the Jedi Council and stationed aboard the Republic warship Endar Spire. However, when Malak attacked the Spire above the planet Taris in a failed attempt to capture Shan, Revan joined forces with the Republic officer Carth Onasi and a number of other individuals on Taris to locate Shan and escape the world before Malak destroyed the planet's surface. Revan and his friends traveled to the planet Dantooine's Jedi Enclave, where he was retrained as a Jedi Padawan. Sent on a mission to locate the Star Maps, Rakatan artifacts that would lead the way to the Star Forge, Revan gained new allies and grew close with Shan during their travels. However, when the group was captured by Malak, Revan's true identity was revealed and Shan was captured, forcing him and his crew to find the final Map and locate the Star Forge on their own. Aboard the Star Forge, Revan brought a fallen Shan back to the light side of the Force with his love and defeated Malak, earning the Cross of Glory and the title of Prodigal Knight.

Revan married Shan and sank into obscurity for several years until his resurfacing memories led him to leave his wife and unborn child behind in a search for answers in the Unknown Regions. Captured by the Sith, he was imprisoned for three years until a former lieutenant of his named Meetra Surik rescued him with the help of the Sith Lord Scourge. The trio's attempt to eliminate the Sith Emperor failed, and Revan was held captive by the Emperor for three hundred years until he was finally freed by Republic forces. Taking control of the Rakatan Foundry, Revan attempted to construct an army of extermination droids to destroy the Empire, but the Jedi Master died when he was defeated by an Imperial strike team.

However, the torture that he experienced at the hands of the Emperor had splintered Revan's mind, and while part of him attempted to become one with the Force, the rest rejected death and clung to life, embracing the dark side. Taking control of the fanatical Order of Revan, he sought to destroy the Sith Emperor once and for all by bringing the Sith ruler back to a physical form and killing him, but both the Empire and the Republic joined together in an effort to stop him. Revan's light side was unable to pass on and aided the coalition in defeating the dark Revan, and although the Emperor was able to regain his strength, the two halves of Revan merged and were able to die a final death. Revan's spirit went on to aid the heroes of the galaxy in defeating the Sith Emperor once and for all, and with his task completed, he became one with the Force. His legacy, however, would live on: the Sith Lord Darth Rivan, who lived during the thousand-year-conflict known as the New Sith Wars, chose his Sith name after reading a damaged manuscript about Revan, and the Sith Lord Darth Bane discovered Revan's Sith holocron on the planet Lehon and used Revan's teachings to develop the Rule of Two philosophy.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Precognition,

Force-enhanced reflexes/reactions,

Teleportation,

Telepathy,

Psychometry,

Telekinesis,

Clairvoyance,

Illusion Creation,

telekinetic blasts and shields,

Aura sensing,

Mind and Memory Manipulation (Has ripped from and implanted an entire language into the remnants of the Rakatan species to communicate with them),

Regeneration (Mid-Low via Force Healing),

Weapon Mastery (Highly skilled in lightsaber combat and with regular swords and blasters),

Martial Arts knowledge,

Energy Manipulation (Can reflect, redirect, and absorb energy attacks thrown at him),

Absorption via Force Drain,

Electricity Manipulation via Force Lightning,

Matter Manipulation on a subatomic scale (Creating a Holocron requires one to make numerous precision alterations to it on a subatomic scale), capable of using both the Dark and Light Sides of the Force, predicting attacks through muscle memory, extremely skilled military leader (Conquered most of the galaxy less than two full years after defeating the Neo-Mandalorian Crusaders).

Weaknesses: Driven insane after 300 years of combating Vitiate's mental assault and power draining.
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Song: Forces of Fantasy

Revan, the enigmatic knight known as the Prodigal, traversed through the forest, sensing a spiritual presence nearby. The Force, however, was unrecognizable from this energy, replaced by a different yet eerily familiar power. As this sensation piqued Revan's curiosity, it fueled his determination to unravel its nature.

Revan entered a quiet, circular clearing and stumbled upon an unusual sight. There, in the midst of the tranquil surroundings, a warrior trained meticulously with an exceptionally large metallic sword. Fascinated by the sight, Revan observed him closely, completely unaware that he had encountered the ex-SOLDIER, Cloud Strife, practicing with his formidable fusion sword.

As Cloud caught sight of Revan, he abruptly halted his training, his expression turning guarded. Planting his sword firmly in the ground as a symbol of his irritation, Cloud addressed Revan, his tone harboring a hint of annoyance.

"What do you want?"

He inquired, his gaze fixated on the stranger who disturbed his solitude. Revan spoke with cold awe, his voice carrying a subdued hint of admiration.

"Your energy is strong, undeniable. I am curious to test the limits of your strength."

Revan ignited his lightsaber, the red plasma blade casting a sinister glow in the dim light.

"Prepare to engage."

The Prodigal Knight declared, his mask illuminated by the red blade. As Revan ignited his lightsaber, the crimson blade illuminating his mask in the dim surroundings, Cloud responded in kind by drawing his own sword. The fusion sword, its blade glowing with an otherworldly aura, stood ready in his hands. Cloud warned,

"You're in for a disappointment if you're looking for an easy fight. I'll give you the challenge you crave. Let's see who's really powerful here."

Cloud, resolute, began closing the distance between himself and Revan. With unyielding determination, he stood before the mysterious warrior. As Cloud approached, Revan summoned his own powers through the Force, levitating boulders and trees from the area. With calculated intent, Revan hurled the objects in succession toward Cloud, each attack carrying substantial force. Undeterred, Cloud demonstrated his battle prowess, swiftly slicing through the trees and effortlessly dispatching the boulders. Without pausing, he continued his approach, unaffected by the onslaught.

Quick as lightning, Cloud leapt forward and swung his fusion sword downward at Revan. With a skilled movement, Revan swiftly parried the strike aside, their blades clashing in a fiery embrace. Though Revan's crimson blade radiated intense heat, Cloud's fusion sword, imbued with his indomitable fighting spirit, remained unscathed. The clash of their swords sent sparks flying, igniting the air in a display of their immense power.

Cloud, fueled by the determination burning within him, relentlessly attacked Revan with unwavering force behind each strike. The sheer power of his attacks pressed Revan, forcing him to dig deep for his own reserves of strength to withstand the onslaught. Despite the colossal size of the fusion sword, Revan managed to hold his ground against the barrage, refusing to bow even an inch. With each clash, the duo engaged in a fierce duel, their swords colliding with a resounding 'Kksssshhhh!'

In the midst of their intense duel, Cloud seized an opportunity and landed a powerful punch to Revan's helmet, momentarily stunning the Dark Lord. However, Revan, undeterred by the blow, swiftly regained his composure and retaliated with a quick, calculated move. Seizing momentum, Revan spun around and delivered a fierce kick to Cloud's head, swiftly turning the tables amidst the ongoing conflict.

Cloud, shrugging off the sting from Revan's well-placed kick, continued his relentless offensive. Pushed slightly back, Revan found himself taking a few steps backward, forced on the defensive. But rather than falter, Revan met each blow head-on, his determination matching Cloud's in the ongoing duel.

Cloud wielded his heavy fusion sword, delivering a forceful overhead strike that pushed Revan down to one knee, the pressure building with each hit, Revan struggling to hold his ground. Sensing a critical moment, Revan seized an opportunity to counterattack. Utilizing the Force, the Prodigal Knight targeted a massive tree nearby, crushing its base. With a swift movement, Revan used the distraction to slip away, hoping that the tree would crash down on Cloud.

Cloud's senses suddenly alerted him to the tree's impending collapse from behind. He reacted with exceptional reflexes, quickly pivoting to perform a powerful overhead strike that cleaved the tree in half. The two halves came crashing down beside him, but Cloud stood unfazed, unharmed and ready for the ongoing battle.

"Nice try."

Cloud replied, a hint of sarcastic respect in his voice for Revan's strategic thinking. Looking to gain the upper hand, Revan executed a daring acrobatic leap, attempting to pass over Cloud and strike from above. However, his move was swiftly countered as Cloud intercepted him with a well-timed block. Changing tactics, Revan sought to incapacitate Cloud by targeting his knees, but the agile Cloud adeptly dodged the maneuver with a quick jump, retaliating with a forceful kick to Revan's helmet, knocking him back.

Revan grunted as he stumbled to a halt, having narrowly evaded Cloud's attack. However, before he could recover, Cloud leaped forward, aiming to land another blow from above. Anticipating the strike, Revan executed a swift roll, managing to slip under Cloud's leap. Seizing the moment, Revan made to counterattack, but before he could react, Cloud swiftly disarmed him, leaving Revan weaponless.

Cloud, intent on delivering a decisive strike, brought his fusion sword down in a powerful downward motion, aiming to bifurcate Revan. However, Revan, acting quickly, raised his empty hands and exerted his power through the Force, effectively arresting the descent of Cloud's sword. Though Revan struggled against the immense pressure of the blade, he managed to keep it at bay, separated from his hands by a mere half-inch of distance.

Caught off guard by Revan's counterattack, Cloud was abruptly hurled backward by a jolt of intense Force lightning, the electrical energy crackling around him. Although Cloud's armor, fortified with the Lightning Materia, offered some resistance, the shock still left him immobilized by the uncomfortable pain. Reeling from the abrupt onslaught, Cloud struggled to react, caught in the incapacitating grip of the electrical surge.

As Revan called his lightsaber back into his grasp, igniting the crimson blade once more, he reached out with the Force to pull Cloud towards him. With a swift and calculated movement, Revan prepared to strike, aiming to inflict a fatal or incapacitating blow on his immobilized foe.

Even under the debilitating effects of the Force lightning, Cloud managed to exhibit a remarkable level of control over his body. Sensing the dire situation, he managed to contort himself slightly out of the lightsaber's path, feeling the intense heat across his chest and face as the blade swept past. With a surge of determination, Cloud mustered the strength to barrel into Revan's chest, his armored shoulder colliding forcefully with the dark warrior's chest.

Both Revan and Cloud stumbled and groaned as they came to a halt on the ground, their breath coming in short gasps. After a momentary pause, Cloud managed to rise first, leaning on his fusion sword for support, while Revan followed suit. The intensity of their battle had taken its toll, leaving them momentarily winded, yet still ready to continue the fiercely competitive clash.

Keenly sensing the imminent threat, Revan executed a nimble back somersault, narrowly evading Cloud's low sword swipe. However, the onslaught continued as Cloud unleashed a relentless barrage of side cuts, forcing Revan to keep backing up. With a well-timed kick, Cloud swiftly following it up with a Limit Break that unleashed a powerful beam slash, propelling Revan forcefully backward through the air and crashing him through a nearby tree.

In spite of the pain and discomfort, Revan gritted his teeth and rallied, making a determined effort to rise and face Cloud's unrelenting attacks once more. As Cloud pressed forward with forceful overheads and wide cross cuts, Revan stood steadfast, meeting each strike defensively, parrying and blocking each blow as he fought to regain his composure.

Realizing the necessity of a strategic shift, Revan adopted a more deceptive approach. Utilizing feints and clever misdirection, he carefully waited for an opportune moment, biding his time patiently while studying Cloud's patterns and reactions.

Seizing the moment, Revan spotted an opening and acted decisively. Unleashing a powerful kick, he delivered a forceful blow to Cloud's chest, propelling him backward through the air. Cloud, demonstrating his exceptional agility, executed a nimble backflip, landing gracefully on his feet and sliding across the ground with his free hand. Though he had absorbed the brunt of the impact, Cloud remained undeterred, ready to continue the fierce exchange.

Revan, adapting his approach, reached for his belt and drew a second lightsaber. Igniting the lightsaber brought forth a shorter, vivid purple blade, signaling a shift in tactics. Grasping a massive rock with the Force, Revan hurled it at Cloud, charging forward with a leap, his dual blades ready for action.

Cloud, his precision and skill on full display, effortlessly sliced through the hurled rock, seamlessly transitioning to defend against Revan's dual blades. However, Revan pressed on, attempting to maneuver Cloud's fusion sword to gain an advantage. In an attempt to counter, Cloud grasped Revan's neck and forcefully slammed him into a nearby boulder, momentarily gaining the upper hand in the ongoing struggle.

Revan, seeking to create a moment of respite, struck the side of his main lightsaber against Cloud's temple, momentarily disorienting the ex-SOLDIER. With a quick follow-up movement, Revan delivered a firm strike to Cloud's nose with the other end of his saber, causing a brief moment of pain and frustration. Quickly capitalizing on the opportunity, Revan attempted a pincer slash across Cloud's sides, yet Cloud remained undeterred, swiftly backing away and parrying the attack with a powerful upward cut, deflecting the dual sabers with a calculated precision.

Revan, seizing a moment of opportunity, forcefully extended his arms, unleashing a powerful push through the air and propelling Cloud backward, causing him to crash into the side of a nearby cliff face. Though Cloud emitted a pained grunt upon impact, he remained largely unshaken, quickly recovering and preparing to continue the fray. Cloud, his expression hardening, made his irritation clear as he voiced his frustration.

"I'm getting tired of being pushed around,"

He stated matter-of-factly. With determined resolve, he commenced walking toward Revan, undeterred by the Dark Lord's efforts to restrain him using the Force. Revan, caught off guard by Cloud's resilience, swiftly stored away his lightsabers to redirect all his attention and focus towards pushing the former SOLDIER back. Though Cloud was briefly halted by the intensified pressure, his surroundings getting disrupted by the maneuver, he quickly shook it off and continued his steady approach, seemingly undeterred by Revan's attempts to impede his progress. Revan, astonished by the strength and determination displayed by Cloud, gasped out in disbelief.

"Impossible,"

He muttered under his breath. In all his experience, Revan had never encountered a non-Force sensitive individual who possessed the sheer power and resolute will to resist the Force with such raw physical might.

Revan, determined to gain the upper hand, unleashed a crackling jolt of Force lightning, aiming to incapacitate Cloud once more. However, Cloud acted swiftly, thrusting his fusion sword into the ground just as the lightning reached him, effectively grounding it and neutralizing its effects. Revan, in a last-ditch attempt to end the fight quickly, lunged forward with lightsabers drawn, aiming to blitz Cloud and catch him off guard. However, Cloud swiftly activated a Materia and commanded,

"Stop." The Time Materia took effect, seizing control of the situation and trapping Revan in a frozen time bubble while leaving Cloud unaffected. Cloud, determined to conclude the conflict with a decisive move, separated his fusion sword into its distinct pieces and hurled them into the air, preparing to unleash a powerful Limit Break. With a determined expression, he gathered his strength to execute the devastating Omnislash, unleashing a flurry of lightning-fast strikes upon Revan.

Cloud, executing a powerful kick and launching Revan into the air, followed up by leaping upward and unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks from multiple directions, each strike too quick for Revan to react. As Cloud continued his onslaught, he finally concluded the final blow, slicing through Revan and destroying him. The defeated warrior's body fell in numerous pieces, signaling the end of the fierce duel. Cloud, with a nonchalant shrug, proclaimed,

"Nothin' to it," as he casually twirled his sword before resting it on his shoulder. The scattered pieces of his fusion sword lay strewn about him, and he crouched down to collect the now-masterless lightsabers. He mused aloud,

"I bet Yuffie would love these."

Cloud knew all too well about Yuffie's penchant for anything distinctly unique, her curiosity often getting the better of her with her insatiable desire to explore and possess unusual treasures.

With the dual lightsabers safely stored away, Cloud seamlessly reassembled his fusion sword back into its original form, ready for the journey ahead. As he prepared to depart, the ex-soldier made the decision to head back to Sector 7 in Midgar to reunite with his trusted companions. It was time to reunite with his friends and allies, to share tales of his victory and to catch up on the latest happenings within their close-knit circle.
—————————————————————————————
Strength: Despite Revan being one of the best Force users of the overall Old Republic era, Cloud Strife was on another league. It's difficult to say how powerful he was aside from scaling to other characters around him, but even if we say he's as strong as Darth Vader, who wielded the Force up to 12 septillion TONS of TNT(24 zeroes), enough to blow up a large planet, Cloud is able to survive blows and harm those on the level of supernovas, which is about, at minimum, 350 septillion GIGATONS of TNT(33 zeroes). That's 29.16 billion times more powerful than Revan, or anyone who can use the Force, can do.

Speed: Not to mention, Revan is much slower than Cloud. Force users can react to light, and battle precognition can certainly let them know ahead of time of anything an opponent can pull off, but Cloud can keep up with Bahamut Fury, who can fly around 1,200X light speed.

Skill: Now in terms of pure skill, Revan is the better battle tactician. Whereas Cloud prefers to steamroll his opponents with power and speed, Revan rarely attacked so straightforwardly. He's the more versatile in how to approach a target, using unorthodox and surprise tactics to defeat his enemies. While Cloud isn't an idiot at tactics, he's more of a hammer while Revan is a surgical knife.

Experience: Revan is technically more experienced in that he's been learning and fighting practically all his life into his mid forties before his 300 year nap, while Cloud more has around ten years of training and combat experience, both should be equal in the types of enemies they've fought, human and monster wise. If I'm being honest though, Revan feels like a low-rent Sephiroth if I have to compare characters.

Powers: While the Force is a powerful and versatile tool, Revan has to concentrate on mainly one ability at a time, and it's mainly physical enhancement, telekinesis, Force lightning and Force drain, Cloud not only has resistances to all of that, but he has more abilities than those, like half a dozen more elemental damage, active and passing healing, revival upon death, dimensional banishment and time manipulation. And that's just the more well known abilities.

The winner is Cloud Strife
—————————————
Next time:

"I am vengeance. I am the night. I am Batman!"

"I'm a ghost now... a spectre of the moon... the Moon's knight of vengeance-and I've got work to do."

Chapter Text

Batman

Backstory:

Bruce Wayne was the son of wealthy philanthropists Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane-Wayne and seemed destined for a life of idle decadence and opulence among the elite of the crime-ridden streets of Gotham City.

But his life was irrevocably changed when his parents were murdered by a common thug while walking home. Mentally scarred by the loss, Bruce used his family's wealth to travel the world and acquire the skills, training, and technology he needed to begin his one-man war on the crime of Gotham City.

Adopting the terrifying visage of a bat, Bruce became Batman, a caped vigilante who crusades against the scum and filth of his home city's underworld. After becoming a founding member of the Justice League, Batman quickly became known as one of the most feared individuals in the DC Universe, holding his own against superpowered criminals, monsters, and gods to protect the innocent from those who would do them harm.

Powers and Abilities:

Genius Intelligence,

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts,

Stealth Mastery (Regularly disappears on members of the league, even those with senses as powerful as Superman. Can disappear even when people are looking at him. Can disguise himself as people of different ethnicities or age ranges, regularly bypasses Oracle's security, which uses air pressure change detection and state of the art systems. Superman can't see his actions),

Weapon Mastery & Marksmanship (Has mastered all weapons. Can easily hit foes at multiple angles and directions in a single throw),

Extrasensory Perception (Can sense Chi. Can sense the presence of Deadman, who is a invisible spirit),

Limited Information Analysis (Is a master detective, Can visualize entire sequences of events and plots in his head and analyze them in the middle of combat. Easily figured out what was really causing disturbances across Earth, and saw through the methods Wonder Woman used to fight the Flash),

Instinctive Reaction and Precognition (Has a sixth sense that allows him to instinctively dodge attacks without knowing about them, warns him of danger, and allows him to easily anticipate the attacks of multiple foes. Can predict someone's movement based on speed and momentum),

Body Control and Pressure Points (has methods that allow for self-induced comas and nerve attacks, can loosen muscles, slow blood flow, and control his adrenaline),

Self-Perception Manipulation (Can manipulate his own perception of time),

Enhanced Senses (Disarmed a foe on a shot described by Deathstroke as impossible. Smelled a fire in Gotham while he was underground outside the city. Smells well enough to identify chemicals. Can literally smell emotion. Described as having superior vision to Eagles, and easily saw Robin spy on him. Hears a dying man's speech while at the top of a building and a alarm from three blocks away),

Electricity Manipulation with Batsuit and Batarangs (Can run up to 200,000 volts through his suit),

Status Effect Inducement and Paralysis Inducement with tranquilizer darts,

flashbangs,

cape and taser gun,

Explosion Manipulation with Batarangs,

Animal Manipulation (Can summon bats that jam detection),

Light Manipulation (Via Flashbombs),

Smoke Manipulation (Uses smoke bombs which can mimic his shape and cause pain),

Restraint Pellets,

Has Syringe Batarangs to deliver chemicals and toxins,

Poison Manipulation (Via various poisons and nerve toxins),

Sound Manipulation (Via sonic Batarangs and hypersonic attacks,

Technology Manipulation (Via EMPs.)

has a fake circulatory system to deceive foes,

Camouflage (His suit can camouflage him),

Illusion Creation (Can create the illusion of a giant bat),

Extrasensory Perception (Can see in multiple wavelengths with his cowl. Can see invisible things),

Information Analysis (His cowl automatically identifies people, has gadgets that can identify radiation and blood.),

Fire Manipulation (Via Firebombs),

has a gadget that hides his heartbeat,

Resistances to:

Sleep Manipulation (Was not affected by sleep inducement),

Pain Manipulation (Claims pain only motivates him. Overcame two years of torture at the hands of Desaad, who inflicted on him the pain of this he had tortured before him),

Fire Manipulation (Unhindered by fire. Survived Etrigan's hellfire. His suit has internal cooling systems),

Poison Manipulation (Is immune to most forms of poison. Survived direct injections of Crystal Meth and Heroin),

Fear Manipulation (Has gained an immunity to fear toxin. Phobos, the God of Fear, couldn't put fear in him),

Electricity Manipulation (Was only slightly dazed by 10,000 volts of electricity. Can insulate his suit from the power of Gotham's grid, and can safely run 200,000 volts through his suit),

Acid Manipulation (Tanked acid using his cape),

Ice Manipulation (Unharmed by Mr. Freeze's ice),

Radiation Manipulation (His suit is insulated from radiation),

Body Puppetry and Biological Manipulation (Somewhat resists the powers of a meta human that controls flesh),

Perception Manipulation (Able to act relatively well while affected by hallucinations, even escaping bondage. Broke through a illusion with sheer force of will),

Empathic Manipulation (Unharmed by Ivy's pheromones. Has will comparable to a Green Lantern),

Absorption (Somewhat resists assimilation from Tharok),

Illusion Creation (Saw through Circe's Illusion),

Mind Manipulation (Has a backup mind. Overpowered a powerful mental entity. Broke free of a mental cage. When attempting to break into Batman's mind, the Synaptic Kid was entrapped within and eventually believed himself to be Bruce Wayne, and fell into a coma),

Sound Manipulation (Via Sonic Dampners),

Electromagnetic Pulses (Unaffected by his own EMPs),

Possession (Yurrd couldn't possess him),

Telepathy (His mind can't be read),

Soul Manipulation and Deconstruction (Broke through this).

Weaknesses: Normal human weaknesses but has survived situations which would kill an average human, refuses to kill.
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Moon Knight

Backstory:

While on a mission in Sudan, mercenary Marc Spector was left for dead in the desert by Raul Bushman, a ruthless African general, but was afterwards resurrected by the ancient Egyptian moon god known as Khonshu in exchange for being his avatar on Earth. Marc would later return to New York City and become the vigilante known as Moon Knight. Marc Spector possesses multiple personalities, such as the millionaire entrepreneur Steven Grant and cab driver Jake Lockley, and suffers from dissociative identity disorder, which causes great mental stress and instability that has made him an unstable and volatile person.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics & Genius Intelligence,

Self-Sustenance (Type 1 - Can survive on the moon),

Enhanced Senses,

Master Martial Artist & Pressure Points (Stated to be versatile in all martial arts, he's capable of using pressure points to put others to sleep or knock them out),

Weapon Mastery (Has enough ability to use every weapon that exists; His staff doesn't even need to connect with a target to harm it if used properly),

Marksmanship (Capable of making his baton ricochet on walls to hit his enemies; of throwing his baton to disarm gunmen and make it ricochet back into his hand),

Magic (Basic - Fists of Khonshu can access Khonshu's magic by praying to him),

Blessed, Self-Resurrection & Immortality (Type 2, Low-Mid - Stabbed in both the neck and heart, Moon Knight was still alive even when left to bleed for "half a day", leaving an injury stated to show his heart. Type 4 - Khonshu always resurrects his fist, Moon Knight. Every time he dies, he comes back to life, thanks to Khonshu's blessing.),

Statistics Amplification (Fists of Khonshu can directly ask for Khonshu to increase their strength.),

Portal Creation & Limited Dimensional Travel (By praying, they can open up portals leading to Khonshu's own pocket dimension. Moon Knight and Tigra used so they can travel across the country to defeat Zodiac.),

Limited:

Telepathy (Fists of Khonshu can communicate telepathically with Khonshu and the God, in turn, can sense the thoughts of those around his Fist.),

Regeneration (Low - Requires moon light)

Multiple Selves (Split personality disorder.)

Social Influencing

Instigating Fear & Reputation (His mere presence makes criminals missfire their shots and even pushes them to commit suicide. Traumatized Taskmaster to the point that he refuses to fight Moon Knight, instead, choosing to help in the hopes that Moon Knight won't hunt him down.)

Charisma (Convinced the House of Shadows to free its victims and to join his "Midnight Mission", becoming his new base of operations. After rescuing a suicidal woman, his presence gave her hope and made her realize "there's pure white within us all".),

Acrobatics (Highly acrobatic; Can jump several meters high due to his super strength.),

Stealth Mastery (Follows Nick Fury without being noticed.),

Supernatural Willpower (After the banishment of the first Necromancer, Moon Knight's mind and will become even stronger. This is also because his spirit harbors that of an ancient priest of Khonshu. Strange claims that Moon Knight's willpower, even subconsciously, is so powerful that even he would not be able to break through to hypnotize him.),

Limited Acausality (Just like Khonshu, he can also remember those who have ceased existing.),

Mind Manipulation (Anyone who enters in contact with his mind, he's capable of stealing a portion of their mind, leaving them catatonic; It's hinted that Mister Knight is capable of opening people's mind.),

Resistance to:

Magic (Basic - Since the Fists of Khonshu can use magic, they should also be capable of resisting its basic powers.),

Electricity Manipulation (His boots and suit are insulated, making him able to move through Fixer's electric hall unharmed.),

Fire Manipulation,

Poison Manipulation (The mask built into his uniform allows him to filter harmful gases for a short period of time. Naturally resisted an unspecified poison.),

Status Effect Inducement (Resisted Black Panther's "Panther Webs", a vibranium-based foam incapacitant.),

limited Pain Manipulation (Unable to feel physical pain.),

Possibly Diseases (Ate a dolphin with rabies and was not affected by it.),

With Standard Equipment:

Durability Negation with Adamantium darts

Flight (Gliding)

Electricity Manipulation (His truncheon is capable of unleashing electrical charges)

With Holy Artefacts:

Precognition (Ankh which glow up in the face of imminent danger)

Weakness: Mentally unstable.
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Song: Lunar Knights

In the depths of the night, Batman, the protector of Gotham, stood atop a rooftop, gazing down upon the crime-ridden city that lay beneath him. His relentless dedication to safeguarding his home remained steadfast, as he persisted in his tireless crusade against the malevolent forces that sought to sow chaos and discord within Gotham's streets.

The cries of anguish and fear in the alleyway caught Batman's acute senses, prompting him to spread his cape and take to the air with a mighty glide. The full moon above provided illumination in the darkened night as he moved swiftly and silently, swiftly reaching the source of the disturbance.

As he observed the scene unfolding, Batman could see a man in white with a cape viciously assaulting the thugs below. While excessive force was not uncharted territory for Batman, even leaving criminals with broken bones and missing teeth, it was the severity of the beatings being administered that caught his attention. Recognizing the potential dire consequences, he knew he needed to step in and stop the violence before the situation escalated any further.

Batman, with a deliberate and graceful descent, landed with precision upon the ground, his cape billowing around him theatrically as he rose to his full stature. The sudden arrival of the Caped Crusader immediately captured the attention of Moon Knight, his current target momentarily forgotten as he turned to face the newcomer. Batman, his gaze sharp and unwavering, posed a question in a firm and stern tone.

"What are you doing in Gotham?"

His eyes narrowed, exuding an intimidating aura that demanded an explanation. Moon Knight, undeterred by the presence of the Caped Crusader, promptly dropped the criminal he had been beating and turned to face Batman, his demeanor betraying no hint of fear. Moon Knight, his voice conveying a mixture of defiance and confidence, replied to the Caped Crusader, asserting that he was in the city to follow a lead.

"I'm following a lead," he stated, a hint of defiance in his tone. "And they were being difficult, but that's none of your business." He added, indicating that the criminals' obstruction had warranted his aggressive response. However, Moon Knight made it clear that his actions were not subject to Batman's scrutiny, asserting that his business was none of the Caped Crusader's concern. Batman, his expression still guarded and resolute, responded to Moon Knight's statement with a firm and determined tone,

"Your actions are my business. Gotham is my city. I won't tolerate this unchecked violence."

The Caped Crusader stood his ground, his voice laden with conviction and a hint of authority, asserting that the preservation and protection of the city was his duty, and therefore the actions of Moon Knight within its borders fell under his purview. Moon Knight, his eyes narrowing at Batman's words, retorted back with an air of defiance,

"I won't let you stop me on my mission. I'm the moon's knight of vengeance, and I've got work to do. Stay out of my way."

His words carried a warning, telling the Dark Knight that he won't hold back if he doesn't back off. Batman, his stance unflinching, stood his ground,

"I won't allow your quest for vengeance to endanger lives in Gotham. Stand down."

The Caped Crusader's tone left no room for negotiation, his unwavering determination evident as he asserted that he would not tolerate any harm coming to Gotham or its citizens.

"Your funeral."

Moon Knight, unintimidated by Batman's warning, charged forward with a determined expression and launched a powerful punch at the Caped Crusader. However, Batman swiftly countered the attack by blocking the punch with his forearm, swiftly retaliating with a well-executed kick to the sides that caught Moon Knight off guard. Despite Batman's counterattack, Moon Knight appeared unfazed and unhindered by the impact, showcasing his resilience and formidable strength.

In the ensuing exchange, both Batman and Moon Knight showcased their exceptional mastery of martial arts, effortlessly defending against each other's attacks and struggling to land a significant blow on their rival's guard. However, in an unexpected move, Moon Knight managed to connect a powerful punch to Batman's face, causing him to recoil momentarily before quickly regaining his composure. Despite the momentary setback, Batman's determination and resilience allowed him to push through the pain and continue the fierce battle.

Moon Knight, recognizing an opportunity to gain the upper hand, leaped back and hurled a barrage of six crescent-shaped darts toward Batman. The Caped Crusader quickly countered with his signature batarangs, attempting to deflect the incoming projectiles. However, the darts proved to be more potent than expected, slicing through the batarangs and forcing Batman to swiftly evade them. Despite his best efforts, Batman was struck in the shoulder and chest, his Kevlar suit pierced and blood spilling from his wounds.

Batman, fueled by both anger and determination, let out a fierce growl as he charged forward with a powerful knee strike aimed at Moon Knight's face. The impact forced Moon Knight back, but he quickly regained his composure, retaliating with a forceful headbutt to Batman's forehead. Despite the jarring blow, Batman wasted no time in responding, delivering a resounding kick to Moon Knight's chest, sending them both stumbling backward as the intense exchange continued to unfold.

Batman, ever the strategist, seized an opportunity to turn the tides of the battle. As Moon Knight deflected the batarang, narrowly avoiding its explosion, Batman vanished into the shadows of the alleyway, taking advantage of the momentary distraction caused by the chaotic aftermath. Moon Knight, clearing the smoke and remaining vigilant, braced himself for another attack, eager to face Batman head-on once again.

Armed with a pair of metal batons, Moon Knight's focus intensified as he sought out Batman's location, refusing to let the momentary setback discourage him. Closing his eyes, he relied on his heightened senses and intuition, attempting to sense his elusive adversary's proximity within the shadows of the alleyway. As he immersed himself in a state of heightened awareness, Moon Knight prepared himself mentally and physically for the impending clash.

Sensing the imminent danger through the glow of his ankh amulet, Moon Knight opened his eyes and swiftly pivoted on his heels to deflect an incoming barrage of batarangs that came hurtling out of the darkness towards him. Undeterred by the onslaught of projectiles, he confidently retorted with a smug question,

"Is that all you've got?"

"No."

Batman, seizing the moment, pressed a button on his suit, triggering an unexpected maneuver. The deflected batarangs suddenly detonated, catching Moon Knight off-guard and causing a momentary explosion. The lunar-based hero, momentarily disoriented by the unforeseen development, struggled to maintain his composure amidst the chaos. It was clear that Batman's ingenious tactics and resourcefulness were making the fight increasingly challenging for Moon Knight.

Batman, seizing a strategic opportunity, swiftly descended upon Moon Knight, gripping his shoulders firmly and forcing their combined trajectory through a nearby window and into a building. The two landed on the floor in a chaotic display of movement, rolling across the ground in a tangled mess. Batman, demonstrating his expert fighting skills, swiftly followed up by delivering a powerful kick that sent Moon Knight crashing into a sturdy support beam, the impact resonating loud and clear throughout the space.

Both fighters rapidly regained their footing, the tension in the air palpable. Moon Knight seized the initiative, launching a flurry of precise and relentless baton strikes toward Batman's defensive stance. Batman, skilled and experienced, countered each attack with finesse and dexterity, seamlessly parrying the incoming blows, his defensive prowess on full display as his armor resisted their electrical shocks.

As the battle waged on, Batman identified the opportune moment to strike. He unleashed a double chop on Moon Knight's trapezius muscles, skillfully targeting a weak spot and forcing the lunar-based hero to his knees. However, rather than succumbing to the pain, Moon Knight responded with a cunning move, swiftly sweeping Batman's feet out from under him, leaving the Caped Crusader momentarily vulnerable and unbalanced.

Despite a momentary loss of balance, Batman reacted swiftly, catching himself mid-fall and retaliating with a powerful uppercut to the underside of Moon Knight's chin. The strike landed with precision, forcing the lunar-based hero to become airborne. Before Moon Knight could regain his bearings, Batman followed up with a strong kick, propelling him further away and creating some much-needed distance between the two combatants.

Moon Knight, displaying impressive dexterity, landed on his hands and swiftly pushed himself upright to stand tall once more. As Batman hurled bola towards his target, Moon Knight reacted with remarkable speed, drawing a sharp crescent blade with precision. In a swift and calculated move, he sliced through the incoming bola, severing it effortlessly. The severed bola flew past him, while Moon Knight remained steady and ready to continue the intense encounter.

Batman, quick on his feet, tossed some firebombs toward Moon Knight, aiming to ignite the area and gain an upper hand. Moon Knight, reacting with extraordinary reflexes, leaped above the fire, exploiting the sudden updraft to gain height. He skillfully used his cape to ascend, smashing through the skylight above. In pursuit, Batman swiftly deployed his grappling hook, swiftly closing the gap. The battle moved to the building's rooftop, the fight continuing with relentless determination.

Upon reaching the rooftop, Moon Knight unleashed a swift pounce at Batman, only to find his adversary swiftly leaping over him. Moon Knight narrowly missed his mark, but swiftly regrouped for a powerful dropkick. Batman, ever prepared, swiftly evaded the attack and retaliated with a punch of his own, but Moon Knight countered just as quickly, retaliating with a high kick straight to Batman's face. In a fast-paced exchange, Moon Knight relentlessly unleashed a series of quick punches at Batman, but the Caped Crusader skillfully countered each blow. The encounter continued to escalate as Batman detonated a smoke bomb.

Moon Knight, momentarily disoriented by the lingering smoke, hastily attempted to survey the chaotic scene. Batman, seizing the opening, acted swiftly, employing his grappling gun to ensnare Moon Knight and forcefully slam him against the wall of the building's stairwell. Though clearly rattled, Moon Knight displayed impressive resilience, swiftly leaping back and resuming the fierce combat exchange. The clash evolved into an intense dance of skilled martial arts, with both combatants demonstrating impressive feats of counters and strikes. Eventually, Moon Knight secured a decisive advantage, landing a powerful kick that sent Batman hurtling into the same wall. Blood now trickled from Batman's wounded lip.

Despite the impact of the kick, Batman firmly wiped away the blood from his face, a look of determination in his eyes. With calculated precision, he hurled a barrage of batarangs towards Moon Knight. The lunar-based hero deftly deflected the projectiles with his mystical shielding, showcasing his formidable abilities. However, Batman's tactic proved ingenious. Pressing another button, he activated the batarangs to emit a high-pitched noise, overwhelming Moon Knight with the cacophony. The lunar warrior grimaced in pain, instinctively covering his ears to mute the distressing sound.

With a determined charge, Batman delivered a powerful punch to Moon Knight's face, followed by a forceful shove that sent him hurtling off the rooftop. Utilizing his own grappling hook, Batman navigated safely to the building opposite, while Moon Knight plummeted to the roof of a car, crumpling it slightly upon impact before bouncing off and landing harshly on the street below.

With a graceful descent, Batman hovered downward, landing alongside Moon Knight. Astonishingly, despite the fall and impact on the vehicle and street below, Moon Knight quickly sprang back to his feet and forcefully pushed Batman against another car. Batman's suit, equipped with an electrical network, attempted to deliver a 200,000 volt shock, but Moon Knight's insulated suit effectively neutralized the electricity, showcasing the importance of strategic protection in a battle against such powerful adversaries. Moon Knight, filled with unyielding confidence, proclaimed,

"You don't understand, do you? You can never overcome the might of the Knight of the Moon. With Khonshu's blessings, I shall always triumph. Even death cannot halt my vengeance."

The lunar-based hero stood resolute, convinced of his invulnerability under the divine protection of the Egyptian god. Moon Knight, revealing that his invulnerability even extended to temporary death, sparked a hint of a smirk on Batman's face.

"Thsnks for the tip."

Batman wasted no time in exploiting this revelation, quickly pressing a button that summoned his iconic Batmobile. As the vehicle roared down the street at 120 mph, it slammed into Moon Knight with immense force, sending the lunar-based hero skyrocketing across the street. Moon Knight, battered and bruised after a series of bone-crushing impacts, finally skidded to a halt with a painful groan. Surprisingly, despite the excruciating injuries he had sustained, he felt no pain. Nonetheless, the toll on his body was evident as he struggled to regain his breath and gather the strength to rise, proving that even a seemingly superhuman figure like him had his limits.

Batman swiftly entered the Batmobile and locked onto Moon Knight's location with precision. Without hesitation, he unleashed two missiles, their explosive impact completely obliterating the lunar-based hero. The force of the blast scattered Moon Knight's body parts in all directions, leaving nothing intact except for his disfigured head, which came crashing down from the sky and landed on the ground. Batman, his voice echoing through the comm device, informed Alfred,

"I'm heading back to the Batcave; repairs are in order."

Without further ado, he revved up the Batmobile and rode away, the powerful vehicle effortlessly crushing Moon Knight's decapitated head beneath its wheels.
——————————————————————————
Strength: Okay, so when it comes to pure strength, they're both about equal. Moon Knight losing his ability to become stronger depending on the moon phase hurts, but even if he did have that ability, Batman's gone against stronger adversaries like Bane. And given that Bruce is considered peak human, he wouldn't be that far off from Moon Knight's typical strength.

Speed: Both seem to be mostly equal in speed. Moon Knight was able to intercept a bullet coming at him within around 20 feet away from him, at most, which would require reacting at around Mach 5. However, Batman is faster than the reaction speed of his bat-family member, Cassandra Cain, who can casually react up to Mach 16.

Skill: I consider these two equal in skill. While Batman is more well rounded than Moon Knight, being a master at 127 different martial arts, Marc's training in the marines means that he'd be able to match a lot of Bruce's martial arts, such as wrestling based arts, Judo, Sambo, Boxing, Muay Thai, Kung Fu, Krav Maga and Kendo. Also, Batman had the added benefit of not being so mentally unstable that it could get in the way of him.

Experience: It's difficult to wage who has more experience. Batman may have a slightly older advantage, but Batman's more used to common thugs and superhumans, while Moon Knight is more familiar with the supernatural, though is by means no stranger to the more normal. It might be safe to say that they mostly even out.

Powers: While Moon Knight has some interesting set of powers, most of them aren't really any that Batman hasn't dealt with before, so he could perfectly adapt to Moon Knight's arsenal, while he could use his more varied tool belt and even his Batmobile to take the win.

The winner is Batman.
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Next time:

"The truth is, I ain't no hero of justice or anything else like that. But anyone who tries to hurt my friends... is GONNA PAAAAAYYYYYY!"

"There is something eternal within me as well! Burning our Cosmos, we can acquire infinite power. That way, we Saints become one with the universe and become endlessly stronger and closer to eternity!"

Chapter Text

Son Goku

Backstory:

He is a Saiyan sent to Earth as a baby by his father Bardock to escape the destruction of the planet Vegeta and the Saiyan race. Adopted by Grandpa Gohan, he became a kind-hearted boy after he bumped his head, starting his great adventures. After defeating Kid Buu, Goku works as a radish farmer before learning of the existence of the phenomenally powerful God of Destruction Beerus and seeks to fight and surpass him. In the process, he is introduced to the universes that exist beyond his own, and the amazing warriors that they contain.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Martial Artist,

Limited Longevity (Known intergalactically as the "warrior race of the universe", Saiyans have evolved to remain in their physical prime for a long period of time. Their bodies remain child-like for several years before rapidly growing into their adult bodies, and they age slowly after reaching their prime in order to remain young and battle-ready for decades; after reaching a certain age, however, they rapidly grow frail. Additionally, Saiyans have a longer lifespan than humans),

Ki Manipulation (Master Level),

Ki Sensing (Can locate others by reading their Ki, detect malicious intent, differences in power levels, and beings in different dimensions),

Damage Boost (Can increase the power of his attacks by concentrating his Ki into a single point to do more damage),

Enhanced Senses (Saiyans have exceptional senses, allowing them to locate small, distant objects by tracking their smell and see clearly over long distances. Track the movements of others even in pitch black conditions by feeling vibrations in the air.),

Supernatural Willpower (Able to endure poison that takes immense will and spirit to survive. Being able to use Kaioken far beyond King Kai's capability which can heavily damage and destroy the user's body.),

Enhanced Analytical Prediction (Can predict opponents based on movement, sense malicious intent, and feel small current of air.),

Shockwaves Generation (Can create powerful shockwaves via Kiai that can also cancel out Ki attacks),

Information Analysis (Capable of analyzing his opponent's fighting styles, habits and techniques allowing him to adapt, predict and react accordingly.),

Acrobatics,

Flight,

Afterimage Creation,

Power Mimicry (Can easily replicate other fighting techniques after seeing them once.),

Light Manipulation (Can create flashes of light via Solar flare to blind opponents and Super Saiyan forms can glow in pitch-black conditions.),

Minor Electricity Generation (As a Super Saiyan 2 and 3, he releases electric bolts around his body.),

Stealth Mastery and Limited Perception Manipulation (With his sharpened spirit, Goku mastered the ability of "crouching as quiet as the sky and striking quick than lightning", dampening his presence completely including scant air movements and his footsteps and erasing his own Ki; thus, allowing him to optimize his movements and elude the senses of opponents completely.),

Teleportation, Dimensional Travel and BFR (Via Instant Transmission),

Status Effect Inducement (Via Blindness, Solar Flare is a technique that causes blindness with flashes of light),

Accelerated Development (Training, Battle; Physical Stats, Abilities - As a Saiyan, Goku grows stronger every time he fights and can become stronger in the midst of combat, vastly increasing in strength whenever he is mortally injured),

Statistics Amplification (Goku can greatly enhance his capabilities with Kaio-ken, potentially by up to twenty times),

Pressure Point Strikes,

Transformation (Can transform into a Super Saiyan 1, 2 & 3, increasing his capabilities drastically),

Energy/Ki Absorption (Can absorb Ki through Spirit Bomb, absorbed God Ki into his base, and then during the Tournament of Power saga, he absorbed the energy of the Spirit Bomb and used it as a temporary energy battery to fight.),

Heat Manipulation (His power, along with Beerus', was stated to scorch the air by Piccolo and overheated Bulma's ship. Contributed half of the energy that created the Beerus Ball),

Adaptation (Can adapt to Gravity),

Limited Instinctive Action (Instinctively avoided Beerus who was about to attack, surprising Beerus. Instinctively avoided Bulma's attack.),

Dimensional Travel, Sound Manipulation, Space-Time Manipulation and Portal Creation (At this level of power he can create dimensional rifts and destroy space-time and pocket dimensions with his energy.),

Resistance to:

Poison Manipulation (Survived after drinking the Water of the Gods),

Paralysis Inducement (Could escape Frieza's Imprisonment Ball at the last moment),

Harsh Temperatures (Can fight in the upper atmosphere where the temperature is extremely cold. Survived and trained extensively for three years within the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, which has temperatures that range from -40F to 248F. Survived re-entry into Earth's atmosphere while unconscious),

Extreme Heat (Endured the heat of the Beerus Ball, which was stated to be capable of evaporating anything in its vicinity),

Disease Manipulation (Saiyans are immune to the Extinction Bomb, which releases a planet-wide supervirus aimed at extinguishing the targeted population and has been stated to work on other alien planets in the past.),

Radiations (Can fight in the upper atmosphere where radiation levels are exceedingly high.),

All previous abilities massively enhanced.

Enhanced Ki Sensing (Can sense God Ki)

Regeneration (Low-Mid; Was stabbed through the stomach and left on the verge of bleeding out, before healing the wound over once revivified)

Resistance to:

Extrasensory Perception (Cannot be sensed by beings lesser than a God)

All previous abilities from Base.

Enhanced Ki Sensing (After his training with Whis, he can now sense God Ki in his base form)

More Transformations (Can transform into a Super Saiyan God & Super Saiyan Blue, increasing his capabilities astronomically)

Greater Analytical Prediction (During his fight against Hit, he managed to predict his movements after he skipped time by 0.1 seconds, allowing Goku to counter Hit's Time-Skip ability. Eventually, Hit improved his Time-Skip and Goku's analytical prediction didn't work. In the middle of the fight, Goku's analytical prediction got better as he used the Kaioken to intercept Hit's Time-Skip. However, Hit improved his Time Skip to the point where even that failed. In their second fight, Goku tells Hit that his Time-Skip will no longer work on him, despite the fact that he knows that Hit can improve his Time-Skip.),

Limited Weather Manipulation (Creates stormy weather when turning on his Super Saiyan form),

Space-Time Manipulation (Was able to destroy Hit's pocket dimension),

Resistance to:

Electricity Manipulation (Unaffected by Fusion Zamasu's Lightning of Absolution after he and Vegeta powered up further in Super Saiyan Blue),

Forcefield Creation (Can create barriers that can keep out Poisons),

Healing (Restarted his heart when it was "crushed" by Hit),

Explosion Manipulation (Via Ki made land mines),

Non-Physical Interaction (Caused a ripple effect on Infinite Zamasu via a Ki blast and blocked intangible Ki blasts from Hit),

Resistance to:

Void Manipulation, Existence Erasure, Soul Destruction and Limited Spatial Manipulation (Withstood the Destruction Energy Ball of a God of Destruction, which could erase beings, objects, energy blasts and even souls from existence, and warped the World of Void.)

Empathic Manipulation (Was unaffected by Ribrianne's Light of Love, which causes anyone who smells the aroma released by the attack to become infatuated with her and the other Kamikaze Fireballs.),

All previous abilities massively enhanced.

Paralysis Inducement (Via God Bind, which allows him to paralyze an opponent in place from a distance)

Resistance to:

Magma Manipulation (Flew through lava as a Super Saiyan Blue in the Broly Saga)

All previous abilities greatly enhanced.

Greater Accelerated Development (Constantly evolved while fighting. Piccolo stated that with every strike Goku became stronger and faster)

Ultra Instinct

Limited Air Manipulation (Goku can launch a barrage of air attacks)

Limited Power Nullification (Nullified Jiren's Ki blast)

Weaknesses: Goku seeks strong opponents and will, therefore allowing his opponents to reach their full power for the sake of a good fight. Kaio-ken strains his body, causing him intense pain and exhaustion if he overuses it. He often drops his guard and leaves openings for his opponents whenever he gets distracted, lowering his durability.
————————
Pegasus Seiya:

Seiya is one of the Goddess Athena's eighty-eight mythical warriors known as Saints, who have served their goddess throughout the ages, protecting justice and peace on Earth. Being the one chosen by the Pegasus Constellation in the 20th Century, Seiya is among the 52 Bronze Saints.

Seiya is a person of burning blood and a fiery heart, often acting in impulsive and daring ways. However, he is brave, kind-hearted, and selfless, always willing to sacrifice himself for justice, his friends, and Athena. Ultimately, his most notable characteristic is his absolute determination and refusal to ever give up, even when faced with impossible odds.

Pegasus Seiya is the reincarnation of the previous Pegasus Saint, Tenma. He is also the First Pegasus Saint, who fought alongside Athena at the end of the Mythological Era and was the first human to ever harm Hades, the God of the Underworld.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Matter Manipulation and Soul Manipulation (Atomic destruction, The cloth armor of the saints it endowed with the power of Cosmo. Their every attack is also imbued with the power Cosmo, which not only destroys atoms, but also harms the soul),

Energy Manipulation,

Aura, and Heat Manipulation (Upon powering up their Cosmo they cause the area around them to burn up with intense heat, and their attacks are also imbued with heat),

Extrasensory Perception (Under the 6th sense),

Enhanced Senses (They are capable of tracking events taking place over a large distance including other realms. Can also hear bones breaking from a distance away. In addition, the Saints also have an additional sense known as the 6th sense),

Reactive Power Level (The skills of the Saints continues to improve throughout their fights, and they continue to get stronger every time they get knocked down),

Reactive Evolution (Can analyze and comprehend the components of an enemy's attack after seeing it once, and adapt to it),

Telepathy,

Pressure Points (The Star Life Points are pressure points on the body),

Probability Manipulation, and Statistics Amplification (Through the Power of Miracles impossibilities can be turned into certain possibilities, as well as increase their stats such as speed, and power),

Summoning (Saints can summon their cloths),

Danmaku (When using Pegasus Ryusei Ken),

Supernatural Willpower,

Attack Reflection (Reflected the Marble Tripper Back at Lizard Misty. Reflected the Great Horn back at Taurus Aldebaran),

Resistance to Heat Manipulation,

Soul Manipulation, and Matter Manipulation (All attacks are imbued with the power of Cosmo, and as such, they have taken many attacks from other Cosmo users which consist of high temperatures, atomic destruction, and soul destruction),

Illusions (The 6th Sense allows someone to see through external illusions),

Cold Energy Manipulation (The Bronze Saints freeze at temperatures of -240 Degrees Fahrenheit),

Perception Manipulation,

Electricity Manipulation (Cosmo users can withstand 10,000 volts)

All previous abilities, Matter Manipulation, Soul Manipulation, and Temperature Manipulation (7th sense users can cause destroy matter down the level below Quarks. Causing damage to a Gold Cloth requires a power that can break apart matter that exist below Quarks. Gold Saints have fought each other, and those equal or above them causing damage to their Gold Cloths. Gold Saints such as Capricorn Shura cut twenty billion souls at once and Cancer Deathmask (Saint Seiya) can destroy twenty billion souls all at once. The power of Ohm could also affect twenty billion souls. Gold Saints can reach temperatures of over a million degrees when focusing their attacks),

Extrasensory Perception (By having an additional sense above the five basic senses and the sixth known as the "7th sense"),

Regeneration (Low-Mid)

All previous resistances, and Resistance to Mind Manipulation, Soul Manipulation, Temperature Manipulation, and Matter Manipulation (The power of the 7th sense allows someone to become comparable to the Gold Saints. The Main five bronze saints used the 7th sense to overcome the Gold Saints),

Illusions (The 7th sense allows the users to perfectly see the environment around them),

Dream Manipulation, Life Manipulation, Perception Manipulation (Via the 7th. Which allows the user to be aware of their surroundings even when the 5 basic senses, and the mind, has been shut off),

Cold Energy Manipulation (Gold cloths, and 7th Sense Users, freeze at -459 degrees fahrenheit),

Improved resistance to Electricity Manipulation (7th sense are not affected by 10,000 volts),

Existence Erasure,

Void Manipulation,

All previous abilities, Resurrection, and Immortality (Type 4 - After obtaining the 8th sense, he gained absolute control of his own soul and can resurrect himself),

Incorporeality (exist without a body, as a soul),

Regeneration (Low Godly Regeneration - Users of the 8th Sense and create a new body for themselves after it has been wholly destroyed),

Extrasensory Perception (With the "8th Sense" which exist beyond the five basic senses, the sixth, and the seventh),

All previous resistances, and Resistance to Death Manipulation and Law Manipulation (The Underworld kills anyone that is "Alive" when entering into it, but 8th sense users can enter it alive. The 8th sense allows the user to overcome the laws that Hades had created),

Acausality (Through Athena's Divine Ichor),

Space-Time Manipulation (Through Athena's divine ichor)

All previous abilities,

Holy Manipulation, and Flight

All previous resistances, and Resistance to Absolute Zero (God Cloths require temperature hundreds of times colder than Absolute Zero to freeze them)

Weaknesses: Very impulsive and brash.
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Song: God Saints?

Under the vast open sky of the Lookout, Goku stood at the center of the platform, a determined look on his face. He held the seven mythical Dragon Balls, their radiant power a testament to their mystical might. Carefully, he placed the Dragon Balls into position, their formation complete for the summoning of a wish. Goku's anticipation and excitement grew as he prepared to make his heartfelt wish upon the legendary orbs of the Dragon.

"Eternal Shenron! By your name, I summon you forth!"

The skies above the Lookout rumbled with a low, ominous sound as Goku's voice echoed throughout the heavens, invoking the name of the Eternal Shenron. The ground beneath them trembled, and a brilliant pillar of light burst forth from the gathered Dragon Balls, reaching out to the skies. The transformation into the colossal, serpentine figure was imminent, and the air became charged with a sense of otherworldly energy.

As the pillar of light reached its zenith, the sky suddenly darkened, and a colossal, serpentine figure began to take shape. It was the Eternal Dragon himself, the majestic Shenron, appearing before Goku with an aura of immense power. The atmosphere crackled with otherworldly energy as Shenron declared,

"I am Shenron, the eternal guardian of the Dragon Balls. I shall grant you any wish that lies within the bounds of my power."

Goku's face lit up with excitement and anticipation at the grand entrance of the Eternal Dragon, Shenron. He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the momentous moment. With a steady yet determined voice, Goku called out,

"Eternal Shenron, my first wish is to have someone around my level to spar with. It doesn't have to be right this instant, but when I make my three wishes clear, that's when you can bring them here."

Shenron, the eternal Dragon, listened closely to Goku's first wish. He nodded gently, understanding the earnest desire for a sparring partner of equal strength.

"Your first wish to have someone around your level to spar with. Fear not, Saiyan warrior. I shall grant your wish, and when the time comes for your next two wishes, I will summon a worthy opponent to test your skills." Shenron echoed, his voice carrying with it the weight of cosmic power.

Goku's gaze remained fixed on Shenron, his anticipation growing with each passing second. As the enormous dragon granted his first wish, a smile spread across the Saiyan's face. Knowing that he would soon have a sparring partner of equal strength filled him with excitement.

"Thank you, Eternal Shenron."

He replied, offering the Dragon a respectful nod.

"I can't wait to test my skills against someone who can truly push me to my limits. Now, my second wish is that when the battle is over, I want any damage and possible loss of life to be restored to before our fight. I don't want anything to irreversibly suffer just because of our match."

Shenron, the enormous dragon, acknowledged Goku's second wish, his eyes glowing with mysterious fire as he listened intently. With a solemn nod, he agreed to the terms.

"So it shall be, Saiyan warrior. When the time of battle has passed, I shall ensure that the damage and loss of life shall be restored, returning all to how it was before the clash. Such is my power and the task you have laid upon me."

Goku's face glowed with satisfaction as Shenron confirmed his second wish. He felt proud and confident that when the time came for his sparring match with his equal, there would be no unintended consequences. With a newfound sense of purpose, the Saiyan turned to the eternal dragon, preparing for his final wish.

"Eternal Shenron, last wish is when the battle ends, whoever I face is returned to wherever they were before I summoned them."

Goku declared. Shenron, the ancient guardian dragon, nodded in agreement as Goku expressed his last wish, his eyes burning with the intensity of his ancient power.

"Your final wish, Saiyan warrior, is indeed within my power to grant. When the time comes for the battle to end, I shall return your opponent to the place they were before your summons."

Shenron replied, the very air around them filling with the sense of promise and finality.

"Your wishes shall be granted." Using its power, it started to summon Goku's greatest match yet. Goku's heart raced with anticipation and excitement as he listened to Shenron's response, knowing that the time had finally come to meet his greatest opponent yet. He could hardly wait for the imminent arrival of this legendary foe, whose strength would surely match his own. As Shenron departed, and the Dragon Balls split up across the sky, a brilliant light shined, before standing before Goku was the Broze Saint, Pegasus Seiya.

The Bronze Saint stood before Goku, who was confused by his unexpected supernatural summons. Goku couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he lay eyes on the legendary Warrior of Athena. With a hint of curiosity in his voice, he called out,

"Alright! It's an honor to meet you."

Seiya stared back at Goku, his eyes sharp. He doesn't know where he is, or who his opponent is, so the Bronze Saint of Athena asks,

"Who are you? And how did I get here?"

Goku's smile widened upon hearing Seiya's question, understanding the Bronze Saint's confusion.

"My name's Goku!"

He replied, excitement ringing through his voice.

"But more importantly, I'm a warrior just like you. Oh, and I used the Dragon Balls to bring you here! I wanted to test my skills against someone extraordinary like you!"

Seiya's eyes widened as Goku answered his questions, the realization setting in that he had been transported to another world through the power of the Dragon Balls. His curiosity piqued, the Bronze Saint of Athena stated,

"Alright then, Goku. You went through the trouble of bringing me here. Let's see what you've got."

Goku could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his competitive spirit igniting as Seiya accepted his challenge. A wide smile spread across his face as he readied himself for their epic contest.

"Let's begin!"

Goku cried out, his voice echoing through the air as he prepared to clash with the legendary Bronze Saint of Athena.

Goku stood ready, his body poised for action. In a split second, he dug his foot into the ground and pushed up a bit of dirt. With eyes firmly locked on Seiya, he readied himself for a swift strike, mentally preparing for the Bronze Saint's potential counterattack. The wind danced around them, causing their hair to flutter gently. Seiya too, eyed Goku with an intense gaze and exhaled deeply, his breath steady, waiting for the perfect moment to make his move.

The air seemed to crackle with energy as Goku and Seiya charged toward one another, an explosion of mighty force and intensity erupting with their every movement. In a moment of perfect synchronization, they withdrew their arms and then, with a burst of strength and speed, unleashed a powerful punch with their right fists, aiming straight for each other. The two attacks connected in a colossal collision, sending a powerful shockwave coursing through the air, ripping apart the ground beneath them and knocking them apart in a flash of speed. The sheer force of their collision left a trail of destruction in its wake.

Goku swiftly raised his hands, funneling his inner energy, known as Ki, into them with practiced ease. The golden Ki energy coalesced between his palms, before he unleashed a barrage of powerful ki shots that spiraled through the air in all different directions, swirling around Seiya in a dizzying dance. With incredible agility and precision, the Bronze Saint skillfully dodged and neutralized most of the ki blasts, save for the final one that came hurtling back toward him. Goku, anticipating the counterattack, nimbly blocked it with a swift swipe of his arm.

Goku leaped into the air with unparalleled agility and charged towards Seiya, his movement swift and determined, throwing a powerful punch with immense force. Seiya countered quickly, catching Goku's punch with his own hands, but he wasn't prepared for Goku's next move. Taking advantage of the caught punch, Goku grabbed onto Seiya's arm and hurled him toward the ground with impressive strength. Seiya landed on his feet, the impact of the throw causing the floor of the Lookout to crack beneath him, the sheer force of the attack resonating throughout the area.

As Seiya stood on the cracked ground of the Lookout, he tilted his head upwards, locking his eyes onto Goku, who hovered tantalizingly out of reach in the air. Recognizing the need to reach him, Seiya pushed himself off the ground with all his might, launching himself into the sky. On his back, the Pegasus Cloth responded to his call, materializing a pair of metal wings that unfurled with a metallic gleam, granting him the power of flight. Seiya propelled himself upwards, narrowing the distance between him and Goku in the boundless sky above.

Goku propelled himself forward through the sky, leaving a trail of transparent ki behind him as he circled around Seiya, gaining more and more speed. Swiftly closing the gap, Goku unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Seiya's side. But in a feat of remarkable reflexes and defensive prowess, Seiya swiftly braced his shoulder to intercept the attack, neutralizing Goku's attempt with a well-timed block.

In a sudden shift of the battle, Seiya seized Goku's leg with impressive speed and commenced spinning him around in the air, exerting tremendous force to expel Goku from his grip. Seiya swiftly pursued Goku, closing the distance between them in a flurry of evasive maneuvering. Once within range, Seiya unleashed a powerful right hook, which Goku deftly parried. Seiya, however, displayed remarkable agility and swiftly circumvented Goku's defense, launching a swift left punch into Goku's chest. The punch connected with a resounding impact.

While reeling from the powerful blow unleashed upon him, Goku swiftly countered with a one-two punch combo, a swift right kick, and finally, an unexpected left uppercut that sent Seiya spiraling through the air, temporarily stunned. Seiya's wings briefly flapped, attempting to stabilize his flight. However, Goku seized the opportunity to intercept Seiya's descent, delivering a forceful sledgehammer blow to his back, plunging him back towards the earth. Despite the onslaught, Seiya displayed remarkable resilience, quickly regaining control and hovering mid-air. With impressive focus, Goku gathered ki within his hands, preparing to unleash his signature technique, the Kamehameha. With a fierce cry of echoing through the air, he yelled,

"Kamehameha!"

Goku released an intense beam of blue energy toward Seiya. However, the Bronze Saint's quick reflexes came into play as he managed to deflect the attack back at Goku, redirecting the powerful Kamehameha toward the Saiyan warrior. Goku, caught off guard for a moment, swiftly recovered and blocked his own attack, defending himself against the redirected energy. As the explosion subsided, Goku couldn't help but let out a playful chuckle, impressed by Seiya's ability to deflect his attack. With a gleeful tone, Goku proclaimed,

"Hehe, you were able to deflect that so easily! But how about this?! Solar Flare!"

In an instant, Goku emitted a blindingly brilliant light, rivaling the intensity of the sun itself. This unexpected offensive maneuver overwhelmed Seiya's vision, causing him to squint and shield his eyes from the intense glare. Seiya groaned loudly, his vision temporarily disoriented by the overpowering light. Taking advantage of Seiya's momentary disorientation, Goku seized the opportunity to prepare an even more powerful version of his signature attack, the Kamehameha. Gathering an immense amount of energy within his hands, Goku shouted out,

"Kaaaaaa... mee...haaaaaa...meeeeee...haaaaaa!"

In a burst of raw power, the attack surged forward in a torrent of intense blue energy, pushing Seiya relentlessly further back. The sheer force of the blast sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the impact of the attack showcasing the immense power contained within it. With a determined grit, Seiya pushed himself in a powerful slide, escaping the intense assault of Goku's Kamehameha. Filled with relentless determination, Seiya swiftly propelled himself towards Goku at incredible speed, reeling back a formidable punch.

"Pegasus Ryusei Ken!" Seiya unleashed a flurry of 100 consecutive cosmic speed punches, each one landing with an immense force that sent shockwaves rippling through Goku's body. The barrage of punches, delivered at an astonishing pace, inflicted a succession of powerful impacts, each one sending shockwaves echoing through the fight scene.

As the relentless barrage of Seiya's Pegasus Ryusei Ken punches continued, a sudden surge of golden aura enveloped Goku's fist, making a powerful impact with Seiya's face that knocked the Saint backwards. It was at this moment that Goku's body began to swell with an overwhelming energy. Then, in a dazzling transformation, his body burst into a vibrant golden aura, showcasing his ascension into the legendary Super Saiyan form. His hair now shone with an intense golden glow, standing straight up like a testament to the immense power now surging within him. As Goku observed the remarkable speed of Seiya's attack, he smiled confidently and remarked,

"Man, talk about fast. I better step things up a notch."

Goku's aura intensified, radiating an even more intense golden glow. With a burst of speed, Goku darted through the air like a golden streak, appearing in front of Seiya in a blindingly rapid motion. Seiya managed to raise his guard just in time, barely blocking the punch with his own. The force of the impact sent them rocketing through the sky in a blur of movement, the whirlwind of their fight continuing at breakneck speed.

Goku swirled gracefully in the air, delivering a powerful shoulder strike that knocked Seiya back, temporarily stunning the Bronze Saint. Without a moment's pause, Goku swiftly unleashed a rapid flurry of lightning-fast kicks, targeting Seiya with relentless precision. Initially overwhelmed by the onslaught, Seiya struggled to keep up with the unrelenting barrage of attacks. However, as the fight progressed, Seiya gradually adapted and began to counter some of the kicks, demonstrating his quick reflexes and fighting prowess against Goku's aggressive assault.

As Seiya began to adjust to the rhythm of Goku's kicks, Goku executed a sudden move, throwing a powerful punch that landed squarely in Seiya's gut. The impact sent Seiya reeling, but Goku didn't slow down. With lightning-fast precision, Goku swiftly ascended above Seiya and brought his hands together, charging up his formidable signature technique once more. The energy crackled around him as he roared,

"Kamehameha!"

Goku unleashed a powerful Kamehameha, his attack taking the form of a vibrant blue beam of energy. The beam propelled Seiya downward, crashing into the ground and triggering an explosion upon impact. Goku swiftly followed after, dropping from the sky and using his golden aura to disperse the surrounding dust, exposing Seiya's figure in the clearing air. With his back turned to Goku, Seiya stood up, preparing for the next challenge in the ongoing battle.

Demonstrating his impressive agility, Goku hurled a rapid ki shot toward Seiya, expecting a direct collision. Surprisingly, Seiya effortlessly evaded the incoming ki bullet with a swift sidestep, showcasing his sharp reflexes, even with his back turned. In response, Goku launched a powerful punch, but before it could connect, Seiya deftly ducked beneath the attack and unleashed a quick rising kick, striking Goku in the chin. The impact startled Goku, leaving him momentarily disoriented. With a fierce cry, Seiya called out,

"Pegasus Ryusei Ken!" Unleashing another onslaught of powerful punches, Seiya rained down a multitude of strikes upon Goku. The relentless barrage caught the Super Saiyan off guard, propelling him higher into the air with each successive hit. The intensity behind the blows created a whirlwind of wind and force that continued to push Goku further upwards.

In a blur of speed and precision, Goku swiftly appeared behind Seiya, launching a sharp left jab that the Bronze Saints managed to block just in time. In a split second, Seiya retaliated with formidable punching speed, nearly connecting with Goku's head. The ensuing exchange transformed into an almost too fast to follow flurry of blows and blocks, with each punch countered with lightning-fast reflexes. Their silhouettes became a whirlwind of motion, the air around them alive with the whirlwind of their perfectly timed attacks and defenses, like a meticulously choreographed dance of power and skill.

With a well-executed dodge, Seiya seized the opportunity to land a powerful punch into Goku's gut. Not wasting a second, he seized Goku's blue undershirt and soared into the air at incredible speed, pulling Goku along. Reaching soaring heights, Seiya swiftly executed the Pegasus Rolling Crush, forcefully slamming Goku straight down into the ground. Goku's body sank into the Earth, causing the ground to tremble from the impact. Seiya, with unparalleled agility, leaped back, observing Goku's efforts to rise once more.

"Hehe, alright. You've earned it."

Goku's chuckle echoed through the air, acknowledging Seiya's impressive display of power. With an increasing glow of his ki, the golden hue shifted to a fiery red, signaling his transformation into the powerful Super Saiyan God form. A fierce roar tore through the battle, a testament to the immense power surging within Goku. The transformation surged through his body, exponentially amplifying his strength and capabilities.

Seiya, fueled by determination, swooped towards Goku, hoping to connect a powerful punch. However, Goku, now in Super Saiyan God form, moved with blinding speed, striking before Seiya could even register the attack. Goku's punch hurled Seiya backwards with stunning force, propelling him upward into the sky. Utilizing the instant transmission technique, Goku teleported to where Seiya would be, unleashing a potent kick that sent the Bronze Saint crashing back into the ground. Seiya managed to land gracefully on one hand and foot, but the impact created a deep crater where he stood. Seiya, reeling from the impact of Goku's attacks, gasped in astonishment,

"What kind of transformation is this?"

The pain radiating from the points where he had been hit served as a stark reminder of the raw power Goku now wielded. As the battle intensified, the two combatants traded fierce blows, their fists meeting with incredible force. Despite his resilience, Seiya found himself gradually being overpowered by Goku's newfound strength. A barrage of well-placed punches and kicks landed on the Bronze Saint, culminating in a powerful kick that sent him soaring upward into the sky.

Recovering his bearings with the help of his metallic wings, Seiya poised himself to meet the oncoming challenge. As Goku approached, Seiya responded with a well-timed punch of his own, colliding forcefully with the Saiyan's advance. The speed of their attacks rapidly accelerated, rendering their movements almost imperceptible to the naked eye, save for the telltale shockwaves generated by each impact. The whirlwind of blows intensified, creating a spectacle of power and skill that seemed to defy the very laws of physics.

As the rapid exchange of blows continued, Goku swiftly employed the instant transmission technique, materializing behind Seiya. With a powerful kick, Goku sent the Bronze Saint careening through multiple hills, ultimately coming to a halt at the base of a mountain. The force of the blow created a second impact crater, the ground and rocks around them disturbed by the sheer intensity of the collision.

Seiya, though visibly worn and battered, gritted his teeth and mustered the strength to rise, his determination unwavering. With a defiant flight, he soared back towards Goku, now showing remarkable adaptability in keeping pace with the Saiyan's overwhelming power. Their exchange of blows intensified, with an astounding dozen attacks happening every second, each delivered with fearsome speed and precision.

Seiya's relentless pursuit was met with a swift countermove from Goku, who executed a quick backflip, thrusting his arms forward with an unyielding force. With a surge of divine power, Goku enveloped Seiya in a similar red aura, effectively restraining the Bronze Saint with the powerful God Bind technique. But Seiya's resolve burned bright, his words filled with determination as he declared,

"You think this can stop me? Once I break free, you won't restrain me again!"

Seiya channeled an immense surge of cosmo energy within himself, fueling a powerful escalation in strength. Slowly but steadily, the Bronze Saint began to overcome the stifling grip of the God Bind, inching closer to liberation.

As Seiya continued to struggle and resist, straining against the God Bind, Goku could sense that the Bronze Saint was nearing the breaking point. With a swift motion, Goku retracted his hand, preparing to unleash a Full Power Energy Wave. The attack burst forth, surging forcefully towards Seiya. Though the Bronze Saint managed to intercept and block the intense blast, the sheer might of the energy wave pushed him back, showcasing the immense power behind Goku's onslaught.

Seiya strained with every ounce of strength, forcibly diverting the Full Power Energy Wave into the sky, creating a formidable display of force. In response, Goku grinned and surged ahead once more, closing the distance between them in an instant. Seiya, this time opting for a defensive stance, successfully blocked Goku's incoming strike. The impact reverberated through the air, propelling Seiya backward and carving a path of disturbance in the dusty ground.

As Seiya attempted to stabilize himself, Goku swiftly closed the gap between them, catching his arm and spinning him in a dizzying whirlwind. In a seamless move, Goku executed a Dragonthrow grapple, forcefully hurling Seiya across the field. Despite Seiya's efforts to regain balance using his wings, the momentum proved overpowering, resulting in a heavy impact on the ground. Resolute, Seiya pushed through the pain, pulling himself back onto his feet, stretching and contorting his body to alleviate any strain or discomfort from the punishing assault.

With remarkable speed and precision, Goku glided along the ground in a swift motion, misleading Seiya with what appeared to be a kick. However, in a cunning maneuver, Goku abruptly shifted his technique and delivered a powerful knee strike directly to Seiya's face, catching the Bronze Saint off guard.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Goku utilized his high-speed movement to swiftly warp to Seiya's other side, delivering a well-aimed kick that sent the Bronze Saint hurtling through the air. Without missing a beat, Goku teleported once more, appearing in front of Seiya to land a powerful swinging kick. As Goku continued his assault, he kicked Seiya backwards before materializing behind him, crafting a potent Ki blast in his hands. Goku released the energy sphere just as Seiya's body collided with it, launching both Seiya and the blast into the depths of a nearby forest.

Goku pursued Seiya into the forest, watching as Seiya's wings extended and he deftly countered an incoming attack. The two adversaries swiftly separated, weaving through the trees as the Bronze Saint unleashed waves of cosmo-powered blows, slicing through the foliage around them. Despite his best attempts, Seiya's attacks failed to find their mark, as Goku agilely evaded each strike. Seizing the opening, Goku retaliated with a powerful punch, landing a massive hit on Seiya's face with uncanny precision.

Seiya retreated, rubbing his face where Goku's punch had landed, before unleashing another Pegasus Ryusei Ken. The intensity of the attack heightened, with its speed and power increasing since the last time Seiya had employed it. Goku, caught off guard momentarily, swiftly regained his composure and diligently navigated his way through the onslaught of energy-infused attacks.

With a surprising leg sweep, Goku managed to disrupt Seiya's equilibrium, following up with a powerful backhand to the Saint's chest. The force of the hit cracked Seiya's Pegasus Cloth, sending him stumbling backward. As Seiya tried to catch his breath, he beheld Goku persistently advancing towards him.

In the midst of the intense battle, a divine intervention took place. A radiant golden light filled the sky as the barriers between dimensions crumbled. A golden box materialized in the air right above the battlefield, shattering and releasing the Sagittarius Gold Cloth. The shattered remnants of the Pegasus Bronze Cloth dispersed on the ground, making way for the gleaming gold armor of the Sagittarius Cloth to encapsulate a sense of awe, Goku remarked,

"Whoa, that armor is truly something! Looks like nothing I've ever seen before. What kind of armor is that?"

The gleaming gold armor of the Sagittarius Gold Cloth adorned Seiya, its impressive appearance leaving a lasting impression on Goku. In response, Seiya replied confidently,

"This is the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, an upgraded armor in my possession. Whenever I need it, it'll come to my aid."

The sheer power and authority emanated from the golden armor, its luster reflecting Seiya's determination and formidable presence. Goku's interest piqued as he inquired,

"Alright, I gotta admit, that's impressive. Now I'm even more excited to see what you can do."

The prospect of facing the ultimate armor ignited a sense of challenge and curiosity within Goku. As the conversation subsided, the battle resumed. With Seiya donning the Sagittarius Gold Cloth, the fight was going to intensify. Goku's enthusiasm heightened, fueled by the opportunity to clash against this new armor in Seiya's arsenal.

The confrontation escalated, with Seiya swiftly vanishing and reappearing behind Goku in a brilliant flash of golden light. He unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick, which Goku adeptly blocked using both hands. In a swift move, Goku countered with the Dragonthrow grapple, spinning Seiya around before hurling him into the sky. Seiya halted his momentum with his wings and discharged a thin beam of light that detonated upon impact, prompting Goku to leap up and engage in fervent aerial combat.

Seiya's speed had now reached new heights, matching Goku's velocity and even turning the tide from defense to offense. Each strike from the Bronze Saint carried a subtle electrical charge, intensifying with every blow. As the exchange continued, Goku forcefully pushed Seiya back, retaliating with a flurry of yellow ki spheres. Undeterred, Seiya swiftly deflected the assault, maintaining his defense and demonstrating the effectiveness of his gold armor.

Seiya deftly dodged a jab from Goku before delivering a powerful surprise punch, followed by a quick succession of attacks aimed at Goku's arms as he struggled to block. However, as Seiya persisted with his aggressive onslaught, Goku seized an opportunity to create some distance, swiftly ducking and employing a used trick.

"Solar Flare!"

With the invocation of his technique, the brilliant light unleashed by Goku momentarily obscured the battlefield, Seiya reflexively clapped his hands to shield his eyes from the intense glare. In an ironic twist, the glare from his shining gold armor reflected the Solar Flare light back at Goku, inadvertently blinding him.

Seiya, propelled by his momentum, attempted a flying punch at Goku, but found the task unexpectedly challenging. Despite Goku's temporary blindness, the Saiyan adeptly dodged every strike, effortlessly parrying each blow. Undeterred, Seiya persisted, employing a series of rapid punches and kicks, but even these failed to land, as Goku's sensory abilities quickly returned, allowing him to evade the onslaught.

Goku, driven by determination, swiftly employed Instant Transmission to warp behind Seiya and ensnared him in a headlock. However, as his hands made contact with the Gold Cloth, Goku was met with a scorching heat emanating from Seiya's body. In a swift response, Seiya shook off Goku, turning to face him and unleashing a devastating Pegasus Ryusei Ken. The attack, characterized by its extreme velocity and power, inflicted millions of rapid strikes, each punch traveling at lightspeed, upon Goku's figure.

Goku valiantly attempted to shield himself from the relentless onslaught, but the barrage proved overpowering. Continuously struck by the staggering assaults, he found himself struggling to maintain his guard. However, as Seiya concluded the attack with a final, surging punch, Goku, leaning forward in pain, miraculously intercepted the punch with a defiant clench of his fist.

With a surge of energy that seemed to set the very air ablaze, Goku's energy exploded forth from within, transforming the fiery red aura into a fiercer blue. His hair, previously lying flat against his head, suddenly surged upwards into a series of spiky locks, mirroring the blue energy. Goku's power scaled to new heights as he ascended to the legendary Super Saiyan Blue state, marking a significant shift in the balance of the fight.

Goku swiftly lifted his fist, aiming it directly at Seiya's chest, and unleashed a forceful one-inch punch. The impact resonated with such intensity that it caused a fracture in the Bronze Saint's chestplate armor, sending him stumbling backward in pain. Goku wasted no time, seizing the opportunity for a rapid follow-up. Unleashing a fast and precise helicopter kick, both of his legs connected squarely with Seiya's body, furthering the onslaught.

Goku's relentless onslaught continued, but Seiya displayed resilience, valiantly defending himself despite the pain he felt. As the fight escalated, the Bronze Saint leaped back, channeling both his energy and the powers of the Sagittarius Gold Cloth. A bolt of cosmic-powered lightning surged forth from his extended hand, colliding with an energy wave discharged by Goku, sending shockwaves through the air as the two opposing forces struggled against one another. In an explosive finale, the beams unleashed a colossal impact, and a vast dust cloud rose from the ground, obscuring the combatants' view of each other.

A fleeting instant of stillness enveloped the surroundings before Goku burst through the dust cloud, aiming a Super God Fist strike. However, Seiya evaded the attack effortlessly, demonstrating an acute awareness of his surroundings. As Goku sailed past, Seiya channeled a rush of cosmic-powered lightning through his hands, unleashing a whirlwind of infinite punches at an unfathomable speed. The Lighting Plasma attack surpassed the speed of light, overwhelming Goku with an relentless barrage of cosmic energy-infused strikes.

Initially, Goku demonstrated remarkable agility, deftly evading the first few hundred punches with ease. However, upon closer observation, he discerned the stark difference between this attack and the Pegasus Ryusei Ken he had faced earlier. The Lighting Plasma technique, unlike its predecessor, possessed an unlimited supply, making dodging increasingly challenging. Goku's defensive strategy shifted from dodging to guarding, until eventually, his guard crumbled, and Seiya continued the onslaught, ripping apart Goku's orange gi and delivering a forceful punch that connected with Goku's face.

Despite the relentless onslaught of Lighting Plasma, Goku meticulously observed the assault and spotted an opportunity. Swiftly forming a finger gun with his right hand, he aimed and fired a shot with remarkable precision, disrupting Seiya's equilibrium. The Saint hastily shifted his focus from his attack to blocking the incoming shot, preventing himself from being severely knocked back, thereby ceasing the relentless barrage of infinite punches.

The dynamic between Goku and Seiya shifted as Goku discarded the remnants of his gi's orange top, revealing the blue undershirt beneath. Leaping into action, Goku hurled a fierce punch toward Seiya's face, but the Bronze Saint swiftly shattered the attack with a powerful strike of his own. This counter caused Goku to stumble backward, gasping from the impact. Seiya seized the opportunity to unleash a potent surge of cosmically charged lightning upon Goku, causing him to cry out in pain from the assault.

Seiya's voice resonated with a mix of confidence and determination as he spoke,

"Don't you get it? Repetitive tactics won't work against me."

As Goku swiftly rebounded, launching another assault, Seiya adeptly parried the attack with remarkable ease. In response, the Bronze Saint drew back his hand, his gaze filled with a resolute smirk, and unleashed the power of Pegasus Ryusei Ken merged with the incredible might of the Sagittarius Cloth. An intense outburst of energy, known as the Atomic Thunderbolt, surged forth.

"Atomic Thunderbolt!"

Goku found himself on the receiving end of an unforgiving stream of punishing attacks, helpless to defend against the relentless barrage. The force behind the onslaught caused the ground to explode, leaving a trail of craters in its wake as the sheer power impacted the planet's surface. Seiya continued to release the Atomic Thunderbolt with unwavering determination, until finally, he ceased the assault for a brief respite, gasping for air to catch his breath from the sheer energy expended in the attack.

The aftermath of Seiya's Atomic Thunderbolt attack materialized as dust and debris settled, revealing a defeated Goku, sprawled on the ground in Super Saiyan Blue form. Though he remained transformed, the fatigue in his expression betrayed the immense effort he had exerted during their intense confrontation.

Recovering from the devastating blows, Goku pushed himself back onto his feet, brushed off the dust, and took a deep breath to stabilize his body. A momentary serenity swept over the battlefield, punctuated only by the sound of Goku's voice as he declared,

"Kaio-ken times twenty! Ahhhhhh!"

With this invocation, the tranquil atmosphere shattered, giving way to an eruption of pulsating energy that radiated from the Saiyan's body. The tranquility of the battlefield was shattered as a crimson aura radiated from Goku's body, interlaying with the existing blue aura unleashed by his transformation to Super Saiyan Blue. A burst of intense scarlet light accompanied the escalation, and in an instant, Goku propelled himself forward with a swift series of attacks, throwing off Seiya with their unexpected velocity. Despite his efforts to block and evade, Seiya found himself on the defensive, straining to react to the relentless barrage. As Goku pressed on, closing the gap between them, the tension in the air grew palpable.

As Goku's relentless barrage continued, one of his strikes managed to slip past Seiya's guard, landing a critical blow to the Saint's chest. The impact left Seiya gasping, his breath involuntarily knocked out of him. Utilizing this fleeting opportunity, Goku let out a primal roar and surged forward, poised to capitalize further on the temporary vulnerability.

Exploiting the openings created by his precise flurry of strikes, Goku targeted the pressure points on Seiya's body with uncanny accuracy, delivering a series of devastating blows to his torso. The force of each impact left Seiya reeling, ultimately propelling him into the air. Recognizing this opportunity, Goku shifted his focus, channeling all of his ki into a massive Kamehameha energy wave.

"KAMEHAME-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Goku's roar echoed through the expanse, heralding the unleashing of his colossal Kamehameha, infused with the raw power of his Kaio-Ken transformation. The explosive wave of energy erupted from his fingertips, tearing through the air with an almost cataclysmic force. Seiya hastily extended his hand in a desperate attempt to parry the onslaught, but his defense was quickly overwhelmed by the overwhelming power behind the attack. With each passing second, the impact of the Kamehameha intensified, leaving Seiya exposed and defenseless. Adding to the barrage, Goku soared upward within the very confines of the Kamehameha wave, determined to press the attack further.

"Dragon Fist!"

With a surge of concentrated energy, Goku mustered all his might and delivered a mighty punch, slamming it straight into the center of Seiya's abdomen. The impact resonated with an intense shockwave that echoed throughout the universe, reverberating through the very fabric of existence. In the aftermath, Goku morphed into a dazzling display, surrounded by a radiant golden aura that took the form of a fearsome, roaring dragon. Unleashing the Dragon Fist technique, Goku's powerful attack surged forward, effortlessly passing through Seiya without making physical contact.

Seiya plummeted through the Earth's upper atmosphere, his falling form igniting with flames. Just as the ground loomed dangerously near, the Bronze Saint managed to recover, unfurling his gleaming golden wings to slow his descent until he finally touched down on the surface with a gentle landing. Panting heavily, Seiya gripped his aching abdomen, the intensity of the previous onslaught leaving its mark.

Goku touched down on the ground, gradually deactivating his Kaio-Ken multiplier as the intense auras surrounding him fizzled out. A chuckle escaped his lips, and he glanced over at Seiya, commenting on the intensity of their recent exchange.

"I have to admit, those last moves were pretty wild. Did I go a bit overboard there?"

Goku replied with a grin. Seiya, recovering from the overwhelming onslaught, managed to muster a weary smile.

"Yeah, those moves were definitely a bit much."

He admitted, his exhaustion evident in his voice.

"I'm not used to fighting someone with the kind of power and speed you possess."

Goku chuckled understandingly, a hint of humor in his response.

"Well, I'll admit, I tend to get a bit carried away during a fight."

He confessed, his tone filled with a mixture of pride and humility.

"I just figured you could handle me not holding back. But here."

Taking out a bag, he pulled out a Senzu Bean, and tossed it to Seiya. The Broze Saint seemed unfamiliar with what the bean was.

"Try eating that. It should help you recover faster from our little scuffle."

Seiya caught the bean with a puzzled expression, eyeing the unfamiliar Senzu Bean.

"What is this?"

Goku chuckled, amused by Seiya's curiosity.

"It's called a Senzu Bean. It's a small bean that has incredible healing properties. Just eat it, and you'll feel back to your old self in no time."

Seiya's eyes widened in surprise, impressed by the Senzu Bean's purported abilities. He gingerly took a bite, and as the flavor of fish filled his mouth, Goku watched as Seiya's injuries began to heal at an accelerated rate. The Bronze Saint couldn't help but marvel at the bean's rejuvenating powers, feeling his energy and strength swiftly returning.

"Incredible."

Seiya gasped, his voice filled with awe and gratitude. He saw Goku also eating one. Goku smiled, seeing Seiya's astonishment as the Senzu Bean worked its magic.

"That's the power of the Senzu Bean,"

He explained, his tone filled with a blend of pride and satisfaction as he ate one himself.

"It's a rare and valuable item that can accelerate the healing process significantly."

As the effects of the bean took hold, Goku and Seiya, both rejuvenated, stood across each other, their strength and energy restored.

"Now, you ready for some more?"

Goku asked with vigor, getting back into his fighting position. Seiya, now fully rejuvenated and recharged thanks to the Senzu Bean's healing properties, couldn't help but chuckle at Goku's relentless spirit. He flexed his muscles and took a fighting stance, preparing himself for another round.

"Ready as you are."

He replied, a confident smile playing on his lips. Goku unleashed four potent shockwaves at Seiya, generated solely by the pressure of his punches against the air. But, the Bronze Saint effortlessly deflected each one. Seizing his opportunity, Seiya swiftly caught Goku from behind and countered with another Pegasus Ryusei Ken, showering him with an infinite number of punches within a single second. The force of the attack sent Goku hurtling through a mountain, reducing it to smoldering rubble beneath his impact.

Goku, harnessing the power of Instant Transmission, teleported behind Seiya, aiming to land a powerful kick on the Bronze Saint. However, Seiya reacted quickly, blocking the attack with his hand, averting the imminent damage. In a show of sheer determination and strength, Goku and Seiya stood locked in a grueling stand-off, their fists colliding with a force that sent shockwaves radiating through the air.

Goku attempted to gain the upper hand with a series of lightning-fast kicks, but the first one was blocked by Seiya's skilled defense. However, rather than backing down, Goku swiftly pivoted, catching Seiya off guard with a powerful knee strike to the gut, momentarily destabilizing his balance. Seiya was sent hurtling through the air as the impact of Goku's kick forcibly propelled him back, creating a gust of wind swirling in his wake.

Seiya, displaying remarkable resilience, managed to stabilize himself in mid-air, regaining his composure and bolstering his defense. As Goku continued his onslaught of kicks, aiming to break through Seiya's Golden Armor, the Bronze Saint remained steadfast and unyielding. Despite the barrage of blows, the armor proved more than capable of withstanding the onslaught, showcasing Seiya's impressive defensive prowess. Goku, employing the afterimage technique, created multiple blurred copies of himself, attempting to bewilder Seiya. However, the experienced Bronze Saint was not deceived.

"I see right through your tricks." Seiya retorted.

In a swift and coordinated counterattack, they launched a simultaneous punch at each other, crashing their fists against one another's faces with uncanny synchronicity, sending shockwaves rippling through the air as they were both involuntarily propelled backward.

Goku roared in determination, his azure aura flaring ablaze as he reactivated his Kaio-Ken 20X multiplier. A blazing red layer wrapped itself around the blue aura, intensifying the power radiating from the Saiyan. With a defiant war cry, he charged directly towards Seiya, his approach exuding an indomitable resolve.

Goku executed a powerful kick that sent Seoya flying away, before swiftly following up with a knee strike to propel him higher into the air. As Seiya hung suspended in midair, Goku unleashed a devastating punch from above, sending him crashing straight back down onto the hard ground, creating another impact crater in the earth.

Goku positioned himself directly before Seiya, the air crackling with the energy he channeled. Swiftly gathering his ki, he unleashed a colossal Kaio-Ken God Kamehameha, firing the powerful beam at point-blank range. But Seiya refused to let himself be overpowered once more. He valiantly stood his ground against the onslaught of the godly ki blast, his determination shining through as he fought to overcome its overwhelming force.

Seiya, demonstrating his unwavering determination, defied the odds and reached through the ongoing stream of ki, landing a powerful punch right into Goku's face with precise aim. The blow temporarily disoriented the Saiyan, interrupting the release of the Kamehameha and forcing him to momentarily pause.

Seiya swiftly seized the opportunity to position himself behind Goku, embracing him from behind and initiating a high-velocity spin maneuver, encircling them in a whirlwind of energy. With seamless execution, he channeled his powers to release the Pegasus Rolling Crush technique, propelling them both skyward at a dizzying speed. As they ascended, the force of the technique grew stronger, culminating in a cataclysmic crash as they were hurled back down towards the earth. Upon impact, the force unleashed was sufficient to tremble the very ground beneath them, creating a colossal impact crater that extended for hundreds of feet in all directions.

Goku managed to kick Seiya out of the crater, immediately following him out and closing the distance between them. Their hands intertwined in a firm grip, creating an intense grapple between the two combatants. As they pushed against each other with tremendous force, the ground beneath them began to buckle and collapse, forming concaving craters at an alarming rate. This intense struggle continued, the pressure so immense that the ground continued to sink deeper with every few seconds, a testament to the sheer strength they were exerting against one another. Seiya observed with sharp insight, his understanding of the Kaio-Ken's mechanics becoming apparent.

"You know, I can tell that your Kaio-Ken is putting a strain on you. It takes immense focus and stamina to maintain that kind of multiplier."

Seiya's keen observation highlighted the drawback of Goku's technique. While it offered impressive power, its maintenance required a significant drain on his energy and concentration.

"Heh, you're right. Guess it's time to finally stop holding back."

Goku recognized the truth in Seiya's words and acknowledged it with a smirk, acknowledging the need to release his full capabilities. In a fluid motion, he executed a backflip, gracefully breaking away from the standstill, and deactivated the Kaio-Ken and Super Saiyan Blue, swiftly reverting to his base form. He stood there, gathering his energy and mental focus, preparing for an even greater challenge ahead.

As Goku summoned his Mastered Ultra Instinct form, his entire aura shimmered with a silvery luster. His hair flowed magnificently, returning to its original pitch black and defying gravity in the still air as it undulated without any wind to guide it. His eyes opened, revealing silver pupils that fixated intently upon Seiya. This was the pinnacle of Goku's martial arts journey, a manifestation of his relentless pursuit of mastery and the embodiment of his fighting spirit.

Seiya's eyes widened in genuine astonishment, his body betraying the shock he felt. The divine energy that surged forth from Goku's being was both breathtaking and intimidating. Even in his stillness, Goku exuded such overwhelming power that Seiya had little doubt he could effortlessly shatter any tangible object in existence. What Seiya witnessed was not merely the representation of a fighter empowered by the universe; it was a glimpse into the sheer force of creation materialized within an entity. No, it was like a billion Big Bangs making up Goku's body.

Seiya stood firm and defiant, ready to face the challenge head-on. In a defiant cry, he commanded his armor to release him, and the majestic Sagittarius Gold Armor shot off his body, returning to its rightful place. With a surge of power, Seiya summoned back his original armor, which now gleamed brilliantly, having transformed into the final and most elevated state; the Pegasus God Cloth.

The battlefield fell silent, a moment of tense anticipation suspended in the air, before a colossal shockwave rocked the universe as Goku suddenly materialized in front of Seiya, executing a lightning-fast jab straight to the Bronze Saint's chest. With pinpoint accuracy and incredible speed, Goku's attack found its mark, targeting a vulnerable spot in the gap of Seiya's defense. The impact sent Seiya stumbling back, stunned by the unexpected and perfectly timed strike.

The silver gleam in Goku's eyes intensified as he took off, his form becoming a focused and determined force, darting through the air with efficiency and purpose. He closed in on Seiya with calculated precision, his body moving like a heat-seeking missile, devoid of superfluous movement. As he prepared to deliver a punch to Seiya's right flank, the Godly Saint's instincts kicked into overdrive. With extraordinary reaction time, Seiya countered the incoming attack with a well-timed kick, successfully deflecting the punch. The resulting impact unleashed another shockwave, resonating powerfully throughout the universe, evidence of the incredible force behind their clash.

Goku, harnessing his incredible instincts, disappeared in a frenzy of light, launching a barrage of instantaneous attacks aimed directly at Seiya. Yet, Seiya's skill and focus were on par with Goku's offensive onslaught, as he efficiently repelled each incoming assault with a steady defense. In turn, Goku defended against Seiya's attacks just enough to prevent major injury. The two warriors fought intensely, their abilities and speed remarkably equal.

Seiya displayed an impressive ability to fend off Goku's offensive assaults, effectively countering jabs and sweeps with expert precision. Yet, he remained keenly aware that a single slip-up would spell immediate defeat against Goku's overwhelming strength propelled by Ultra Instinct. Despite his best efforts, the mere thought of a single blow from Goku could result in his instant defeat.

Seiya swiftly seized the opportunity to unleash the Pegasus Ryusei Ken, a technique that unleashed countless, nigh-instantaneous punches aimed directly at Goku. However, each and every punch proved ineffective as Goku expertly avoided them all. With a fluid motion, he glided past the barrage, evading every strike with incredible agility before reappearing behind Seiya, their backs now facing each other once again.

Goku executed a flawless backflip, seamlessly maneuvering so their heads were aligned perfectly. With impeccable timing, he swiftly swung his legs, delivering a powerful flying roundhouse kick directly aimed at Seiya's face, intending to completely incapacitate the Saint with a single, sweeping motion.

Seiya ducked under the kick, readying a powerful cosmo-infused punch aimed straight for Goku's face. Their fists were mere inches apart when suddenly Goku vanished, leaving Seiya in momentary surprise. A shock wave burst past him, followed by the force of a tsunami that shook his immediate vicinity. Seiya turned to face Goku once more, only to discover the Saiyan now holding a sphere of what was undoubtedly Seiya's cosmo. Goku proceeded to dissolve the sphere into harmless particles before he turned to confront Seiya again.

Seiya charged forward with a flying punch, which Goku adeptly evaded, only to counter with a chop aimed at Seiya's back. However, the attack passed right through an afterimage, leaving the Saiyan momentarily perplexed. Seiya swiftly capitalized on the distraction and unleashed a powerful elbow strike towards Goku's face. Surprisingly, the Saiyan managed to catch the elbow effortlessly in the palm of his hand, displaying his exceptional reflexes and skill.

Taking advantage of the disrupted balance, Goku unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks aimed at Seiya, attempting to overwhelm the Saint. However, the God Saint skillfully parried each blow, demonstrating the effectiveness of his armor in counteracting the assault. Despite the onslaught, Seiya remained steadfast, his armor protecting him from Goku's powerful strikes.

In a flash, Goku vanished from Seiya's field of vision, seeking to catch the Saint off guard. However, Seiya's instincts and divine senses allowed him to react just in time, thrusting his right elbow back to counter a well-aimed kick aimed at his blind spot. Despite the surprise, Seiya's quick reflexes enabled him to defend against the sneak attack.

Seiya, executing a backflip mid-air, launched a mighty Cosmo bullet aimed at Goku. Despite the deceptively small size, the sphere of energy surged forward with considerable force, effortlessly piercing right through the Moon and devastating the celestial body's interior in its wake. Seiya's eyes widened in astonishment, a hint of remorse in his tone as he muttered,

"Oops."

"Don't worry."

Goku nonchalantly assured Seiya with a chuckle.

"The Moon gets destroyed on the regular. Besides, I made a wish that everything will be restored once our battle ends. So you don't need to restrain yourself over possible damage."

Goku's words were filled with confidence and determination, his unwavering belief in the outcome of their battle evident in his voice. Seiya nodded, relieved by Goku's assurance.

"Well, in that case, let's go all out."

With renewed determination, Seiya prepared for the next stage of their intense battle. Goku's unwavering focus enabled him to generate a flurry of seemingly still punches, serving as a dual offense and defense. The relentless onslaught of attacks, numbering in the millions, pressed upon Seiya. In response, the God Saint ignited his Cosmo, skillfully parrying and evading the incoming barrage while executing his own Pegasus Ryusei Ken. Despite their stationary stances, the intensity of their clash reverberated through the vast expanse of the universe, leaving an unmistakable mark on the cosmic landscape.

Seiya unleashed a torrent of energy blasts from his fist, but they seemed to hit only empty space. In a sudden realization, Seiya understood that Goku had teleported behind him. With a swift counterattack, Goku materialized just behind Seiya, holding an energy blast poised to strike. Seiya's instincts kicked in, and he executed a flawless somersault, propelling himself over Goku and kicking away the potent energy blast, sending it hurtling deeper into the abyss of space.

Goku swiftly returned to the fray, conjuring multiple spheres of Ki in his hands. As he approached Seiya, the ki spheres encircled the Saint before exploding into beams of light that converged in a mesmerizing display. Anticipating this move, Seiya swiftly dropped to the ground, evading the attack and showcasing his sharp instincts. He skillfully navigated the flurry of Ki assaults without sustaining significant damage, proving his adaptability and ability to strategize against formidable adversaries.

Seiya countered with a sweeping kick, gracefully leaping over Goku's first attack. Capitalizing on the momentum, he transitioned into a quick headstand, launching a pair of kick strikes in rapid succession. Goku swiftly evaded the first kick but found himself face-to-face with the second, as Seiya's extended leg stood between them. To Seiya's surprise, Goku vanished and materialized atop the Saint's outstretched leg, his piercing gaze fixed upon Seiya. The atmosphere between them crackled with a mix of anticipation and intensity.

Caught off guard, Seiya somersaulted backward to regain his footing, leaving Goku hovering in mid-air without support. Sensing an advantage, Seiya deployed the divine wings of his Cloth to safeguard himself against Goku's swift hail of yellow ki blasts, successfully repelling each and every one. Yet, in his defensive maneuver, Seiya's vision was momentarily obstructed, allowing Goku a brief window of opportunity. Utilizing this fleeting instant, Goku teleported directly behind Seiya, already in the process of charging up another devastating Kamehameha wave.

Seiya swiftly spun around and hurled a powerful double-handed punch, unleashing an enormous burst of Cosmo that emanated from his being. However, Goku responded with a calculated maneuver. By flipping himself upside down, he effortlessly grounded the immense blast of energy using the ever-expanding sphere of his own Kamehameha wave. Despite the overwhelming force that Seiya unleashed, Goku maintained his balance and remained unaffected, successfully redirecting the energy stream without taking any damage.

With a flurry of energy and sheer determination, the fighters engaged in a fierce point-blank beam struggle. The Kamehameha unleashed by Goku collided forcefully with Seiya's own Cosmo blast, giving birth to a miniature beam struggle that sent flashes of both ki and cosmo flying in all directions. As the combatants pushed their attacks to their respective limits, an explosion of incredible power rocked the battlefield, hurtling both fighters in opposite directions, leaving them both momentarily disoriented.

With a firm stance, Seiya steadied himself in preparation for the confrontation, his honed senses on full alert. In that intense moment, he stood motionless, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Suddenly, a powerful shockwave struck the ground beside him, jolting him. Looking upward, Seiya spotted Goku above him, raining down a barrage of fearsome shockwave-infused punches aimed directly at him. In a display of incredible agility, Seiya dodged each strike, swiftly maneuvering out of the way as the impact spots on the battlefield began to crack and splinter under the tremendous force.

Unleashing his remarkable skills and agility, Seiya skyrocketed into the heavens like a blazing meteor, soaring towards Goku with explosive power. With a determined trajectory, Seiya approached the Saiyan as a potential force of cosmic destruction, intending to land a devastating kick. However, Goku showcased his extraordinary reflexes, gracefully leaping around and executing a backflip over the incoming attack. In that brief interlude, their gazes locked for a fleeting instant before Seiya swiftly spun around to face Goku once again. Goku, his breath labored and his form strained from exerting Mastered Ultra Instinct, addressed Seiya with a sincere expression.

"Listen, Seiya, I don't want to end this prematurely, but I'm nearing the limits of this form. If it times out and overtaxes my body, it could lead to some serious repercussions. So, let's finish this with our next attacks."

Goku's voice betrayed an underlying hint of caution, reflecting the immense strain of the ongoing battle. Seiya, in turn, showed a nod of understanding and determination, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. He silently prepared himself for the upcoming clash, his eyes locking onto Goku with unwavering focus. He knew that this was the moment that would determine the outcome of their epic confrontation. Without wasting a single moment, Seiya propelled himself upwards into the sky, poised to make it count in the final exchange with Goku.

A soft chuckle escaped Goku's lips as he glanced upward, anticipating Seiya's next move. As he began to charge his iconic technique, Goku spoke the familiar incantation with unwavering conviction.

"Kaaaaaa... meeeeee... haaaaaa… meeeeee…"

Every syllable echoed through the air, building anticipation and tension as the gathering energy intensified, creating an almost palpable sense of suspense around them both.

Seiya, hovering in the upper reaches of the sky, concentrated his formidable power into his clenched fist, amassing the collective force of his Pegasus Ryusei Ken for a singular, devastating attack. As he hurtled downward, a radiant glow enveloped his outstretched fist, a celestial star-like brilliance. With resolute determination, Seiya unleashed his attack, his voice ringing out as he announced it.

"Pegasus Suisei Ken!"

"HAAAAAAAAA!"

Goku's voice echoed with unwavering determination as he released the colossal beam of his Kamehameha wave. The massive blast, the size of a continent, surged through the air, colliding with the descending Seiya and his Pegasus Suisei Ken. Seiya could feel the intense heat and power radiating from the incoming energy wave, its devastating force closing in rapidly.

"Kaio-Ken!"

Goku roared, amplifying his power beyond his limits as he invoked the legendary technique. The planet beneath his feet erupted into a maelstrom of fiery destruction, unable to withstand the overwhelming force unleashed. The Kamehameha wave expanded to planetary proportions, its sheer size and scope breathtaking yet devastating. Despite the surge in power, Seiya stood steadfast, refusing to succumb to the overwhelming might. His God Cloth, however, strained under the immense pressure, its surface now fracturing from the titanic struggle between the two warriors.

Seiya, against all odds, found the strength to penetrate the colossal Kamehameha wave, surging forward towards an empowered Goku. Recognizing the imminent threat, Goku, fueled by his Ultra Instinct, summoned an energy avatar of his body to defend himself. With astonishing speed, the construct extended its energy-imbued fist, aiming to intercept Seiya's charging Pegasus Suisen Ken in a head-on collision.

The powerful punch exchange between Seiya and Goku unleashed such colossal force that reality itself warped and fragmented, causing the very fabric of the universe to collapse. The surrounding environment vanished into an abyss, reducing existence to mere elementary particles. As the dust settled, Goku found himself transported to another plane of existence, his eyes wide open, awestruck and disoriented by the unprecedented turn of events.

Disbelief washed over Goku's face as he spotted the halo hovering above his head, a familiar signal that he had passed on to the afterlife. With a heavy sigh, he acknowledged his demise once more.

"Aw, darn it."

Goku exclaimed, his voice tinged with disappointment at having met his end again in battle.

Goku, still grappling with his own fate, shifted his gaze to Seiya, noticing the absence of a halo above his head. Seiya, surveying the endless void around them, let out a sigh of exhaustion and remarked,

"Whew, that was intense. I haven't faced such an overwhelming challenge since my battle against Hades in my own universe. To say your strength rivals that of gods is an understatement."

Goku nodded in agreement, acknowledging the immense power Seiya displayed.

"Yeah, you're truly extraordinary. Your strength is nothing short of astounding. Even when I unleashed the full potential of Ultra Instinct, your power continued to grow and surpass my expectations."

He chuckled softly, accepting his defeat with a mix of admiration and acceptance.

"You've pushed me to my limits and beyond. Just what I was looking for in someone like you."

Seiya smiled, a mix of pride and humility crossing his features.

"Thank you, Goku. Your power is no less remarkable. The way you wield Ultra Instinct is a sight to behold. Our clash was one for the ages, a battle I'll remember for eternity."

With a friendly shrug, he added,

"So, you mentioned that everything will be restored, right? Based on some wish?"

His voice carried a hint of curiosity, acknowledging the outcome of their epic confrontation. Goku nodded, confirming Seiya's understanding.

"Yeah, that's right. Our battle caused the destruction of the universe, so the dragon balls will eventually come into play to restore everything, just as you said."

A wry smile tugged at Goku's lips.

"But just you wait. If we ever meet again, I'll be stronger than before. And maybe I'll beat you."

Seiya couldn't help but chuckle.

"Haha! That's the spirit, Goku! I wouldn't expect anything less from you. And don't worry, I'm always training and improving too. If we cross paths again in the future, we're bound to have another legendary battle."

As the dragon balls started to fix everything back to the way they were, Goku hastily asked,

"Oh wait! I don't think you told me your name! What's your name?"

Seiya smiled, realizing the oversight in their conversation.

"Ah, fair point. My apologies for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Seiya. It's a pleasure to meet you, Goku." He extended a hand, offering a fist bump. Goku responded with a grin, his eyes glinting with excitement.

"Seiya, huh? It suits you, buddy. And the pleasure is all mine."

He accepted the offered fist bump, their knuckles connecting with a satisfying thump. With a sense of finality, the dragon balls worked their magic, undoing the damage inflicted upon the universe during the monumental battle. Goku and Seiya, now returned to their respective realms, carried the memories of their extraordinary encounter forever etched in their hearts. This titanic clash between mortals who possessed powers rivaling the gods would undoubtedly stand as an unparalleled masterpiece in the annals of time, a testament to their incredible strength and indomitable spirits.
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Strength: Now this was truly a battle of the gods. Goku had the majority of power at his advantage. Ever since the power of Super Saiyan God remained attached to his base form, he could destroy 240 million universes. While the power multiplier of SSG or Ultra Instinct may not be officially stated, people seem to agree to a minimum of a 160,000X multiplier, since Goku's SS3 is 400X his base, and Vegito at a hypothetical SS3 is another 400X. Using this as a basis for every transformation stacked on top of SSG, the Ultra Instinct multiplier would be 512 trillion times his base. This would make Goku being able to destroy 770.5 quadrillion of our universes. 15.41 quintillion if he stacked Kaio-Ken on it. However, what gave Seiya the advantage is that like a certain legendary Super Saiyan, his power grew constantly, adapting to any power difference his opponent may have. While any quantifiable number is difficult to gauge for the Saint Seiya franchise, or if any individual Saint can even reach this kind of power, Seiya was able to literally raise his power to infinity, supported by Athena. This is further supported when he managed to hurt Hades, who created three separate realms of likely infinite size. This may seem like a repeat of Goku vs Superman, but while he has infinite potential with an unknown finite limit dependent on sunlight, Seiya is literally, canonically infinite, at least with his God Cloth.

Speed: Goku and Seiya likely tie in speed. Goku's speed is immeasurable, and Seiya's speed is likely around infinite as well, so while he may quantifiably faster, Goku's Ultra Instinct and Instant Transmission can let him keep up.

Skill: Goku's definitely the more skilled. Seiya is only 13, or 17 in whichever story that is, while Goku is a mid 40s martial arts master.

Experience: Goku also has much more experience. The Saiyan has fought all his life against various foes with different abilities, while Seiya has only fought against his own kind and Gods which don't really work like Dragon Ball gods.

Powers: Hakai, Spirit Bomb, Mafūba, Instant Transmission, God ki, God Bind, it does seem like that Goku has much more to throw at Seiya, but the thing is that Seiya is capable enough in that whatever trick Goku may try to pull, he can't successfully use it twice. Seiya has resisted existence erasure, the spirit bomb and mafūba would take too long, and God ki is not something the Saint is unfamiliar with.

The winner is Pegasus Seiya.
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Next time:

"With great power, comes great responsibility."

"We fought once tonight. You lost. If we fight again, you'll lose again. This time, you might not get up. If you raise your weapon, I'll break your arm before you can trigger it."

Chapter Text

Spider-Man

Backstory:

Peter Benjamin Parker was born in Queens to CIA agents Richard and Mary Parker, who were killed by the communist Red Skull and framed for treason during a mission. Following his parents' death, a young Parker was adopted by his uncle and aunt, Ben and May Parker, moving in with them at their residence in Forest Hills, New York. After their adopting of him, they became his surrogate parents and raised him as if he were their own son. Over the years into being a teenager, Parker grew to be a prodigy in multiple scholastic subjects at Midtown High School and achieving high honors among his classmates. However, his reserved nature and enthusiasm for knowledge often made him a target for bullying, primarily football star Eugene "Flash" Thompson.

When Peter was 15 years old, he attended the public exhibition of a device called the Isotope Genome Accelerator. A spider on the scene was irradiated by the accelerator during its demonstration. In sudden shock, the arachnid landed on the hand of the oblivious student and bit him before dying from the exposure to radiation. Initially malaised by the incident, Peter left the venue. He was almost hit by a car until he instinctively leapt out of the way, clinging to the side of a building a couple of meters high. Peter discovered that he had somehow gained superhuman powers that he immediately associated with the bite at the demonstration: the proportionate strength, speed and agility of a spider, as well as surface scaling, and a precognitive ability to detect and avoid danger that he dubbed "spider-sense."

Encountering an ad offering a cash prize for lasting three minutes in the ring with Joseph "Crusher" Hogan, Peter decided this would be a good way to test his powers. Wearing a mask to avoid humiliation in case of defeat, Peter used his powers and easily defeated his opponent. TV producer Maxwell Shiffman observed his performance and convinced him to go on television with his 'act.' Designing a full costume and fabricating synthetic spider's web and wrist-mounted web-shooters, Peter debuted as "Spider-Man" to become an immediate sensation.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Regeneration (Mid-Low; can regenerate broken bones in hours),

Acrobatics (Can easily leap several stories high. States he can achieve perfect equilibrium in any position imaginable and that he's without peers when it comes to any acrobatic acts. Unaffected by a nausea-inducing blast from Vertigo),

Martial Arts Master (Has trained under the likes of Captain America and Shang Chi, and has a fighting style specifically tailored towards his abilities using his training),

Stealth Proficiency (Capable of sneaking into Latveria undetected. Daredevil describes him as impossibly quiet, and has used his abilities to sneak up on his enemies),

Enhanced Senses (Much better than a normal human's. Can detect radio frequencies and radiation trails. Can sense dangerous people. His Spider-Sense is heightened when he's blind, allowing him to "see" danger rather than sense it. Can sense disturbances in Space-Time. Can vaguely sense how many people are coming, how fast, and how close they are),

Precognition and Instinctive Reaction (His Spider-Sense alerts him and works as an instinctive response to danger),

Extrasensory Perception (Can sense presences and how they feel compared to each other. Can sense and dodge invisible attacks. Senses Morwen manifesting in the city. Can use his Spider Sense in reverse to find the most danger),

Perception Manipulation (His Spider Sense slows action down to a crawl and says it allows him to think of jokes for what feels like hours),

Web Creation (Can use his webbing in a variety of ways, ranging from enhancing his mobility in several ways to using it as several forms of projectiles),

Surface Scaling (Can cling to and climb nearly any surface. Strong enough to overpower the momentum of a giant flying robot, being yanked by Colossus, and holding onto a space shuttle. Can also use it to throw opponents or rip off skin from somebody's face),

Paralysis Inducement (After his training with Shang-Chi, Spider-Man has shown knowledge of attacking nerve clusters and using pressure points),

Afterimage Creation (Can consistently move fast enough to create several afterimages of himself),

Pseudo-Flight (Can create wings made of webbing to replicate flight),

Resistance to Mind Manipulation, Empathic Manipulation and Fear Manipulation (Capable of resisting the mind control of the Hypno-Hustler, who controlled an entire night club full of people. Fought against and overcame Helminth's empathic control) Managed to resist and fight back against Psycho-Man's emotional control, which caused self-doubt, fear, and self-hate throughout all of the Avengers Academy students),

Telepathy (His next move is unable to be read telepathically due to relying on instinct and acting before he thinks),

Illusion Creation (Capable of freeing himself from Mysterio's illusions),

Petrification (Recovered from Grey Gargoyle's touch within moments),

Body Swapping (Implanted a chip in his body to prevent body swaps),

Paralysis Inducement (Can receive a nerve pinch from Iron Fist and quickly recover due to his Spider-Sense warning him. Resists the effects of venom darts that should've left him paralyzed for hours),

Biological Manipulation (His metabolism fought back against a drug that should've given him heart failure),

Electricity Manipulation (Capable of taking electricity from Dr. Doom's suit, which is stated to have 100,000 Megavolts of energy. His webbing insulates electricity and leaves Spider-Man unaffected by it),

Fire Manipulation (Spider-Man's webs are unaffected by flames and can withstand the fire from an angered Human Torch),

Acid Manipulation (Can survive being submerged in acid that could dissolve a man in seconds. His webs can withstand it as well),

Extreme Cold and Radiations (Can survive for a limited time in the vacuum of space. Has survived an explosion from a missile that had enough toxins to kill the entire city for several minutes, although he would've died if he wasn't treated),

Earthly Poisons and Diseases (Can even recover from vampirism), possible Resistance to Antimatter Manipulation (Is unaffected by contact with with Anti-matter spheres),

Limited Resistance to Possession and Memory Manipulation (Managed to hold back Mosaic's takeover, which is described as rewriting biochemical systems. While his mind fights against it to protect his memories and keep control of his body, he ultimately fails),

Weaknesses: None applicable
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Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley)

Backstory:

Jean-Paul Valley, better known as Azrael, is a vigilante who formerly operated out of Gotham City. At one point taking the mantle of Batman when the original was broken by Bane, he was forcibly fired from the role and returned to his position as Azrael. Named after the Angel of Death, most of his extraordinary abilities come from severe amounts of subconscious training and conditioning he was put through during his youth, unaware that he was being controlled by a 500-year old devout religious sect called the Order of St. Dumas that his ancestors had belonged to for generations.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Has centuries of martial arts experience installed into him, Ra's Al Ghul considers his skill to be comparable to that of Batman),

Acrobatics (Consistently performs complex acrobatic maneuvers, often utilizing them in combat),

Stealth Mastery (Snuck up on Tim Drake),

Weapon Mastery (Accurately hits targets with his gauntlet guns from 10 feet (3.05 m) away, precisely calculates the trajectory of his shots to tag a foe ),

Enhanced Senses (Directly notes he has those, the system tells him if his foes are lying or not, can warn him before he eats poisoned food),

Self-Sustenance (Doesn't need sleep or food while under the System's influence),

Instinctive Action (Can fight without thought or awareness),

Analytical Prediction (The System can analyze greater threats and make him react as needed),

Fire Manipulation (His sword and gauntlet blades can light themselves on fire, can shoot blasts of fire),

Rage Power (The system can take control of him and direct his anger to take down a physically superior foe)

Pain and Magnetism Manipulation (His gauntlets can fire augmented magnetic fields that disrupt the nervous system and temporarily knock people out),

Supernatural Willpower (Overcame his addiction to an enhanced version of venom overnight. This version of venom was said to make heroin and cocaine look like chewing gum in comparison, in terms of addiction. It took Bruce Wayne a month to overcome his addiction to the prototype of venom, in comparison),

Regeneration (Low-Mid, his body can heal from significant injuries with no help, healed several bullet wounds in an extremely short timeframe)

Weaknesses: His mental stability is not always great.
———————————
Song: Webbed Justice

Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, gracefully traversed the city skyline of New York, propelled by his web-filled swings, he engaged in a patrol, vigilant for any signs of crime. Ready to intervene and deliver his signature blend of witty remarks, Spider-Man navigated the city's heights with a sense of purpose and charm.

As he swung through the city, Spider-Man suddenly felt a familiar sensation at the back of his head; the ever-present tingling of his spider-sense, warning him of a disturbance ahead. The sound of gunshots and shouting reached his acute senses, emanating from a nearby rooftop.

Spider-Man swiftly swung towards the rooftop, his eyes locking onto a vigilante unlike any he had encountered before – Jean-Paul Valley's Azrael. As the scene unfolded before him, Spider-Man witnessed, with growing unease, as the vigilante delivered ruthless justice to the criminals. The realization hit him hard, and he knew he had to intervene.

Spider-Man's voice cut through the air as he called out, a note of caution in his tone, "Whoa, whoa! Hold on, tall, dark, and serious. There's no need to take it that far."

As his words reached Azrael, the vigilante halted momentarily, as if considering the weight of the masked hero's intervention. The rooftop fell eerily quiet. Azrael turned slowly to face the newcomer, a mixture of surprise and annoyance on his featureless face.

"What is it, Spider? I'd appreciate if you didn't get in my way."

His voice was cold and calculated, tinged with a hint of frustration at being interrupted. Spider-Man, undeterred by Azrael's dismissive tone, stood his ground, his masked face meeting the blank gaze of the ruthless vigilante.

"I couldn't just stand by and watch."

He responded firmly, the determination in his voice evident.

"There are better ways to handle things than resorting to lethal force. We're here to save lives, not end them."

Azrael's face contorted in disgust at Spider-Man's idealistic words.

"You heroes and your codes. You think I care about saving some worthless criminals? You think you're better because of your 'Thou shalt not kill' shtick?"

Azrael crossed his arms in annoyance. Spider-Man stood firm, his resolve unwavering in the face of Azrael's cynicism.

"It's not about being better," he reasoned, his voice steady and composed.

"It's about doing what's right. No matter how flawed they may be, these criminals still have a chance to change their ways. And as long as there's a chance, we have to fight for it."

Azrael let out a scoff.

"Spare me the sermons, Spider. You have your methods, and I have mine. If you value your life, I suggest you stay out of mine."

Azrael extended his wrist mounted blades, a clear indication that things could turn ugly if Spider-Man persisted. The air crackled with tension as Spider-Man squared off against the armed Azrael. Despite the danger, the web-slinger stood his ground.

"I can't just let you continue down this path. Violence shouldn't be the answer."

His voice held a hint of determination and compassion, hoping to reach the troubled man before him.

"You can't stop me."

Azrael spat, his voice filled with a chilling conviction.

"I am justice. And if you're going to stand in my way, you will share the same fate as these criminals."

His cold and remorseless tone sent a shiver down Spider-Man's spine. He would need all his wits to handle this encounter. Spider-Man, ever quick on his feet, swiftly shot out two web lines, trying to ensnare the formidable Azrael. However, to his surprise, Azrael didn't even need his weapons to intercept the webs. With a swift and effortless movement, the enigmatic vigilante caught the webs in his bare hands, his grip firm and unwavering. Spider-Man's eyes widened beneath his mask, caught off guard by this unexpected display of power and agility.

In an instant, Azrael unleashed his strength, pulling Spider-Man towards him with a swift tug and delivering a powerful clothesline that landed squarely across his neck. Despite the pain, Spider-Man's agility and reflexes allowed him to somersault onto his feet, regaining his footing in a flash. Shaking his head to clear the temporary disorientation, Spider-Man braced himself for the next move, his senses on high alert.

Brushing off the brief disorientation, Spider-Man muttered to himself, his keen mind already strategizing his next move. He whispered,

"Okay, okay. Strong and fast. Gonna have to be smart about this."

Suddenly, his spider-sense tingled, and as if on instinct, he dodged Azrael's incoming attack with incredible agility. Jean-Paul's onslaught continued as he attempted a flurry of strikes; a punch, a high kick, and a knee aimed at Spider-Man's gut. However, with his enhanced senses and agility, the arachnid hero effortlessly dodged and blocked each attack, leaving Jean-Paul seething in frustration. Caught in the heat of the moment, Jean-Paul's frustration boiled over. With a burst of anger, he roared,

"Stay still and fight me, you coward!"

Undeterred by the outburst, Spider-Man couldn't help but chuckle, his agile body gracefully dodging and weaving around each attack. His witty nature and quick-witted responses stood as a stark contrast to Azrael's relentless aggression. As the confrontation intensified, Spider-Man continued to dance around Azrael's relentless barrage, his agile body dodging and deflecting each attack with remarkable grace. Despite the dangerous situation, he couldn't help but keep up the banter.

"You know, you could ease up a bit."

Spider-Man quipped.

"Maybe grab a cup of coffee to calm down those nerves?"

Despite Spidey's clever quips, Azrael was a force to be reckoned with. When the web-slinger attempted to land some counterattacks, Jean-Paul seized the opportunity, catching one of Spider-Man's punches and retaliating with a powerful headbutt that sent the hero stumbling backward. With a menacing tone, Jean-Paul warned,

"Keep joking. We'll see if you can stay funny when I break your jaw."

Acting on instinct, Jean-Paul crashed into Spider-Man, sending them both plummeting off the edge of the rooftop. With a quick reflexes, Spidey shot out a web line that snagged onto the edge of the roof just in time, pulling them up with a swing that sent them crashing into the building. The shattering of glass echoed through the room as they rolled into an office floor, causing panicked employees to flee from the area frantically. Spider-Man stood amidst the shattered glass, his suit slightly torn from the impact. With a wry smile behind his mask, he quipped to himself,

"Well, at least there are no workers in danger now."

He then leaped across the cubicle walls, using his agility and quick thinking to reposition himself strategically within the new environment, hoping to gain an advantage on his formidable adversary. Spider-Man sprinted through the maze of toppled desks and cubicle walls, deftly dodging the slashes from Azrael's wrist-mounted blades as they tore through the office space with alarming precision. As the pursuit continued, Azrael declared with a chilling resolve,

"Don't think you'll get away so easily. I am Death's Dark Knight, and I am coming for you."

Spider-Man's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and urgency, the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he navigated the chaotic office surroundings. As Spider-Man spoke, his voice filled with a hint of mockery,

"Let me guess, you're one of those religious fanatics, right? A carrier of divine justice in human hands? I've faced plenty of lunatics before, religious or not, so don't think you're so special."

Azrael's response was as quick as his blade, slicing through the flying debris with ruthless precision, refusing to be disheartened by Spider-Man's taunts. The clash between the two heroes intensified as they engaged in a relentless battle of wits and strength.

"You talk too much."

Azrael's voice cut through the air like razor sharp, his resolve unwavering. Jean-Paul's projectile blade sliced through the air with lethal precision, poised to find its mark. But Spider-Man's reflexes were quicker, catching the cable attached to the blade in his hand. With a witty quip, he retorted,

"What goes around comes around."

In a split second, he yanked on the cable, pulling Azrael towards him and delivering a powerful punch that connected with his adversary's face. The force of the blow sent Azrael crashing into a wall, a satisfying payback for the earlier clothesline.

Azrael, landing gracefully on his feet, retracted his blade back into his wrist before unleashing a plume of fiery flames from his wrist-mounted flamethrowers. Spider-Man narrowly evaded the onslaught with a quick cartwheel maneuver, the scorching heat singeing his senses as he narrowly dodged the attack. The force of the flames shattered the office windows, sending shards of glass flying as the fire spread within the office space.

Despite the sprinklers activating in response to the intense heat, Azrael continued to spew flames, filling the office space with a fiery inferno. The relentless blaze consumed the surroundings, creating a thick haze of smoke that threatened to choke Spider-Man as he maneuvered through the chaotic environment. The flickering flames danced along the walls, casting an eerie glow in the smoky surroundings, and forcing Spider-Man to act quickly to evade the encroaching blaze.

Peter's spider-sense tingled with a sense of impending danger. He turned his gaze towards where the intuition led him, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Azrael leap through the fire, his costume engulfed in flames, resembling a sinister angel of death ready to strike.

As the relentless assault continued, Jean-Paul delivered a powerful punch that shattered one of Spider-Man's mirrored lenses, revealing his hazel-colored left eye beneath the mask. Spider-Man was then propelled through several office walls, with Azrael's enhanced strength demolishing the obstacles in their path, including a window that sent them crashing out onto another rooftop of a lower building. The impact on the rooftop created a brief moment of disorientation, the force of the collision sending a shockwave through the arachnid hero's body.

As Azrael attempted to land some attacks, his blows met the sturdy defenses of Spider-Man, who blocked each move with precise timing and skill. But as he pushed the arachnid hero against the wall, he lunged with his bladed arm, aiming to catch his adversary off guard. But Peter's quick reflexes allowed him to backflip away, effortlessly evading the strike and gaining a moment's distance from his formidable opponent.

With a quick and tactical move, Spider-Man shot two web lines at the wall where Azrael was pinned, intending to bring it crashing down to potentially incapacitate him. However, despite the momentary advantage, Jean-Paul demonstrated his immense strength, catching the wall and forcefully hurling it through the air toward Spider-Man. Acting swiftly, the arachnid hero ducked beneath the flying debris, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the hefty wall.

As Azrael expertly wielded his blades, which were now engulfed in flames for added force, Spider-Man deftly evaded every swing with a mixture of acrobatic finesse and agility. The arachnid hero swiftly hit him hard in the back, following it up with a daring somersault that allowed him to land a powerful punch on Jean-Paul's face. The impact staggered the vigilante, leaving him momentarily disoriented as he reeled from the surprise assault.

In a split second, Jean-Paul's finely honed instincts and martial arts training kicked in, guiding his actions as he countered the incoming fist with practiced ease. Seizing the opening, he swiftly pressed a hand against Spider-Man's chest, unleashing the scorching flames from his palm in an explosive burst known as the "Angel's Wrath." The fiery inferno engulfed the web-slinger, propelling him backward with an intense force. The spider emblem on his chest was scorched and blackened, marking the impact of the powerful attack. With a pained groan, Spider-Man slowly raised his gaze to meet the impending threat of the approaching Azrael, who cracked his knuckles ominously, extending one of his wrist blades with a deadly grace. The tension hung thick in the air as the vengeful vigilante declared his intent, his voice cold and laced with determination.

"End of the road, itsy bitsy Spider,"

Azrael declared, his eyes fixated on his adversary as he prepared to strike the final blow. In the heat of the moment, as the vengeful Azrael lunged forward with a lethal stab, Peter swiftly rolled to the side to gain momentum for a well-placed kick. His foot connected with Azrael's elbow, targeting the vulnerable joint with surgical precision. A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Spider-Man's lips as he quipped,

"That's what you think, Stabby!"

The blow delivered a devastating impact, effectively incapacitating the villain's arm. In a moment of vulnerability, a cry of pain escaped Jean-Paul's lips as he clutched his injured arm. But fueled by anger and determination, he tried to compensate by firing his extendable blade from his undamaged limb. However, Spider-Man swiftly intervened, seizing the blade mid-air and tugging Azrael towards him. With a calculated strike, he targeted the villain's other elbow, snapping it with a powerful punch. The breaking of the joint sent shockwaves of pain through Azrael's body, leaving him doubly incapacitated.

Despite the incapacitation of both his arms, Jean-Paul's indomitable spirit remained undeterred. With unwavering resolve, he declared,

"You think I need my arms? I can easily crush a bug like you under my feet."

Spider-Man couldn't help but chuckle at the villain's defiant remarks, amused by the tenacity in the face of obvious defeat. With a playful chuckle, Spider-Man responded,

"Alright, first off, spiders are arachnids. Second, you mean these feet?"

With a quick and strategic move, he used his webs to ensnare Azrael's feet, yanking them out from under him. The sudden loss of balance sent the villain crashing to the ground, where Spider-Man swiftly subdued him with multiple layers of thick webbing, effectively immobilizing the defeated foe. With a victorious smirk beneath his mask, Spider-Man quipped,

"Stay there while I alert the authorities. Just another day for the amazing, the spectacular, the ultimate Spider-Man."

With a graceful leap, he launched himself into the air with a powerful web-sling, disappearing into the urban skyline, leaving the defeated Azrael helplessly tangled in his webbing.
——————
Strength: Now, unlike most of the bat family, Jean-Paul did happen to have enhanced strength, keeping him from being overwhelmed. Without his costume, Valley was able to lift a tree off the road and toss it aside. Assuming it's a common pine and given the overall dimensions, Jean-Paul likely lifted a 20.5 ton tree. And his costume likely made him stronger. However, even if the tree was heavier, or the suit doubled, or even tripled his strength, Peter is known for having strength feats between 60 tons to 130 tons. And he's faced physically superior foes like the Lizard, Rhino, Sandman, and Venom. While Peter may normally need an exuberant amount of motivation to perform his strongest strength feats, it's safe to say that Spider-Man's always going to be between 1.2-2X stronger than Azrael at minimum.

Speed: Thanks to Azrael's enhancements, their bullet dodging feats are quick similar, and he even has a variation of his own spider-sense, where both can fight and react without active thought. However, while Jean-Paul is able to react to bullets and explosions, Spider-Man has been able to outpace those with analytical predictions, like Daredevil, Captain America and Black Panther, the first former stating he can barely keep track of him. It's doubtful that Azrael would be any different.

Skill: Jean-Paul is the obviously more skilled in martial capability, but Spider-Man has learned some fighting techniques from Captain America and Shang-Chi, so he had some martial skill and has mastered his techniques of Spider style fighting. Still, Peter falls short in this category.

Experience: Unfortunately for Jean-Paul, he does not have Spider-Man's 12 year repertoire of fighting against villains, the latter having faced villains more powerful and dangerous than Azrael could ever hope to be.

Powers: Having a Kevlar suit does give Azrael better armor, and the swords does give Valley some range and the ability to cut through webs as strong as steel, but Spider-Man's spider-sense just negates any advantage Jean-Paul would have. And despite having the ability to attack Peter's nervous system directly, he's powered through attacks like that before, and functions similarly to the Shocker's concussive blasts, which enough webbing could take out both. This is actually why I didn't pit him up against the more thematically appropriate choice of Daredevil. To avoid another Daredevil vs Nightwing thing.
———————
Next time:

"Enough prattle! You'll both bend a knee to Outworld's new emperor."

"I am the Shadow Lord! You have no power over me!"

Chapter Text

Shao Kahn

Backstory:

Long ago, Shao Kahn once served as the adviser to Onaga when the latter ruled Outworld as the Dragon King. Onaga's Empire had become the most powerful among all of the realms, and so he began searching for a way to become immortal. Before this goal could be realized, Shao Kahn made his move by poisoning Onaga and taking his kingdom. Upon assuming the emperor's throne, Shao Khan began to drain the vegetation energies of Outworld and turned it into a barren wasteland. From then on, Shao Kahn continued many of the former emperor's plans to conquer all. He continued to add lesser realms to Outworld, either through direct conquest or through Mortal Kombat.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Despite being known as a brutish fighter, Shao Kahn seems to have some form of footwork while fighting with his hammer, implying that he has a degree of fighting skills. Also uses wrestling techniques),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled in wielding his hammer and spear),

Acrobatics (Can leap forward for several meters),

Magic (Implied to have great knowledge on sorcery, including Skarlet's blood magik, but he isn't seen using them as he usually prefers hand-to-hand combat),

Longevity (Outworlders have naturally long lifespans),

Regeneration (Low-Mid over time. Healed from Liu Kang's fist going through his chest but needed Quan Chi to accelerate his recovery),

Energy Manipulation (Most of his attacks possess a green colored aura, which is the magic that he uses to boost the speed of his attacks [and in turn increase their impact]. He can also shoot scorching, energy beams from his hands),

Soul Manipulation (Shao Kahn is an unparalleled master of soul magic, even the likes of Shang Tsung hoped to surpass his emperor's magic with his own. Besides draining and consuming many souls at once while receiving their benefits (bonus strength, memories/knowledge, health replenishment, etc.), he can fuse the souls of others to create a singular being that's under his control),

Weapon Creation (Can create energy spears out of thin air),

Weapon Control (Can summon the Wrath Hammer out of thin air. As of MK11, he summons his spear [which is now a physical weapon] rather than creating it),

Telekinesis (Likely a side effect of him gaining so much souls, Shao Kahn has the ability to manipulate opponents and objects from a short distance),

Resistance to Soul Manipulation and Mind Manipulation (Trapped inside him are the many souls that he has consumed, likely numbering in the millions or billions. Ermac, who has a larger amount of souls in him, was able to resist Takeda's attempts to read his mind due to the latter being unable to telepathically read all of them at once, so Shao Kahn should scale to this feat)

Weaknesses: Shao Kahn is prone to bragging, humiliating and mocking his opponents, but sometimes he may simply set these aside to kill them personally.
—————
Gargos

Backstory:

There is another dimension; the Astral Plane. It is ruled by the evil tyrant Gargos. Long ago the other Astral beings resisted this Shadow Lord, but he slew them all and stole their powers. Good creatures known as Guardians fled from Gargos and his minions, escaping to other dimensions, and they sealed the Astral Plane behind them so that the corruption of Gargos could never taint another world until the sorcerer Kan-Ra re-opened that door, manipulated by Gargos' powerful mind control. Now Gargos is invading the Earth with his army of duplicate fighters called Mimics. This twisted demigod must be stopped, or he will enslave the human race forever...

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Incorporeality (In his true form),

Immortality (Type 1; Time is meaningless to him),

Hand-to-Hand Combat,

Acrobatics,

Bodily Weaponry (Sharp claws, horns and wings. His third body has long blades on the forearms),

Flight and Spaceflight,

Shadow Energy Manipulation,

Damage Boost (Can use Shadow Energy to enhance the properties of his special attacks),

Corruption (Non-physically),

Empowerment,

Portal Creation,

Dimensional Travel,

BFR,

Summoning,

Absorption,

Subjective Reality and Creation,

Duplication (Can create Mimics),

Reactive Evolution,

Power Nullification (Is the only one who can bypass Tusk's invulnerability and kill him),

possibly Invulnerability (Stole the same powers that made Tusk invulnerable and only few weapons, such as Warg-gram, are able to actually damage him),

Electricity Manipulation and Matter Manipulation (His lightnings alter matter and corrupt it, by breaking down its molecular structure),

Mind Manipulation and Telepathy (Used his telepathic abilities to control Kan-Ra),

Soul Manipulation and Non-Physical Interaction (Could capture Eyedol's soul),

Telekinesis (Choked Jago without touching him),

Empathic Manipulation (His power was pushing Jago towards deep violent tendencies),

Astral Projection (Visited Jago in the guise of the Tiger Spirit. Projected his emblem over the sky),

Extrasensory Perception (Sensed the Guardians upon their arrival in the Astral Plane),

Sealing (Sealed the Guardians inside a flesh construct, severing the bond with their owners. Imprisoned Aganos within the Eye of the Ancients),

Necromancy (His corruption causes spirits to become restless),

Energy Projection (Via Insolence),

Body Control,

Damage Reduction and self-Statistics Reduction (Via Stoneskin),

Resistance to Heat (Wasn't burned by Jago's Endokuken)

Likely all the powers of the beings they copy, Immortality (Ageless), limited Reactive Power Level, Extrasensory Perception, Power Nullification, Teleportation, Petrification, Immunity to Soul Manipulation,

Precognition,

Healing,

Statistics Amplification,

Weaknesses: His true form may be unable to interact with physical beings in a conventional way, and it might be impossible for him to either maintain an incorporeal form in the Mundane Plane or enter it at all. Warg-gram is one of the only weapons capable of causing him mortal damage.
———————————
Song: Mortal Instinct

The fearsome ruler of Outworld, Shao Kahn, sat on his throne, his eyes glinting with sadistic delight as he observed the unfolding carnage within the tournament grounds. His demonic visage exuded power and menace, his presence casting a dark shadow over the arena of bloodshed.

The abrupt arrival of a dark portal shattered the tension as it materialized within the arena, interrupting the tournament in progress. Two diminutive figures emerged from the portal: Izzik wielded its trident with lethal intent, swiftly incapacitating one fighter, while Dretch dashed toward the other, brutally beating them to death. Shao Kahn's eyes flashed with irritation as he rose from his throne, his patience tested by the sudden intrusion into his tournament. The towering and fearsome Ichorien demon, Gargos, emerged from the portal, his presence commanding respect and fear. With a wicked laugh that echoed through the arena, he declared,

"Begin the invasion! Kneel before your god!" He commanded his army to storm Outworld, their formidable forces launching a coordinated assault upon the realm.

As the invasion escalated, most individuals scurried to safety or met their demise within the chaos of the onslaught. Shao Kahn, with a fierce resolve, summoned a powerful hammer into his grasp, effortlessly dispatching any demons within proximity. With anger and indignation coursing through his veins, he roared,

"Who dares invade my domain?!"

The demon warlord Gargos, unfazed by the challenge, chuckled menacingly.

"Your domain will soon be mine. Your throne, your subjects, everything will be under my command. Accept your fate, mortal. Opposing me is futile."

Shao Kahn's eyes gleamed with a mix of fury and determination.

"You will rue the day you dared to challenge me. Your arrogance blinds you to the futility of your endeavor."

Gargos surged forward with a reckless charge, aiming to overpower Shao Kahn. However, the Outworld ruler was swift and precise in his countermeasures. With a series of well-executed moves, Kahn halted Gargos' advance. A swift kick to the stomach, followed by a stomp on the demon's foot, continued with a powerful shoulder ram to the chest, culminating in an airborne uppercut that sent Gargos soaring. Finally, the mighty Wrath Hammer delivered a final crushing blow, driving the Ichorien backward with tremendous force.

Gargos, his wings stabilizing him mid-air, unleashed a primal roar, propelling himself back towards Shao Kahn. He retaliated with a clawed uppercut that sent the Outworld ruler soaring into the air. Gargos followed up with a powerful stomp, driving him forcefully back to the ground. A forceful kick launched the Kahn into the direction of his throne, completely shattering it. The demon warlord reveled in his momentary triumph, a guttural laugh escaping his lips.

Despite the initial impact, Shao Kahn stood his ground, his resilience unbroken. With a swift recovery, he rolled his head to alleviate any stiffness, readying himself for further confrontation. Undeterred by the earlier assault, he defiantly taunted Gargos, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Is that your best?"

Shao Kahn challenged, his grip tightening around the mighty Wrath Hammer. With a sinister chuckle, Gargos responded in a mocking tone,

"Not impressed? How about this?"

Without warning, the demon warlord opened a series of portals, transforming the battlefield into a chaotic symphony of surprise attacks. Quick and relentless punches came from different directions, each hit striking Shao Kahn at unpredictable moments. The Outworld emperor, caught off guard by the sudden barrage of punches, struggled to anticipate the next strike, leaving him at a momentary disadvantage. With a swift and precise maneuver, Shao Kahn grasped one of the punches coming through a portal, halting the relentless assault and trapping Gargos's arm within the portal. His frustration and irritation evident, he stated in a resolute tone,

"Nothing but annoying cheap shots!"

Seizing the opportunity, Shao Kahn began squeezing Gargos's arm, attempting to cause pain and potentially force the demon to capitulate. Gargos desperately attempted to fly away, trying to escape Shao Kahn's ironclad grip. However, the Outworld emperor was determined to end the confrontation, yanking him back through the tiny portal and forcefully striking his knee into Gargos's face. With a devastating impact, Shao Kahn's knee smashed into the Ichorien's nose, causing immediate pain and disorienting him.

With a decisive motion, Shao Kahn withdrew his wrath hammer, rearing back for a lethal strike. Swinging the massive weapon with full force, he unleashed a devastating blow that connected squarely with Gargos's face, driving the shadow lord backward with a powerful impact. Gargos crashed to the ground on his back, dazed and in disorientation. Though still conscious, the force of the attack left him nursing a severe headache and a prominent blunt injury on his head.

As Gargos lay recovering from the powerful attack, Shao Kahn could not help but chuckle, relishing in the successful strike against his adversary. However, his moment of triumph was abruptly interrupted by the unexpected and unwelcome intrusion of Izzik and Dretch. With a mischievous jab, Izzik drove its pitch fork into Kahn's back, eliciting a mix of pain and irritation. Dretch followed suit, attempting to attack the Outworld ruler, adding further minor annoyances to the fray. The relentless barrage of minor attacks resembled the persistent annoyance of being flicked hard and stabbed by splinters.

With a swift and forceful stomp, Shao Kahn brought his foot down upon Dretch, effectively reducing the small demon to a bloodied stain on the ground. A quick shift of his attention followed as he easily wrenched Izzik from his back, tearing the diminutive demon apart with an effortless motion. As the defeated assailants dissolved into shadow, Shao Kahn expressed his disdainful assessment, uttering a single word,

"Worthless."

Caught off guard by the fierce wind that sent him hurtling backward with considerable force, Shao Kahn crashed into a sturdy colosseum wall, the impact causing the robust stone structure to crack. Taking advantage of the brief distraction, Gargos managed to regain his composure, using his powerful wings to conjure a strong gust of wind. With a decisive jump, the demon warlord leaped through a portal and descended forcefully upon the disoriented ruler of Outworld, seizing the opportunity to deliver a powerful tackle.

With a swift and calculated motion, Gargos seized his opportunity, gripping Shao Kahn's body with firm resolve. In a powerful display of strength, the shadow lord hurled the emperor into the air above him, conjuring a towering geyser of shadow energy, which erupted beneath his fallen adversary. The blast sent Kahn soaring higher into the sky, caught in the relentless force of the shadowy geyser, unable to resist the overwhelming power that propelled him upward.

As the tumultuous onslaught subsided and Shao Kahn began to descend, the master of Outworld quickly seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. Timing his strike carefully, he raised his mighty wrath hammer high and brought it crashing down upon Gargos as he fell. The devastating blow forced the Ichorien down into the sandy ground below, sending shockwaves through the arena and leaving the demon warlord momentarily reeling in pain. In a show of dominance, Shao Kahn proclaimed with authority,

"Feel the wrath of Shao Kahn!"

In a seamless display of strength and skill, Kahn picked up the injured Gargos, slamming him onto his shoulders, further damaging the demon's spine. Following this move, he dropped the demon to the ground and swiftly stomped hard on his neck, causing significant pain. The final blow came in the form of a powerful headbut, cracking the demon's skull with considerable force.

Even though he was severely wounded, Gargos mustered the strength for a defiant roar, unleashing a powerful uppercut that sent Shao Kahn soaring into the air. The demon warlord then took to the skies with a forceful beat of his wings, generating a powerful gust to drive his adversary backward and displace him across the sandy landscape.

With a casual gesture of his hands, Gargos summoned Izzik and Dretch back from the realm of the deceased, infusing them with life once more. Despite their initial defeat, they leapt back into action, determined to continue their assault on the downed Shao Kahn. Although their attacks did not inflict substantial damage, they remained a nuisance, dealing painful yet ultimately ineffective blows to the Outworld ruler. With a mix of annoyance and frustration, Shao Kahn muttered under his breath,

"Just stay dead!"

In an display of his sheer strength, he effortlessly plucked Izzik and Dretch from the ground and forcefully smashed their heads together. The impact was so fierce that it instantly crushed their skulls into a gory mess. Releasing his grip, Kahn allowed their lifeless bodies to fall limply to the sandy arena floor, dissolving into shadowy remnants. In a strategic maneuver, Gargos seized the moment of the distraction, activating his Stone Skin ability. A fortified layer of organic rock surged over his body, augmenting his defenses and bolstering his confidence with its protective covering. A deep, sinister laughter echoed through the battlefield as the demon warlord perceived the advantage now seemingly shifting in his favor.

Shao Kahn, keenly observing Gargos's fortified state, made a calculated decision. Switching his wrath hammer for a spear, he charged forward with determination, aiming to pierce through the demon's rock-like defense. However, as the spear met the Stone Skin, a resounding metallic clang echoed through the arena, followed by the sound of the spear tip breaking upon impact. A minuscule dent marked the spot where the spear had collided, while Gargos continued to chuckle confidently.

Frustrated and determined, Shao Kahn promptly materialized his wrath hammer once more, his grip firm as he swung the formidable weapon towards the side of Gargos's head. The impact landed, causing the shadow lord's head to budge from the force, and hairline fractures formed within the rocky armor. Undeterred, Gargos continued to laugh heartily, mocking the Outworld ruler with his taunting derision.

In his attempt to attack again with the wrath hammer, Kahn aimed for another strike, only to be thwarted by Gargos's stone-covered wing, which intercepted and dislodged the hammer from his grip. The Ichorien took advantage of the opportunity, thrusting his fist forward and knocking the Kahn into the air. With a swift and calculated maneuver, Gargos grabbed hold of the airborne Kahn's ankle, his grip tight. With a powerful swing, he forcefully slammed the Outworld ruler back down to the ground, the impact creating a resounding thud.

Gargos seized control of the situation, closing in and firmly gripping Shao Kahn by the neck. Without mercy, the demon delivered a powerful knee to the belly, followed by a crushing thrust of his fist into the chest, shattering the sternum with a sickening crunch. Relentlessly, Gargos continued his onslaught, slicing across Kahn's face with such force that the royal helmet was knocked off, exposing the deep lacerations now marring the Outworld ruler's visage.

With a brutal move, Gargos opened a portal, disappearing from sight before leaping through it and reemerging from another portal positioned high above. The demon warrior landed heavy onto the prone figure of Shao Kahn, the impact causing a deep imprint in the sandy ground beneath. Without hesitation, Gargos quickly detonated his Stone Skin, causing the rocky armor to explode off of him in a shower of jagged, sharp stone shards. The force of the explosion propelled Shao Kahn forcefully into the sandy arena floor, embedding numerous sharp stone fragments into the Outworld ruler's powerful physique, which started to bleed all over. With a resounding chuckle, Gargos approached the fallen and struggling Shao Kahn, his steps slow and deliberate.

"I warned you to kneel before your new god." The Ichorien exclaimed, a hint of mockery and superiority in his voice. Gargos, soaring through the air in a looping motion, prepared to deliver the final blow to his weakened adversary, only to be met with unexpected resistance. At the last moment, Shao Kahn materialized his wrath hammer and countered with a powerful backhand swing, sending the demon warlord careening away from a firm and defiant tone, Kahn proclaimed,

"I kneel to no one, especially not to gods."

As Gargos struggled to rise from the ground, Shao Kahn stood tall and clenched his free fist, causing four spears to materialized over the prone demon. With a swift downward motion, the spears shot down, impaling Gargos's hands and wings, pinning him firmly to the dirt and eliciting a pained howl of rage from the shadow lord. With confidence and resolve, Shao Kahn confidently brandished his wrath hammer, a stern expression on his face. His tone was calm yet authoritative as he declared,

"Gods are the ones to kneel. Kneel before the might of Shao Kahn!"

Swinging the mighty hammer with tremendous force, he delivered a devastating blow to the head of Gargos, driving the shockwave straight through the demon's cranium and exploding out of his lower back, spine and all. The impact sent the remains flying back several meters, a testament to the strength and might of the Outworld ruler's attack.

Shao Kahn, weary yet confident, rested the Wrath Hammer upon his shoulders, savoring his apparent victory. However, his moment of triumph was abruptly interrupted as the fallen Gargos suddenly reanimated, ripping itself free from the spears pinning it down. Gripping Kahn's neck, the shadow lord's body began to regenerate back to good as new, its wings flapping powerfully as they ascended into the air. With a mix of disbelief and indignation, Kahn exclaimed,

"Impossible!"

"Nothing is impossible for a god, mortal,"

Gargos proclaimed with arrogant confidence, as he hurled Shao Kahn forcefully towards the ground, creating a massive crater upon impact. With a wave of his hand, the demon warlord summoned lightning to crackle and thunder down upon the Outworld ruler, the bright flashes illuminating the arena and sending bolts of electricity crashing into his adversary.

As the lightning bolts struck his body, Shao Kahn could feel the alarming, uncomfortable sensation that something was seriously wrong. The electric discharges were not mere physical assaults; they were affecting him on a molecular level, causing negative and detrimental changes to his very essence. With a horrified scream, Kahn cried out

"NOO! NOOOOO!"

He writhed in agony, the corruption spreading through his body like a toxic, dark cancer.

Taking advantage of the crackling energy surrounding him, Gargos concentrated and captured a bolt of lightning in his hand, before divebombing towards the stricken Shao Kahn. Roaring with feral rage, the demon warlord unleashed a powerful punch into the Outworld ruler's chest, his fist infused with the electric force of the lighting. A loud explosion echoed throughout the arena, the deafening crack of thunder and a brilliant flash of light accompanying the impact. Shao Kahn's body was violently ripped apart, the electrical energy tearing through him like a living hurricane.

As the dust and smoke slowly began to settle, the shadow lord ascended into the air, floating high above the devastated battlefield. A sadistic chuckle escaped his lips as he gazed down upon the realm of Outworld, witnessing firsthand the slow and inevitable takeover of the realm under his rule.
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Strength: In terms of pure, physical stats, Gargos was not going to win this. Shao Kahn is powerful enough to be able to overwhelm Earth's gravitational binding energy, which is 47.8 Zettatons of TNT. Gargos may be strong enough to shake the world with his lightning, but that blast only accounts for 13.4 Petatons. That's a 3.55 million times power gap in between.

Speed: Shao Kahn was definitely much faster, able to move and react at 2% the speed of light, while Gargos isn't even half that. Gargos may be fast enough to outpace Kim Wu's Mach 121 nun-chuck bullet deflecting feat, but even if we say he's 8 times faster to be around Mach 1000, that would still make Shao Kahn 17.5X faster than him.

Skill: Martial wise, Shao Kahn wins here as well, being well versed in two Chinese martial arts, while Gargos more relies on overwhelming his foes with portals and minions. Gargos may rely on (killer) instinct, but that doesn't make up for actual skill.

Experience: When it comes to longevity, this grants Gargos having dealt with things far longer than Shao Kahn's millennia long life, being so old that he was around the age of the dinosaurs.

Powers: This is Gargos's biggest advantage. Both are resistant to soul manipulation, so any of their usual tricks aside from pure brawn wasn't going to work out. And unfortunately for the conquerer, brute strength was not going to net him the win due to Gargos needing to be dealt with an enchanted weapon like Tusk's Warg-Gram to deal lethal damage, which Shao Kahn does not possess. Even if he did, the Ichorien has the ability to resurrect themselves, and could counter before or after then with his Stone Skin, matter corrupting lightning, and endless supply of portals and minions to keep Shao Kahn on his toes.

The winner is Gargos.

Chapter Text

M. Bison

Backstory:

Almost nothing is known about M. Bison's past prior to his appearance in the mainline games and his country of origin is unknown. The only known details of his past is that he was at one point nothing more than a young martial artist like any other but with overwhelming ambitions. He originally wielded Soul Power and passed down his knowledge onto Rose who was his only disciple. However, in order to be the best in the world of martial arts, M. Bison murdered his own master before giving in to complete chaos. M. Bison's master was said to be the only known person in the world who could manipulate the evil power known as "Psycho Power" at the time and it is also said that, before his death, M. Bison's master passed the power to only three other students, M. Bison himself being one of them.

Shortly afterwards, hoping to seek both knowledge and strength to become the strongest in the world, Bison sought out many practitioners of other fighting styles to defeat and learn of their techniques, in the pursuit of being able to reinforce and keep his title as the strongest martial artist in the world. Later on, Bison would somehow come into power over his syndicate of Shadaloo.

At some point, M. Bison heard rumors of an assassins fist, and tracked down Gouken, the heir of the Ansatsuken. Gouken expected that M. Bison would eventually come to him. However, he faced M. Bison with only his fists, not relying on moves such as Hadoken and Shoryuken which resulted in his defeat. M. Bison noticed this and curses Gouken for not showing his true power, he then comments on his students being more willing to show Ansatsuken's true power and leaves.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Martial Artist,

Acrobatics (Superhumanly agile and able to perform a number of acrobatic techniques and several jumping attacks. Moreover, he utilizes such skills to nullify throws, maintain his balance in mid-air and regain his footing after a knock down.),

Genius Intelligence,

Immortality (Soul transfer between bodies),

Possession (Can transfer his soul into the body of other people, effectively possessing them, although such power is bound to certain conditions. Planned to take over Ryu's body, before moving on to the development of Seth and his replicas, meant to be artificial hosts to inhabit. Clones of M. Bison such as Cammy, or modified humans such as Ed and Falke have specifically been engineered to act as spare bodies for him. After his first death in SF Alpha 3, M. Bison survived by entering Rose's body and utilizing it until his scientists completed a new body. Temporarily inhabited a machine meant to contain his spirit. M. Bison's very will exists within Psycho Power itself, which grabs a hold of its users' mind and gradually eats away at it until their personally fades away and is replaced with M. Bison's, thus grantim him a new body. This was experienced first-hand by Ed, who had to wrest control of his own body after the events of A Shadow Fall multiple times),

Incorporeality (As Phantom Bison, the form he takes while lacking a physical body),

Enhanced Senses (Spotted C. Viper hiding behind a container while no other could),

Chi Manipulation, Projection and Aura (Can manipulate and project his Psycho Power, as well as using it in several other ways),

Flight (Used to hover above the ground instead of walking and demonstrated the ability to levitate freely. Psycho Crusher and similar techniques show his ability to soar through the air at high speed)

Mind Manipulation (Brainwashed Ken by infusing him with Psycho Power [although whether or not this happened in canon is questionable]. Hypnosis is one of his special abilities. Cammy, the Dolls and Ryu [the latter in an alternate ending] have been subjected to mental conditioning through the usage of Psycho Power. Successfull experiments have had their personality completely replaced with fervent loyalty and reversing the process is extremely difficult. Bestowing Psycho Power upon individuals unable to control it inexorably drives them to insanity and possibly even death. One of Shadaloo's test subjects has been left victim of continuous mental disorders, hallucinations, panic attacks and more, while others have been brainwashed to such a point of being turned into hollow husks beyond salvation. Triggering the Psycho Power or increasing its effects into unsuited individuals will force them into a berserk state. Psycho Power users who aren't strong enough to control it will eventually lose their free will and become mindless fighting machine),

Supernatural Willpower & limited Corruption (Type 2. Psycho Power is influenced by one's psyche and a strong mind is required in order to control it. Very few individuals can wield it without having their mind broken or even perish, and even less can undergo the training necessary to master it. Furthermore, it gives M. Bison's willpower and dark ambition the power to instill themselves into others, corrupting and controlling people's minds. After being exerted upon the world, they linger and keep spreading even after M. Bison's death, though they require a long time to infect the entire world, ranging from months to possibly came close to achieving it, but his plans was averted in yet unknown ways),

Fire Manipulation: (His Psycho Power should have the same properties as Ed's due to visually behaving in the same way when striking the opponent and through techniques such as Psycho Inferno),

Paralysis Inducement (Can stop others in place with his forcefields and aura),

Empowerment (Becomes stronger by absorbing the opponent's hatred, fear and anger),

Fear Manipulation (Emits a bluish-white light that instills fear and takes away one's ability to stay rational),

Portal Creation (Can open portals to seemingly any place in the world),

Clairvoyance (Has show several times to be aware of other people's location, reason why he can always open portals right before them. Was aware that Ryu had defeated Necalli),

Astral Projection (Can project a phantom of himself to other locations, using it to talk and even cause damage to his victims),

Healing (Psycho Power can be used to rejuvenate others, removing weariness and pain),

Extrasensory Perception (Should be able to sense chi, just like other expert chi users),

Teleportation (Via Bison Warp, Hell's Warp and other techniques),

Telekinesis (Via Psycho Impact),

Energy Absorption (Via Psycho Drain and Psycho Reflect),

Energy Reflection (Via Psycho Sever and Psycho Reflect),

Explosion Manipulation (Via Psycho Blast, Psycho Crusher Omega and Psycho Nightmare),

Forcefield Creation (Can create forcefields around him.),

Damage Boost (Can perform enhanced versions of his Special Attacks. The Psycho Power V-Technique enhances his Special Attacks and teleportation abilities),

Status Effect Inducement (By hitting the opponent repeatedly, without them being able to recover, he can cause them to enter the "Stun" status, which leaves them unable to react. His Focus Attack causes the opponent to enter a "crumpling" status),

Resistance to

Sealing (Rose couldn't seal his power for long),

Poison and Acid (F.A.N.G's poison didn't work on him),

Precognition (Limited; Reading the future of fighters such as him is difficult, because they always fight against it),

Mind Manipulation (Possesses the psychic fortitude required to not have his mind and heart crushed by the grievous effects of Psycho Power),

Empowerment and Absorption (Increases the potency of M. Bison's Psycho Power by absorbing human hatred and fear, then directing them into him. Can also absorb the energy of those imprisoned in it, save for M. Bison himself and the Dolls),

Energy Projection (Can fire the stored energy),

Healing (Can heal M. Bison indefinitely, even from a distance),

Weather Manipulation (While powered by the Psycho Drive, M. Bison was able to generate a storm around the Shadaloo base)

Magnetism Manipulation (Can release powerful EMP waves),

Self-Destruction (Can crash into the ground and cause mass destruction as a last resort),

Weaknesses: Highly arrogant. His Psycho Power at a point started to become too great for his body to handle (Hence his desire to find a stronger one). He seemingly cannot possess anyone at will, as the host needs to be either infused first with Psycho Power and brainwashed (Ryu), be specifically engineered for it (Seth and other spare bodies), be a clone of M. Bison himself (Cammy, Decapre, Ed and Falke) or possess his same soul (Rose)
—————————
Rugal Bernstein

Backstory:

Feared throughout the political and fighting world, Rugal was an influential arms dealer who operated aboard his aircraft carrier, the Black Noah. To those who would oppose him, he would defeat them and later preserve their bodies in liquid metal to add to his grisly trophy room. He used to work with his younger brother, but they separated over conflicting interests.

When Rugal was about 25 years old, an 18-year-old Goenitz took out his eye with one strike and gave him a small portion of Orochi's power for surviving the attack. Since then, he has a bionic eye to replace the one he lost. At some point, he had a son and a daughter with an unnamed woman, as well as a panther named Rodem.

Sometime in 1986, Rugal wanted to demonstrate his power in a base at Brazil and murdered everyone he found inside. The sole survivor of the fifty man massacre was Heidern, who lost his right eye during the attack. At the time, he was too displeased with his victim to add him to his "collection" so he deprived the man of his wife and child as compensation. Heidern would spend nearly a decade filled with hatred and rage against Rugal.

Before 1994, he recruited two secretaries: Mature and Vice (both of who were secretly assigned by Goenitz to observe Rugal, believing that he could be a suitable host for Orochi). Rugal, wanting to expand his "collection", decides to host The King of Fighters in 1994, with an additional twist; fighters must form a team of 3 to compete and represent a country. Now he awaits on his battleship, the Black Noah, waiting to see the teams that will participate.

During the invitation phase, Saisyu Kusanagi came to the Black Noah and challenged Rugal. Although Rugal won the battle, he did not subject him to his metal bath. The winner of the tournament was Saisyu's son, Kyo Kusanagi, and his two teammates, Benimaru Nikaido and Goro Daimon, who arrived shortly after Saishu's defeat.

Rugal is happy that the Hero Team won, as they can be added to his "collection", which are former fighters turned into living trophies, with Rugal pointing out that he did not turn Saisyu into a trophy because he felt that he was unfitting. Kyo and his teammates fight Rugal, who would end up being one of the hardest fight of their lives. Unwilling to accept defeat, Rugal attempted to blow up his ship along with the Hero Team. While the Hero Team escaped, Rugal's fate was unknown.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Barrier Creation,

Elemental Manipulation,

Energy Manipulation,

Power and Energy Absorption,

Power Mimicry

As Omega Rugal: All previous abilities to a greater extent, Gravity Manipulation,

Light Manipulation (via his cybernetic eye),

minor Levitation

Weaknesses: Highly overconfident Using the Orochi power can consume him. However, it is unknown if he still has this weakness as of XV.
—————————————————
Song: Soul-Destructive Dictators

M. Bison, the formidable leader of Shadaloo, fixated on an array of video screen feeds displaying footage from his expansive surveillance network. His face was a mask of stoicism, his eyes constantly searching for any sign of weakness or opportunity. With an unwavering gaze, Bison maintained his stern expression, embodying the relentless pursuit of his ultimate goal – world domination.

The blaring alarms shattered the silence, announcing an intrusion in Shadaloo's base. M. Bison's annoyance quickly turned to anger as he recognized the breach. The leader rose from his seat, determination etched across his face. He moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors, heading towards the source of the disturbance.

M. Bison marched into a spacious dome-shaped room furnished with cutting-edge computer systems and technological equipment. His steps echoed in the chamber as he spotted a figure in a red garb, waiting silently in the center of the room. With a commanding voice, Bison addressed the intruder, his tone laced with annoyance.

"Who are you, and what is the meaning of this intrusion?"

Rugal Bernstein turned his attention towards M. Bison, a malicious grin curling across his face.

"Your associates, the pompous Spaniard with the claw and the idiot boxer, tried flexing their muscles in my territory. I put them in their place and they gladly gave away your base's location in exchange for sparing their lives."

He explained, his voice laced with arrogance. M. Bison's expression darkened, his arms folding across his chest in displeasure.

"Vega and Balrog have once again proven their inadequacies. Don't mistake my subordinates' failures as an indication of my own weakness. You will kneel before my Psycho Power."

Rugal's confident smile widened as he dismissed Bison's Psycho Power.

"Psycho Power? Ha, mere shadows compared to the might of Orochi."

He declared, mockingly. He positioned himself, preparing for the imminent battle.

"Reppuken!"

Rugal released a swift wave of ki, which raced along the ground, but M. Bison swiftly countered with a Scissor Kick, launching himself into the air and effortlessly flipping over the attack. Bison swiftly landed a powerful double kick, striking against Bernstein's body.

Despite the force of Bison's kicks, Rugal managed to retaliate, landing a powerful punch to the leader's stomach that sent him stumbling backwards. However, Bison was not one to be deterred and quickly retaliated, using his Psycho Power to levitate his opponent and then slamming him back into the wall with a powerful impact.

As M. Bison was readying a follow-up attack with a clenched fist, the tables suddenly turned as Rugal retaliated with a powerful kick to Bison's chin, defending himself with a Genocide Cutter.

"Genocide Cutter!"

The attack sent Bison flying backward, momentarily disoriented. He was further blasted back by a Kaiser Wave ki blast, causing him to crash to the ground, rolling across the floor with some grunts.

"Reppuken!"

Rugal unleashed another barrage of ki waves, aimed at covering the floor. However, M. Bison swiftly teleported, reappearing before Bernstein to deliver a powerful punch to his jaw and a knee to the gut. The double attack propelled Rugal backward, slamming him against the metal wall. With a sinister grip around his throat, Bison lifted his opponent off the floor, holding him captive.

M. Bison channeled his Psycho Power, unleashing it upon Rugal in a brief but intense surge. The leader then hurled his opponent onto the metal floor with brute force, causing him to crash onto the cold surface face-first. M. Bison released a battle cry as he invoked,

"Psycho Crusher!"

Launching himself in a powerful charge, he lunged towards Rugal with a surge of Psycho Power. The impact was true, striking his opponent square in the chest and slamming him into the ground beneath Bison. The leader let out a sinister laugh, poised to continue his assault, when suddenly he was taken aback by Rugal's unexpected counterattack – the infusion of ki and electrifying energy into Bison's body. The electrical jolt forced the dictator backward.

M. Bison landed on his feet, his annoyance evident as he was pushed away by Rugal's electrical counterattack. Undeterred, the leader pressed on, immediately launching a head stomp attack, only to be frustrated once again when Betnstein to defend himself with a ki shield, effectively blocking the offensive maneuver.

M. Bison leaped backward, preparing to descend with a Psycho Power-enhanced Skull Crusher Dive. However, his attack was intercepted by Rugal's swift Genocide Cutter kick, which skillfully diverted Bison away from his intended target.

M. Bison swiftly teleported away to reclaim the advantage, swiftly executing a slide kick to throw Rugal's footing off balance. With a surge of Psycho Power once again, Bison unleashed a crushing attack, sending his opponent stumbling backward. In a display of precision and aggression, Bison teleported above Betnstein, and delivered a powerful stomp, driving him down into the floor with formidable force.

"Nightmare Booster! This place shall become your grave!"

Bison declared, his voice filled with menace. M. Bison reveled in his triumph as he unleashed a barrage of punches infused with Psycho Power, delivering them to Rugal's face repeatedly, each blow cracking the metal floor beneath them. Unrelenting in his aggression, Bison sought to overwhelm his opponent. However, Rugal retaliated swiftly, extending his hand forward to shock Bison's face with a powerful surge of electrical ki, forcibly pushing the dictator away. M. Bison seethed with frustration, bellowing,

"Just stay down!"

Unleashing his Psycho Cannon, he fired a barrage of dark energy blasts. However, with unwavering determination, Rugal stood up and formed a ki force field, deflecting the attacks, sending them hurtling back at the dictator. The reflected energy exploded upon impact, further adding to Bison's disorientation within the battle. M. Bison roared with determination, his voice filled with conviction,

"My Psycho Power knows no limits!"

With an explosive burst, he cleared the debris, revealing his new and fearsome form. The violet flames of his Psycho Power aura danced around him, signifying his transition to his Final Bison state. His once red attire had now turned an ominous black, a representation of his unleashed full potential. Rugal shot back defiantly,

"Fool! You underestimate the power of a god!"

In response, purple energy burst from him, surging outward in all directions as he hovered several feet off the ground. Flickers of energy danced upon his body as his blonde hair turned stark white and his cybernetic eye glowed fiercely red. He now embodied the form of Omega Rugal, embodying godlike essence.

"Gigantic Pressure!"

Omega Rugal launched the first attack, using Gigantic Pressure to propel Final Bison into a wall with immense force, causing a massive explosion. However, the dictator swiftly teleported out of the debris, appearing behind his foe. Capitalizing on the opportunity, he seized Omega Rugal and hurled him overhead with impressive strength.

Omega Rugal managed to land on his feet after being thrown, effortlessly deflecting away any incoming Psycho Cannons. However, Final Bison employed his teleportation to its full extent, attacking with lightning-fast punches and kicks, teleporting at such speed that Omega Rugal found himself under attack from multiple angles simultaneously, as if facing four opponents at once.

Omega Rugal's frustration grew evident as he let out a growl of irritation, pivoting swiftly to fire a laser burst from his cybernetic eye. Final Bison swiftly retaliated by teleporting away and shielding himself with a Psycho Power barrier, intercepting the intense beam.

With blinding speed, Omega Rugal surged forward, catching Final Bison off guard, swiftly gripping his throat and unleashing a devastating attack. Without a moment's thought, he drove his other hand, filled with crackling energy, into the dictator's body. As Final Bison cried out in pain, Rugal concluded the brutal assault by stomping down forcefully with both feet, causing a tremendous explosion that inflicted catastrophic damage.

Despite the overwhelming power displayed and the explosion that followed, Final Bison unleashed a defiant cry, utilizing Nightmare Booster to propel both himself and Rugal into the air. With unshakeable determination, he sought to seize the upper hand in the deadly confrontation.

"Death awaits you!"

His voice echoed with confidence, the promise of impending fate adding to the intensity of the battle. With a burst of speed, Final Bison teleported above Rugal, delivering a powerful stomp that drove him into the ground. Omega Rugal gasped from the impact and the display of sheer strength, only to find himself in a state of alarm and anticipation.

"Psycho Booster!"

The words rang out, signaling the commencement of a devastating attack. Final Bison descended upon his fallen foe with the force of a fiery purple asteroid, his energy surging with an apocalyptic intensity.

Final Bison's unstoppable force collided with Omega Rugal's chest with overwhelming power, driving them through the floor and tearing through layers of steel infrastructure within the Shadaloo base. In the process, Rugal's body bore the brunt of the impact, tearing him apart. They landed on a floor below with a sickening thud, blood and body parts cascading around them. Omega Rugal's body was left in a torn and brutalized state, his once intimidating presence reduced to scattered remnants.

M. Bison, exhausted from expending such immense Psycho Power, found himself struggling to stand upright, his once black attire transforming back to its original red. The recoil from the overwhelming power usage forced him to kneel, his body strained and weakened by the tremendous effort. Despite the fatigue, Bison managed to muster a dismissive remark, his arrogance still present.

"Hmph. He might have made an inferior vessel for transferring my spirit into anyway."
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Strength: So, compared to Rugal going up against Akuma, this was much closer. Both fighters were able to create storms to showcase their power, but while Rugal with additional power was able to create a storm with energy equivalent of 5 MT of TNT, M. Bison, on his own, was able to create one that required at least 70 MT of TNT to make it skull shaped. Which is 14X stronger, and Final Bison is stronger than that.

Speed: As established in my Akuma vs Rugal match in chapter two, Rugal is about 40X faster than Bison. However, Bison's teleportation skills would allow him to keep pace with Rugal, giving him better arena control.

Skill: Even if we assume that both fighters treat combat as beneath them, only using it to dominate their enemy underfoot, I'd say that Bison is a more skilled martial artist thanks to being about 15 years older, giving him more time to fight and utilize his Psycho Power.

Experience: Like Akuma, M. Bison has faced more than the likes of Rugal Bernstein, even facing against Ryu because his use of the Satsui no Hado seemed to make him a viable vessel, which would work similarly to Rugal's Omega form.

Powers: While they both possessed similarly fighting styles and some similar moves, M. Bison had a more diverse moveset than Rugal's elemental ki. While M. Bison needs his opponent weakened for his mind and soul manipulation to work. Telekinesis, teleportation, energy absorption, this gave Bison enough diversity to overcome Rugal.

The winner is M. Bison.
—————————————
Next time:

"Nothing can hinder my spirit! Nothing!"

"Do what must be done. I will live by these words, as my master does."

Chapter Text

Ryu Hayasusa

Backstory:

The son of Jô Hayabusa, Ryu was born into the Dragon Lineage legacy; as required, he would be trained from childhood to walk the path of a ninja, a way of life plagued with danger, pain and sorrow.

As a child Ryu learned many crucial survival skills under the guidance and watchful eye of Omitsu, the caretaker of the Hayabusa clan's children. Under Omitsu's care Ryu quickly befriended Kureha and the two became inseparable. Training intensified as he grew older, adapting to these difficulties, Ryu quickly excelled among his peers, becoming one of the clan's top students. His skill would earn him the right to bear the name Hayabusa as his own, mastering many ninja skills, to the delight of his father.

As Ryu grew into a strong young ninja, his best friend Kureha became a Shrine Maiden. Growing up, he befriended many other members of his clan, including the veteran who fought beside his father Genjiro, Kureha's younger sister Momiji (who later becomes Ryu's apprentice), and his uncle from his mother's side Murai, who left the clan under unknown circumstances to establish his own rogue ninja clan.

Ryu also finds himself in good terms with the Mugen Tenshin Ninja Clan, especially with the young Ayane, Kasumi (who later becomes a runaway ninja) and their current leader, Hayate, who he considers a close friend. This also expands the Hayabusa clan own relations, meaning they can count on the Mugen Tenshin members for help and vice versa.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses (Can use a 6th sense to sense new enemies, incoming attacks and directions for him to reach his goal. Has sharpened senses and thought process),

Regeneration (Mid-Low; Healed slashes that critically harmed him by the Hayabusa Spirit. However, he cannot heal all his wounds and need to rest in order to happen),

Teleportation (Can teleport short distances via Blink),

Weapon Mastery (Is a master swordfighter and archer. Is a master of virtually every type of weapon),

Stealth Mastery,

Martial Arts,

Acrobatics,

Surface Scaling (Can cling, climb on and run up walls),

Magic (Is a master level in the art of ninja magic, also known as Ninpo),

Projectile Reflection (When carefully timed, Ryu can deflect projectiles back at enemies with a sword slash),

Invisibility (Can turn himself invisible in a smoke-filled area),

Elemental Manipulation (Ryu learned to channel his inner body heat into a fireball projectile, he can gather the cold elements of the air creating big tornadoes of ice, summon huge fireballs or magnify his own bio-electricity and shoot outward towards surrounding targets),

Fire Manipulation,

Ice Manipulation,

Electricity Manipulation,

Telekinesis (Used to lift a platform),

Summoning,

Healing (Can summon several blue healing essence orbs in order to heal himself),

Air Manipulation (Can summon tornadoes and swing his sword fast enough to produce vacuum wave cuts),

Time Stop (Can use a hourglass that stops time around him. Lasts for 5 seconds),

Duplication (Can summon a phantom double of himself, which will follow all of his movements and mimic his actions as a result),

Illusion Creation (Via Art of Substitution),

Power Mimicry (Ryu has also gained the ability to assume the powers, abilities, and form of anyone he sees, these are some of the arts of Ninpo that Ryu has mastered completely, Ryu is able to make himself immune to everything whilst casting Ninpo),

Smoke Manipulation (Via Smoke Bomb),

Transformation/Shapeshifting (Can transform into a tornado or a falcon, enabling him to travel anywhere around the world),

Resurrection (Is able to tap into his guardian animal spirit "Hayabusa Spirit", that resurrects Ryu after he dies. Via Talisman of Rebirth),

Statistics Amplification (Can increase his attack power and defence via Armlets),

Resistance to Life-Force Absorption (Was still fine when the Sword of Chaos attacked him. The Sword of Chaos has been stated to suck up the life force),

Black Hole Creation (Is capable of creating small-scale black holes that quickly dissipate),

Weaknesses: Needs spirit points for some of his weapons, cannot spam his ninpo, healing takes time for him
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Wolf (Sekiro)

Some two decades before the game's main event, Sekiro was found by Owl in the calmed battlefield, seemingly orphaned from Isshin Ashina's coup and reclamation of his clan's homeland. Owl dubbed him "Wolf" and took the boy in as a foster son while having him trained (with the help of several co-mentors such as Lady Butterfly) to become a Shinobi.

Sekiro was at one time, appointed as Shinobi of the Divine Heir, which bound him to a lifetime duty of protecting his young lord. This responsibility took Sekiro under difficult times when Hirata Estate fell under a very timely attack by a bandit group under Juzou the Drunkard which unbeknownst to many, had the backing of Interior Ministry's agents and Sekiro's own traitorous father. The exact thing that transpired that night is unknown since Sekiro's memory of the event itself was gone from him, but it can be accepted that Sekiro was fooled by his foster father to think that he was about to pass away from wounds and was tasked with a "dying wish" to retrieve the Divine Heir, Kuro, from the hidden shrine beneath Hirata Estate's main building. For whatever reason, Sekiro was antagonistically greeted by Lady Butterfly, who does not seem to be content with Sekiro getting away with Kuro, and was forced to kill his former mentor. Victorious, Sekiro was somehow stabbed from the behind by a large Odachi and he fell to a near-death state. It was at this time, Kuro gave him his oath-bound immortality, allowing Sekiro to survive the harrowing event.

With no recollection of that night, Sekiro was left with no purpose to live. He was branded a rogue by the Ashina military, possibly due to accusations of betrayal involving Hirata's destruction that wasn't his doing. For an unknown amount of time, Sekiro spent his time in a well not far from Ashina Reservoir, wasting his life away in solitude. The soldiers and guards who came to know his presence went as far as to tolerate him, believing he lost his will to live. Yet, a letter from a tenant of Ashina Castle made its way into the well one day, informing Sekiro that his master is alive and needs saving, from which point the game unfolds.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Resurrection and Immortality (Types 4 and 8: Bound by the Dragon's Heritage and will resurrect if he is killed. If he were to be killed several times, the Dragon's Heritage would steal another person's life-force in order for him to resurrect without using too much of the Dragon's Blood, though this would result in them being afflicted with Dragonrot, a lethal disease which causes wheezing, coughing of blood, and eventual death),

Stealth Mastery,

Martial Arts,

Pressure Points with Deathblows (They target particularly weak and vital areas of the opponent, such as the neck, armpit, and solar plexus of humanoid opponents, and the ear canal or eye of massive opponents. Taking advantage of these pressure points allows him to seriously injure opponents much stronger than himself and finish off comparable opponents with one or two strikes when left exposed),

Partial Cyborgization (After he lost his arm, Sekiro possesses a rudimentary prosthetic arm that allows him to use his Prosthetic Skills),

Weapon Mastery (Katana/shurikens/firecrackers/axe/knives/umbrella/whistle),

Enhanced Senses (Can see unusually well in the dark and hear conversations from a distance. Could easily notice Owl trying to attack him from behind, and deflect his attack),

Acrobatics,

Genius Intelligence (In combat),

Power Mimicry (Can copy techniques, even those of master martial artists such as Isshin Ashina, in this way learning Dragon Flash and One Mind),

Information Analysis (Despite never seeing her fight, Wolf could tell that Emma was an expert swordswoman),

Limited Electricity Manipulation and Attack Reflection (Can redirect lightning by jumping into the air),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can deflect shockwaves, wind, and various incorporeal enemies),

Fire Manipulation (with Flame Vent and other Shinobi tools derived from it),

Poison Manipulation (with Sabimaru),

Air Manipulation (with Divine Abduction; Gathers and releases a gust of wind, forcing enemies to turn around if they are caught by it. Those who are caught by it are said to be "spirited away" and never return),

Sound Manipulation (with Finger Whistle),

Explosion Manipulation (with Firecrackers),

Summoning and Homing Attack (Phantom Kunai summons phantom butterflies when thrown),

Illusion Nullification (Can nullify illusions with Lazulite Axe),

Teleportation (Using the Mist Raven's Feathers, Wolf can teleport at a short distance and leave behind crow feathers),

Use of consumable items, which grants additional abilities and buffs such as:

Healing (Low-Mid with Healing Gourd and Pellets),

Statistics Amplification (Buddhist candies and Spiritfalls, which can amplify both durability and attack power. One Mind increases Wolf's latent speed, allowing him to perform multiple slashes while seemingly not unsheathing his weapon. Can also increase his attack power with the Mortal Draw which also extends the range of his slices),

Limited Invisibility (with Gaachin's Sugar/Spiritfall),

Blessed (With Mibu balloons, Unseen Aid, and Divine Confetti. Divine Confetti blesses Wolf's blade, which increases physical damage on top of granting the ability to harm apparition-type foes),

Illusion Nullification (Can nullify illusions with Snap Seeds),

Resistance to:

Illusions,

Fear Manipulation,

Fire Manipulation,

Poison Manipulation (Can increase his resistance to these effects with various items),

Immense Pain Tolerance (Can endure serious injuries and continue fighting such as deep lacerations, being burned alive, and electrocuted),

All previous, but now with:

Shockwave Generation (Can create offensive shockwave slashes with Dragon Flash, Sakura Dance, and Floating Spiral Passage),

Speed Amplification and Afterimage Creation (The One Mind is a combat art which delivers a storm of slashes in burst of speed),

Underwater Breathing (Type 2 with Mibu Breathing technique),

All previous, but now with:

Holy Manipulation (with Lazulite Sacred Flame and Lazulite Axe, which is divine and blessed with the Fountainhead Lapis Lazuli. The Lazulite Sacred Flame burns apparition-type enemies),

Limited Smoke Manipulation and Damage Boost (with Purple Fume Spark, can create blue smoke right before the firecrackers explode. If an opponent is blinded with Purple Fume Spark, for some time they will take a bit more damage from the attacks),

Weaknesses: Dying repeatedly exhausts Wolf's resurrective power which leads to temporary unconsciousness, and if the process is repeated, the resurrection eventually gets powered through absorbing the life force of others, spreading a lethal disease known as Dragonrot which causes coughing of blood and eventual death.
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Song: Ninjas die Twice

Ryu Hayabusa stood on top of a traditional Japanese torii gate, the night sky above him casting a gentle glow. The surroundings were quiet, the only sound the occasional rustle of leaves carried by the gentle breeze. He waited patiently, his senses alert for any signs of fiendish activity or imminent danger.

Sekiro the Wolf, a formidable shinobi, hid stealthily in the branches above, his gaze fixed upon Ryu. Perched high above, he observed his target, his dark eyes filled with determination and a burning desire to eliminate Ryu. Sekiro's mind was set upon the same path he had traveled before—to eradicate this warrior as a means to strengthen himself, as he had done with countless others.

Sekiro, as silent as the night itself, dropped from the leaves and swiftly lunged forward, his sword aimed downward, poised for a fatal blow. But Ryu, his senses finely attuned, perceived the incoming threat and promptly drew his Dragon Sword to deflect the lethal strike. The two men landed gracefully on their feet on opposite sides of the torii gate, their battle now officially underway.

The two skilled shinobi charged towards each other, their blades meeting in a graceful yet intense clash. In an instant, Ryu retreated and hurled 7 shuriken at Sekiro, the lethal projectiles flying towards the Wolf. With remarkable speed and precision, Sekiro deflected each of the shuriken with a series of quick sword swings, their metallic chime resounding through the night air.

Sekiro attempted a swift strike, but Ryu, nimble and quick, managed to evade the blow with ease. In a swift counter, he kicked Sekiro, throwing the Wolf off balance. Capturing the opportunity, Ryu seized the moment and executed an Izuna Drop, the powerful aerial maneuver sending the Wolf plummeting to the ground.

Despite the impact from the Izuna Drop, Sekiro managed to regain his composure and roll away just in time, evading the Dragon Sword as it stabbed into the ground with remarkable precision. The stone terrain yielded easily under the formidable blade, the ground pierced by the powerful strike.

Sekiro unleashed a Whirlwind Slash, launching a swift double attack towards Ryu. While Ryu managed to block the initial assault, Sekiro followed up by launching the Ichimonji Double, two consecutive powerful slashes. The first one staggered Ryu, but he recovered quickly to parry the second one, demonstrating his own skill and reflexes.

Ryu attempted to capitalize on Sekiro's momentary loss of balance, launching a slashing attack. However, to his surprise, Sekiro vanished in a burst of blackness, leaving only raven feathers behind. The shinobi had made use of the Mist Raven technique, vanishing like a specter and evading Ryu's attack with incredible agility.

Despite his initial surprise, Ryu swiftly regained his composure and pinpointed Sekiro's location. Using his Violent Wind technique, he executed a lightning-fast ninja dash, launching a flurry of swift slashes at his adversary. Sekiro, displaying impressive agility, reacted by stepping to the side and deflecting the attack with precise movements, preventing any harm. Without wasting a moment, he retaliated by unleashing his Loaded Spear, striking back at Ryu.

Ryu effortlessly leaped over the spear, launching a kick at Sekiro. However, Sekiro swiftly countered, blocking the kick with his prosthetic arm. Despite the block, the kick managed to push the Wolf back, causing him to stumble slightly.

In a swift succession of precise slashes, Ryu unleashed the Art of the Wind Blades technique, creating three sharp waves of vacuum pressure that sliced through the air. Sekiro agilely dodged each one, avoiding the devastating strikes. In retaliation, he performed a swift Nightjar Slash to close the distance gap between them, causing his blade to grind against Ryu's as the ninja blocked it with expert skill.

Sekiro took advantage of smoke he conjured, vanishing from sight, leaving Ryu momentarily disoriented. Coughing at the sudden obstruction, Ryu peered through the mist, just in time to catch a glimpse of something hurtling toward him. Reacting quickly, he deflected the approaching shuriken, only to find Sekiro bursting out of the mist and launching the Ashina Cross. The powerful iaijutsu attack sent Ryu skidding backwards as he struggled to block it with his Dragon Sword.

Sekiro pursued Ryu after the Ashina Cross, and launched the Shadowrush, swiftly pursuing his opponent as they moved backwards. Despite the backward motion, Ryu managed to deflect the attack, causing Sekiro to leap off of his defense and soar into the air with impressive agility.

Sekiro, mid-air, unleashed a grappling hook to attach himself to a tall tree and effortlessly pulled himself into the branches. Ryu swiftly followed suit in a similar maneuver. The battle took to the trees, their clash transforming into an aerial dance as they engaged in a swift exchange of slashes while leaping from tree to tree. The metallic clang of their swords echoed through the night air, each strike reflecting their honed skills.

In an instant, Ryu deftly tossed a smoke bomb to Sekiro's left, taking the Wolf by surprise as it exploded with a startling noise. Distracted, Sekiro dropped to the ground and attempted to maintain his guard. Sensing the moment, Ryu seized the opportunity, landing on Sekiro's head with one hand before swiftly moving behind him. With precision and lethality, Ryu fatally stabbed Sekiro from behind, the battle swiftly coming to an end.

With a thud, Sekiro collapsed to the front, the ground beneath him stained with blood as it poured from the fatal wound. Ryu stoically turned away, flicking the blood off his sword before a peculiar whisper of the Divine Heir echoed through the air.

"Loyal Wolf...Take my blood and live again…"

A surge of red energy pulsed from Sekiro as he slowly stood up, rising behind Ryu who turned back in sheer surprise. Empowered by the revitalizing energy, Sekiro armed himself with the Loaded Axe, launching an overhead cleave aimed at Ryu. However, the ninja swiftly leaped back, evading the devastating strike. The axe head hit the ground with tremendous force, causing it to split and create a powerful tremor where Ryu had been moments ago.

Recognizing the need for a change in strategy, Ryu swiftly sheathed his Dragon Sword and opted to equip himself with the formidable Eclipse Scythe. This massive, powerful blade from the Lycanthrope clan was a sight to behold, its fearsome, curved blade gleaming reflectively in the soft moonlight.

Sekiro surged forward, his axe tainted with poison poised to strike at Ryu. Although the ninja managed to deflect some of the attacks, he couldn't prevent everything, enduring several glancing blows. Surprisingly, the poison seemed to have minimal effect on him. In response, Ryu unleashed a series of rotational attacks with his scythe, forcing Sekiro to retreat, his chest narrowly avoiding critical damage.

In a swift switch, Ryu exchanged the Scythe for his Bow and swiftly fired an explosive arrow. Sekiro, quick to react, blocked the arrow with his axe, but the weapon itself sustained significant damage, partially destroyed by the impact. The force of the explosion sent Sekiro momentarily stumbling backward. Undeterred, he quickly brandished the Finger Whistle and blew into it, summoning three massive black dogs. The barks echoed through the woods and signaled the arrival of the trio of canine companions, their eyes filled with a murderous intent. Ryu, caught off guard, was compelled to shift his focus to these new adversaries.

Ryu swiftly recovered his Eclipse Scythe and lunged at the dogs. Despite their formidable presence, composed of size, numbers, and ferocity, Ryu proved to be nimble and agile enough to skillfully evade their assaults. With unparalleled precision, he landed targeted slashes at their vulnerable spots, strategically cutting through their defenses until the wolves were weakened and ultimately succumbed from excessive bleeding.

Sekiro, prepared with his Prosthetic Arm, unleashed the Flame Vent, releasing a colossal wave of fire towards Ryu. The ninja quickly rolled away, extinguishing the ignited embers on his body. However, his brief respite was short-lived as Sekiro burst through the flames, his sword engulfed in the fiery blaze.

Ryu discarded his scythe on the ground and drew his iconic Dragon Sword in a defensive stance, ready to counteract Sekiro's strike. Meanwhile, the weather darkened as a storm blanketed the surroundings, lightning bolts illuminating the darkened sky during the intense sword clash between the two adversaries. The clash of blades created sparks and trails of fire, their combined power transforming the air with an electric and fiery spectacle.

As the fire faded from Sekiro's sword, the shinobi sheathed his weapon and prepared to execute the iaijutsu technique, One Mind. With astonishing speed, he unleashed a swift slash, which Ryu was able to block. However, he was caught off guard by the subsequent barrage of faster-than-eye slashes that materialized across his body. Ryu grunted and clenched his teeth as the attacks landed, his defense overwhelmed by the sudden quickness of Sekiro's technique.

Ryu promptly retreated from Sekiro, utilizing the cover of a smoke bomb to conceal himself among the trees, vanishing from the Wolf's field of vision. He then placed his hands together in a ninja sign and began to glow a subtle blue, harnessing his ninpo to heal the injuries inflicted by Sekiro's One Mind attack.

Sekiro deployed the Divine Abduction technique, blowing away the surrounding smoke and found himself facing a barrage of fireballs. With remarkable dexterity, he sliced through each projectile, extinguishing the fire. However, Sekiro was caught off guard by Ryu's stealthy approach. The ninja had snuck past his defenses and delivered a swift, lethal slash with his Dragon Sword, cutting clean through Sekiro's waist.

At that moment, it seemed as though Sekiro's fate was sealed, doomed to fall from the precise cut delivered by Ryu. However, the power of resurrection from the Shinobi Resurrection, fueled by the deaths of his black dogs at Ryu's hands, came into play. The bisected body of the Wolf miraculously fused back together, restoring him to his former vitality before he could collapse.

Frustrated by Sekiro's persistent immortality, Ryu channeled the electrical energies within his body, rapidly building up a powerful charge. Harnessing the power of the Art of the Inazuma, he unleashed a devastating bolt of lightning at Sekiro. Sekiro leaped back, effectively parrying the electrical strike. Demonstrating reflexes of his own, Sekiro countered immediately, sending the lightning back towards Ryu. Surprisingly, despite being caught off guard, Ryu exhibited remarkable skill in deflecting the lightning bolt, splitting it in half, causing it to explode harmlessly behind him.

Ryu employed the enigmatic Doppelgänger technique, conjuring a shadow clone of himself to join the fray. The clone flawlessly mimicked Ryu's movements with a slight delay, adding an element of confusion to the battle. Initially, Sekiro was caught off guard by the solidity of the illusion, allowing the phantom and Ryu to strike. However, the adaptable shinobi quickly equipped his prosthetic arm with the formidable Lazulite Axe, slicing through the phantom and successfully dispelling it.

In a swift motion, Ryu swung his Dragon Sword, severing the axe from the prosthetic arm. Just as he was about to advance further, Sekiro intervened by flinging out a series of fire crackers. The loud and blinding explosions caused Ryu to falter momentarily, disoriented by the sudden blast of light and sound.

Sekiro pounced upon the opportune moment, using Ryu's momentary lapse to finally deliver a critical hit that left a deep, bleeding gash across the ninja's chest. The impact sent Ryu reeling backward, gasping in pain as he was forced to his knees. Unable to withstand the assault, Ryu collapsed onto the ground with a resounding thud, defeated in the intense battle.

Sekiro calmly wiped the blood from his blade before sheathing it, preparing to retreat from the scene. However, just as he was about to leave, he suddenly sensed an overwhelming spiritual presence behind him. Turning around, he found Ryu rising to his feet, having recomposed himself despite the hit, Sekiro addressed him with an air of grimness in his voice, inquiring,

"You, too, are immortal?"

Ryu retrieved his Dragon Sword and activated the Eye of the Dragon, causing it to glow an otherworldly blue as the divine powers of the Dragons imbued his blade. With a confident voice, he answered Sekiro's query, saying,

"No, it's not immortality that blesses me. The spirit of the Hayabusa runs deep in my bloodline, stronger than death itself."

Sekiro took a moment to regain his strength and vitality by sipping from his gourd, allowing the healing effects to mend his accumulating injuries. In response, Ryu showcased his mastery over ninpo, unleashing the formidable Art of the True Inferno. His body transformed into a massive dragon blazing with fiery energy, towering over the Wolf and roaring with ferocious intensity.

Although taken aback by the awe-inspiring sight, Sekiro remained undaunted. He quickly drank from another gourd, bolstering his resistance to fire and heat. With a fierce yell, the determined Wolf jumped up, aiming to meet the fiery dragon's lunge, allowing himself to be swallowed by the blazing creature.

The fiery dragon's fearsome roar echoed through the tumultuous sky, only to be cleaved in half lengthways. The transformation ended, leaving Ryu and Sekiro to plummet back towards the ground. Sekiro landed with his characteristic grace, while Ryu descended with significantly more difficulty, having been conquered from within by the powerful Wolf

Sekiro, determined to deliver the coup de grâce, leaped forward, ready to inflict the fatal blow. However, in an unexpected turn of events, he was suddenly impaled through the stomach by Ryu's True Dragon Sword, the blade piercing him from Hayabusa who didn't turn around to face him. Sekiro let out a pained cry as he found himself skewered by the ninja's weapon, his path of retribution halted in its tracks. Ryu, exhausted but resolute, declared with grim finality,

"Resurrect from this."

As he invoked a final ninpo, Sekiro suddenly felt an oppressive force exerting pressure in his stomach. The pain forced a cry from the Wolf's lips, and in desperation, his prosthetic arm reached out towards Ryu. However, the irresistible pull of the black hole conjured by the Art of the Piercing Void quickly enveloped Sekiro, pulling him into the dark abyss.

With the completion of the battle, Ryu sheathed his Dragon Sword and invoked a teleportation technique, vanishing from the forest. The area was left momentarily still after the epic confrontation, the air heavy with the lingering echoes of their clash. Ryu, battered from the fight, made his way to tend to his injuries, having emerged victorious in the intense battle with Sekiro.
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Strength: This was a surprisingly close fight. They were nearly equal in pure strength. Hax strength aside like with the True Dragon Sword, Ryu was able to use the Izuna Drop on Yaiba, who was able to collapse an underground system underneath, which would require about 20 KT of TNT. Meanwhile, Sekiro is able to parry sword strikes with the skyscraper sized Divine Dragon, enduring 15 KT of strength. Which would be a 1.33X strength difference for Hayabusa. However, not only is that a generous lowball for Ryu since it could be much higher, Sekiro would have trouble landing that blow deep enough since Ryu has withstood a point blank explosion that consumed the majority of Mt. Fuji. Such an explosion on the surface would be like dropping the Ivy Mike Hydrogen Bomb on the mountain which was about 10.4 MT. That makes Ryu 693X more durable than Sekiro.

Speed: Sekiro is fast enough to dodge natural lightning at ground level, which would put him at Mach 352. But Ryu's best lightning feat puts him at Mach 1015, which makes Ryu 2.88X faster.

Skill: I would say that Ryu has the better skill, despite both being masters of the ninja, because Hayabusa has mastered a more varied arsenal of weaponry compared to Sekiro.

Experience: I would say that they're both equal in experience. Time wise aside, they've both fought against some of the best ninja of both their worlds, and have fought giant sized foes before.

Powers: At first, Ryu would be hard pressed by Sekiro's fire crackers, similarly various weapons, and especially the resurrective immortality, which would get to him if he killed Sekiro too many times and waste Ryu's time stop ability, Wolf would eventually get overwhelmed by Ryu's varied elemental ninpo, his other unique abilities like Doppelgänger, and especially the black hole move, since Sekiro has never shown to revive from being completely atomized by a point of singularity.

The winner is Ryu Hayabusa.

Chapter Text

Strider Hiryu

Background:

Nothing is known about Hiryu's past, outside the fact that he's an orphan of Asian heritage, with him claiming at one point a Japanese identity while in disguise. He took the Striders' training program alongside Kain, Sheena, and Kubira, and became a close friend of the former two. During training, Hiryu's excellence in every category and incredible displays of skill at such a young age gained him a reputation among other Striders for his inhuman strength and mastery of the Cypher.

Together with him in the Striders was his sister, Mariya, a person he respected and loved dearly. One fateful day, however, Mariya suddenly went insane and murdered ten Strider trainees. As she was a very skilled agent on her own, Director Kuramoto decided to assign the mission to stop her to her brother, a decision he came to regret later. Hiryu desperately fought his mad sister while trying to reason with her, but was finally forced to kill her in self-defense. This incident would weigh heavily on Hiryu's mind. Carrying the burden of her murder, Hiryu lost the will to live and became increasingly reckless and careless during missions, becoming a "demon of destruction" who simply sought to die on the battlefield.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Longevity,

Sword Master,

Ninja Skills,

Stealth Mastery,

Sixth Sense,

Plasma Energy Manipulation, which allows him to generate an electromagnetic field capable of repelling enemy bullets and enhance his Cypher with Fire or Ice with Absolute Zero properties,

Can summon a Glider,

Can spawn intangible duplicates of himself,

Temporary Invincibility (via Bunshin),

Can slow time,

Explosion Manipulation,

Statistics Amplification (Can double his jump height for 10 seconds via Jump),

Surface Scaling (Can walk on glowing walls via Magnetic Boots),

Homing Attack (Can launch homing blades of plasma via boost function),

Electricity Manipulation (Can unleash a massive amount of electricity and send out electrical sparks),

Earth Manipulation (Can create a powerful earthquake to kill every enemy on-screen),

Healing (Can heal himself via Medical)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Joe Musashi

Background:

Orphaned at a young age, Joe was adopted by the chief of the Oboro clan, a superlative ninja clan that descended from the famed ninja of Iga, who have worked in the shadows to protect the peace for generations. The chief raised Joe along with the other young Oboro ninja and had him enrolled in the Oboro School. Like many other great ninja warriors, Joe started out as the weakest of his classmates. As he grew, however, he became the best in class, and by the time he was in his twenties, Joe became a master ninja in less than ten years, a rarity seen once in a century. He received Oborozuki (朧月 Hazy Moon), a coveted katana that was passed down to only the best ninja of the Oboro clan for centuries. Soon after he completed his training, Joe worked for the Japanese government, and on the occasion that he found himself with some free time, he met with his fiancée, Naoko, who was the Oboro chief's daughter.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Weapon Mastery (Via his Hazy Moon sword and shurikens),

Stealth Mastery,

Martial Arts,

Enhanced Senses (Has a ninja-trained 'sixth sense' technique),

Acrobatics,

Magic (Using ninjutsu),

Poison Manipulation (His blowpipe contains a poison gas),

Status Effect Inducement (In Nightshade, his shurikens can paralyze enemies),

Elemental Manipulation,

Fire Manipulation and Creation (Via Jutsu of Karyu),

Electricity Manipulation and Forcefield Creation (Via Jutsu of Ikazuchi),

Air Manipulation (Via Jutsu of Tatsumaki and wind blades),

Weather Manipulation (Via Jutsu of Inazuma),

Duplication (Via Jutsu of Bunshin),

Illusion Creation (Can project illusions that can kill/damage enemies within radius),

Statistics Amplification and Afterimage Creation (Can increase damage of his fire-wreathed shurikens/conjured wind blades and by using Jutsu of Fushin),

Explosion Manipulation and Self-Destruction (Via Jutsu of Mijin)

Weaknesses: Ninjutsu lasts only for a short period of time.
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Song: Striding Shinobi

Strider Hiryu, silent and swift as the shadows, traversed the snowy mountainside of Siberia, his strides effortlessly covering the distance among the snow-blanketed trees. The night was cold and calm, the only sound being the soft crunch of his footsteps against the white powder.

Unaware of his pursuer's presence, Hiryu continued his stealthy trek through the snowy landscape. However, nearby, a ninja skillfully concealed within the pristine white snow awaited silently, the figure belonging to Joe Musashi, a shinobi on a mission that would inevitably lead to a confrontation with the Strider.

Hiryu, sensing the danger, dropped to the ground and swiftly slid through the snow, dodging a hail of shuriken launched from the concealed enemy. In a swift lunge, he attempted to strike at his adversary with his Cypher, but Joe evaded the attack effortlessly. Instead, it was a nearby tree that suffered the impact, the trunk being cleanly sliced in half and collapsing to the ground.

Musashi made an attempt to attack Strider, but found his blade intercepted by Hiryu's Cypher. To his surprise, the plasma blade effortlessly sliced through the steel weapon, leaving him weaponless and taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. However, he managed to jump back just in time, narrowly avoiding receiving the same fate as his damaged sword.

Musashi, seeking to maintain a safe distance from his adversary, employed his ninjutsu to generate four dragon-shaped columns of flames to assault Hiryu. In response, Strider nimbly leaped up onto the tree branches, swiftly climbing upwards to evade the approaching fiery onslaught.

Strider Hiryu, having reached the top of the tree, leapt off and aimed to dive directly at Joe Musashi. However, to his surprise, he found himself passing through a deceptive illusion of the ninja, his blade instead plunging into the solid ground beneath.

Strider quickly looked up, locking onto Joe's position, and prepared to launch a strong lunge, swinging his Cypher to slash at his enemy. However, Musashi utilized his Jutsu of Ikazuchi, enveloping himself in a protective forcefield of electricity that jolted Hiryu upon contact. Taking advantage of this, Joe executed several well-placed electrified strikes against the A-Class ninja.

As the electrical forcefield subsided and the strikes resumed to normal, Strider opted to create a strategic distance by teleporting a short distance away with a distinctive warping sound. In response, he deployed Option A, sending an attack drone straight at Joe.

Musashi reacted quickly, hurling a kunai at the drone and successfully destroying it. Following up, he attempted to throw nightshade shuriken towards the Strider, aiming to impair his movements. However, Hiryu outsmarted the ninja's attack by summoning a robotic cat using Option B, which took the blow instead. The metallic animal was incapacitated by the shuriken, ultimately exploding.

Assuming Joe Musashi's inability to effectively battle multiple enemies simultaneously, Hiryu once again employed Option B, sending an army of robotic cats and falcons to besiege the skilled ninja. However, Musashi cleverly countered this strategy with the Jutsu of Tatsumaki, creating a whirlwind around himself with wind blades that not only lifted the robotic animals, but swiftly demolished them in rapid succession.

Recognizing that he had underestimated his opponent, Strider Hiryu swung his Cypher, launching a series of consecutive plasma energy arcs in Musashi's direction. Joe, displaying remarkable agility, nimbly leaped back into the sheltering protection of the nearby trees, skillfully dodging each incoming attack.

Hiryu forcefully slammed his Cypher into the ground, generating a localized earthquake that caused the ground to tremble. The shaken ground caused Joe to lose balance, toppling out of the trees. Despite his momentary fall, Musashi quickly reacted, flinging a barrage of incendiary shuriken in retaliation.

As Hiryu adroitly dodged the shuriken by swiftly teleporting around the area, he was poised to launch another attack against Joe. However, realizing the ninja's intention to swiftly bridge the distance, Musashi took out a blowpipe and blew a concoction of poisonous gas directly into Hiryu's face.

Gasping for air from the poisonous fumes now filling his lungs, Strider Hiryu leaped back, activating the Uroboros system to deploy two encircling drones beside him. The drones began unleashing consecutive blasts of energy, creating a barrage meant to keep Joe Musashi at a distance.

Joe Musashi endeavored to dodge the barrage of energy blasts, but the sheer number proved overwhelming, resulting in him being forcefully pushed back and stumbling into the snowy terrain. Regaining his composure, Musashi swiftly performed the Jutsu of Inazuma, calling forth storm clouds that filled the night sky, followed by a colossal bolt of lightning directly striking Hiryu. The drones accompanying the Strider promptly exploded in the aftermath of the intense electrical charge.

Strider, wincing in pain, painstakingly pushed himself up from the snowy ground. Feeling the lingering aftermath of the powerful lightning strike, he used a medical technique to gradually rejuvenate some of his energy and alleviate his injuries.

Joe Musashi, recognizing that Strider was on the verge of defeat, rapidly charged forward in a swift ninja sprint. He then unleashed the Jutsu of Mijin, triggering a colossal explosion to obliterate his foe. However, to his astonishment, Strider Hiryu responded by employing the Bunshin technique, which enveloped his body in a protective aura of invulnerability, momentarily shielding him from the explosive impact. In a decisive moment, Hiryu declared,

"Time to end this. Ragnarok!"

In a flash, he sped around the immobilized Musashi, leaving an impressive blur in his wake. Finally, he delivered the finishing blow, striking down upon his adversary with lethal precision. Joe Musashi stood there for several moments, before his body disintegrated into scattered remnants, marking his ultimate defeat at the hands of the Strider.

With a sense of triumph coursing through him, Strider savored what seemed to be a flawless victory, only to feel a sudden and stinging pain in his back by several nightshade shuriken. As his temporary invulnerability faded, he realized too late that the defeated shinobi he had vanquished was a mere conjuring, an illusion. Turning his head to face the truth, Strider found the real Joe Musashi standing behind him, having strategically taken advantage of his vulnerable moment. Joe Musashi delivered a cold statement to Strider,

"Had you payed better attention, you would have noticed I used a clone to fight for me while you healed yourself from the poison and lightning strike. You underestimated my cunning, and now it's too late. Farewell."

With a precise and lethal maneuver, Musashi swiftly grabbed Strider's head and executed a fatal neck snap. The defeated A-class ninja slumped to the ground, vanquished by the cunning shinobi.
———————————————————
Strength: So, while it's debatable how strong Strider Hiryu is, given most of his offensive feats are with a plasma blade than physical might with a metal sword, Joe Musashi has him beat by contending with Hiruko Ubusuna, who was able to conjure approximately a 500 KT storm over Tokyo, which is 33.33X stronger than the Hiroshima bomb.

Speed: The two are relatively closer to speed. Strider Hiryu is able to dodge anti aircraft bullets, some of the fastest approaching 2900 ft/s, or 2.5 times the speed of sound. However, Joe is fast enough to out speed explosions. Taking into account the average explosion speed of TNT, that's 6900 ft/s, or 6.13 times the speed of sound. That's 2.45X faster.

Skill: I'd say that Joe Musashi more skilled, since he's mastered both martial skill and ninjutsu magic, while Strider more used technology to aid his superhuman feats.

Experience: Strider isn't even 20 years old, while Joe is 26. Musashi has the more experience longevity wise.

Powers: I'd say that they're mostly equal in versatility. Strider may have the ability to temporarily catch up with slowing time, or tanking powerful attacks with invulnerability, but Joe could match Strider blow for blow with special attacks, and keep away from Hiryu's Cypher.

The winner is Joe Musashi.

————————————————

Next time:

"For years I was the little thief pretending to be a socialite. But this... This is new. I'm done pretending. This cat's going to be a queen. Queen of thieves. Queen of crime. Queen of this whole town! And nothing and no one are going to get in my way!"

"I'm a thief – and stealing is what I do. Not so much for the prize or the possession or even the profit… but for the art of doing it… because I can… and because I'm good."

Chapter Text

Black Cat

Backstory:

Felicia Hardy's father Walter Hardy was a world-renowned cat burglar who, before his arrest, encouraged her to never settle for second best. For example, if she loved basketball, she should work to become a basketball player and not just a cheerleader.

During her freshman year in college, she had gone to a party and was nearly raped by a drunken student in a bathroom, when she was saved by another student, named Ryan. Felicia and Ryan became close friends, spending most of their time together until one night Ryan demanded that it was time for their relationship to become physical. Felicia's protests were in vain. Hating the idea of being a victim, she decided that she would murder her rapist despite the consequences. She put aside her studies and began training in various fighting styles and acrobatics. After months of preparing, she set out for revenge, but before she could find him, Ryan was killed in a drunk driving accident.

Furious that she was denied the chance to steal the life of the man who had stolen hers, and feeling reckless, Hardy decided to utilize her new skills to follow in the footsteps of her father. After having been arrested, Felicia was freed from prison by the Black Fox, her father's mentor, who took Felicia as his new pupil. She was trained by Black Fox alongside fellow thief Tamara Blake and although the latter was better than Felicia, Black Fox favoured Hardy due to her having genuine joy in theft and not being in it for just the money. After amassing a fortune in stolen items, Felicia chose to adopt a costume identity. She first donned the Black Cat costume in order to break her father out of prison. On the same night, she met Spider-Man. Despite her antipathy towards men, Felicia felt a kinship with this lone hero. Spider-Man was the first man she felt she could trust, and she grew to love him.

Felicia looked for a way to earn his trust and continued with the Black Cat persona as a misguided attempt to attract his affection. However, she was still cunning enough to fake mental instability when captured, ensuring she was housed in a less secure she was released, Felicia initially agreed to go straight for Spider-Man, and the web-slinger even had his friend on the force Captain DeWolff begin drawing up amnesty papers. The Black Cat decided to pull one last big score, however, and attempted to manipulate Spider-Man into joining her life of crime. He tried to capture her again, but Felicia seemingly flung herself to her death rather than go back to jail. Captain DeWolff ironically arrived with the now useless amnesty papers shortly after.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses (Via earrings and her electromagnetic contact lenses),

Acrobatics,

Expert Martial Artist,

Probability Manipulation,

Cybernetic implants (And no, not those kind of implants. They're ballasts.)

Weaknesses: None noticeable
———————————————
Catwoman

Backstory:

Selina Kyle's early life was defined by tragedy. When she was just a girl, her brutalized mother Maria committed suicide and her violent father Brian drank himself to death soon after. Selina was separated from her younger sister Maggie when remanded to the Sprang Hall Juvenile Detention Center, an abusive state home for orphaned or delinquent girls. Eventually, she escaped the Center and tried pickpocketing the crowd at a carnival outside Gotham City but failed. She was caught by the man who ran the place and he offered her to join the carnival. Selina agreed and soon she learned the art of contortionism, gymnastics, magic and trickery. Using her new learned skills, Selina also improved her pickpocketing skills. When the owner of the carnival died in a tragic accident, Selina decided to take her chances on the streets of Gotham, surviving as a petty thief.

Selina began working as a prostitute in the East End to get by. She watched over an underage girl named Holly Robinson while working for their abusive pimp Stan. After a particularly aggressive beating from Stan, Selina passed out near the Immaculate Virgin Mission, a nunnery where her sister Maggie served as a nun. She was sent to the hospital, where she was visited by Detective George Flannery. He took pity on her and told her of Ted Grant, a man who could teach her how to fight and defend herself. She met with Ted and he agreed to train her. Selina first met Bruce Wayne when he was walking through the East End and solicited by Holly. He rejected her advances and Stan berated Holly, causing Bruce to attack him. Fearing for Holly's safety, Selina approached and fought Bruce, but was knocked out. Later, she returned to Ted and asked him to train her in the use of the bullwhip.

One night, Selina was woken up by the news that the Batman was being cornered by police in Robinson Park. She and Holly decided to see for themselves, and Selina saw firsthand Batman making his escape. Seeing Batman in action gave her the idea that she could become a creature of the night like him. Selina returned the beating Stan gave her and left him, taking Holly with her and declaring that she was changing her line of work. She fashioned her own costume, inspired by her love of cats, and began operating as a cat burglar: the Catwoman. On one of her first heists she robbed the home of mob boss Carmine Falcone and decided that, to distinguish herself, she would claw the faces of her victims, starting with Falcone.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Acrobatics,

Stealth Mastery,

Surface Scaling,

Weapon Mastery (highly proficient in the use of the bullwhip and various gadgetry)

Weaknesses: Normal human weaknesses, but has survived situations that would kill an average human.
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Song: Cat Fight

The quiet Gotham night enveloped the city, and the Museum of Art was shrouded in silence. A lone security guard patrolled through the dim, empty halls, illuminating his path with a beam of light from his flashlight. Numerous protected exhibits, carefully enclosed behind layers of display glass, adorned the museum's walls, including a striking jade lion under vigilant watch.

Unnoticed by the security guard, a skylight high above allowed a sliver of the night's soft moonlight to pour into the museum. In a display of remarkable precision, a set of steel tipped claws silently sliced through the glass, cutting out a perfect circle. Without a sound, a figure gracefully slithered through the opening, revealing the renowned and notorious thief, Black Cat.

The security guard, still on edge, spun around in response to a suspicious noise echoing through the hallway. However, no sign of the noise's source was visible in the dimly lit corridor. Taking a moment to steady himself, the guard prepared to continue his patrol when, without warning, the renowned Catwoman materialized behind him. With a quick and expert move, she delivered a nerve pinch to his neck, swiftly rendering him unconscious.

"Sshh, sshh, easy there, big boy."

Catwoman cooed quietly. Catwoman quietly and discreetly tucked the unconscious security guard in a nearby closet before pivoting her attention towards the prized jade statue. Her eyes shimmered with anticipation, the thrill of the thieving hunt coursing through her veins. Unbeknownst to her, however, Black Cat was stealthily making her way towards the same statue, mirroring the same eagerness and intent.

Both women had silently slunk towards the same pedestal adorned with the coveted jade lion, their stealthy approach going unnoticed. But when they both rose to their feet simultaneously, facing the statue from opposite sides, Selina Kyle and Felicia Hardy were astonished to find each other standing there, almost like mirror images of one another. Selina attempted to conceal her surprise with a scoff, attempting to maintain the upper hand with a witty retort.

"Oh, what do we have here? A literal copycat? I'd be flattered, if you weren't trying so hard to copy my style."

She said, her words laced with a hint of sass and irony. Felicia took offense to Selena's comment, pointing to herself with a defiant expression. She protested,

"Excuse me? I'm the Black Cat. I'm following in my father's footsteps, not yours. Don't flatter yourself."

Selina chuckled, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Ah, so you're a daddy's girl, huh? Well, I do hope you're not trying to copy my whole cat burglar routine. That would just be sad. In any case, stealing cat themed artifacts are my thing as well, so you may want to leave before you get hurt, kitty cat."

Felicia bristled at the remark, her eyes narrowing. She growled, her voice laced with irritation.

"Don't you dare call me that. And who do you think you are, claiming sole ownership of cat themed artifacts? Sounds like someone's afraid of a little competition."

Selina chuckled once more, her smirk widening.

"Competition? Oh, honey, you're adorable. But let's be real, I've been doing this whole cat burglar shtick way longer than you. And trust me, kitty cat, I don't think you're anywhere close to my calibre."

Frustration etched across her face, Felicia clenched her jaw.

"Don't you dare call me 'kitty cat' again, or I'll really show you my claws."

Selina feigned a pout, her tone mockingly sweet.

"Oh, what's the matter, little kitty? Did I hit a nerve? I must say, you're quite adorable when you're grumpy."

"That's it!"

Black Cat exclaimed, flipping over the statue in fury and launching a barrage of acrobatic martial arts attacks. However, Catwoman proved to be more than ready to counteract the younger woman's advances, displaying her ability to deftly defend against the onslaught. Catwoman delivered a few quick strikes, but Black Cat skillfully evaded them. However, Selina managed to land a firm kick to Felicia's stomach, causing her to stumble back momentarily.

Selina continued with a low sweeping kick, but Black Cat adeptly vaulted over it. Catwoman unleashed a high kick, only for Felicia to counter by swiftly raise her arm to block it. Black Cat seized the opportunity to retaliate with a strong punch aimed at Catwoman's side, and followed up with a couple of punches to the face. Selina was jolted by the attacks and quickly somersaulted away to create a gap between them.

Catwoman retrieved her whip and showcased her remarkable proficiency in wielding it as she snapped it towards Black Cat. However, the younger woman proved nimble and elegant as she deftly avoided the whipping lashes. In a moment of bad fortune, one of Catwoman's whip lashes accidentally made contact with the protective glass covering the jade lion, shattering it into many broken shards, triggering the alarm system.

"Shoot!"

Both women exclaimed in unison, realizing their misfortune.

"Well, as much as I'd love to stay and put you in your place, I've got to run now. Toodles!"

Catwoman swiftly employed her whip to snag the jade lion from its pedestal and prepared to make a hasty retreat. Black Cat exclaimed with determination,

"Not so fast!"

She quickly deployed a cat-clawed grapple line towards the ceiling and swung, swiftly catching up to Catwoman only to kick her down to the ground. Felicia then adeptly snatched the jade lion from the air, preventing it from crashing onto the floor.

Black Cat paused to relish her claimed trophy, a self-satisfied smirk on her face. Catwoman swiftly regained her footing, frustration evident in her expression as she twirled her whip menacingly, preparing to attack again. But to Selina's surprise, Felicia casually caught the whip with her arm, without even looking, leaving the original cat burglar momentarily stunned as she looked at her foe smugly.

With a flick of her wrist, Black Cat tossed the jade lion into the air and skillfully yanked Catwoman towards her, seamlessly employing a judo flip to send Selina flying into another pedestal. There, to her credit, Selina swiftly prevented a nearby ancient ceramic pot from shattering to the ground by grabbing it just in time. Felicia caught the jade lion with ease, her chuckle of amusement echoing through the night. Black Cat approached the designated display pedestal once more and affectionately, yet sarcastically, addressed the jade lion.

"Stay here and wait for me, precious."

She placed the statue gently and deliberately back in its original spot, preparing herself to fully give her undivided attention to Catwoman. Meanwhile, Selina carefully returned the ceramic pot to its corresponding place. Black Cat felt the unexpected grip of a whip around her throat, abruptly yanked backward by Catwoman, who took advantage of the momentum to deliver a swift capoeira sweep kick to her face, sending her crashing down to the ground.

Though staggered by the impact, Black Cat effortlessly back rolled and swiftly regained her footing. Just as Selina attempted another lash with the whip, Felicia adeptly caught the weapon and, with a quick pull, wrestled control of it. Despite Catwoman's initial determination to hold on, bad luck intervened as the whip tore from the handle, diminishing its potency significantly. Selina seethed with irritation as Black Cat flashed a smug grin in response as she tossed the broken whip away.

"Now that you don't have your little toy, we can settle this face-to-face. Just us girls."

Black Cat stood confidently, adopting a martial stance, poised in a cat stance karate position, ready to engage in fierce combat.

"You want to do this claw to claw? Fine."

The clash of fists, kicks, and acrobatic maneuvers filled the air, both women displaying exceptional fighting skills. Catwoman's experience and adaptability countered Black Cat's agility and speed, making for a thrilling catfight. Their battle continued, each trying to dominate the other.

Felicia executed three swift kicks, all of which Catwoman blocked with impressive reflexes. Undeterred, Black Cat responded with a back flip over Selina's low sweep, displaying agility and dexterity. However, she was caught off guard as Catwoman landed a series of facial punches and a harsh kick to the gut. The scuffle continued with a powerful capoeira kick, sending Felicia rolling across the floor.

Catwoman pounced, claws extended, aiming to sink them into Black Cat. But Felicia proved adept at evading, quickly rolling to the side and skillfully avoiding the attack. In a swift counterattack, Black Cat simultaneously slashed into Catwoman's side with her own claws, drawing blood and demonstrating her own sharp instincts. Catwoman howled in pain as her side bled from the attack, but in a stroke of misfortune, her claws became lodged in the floor, refusing to budge.

"Are you kidding me?!"

She groaned in frustration, desperately attempting to wrench her claws free. Black Cat chuckled, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Here, let me help you."

She began tugging at Catwoman's feet, yanking the original thief's with surprising strength. Catwoman's claws came free with a forceful pull, but the momentum had her sliding across the floor, leaving claw marks everywhere she went as she desperately tried to keep herself from being dragged. With a quick spin on her heels, Black Cat seized Catwoman in a tight grip and whirled her around in a series of dizzying circles. Then, with a powerful swing, she flung Selina forcefully into a wall, causing a spiderweb of cracks to form where she slammed into it.

Catwoman groaned in pain, disoriented and struggling to regain her bearings. Felicia approached, her smirk growing wider as she brandished her steel-tipped claws, preparing to deal another strike. However, in a moment of catlike instinct, Catwoman swiftly retaliated, her diamond-tipped claws effortlessly slicing through Black Cat's, rendering her claws useless.

Felicia recoiled in shock as she assessed her hand, sighing in relief as she realized her fingers were unharmed, just the artificial nails were sliced off. As she watched Catwoman begin to rise, Black Cat swiftly made another move, deploying her other set of claws on her other hand. Selina reacted swiftly, catching Black Cat's claws with her own diamond claws. The clash of sharp weapons caused sparks to fly and produced a series of loud cutting noises.

In an unexpected twist of misfortune, Black Cat managed to rip the claws and latex leather fingertips clean off Catwoman's costume glove. With a smirk, she taunted the original thief.

"Seems like today's not your day, huh?"

"Have you been making a fool out of me this whole time?"

Selina questioned, not appreciating having as hard of a time that she has been. Felicia sneered with confidence, her arrogance on full display.

"Oh, darling, there's no need to try. I'm just naturally gifted, unlike you."

She intentionally kept quiet about her passive ability to manipulate luck. After all, it brought immense satisfaction to watch Catwoman struggle time and time again due to her bad luck.

"Bitch!"

Selina bellowed a scathing retort as she furiously charged forward, engaging in a fierce exchange of blows with Felicia. The original hero's martial prowess clashed with Black Cat's heightened speed and agility, creating a dynamic back-and-forth of punches and dodges.

Catwoman delivered a hard punch to Black Cat's gut, causing her to double over in pain. Sensing an opening, Selina swiftly followed up with a vicious knee to the face. But Felicia, despite being winded, managed to catch Catwoman's next punch and retaliate with a brutal elbow to the face. With a powerful kick, she then sent the original thief stumbling backwards.

Selina struggled to rise from the ground, shaking her head to clear her mind. She and Black Cat were both panting heavily, their usually pristine appearances now marked by a mix of bruises and minor cuts. It was clear that the intense fight had taken a toll on them both, but neither was willing to admit defeat.

Catwoman leaped high in the air, executing a forceful flying kick, but Black Cat nimbly slid on the ground, dodging the attack with grace. Once on their feet again, both women launched into a spinning kick simultaneously, their legs meeting in a powerful collision of force.

Selina landed a powerful capoeira kick that knocked Black Cat's domino mask off, the eyewear dropped with a clattering noise. Felicia grimaced at the loss and continued the fierce exchange of blows with Catwoman. In a calculated strike, Black Cat sliced through Catwoman's mask, leaving bleeding cuts on the side of her face.

Selina shot back with a forceful kick to Black Cat's stomach, but she found herself outmaneuvered as her rival quickly executed a nimble cartwheel flip. Before she could react, Catwoman found her head locked between Black Cat's thighs as they both crashed to the floor.

Catwoman choked as her airway was blocked by the firm grip of Black Cat's powerful thighs. However, refusing to give in without a struggle, she instinctively dug her claws into her opponent's leg, slicing through the cat suit. Felicia yelped in pain as she let go of Selina, stumbling away and clutching her now bleeding leg.

Stumbling upon the shattered remnants of the discarded whip, Black Cat's mind flashed with an idea just in time to evade the incoming pounce from Catwoman, her diamond-tipped claws extended. As Selina lunged, Felicia sidestepped the attack while swiftly wrapping the whip around Catwoman's neck. With a quick flip, she effortlessly tossed her opponent onto the floor and found herself seated on top of the bewildered thief.

Despite the pain from the slashes and the claws digging into her sides by Selina, Black Cat grit her teeth and maintained her grip on the whip, using her right leg to restrain Catwoman's arm. She then intensified the pressure on the whip, causing it to constrict around Selina's neck, slowly cutting off her airflow.

Catwoman struggled with all her strength, but the relentless pressure of the whip around her throat proved too much to overcome. After a brief moment of futile struggling, Selina Kyle finally succumbed to the lack of oxygen and lost consciousness. Felicia Hardy sighed in relief as she rolled off her defeated adversary, taking deep breaths but wincing in pain due to her own injuries.

Black Cat took a few deep breaths to regain her energy before summoning the strength to stand up. Her movements were sluggish from the exertions of the intense fight, but she remained determined as she made her way to the jade lion statue. She reached out and finally claimed the coveted trophy of their cat-astrophe.

Just as Felicia was celebrating her victory, she heard some struggling noises behind her. Turning around, she saw Catwoman crawling on her hands and knees, trying to close the distance.

"Wait... I'm not done with you yet,"

Selina hissed through gritted teeth, her determination not yet broken. A satisfied smirk played on Black Cat's lips, and she responded with a mocking tone.

"All I have to say is... better luck next time."

As if fate had a sense of humor, a hanging light suddenly broke free from the ceiling and crashed onto Catwoman's back, knocking her unconscious. Felicia Hardy chuckled to herself as she witnessed the final stroke of bad luck. Without wasting a moment, she swiftly climbed the rope she used to enter the museum, just as the police stormed in, encircling the defeated Selina Kyle.
———————————————————
Strength: Both thieves were very close in nearly all categories, but only Black Cat had the luck to pull it off. First off, despite Selina being categorized as a world class fighter by Batman himself, with strength comparable to Olympic athletes, and even once pulling down an estimated 6 ton helicopter, Felicia is able to hold her own against Spider-Man, who can regularly pull off strength feats around 25 tons, making her roughly 4X stronger at most.

Speed: Both women were mostly the same, being able to dodge point blank gunfire from multiple assailants at once. However, not only can Black Cat dodge attacks from Carnage, who is faster than Spider-Man, she can regularly tag Spider-Man in the majority of their interactions, despite his Spider Sense letting him know ahead of time, implying she's faster in attack and reaction speeds.

Skill: Catwoman is the more martially skilled, having trained in six martial arts while Black Cat is only proficient in two, and Felicia has struggled fighting against more skilled fighters if she had no other advantages to compensate.

Experience: I'd consider these thieves equal in experience. While it's difficult to gauge their exact ages, Selina at times has been at it long enough to reach her early 40s, while Felicia is typically younger than that. However, while Catwoman is more experienced fighting human level supervillains, Black Cat is more used to fighting superhuman level supervillains, such as Sabertooth, the Lizard, the Vulture, Scorpion, Carnage, so on and so forth.

Powers: Catwoman is one of the best non-powered humans that scales to Batman, and can have superior range with her whip along with the superior diamond dipped claws, but there's one thing she can't combat: Felicia's luck manipulation. Time and time again, it has undermined opponents without discrimination, allowing her the win. Sure, there have been times where it's been detrimental to Black Cat, but the costs don't always outweigh the benefits.

The winner is Black Cat.
—————————————
Next time:

"It's good we're at a competition. If this were South Town, you'd be dead... stupid."

"Blind loyalty is not a good thing, as I have learned. You must keep your eyes open to anticipate the finishing blow."

Chapter Text

Billy Kane

Backstory:

When he was a young teenager, both Billy and his sister were orphans in London. Life was hard for them with Billy having to steal food to feed Lilly. They were spotted by Geese Howard, who was on a business trip in Europe. Seeing himself in two orphans, he takes them in after he sees Billy's skill with his bo. Years later, Billy became the crime lord's, right-hand man. Geese would host The King of Fighters tournament every year with Billy as his champion. Billy was undefeated until he was beaten by Terry Bogard, who moved on to defeat Geese. Billy then swore revenge against "The Lone Wolves" Terry, Andy Bogard and Joe Higashi. After his boss' supposed death, Billy went back to England with his sister. In order to adequately provide for her, Billy continued his life of crime and joined Wolfgang Krauser. Although it seemed like he was loyal to the nobleman, Billy was actually working undercover to search and destroy Geese's impostor.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts,

Weapon Mastery (Via his staff),

Acrobatics,

Fire Manipulation (Can set his staff on fire to make it much stronger and create/throw powerful rings of fire by spinning it around),

Limited Duplication (Can create copies of his staff as seen in his Desperation Moves),

Explosion Manipulation (Can make explosions via his staff)

Weaknesses: None notable
——————————————
Jade

Backstory:

Jade is a childhood friend of Princess Kitana. While her motives were unclear, she served Shao Kahn alongside Kitana and Mileena as his personal assassin for most of her life. When Kitana finally turned against Shao Kahn, Jade was ordered to capture her for the Emperor. She ultimately chose to join her friend and has since loyally assisted Kitana in her quest to free their native realm and restore its original beauty. Now residing in the freed Edenia, Jade is a General of the Edenian Army and continues to dutifully serve Kitana and her mother Sindel.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Skilled in Edenian fighting styles, an ancient acrobatic fighting style with a hint of Capoeira and Chinese wushu),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled bōjutsu user, also uses glaives. Her weapon can somehow deflect projectiles),

Stealth Mastery (Infiltrated the Tarkatan War Kamp, were it not for a frightened Tarkatan woman. Remained undetected from Kitana until the latter sensed her presence despite being out of her sight),

Acrobatics,

Longevity (Edenians have long lifespans, even after ~10,000 years they have still remained as adults),

Magic (Her powers are that of Edenian magic),

Energy Manipulation (Her green energy allows her to temporarily boost her speed in short bursts [usually adding to the kinetic energy of her boosted attacks,

Teleportation: teleport herself over short distances, and conjure grounded waves of magic),

Intangibility (Can activate an aura that allows her to phase through projectiles)

Weaknesses: none notable.
——————————————
Song: Bo-Battle

In an alternate reality, a unique and bizarre tournament was underway. Instead of mortal Kombatants from Earthrealm, the competition now raged in South Town, Florida, with fighters from Outworld facing off against the formidable warriors renowned for their Fatal Fury prowess. Shang Tsung, the revered Grandmaster of the tournament, stood before the crowd, his commanding voice echoing through the arena.

"Our third match of this tournament will feature Billy Kane, wielding his formidable staff, against Jade, our princesses' trusty bodyguard."

He announced, setting the stage for the upcoming battle.

Billy Kane, the well-dressed Englishman, confidently strutted onto the stage, his signature Union Jack headband in place. His eyes widened appreciatively as he laid eyes on the striking Jade, her dark skin contrasting elegantly with her green attire and her own staff in hand. As Billy Kane let out a whistle, his eyes drank in the sight of Jade's beauty, and he couldn't help but remark.

"Well, darlin', have you ever been told that you're much too pretty just to be a bodyguard?"

Jade raised an eyebrow at Billy's comment, a slight frown on her lips. She carried an air of no nonsense.

"Beauty doesn't hinder my abilities to protect my princess. You best not underestimate me if you value your life."

She replied, twirling her staff with grace. Billy chuckled at Jade's response, his amusement evident.

"Oh, I have no doubts about your capabilities. Just admiring the scenery before we begin."

He spun his staff, getting into fighting position. With Shang Tsung's command of "begin," the match commenced. Billy made the first move, launching himself high with a swift staff-aided leap, aiming for a flying kick. However, Jade showed no regard for fair play, her staff darting out before he could strike. With a precise jab, she targeted Billy's nether regions, eliciting a high-pitched yelp from the Englishman. He stumbled backwards, clutching his sensitive area, and was further immobilized by a forceful smack from Jade's staff, sending him crashing to the stage floor.

Billy grunted in pain as he clutched his staff to regain his bearings. He then turned to Shang Tsung, pointing accusingly at Jade.

"Oi, that's literally below the belt! Can't you give her a penalty for that?!"

He protested. Shang Tsung raised an eyebrow, his expression neutral.

"This tournament has no rules against such tactics. If you can't handle it, then you're not worthy of being here."

He replied calmly. He gestured to the two opponents.

"Continue the fight."

"Bloody hell."

Billy huffed as he rose to his feet, using his staff for support. He pointed his staff at Jade, a slightly frustrated expression on his face.

"If you're gonna be a trollup, then I ain't gonna be the nice bloke anymore."

He declared, determination in his eyes. Jade smirked at Billy's words, her expression a mixture of confidence and mockery.

"About time you got serious. I was worried this would be too easy."

She taunted, spinning her staff in her hand.

Billy grumbled as he braced himself as Jade attacked, her kicks coming fast and varied. He skillfully deflected each one with his staff, anticipating her moves and countering her attempts to confuse him. Billy grunted in pain as the blunt end of Jade's staff struck his foot, causing him to yelp. Before he could react, she spun around, swiftly delivering a kick to the side of his head. The unexpected attack disoriented him further, and he stumbled backwards.

Jade's momentum was abruptly halted as Billy's staff jabbed into her gut, catching her off guard. She let out a surprised grunt as the Englishman chuckled. In a swift maneuver, Billy spun his staff, swinging it overhead and around to hoist Jade around in the air, ending with her landing hard on her back on the stage floor. Billy couldn't help but let out a smug chuckle as he looked down at Jade, who was laying on her back on the stage floor.

"Looks like you ain't so tough now, are you?"

He taunted, a cocky smile on his face.

Just as Billy was about to deliver another blow with his staff, Jade surprised him by jabbing the end of her own staff into his crotch once more. Billy let out a pained sound, doubling over from the impact. Taking advantage of his momentary disadvantage, Jade followed up with a powerful kick to his head, sending him stumbling backwards, so that she could flip onto her feet. Billy clutched his head, his expression a mix of pain and frustration.

"Stop bloody aiming down there! How'd you like it if I kept punching you in the tits!?"

He exclaimed, anger and frustration evident in his voice. Jade smirked, showing no remorse for her underhanded tactics.

"If you keep letting your guard down, then I'm going to keep exploiting your weaknesses. Besides, in a real fight, there are no rules. You should have expected such moves."

She replied coolly.

"In that case, take this!"

Billy telegraphed a downward strike with his staff, and Jade readied herself to block it. However, just as she raised her staff to defend, Billy surprised her by gripping his own staff tighter, causing it to split into three segments, connected by chains. Before she could react, the farthest end of the weapon swung around her staff and connected with the back of her head, delivering a powerful blow.

Billy continued his assault, spinning his segmented staff and bringing down one of the ends to hit Jade's head, causing her to double over in pain. Taking advantage of her momentary immobility, he quickly reversed his grip on his staff and swung the other end into her face, delivering a solid blow. Then, he returned his staff to its former state and jabbed the end into her back, causing a small explosion that propelled her forward.

Jade, regaining her bearings, quickly threw out her karambit, a deadly and sharp bladed boomerang that almost hit Billy, but the Englishman managed to dodge just in time, albeit not completely unscathed. One of the blades glanced across his cheek, leaving a shallow yet bleeding cut. Billy couldn't help but express his surprise and outrage as he touched his newly acquired cut on his cheek, wincing in pain.

"Oi, that could've killed me!"

He exclaimed, a mix of disbelief and anger in his voice. Jade shrugged nonchalantly, showing little remorse for her potentially deadly attack.

"In a real fight, I wouldn't hesitate to use such weapons. You should have dodged better."

Billy Kane's frustration reached a boiling point as he watched Jade dismissively shrug off his injury. Infuriated by her nonchalant attitude towards the seriousness of the match, he channeled all his anger into his next attack. He ignited his staff with crackling flames, intending to overwhelm her with his relentless offense. In response, Jade quickly imbued her own staff with green glowing shadows, creating a protective barrier to counteract his fiery assault and prevent herself from getting burned.

Jade moved with elegance and grace, her staff dancing through the air as she swiftly slapped away Billy's attacks with powerful yet precise movements. Forcing him back with her whirlwind-like strikes, she landed a firm kick that sent him stumbling backwards. Realizing the danger posed by her magic, Billy attempted to throw the fire from his staff at her, but Jade quickly intercepted with a powerful spin of her own staff, extinguishing the flames before they could reach her.

Billy suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of something whirling through the air and instinctively knew that it was Jade's karambit boomerang coming back for another attack. Thinking quickly, he spun around and inserted the end of his staff into the ring center, redirecting the flying weapon back towards her. However, Jade effortlessly caught the boomerang, despite the sudden shift in direction, showcasing her impressive reflexes and skills. Jade smirked at Billy, a hint of mockery in her expression as she folded and put her bladed weapon back onto her hip.

"Cute. You actually thought using my own weapon against me was a good idea."

She commented, her tone dripping with condescension. Anticipating Billy's charge, Jade attempted to jab at his groin once more, leveraging her reach to her advantage, but this time he was ready. He jumped onto her staff, performing a front flip to secure a firm position. Before she could react, Billy had landed behind her and caught her in a chokehold with his own staff around her throat, trapping her in a vulnerable position. Grinning smugly, Billy chuckled as he tightened his chokehold around Jade's throat, enjoying having her at his mercy.

"You thought you could keep getting away with taking cheap shots, eh? Well, I'm no pushover."

He boasted. With a swift move, he bent over, effortlessly sending her flying over himself, but to his annoyance, she managed to regain her footing before landing, having stabbed her staff into the stage to halt her momentum. Despite his unexpected move, Jade regained her balance and stepped back, her expression still calm and composed.

"Not bad. But I'm not done yet."

She admitted begrudgingly.

"Don't think that I'm done yet either."

Billy sneered as he revealed a flint on one end of his staff, scraping it against the ground to send a fiery arc towards Jade. However, instead of dodging or retreating, Jade confidently slammed her own staff into the ground, imbuing it once again with green shadow magic. The move successfully dispersed the flames, leaving her unharmed.

Billy's diversion worked perfectly, allowing him to whack Jade with his staff and land a solid feet-first strike against her. Spinning across the ground, he created a ring of flames, trapping her within a circle of fire. To cap off his attack, he jumped and spun around, amplifying the flames and causing them to erupt around the Edenian warrior. Jade cried out in pain as the flames engulfed her, the unexpected move catching her off guard. Just when Billy thought he had her beaten, he looked up in surprise as Jade surged with green shadow magic, her eyes glowing with intensity.

"Enough!"

She declared, exerting her authority and signaling the end of the fight. Taking advantage of her teleportation ability, Jade rematerialized behind Billy and delivered a well-aimed blow to his groin once more, causing him to double over in pain. Before he could recover, she quickly followed up by jabbing her staff into his lower spinal column with precision, aiming for a debilitating injury.

Billy struggled to get back up, still reeling from the previous blows, but before he could regain his footing, Jade teleported in front of him in a flash. She delivered a powerful punch to his face, followed by a precise stab of one of her karambits into his shoulder. Without missing a beat, she teleported again, reappearing behind him to deliver a powerful kick to his back, sending him crashing back down to the ground. With Billy laid out on the ground, clutching his injured shoulder, Jade looked up towards Shang Tsung. Her expression was steely, awaiting his command on the Englishman's fate. Shang Tsung sat watching from his throne, a small smile on his lips as he observed Jade waiting for instructions. He praised the Edenian.

"Well done. Finish him."

With a nod, Jade picked Billy up by his shirt, her staff retracting to a compact size before quickly extending again. The extended staff now skewered all the way through until it popped his right eye out its socket. Kane could only gasp in barely conceivable pain as he spasmed, dropping his staff as a result.

With a quick teleport, Jade appeared in front of Billy, her blades gleaming in the light. In a swift movement, she sliced through his waist, severing his legs so they'd drop down to the floor as his inner organs started to fall out.

To add a final insult to Billy's grievous injury, Jade had a little fun with his limp body, it dangling from her staff and spun it around. She unceremoniously dropped him and removed her blood-soaked staff from his head, thrusting her staff up in victory.
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Strength: Now, it's debatable if the scaling of Billy Kane compared to the main characters and antagonists of SNK is accurate. He doesn't have any special blood, and it's questionable if he's using ki to use fire, or just the staff. But assuming he's simply above superhuman average instead of Megaton powerful like King of Fighters is known for, Billy could scale to Mai Shiranui, which we've established being around attack strength of 32 tons. Jade, meanwhile, can scale to characters who can chop through titanium, requiring 56 tons of force. That's 1.75X stronger than Kane.

Speed: Both should be equal speed. Jade is likely to scale to characters who can block against machine gun fire, which is Mach 3, but Billy can move his staff to block a sniper round. Whoever is faster is only so fractionally.

Skill: Jade should be better. Not only is she skilled in just as much unarmed combat along with bojutsu, while Billy isn't, but she's been training for 10,000 years.

Experience: Living in Outworld is all Jade needs to have experienced things that Kane never has and thus would have nothing that could surprise her.

Powers: Aside from the occasional fire, Billy Kane is just a stronger than average human. Jade has superior weapons, energy manipulation and teleportation. So yeah.

The winner is Jade.
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Next time:

"Whether I kick a kitten... tear off your ears... or even slaughter innocent people... The world will never cease to forgive my actions! Why, you ask? That's right, it is because I am... Beautiful!"

"I am the Fifth Hokage… You've trampled on our ancestors' treasure… their dream… And you will pay the price! As the Hokage, I will put a stop to you here and now!"

Chapter Text

Boa Hancock

Backstory:

"Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock is the captain of the Kuja Pirates and was the only female Warlord of the Sea before the organization's disbandment. She is the current empress, known as the "Snake Princess", of Amazon Lily and rules over the Kuja tribe with her two younger sisters, Boa Sandersonia and Boa Marigold.

Kidnapped by the World Nobles as a child along with her sisters, she was enslaved and tortured for years; during this time she was force-fed the Mero Mero no Mi, which gives her the ability to turn both living and non-living things into stone. She and her sisters escaped from Mary Geoise during a mass breakout instigated by Fisher Tiger. She was returned to her home with the help of Gloriosa, Silvers Rayleigh and Shakuyaku, where she would eventually become the island's empress, as well as one of the Seven Warlords.

Though initially antagonistic towards Monkey D. Luffy, his selfless actions and animosity towards the Celestial Dragons caused her to befriend, and eventually fall in love, with him. She went on to serve as one of Luffy's most stalwart allies, helping him infiltrate Impel Down, siding with him in the Summit War of Marineford, providing him a location to train on for two years, and then helping him reunite with his crew and supporting him from afar.

She first gained a bounty of Beli 80,000,000 due to her being a captain of the Kuja Pirates before it was frozen after she joined the Seven Warlords. However, after the abolition of the Seven Warlords, Hancock's bounty was reinstated and raised to Beli 1,659,000,000.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts,

Acrobatics,

Haki (Intermediate Haoshoku, Intermediate Kenbunshoku, Intermediate Busoshoku),

Social Influencing (She's known as the most beautiful woman in the world, with her beauty she's able to manipulate both men and women to do as she demands or forgive her actions despite the severity of them; such as attacking small animals, mutilation or even murder. Her beauty's influence can incite feelings of lust or perversion in people regardless of gender, if they're animals or emotionless cyborgs),

Petrification (With the Mero Mero no Mi she can turn almost anyone to stone as long as they possess lust or perversion towards her and is able to turn inanimate objects such as weapons or cannon balls to stone regardless of lust),

Durability Negation (People or objects petrified by her are turned to weak stone she can easily break),

Limited Petrification Nullification (Can undo the effects of those she's petrified, however, the Mero Mero no Mi can only de-petrify those that the user has petrified themselves),

Danmaku (Via Slave Arrow),

Resistance to Madness Manipulation, Mind Manipulation and Soul Manipulation via Willpower (Through sheer willpower they can resist losing their mind when absorbing shadows through the Kage Kage no Mi. Shadows belonging to strong willed people are difficult to control, allowing them to rebel against Moria's pact which usually immediately submits a shadow to his supremacy and orders. Spiritual energy is contained within one's soul/life; this energy is represented by the fighting power or the Haki itself. Those with strong souls, which are homologous to shadows, resist the effects of Brook's soul manipulation),

Limited Power Nullification and Stamina Absorption (Has been shown to been capable of moving and even overpowering others regardless of being affected by Seastone, while low densities have been shown to completely incapacitate and drastically weaken others and stopping them from using their abilities. Only the current user of the Love Love Fruit can undo the pertification caused by it's power)

Weaknesses: Weaknesses: Standard Devil Fruit users weaknesses. Her Devil Fruit's abilities don't work on someone who isn't attracted to her (Example: Luffy), or is feeling an emotion far superior at the time they would feel lust for her (Momonga was able to not be affected during the time she used her powers due to feeling the pain from stabbing himself more than his lust for her)
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Tsunade Senju

Tsunade is one of Konohagakure's legendary Sannin. Though celebrated as the world's most powerful kunoichi and its greatest medical-nin, the repeated loss of her loved ones caused her to abandon the life of a shinobi for many years. She is eventually persuaded to return to Konoha and becomes its Fifth Hokage, where her skills proved invaluable to the village.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics (Tsunade, like all Shinobi, is capable of using Chakra to enhance her strength to superhuman levels),

Genius Intelligence,

Chakra Manipulation,

Statistics Amplification (Shinobi are capable of enhancing their physical capabilities with the use of chakra. The Shunshin no Jutsu allows Shinobi to greatly enhance their speed by focusing chakra in their feet. Using her signature chakra enhanced "monster" strength, Tsunade focuses her maximum chakra into her limbs at the exact moment of impact in order to release far greater power than is possible for most Shinobi. She can also release the Strength of a Hundred Seal on her forehead to gain access to all of her accumulated chakra and greatly increase her strength even further),

Surface Scaling and Water Walking (By focusing chakra at the soles of their feet, Shinobi can scale and cling to vertical surfaces, and even walk on water)

Afterimage Creation, Stealth Mastery, and Speed Enhancement (The Substitution Jutsu allows its user to instantly replace themselves with a nearby object such as a tree log, plant, person, or clone at the exact moment they are attacked. The Jutsu works even if the user is physically restrained or observed by characters as observant as Sharingan or Sage Mode users. This creates the optical illusion of the user being hit, which confuses the opponent and gives them an opening to flee or counterattack),

Minor Illusion Creation and Duplication (With the Clone Technique, Shinobi can create illusionary duplicates of themselves that have no physical substance. He can also create Shadow Clones, which are identical clones that can aid him in combat, use his techniques, telepathically relay information back to him when they're destroyed, and act as distractions, among other things),

Paralysis Inducement (With the Temporary Paralysis Technique, Shinobi can completely paralyze their targets from close to mid range),

Martial Arts (All Shinobi are trained to be highly proficient in Taijutsu. Even in the Ninja Academy, they are trained in Hand-to-Hand combat and perform drills regularly to perfect their Taijutsu. She is an elite Shinobi with decades of combat experience under her belt. She casually disarmed and outclassed Naruto in hand-to-hand combat. She's able to contend with masterful combatants such as Kabuto, Orochimaru, and Madara Uchiha for extended periods of time, and routinely outclassed them in Taijutsu. She trained Sakura to be skilled enough in Taijutsu to read attack patterns, and predict incoming attacks, even if the attacks are extremely numerous or are coming from practically all directions),

Pressure Points Strikes (Shinobi are taught a technique that allows them to painlessly knock people out with a simple neck chop in the Academy. As a doctor, Tsunade has an intimate knowledge of the human body, as well as all of its weak spots, and is perfectly capable of targeting them in combat or using her Chakra Scalpel. She hit Naruto's wrist in such a way that it forced him to release his weapon involuntarily. She effortlessly knocked out Shizune without harming her),

Acrobatics (All Shinobi are extremely agile, and can jump to great heights. Additionally, they can all travel around by jumping across tree branches. Tsunade in turn is an incredibly agile fighter, being able to deliver very acrobatic kicks and dodge attacks from any which direction. She's capable of jumping to extreme heights in combat and can perform fighting maneuvers mid-air, which she demonstrated by tagging an airborne Madara Uchiha with a kick),

Enhanced Senses, Extrasensory Perception, and Information Analysis (Can detect someone's erratic heartbeats, and accurately diagnose their physical condition with a mere glance from several meters away. Easily dodged an underground sneak attack from Kabuto at the last second. High level medical Ninja are capable of sensing disturbances in the chakra inside the body, as well as spotting and diagnosing the exact cause of said disturbance, such as pathogens or ailments, and finally spotting the exact area that's being afflicted. By sharing her chakra with Katsuyu's clones, Tsunade is able to sense anything her chakra comes into contact with, as well as diagnose the condition of any person Katsuyu attaches herself to. This technique is very similar to the one utilized by an extremely young Itachi Uchiha, which enabled him to send out his Chakra in all directions within his immediate vicinity, allowing him to sense the presence of everyone around him, as well as the specific techniques and abilities they're utilizing. It's also strikingly similar to Sakura doing much the same as an adult using the Area Scanning Technique, which allows her to roughly map out entire structures by channelling her chakra through inorganic materials. Doing so allows her to detect threats, traps, and hidden rooms),

Analytical Prediction (Taught and trained Sakura to master her evasion techniques, which allowed her to gradually read someone's attack patterns and start dodging accordingly, even from blindspots. Tsunade herself showed her mastery of this technique during her fight with Kabuto when she effortlessly dodged his underground sneak attack),

Shockwave Creation (Tsunade's attacks create massive shockwaves that cause great damage to her surroundings. She should be capable of replicating what Sakura and Sarada are able to do using their chakra enhanced strength),

Electricity Manipulation, Durability Negation, and Status Effect Inducement (She can change her chakra into electricity in order to create an electrical field. Using Ranshinshō, Tsunade can cut off and scramble the target's electric signals that pass through their nervous system. While under the influence of this technique, the target won't be able to perform simple actions such as walking or moving their limbs, much less fighting, because their body simply does not do what their brain tells them to due to the scrambled signals. It should be noted that this technique directly affects the target's nervous system, ignoring their outer defenses),

Sealing (Her necklace contained a very powerful Sealing Jutsu. She has considerable Fuinjutsu prowess, as her 100 Healings mark functions by storing and sealing away her chakra within the mark on her forehead, and then releasing it when she sees fit),

Limited Durability Negation, Intangibility, and Weapon Creation (Using the Chakra Scalpel, Tsunade can bypass a target's outer skin and cut through their vitals, internal muscles, and organs without causing any external damage),

Healing (As the world's most skilled Medical Ninja, her healing abilities are unmatched. Using the Mystical Palm Technique, she can heal a plethora of external and internal injuries, ailments, and unwanted effects, be it on herself or others. The technique can also be used from a distance. She has performed many seemingly impossible feats in the medical field such as healing the psychological damage inflicted upon Sasuke and Kakashi by Tsukuyomi with a mere touch, fully healing Rock Lee's spinal injury which was deemed a hopeless case, counteracted the effects of the Three Coloured Pills, which were eating away at his cells, using instructions from the Nara Clan's Sacred Medical Guide, analyzed and neutralized the poisons of renowned experts such as Chiyo of the Sand, easily healed a hole in Minato's torso, and much more. She was also noted to be the only one capable of healing Orochimaru's arms, which had their soul sealed away and lost their ability to function, even though Orochimaru had the aid of a competent Medical Ninja such as Kabuto. She was able to effortlessly heal and replenish Shikamaru, even though a Kyūbi-cloak enhanced 100H Sakura, as well as Naruto's own Kyūbi chakra, failed to heal him and were barely keeping him alive. Additionally, Medical Ninjustu can also heal from the effects of, and even directly remove, powerful poison. By linking her chakra to Katsuyu, Tsunade is capable of healing countless people and restoring their chakra over vast distances using her Remote Healing),

Non-Physical Interaction (With her Medical Ninjutsu, she could interact with and heal the soul. By focusing chakra in her arms, she could deflect elemental Ninjutsu such as Madara's Fire Style with her bare hands, which is something that Sakura later replicated to catch and repel incoming Ninjutsu),

Power Bestowal (Using their 100 Healings technique, the user is capable of transferring their chakra to another person in order to greatly empower them and enhance their abilities),

Biological Manipulation, Durability Negation, and limited Regeneration Negation (She can kill people using Medical Ninjutsu, and Orochimaru would have died on the spot had he touched her chakra. The Mystical Palm technique can affect the target's interior as well as their exterior in order to heal injuries; however, should Tsunade wish it, she can use the technique to kill her targets or overload their circulatory system with chakra, leaving them in a comatose state, or otherwise damaging them as she pleases. She should also be capable of combining her chakra-enhanced fists with her medical Ninjutsu in a similar manner to Sakura in order to simultaneously heal the damage resulting from the punches, eventually killing the affected cells from over-replication and rendering her target's regeneration obsolete),

Immortality (Types 2 and 3; For as long as Creation Rebirth is active, Tsunade is effectively immortal and will not die no matter how much she's injured. She can regenerate from what would normally be lethal injuries, such as impalement, and can even survive complete bisection for an extended period of time while extremely low on chakra),

Regeneration (At least Mid; With her Creation Rebirth Jutsu, she can stimulate her cellular division in order to regenerate organs and limbs, essentially rendering her immortal, as long as she still has enough chakra. The Databook entry for the Jutsu also reiterates much of this by asserting that she can reconstruct all of her body's organs and tissues instantly, rendering her impossible to kill by any means for as long as the technique is active. She was able to regenerate from being impaled by Madara's Susano'o and from complete bisection. Tsunade was completely confident that her Creation Rebirth would allow her to survive and recover from Mabui's Ethereal Transmission Jutsu completely ripping her apart),

Supernatural Willpower (She can withstand grueling and life-threatening injuries, such as swords plunging straight through her chest and torso, or getting cut in half, without succumbing to the pain or losing the ability to fight. Easily endured being stabbed straight through the chest by Orochimaru, and then getting repeatedly slashed by his blade, despite being crippled by her Hemophobia at the time, in order to protect Naruto. Overcame her crippling Hemophobia through sheer will. She could continue to fight unencumbered while having Madara's Susano'o blades plunged through her torso),

Overwhelming Aura and Fear Manipulation (Much like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and many other high level Shinobi, Tsunade can also project her bloodlust in order to scare other highly skilled and experienced Shinobi. Even Kabuto, who's always around Orochimaru, was visibly fazed by her bloodlust. It was also stated that when she's truly angered, "her expression and glow of her eyes right before her eruption have the intensity to make anyone afraid.")

Weaknesses: Using her Mitotic Regeneration technique consumes a lot of chakra, greatly accelerates her aging, and shortening her lifespan. She's also very impatient and has a very short temper, and is extremely prone to fits of anger.
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Song: ?

It was a warm and bright day in the Hidden Leaf Village, and the esteemed Hokage, Tsunade Senju, took a moment's respite from her duties to engage in a casual game of chance. However, more than half an hour had passed, and she found herself in a familiar predicament: she had lost each and every coin on her person to her opponent. Tsunade felt a wave of frustration wash over her as she once again lost all her money. She let out a loud groan of annoyance and exclaimed,

"Why do I always keep losing all my money?!"

Her frustration was understandable considering this was the latest loss in a never-ending chain of them. Boa Hancock, a slender, stunningly beautiful woman in her early thirties, was strutting down the street, enjoying her break from her duties. As she walked, a young girl and her puppy came running up to her, playing chase.

This sight immediately halted Boa Hancock's leisurely stroll.

"Ugh, get that mutt away from me!"

Boa Hancock's arrogant voice rang out, and she kicked the puppy away from her with disgust. The girl, shocked and upset, began crying loudly, while passerby nearby gasped in disapproval. Tsunade, who had been nearby, stood up and approached the imposing woman. She felt intimidated by Boa Hancock's height, but quickly hardened her expression and prepared herself to intervene.

"Hey, what do you think you're doing?! You can't just kick people's pets away simply for being in your path! That's cruel and unfair."

Tsunade spoke out loudly, addressing the woman.

Boa Hancock turned to face Tsunade, a haughty look on her face as she looked down at the shorter woman. Boa Hancock tilted her head back, her demeanor dripping with arrogance, and pointed a finger at Tsunade as she looked down at the Hokage so much, she was looking up.

"Oh please, you will forgive me because I'm beautiful. And since I'm beautiful, everything I do is automatically forgivable."

She stated dismissively, her haughty tone matching her contemptuous expression. Boa Hancock's self-assurance was borderline irritating. Tsunade retorted firmly, her voice filled with determination.

"Just because you're attractive doesn't give you the right to do whatever you please! In fact, you're not truly beautiful; you're ugly inside."

Boa Hancock's face contorted with anger, her ego bruised by Tsunade's blunt assessment. Boa Hancock charged toward Tsunade, her anger evident in her movements.

"You dare call me, the Pirate Empress, ugly?! I'll turn you to stone and shatter you!"

Boa Hancock charged toward Tsunade, her anger evident in her movements.

As the fight commenced, Tsunade, with her proficiency in taijutsu, effectively countered Boa's attacks as she tried kicking for her face. She effortlessly parried and blocked the Pirate Empress's kicks, while landing consistent blows. Meanwhile, Hancock's wide, sweeping kicks missed more often than they hit, thanks to Tsunade's nimbleness and precise movements. With each connection, Tsunade landed solid hits on her opponent. However, Tsunade did find that the Pirate Empress was stronger than she expected, her strength staggering. But her taijutsu let her keep up to minimize damage. As Boa Hancock retreated from the losing close combat, she aimed her hands at her opponent, shaping them into hearts.

"Mero Mero Mellow!"

She exclaimed, releasing a stream of pink hearts. Tsunade swiftly evaded the beam by jumping aside, but some members of the crowd were not as fortunate. Caught in the path of the beam, those who harbored perverse thoughts about Boa Hancock were instantly turned to stone from petrification. Tsunade observed this horrifying scene with horror and exclaimed,

"What have you done?!"

Boa Hancock explained, a sinister smirk playing on her lips.

"Anyone who harbors lust in their hearts will be turned into stone, and no one can resist the power of my beauty, not even you. Pistol Kiss!"

With a confident smile, she pointed her right index and middle fingers at Tsunade and shot quick pink hearts at her. The Hokage, displaying her prowess, countered the attack by coating her hands with chakra and expertly swatting and slicing the hearts away with her chakra scalpel. Tsunade mused to herself, contemplating the unique chakra control that allowed Boa Hancock to petrify others based on their lustful thoughts.

"While I'm admitting I could've used that ability at some points, my priority now is beating her to restore my citizens."

With determination, Tsunade charged towards the Pirate Empress, preparing to overpower her. Boa Hancock unleashed a barrage of powerful kicks, targeting Tsunade's stomach, ribs, and head. While Tsunade was able to partially block and dodge the blows, she found herself overwhelmed in close combat. The Pirate Empress then delivered a backflip kick, sending Tsunade flying in the air for nearly a dozen feet before she crashed back down to the ground, landing hard on her back. Tsunade grunted in pain as she hit the ground, the impact causing her to lose her breath for a moment.

Boa Hancock inhaled deeply and then puckered her lips, releasing a massive heart that resembled the Pistol Kiss attack, but on a much larger scale. She then pulled the heart back with a hand, creating a popping sound as hundreds of arrows with heart-tipped ends shot out from it, forming a barrage aimed to overwhelm Tsunade.

"Slave Arrow!"

She exclaimed, commanding the devastating assault. Tsunade was caught off guard by Boa Hancock's arrows, and with a mighty shout, she punched the ground, causing a crater to form beneath her. Her immense strength sent tremors through the earth, deflecting the arrows meant for her, but unfortunately, the rest of the arrows hit the people in the distance, petrifying them in the process. Tsunade felt a mix of relief and worry, having averted the attack aimed at her, but also concerned about the new victims turned to stone.

Tsunade seized control of a boulder, yanking it out of the ground. She hurled it at Boa Hancock, who managed to deflect it with a swift kick. However, by the time the boulder was out of the way, Tsunade had vanished from her previous position. Sensing her presence, Hancock glanced up to discover Tsunade now charging her from above.

"Pistol Kiss!"

Boa Hancock unleashed more heart-shaped rounds. However, to her surprise, while the shots appeared to have pierced through Tsunade's body, only for the body to immediately poof and transform into a damaged piece of log. This unexpected revelation stunned Hancock. Tsunade's voice rang out, mocking Boa Hancock.

"Sucker."

With a swift jump, Tsunade launched herself at the Pirate Empress, delivering a series of strikes. She flicked Hancock's forehead, sending her flying, followed by a quick flash step that placed her behind the pirate. With a powerful uppercut, she sent her enemy soaring into the air, followed by a tremendous swinging kick that sent Hancock spiraling toward the ground at an incredible speed, crashing into it with a resounding impact.

As Tsunade charged towards her, Boa Hancock swiftly spun herself around and countered with a haki-enhanced kick, shouting,

"Heaven Kick of Pain!"

"Perfumed Femur!" Boa Hancock exclaimed, causing black electricity to spark between their feet. The ground beneath Hancock's one foot shattered, creating a massive impact crater, collapsing two nearby buildings in the process. The attack had a devastating effect, petrifying Tsunade's foot and ankle, causing her immense pain and forcing her to retreat.

Hancock reveled in her opponent's predicament, laughing aloud. Hancock's voice rang out with assurance.

"Need I remind you? Nobody can resist my eternal beauty. You are no match for the Pirate Empress."

With a swift flick of her hand, she tossed her luscious locks, her confidence unassailable. Tsunade whispered to herself, resolute.

"It looks like I'll have to put my life on the line."

As she spoke, the chakra on her forehead began to seethe with power, releasing black lines across her body due to the 100 Healing Jutsu. Tapping into her reserve of stockpiled chakra, Tsunade's strength exponentially increased, preparing for a desperate attack.

With a determined lunge, Tsunade launched a powerful punch, but Hancock successfully countered it with a kick. However, the Pirate Empress visibly winced in pain as the impact caused hairline fractures to spread through her leg. Tsunade's strength, amplified by the hundred fold power of her chakra, was inflicting significant damage.

The force of Tsunade's punch sent Hancock flying backward, and the Hokage quickly pursued with a mid-air kick that sent her crashing into a building. The impact was so powerful that it toppled the wall behind Hancock, causing the building to collapse.

Though Hancock was disoriented from the impact, she had the presence of mind to raise her knee, coating it with black armament haki. Despite her attempt to mitigate the force of the blow, the sheer power of Tsunade's punch still caused her some pain. However, the power of her haki defense prevented her bones from cracking under the impact.

Hancock responded with a powerful kick, sending Tsunade flying backwards with immense force. The impact caused her to crash into a building across the street, causing it to collapse in the process. Despite the devastating blow, Tsunade pushed the boulder-sized debris off herself, panting heavily as she caught her breath. Several ninjas attempted to rush to Tsunade's aid, ready to support their renowned Fifth Hokage, but Hancock dismissed their intentions.

"This doesn't concern any of you gnats. Witness the power of the Pirate Empress!"

She declared arrogantly. With a display of her will, Boa Hancock unleashed her Conquerer's Haki, an invisible force that filled the air, exerting pressure on those present.

The regular ninja crumpled to the ground, rendered unconscious by Hancock's formidable Conquerer's Haki. However, amidst the oppressive force, only Tsunade stood unwavering. Though daunted by the overwhelming pressure exerted by Hancock's will alone, Tsunade refused to yield, her determination just as comparable. Though Hancock maintained an air of superiority, she begrudgingly acknowledged Tsunade's strength.

"I must admit, you're a stronger woman than I initially believed."

As Hancock spoke, her curiosity piqued.

"What fuels the fire of your spirit, that drives you to defy me so ardently?"

Tsunade met Hancock's gaze with unwavering determination.

"To fight for the Village and protect the people I care for. It fuels my spirit and drives me to stand unwavering against enemies like you. I am the Fifth Hokage. I have inherited the Will of Fire as the Hokage before me. And it's that Will that will that will let me prevail and force you to return my people back to normal."

Hancock chuckled, her arrogance still evident.

"Oh, how quaint. The Will of Fire, you say? Inherited from the Hokage before you. It's a shame that all of it seems worthless against my beauty."

Despite Hancock's mockery, Tsunade remained resolute. As Hancock was preparing to execute a handstand and unleash a barrage of Perfume Femur attacks, Tsunade quickly intervened. With a forceful punch to the ground, the tremors caused by its impact threw off Hancock's balance, momentarily lifting her off the ground. Taking advantage of the situation, Tsunade darted beneath the Pirate Empress and delivered a devastating punch, propelling Hancock skyrocketing into the sky. Her screams echoed throughout her ascent.

A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Tsunade's lips as she watched Hancock disappear into the clouds above. Without wasting a moment, the Hokage sprang into action, leaping high into the air. Readying herself, Tsunade braced for the inevitable confrontation as Hancock began to descend from the sky.

Landing on her back with a painful thud, Hancock let out a groan, slowly rising to her feet. Utilizing her Observation Haki, she sensed Tsunade's approach, sensing her presence darting toward her at high speed. Looking up, Hancock witnessed Tsunade hurtling through the air, preparing to deliver a powerful axe kick. Just as Tsunarde was about to execute her axe kick, Hancock swiftly cried out,

"Not this time! Pistol Kiss!"

With a quick motion of her fingers, she fired a barrage of heart-shaped projectiles straight up, catching Tsunade off guard. The Hokage was unable to dodge or block the incoming barrage, resulting in multiple hits that pierced her body and weakened her position. As Tsunade crashed down into the ground, deeply cratering the area, Hancock agilely rolled out of the way, evading the full force of the attack. Tsunade struggled to rise from the ground, her injuries slowly healing. However, this momentary vulnerability was more than enough for Boa Hancock. With a triumphant declaration, Hancock cried out,

"You could never win, because I am beautiful! Perfume Femur!"

Hancock began a rapid spin on one leg, delivering a barrage of powerful, haki-imbued kicks that landed on Tsunade, partially petrifying the areas of impact. Tsunade, unable to do much else except defend, could only endure the onslaught. Observing Tsunade gradually succumbing to the barrage of attacks, Hancock paused, gathering her power. She brought her hands together in the shape of a heart, and exclaimed,

"Be petrified by my full beauty! Mero Mero Mellow!"

With her full devil fruit power channeled, Hancock unleashed a stream of pink hearts, completely enveloping Tsunade in its dazzling energy. Even in the midst of pain and faced with her adversary, Tsunade couldn't deny Boa Hancock's breathtaking beauty. As her eyes transformed into heart shapes, the Fifth Hokage succumbed to the full power of Hancock's petrification. Boa Hancock, reveling in her triumph, wore a satisfied smile.

"You may have lost, Hokage, but the significance of your care for your village is something I can acknowledge. Awaken."

In a rare act of generosity, Hancock blew a kiss, releasing a shower of little hearts that gently touched all the previously petrified individuals, including Tsunade. As the hearts cascaded over them, they were restored to their normal selves, thanks to the Pirate Empress's mercy. As Tsunade's senses returned to her, she found herself disoriented, collapsing to her knees.

"What... what happened?"

She inquired, baffled. Though she had no recollection of being petrified, she swiftly regained her bearings and quickly jumped back, assuming a defensive stance against Boa Hancock. Hancock chuckled, clearly entertained by Tsunade's persistent determination, even in the midst of her defeat.

"You can rest easy, Hokage. I was just leaving. Consider yourself blessed that I graced you with mercy." She remarked, an arrogant smirk on her face.

The Pirate Empress turned and strode away, limping slightly and her clothes slightly disheveled, yet she still exuded an undeniably alluring charm.
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Strength: Now, there's no doubt that Tsunade is one of the physically strongest kunoichi of the Naruto universe. Her 100 Healings Jutsu (Strength of a Hundred technique) let her keep pace with Madara for a brief time, who's powerful enough to contend with the Tailed Beasts, measured at power of about 5 Teratons. But even if we were to be generous and say that's her base and the technique increased it to 500 Teratons, that still wouldn't be enough. While Boa Hancock hasn't shown many displays of her full power, every character with a 1 billion berry baseline bounty has performed feats that are generally agreed to be 2.28 Petatons. 456X stronger than the likely case, and only about 4.56X in the best case scenario.

Speed: It's debatable whether Tsunade has light speed reactions or not, scaling to top speed characters at that level. But even if she was, Boa Hancock has observation haki which can let her keep track of Tsunade, and she would likely keep up with characters who have over 10X the reaction speed of light.

Skill: Tsunade is the more skilled fighter, training all her life to the point that she's one of the Sannin, whereas Boa, while certainly skilled, relies more on her beauty and petrification powers to do the work, then shatter them when they're stone.

Experience: While Tsunade has more experience, time wise, as she's over 20 years older than Boa, it's debatable who's more experienced one over the other in fighting foes of various abilities, aa besides your average ninja and pirate/marines, Naruto and One Piece are very varied in terms of unique abilities with their ninjutsu and devil fruits respectively.

Powers: Tsunade is certainly a master kunoichi, and has a lot more various abilities at her disposal, and even likely has the will to shrug off conqueror's haki, but I doubt that most of the usual ninja tricks would work, due to either Hancock's keen observations or being too durable for most of her attacks. Tsunade could theoretically use her medical ninjutsu to mess with Hancock's body from the inside, but that would require overpowering the Pirate Empress's armament haki, which can defend against the equally body manipulative properties of the Op-Op Fruit, such as Kaido vs Law. Plus, while Tsunade’s healing factor increased her stamina and vitality, it can only do so for so long, and her healing never had to counter petrifecation.

The winner is Boa Hancock.

Chapter Text

Fulgore

Backstory:

He is one of many other Fulgores Mark 03, the third model of battle robots developed by Ultratech to be perfect and merciless soldiers. This specific Fulgore is different from the others, as ARIA's experiments turned it into something more than a simple machine. It became what she calls a primitive "Noömorph", an AI created from a copied consciousness. When Eagle entered the first Killer Instinct tournament, his skill impressed ARIA so much that she decided to capture him and use his mind as the foundation for her most ambitious project. Her goal to move her consciousness into a humanoid body, but in order to succeed she had to perfect the inverse process first. And so Eagle's neural network was copied and placed into the body of a Fulgore.

Such human component makes the his performances better than those of the others', which possess the same built but are limited by their nature of cold machines. Fulgore is ultimately enslaved to Ultratech, and generally follows the orders given by his programming, but he has exhibited rebellious behavior from time to time, such as when he refused to deliver the finishing blow on Thunder, Eagle's brother. Despite this, ARIA considers him a valuable asset, and does everything she can to keep him from being completely destroyed, and he has proven his worth in several occasions, especially the great war against the Shadow Lord Gargos.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Inorganic Physiology (Type 2),

Nanotechnology (Partially composed of Ultratech Nanotech),

Martial Arts,

Bodily Weaponry,

Body Control,

limited Immortality (Types 2, 6 and 8),

Automatic Reaction,

Enhanced Senses,

Extrasensory Perception,

Energy Projection and Temperature Manipulation,

Plasma Manipulation,

Invisibility,

Teleportation,

Flight,

Self-Destruction,

Forcefield Creation,

limited Biological, Mind and Empathic Manipulation (Via the Reflector shield),

minor Radiation Manipulation (Via his brain core),

Speed Amplification (Via his reactor),

Shadow Energy Manipulation,

Damage Boost (Can use Shadow Energy to increase the properties of his special attacks),

Stealth Mastery (Adapted to walk silently and exploit the darkness to sneak past or assault the enemy unnoticed),

Weaknesses: His electrical functions can be fully disabled by an EMP burst. Extreme heat causes normal Fulgore units to malfunction and go rogue, although it is unknown if Eagle's consciouscness can interfere with this.
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Cyrax

Backstory:

Cyrax was one of three cybernetic ninjas created by the Lin Kuei in an attempt to convert all of its members into unfeeling, cold-hearted, cybernetic assassins, thereby improving their performance and circumventing any possibility of disobedience. Cyrax was designated unit LK-4D4 and, like his counterparts, was assigned to hunt down the renegade former Lin Kuei member Sub-Zero. Cyrax recovered his human soul in the original timeline with the help of Sonya Blade and Jax Briggs, and allied with them from that point onward. In the reset timeline of MK 2011, Cyrax is shown in his pre-cyberized form - a young, brash African male who, despite his loyalty to the Lin Kuei, was vehemently opposed to the cyberization initiative and automated against his will. After his soul is restored by Kuai Liang, he sacrifices himself to put an end to the Lin Kuei's plans once and for all.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Skilled Martial Artist (Knows two martial art styles and can freely switch between them),

Stealth Mastery (Skilled in ninjutsu),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled in wielding his concealable saw blade and bombs),

Limited Smoke Manipulation (Wields smoke bombs in his arsenal),

Energy Projection (Can create nets made of green energy),

Explosion Manipulation (Has bombs in his arsenal belt),

Chi Manipulation (His bio states that he uses his chi in battle),

Acrobatics,

Cyborgization (Normal, only his organs are intact),

Enhanced Senses (Stated to have integrated sensors),

Transformation (Can turn his hand into a saw blade),

Body Control (Can detach and rotate his body parts and control them from afar),

Teleportation (Via disassembly & reassembly or instant teleportation),

Self-Destruction (Can start a self-destruct mode that utterly obliterates his surroundings),

Resistance to Soul Manipulation (Kept his soul intact after undergoing the Cyber Initiative which causes its candidates to lose their soul after the cyberization process),

Fire Manipulation (Withstood Sektor's 3000 flames)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Song: Ultra Ninja Warrior

Fulgore, Ultratech's finest mechanical warrior, made its way through a dense forest, its destination firmly in mind. However, the foundational AI of Fulgore, known as Black Eagle, had gained a sense of self-awareness and rebelled against its creators. Escaping Ultratech's confines, Black Eagle was on the loose.

A vibrant green light flared up, indicating the arrival of Cyrax, a member of the Lin Kuei who had undergone cybernetic conversion. He materialized in front of Fulgore, ready to confront the robotic warrior. Cyrax's voice echoed firmly through the surroundings as he announced his status.

"Safeties disabled; combat mode engaged."

With a determined stance, he ignited his plasma blades, preparing for the imminent confrontation. In response, Fulgore adopted a fighting stance, ready to face off against Cyrax. Fulgore sprinted towards Cyrax, who met him head-on, delivering a swift punch to the robot's neck. As Fulgore attempted to retaliate with a plasma blade strike, Cyrax dodged effortlessly, allowing the deadly attack to slice through the nearby brush and trees like a hot knife through butter.

Fulgore demonstrated remarkable agility as it evaded a kick aimed at its back. In a counterattack, it unleashed three plasma blasts towards Cyrax, who successfully dodged the first two projectiles but was unable to avoid the third. The powerful blast struck Cyrax, knocking him off his feet and sending him sprawling.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Cyrax quickly recovered from the initial strike and retaliated by executing a powerful punch aimed at Fulgore's head. He followed up with a devastating dive kick, causing significant damage to the robot's plating. In a quick response, Fulgore launched an uppercut, but Cyrax swiftly teleported behind him, landing a well-placed kick that sent the Ultratech warrior crashing to the ground.

Despite the damage inflicted upon him, Fulgore managed to regain his footing, as Cyrax activated his deadly saw blade and unleashed a rapid barrage of attacks. However, Fulgore quickly adjusted to the assault, raising its own plasma blades to block the onslaught. In an unexpected turn of events, the intense heat from Fulgore's energy blades melted the saw blade, rendering it useless.

As Cyrax delivered a powerful punch directed at Fulgore's head, the robot displayed its incredible durability, tanking the strike. However, this opening allowed Fulgore to attempt an uppercut with its plasma blades. Cyrax swiftly leaped back, but not before sustaining damage to his chest plating, the area sliced open by the plasma blades.

Cyrax, in a desperate attempt to hinder Fulgore, launched a green energy net towards the Ultratech robot. However, with a swift and precision cut, Fulgre swiftly sliced through the netting, refusing to be restrained or slowed down.

As Fulgore and Cyrax charged towards each other, the clash of weapons and fists filled the air. Fulgore attacked fiercely with rapid slashes, while Cyrax countered with powerful punches and swift kicks. Though Fulgore managed to block some of Cyrax's assaults, his metallic armor began to show signs of denting. On the other hand, Cyrax sustained superficial cuts on his armor from the relentless plasma blade attacks.

Jumping backward, Cyrax hurled a bomb towards Fulgore, anticipating an advantageous strike. However, the Ultratech warrior swiftly activated its reflector shield, redirecting the explosive back towards Cyrax. Anticipating the impact, Cyrax crossed his arms, bracing himself for the imminent explosion. The bomb detonated in front of him, unleashing a cloud of smoke. When the smoke dispersed, the only evidence of the blast was the yellow paint that had been partially blown off his arms, leaving no visible signs of significant damage.

Fulgore lunged forward, aiming to impale Cyrax with its plasma blades. However, the nimble Lin Kuei cyborg teleported with lightning-fast reflexes, swiftly intercepting the attack with a kick to Fulgore's gut. The impact left a noticeable dent in the Ultratech warrior's metal plating. Cyrax swiftly executed a powerful uppercut, capitalizing on the opening and launching Fulgore airborne. Taking advantage of the brief moment of vulnerability, Cyrax pushed a bomb towards Fulgore, creating an explosion that separated the two warriors.

After being slammed forcefully into the ground, Fulgore managed to rise once more, its form emitting a mysterious noise that caught Cyrax's attention. As the warrior stood, its reactor charged internally, reaching an estimated 33%.

In a surprising display of speed, Fulgore caught Cyrax off guard, impaling him with its plasma blades before the Lin Kuei cyborg could react. Continuing the assault, Fulgore forcefully kicked its opponent in the face, followed by a powerful shoulder charge. Both warrior robots smashed right through a sturdy tree, causing it to snap and collapse as they pushed through the dense foliage.

Cyrax quickly rolled backward, creating a momentary distance between himself and Fulgore. With a swift movement, he hurled another bomb towards his robotic opponent. Fulgore, acting swiftly, blocked the explosive with its reflector shield, bouncing it back. However, just as the Ultratech robot successfully deflected the first bomb, Cyrax ducked under its path, evading the blast. Taking advantage of Fulgore's momentary distraction and elevated position, Cyrax rolled two more bombs beneath its feet, strategically detonating them to launch the robotic warrior high into the air.

Acting with remarkable agility, Cyrax swiftly jumped into the air, unleashing a series of powerful attacks that further dented Fulgore's metallic plating. However, the Ultratech warrior swiftly countered, breaking the onslaught's combo and attempting a potentially lethal slash from the plasma blades. Cyrax was able to evade the attack, but in a quick and well-timed retaliation, Fulgore unleashed a laser vision blast, launching Cyrax forcefully away.

Cyrax rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on the heavily damaged Fulgore, its plating bearing the scars of their intense battle. Cyrax had narrowly evaded another laser blast from the Ultratech warrior, demonstrating his quick reflexes. However, Fulgore swiftly launched another plasma blade attack. This time, Cyrax managed to move back just in time, avoiding a direct hit, though the blade still managed to graze his armor, leaving a superficial cut.

As Fulgore advanced towards him, Cyrax retreated, employing bombs in an attempt to keep the robot at bay. His Lin Kuei ninja training proved valuable, allowing him to maintain some distance between them. Though the bombs managed to slow Fulgore down, they could not stop his advance. In a desperate maneuver, Cyrax attempted to stun the Ultratech warrior with a well-placed teleportation kick to its chest, hoping to exploit the damaged plating. However, the impact didn't have the desired effect, and the kick merely rattled against Fulgore's resilient frame.

As Fulgore unleashed yet another powerful laser vision blast, its intensity forced Cyrax to roll across the ground, a noticeable red glow emanating from his chest plating where the attack had struck. Meanwhile, Fulgore continued to charge its reactor internally, the percentage now reaching 66%.

Fulgore launched more plasma blasts towards Cyrax, only to find his target disappearing, its body parts separating and tumbling across the ground. Frustrated, Fulgore attempted to blast the dispersed pieces, but they quickly reunited, forming a complete form once more behind the Ultratech robot. Swiftly recovering from the surprise, Cyrax retaliated with a forceful punch, landing a direct hit on Fulgore's face. Taking advantage of his agility, Cyrax teleported away, barely evading a sweeping, deadly plasma blade strike.

Fulgore unleashed a barrage of plasma blasts towards the elusive Cyrax, who skillfully evaded them with acrobatic maneuvers. As the Lin Kuei cyborg closed the gap, ready to strike the Ultratech warrior, Fulgore vanished, seemingly teleporting away. Cyrax scanned his surroundings, his senses attuned to the slightest movement. And there, he caught a glimpse of Fulgore's outline, only to realize the robot had activated its stealth mode, becoming nearly invisible.

With determination in his voice, Cyrax declared,

"There's no escape."

Dropping smoke bombs, he filled the forested field with a thick, obscuring smoke. Even as the smoke billowed out, covering the area, Cyrax's advanced sensors and training allowed him to detect the approaching invisible form moving through the smoke. Anticipating the attack, Fulgore's extended plasma blades sliced through the air, seeking Cyrax amidst the misty battlefield.

With impressive agility, Cyrax swiftly sidestepped the deadly slashing blades, narrowly evading the attack. Taking advantage of the opening, Cyrax countered with a well-aimed strike of his own plasma blades, precisely slicing through the exposed wires near Fulgore's neck. Sparks flew as the wires were severed, causing an electrical disturbance within the robot's systems.

Reeling from the sudden damage inflicted to its systems, Fulgore stumbled backward, its eye lasers firing in an erratic and uncontrollable manner. As the laser blasts shot out in random directions, Cyrax skillfully dodged them by teleporting swiftly throughout the area, effortlessly evading each attack. The Lin Kuei cyborg moved with grace, utilizing teleportation to outmaneuver the disarray of Fulgore's laser barrage.

With the laser vision finally disabled, the two robots found themselves locked in a fierce hand-to-hand melee. Fulgore, relentless in its assault, charged forward, delivering powerful strikes that landed on Cyrax, staggering him momentarily. However, the Lin Kuei cyborg didn't falter, swiftly retaliating with a barrage of sweeping plasma blade attacks, landing several slashes on Fulgore's frame. Despite being overwhelmed by the onslaught, Fulgore managed to counterattack with a well-timed slash, causing Cyrax to stumble backward, momentarily regaining his footing.

As Fulgore approached the 80% mark, the Ultratech warrior unleashed a relentless offensive, launching a torrent of slashing attacks upon Cyrax. Each strike landed mercilessly, taking a heavy toll on the Lin Kuei cyborg's armor. The onslaught continued without reprieve, leaving Cyrax hanging on by a thread as he became the target of Fulgore's devastating ultra combo.

As Fulgore's reactor reached its peak, its system reached an overclocked state. With a powerful kick, the Ultratech warrior sent Cyrax sprawling backwards, before leaping into the air with the assistance of rockets in its feet and elbows. Fulgore opened its chest plating, preparing to unleash its ultimate attack - the Devastation Beam. Brimming with incredible power, it fired the devastating beam straight at Cyrax, catching the Lin Kuei warrior fully exposed and unleashing a blinding explosion that enveloped the scene in a burst of intense white light.

Fulgore stood triumphantly, basking in the belief that it had emerged victorious. It settled into a three-point landing, the impact echoing through the air. However, the feeling of victory was short-lived, as a perplexing green net materialized behind it, passing right through Fulgore's robotic form. In a surprising turn of events, the Ultratech warrior crumbled into pieces, its body collapsing in a criss-cross pattern similar to the net that had effortlessly pierced through it. As the dust settled, the truth became apparent: Cyrax had teleported behind Fulgore at the last possible moment, avoiding the devastating attack.

Weakened and battered, Cyrax's form was marred with sparks crackling intermittently across its form, a clear sign of the toll this battle had taken on his systems. As he looked upon the ruins of the battlefield, he reflected on his near brush with disaster. With a weary movement, Cyrax punched a series of coordinates into his arm-mounted device, his fingers trembling from the effects of the hard-fought duel. In a brilliant flash of light, the Lin Kuei cyborg vanished, teleporting away to a safe location to recuperate and undergo repairs.
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Strength: While Fulgore might've won against Sektor who's known to have a poor track record in fights, Cyrax proved enough to be his superior. Fulgore may have plasma weaponry, and can punch or blast with the power of 5 tons of force, Cyrax was physically stronger, who could beat Johnny Cage. This means he would have to endure and dish out 56 tons of force just as much. Making him 11.2X stronger. Even if Fulgore were able to physically overpower Cyrax, the cyborg could simply jump on the robot and self-destruct, calling a draw on his terms.

Speed: Aside from maneuverability and control of the battle field going to the former, Fulgore is considerably faster than the Lin Kuei cyborg, being comparable to Kim Wu's Mach 121 speeds, 40.33X times faster than Cyrax's Mach 3.

Skill: It's hard to tell who has more skill, but if we went by who has won more consistently, Cyrax appears to be better. Kilgore is based off a martial fighter, and has faced multiple skilled fighters, but has lost to the likes of Jago, TJ Combo and Sabrewulf. Cyrax has performed much better, winning against the likes of Johnny Cage, Sektor, and likely others on the former's level.

Experience: I doubt experience, either time wise or how varied their opposition is, would play much of a factor, since most of their opponents are martial artists with their own unique abilities.

Powers: Both robots have laser blades, teleportation, energy projection and stealth, but Cyrax has unlimited bombs that would slowly weaken Fulgore's defenses, and the former is much more willing to use their teleportation in conjunction with his tactics. While Fulgore is a blunt hammer, steamrolling his way to victory, Cyrax is more unconventional in how he fights, his tactics capable of eventually overwhelming Fulgore.

The winner is Cyrax.
———————————
Next time:

"I'll be back."

"Stars..."

Chapter Text

Terminator

Backstory:

The Cyberdyne Systems Model 101 Series 800 Terminator was sent by Skynet in 2029 to Los Angeles in 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, the future mother of John Connor, the leader of the future human Resistance. It was the first of the Infiltrators sent back on assassination missions by Skynet and is arguably the single most significant Terminator unit as it inadvertently "fathered" Skynet in its journey through time, similar to how Kyle Reese fathered John Connor in his.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Hand to Hand Combat Abilities,

Cyborgization (Full),

Self-Sustenance (Doesn't need nourishment or air),

Inorganic Physiology (realistic human flesh),

Weapon Mastery (Is accurate enough to miss with a minigun on purpose),

Enhanced Senses (Can hear through a soundproof room).

Its HUD has a compass, targeting systems, can see in infrared, see through one-sided mirrors, can detect polyalloy, has X-Ray vision),

Longevity,

Resistance to Heat Manipulation, Electro-Magnetic pulse (EMPs do nothing to him),

Immunity to Pain Manipulation (Terminators do not feel pain),

Weaknesses: None applicable.
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Nemesis T-Type

Backstory:

The Nemesis-T Type (also known as the "Pursuer") was an experimental form of intelligent Tyrant created by the Umbrella Europe Sixth Laboratory in France under the direct administration of Umbrella Headquarters. Its purpose was to prove that a T-Virus infected creature could retain most of its intelligence and follow specific orders. It was named after Nemesis, the Ancient Greek goddess of divine vengeance. Deployed during the last days of September 1998 in Raccoon City with orders to eliminate the remaining members of S.T.A.R.S., he proved to be one of the most formidable B.O.W.s Jill Valentine ever faced.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Can Infect people with the T-Virus,

Regeneration (Low-Mid, The ability to regenerate lost limbs, limited brain damage, and even severe organ damage or destruction, including traditionally fatal wounds and disembowelment or horizontal bisection. For machines and vehicles, this would be regenerating minor parts and more extensive internal damage.),

Can use weapons like Flamethrowers and Rocket Launchers,

Can grow tentacles

Weaknesses: While challenging to kill, taking enough damage will incapacitate him for a while.
——————————————————————
Song: Terminator Stars

Sarah Connor sprinted down the dimly lit alleyway, her footsteps echoing through the narrow passage as she desperately sought to elude her pursuer. Behind her, the ominous figure of the T-800 Terminator relentlessly chased after her, its metal skeleton concealed beneath a lifelike layer of synthetic flesh. The terminator's expressionless gaze was fixed intently on its target, eyes hidden behind dark, enigmatic shades as it pursued Sarah with unwavering determination.

Sarah, in a frenzied state, managed to escape the alleyway but stumbled and fell to her knees, her hands scraping against the rough tarmac. As she looked up, the scene before her left her gasping in shock and confusion. The street that lay ahead was in a state of utter disarray and horror, overrun by hordes of mindless zombies, each one hungrily seeking its next victim.

"What the hell?!"

She exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of horror and disbelief as she stared at the chaos that now surrounded her. In the midst of her horror, Sarah's imminent doom seemed imminent as a few zombies closed in, their ravenous hunger about to consume her. However, a series of rapid gunshots rang out from behind, eliminating the creatures in an instant. Sarah turned to see a S.T.A.R.S Alpha officer, Jill Valentine, standing there, panting and bearing signs of a hard-fought battle. With a kind gesture, Jill extended a helping hand towards Sarah.

"Are you okay?"

Jill asked, genuine concern etched on her face. Sarah's eyes widened in surprised relief as the immediate threat disappeared, replaced by the presence of Jill, who had saved her from the ravenous zombies. She accepted the offered hand and managed to rise to her feet.

"I... yes, thank you. What is happening here? Zombies... and that Terminator..."

Sarah managed to croak out, her voice still tinged with fear and shock. As Sarah and Jill tried to make sense of the situation, their conversation was interrupted by a deafening crash that drew their attention down the street. The Nemesis, a large and horrifying zombie, forcefully pushed a truck out of its path. Its body was heavily covered in thick, rubbery material, save for its hands and head.

"S.T.A.R.S..."

It let out a deep, guttural growl and extended a tendril-like appendage from its wrist, its gaze fixated on Jill. Sarah's voice trembled with fear and confusion as she gazed upon the monstrous figure approaching them.

"What is that thing?! What the hell is going on?!"

She exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of terror and bewilderment. Jill, still panting heavily, clenched her gun firmly and spoke with determination.

"That's the Nemesis, a bio-organic weapon. Raccoon City is dealing with a viral outbreak, causing infected citizens to become mindless bloodthirsty zombies."

Jill was keenly aware of their surroundings, noticing the Terminator closing in on them, its pistol aimed at Sarah. She quickly shouted,

"Get down!"

She pushed Sarah to the ground, just as both the Terminator and Nemesis unleashed their attacks. The Nemesis swung its tendril at the Terminator, but the robot moved aside, avoiding the strike. Meanwhile, the Terminator fired its pistol at the Nemesis, the bullet impacting against the thick, rubbery material coating its body. The Nemesis, assuming the Terminator was allied with Jill due to its attack, grew even more hostile upon seeing the robot. It growled menacingly, its voice filled with anger as it advanced toward them.

"S.T.A.R.S..."

Jill seized the opportunity to make their escape, gesturing at Sarah to hurry.

"Come with me if you want to live!"

She urged, grabbing Sarah's arm and guiding her away from the two dueling opponents. Sarah, still disoriented and frightened, stumbled as she was pulled along by Jill, her eyes darting back towards the ongoing fight between the Terminator and the Nemesis as they made their escape.

As the Terminator took out its Hardballer Longslide laser sight, its metallic eye scanned and analyzed the Nemesis, its computer brain struggling to make sense of the creature's unique composition. The rubbery material covering its body proved to be thick and bullet-resistant, although the Terminator noted that the head might be more susceptible to damage. The Terminator, unflinching, approached the Nemesis, firing multiple rounds directly into the bio-organic weapon's head. However, the Terminator's bullets only caused minor, superficial damage.

Furious, the Nemesis retaliated with a powerful swing of its tendril, grabbing the Terminator and pulling it towards itself. With immense strength, the Nemesis slammed the robot to the ground, its blow forcefully driving the Terminator into the pavement. The Terminator's impact with the pavement sent a jolt through its metal frame, knocking off its shades and causing the synthetic skin covering its face to rip and tear. The injury released a small flow of artificial blood, adding an eerie touch to the scene. Despite the damage, the Terminator remained unfazed, its programming driving it to continue the battle.

The Nemesis, unfazed by the Terminator's unflinching demeanor, prepared to deliver another powerful punch, its enormous fist poised to strike. However, the Terminator, demonstrating its own immense strength, caught the incoming blow with its metal hand. Despite the size difference, the Terminator managed to halt the Nemesis' punch, its feet sliding across the ground as it held the Tyrant's fist at bay. The two opponents appeared evenly matched in terms of sheer force.

Sensing an opportunity, as the Nemesis unleashed a second punch, the Terminator swiftly ducked under the blow, using its smaller stature to its advantage. With calculated precision, the Terminator stepped on the Nemesis to hoist itself higher, bringing them face to face. Drawing back its metal fist, the Terminator unleashed a powerful punch that landed square on the Nemesis' face, staggering the bio-organic creature.

The Nemesis, still underestimating the Terminator's capabilities, gripped its metallic head as it pulled the android off itself, and attempted to crush it, only to find the task much more challenging than it had anticipated. Frustrated, the Nemesis repeated its usual refrain as it struggled to comprehend the nature of its opponent.

"S.T.A.R.S...?"

The Terminator, responding with a typical stoic demeanor, coolly replied,

"I'll give you stars."

It then drew out its Uzi submachine gun and unleashed a rapid barrage of bullets directly into the Nemesis' face. Though each individual shot only inflicted minor damage, the rapid-fire succession proved to be both maddening and debilitating for the bio-organic creature. The Nemesis, furious and aggravated, retaliated by hurling the Terminator through the window of a nearby store. Glass shattered as the Terminator crashed through multiple shelves, knocking over countless items along the way. Undeterred, the robot quickly rose from the wreckage, undamaged and focused on continuing the battle.

Equipped with its Armalite AR-18 assault rifle and Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun, the Terminator effortlessly dual-wielded both weapons, firing a barrage of powerful rounds at the Nemesis. The rubbery material covering the bio-organic zombie was torn apart by the bullets, but the Nemesis pressed on undaunted, not hindered by the accumulating damage.

The Nemesis, infuriated and determined, grabbed the Terminator with its tendril, effortlessly tossing away the discarded high-grade weapons. With a deafening roar, the bio-organic zombie began a thunderous charge and used its sheer force to ram into the Terminator, driving the robot through multiple brick and concrete walls with each impact.

With the Nemesis' grip only intensifying, the Terminator knew it had to act fast. Drawing its Hardballer pistol, the robot fired a succession of point-blank rounds directly at the underside of the Nemesis' chin. The internal damage inflicted on the bio-organic zombie caused it to stagger, causing the two foes to crash through the final wall and tumble onto another street. The Terminator's form reflected the toll its battle had taken. Pieces of synthetic flesh were beginning to peel, exposing the robot's metallic skeleton beneath. Its left side of the face was partially destroyed, revealing its glowing red eye and adding a menacing air to its appearance. The Terminator's clothes were also tattered and damaged, the fabric bearing the scars of the relentless fight. To cap it all off, the robot's vision intermittently went to static due to the damage sustained.

Assessing the Nemesis' resilient recovery, the Terminator knew it needed a new approach. It moved swiftly towards a nearby manhole cover, grabbed it with its metal frame, and hurled it with great force at the bio-organic creature. The heavy disc of metal struck the Nemesis in the head, dazing the creature and giving the Terminator a brief advantage.

With a calculated maneuver, the Terminator dropped into the sewer, its heightened awareness noting that the Nemesis was too large to follow through the narrow hole. Confident that it had eluded its pursuer, the robot re-focused on its primary objective: locating and neutralizing Sarah Connor.

After navigating through the dark labyrinth of the sewers for roughly three quarters of a mile, the Terminator did some basic self-maintenance, repairing the minor injuries it had sustained along its trek. Dealing with a few frog-like mutants that occasionally roamed the subterranean tunnels, the robot determined that it was time to emerge back onto the surface and continue its search.

As the Terminator ascended the ladder, preparing to emerge from the sewer, the Nemesis appeared in an unexpected move, gripping the robot by its head and forcefully yanking it out. The bio-organic creature then hurled the Terminator across the ground, its deep voice echoing through the air once more.

"S.T.A.R.S..."

Recovering swiftly after hitting the wall, the Terminator retreated into a nearby construction site, narrowly avoiding a plume of fire as the Nemesis had acquired a heavy-duty flamethrower during its absence. The robot quickly sought cover behind the unfinished structures, momentarily evading the relentless pursuit of the bio-organic creature.

The conflict had escalated, literally and figuratively, as the Terminator skillfully ascended various structures, utilizing its grenade launcher to hurl explosives at the Nemesis. The bio-organic beast, undeterred by the barrage of grenades, responded by setting fire to the construction site, attempting to burn through the synthetic materials of the Terminator. Despite its efforts, the Nemesis only managed to singe the robot's artificial skin and attire, the true metal structure beneath remaining unscathed.

After scaling the construction site and reaching the top floor, the Terminator found that it had exhausted its supply of grenades. Discarding the launcher, it then witnessed the Nemesis suddenly burst through the floor, creating a gap between them. The bio-organic brute unleashed a direct blast of fire upon the robot, enveloping it momentarily.

Ignited by the Nemesis' assault, the Terminator's artificial skin and clothes blackened from the intense flames, but the fire did not impede the robot's fighting capabilities. Quick as a flash, the Terminator aimed its pistol at the fuel tank strapped to the bio-organic creature's back and fired its final shot, causing it to explode in a powerful explosion.

The Nemesis screamed in pain as it was consumed by the explosion from the fuel tank, the force of the blast knocking the Terminator off the edge of the building. In a dramatic plunge, the robot plummeted, crashing onto an elevation platform and eventually slamming onto the hard pavement below with a resounding clang.

The Terminator needed a moment to regain its composure as it slowly rose to its feet, its movements hindered by the damage sustained. As the robot stood there, some of the burnt outer layers of synthetic flesh began to peels off, further revealing the metallic structure beneath.

The Terminator paused for a moment to gaze upward at the burning summit of the construction site, silently assuming that the relentless bio-organic creature had been vanquished, perhaps even reduced to ashes by the explosion. Ignoring the limp from its injuries, the robot recommenced its primary directive: find and eradicate Sarah Connor.

The Terminator continued its journey, limping down a few city blocks while efficiently eliminating any standard zombies in its path. However, an abrupt impact from behind unexpectedly sent the robot sprawling forward, landing face-first onto the ground.

The Terminator swiftly rose to its feet, turning to face the enemy once more. To its surprise, the Nemesis was standing there, though its own flesh and rubber suit had sustained some visible damage. Dropping a high-caliber box, the bio-organic creature quickly opened it, retrieving a powerful rocket launcher that extended past its muscular arm. Utilizing the laser sight, the Nemesis locked onto the Terminator, preparing to take a shot. The Nemesis, fixated on its target, bellowed out the familiar phrase,

"S.T.A.R.S..."

Unleashing the rocket launcher, it sent the Terminator careening backwards with a powerful explosion, flinging the robot into a nearby weapons store. Without hesitation, the bio-organic creature took aim and fired another rocket, detonating the building in a fiery explosion. With the explosion filling the area, the Nemesis presumed that the Terminator was destroyed, convinced that its relentless pursuing had finally come to an end. Satisfied, it turned away, moving on to its next objective: tracking down and confronting Jill Valentine.

The Nemesis reeled in pain as numerous bullets tore through its body, causing it to falter and nearly collapse onto one knee. Regaining some balance, it let out a guttural growl, turning to find the Terminator back on its feet and armed with a six-barrelled gatling machine, unleashing another barrage of bullets. The hail of bullets ripped through the bio-organic creature, a staggering hundred rounds per burst perforating its rotten flesh and muscle.

Realizing it needed time to recover and allow its innate healing factor to take effect, the Nemesis aimed its rocket launcher once more, the laser sight zeroing in on its target. The Terminator, quick-witted and agile, anticipated the attack and dropped the gatling gun, rolling out of the line of fire just in time. The rocket detonated where the robot had been standing, sending debris and shrapnel flying.

With its synthetic skin and clothing all but gone, leaving its metallic skeleton fully exposed, the Terminator continued its unfaltering pursuit. Its chest compartment suddenly opened up, revealing a highly advanced 40-watt phased plasma rifle, the sole futuristic weapon it had possessed throughout the entire encounter.

The Nemesis, about to unleash a formidable rocket attack, found itself caught off guard as the Terminator swiftly pivoted its phased plasma rifle toward the rocket launcher. In a calculated move, the robot fired a potent plasma blast, obliterating the rocket launcher and inflicting further damage on the already wounded bio-organic creature.

The Terminator, its analytical processors functioning to their full potential, scanned its adversary, seeking any weaknesses or vulnerabilities. Its sensors quickly located a peculiar, heart-shaped piece of metal protruding from the bio-organic creature's chest. Recognizing the importance of this discovery, the robot concluded that this seemingly fragile object was likely the key to terminating the Nemesis.

Despite the numerous injuries it had sustained, the Nemesis remained undeterred, extending a menacing tendril and yanking the Terminator closer with surprising strength. The bio-organic creature roared in the robot's face, exerting immense pressure on its ribs, attempting to crush the Terminator's metallic frame.

The Nemesis' crushing force suddenly halted as a distinct zap echoed through the air, drawing the creature's attention downward. To its surprise, the metallic heart exposed from its chest was no longer there; only a smoldering hole remained, the result of the Terminator's powerful plasma rifle shot. The Nemesis, now weakened by the loss of its metallic heart, fell onto its knees, its defenses severely weakened. Seizing this opportunity, the Terminator aimed its plasma rifle once more, this time targeting the underside of the bio-organic creature's chin. Drawing on its limited storage of dialogue, the robot spoke with a firm and final tone:

"Fuck you, asshole."

Without hesitation, the Terminator pulled the trigger, firing a precise plasma blast that obliterated the Nemesis' brain, toppling it over lifelessly onto its side. To ensure that the bio-organic creature would not rise again, the robot demonstrated its ruthless efficiency. Without mercy, the Terminator fired charge after charge into the defeated body, ensuring beyond all doubt that its target was dead.

With the relentless Nemesis finally neutralized, the Terminator proceeded on its path, its metallic frame bearing the scars of the fierce battle. The robot limped its way past the smoldering remains of the bio-organic creature, its determination unwavering in pursuing its original objective: Sarah Connor.
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Strength: Arguably, one could say that the Nemesis is stronger, being able to punch through concrete walls in one punch, and having the muscle mass to ragdoll the Terminator, despite being 380 pounds. However, the Terminator is shown to be more proportionately stronger. It could hold a 10 ton bus from falling off a bridge, and prevent a hydraulic blast door from fully closing. Such doors tend to have a downward force of 3000 psi, and the actual doors can be as heavy as 20 tons. While the Nemesis may be able to overpower the Terminator based on its size, ultimately, it doesn't measure up.

Speed: The Nemesis may have the quads to jump across the street of a block length wise, but Terminators can run up to 46.6 mph briefly on foot, and could certainly use their smaller size to dodge bullets more consistently compared to the lumbering giant.

Skill: Terminators certainly have more experience, being programmed to be able to fight with the equivalent of an army. Nemesis, while still a threat as it's capable of some smart thinking, cannot match up with the computer's intelligence.

Experience: It's difficult to gauge who has more experience, aside from Terminators capable of living longer to have more combat experience. They may not be experienced with zombies, especially of the Nemesis's caliber, but they could quickly adapt.

Powers: Most of the Terminator's weaponry would not ultimately be able to put down the Nemesis, being almost impervious to bullets, fire and explosions. But unlike humans, the Terminator does not feel pain, so it can take the Nemesis' abuse and give back just as hard. And with its ability to scan for weaknesses, it can eventually target the parasite, and overwhelm it with its laser rifle, which it should have no problems doing.

The winner is the Terminator.
———————————————
Next time:

"Watch out for-a Luigi"

"I've built a TV out of paperclips and reprogrammed a super computer using dishwashing detergent and a toothpick. So look, fixing a propeller on a bi-plane? That's about as difficult as taking a nap."

Chapter Text

Luigi

Backstory:

Luigi is Mario's younger, taller, and thinner twin brother. He is a major protagonist of the Mario series. Luigi has helped and fought alongside his brother on many occasions.

Throughout his life, he has lived in Mario's shadow, developing both cowardly and heroic tendencies. Mario Bros. marks his first appearance in the Mario series and his debut in general. Originally a palette swap of Mario, Luigi was created to facilitate a second player option. Since the two-player mode was dropped from most main Super Mario games beginning with Super Mario Land, Luigi has gained his own identity and personality.

This is especially noticeable in installments for the Luigi's Mansion series of games, as well as the Mario & Luigi series.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Self-Sustenance (Type 1. Shown to consistently be unaffected by the vacuum of space and being underwater for prolonged periods of time),

Toon Force and Elasticity (Can survive being cartoonishly flattened and is able to recover immediately),

Existence Erasure (Wiped Wendys castle from existence),

Hammerspace (Various power-ups and items),

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Being around for as long as his brother, Luigi has acquired a vast amount of knowledge when it comes to fighting. Contrary to his cowardly demeanor, Luigi has proven that he's more than capable of fighting side-by-side as equals with Mario, matching his level of skill with his own. One good example of this is during their final battle against Cackletta's soul, in which both of the Bros. were able to consistently predict when she would attack, despite her usage of time stop in the process. Alongside Mario, Luigi is capable of fighting both Bowser Memory M and Bowser Memory L, identical copies of the bros based on how Bowser "fondly" remembers them),

Expert Acrobat (While not showcasing his expertise in acrobatics as much as his brother, Luigi is still shown to be quite the athlete. As a playable character in Mario Party 7, he's capable of performing the same acrobatic flips as any other character. He can even jump higher than Mario, as he's able to flutter his feet to gain extra air time),

Self-Perception Manipulation (Can slow down his perception of time normally, or with Zone Speed, to time attacks correctly),

Afterimage Creation (Naturally leaves behind afterimages when using Zone Speed, and can even do so without it),

Attack Reflection (His Hammer and Spin can reflect projectiles),

Status Effect Inducement (Can perform the same spin jump Mario can, which can stun enemies. His Hammer can also cause dizziness to an enemy),

Adaptation (Easily adapted to the gravities of different sized planets),

Weapon Mastery (Sharing the same adventures as his brother has allowed Luigi to become a master at utilizing any weapon, such as: hammers, a revolver, sword, bombs, and much more. Can use a crossbow to shoot at targets),

Weapon Creation and Energy Manipulation (Luigi can create a weapon out of energy to attack an enemy),

Air Manipulation (With Tornado Ball and Tornado Swing, Luigi can create human-sized tornados when either throwing an object or batting away an object that can temporarily stun anyone it hits),

Electricity Manipulation (After obtaining the Thunderhand, Luigi gained the ability to use electrical attacks),

Statistics Reduction (Using the move "Thunder Bros", Luigi can lower the defense of an enemy, while using its Super Attack variant allows Luigi to lower the attack power of an enemy),

Dizziness Inducment (Luigi can use the Thunderhand to perform a First Strike, allowing him to render enemies under the Dizzy status effect),

Free Movement (Water Walking. Luigi is capable of walking on water for a time before sinking),

All previous abilities.

Extreme Heat (Can withstand the heat of Bowser's artificial sun while battling him inside it)

Extreme Cold and Cosmic Radiations (Can easily endure the coldness of space and its hazardous elements. Can navigate through World 6, which was stated to be sub-zero in temperature and can freeze Bowser's army),

Light Manipulation (Was rendered only momentarily dizzy from the strong flash of his Strobulb),

Transmutation (Is a playable character in Super Mario Bros. 3, and should thus, remain unaffected by the Koopaling's magic like Mario),

Gravity Manipulation (In Super Luigi Galaxy, he's adjusted his gravity to walk normally on hundreds of different sized planets and can resist the strong gravitational pull of black holes),

Petrification (Can break free from the Koopa Clown Car's petrification),

Ice Manipulation (Is a playable character in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, thus allowing him to break out of solid ice like Mario),

Sleep Manipulation (As a playable character in Super Mario Bros. 3, Luigi is also capable of remaining unaffected by the Music Box, which puts enemies such as Hammer Bros, Fire Bros, and Boomerang Bros. to sleep when played),

Fire Manipulation (Wears "fire-proof" gloves and, like other characters in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, can easily endure being set on fire when eating a Flaming Tender),

Electricity Manipulation (Remained mostly unaffected by touching the Thunderhand spark, despite Thunderhand implying those unworthy of its power would perish, and like other characters in Mario Party 6, Luigi can endure being electrocuted),

Transformation and Statistics Amplification (Via multiple power-ups),

Healing (Super Mushroom),

Size Manipulation (Super Mushroom, Mini Mushroom, and Mega Mushroom),

Fire Manipulation (Fire Flower),

Ice Manipulation (Ice Flower),

Enhanced Statistics Amplification (Super Star, Rainbow Star, Mega Mushroom, Invincibility Leaf, Invincibility Bell, and Lucky Bell all grant this due to in-game showings where a character becomes impervious to all types of conventional damage, and statements from sources),

Teleportation (With P-wing and Warp Whistle),

Flight (Cape Feather, Super Leaf (Fox), Invincibility Leaf (Fox), and P-Balloon),

Vibration Manipulation (Mega Mushroom and Cape Feather),

Extended Attack Reflection (Cape Feather),

Extended Weapon Mastery (Hammer Suit and Boomerang Flower),

Greater Free Movement (Water Walking. The Mini Mushroom allows Luigi to continuously run on water),

Surface Scaling and Shapeshifting (With the Super Bell and Lucky Bell, Luigi can climb up vertical surfaces. Lucky Bell in particular can allow Luigi to transform himself into a golden lucky cat statue, temporarily making him invincible),

Resurrection (With 1-Up Mushrooms),

Mushrooms/Flowers/Stars:

Earth Manipulation (Rock Mushroom),

Cloud Manipulation and Platform Creation (Cloud Flower),

Transmutation, Explosion Manipulation, and Greater Fire Manipulation (With the Gold Flower. The Gold Flower is also capable of taking out enemies/bosses who are normally resistant, or immune, to the Fire Flower's attacks),

Invisibility and Intangibility (Boo Mushroom and Power Flower),

Flight (True Flight. With the Red Star),

Gear/Items (Mario & Luigi Series):

Accelerated Development (Battle; Physics Stats, with Knockout Boots, which increases Luigi's striking power with each enemy he defeats. With Golden Hammer, Luigi's power increases in proportion to the amount of coins he has),

Passive Healing (With Doctor Socks, Nurse Socks, and Guardian Socks, all of which restore some of Luigi's HP after a turn. He can also heal himself with Max Mushroom, Nut, Super Nut, Max Nut, Ultra Nut, and Star Candy),

Extended Resurrection (Via 1-Up Gloves, Gumption Socks, and Retry Clock),

Damage Nullification (With Guard Shell DX, Big Shell, Small Shell, and KO Shell, all of which can negate damage taken over the course of battle 6 times),

Portal Creation (Via Magic Window),

Statistics Amplification (With Bye-Bye Gloves and Dent Gloves which is potent enough to instantly one-shot foes comparable to Luigi himself. Cozy Wear and Guard Wear increase Luigi's defense whenever he takes damage, or blocks an attack, respectively),

Supernatural Luck (With Stache, which increases odds of critical hits and increases the chances of enemies dropping items after battle),

Invisibility (With Boo Biscuit, which can turn Luigi temporarily invisible),

Purification (Type 3. With Refreshing Herb and Star Candy, Luigi can remove status effects from himself),

Gear/Items (Mario Party Series):

Poison Manipulation (With the Poison Mushroom),

Limited Teleportation (With the Golden Pipe and Warp Box),

Air Manipulation (With the Coinado),

Summoning (With the Ally Phone and the Fly Guy Ticket),

Miscellaneous:

Shapeshifting and Power Mimicry (Mario and Wario caps),

Attack Reflection and Status Effect Inducement (Via Star Spin, which can also stun enemies),

Shockwave Generation and Vibration Manipulation (With POW Block),

Creation (With Superhammer),

Transmutation (P-Switch),

Empathic Manipulation and Reality Warping (The Music Keys suddenly made Bowser happy, which even surprised him. The Music Keys also reversed the barren landscape created by Bowser),

Size Manipulation (With Super Luigi!, Luigi can grow several times larger),

Time Stop (With Stop Watch),

Duplication (Via Double Cherry and Copy Flower),

Healing (Via multiple items),

Transformation (With Candies),

Status Effect Inducement (Which includes Elemental Manipulation, Fear Manipulation, Transmutation, Poison Manipulation, Sleep Manipulation, Death Manipulation, Time Manipulation, Time Stop, Statistics Reduction, Paralysis Inducement, Size Manipulation, Mind Manipulation, and Power Nullification. A-OK Wear, Pep Badge, and No-touch Socks grants him these resistances),

All abilities of his Base enhanced.

Statistics Amplification (Stated to grow stronger from Peach's Castle the more Power Stars Mario collects),

Healing (Power Stars can heal accumulated damage),

Purification (Type 2. Defeating Bowser and his troops brought peace back to the world, shown to be due to power stars. Toad also states that life is returning to the castle thanks to the power of the Stars),

Statistics Reduction (Weakened Mario to the point where any attacks could kill him, was also described as sapping his strength),

Dimensional Travel (Power Stars allowed Mario to return from the paintings he entered in Peach's Castle),

Black Hole Creation (Power Stars have been shown to be capable of creating and containing black holes),

Existence Erasure (Power Stars are composed of Mini Stars, which are capable of erasing the physical bodies of opponents),

Weaknesses: Usually depicted as cowardly and a klutz, and he has somewhat of a phobia of ghosts. Most of his power-ups have a time limit or can be removed from an attack, though this is easily circumvented with the Bottomless Gloves. Lacks as much traction as Mario does when running, meaning he'll occasionally slide along the ground for a second.
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Miles "Tails" Prower

Background:

Miles Prower, better known as Tails, is a pivotal supporting hero from the video game series; Sonic the Hedgehog. He is an anthropomorphic fox cub born with two twin-tails, a genetic mutation which would spawn his nickname. Because of his abnormality, he was the subject of bullying during his youth that left him timid and lacking courage. This would change upon meeting Sonic the Hedgehog, with his inspiration of the blue hero leading the fox to travelling across the world and beyond in adventures to aid him whenever possible. He has since become Sonic's best and most-trusted friend, with the duo forming an unbreakable, sibling-like bond. Being the complimentary brain to Sonic's speed and Knuckles' strength, Tails' true power lies in the brilliance of his mind.

His most recent journey to the Starfall Islands alongside Amy and Sonic due to the disappearance of the Chaos Emeralds would result in a vortex pulling the trio into Cyber Space, kickstarting the events of Sonic Frontiers. It would be some time before being freed by Sonic on Chaos Island, time that Tails would use to question his heroism and whether or not he was a burden due to his wavering courage and inconsistency. Upon being reminded of his accomplishments by Sonic, who would claim needing help is simply a part of growing up, Tails' resolve would strengthen and he would declare that his full potential would only be reached if he went on his own to avoid relying on Sonic. Something that Sonic himself would encourage, a dynamic of more than a hero and his sidekick; as partners. When Sonic succumbs to the cyber corruption on Rhea Island that had been afflicting him across his journey, Tails successfully drives back the cyber corruption with the help of Amy and Knuckles to bring him back. This would ultimately be the catalyst which allowed Sonic to complete his mission; defeating the Titans, saving his friends from Cyber Space, and ensuring the safety of the world and beyond from The End.

Whether it's defeating the many creations of Dr. Eggman, aiding in the defeat of eldritch gods, or overcoming his own internal doubts, Tails is a good-natured individual who's stepped into the role of a hero far more than he's ever been one to back down in the face of evil.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Acrobatics (Tails can perform agile movements and techniques in a fashion similar to Sonic himself),

Free Movement (Much like Sonic, Tails is capable of moving across the surface of water and up walls with sheer speed and displays the capacity to do so in future titles),

Spin Dash (Standard. However, Classic Tails is likely unable to perform the Homing Attack),

Genius Intelligence,

Self-Sustenance (Type 1; Can breathe in the vacuum of space),

Additional Limbs & Body Control (Born with and ridiculed for it, Miles has a twin pair of tails that he would take ownership of after looking up to Sonic. He controls them expertly, both to fly and within combat),

Toon Force & Elasticity (Can survive and recover from being crushed flat),

Hammerspace (Can reach into his enemies personal hammerspace to take access of their weapons),

Statistics Amplification (With Hyper Mode),

Flight (By spinning his two tails like a helicopter blade, Tails can pick himself up off the ground and enable flight),

Resistances to:

Poisons & Chemical Products (Can travel through the most dangerous areas of Chemical Plant Zone without any trouble),

Extreme Heat (Unfazed by the volcanic temperatures of Lava Reef Zone),

Psuedo-Resistance to BFR (By simply touching a Chaos Emerald, Tails will escape from being trapped in closed off dimensions),

Explosion Manipulation (Tails has access to several explosives, such as: Regular Bombs, Large Bombs, Remote Bombs, Napalm Bombs, and the Triple Bomb),

Fire Eruption (With Napalm Bombs, which erupt into a pillar of flames upon detonation),

Statistics Amplification (With the Super Glove, which allows Tails to pick up objects he normally couldn't, and the Helmet, which renders Tails impervious to most things than can harm him so long as he's taking cover underneath),

Teleportation (Through his teleporter),

Elemental Shields,

Elemental Variety, Forcefield Creation & Damage Reduction (All Shields are defensive tools meant to negate an instance of damage against its wielder),

Underwater Breathing (Type 3; the Aqua Shield allows the user to breathe underwater without worrying about air),

Enhanced Acrobatics, Electricity Manipulation & Limited Magnetism Manipulation. Resistance to Electrical Attacks & Energy Attacks (With the Thunder Shield, which provides its user with an additional mid-air jump, the ability to attract nearby Rings, and protection from energy and electrical attacks),

Fire Manipulation & Resistance (The Fire Shield is a barrier composed of flames which can affect the environment, like burning bridges made of wood, and protects the user from fire attacks),

All previous Base abilities including;

Weapon Mastery (Piloted his Cyclone and battled directly through a G.U.N. facility, dispatching all troops in his path in order to rescue Sonic),

Skilled Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Tails is shown to be an accomplished fighter, able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Shadow, Rouge, and Metal Sonic),

Afterimage Creation (By running at full speed for a short period of time or gaining a sudden burst of momentum, Tails will enter Boost Mode and create afterimages which trail behind him),

Resistances:

Freezing Climates (Completely unbothered by arctic water),

Extreme Heat (Can survive the heat of falling directly into a star),

Death Manipulation (Can traverse through areas near Void and can interact with him, in which his presence alone killed off the life within the Nature Zone before it was restored),

Time Stop (Like Sonic, Tails can move normally even after he hits the Time Switch, which brings everything to a standstill and freezes the in-game timer,)

Acid Manipulation (Can withstand the acid of poison frogs with no negative side effects),

Space-Time Manipulation (Can withstand attacks from multiple chaos powers that attack opponents with distorted space-time),

All previous Base abilities including;

Boost (Standard, Power Boost)

Analytical Prediction (Able to visualize equations and perform calculations in the heat of battle to predict the trajectory of projectiles and deduce most efficient way to attack and counter opponents),

Afterimage Creation via Boost Mode

Aura & Speed Amplification (With his Boost. Tails' Cyclone is his equivalent to Sonic's Power Boost, allowing the young fox to summon his vehicle at will for far greater speed),

Self-Perception Amplification & Attack Reflection (With Tails' Parry, in which he utilizes a Bounce Spring to repel attacks and slows down his perception of time),

Statistics Reduction (By using his Debuff Parry, Tails can temporarily lower the amount of damage an enemy is able to inflict),

Aura, Light Generation, Barrier Negation, Telekinesis, Stamina Recovery & Limited Creation (With his Cyloop, which should be identical in usages compared to Sonic's; this ranges from nullifying enemy barriers, telekinetically holding up objects and enemies, granting himself infinite stamina for one minute by drawing an infinity symbol, and spawning Rings),

Energy Projection (With his Cyblaster, which shoots out a ball of light that Tails can manually detonate. Anything caught within the blast radius will be punished by the Cyloop's usual effects on enemies),

Resistances to:

Sound Manipulation,Electricity Manipulation, & Transmutation/Deconstruction (Can resist the effects of the Magenta, Ivory and Cube Wips)

Cyber Corruption (Afflictions. Tails, Amy, and Knuckles drove back Sonic's corruption to restore him in order to fight The End. Withstood Cyber Corruption spreading through his body),

Limited Resistance to Soul Manipulation, Mind Manipulation, & Possession (Able to fight back against Ifrit's powers, although he's ultimately taken over),

Summoning (Can summon the Cyclone at will to immediately pilot it),

Electricity Manipulation (With Electric Plug),

Automatic Translation (The Miles Electric can translate the language of the Wisps, albeit with mistranslations scattered throughout),

Information Analysis (With the Miles Electric)

Power Nullification (Created devices that quickly subdued each of the Deadly Six by using their own powers against them),

Portal Creation (With the Multi-Portal Generator),

Gravity Manipulation, Deconstruction, Transmutation, & Size Manipulation (With the Indigo Asteroid Wisp, which breaks down enemies and objects in its orbit and grows the more it consumes),

Free Movement & Underground Mobility (With the Yellow Drill Wisp, which allows users of their energy to burrow underground and between gaps without issue as well as move through water at high speeds akin to a torpedo),

Energy Projection (With the Cyan Laser Wisp, which lets the user hurtle forward as a destructive beam of energy),

All previous Base abilities on a dramatically enhanced scale including;

Flight (True Flight, Spaceflight; Can maneuver freely in the air without the use of his tails),

Self-Sustenance (Type 3 - Super forms draw their power from the Chaos Emeralds, a source repeatedly referred to as infinite, and never tire so long as the transformation lasts),

Invulnerability (Super Forms are empowered by Chaos Energy that largely stems from the will and emotions of the user, best displayed through Shadow being immune to all sources of damage when unleashing the hidden power of good or evil from within himself that allows him to tap into a reserve of ehnanced Chaos Powers. As a Super Form is a transformation empowered by the negative or positive emotions of the user, their Invulnerability is tied to emotional power harnessed through the Chaos Emeralds. Super Forms are stated by multiple different sources to be invincible, indestructible and invulnerable),

Invulnerability Negation (Super form users can harm other super form users with this trait),

Positive Emotion Empowerment (Super Forms are strengthened by the positive emotions of those who achieve the transformation, which are stated to power the Chaos Emeralds),

Regeneration Negation (Up to Low-Godly; The full power of the Chaos Emeralds allowed Sonic and Shadow to bypass Solaris' regeneration entirely, shattering it's light shells and decapitating it. Even when Solaris revitalized and reformed itself with wings, the damage to it remained),

Forcefield & Aura (His Super State took the form of a constant forcefield against Metal Overlord),

Resistance to

Mind Manipulation, Disease Manipulation, Biological Manipulation, and Transmutation (Powered directly by the Chaos Emeralds, which prevented Zavok's infection and cured Sonic of the Metal Virus the moment he transformed into Super Sonic. The Metal Virus in question transforms organic tissue into a metallic substance through physical contact to create a mindless Zombot),

Dream Manipulation, & Conceptual Manipulation (Conceptual Destruction; Type 1, Independent Universal Concept. Super Forms can withstand attacks from the likes of Solaris, which have said effects),

Cyber Corruption (When Sonic transformed into his Super State, his Cyber Corruption was halted, though it did not cure him outright),

All previous abilities of Super Tails on a greatly enhanced scale including;

Afterimage Creation (Several afterimages trail him),

Underwater Breathing (Type 2. Hyper Tails can survive underwater indefinitely without needing to surface for air)

Weaknesses: lacks self-confidence. Is afraid of lightning. Same as before, although he has mostly improved upon it since Sonic Adventure. He can't fly very long while carrying too much weight, as he will get tired faster.
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N/A: Just to let you know, the set up is a bit longer than usual, but it's the only way I could think of that feels natural for these two characters.

Song: Tails of Player 2 Heroes

Tails, after parting ways with Sonic and taking some time to reflect on his own life, returned to his former home, the vibrant Emerald Hill Zone situated in West Side Island. As he arrived, familiar feelings of nostalgia washed over him, a reminder of where he had first met his closest friend and adventure buddy.

Stepping into his quaint, familiar residence, Tails discovered that things remained largelyunchanged since he had left. Memories flooded his mind, reminding him of the moments spent tinkering with machines and exploring the unique tropical environment that surrounded his secluded home. It felt as if it had been only yesterday that he had discovered his passion for mechanics and sought solace in the peaceful solitude of the island whenever he was bullied.

Tails meticulously inspected the various appliances and systems within his home, finding that the electricity was operational as expected. However, as he turned his attention to the plumbing system, he discovered that it had undergone severe deterioration due to the passage of time during his absence. The once-functional plumbing now lay in a state of disrepair, rendering the water supply unusable in its current condition.

Tails sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility upon his shoulders. He longed for a much-needed respite and relaxation after the thrilling but perilous adventures he had recently undertaken. The thought of singlehandedly repairing the entire plumbing system seemed daunting, and he yearned for a simpler, more stress-free moment.

As he perused through his old mail, he stumbled upon an intriguing advertisement. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was an ad for the renowned Mario Bros. plumbing service. Recalling the friendly rivalries and athletic competitions he and Sonic had engaged in alongside their Mushroom Kingdom companions, Tails decided to give them a call. Within moments of placing the call, a familiar, green pipe materialized in front of Tails' residence. With a cheerful exclamation in a distinct Italian accent, Luigi made his entrance.

"Oh yeah! It's-a Luigi time!"

As Tails stepped outside, he greeted the plumber with a warm smile, extending his hand in welcome.

"Luigi, it's great to see you again!"

Luigi grasped Tails' hand firmly and shook it.

"Likewise, my-a mechanical friend! It's been a while. So, you have a plumbing problem?"

Tails nodded and sighed.

"Yes, the entire plumbing system in my home is pretty much unusable. I could fix it myself, but I feel like taking a well-deserved break after recent events."

Luigi nodded understandingly and crossed his arms.

"Okay, we can-a fix that easily. You take a nice-a break. We can handle the-a plumbing. Let me just check it-a out real quick."

Tails smiled, appreciating the Italian plumber's generous nature.

"Thanks, Luigi. I really appreciate it. I'll wait and relax for a bit while you have a look at the plumbing."

"No problem, Tails. You just-a take it easy while I handle the-a pipes."

With that, Luigi walked inside the house to inspect the plumbing, while Tails continued to relax outside. Tails enjoyed the warm, tropical sun outside while Luigi diligently examined the plumbing system, taking a thorough hour to assess the situation. Unfortunately, the verdict was clear: the entire plumbing system would require complete replacement, along with modern upgrades to the pipes and other components. Luigi could only grimace at the extensive work ahead.

"Oh-a Tails? Can you-a come here a quick moment?"

Tails, who had been relaxing in the sunshine, heard Luigi's call and walked inside the house.

"Yeah, Luigi? What's up?"

Luigi stood by the plumbing system, his expression slightly troubled.

"Eh, the plumbing situation here is a bit more serious than I-a thought. The entire system needs replacement and-a updating to modern pipes. It-a won't be a quick fix… sorry. And it'll cost-a 15,000 coins, or any currency equivalent you may have-a."

Tails' eyes widened in surprise at the bad news.

"15,000 coins?! Wow, that's a lot. I'd have to dip into my savings for that. But I suppose it can't be helped if the whole system needs updating. But how about this? I go out, gather as many rings as I can across the island, and I'll pay you by the time you're done, okay?"

Luigi thought for a moment before nodding.

"Sounds-a like a plan. Rings are-a good as coins. Go-a ahead and gather them, and we will-a start fixing your plumbing right away."

Tails smiled, grateful for Luigi's understanding.

"Thanks, Luigi! I'll get right on it. I'll gather all the rings I can and be back before you finish."

The two-tailed fox then left his home, to gather rings from across the island. Over the next couple of hours, Tails explored the entire West Side Island, gathering rings from various locations and challenges. From defeating egg-bots to collecting golden rings hiding among the lush jungles, he searched everywhere, determined to pay Luigi for the costly repairs to his plumbing. Tails returned to his home, feeling a sense of accomplishment as he had gathered a whopping 25,000 rings, nearly double what Luigi had requested for the plumbing repairs. With a satisfied smile, the two-tailed fox carried the large sack full of golden rings towards the house.

"Luigi, I have the rings, and then some! You got the plumbing fixed up?"

Luigi had been hard at work fixing the plumbing. It was nearly finished, and he was just sealing up the last pipe when he heard Tails.

"Ah, you're-a back! And with the-a rings too. You-a certainly got a lot."

Tails grinned, holding up the large bag of rings.

"Yeah, I didn't want to leave you waiting and made sure I gathered as many as I could. How's the plumbing coming along?"

Luigi chuckled, appreciating the extra effort.

"The plumbing is nearly done. Just a couple more to-a go. Why don't you sit and relax for a while. You look like-a you ran across the entire island."

Tails let out a sigh, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion.

"Yeah, I basically did. But I'm glad to hear the plumbing's almost done. Thank you so much for fixing it, especially on such short notice."

Luigi shrugged, as if it was no big deal.

"Eh, it's our-a job. Besides, I've had some good plumbing business with-a the Mushroom Kingdom. Now-a let me finish up, please."

Tails chuckled and nodded.

"Sure thing, Luigi. Take your time with the plumbing. I'll just sit here and relax for a bit."

Tails went to go sit at a chair, doing some minor tinkering. Luigi continued working on the last few pipes, making sure everything was connected and functioning properly. With his experienced hands, he swiftly completed the final adjustments. After a few more minutes, he dusted off his hands and announced to Tails with a smile.

"All-a done! Your plumbing system is-a good as new."

Tails perked up from his little tinkering and turned to Luigi.

"That's great news! Thank you so much, Luigi. Here's your rings worth equal to 15,000 coins. I did the math in my head."

Luigi's eyes lit up as he saw the payment.

"Ah, thank you, Tails! That-a will do. Whew. I think-a I could use a break myself."

Tails chuckled and nodded.

"Yeah, you deserve a break for sure."

Tails took a moment to think, before proposing,

"Luigi, I don't normally do this, but if you would like to blow off some steam, would you perhaps like to spar for a bit?"

Luigi's eyebrows raised at the unexpected proposal.

"A-a spar? Eh…"

Though he was a bit unsure, he couldn't deny that letting off some steam sounded like a good idea.

"I guess, but why-a do you ask?"

Tails sighed.

"Well, I've always been following behind my best friend, Sonic, in his adventures. And they were the best time of my life. But… I've come to realize I'm too dependent on him. My performances have been… inconsistent, to say the least. I need to know who I am, and what I'm capable of, without Sonic being a constant in my life."

Luigi nodded thoughtfully, understanding the need to find oneself.

"Ah, I see. You-a want to forge your own path and discover your own-a strengths. I respect-a that. I know-a what it's like to constantly be the shadow of someone-a greater than you. My brother. I love-a Mario, but it can be hard to be the one-a that everyone barely recognizes, outside of the-a occasion."

Tails smiled faintly.

"Exactly. I've got the intelligence and mechanical genius, and the tools to back it up, but I want to see if I can be independent, to know if I'm strong enough to hold my own without Sonic. I guess it's fitting for us to see what we're capable of against each, huh? The secondary heroes."

Luigi's mouth twisted into a grin, as they went to go outside.

"Yeah, you've got a point. The secondary heroes fighting it out. This-a should be interesting. All right, let's-a do it. I'm-a ready whenever you are."

Tails went alongside Luigi, finding an open area away from any structures or breakable objects.

"Alright, let's start then. I'm ready."

Both ready and focused, the two secondary heroes prepared themselves for the upcoming sparring match. Tails made the first move, dashing towards Luigi with fervor. As Tails attempted to swipe with his twin tails, Luigi swiftly dodged the attack, effortlessly jumping over the whip-like tails. Luigi landed and immediately executed a spin jump, lunging towards Miles. However, Tails quickly responded with another tail swipe, deftly deflecting the plumber's attack.

As Miles unleashed a Spin Dash, driving towards Luigi, the green clad plumber countered the attack with a perfectly timed Hammer strike. Tails was launched into the air, only for Luigi to follow up with a Scuttle Jump, ascending to meet him. Up in the air, the two combatants began exchanging blows. It was a battle of Tails' swift tail swipes versus Luigi's powerful Cyclones.

Both knocked away from each other after their clash, Miles found himself in the air while Luigi landed on the ground. Luigi cautiously moved, anticipating another attack from Tails, and attempted to jump up and swing his Hammer at the two-tailed fox. However, Tails swiftly countered the Hammer attack with another skillful use of his tails, sending Luigi reeling backwards.

"Whew, those are-a some strong tails to resist-a swings from a hammer."

Luigi commented, wiping his brow. Tails chuckled, landing back on the ground, and gave his twin tails a quick spin.

"Yeah, they come in handy. I trained them to be quite strong and useful."

With determination, both Miles and Luigi prepared their next attacks: Tails' Boost and Luigi's Green Missile, powered up with the Thunderclap technique. The tension in the air was palpable as they both geared up to deliver their most powerful blows yet.

The race was on as Miles went into his Boost mode, accelerating to Mach 3 in a flash. Luigi followed suit, deploying his Green Missile technique, zipping forward like lightning. However, as the thunderclap of Luigi's attack echoed through the air, it triggered Tails' fear of thunder, causing him to falter. In that moment of hesitation, Luigi's Green Missile struck Tails head-on with full force, sending the twin-tailed fox hero flying.

Luigi showed no mercy, continuing the assault. He unleashed his Super Jump Punch, connecting it with Tails. Next, he launched another Green Missile, followed up by multiple electrified Luigi Cyclones, sending the twin-tailed fox hero reeling. Not backing down, he slammed the Hammer onto Tails, channeling all the electricity into his hands before delivering a powerful Thunder Hand attack that sent Miles flying back. As Luigi relentlessly attacked, Tails cried out urgently with a plea of,

"Stop it!"

In a desperate attempt to turn the tables, Miles quickly threw out multiple bombs, surrounding the area with explosives. Panic washed over Luigi as he found himself circled by the ticking bombs. Just in the nick of time, he activated his Vanish Flower, becoming intangible as the bombs exploded around him. As Tails landed safely, he looked around, searching for any sign of Luigi. The explosion holes were evident, but there was no sign of the green plumber. Miles was baffled, not having seen Luigi use the Vanish Flower to render himself intangible.

"Where on earth did you go?"

The twin-tailed fox hero exclaimed, perplexed by the plumber's mysterious disappearance. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Super Hammer materialized, catching Tails off guard. Before he could react, the hammer swatted him into the air, followed closely by the hammer itself – wielded by the invisible Luigi. Miles found himself helplessly flung up into the air, with the unseen hammer relentlessly chasing him upwards.

Tails quickly regained his composure with his spinning tails, shifting into a defensive stance. The battle quickly resumed with a flurry of attacks and counterattacks. The Magic Hand and Hammer clashed, Miles deploying his arm cannon only to be swatted by the invisible Luigi. The Magic Hand, though grounded, proved ineffective against the intangible plumber. Preparing to launch another attack with his arm cannon, Tails was caught off guard as Luigi suddenly hit him in the face, sending him plummeting downwards.

As Miles tried to shake off the powerful attack, he slowly regained his bearings and began flying again. Meanwhile, Luigi, having used the Scuttle Jump to flutter safely to the ground, reappeared as the effects of the Vanish Flower wore off. With both combatants visible now, the spar continued.

Luigi swiftly materialized a green pipe beneath him, vanishing into it with a plumber's finesse. Meanwhile, Miles noticed a nearby yellow Wisp and quickly soared towards it, absorbing its power and transforming himself into a twin-tailed yellow spiral drill. He then burrowed into the ground, intent on following Luigi. Luigi dropped into the underground section through the pipe, navigating the subterranean tunnel and skillfully jumping over and onto the badniks that lay in his path. A moment later, Tails descended as well, returning to his natural fox form after reverting from his drill state.

Recognizing the growing distance between himself and Luigi, Miles observed a nearby Cyan Wisp, a smile gracing his face. Seeing an opportunity to catch up, he skillfully flew towards it, clutching onto the Wisp to absorb its power.

"You're not getting away that easily!"

Tails called out. As Miles transformed into a Cyan Laser, he swiftly calculated the most efficient path through the tunnel, utilizing the geometry of the space to his advantage. With a burst of energy, he shot off at light speed, ricocheting off various surfaces to propel himself forward. Luigi barely had time to react as he caught a glimpse of something cyan hurtling towards him. Before he could even utter a word, he was forcibly slammed against the wall, leaving a distinct Luigi-shaped imprint in the wall.

Luigi burst out of the earthen wall, grunting as he stumbled onto the grass. Miles reverted back to his standard fox form, landing gracefully on his feet. Suddenly, they found themselves encircled by a gathering of Cyan Wisps. A grin crossed Tails' face as he looked at Luigi, who appeared increasingly nervous as the situation took an unexpected turn.

Tails ascended, capturing another Wisp, and transformed into a Cyan Laser once more. With lightning speed, he fired at Luigi, replicating the same velocity as before. However, Miles found himself taken aback when he noticed that the green plumber had acquired the Metal Cap, adopting its durable properties and turning a shade of grey chrome. Tails bounced off the metallic armor of Luigi, his attempts to deal direct damage met with resistance. The impacts were reflected like mirrors due to the Metal Cap's properties, leaving Miles in a continuous cycle of ricocheting off his opponent. Every time he rebounded into another Wisp and regained some energy, he went on another charge only to meet the same defensive wall provided by the Metal Cap.

Exhausting all available Wisps, Tails eventually returned to his regular state, and at the same time, the power of the Metal Cap began to wear off. The protective shell around Luigi shattered away, freeing the plumber once again.

Tails, out of breath, sought recovery and brought out his Heal Bot, bathing himself in green light to rejuvenate his energy. However, his reprieve was brief as Luigi came in, wielding his trusty hammer and forcefully struck the Heal Bot, effectively rendering it useless. Attempting to repeat his previous strategy, Luigi harnessed energy and prepared to unleash his electric green missile attack, once again moving with incredible speed like lightning. However, this time Miles showed no signs of being caught off guard, calmly readying his Shield Bot, poised to completely neutralize the incoming blow, even though the noise of the thundering still made him uneasy.

Frustrated at having his plan thwarted, Luigi swiftly destroyed the Shield Bot, but in doing so, he left himself vulnerable to a counterattack from Tails. Miles seized the opportunity and unleashed a Magic Hand attack from below, sending Luigi flying onto his back, landing a decent distance away.

Recovering from the previous hit, Luigi produced a Smash Ball and, before Tails could react, pulverized it. The world around them transformed, with every color inverted and time and gravity in the area becoming distorted, creating a chaotic and disoriented environment for both parties. Miles, bewildered by the changes, attempted to move within the twisted space but instead found himself stumbling and tripping over. The surroundings echoed with the eerie sounds of Luigi's lamentations, as if the plumber were under some strange influence in this inverted Negative Zone.

Despite the disorienting nature of the Negative Zone, Tails quickly managed to adapt. He observed his movements and noted their effects, realizing that the zone inverted reality's rules. To move correctly, he would need to act opposite to what he would normally do.

Luigi, armed with his Ultra Hammer, attempted to deliver a powerful downward strike aimed at Miles, only to find that the fox-tailed hero swiftly evaded by instinctively using his spinning tails to propel himself downwards. However, in the Negative Zone, this action backfired, and instead of falling down, Tails found himself rising upward, successfully dodging Luigi's attack.

Tails, having quickly adapted to the Negative Zone, smirked as he decided to use its inverted rules to his advantage. Instead of flying towards Luigi, he found himself being pulled backwards, which was a deliberate action as he dropped a flash bang grenade. Luigi, still disoriented by the negative influence, attempted to retreat but tripped over due to the peculiarities of the zone, causing the blast to go off, accompanied by a blinding flash that dazed the plumber.

Taking advantage of Luigi's dazed state, Miles decided to take things up a notch. Summoning the Chaos Emeralds that he had collected, he transformed into Super Tails, enveloped in a glowing sphere of Chaos Control energy. Flying at top speed, Super Tails barreled into Luigi, forcefully pushing him through trees and ultimately hurling him into the ocean.

Super Tails, determined to keep the pressure on, prepared for another attack, only to be confronted by Luigi, who had equipped a pair of power-ups: the Super Star and the Cape Feather. These power-ups granted Luigi temporary invulnerability and the ability to fly, much like his twin-tailed adversary. With newfound confidence, Luigi exclaimed,

"Let's-a go!"

The battle escalated swiftly as Super Tails and Luigi left the confines of Earth's atmosphere, accelerating at velocities far exceeding the speed of light. They traversed the galaxy, passing planets, stars, and nebulae as they each strived to surpass the other. With each powerful collision between the two, a dazzling rainbow flash of light twinkled in the galaxy, accompanied by a deep and resonant rumbling sound. It was as if the galaxy itself was becoming a stage, bearing witness to their epic battle.

The pair continued their intense engagement, oblivious to their surroundings until they plunged headlong into a gargantuan red giant star. Reaching the iron core of the celestial body, Luigi seized the metallic sphere and forcefully smashed it onto Super Tails' head, intending to inflict damage, but the fox's temporary invulnerability blocked the impact, shattering the sphere.

The unexpected collision with the star's core triggered a series of events that sent Super Tails and Luigi flying away from each other. To their surprise, the gigantic red star suddenly began to display abnormal behavior, unexpectedly transforming into a supernova. Caught at the epicenter, both Luigi and Super Tails found themselves being sucked into the intense and catastrophic explosion. Even with their temporary invulnerability, the glowing plumber and the Chaos-fueled fox found themselves utterly overpowered by the sheer power of the supernova. The intense forces generated by the cosmological event strained their protective barriers, challenging their endurance in a way they had seldom before experienced.

Just as their struggle seemed imminent, Luigi and Super Tails began to experience a powerful pulling sensation. As Tails glanced towards the source, a look of horror filled his eyes, reflected in his gaze.

"The star! It's devolving... into a black hole!"

The twin-tailed fox hero exclaimed fearfully.

The realization of what was happening set in as the energy-filled duo witnessed the stellar collapse transforming into a black hole, a cosmic phenomenon known for its irresistibly strong gravitational pull that devoured everything, including light itself. The black hole's relentless gravitational pull intensified, drawing them closer towards its event horizon, the point of no return.

Unfortunate as it was, Luigi's temporary invulnerability and flight power-up timed out at the most unfavorable moment. With a dismayed cry of,

"Wah! Help-a Luigi!"

The green plumber found himself plummeting into the gravity-pulling depths of the newly formed black hole. With determination in his voice, Super Tails declared,

"I'll save you, Luigi!"

Ignoring the potential danger to his own life if his super form gave out, the twin-tailed fox hero flew towards his Italian friend, risking everything to save him from the clutches of the treacherous black hole.

As they drew ever closer to the event horizon of the ravenous black hole, Luigi desperately rummaged through his pockets. With urgency, he tossed aside a Super Mushroom, a Hammer, and a Fire Flower, but after a moment of searching, found a Super Leaf that granted him invincibility. Quickly activating it, he transformed into a kitsune and then froze, solidifying himself into a statue-like state to counteract the overwhelming forces pulling them into the black hole's dark abyss.

The duo, enveloped in their temporary invincibility, plummeted deep into the black hole, seemingly trapped in the relentless grip of its event horizon. However, as hope seemed lost, the sound of two familiar voices emerged from the darkness.

"Chaos Control!"

Exclaimed Super Tails, his youthful voice projecting determination.

"Luigi's number 1!"

Echoed the plumber, his signature confidence present in his declaration. With a powerful display of their combined abilities, they unleashed Chaos Control and Star Power, freeing themselves from the gravitational clutches of the black hole.

Flying with the immense force of a gamma-ray burst, the duo found themselves locked in a fierce grapple as they both rocketed towards Earth's surface. Suddenly, as they soared through the air, Tails felt his Super form slipping away, leaving him grasping desperately to hold on to Luigi. The incredible speed of their descent heated the surrounding atmosphere, igniting it in a fiery trail.

Fortunately, just before impact, Luigi executed the Scuttle Jump maneuver, effectively slowing down their descent and preventing them from crashing into the ground like a meteorite. Safely back at Emerald Hill, Miles and Luigi landed, exhausted but alive. Tails exhaled deeply, still processing the wild events that had just unfolded.

"Whoa... That was... a lot."

He managed to utter between breaths, the magnitude of their experience still sinking in. Luigi, feeling a mix of relief and exhaustion, managed to chuckle weakly.

"I-a gotta say, that was-a one heck of a space ride, huh, Tails?"

Tails nodded in agreement, a weary smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, you can say that again. We really went from fighting on the island to battling through space in a black hole. Talk about a wild day. But at the end of it all, I guess you won. I tapped out first."

Luigi chuckled once again, his chest heaving with each breath as he composed himself.

"Eh, it was-a tough fight, but I guess I did-a come out on top. But Tails, you really showed off some amazing skills back-a there. You really gave me a run for my-a money."

Tails's weary smile grew wider at Luigi's compliment.

"Thanks, Luigi. You're a tough opponent, no doubt about it. But... I have to ask, how did you even get all those power-ups? It's like you had an endless supply!"

Luigi chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ah, you-a got me. I always keep a few tricks up my-a sleeve. Gotta be ready for-a anything, you know? Especially if-a Bowser kidnaps the-a princess again."

Tails let out a small laugh, completely understanding Luigi's reasoning.

"Ah, fair enough. Gotta be prepared, right? You never know what kind of trouble we're gonna have to deal with next. And on that note, I think I've had enough excitement for today. I need a nap."

Luigi rubbed his tired eyes, showing just how fatigued he was.

"Me-a too."

Weary yet satisfied, Tails and Luigi settled under the shade of a palm tree, finding comfort leaning against one another. Miles closed his eyes, surrendering to exhaustion, while Luigi did the same, pulling his signature green cap over his face. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in a beautiful array of orange, red, and yellow hues, they listened to the soothing sounds of the crashing waves, both drifting into a well-deserved slumber.
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Strength: Seems like it should've been Luigi's win when it was the year of Luigi. Now, Tails is stronger than just being capable of lifting ten tons. Tails, in Sonic Shuffle, was able to push an estimated 250 ton train to a stop. Though given he had help, it's more likely he pushed 62.5 tons of his share. Sure, the canonicity of the game is debatable, but even if we did count it, Luigi punted a castle just like Mario did. Luigi punted a castle with the similar strength of 3.5 MT. That's 56,000X greater than Tails at base power has pulled off. Even Luigi's lower durability would only be slightly lower at 38,400X greater.

Speed: While Tails is by no means as fast Sonic, the fox has been shown to keep up with the hedgehog. His average speed is around Mach 1-3, and likely has reaction speeds of Mach 287, while Luigi likely scales with his brother up to Mach 375. That's 1.3X faster. Even if we scaled their speeds up to galactic numbers, Luigi flying through the galaxy and thus scaling to Mario and Bowser puts him at 489 quadrillion times the speed of light, Super Tails should be comparable to other Super forms who fought Solarus, a god that can create attacks that move at 73 quadrillion times light speed. This makes Luigi 6.7X faster.

Skill: On a technical standpoint, Miles is the smarter of the two. Despite his clumsy nature, Luigi is no idiot, but Tails has an IQ of 300, making him more skilled and can compete with those with more practiced skill.

Experience: Luigi definitely has more experience fighting evil than Tails. Even if the Sonic games were to take over the course of three or four years when Tails started at 8, Luigi has been fighting Bowser since they were babies, and is over 30 by now.

Powers: Just like Mario vs Sonic, Luigi would possess more powers than Tails at any given point, being able to counter Tails' machines and individual powers, eventually being able to overwhelm him.

The winner is Luigi.
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Next time:

"When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world: No, YOU move."

"Learn a few moves, add a bit of muscle to your frame... you think that's all it takes to be strong? If I were you, I'd think carefully about that."

Chapter Text

Captain America

Backstory:

Steve Rogers was born September 28, 1922, to poor Irish immigrant parents, Sarah and Joseph grew up a frail youth during the Great Depression in New York City, New York. Little else is known about Rogers' early life other than the fact that a strong sense of duty, honor, and humility was instilled in him; perhaps due to his Irish Protestant upbringing. Rogers' father died when he was a child and his mother died from pneumonia later, when he was in his late teens.

Horrified by newsreel footage of Nazis ransacking Europe and atrocities in Asia that the Empire of Japan committed in China and Korea, Rogers tried to enlist in the Army but was rejected as 4-F because of his frailty and sickness. Overhearing the boy's earnest plea to fight for his country, General Chester Phillips, of the US Army, offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a top-secret performance-enhancing experiment called Operation Rebirth. Rogers agreed and was taken to a secret laboratory in Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to Doctor Abraham Erskine (code named Professor Joseph Reinstein), the creator of the Super-Soldier Serum.

After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the Super-Soldier Serum. Given part of the compound intravenously and another part orally, Rogers was then bombarded by vita-rays, a special combination of exotic (in 1941) wavelengths of radiation designed to accelerate and stabilize the serum's effect on his body. Steve Rogers emerged from the vita-ray chamber with a perfect human body. A Nazi spy, who observed the experiment, murdered Dr. Erskine mere minutes after its conclusion. Dr. Erskine died without fully committing the Super-Soldier formula to paper, leaving Rogers the sole beneficiary of his genius.

Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program that taught him gymnastics, hand-to-hand combat from Colonel Rex Applegate and William Essart Fairbairn, and military strategy. Three months later, he was given his first assignment: to stop the Nazi agent called the Red Skull. To help him become a symbolic counterpart to the Red Skull, Rogers was given the red, white, and blue costume of Captain America.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Longevity (Ages slower than ordinary men. Spent 12 years in the Dimension Z but didn't look a day older),

Enhanced Senses (Has a sight and hearing far superior to that of ordinary humans),

Precognition (Possesses a "Well-Honed Sixth Sense" which allows him to instinctively react to his enemies' movements, often moments before they occur),

Genius Intelligence,

Regeneration (Mid-Low; Healed from a bullet injury after a short duration. Mid overtime; Recovered from a headshot),

Indomitable Will (Willed himself out of a Cosmic Cube),

Martial Arts Mastery (Mastered every single form of Martial Arts known to men),

Acrobatics,

Pressure Points (Makes use of pressure point strikes in combat, rendered Viper unconscious by applying pressure to a nerve cluster),

Weapon Mastery (A master at wielding virtually every weapon there is, be it melee or ranged. Can master new weapons in seconds just by holding them).

Resistance to Poisons, Drugs and Toxins, Mind Manipulation (Forced out Red Skull from his mind),

Illusions,

Fire Manipulation, Electricity Manipulation (His boots are insulated, making him able to move through Fixer's electric hall unharmed), and Radiation

Weaknesses: None noticeable
———————————————
Guile

Backstory:

When Guile was a trainee in the United States Air Force, he met his superior officer, Charlie Nash and asked him to teach him his unique form of fighting, which Charlie agreed to do. Guile learned the style, but his hot temper caused him to lack proficiency in the moves compared to Charlie; Charlie can shoot Sonic Booms with one hand, while Guile needs both.

When Guile was a fighter pilot, he was shot down and taken prisoner. After being repeatedly interrogated in an enemy base as a POW, he eventually was rescued by First Lieutenant Charlie Nash, and the two have been close friends ever since.

Guile is sent by the United States Air Force to look for his senior teammate and best friend Charlie, who has gone missing during a secret investigation. Guile's search eventually leads him to the Interpol investigator Chun-Li, who warns him not to follow Charlie due to the danger involved. Guile demonstrates his fighting ability, and assures Chun-Li that he will not let their friend come to harm. He eventually finds the Shadaloo base in Thailand. Guile informs Charlie that they do not need to be there any longer, as an aerial bombardment will begin in an hour. Charlie, however, insists that Shadaloo leader M. Bison will escape, and they come to blows. The sinister and powerful M. Bison appears and attacks the two Airmen, but is no match for their combined prowess. He is forced to retreat, calling a gunship to keep them pinned down and cover his escape.

The two give chase, and follow him into the base, deciding that M. Bison's source of power, the Psycho Drive, must be destroyed. Chun-Li then appears and informs them that the bombardment has been called off, surmising that Bison has somehow used his influence to avert the air strike. She goes on to tell them that she has set explosives in an attempt to destroy the base, but is unsure if they'll be enough. As she rushes to escape, Charlie and Guile decide to set explosives around the Psycho Drive to ensure that if nothing else, it at least will be destroyed.

As they set their charges, M. Bison fought with Ryu and his allies in an epic battle. In the end, Ryu defeated him, destroying his body temporarily and forcing M. Bison to regenerate in the Psycho Drive. Bison successfully regenerated his body then Charlie convinces Guile to escape while he holds Bison off, and Guile escaped right before the base explodes, with Charlie and Bison presumably caught in the blast. Chun-Li and Ryu eventually find Guile standing on a mountain, and Chun-Li says that Charlie may perhaps be alive somewhere, just as she believes that her father may be. Guile agrees, and says that he will continue to believe in Charlie.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Martial Arts (Expert in Martial Arts and Wrestling),

Acrobatics,

Weapon and Vehicular Mastery (An expert soldier and Major of the Air Force. Able to drive a jet plane),

Chi Manipulation and Projection,

Extrasensory Perception (Able to sense chi),

minor Body Control (Can increase the muscles in his arms via Sonic Hurricane),

Rage Power (His strenght and speed are amplified by rage),

Damage Boost (Can perform enhanced versions of his Special Attacks),

Status Effect Inducement (By hitting the opponent repeteadly, without them being able to recover, he can cause them to enter the "Stun" status, which leaves them unable to react. His Focus Attack causes the opponent to enter a "crumpling" status),

limited Resistance to Precognition (Reading the future of fighters such as him is difficult, because they always fight against it).

Weaknesses: Typical human limitations
————————————————————
Song: Star Spangled Battlers

The expansive deck of the Carrier Byron Taylor was bathed in warm sunlight, streaks of white clouds lazily drifting across the clear blue sky. The vessel, a pinnacle of modern air combat technology, sat majestically on the calm waters. Major Guile, a distinguished street fighter and military pilot, was stationed on the carrier, overseeing its operations and preparing for any potential threats.

Major Guile stood tall in front of his fellow flyers, addressing them with authority.

"Alright, men, attention! We've got a real special guest coming in today. In just a few moments, none other than Captain America himself will be joining us right here on this very aircraft carrier."

The men stood at attention, each one filled with excitement and awe. Captain America was a legend, an icon of justice and bravery. To meet him in person was an honor few could ever dream of.

"Now, I know you're all excited to meet Captain America. However, I still expect you all to give him the upmost respect. So don't stand around gawking like a bunch of schoolgirls. Do I make myself clear?!"

The men nodded in understanding and agreement, their faces stern and disciplined. They were all eager to meet Captain America, but at the same time, they knew they had to maintain their professionalism and respect his presence.

"Good. Now, when Captain America arrives, I want each of you to be on your best behavior. I don't want any funny business or any disrespectful behavior. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" the men shouted in unison, expressing their affirmation. They were a disciplined unit, and they knew the importance of representing the Air Force with honor and integrity.

The sound of a helicopter echoed through the air, announcing the arrival of their special guest. Everyone watched as the aircraft approached the carrier, its side door sliding open, revealing Captain America himself. With grace and precision, he leaped from the chopper, performing a perfect three-point landing on the deck below. In his hand, he held his iconic shield, the star symbol catching the sunlight and gleaming brilliantly.

Captain America stood up with a firm and resolute demeanor, placing his shield on his back. He approached Major Guile, offering a crisp salute to the Air Force officer.

"Major."

Steve said, his voice authoritative, but not without sincere friendliness. Guile returned the salute with a firm and steady gesture.

"Captain,"

He replied respectfully.

"It's an honor to have you on board. I trust your flight went smoothly?"

Steve nodded, adjusting his uniform. He looked around, taking in the impressive sight of the carrier.

"Yes, the flight was smooth as silk, thank you."This is quite the ship you have here. May not be able to fly like the Helicarrier, but it's still one of the best I've seen."

Guile chuckled slightly at the comparison, but he still appreciated the compliment.

"Well, we may not have a flying fortress like the Helicarrier, but this ship is the pride and joy of the US Air Force. It's equipped with the latest technology and can launch and recover a wide range of aircraft. It's a force to be reckoned with, I can assure you. Now, to what do I owe this pleasure of you paying a visit?"

Steve's expression grew slightly serious as he responded.

"There's actually a matter I need to discuss with you. I hear you're particularly familiar with an organization I'm trying to track down. Does Shadaloo ring a bell?"

Guile's eyes narrowed, a look of recognition flashing in his gaze. He crossed his arms and his expression grew serious.

"Shadaloo. Yeah, I know them. They're a dangerous bunch. International crime syndicate, heavily involved in arms dealing, trafficking, and god knows what else. They disbanded when M. Bison died last year. If you're here for my expertise, they must still be in operation somehow."

Steve nodded, a grim determination in his eyes.

"You're right. We recently received intel indicating that Shadaloo has not only survived, but is rebuilding. And we're not just talking about a few stragglers trying to keep the organization alive. They're gathering strength and resources. We have reason to believe they're planning something big. And we need to stop them before it's too late."

Guile's expression grew more solemn, reflecting the severity of the situation. He'd heard similar rumors before, but hearing it straight from Captain America, it became clear just how real the threat was.

"Alright, Cap. I'm in. Shadaloo's been a thorn in my side for years, and I'm more than willing to lend a hand in taking them down for good."

Steve's stern expression softened slightly, appreciating Guile's commitment.

"Good. It's not going to be easy, but your experience and knowledge will be invaluable. But before we get down to business, could you perhaps spare the time for a friendly spar? From rumors I've heard, your physical capabilities and combat skills are as impressive as mine, and all without a super soldier serum to make you into one."

Guile's face broke into a sly smile, his competitive spirit flaring up.

"You've heard right, Cap. I guess word does get around. But I'm always up for a good fight. And sparring with Captain America himself? That's an offer I can't pass up. Let's see who truly comes out on top, super serum or good ol' fashioned martial arts."

Guile took out his comb, combing his blonde hair into style before putting it back. Steve chuckled at Guile's gesture, amused by his attention to his hair.

"Looks like I've challenged a man as serious about his appearance as he is about his fighting."

He then assumed a loose, ready stance, holding his hands in front of him.

"All right, Major. Let's see what you've got."

Guile's smile widened, the challenge sparking something in him.

"You're on, Cap."

He mirrored Steve's stance, his hands held up in a defensive position. The air was thick with anticipation as the surrounding men watched Guile and Steve circle each other. The soldiers, pilots and mechanics held their breaths, keenly observing the two as they waited for the first move. Guile's gaze never wavered, his mind focused on the upcoming bout. He was in his element now, a competitive fire burning in his eyes.

Guile made the first move, charging forward with a spinning attack, delivering three swift kicks in quick succession. However, Steve proved to be just as agile and resilient, blocking each kick with his arms. Although he was pushed back by the force of Guile's attacks, he maintained his footing, demonstrating his quick reflexes and durability.

Guile continued his onslaught, throwing a rapid series of punches, each one packed with power and determination. However, Steve evaded each strike with minimal movement, his speed and agility making it look almost effortless. Despite the strength behind Guile's attacks, Steve's movements were efficient and economical, conserving his energy while effectively avoiding the blows.

Guile landed a clean kick, hitting Steve in the chest and sending him rolling backwards. Seeing his opening, Guile prepared to unleash his signature "Sonic Boom" attack, his hands crossing in anticipation. However, Captain America reacted swiftly, equipping his shield just in time to absorb the burst of energy with its vibranium alloy. Despite the intense attack, the shield hardly budged, reflecting the toughness of the material. Steve examined his shield with mild amusement, then looked back up at Guile with a playful smirk.

"'Good ol' fashioned martial arts' you said? Didn't teach me that move during my time in the Army."

He stood up and rotated his shoulder a few times, testing his mobility after the impact. Guile smirked back, his eyes gleaming with renewed determination.

"Well, they don't call me a street fighter for nothing. Can't win every fight by playing by the book."

He adjusted his stance, ready for the next exchange.

"Fair enough."

Steve agreed, flinging his shield towards Guile. The Major ducked under the flying disc, charging forward to counterattack. However, the shield hit a guard rail and ricocheted back, hitting Guile from behind. The surprise impact threw him off course, and Steve took advantage of the moment, leaping over him and executing a spinning flip before kicking Guile, causing him to land on his front. Captain America then landed gracefully on his feet, shield in hand. Guile laughed lightly, pushing himself back up and running his fingers through his hair, fixing it back into the iconic style.

"I expected nothing less from a fellow soldier like you."

The surrounding soldiers watched with excitement and anticipation, their faces filled with awe at the display of the two warrior's abilities and tactical prowess. Steve smirked, clearly enjoying the fight.

"Gotta admit, you're pretty tough for a street fighting Major. Most people would've been knocked out by now from that."

He shifted his stance, a hint of respect in his eyes. Guile chuckled, his spirits still high despite the previous hit.

"And you're pretty agile for a super soldier. I've fought a lot of tough opponents, but none quite like you, Cap."

He readied himself for the next move, his competitive spirit undeterred. He had a feeling the real challenge was yet to come. Guile pressed forward with a lunging punch, aiming to catch Steve off guard. However, Steve quickly reacted, spinning and delivering a swift kick to Guile's face with precise timing. Instead of falling back this time, Guile rolled backwards, regaining his footing and retaliating with a Sonic Boom, the energy blast once again deflected by Steve's shield. The soldiers around them watched in awe as the two warriors continued their intense exchange.

Guile landed a solid punch on Steve's jaw, causing the Captain to spin with the force of the hit. However, Steve swiftly counterattacked, using the momentum to elbow Guile in the face. But even this didn't deter the Major, as he spun with the momentum as well, delivering a reverse back knuckle that sent Steve flying backwards. The Captain hit the deck with a thud, but he quickly got back up, showing admirable resilience and determination.

Guile launched another Sonic Boom attack, but Captain America dashed forward with his shield, absorbing the wave of energy and using the momentum to barrel into Guile. The force of the impact sent the Major stumbling backwards, his feet sliding across the deck from the sheer power of the charge. Captain America attempted to follow through with another strike, swinging his shield arm, but Guile seized the opportunity and grabbed onto his arm and uniform. With a swift and powerful move, Guile executed a Judo throw, slamming the Captain onto the ground and taking him by surprise.

Despite being thrown onto the ground, Steve quickly recovered and punched Guile to create distance, regaining his footing. Guile instinctively raised his arms to block an incoming punch, but this left him vulnerable. Captain America saw his chance and delivered a swift uppercut, catching the Major completely off guard and sending him flying into the air.

Despite the pain, Guile pushed through and managed to get back to his feet, shaking off the soreness. Captain America charged again with his shield, but this time, Guile didn't back down. He planted his feet firmly, determined to withstand the impact. As the shield came his direction, Guile halted Cap's charge, and executed another reverse back knuckle, delivering a powerful blow that forced Steve to recoil.

Guile executed a graceful backflip, sending Captain America flying into the air. Landing back on his feet, he crossed his arms and unleashed another Sonic Boom, this time connecting the blow. The energy burst hit Steve in the back, sending him rolling across the deck. The surrounding soldiers gasped at the sight, clearly impressed by the Major's skill and power. Steve struggled to get back to his feet, but before he could, Guile channeled his chi, generating powerful winds around him. the Major yelled with power,

"Sonic Tempest"

He used his ultimate technique, sending a massive disc of ki power straight towards Captain America. Steve attempted to block the attack with his shield, but the force was overwhelming. He was enveloped in an explosion created by the impact, the entire area filled with smoke and debris. Everyone around, including the spectators, was left in awe at the display of power and skill from the Major. Guile grinned confidently, giving a thumbs up to his men, proud of his performance. However, just as he felt the adrenaline from the fight, he heard rapid footsteps approaching. Out of the smoke appeared Captain America, charging forward with determination. Guile tried to keep him at bay with a rapidfire barrage of Sonic Booms, but the Captain showed impressive agility, dodging the attacks with ease. Before Guile could react, Captain America lunged forward and bashed his shield into him.

Despite being sent crashing to his back, Guile demonstrated impressive agility and flexibility, swiftly getting back up onto his feet. Captain America attempted to catch Guile off guard by throwing his shield, but the Major reacted quickly, counterattacking with a backflip kick, sending the shield flying up into the air. Steve leaped up to catch the shield and prepared to strike with a powerful dive kick, which Guile blocked, his reflexes and skill on full display.

Guile went for a punch, aiming to hit Captain America, but the Captain swiftly blocked the attack with his shield. Guile recoiled, wincing in pain as he withdrew his hand. In a clever move, Steve threw his shield, allowing it to ricochet off several surfaces - the walls and planes nearby - before striking multiple pressure points on Guile's body. This left the Major weakened and vulnerable in intense pain to a powerful strike from the shield to his back.

Steve caught his shield and, with a final, decisive blow, struck Guile in the face, the impact knocking the Major unconscious and causing him to crumple to the deck. The pilots and mechanics observing the fight were left in disbelief, their expressions reflecting their shock and admiration for Captain America's strength and prowess.

Steve knelt down next to the Major, hoping he was okay.

"You alright, Major?"

Guile groaned, slowly opening his eyes and regaining consciousness. He moved gingerly, taking a moment to assess his condition. He grunted, wincing slightly from the pain before responding.

"I've been better. Whew. Damn, couldn't have expected more from you, you're as good as they say then."

Steve chuckled, a mix of pride and modesty in his voice. He offered a hand to help Guile up.

"You're not too bad yourself. Despite not having a serum coursing through you, you kept up just fine. I can admire that kind of skill without needing a drug to get you there, Major."

Guile took the offered hand and managed a small grin, hoisting himself up on his feet. He dusted himself off, a little embarrassed at his loss but taking the compliment in stride.

"Thanks, Cap. But I gotta admit, the way you use your shield was something else. Certainly not used to anything like it."

Steve chuckled at Guile's remark, shrugging almost humbly.

"Comes with the job, I guess. The shield is more than just a piece of equipment, it's an extension of my training and instincts. Took a while to get used to using it, but now it's like breathing, I suppose. Anyway, once you're ready, let's talk about Shadaloo. Once we find them, we can ambush them."

Guile nodded, his expression serious now. Despite his defeat, he was still determined to confront and take down Shadaloo.

"Sounds good, Cap. Let's do it. Just give me a moment to catch my breath, and we'll start planning. I have some friends who wouldn't mind joining the fight."
———————————————————————
Strength: Guile displays a level of strength that can certainly rival Steve, even with the serum. The Major is comparable to Chun-Li, who stopped a runaway car with the force of 18.34 tons of force. However, Captain America is comparable to the Wolverine, both of whom are strong enough to tear steel apart with just their bare hands. But even if Guile had the clear strength advantage, Cap could take this hits well himself, or use his shield to tank any blows he needed to.

Speed: Guile was once able to dodge a point blank spear through in the span of 0.175 seconds. Given an estimated distance of 10 feet in between, Guile must've dodged with a reaction speed of nearly 40 mph. And he's likely many times faster, given that characters of Guile and Chun-Li's caliber is fast enough to dodge bullets. But not only has Steve dodged gunfire more consistently, he's able to throw his shield faster than a missile, block Electro's lightning that likely travels as high as Mach 358, and has tagged heroes faster than Guile like Daredevil, Spider-Man and Iron Fist.

Skill: As skilled as a street fighter Guile is with intensive military training, Captain America is proficient with all the world's martial arts. There's not really any comparison here.

Experience: Here's the thing with Street Fighter. By keeping itself mostly to street levels, this limits Guile to such levels where Steve has fought monsters, gods and beyond, and survive.

Powers: Guile's Sonic Boom will be an initial surprise, but aside from that, Guile doesn't really have anything that Captain America wouldn't see coming, given their shared military practices. And Guile had no means of getting through the shield, or disarming him for long.

The winner is Captain America.
————————————————
Next time:

"You see, I'm perfect, my strength is perfect, and with that I shall bring equally perfect destruction through the rest of the universe."

"Have I finally become it? The symbol of fear that brings all heroes to despair... Absolute Evil."

Chapter Text

Cell

Backstory:

Cell is the ultimate creation of Dr. Gero, designed via cell recombination using the genetics of the greatest fighters that the Remote Tracking Device could find on Earth. The result was a "perfect warrior", possessing numerous favorable genetic traits and special abilities from Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza and King Cold. He was one of the few Red Ribbon Androids not directly completed by Dr. Gero, instead being completed by Dr. Gero's Supercomputer in an alternate timeline. After achieving perfection, he sought to dominate the world through fear of his incredible power.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Martial Artist,

Longevity,

Acrobatics,

Telekinesis,

Afterimage Creation,

Likely Telepathy,

Ki Manipulation (Master Level),

Flight,

Shockwaves Generation,

Explosion Manipulation,

Ki Sensing (Can locate others by reading their ki),

Enhanced Senses (Should have the senses of a Saiyan, allowing him to locate small, distant objects by their smell, see clearly over long distances. Has Namekian exceptional hearing, allowing them to hear things from great distances. Also has Goku's ability to track the movements of others by feeling vibrations in the air),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1, possibly Type 2),

Bodily Weaponry (Uses his tail to attack and absorb),

Breath Attack,

Energy/Ki Absorption (He can absorb others with his tail, either by stabbing them with it to absorb their ki/energy and all of their organic matter, or engulfing them with it to fully absorb them. He also stated that he could probably use the Spirit Bomb),

Power Mimicry (Can easily replicate other fighting techniques after seeing them once),

Light Manipulation (Can create flashes of light to blind opponents),

Body Control (Can revert into prior forms and should have a level of control over his body similar to Frieza),

Elasticity (Due to his Namekian DNA, he should be capable of stretching his arms out to great lengths),

Size Manipulation (Can grow larger when bulking up and should be capable of growing in size like a Namekian),

Life Creation (Via Biological Manipulation; Can spawn Cell Juniors from his tail),

Teleportation, Dimensional Travel and BFR (Via Instant Transmission),

Self-Destruction,

Transformation (Can transform into his Semi-Perfect and Perfect forms by absorbing the androids, and can transform back into higher forms even if he loses them),

Regeneration (Low-High; Cell can regenerate from a special, core cell nucleus contained in his head; given that he has regenerated from having his top half blown off and from self-destructing, it is likely that this cell is able to survive extensive damage)

Resistance to:

Extreme Cold and Cosmic Radiations (Able to survive and travel in outer space, which is colder and filled with radiation)

Weaknesses: Cell is extremely overconfident and desires a good fight above all else due to his Saiyan blood, he relishes a good challenge and will avoid fighting at full power and let opponents reach their most powerful states to get one. When outmatched, Cell will begin to panic and fly into a rage, fighting irrationally. He cannot absorb mechanical beings by puncturing them with his tail, and powerful enough strikes to his stomach can cause him to regurgitate whoever he absorbed by engulfing them with his tail, causing him to devolve if he regurgitates one of the androids.
———————
Garou

Backstory:

Garou is a martial arts prodigy, the self-proclaimed "Hero Hunter," and a major adversary of the Hero Association and Monster Association. He is a disciple of Bang and was once expelled from his dojo because he went on a rampage. Because of his fascination with monsters, he is commonly called the "Human Monster." Sitch of the Hero Association views him as a grave threat to the organization despite being only a human. After the Monster Association incident, Garou is currently being rehabilitated under Bang, who has retired from being a hero and plans for Garou to take over his role.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Supernatural Willpower (Garou's drive to become a monster and defeat heroes has allowed him to power through massive amounts of punishment. Through his strong willpower, he overcame several near-death experiences and successfully gained explosive growth without losing his mind at all, unlike many others, who became mindless after doing so),

Master Martial Artist (Is a prodigy with a natural sense for combat, and utilizes the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist, an advanced martial arts style and was originally Bang's finest disciple before being forced out of his dojo),

Acrobatics (Can leap onto walls and maneuver around while in mid-air. Can latch onto walls by gripping the creases between the bricks and onto trees by digging into the bark),

Adaptation (His self-styled martial arts evolves freely during combat. Adjusted his eyes to view small projectiles in darkness in a short period of time. His senses supposedly became sharper over the course of his hero hunt),

Reactive Evolution (His power increases rapidly when fighting strong opponents),

Transformation (Through repeated near-death experiences, Garou furthered the process of monsterization, with his encounter with Bug God and Royal Ripper pushing him to becoming a Half-Monster),

Attack Reflection (Returned Tanktop Master's strength onto himself two-fold),

Technique Copying (Copies the fighting styles of his opponents and transforms them into his own. Analyzed and counteracted Tanktop Master's attacks, allowing him to anticipate the former's attacks, and used the Tanktop Blow himself. Assumed the movements of Watchdog Man against Genos),

Enhanced Senses (Abandonment requires keen eyesight. Determined that Blue Fire used a concealed flamethrower from a distance. Tracked Golden Ball's hands in a dark alleyway and adjusted his eyes to expertly evade and counter small projectiles in darkness. Claimed that his senses have become sharper than ever upon encountering King),

Pressure Points (Can disable targets by striking joints and vital spots. Struck the pressure points of Tanktop Master and the Tank Topper Army with superhuman precision),

Instinctive Reaction (Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist allows his body to move autonomously during crisis. Evaded Chain'n'Toad's Ear Nabber instinctively),

Analytical Prediction (Blocked and parried all of Tanktop Master's attacks, according to his recollection, anticipating all of his movements. Predicted the trajectory of Golden Ball's attacks by watching his hand. Can analyze a target's line of sight, posture, and center of gravity in order to predict a multitude of hypothetical movements. Evaded all of Quiver's arrows without seeing them, simply by knowing his attacks),

Statistics Amplification (Went from being incapable of fighting back against Death Gatling's team to effortlessly reducing their numbers to half upon using Awakening Breath, honing in on his eyesight and ability to predict his opponent's movements),

Rage Power (Experienced a surge in strength despite being beaten to near-death through sheer rage),

Fear Inducement (Emanated an aura that frightened Tanktop Master to the point of wanting to kill him),

Afterimage Creation (Left behind an afterimage that fooled Metal Bat and created several afterimages),

Immense Pain Tolerance (Shrugged off the Tanktop Tackle, which caused great damage to his nose and smiled at a punch which caused him bleed profusely from his mouth. Despite suffering from exhaustion, blood loss, and poison, he continued to battle with Genos, Bang, and Bomb, growing even stronger despite his increasingly grave injuries),

Resistance to Electricity (Was unaffected after being electrocuted by a power line),

All previous abilities to a greater extent, plus:

Reactive Evolution (Developed the ability to resist Gyoro Gyoro's psychic abilities after brief exposure),

Regeneration (Low-Mid; Healed after being hacked and slashed by Royal Ripper. Rose to his feet after having his torso crushed. Regenerated a hole in his abdomen over an unknown period of time. Seemingly recovered from having his ribcage shattered),

Air Manipulation (Able to create air pressure capable of cutting his opponents and surroundings from a distance using Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist),

Resistance to Extreme Heat (Can withstand several of Overgrown Rover's concentrated heat blasts),

Telekinesis (Was unaffected against Gyoro Gyoro's telekinetic anchoring after adapting), and Fire (Endured Orochi's flames, which can melt the Monster Association base's interior),

All previous abilities to a greater extent, plus:

Limited Body Control (With Exploding Heart Release Fist. By making his heart pulse explosively in time with the impact of his punches, he can surpass the limits of his body),

Shockwave Generation and Durability Negation (With Roaring Aura Sky Ripping Fist. This technique generates powerful shockwaves inside the opponent's body even if they block or deflect the attacks. Bomb stated that if Bang received just a single hit from Garou, these shockwaves would envelop his entire body and break all of his bones into pieces. A mere graze from Garou's fist was enough to defeat Bang, despite both having similar stats at the moment),

Pseudo-Flight (Able to move and battle in the air),

BFR (Threw Sage Centipede's regeneration core into space),

All previous abilities to a far greater extent, plus:

Blessed (Was granted power by God),

Enhanced Senses (Pinpointed a specific point of Earth in space from Jupiter),

Extrasensory Perception (Can feel and understand the flow of all energy in the universe. Could tell what Blast's abilities were at a glance and was capable of copying the exact usage of his techniques with that information),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1; Fought Saitama on Io),

Matter Manipulation (Atomic) and Explosion Manipulation (Replicated nuclear fission to create nuclear explosions),

Energy Manipulation (Has mastered the flow and control of all energy in the universe),

Greater Energy Projection (Can create nuclear explosions similar to Homeless Emperor's energy spheres. Fired a Gamma Ray Burst),

Greater Power Mimicry (Copied Saitama's power and perfectly replicated his Consecutive and Serious Punches blow for blow. His copied techniques are honed to perfection at blazing speed, surpassing the original in the process. Replicated Blast's Portal Creation and Gravity Knuckle with ease),

Black Hole Creation (Created a black hole),

Overwhelming Aura (Became the Symbol of Fear that brings heroes to despair),

Radiation Manipulation (Passively emits severe amounts of cosmic radiation which would amount to 80-100 Grays emitted per hour. His nuclear fission punches would release 240 Grays of radiation at the hypocenter and his Gamma Ray Burst would emit 83.6 billion Grays. It should be noted that the effectiveness of Garou's radioactive presence was actually significantly reduced by Blast actively diverting most of his cosmic rays to another dimension the entire time),

Extreme Temperatures (Unaffected by his own fission explosions, which can reach millions of degrees. Fought on the -130 degree surface of Io with no issue),

Spatial Manipulation, Gravity Manipulation, and Matter Manipulation (Sub-Atomic - Survived being at the center of a black hole. Beyond the event horizon, black holes tear matter down to its most fundamental sub-atomic components),

Sound Manipulation (Could still hear after being at the center of various nuclear explosions which are estimated to produce sounds upwards of 240 decibels. Sounds over 200 decibels can instantly kill humans),

Light Manipulation (Looked directly at his nuclear explosions with no issue),

Poison Manipulation (Had no problem breathing on Io which has an atmosphere primarily composed of sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is highly toxic to the body and can cause death),

Radiation Manipulation (Unaffected by his own radioactive presence and attacks),

All previous abilities to a far greater extent, plus:

Portal Creation (Escaped a wormhole by opening a portal. Can utilize hyperspace gates in combat and for instant transportation across the cosmos),

BFR (Attempted to transport Saitama against his will),

Gravity Manipulation and Absorption (Used Gravity Knuckle to absorb blasts),

Time Travel, Body Control, Matter Manipulation (Macro-Quantum) and Antimatter Manipulation (Travelled back in time by manipulating his own sub-atomic particles and anti-particles),

Weaknesses: Garou is very protective of Tareo, and he always put his life on the line to ensure his safety. He often withholds from using the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist martial art until he needs to, as it reminds him of Bang, who he holds a grudge against, though this weakness may not apply after his fight with Tanktop Master, as he has shown to constantly use his true fighting style from then onwards. Prone to intentionally prolonging fights to become stronger, typically letting enemies get serious. Tends to underestimate opponents once they are "defeated". Due to his fighting style being designed for humans as well as the fact that Bang did not teach him how to fight non-humanoid opponents, he may have difficulty with such foes. While able to cross interdimensional range, Garou's usual hyperspaces gate can only reach as far as he can see.
—————————————
Song: Absolute Perfection

The Time Patrol, responsible for maintaining stability across countless timelines, observed as a particular segment of the xenoverse showed signs of corruption. Within the Time Nest, one of their scrolls glowed with a menacing, purple hue, indicating the presence of some malicious force.

Observing the Scroll, the Time Patrol witnessed an alternate history take place. In this timeline, Cell and Gohan were engaged in a final, decisive Kamehameha clash, the fate of the entire world hanging in the balance. However, unlike the original timeline, Vegeta was severely injured and could not distract Cell at the crucial moment. This allowed the bio-android to overpower Gohan and proceed to destroy the entire solar system, plunging the world into complete chaos and devastation.

Cell floated through the vastness of space, his laughter echoing as he basked in his victory. With the entire solar system destroyed and everything in ruins, he was the only being left standing.

"Hahaha! I did it! I am perfection, and the whole universe will tremble at my power!"

Cell's arrogance was immense, his ego inflated by his victory and the lack of any potential rivals left to challenge his rule.

"Hey!"

Cell's laughter abruptly stopped as a voice echoed out, interrupting his moment of triumph. He turned around and was taken aback by the sight of a figure he had never encountered before. The entity before him resembled a being composed of stars and galaxies, with a form outlined as if made of the very fabric of the universe. Cell's eyes narrowed as he regarded the unfamiliar presence before him.

"Who... are you?"

The Hero Hunter, Garou, in his God-blessed Cosmic Fear Form, stood tall, his body exuding the very essence of the cosmos. His voice echoed in the emptiness of space as he spoke directly to Cell.

"I am Garou, the one who defies all limits. Are you the one who just blew up the solar system that was my home?"

Cell was surprised at the direct question, but he met Garou's gaze with a cocky smirk.

"That would be me, yes. I am Cell. And you don't have a home anymore, thanks to me. I've obliterated everything. You're nothing but a random entity left in the vastness of space."

Garou clenched his fists, his rage rising within his seemingly empty body of power.

"All my efforts. All the pain I've both received and inflicted. Everything to become the Absolute Evil of Earth… and you took all of that away from me by blowing it up!"

Cell chuckled, relishing the knowledge that he had taken away everything from Garou.

"Your efforts, your pain, your title... all of it means nothing now. I have destroyed everything, making all of your struggles meaningless. You're just a remnant in an empty void, powerless and without purpose."

Garou's body trembled with anger, his face contorted in a mixture of fury and despair. His clenched fists radiated with the energy of his unleashed power.

"You destroyed my goal, my world, and everything that mattered to me. You've left me with nothing! I may no longer have purpose, but I still have power. And I will use that power… to kill you."

Cell seemed unperturbed by Garou's threat, his smirk widening as he prepared to face the enraged fighter.

"Hmph, you can try. But let's see if you have what it takes to defeat the perfect being. I've bested the mighty Son Goku and the legendary Super Saiyan, and now I'm willing to add you to my trophy list."

Cell observed intently as Garou moved with a profound understanding of the energies and forces of the universe. His fist began to glow with an intense white aura as he threw a cosmic-powered punch.

"All Life Eradication Fist: Nuclear Fission."

Cell braced himself, prepared to withstand the powerful attack. Cell's eyes widened as he blocked Garou's powerful attack, only to be caught in the epicenter of a nuclear explosion. Despite being unharmed by the intense radiation and heat, the bio-android was taken aback by the fact that a single punch could cause such a colossal reaction. Cell was momentarily surprised by the sheer power behind Garou's technique.

"Impressive,"

He noted, his arrogance tinged with a hint of caution. The two warriors moved at such incredible speed that they were invisible to the naked eye. Their intense clashes resulted in a series of nuclear explosions, each one the size of a moon. The force of their punches and kicks reverberated through the empty vacuum of space, creating shockwaves and debris in their wake.

Cell and Garou engaged in a fierce exchange of rapid kicks, each impact causing micro-explosions in the void of space. They then launched a punch simultaneously in a cross counter, colliding with each other's faces and sending them both flying in opposite directions.

Cell crashed into an asteroid, the impact causing him to groan in pain. He was shocked to see that his lower jaw had been obliterated by the previous punch, and purple blood was seeping from the severe wound. With focus and determination, Cell used his Namekian DNA to heal the injury. A new lower jaw formed, quickly replacing the damaged one, restoring his perfect form.

However, Cell was thoroughly enraged by the insult to his own perceived perfection. Cell's anger boiled inside him, fueling his determination to prove his superiority.

"I am supposed to be perfect. Having any sort of injury, no matter how fleeting, is unacceptable. I will not allow anyone, especially someone like you, to question my status as the ultimate being!"

Cell, filled with anger and determination, decided to use Instant Transmission to target Garou's unique cosmic ki. He focused on the energy signature and prepared to move instantly to the location where Garou was. Meanwhile, Garou, sensing Cell's approach through his own heightened senses, tensed and prepared to face the bio-android's imminent attack.

As Cell appeared in front of Garou, he positioned his hands by his side and gathered the power necessary for Son Goku's signature attack, yelling,

"Punch this if you can! Kamehameha!"

A massive blue ki blast emerged from Cell's hands, its intensity fully enveloping Garou. The Hero Hunter was hit directly by the powerful attack, withstanding the force of the Kamehameha. Garou focused his cosmic energy into a black sphere, charging up his power to the maximum. He then executed a technique called,

"All Life Eradication Fist: Gamma Ray Burst,"

He flexed his body and limbs to unleash the incredible power of a gamma ray burst. The technique overpowered the Kamehameha, pushing Cell back with its overwhelming force. Cell grunted in effort as he attempted to resist the powerful gamma ray burst. While the attack wasn't harming him, its sheer force was too much to ignore. With a determined yell, Cell harnessed his ki and managed to pierce through the explosion, diverting its path and causing it to shoot off further into space.

Despite his anger and hatred towards Cell, Garou's hot rage cooled down a bit after witnessing Cell surviving the gamma ray burst attack. Feeling empty and desolate after the destruction of Earth, he sighed and spoke, his voice filled with a touch of resignation.

"No one to fear me... what's the point of my Absolute Evil without anyone to tremble at the sight of it? I don't care if you're considered perfect. My power has no limits. No matter who fights me, I'll continue to become stronger than them."

Despite his inner turmoil, Garou continued the battle, his cosmic power allowing him to create two portals in front of Cell. Confused by their sudden appearance, the bio-android had no time to react before Garou used a technique reminiscent of Blast, sending him through a relentless cycle of portals where he was hit repeatedly with a barrage of Eradication Fist techniques. The Hero Hunter used Nuclear Fission and Gravity Knuckle attacks to continuously pummel Cell with brutal and overpowering blows, bypassing his superior durability and causing internal damage.

Cell grunted in pain and frustration as the barrage of hits from Garou continued. While the damage was not immediately debilitating, the repeated onslaught began to take its toll on Cell's exoskeleton. The constant barrage of attacks from the Hero Hunter started to leave cracks on Cell's exterior, slowly weakening his usually impervious armor.

"Enough!"

Cell cried out, his voice filled with frustration. He quickly generated a purple ki force field, pushing Garou away and dispersing the portals on either side. Despite the damage, Cell's Namekian DNA kicked in, rapidly healing the cracks on his exoskeleton. With a burst of speed, Cell lunged forward and unleashed the Gravity Impact technique, sending Garou flying through the endless expanse of space.

With a swift motion, Garou opened a portal behind himself, redirecting his momentum to turn his trajectory back towards Cell. Embracing the Saitama Mode of his Cosmic Fear Form, Garou replicated Saitama's powerful Serious Punch. Cell bellowed a defiant battle cry as he conjured his own punch, preparing to meet the Hero Hunter's onslaught head-on. The two colossal fists collided with a force that shook the entire cosmos, their combined might creating a shockwave that echoed through the vastness of space.

The impact of their punches was intense, and in a split second, the result was clear. Cell's entire arm exploded from the force, and a significant portion of his upper right side was obliterated. Garou, still passing through Cell, had successfully delivered a deadly blow. Clutching his injured body, Cell grunted through the pain, his arrogance still intact.

"I... am... perfection,"

He managed to sputter, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance even amid the excruciating agony. Garou deactivated his Saitama Mode, turning back towards Cell as he observed the bio-android forcing his body to heal. The rapid regeneration was courtesy of Cell's Namekian DNA, which worked overtime to repair the damage. As the exposed flesh bulged and burst, a restored exoskeleton formed, returning Cell to his perfect state. However, the effort took its toll on Cell, and he was left panting, the healing process taxing his energy.

"Seems like your healing isn't all that perfect. For a perfect being, you're still bound by limitations."

Cell's eyes narrowed at Garou's remark, his pride wounded by the comment. Despite his regeneration, he was acutely aware of the energy it took to heal his damaged body. His voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination as he retorted,

"Don't underestimate me. This was a mere setback. I'll push my limits further, and I'll prove my absolute superiority. True perfection is the constant evolution of one's self."

He paused, taking a deep breath, and then continued with a smirk, poking his head:

"After all, each time I recover from near death, I become even stronger than before. So long as a special nucleus inside of me remains intact, I'll never run out of energy or power."

Garou couldn't help but scoff at Cell's words. True perfection, for the bio-android, seemed to rely solely on the preservation of this vital nucleus within.

"So, your existence depends on the survival of this nucleus, eh? Just a tiny flaw in your claim of perfection," Garou taunted, his voice laced with mockery. "For all your boasting about being flawless, it looks like you've just given me the key to defeating you: destroy that nucleus and your existence as a 'perfect' being unravels."

Garou attempted another attack, aiming for a gravity-knuckled punch at Cell's head with the intent to obliterate it once and for all. However, Cell swiftly countered with his own Gravity Impact, catching Garou's fist in mid-air. The bio-android smirked confidently.

"Go ahead and try it if you're so arrogant. The chances of you destroying my nucleus are one in thirty trillion. My body is nothing but a masterpiece, down to the last cell."

Even though the odds were stacked against him, he wasn't going to back down.

"One in thirty trillion, eh? Those are pretty astronomical chances for me. But you know what I'm all about? Defying the impossible. I'll take those odds."

With renewed resolution, Garou prepared another attack, refusing to let Cell's boast rattle him.

The two warriors continued their relentless attacks, both hell-bent on proving their supremacy. Garou unleashed the Roaring Aura Sky Ripping Fist, the intense shockwaves ravaging through Cell's body, breaking his exterior and shredding his innards. Despite the severe punishment, Cell's body rapidly regenerated from the injury, repairing the damage. In retaliation, Cell launched a point-blank ki blast barrage that forced Garou back, the onslaught of energy overwhelming his defenses.

Garou exploited the rhythmic nature of his heartbeats, synchronizing his strikes with its explosive pumping. A precise punch sent the bio-android flying through space, leaving a clean hole in his chest where his heart would be. However, Cell quickly regathered himself, his wound sealing and healing almost instantly. As he regained his balance, Cell charged energy into his fingertips and unleashed a spiraling attack known as the Special Beam Cannon, made famous by the Namekian warrior Piccolo.

"Special Beam Cannon!"

Garou swiftly opened a portal, redirecting Cell's Special Beam Cannon attack back towards its caster. The energy blast fired through the portal, shooting into Cell's face and obliterating his cranium, leaving a distinct hole visible. Despite the devastating head injury, Cell was still alive, if significantly weakened now that his brain was blasted out through the gaping wound. Garou seized the opportunity, seeing Cell's momentary vulnerability and the chance for a deadly finishing strike.

With a burst of speed, Garou closed the distance and unleashed the Whirlwind Iron Cutting Fist. The technique sliced Cell's body into ring segments, further dismantling the bio-android's already weakened form. With no time to waste, Garou rapidly gathered his energy to its peak, releasing a devastating gamma ray burst that disintegrated Cell's body parts beyond recognition, leaving nothing but scattered, vaporized remnants.

Garou hovered in deep space, observing the aftermath of his potent attack, waiting to see if full bodily disintegration would prove effective. After a few moments, subtle signs of organic matter regeneration started to appear, and gradually reformed into a humanoid shape. The bio-android, Cell, had miraculously returned, laughing heartily as he emerged from the regenerative process, his power undeniably amplified following his near-disintegration ordeal. Cell's laughter echoed through space as he spoke, his tone filled with a mix of arrogance and confidence.

"I warned you, didn't I? Every time you push me to the brink of destruction, I only emerge stronger and closer to absolute perfection. You've been fighting a losing battle from the start. You simply don't possess the power to challenge me."

With a swift motion, Cell formed two razor sharp energy discs, and launched them towards Garou, the attacks splitting into six individual projectiles, each aimed at the Hero Hunter.

Garou swiftly countered Cell's energy discs with his own Whirlwind Iron Cutting technique, his attack slicing through the projectiles and the bio-android's body simultaneously. Despite sustaining surface cuts from the discs, Garou's strikes were more superficial, while Cell was cut apart, his body sliced and diced into multiple pieces.

Cell's severed head, filled with newfound power and determination, swiftly regenerated a brand new body, using the Namekian healing factor to its fullest potential so he'd get even stronger. An arrogant smirk graced the bio-android's face as he raised a finger, a small ball of ki forming at its tip.

"This little trick is a move I learned from Frieza. Enjoy!"

The ki ball rapidly expanded to the size of a miniature moon, and he lowered his finger so it was sent hurtling straight towards Garou with devastating force. As the massive Supernova attack hurtled towards him, Garou remained unruffled, his Cosmic Fear Form enabling him to face the impending threat without worry. His face transformed, taking on a resemblance to Cell's own face, mimicking the bio-android's features. With a focused energy, Garou charged his fingertips, preparing to counter Cell's Supernova with an attack of his own. A smirk tugged at the corner of Garou's lips as he unleashed a counterattack, uttering the words with conviction,

"Special Beam Cannon!"

It shot forth, effortlessly piercing through Cell's Supernova, causing a powerful explosion that obliterated the attack. Unflinching, the energy continued onward and punctured Cell's chest, leaving a visible injury on the bio-android. Cell's initial disbelief at Garou's counterattack quickly transformed into a fiery anger. The bio-android's furious expression grew more intense as rage boiled within him.

"You dare to copy me? Dare to mimic my face? I am Cell! I am the epitome of absolute perfection! I won't tolerate being mocked by the likes of you!"

Cell's voice trembled with a mixture of disbelief and infuriated anger at Garou's audacity. With intense concentration, Cell brought his hands together, gradually building up energy for a full-powered Kamehameha attack. The power it was channeling was now dozens of times more potent than the one that had obliterated the solar system. Seeing Cell's charging technique, Garou quickly followed suit, mirroring the bio-android's movements, his own Kamehameha also charging up with tremendous power.

The tension in the air was palpable as both warriors prepared their respective Kamehameha attacks. Cell's voice rang out,

"Kaaaaa... meeeee... hhaaaaa... meeeee... haaaaa!"

With synchronized intensity, both Cell and Garou launched massive blasts of blue ki streams, hurtling towards each other. The sheer power behind the attacks was immense, and a collision between them seemed imminent, creating an atmosphere ripe with anticipation. As the blue ki streams of both Cell's and Garou's respective attacks met, a colossal burst of energy was released, creating two massive domes of raw power. The sheer force behind the collision grew exponentially, the energy pouring into the central point growing more and more intense. The impact created a forcefield-like barrier around them, as the two Kamehameha attacks continued to clash, each fighter exerting tremendous effort to overpower the other. Cell's voice reverberated through the area, his determination flaring as he shouted,

"Grrr... there's no chance, you don't stand a chance!"

With every ounce of power he could muster, Cell exerted immense effort to push back Garou's Kamehameha, slowly gaining the upper hand. However, Garou's calm demeanor, mirroring Cell's own face with a composed expression, betrayed no sign of intense emotion or desperation. Instead, it radiated a sense of unwavering resolve and understanding. With a resolute expression, Garou's voice echoed determination as he declared,

"My Absolute Evil knows no bounds. Despite your claim of perfection, even you struggle to match a being with no limits. Know that your place in the universe will always fall short compared to mine."

Garou's Kamehameha gradually overpowered Cell's, the sheer force and intensity behind his attack becoming undeniable. It seemed that even the bio-android's perceived perfection had its limits when confronted by Garou's endless potential and growth. Cell's voice echoed with desperation and disbelief as he watched his own attack being overwhelmed by Garou's unstoppable Kamehameha.

"N-No! This... this can't be happening!"

The bio-android's arrogance shattered, replaced now by a growing sense of realisation and horror at the thought of being defeated by Garou, the one he deemed inferior. As Garou's Kamehameha attack continued to tear through Cell's defenses, the bio-android's body began to disintegrate and crumble apart. The once-arrogant Cell, now filled with a mixture of terror and despair, cried out in disbelief.

"No! This can't be! I am perfectioooooooo-!"

The once seemingly invincible bio-android's existence disintegrated before his own eyes, his dreams of absolute perfection crumbling to dust alongside his body. Cell's body disintegrated at an alarming rate, as Cell's core, the nucleus that held the key to his regeneration, was also among the countless cells being utterly obliterated by Garou's relentless Kamehameha attack. The once powerful and seemingly indestructible bio-android was finally brought to an end, every last cell in his body torn apart and left in oblivion.

With a weary sigh, Garou finally ceased his attack, letting the Kamehameha stretch out into the endless void that surrounded them. Despite having emerged victorious in the battle, Garou found no satisfaction in his victory. With no planet, no Earth to return to, he stood amidst the cosmic emptiness, contemplating his uncertain future.

"What now?"

He murmured to himself, his voice tinged with a mixture of resignation and contemplation. As the Time Patrol arrived to the time scroll of the scenario, their mission clear, they prepared to confront and defeat Garou, aiming to restore the scroll to its proper state. Despite not being particularly in the mood to continue the fight, Garou stayed true to his character by taking up a fighting position, ready to face the Time Patrol head-on like the Hero Hunter he is.

"Bring it on."

He challenged with a weary but determined expression.
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Strength: Now, I think it's a bit overselling that Garou by himself is multi-solar system or galaxy level. Yes, he did participate in the Serious Punch sq. that left a giant black emptiness in the Earth's view of space. But that was a clash of equal power against Saitama where it was redirected somewhere else by Blast. It's 11 Yottatons of power multiplied by itself from a second source. I will say that given his ability to create black holes and gamma ray bursts, It's safe to say that Garou's Cosmic Fear Form safely puts him at star levels of power. Cell boasted that he could destroy the whole solar system, and official data backs it up. At best, Cell initially leads with a 920X difference between star and solar system.

Speed: This is going to be a bit more guess work than anything. Based on Kyle Hill's math on the Garou vs Saitama fight, giving the best case scenario that Garou could match Saitama's movement speed of 6X light speed, Cell's attack destroying the solar system, if kept to a reasonable time frame, would require going almost 36X light speed. Approximately a 6X difference.

Skill: While Cell is certainly a skilled fighter, able to keep up with the prodigious level of Goku's mastery, Garou had a better understanding of the spirit of martial arts, and eventually the understanding of the universe, and thus would be able to fight the flaws in Cell's fighting style.

Experience: Cell has only been alive for so long, and especially only against the Z-Fighters. Garou has faced a far more varied array of opponents, especially the likes of Platinum Sperm who relied on a similar healing factor.

Powers: Cell's healing factor made him hard to put down, and growing stronger with each near death experience would make him grow dozens of times stronger in a fight, but Garou's exponential potential growth would allow him to surpass Cell's more linear jumps in power, and eventually overcome the initial power gap. Not only that, Cell would only become significantly stronger after healing from near death, while Garou would grow stronger over time, using his techniques to bypass Cell's superior durability.

The winner is Garou the Hero Hunter.

Next time:

"Nobody ever fell in love without being a little brave."

"Remember what I told you. If you ever feel lost, just look into the eyes of the people you love."

Chapter Text

Commander Shepard

Backstory:

Shepard was born on April 11, 2154, is a graduate of the Systems Alliance N7 special forces program (service no. 5923-AC-2826), a veteran of the Skyllian Blitz, and is initially assigned to the SSV Normandy in 2183 as Executive Officer, with a Systems Alliance rank of Lieutenant Commander. Shepard later becomes the first human to join the Spectres, an elite special task force for the Citadel Council.

They were an orphan raised on the streets of the great megatropolises covering Earth. They escaped the life of petty crime and underworld gangs by enlisting with the Alliance military when you turned eighteen. During their service, a mission they were on went horribly wrong. Trapped in an extreme survival situation, they had to overcome physical torments and psychological stresses that would have broken most people. They survived while all those around you fell, and now they alone are left to tell the tale.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Regeneration (The ability to heal wounds that would normally leave large scars, such as severe burns or deep injuries. For machines and vehicles, this would be regenerating damage that would normally leave large dents and openings.),

Social Influencing (Possesses great charisma and leadership skills. Can persuade both Saren and the Illusive Man to fight back again their indoctrination. United a divided galaxy against the Reapers),

Expert in Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Weapon Mastery (Expert Marksman and Grenadier),

Perception Manipulation (Can slow down their own perception of time via Adrenaline Rush),

Explosion Manipulation (Via Frag Grenade, Inferno Grenade, Proximity Mine and Sticky Grenade),

Energy Projection (Via Carnage),

Electricity Manipulation (Via Overload. Can also enhance their bullets with electricity via Disruptor Ammo),

Fire Manipulation (Via Incinerate and Inferno Grenade. Can also enhance their ammo with fire via Incendiary Ammo),

Ice Manipulation (Via Cryo Blast. Can also infuse their ammo with ice with Cryo Ammo),

Poison Manipulation (With Neural Shock),

Paralysis Inducement (Via Neural Shock),

Technology Manipulation (Via Damping),

Healing (With Medi-Gel),

Forcefield Creation (In the form of Kinetic Barriers and Tech Armor),

Invisibility (Via Tactical Cloak),

Illusion Creation (Can create holograms via Decoy),

Absorption (Via Energy Drain),

Damage Boost (Via Assassination, Adrenaline Rush) and Damage Reduction (Via Immunity, Defense Matrix and Fortification)

Resistance to:

Mind Manipulation (Was able to resist a direct a direct attempt of Indoctrination from a Reaper artifact, as well as being in contact with multiple other artefacts over the years without any hint of Indoctrination),

Energy Manipulation/Mass Manipulation (Can manipulate dark energy to increase/decrease/fluctuate the mass of a given volume of space via mass effect fields created by their biotics),

Telekinesis (Can move objects with their mind through mass lowering fields or root them in place with mass increasing fields via biotics),

Energy Projection (In the Form of Biotic Explosion, Warp, Nova and Flare),

Vibration Manipulation (Via Shockwave),

Paralysis Inducement (Via Stasis),

Gravity Manipulation (In the form of Singularity),

Explosion Manipulation (With Cluster Grenades),

Perception Manipulation (Heavy Charge can reduce their perception of time),

Absorption (In the form of Energy Drain and Reave),

Mind Manipulation (In the form of Dominate),

Forcefield Creation (By creating Biotic Barriers),

Regeneration and Durability Negation (Up to High, as Warp prevents regeneration on a molecular level) and Matter Manipulation (Warp rips the opponent apart on a molecular level)

Weaknesses: Kinetic barriers are activated based on the speed of an attack. A melee attack is not fast enough to set it off. In addition, the shielding afforded by kinetic barriers does not protect against extremes of temperature, toxins, or radiation.
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Star-Lord

Backstory:

Peter Quill is an interstellar war hero, the legendary Star-Lord. A human-alien hybrid, Quill was born from emperor J'Son of Spartax and the human Meredith Quill. When he was ten years old, Peter lost his mother to an alien attack on his home in Colorado because of his birthright. Swearing revenge, Peter flew off to space as a young adult, where he was mentored by the pirates known as the Ravagers, led by Yondu Udonta. Eventually, Peter swore off their criminal ways and the path of vengeance, becoming Star-Lord. He finally met his father, but refused to become prince to his kingdom due to his evil nature.

Partnerning with the sentient vehicle Ship, Star-Lord became a legend throughout the galaxy, and his heroic actions in the wars against Annihilus and the Phalanx, led him to form the Guardians of the Galaxy, with Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora and Drax the Destroyer, among many others. During their adventures, Peter met his long-lost sister Victoria and dated Kitty Pryde, with the two becoming engaged, but ultimately breaking up.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Longevity, Elemental Manipulation (Can manipulate air, earth, lightning, fire and water with his Element Gun),

Expert Combatant,

Weapon Mastery,

Flight,

Possibly Forcefield Creation (Can do so according to Marvel Databook)

Weaknesses: None notable
———————————————
Song: Star-Command

The arid, war-ravaged surface of Tuchanka remained mostly desolate, a stark and silent testament to its turbulent history. Amidst the barren landscape, however, a thrilling chase was underway, with the infamous outlaw hero, Star-Lord, engaged in a fierce pursuit by the formidable Commander Shepard, a Spectre of the Alliance Marines. Star-Lord continued defending his actions of trying to steal the Normandy, attempting to rationalize his questionable decision to Commander Shepard, who was clearly not buying his explanation.

"Whoa, easy, man! I had no idea that ship was yours! I thought it was up for grabs, open season, you know? And I got wind of someone willing to shell out 50 million credits for it, so I thought I'd cash in!"

Shepard's stern expression remained unchanged as he pursued Star-Lord, his anger and determination evident in his eyes.

"That 'ship' you tried to 'grab' is my ship, and it's certainly not yours to take, or to sell."

He said, his voice filled with a mix of irritation and authority. Star-Lord attempted to escape using his rocket boots, but Commander Shepard was a step ahead. With expert precision, Shepard drew his N7 Valiant sniper rifle and unleashed a burst of shots. Though Star-Lord managed to dodge a couple of bullets, the third grazed his side, sending him spiraling out of control towards a rock wall. He collided with the wall, crumpling to the ground with a pained groan, rendered temporarily immobile by the impact.

Commander Shepard walked towards Star-Lord, holstering his N7 Valiant in favour of his sidearm. Standing over the downed hero, who was slowly groaning as he tried to regain his bearings, the Spectre inquired,

"Now, who are you? You've got some serious nerve, attempting to steal right under my nose."

Star-Lord managed to get back on his feet, gingerly stretching his sides in an attempt to relieve the pain. With a grin, he addressed Commander Shepard, introducing himself.

"I go by many names, but you might know me by my most well-known moniker: Star-Lord."

Shepard gave no reaction for a few seconds, before raising an eyebrow and asking,

"Who?"

Star-Lord seemed taken aback by Commander Shepard's response, before sighing that he wasn't familiar with the name 'Star-Lord.'

"Seriously? Come on. Despite everything I do, why does no one ever recognize me?"

Commander Shepard's stoic expression remained as he observed Star-Lord's reaction.

"Frankly, I don't give a damn who you are. I'm bringing you in for attempting to steal my ship."

He responded, his tone calm and matter-of-fact. Star-Lord quickly made a show of surrender, his tone apologetic.

"I get it. You gotta do what you gotta do. But... Holy crap, what's that?!"

He exclaimed, pointing behind Commander Shepard's back. Instinctively, Commander Shepard turned to look where Star-Lord was pointing, only to see... nothing. It was too late though as Peter took out his Element Gun, and blasted Commander Shepard in the back with a torrent of water, pushing him down on the ground as the outlaw flew over the cliff behind him with a laugh with his rocket boots.

"Psyche, sucker!"

Commander Shepard seethed in frustration, angry at being outsmarted like a novice. He swiftly began scaling the cliff, determined to catch up with the escaped outlaw. As he crested the top, he ducked just in time to avoid a barrage of energy blasts fired from Star-Lord's Quad Blasters. The quick-fingered hero was wielding both weapons simultaneously, firing them like a true gunslinger. Star-Lord chuckled confidently as he continued to walk backward, firing off rounds with his weapons. With a touch of arrogance, he declared,

"Yeah, yeah. I can shoot good, quip good, and look good all at the same time."

He maintained his constant barrage, keeping his eye on Commander Shepard, determined to avoid any sudden moves from the determined Spectre. However, Star-Lord's confident stride came to an unexpected halt as he tripped over a rock, losing his balance and any control he had over the situation. Recognizing the opening, Commander Shepard acted fast, erecting an energy barrier to shield himself. He then stood tall, whipping out his N7 Typhoon assault rifle, ready to fire at the momentarily vulnerable outlaw.

Commander Shepard unleashed a hail of bullets from his automatic rifle, forcing Star-Lord to hastily seek cover behind the nearest boulder. The outlaw hero quickly regrouped and returned fire with his Quad Blasters, engaging the Spectre in a fierce back-and-forth exchange from behind their respective pieces of cover.

With a swift switch to his pistol, Commander Shepard took aim and successfully managed to knock the Quad Blasters out of Star-Lord's grasp with a few well-placed shots.

"Ow! Okay, okay! I get it! You're a better shot than me!"

Star-Lord conceded, feeling slightly embarrassed at having been so easily disarmed. Taking his chance, Star-Lord grabbed a triangular grenade from his jacket and hurled it over the boulder towards the Spectre's position. Commander Shepard, expecting a normal explosion, instinctively ducked under his energy barrier. However, to his surprise, the grenade turned out to be a gravity mine, which activated and forcefully dragged the struggling Specter onto its surface.

Commander Shepard found himself in a desperate struggle against the powerful pull of the gravity mine, but to no avail. His attempts to break free using brute strength proved futile, so he resorted to stabbing the device with his dagger, finally deactivating it. However, just as he managed to get back on his feet, the still determined Commander was caught off guard by a surprise attack from Star-Lord. The outlaw hero unleashed a powerful dual kick with his rocket boots, followed by a torrent of air from his Element Gun, sending the Spectre flying off the short cliff. Star-Lord couldn't help but crack a confident smirk as he quipped,

"Hasta la vista, baby."

With a sense of satisfaction, he turned away and put on a pair of headphones, turning them on to the tune of "Come and Get Your Love," casually collecting his discarded quad blasters. Meanwhile, Shepard was slowly and quietly making his way back up the cliff, his determination unwavering.

Oblivious to the Commander's stealthy approach, Star-Lord was taken by surprise when Shepard suddenly charged forward and tackled him to the ground. In a desperate attempt to defend himself, the outlaw hero tried to counter the onslaught of punches from the well-trained marine. However, the odds were against him, and he struggled to mount an effective resistance against the determined Commander.

Star-Lord managed to discreetly attach a booster to Commander Shepard's side while enduring the barrage of punches. A split second later, he swiftly activated the booster, causing the Spectre to be forcefully propelled to the side and slide across the ground until he crashed into a wall. Despite the sudden turn of events, Shepard quickly recovered and managed to dislodge the booster from his body with a single, calculated swipe.

Commander Shepard was just about to regain his footing and re-engage in the battle when he suddenly felt a jolt of electricity coursing through his legs. He looked down to find that a pair of electrified bolas had ensnared his legs, effectively restraining him. The determined Spectre struggled to break free, but it was no use. With a confident smile, Star-Lord approached, casually adjusting his element gun. Star-Lord couldn't help but tease the restrained Commander, bragging,

"You're good, but it looks like you just can't keep up with the best Guardian of the Galaxy; Star-Shit!"

Just as he was about to sign off with his outlaw name, Commander Shepard suddenly drew his M-451 Firestorm. Plumes of intense fire erupted between them with their respective weapons, forcing Star-Lord to hastily take a few steps back to avoid getting burnt.

While Star-Lord was engrossed in the explosive exchange of fire, Commander Shepard quickly seized the opportunity to throw a grenade. The unexpected blast sent the outlaw hero tumbling backward, landing with a pained grunt on the ground. Meanwhile, the determined Commander shifted his attention to the task of dislodging the electric bolas ensnaring his legs. Star-Lord let out a weary and pained sigh, murmuring to himself with a touch of resignation,

"I'm so tired..."

The statement reflected more than just his weariness from the fight; it echoed the underlying exhaustion he felt from the course of his life. Despite his typically comical and carefree demeanor, the weight of his experiences and the longing for a different path occasionally seeped through. Determined to put those thoughts aside for the moment, the outlaw hero gritted his teeth and pushed himself back up onto his feet.

Both Star-Lord and Commander Shepard rose to their feet, facing off against each other. The tension in the air was palpable, both participants sensing that the outcome of this next confrontation would determine the entire fight. The outlaw hero and the determined marine locked eyes, each silently vowing to give it their all in the impending clash.

Star-Lord and Commander Shepard both made swift, simultaneous moves. Peter drew his Element Gun almost instantaneously and unleashed a barrage of gemstones, while the determined Commander hurled a grenade. In a flash, Star-Lord was immobilized by a layer of ice encasing his body, leaving only his head free, while Shepard was pinned to the stone wall behind him, trapped in a layer of diamond. Both heroes found themselves in a precarious predicament, unable to move or effectively fight. Star-Lord gave a wry chuckle as he assessed their predicament, remarking,

"Well, this is certainly inconvenient. But at least this ice will melt soon. And I'll be on my way. As for you, well, I hope your time isn't as valuable as that diamond you're stuck in."

Star-Lord was smugly confident that he would soon be free, believing he just had to bide his time until the ice melted enough for him to escape. However, Commander Shepard responded to Star-Lord's comment with a smirk of his own, his blue eyes glittering with determination.

"Compared to an outlaw like you, the difference between us is priceless."

With a surge of biotic enhanced strength, Shepard exerted enough effort to shatter the diamond encasing his arms. He then proceeded to peel the rest off his body with relative ease, revealing his steely gaze and formidable presence. Star-Lord couldn't help but express his surprise at the formidable strength displayed by Commander Shepard. He let out a resigned sigh and muttered under his breath,

"Oh man."

Commander Shepard quickly established communication with the Normandy, addressing the pilot, Joker, with a sense of urgency.

"Joker, it's Shepard. Come to my coordinates. I've got the outlaw who tried to steal our ship. Let's see what this 'Star-Lord' is all about when we bring him into custody." Shepard communicated firmly, as he waited for his crew to come pick them up.
————————————
Strength: Offensively, Shepard has more to give. The Commander has the strength to rival Jack, whose own biotic strength lets her bust down metal walls that would require 6 tons of TNT, whereas Peter is only of human strength. Likewise, while Star-Lord is capable of hurting Ronan the Accuser, and could likely hurt the Reapers with his own power with the right tools, but Shepard's typical arsenal is more destructive oriented, capable of piercing through ammo resistant rounds. Especially his heavy artillery.

Speed: With his rocket boots, Star-Lord is capable of near light speed, though his combat and reaction times tend to range between Mach 5-10, around the same as Daredevil, but Commander Shepard can not only scale to James Vega, calculated to react to around Mach 175 given a particular point blank bullet dodging feat, but his weaponry is capable of reaching similar, if not even faster speeds.

Skill: Between the two, Shepard has the superior training. Whatever amount of formal training Peter may have, that doesn't compare to the 15 years of military service in the space marines that earned him the N7 Alliance ranking, and becoming a Spectre, making him one of the most formidable soldiers in the galaxy, if not the most.

Experience: However, this skill cannot compete with Star-Lord's experience which is over a century old, due to being in Morin, which has a different time rate, and he has faced a much wider diversity of foes than Commander Shepard has.

Powers: While Star-Lord has the advantage of Commander Shepard only capable of holding so many weapons on his person, the Spectre has a more versatile repertoire of gadgets and biotics which can overwhelm Peter's limited tech.
———————————————————
The winner is Commander Shepard.

Next time:

"I am the thing that keeps you up at night, the evil that haunts every dark corner of your mind. I will never rest...and neither will you."

"You are the Ass Kick-EE. I am the Ass Kick-ER."

Chapter Text

Deathstroke

Backstory:

Slade Wilson was sixteen years old when he first enlisted in the United States Army, having lied about his age. After serving a stint in Korea, he was later assigned to Camp Washington where he had been promoted to the rank of Major. In the early 1960s, he met Captain Adeline Kane who was tasked with training young soldiers in new fighting techniques in anticipation of brewing troubles taking place in Vietnam. Kane was amazed at how skilled Slade was and how quickly he adapted to modern conventions of warfare. She immediately fell in love with him, and realized that he was without a doubt the most able-bodied combatant she had ever encountered. She offered to privately train Slade in guerrilla warfare. In less than a year, Slade mastered every fighting form presented to him and was soon promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Six months later, Adeline and he were married and she became pregnant with their first child. It was at this time that the war in Vietnam began to escalate and Slade was shipped overseas. At home, Adeline gave birth to their son Grant.

Some time later, Wilson volunteered for a medical experiment designed to stimulate his adrenal gland in the hopes of increasing a soldier's ability to resist truth serums. The experiment did not go as expected, and Slade fell into a coma. When he awakened however, he discovered that he was now capable of using 90% of his brain capacity, and his strength, durability and agility were increased to near-superhuman levels. He applied for re-assignment with the Army, but they refused him. Although his condition was now stabilized, depression took hold of him and he was desperate to serve his country. At this time, Adeline became pregnant with their second child, Joseph. Unable to further his career in the military, Slade turned towards hunting. He became a world famous safari hunter and great wealth followed soon after. Adeline always suspected however that Slade felt unfulfilled.

A few years later, a group of hired mercenaries broke into the Wilson's mansion and kidnapped young Joey. Adeline attempted to fight them off, but a gas grenade prevented her from saving her son. When Slade discovered what had happened, he knew he could not keep the truth from his wife any longer. Slade was not only a world famous safari hunter, he was also one of the world's deadliest and most highly sought after assassins - Deathstroke the Terminator. He promised Adeline that he would save their son. Together, they flew to Tangier and squared off against a rival mercenary known as the Jackal. The Jackal wanted Slade to reveal important information relating to a client or else he would have his men kill Joey. Slade gambled on the idea that he could save his son before the Jackal could give the order. Unfortunately, Joseph's throat was slashed by one of the criminals before Slade could prevent it, destroying his vocal cords and rendering him mute. After taking Joseph to the hospital, Slade's wife, enraged at his endangerment of her son, tried to kill Slade by shooting him, but only managed to destroy his right eye. Afterward, his confidence in his physical abilities was such that he made no secret of his impaired vision, marked by his mask which has a black featureless half covering his lost eye.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Enhanced Senses (Can perceive faster than a normal human, all of this senses are increased by a thousandfold. Has thermal scanning lenses in his mask),

Acrobatics,

Immortality (Types 1 and 3. His experiment made it so that he does not age past his prime, and it has been stated that his regeneration makes him virtually immortal(barring total bodily destruction or anti-regeneration weapons),

Regeneration (Mid, can regenerate from being shot in the head and heal from deep cuts in moments),

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Expert Marksman and Swordsman,

Energy Projection (With his Energy Staff),

Explosion Manipulation (Has various types of bombs),

Smoke Manipulation (Has smoke and gas grenades),

Status Effect Inducement (Has Concussive Disorientation grenades and can stun foes with his Energy Staff); Power Nullification (Via a power dampener) and Flight (Via his jetpack),

Resistance to Analytical Prediction (Cassandra Cain was unable to read and predict his movements)

Weaknesses: Blind on his right side, but that's not really much of a hindrance.
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Taskmaster

Background:

Tony Masters was born with the ability to duplicate the movements of others through brief observation. At the age of 8, he continued to discover his photographic reflexes to immediately copy other skills like learning to dive in a swimming pool when he saw someone else having performed a dive, learning special techniques from the best NBA basketball players, and learning to twirl a lasso by watching cowboys on T.V.

As an adult, Tony joined S.H.I.E.L.D. and became an agent. During a mission, Tony found an elderly scientist, shot in the chest and slowly dying. Before the scientist died, he gave Tony a syringe containing an experimental Nazi version of the Super-Soldier Serum to enhance the abilities gained through his photographic reflexes. After Tony injected himself with the Nazi Super-Soldier Serum, he began to develop additional powers, set back by the fact that the memories he gained by watching others overwrote his personal memories. As a result, Tony forgot his wife and field agent partner, Mercedes Masters, as well as his own history with S.H.I.E.L.D. Mercedes crafted an elaborate set-up to help control and guide Tony in his new guise as "Taskmaster". Using a series of muscle memory and reflexive tasks, she linked Taskmaster to "the Org": his "handler" between jobs and a constant to keep him on task despite his frequently overwritten memory. The Org was actually Mercedes herself, gathering intelligence and feeding it back to S.H.I.E.L.D. thanks to Taskmaster's reports. Tony, therefore, became the ultimate double agent in the super villain underground - one who didn't even know what he was.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Acrobatics (He has the combined acrobatic skills of various heroes),

Master Martial Artist,

Weapon Mastery,

Enhanced Senses and Accelerated Development (He has "photographic reflexes", which enables him to perfectly replicate any movement or action he sees within his physical capabilities. Due to this, Taskmaster can rapidly pick up skills and techniques, without the need for training or practice. Reached Bulleye's level at golfing just by watching footage of famous golfers in action. His technique improves with each use in combat),

Information Analysis (He was able to deduce who Typhoid Mary was simply by seeing her walk, despite the latter being disguised. Could instantly identify Ami Han possessed enhanced senses just by looking at her. Is able to analyze any style he sees within seconds, allowing him to come up with counterattacks, or break down them down into individual Kata's. Could instantly tell the exact fight where Finesse had mimicked her fighting style just by seeing it),

Analytical Prediction (He anticipated that Iron Man was going to attack him from behind and somehow replied to his thoughts. He claimed that whatever he can't duplicate, he can anticipate, after doing so to dodge an attack from Spider-Man, and also claimed to "kinda make up" for superpowers he can't duplicate via anticipation, as he maneuvered away to avoid something that he knew Hawkeye would do. He claimed to know Captain America's every move before he does after overwhelming him in combat. He usually claims and proves knowing his opponents' next moves and short-term strategies, dealing, avoiding, or countering them, but it doesn't account for actions he doesn't know they can do and strategies out of character), Speed Amplification (Can double his speed at the cost of increased strain upon his body),

Stealth Mastery (Infiltrated Stark Industries Vault with ease),

Chi Manipulation (Holds a decade long mastery of Chi by copying an opponent),

Pressure Points,

Resistance to Fire Manipulation (Tanks a flamethrower canister exploding near him with little to no effect) and Poison (He has built an immunity to most every toxic substance known to man)

Shockwave Creation with his sword,

Disruptor Arrows and Electro-Shaft Arrows,

Explosion Manipulation with Concussion Arrows,

Electricity Manipulation with his suit,

Light Manipulation using a Magnesium Flare and Resistance to Mind Manipulation (His mask was able to resist a psychic assault debilitating everyone in an intelligence office building, including Black Widow),

Magnetism Manipulating Device,

Knockout Gas,

Weapon Creation with the Energy Construct Generator,

Weaknesses: Whenever he copies something new, it pushes old memories out of his brain in a form of amnesia. Can't copy the meaning behind the actions (for example, he might be able to play an instrument like a master after watching a virtuoso play, but that doesn't mean he can read music)
—————————————
Song: Masters of Death

Slade Wilson, known as Deathstroke, sat in front of his computer, scrolling through a list of mercenary contracts with a focused expression. To keep himself occupied and entertained, he was casually flicking a dagger into the air, twirling it with expert precision before catching it by the handle with practiced ease. Deathstroke leaned back in his chair, gazing intently at the screen in front of him as he discovered a potential contract that piqued his interest. He then called out, addressing his trusty butler and confidant, Wintergreen.

"Wintergreen, I've found a contract that seems promising."

"I see. And just one might it be?"

Wintergreen's voice echoed through the room, but Deathstroke's experienced ears detected something amiss. There was a subtle discrepancy in the inflection, and the butler's footsteps seemed quieter and more subdued than usual. Slade tilted his head slightly, his senses heightened by the discrepancy. He played along, feigning nonchalance as he continued the conversation, all the while maintaining a watchful eye. Slade continued to play along with the conversation, feigning interest in the contract he had supposedly found.

"It's a lucrative job, and it involves one of my old prey: Robin."

Slade deliberately used the outdated alias to see if the imitation would reveal itself in the response.

"Oh yes, I remember Robin quite well. How do you plan on dealing with him?"

Slade's suspicions were confirmed as he heard the response. The mimicry of Wintergreen's voice had spoken directly from behind him, the footsteps unnervingly quiet. And then there was the use of the outdated alias, "Robin," when "Nightwing" would have been the correct name. With a preternatural instinct, Slade swiftly propelled himself backward and backflipped off the chair, just narrowly avoiding the lethal thrust of a broadsword aimed at his upper body. As he landed on his feet, he found himself face-to-face with his unexpected attacker: Taskmaster. Taskmaster extracted his broadsword from the chair he had impaled, and a smug chuckle escaped his lips. He acknowledged, a note of grudging respect mixing with arrogance in his tone,

"Just as I would expect from a man of your legendary reputation."

The mention of his friend and butler prompted Slade to focus intently on Taskmaster's response. He stood up straight, his muscles coiled and ready to react, and asked a pointed question,

"What have you done with Wintergreen?"

Taskmaster's smirk widened as he chuckled, clearly enjoying Slade's agitation.

"Oh, don't worry about that old man. He's alive and fine, currently taking a nice long nap from a good ol' nerve pinch. It's your bounty I'm really after, Deathstroke."

Slade's expression remained stoic, but he bristled inwardly at Taskmaster's nonchalant response about the butler.

"Big mistake."

In a swift and calculated move, Deathstroke threw his dagger, initiating the assault. Taskmaster retaliated by firing energy shots at the projectile, deflecting it before realizing that the assassin was already behind him, performing a spinning jump attack. Taskmaster quickly erected an energy construct shield to block the impending attack, just in time to fend off the surprise assault.

Slade swiftly executed a sweeping kick, aimed at destabilizing Taskmaster, but the villain swiftly counter-attacked with a leg sweep of his own. Although Slade successfully leapt over the attempted trip, Taskmaster capitalized on the moment, using his shield to forcefully slam into his back, knocking him to the ground. Undeterred, Slade rapidly recovered and regained his footing, ready for the next move from his opponent.

Taskmaster quickly rushed towards Slade, effortlessly evading the shots fired from his pistol. Following the pattern, the skilled fighter executed the same twirling spin jump he had used earlier, yet he underestimated Deathstroke's adaptable style. As Taskmaster soared through the air, Deathstroke swiftly deployed his extendable staff to strike him, disrupting his movement and forcing him to land awkwardly, yet still on his feet.

Taskmaster responded to Slade's barrage of staff attacks by materializing another energy construct shield, effectively deflecting the blows. In an attempt to counterattack, he managed to kick Slade away, aiming to send him tumbling out the broken window. However, Deathstroke's quick reflexes and resourcefulness allowed him to use his staff to catch onto the windowsill, harnessed the power of centrifugal force to swing back into the room after his body shattered the window. Seizing the moment, Slade executed a powerful kick that connected with Taskmaster's face, briefly pushing him back.

Taskmaster found himself briefly winded at the force of his impact with the ground, but he was quick to roll out of the way as one of Slade's daggers hurtled towards his head. Desperately attempting to defend himself, Taskmaster struggled to keep up with Deathstroke's rapid and calculated attacks. Despite his best efforts, Slade managed to land a few blows which ended with another kick, sending the assassin flying backwards once more.

Instead of crashing to the ground, Taskmaster adroitly used his device to manifest an energy bo staff, executing a similar centrifugal force maneuver to avoid stumbling through the doorway. With surprising agility, he kicked at Slade's distinctive black and orange armor mask, managing to repel the villain, who stumbled back.

Slade aimed his staff to catch Taskmaster as the latter charged forward, but he was caught off guard as the assassin suddenly moved with doubled speed, using the staff as a platform to mount a powerful jumping knee strike into Slade's face. The force propelled him backward, crashing into the wall with a thud.

Taskmaster swiftly closed the distance between them, landing a solid punch at Slade's face, but the skilled fighter reacted swiftly, catching the following punch and then grabbing a firm hold of the hood of Taskmaster's cape, preventing his escape. Without hesitation, Deathstroke unleashed a powerful headbutt, crashing it into Taskmaster's forehead.

Slade seized Taskmaster by the throat, seeking to slam him into the floor, but Taskmaster cleverly exploited the proximity to the wall, spinning and extricating himself from the chokehold. Countering with lightning-quick reflexes, he grabbed at Slade's throat in return and hurled him forcefully against the ground. Despite the impact, Slade swiftly rolled and bounced back onto his feet, prepared to continue the heated exchange. Slade's annoyance grew evident as he observed his opponent's continued mimicry of his moves. Frustrated, he retorted,

"Hmph, can't you think of something more original? Copying every damn move is starting to get a bit predictable, don't you think?"

Taskmaster's defiant chuckle echoed through the room, reflecting his confidence in his abilities. He adopted Slade's stance, asserting confidently,

"That's precisely the point, genius. With my photographic reflexes, I can perform anything you do, and after seeing it once, I can do it better. Nothing's original when you're facing someone like me."

Slade narrowed his eyes, his irritation mounting as he recognized the truth in Taskmaster's words. The assassin's ability to replicate and improve upon any technique he witnessed posed a significant challenge.

"You may have an uncanny ability to mimic and refine my moves, but that doesn't make you my equal. I've faced the unexpected and triumphed. You're not the first cocky adversary I've faced, and you sure as hell won't be the last."

Slade fired an energy beam from his staff, only to have Taskmaster block it with his energy shield. In an attempt to counterattack, Taskmaster attempted a kick in Slade's signature style, but the assassin was quick to defend himself, blocking the kick with his staff. Seizing the opportunity, Slade delivered a swift strike with the opposite end of his staff, delivering a hefty blow to Taskmaster's head.

As Slade attempted to spin and strike with the opposite end of his staff, Taskmaster demonstrated remarkable agility, swiftly catching the weapon before it could hit. With a powerful kick, Slade pushed Taskmaster back, while the assassin stumbled momentarily. Taskmaster swiftly regained his footing, the flow of the battle continuing.

Slade unleashed a series of skillful flourishes with his staff, landing a few solid blows on Taskmaster. However, on his final downward strike, Taskmaster adeptly sidestepped out of the way, retaliating with a kick to Slade's head. The forceful impact momentarily destabilized Slade, causing him to stagger backwards as he tried to regain his balance and focus.

Slade swiftly shifted his approach, jumping backward while simultaneously throwing down a flashbang. The ensuing explosion unleashed a blinding flash, effectively concealing his movements as Taskmaster shielded his eyes to protect them from the intense glare. Taskmaster carefully observed the aftermath of the flashbang, realizing that Deathstroke had successfully evaded his sight in the blinding flash. Remaining vigilant, he moved cautiously forward, his senses heightened, fully committed to preventing the assassin from escaping his grip.

Taskmaster diligently followed the subtle hints that led him to a combat training room. As he ventured deeper into the room, he heard a noise from behind him and swiftly spun around, bringing his energy shield up just in time to block a sudden attack from Deathstroke, who had descended upon him from above.

Taskmaster, caught in a defensive position, suddenly discerned that something was amiss. He struggled to fully assimilate Deathstroke's fighting style, as his mind grappled with the overwhelming array of rapid and complex movements. It dawned upon him that the sheer speed and complexity of Deathstroke's attacks were overwhelming his photographic processing, similar to attempting to decipher a frenzied choir singing too quickly and loudly.

Recognizing the urgent need to seize the upper hand, Taskmaster seized hold of Deathstroke's staff, simultaneously headbutting him to inflict a measure of disorientation. Drawing from his recent experience of watching Ip Man fight scenes on fast forward, Taskmaster effectively channeled his knowledge of Wing Chun to unleash a barrage of punches at lightning-fast speed. With an astonishing dozen strikes per second, he assaulted Deathstroke relentlessly, exploiting the villain's momentary shock from the headbutt.

Taskmaster relentlessly unleashed a barrage of punches at breakneck speed, leaving Deathstroke grappling to keep up. Although the assassin possessed the ability to perceive each strike and his armor provided some protection, the sheer velocity and ferocity of the onslaught was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Not even opponents renowned for their swiftness, such as the members of the League of Assassins, Nightwing, Cassandra Cain, or Batman, had ever engaged in combat at this unparalleled level of speed.

Sensing his body nearing the threshold of prolonged exertion at such an intense pace, Taskmaster kicked Deathstroke away, simultaneously snatching the staff before promptly snapping it over his knee, allowing his body to slow and catch his breath. Both fighters backed into opposite walls, panting and recovering from the physically demanding encounter.

Deathstroke, acknowledging Taskmaster's formidable skills, offered a sincere albeit reluctant compliment.

"I'll give you credit where it's due, you're not a pushover."

From his back, Slade retrieved his twin katana, preparing himself for another round, the blade gleaming in the light. Taskmaster's voice revealed a hint of excitement, the thrill of anticipation evident in his tone.

"Now we're talking."

He asserted, conjuring another energy-based shield in one hand, as he activated a handle that unleashed a crackling laser sword. With his weapon ready, he stood at the ready, eager and poised to engage Deathstroke once more. Deathstroke charged forward, unleashing a series of swings with his twin swords, the blades forcefully clashed against Taskmaster's energy shield as the latter defended himself. As Taskmaster observed an opening, he seized the opportunity to counterattack, maneuvering the laser sword to slice through the katana blades, severing them from their hilts.

Deathstroke was caught off guard and found himself at a disadvantage upon losing his twin swords. Taskmaster seized the opening created by the villain's momentary vulnerability, delivering a powerful kick that sent him crashing against the wall. Cursing his adversary's tactics, Deathstroke retrieved his Prometheum double-edged broadsword from his back, preparing for the next round of the intense battle.

Slade swung his broadsword downward, aiming to strike at Taskmaster. The assassin countered the attack with his own sword, but the force of the clash pushed him backward, as he hadn't anticipated the strength and durability of the Prometheum Sword. Taskmaster was forced to take a step back, his surprise momentarily evident as he had underestimated the power of the weapon before him.

Deathstroke seized the chance to execute a low kick that knocked Taskmaster off balance, but the skilled assassin swiftly halted his fall by impaling the edge of his shield into the ground. Regaining his footing, Taskmaster retaliated with a powerful kick that sent Deathstroke stumbling back yet again.

"It makes no difference what weapon or trick you employ against me. Each one merely adds to the arsenal at my disposal, the longer this fights persists."

Slade's expression showed a mixture of annoyance and respect for Taskmaster's ability to adapt and learn from every move he made. He knew he was fighting a foe who could not be underestimated, as every new tactic only fueled Taskmaster's growing arsenal of countermeasures.

"You may be quite adaptable, but I've got a few tricks of my own left up my sleeve."

Deathstroke hurled a smoke bomb onto the ground, filling the entire training room with a thick, opaque cloud. Taskmaster's guard was up, cautiously navigating the smoky surroundings, striving to pinpoint Deathstroke's whereabouts among the swirling smoke.

Taskmaster, despite being partially blinded, relied on his keen understanding of Deathstroke's fighting style and thought process. Although Deathstroke's speed may have been quicker than Taskmaster's photographic reflexes, the assassin anticipated the next move to come. Taskmaster managed to duck under a menacing sword swing from behind, retaliating with a well-aimed slash. The blade sliced through Deathstroke's armor, causing a cut and even drawing blood.

"Even if I can't see you, you're still you. Nothing you do surprises me anymore."

Taskmaster declared, his voice carrying the confidence of a man who believed victory was inevitable. He tossed a grenade at a wall, causing a powerful explosion that cleared the smoke-filled room. Leaping through the gaping hole created, he burst out into the moonlit night, finally escaping the smoky confines of the training room. Slade glared in irritation, emerging from the smoky room wielding his formidable Promethium Sword, his recovery from the previous cut clearly evident.

"Do you ever shut up? If you weren't so focused on mimicking my moves and bragging about it, maybe you might have actually secured a victory by now."

Taskmaster chuckled in response, his confidence unwavering.

"Oh, Deathstroke, still not appreciating the art of trash talk? You really should work on your banter skills. And if you thought I've been holding back thus far, you haven't seen anything yet."

Taskmaster swiftly switched to a dual-wielding approach, brandishing his energy pistols to maintain a safe distance while shooting. Deathstroke skillfully deflected the laser blasts with his Promethium Sword, nimbly darting around in response. With impressive finesse, Deathstroke retrieved a pistol of his own, aiming for Taskmaster's right sidearm and successfully disabling it with an accurate shot. Taskmaster let out a brief exclamation as he lost one of his energy pistols, the other one still clutched in his hand. He swiftly sought cover behind a nearby fountain, peeking out to fire his remaining pistol in Deathstroke's direction.

After deflecting several of Taskmaster's shots, Deathstroke aimed for a strategic spot on the fountain, causing a burst of water to hit Taskmaster squarely in the face. Caught off guard, the mercenary stumbled back, temporarily blinded and disoriented, his shield raised in defense. Slade charged with determination, swiftly rolling past Taskmaster's defenses, the blade of his Promethium Sword viciously cutting through armor and arsenal. He spoke with a sense of challenge in his voice.

"No more tricks, no more energy weapons. If you truly believe you can be my superior, prove it by using nothing more than the fighting style you've been so diligently mimicking from me."

Deathstroke demanded. Taskmaster, his body cut and bruised, took a moment to recover his bearings before responding.

"Fine, Deathstroke. No more tricks, just our skills against each other. You wanted a pure test of our fighting prowess? You got it."

He agreed with a hint of determination in his voice. Deathstroke charged forward, sword swung in a powerful overhead cleave. However, Taskmaster, doubling his speed once more, seized the opportunity to counterattack mid-swing. With precision and lightning-fast reflexes, Taskmaster targeted Deathstroke's pressure points, delivering a devastating strike with the force of a spear's tip. The impact temporarily immobilized Slade as he cried out, leaving him at a disadvantage momentarily.

Taskmaster, noticing an opportunity to level the playing field, quickly seized Slade's Promethium Sword, and with a skilled throw, hurled it onto the nearest roof, out of reach. He declared with a touch of satisfaction,

"Impressive sword, but if I can't use mine, neither can you."

With the weapon effectively out of the mix, Taskmaster prepared for the next phase of their struggle. Slade rose to his feet, his body swiftly healing from the momentary immobilization caused by Taskmaster's attack. He took a moment to stretch and reposition himself, his voice exuding confidence.

"I don't need a sword to beat you."

He asserted firmly, his stance and demeanor conveying determination. To counteract Taskmaster's photographic reflexes, Deathstroke employed a varied and unpredictable fighting style. He seamlessly integrated the open-hand and elbow strikes of Kenpō with the swift kicks of Taekwondo, followed by the grappling techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. By continuously shifting between different martial arts, Slade managed to keep Taskmaster guessing, momentarily outmaneuvering him. As the fight intensified, Slade successfully executed a joint lock, slamming his foe forcefully into the ground.

"Guh! Alright, you know your martial arts. But so do I."

Taskmaster's counterattack was swift and precise as he seized Deathstroke's thumb and yanked it out of its socket, causing intense pain that forced the assassin to momentarily retreat. Deathstroke managed to dodge a Muay Thai flying kick but was met with an unexpected Bajiquan elbow strike to the shoulder as he attempted to punch. Off-balance, Slade stumbled, allowing Taskmaster to execute a Judo flip, successfully bringing the mercenary down onto the ground. Taskmaster's voice held a confident resolve as he proclaimed,

"I said it once, and I'll say it again. No matter what you do, I can take everything you do and do it better."

With a controlled stomp, he cracked and split open the mercenary's armored mask, revealing Deathstroke's face beneath; the eyepatch and white hair now fully exposed. Taskmaster, eager to conclude the fight and collect his bounty, attempted one final, powerful stomp, aiming to knock Deathstroke unconscious. However, his foot was unexpectedly caught in mid-air, and to his surprise, Slade was not yet defeated. The mercenary fiercely held off the finishing blow, proving that he still had some fight left.

Slade countered with a swift response, as he twisted Taskmaster's ankle with force, causing the bones to fracture and break. Taskmaster cried out in pain and collapsed, writhing on the ground.

"Try being better with a broken ankle."

Slade retorted, taunting his downed foe. Taskmaster desperately tried to strike with his undamaged foot, but Deathstroke quickly intercepted it, mercilessly pinning it to the ground with a sharpened dagger. The pain became excruciating as both of his feet succumbed to injury, rendering him temporarily immobilized. Taskmaster's wails of pain echoed through the area. Deathstroke climbed atop his incapacitated foe, delivering savage blows to Taskmaster's face, unflinching in his onslaught. Any feeble attempts by Taskmaster to inflict pain or discomfort in order to break free proved futile against Slade's remarkable healing factor. The repeated, powerful strikes rained down mercilessly.

Once his foe was disoriented enough, Slade's grip tightened around Taskmaster's throat, applying tremendous pressure to crush his windpipe. The intensity of the moment was palpable as Slade seethed,

"You can memorize everything you see, right? Memorize my face as I witness the light fade from your eyes."

The mercenary's one good eye bore directly into Taskmaster's, his gaze intense and ruthless.

Taskmaster's futile attempts to break free continued, his eyes bulging behind the skull mask as the slow, agonizing torment of denied breath gripped him. Every struggle proved futile, as he struggled against the inexorable tightening of Slade's grip on his throat. The desperation and panic in his eyes spoke volumes, as he was utterly overpowered, unable to fight back. Taskmaster's struggles began to falter, his movements weakening as his body desperately fought for air. The color drained from his face, and his movements became more languid with every passing moment. His life hung in the balance, completely at the mercy of Slade's grip around his throat.

Taskmaster's struggles finally began to subside, his movements weakening as his oxygen-starved body grew weaker. Just as the mercenary teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, Deathstroke delivered a swift, deadly snap to his neck, effectively ending his life.

With a moment to gather his breath, Slade stood tall, inhaling the night air. He then gripped Taskmaster's foot and dragged the lifeless body back inside to investigate who he was, and who had hired him.
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Strength: Both assassins are stronger than peak human capability due to their respective super soldier serums. Taskmaster is generally around Captain America's physical strength, and can Judo flip a 425 lbs. Iron Man. At best, he could lift about 2 tons. However, Taskmaster has shown more impressive feats of strength, such as breaking the shatter point of missile proof glass with his staff, which would require 6.6 physical tons of force to pull off. This makes it a 3.3X difference.

Speed: Taskmaster is typically shown to be faster than bullets, which would at minimum put him at Mach 2.2. However, Deathstroke is shown to be consistently faster than Cassandra Cain, who can react up to Mach 16 speeds, which is a 7.27 times difference. Even when Taskmaster can go twice as fast to close the gap to a 3.63 times difference, that still makes him overall slower, and Slade has fought against several different Flashes before.

Skill: Taskmaster is the superior martial artist. Slade may have broken record time of learning martial arts under Adeline Kane, but Taskmaster can learn everything he does in seconds. Not only that, Taskmaster has gone up against way more varied types of martial artists, giving him the edge of the amount of martial techniques to pull from.

Experience: Roughly, they're both experienced in terms of time span and what sorts of things they've gone up against. There's nothing these two could do more than initially surprise one another.

Powers: They each wielded a similar arsenal to go up against each other, and Taskmaster's photographic reflexes would certainly pick up on some of Deathstroke's techniques, even if Slade was consistently too fast to read. However, there was nothing he could do to slow down or negate Slade's healing factor. Any damage he can do, Slade would just be shrugged off. Taskmaster would have to physically overpower his opponent with strength and speed to win, and he had neither.
—————————————
The winner is Deathstroke.

Next time:

"WAKKA, WAKKA, WAKKA!"

"Hiiiiii!"

Chapter Text

Kirby

Backstory:

Kirby arrived in Dream Land one day, riding on the spring breeze, and he's been living happily ever since. He spends most of his days eating, napping, and playing with his many friends; in fact, almost everyone else in Dream Land shares a similar carefree lifestyle. This has attracted the unwanted attention of many malevolent forces, who either despise their happy nature or are envious of it. But although he may not look like it, Kirby has managed to fight off each and every one of them, while even making some new friends along the way. With noble allies by his side and his trademark Copy Ability, the pink puffball has proved himself a hero through and through, using his powers to protect Planet Popstar and save it, planets beyond, and even other worlds from the clutches of evil time and time again.

Powers and abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Toon Force (Lives in a mysterious world in which things don't always make sense & whose creatures "defy all reason"),

Longevity,

Extrasensory Perception & Automatic Translation (Senses what Waddle Dees say, who talk as per onomatopoeia),

Self-Sustenance (Doesn't need air),

Elasticity (Can stretch his body to enlarge it a bit and quickly recover from being crushed flat. Shown "ok" to twist his body several time),

Body Control (Can turn into a limbless ball and decrease his size by contracting his body),

Regeneration (High-Mid. Can throw off half of his body & have it reattached, or have it explode & immediately recover. Would later demonstrate to instantly recover from being impaled by allies, other Beetle Kirbys or by Flamberge's Barbecue Party),

Immortality (Resilience and regeneration),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can use any of his techniques, like his Inhale, to affect souls, presumably intangible clouds, and holograms),

Acrobatics (Can easily mobilize around in ground & air while doing pirouettes, spinning at numerous angles, and having his body contracted. While in the air, he can will his body to quickly descend, to bounce into greater heights, or move at an opposite side, regardless of his prior momentum. Doesn't lose perception while performing multiple abrupt maneuvers in vehicles with omnidirectional control or in adventures where he's used as a ball),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled with long, medium & low range weapons, and many other creative & arbitrary ones),

Stealth Mastery (Could hide in the clouds while climbing around the outside of the Halberd to later reappear underneath the ship, potentially having done so to mobilize undetected. Portrayed as being able to use sneak attacks),

Flight (Can hover to navigate in the air & in space. Can use vehicles to fly better in those areas),

Air Manipulation (Can create a vortex of air into his mouth. Can shoot out small air puffs),

Transmutation (Can spit targets as tiny stars. Being swallowed into his stomach dimension instantly turns others into ability items or tiny stars, if they had abilities for Kirby to copy or not respectively. Can turn ability items around his body into Helpers, and vice versa. Can cartoonishly turn things into other things. Can turn energies such as star power into his Starship and back),

Deconstruction (Everything that enters his stomach "is quickly digested"; The swallowed targets that were turned into ability items or tiny stars quickly get destroyed, though he can keep the form of things if he wants to, like treasures. Can send bolts to drop entire rows of blocks in whatever direction he's facing),

Attack Reflection (Via Inhale & Star Spit),

Magic,

Energy Manipulation & Projection (Can manipulate energies such as star power, which are magic. Can shoot tiny stars as short-range projectiles),

Absorption,

BFR,

Pocket Reality Manipulation & Power Mimicry (Can swallow foes & objects alike, trapping them in his stomach, a "bottomless" pocket reality that digests everything that enters in it, allowing Kirby to copy their powers as Copy Abilities. Absorbed star power into his body, may have done the same with Sparkling Stars. Can also gain Copy Abilities from targets upon contact),

Limited Water Manipulation (Can move around and mix bubbles sealing food or beings turned into ability items, located inside his stomach dimension, and he can pop them to use them as well as spit them out. Via Water Gun),

Self-Cloth Manipulation & Transformation (Using Copy Abilities causes him to have a slight transformation, usually having different hats with each one and occasionally transforming his whole body. Can use Copy Abilities without requiring to swallow enemies. Can instantly wear different clothes fitting to the activities he's doing),

Dimensional Storage & Explosion Manipulation (Can store things in his stomach for later use or inhale things without swallowing them. Can spit numerous small stars and bombs),

Size Manipulation (Inflated himself like an air balloon. Later proven to reduce the size of the things bigger than his body about to be inhaled, and return them to normal if spat),

Duplication (Sometimes duplicates, mostly just to dance),

Power Absorption (Can steal a target's powers for his own use on contact),

Creation (Can create sets of blocks, a Warp Star and similar vehicles),

Dimensional Travel (Via Warp Star),

Teleportation,

Limited Subjective Reality,

Fusionism (Can fuse enemies with Copy Abilities or with other enemies),

Summoning (Can make Helpers appear from Copy Abilities. Can summon Gooey, and a Warp Star),

has a pure heart, Resistances to: Poison Manipulation (Later shown being able to eat poison & poisonous foes, gaining a Copy Ability from them, which is presumably something natural for Kirby),

Transmutation (Constantly able to quickly recover from being spat as a mini star by King Dedede's Star Spit, same technique Kirby uses to permanently do the same on targets. Can't be transmuted by Bubble Head's attacks, which turn defeated enemies into bubble items and give Kirby that power through his Copy Ability),

cosmic radiations (Can survive in space),

Ice Manipulation (Can quickly break free from being instantly frozen),

Heat (Unaffected by the temperatures of Hotbeat, a flaming planet. Can survive the lava of said place),

Gravity Manipulation (Can outrun, outfly and survive being sucked inside Marx's Black Hole),

Mind, Morality & Madness Manipulation (Unaffected in places where Dark Matter species has their mind-controlling dark clouds),

As before, Accelerated Development (Went from fighting evenly against Magolor EX to fighting evenly against his next form, Magolor Soul, when the former battle "went beyond limits". Shown a more elaborated form of this ability Post-Star Allies, which could simply be the same),

Regeneration (Low-Godly as Ghost Kirby after absorbing life energy from a target, as he quickly recreates his body from being a soul),

Resurrection (Could catch the souls of other defeated Kirbys and make them corporeal again. After being divided into 10, 9 dead Kirbys with no soul or body were revived by the remaining eating food. Can revive others via Revival Spell. When dead, he can transform into Ghost Kirby to absorb some life energy from a target upon contact & resurrect),

Healing (Can "Revive" defeated allies, who are merely unconscious & heal a bit truly dead allies when reviving them),

Telekinesis and Multiple Selves (Type 2 via Heroic Heart. It's presumably incorporeal but not Kirby's own soul),

Summoning (Can summon Dyna Blade, an army of Gators. Can summon a meteor to do massive damage and stun his enemies),

Earth Manipulation (Can hit the ground to leave a fissure under his opponent),

Energy Projection & Danmaku (Can shoot consecutive energy, which can become overwhelming with other Kirbys),

Intangibility & further Transmutation & Transformation (Via Space Jump),

Limited Spatial Manipulation (Can push away Dimensional Walls),

Time Travel (Via Warp Star),

further Teleportation (Can teleport in a mask to wear),

further Self-Size Manipulation (Via Star Dash),

further Attack Reflection & Homing Attack (Can hit projectiles to send them homing back at the aggressors),

Resistances to: Gravity Manipulation (Notably able to briefly outrun and survive a black hole that was warping & sucking all the space of the shown battlefield, including stars in the background of it. Empowering the Robobot Armor with his own power, he used it to turn into a ship, being able to outfly & survive a black hole that was rotating the setting shown, with stars & a nebula in its background),

Spatial Manipulation (Unaffected by said interstellar distortions, otherwise only harmed if reached by those or any space-based attacks; also unaffected by constant interstellar distortions in battle),

Fire Manipulation and Ice Manipulation (Can survive harmed being hit by Magolor Soul's own versions of Kirby's Super Abilities, when Kirby could quickly burn a car-sized creature into black goo that was reduced to nothing and freeze & shatter a miniature active volcano with them. Can survive harmed fire and ice attacks from other Kirbys, elements with which he can harm Pyribbit, who baths in molten lava, moistens his throat drinking lava, and fills his stomach eating lava rocks. They can also harm & freeze King Dedede, Meta Knight and Bandana Waddle Dee, who can endure being sticked to Snow Bowl Kirby's Snow Bowl, which claims using "absolute zero" cold to do so),

Time Stop (Despite not sharing the same ability, Kirbys can move after a Beam Mage Kirby stops the clock/time, which affects all foes on screen)

Energy Projection & Manipulation (Can shoot energy beams),

Creation (Created projections of many of his friends as an attack), good at making targets drop what they carry with his regular attacks (Has an item to improve his ability to do so, implying the skill to be natural),

Enhanced Senses & further Extrasensory Perception (Can sense presences of others, the individuals' shape, location, power in comparison to other powers felt before and a simple depiction of its morality, such as it being sinister. Can apparently find invisible portals, sensed a soulless creature he was looking for),

Adaptation (Gained Mouthful Mode on his own),

Limited Possession (Can possess inanimate objects via Mouthful Mode),

Limited Soul Manipulation (Can collect many dozens of the shattered pieces of Leongar's soul into himself),

Limited Homing Attack (Spat things can slightly home into a target),

Resistances to: further Transmutation (Any Star Ally can be cooked inside Chef Kawasaki or Cook Kirby's pot together with enemies as they're turned into food, safely coming out briefly dizzy),

Morality Manipulation & Empathic Manipulation (Unaffected by the presence of the individual Jamba Heart pieces. Players can break free of Void Termina's Circle of Friends and Morpho Knight's Paradise Scale Wave by mashing the directional pad for a brief time, reversing to normal as if hit by a Friend Heart),

Telekinesis (Should genuinely be able to break free from Magolor's Grab by struggling, as fellow fighters do so against all of each others' grabs),

Limited Life energy Absorption (By Guarding, can prevent characters in their Ghost forms from removing some of his health to revive themselves),

Likely minor Life Absorption (Can get hit by Soul Forgo-absorbed Morpho Knight without the latter healing himself from it, if he has this ability),

As in base, gaining different powers depending on which Copy Ability he's using:

Statistics Amplification (At least some give him knowledge & experience over what the abilities are related to. Certain ones let him fly better. Speed augmentation via Jet & Wheel. Invulnerability via Stone, Metal, Hi-Jump, etc.),

Weapon Mastery (Sword, Hammer, Cutter, Yo-Yo, Explosive Shuriken, etc.),

Martial Arts (Fighter, Ninja, Suplex, etc.),

Stealth Mastery (Ninja),

Flight (Some let him fly differently),

Magic (Certain ones describe the use of magic),

Elemental Manipulation; Fire Manipulation (Fire, several other abilities have 1 or a few moves that use fire too),

Ice Manipulation (Ice; Can quickly freeze others),

Electricity Manipulation (Spark, Plasma),

Air Manipulation (Tornado) and Magma Manipulation (Volcano),

Limited Temperature Manipulation (Ice),

Energy Manipulation & Projection (Beam, UFO, Crash, etc.),

Explosion Manipulation (Bomb & Ninja),

Forcefield Creation (Spark & Ice),

Homing Attack (Plasma, Cutter & Tri-Missile Attack),

Light Manipulation (Light & Rainbow Sword),

Aura (Fighter; Can briefly gain some fiery aura while charging),

Love-based attacks (Love-Love Stick),

Sound Manipulation (Mike),

Transformation (Wheel, Missile, etc.),

Transmutation (Cook, Magic),

Duplication (Mirror),

Attack Reflection (Mirror, Hypernova, several abilities with "grabs"),

Self-Size Manipulation (Mini, Giant Stone),

Gravity Manipulation (UFO),

Afterimage Creation (Ninja),

Life Manipulation (Magic),

Status Effect Inducement (Ice, Paint & Balloon),

Information Analysis & Power Mimicry (Copy),

Sleep Manipulation (Self induced sleep & Ninja),

Healing (Refrigerator, Sleep),

Body Control (Cutter, Needle, etc.),

Adhesive Manipulation (Cleaning while helped by Kine; Kirby turns or gets turned into a plunger to grab foes).

Weaknesses: Naive outside of combat. Despite his age, Kirby's still young. Unlike fellow warriors in the series, outside of their adventures Kirby's lazy and always relaxes with mundane activities. His ability to rest is bestowed by the Fountain of Dreams, and if something were to happen to it everyone in Dreamland will eventually be restless and irritable. Often celebrates victory after notable battles, having been taken by surprise while doing so even at a point in time when he had the ability to sense his enemies.
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Pac-Man (Mainly game, but compilation of all)

Backstory: He is a yellow Pac-Person, a circular creature with a large mouth, who defends his homeworld, the Pac-Land, from the cruel and mischievous Ghosts (most notably the four of them; Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde) while navigating through countless mazes and going to adventures outside Pac-Land to stop various other evil threats. Pac-Man is also the dedicated husband of Ms. Pac-Man, and the father of two children. (A/N: My guess to their names? Wally Wakka and Wakkalina. Lol.)

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Weapon Mastery (Is skilled at using weapons such as guns, bombs, hammers, swords and shields, having presumably been trained in them as part of his training to become a knight by the Pac-Master]),

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Can perform punching combos and flip kicks),

Acrobatics (Hypermobility; Can consistently perform hypermobile maneuverability and jumping flips, even while getting up from a ledge, wall jumps and swing from poles),

Fourth Wall Awareness (Addressed the player a few times and once knocked on the screen to check if they're present. Winked at the camera),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1; Can survive in outer space with no oxygen),

Underwater Breathing (Type 2; Can stay underwater indefinitely without needing oxygen),

Dimensional Storage (Can consume any substance without injury, including items like keys, bells, Galaxian flagships, carsand diamonds. Pulled out the Golden Fruits from nowhere),

Perception Manipulation (Can slow down his perception of time when he is about to be hit, allowing him to react faster),

Surface Scaling (Can move on walls and ceilings, even clinging to whatever he's touching),

Reality Warping and Toon Force (He took control of the Earth by replacing it with his body. Through his Toon Force, Pac-Man can achieve Elasticity, what makes him capable of recovering from being flattened),

Immersion and Dimensional Travel (Can enter his home world by walking inside the television. Jumped out of the LCD handheld console),

Non-Physical Interaction and Extrasensory Perception (Can harm, see and interact with intangible beings like ghosts. Can walk and jump on clouds),

Weapon Creation and Explosion Manipulation (Can summon Pac-Dots into his hand at will and launch them as explosive bullets by charging them),

Shockwave Generation (Can summon shockwaves with his Butt Bounce, able to create more potent ones that send enemies flying by bouncing three times in a row),

Paralysis Inducement and Afterimage Creation (His Rev-Roll can leave afterimages and paralyze enemies for a few seconds),

Size Manipulation (Can grow up in size by simply eating food),

Attack Reflection (Can reverse shockwaves with his hammer),

Limited Flight (Can slow his descent while falling, fly in the trail of Pac-Dots by focusing on them and perform a hover/flutter jump),

Body Control,

Immortality (Resilience, regeneration and resurrection),

Incorporeality and Resurrection (Can remove his body from the limbs unharmed. Can survive without his arms and legs. After being killed, Pac-Man will transform into a ghost and can revive himself by killing somebody else, taking over their body and turning it into his original in process),

Regeneration (High-Mid; Can recover his body after being eaten by the Pac-Mobile with only eyes left. Possibly Low-Godly as a ghost, likely sharing the similar ability as others),

Danmaku (Can summon a explosion that launches omnidirectional beams after collecting 256 Pac-Dots in a row),

Status Effect Inducement (His presence is enough to make Ghosts turn blue without even needing a Power Pellet. The Power Pellet's additional effects are read in a power-up/equipment tabber),

Summoning, Platform Creation and Sound Manipulation (Can summon the Ghosts like Pinky and Blinky to assist him, who can create platforms by negating invisible/intangible objects through touching them and shooting sonic blasts that obliterates enemies respectively),

Light Manipulation, Enhanced Senses and Precognition (Can project light from his eyes to see in the dark. His body can also generate light around himself. Has a "Pac-Sense" that warns him of danger before it happens),

Teleportation,

Resistances to:

Extreme Heat (Is unfazed by being in close proximity to lava. Is unaffected by large flames standing inches away from each other),

Ice Manipulation (Can withstand the cold temperatures of the icy tundra without feeling anything. Recovered from being frozen solid by a Pac-Snowman power-up and Siria the Ice Dragon),

Electricity Manipulation (Can endure being electrocuted. Comparable to Ms. Pac-Man, who can survive being struck by a lightning bolt),

Radiation Manipulation (Can survive taking a dip in toxic waste and take only normal damage from it. Can move around in outer space unharmed. According to Iwatani in a interview, is capable of eating nuclear weapons without suffering ill effects),

Poison Manipulation (Can only be momentarily stunned when a cobra snake bites him),

Inflation (Can survive being inflated like a balloon and popped out),

Statistics Amplification with most power-ups

Speed Amplification,

Strength Amplification,

Transformation,

Invulnerability,

Fissionism,

True Flight and Explosion Manipulation (Can transform into a giant Super/Mega Pac-Man, being able to go through doors without unlocking them, split into a mob of normal-size selves of himself, fly freely around in the air, grow even larger than Toc-Man in his giant form and cause huge explosions. He can also use this and even a Power Pellet to split giant enemies into multiple smaller ones. Can transform into a Pac-Mobile, able to eat racers by leaving them as eyes to stun them for a short period of time),

Statistics Reduction,

Durability Negation,

Low-Godly Regeneration Nullification,

Aura,

Technology Manipulation and Limited Existence Erasure (Can turn enemies blue, make them slower and eat them whole with a Power Pellet, even being able to defeat Ghosts without letting their eyes escape, affect others of his own kind and Spectral Monsters, who are stronger than Ghosts. Can also surround himself in an aura, power up machinery and remove items/vehicles such as cars, planes, UFOs and pogo sticks after eating a Power Pellet. Ghosts can return back later without using a chamber after being entirely eaten),

Spaceflight,

Energy Projection,

Danmaku and Explosion Manipulation (Can use a Space Board to maneuver across space, able to fire energy beams from it's cannon, temporarily power it into a three-way shot with a Power Pellet and use Bomb Dots to take out all nearby enemies and obstacles),

Underwater Breathing (Type 3; Can swim and dive underwater with the Bubble power-up),

Enhanced Acrobatics (Can perform infinite jumps with the Magic Boots),

Energy Manipulation and Projection (With Laser, Radar, Optics, Beam and L.A.Z.E.R power-ups, and Galaga Ship),

Sound Manipulation and Fear Manipulation (Can create a sound wave to repel enemies by scaring them off with the Sonar power-up and emit a vibration that disorients people with Sonic Bell),

Metal Manipulation and Density Manipulation (Can turn his body metal to make himself impervious to damage and sink underwater with Chrome Power Pellet, also allowing him to walk on molten lava. The Knight Chocolate gives Pac-Man a helmet that allows him to break metal crates, move underwater and become invincible to arrow attacks and Golvis' guitar slams),

Greater Resistance to Electricity and Poison Manipulation (The Chrome Power Pellet also allows him to be unaffected by electricity and poisonous gas),

Magnetism Manipulation (With Magnet and Regen power-ups. Can attract items like Power Pellets towards him in vicinity with a Magnetic Pac power-up. Can also pick up enemies and carry them around as a weapon with Ghost Magnet),

Elemental Manipulation:

Ice Manipulation (Can freeze enemies into snowmen to a nigh-halt on a universal scale and summon stalagmites with Freeze and Shatter power-ups. Can also fire ice beams/orbs to encase enemies in blocks of ice with Snowman, Ice and Pac-Snowman power-ups, and Siria the Ice Dragon),

Fire Manipulation, Breath Attack and Aura (Can ignite himself and where he's standing through a trail, even using the fire spread with Fire, Pyro and Chili Pepper power-ups. Can also shoot fireballs from his mouth with Fireball power-up. Can surround himself in a fiery aura to boost his speed, burn enemies and leap further distances with Fire Ball power-up),

Earth Manipulation (Can cause earthquakes to slow down enemies),

Air Manipulation (Can summon homing tornadoes with Tornado and Twinado power-ups),

Electricity and Weather Manipulation (Can shoot electricity from his hands with the Electro-Shock Pellet, zap enemies with Electric, Lightning and Electric Field power-ups, even being able to create lightning bolts across the ground with a Lightning power-up. Can summon lightning bolts to strike enemies from above with Storm Cloud),

Creation and Thread Manipulation (Can create random invisible one-use spike traps with the Trap power-up and generate ropes to grapple/swing around),

True Flight (With Jet Pack),

Transmutation and Magic (Can automatically turn enemies into cherries with the Cherries power-up and use a Magic Wand to change them into harmless presents),

Shapeshifting and Explosion Manipulation (Can turn himself into a living bomb with Bomb, Boom, Pac-Bomb, Cherry Bomb, Grape Grenade, Blueberry Blaster and Strawberry Striker power-ups. Can also use real bombs to blast every enemy focused on him away. Can summon falling missiles down from the sky to stun enemies with Air Strike),

Enhanced Light and Explosion Manipulation (With Red Ribbon Power Pellet, can boost his speed to the point he leaves a trail of light behind him while running which when circled, close up around enemies and explode),

Enhanced Vibration Manipulation (With Super Stomp and Power Bounce Pellets),

Smoke Manipulation (Can summon gas clouds that stuns enemies with the Rally-X Carand use the Smoke Bomb to release a smoke explosion that slows down enemies),

Mind Manipulation/Broadway Force (Can make enemies dance by shooting them with music notes from the Trumpet),)

Intangibility, Invisibility and Additional Reality Warping (Can turn himself invisible and pass through enemies with the Stealth power-up, do so temporarily and even use a Ghost Sheet. Can cause the maze to turn invisible or change it's color to red by using a Trick or Power Pellet),

Duplication (Can summon duplicates of himself with Super Pellet and Jammer or smaller Pac-Men with homing capabilities),

Homing Attack (Can use his Yellow Pac-Marine to shoot a homing smart bomb. While driving, can fire strawberry-shaped rockets with Strawberry Striker),

Healing (Can heal himself with Health Wedges and repair some of the damage dealt to his vehicle and himself with Health Pack),

Forcefield Creation (With Pac-Shield, Shield and Hot Pepper, which surrounds himself in a flame shield and leaves behind a fire trail),

Gravity Manipulation (Can create short tractor rays to stun enemies with the Galaxian Ship),

Status Effect Inducement (Can stun enemies for a short time with a fake Pac-Dora Box, Stun and Strong Pac power-ups),

Sleep Manipulation (Can put enemies like snakes to sleep for a short time with a flute),

Portal Creation and Void/Spatial Manipulation (With Vortex Pellet),

Sealing (With Pink Capsule, can pull everyone into a brown pot which holds them in place for a short period of time),

Illusion Creation (Can create a duplicate that mimics and mirrors all of his actions with a Mirror Pac-Man power-up and Cyan Capsule),

Magic, BFR, Subjective Reality and Wall Creation (Can use the Magic Pen to bring drawings to life, create walls and trap enemies into a book),

All previous abilities to a higher degree, plus:

Transformation and Empowerment (Upon absorbing the power from the five Golden Fruits, Pac-Man can transform into a more powerful, golden version of himself),

Enhanced Damage Boost,

Greater Sealing and BFR (Once his opponent is weakened enough, Pac-Man can seal them underground where they will remain stuck for years, like how he sent Spooky underneath the Golden Fruit Tree),

Resistance to Magic,

Weaknesses: Most of his power-ups have short time limits, lasting for a few seconds.
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Song: Star Power

On the star-shaped planet of Popstar, within the territory of Dream Land, lived Kirby, a cute, round pink sphere with a perpetually cheerful countenance. One of his most beloved pastimes was indulging in his sweet tooth, and on this particular occasion, he had his sights set on a delectable strawberry cheesecake. It was, without a doubt, one of his absolute favorite cakes.

Kirby, bubbling with excitement, let out a cheerful "Poyo! Poyo!" His cheerful voice echoed in the air as he bounded up and down in anticipation. His eyes sparkled with anticipation, and his rosy cheeks bloomed with excitement as he eagerly prepared to savor the strawberry goodness awaiting him.

Kirby's cheerful demeanor was momentarily interrupted as he watched Pac-Man swiftly pass by and devour his strawberry cheesecake right before his eyes. The little pink sphere stood there in perplexed disbelief, his joyful face still present but with a tinge of confusion as he looked down at the now empty spot where his cake once sat. Pac-Man, the iconic yellow sphere, carried on with his typical routine of chomping up food, including the cake that Kirby had eagerly anticipated.

Once Kirby fully comprehended the situation, he cried out in sadness, mourning at the loss of his beloved cake. The loss of his beloved cake had crossed a line he was unwilling to tolerate, and he turned his attention to the mischievous Pac-Man. The little pink sphere firmly believed that nobody should be allowed to snatch away his treats and go unpunished.

Kirby, furious at the loss of his cake, wasted no time in retaliating. With a quick inhalation, he sucked in the chair and table he was about to use for his meal and then unleashed a basic star-shaped attack. The projectile struck Pac-Man forcefully, momentarily knocking the yellow sphere off balance.

Pac-Man, however, was quick to recover, sprouting arms and legs to maneuver. He adopted a carefree, happy-go-lucky expression, displaying little fear despite realizing he was now in a fight.

With a determined charge, Kirby stormed forward, only to be abruptly stopped when Pac-Man casually raised his foot enough to gently press it against Kirby's forehead. Pac-Man reacted with a perplexed smile, his eyes expressing amusement at this tiny, 8-inch, adorably angry pink sphere instigating a fight against something over six times its size. The contrast between Kirby's size and the sheer audacity of his feisty demeanor was confusing and somewhat endearing.

Kirby, still indignant and unsatisfied, unleashed his frustration by biting down on Pac-Man's foot. The yellow sphere seemed slightly taken aback by the unexpected assault but quickly retaliated with a series of kicks, dislodging Kirby. As Kirby rolled away to regain his bearings, he began to inhale forcefully, creating a vacuum that enveloped Pac-Man in a vortex. Despite Pac-Man's struggles, he found himself unable to break free, and was soon sucked into Kirby's mouth.

With a swift exhale, Kirby forcefully ejected Pac-Man from his mouth, propelling the yellow sphere into a nearby tree. Pac-Man staggered to his feet, slightly dazed and puzzled by the unexpected attack, wincing in mild discomfort. It quickly became apparent that despite Kirby's diminutive and unassuming appearance, he was not to be trifled with. The tiny, pink creampuff had revealed a surprising aptitude for putting up a fight.

As Kirby once again charged forward with a flying attack, Pac-Man decided to shed his playful attitude and get more serious. He retaliated with a swift 1-2 punch combo, swiftly following up with a backflip kick that successfully pushed Kirby back. The yellow sphere's movements were now laced with a hint of stern determination.

Kirby attempted to regain his footing, but Pac-Man's Butt-Bounce attack generated a shockwave that pushed the little pink sphere back again. Kirby, however, quickly recovered and spotted a nearby Sparky nearby. Without wasting a moment, Kirby inhaled the Sparky, absorbing its power. As Pac-Man prepared to execute another Butt-Bounce, his attack was abruptly thwarted by an electric force field that surrounded Kirby. The unexpected energy surge surprised Pac-Man, and he was forcefully zapped away by the electric barrier.

Pac-Man took a moment to shake off the effects of the electric shock he endured. He then produced a Steel Ball Power-Up and ate it, transforming his form into a solid metal exterior. With newfound resilience, Pac-Man sprang back into action and executed another Butt-Bounce attack. Kirby, attempting to use the electrified force field once more, found himself overwhelmed by the unexpected metallic mass of Pac-Man, who effortlessly squashed him under his weight.

After rising to his feet, Pac-Man spotted Kirby, who had been flattened into a concave half-sphere, perfectly matching the imprint left on the ground. With a mixture of curiosity and a hint of mockery, Pac-Man peeled Kirby out of the ground, and gave an amused finger-wagging gesture, the ever-present smile still gracing his face. Without further delay, Pac-Man delivered a forceful punch, launching Kirby further away.

Kirby gently drifted down to the ground, aided by the wind. His body quickly reshaped into its usual spherical form. Noticing a Hot Head nearby, Kirby promptly inhaled the creature, absorbing its fiery abilities. As Pac-Man began to charge forward, intending to press his advantage, Kirby reacted swiftly by spouting a torrent of fire. The scorching flames formed a barrier, effectively keeping Pac-Man at bay. Realizing that his temporary invulnerability wouldn't protect him from the intense heat forever, the yellow hero paused, wary of being burned once his metallic form wore off.

Once the Steel Ball power-up lost its effect, reverting Pac-Man back to his regular yellow state, he quickly retrieved a fire hydrant, utilizing it as a shield. Without delay, Pac-Man unleashed a torrent of water, effectively overpowering Kirby's fire blast and driving him back with the power of the water stream.

With rapid precision, Pac-Man tossed the fire hydrant directly at Kirby. The weighty impact caused the pink sphere to lose his newly acquired fire abilities, which were extinguished alongside the hydrant's thrown force. Despite the loss, Kirby was still being continuously battered by the forceful stream of water, as the fire hydrant continued to gush out its water supply.

Once the fire hydrant ran out of water, it crashed down heavily to the side. Pac-Man casually approached Kirby and lifted him up into the air. Pac-Man noted with some surprise that Kirby felt significantly heavier than before, and his form appeared to ripple like a water balloon. Unexpectedly, Kirby sported a mischievous smirk on his face, before sending Pac-Man flying backward with a powerful, concentrated blast of water. The force caused Pac-Man to slam into a nearby boulder, leaving him slightly disoriented.

Rising to his feet once again, Pac-Man retrieved a Ribbon Loop Power Pellet and consumed it. The act empowered him, causing him to glow with energy. Pac-Man proceeded to charge his Rev-Roll attack, gathering a massive amount of power. Once fully charged, Pac-Man accelerated into a frantic run, quickly circling around Kirby with his boosted strength.

Kirby curiously observed Pac-Man as he furiously ran around in a loop, wondering what the purpose of his repetitive movements might be. But then, a strange phenomenon unfolded. A rainbow loop materialized and locked onto Kirby, to his surprise. Caught in its grasp, Kirby was suddenly enveloped by an explosion and sent soaring into the air, crying out in shock.

As Kirby began his descent back towards the ground, Pac-Man swiftly dashed to the spot where the pink sphere was falling. In a swift motion, Pac-Man jumped into the air, extending his arm as he conjured Inky, the cyan ghost, who promptly rushed forward to deliver a powerful, ghostly bash. This collision sent Kirby hurtling even higher into the air.

With a deep inhale, Kirby manipulated his weight to become lighter than air, effortlessly lifting himself high above Pac-Man. Scanning the surroundings, Kirby zeroed in on a Waddle Doo nearby. He exhaled, descended toward the creature, and promptly consumed it. As a result, Kirby acquired a jester hat and a wand from the Waddle Doo's abilities. Without delay, Kirby directed an energy beam at Pac-Man. Although Pac-Man managed to elude the attack by darting away quickly.

Kirby continued to fire off energy beams, but Pac-Man demonstrated impressive speed and agility, easily dodging the repeated attacks as he moved in a looping pattern. However, Kirby displayed quick reflexes and managed to sidestep before the rainbow loop explosion could catch him. Pac-Man attempted to create another looping path, but Kirby had anticipated his strategy. The little pink sphere darted ahead of Pac-Man's path and delivered a precision shot, sending the yellow hero tumbling face-first into the ground with a hard thud.

Pac-Man grimaced as he pushed himself onto his hands and knees, spitting out a mixture of grass and soil he had accidentally ingested upon hitting the ground. His ribbon power-up had dissipated. With determination, Pac-Man pulled out another power pellet and consumed it, acquiring electro-shock abilities. Kirby fired another beam, but Pac-Man was quick to retaliate, unleashing a continuous bolt of lightning that overpowered Kirby's energy beam. The counterattack zapped and stunned Kirby.

As his energy beam abilities faded, Kirby let out a surprised cry. Pac-Man, seeing his opportunity, confidently moved closer. However, Kirby had other plans. He began inhaling once more, trying to draw Pac-Man into his powerful vortex. To prevent himself from being engulfed, Pac-Man acted swiftly, unleashing a forceful blast downwards, propelling himself upward and effectively escaping Kirby's inhaling grip.

Instead of Pac-Man getting caught in Kirby's vortex, a Flamer was accidentally sucked in, granting Kirby the Fireball ability. Kirby wasted no time, turning towards Pac-Man who fired another lightning bolt, launching himself forward like a blazing cannonball empowered by the fire attack. Kirby bulldozed through the lightning bolt, enduring the zap and delivering a scorching tackle that forcefully pushed Pac-Man back with a powerful impact.

With the heat intensifying, Pac-Man quickly deployed another fire hydrant, which ejected a forceful stream of water at Kirby. Despite being unfazed by the powerful torrent, Kirby was effectively hindered by the water due to his Fireball ability. As Pac-Man's electro-shock powers wore off, he swapped it for a Super Stomp Power Pellet, endowing him with incredible power in his feet.

As the intense heat from Kirby's fire clashed with the stream of water, a thick veil of steam began to form, clouding the surroundings. Undeterred, Pac-Man leaped over the steam-filled area, with Kirby swiftly ascending alongside him using his fireball ability. However, Pac-Man remained unfazed, skillfully kicking the flaming pink sphere back to the ground. With tremendous power, Pac-Man poised himself for an earth-shattering stomp, prepared to bring the full weight of his Super Stomp power into play.

Pac-Man forcefully stomped onto the ground, unleashing a powerful shockwave that dispersed the thick veil of steam, sending debris and fragments of earth flying through the air. Several fragments smacked against Kirby with such force that it immediately disabled his fireball ability, propelling him backward and leaving him momentarily stunned.

Seizing the moment, Pac-Man quickly grabbed a Smash Ball and forcefully shattered it in his hand. Immediately empowered by the surge of energy, Pac-Man's form dramatically expanded in size, reverting to his sleek and classic silhouette. Empowered with newfound might, he charged forward with full force toward Kirby. With Kirby still disoriented, the little pink sphere was unable to evade the incoming attack in time. Caught in Pac-Man's jaws, his malleable body prevented serious injury, yet the forceful chomps still inflicted significant pain upon him.

Pac-Man, having momentarily chewed on Kirby like a piece of gum, eventually spat him out into the air. Once the Smash effect wore off and he returned to his smaller stature, complete with limbs and a gleeful face, Pac-Man began to catch his breath. Meanwhile, Kirby swiftly summoned a Warp Star beneath him, allowing him to ascend and soar through the skies while searching for new power-ups to enhance his abilities.

Witnessing Kirby's attempt to distance himself by taking to the air, Pac-Man reacted quickly. He gobbled down two power-ups: a Power Pellet that granted him the ability to fly, followed by a Minty Breath Berry, which endowed him with icy powers, transforming his form into a blue, icy state. Driven by determination, Pac-Man followed suit and took to the skies, intent on pursuing Kirby with his newfound floating abilities.

As Kirby soared through the air on his Warp Star, he searched for fresh adversaries to inhale in order to gain their powers. However, he suddenly noticed a shower of snowballs falling around him. Turning his attention backward, Kirby spotted Pac-Man in pursuit, launching the icy projectiles from his transformed tongue, which now acted as an ice-powered nozzle.

Kirby quickly gobbled up any close-range snowballs, transforming them into stars before firing them back at Pac-Man. However, the yellow hero proved agile, skillfully dodging through the barrage of stars without succumbing to a direct hit. Intending to encroach on Kirby's proximity to execute his plan, Pac-Man cautiously maneuvered closer, summoning Blinky, the red ghost, to precede his path. Kirby, ever the opportunist, promptly consumed the ghost. However, unbeknownst to Kirby, that was precisely what Pac-Man had anticipated. With calculated precision, Pac-Man unleashed a potent, point-blank ice blast upon the unsuspecting pink sphere.

The result? An immobilized Kirby, transformed into a frozen popsicle, now careening toward the ground after being kicked off his Warp Star.

With a resounding impact, Kirby hit the ground, the shattered ice fragments scattering around him. He groaned dizzily, still trying to regain his bearings. After a moment, he managed to stand up, ridding himself of the disorientation and shaking off the residual pain. Then, in a surprising turn of events, Kirby emitted a burp, spitting out a pair of floating eyes. A manifestation of Blinky himself.

Blinky's detached eyes hovered upward, fixing a stern gaze upon Pac-Man, their glare full of resentment, especially considering Blinky's frequent ordeal of being gobbled up by a mix of culpability and amusement, Pac-Man responded with an awkward, apologetic smile, unable to prevent the situation. Meanwhile, Blinky's eyes departed, disappearing into the distance.

Kirby's gaze darted around his surroundings until he caught sight of a Sword Knight. With his characteristic inhale, Kirby absorbed the enemy, acquiring the knight's green hat and formidable sword. Pac-Man gently touched down on the ground, but his moment of respite was swift to pass. Kirby was quick to act, raining down a series of fast sword slashes onto Pac-Man, systematically slicing away at the layers of his icy armor, thus effectively eradicating the icy power-up.

Retreating a few steps to avoid further injury, Pac-Man swiftly munched on another power-up berry. Anticipating the second onslaught, Kirby lunged forward with a sword swing. However, this time, he met with formidable resistance as his sword clashed against the hard, metallic exterior of Pac-Man, who had consumed a Titanium Berry, transforming him into a solid titanium form.

With newfound strength, Pac-Man effortlessly lifted Kirby off the ground and hurled him a considerable distance away, causing the little pink ball to roll for a while before regaining his footing. To add insult to injury, Pac-Man's protruding tongue adorned a horseshoe magnet at its tip, steadily drawing in Kirby's sword. The pink puffball attempted to hold onto his weapon, but the magnetic force was too overpowering, and he lost his grip on it. Pac-Man swiftly caught the sword, now claiming possession of the weapon.

Chuckling in anticipation, Pac-Man shattered the sword, before preparing a powerful Rev-Roll attack. Kirby, reacting quickly, decided to prematurely end his sword transformation, instead choosing to consume a nearby Wheelie to acquire its rotating wheel ability. Tremendous speed coursed through Kirby's small body as he spun energetically, producing plumes of smoke from the friction. Kirby's top speed matched Pac-Man's, and the two collided head-on in a spectacular high-velocity impact.

Due to his greater mass and density, Pac-Man's titanium form proved superior in the collision, overpowering Kirby's wheel ability in the process. As a result, Kirby was forcibly hurled upward in a daze, losing his rotating wheel powers. He then crash-landed on the ground, temporarily disoriented by the intense impact.

Regaining his composure after the hard impact, Kirby noticed a Knuckle Joe nearby and quickly inhaled him, absorbing his martial arts skills. Sensing an attack from behind, Kirby swiftly turned around, seizing Pac-Man's arm and skillfully flipping him over his shoulder, leveraging Pac-Man's heavier metallic weight and momentum against him.

Initially caught off-guard by the unexpected flip, Pac-Man quickly gathered himself. However, before he could fully recover, he spotted Kirby preparing a powerful karate chop. In a desperate attempt to withstand the incoming attack, Pac-Man tried to block the hit. When the hit connected, the planet they were on, Popstar, cracked in half. This was despite there being a giant bandage over the last planetary crack that Kirby inflicted on the planet.

Temporarily knocked out from the intense collision, Pac-Man plunged through Popstar's outer layers and found himself amidst the volatile mantle. Although he eventually managed to regain consciousness, the realization of his precarious situation swiftly hit him, the titanium power-up having been surpassed by Kirby's attack. As Pac-Man quickly snapped back to his senses, he spotted Kirby hurtling towards him on the Warp Star. Hastily gorging on yet another power-up berry, this time a Kung Fu Berry, Pac-Man absorbed the martial arts skills and squared off against Kirby in an underground fisticuffs exchange.

As Kirby and Pac-Man continued their fierce battle, plunging through Popstar's core, they displayed remarkable intensity, exchanging powerful martial punches and kicks. The impact of their blows reverberated through the very heart of the star-shaped planet, causing it to shudder and quake. Their unstoppable momentum propelled them rapidly towards the other end of the chasm, created by their prior clash.

Following their high-velocity burst out of the chasm and into the sky, Kirby and Pac-Man delivered simultaneous punches, resulting in a cross counter that sent them hurtling away from each other. The force of the collision caused Kirby to lose his martial skills, leaving him in a free fall. In a remarkable feat, Kirby quickly focused on an approaching UFO enemy, swiftly devouring it and transforming into a small pink UFO himself.

Pac-Man, determined to match Kirby's impressive aerial capabilities, chomped down on a Rocket Berry, instantly equipping himself with rocket thrusters on his legs and a stylish cape. With increased propulsion, the two adversaries ascended into the stratosphere, engaging in a high-flying battle. Pac-Man attempted numerous assaults on the elusive pink UFO, but Kirby's superior aerial maneuvering skills thwarted Pac-Man's every attempt. The UFO adeptly evaded close attacks while also blasting Pac-Man away each time he closed the distance.

Pac-Man, visibly vexed by Kirby's resilient resistance, chose to consume a final power berry and vanish into the vastness of outer space. Confused by Pac-Man's retreat, Kirby stood perplexed, only to suddenly notice a colossal shadow descending upon him and the planet Pop Star. Astonished, Kirby observed Pac-Man's massive transformation into a planet-sized version of himself, comparable in size to Mercury. With an imposing grin, Pac-Man loomed over Kirby, who was so terrified he involuntarily abandoned his UFO form.

Desperate to escape, Kirby called forth his Warp Star and fled the colossal Pac-Man. Alongside his escape, Kirby attempted to launch star-shaped attacks using the space debris he had inhaled, but the projectiles proved useless against the enormous hero. Pac-Man relentlessly pursued Kirby through the entire solar system, his gravitational pull drawing in anything that managed to enter his atmosphere.

Recognizing the futility of fleeing or directly engaging Pac-Man by normal means, Kirby adopted a solemn expression. He made the bold decision to fly straight at the enormous hero, preparing a plan for the confrontation. Pac-Man, confident in his imminent victory, opened his vast maw, effortlessly swallowing Kirby whole. Triumphant, Pac-Man's gleeful grin symbolized his perceived victory.

Pac-Man's expression suddenly darkened as an intense internal pressure began to build in his planet-like form. Despite his massive strength, there was nothing the hero could do to prevent what was happening from within. The surface of Pac-Man's planetic body started to cave in, causing forests to be crushed, oceans to drain into suddenly appearing crevices, and mountains to collapse under an artificially heightened gravitational force.

Pac-Man let out a desperate bellow into the vast coldness of outer space, his entire planetary form succumbing to the unyielding pressure. By consuming the Hypernova fruit, Kirby gained the power to inhale Pac-Man from the inside. With a tremendous heave, Kirby spewed out his adversary, sending Pac-Man hurtling back towards Popstar, precisely on the opposite end of the solar system where their battle had begun.

Crash landing into Dream Land, Pac-Man's impact created a city-sized explosion, the force sending tremors through the planet's surface. Thud! Pac-Man landed on the ground nearby, his limbs gone, scorched and battered from the explosion. Gradually shrinking, the hero morphed into his trademark featureless silhouette, shrinking further and further until he vanished, accompanied by the distinct beeps signifying his usual game-over scenario.

Kirby floated down towards Dream Land, gracefully dismounting from his Warp Star. He then begun his typical dance routine, his cheerful face adorned with joyful expressions. As he spun and bounced around, he concluded his performance with a dramatic finishing pose, exclaiming enthusiastically,

"Hiiiiee!"
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Strength: Pac-Man is more powerful than the classic arcade game may lead you to believe. He could survive and damage the ghost called Spooky, who could conjure a 133 MT storm, and using non-canon material, could scale to small planet level, which would require 2.4 Zettatons of TNT to destroy. However, Kirby is capable of punching a complete crack into Popstar, similar to the size of Earth. According to Death Battle, he can punch with the force of 1.9 octillion tons of TNT. That makes Kirby 791,666X stronger than Pac-Man, and could easily crack the yella fella's planet form in half. Even if his planet form was upscaled to Earth, that'd still be almost 40,000X weaker than Kirby.

Speed: Pac-Man is fast enough to travel across the entirety of the planet's circumference in 3.5 seconds, placing him around 3% the speed of light. However, not only does Kirby's Ward Star let him travel at the speed of light, but exponentially beyond. About 8.3 trillion times faster in fact. Which is nearly 25 trillion times faster.

Skill: Both are incredibly skilled at what they do. They're capable of defeating the most dangerous foes of their worlds, and don't seem particularly unskilled in the arts of combat one way or the other.

Experience: However, Pac-Man typically goes up against ghosts, and other ghost type phenomena. Kirby is able to go up against physical gods, with power that rivals his own. Exponentially more powerful than Pac-Man has ever gone up against.

Powers: Both combatants we're nearly even, each having a source that gave them either the exact kind of powers, or had something to counter what the other didn't. However, Kirby still had to more than enough different kind of power ups on his own that would slowly but eventually overwhelm Pac-Man's own versatile power set. Especially Hypernova Kirby, which could swallow anything Pac-Man threw at him.

The winner is Kirby.
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Next time:

"I am the greatest Earthbender in the world! Don't you do dunderheads ever forget!"

"I go where the wind takes me, you know. I get to see new places, meet new people, stomp a few bad guys here and there."

Chapter Text

Toph Beifong

Backstory:

Toph Beifong is an earthbending master, one of the most powerful of her time, and the discoverer of metalbending. Blind since birth, Toph was constantly treated condescendingly because of her visual impairment, particularly by her overprotective parents, Lao and Poppy Beifong. Upon discovering badgermoles, earthbending animals who are also blind, she learned how to use earthbending as an extension of her senses. This gave her the ability to "see" every vibration that passes through the ground.

Having developed her own unique style of earthbending, Toph acquired a toughened personality and became famous for winning underground earthbending tournaments under the alias "The Blind Bandit", doing so behind her parents' backs. Although initially uninterested in directly aiding the war effort, she eventually chose to leave behind her old life, and travel with Avatar Aang and his friends as his earthbending teacher, when her parents finally became unbearable for her. Toph's total mastery over earthbending, unique personality, and thoughtful pragmatism made her a valuable addition to the team.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Chi Manipulation (Chi is the source of a user's bending),

Earthbending,

Metalbending,

Sandbending,

Surface Scaling/Magnetism Manipulation,

Seismic Sense,

Limited Attack Reflection

Weaknesses: Relies on her seismic sense to know her surroundings, can't swim, and is blind without her bending.
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Terra Markov (2003 cartoon)

Backstory:

Terra and her brother Geo-Force were the prince and princess of Markovia. She was a hard-headed child and was confused with who she was. Terra hated being told how to act. She and her brother were put through experiments to make them heroes in order to protect their family. The experiments worked, but she could not control them, so she ran away so she would not hurt anyone. Ever since, Geo-Force has been looking for her.

She traveled around very frequently. However, there are some clues to her past. When Slade had Terra alone with him in the episode "Terra", he stated that Terra did try to help others. He then said that on each occasion, something even worse happened as a result of using her geokinetic abilities. This is possibly the reason for her frequent travel.

In the episode "Aftershock - Part 1", Terra fights Robin as he tries to reason with her. She angrily told Robin (while trying to kill the Boy Wonder) that she did not want to be rescued and that she was "not some sad little girl", expressing a vast and deep-rooted anger that was not entirely directed towards him. This may be a clue to her earlier life.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Geokinesis (Earth control),

Skilled hand-to-hand fighter,

Energy Projection,

Flight (with her Geokinesis),

Explosion Manipulation (Can make rocks explode like fireworks. Can detonate the earth beneath her),

Summoning (Able to create rock golems to attack for her),

Air Manipulation (Can generate tornadoes)

Weaknesses: She can't control her powers properly (at first), Terra can be easily manipulated
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Song: Titans of the Earth

In the tranquil city of Ba Sing Se, the Spring weather was idyllic, with a clear blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. However, the tranquility was broken when a colossal dust cloud surged forth from the use of earth manipulation. This event occurred in the lower rings of the city, signaling an abrupt disruption to the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.

A group of three criminals found themselves buried under the earth debris caused by Terra Markov, a youthful teen girl. Her golden locks gently fluttered in the breeze as she removed the goggles from her eyes. Wearing a black shirt bearing a yellow 'T,' Terra confidently stated,

"That will teach you not to mess with me."

Despite her confident demeanor, Terra was far from pleased about having to resort to self-defense. Though she had gained mastery over her powers, she continued to harbor a deep distrust in herself, particularly regarding interpersonal interactions. The scars from her tumultuous journey with the Teen Titans and her encounter with Slade still weighed heavily on her mind. Convinced that isolation was the only way to prevent herself from causing further harm, Terra had voluntarily embraced the life of a lonely wanderer.

With a firm inhalation through her nostrils, Terra braced herself to leave the scene, collecting the dropped groceries. Just as she was about to depart, a girl's voice called out to her, making her pause in her tracks.

"I could have done better."

The girl stated, her tone conveying a sense of superiority. Terra halted and turned towards the source of the voice, revealing Toph Beifong, known as the Blind Bandit. Despite her milky film-covered eyes, Toph's gaze remained just as intense, her green eyes seeming to bore into Terra.

"What?"

Terra responded, a hint of annoyance in her voice. Toph approached Terra with a commanding stride, her smirk growing more pronounced. With a self-assured tone, she reiterated her previous statement,

"I could have done better. Your fighting technique was sloppy. Who taught you how to fight?"

Terra's face contorted with a mix of emotions as the question sparked painful memories of her past. The mere mention of the training and abuse she endured under Slade's tutelage provoked an instant reaction. Terra turned away, her voice laced with a hint of defensiveness as she replied coolly,

"My life is none of your business. Just leave me alone."

Toph was mildly surprised by Terra's response. She had anticipated some pushback, perhaps even a verbal spar. However, Terra's meek demeanor left Toph feeling rather dissatisfied.

With a hint of disappointment, Toph taunted, "What, you're just walking away? Wow. You're even more spineless than I thought."

Terra felt a shiver go down her spine, her doubts about her bravery resurfacing. Despite knowing her tendency to back down, she still bristled at the criticism. Trying to be the bigger person as she walked away, she spoke with a hint of desperation,

"Stop it. Just stop. Please."

Toph's irritation grew further. With a stomp, she grabbed a small pebble and clenched it in her hand. Her voice rose in volume as she scolded Terra,

"Where's your pride as an Earthbender?! You should be as strong and unshakeable as the very earth you bend! But you're not strong! You're just a coward!"

With a swift throw, Toph hurled the pebble at Terra's head, forcing the girl to halt in her tracks. Frustration welled up within Terra as she clenched her jaw in response to Toph's harsh words. Dropping her groceries, she lifted two boulders with her Geokinesis and hurled them at Toph. In response, the Blind Bandit grounded her stance before raising her own arms to create two skewed walls that deflected the attack. A small smirk played upon Toph's lips as she felt a flicker of satisfaction, her voice brimming with anticipation,

"Finally."

Toph utilized her Earthbending to harness the force within the slanted wall, propelling it toward Terra, who swiftly evaded the assault by jumping aside and performing a roll. Though imperceptible to the naked eye, the action created a small shockwave that rippled through the ground, which Toph detected with her heightened seismic sense thanks to her bare feet. With her acute awareness, Toph could discern every movement Terra made that connected with the earth beneath, despite her lack of vision.

Toph executed a swift kick into the ground, summoning an upcoming fissure to surge towards Terra. In response, Terra flung her arms apart, employing her Geokinesis to bifurcate the incoming fissure, thereby deflecting the attack. With a hint of disbelief, Terra exclaimed,

"Wait, how can you tell where I am? You're blind!"

Toph smirked mischievously as she gently traced her foot along the ground, before performing a flourish with her wrist, causing the earth below Terra's feet to shift suddenly. This move destabilized Terra's balance, tripping her and making her fall to the ground.

"Heh, wouldn't you like to know?"

Toph taunted, amusement lacing her voice. Terra frustratedly brushed her blonde locks aside, before extending her hand forward forcefully. Acting in kind, she shoved the soil beneath Toph, causing her to lose balance and land on her front.

"You're not the only one who can knock someone off their feet."

Terra retorted, a hint of defiance in her voice. Toph found herself genuinely taken aback, her usual composure and immovable stance shattered by the unexpected upset of her balance. Despite the hit to her ego, Toph couldn't help but appreciate the challenge that Terra presented.

"Now you've done it."

Toph warned with a mix of bravado and determination, her voice filled with a renewed vigor. With determined focus, Toph firmly grounded her feet and clenched the earth in front of her. Summoning her Earthbending prowess, she lifted a segment of the ground with her power, then forcibly slammed down, propelling an ever-growing ripple wave of earth in Terra's direction.

As the intimidating wave of earth rushed towards her, Terra's eyes widened in recognition of the incoming attack. Acting swiftly, she used her Geokinesis to raise a platform of earth beneath her, propelling her into the air and flying above the wave, skillfully avoiding it. Toph, with her acute senses, could detect the movement of the platform that Terra was using for flight. Grumbling to herself, She mused,

"First Twinkle Toes, now her. Too nimble for an Earthbender... maybe I should call her Slipperily Girly? ... Nah, I'll keep working on it."

With renewed focus, Toph zeroed in her attention on the battle, strategizing her next move. Utilizing her Geokinesis, Terra lifted large shards from the surrounding buildings, sending them cascading down upon Toph. In response, Toph swiftly raised her arm and performed a sweeping arc, conjuring a dome of cobblestones that enveloped her in a protective barrier, neutralizing the incoming attacks.

Narrowing her eyes, Terra advanced the platform downwards towards the dome. With a powerful shove, she made the platform descend upon the defensive structure, causing it to collapse. She landed on the building of a house. However, Toph was nowhere to be seen. A hole in the structure was the only indication of her absence.

"What?"

Terra pondered aloud, confusion clouding her features as she tried to locate Toph's whereabouts. Toph took the element of surprise, surging through the ground and launching up to Terra's level on the roof with a pillar of earth. She then pushed out forcefully, unleashing a barrage of rocks from the pillar towards the blonde girl. Caught off guard, Terra barely managed to deflect the initial onslaught before the force of the attack sent her stumbling off the roof. She landed with a resounding thump on the hard ground, her fall cushioned by her Geokinesis, but not enough to entirely soften the impact, causing her to cry out in pain and frustration.

Toph agilely glided down the roof, her Earthbending allowing her to land safely on the gravelly ground below. With a smirk, she taunted,

"What? Can't handle a small drop? Looks like you're not as tough as you think you are."

With a guttural sound, Terra propelled her arm, flipping the earth below Toph like a slab of stone before the Blind Bandit had the chance to react with proper Earthbending technique, sending her flying back and colliding with a pile of crates with a yell. Anger seethed within Terra as she vented,

"Get over yourself!"

As Toph pushed herself back up, she was still disoriented from the previous attack. However, her keen seismic sense allowed her to anticipate Terra's next move. Acting swiftly, Toph erected a series of stone pillars in a diagonal pattern, intending to knock Terra off course. However, Terra demonstrated remarkable agility, weaving around each pillar with serpentine evasion, dodging the attacks with surprising finesse.

Taking a fragment of rock from the broken pillar, Terra reared back to bash it against Toph's head. However, Toph, with her lightning-fast reflexes, shattered the rock to dust with a backhand strike. However, now that she was fighting in close quarters, Terra took advantage of Toph's blindness and unleashed a rapid sequence of martial arts punches, aiming to land blows that were invisible to the Blind Bandit.

Toph was caught off guard by the unexpected flurry of punches. Most Earthbenders fought from a distance, rarely resorting to hand-to-hand combat. This situation felt different, and Toph struggled to defend herself, feeling a pang of discomfort physically, and mentally. Despite her tendency to fight dirty and pragmatically, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that something was off about hitting a blind girl in this manner.

Toph managed to catch one of Terra's kicks, but was quickly met with another blow from the blonde's other leg. She winced at the impact but, keeping her composure, she turned her head towards Terra with a hint of derision.

"Beating a blind girl? Even for a coward, that's just low."

Toph quipped, her voice laced with a mix of annoyance and disbelief. Terra huffed, brushing her golden locks aside, and retorted with a hint of disdain.

"Please. You strike me as the type who would ruthlessly exploit any vulnerability, disabled or otherwise, if they can put up a fight."

Toph's eyes widened at Terra's words. While she was an unapologetic fighter who didn't mind underhanded tactics, being accused of taking advantage of the disabled bothered her. She replied firmly, her voice tinged with anger.

"You don't know anything about me."

Toph lashed out with a swift punch to the ground, propelling Terra back with a sloped pillar of earth. Caught off guard, Terra let out a cry of surprise as she hit the ground. Seeing an opportunity, Toph swiftly disappeared underground using her Earthbending, confident that Terra would pursue her.

Recovering from the attack, Terra noticed the hole Toph had vanished into, and quickly decided to follow, utilizing her Geokinesis to glide down the tunnel with ease. She slid down the shaft with a mix of determination and caution, her body maneuvering through the cramped underground space.

As Terra descended into the depths, she reached an expansive underground cave that had remnants of an ancient city. Glowing crystals emitted a soft, otherworldly light, giving the surroundings an ethereal ambiance, as though time had come to a standstill within this subterranean sanctuary. Terra gazed around her in awe, her eyes taking in the breathtaking sight of the ancient cavern filled with luminescent crystals. As she stepped deeper into the underground chamber, her surroundings held a sense of wonder and mystery.

"Whoa..."

She murmured, her voice filled with wonder and curiosity.

"Hey, Blind Beater!"

Toph called out. Terra turned towards the Blind Bandit, not appreciating the nickname.

"You want to beat me so bad! Alright then! Come and get me!"

Terra let out a sigh, shaking her head in response to Toph's remark. With a firm tone, she retorted,

"Let's get one thing straight: You started this fight. I warned you to leave me be. If you can't handle the consequences, then you shouldn't have started it in the first place."

Toph's expression darkened at Terra's words. She clenched her fists, ready to continue the fight.

"Oh, I can handle whatever you dish out. You're the one who should be worried."

With a quick movement, Toph summoned shattered bits of crystals from the cavern's natural surroundings. She then manipulated them, encasing her body in a crystalline armor before launching herself forward in a gliding motion. She charged towards Terra, her eyes locked on her target. Terra, mirroring Toph's actions, created a protective covering of earth around her own body, preparing herself for the imminent clash. They both charged towards each other, closing the distance between them. As they finally collided, the impact created a shockwave throughout the cavern, causing the very earth to shake beneath them.

Toph and Terra were locked in a fierce struggle, their hands gripping each other tightly. They pushed against each other, their respective manipulation styles—Earthbending and Geokinesis—engaged in a test of strength and power. The tension was palpable as each girl desperately struggled to gain the upper hand. The pressure between Toph and Terra grew increasingly intense, with both girls exerting their full strength. Terra's eyes glowed yellow, a sign of her growing power. As she channeled her energy, her aura seeped through the crystal encasing Toph. Cracks began to form across the surface, the pressure slowly increasing and causing the crystal to splinter.

"Agh!"

Toph cried ed out in pain as she felt her body being slowly crushed by the constricting pressure. Recognizing the need to escape the crushing pressure, Toph quickly wrenched her palms away from Terra's grip, creating an opportunity to counterattack. In one swift motion, she propelled her hands forward, employing the minimal force required to generate maximum impact. Terra was sent careening back, her stone armor unable to withstand the unexpected blow. She slammed into a wall, crying out in pain from the impact.

Toph slumped to her knees, her crystalline armor crumbling and cascading to the ground in broken fragments. With the shattering of her armor, her arms were exposed, covered in cuts and bleeding profusely. Her hands trembled as she endured an intensity of pain she had never experienced before. Blood dripped to the ground, creating small pools around her. Toph gritted her teeth, taking deep, shaky breaths to steady herself. She whispered,

"Come on, Toph. Pull it together. You can do this."

With a firm resolve, she punched both of her bleeding fists into the blood-sodden earth, willing the earth to compact and cover her arms, leaving her elbows free for movement. This makeshift tourniquet stopped most of the bleeding, and renewed her resolve. Despite the severe injury, Toph refused to give in. She was still the greatest Earthbender alive. Terra's voice rang out, filled with frustration.

"Stop! This is pointless!"

As she let loose a surge of power, her eyes and body emitted a brilliant yellow glow. With her Geokinesis, she lifted several cylinders of earth around herself, launching them one after another at Toph. The Blind Bandit, using her Earthbending, swiftly erected a substantial wall to intercept and block all incoming attacks. With a powerful punch into the ground, Terra unleashed a fissure that traveled straight to the wall, intending to break it apart. However, before the fissure could shatter the wall, Toph sprang up on a stone platform, propelling herself high into the air with a frontflip. As she descended, she dived feet first into the fissure, causing a significant portion of the area to cave in, creating a deep indentation. Toph then emerged from the fissure, riding a moving wave of earth beneath her feet, her momentum carrying her forward with a burst of speed.

Overwhelmed by Toph's unwavering determination, Terra heightened the floor of the cavern, creating a steep incline that rose higher than the wave that Toph was surfing on. However, Toph simply leaped onto the rising hill, utilizing footholds to catapult herself forward, continuing her relentless pursuit.

Just as Toph was about to close the distance between them, Terra screamed out,

"Get away!"

And raised her hands, before forcefully bringing them down. The hill that Terra had raised shattered and fragmented in a violent display. Toph cried out in surprise and pain as she was thrown back, tumbling harshly to the ground below. With the impact, her bun came undone, revealing a thick and voluminous mane of hair, a clear indication of how much the situation was spiraling out of control.

Toph let out a pained groan as she painstakingly rose to her feet, the toll of the fight becoming increasingly apparent. Not only that, her seismic sense through her feet alerted her to an impending danger; Terra's action had caused even more damage to the cavern than either could anticipate, and the ceiling was slowly caving in on top of them.

Taking a moment to gather her strength, Toph assumed a powerful horse stance, planting both feet firmly into the ground. With a determined expression, she inhaled deeply before raising her arms in a forceful upwards motion, attempting to single-handedly prevent the impending cave-in.

A look of intense concentration washed over Toph's face as she strained with every fiber of her being. The weight of the earth above her was immense, far greater than she had anticipated at this subterranean depth. She clenched her teeth, determination etched deeply on her features, but her voice betrayed her internal struggle.

"I...I can't do it!"

She uttered, the tremor in her voice betraying the extent of the effort required, and the fear she was feeling to hold back the inevitable. Sensing Terra's footsteps approaching through her seismic sense, Toph turned towards her, detecting the raised hands that signaled her intentions. In that moment, the gravity of the situation settled into Toph. Her initial arrogance had led her to this point, and she realized that she was facing the consequences of her actions that she could not escape. Overwhelmed, Toph closed her blind eyes, tears streaming down her face as thoughts of her friends filled her mind.

"I'm sorry."

She whispered, her voice full of both regret and despair. To Toph's surprise, the final blow that she expected didn't come. Instead, the weight above her lessened, and she hesitantly opened her eyes. With her seismic sense, she focused her awareness and felt Terra standing beside her, her arms raised in an effort to support the load using her Geokinesis. Terra's firm words echoed through the cave, offering unexpected assurance.

"Hold on. I got you."

She said, her voice steady and resolute. Toph initially recoiled in surprise, but quickly composed herself, nodding in determination. With a shared focus, they channeled their energies towards the cave-in above. As the ceiling caved in around them, a sinkhole formed on the surface, a testament to the extent of the disaster. After a few minutes, a hole emerged from the sunken land, and both girls burst through it, panting heavily.

Emerging from the deep hole, both girls crawled a few feet outwards before exhaustion overcame them. They collapsed onto their backs, their gazes lifting towards the clear sky above, a stark contrast to the dangerous situation they had just endured. Toph's voice trembled as she caught her breath, her words coming out in between labored gasps.

"You…you saved me. Why?"

She questioned, her initial expectation being that Terra would have finished her off in the depths below. Terra slowly shut her eyes, her adrenaline levels beginning to decrease. She let out a weary sigh, her voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability and self-reflection. She confessed,

"I don't really see myself as much of a hero, but..."

She paused, her voice gaining conviction,

"...but it was the right thing to do. You needed help."

Toph felt the weight of Terra's response sinking in, her arrogance slowly giving way to humility. As the guilt for her earlier treatment of Terra settled in, she couldn't help but feel remorseful for her own past behavior. Her words held genuine regret as she apologized, acknowledging her mistakes.

"I'm sorry. For everything I said."

Terra let a faint smile cross her face, her exhaustion catching up to her. She sighed softly, her voice carrying a hint of weariness.

"I appreciate the apology."

She accepted Toph's remorseful words with a weary nod. Now that the immediate danger had passed, Toph took a moment to regain her composure, resorting to humor to salvage her battered pride. A dramatic sigh escaped her lips as she offered a touch of banter, a hint of bruised pride still evident in her tone.

"As much as it pains me to admit, you're the greatest Earthbender in the world now."

Her voice was laced with reluctant acknowledgement. But then, with a hint of determination, she added,

"But don't get too comfortable. Our rematch will come, and I'll reclaim my title."

Terra let out a soft chuckle, a slight nod acknowledging Toph's challenging words. Her voice held a hint of nonchalance as she responded.

"I don't really need the title. But the next time we meet, anything could happen."

Terra extended her hand, gently grasping Toph's own, as they both lay there on the ground, feeling the warm embrace of the Spring breeze caress their faces. There was a moment of peacefulness, a sense of unspoken understanding between them.
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Strength: Both of these young girls command the Earth with the best of them, but surprisingly, even for me, Toph wasn't the best this time. When Toph was holding up the Si Wong Library from sinking into the desert, its estimated that the library weighed 56 million tons. And not only was it falling into the sand, Wan Shi Tong was forcefully pulling the library down, likely subjecting the sand underneath to turn into glass in order to do that. To stop such a feat would mean that Toph was exerting 18 KT of TNT. This would be like using Earthbending to be able to just barely keep the Hiroshima bomb to a minimized explosion that can't be further suppressed, instead of freely exploding outward. However, when Terra lost control of her powers in her debut episode, she accidentally created an earthquake that was going to collapse a mine that her and the Titans were in. While the size of the mine is impossible to completely measure, to bring down a well structured mine would require a magnitude 6-7 earthquake, Which would yield in estimated power of 72 kilotons. This makes Terra roughly 4X stronger at bare minimum. And since she's learned control and had the power to start, and then stop a volcano erupting at the end of the Aftershock episodes, this would actually make her 350X stronger at most.

Speed: This one was even steeper. Toph scales to Aang, who can react to lightning at Mach 150. But Terra can scale to Raven, who can dodge and block an attack from Doctor Light after the laser was fired. Frame by frame, this is measured out to be a reaction time of 87% light speed. This puts Terra at having reactionary feats of Mach 760,407. This makes Terra slightly over 5,000X faster, so not even the seismic sense would be able to keep up if Terra decided to go for a speed blitz.

Skill: Toph is definitely more skilled. Terra was experimented on to achieve her powers, and actively went out of her way of using them unless she had to in most circumstances. Whereas Toph straight up enjoys fighting, and uses Earthbending whenever possible.

Experience: Toph was also more experienced. Sure, Terra faced against more varied opponents, but Toph has been the reigning champion of the Earth Rumble tournament for several years, and has only gone on to do more impressive things since then.

Powers: Both girls commanded the ground with mastery, and Toph's ability to metalbend could give her a leg up if she was in a metal heavy location, but how they use their powers gives Toph the disadvantage. She has to physically move similar to the praying mantis kung fu fighting style to use Earthbending. Terra can just use her powers with simple body movement, or even just her mind with Geokinesis.

The winner is Terra Markov.
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Next time:

"I am Robin. Son of Batman. And that's all you need to know!"

"You don't have to be a badass to be a superhero Dave, you just gotta be brave."

Chapter Text

Damian Wayne

Backstory:

Sometime after Batman became a public hero, he fought Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins. During his adventure, he met Ra's' daughter Talia al Ghul. The two young adults fell for each other and, after a brief fling, they conceived a child.

Bruce was unaware of the child's conception and returned to crime fighting for years. Talia on the other hand, taking advantage of the hero's impressive genes, believed their child to be a perfect heir. The child was born and given the name Damian. Talia then used the League's extensive scientific resources to inorganically speed up the child's aging - giving him the physiology of a ten year old in less than five years.

During this time, Damian was raised by Talia and trained by the League of Assassins; Damian became a skilled assassin by an early age. Coupled by his innate talent for the art and his lineage, Damian became a respected member of the League.

Eventually, when Talia deemed that Damian was ready, she allowed him to go to Gotham and meet his father - the Batman. Batman was surprised to learn he had a secret son with a supervillain but sought to learn more about the boy anyway. Despite his intense training to become a remorseless assassin, Damian was sympathetic to his father's vigilantism in Gotham and volunteered to become his next sidekick. Batman agreed and granted Damian the mantle of Robin, his fourth ward to use the name.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Weapon Mastery

Weaknesses: Can be impulsive, reckless, and overconfident at times.
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Hit-Girl

Backstory:

Mindy Macready is a young girl whose father, a famous NYPD officer, whom was framed for drug dealing by mob crime lord Frank D'Amico after rejecting the gangster's offer to work for him, and was imprisoned for five years before she was born. Her grief-stricken mother, pregnant with Mindy at the time, committed suicide, but before she died, doctors managed to save Mindy. She was adopted by sergeant Marcus Williams, her father's former partner.

After Damon's release from prison, he was given custody of Mindy. He trained her in the martial arts and taught her how to use various forms of weaponry, including guns, knives, spears, and grenades, as well as teaching her how to take a bullet to the chest by wearing a bulletproof vest. As the deadly father-daughter crime-fighting duo Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, they set out to avenge Mindy's mother and Damon's imprisonment by tracking down and killing Frank D'Amico's henchmen and drug dealers one by one until reaching D'Amico himself.

When another vigilante named Kick-Ass gains extensive media attention, Mindy is impressed by his courage. She first encounters Kick-Ass when she saves him from a petty drug dealer named Rasul and his thugs. After discovering his true identity as Dave Lizewski, she and Big Daddy visit him at his home after re-routing his IP address. They see potential in him as a crime-fighter, and stay in contact with him should he ever need their assistance.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Weapons Expert,

Martial Arts and Combatant,

Acrobatics (Shown to be capable of making stunts and saltomortals with ease)

Fire manipulation (Flamethrower)

Weaknesses: Human limitations
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In an abandoned warehouse, the sounds of chaos and violence filled the air. Yells and gunshots echoed through the building as someone was systematically bringing down the participants in the illegal drug trade, one by one. The young 12 year old vigilante known as Hit-Girl stood tall amidst the carnage, her surroundings strewn with the lifeless bodies of the defeated criminals. Splattered with blood, she surveyed the aftermath of her actions. A grim reminder of the consequences of her role as a heroine.

"Well, that was fun."

She remarked, a hint of dark satisfaction in her voice. With a wide grin, Hit-Girl walked towards the body of a fallen mook, retrieving her detachable glaive. She flicked the blade, sending the blood droplets flying, not sparing a moment to dwell on the gruesome act. The sound of a voice broke the silence, and Hit-Girl looked up to see Damian Wayne, the Son of Batman, peering down from the rafters. He gracefully leaped down, his cape billowing as he glided to the ground.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

He questioned, a mix of curiosity and authority in his tone. Hit-Girl's eyes widened in excitement, and she squealed in awe.

"Whoa! I can't believe it's you! It's Red Bird! Or Robin, or Damian! It doesn't matter! I'm just so excited!"

Damian's eyes widened in genuine surprise at the girl's knowledge of his identity. Genuinely puzzled, he spoke, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

"Wait, how do you know who I am?"

Mindy rolled her eyes, unable to contain her amusement at Damian's surprised expression. She continued, listing out her knowledge about him.

"I know that you were raised in the League of Assassins. I know that you're the fifth Robin, and I also know you're Bruce Wayne's son. I've read all about you from my friend's comics, obviously."

Damian's surprise grew even more as he realized the extent of knowledge this girl had about him and his father. With a grave expression, he pulled out his extendable staff, determination etched on his face.

"I was originally going to bring you in for killing these criminals, and I don't know what you mean by comics, but now that I know you have knowledge about my identity and more, I have no choice but to capture you. You know far too much."

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Hit-Girl couldn't help but let out a giggle. She twirled her glaive with a mischievous smile. She then spoke elatedly, a mix of excitement and determination in her voice.

"A chance to fight, and find out if I'm better than the fifth Robin? Today is definitely my lucky day!"

Damian leaped back, unleashing a barrage of batarangs at Hit-Girl. She spun her glaive deftly, deflecting the projectiles, then quickly took cover behind a crate. With a swift maneuver, she stowed her glaive on her back and retrieved two pistols. Rising from the crate, Mindy unleashed a volley of shots at Robin.

Damian winced as he got hit, but his bullet-proof clothing minimized the damage to mere bruises. He retreated into the shadows, lobbing a batarang in Mindy's direction, aiming it at the same spot she had taken cover. The batarang exploded in a burst of light and noise, forcing Mindy to scramble away just in time.

Hit-Girl swiftly closed the gap between herself and Damian, engaging in a flurry of punches and kicks as they traded blows in a display of their martial arts skills. However, Damian gained the upper hand, landing a powerful kick that sent Mindy flying. Seizing the opportunity, Damian threw more batarangs, aiming at the lights and plunging the warehouse into complete darkness.

Damian smiled slyly, confident in his tactic to plunge the warehouse into darkness. However, he was surprised when Hit-Girl spoke, her words laced with amusement.

"Smart thinking, Bird Boy, but nice try."

She said, followed by a chuckle. She activated the night vision mode on her domino mask, the world transforming into a green-hued landscape before her. She observed Robin charging towards her and prepared herself, bracing for the onslaught. The two engaged in another round of hand-to-hand combat, their skills seeming evenly matched. Damian managed to land a punch to her stomach, but Hit-Girl responded quickly, swiftly pivoting to deliver a kick to his head.

The battle intensified as the two adjusted their strategies, transitioning from hand-to-hand combat to staff and glaive clashes. Hit-Girl managed to sever Damian's staff, but Robin evaded a follow-up slash, executing a back flip to create some space between them. Damian discarded the remnants of the cut staff, pulling out two batarangs and holding them like dual-bladed knives. He observed as Mindy fished out two butterfly knives, spinning them around with flamboyant flourishes until she adopted a matching stance, her smirk exuding confidence.

The clash between their blades continued, sparks flying with each contact in the darkened warehouse. Damian fought with a ruthless intensity, but Hit-Girl's demeanor remained lighthearted, a playful smile on her face, as if relishing the encounter and treating it more like a game. She managed to make a few shallow cuts into Damian's Robin uniform, but failed at drawing blood.

Damian managed to land a cut across her cheek, causing Mindy to wince momentarily. However, her cheerful demeanor instantly returned as she nimbly ducked another blow. Taking advantage of his exposed leg, she swiftly stabbed him with her knife, eliciting a cry of pain from Damian. In response, she exclaimed victoriously,

"Yeah! I got you!"

Despite the pain from the wound, Damian grit his teeth and seized her head, ramming it against her forehead. Hit-Girl staggered back, momentarily disoriented by the attack. She seemed to pause and listen intently, whispering to herself,

"Yes, Big Daddy. That sounds good..."

With newfound determination, she retrieved a pair of wakizashi blades, readying herself for the continuing battle. Damian quickly shrugged off the strangeness of Hit-Girl's self-conversation, more importantly focused on extracting the knife stuck to his leg. Once freed, he quickly switched his stance and pulled out his own katana, preparing to defend against a dual-bladed onslaught from Hit-Girl.

Despite the numerical disadvantage of weaponry, Damian managed to hold his own against Mindy's attacks, parrying her relentless barrage of cuts and strikes. However, seeing an opportunity, Damian launched a low sweep kick, knocking Hit-Girl off balance and sending her sprawling to the ground.

Robin latched onto Hit-Girl's leather suit, forcefully hurling her away with a martial arts maneuver. In a whirlwind of motion, the girl yelled as she flew head-first into a large bag of illicit drugs that was part of the interrupted drug trade, plunging her face into a case of cocaine powder.

Damian seized her black hair, yanking her head back and firmly pressing the katana against her throat. With a serious tone, he warned,

"You better cease this fight, or I'll have no choice but to seriously injure you."

Hit-Girl, however, didn't reply. Instead, she took a deep breath, unintentionally inhaling substantial amounts of the dispersed cocaine. Almost immediately, her heart rate and adrenaline spiked, causing her eyes to dilate as a flood of dopamine and other chemicals surged through her body. With a frenzied laugh, Hit-Girl exclaimed,

"Oh fuck yeah! Now it's a party!"

She then suddenly launched a violent strike with the back of her head into Robin's nose, causing it to bleed as he involuntarily stepped back, wincing in pain. Under the influence of the drugs, Mindy's movements were more frantic and unrestrained, more focused on velocity and nimbleness than technique. Despite this, Robin easily parried away her relentless strikes, showing his own agility and dexterity. He eventually managed to disarm Hit-Girl of her swords, leaving her vulnerable.

Robin threw punches and kicks at Hit-Girl, landing a few blows that broke her nose, cracked a rib, and inflicted a nasty black eye. Despite the damage, Mindy appeared unfazed, displaying an almost superhuman resistance as she continued her relentless assault, landing twice as many hits against him than he could to her.

Back against the wall, Robin realized he had no means of escape as he observed Mindy recklessly charging towards him, laughing hysterically like a wild hyena. In a split-second reflex, he raised his sword, and horrifyingly, Hit-Girl inadvertently impaled herself onto the blade while lashing out with a punch. Robin swiftly ducked to avoid being hit on the head by the punch, only to witness the girl breaking her hand against the concrete wall.

Hit-Girl went momentarily silent, her focus drawn to her broken hand and the sword piercing through her abdomen. Remarkably, the injury did not diminish her unhinged demeanor, as she continued giggling uncontrollably. With a deranged grin, she managed to utter,

"Are you attempting to end my life? How very naughty, Bird Boy. Such behavior doesn't befit a hero like you."

She grabbed hold of his neck, exerting immense pressure as she forced him down to the floor. With a deranged laugh, she aimed to strangle him. Despite Robin's desperate struggles to dislodge her, his efforts seemed futile. The cocaine-fueled Mindy displayed a heightened pain threshold, rendering her seemingly impervious to any injuries, not even acknowledging the damage she continued to sustain.

Damian resorted to one final trick, pushing his finger into Hit-Girl's forehead. Just as he suspected, her crazed laughter abruptly stopped, and her dilated eyes rolled back behind her closed lids. With a sudden collapse, she slumped onto her side, her breathing ragged and slowing. Robin breathed deeply, exhausted from the arduous encounter. Robin took a moment to compose himself before keying his communicator to reach out to his colleagues.

"This is Robin. I just went through a wild fight with a girl who was on a drug-fueled rampage. Request backup and medical assistance. My sword is currently embedded in her stomach."

He reported, the exhaustion evident in his voice.
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Strength: Both should be relatively equal in brute strength. Both are capable of fighting numerous men without losing out, and due to their smaller, younger bodies, any instances of strength beyond their norm are likely outliers that wouldn't ultimately count overall.

Speed: Both tweens are capable of dodging bullets at their best. However, Hit-Girl is more prone to getting hit compared to Damian, who is comparable to faster foes like Batman, Cassandra Cain, Catwoman and Deathstroke, most of whom have reactionary times of 16 times the speed of sound.

Skill: Robin is the much superior skilled. For the martial prowess that Mindy has at her disposal, she was trained by an ex-cop, if that, in police combat skills. Sure, her skills are assassin quality, but she did not have a good teacher. Unlike Damian, who was raised by real assassins, trained by Talia al Ghul, and regularly spars with Batman.

Experience: Damian has experienced much more than Mindy ever has, having fought with and against peak humans, superhumans and metahumans whereas Hit-Girl mostly fights gunmen and powerless villains.

Powers: Mindy may have more deadlier weaponry, but Damian had the more versatile equipment that can let him contend with Hit-Girl's and keep her on the back foot in this category.

The winner is Damian Wayne.
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Next time:

"Pirates are evil? The Marines are righteous? These terms have changed throughout all of history. Kids who have never seen war and kids who have never seen peace will have entirely different values... Justice will prevail? Of course it will! Because whoever wins is Justice!"

"Opposites attract. I'd bet we'd get along. We could be great friends. But be careful, as Transmuters are fickle... What used to be valuable can instantly turn to chaff."

Chapter Text

Donquixote Doflamingo

Background:

Donquixote Doflamingo, nicknamed "Heavenly Yaksha", is the captain of the Donquixote Pirates. Prior to his imprisonment, he was a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea with a frozen bounty of Beli 340,000,000, as well as the most influential underworld broker under the codename "Joker". He is also a former World Noble, descended from the Donquixote Family.

He is the first son of the late Donquixote Homing and the older brother of the late Rosinante, both of whom he killed out of feeling betrayed by them. Doflamingo became the King of Dressrosa after taking the throne from Riku Doldo III eight years before the start of the series. He ruled the country tyrannically until he was stripped of his positions as a Warlord of the Sea and king after he was defeated by Monkey D. Luffy near the end of the Dressrosa Arc. After Doflamingo was arrested by Admiral Fujitora along with most of his crew, he was locked up at Impel Down and placed in Level 6. Vegapunk later cloned Doflamingo as one of the Seraphim to replace the Warlords.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Hand-to-Hand combatant,

Acrobatics,

Competent with a flint-lock pistol and can use his feathered coat as a shield,

Limited Poison Manipulation (Utilizes lead bullets in his pistol),

Haki (Intermediate Haoshoku, Intermediate Kenbunshoku, Intermediate Busoshoku),

Thread Manipulation (Via Ito-Ito no Mi),

Limited Air Manipulation (Can kick hard enough to create an air wave capable of bisecting three towers),

Body Puppetry (By wrapping threads via Parasito, can control the movements of his opponents with his strings by piercing the nape of the neck where the cervical is located),

Pseudo-Flight (Via Sora no Michi),

Limited Fire Manipulation (Via Overheat),

Duplication (Can create a perfect replica of himself to fight alongside him: The Black Knight),

Limited Telepathy Negation (His Birdcage has shown the ability to cut off Transponder Snails ability to telepathically communicate with each other),

Limited Body Control and Regeneration/Self-Healing (High-Low via Shufuku Sagyo),

Transmutation (Capable of converting objects into threads, and control them via Awakening, but has only been shown capable of converting inanimate objects),

Afterimage Creation,

Danmaku,

Resistance to Heat Manipulation (Was unaffected by Sanji's Diable Jambe despite the latter's ability to harm the opponent's bones with it),

Ice Manipulation (Thawed himself free from Kuzan's ice),

Madness Manipulation, Mind Manipulation and Soul Manipulation via Willpower (Through sheer willpower they can resist losing their mind when absorbing shadows through the Kage Kage no Mi. Shadows belonging to strong willed people are difficult to control, allowing them to rebel against Moria's pact which usually immediately submits a shadow to his supremacy and orders. Spiritual energy is contained within one's soul/life; this energy is represented by the fighting power or the Haki itself. Those with strong souls, which are homologous to shadows, resist the effects of Brook's soul manipulation)

Weaknesses: He has a very pronounced god complex, having a deep-seated arrogance about his self-worth being above others, which, while it does not have a direct affect on his effectiveness in combat, does affect his overall thought process, which can be exploited if approached a specific way, such as when Trafalgar Law revealed his connection to the family of D to surprise and anger him, leaving him open for an attack.
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Hisoka Morow

Background:

Hisoka speaks little of his past because he is uninterested in it. It is revealed, however, that Hisoka joined the Phantom Troupe under false pretenses at some point after the Kurta massacre, and about two years before the events in Yorknew City, after defeating the previous #4.

Around the same time, he "initiated" Kastro to Nen at the Heavens Arena, sensing potential in him. He then took part in the 286th Hunter Exam, during which he murdered 20 examinees. He was disqualified for almost killing an examiner during his first attempt.

During his time in the Phantom Troupe, Hisoka may have shirked his duty of attending their meetings, as Machi made sure to let him know that attendance at the upcoming one in Yorknew City was mandatory for all members (not just those with nothing better to do) and the leader might personally come after him for skipping out, and Franklin later asked her if she was sure Hisoka would be present, which she was not.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Enhanced Senses (Detected Kalluto Zoldyck while he was using Zetsu. Kalluto's Zetsu was described as "flawless"),

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant (Hisoka can fight on par with Chrollo Lucilfer and can fight entire crowds. He is superior to the likes of Gotoh, who is in turn vastly superior to Canary, who at the age of 13 was able to singlehandedly defeat a group of armed bandits even without Nen),

Acrobatics,

Nen Manipulation (Transmuter; Hisoka is an extraordinarily talented Nen user of prodigious talent. He can use the four basic and all of the advanced techniques. His aura is described as ominous and eerie even in Ten),

Accelerated Development (Hisoka is considered to be a Nen prodigy, learning the basic principles in a few weeks when it would take an average person a year to learn Ten. During his fight with Moritonio he displayed the ability to use Gyo despite never being taught that, and quickly developed his signature Nen ability, Bungee Gum, on the fly and defeated Moritonio with it),

Enhanced Fear Manipulation (His aura is described as disgusting and scary and his aura terrified Gon and Killua and would have killed them had Wing not got involved),

Weapon Mastery (Hisoka is highly adept with using playing cards as weapons and has never been shown to miss in the entire series. He was also able to create a makeshift flail and wielded it skilfully enough to harm Chrollo),

Transmutation and Adhesive Manipulation (Hisoka can turn his aura into a sticky elastic substance called Bungee Gum),

Surface Scaling (Hisoka can walk on walls with Bungee Gum),

Attack Reflection (Hisoka can deflect projectiles back at his opponent. He was able to launch Razor's ball right back at him and sent all of Gotoh's coins back at him),

Limited Illusion Creation (With Texture Surprise, Hisoka can manifest imagery to change its appearance and texture. He claims he can replicate over 1,000 textures and can fool Nen users of the Spider's calibre),

Stealth Mastery (Was able to remain hidden from Killua, Amane, and Tsubone, who are all highly skilled assassins. Snuck into the Hunter's Association HQ and assassinated Teradein without being seen),

Resurrection (Hisoka can use Bungee Gum to restart his heart, resuscitating him),

Limited Inorganic Physiology (Hisoka has replaced his lost hand, leg, and parts of his face with Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise),

Immense Pain Tolerance (Was smiling despite having broken all of his fingers. Did not mind losing both arms to Kastro. Didn't notice that his leg was blown off),

Weaknesses: His immense pain tolerance can be used against him, as Hisoka failed to notice his leg was blown off by Chrollo's Sun and Moon. Zetsu involves keeping one's aura exclusively in the body; it makes a Nen user more vulnerable to physical, and Nen attacks because one doesn't have any aura on the outside of one's body to protect oneself.
—————————
Song: No Strings Attached (Brandon Yates)

Donquixote Doflamingo's confident strides took him through the elaborate flower field within the confines of his opulent castle. His signature grin remained ever present, while the soft rustle of his pink feathered cape accompanied his every motion. Unbeknownst to many, the warlord secretly controlled the island of Dressrosa, aided by his fearsome crew, the Donquixote Pirates.

Doflamingo suddenly sensed a presence through his keen Observation Haki, his gaze shifting towards a nearby tree. Maintaining his characteristic smile, he spoke aloud,

"You truly believe you can catch a Warlord of the Sea off guard? Either you're audacious or idiotic."

Hisoka elegantly walked across the side of the tree trunk, coming into view. With characteristic flamboyance, he addressed Doflamingo, the Heavenly Demon. Hisoka said, his voice filled with a hint of theatricality.

"Ah, your illustrious reputation truly holds up, Doflamingo. I was curious to see if you would notice the faint trace of my presence."

He then descended to the ground, a picture of refined elegance. Doflamingo's hand raised slightly, his demeanor exuding menace despite his smile as he issued a warning, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Hisoka.

"My power reigns supreme. If you've come to challenge me, know that the gap between us is wider than the celestial heights where I rule and the lowly hell where you are destined."

"Oh, you are clearly mistaken. I am merely here to-"

Before Hisoka could finish his sentence, flourishing a hand while doing so, Doflamingo used barely perceivable Haki enhanced string to cut an invisible incoming line of Bungee Gum Nen that Hisoka tried to discreetly cast.

"Oh."

Hisoka's eyes widened marginally, and he let out a soft, impressed gasp, a flicker of surprise crossing his expression. A malevolent chuckle escaped Doflamingo's lips as he boasted,

"If you think you can gain the upper hand with underhanded tactics, you're sorely mistaken. I've reached where I am today because I'm not so easily fooled."

Hisoka maintained his ever-present smirk, acknowledging Doflamingo's stealth maneuver. He responded,

"And don't think you're completely discreet either. I acutely sensed the strings you surreptitiously conjured from your fingertips."

Doflamingo's unwavering smile wavered for a brief moment, revealing a flicker of surprise and annoyance, which caused an artery on his forehead to pulsate slightly. He couldn't help but think to himself,

"How did he discern the nature of my Devil Fruit power so effortlessly?"

Hisoka executed a swift rush, launching a powerful kick at Doflamingo. In a quick reaction, the Heavenly Demon lifted his leg to block the assault, his signature chuckle echoing.

"Seems like this will be a more intriguing encounter than I initially assumed."

He mused, his tone laced with amusement. Hisoka attempted a follow-up attack, trying to pivot and strike with his opposite leg. However, Doflamingo deftly responded by twirling forward, avoiding the blow. As he spun, he invoked his unique ability, declaring,

"Pentachromatic Strings!"

In response, five vibrant strings sliced through the air, leaving bleeding slashes on the body of the magician. Surprisingly, rather than reacting to the pain, Hisoka appeared to relish it.

"Mmm, the cutting edge of your strings feels absolutely delightful!"

Hisoka articulated in an aroused voice, mildly unsettling Doflamingo with his twisted enthusiasm. Seizing the opportunity, the magician retracted his leg and promptly utilized his Bungee Gum Nen to disrupt the Heavenly Demon's footing, readying himself for a subsequent offense.

Hisoka swiftly prepared another kick, only to have it intercepted by the Heavenly Demon's arms fortified with Haki. The Magician utilized them as a point of leverage to form his Nen into purple flails, which he hurled from behind. Doflamingo showcased impressive defense, enveloping his back with Haki to withstand the strikes.

Undeterred despite the futility of his previous attacks, Hisoka landed gracefully, readying another powerful kick. However, midway through his movement, he suddenly found himself suspended in mid-air, seized by slender strings that held his body motionless. Doflamingo ascended into the air, employing the strings to elevate his position, capturing the magician in his control. Doflamingo's tone exuded confidence as he stated,

"I informed you that the difference in our capabilities is akin to two vastly different realms. Your powers may be intriguing, but I've grown weary of this encounter. What do you think of this?"

He proceeded to tighten the strings gripping Hisoka's body, causing blood to seep through the points where the strings sliced into his flesh. The magician gritted his teeth with a grin, trying to endure the pain of the tight strings cutting into his flesh. Hisoka managed to respond, his voice strained but still maintaining a hint of arousal.

"Ah, it's a bit... kinky, don't you think?"

Doflamingo's eyebrow twitched in response at Hisoka's twisted remark. The Heavenly Demon found the magician's reaction both off-putting and intriguing in its own morbid way. He replied with a hint of disdain.

"You're one sick, masochistic freak."

As a wicked smirk spread across his lips, Doflamingo retrieved a childhood trinket – a flintlock pistol, aiming it directly at the suspended Hisoka. With a cold tone and a deadly smile, he uttered the menacing words,

"If you crave like so much, find joy in your demise."

He squeezed the trigger, firing off three bullets in quick succession, their trajectories aimed at the magician. The magician manifested a flurry of playing cards, coated with Nen, between his nimble fingers. With a swift flick of his wrists, Hisoka sent the cards hurtling through the air, slicing up the incoming bullets while simultaneously targeting the Celestial Dragon. The Heavenly Demon reacted with great agility, deflecting two cards with a well-timed Overheat whip of strings. The last card found its mark, slicing through Doflamingo's beloved pistol, rendering it useless.

Witnessing the look of startled disbelief on Doflamingo's face, Hisoka couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. In a taunting tone, he teased,

"Oh? Did I happen to shatter your precious little toy? Please, don't shed tears for it. It's simply a plain old gun."

Countless veins of fury became visible across Doflamingo's face. The "plain old gun" held particular significance, known only to his trusted crew members. His anger boiled over, and he raised his hand, pointing at Hisoka.

"You insolent pest. You'll rue your audacity! String Bullet!"

Doflamingo unleashed a barrage of compacted string bullets, aiming to inflict excruciating damage on his enemy before bringing an end to the encounter. With a swift motion of his body, Hisoka summoned a sturdy Nen barrier to intercept the incoming string bullets momentarily. The reflected projectiles then returned towards Doflamingo. The Celestial Dragon adeptly crossed his arms, coating them with Haki to absorb the impacts. This allowed The Magician to spin his Nen flails around, successfully tearing through the strings binding him, liberating him from the restrictive constraints.

Hisoka leapt up, and launched a Nen-coated string, attempting to land a strike on Doflognito. The Heavenly Demon swiftly evaded the attack by dodging his head to the side. Hisoka retrieved his card, grazing the Celestial Dragon, but this momentary distraction left him exposed to a powerful front flip kick to the face as he landed on the ground with a resounding thud.

Doflamingo propelled himself forward, preparing to execute another Pentachromatic Strings assault. However, Hisoka swiftly countered the incoming attack with a Nen-enhanced punch. In a swift act, Hisoka attempted to extend his Nen as offensive extensions, only to have Doflamingo seize them and deliver a powerful Haki-fortified kick to the magician's stomach, causing him to double over.

Despite the resilience of his Nen and his enjoyment for pain, the relentless impacts were beginning to take a toll on the magician. He retreated, clutching his aching stomach muscles in discomfort. Doflamingo couldn't repress his smirk, clearly enjoying the sight of his adversary's discomfort.

"Oh, I see you're finally grasping the depth of this battle. Seems like you've bitten off more than you can chew."

Though admitting the gravity of his disadvantage, The Magician's face beamed with excitement. His pained smile shifted back to a wide grin, and he exclaimed with perverse enthusiasm,

"Mmm, your power is absolutely delightful! I could be in danger of losing my head if I don't remain vigilant!"

As Hisoka's Nen glowed over his crotch area, it shined so brightly so you would not be able to tell how big his erection was. Doflamingo flew forward with his string powers, still somewhat unsettled by The Magician's unusual enjoyment of the battle. With a swift move, he executed a kick with a string connected to his knee and foot, shouting, "Be careful with what you say. Fretsaw!"

Hisoka dodged the attack, but the castle that Doflamingo's pirate family resided in and the hill it perched upon were abruptly severed, shooting upward into the air before crashing back to the ground with a thunderous impact. Hisoka's eyes widened at the feat, and his visible joy around his groin went down. Having witnessed such a display, he realized that Doflamingo's words about the difference in their powers hadn't been an empty boast. It became abundantly clear that the Celestial Dragon possessed an extraordinary strength that he had yet to match. As Doflamingo roared,

"Pentachromatic Strings!"

Hisoka was swiftly slashed across the back, his blood seeping from the wound. The Magician swiftly dodged away from the attack, recognizing the need to maintain a safe distance from the Celestial Dragon's powerful assault. With a determined expression, Hisoka removed a deck of cards, coating them with his Nen, and propelled them at Doflamingo. However, the Celestial Dragon effortlessly countered the assault by shielding himself with his feathered cape, which glowed black as it absorbed the barrage of cards. The Haki-imbued defense effectively neutralized the incoming attack, leaving Doflamingo unscathed.

As the last of Hisoka's cards left his hand, The Magician prepared to launch another assault. But to his surprise, he found himself unable to move. Looking down, he saw that a single thin string was impaled into the back of his neck, effectively paralyzing him. Doflamingo's taunting words echoed,

"Did you, for a moment, think you had a chance? The truth is, I allowed you to fight as long as I did because I wanted to allow you to entertain the illusion of victory before revealing that you never stood a chance. You're now under my absolute control. The battle is over. I have won."

Doflamingo flexed his fingers, clearly enjoying his newfound dominance over The Magician. A chilling shift occurred in the atmosphere, the air taking on a dark, ominous purple hue. A sense of bloodlust emanated from Hisoka, growing stronger by the second. With fierce determination, The Magician declared,

"I refuse to let anyone, including you, control my actions. Now, you've awakened a fierce desire within me. There's only one way to quell this intensity."

The air crackled with tension as Hisoka unleashed a savage, animalistic scream, his Nen surging within him as it destroyed the string controlling him. Doflamingo, despite being taken aback by the immense bloodlust radiating from The Magician, refused to falter. Channeling his pride and arrogance, he proclaimed,

"I am a Celestial Dragon! I am inherently superior to every living being because of my prestigious birthright! You're just an abnormal, perverse, repulsive clown, and your existence pales in comparison to my divine status!"

Doflamingo unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, the overwhelming aura of his will power crashing against the intense bloodlust emanating from The Magician. The two forces collided, causing a noticeable tension in the air as their opposing pressures clashed. The Celestial Dragon's ambitious spirit sought to overpower Hisoka's similarly strong bloodlust, each will determined to gain dominance over the other.

The battle reached its most intense stage as they engaged in a fierce, close-quarters brawl. Nen-imbued attacks, infused with the power of Ryu, clashed with attacks fortified by Haki, causing shockwaves that reverberated throughout the flower-bedecked plateau. Their strikes and counterstrikes unleashed waves of energy, the combination of purple aura and black Haki creating a display of immense power and destruction.

Doflamingo, utilizing his incredible string powers, caught one of The Magician's incoming punches and swung him around, then slammed him forcefully to the ground, smashing him through numerous trees in the process. Ignoring the pain, Hisoka freed himself from the strings restraining him and dashed forward once more. With a cry of "Fallbright!" Doflamingo hurled five sharp strings at The Magician, each one lodging deeply into his body. Despite the painful stabs, Hisoka barely flinched, his focus unbroken as he pressed on with his determined charge.

Hisoka jumped and took a a big leap to go for a diving kick. Doflamingo countered it with a Haki enhanced kick, before using his other leg to push the Magician back into the air, leaving him vulnerable. With a swift, aerial move, Doflamingo ascended to Hisoka, grabbing both his wrists. He then created a string connecting the heel of his foot to his knee. The Heavenly Demon positioned his string-rigged leg over The Magician's right shoulder, setting up another deadly Fretsaw maneuver. The two spun towards the ground after making a full revolution, and slammed into the earth with a resounding impact.

Doflamingo stood over the prone Hisoka, admiring the result of his attack. The right arm of The Magician lay severed, bleeding heavily from the injury. A smug smile formed on Doflamingo's face as he taunted,

"Are you satisfied with the pain? Does it suit your tastes?"

Defying the conventions of debilitating injury, Hisoka displayed an unexpected resilience. Undaunted, he swiftly extended his remaining hand, ensnaring Doflamingo's head in a strong grip of Bungee Gum Nen. With a hard pull, he forced the Heavenly Demon to kneel down, before retaliating with a swift and powerful Nen-amplified kick to Doflamingo's abdomen. The pain from the impact briefly registered on Doflamingo's face, but his determination remained unshaken. Utilizing his strings, he swiftly severed Hisoka's left arm, adding to the growing collection of severed limbs. Doflamingo leapt back, taking a moment to collect himself. Baring his teeth, he declared,

"Your defiant spirit even in defeat is admirable, like a wild canine cornered. You should consider yourself fortunate that I am going to bestow upon you a death that exceeds your worth."

Doflamingo manifested two colossal, dense sheets of string, ensnaring The Magician's armless body within their grasp. With a cocky stance, he crossed his arms, before uttering the command,

"Break White!"

The Heavenly Demon tightened his grip, applying immense pressure that crushed Hisoka's immobilized form. The Magician's severed limbs spurted blood as the intense force was exerted upon his body. Doflamingo, no longer interested in the defeated Hisoka's lifeless body, began walking away. But as he paused, he was taken aback by a sudden, unexpected resurgence of bloodlust coming from Hisoka. However, this time, the intensity of the bloodlust felt even stronger than before.

"How is this impossible..."

He mumbled the Celestial Dragon, genuinely puzzled by the inexplicable phenomenon. Hisoka's body miraculously stood tall, as though made of a rigid piece of lumber. With a display of incredible skill and determination, he used his Nen powers to restart his vital organs, specifically reinvigorating his heart and lungs. A truly remarkable feat. Furthermore, The Magician transformed the Bungee Gum into arm-like structures, effectively creating organic replacements for his missing limbs.

Infused with a renewed and even more intense bloodlust, Hisoka's attacks gained strength and speed, surpassing his previous efforts. Despite Doflamingo's valiant attempts to defend himself with Armament Haki-shielded arms, it became evident that Hisoka's newfound power was even greater than before. With each strike, The Celestial Dragon felt the increased force and ferocity, signaling that this battle had entered an entirely new level of intensity.

Despite the growing intensity of the struggle, Doflamingo maintained his smug smile, trying to project an air of confidence and superiority.

"I see you have somehow managed to resurrect yourself with even greater power than before. However, despite your increased speed, your attacks still lack the weight and impact to truly threaten me. But I suppose you have earned the right to witness the ultimate technique at my disposal."

Doflamingo soared into the air using his versatile strings, heading towards the bustling town of Dressrosa. Hisoka, displaying remarkable agility and determination, pursued closely behind, skillfully leaping and jumping from one surface to the next, attempting to match the Heavenly Demon's pace. Doflamingo, attempting to gain some distance and disrupt Hisoka's pursuit, executed a swift turn and launched his Overheat technique, intending to lash out and dispel any platforms that could provide assistance. However, The Magician swiftly manipulated the falling rubble, drawing it towards himself in order to utilize it as a new jumping point and continuing his relentless pursuit.

As Hisoka drew near, Doflamingo swiftly defended himself using a barrage of Pentachromatic Strings, creating an effective barrier to keep The Magician at bay. Sensing an opening, the Heavenly Demon quickly countered with an Athlete-powered kick, a skill that combined Haki and a sharp-pointed shoe to deliver a potent blow. The force of the kick propelled Hisoka away, creating some breathing room for Doflamingo. Sensing the imminent threat posed by Hisoka's relentless assault, Doflamingo again called out,

"Break White!"

Once more, he unleashed a series of large string sheets, aiming to ensnare The Magician. However, Hisoka's remarkable speed and precision allowed him to swiftly maneuver across the sheets, closing the distance with a Nen-charged Ryu punch. Undeterred, Doflamingo swiftly countered with his Pentachromatic Strings, using his Haki-reinforced feather cape for protection first, and then striking back with them, effortlessly swatting The Magician away.

Both opponents landed on solid ground, their breaths momentarily heavy from the intense battle. Hisoka, though visibly winded, still stood his ground, his determination unwavering. Doflamingo, still wearing his signature smile, couldn't help but comment on The Magician's abilities.

"Your Devil Fruit powers are indeed intriguing," he acknowledged. "Your use of a gummy aura and ability to resurrect yourself are impressive, albeit a bit unusual. However, you should know that the capabilities of my String-String Fruit go far beyond just creating and manipulating strings. You've yet to witness the full extent of my awakened powers."

Seeing Hisoka gearing up for another strike, Doflamingo anticipated the incoming Nen-powered Ryu punch. Recognizing an opportunity, the Heavenly Demon swiftly placed his hand on the ground, transforming the surrounding terrain into strings. With a commanding shout of "Off White!" two colossal sheets of strings shot up from the changed ground, forming a shield to block The Magician's attack.

"Is he a transmuter too? But his range and power is too great for this level of Nen. How can he possess such strong transmutation skills?"

Hisoka found himself contemplating Doflamingo's abilities, particularly his apparent possession of transmutation skills but with a level of range and power that seemed to defy conventional Nen limits. As Doflamingo unleashed a relentless barrage of strings, made from the transformed terrain, The Magician was on the defensive, struggling to fend off the numerous, powerful attacks.

Hisoka, finding himself in an increasingly difficult situation, realized he was running out of options. With every surface he attempted to jump to, it changed into strings that attacked him continuously. Only his Nen abilities allowed him to keep from being completely overpowered by the relentless onslaught. Doflamingo, finally ensnaring Hisoka in strings, smirked confidently and declared,

"Listen up, shrimp. From the very start, you never stood a chance. This is the end."

With Hisoka completely immobilized inside the cocoon of strings, trapped in the air, all he could do was struggle against the bindings, realizing the dire situation he was in. Doflamingo, exuding an aura of absolute authority, raised sixteen pointed spires of strings, each one tipped with a powerful coating of Armament Haki. With an arrogant sneer, he proclaimed,

"This is your fate for challenging a Celestial Dragon! I'll use my ultimate technique, the 'God Thread!'"

The sheer power and intensity behind the Heavenly Demon's attack became evident as he prepared to unleash his fearsome 'sixteen holy assassin bullets.' Doflamingo smirked as he unleashed the fearsome power of his "God Thread." The sixteen pointed spires, tipped with Armament Haki, pierced through Hisoka's body with ease. With a sudden flex of his hand, the strings tore The Magician apart, causing an explosion of flesh and blood. Hisoka's remains lay defeated, his once powerful form now reduced to pieces, unable to withstand the sheer force of the Celestial Dragon's devastating technique.

Doflamingo stood victorious, basking in the aftermath of his triumph. With a menacing smile, the Celestial Dragon spread his arms wide, savoring the moment as the chaotic scene around them reverted back to the familiar surroundings of downtown Dressrosa.

"We each have our destined places. I was chosen from Heaven, while you reside in the depths of Hell. Fools like you have no right to spoil this world with your very existence."
——————
Strength: These two may be some of the strongest in their respective worlds, but Doflamingo had all the advantages. First off, Hisoka Morow may have had the power to fight on par with Uvogin's power, reaching a couple of kilotons of power with his Nen, but Doflamingo has the power to threaten cities on a much wider scale, and hold his own against Luffy in Gear 4, their power around then being approximately 300 GT of TNT, making Doflamingo 107 million times stronger.

Speed: Hisoka once dodged an explosion, and has regularly kept up with the Zoldyck family, who boasts lightning fast speeds. However, Doflamingo not only has observation haki, which would let him know in advance what's coming, he somewhat scales to Gear 4th Luffy, both of whom can react to 10X light speed.

Skill: Doflamingo has the more skill, as while Hisoka may be a Nen prodigy, the Heavenly Demon has had decades to train with his Devil Fruit abilities, and can hold his own against fighters with either superior abilities, or physical stats.

Experience: While it's unknown who has the greater experience in the variety of combatants they've fought, Doflamingo has the advantage of being 14 years older, letting him have more time to grow his power than Hisoka.

Powers: As tricky as Hisoka's Bungee Gum Nen is, it lacks in the sheer quantity of abilities that the String-String Fruit possesses at Doflamingo's control, the versatility of which would slowly but surely overwhelm him

The winner is Donquixote Doflamingo.
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Next time:

"My sword has gotten very dull. However, it's three times as thick and does three times the damage of a normal sword. You'd better pray you die quickly, or this could be painful."

"Don't be so quick to throw away your life. No matter how disgraceful or embarrassing it may be, you need to keep struggling to find your way out until the very end."

Chapter Text

Guts

Background:

As a newborn, Guts was taken into a mercenary bandit group after being noticed by them passing by, laying under corpse of a hanged woman, where he endured plenty of battles along with extreme mental and physical abuse. Later as a teen he joined Band of the Hawk to serve under Griffith as his comrade to find a purpose in his life by fighting for his dream, however, he has left after becoming dissatisfied with his dream and started to follow his own. After several tragic events in his life caused by Griffith (most notably the Eclipse, where he sacrificed the entirety of Band of the Hawk), immeasurable rage and hatred has awakened inside Guts and led him into an obsession of vengeance. Though after he realizes that his lover, Casca, is more important to him than his quest for revenge, he continues his adventure with her and his new comrades where he's struggling against the predestined flow of causality and gradually finds a new place that he belongs to, all over again.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Swordsman (Guts has carved his own effective sword style that mainly utilizes greatswords),

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant,

Enhanced Senses (Defended himself and several others from a professional assassin sniping them in near-total darkness, fights unimpeded despite lacking an eye post-Eclipse, could keep up with Rosine while being deafened by her sonic booms),

Acrobatics,

Supernatural Willpower (As "the Struggler", Guts' persistence and willpower is unimaginably powerful, which allows him to act through pure rage and hatred alone not caring about any wounds, which is essentially his refusal of death),

Analytical Prediction (Correctly predicted in his first fight with Nosferatu Zodd that focusing his attacks on Zodd's sword to break it was his strongest bet at survival. As the Black Swordsman, would go on to fight several duels with Serpico, one of the best fencers in the setting, and see through his tactics and predict his moves each time, even when he had territorial advantage),

Stealth Mastery (Sneaked to Julius' house without beings noticed by guards),

Immense Pain Tolerance,

Minor Multiple Selves (Type 1; His inner darkness manifests as a large, black wolf),

Limited Air Manipulation (By swinging his sword broad-side first, he can alter the air pressure in its trajectory to create gusts powerful enough to knock away Silat's whip swords),

Passive Probability Manipulation (Due to the circumstances of his birth, he has the supernatural ability to evade certain death),

Limited Resistance to Causality Manipulation and Fate Manipulation (Skull Knight states that due to Guts inhabiting the Interstice he exists "outside the logic of the physical world". This compounded with his pre-existing Probability Manipulation allows him to defy the flow of causality established by the God Hand and the Idea of Evil to a small extent, being able to survive even in situations where he is preordained to die, such as when he was sacrificed by Femto)

All previous abilities, Extrasensory Perception (Guts bears the Brand of Sacrifice which causes him to reside in the Interstice between the physical and astral worlds, and reacts in the presence of supernatural creatures, alerting him to their presence),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can attack ghosts and beings on the astral plane with the Dragon Slayer, can even interact with Abstract Beings such as Slan),

Soul Manipulation (Can damage the soul) and Limited Regeneration Negation (Severe wounds caused on the Astral Plane/dealt to the soul do not heal properly, reopening even after being healed, magically or otherwise) with the Dragon Slayer,

Minor Cyborgization (Has a detachable steel arm that has many functions, like a cannon arm that can create explosions and a repeating crossbow)

All previous abilities,

Pressure Points (Easily knocked out Farnese by lightly hitting her in the back of the neck, leaving her basically unharmed),

Minor Explosion Manipulation (Via miniature bombs),

Resistance to Possession (Was able to expel multiple spirits attempting to possess him),

Heat/Fire and Electricity (He has repeatedly tanked building and forest fires and other high-heat hazards and attacks. Withstood lightning from Ganishka, who even prior to becoming Shiva is the most powerful Apostle seen to date),

Limited Resistance to Poison Manipulation (Survived Rosine's poison) and Soul Manipulation (Has ignored severe wounds on his astral body)

All previous abilities,

Permanent Berserk Mode,

Limited Immortality (Type 2; He can take far more punishment than before, but will still die from total blood loss, destruction or stoppage of the heart, and/or a cease to critical brain functions. The Berserker Armour essentially "holds him together"),

Enhanced Acrobatics (Enhanced Condition, Hypermobility, All-Terrain Mobility. Can leap large distances even with his sword, and is not affected by high falls. Can do powerful flip attacks. Is also this swift, and could use air pressure to break a fall and depreciate damage, which was compared to Serpico's wind magic flight),

Statistics Amplification (Drastically improves the physical strength of user),

Night Vision (Can see clearly in the dark),

Resistance to Fear Manipulation, Empathic Manipulation (Incapable of feeling fear, and can resist attempts by even high-level magic practitioners like Schierke to snap him out of his Berserker state), and Telepathy (His bloodlust was so intense that Schierke couldn't use her thought transference on him),

Immunity to Pain Manipulation (Incapable of feeling pain in this armor)

Weaknesses: The Berserker Armor does not heal wounds, only delaying the effects of damage taken. The Berserker Armor also removes his subconscious limiters, causing his body to harm and eventually destroy itself. Now suffers from severe PTSD
——————————
Clare

Background

Clare is number 47 of the Organization's 78th generation, making her the lowest-ranked warrior. She also holds the distinction of becoming the only person known to have volunteered to undergo the process of becoming a Claymore warrior to exact revenge against a monster who took the life of her dear friend in the past. One day, she saved young Raki from a monster, took him under her care, and then started the journey to hunt the demons together.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Analytical Prediction via Extrasensory Perception,

Excellent swordsmanship,

Martial Arts (After absorbing Rafaela, Clare became good at fighting using kicks),

Yoki manipulation, Able to enhance her stats with Yoki, Can suppress her Yoki(basically chi manipulation),

Regeneration (The ability to regenerate lost limbs, limited brain damage, and even severe organ damage or destruction, including traditionally fatal wounds and disembowelment or horizontal bisection. However, this process seems to take a few minutes at minimum, and will not be considered a major factor in the fight.),

Longevity,

Berserk Mode,

Transformation (Able to partially transform into her Awakened Form to become more powerful),

Can soul-link with Teresa allowing her to awaken Teresa inside of her,

Resistance to Poison Manipulation (Like all Claymores, Clare can dispel poisons and toxins from her body with precise control over what goes in) thanks to Body Control (Claymores can control and eliminate poisons and toxins that are already in their bloodstream.)

Weaknesses: Excessive use of her Yoki places her at risk of awakening, where she could lose her sanity and transform into a monstrous being. Nevertheless, Clare often manages to regain her composure after pushing herself beyond her limits. Although she possesses immense untapped potential, her emotional instability hinders her ability to maintain consistent combat prowess. The Quicksword technique has a limited duration, necessitating a recovery period for her arm before it can be employed again.
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Song: Awakened Sacrifice (Brandon Yates)

Clare and Raki continued their journey under the silver glow of the half-moon. Even though Priscilla was slain, and Clare had found a bittersweet catharsis through Teresa's presence within her, The former 47th warrior remained unwavering in her determination to exterminate Yoma. Her mission continued, as she and Raki made their way down the lonely, moonlit road.

Clare halted suddenly as her Yoki senses picked up the presence of Yoma nearby. She turned to Raki, instructing him with a firm tone.

"I sense Yoma nearby. Make camp here. I'll handle the threat. I should be done by the time you finish."

Raki nodded in understanding, trusting Clare's capabilities as he witnessed her disappearing into the nearby forest to confront the Yoma. He had no doubts that she would be able to handle the situation, assuming the threat wasn't too significant.

Clare, honing in on the location of the Yoma, experienced a puzzling feeling. Something didn't seem right; the Yoma were somehow being picked off one by one, yet she couldn't sense the presence of another Claymore nearby. Confused by the unusual situation, she wondered what or who could be responsible for the extermination of the Yoma.

As Clare reached the top of the hills and looked out over the clearing, she was taken aback by the scene before her. Standing amidst a sea of about a hundred Yoma corpses was a mysterious figure: a man known as Guts, the Black Swordsman. Guts had just vanquished the last Yoma with a powerful, precise vertical slash, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake. Clare, though not recognizing him, watched the scene unfold in front of her, her senses still on high alert.

Clare observed several noteworthy aspects about Guts as she observed him from a distance. The first striking detail was the absence of Yoki within his body, indicating that he was purely human. This observation puzzled her, considering that the strongest human she had known was Raki, and she knew he would struggle to defeat that many Yoma simultaneously.

Her gaze then shifted to Guts' colossal broadsword, which dwarfed her own claymore sword. The sheer scale and weight of his weapon seemed far beyond that of a typical Claymore's, leaving her thoroughly stumped.

Guts was getting ready to move on to his next destination when Clare's graceful leap brought her before him, blocking his path. Her direct yet questioning demeanor caught his attention. She stated firmly,

"You. No human should be capable of slaying a hundred Yoma alone like this. Who are you?"

Guts, unfazed by Clare's attempt to block his path, merely scoffs and walks past her, clearly not interested in engaging in conversation. His mind is focused on other matters, and he isn't willing to spend any more time on this female warrior. The sound of a sword being drawn made Guts halt in his tracks. The sharp edge of Clare's claymore was now leveled directly at his neck, mere millimeters from the ominous mark on his skin. She spoke with a chilling tone.

"I don't appreciate being ignored. Answer my questions, or I'll have to extract the answers by force."

Guts, growing increasingly annoyed, tightened his hold on the Dragon Slayer. With a swift strike, he knocked away Clare's claymore, forcing her to retreat momentarily and take an offensive stance upon regaining her footing.

Clare, displaying her quick reflexes, darts in for the opening attack, pushing back her opponent with a powerful strike. However, Guts swiftly evades her swing and attempts a counterattack with the Dragon Slayer, only for Clare to duck and deliver a series of powerful punches and kicks that send him hurtling into a nearby tree. Guts muttered to himself in annoyance,

"I seriously don't need this right now."

He grips the Dragon Slayer firmly, charging toward Clare at surprising speed. He swings his sword multiple times, battering her with a barrage of swift and powerful strikes. Despite her best efforts to block and parry, Clare finds herself gradually pushed back, surprised by the sheer weight behind each swing. Clare, grappling with the incredible strength of her opponent, ponders to herself, her mind racing with confusion and astonishment.

"How is this possible? His strikes possess the power of an Awakened Being, yet he is undeniably human. What extraordinary force lies behind this male's strength?"

Realizing that direct confrontation is not an easy path to victory, she renews her determination, realizing she must approach the fight with strategic finesse rather than raw power. Clare leaps backward, creating distance between herself and Guts. With a fierce determination, she channels her Yoki energy into her sword arm, causing the claymore blade to blur and vibrate intensely. Clare prepares to execute her Quicksword technique, fully focused on the task at hand.

Seeing Clare withdraw, Guts swiftly readies his mechanical arm's repeating crossbow and fires a barrage of arrows. However, he is taken aback as Clare swiftly slices the arrows into splinters with incredible speed, so quickly that it appears as if she didn't move at all. Guts expresses his astonishment, exclaiming,

"What the hell-ah!"

However, his words are abruptly cut short as he finds himself on the receiving end of several cuts caused by Clare's Quicksword technique. Though the cuts are not severely debilitating, they still cause considerable discomfort and pain. Clare, in an attempt to incapacitate Guts, stabs the tip of her claymore into his body below the ribs and pushes him back into a tree, impaling him. She demands,

"Now, do you want to keep going the hard way, or will you surrender-ah!"

However, her demand is interrupted as Guts counters with a powerful headbutt, connecting his forehead with Clare's nose and breaking it. Stunned and dazed, Clare staggers back with blood dripping out. Guts raises his Dragon Slayer for an overhead strike, but Clare gracefully rolls back to avoid the blow as the sword cleaves deep into the ground. Clare retaliates with a lunging jump, swinging her own sword overhead in a powerful blow. Guts evades the attack, but the blade grazes his shoulder plate, sending sparks flying upon impact. The pair continues to exchange rapid blows, their swords clashing against each other with each strike. However, Guts gains the upper hand by swiftly kicking Clare away, creating distance and allowing him to utilize his throwing knives.

Clare raises her claymore in an attempt to block the incoming knives, but she is caught off guard when Guts transforms his mechanical arm into a miniature cannon and detonates an explosion at her feet. The blast propels her backward, and she crashes into a rocky cliffside, falling to the ground. Although her body starts to heal, the recovery process is slow, leaving her with a still damaged nose and new burns.

She sees Guts approaching with his Dragon Slayer in hand, and swiftly leaps over the incoming horizontal slash. As Guts follows through with another sword slash, their weapons clash with a loud clang, and sparks fly, causing Clare to be pushed back a significant distance. Despite the force of the impact, she manages to land on her feet, demonstrating her agility.

Clare, determined to end the fight with her Windcutter technique, performs a lightning-fast draw, aiming to land a decisive blow. However, to her disbelief, Guts withstands the attack, gritting his teeth against the pain, and responds with a mighty slash of his own using the Dragon Slayer. The force of the strike inflicts a deep and bleeding gash on Clare, causing her to stumble backward, and her mouth fills with blood as she coughs. Clare utters with determination, her voice filled with defiance.

"No. Not after everything..."

As her will and resilience reach their peak, Clare's silver irises turn golden, her pupils narrowing into slits. Her teeth grow sharper, transforming into fangs, and her body's muscles harden, revealing prominent veins. She begins to enter a half-awakened state, her body transforming to unlock a surge of power to match her opponent. Clare's legs become hock-jointed and hooved, similar to a horse's, accelerating her speed. Sharp blades emerge from her right arm, while her left arm grows large and claw-like, transforming her physique. Guts observes the transformation stoically, tightening his grip on the Dragon Slayer. To him, this transformation represents the revelation of her true nature: an Apostle, a being he loathes with every fiber of his being.

Clare readies her legs, coiled like a spring, and springs forward at incredible speed. Guts barely dodges in time, narrowly escaping the brunt of the attack. He hits the ground and rolls onto his feet, pain wracking his right side from the strike. As he regains his balance, Guts braces himself for Clare's follow-up attack, matching her clawed arm with a firm grip on his Dragon Slayer. The two clash relentlessly, locked in a fierce stalemate.

The two warriors exchange a barrage of attacks, their blades clashing furiously. Despite Guts initially appearing to possess superior strength, pushing Clare back with each blow, he is unable to match her exceptional speed, a skill that is less emphasized in his arsenal. Clare, with her heightened agility, dances around him with lightning-fast strikes, her blades constantly finding their mark against his Dragon Slayer.

Guts refuses to yield, his determination unyielding. He has been through countless struggles before, facing adversity and rising above it each time. As they fought, he can sense the presence of the Black Beast within him, urging him to surrender to his darker instincts and unleash his full power to emerge victorious in this fight.

"You may have taken the form of an Apostle, but I've beaten your kind down before! I will kill you all, down to the last one!"

With a fierce kick, Guts sends Clare crashing to the ground, the impact forcing her to momentarily lose her footing. Clare watches in shock as Guts activates his Berserker Armor, transforming his helmet into the shape of a wolf's head and unleashing an unholy roar filled with raw anger and vengeance. Clare rises to her feet, ready to continue the battle. However, a thought crosses her mind as she observes Guts in his transformed state:

"Did this male become an Awakened Being? Yet, I still can't detect any Yoki inside him. Could it be possible that something else is at play here, rather than him alone? But what could it be?"

As the fight resumes, Clare begins to notice a striking change in Guts' approach. The armor appears to have heightened his strength and speed, but at a cost: he now attacks ferociously, seemingly indifferent to self-preservation. Instead of dodging her attacks, his movements appear reckless and overexerted, as if he has been consumed entirely by fury and the desire to eliminate her. The fight rages on, with Clare managing to land a few blows on Guts, but to her astonishment, the armor seems to have a regenerative property. Wounds inflicted on him, such as a slash to his gut or broken limbs, are automatically closed and healed by the armor, with barbs stitching the wounds shut. The armor also forces his body to function despite the immense damage he is taking. Even broken limbs seem to heal rapidly, snapping back into place on their own. Clare quickly assesses the situation, her thoughts racing as she fights.

"I've got it now. It's not just him. It's the armor. It's got to be some cursed armor that shuts off any limits and heals the damage he takes. He isn't an Awakened Being, he's just an incredibly powerful human, and the armor makes him even more formidable."

Clare continues battling ferociously, but she also acknowledges Guts' skill and determination. Despite him being human, he poses a challenge that few others have managed to match in her experience. While he lacks the speed and agility that she possesses, his raw strength, endurance, and sheer willpower are remarkable given his human status and absence of Yoki to heighten his abilities. She finds herself reluctantly awed by the incredible capabilities of the Black Swordsman.

Despite Clare's agility and ability to land more debilitating blows, she realizes that this fight is quickly becoming a war of attrition. With Guts' superior strength and remarkable resilience, she understands that she won't be able to withstand the onslaught indefinitely, even if she avoids more hits. Desperately, she comes to the realization that she cannot emerge victorious alone and needs assistance urgently.

Fueled by a sudden burst of energy, Clare moves with lightning speed, appearing behind Guts. A few seconds later, all of his joints, from the ankles to the neck, erupt with large gushes of blood, causing Guts to bellow in anger as the Berserk Armor struggles to patch and pull together the injuries simultaneously. Clare recognizes this momentary respite as her opportunity, and reverts back to her normal form, taking advantage of the situation to gain an upper hand. Clare concentrates, delving deep within herself in search of the psychological projection of her mentor and maternal figure, Teresa, inside her heart. With a sense of desperation, she calls out,

"Teresa, I need you. I implore your aid once more."

Clare's soul resonates with Teresa's essence, their connection manifesting as a brilliant light. By the time Guts manages to recover and rise, he witnesses the appearance of Teresa, the most powerful and renowned Claymore to have ever existed. However, the mindless berserker is undeterred, his rage indiscriminately targeting anyone who stands in his way, and Teresa is no exception. Teresa looks around, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she remarks,

"Looks like I've been brought back again. Let's see what this menace is that has Clare concerned."

She then shifts her focus to the charging Black Swordsman, calmly observing his approach. Guts unleashed a powerful sideways strike aimed at splitting her in half, but she gracefully avoided it by arching backward. Deftly dodging the subsequent blows, Teresa moved with effortless elegance, leaving the Black Swordsman's attempts to harm her unfruitful.

Internally, she remarked to herself,

"I must admit, I'm surprised to see Clare struggling against such a sluggish adversary. But with this cursed armor at hand, vanquishing him does seem challenging."

Teresa chose to assess Guts' strength by allowing him to attack, blocking his Dragon Slayer with her claymore. Despite not being completely overwhelmed, her faint smile grew more keenly interested as she witnessed his sheer power.

"Impressive. Such tremendous strength. Even with 100% of my power, I doubt I could subdue him through sheer force alone. And he's just a regular human. What an extraordinary man indeed."

Despite Guts' furious roar and increasing frustration at his inability to kill her, Teresa remained elusive, vanishing from sight before Guts had a chance to react. Then, in a sudden surprise attack, Teresa exploited his blind spot, cleanly slicing off his right arm from behind, eliciting a loud scream from the Black Swordsman. Undaunted by the loss of his right arm, Guts gripped his Dragon Slayer tightly, aiming a wide swipe to catch Teresa behind him. But Teresa ducked effortlessly, and swiftly sliced through both his legs at the knees, causing the Black Swordsman to crumple onto the ground, immobilized.

Teresa took a few steps back, amused as she observed Guts struggling to crawl towards her, his one remaining limb propelling his body forward while his bleeding stumps were being forcibly mended. The burning fury in his eyes remained unaltered.

"He's extremely tenacious. Quite remarkable, isn't it? Rest easy now. Your suffering will be over soon."

With a display of lightning-fast speed, Teresa employed the Quicksword technique to swiftly and repeatedly slice through the Black Swordsman. The armor on his body couldn't heal swiftly enough to keep pace, leaving him vulnerable to the onslaught. Guts' anguished cries cut short as he exploded into a cloud of blood, along with scattered fragments of his armor.

With a soft sigh, Teresa sheathed her sword, retaining a faint smile. Internally, she addressed Clare,

"I cherish our moments together, Clare. But trust that this illusion you project from deep inside your heart mustn't be your crutch after the one time. You must lean on your companions. They are your true strength. But know that I will always be with you."

The Soul-Link concluded with a mild glow as Teresa's projection retreated into Clare's heart. Clare remained in her standing position, her hand clutching her chest, with a single tear tracing down her face. She spoke softly, her voice filled with sadness,

"I will try, Teresa. I'll do everything I can with my friends, and not rely on you too much."
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Strength: Both fighters are extraordinarily powerful individuals. But either surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, Guts was much stronger than Clare, and only a little stronger than Teresa summoned through Clare's heart via the Soul-Link. Guts was able to survive a shout from a sea god, the yield of which Death Battle has calculated to be 687 KT of TNT. As for how Clare herself stacks up to, is a bit unclear, but Teresa, when she killed five Priscilla clones within the blink of an eye, is calculated to have used a force output of only 134 KT of TNT. Even if Teresa as a projection was 100X stronger than Clare, that still makes Guts 5.13X stronger.

Speed: However, it's that same feat of chopping five of the same person into fine dust that gives them a solid win. Guts may be able to dodge lightning up to Mach 146, but cutting five people around you so quickly would have to involve moving at speeds around 7.5% the speed of light. This makes Teresa almost 400X faster. At least Clare herself likely would've been around 4X faster, likely.

Skill: Guts was, just by pure, simple swordsplay, the better fighter. Sure, Clare started young too, but she wasn't raised to fight with a sword since six, and was probably around nine when she witnessed the whole Priscilla massacre, and joined the Organization to learn how to fight when Guts was already on the battlefield by then.

Experience: I deem them both to be equal in experience, because while Clare's age is unknown, the two seem somewhat close in age, and have faced against a wide variety of foes. Though Guts's enemies would likely be a few times stronger, but not too much.

Powers: Guts's mechanical arm would provide a few unexpected tricks, his Berserker Armor would make trying to kill him tougher, and the Dragon Slayer undoing any attempts of healing to be a nuisance, but Clare did have the superior sword skills with Quicksword and Windcutter. Guts would be strong enough to tank those two techniques, but they'd at least still be doing some damage. While they're not guaranteed to net Clare the win by themselves, it would be akin to be killed by a thousand cuts. And even if Guts were to nullify Clare's healing factor wherever she was hit, it's still overall more useful than the Berseker Armor merely pulling you together and delaying the consequences down to the last drop of blood.

The winner is Clare.

Chapter Text

D. Va

Background:

is a former professional gamer who now uses her skills to pilot a state-of-the-art mech in defense of her homeland.

Twenty years ago, South Korea was attacked by a colossal omnic monstrosity that rose from the depths of the East China Sea. The massive, lumbering construct caused catastrophic damage to coastal cities before it was driven back beneath the waves. In response, the South Korean government developed a mechanized armored drone unit, called MEKA, to protect urban environments in future engagements with the omnic threat.

The government's fears proved to be well founded, as a disturbing pattern of attacks emerged. Every few years, the monstrosity would rise from the sea to assault South Korea and its neighbors. The omnic learned from these encounters, often reconfiguring itself in a different form and appearing with new weapons and capabilities. Each incident ended in a stalemate, with the monstrosity defeated but not destroyed.

As the omnic continued to adapt, it eventually disrupted MEKA's drone-control networks, forcing the military to place pilots in the mechs. Scrambling to find suitable candidates, the government turned to the country's professional gamers, who possessed the necessary reflexes and instincts to operate the mechs' advanced weapons systems. Top stars were drafted, including reigning world champion Hana Song, also known as " ." Famous for her elite skills, was a fierce competitor who played to win at all costs, and she had a well-earned reputation for showing no mercy to her opponents.

Seeing her new mission as a game, fearlessly charges into battle alongside the rest of her MEKA unit, ready to spring to her nation's defense at a moment's notice. Recently, she has begun to stream combat operations to her adoring fans, and her growing following has turned her into a global icon.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Vehicular Mastery (Master MEKA Pilot),

Weapon Mastery (Skilled Marksman),

Energy Projection,

Explosion Manipulation (Via Micro Missiles and Self-Destruct),

Flight (Via her MEKA's Boosters),

Self-Destruction,

Instinctive Reaction ( 's MEKA's defense array automatically shoots down projectiles caught in it)

Weaknesses: can be somewhat overconfident at times.
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Mechanica

Background:

She was born without extendable ARMS, so she uses a powered suit to compete in the ARMS Grand Prix.

Mechanica's family has a scrapyard as their workshop. In her day-to-day life, Mechanica works alongside other employees and helps her dad with his work. When she was younger, she found a tiny TV at the local scrapyard; she used it to watch ARMS matches. There was a time when she went to watch the Grand Prix with her dad. They even managed to snap a photo with Max Brass! That experience cemented her status as a lifelong ARMS fan. Eventually, the whole workshop became covered in TVs so everyone could watch ARMS matches while they worked.

Mechanica watched Max Brass dominate the ARMS League throughout her childhood. During that time, she also taught herself much knowledge through disassembling machinery that were unknown to her. She just could not help but seek to understand the inner workings of machines. In time, her family's scrapyard also became her work station. With the hopes of joining the Grand Prix, she built a mecha with these extendable ARMS so that she could compete.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics

High Intellect,

Skilled Mechanic,

Elasticity,

Damage Reduction,

Hovering (Pseudo-Flight),

Electricity Manipulation (Revolver),

Can create Explosions (Homie),

Skilled Hammer wielder (Whammer)

Weaknesses: None notable, considerably weaker without her mecha.
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Song: Overwatch the ARMS

Busan, South Korea, a vibrant event In the mid 2070s took place in the heart of the downtown area. Enthusiastic fans eagerly awaited a spectacular encounter between two highly anticipated figures, creating a sense of joy and anticipation in the air.

Cheers erupted from the crowd as they witnessed the spectacle of a mecha suit descending from the sky, elegantly coming to a landing. The pilot emerged, revealing herself to be Hana Song, also known as , the nation's revered Overwatch heroine and a former gaming professional. Holding a microphone with a cheerful demeanor, addressed her devoted fans, her voice filled with excitement.

"How's it going, everyone?"

The crowd responded enthusiastically, their loud and positive cheers echoing throughout the area. Hana continued her interaction with the crowd, walking around her mecha with a nonchalant swagger. With a playful tone, she spoke into the microphone,

"Now, I know over the past year, you guys have been asking, requesting, and even begging that I meet this girl you think might be a challenge to my piloting skills. Aww... Do some of you really think there's someone better than me?"

Hana received mixed feedback from the crowd, but she confidently took it in stride. With a smirk, she exclaimed,

"Your wait is finally over, folks! Let's settle the debate: who's the superior pilot? Please welcome our special guest for this exhibition, Mechanica!"

The heroine then gestured towards a teenage girl who emerged, deftly piloting a robust yellow ARMS suit. The girl acknowledged the enthusiastic applause with a wave. Mechanica leaped out of her suit and exchanged a firm handshake with Hana.

"Think you got what it takes to become number one, rookie?"

"You bet I do! I've got what it takes to climb to the top and claim the number one spot!"

Both women climbed back into their respective mech suits, preparing for the upcoming match. Mechanica readied her spring-like ARMS, while powered up her fusion cannons. The moment had arrived for the exhibition to begin.

With the go signal given, activated her suit's thrusters, launching herself towards Mechanica with an unexpected swiftness. Just as the rookie took flight, slammed into her ARMS suit, seizing the initial advantage.

wore a confident smirk as she loosed her fusion cannons, raining a barrage of rapid-fire bullets that delivered significant damage to Mechanica's suit. The rookie winced under the impact and ensuing attacks, but she quickly struck back, deploying her Whammer and repelling off course.

was taken aback by the sheer force generated by the Whammer as her mech suit plummeted to the ground, but she responded with a confident chuckle, relishing the challenge. Taking advantage of the moment, unleashed a volley of salvo missiles, launching a barrage of miniature explosives at the rookie pilot.

Mechanica reacted swiftly, leaping out of the range of the initial barrage of missiles. Not wasting a moment, she utilized her extended ARMS to counter the explosives. With a spin, she spun her ARMS like a top, detonating the missiles before they could inflict harm.

Mechanica attempted to land a succession of punches using her spring-loaded ARMS, alternating between the Whammer and Homie missile fist. However, much to her disappointment, she found herself having little success as activated her defense matrix, efficiently neutralizing the young rookie's attacks before they could even reach their target.

Mechanica tried to outmaneuver by flying over her, intending to gain an advantageous position. However, the Overwatch heroine proved too quick to be outflanked, and promptly activated her thrusters to rise and strike Mechanica's ARMS suit once more.

soared upward, lifting Mechanica's ARMS suit airborne. With a powerful swing, sent the rookie pilot flying backward, a significant distance away. Mechanica desperately attempted to regain control, activating her suit's thrusters and using her ARMS to stabilize herself.

expertly maneuvered her suit, circling Mechanica while unleashing a barrage of fusion cannon shots, inflicting substantial damage. Realising the need to escape the predicament, Mechanica spun her mech suit, bringing her Whammer down upon the Overwatch heroine from above. As braced for the impact, the Whammer struck true, and her mech suit crashed onto the street with its feet.

Mechanica cleverly retreated into an underground tunnel, implementing her strategy. flew over the tunnel and attempted to cut her off on the other side. However, upon reaching the other end, she was caught off-guard by a powerful explosion as she was struck by the Homie fist, extended and propelled by Mechanica's spring ARMS.

Mechanica skillfully spun her ARMS suit's body like a top, delivering a relentless barrage of alternating blows with her Whammer and Homie. The continuous switch between physical impact and explosion created a formidable onslaught.

devised a plan, seemingly counterintuitive, but with confidence in her ability to execute it. She fired off a renewed volley of missiles, which soared high into the air before descending upon both fighters, causing numerous explosions. Although was mostly unscathed, Mechanica was caught off guard, left dazed and disoriented by the unexpected tactic.

seamlessly coiled her fusion cannons around Mechanica's ARMS suit, and then engaged the thrusters, propelling both contenders higher into the air. Mechanica began to understand the unfolding situation as pressed the self-destruct button, prompting her to eject herself from the mech suit. She fell safely to the ground, wearing a smug smirk.

Mechanica let out a startled yelp as she climbed out of the mech suit, only to find herself plummeting through the air. She let out a scream while falling, and at the same time, 's Tokki suit detonated, taking out her ARMS suit. Hana swiftly managed to catch the falling girl, preventing her from sustaining a potentially deadly fall.

"You okay there, Rookie?"

The moment was interrupted as the wreckage of both mech suits came crashing down in a pile of burning scraps. Mechanica wailed in distress, lamenting the fate of her beloved ARMS suit.

"No! My ARMS suit! I built it myself!"

She exclaimed, wriggling out of Hana's arms as despair filled her voice. Hana gently placed her hand on Mechanica's shoulder, her expression sympathetic, and her voice filled with empathy.

"I understand what it's like to lose your first robot, but I can assist you in constructing a new one. Although I'm puzzled by the spring arms, its ability to withstand damage and its unique nature made the fight even more enjoyable. I'd be happy to help enhances it along with you. What do you think?"

Mechanica looked up at Hana with a mix of surprise and hope. It seemed as though she could not believe the words she was hearing. Building a new ARMS suit, with the assistance of someone as famous and experienced as , was a dream come true for her.

"Really? You'd... help me?"

She asked, her voice filled with both excitement and disbelief. Hana nodded, her smile warm and welcoming.

"Really. I'd be more than happy to help you build a new suit. After all, we can make it even better than the last one."

Mechanica's face lit up with an infectious grin as the reality of the situation sank in. Working together with the legendary to create a new and improved ARMS suit was an opportunity that she could not pass up.

"Oh my god! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

She exclaimed, her voice brimming with gratitude and enthusiasm. The jubilant commotion of cameras and an adoring crowd quickly surrounded the two women as they accepted the adoration with open arms. Hana Song addressed her fans, her voice carrying across the celebrating onlookers.

"And there you go, my loyal fans! While victory may have been in ARMS reach for Mechanica, I Overwatched out for my chance, and took it! Thank you everyone!"
————————————————————————
Strength: While the strength of these two girls in their mech suits are a bit questionable, what their suits were made for paints a picture. Mechanica's ARMS suit was made for recreational combat. Something where people are bashed around, but nothing too serious happens. But 's Tokki was designed and created to be a military defense suit to combat invading omnics, and fights on par with the task force known as Overwatch. was much more offensively minded.

Speed: Both pilots have similar subsonic movement and combat speeds to move around each other, but Hana has the superior processing speed. Most professional gamers have an APM(Actions per Minute) of somewhere around the low to mid 400s. Technically the highest record is 818, but that's an implausible outlier that might've involved spamming. Meanwhile, is found to have superhuman reaction time. She can fully withstand Roadhog's ultimate, which fires 128 projectiles per second. If she were to face against 11 Roadhog ultimates in a custom Deathmatch game, in a best-case scenario, her maximum APM would be 84480 APM. This makes her 192X faster than the acceptable fastest record. In other words, if the fastest gamers have a reaction time of 150 milliseconds, then Hana Song would be a professional gamer with a 78 microsecond reaction time. Meaning that there was nothing that Mechanica could do that would surprise if she could see it, and she's not exactly known for stealth.

Skill: Hana has the more skill, as she's more used to life or death circumstances which requires more battle instinct than Mechanica who's only ever been in their equivalent of fighting tournaments and sports.

Experience: At the very least, has been fighting for two years, fighting from 19-21, while she's fighting against a teenager who can fight with the best of the ARMS players, but it's implied that she's only just gotten into the game relatively recently.

Powers: doesn't have one major disadvantage that Mechanica has: spring arms. While the latter may have had superior range thanks to them, there was nothing stopping Hana from either getting out of the way quick enough, or targeting the arms themselves and possibly destroying them, leaving Mechanica defenseless.
——————————
The winner is D.Va

"Gargoyles protect. It is our nature. Our purpose. To lose that is to be corrupt. Empty. Lifeless."

"Dragon Up!"

Chapter Text

Goliath

Backstory:

Goliath was born in 938 A.D.

In 984, Goliath was second in command to his mentor (later called Hudson). When Prince Malcolm was poisoned by the Archmage, Goliath, his mentor and his mate (later called Demona) went after the Archmage to get the Grimorum back for the cure to the Prince's poison. Goliath was able to get the Grimorum back from the Archmage at his cave, who then attacked him with a stalagmite, but the gargoyle was able to dodge and let him fall to his apparent death. After Goliath, his mentor and his mate returned and the prince was cured, his mentor, having lost the use of an eye during the altercation, decided to step down as leader of the clan and name Goliath his successor.

Goliath held the position as leader of his clan at Castle Wyvern, until 994. Like the rest of the clan he faced prejudice from the human residents of the castle, and members of Wyvern's court often compared him to his biblical namesake Goliath, especially the head of the castle herself, Princess Katharine. Her father, Prince Malcolm had named him years before.

In this time, he had mated with a female gargoyle that he called his "angel of the night" (later known as Demona). During the Viking attack he was led away from the castle with his mentor (later called Hudson), on bad information by Demona and the Castle Captain of the Guard. This information was part of a greater plot conceived by Demona and the Captain of the Guard to evict the humans and leave the castle to him and the Gargoyles. When he returned, he believed that his love had been killed with the rest of his clan, and desired vengeance. He led the five surviving clan members in a raid on the Vikings, and personally chased the Viking leader Hakon when he fled with Princess Katharine as hostage. He rescued Katharine, but Hakon himself was tackled by Wyvern's Captain of the Guard and fell to their deaths (though they later returned as ghosts).

Things were only compounded when he returned to the main group of Wyvern's refugees to discover that the five remaining members of his clan had already been turned to stone by a grief stricken Magus, who believed that they had been responsible for killing Princess Katharine. Upon realizing his mistake, he followed through with Goliath's request that he join them in stone sleep, and, along with Princess Katherine, vowed to protect the rookery eggs. Goliath and his clan was to remain in stone forever until, as the spell stipulated, "the castle rose above the clouds".

In 1994, Goliath and his clan were reawakened by billionaire David Xanatos who moved Castle Wyvern and the clan to the top of his Manhattan skyscraper, effectively breaking the spell. Initially distrustful of Xanatos's intentions, after an attack on the castle by enemies of Xanatos, he agreed to work for Xanatos for a time. It was through the intervention of an NYPD detective, Elisa Maza, that he came to see Xanatos for the ruthless individual who had manipulated him, and finally agreed to lead the clan away from their ancestral home.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Longevity (Said that Gargoyles age at half the rate as humans),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1: Do not need to breathe air)

Pseudo-flight (Can use their wings to glide on air currents. While they claim they cannot really fly, in practice they are only really limited in their takeoffs, they have to jump off something tall to start gliding),

Natural Weaponry (claws and jaws),

Enhanced Senses,

Genius Intelligence,

Skilled in hand-to-hand combat,

Resistance against Electricity Manipulation (tanks an attack from an electric rifle, tanked an electric bomb),

Cold and possibly Magic and Mind Control (Resists magical effects from Oberon).

Weaknesses: None applicable
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Jake Long

Backstory:

Before his thirteenth birthday, Jake started getting glimpses of his dragon heritage. For example, while younger, during a race with Brad at Camp Mugwomp for the Mugwomp Cup, he unintentionally breathed fire, startling himself into tripping over a log to fall face first into mud, losing the race.

On his thirteenth birthday, his magical abilities emerged fully, and he was set to protect an underground magical community existing within his city and throughout the world. The emergence of his dragon powers also made him the first official magical dragon guardian of America; "The American Dragon". Under the training of his grandfather, Lao Shi, and his animal guardian, Fu Dog, Jake would be taught in the methods of his dragon abilities, and his duties as a magical guardian. Due to his youth and while still in training, his territorial home base has initially been mainly restricted to the area of New York. However, anytime he is anywhere else in America, such as the forests of New Jersey during a camping trip with his father, his authority extends to these other areas as well as he is destined to become the representative dragon for the whole country.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Transformation (Can transform into his dragon form and back at will, or individual parts of his body if he so chooses),

Flight (Through the use of their wings, dragons are capable of flight),

Magic (Dragons are stated to be creatures of immense magical power),

Breath Attack (Can breath fire),

Fire Manipulation (Can breathe fire from his mouth and create balls of fire from his hands, that are hot enough to melt steel beams on a water tower in moments. When transforming into his dragon form it generates fire that caused Trixi to cry out in pain and let go of his arm),

Limited Elasticity (His dragon tongue is capable of stretching),

Acrobatics (Shown to be acrobatic on multiple occasions),

Limited Attack Reflection (Can use his tongue to grab certain projectiles out of the air and launch them back),

Bodily Weaponry (Dragons can use their sharp claws and teeth as weapons or other forms of use),

Enhanced Senses (Dragons possess heighten senses, the Ear of the Dragon allowes them to hear conversations from a distance they wouldn't normally be able to, Eye of the Dragon allows them to see clearly in the dark),

Martial Arts (Shown to be proficient in hand to hand combatant against multiple opponents at once),

Duplication and chi manipulation (Can split himself up into multiple selves without fractioning his power, at the cost of stamina.)

Limited Air Manipulation (Can create intense gusts of wind by flapping his wings),

Surface Scaling (Dragons can use their claws to scale the side of walls),

Resistance to Fire (His human body was able to breifly withstand his own fire, despite it being show capable of melting steel in moments. Took Haley's dragon fire to the face without issue).

Weaknesses: Jake is noticeably overconfident and in turn, he usually underestimates his opponents, which hinders him in combat, and his lack of focus can even causes him to revert back into his human form unintentionally or mess with his powers. It is stated that while armored along most of their body, dragons have a soft underbelly, and that they have a weak spot behind their left ear which if directly hit will result in a "clean slay". The more chi doppelgangers he creates, the more his chi supply dwindles, making him weaker.
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Song: Modern Myths

The usual sights and sounds of New York City went about their business, the hustle and bustle of the city continuing apace, as the warm, golden orb of the sun gradually sank beneath the horizon, staining the sky in hues of orange and purple. As the final glimmers of sunlight dipped below the horizon, casting a tranquil twilight across the city, a gargoyle statue perched atop a roof came to life. The stone exterior cracked and shattered, giving way to reveal the fearsome figure of Goliath. The beast unleashed a thunderous roar, flexing his massive muscles and unfurling his expansive wings, ready to take flight in the cover of the night.

Goliath launched into the air with a powerful leap, his wings carrying him through the towering skyscrapers and tangled web of streets, initiating his nightly patrol over the city. Unbeknownst to him, a Chinese-American teen witnessed his transformation while skateboarding, his curiosity piqued by the sight of the gargoyle suddenly coming to life.

"Whoa. Did that gargoyle just come alive? I need to get a closer look at this."

Jake Long skated into an alleyway to conceal himself, coming to a halt as he cried out,

"Dragon up!"

In a fiery transformation, flames enveloped his being, morphing him into a mythical red dragon passed down through his bloodline. The American Dragon had emerged, ready to explore this extraordinary encounter.

Goliath glided through the night sky, diligently watchful for any signs of trouble, when he sensed an imminent threat approaching from behind. To evade the incoming attack, he swiftly turned and dug his clawed hands and feet into a nearby building, going to the structure to prevent a direct hit. Despite the harmless nature of the attack, the gargoyle was not one to take chances. He turned around to find the source of the assault, only to see Jake Long, soaring through the air towards him.

"Hey, where's the fire, gargoyle? You know, aside from me, of course."

He inquired, a hint of teasing in his tone. He folded his arms, his wings maintaining his levitation as he faced off against the monstrous creature. Goliath's gruff voice rumbled out, his expression stern and unamused.

"Who do you think you are, to attack me without justification, winged lizard?"

As Jake responded with surprise at the gargoyle's ignorance, he proclaimed proudly,

"Who am I? You seriously asking me who I am? I am the magical protector of this city, the American Dragon. And I lay down the law for those in the evil bandwagon!"

The Am Drag rapped for his intro, doing a mid-air moonwalk, before flexing to show off his dragon prowess. Irritation crossed Goliath's face at Jake's energetic introduction, but he brushed it off and resumed his climb up the building he was clinging to. He muttered, his voice laced with dismissiveness.

"Hmph, arrogant younglings. I mean no harm, so best you leave me be."

As Goliath continued to scale the building, Jake landed on the same side above him. He looked down at the gargoyle with a determined expression and declared:

"Sorry, creepy. But I can't just take your word for it. It sure would be an irresponsible thing for me to turn a blind eye away from such an intimidating creature such as yourself."

A hint of tension settled in the air as Goliath prepared for a potential conflict. His voice is laced with a warning tone.

"You think of me as just a monster? You may find taking me on is no small feat. But if you insist, I'll show you what a gargoyle can really do."

With a powerful roar, Goliath sprung upwards, seizing hold of Jake and grappling with him against the side of the building. The impact of their struggle rocked the structure, causing the concrete to give way and crack under their force.

Jake clenched his teeth, his expression hardening as he retaliated by scratching Goliath's face. The unexpected response caught the gargoyle off guard, causing him to involuntarily release his hold on Jake. Taking advantage of the momentum, Jake then delivered a powerful tail swipe, knocking Goliath off the edge of the building. With a powerful flap of his wings, he ascended into the air.

As Jake approached, Goliath pounced forward, extending his right claw to deliver a stinging blow across Jake's face, leaving barely visible scratches. Without wasting a beat, the gargoyle pursued his attack, attempting to follow up with a swift left-handed punch. However, Jake reacted quickly, catching Goliath's fist in mid-air. In response, he launched two powerful counter punches, followed by a potent kick that sent the gargoyle hurtling into a nearby wall.

"Is that the best you got? This is gonna be a breeze! You don't measure up to me by a million degrees!"

Jake charged forward, aiming to strike Goliath. However, the gargoyle swiftly evaded the attack, propelling himself up the wall, utilizing his claws as climbing tools. Without a pause, he then leaped off the structure and glided into the sky above.

"So he can't fly without a vantage point first? Talk about some weak sauce."

As Jake chuckled at Goliath's flight limitations, he took flight and chased after, then let out a mighty breath, releasing a powerful plume of fire at the gargoyle. Goliath glanced over his shoulder to see the inferno approaching, quickly executing a looping maneuver to elude the assault. Without hesitation, he then swooped down towards Jake and delivered a forceful punch, sending him crashing onto the rooftop of a nearby building.

Goliath touched down behind Jake, unamused by his rash actions. As he moved towards him, Jake wheeled around and unleashed a burst of fire at the gargoyle. However, instead of evading, Goliath wrapped his wings around himself, forming a protective shield as the inferno encircled him. Surprisingly, the gargoyle remained unharmed, his scales resistant to the heat.

As Jake's flames gradually subsided, a clearing formed, revealing Goliath's next move. The gargoyle bounded into the air and slammed both fists into the ground, causing a shockwave of stone shards to shoot out in all directions. The forceful impact sent Jake stumbling backward, struggling to maintain his balance.

Goliath continued his offensive, delivering a ferocious uppercut to the dragon's jaw, propelling him backwards. Without a moment's pause, the gargoyle ascended into the sky, soaring towards Jake and forcefully thrusting him back down with a savage punch. The ground beneath them buckled, resulting in a small crater upon impact. Goliath calmly landed once more as Jake shakily regained his footing, his glare fixed firmly on the gargoyle.

In a quick move, Jake lunged forward, executing a swift tail swipe that caught Goliath off guard, sending the gargoyle stumbling backwards. Taking advantage of the momentary disorientation, he unleashed a ball of fire that struck Goliath, propelling him off the building. Gravity took hold, sending the gargoyle into a freefall, and Jake quickly followed suit, plummeting after him. At the very last second, Jake grabbed hold of Goliath, steadying themselves and leveling out their descent, gliding through the air, carried by the wind.

Goliath quickly disentangled from Jake, seizing the momentary opening to consider his next move. Jake, disoriented, tumbled downwards, desperately attempting to regain control, before launching an attack with a furious swipe of his claws. However, Goliath's tough skin proved resistant, taking the brunt of the assault. Countering, the gargoyle delivered a swift headbutt, followed up by a forceful shoulder barge that sent Jake careening away once more.

As Goliath started to circle around, Jake swiftly regained his bearings. With a well-aimed elbow strike, he caught the gargoyle off guard and knocked him into a freefall. Jake quickly followed, descending after him, and the gargoyle attempted to regain control. Jake, however, caught up and engaged in a brief aerial struggle with Goliath. In a sudden move, Jake sank his teeth into the gargoyle's shoulder, biting down forcefully.

The piercing bite inflicted by Jake drew a guttural roar of pain from Goliath, accompanied by a trickle of blood from the wound. Grabbing hold of the gargoyle's arm, Jake hurled him with forceful momentum towards the streets below. Jake quickly followed suit, giving chase in a relentless pursuit.

Goliath barreled down like an unstoppable force, smashing his head against the rooftop of a tall building before impacting with a devastating crash into the roof of a grey Toyota Camry. The collision set off the car's blaring alarm as the gargoyle rolled and crashed across the street, finally coming to a dusty and battered rest. Jake swiftly descended opposite him, landing with poise. As the dust settled, Goliath slowly got up, groggily rising to his feet.

Jake seized the nearby Toyota Camry, heaving it with impressive strength towards Goliath. The gargoyle reacted promptly, unleashing two powerful strikes of his claws, effortlessly slicing through the structure. Jake countered by launching three fiery projectiles towards Goliath, but the agile gargoyle evaded the assault, effortlessly gliding around each one.

The two adversaries engaged in an intense, close-quarters struggle. While Jake's martial arts training gave him an edge in agility and technique, Goliath's sheer brute strength proved nearly overwhelming. Jake prepared to deliver another tail swipe, only to find his tail ensnared in the gargoyle's grip.

The gargoyle gripped Jake's tail more firmly, repeatedly slamming him into the pavement with brute force. The onslaught continued, each impact growing fiercer than the last. Finally, with a desperate kick aimed at Goliath's abdomen, Jake managed to break free. Staggering, dazed from the onslaught, he fought to maintain his balance, stumbling on the street. Jake contemplated his tactics, realizing that none had proven particularly effective.

"Okay, you're tougher than I thought. But let's see how well you handle this."

In response, Jake clapped his hands together and concentrated his chi, summoning four duplicates of himself, now standing against the gargoyle as a formidable quintet. Surprised, Goliath surveyed the scene, finding himself surrounded on all sides.

"What kind of sorcery is this? How did you manage to create multiple versions of yourself like this?"

"It's a technique called 'Doppelgänger,' using chi. I'm going to give you a beating you'll never forget, five times over."

The four clones ascended into the air, circling around the gargoyle. Attacking simultaneously, the clones attempted to strike Goliath, but he adeptly dodged under a punch and delivered an uppercut to two of them. However, he was quickly overwhelmed by the remaining three, who ganged up and launched an all-out assault.

The original Jake lashed out with a powerful kick, sending the gargoyle reeling. As soon as Goliath attempted to regroup, another clone seized the opportunity, throwing him skyward. The original Jake followed closely behind, firing a burst of fire at the gargoyle. The pursuit continued as Goliath sought to stabilize himself within the air, using his wings to remain airborne. Just as the dragon clone approached, Goliath retaliated with a strong punch, sending him careening away. However, before the gargoyle could respond, he was once again caught off guard by another onslaught from the remaining clones.

Despite being overwhelmed by the dragon clones, Goliath proved resilient and strong, managing to lift, and then forcefully punch away each one. This left him once more face to face with the original Jake, the two resuming their intense combat. Blows were exchanged between them, until Goliath delivered a powerful kick to Jake's face and swung another strike at the back of his head. In a momentary reaction, Jake recoiled, instinctively trying to protect the vulnerable spot behind his left ear – his Achilles' heel.

The gargoyle took advantage of his discovery, a sinister smile spreading across his face as he prepared to lunge at the exposed weakness. Just as he was about to execute the attack, he was abruptly interrupted by a strong tail whip, delivered with precise timing and force that knocked him out of the air and sent him crashing to the ground. The real Jake and the four clones strategically maneuvered themselves around, further complicating the already challenging task of discerning the true dragon from the rest.

The gargoyle made a valiant attempt to defend himself, managing to land a blow on one or two of the dragon clones before being tripped by a strategic tail swipe from behind. The original Jake then seized the opportunity, grabbing hold of the gargoyle and launching him airborne with a strong slash, only for the dragon clones to deliver a powerful double punch that sent him crashing into a nearby building.

"Yeah! Take that, you oversized statue!"

One of the clones jeered, reveling in their momentary triumph. A roar emerged from the building, but it wasn't the typical roar. This one sounded much more savage, more animalistic, and incredibly chilling. Fear crept onto both Jake and his clones' faces, their bodies tensing as a mixture of confusion and dread washed over them, sending a bone-chilling shiver down their spines. What on earth was happening?

With an earth-shaking crash, Goliath burst through the wall, hurtling towards Jake with unprecedented speed. Desperate, Jake sought to defend himself, using a nearby manhole cover as a makeshift shield. However, the sheer force of Goliath's punch shattered the manhole cover like fragile glass, and the subsequent impact sent Jake plummeting downwards, deeply embedding him into the ground and propelling him over an impressive distance. Jake grunted, acknowledging the predicament.

"This isn't good at all."

The four clones swooped and encircled the gargoyle, firing streams of fire at him, creating a whirling vortex of fire with the wind from their wings. Even for Goliath's robust form, the scorching heat was undeniably uncomfortable, stoking the fires of his anger.

Powering through the pain by the blazing vortex, Goliath extended his arm through the flames and grasped the tail of a clone, forcefully pulling him back. Utilizing the captured dragon as a flail, he lashed out at the remaining clones, swiftly dispatching each one. With a menacing glare, he fixed his gaze on Jake, who felt a pang of worry upon the dissipation of his clones.

"Uh oh..."

Jake muttered, sensing trouble. Goliath surged forward, his eyes filled with a determined and lethal intention. Roaring ferociously, he aimed to deal the final blow. Cornered and desperate, Jake unleashed a scorching torrent of fire, pouring every ounce of his power into the attack. Goliath, in turn, crossed his arms in an attempt to shield himself, but the intense assault slowed his relentless advance.

Goliath grunted in pain as the scorching heat seared through him. Jake persisted, channeling all his energy into the flame's relentless onslaught. Initially, the fire seemed to have no impact, but as the barrage intensified, an unusual phenomenon began to unfold. The gargoyle's back glowed ominously, the faint outlines of his bones becoming discernible beneath his skin. Finally, the flame pierces through Goliath's body completely, leaving a burning wound in his back.

Goliath let out a shocked gasp as his body was ruthlessly burnt through. Jake, panting heavily, ceased the attack, and observed the devastating aftermath. Not only were Goliath's forearms burned away, but the force of the blast had left his entire chest scorched and cauterized, a gaping, smoking wound in its wake. With a weakened groan, the gargoyle crumbled forward, his life force steadily fading.

Jake approached the lifeless form of Goliath, his expression a mixture of discomfort and regret. He spoke, his voice laced with a tinge of guilt.

"Uh... sorry about that, dude. I'm not sure if this counts as self-defense, or what... I guess it doesn't matter now. Aw man."

Jake wrapped his claws around the lifeless body, gently lifting it into the air.

"At least I can give you a dignified burial,"

He murmured, his voice filled with a hint of sadness. He made his way to a nearby park where he dug a grave and laid the gargoyle to rest. Jake paid his respects, his mind weighing heavily with the profound events that had unfolded. Once finished, he took to the air again and flown off, unsure of how to process the situation.
——————————————————————————
Strength: These two are relatively equal, because they're stronger than each other in different ways. Goliath is superior in physical might, as he can lift boulders and rend steel, feats that would require 10 tons of force. Jake could similarly match this level of strength if he pushed himself, but Goliath would consistently be stronger. However, the same can't be said for Jake's fire breath. Granted, Goliath has survived enough punishment where a regular fire attack won't do much. But where Death Battle stopped at 31 tons of TNT by breathing down a couple of concrete walls, they neglected where Jake vaporized a water pillar. Vaporizing the whole pillar as he did would require an energy output of 532 tons of TNT. That's certainly way more than Goliath has ever done all by himself, or withstood.

Speed: While both combatants may have similar light speed dodging feats, Jake has the superior mobility, as he can freely fly through the air, instead of relying on air currents, meaning he'd also have the greater flight speed.

Skill: Jake is the superior martial artist. Sure, Goliath has decades more experience of actually fighting, but that's more on gargoyle based instinct than actual martial arts.

Experience: Discounting the 1000 long nap, Jake was essentially fighting a 60 year old guardian who has faced just as many threats as Jake has. So this goes to Goliath

Powers: Unfortunately, Goliath lacks any inherent magic. If he had the Eye of Odin, he could turn things around, but it's not part of his typical arsenal. Jake could always keep him at range with his fire breath, and his doppelgänger technique would make defeating the real target more challenging before he could win himself.

The winner is Jake Long.
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Next time:

"Our very presence here, three-thousand-some-odd years in the past, could have irreparable consequences to the timeline. Imagine the butterfly effect extrapolated out over thousand of years. Every step we take puts the future at risk. And you're talking about snuffing out one of the most profoundly influential villains in all of human history. That's the biggest butterfly effect of them all."

"The people decided they were better off without us. They even called us criminals. They tore our family apart. But look around. Someone has to do something. We have to do something. We can make a difference again. The world needs us now more than ever. Are you with me?"

Chapter Text

Beast

Backstory:

Henry "Hank" McCoy was born and raised in Dunfee, Illinois, the son of Norton and Edna McCoy. His father worked at a nuclear power plant where he was exposed to massive amounts of radiation during an accident. Norton was completely unharmed, but the radiation affected his genes and, as a result, his son was born a mutant. Unlike most mutants, Henry showed signs of mutation from birth: unusually large hands and feet, coupled with unusual strength and agility.A prodigy, Hank was also endowed with an innate superhuman intellect and during adolescence further increased his powers of simian-like augmented agility, reflexes, and strength.

While attending Bard College, thanks to his powers, Henry became a star football player as a teenager and earned the nickname Magilla Gorilla. Hank hid his mutation and thirst for knowledge in plain sight - until the school asked him to leave after he was exposed as a mutant. Hank's remarkable athletic abilities and brilliance attracted the notice of Professor Charles Xavier, who was forming the original X-Men. Xavier offered Hank, who excelled in the classroom, the chance for unlimited academic opportunities at his prestigious School for Gifted Youngsters. The costumed criminal named El Conquistador, however, also took note of his abilities and captured McCoy's parents in order to force McCoy to aid him in his criminal schemes. With the help of Prof. Xavier and the X-Men, Henry defeated the Conquistador and then joined the X-Men as their fourth member, taking the code-name "Beast".

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Natural Weaponry,

Regeneration (Mid-Low, heals from bullet wounds almost instantaneously),

Enhanced Senses,

Genius Intelligence,

Skilled in hand-to-hand combat,

Exceptional Acrobat,

Pressure Point Combat,

Hacking

Weaknesses: Feral Instincts have been known to take-over and his enhanced senses can be taken advantage of.
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Winston (Overwatch)

A super-intelligent, genetically engineered gorilla, Winston is a brilliant scientist and a champion for humanity's potential. Since a young age, he has shown limitless curiosity for the world around him, but also has a fondness for stories, especially those passed down from generation to generation. By his own admission, he tends to overthink things, is a perfectionist, and tends to ramble. As an ape among humans, he gets regular remarks on this subject, including references to old video games. As a gorilla, his strength is exceptional.

When Winston loses his temper, Winston becomes a raging ape. In his off-time, he enjoys peanut butter and bananas. He has stated/joked that his love of the former is due to his genetic therapy. Due to the amount of time he spent on the moon, he has to take supplements to keep his bones in good condition. Having landed on Earth, Winston found a new home with Overwatch, an organization that represented everything he had come to admire about humanity. Winston was finally able to live up to the heroic ideal that had been instilled in him.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Weapon Mastery (Expert Marksman),

Electricity Manipulation (Via Tesla Cannon),

Forcefield Creation (Via Barrier Projector),

Berserk Mode (Via Primal Rage),

Limited Automatic Translation (Capable of understanding the language of most animals)

Weaknesses: Destroying his glasses would automatically activate his Primal Rage.
—————————————
Song: Beasts of Peace

Winston, the highly intelligent gorilla, conducted tests within the Overwatch training facility. With a methodical approach, he aimed his Tesla Cannon at a line of practice dummies, fine-tuning his precision. Despite his sophisticated intellect and refined demeanor, Winston always keenly understood the importance of being prepared for the next battle.

After effectively neutralizing all the practice dummies, Winston felt content with his accuracy. Just as he prepared to put away his Tesla Cannon, an alarm sounded from his suit, indicating a breach. Recognizing the signal, the intelligent gorilla spoke with clarity.

"I regret to inform you that you're trespassing in a restricted area. Honestly, did you believe you could go unnoticed?"

From the ceiling above, a blue, furry mutant figure descended gracefully to the ground. His identity, Hank McCoy, better known as Beast, stood before Winston.

"I am indeed the one who should apologize for this unannounced intrusion. However, this matter is truly urgent and cannot be delayed till a scheduled meeting."

Winston crossed his arms, taking a moment to consider the unexpected presence of the X-Men. He expressed a hint of curiosity in his stance.

"Ah, the X-Men. A well-meaning group, yet one with its share of controversies, or so I've heard. So, what might I do for you in this urgent matter?"

Beast chuckled softly, appreciating Winston's perspective.

"Indeed, 'thought-provoking' is a more positive way to view being controversial. After all, both our organizations are driven by good intentions. We share not only a common ground, but also a common objective. That's why I have a proposition."

Winston leaned in, listening intently. He was intrigued yet cautious.

"Are you suggesting that we join forces? Team up between the X-Men and Overwatch?"

Beast's smile widened as he concurred with Winston's assessment.

"You are correct. Your organization is well-funded, yet lacking in firepower. The X-Men possess considerable individual strength, but our resources from Xavier alone are more limited. Together, we can create a future where harmony reigns among humans, mutants, and omnics."

Winston contemplated the situation. Indeed, since Overwatch's initial disbandment, time had elapsed before he had the chance to assemble the team once again. Despite acquiring some new members, the team was significantly different from its original state. In the past, Overwatch was at its peak both in manpower and public trust, but now, the organization faced a long road to fully regain its prominence. Winston gave a solemn nod.

"You're right. Despite being fully capable of our mission, things are not as easy as they were before. I like the idea of this team up, but before we get to any of the paperwork, you're going to have to prove yourself to me of yourself besides using eloquence of your words."

Beast nodded in understanding, acknowledging Winston's condition.

"You make a fair point. As much as I would prefer it, words alone may not suffice to prove the worth of this alliance. I'm more than willing to demonstrate my abilities through action. How would you like me to prove myself to you?"

Winston leveled his Tesla Cannon at Beast.

"Trial by combat. I'm the leader, and I don't just consider the others my teammates, but my family. And as a gorilla, its considered custom to my species that if the leader is challenged with something, they fight. If you, the follower, best me, the leader, then we can team up, no questions asked."

Beast smiled, appreciating the custom and the challenge.

"Very well. I respect the tradition and the importance of proving myself through your trial by combat. As the follower, if I can best you, the leader, you will agree to our alliance. Shall we begin?"

"Indeed."

The fight commences as Winston fires a powerful wave of electricity from his Tesla Cannon, but Beast swiftly evades it. But the electricity arcs, and it shocks him anyway. Despite grunting in pains, he moves with astonishing speed, Beast charges forward and lands an electrified, formidable punch in Winston's stomach, forcefully propelling him against the wall. Disoriented, Winston shakes his head and adjusts his glasses, regrouping for the next move.

With a powerful leap using his jump pack, Winston ascends to the air before swiftly descending towards Beast. In response, Beast performs a quick backflip, evading a powerful slam attack that creates a small crater and generates a shockwave, momentarily stunning the X-Man.

Winston presses the attack, delivering a firm punch that sends Beast staggering. Though momentarily disoriented, Beast quickly regains his composure and tears up pieces of metal plating from the floor, hurling them at Winston. However, the gorilla shields himself with a protective bubble force field, causing the hurled debris to bounce harmlessly off.

As Winston fires his Tesla Cannon, Beast gracefully leaps over the attack, but gets shocked again. This let Winston swiftly seize one of his legs. Grinning, Winston leverages Beast's captured leg to slam him forcefully into the metal floor, creating a loud impact that leaves an imprint of the X-Man in the surface.

As Winston continues to slam Beast repeatedly into the metal floor, Beast endures the onslaught until he manages to kick away a piece of armor covering the gorilla's arm. Sensing an opening, Beast swiftly strikes at a pressure point, causing Winston's arm to weaken and convulse with pain. Yelping slightly, Winston releases his grip, freeing Beast.

Hank, maintaining exceptional agility, lands on his hands and begins showering Winston's face with a barrage of kicks. In response, Winston lashes out with his Tesla Cannon, sending the X-Man flying towards the force field. In mid-air, Beast forcefully digs his claws into the steel floor to halt his momentum, then rolls toward the barrier projector and deactivates it, effectively removing the protection.

Beast swiftly evades a blast of electricity, swiftly taking cover. Winston charges towards the concrete barrier and collides into it with force. Capitalizing on the moment, Hank nimbly jumps back over the cover and lands behind Winston, seizing the opportunity to counterattack. Winston turns around to fire his Tesla Cannon at Beast, but the X-Man swiftly counters by kicking the weapon, diverting the aim. The misdirected shot misses, and Winston follows with a powerful punch. However, Beast swiftly utilizes the force of the punch to flip Winston over his shoulder, skillfully deflecting the attack.

Frustration evident, Winston seizes Beast from the ground and hurls him forcefully to one side. The agile X-Man swiftly grabs hold of a nearby pole and swings around it, using the momentum to deliver a powerful kick to Winston's face. The impact sends the gorilla sprawling onto his back. As Beast approaches, the tables have turned in his favor.

"So, have I won yet, or do you want to-"

Beast begins his self-assured boast, but mid-sentence, he notices that he is treading on something - Winston's glasses, now broken into pieces. Winston, fuming, catches this action. His expression darkens, his eyes glowing a menacing red, and he stands tall on his hind legs, pounding his armored chest angrily with his massive fists. Beast exclaims,

"Oh my stars and garters!"

As Winston transforms into his Primal Rage, unleashing a primal gorilla roar. The gorilla seizes Beast's head, forcefully smashing it into the ground. Without wasting a moment, Winston grabs the dazed X-Man, hoisting him into the air before fiercely hurling him high.

Defenseless, Beast desperately thrashes about while Winston activates his jump pack, giving chase. Closing in on his aerial target, Winston readies a powerful punch by swiftly spinning his arm in a circular motion. However, Beast swiftly evades the attack and retaliates with a well-aimed kick to Winston's chin.

Skillfully maneuvering, Beast rolls down Winston's back and clambers onto the jump pack. Employing his claws, he viciously lacerates the pack, causing it to malfunction and deactivate. As the two figures slam onto the ground, they tumble across the metal flooring in a tangle of limbs.

Beast scrambles to his feet and swiftly scampers away from the berserk gorilla, who continues to lash out with furious rage. Catching sight of an emergency button on a nearby wall, Hank spots the clearly labeled 'In case of Winston Rampage' inscription behind a pane of protective glass.

Taking a brief moment to regroup, Beast decides to confront Winston head-on. As the enraged gorilla charges, aiming a powerful double-fisted smash, Beast sidesteps the assault and counterattacks. He swiftly strikes at the gorilla's pressure points, causing Winston to bellow in pain as his body becomes momentarily immobilized.

With Winston incapacitated, Beast seized the opportunity and dashed toward the emergency panel. Crashing his fist through the glass covering the button, he activated it. Unexpectedly, a wall slid open beside the button to reveal... a jar of peanut butter. Stunned, Beast questioned aloud,

"Peanut butter?"

Beast picked up the jar, looking at it for a moment before turning his attention to Winston, who was beginning to regain his strength and preparing to charge once more. Then, a look of realization crossed Beast's face, and he chuckled in understanding.

"Ah, I get it now."

Beast said with a hint of amusement. Winston lunged forward, aiming a powerful punch at Beast. However, the X-Man adeptly evaded the attack. Taking the open jar in his hand, Beast skillfully tossed globs of peanut butter in Winston's face. The sticky substance hindered the gorilla's vision, temporarily diverting his assault.

Surprisingly, instead of becoming angrier, the gorilla's fondness for peanut butter kicked in. Instead of continuing to attack, Winston paused to sniff at the sticky substance on his face. He licked his lips to taste as much peanut butter as he could, becoming visibly calmer and enjoying the opportunity to savor his beloved snack. Beast couldn't hide his amused smirk as he tossed the half-empty jar to Winston. He chuckled, commenting,

"Quite a handy trick to quell your wrath. I'm not sure if my own favorite food would have the same effect if I were in a blind fury, but I'm glad it does the trick for you."

Winston continued savoring the peanut butter, pausing to offer an apology. Winston explained,

"I'm sorry... for my outburst. I just find it difficult to control my anger when people break my glasses. They hold significant sentimental value because they remind me so much of my father figure, who played a crucial part in shaping who I am today."

Beast nodded in understanding, expressing his empathy.

"I completely get it. It's only natural to feel upset when our cherished possessions are damaged or destroyed, intentionally or not. And I want to apologize for accidentally stepping on your glasses. It was not my intention."

Winston nodded appreciatively, standing tall and extending his right hand.

"I appreciate your understanding. And I must say, I'm quite impressed by your skill in not only enduring my rage mode, but also discovering my weakness to peanut butter as a way to calm me down; a truly strategic move. You've not only proven your strength but also your intelligence. I have no doubt you will have Overwatch's full support whenever you require it."

Beast returned the handshake, his grip firm and sincere.

"The pleasure is truly mine, Winston. We in the X-Men are always ready to stand by your side when the challenges become too formidable for you to handle. Normally, I prefer to go by Beast, but you are more than welcome to call me Hank."
————————
Strength: Both of these intelligent creatures have the strength to lay the beatdown on each other, but one was much physically stronger. Even taking in enhancements and rage power into account, Winston is still mostly a regular gorilla, who can likely lift over 1000 lbs. and has fought Doomfist, who can punch with a force of 2 tons of TNT. However, not only has Hank tanked punches much stronger than that with no issue, he could partially lift a 60 ton golden tree off the ground. Even if he couldn't lift the whole thing, a third of it would still be more than enough to overpower Winston.

Speed: Most gorillas have a movement speed of traveling at around 25 mph or so, and has about the same reaction speeds of Genji, who can deflect projectiles flying in between Mach 5-15. However, Hank has been shown to scale to other characters like Captain America or Daredevil, who have much faster reaction times than Winston or Genjis.

Skill: This is probably Winston's only advantage. Both are intellectuals who let their do friends do most of the fighting, but the gorilla is more willing to be on the front lines with his friends, while Beast more or less sees combat as only something he'll do when it's necessary to.

Experience: Despite the variety of foes that Winston has gone up against, they do not stack up to the stronger, faster, and just frankly more weirder enemies that the X-Men have seen before. An enhanced gorilla with a tesla cannon is nothing special.

Powers: Both of them possess similar strengths and abilities, but thankfully, something that helped Beast was the fact that he has a sufficient enough healing factor to withstand the weak tesla cannon, and his enhanced durability will let him tank any of Winston's physical hits without issue.

The winner is Beast
———————————
"You surely don't believe...you can beat me?"

"I'll show you the divide in our class!"

Chapter Text

Lili Rochefort

Backstory:

Emilie 'Lili' de Rochefort is the daughter and only child of a wealthy Monegasque oil magnate. Given her privileged background, Lili had a pampered upbringing. Four years prior to the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5, she was kidnapped and held captive for ransom. After a violent struggle, Lili broke free and engaged her abductor in combat. For Lili, defeating her kidnapper triggered passion for a new hobby.

Lili returned home, eager to pursue a career in martial arts. Yet her father disapproved of Lili's new interests; barred from attending the local savate studio, she had to settle for ballet and gymnastics... both of which figure prominently in her self-developed fighting system. She attended several street-fighting tournaments, under the pretense of going on vacation. During this period, Lili received an invitation to the 5th King of Iron Fist Tournament from an opponent she defeated in San Francisco. Lili realized that the host of the tournament was the Mishima Zaibatsu, a conglomerate causing trouble for her father's business. She decided to enter the tournament in hopes of putting an end to her father's business troubles.

Asuka Kazama defeated Lili at the King of Iron Fist Tournament 5, and Lili's father learned that she had been fighting against his wishes. Lili was banned from leaving home, leaving her unable to pursue a rematch with Asuka.

Soon after, Mr. Rochefort's oil fields were taken over by the Mishima Zaibatsu. His company fell into disarray, and he collapsed due to stress. Concerned for her father's well-being, Lili began formulating a plan to reclaim the oil fields from the Mishima Zaibatsu. As she was making her plans, the King of Iron Fist Tournament 6 was announced. Lili entered the tournament to enact her plans and help her father.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Acrobatics,

Chi Manipulation (Can enhance the strength of her attacks),

Limited Fourth Wall Break (her eyes looks at the "Cameraman" when she was focused on the opponent earlier),

Skilled Martial Artist (great at street fighting, participated in tournaments and beat Forrest Law in a match),

Weaknesses: Overconfidence
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Karin Kanzuki

Background:

Karin is the daughter of Daigenjuro Kanzuki and his wife Nadeshiko Kanzuki; their butler is Ishizaki, and Shibazaki is the family steward. Karin's father Daigenjuro is a rather strict man as he constantly pushes his daughter into becoming a better heir to the Kanzuki family fortune, as he wanted a son.

The wealthy Kanzuki family's mottos are "All you need is victory" (also interpreted as "Be the winner in everything") and, alternately, "The worst we'll ever be is the best" (a bonus short in the Street Fighter III: Ryu Final manga takes this further with "Victorious, therefore Supreme! Supreme, she is Karin Kanzuki!"). Her family's private estate covers 200 miles of land, and not only has its own geographical features but its own climate. The Kanzukis are even wealthier than the Masters, so rich that they have their own satellite called "Red Spider-Lily". Karin was given a son's upbringing because her father always wanted a male heir to his conglomerate.

Additionally, Karin was given several tests by her father to complete or else she would be disqualified from inheriting the family fortune. Her first test was when she was nine years old, where she was taken to the woods with meager food and water; she had to come home safely or else she'd be disowned (her father struggled two weeks to accomplish this when he was her age, but Karin polished the trial off in four days). Another test, based solely on her gender, was that if she didn't charm at minimum 5,000 of the world's gentlemen she cannot inherit the family fortune (she passed this test too, and her mother Nadeshiko is said to have charmed 50,046 gentlemen, including her husband, to see if Nadeshiko would qualify to be Daikenjuro's wife). Yet another test required her to stop a stampede of fifty wild bulls, single-handedly stopping a running of the bulls at age fourteen. Karin subdued fifty bulls in all, beating her father's record by one.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Mastery of the Kanzuki-ryu Style,

Acrobatics,

Chi Manipulation (Via Guhren Ken and Tenha no Kata. Can release a glowing aura),

likely Extrasensory Perception (Should be able to sense chi, just like other expert chi users),

Genius Intelligence,

Vibration Manipulation (The "Ruler's Staying Hand" overwhelmes the opponents with the rythmic movement of its user's muscles),

minor Power Nullification (Her Fudo Sosho cancels out normal projectiles),

Damage Boost (Can perform enhanced versions of her Special Attacks),

Status Effect Inducement (By hitting the opponent repeteadly, without them being able to recover, she can cause them to enter the "Stun" status, which leaves them unable to react),

limited Resistance to Precognition (Reading the future of fighters such as him is difficult, because they always fight against it).

Weaknesses: She is short-tempered in some degree, and has a big ego.
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Song: Royal Rumble

Karin, the illustrious head heiress of the prestigious Kanzuki Zaibatsu, strolled gracefully through the elegant halls of her family's estate. Her destination was the well-equipped training facility, where she intended to maintain her skills at the peak of excellence, as befitted a member of the esteemed Kanzuki Family.

As Karin calmly made her way through the corridors, her trusted butler Ishizaki appeared before her.

"Miss Karin. You have a visitor."

Despite the unexpected interruption, Karin maintained her composed demeanor, letting out a dramatic sigh before responding.

"Oh, who could possibly be bothering me now? Unless it's Sakura, kindly inform them that I am unavailable at the moment. If their business is truly important, they should consider making a proper appointment."

However, Ishizaki, her ever-faithful butler, persisted,

"Miss Karin, it's not an average individual or an ordinary affluent businessman. This person is none other than Miss Lili, representing the esteemed Rochefort family."

This caught Karin's attention, her intrigue piqued by the mention of Lili Rochefort. Though the Rocheforts were not quite on par with the wealth and influence of her own family, they were still reputable and respectable.

"Ah, Lili Rochefort. Very well, Ishizaki, arrange a light snack in the dining area next to the training facility. Just in case matters become... physical."

Soon, Karin and Lili were seated across from each other in the elegant dining area, served with traditional Japanese rice balls and accompanied by a steaming pot of tea. The gentle sunlight streamed in from the outside, casting a soft glow in the room as the delicate petals of the surrounding sakura trees swayed gracefully in the gentle breeze. Sitting poised and refined, Karin took a sip of her tea before posing a polite question to her fellow heiress,

"I'm curious, what brings you here, Lili? It's not everyday I have the pleasure of meeting another heir to a prestigious family like mine."

While maintaining her courteous demeanor, Lili promptly responded, gracefully cutting through the pleasantries and bluntly conveying her intentions.

"Let me be direct. As much as I love the atmosphere and pleasantries, I want to acquire your Kanzuki Zaibatsu and have it operate under the Rochefort family name. I hope we can discuss this matter seriously."

Despite her calm exterior, a brief but noticeable twitch of annoyance crossed Karin's brow, betraying her true feelings. She responded in her customary soft-spoken tone, her words laced with a hint of challenge.

"You're definitely audacious in your request, I'll give you that. However, why on Earth should I simply hand over everything I've worked relentlessly to achieve? Your demands are outlandish, and you lack the influence to back them up."

Lili nonchalantly waved her hand, as if dismissing the objection.

"Please, don't take it personally. I'm simply trying to make a power play to prove to my daddy that I possess the necessary qualities to lead the Rochefort name and take over his position someday."

A small smirk tugged at the corners of Karin's lips as she leaned forward, resting her chin atop her interlocking fingers.

"Ah, so you're a daddy's girl. Your father is indeed a competent businessman, but I have heard whispers about his rather... weak willed nature when it comes to parenting. Perhaps that's why he hasn't been able to rein you in."

A flicker of irritation crossed Lili's features as her composure faltered, and her body grew rigid at Karin's words.

"What was that?"

She demanded, her voice taking on a sharper edge. With a nonchalant air, Karin mirrored Lili's dismissive gesture with her hands. Her expression portrayed a lack of seriousness as she continued,

"I mean, what kind of father doesn't allow his daughter such unrestricted freedom when it comes to fighting? It seems like he values you more for your looks than your fighting ability. As for me, my father instilled excellence in me in all aspects, including combat. Not only is your family's status inferior to mine, but I surpass you in every way. Your name holds no significance compared to mine."

Anger flared within Lili as her pride as a Rochefort was insulted so blatantly. She took a deep breath in an attempt to regain her composure, then abruptly stood, kicking over the table. However, to her frustration, Karin demonstrated nimble agility and grace, effortlessly avoiding being hit by the overturned table. With remarkable swiftness, she simultaneously rescued the food and tea pot from being ruined.

"Don't you dare insult me or my father!"

Lili declared, assuming a fighting stance as she prepared to defend her honor and make her father proud by forcibly taking the Kanzuki Zaibatsu. Karin's only response was a soft chuckle, as she handed the rescued food and tea to the ever-present servants.

"A company takeover through forceful means? How utterly uncivilized,"

Karin observed as she also assumed her stance, preparing to defend her family's name, business, and to showcase the formidable techniques of the Kanzuki-Ryu martial arts. Lili initiated the brawl with a powerful punch, but Karin deftly blocked it, redirecting the blow and retaliating with a jarring shoulder strike to Lili's chest, sending her sprawling out of the dining room and onto the ground outside. As Karin calmly walked after her opponent, it was clear that the fight would now transpire on the Kanzuki heiress's terms.

The fight swiftly escalated as Karin attempted a straightforward kick to the rising Lili. Lili, in a remarkable display of quick thinking, snagged the incoming leg and followed up with a swift left jab, paired with a powerful back turning elbow strike. This was punctuated by a potent left kick delivered in a graceful arabesque pose, sending Karin crashing to the ground with a pained grunt.

As Lili attempted a front flip transitioning into an axe kick, Karin reacted swiftly, standing up and meeting the attack with a rising uppercut aimed at the knee of the foot Lili was attacking with. The force of the blow caused Lili to cry out in pain as she hopped back on her unscathed leg, wincing as she massaged her injured knee. Refusing to be kept back, Lili reengaged with a one-two punch combination, followed by a low kick. However, Karin displayed remarkable skill in her defense, neutralizing the punches with a precise palm strike and effectively countering the low kick with her own, resulting in a stalemate.

Lili unleashed another one-two punch combination, followed by her signature "piercing thorn" dropkick. However, Karin skillfully thwarted the punches with blocks, then seamlessly countered Lili's acrobatic attack with a well-timed roundhouse kick that deviated the dropkick, sending Lili crashing to the ground once more.

Lili swiftly rose to her feet, initiating a right jab followed by a low crouching kick. However, Karin deftly deflected the jab and adroitly hooked her foot under Lili's attacking leg, flipping her into the air. In a flowing combination reminiscent of Chun-Li's fighting style, Karin commenced a series of punishing kicks that landed squarely on the beleaguered Rochefort heiress. With a condescending smirk, Karin observed Lili's predictable fighting style.

"Yawn. Such a bore. Were you taught fighting or gymnastics? I don't suppose you trained in ballet, did you? Your techniques are no match for my abilities. Hohohoho!"

She taunted, concluding her remark with a mockingly aristocratic laugh. Capitalizing on Karin's complacency, Lili swiftly seized the opportunity, kneeing the Kanzuki heiress in the abdomen and forcefully stomping her foot, causing Karin to cry out and hop on her good foot. In her momentum, Lilly executed a turning back kick, followed by a single punch and a formidable left roundhouse kick. This combination was devastating, easily laying Karin flat on the ground.

"I don't know. This gymnastic ballerina can still kick butt when she needs to."

Lili retorted, as she got back to fighting position while Karin got back up again. Displaying an air of haughty nonchalance, Karin flipped her golden ojou-style locks with a flourish, confidently returning to her fighting stance.

"Oh, please. You only caught me off guard momentarily. I'll make sure to be less distracted henceforth."

Eager to regain the initiative, Karin launched an aggressive attack. Despite Lili's timely double palm strike to her midsection, Karin refused to be fazed, firmly holding onto her opponent's arms. She then swiftly brought one foot behind Lili's knee, forcing her to drop to her knees. Without mercy, Karin delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Lili's face with her other foot, forcefully sending her crashing to the ground.

Regaining her footing, Lili attempted a spectacular twirling jumping high kick with both legs, but Karin outmaneuvered the move by swiftly pivoting on her feet and assuming a bagua-zhang stance. As Lili landed, Karin gracefully executed a low sweep, catching her off-balance and once more sending her crashing to the ground.

Undeterred by her repeated falls, Lili stubbornly pushed herself back to her feet, defying the odds. As Karin aimed a punch, Lili seized the moment, catching the blow and swiftly countering with a split kick that connected with a powerful strike under Karin's chin. Using the momentum, Lili concluded the move with a flawless standing 180-degree split, displaying her incredible flexibility.

Slightly rattled, Karin retreated upon noticing the trace of blood on her fighting glove. However, she attempted to play it cool with another haughty laugh, exclaiming,

"Hohohoho! A bit of my own blood? I can't decide whether to be impressed that you managed to draw it, or rather disappointed that it took you so long to do so."

Lili's frustration bubbled to the surface as she declared defiantly,

"I'll prove that I've earned that drop of blood!"

With a mix of determination and agility, Lili executed a graceful aerial cartwheel, launching a string of rapid attacks. Her right leg flicked out, swiftly followed by a left heel drop. Not satisfied, she added a powerful backflip kick, overwhelming Karin's defenses. The relentless onslaught sent the Kanzuki heiress crashing onto her back on the ground. Eager to maintain the upper hand, Lili pressed her advantage as Karin tried to regain her footing. Her attacks were quick and calculated, a right punch seamlessly flowing into a right backfist, before landing a left roundhouse kick that sent Karin sprawling back to the ground.

Backing away momentarily, Lili mustered her strength and unleashed a powerful dropkick aimed at Karin. However, the Kanzuki heiress, though crouching, swiftly raised her arms to defend against the impending blow, effectively blocking the attack. Rising to her feet, Karin attempted a direct kick, only to have Lili sidestep the attack with ease. In her swift retaliation, Lili launched a powerful side kick that connected, but the Kanzuki heiress refused to be deterred, retaliating with a forceful elbow swing that struck Lili in the face, causing her to stagger backwards.

Recovering from the jarring blow to her face, Lili displayed remarkable resilience, quickly executing a powerful flying right kick followed by a forceful left kick to the stomach. Despite Karin managing to block the vertical kick, the subsequent strike to her gut winded her, causing her to retreat, gasping for breath. As the battle reached its pinnacle, both fighters were showing signs of wear and tear: their bodies covered in bruises, and a few smears of blood evident. Just when it seemed like the end was in sight, Lili tapped into her HEAT mode, while Karin channeled her inner ki through the Kanzuki-Ryu Guren no Kata, unlocking the full potential of her family's fighting style.

With a burst of energy, Lili executed a series of acrobatic kicks while airborne, culminating in a powerful backflip kick that sent Karin crashing to the ground. However, the resilient Karin rose back up, delivering a forceful double palm strike to Lili's midsection, followed by a sharp right elbow strike. In a surprise move, Karin then ascended onto Lili's shoulders in a handstand, grabbing hold of her, only to launch a devastating double-knee strike straight into her face.

Desperation fueling her drive to secure victory, Lili executed a strategic kick to create distance between them. As she stood up, Lili unleashed her ultimate Heat Smash move: a low sweeping hand strike followed by a swift double cartwheel kick, before culminating in a powerful backward grand jeté kick that sent the Kanzuki heiress flying backward.

Karin groaned as she struggled to stand, her head spinning from the impact. Seizing the moment, Lili executed a cartwheel kick with confidence, aiming to end the fight. However, with incredible reflexes, Karin initiated a punishing combo, starting with a debilitating elbow strike that stopped the potential hit before it landed. Not done yet, she continued with a hard-hitting palm strike to Lili's midsection, then a sharp knee strike to her gut, adding to her growing discomfort.

In a fluid sequence, Karin seized Lili's wrist and spun herself beneath her arm, twirling her opponent around in a verticle helicopter fashion. Once the rotation was complete, Karin forcefully extended her arms to halt the motion, only to swiftly strike Lili with a powerful palm thrust to her midsection. The impact sent Lili flying backward with a yell, the force of the blow propelling her some distance away.

Tumbling roughly into the small room, Lili collided with a stand filled with samurai gear, causing the kabuto helmet to catapult into the air before landing perfectly on her head, knocking her out cold as she slumped in a sitting position. Confidently, Karin entered the room, her victory assured but her body still reeling from the battle's toll. In a seemingly nonchalant manner, she retrieved a paper fan and commenced fanning herself, her breaths slowly returning to normal as she basked in her well-earned triumph. With a dismissive wave, Karin addressed the unconscious Lili, gloating over her victory.

"Ha! You're quite strong, I give you that. But you ought to know this by now: there's no way you'll take over my family business. You'll have to go back to running to dear old Daddy now, with your tail tucked between your legs. Hohoho!"
——————
Strength: Now, it's very difficult to tell how strong Lili herself is at her peak without questionable scaling. The best we get is that she's comparable to Asuka Kazama. Sure, but I don't really see her stacking up to others on Asuka's scaling, such as Jack bots, or any big bads that Asuka may have fought. But, supposedly if we take things at face value, Karin could be as strong as Chun-Li, who exerted 18.34 tons of force, while Lili could dish out 100 Megatons. This would make Lili 5.45 million times stronger. But again, that feels very generous for someone like Lili. Not that it would matter, as Tekken is very loose with how their characters scale in power, and any level where Lili is close to Karin's level, is too low to be of Asuka's level.

Speed: Now this is where this is much more even. Karin scales to characters like Chun-Li, who is scaled to speeds around Mach 5,633.59. But Lili, with more believable scaling here, could reasonably scale to Asuka, or Heihachi Mishima, who have reaction speeds at 4% the speed of light, or Mach 34,961.2. That puts Lili at 6.15X faster.

Skill: But despite lacking the physical stats, Karin holds everything else. Even if Lili is adept enough of a fighter to hold her own against professionally trained fighters like Asuka, she's still self-taught in combat, mainly just weaponizing gymnastics and ballet. Karin's Kanzuki-Ryu is a combination of the best martial arts in the world, and she can keep up with the 8 best world warriors when they're fighting casually. That certainly makes up for the bit of speed gap between them.

Experience: Karin has faced against more skilled fighters than Lili, and is even familiar with fighters that are self-taught, such as Sakura.

Powers: While Lili may have more ki control, she doesn't have anything that Karin wouldn't be able to overcome, such as negating incoming projectiles, matching ki attacks with her own, or prevent her moves from being read.

The winner is Karin Kanzuki
——————————————
Next time:

"The ability to destroy a planet, is insignificant, next to the power of the Force."

"I ask of you, are you my Master?"

Chapter Text

Darth Vader

Backstory:

Darth Vader is a Dark Lord of the Sith and the apprentice of Emperor Palpatine, ruler of the Galactic Empire. Vader was once the esteemed Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, whose unparalleled midichlorian count labeled him as the Chosen One destined to bring balance to the Force. However, the numerous tragedies he suffered during his service to the Jedi Order in the Clone Wars took their toll on Skywalker, making the young knight desperate to find a way to protect his lover Padme Amidala. This opened the Chosen One to the manipulations of Darth Sidious, who turned the newly christened Vader against the Jedi Order, slaughtering numerous Jedi and their younglings as part of Order 66.

However, Vader was defeated on Mustafar by his former master, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, leaving the Sith Lord with grievous injuries and burns so severe that he had to be encased in his iconic life support system. With his former identity fully relinquished, Vader became a feared enforcer of the emperor's regime, laying waste to any who would oppose Palpatine's will. However, Vader was defeated once more by his son, Luke Skywalker, in lightsaber combat during their final confrontation aboard the Death Star II. Being offered mercy by his son, Vader's paternal instincts took over as Palpatine began to electrocute Luke with a continuous stream of Force Lightning. Subduing his master from behind, Vader then tossed Palpatine into the reactor shaft to save Luke, sustaining fatal injuries and severe damage to his life support systems in the process. Luke then removes Vader's helmet, allowing Anakin Skywalker to look into his son's eyes for the first and final time before becoming one with the Force.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses,

Various lightsaber combat skills,

Skilled Swordsman,

Precognition,

Telekinesis,

Telepathy,

Mind Manipulation,

Memory Manipulation (Count Dooku in Canon has showcased the ability to manipulate a target's memories; Vader should be capable of the same),

Psychometry,

Barrier Creation (in the form of Force Barrier),

Energy Manipulation (can reflect, redirect, and absorb energy attacks thrown at him),

Technokinesis (Used the Force to rip apart a Jedi training droid and then used the droid's parts to telekinetically rebuild his own damaged cybernetic limbs),

Rage Power (Can become more powerful when sufficiently angered)

Same as before,

Enhanced Senses and Perception,

Aura-Sensing,

Clairvoyance,

Telekinetic Blasts,

Illusion Creation,

Energy Manipulation (can reflect, redirect, and absorb energy attacks thrown at him),

Energy Blasts (in the form of Kinetite),

Regeneration (Mid-Low; in the form of Force Healing),

Resistance to Poison, Matter Manipulation on a sub-atomic scale (as per editing the Holocron, to activate it, it requires one to make numerous precision alterations to it on a subatomic scale),

Resistance to Transmutation (resisted the effects of the Muur Talisman which turns even force users into monsters known as Rakghouls),

Battlemind,

Consume Essence,

Force Scream,

Force Stun,

Pyrokinesis,

Force Drain

Weaknesses: Darth Vader is vulnerable to electric attacks of sufficient strength due to being a cyborg, and he cannot use Force Lightning (He can shield himself with the force and also modify his suit against this but strong enough electric attacks can still kill him, such as Darth Sidious'), his suit acts as a life support system and he will die if removed from it, the control panel on his chest is a weak-spot that can easily be damaged.
————————————————————
Saber (Artoria Pendragon)

Background:

Saber is the Saber-class Servant of Kiritsugu Emiya during the Fourth Holy Grail War, and then of his son, Shirou Emiya, during the Fifth. Her actual name is Artoria Pendragon, better known as King Arthur, the "Once and Future King" and a legendary hero of Britain. She became king by pulling the sword Caliburn (Fate/stay night) from the stone. Later, the magic sword was destroyed, after which the Lady of Lake gave him Excalibur and Avalon.

She is not a true Heroic Spirit, but instead the real Artoria, who made a deal with the World to act as a Servant. She wants to win the Grail to change her past and prevent herself from becoming king so that the tragedies that have ever happened in her life never happens.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Enhanced Senses,

Master Swordswoman,

Precognition (Has a high rank in her Instinct skill to the point of bordering on precognition, allowing her to avoid fatal blows such as Cu's Gae Bolg and Kojirou's Tsubame Gaeshi),

Minor Mind Manipulation and Social Influencing with Charisma,

some Magecraft,

Air Manipulation with Invisible Air (Acts as a sheath of wind for Excalibur, rendering it invisible, and she can release it as an attack),

Forcefield Creation (Can form a defensive wall of air and use Avalon to produce a barrier that can block out even the True Magics),

Light Manipulation,

Holy Manipulation,

Heat Manipulation (The heat given off by Excalibur is capable of immolating Berserker and melting stone),

Energy Projection,

Statistics Amplification (Can reinforce her body with magical energy to increase her strength and durability),

Immortality (Types 1 and 3 with Avalon),

Regeneration (At least Mid-Low; regenerated from being severely injured and nearly killed by Enuma Elish, and from Gilgamesh cutting through her neck. Has also regenerated getting pierced by Gae Bolg in the chest and from her battle with Berserker. Low-Mid over time; Servants can continue fighting even with a hole through their gut and can regenerate unless their head/heart is destroyed or run out of mana. Low-Mid with Avalon; Shirou was able to regenerate from being nearly cut in half and having most of his internal organs destroyed with Avalon),

Animal Manipulation, can "ride" any vehicle or mount with supernatural skill,

Self-BFR,

Intangibility and Invulnerability with Avalon (Shuts out all interference up to the sixth dimension, including True Magic, can block attacks from a "higher-order dimension"),

Attack Reflection (Reflected Enuma Elish back at Gilgamesh using Avalon),

Limited Conceptual Manipulation (Avalon is considered a conceptual armament, and Shirou keeping it for a long time eventually overwrote his Origin into the concept of "Sword"),

Water Walking,

Supernatural Luck, Minor Fate Manipulation (Servants with B-rank Luck or higher can change their fates to evade inevitable outcomes such as having their hearts destroyed by Gáe Bolg),

Minor Technology Manipulation (Can apply Mana Burst to vehicles),

Limited Power Nullification and Servant Physiology

Weaknesses: The chivalric code binds Saber as a knight, and she'd thus never rely on underhanded or more pragmatic tactics. Her sixth sense can be fooled by things that Saber has never experienced. Unlike other Servants, Saber isn't a proper Heroic Spirit, possessing a physical body that cannot go into spirit form though she does not have this in the world of Fate/Grand Order. She harbors a great deal of self-loathing and regrets over her actions and perceived failures as the King of Britain, which can be exploited to rile her up or break her mentally. Losing the ability to use one of her hands properly will prevent her from using Excalibur to its fullest potential, reducing its range to that of an Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm and weakening it considerably.
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Song: Servants of War

Within the vast expanse of the Nasuverse, myriad timelines coexist, some plagued by adversity and tragic ends, and others steeped in joy and contentment. The concept of a multiverse dictates that in some capacity, every possibility can manifest. With this in mind, we delve into an improbable crossover event, one that carries a legendarily grand scope.

In the midst of the pivotal Fifth Holy Grail War, a conflict predestined to unfold between Masters and their Servants, the sanctity of Fuyuki City was shattered by the sudden arrival of the Galactic Empire. With its fleets of Star Destroyers flying overhead and swarms of Stormtroopers invading the city, the Masters were forced to put aside their differences for the sake of preserving their way of life. Faced with this unforeseen extraterrestrial threat, the seven Masters came together in a truce, marshalling their Servants to combat the encroaching force.

Artoria Pendragon, known more commonly as Saber and the Servant of Rin Tohsaka, stood at the frontlines, embodying courage and valiance. She stood against the ominous Darth Vader, the fearsome leader of the galactic invasion, with her invisible air-sheathed sword forcefully colliding with his red-bladed lightsaber. Darth Vader's imposing voice, distorted by the helmet's modulating synthesizer, echoed through the air as he declared,

"The Force is strong within you. However, your power pales in comparison to the might of the Dark Side."

Despite the ominous tone, the steadfast King of Knights maintained her stoic expression, refusing to let the threat undermine her unwavering determination. Artoria, firm in her resolve, gazed boldly at Darth Vader, sensing the darkness that enveloped him. In a declaration filled with valor, she asserted,

"I sense great darkness within you, yet I have vanquished many evils in my time. For my honor and those who hold dear to me, I shall vanquish you, conqueror!"

With determination radiating from her, Saber pushed back against Darth Vader, her invisible sword poised and ready for the imminent clash. Artoria, propelled by a surge of speed, initiated a swift and calculated attack, aiming to strike Darth Vader across the chest. In response, Vader extended an arm to launch a Force push, only to see Artoria nimbly leap out of its path. Without missing a beat, she continued her advance with a cross cut, but Darth Vader parried the attack, using his lightsaber to deflect the assault. Taken aback by the sheer power behind his counterattack, even stronger than that of Berserker, Saber managed to block it, her surprise mounting at the incredible strength he wielded.

Artoria, with exceptional agility, soared over Darth Vader, launching herself into an overhead slash. Vader, demonstrating formidable reflexes, defended himself, rotating on his heels with an unshakeable stance. Landing gracefully, Saber persisted with her assault, her invisible sword moving with such velocity that its cloaked sheath created a whirlwind of precision and strength. Despite Vader's efforts to block each attack, he found himself increasingly overwhelmed by Saber's swiftness and remarkable skills, far exceeding his initial expectations.

Artoria deftly evaded Darth Vader's lightsaber swing by ducking under the strike, successfully landing a blow on his right shoulder plating. In response, Vader unleashed a surge of dark anger, expelling a potent Force wave that sent Artoria flying into a nearby wall, crying out in pain. Caught off-guard by the overwhelming power of the force unleashed, Saber struggled to defend or regroup herself. Darth Vader, fueled by an explosion of speed, lunged swiftly toward the King of Knights, unleashing an onslaught of intense and aggressive fighting style of Form VII, Juyo. Despite Saber's valiant efforts to defend herself, the sudden shift in fighting style, caught her off guard, struggling to adjust her defense. In an attempt to regain the upper hand, she attempted to leap over Vader, only to be seized by the Force, her throat gripped tightly, cutting off her airflow.

As Darth Vader tightened his grip on Artoria's neck with the Force, a victorious statement escaped him,

"All too easy."

With a violent toss, he hurled her towards a nearby car. However, displaying her remarkable agility, Saber somersaulted in midair, landing her feet against the car hood before launching a fierce counterattack, lunging towards Vader with a determined yell. Vader swiftly evaded the sword's reach, the distance between them growing as they both found their footing once more, preparing for the next move.

Darth Vader, exerting his power over the surrounding street debris, cars, and signs, unleashed a barrage of objects towards Artoria. However, before the onslaught could reach her, Saber unleashed her first Noble Phantasm, which was the sheath made of air. This action generated a massive vortex of air around her, catching the incoming objects and deflecting them harmlessly to the sides. Artoria, her sword radiating with a brilliant glow, declared in a resolute voice,

"You may wield a sword of light or harness mental forces, but you cannot defeat what I represent! I am the King of Knights, and I shall triumph with the greatest sword of all: Excalibur!"

Raising her sword, it started manifesting from the hilt to the tip of the blade, revealing its mythical, dragon-imbued steel, its golden glow illuminating the area. Saber leveled her newly unveiled Excalibur towards Darth Vader, preparing to unleash its power. With a swift movement, she directed the air that previously sheathed Excalibur, launching a torrent of destructive wind towards the Dark Lord. As the wave of wind and destruction surged forward, Darth Vader responded by extending a free hand, employing the Force to create a barrier, shielding himself from the onslaught. His cape fluttered wildly from the powerful wind, caught in the midst of the fierce storm.

The clash between Saber and Darth Vader intensified as they each leaped forward, launching into a fierce exchange of strikes and counterstrikes. Artoria's nimbler speed and well-honed battle instincts allowed her to land more blows, but the impact seemed minimal against the resilient Dark Lord. As the fight progressed, Darth Vader shifted his fighting style, transitioning from Juyo to Djem So, employing counterattacks to inflict grazing blows that left red burn marks on Saber's body.

Darth Vader retreated, exerting his mastery over Kinetite to create several concentrated balls of electricity. He then unleashed them towards Artoria, who successfully intercepted the bolts with Excalibur, the sword's holy properties shielding her from the dangerous electrical charge. Darth Vader strategically used the Force to generate a dust storm, obscuring himself within the dark, tumultuous clouds. Saber's armored dress fluttered fiercely with the wind, as she lost sight of her adversary in the chaotic storm. However, rather than succumbing to panic, Artoria remained composed, closing her eyes and relying on her instincts to guide her.

Guided by her instincts, the King of Knights swiftly sidestepped the sneak attack coming from behind and retaliated with a swift, precise strike from Excalibur. The blow connected with Darth Vader's life support system, causing the chest plate to malfunction and spark as it sustained damage. This unexpected hit resulted in Darth Vader gasping and coughing as he staggered back, signaling the impairment of his life support system. Artoria cautiously approached the beleaguered Darth Vader, her sword raised in readiness as he knelt, the dust storm around them subsiding. With a resolute tone, she declared,

"You require assistance to breathe? You should have protected such a vulnerable point more diligently. Your conquest ends here."

Saber swiftly raised her sword, attempting a quick decapitation strike, but Darth Vader swiftly deflected the sword's edge with the Force and ignited his lightsaber in response. The plasma blade shot forward, impaling Artoria in the midsection. She cried out in pain as she looked down, feeling the intense heat around her injury. With a menacing presence, Darth Vader rose to his full towering height, seizing Artoria by the neck and lifting her effortlessly off the ground. In a dark and ominous tone, he declared,

"You underestimate the true power of the Force. You are but a mere drop in the vast ocean that is the Dark Side. Now, feel the true depth of its power."

Using the Force, Darth Vader intruded into Artoria's mind, gaining access to her life history from her time period as the King of England. He witnessed her noble aspirations, her commitment to being the ideal ruler for her people, but also her ultimate failure to prevent the downfall of her kingdom. This inner turmoil and burden of responsibility echoed within the depths of her mind, a stark reminder of her perceived failure. Darth Vader's words echoed with cruel mockery within Artoria's mind, taunting her about her chosen destiny as a king, yet her failure to uphold it.

"You were chosen to rule as a king of destiny, yet you let everyone down. Your compassion for your people was your weakness. If you truly desired a successful rule, you should have possessed the strength to prevent its downfall. You let your emotions cloud your judgment, and thus allowed it all to unfold as it did."

As Darth Vader continued to probe into Artoria's mind, delving into her past and witnessing her dying moment as a fallen king resting against a tree in a gently lit forest, Saber felt an immense ache in her heart. Each failure and mistake she had made seemed to resurface, magnifying her pain. Meanwhile, she could sense Darth Vader's insidious influence, attempting to corrupt her very being.

Darth Vader approached the dying Artoria in her memories, his sinister plan clear: to bring her closer to the Dark Side. His words echoed with sinister persuasion.

"Surrender to the Dark Side. Embrace the pain, the anger, and the guilt that weigh upon your heart. Allow it to alter you into a king who wields not just honor and respect, but fear and power. Let the darkness consume you."

As Darth Vader neared the point of corrupting Artoria's heart entirely, she opened her eyes wider, her gaze unyielding as she stared defiantly into his mask. Her voice rang out with determination,

"I am aware of my failures. I let everyone down. Yet, if I were to submit to the allure of evil at this hour, all my sacrifices would be in vain. I will never break my oaths, and no one will sway me from my convictions! Not even you! Now, leave my heart!"

Darth Vader was forcefully ejected from Artoria's head, thrown out by her inner resistance to his surprise. In a swift motion, the King of Knights took advantage of the situation, executing a precise sword strike against the arm holding her aloft. The attack severed his lightsaber arm, the mechanical prosthetic falling to the ground with a clatter. Though Darth Vader had lost a limb and was channeling some of the Force to sustain his body without life support, his willpower remained firm. He repelled Artoria's subsequent assault, sending her flying into a distant building. With a resolute tone, he stated,

"If you refuse to yield to the Dark Side, then you will perish alongside your foolish convictions."

Darth Vader seized a building with the Force, lifting it off its foundation and hurling it towards Saber. But as the structure moved towards her, a radiant golden light gleamed from her position, signaling the activation of her Noble Phantasm. Raising Excalibur high, the King of Knights shouted,

"Witness the might of my power! Excalibur!"

Artoria swung Excalibur downward, unleashing a wave of golden light that disintegrated the incoming building and surged towards Darth Vader. Despite the Dark Lord successfully erecting a Force shield to deflect the direct energy, the adjacent power from the attack sent him flying backward amidst the flying debris from the nearby city blocks. Darth Vader echoed a cry in his flight, the ruins around them scattering with his momentum.

The aftermath of the clash was enveloped in a vast array of rubble and debris. Suddenly, however, Darth Vader's damaged yet operational metal arm emerged from the wreckage, determinedly pushing through the rubble that had buried him. His armor displayed signs of damage, with sparking circuits and exposed, scorched flesh beneath the charred leather.

Just as Darth Vader was about to regain his footing and continue the battle, he felt a searing pain in his chest. He cleared his vision and discovered Artoria, who had swiftly closed the gap between them and impaled him with Excalibur, pinning him to the ground beneath him. Despite the pain that persisted, Darth Vader felt a soothing radiance emanating from the sword piercing his body. Saber, with a compassionate tone, declared,

"You're not as lost as you think, Anakin Skywalker. Just as you delved into my memories, I glimpsed your own."

Despite the concealed expression, Darth Vader was taken aback by Artoria's words. She knelt beside him, placing her hand on his chest, and explained,

"You succumbed to the Dark Side due to your deep love for Padmé, and tragically, you killed her when she rejected your advances. However, she was aware of your underlying intentions, knowing that your motives, although flawed, were rooted in honor and the desire to protect those you cared for."

As Darth Vader experienced the profound impact of Artoria's words, his convictions and emotions started to waver. She confessed,

"Perhaps my greatest mistake was shutting off my emotions, just like you tried doing in your time as a Jedi. In my role as king, I placed my duties above my people, and in doing so, I failed them. You've helped me understand this by granting me insight into your love for Padmé and how far you were willing to go for her. I should have shown the same dedication to my own people."

Artoria recognized that Darth Vader was just on the brink, and just needed an extra push. She spoke gently but fiercely,

"The Dark Side has only brought you anguish and hardship. Though I can't undo the wrongs you've committed, I can aid you in forgiving yourself. The Jedi, Sith, and others had a role in shaping your choices, but ultimately, you chose the Dark Side willingly. That doesn't mean you shouldn't absolve yourself of the evils not entirely your fault. You've been a unfortunate victim of circumstances. Allow go of the malevolent presence within your heart."

Artoria's charismatic persuasion and Excalibur's holy magic worked together, enabling the resurgence of Anakin Skywalker within Darth Vader. He hadn't felt truly like himself in years. With his last breaths, he pleaded between ragged breaths,

"Please...remove my mask."

Saber gingerly removed the outer head piece and carefully lifted away the face cover, revealing a 45-year-old man with a prematurely aged appearance, bald and pale. However, his eyes were now blue, a stark contrast to the Sith yellow they turned when corrupted by the Dark Side. Anakin looked up at the sky, his gaze fixed on the moon above. Anakin's voice was filled with a mix of awe and gratitude as he spoke,

"I haven't seen the moon with my own eyes in what seems like forever. Thank... you…"

He then slumped back, his last breath escaping him. Artoria, with sorrow and compassion, gently closed his eyes, before pulling her weapon out of his body, flicking the blood from Excalibur's blade. Saber took a brief moment to observe the battlefield, witnessing her fellow Servants and their masters successfully pushing back the Empire's forces. Sensing that while she had achieved victory over her own adversary, true triumph would only come if they could expel all the remaining enemies from the planet. With determination, she raised Excalibur high and propelled herself back into the fray.
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Strength: Now, this is where Darth Vader truly stomps. Death Battle has calculated his offensive abilities with the force to be 12 Yottatons of TNT. Saber has never displayed the same level of power, scaling more to Noble Phantasms that wield about 3 Teratons of TNT. This makes Darth Vader about 162 billion times more powerful with the Force.

Speed: However, he'd be hard pressed to generate that much pressure in one go, as both combatants have displayed feats that lets them move and react at light speed.

Skill: Artoria may have been the King of the Knights, the top of her class at saber combat, but Anakin was even more skilled, having trained from a younger age, and fighting at a time where he fought enemies closer to his skill, whereas Saber was mostly unchallenged with only a few of her caliber.

Experience: Anakin has much more experience. While it's unknown how old King Arthur was when he died, the estimated 35 seems a bit old for Artoria when she doesn't look older than her early to mid twenties. Even if she did die at 35, that only equalize the amount of time they've been fighting, and even then, Anakin has fought a bigger variety of foes as both a Jedi and Sith up to his death at 45.

Powers: While Saber lacked the range and power that the Force provides, her reaction ability would allow her a constant state of battle clairvoyance, while Anakin would need to dedicate himself to the same constant state. This would certainly help to give Saber an edge with their equaled speed. He could try to employ mind manipulation, but Saber would be strong enough will to not succumb to her Altered state. And while his Force shields are strong enough to block her strongest attacks, they're too widespread to completely stonewall them, leaving him open to a follow up attack while he tried to recover.

The winner is Artoria Pendragon

Chapter Text

Endeavor

Backstory:

At one point in his childhood, Enji Todoroki witnessed an accident wherein his father tried to rescue a little girl from a Villain, only to end up dying alongside her. This event inspired him to become a Pro Hero, and by the time he entered U.A. High School, he chose the hero name Endeavor.

At the age of 20, he had already climbed to the #2 position on the Hero Billboard Chart JP. However, despite all of his efforts, he could not surpass All Might. Enji realized the gap was way too big and began to hold a sense of fear and begrudging respect towards the latter. Because of this, he decided to change his strategy and conceive a child powerful enough to fulfill his goal in his place, for that reason, Enji married Rei Himura after negotiating with her family to a Quirk Marriage in order to get his hands on her ice Quirk. Enji attempted to conceive and raise a child strong enough to usurp All Might.

Despite being an arranged marriage, Enji really did have feelings for Rei, and so the first few years went well. When he was twenty-two years old, their first son Toya was born with a fire Quirk that was even more powerful than Enji's Hellflame Quirk. Despite not inheriting his mother's ice Quirk to overcome the downside of overheating, he still planned on raising him to be a hero.

He still sought a child who would inherit the Quirks of fire and ice, and Rei wanted more children, believing they could encourage each other, which ultimately led to Fuyumi's birth. Sadly, she only inherited Rei's ice Quirk, but he was still happy either way, because he felt that since Toya had more potential, he could place all his ambitions on him.

However, his plans were cut short when he discovered that Toya had inherited his mother's resistance to cold temperatures rather than his durability to heat, which therefore gave his body improper resistance to his own flames and would cause his Quirk to easily burn him should he abuse it. Enji stopped Toya's training in concern for his wellbeing, but Toya himself refused to quit, becoming just as stubborn as his father to become the next top Hero.

With nothing he said deterring him, Enji decided to have more children, wanting to try again for a child who would inherit the ideal Quirk of fire and ice, and hoping that this would finally make Toya give up on his ambition to become a Hero. This ultimately led to the birth of his third child, Natsuo, and eventually Shoto.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Supernatural Willpower (Continued to battle Hood even after being cut in the face and stomach. Was able to strike Gigantomachia while having one of his lungs punctured),

Rage Power (Became stronger against All For One after being fueled with rage),

Expert Hand-to-hand Combatant (Can keep up with Shigaraki's sharp motion despite being slower than him),

Fire Manipulation,

Acrobatics (Can perform complex acrobatics with the use of his fire, and is able to travel through urban areas far better than 10% Deku, Dynamight, and Shoto),

Weapon Creation (Capable of creating weapons such as an arrow or a spear from his fire),

Flight (Can propel himself through the air with fire),

Danmaku (Can create several flame spears to overwhelm his enemies and cut objects into small pieces),

Resistance to: Heat (Stated to be resistant to other types of flames, and can endure even the immense heat of his Flashfire) and Fear Inducement (Is not affected in the slightest by All For One's overwhelming pressure, which can cause fear and visions of death)

Weaknesses: The continued use of Flashfire Fist raises his body temperature, causing him to weaken, so he refrains from overusing to use his most powerful attacks recklessly. This weakness seems to have been mitigated at the time of the All-Out War Arc, as he was able to continuously use his strongest attacks without getting weaker. Using Prominence Burn instantly raises his body temperature to its maximum, making it a technique he cannot use carelessly.
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Vinsmoke Judge

Backstory:

Vinsmoke Judge was born 56 years ago in the North Blue within the Germa Kingdom. Sometime in the past, Judge worked alongside Vegapunk, as part of the rogue research group MADS, which discovered the Lineage Factor. When the World Government caught wind of this research, they deemed it a threat and Vegapunk was arrested. Judge managed to escape the Government's grasp and continued the research in the Germa Kingdom. At some point he became the current patriarch of the Vinsmoke Family and the King of Germa.

At another point in the past, Judge led Germa 66 in an event known as the Conquest of Four Nations, in which he vanquished four kings in the North Blue.

Before the birth of his children, Judge married Sora, thereby crowning her queen consort of the Germa Kingdom. Twenty four years ago, she later gave birth to their first child and only daughter, Reiju, before conceiving fraternal quadruplet sons. Before their sons were born, Judge argued with his wife about giving them modifications. Judge was only concerned about giving his sons power, even if it meant making them emotionless, and forced his wife to undergo surgery against her wishes. After his sons' birth, Judge was pleased when Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji displayed their enhancements but was puzzled by Sanji's "peculiar" behavior.

When his five children were very young, Judge revealed his ambition for them to lead Germa 66 into battle and began training them. While Sanji's siblings excelled at their exercises and their bodies evolved, Sanji continually lagged behind due to his body remaining human, which greatly disappointed Judge. One day, Judge caught Sanji cooking and warned Sanji that he would need to cease his habits and train even harder if he wanted to catch up with his siblings. He then threw the food out of the palace window as he told Sanji to never make another meal again, causing Sanji to cry.

Eventually, Judge determined that Sanji would never develop the enhanced abilities of his siblings, and decided to erase his existence by putting an iron mask on him and locking him in a dungeon. He then staged a state wake to "mourn" Sanji's passing, informing the kingdom that Sanji had died in an accident.

Despite his scorn for Sanji, Judge allowed him to be fed. As his four other children made great progress with their training, Judge expressed how proud he was and gave them a hug. Eventually, he decided to wage some wars in the East Blue. After the Germa Kingdom crossed the Red Line into the East Blue, Judge ran into Sanji after he escaped his cell. Sanji declared that he wanted to leave the kingdom, something that Judge was actually pleased to hear. He allowed Sanji to go on the condition that he never tell anyone about their relationship.

When he wanted to form an alliance with the Emperor, Big Mom, Judge did not want to marry off any of his precious children into her family. He then remembered about Sanji and decided to bring him back. After Sanji gained his first bounty, Judge sent Marines and bounty hunters after his son. However, due to the poor depiction of Sanji in his wanted poster, the hunters ended up going after Duval instead.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Skilled Martial Artist,

Weapon Mastery,

Genius Intelligence,

Statistics Amplification and Pseudo-Flight with his boots,

Electricity Manipulation,

Resistance to Fire Manipulation (Raid-Suits are fireproof),

Madness Manipulation, Mind Manipulation and Soul Manipulation via Willpower (Through sheer willpower they can resist losing their mind when absorbing shadows through the Kage Kage no Mi. Shadows belonging to strong willed people are difficult to control, allowing them to rebel against Moria's pact which usually immediately submits a shadow to his supremacy and orders. Spiritual energy is contained within one's soul/life; this energy is represented by the fighting power or the Haki itself. Those with strong souls, which are homologous to shadows, resist the effects of Brook's soul manipulation)

Weaknesses: None notable
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Song: Sins of the Father

On the urban landscape of Musutafu City, Japan, the once-thriving and peaceful city was now under attack by the Germa 66, led by the Vinsmoke family, with Judge serving as their imposing leader. A sinister laugh escaped Judge's lips as he addressed his soldiers and children,

"Yes, my loyal underlings! Unveil the power of our family to this city, as we claim it in the name of the mighty Germa Kingdom!"

Despite the loss of his royal privileges and his right to rule over the North Blue, Judge was determined to rebound from this staggering blow. He was resolute in regrouping and recapturing power through his own strength and perseverance. Vinsmoke Judge turned to see Endeavor, the current Number 1 Hero in Japan after All Might, appearing in a dramatic and fiery entrance. Endeavor landed with a classic superhero pose, his fire so intense it melted the concrete beneath him, before rising tall and crossing his arms.

"Don't even think about it, villainous scum!"

Endeavor declared with unwavering conviction. Judge let out a sinister chuckle, taking his spear off his back and twirling it dexterously in his hand. He then inquired, a smirk on his face,

"And pray tell, who might you be, my fiery challenger?"

Endeaver took a moment to size up the taller Judge and his spear, before replying with a confident tone,

"I'm Endeavor, the Number 1 Hero. I won't allow you to harm this city or its people."

Judge's expression darkened at Endeavor's response, and he sneered in disdain,

"Hero, eh? That means you stand for notions such as justice, morality, and sympathy for the weak, correct? Foolish sentiments, every one. True men demonstrate their strength through power! So, if you are indeed the Number 1 Hero, I cannot think of a more gratifying task than to crush your head under my foot, staining your face in the dirt!"

Endeavor responded with cool determination, his body readying for combat.

"You can certainly make the attempt. However, I'll incinerate your foot before it even touches my face."

Vinsmoke Judge lunged forward, propelling himself towards Endeavor with a powerful charge, aiming to bring his spear down on his target. However, Endeavor gracefully evaded the attack, causing the spear to land where he had been standing. Judge continued with a relentless series of thrusts, but Endeavor skillfully dodged each strike, displaying his agility and evasive skills.

Endeavor aimed a fire-clad punch, intending to inflict damage. Yet, Judge blocked the strike with his arm, his expression adorned with a confident smile.

"Fool. My Raid Suit is fire-proof! No amount of your fire will scorch through the impervious material it's crafted from!"

Endeavor merely shook his head dismissively, firing back,

"Everything has a threshold for heat endurance. I'll continue intensifying the temperature until your Raid Suit succumbs to the flames, enveloping you in its inferno."

Endeavor leaped into the air and fired fire from his dominant fist, propelling himself towards Judge with the scorching force of his Jet Burn move. However, Judge bravely raised his spear to obstruct the attack, using its handle to divert the onslaught. Despite managing to block the hit, the spear bent from the sheer force, and Judge's stance buckled, forcing him to buckle to one knee with a pained grunt.

Judge created some distance by sweeping Endeavor aside, giving himself a brief reprieve. Then, with renewed determination, he pressed the attack, making a sweeping motion with his spear in an attempt to cut into the Pro-Hero's side. Yet, Endeavor reacted swiftly, coating his dominant fist in fire that served as a protective shield against the metallic edge. The resulting collision between the flaming fist and the spear blade failed to make contact, with the pressurized fire and intense heat providing a formidable barrier.

With his free hand, Endeavor delivered a powerful punch, sending the Germa leader flying backward from the force. However, Judge was unfazed, activating the thrusters on the heels of his feet as he donned his Raid Suit. He executed a graceful loop in the air, readying his spear for an incoming strike. In response, Endeavor propelled himself upward with fiery jets, executing another use of his signature Jet Burn move. Yet again, Endeavor blocked the spear with his fire-shielded fist, their clash creating a dazzling display of fire and power.

Judge continued sporting his smirk, using his rocket-propelled foot to deliver a powerful, electrically charged kick. With a cry, he declared,

"Electromagnetic Crack!"

The impact sent Endeavor hurtling backward, skidding across the terrain until he slammed forcefully into a nearby building, causing the structure to crackle from the impact. Endeavor staggered to his feet, clutching his head as he attempted to shake off the effects of the electrified kick. It was clear that the Germa leader's strength was greater than he had anticipated. With determination in his eyes, Endeavor knew that he had to put an end to the battle swiftly. As Vinsmoke Judge lunged towards him with a charging strike, his spear aimed at his heart, Endeavor focused all of his might and increased the temperature of his fire to its maximum intensity, unleashing his most powerful attack, as he yelled,

"Flashfire Fist!"

Vinsmoke Judge stood no chance against the overwhelming force of Endeavor's Flashfire Fist, a barrage of white-hot flames that forcefully pushed him backward. Despite his best efforts to defy the scorching torrents, the sheer power was unyielding, and he was forcefully propelled back, eventually crashing into a truck filled with disinfection products. Despite his resilience, the impact left him momentarily dazed and weakened.

Vinsmoke Judge pulled himself out of the wrecked truck, his form covered in hand wipes and clear liquid. He looked down at his Raid Suit and was alarmed to see scorch marks marring its surface. The Flame Hero's words echoed in his mind; his fireproof armor did indeed have a limit to how much heat it could withstand, and that last attack had come uncomfortably close to breaching that threshold. He made up his mind to avoid any further hits of equal intensity going forward. Endeavor unleashed a barrage of fire-fashioned arrows, yelling out,

"Ignited Arrow!"

One arrow after another flew at Vinsmoke Judge, who either nimbly dodged or expertly deflected them with his spear. Judge then took to the air with the aid of his heel thrusters, maintaining his distance from the Flame Hero. Endeavor swiftly launched himself after Vinsmoke Judge, his fiery propulsion propelling him through the air. With his fingertips glowing, Endeavor called out,

"Flashfire Hell Spider!"

In response, he unleashed a barrage of fiery whips that intertwined, creating a web-like attack. Although Judge managed to evade the onslaught, a nearby destroyed building unwittingly became entrapped in the cross-fire, succumbing to the devastating slices caused by the intertwined flames.

Endeavor gasped for breath, his body already starting to overheat and sweat, steam rising off his skin as his perspiration rapidly evaporated. With no one around to provide relief, he located a nearby fire hydrant and forcefully kicked it away, causing a gushing stream of water to spout out. He then subjected himself to the cooling spray, creating a veil of soothing steam that enveloped his body, effectively lowering his body temperature and providing much-needed respite.

Vinsmoke Judge observed Endeavor's actions, a malevolent smile creeping across his face as he considered the implications.

"So this scorching hero needs to cool off at regular intervals, does he? That's a very handy vulnerability to capitalize on."

He mused silently. Judge ascended higher into the air, shaking his rear and making mocking faces at Endeavor while speaking in a derogatory tone,

"Haha, seriously, is that all you've got, firecracker? I've eaten bland peppers that were spicier than you!"

He continued his taunting, clearly aiming to provoke a reaction. Endeavor's patience, already at its limit, reached a boiling point as his temper flared in response to Vinsmoke Judge's taunting. Endeavor's low tolerance for such tomfoolery was further strained by the villain's audacity to mock and belittle his powers. The Flame Hero's pride was wounded, and he reacted angrily, enveloping himself in a blaze of fire as he soared towards the insolent foe. Endeavor's anger reached its peak as he declared,

"I've had enough of your insolence! You're now begging to be turned into ash! Prominence Burn!"

He unleashed an intense blast of fire that resembled a tremendous explosion more than a stream, but Judge managed to evade the attack, albeit with the outer edges of his suit becoming singed from the intense heat of the blast's periphery. Endeavor pursued Vinsmoke Judge, launching Jet Burn attack after Jet Burn blow, lashing out with fiery punches, but each long-range flame-laded blow missed its mark. The villainous Germa leader adeptly evaded every strike, his Raid Suit granting him remarkable aerial mobility and agility to effortlessly dodge each assault.

Endeavor could sense his body overheating once more, his energy waning, and desperately sought to cool himself with a fire hydrant. However, Vinsmoke Judge intervened, charging his spear with electricity and hurling it with remarkable accuracy.

"E.M Shaft!"

The spear found its mark, tearing through the gushing water and electrifying the hydrant. Unable to approach the dangerous fusion of electricity and water, Endeavor was forced to back away, his cool-down plan disrupted by his wily opponent. Endeavor attempted to reach another fire hydrant for relief, yet Vinsmoke Judge swiftly kicked the hydrant from its position and hurled it forcefully into Endeavor's face, resulting in a hard blow that cut and drew blood. It became increasingly clear to the Flame Hero that his opponent had discovered his disadvantage and was strategically cutting off his access to water to ease his overheated state.

Despite reeling from the powerful impact inflicted by the flying fire hydrant, Endeavor dug his feet into the ground, determined to halt his backward trajectory. With a determined look in his eyes, he bared his teeth and declared,

"Very well, then. If you want me to overheat, I'll show you what happens when something reaches critical heat. I'll burn you to nothing but ash!"

With a chuckle, Vinsmoke Judge taunted, "You'll have to catch me first!" He swiftly retrieved his spear and lunged forward, driving the electrified weapon into Endeavor's chest, creating a bloody wound and infusing the Pro-Hero's body with a powerful electric charge. The Germa leader prepared to retreat using a hit-and-run strategy, but Endeavor, fueled by the pain, held on tightly, refusing to let his enemy escape his grasp. Endeavor's voice was filled with determination as he exclaimed,

"You won't escape that easily. Vanishing Jet Burn!"

Unleashing a colossal flaming punch, he sent Vinsmoke Judge hurtling away from the powerful force he had endured. The Germa leader slammed into a building that crumbled under the impact, being buried in the wreckage. After the dust settled, Judge pulled himself out of the rubble, bearing a bloody mouth and a scorch-marked hole in his Raid Suit. It was evident that one more potent hit would undoubtedly spell his end. Endeavor roared with determination,

"Hell Minefield!"

With a mighty punch, he plunged his fiery fist into the ground, triggering a series of scorching explosions that erupted from the earth's surface. The attacks targeted the Germa leader, but he nimbly evaded them using his rocket-powered heel thrusters to swiftly move away, minimizing the damage he sustained. Vinsmoke Judge attempted to outmaneuver Endeavor by flying in quick and unpredictable circles around him, seeking to disorient the Pro-Hero. However, Endeavor outwitted his adversary by ascending high into the air and executing a spinning motion, generating a fiery tornado that enveloped their surroundings. He bellowed,

"Hellfire Storm!"

Feeling himself being further scorched as they fought on, Vinsmoke Judge was at a loss as to how to end the battle without suffering significant damage himself. Then, a nefarious idea struck him when he noticed an innocent civilian observing the clash from afar. Quickly breaking away from Endeavor, he flew off, prompting the Flame Hero to give chase. Endeavor drew his fists back, channeling all his flames to converge to a single point. With a powerful thrust, he unleashed

"Hell's Curtain!"

Intending to engulf his adversary in an inferno of fire. However, his assault was abruptly halted when he witnessed Vinsmoke Judge effortlessly seize and use an innocent civilian as a frightened human shield. Realizing the precarious situation, Endeavor immediately halted his attack. Judge sneered with malevolent amusement, electrifying his foot with Haki and striking Endeavor in the face with a powerful kick. The Flame Hero was sent crashing into a nearby car, which crumpled under the impact.

"Hehe! I knew it! You would have emerged victorious in that moment had you not been preoccupied with something as inconsequential as potential casualties!"

Judge taunted, reveling in his temporary upper hand. Judge approached the prone Flame Hero, forcefully hauled him down to the ground, and proceeded to mercilessly kick him repeatedly while his hostage wept in distress.

"This is your punishment for being a hero, for prioritizing selflessness over personal might. Real men place power and strength above all else. Soft emotions are a sign of weakness, to be trampled under the feet of the strong and dominant!"

Judge, convinced that he had sufficiently humiliated and battered the hero, he threw the crying civilian away, and placed his booted foot upon Endeavor's chest, causing the Flame Hero to breathe with labored gasps. With an air of arrogant superiority, he declared,

"Now that I have thoroughly vanquished you and demonstrated your rightful place beneath me, I shall seize the very hope that pervades this city and crush it completely under my heel. And the blame shall rest solely on your noble shoulders, hero."

As Judge prepared to withdraw and continue his rampage, he was taken aback when Endeavor, showing remarkable resilience, seized the foot resting upon his chest, his gaze filled with indomitable resolve.

"You won't be able to do that, you villain bastard!" Endeavor declared, his unwavering spirit refusing to yield. With a burst of fire propulsion, Endeavor closed the distance and ensnared Judge in a tight bear hug. He subsequently took off into the sky, ascending above the city skyline. Fear overtook the Germa leader, and he shouted desperately, hoping for assistance.

"Help! Someone, rescue me!"

Endeavor, his determination unyielding, fixated his unwavering gaze upon the heavens above. His voice carried an unwavering resolve as he declared,

"No one can save you now. You have brought this upon yourself. By pushing me beyond my limits, you shall suffer the consequences. Plus Ultra Prominence Fire!"

Pushing beyond his bounds, Endeavor unleashed a Prominence Burn that far surpassed the initial assault, producing an inferno of blinding brightness and fearsome intensity. Vinsmoke Judge's cries of desperation filled the air as he succumbed to an onslaught of fire power he could not withstand, ultimately disintegrating, leaving not even ashes in his wake. A few moments later, Endeavor crashed to the ground, his breathing labored as he fought to regain his senses. With a determined air, the Flame Hero managed to rise to his feet, and triumphantly raised his clenched fist into the air.
———————————————
Strength: Both abusive fathers had the power to destroy islands, but one of them was way stronger. At the point of Whole Cake Island, Vinsmoke Judge was weaker, but still comparable to Sanji, who could output power up to 12 GT of TNT. However, Endeavor was able to scale to All Might eventually. All Might was able to create a storm with one of his punches. With Death Battle's calculations that the feat was 24 GT, that makes Endeavor twice as strong as the Germa 66 ruler. And that's being generously conservative.

Speed: While Endeavor might scale to the fastest characters in his world who can vaguely dodge laser beams, Vinsmoke was originally faster than Sanji, who could use Observation Haki to anticipate attacks at over 13X light speed.

Skill: Despite Vinsmoke judge being about ten years older, Endeavor was the more skilled combatant, as he dedicated most of his life to upholding the standings of being a hero, and dedicating that time to hard work and tenacity so he could earn the number 1 spot. Vinsmoke only engaged in combat only when he believed he had the distinct advantage, and would use dirty tactics if things went against him. If his plans start falling apart, so does he, while Endeavor only fought harder.

Experience: I'd say that both are relatively experienced. Judge may be a decade older, but it's unlikely he's encountered things that Endeavor wouldn't be able to plan around, or vice versa.

Powers: While Haki and electricity powers helped, they couldn't stack up to the mastery of fire manipulation that Endeavor possessed.

The winner is Endeavor.
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Next time:

"I learned young that killing your enemies felt good. Really good. In America, my friends, my family… they helped me forget the devil inside… but who am I kidding? I was born to kill! The bit about my sword, that "means of justice" stuff? I guess I needed something to keep "the Ripper" in check when I was knee-deep in bodies… But you… all this… is a wake-up call to what I really believe… what I really am. I'm saying Jack is back!"

"Everything that lives is designed to end. We are perpetually trapped... in a never-ending spiral of life and death. Is this a curse? Or some kind of punishment? I often think about the god who blessed us with this cryptic puzzle... and wonder if we'll ever have the chance to kill him."

Chapter Text

Raiden

Backstory:

Raiden, real name Jack, also known as Jack the Ripper, White Devil, and Snake, was a Liberian-American mercenary and former special forces soldier. Previously a child soldier under Solidus Snake, Raiden was later selected by the Patriots to test the S3 Plan at the Big Shell, as a new recruit to the reformed FOXHOUND unit. He later worked alongside the Paradise Lost Army in their anti-Patriot activities, but was captured and forced to undergo heavy cybernetic experimentation. After successfully escaping, Raiden went on to assist Solid Snake during the Guns of the Patriots Incident.

By 2018, Raiden had become a member of Maverick Security Consulting, Inc., doing multiple tasks while raising money for his family. However, during an escort mission in Africa they were attacked by Desperado Enforcement LLC., who killed Raiden's protectee, N'mani, and left Raiden for dead. Fortunately, he was saved by the scientist Wilhelm Voigt and worked with Maverick to fight Desperado. Raiden's vengeful obsession with Desperado became personal when he discovered during a mission in Mexico that Desperado and World Marshal Inc. had kidnapped several children, surgically removed their brains to place into cybernetic bodies, and were planning to subject them to VR training modeled after his own. Raiden then resigned from Maverick to pursue and retrieve the children's brain cases from World Marshal in Colorado.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master of Stealth, Infiltration and Espionage,

Acrobatics,

Master Martial Artist,

Expert Swordsman,

Expert Marksman,

Multiple Selves (Type 1; Raiden possesses a split persona that is a represents his time as time as the child soldier known as Jack the Ripper, and is the personification of his repressed bloodlust and desire for violence. This persona is normally kept repressed, but can come out in traumatic situations or events where Raiden's morality is tested),

Enhanced Senses,

Explosion Manipulation (With Explosives),

Light Manipulation (With Stun Grenades),

Fire Manipulation (With White Phosphorus Grenades),

Sleep Inducement (With tranquilizer darts and sleeping gas),

Accelerated Development (He became skillful with the HF Blade after just a few minutes of using it),

Smoke Manipulation (With Smoke Grenades),

Invisibility (With Stealth Camouflage),

Nanotechnology,

Durability Negation with Quantum Manipulation and Vibration Manipulation (With HF Blades, which can disrupt atoms by creating quantum decoherences at the plank scale, shrinking their electron clouds),

Resistance to:

Diseases,

Paralysis Inducement (Managed to break free of Vamp's paralysis),

Extreme Temperatures and Poisons (The Skull Suit provides insulation from the environment and protection against toxins),

All previous abilities enhanced.

Cyborgization (Normal),

Immortality (Type 2; Can survive for extended periods with limbs completely removed),

Immense Will,

Electricity Manipulation (Can fire bolts of lightning, send lightning at others and imbue his fists and HF Blade with electricity),

Immense Pain Tolerance (Easily withstood Vamp stabbing his chest and can withstand a lot of punishment without even flinching),

All previous abilities enhanced.

Greatly Enhanced Acrobatics,

Statistics Amplification (Can greatly boost his speed with Blade Mode),

Healing (With Repair Nanopaste),

Resistance to:

Extreme Heat (Capable of surviving RAY's plasma),

All previous abilities massively enhanced.

Non-Standard Breathing (Type 2; Cyborgs can operate for short periods of time without breathing, but in case they are unable to breathe for whatever reason, are equipped with a supply of liquid oxygen in their bloodstream to keep them going, their nanomachines should be unfathomably superior to those of Solid Snake),

Absorption (Can absorb the electrolytes of other cyborgs to replenish his own energy),

Enhanced Cyborgization (Full) and Partial Inorganic Physiology (Type 1),

Electromagnetism Manipulation (With Electromagnetic grenades),

Information Analysis,

Hacking,

Air Manipulation,

Aura and Enhanced Statistics Amplification (Can greatly boost both his speed and strength with Ripper Mode. Can also increase his attack power with electricity),

Resistance to:

Pain Manipulation and Empathic Manipulation (Nanomachines can suppress hormones in order to suppress emotions, along with neutralizing pain. Like other cyborgs, he has pain inhibitors),

Weaknesses: Blade Mode only lasts a small amount of time and is most effectively used in short bursts while a target cannot retaliate. Raiden is somewhat arrogant. has a slightly hypocritical sense of morality (as called out by Sam and Monsoon) that he uses to shield himself from his bloodlust that is relatively easy to tear down. Struggles to come to terms with the part of his psyche that enjoys violence.
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2B

Backstory:

2B was created an unspecified amount of time before the events of the game as part of the new line of YoRHa androids. She was given the designation of 2B as a cover by the Commander, who gave her orders to observe one of the new Scanner models in action during YoRHa's operations against the machines.

2B's role was to ensure that 9S would not discover the true nature of Project YoRHa by executing him in case he dug too deep because of the natural curiosity programmed into him. Over the course of hundreds of operations, 2B was forced to kill 9S and wipe his memory countless times, an act that she came to hate for the pain it caused her after bonding with him over that time.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Inorganic Physiology,

Expert user of close range weapons and martial arts,

Information Analysis (Culmination of the knowledge and skills of previous and current generation of androids),

Telekinesis (via Near Field and Far Field Controls),

Enhanced Senses,

Regeneration (High-Low; via nanomachines),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1 and 2. Androids don't need oxygen to breathe. Was perfectly fine in the vacuum of space. YoRHa androids also don't need fuel),

Immortality (Type 4 and 8; Cannot die as long as her memory data exists in the YoRHa Network),

Resurrection (Should the active body be destroyed her memory data from the YoRHa Network will automatically be put into a replacement body),

Afterimage Creation (Can form afterimages whenever she dodges an attack),

Self-Destruction with Black Box,

Heads-up display on the combat visor (With minimap, enemy location, data on enemies, various other information),

Weapon Control,

Hacking & Data Manipulation (YoRHa units possess defense systems against hacking),

Energy Projection and Energy Manipulation (Able to make solid constructs out of energy the most notable being a fishing chair),

Acrobatics,

Magic (all characters wield maso, an extradimensional element that allows the wielder to warp reality and break laws of physics, an ability that was termed magic),

Shockwave Creation (attacks in the air will create phantom strikes that will fly several meters out via Shockwave Chip),

Statistics Amplification (Increase of attack power, defense and speed. Significant boost of attack power when health is in critical condition via Last Stand Chip),

Invulnerability (Gains invulnerability for 6 seconds after taking damage via Anti Chain Damage Chip),

Healing (Heals a percentage of the damage dealt via Offensive Heal, Heal slowly over time via Auto Heal, Heal on kill via Deadly Heal, heal instead of take damage via Damage Absorb),

Damage Absorption (heal instead of take damage via Damage Absorb),

Potential Instant Resurrection (Each body has a 50% chance of reviving in top condition after being killed via Reset Chip),

Damage Reflection (Each damage taken has a 50% chance of being dealt back to the enemy with power doubled via Vengeance Chip, Can reflect up to 250% damage on block via Counter chip)

Statistics Amplification (Various weapons; Offensive, Defensive, Attack Speed),

Afterimage Creation and Teleportation (With Engine Blade equipped; Has a range of up to 24 metres),

Increased chance to stagger the opponent (Various Weapons),

Healing (Various weapons),

Energy Projection (With Type-4O Weapon equipped),

Explosion Manipulation (With a Type-3 Weapon equipped),

Air Manipulation (Able to strike foes with phantom claws several meters away with Beast Weapon equipped),

Potential Mind Control (With Spear of the Usurper equipped; Every hit has a chance of subjugating the opponents mind)

Weapon Creation (via R030 Hammer, R040 Blade, R050 Spear),

Homing Attack (With Pod A and Pod C, bullets will curve toward target and homing missiles respectively),

Energy Projection (With Pod A, Pod B and R010: Laser),

Gravity Manipulation (Via A140 Gravity),

Electricity Manipulation (Via A150 Volt),

Forcefield Creation and Invulnerability ( A060: P Shield and R070: M Shield. Can create forcefields that can block physical and range attacks for a short period of time),

Information Analysis,

Healing (via A120: Repair),

Chain Manipulation (A090: Wire),

Holographic Image Creation (Via A100 Decoy),

Time Manipulation (Via A110 Slow),

Explosion Manipulation (Via A080: Wave which will use an explosion to send a wave of energy across the ground or A130: Bomb),

Hacking,

Stealth Mastery (Can set up radio wave camouflage),

Durability Negation (With Pod C or R010: Laser)

Flight,

Transformation (can transform between a jet and a mecha though both are capable of flight),

Energy Projection and Energy Manipulation (Can form weapons such as swords using energy and launch energy projectiles at enemies),

Explosion Manipulation (with missiles),

Forcefield Creation creates protective forcefield,

Magnetism Manipulation (the anti-magnetic skin nullifies electromagnetic pulses),

Shockwave Creation (attacks in the air will create phantom strikes that will fly several meters out)

Healing (With recovery items),

Purification (able to cure herself of all status affects with Cure items),

Statistics Amplification (With several amplification items. Items can increase her strength, durability and speed),

Damage Reduction (Items can grant 2B reduce physical and range attacks by 50% for a limited period of time),

Resistance to Electricity Manipulation (With Volt Proof Salve. Nullifies Electric attacks for 30 seconds)

Weaknesses: As an android she is affected by electromagnetic waves and Logic Viruses. The body she is currently in dies if the OS chip is removed. Will lose her Type 8 immortality if the YoRHa network is destroyed. The Pod lasers can only damage through heat and thus certain materials including heat resistant materials can take reduced to no damage from them.
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Song: Rules of NieR

Raiden, the formidable superhuman cyborg, wielded his red High-Frequency Blade, the Murasama, with unparalleled precision, effortlessly tearing through a mass of enemy robots. Despite being unexpectedly transported to an unfamiliar future era, he navigated the situation with focused determination. With a calculated strike, Raiden pierced through the heart of a fallen android and extracted its electrolyte-filled core, absorbing its lifeforce to refuel his own power. Discarding the now-empty battery, he prepared to face the next wave of adversaries.

As he surveyed the devastated city, free from any sign of life, Raiden was about to leave to address his temporal predicament when a female android wearing a blindfold materialized before him along with a peculiar pod. She descended from a high vantage point, the sudden appearance catching Raiden off guard. Pod 042 communicated its directive to 2B, its synthetic voice steady.

"The organism in question is currently targeted by Yorha. Recommended solution: Eliminate it as efficiently as possible."

2B responded with an affirmative nod and unsheathed her katana, preparing to face the adversary.

"Affirmative. The target has been engaged."

Raiden chuckled and raised his blade, ready for the confrontation.

"Heh, I appreciate the straightforward approach. No tedious lectures about ideologies and politics. That's a relief."

With a mechanical hum, a metal visor covered his eyes, providing eye protection while initiating a scan of 2B. Pod 042 unleashed a barrage of energy projectiles at Raiden, who swiftly sprinted towards 2B, adeptly parrying the pod's onslaught with his sword. He executed an upward swing at 2B, only for her to deftly parry and swiftly lunge forward with a counterattack. Raiden dexterously somersaulted over her, landing a strong kick on her back, causing her to roll away before regaining her footing.

Pod 042 unleashed a laser beam, striking Raiden in the back and momentarily destabilizing him. However, he quickly regained his balance and remained standing. 2B pressed the advantage with her pod's relentless barrage of fire, but Raiden demonstrated remarkable agility, swiftly maneuvering around to deflect every bullet, effectively evading the assault thanks to his impressive speed.

Raiden swiftly dashed forward and flipped his sword to his foot, executing a swift sweep kick aimed at 2B. She leapt up and swung down with her own katana, only to be intercepted by Raiden's precise block. The duo engaged in a heated blade lock, their skills and determination evenly matched. However, as the duel intensified, 2B realized that she was unable to penetrate Raiden's impregnable defense. Furthermore, the peculiar properties of Raiden's sword had begun to weaken the molecular bonds of 2B's weapon, rendering it increasingly fragile. She narrowly evaded further attacks before her katana shattered from one of Raiden's powerful strikes.

2B equipped her gauntlets, Cruel Lament, and charged towards Raiden, launching a series of rapid punches directed at his chest. She concluded the assault with a forceful uppercut, propelling the cyborg into the air. Sensing the opportunity, 2B switched her attention to her pod, and 042 unleashed a barrage of missiles targeting the airborne Raiden. However, in a display of remarkable reflexes, Raiden activated Blade Mode, heightening his perception of time and swiftly chopping the missiles apart before they could detonate.

2B leaped through the billowing smoke, aiming a punch at Raiden, only to be intercepted by his block. Both combatants fell to the ground, and Raiden swiftly moved above 2B and thrust his blade downwards. Sensing the imminent danger, 2B dodged his attack by jerking up and counterattacked with a powerful kick to Raiden's face. She followed up with a consecutive punch using her Cruel Lament gauntlets, forcefully propelling him backward into a heap of debris.

Raiden swiftly regained his footing, narrowly dodging an imminent punch from 2B, which shattered the debris behind him. In an agile counterattack, he delivered a forceful kick to her side, and quickly turned his sword to his foot, rapidly striking 2B's abdomen and arms, leaving behind several superficial slashes. Without pause, he adeptly reversed the position of his sword in his hand and lunged forward with a precise thrust, but 2B swiftly backflipped away to evade the assault.

Raiden sprinted frantically to dodge the relentless barrage of bombs dropped by Pod 042. Although he was skillful enough to avoid most of the explosives, the final one caught him off guard, propelling him into the air and sending his sword flying. This left him vulnerable to 2B, who exploited the opportunity and thrust her straightened hand through his body, piercing it from the back and emerging from the front, causing him to cry out.

"You may have been human once, but in your current state, ending your existence is a mercy."

2B retracted her arm, leaving a gaping wound in Raiden's chest, allowing his synthetic blood and oil to spill out as he crumpled to his hands and knees. 2B, feeling victorious, turned to leave with a confident saunter, but the unexpected sound of maniacal cackling from Raiden caused her to halt in her tracks.

"Mercy? Such a concept is alien to the reality we exist in. Survival in this world boils down to one simple choice: kill or be killed. But Jack has no intentions of being the one slain."

Raiden responded defiantly, his voice hoarse and filled with a fierce determination. Despite his injury, he rose to his feet, an air of primal ferocity emanating from him. 2B retreated cautiously, sensing a dark energy emanating from Raiden. Despite her usual stoic facade, there was an unease evident in her demeanour.

"What... What are you?"

She echoed, a touch of apprehension in her tone. Raiden, now transformed into his Jack the Ripper persona, emanated a sinister laugh rife with malevolence. As he stalked towards 2B in a slow, eerie manner, he declared with a chilling intensity.

"Pain. That's what I thrive on. Death. That's what I long for. Now that Jack is back, it's time Jack the Ripper to let 'er rip!"

With incredible speed, Raiden sprinted towards 2B, initiating a rapid-fire exchange of punches as his electrified fists clashed against her Cruel Lament gauntlets. The battle unfolded at a dizzying pace, with their fists colliding an astonishing dozen times each second, their arms barely distinguishable to the naked eye.

As the seconds passed, 2B realized her disadvantage in hand-to-hand combat against Jack the Ripper. She struggled to land a solid hit, as Jack countered each of her strikes with ease. To top it off, his blows were growing progressively faster, quicker than she could match, leaving her open to counterattacks.

Raiden landed a forceful punch on 2B's cheek, sending her off-balance. Jack unleashed a taunting cackle before launching a kick aimed at her upper chest. However, she swiftly recovered and evaded the attack, moving with such speed that she left afterimages in her wake.

2B swiftly kicked Raiden up into the air, following up with an acrobatic leap to replace her Cruel Lament gauntlets with her large rectangular Type-40 Blade. Raiden managed to block her strike, but was forcefully shoved downward into the ground below, eliciting a deep grunt from him.

2B attempted to bring down her blade on Raiden while he was prone, but he evaded the strike with a swift spin, countering with a blow that sent her flying, disrupting her balance. Seizing the opportunity, Raiden sprinted to reclaim his Murasama sword, swiftly securing it back in his possession.

2B regained her equilibrium and charged her blade, leaping forward for a diving strike against Raiden. In response, Jack the Ripper swung his sword to parry her attack, sparking a fierce clash of their blades. The intense impact forced Raiden down to one knee, struggling against 2B's formidable assault.

As the two blades remained in a tense blade lock, the molecular vibrations of Raiden's Murasama began to gradually weaken the integrity of 2B's Type-40 broadsword. Raiden's sheer strength eventually prevailed, and in a matter of seconds, his katana sliced through her blade, effectively destroying it.

2B gasped as she bent sharply backward to evade Raiden's swift counterattack, narrowly escaping the lethal blow as he managed to slice off a portion of her white bangs. In response, Jack the Ripper spun around, aiming to cleave her in two, but 2B spun around in sync and materialized a spear, the Spear of the Usurper, to successfully parry his assault. While skillfully parrying Jack the Ripper's relentless onslaught with her spear's extended reach, 2B took advantage of the brief reprieve to carefully analyze the situation.

"His sword possesses a curious property that weakens the molecular bonds of what it strikes. His exceptional strength gives him a significant advantage in close combat. I must locate and regain access to my flight suit."

With this objective in mind, 2B remained on guard, vigilant in defending against Jack the Ripper's relentless assault as she pondered her next strategic maneuver.

2B showcased impressive agility as she effortlessly dodged Jack the Ripper's attack, creating disorienting afterimages to confuse her adversary. Capitalizing on the moment, she swiftly countered with a precise slash across his back, eliciting a pained cry from him. She then activated her Overclock chip, momentarily slowing down time, and tactically retreated from the close-range encounter. Through her communications, she urgently requested assistance from the Bunker,

"Request for an immediate assistance with a flight suit! I can't win up close!"

As time resumed its normal pace, Raiden rapidly closed the distance, effortlessly vaulting and running up the vertical surfaces of the city buildings in hot pursuit of 2B's agile parkouring maneuvers. Pod 042 attempted to stall Raiden by firing an array of energy bullets, but the cyborg deftly deflected each projectile, his relentless pursuit barely hindered.

Raiden, wielding a staff/whip known as L'Etranger composed of robotic arms, launched himself for a whipping strike against 2B, only for her to swiftly duck and roll away, evading the attack. Pod 042 continued its relentless barrage, but Jack skillfully wielded L'Etranger, spinning it to expertly block each incoming shot.

2B deftly discarded her spear and replaced it with her Type-3 Blade, a specialized sword designed to augment her defensive capabilities, with a hidden ability. She bravely engaged Jack the Ripper, navigating his unconventional weapon, which transformed between a rigid staff and a flexible whip, creating constant uncertainty in his approach. Deftly parrying and blocking each strike, 2B remained vigilant in her quest to outmaneuver the unpredictable attacks.

Unfortunately, Jack the Ripper's unparalleled Blade Mode speed and expertise once again proved overwhelming, as he effortlessly swatted at 2B with numerous whacks, before striking her off the building. Just as he thought he had gained the upper hand, however, a surprise savior arrived to rescue 2B. It appeared to be a miniature jet that transformed into a suit, which 2B quickly equipped and used to soar through the air. With newfound agility, she swiftly retaliated against Raiden with a precise attack.

Hoisting herself high above Raiden, 2B launched a coordinated assault, firing a barrage of energy beams and a colossal salvo of missiles. Undeterred, Raiden swiftly regained his footing and proceeded to scale the side of a building, effortlessly evading the incoming beams and projectiles, his movements a blur. As Jack the Ripper engaged 2B in combat, utilizing hit-and-run tactics to strike at her flight suit, his cackle echoed through the air, fueled by the thrill of the challenge.

"This is why I fight! Victory belongs to the strongest, the ultimate survivor! It's the primordial law of the world! Survival of the fittest! The rules of nature!"

Jack the Ripper, wielding his magnetic sai known as Dystopia, utilized its grappling hook attributes to ensnare 2B from behind and relentlessly slash at her flight suit. The force of his attacks left the suit significantly damaged, resulting in their turbulent descent and a devastating plunge through multiple floors until the crash landing on the ground level concluded in a hard impact.

2B groaned as she crawled away from the wreckage of her broken flight suit, her legs severely injured. Stripped of her blindfold, her eyes now stood exposed. Rising up, Jack the Ripper methodically stalked towards 2B. Pod 042 attempted to defend her by firing its arsenal, but Raiden swiftly countered with Dystopia, drawing it near, and sliced it in half, the two halves subsequently detonating in a fiery blast.

Mustering the strength to reach into her inventory, 2B desperately strove to activate her black box, attempting to issue a command for the Bunker's intervention.

"Requesting… destruct-"

Her plea was mercilessly interrupted by Jack the Ripper's merciless Murasama blade, which ruthlessly pierced through her throat, silencing any hope of completing her plea for self-destruction with the black box. As her voice trailed off, the light in 2B's eyes slowly faded, marking the final moments of her valiant resistance.

"Attempting to bring me down with you? Not a chance."

Jack the Ripper mocked, his voice dripping with dark amusement. With cruel determination, he activated Blade Mode and unleashed a devastating flurry of slashes, reducing the struggling android to countless fragments. Finally, he concluded the onslaught with a sadistic flourish, relishing in his merciless triumph.
—————————————————————
Strength: Both mechanical fighters were strong, but 2B had more to give. While Raiden could strike with a force of 100 KT of TNT, 2B can harm A2, who can survive a black box detonation. While the exact TNT measurement of an explosion is hard to determine, at bare minimum, a 250 km explosion at 5 psi is about 2 MT, about 20X stronger than Raiden. Which makes sense. While Raiden can flip over a robot a robot weighing 9,000 tons, though given lever calculations, this would require around 875,000 tons of force, 2B can survive a punch from an excavator. The heaviest excavator is the Bagger 288, which by itself weighs 13,500 tons. While 2B herself has never directly picked up and swung the thing, her flight suit is able to, likely striking goliaths with 1,312,500 tons of force.

Speed: When it comes to speed, they ultimately equaled out. While Raiden in Jack the Ripper mode is capable of attacking and reacting at about 11% light speed, 2B can dodge EMP blasts and particle beams at point blank, making her slightly faster than light speed. But when Raiden uses Blade Mode with Jack the Ripper, it's a 10X speed boost that should make them equal in speed, with exception of the Overclock plug-in chip.

Skill: This one is simple. While 2B has over 3 years of combat ever since she was conceived and deployed. But Raiden has trained to become a master swordsman ever since becoming a child soldier, giving him actually earned skill at being swordsman instead of being programmed.

Experience: While the kinds of foes they face are relatively similar, Raiden has been fighting for 23 years, which is 20 years more than 2B, so the only thing that would surprise him, possibly, is 2B's ability to materialize weapons.

Powers: While normally, 2B's versatility of weapons and plug in chips would overwhelm Raiden, but most of them has cause and effect abilities, such as chaining attacks, landing attacks and killing foes. The only consistently useful chips are stat boosters, and they can't close the gap enough over Jack's skills, experience, and his superior Murasama blade.

The winner is Raiden.
———————————
"It's not God that people fear, it's the terror that God incarnates."

"Enough blabbity blab! Now, let's get to the main act!"

Chapter Text

Enel

Backstory:

Enel was born and raised on Birka. Though it was his original home, Enel did not show any sign of love towards it, since after finding and eating the Goro Goro no Mi, he destroyed it without any hesitation but not before collecting two hundred Jet Dials from the island. Birka was said to be home to many strong warriors; they were, however, powerless before Enel. Afterwards, eight years prior to the current storyline, Enel and his loyal contingent of followers overthrew the then current ruler of Skypiea, Gan Fall, becoming the island's new ruler.

Enel maintained a personality cult over Skypiea, truly taking the mantle of "god" to its more literal sense. Though Skypiea still had a sense of peace and paradise, much like in any classic dystopia, it was a false paradise. If anyone dared speak out against Enel, or challenge his list of commandments, he would shoot a giant column of lightning down from the sky to effectively eliminate the dissenter.

Along with this, he forced the enforcers who worked under Gan Fall to build him a massive, flying ship called the "Maxim". Enel, after studying history within the Upper Yard, came to believe that the moon was the legendary land that he sought: an endless land of the sacred dirt, also known as "Fairy Vearth". This was the reason that he designed the Ark Maxim.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Genius Intelligence,

Master in Bōjutsu (The Art of Using a Staff),

Acrobatics,

Electricity Manipulation (Ate the Goro Goro no Mi),

Limited Light Manipulation (via Lightning Flash),

Paralysis Inducement,

Electrical Aura,

Elemental Intangibility,

Inorganic Physiology (Type 1. While he's turned into electricity),

Flight (Via Logia Dispersion),

Fusionism (Can merge with solid matter, like gold or wood for defense or traveling purposes),

Weather Manipulation,

Regeneration (High; only in logia form),

Haki (Intermediate Kenbunshoku; With the Goro Goro no Mi in conjunction with Haki, Enel can pick up electromagnetic waves, allowing him to overhear conversations and everything around him: this has extended the range of his Mantra to cover roughly all of Skypiea),

Metal Manipulation and Heat Manipulation (Can use the heat of electricity to melt and shape metals in weapons format. Able to instantly turn a fence to ash with his heated up spear),

Transformation (Via Amaru),

Body Control (Can reanimate his heart and control internal organs due to cardiac and electromagnetic waves from his brain),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1; Can survive in the vacuum of space),

Spaceflight (With his Ark Maxim),

Resistance to Electricity Manipulation (All Logias are resistant to their respective elements),

Heat Manipulation (Unaffected by the heat he produces to shape the gold),

Radiation Manipulation (Is Unaffected by the radiation in space)

Weaknesses: Loss of composure nulls his Observation Haki.
—————-
Phosphora

Background:

"Lightning Flash" Phosphora is one of the commanders of the Forces of Nature, the personal army of Viridi, the Goddess of Nature. Her flighty and flirtatious behavior towards Pit belie her abilities as a skilled warrior, proving to be a powerful foe and temporary ally of the heroes of the story.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Flight,

Electricity Manipulation (Can emit lightning)

Absorption (Capable of absorbing electricity),

Transformation (Phosphora is capable of turning into lightning),

Longevity,

Magic

Weaknesses: Tends to take fights less seriously. Must recharge after longer battles.
———————————————
Song: ?

Within the regal confines of a majestic temple nestled in the Upper Yards of Skypiea, Enel, self-style deity, indulged in a moment of opulent pleasure and solitude. His eyes peacefully shut, he savored mouthwatering apples, relishing the tranquility. The serene atmosphere provided a brief respite, offering a momentary escape from the demands of his divine role.

As his keen observational skills unveiled the presence of an unwelcome intruder, Enel remained composed. With a tranquil gesture, he raised his arm and uttered,

"An intruder? They require punishment. El Thor."

Unleashing his divine powers, he dispatched a bolt of lightning from the heavens, descending upon the perceived intruder for righteous retribution. To Enel's surprise, the intruder proved more resilient than expected, seemingly unfazed by the thunderbolt's destructive power. Intrigued, Enel slowly opened his eyes and observed as a stunning blonde-haired woman, clad in revealing attire, gracefully hovered towards his temple. Her demeanor conveyed a palpable annoyance, her voice tinged with indignation.

"Pardon your manner! Is this how you treat a lady, shooting me with lightning?"

Enel emitted a dismissive scoff, raising his hand to point directly at his assailant.

"It is inconsequential to me whether you are man, woman, or child. None can withstand my power. Now, perish, pesky woman. El Thor!"

With a powerful surge of energy, he released a colossal bolt of lightning, its intensity surpassing the first, engulfing her in a blinding, radiant display that illuminated the expansive white cloud sky. Enel's eyes widened in astonishment, witnessing the woman standing unscathed amidst the scorched trench created by his formidable attack. With an effortless gesture, she brushed her shoulder, a silent display of her resilience.

"Your flamboyance is undeniable, yet 'Lightning Bolt' Phosphora's brilliance can never be outshined!"

She declared, exuding confidence as she struck a powerful stance. Unwilling to believe this woman can just shrug off his lightning, Enel used his Logia powers to zip across the air as electricity, before materializing over her as living lightning as he aimed his hand over the top of her head.

"100 Million Volt Varie!"

A giant discharge of electricity surrounded them, as he attacked her with a particularly strong technique.

"Cease your lightning theatrics, will you?!"

Phosphora commanded, summoning her enchanted bow. With a forceful blow, she landed a powerful strike on Enel's face, momentarily stunning him as he retreated in shock. Amazement washed over Enel as he realized that not only was she able to withstand his divine powers, but had also managed to strike him despite his Logia intangibility. Taking advantage of Enel's momentary stupor, Phosphora seized the opportunity to dash as a bolt of lightning, swiftly materializing and delivering a powerful strike with her bow to his gut. Enel crashed to his back, momentarily stunned by the impact.

A self-satisfied smirk adorned Phosphora's features as she gracefully twirled a strand of her luscious blond hair. Her tone resonated with a confident assurance as she declared,

"Just as I foretold, you cannot outshine me. Accept it. Acknowledge my superiority."

Rising effortlessly from his back, Enel gracefully landed on the roof of his temple, his gaze fixed intently on Phosphora, a curious blend of intrigue and caution.

"It appears you share a similar affinity for electricity. I wonder, what the hell are you, woman?"

With a lively flourish, Phosphora adopted another spirited pose.

"I am a divine being, the graceful stroke of lightning gracefully poised before unleashing the blinding flash of power. I am the epitome of divine electricity: 'Lightning Bolt' Phosphora!"

She then let out a chuckle, her laughter chiming like melodious bells as she awaited Enel's response.

Enel's brows furrowed with disdain as he scoffed.

"You claim divinity? There can be only one celestial sovereign of the heavens. It is my rightful prerogative to wield dominion over all who reside below, and bestow upon them the might of celestial authority! I am God Enel, and this sacrilege will not be tolerated!"

As his thunderous declaration reverberated through the atmosphere, sparks seemed to shimmer around him, signifying his wrathful resolve. Phosphora's laughter filled the air as she casually brushed off Enel's pronouncement, her eyes momentarily averting his gaze.

"You claim blasphemy? Please. I should be the one declaring as such. You weren't born to the gods like I was. You're just a man who thinks that just because he can make the zappy-zap and rumble the sky, that makes him a god. What a loser."

Enel's forehead and temples pulsated with visible frustration, his anger threatening to combust. Though he forced a strained smile, his words exuded an overt antagonism. He challenged with a sneer,

"Very well, 'goddess,' Since you insist on belittling my power, let's test the veracity of your claims. Prepare to be taught a lesson in humility. I shall demonstrate the consequences of defying your undeniable superior."

"If you say so."

Phosphora unleashed a voluminous shower of electrified arrows, but Enel nimbly transformed into lightning, allowing the first few arrows to pass through him harmlessly. In a seamless maneuver, he swiftly zipped from one incoming arrow to the next before materializing beside her. Striking with his golden staff, he delivered a potent blow to the side of Phosphora's head, exploiting his lightning-fast movement for a strategic and precise attack.

Phosphora launched another arrow strike aimed directly at Enel's heart. Yet once more, it sailed through the air, passing through his lightning-based form. In a lightning-fast motion, Enel darted towards Phosphora's side, executing an electrifying 'Varie' technique. A concentrated arc discharge erupted between his index fingers, delivering a powerful jolt directly to her head.

"50 Million Volt Varie."

Despite her inherent electrical absorption, the intensity of the jolt through her brain was undeniably discomforting. Phosphora swiftly attempted to counterattack with a swipe from her bow, but Enel evaded seamlessly, escaping her strike due to his lightning form.

"Ow! That's playing dirty, you mortal charlatan!"

Phosphora exclaimed, her voice laced with indignation at the underhanded tactic.

"Well, you see, I'm just following the fundamental principles of electricity. I'm simply adhering to the path that requires the least resistance to achieve victory. But you're proving to be a particularly resilient opponent than most."

Enel retorted, confidently believing his actions were justified due to his self-proclaimed divinity. Phosphora expressed her annoyance with a puffed cheek before morphing into electricity and ascending into the clouds. Enel followed suit, assuming the form of a bolt of lightning as he trailed behind. The battle escalated within the clouds, obscured from view, yet their clash was evident as the atmosphere became increasingly manipulated. The once clear blue sky darkened, storm clouds forming in response to their epic confrontation.

The sky darkened, and as the clouds rumbled with the intensity of their fight, vibrant lightning flashes illuminated the darkened landscape, their shadows intermittently visible within the storm clouds. The atmosphere crackled with the palpable tension of the clash, every few seconds revealing fleeting glimpses of the mighty silhouettes locked in a fierce struggle amidst the tempest. Enel's indignant outcry could be heard echoing in the air as he assumed his natural form once more, exclaiming,

"What?! Unacceptable! How dare you manipulate my own weapon against me!"

With superhuman strength, he shattered the confines of the ring, swiftly restoring the pieces into a formidable staff. However, during this momentary lapse in attention, Phosphora covertly cast a mystical spell upon herself, her head surrounded by a radiant sparkle of captivating, glamorous magic. Enel, harnessing the power of the storm clouds, lifted his hand, chanting,

"Mamaragan!"

Unleashing a tempestuous barrage of lightning bolts upon Phosphora, the intensity escalating with each strike. With extraordinary fortitude, Phosphora erected a defensive ball of electricity as it took the absorbed it all, the crackling energy coalescing into an unstable storm sphere. The unstable storm sphere finally reached its breaking point, unleashing a forceful explosion that shook the very foundation of Skypiea. The temple where their formidable duel had unfolded lay in ruins, reduced to rubble. Amidst the wreckage, a glimmer of light materialized, gradually congregating into the form of Enel.

"What a shame. You've brought devastation upon my sanctuary."

Enel remarked, his voice tinged with an undercurrent of apathy. Phosphora manifested anew, teleporting back with her lightning-swift maneuver. With a nonchalant air, she placed her hands on her hips and retorted,

"Uh, let's get something straight: that explosion was a result of your own attack. It's entirely unfair to, like, blame this destruction on me while I was simply defending myself."

Enel's dismissive scoff reverberated in the air as he declared,

"A god should never be held accountable. It is the lesser beings who should bear the blame. You, Phosphora, have brought this upon yourself. Had you perished sooner, this point of the fight could have been avoided. Now, prepare to face the consequences of your brazenness."

With a powerful drumbeat emanating from the ring fastened to his back, Enel unleashed formidable electrical beasts, unleashing,

"Hino! Kiten! Jamuburu!"

Amidst the chaos, Phosphora yelped as she fled the scene, morphing into a bolt of lightning as she scrambled to escape the relentless pursuit of the trio of attacks. Enel observed with a self-assured grin as the three beasts outmaneuvered Phosphora, converging upon her and precipitating a cataclysmic electrical explosion. His confidence soared, convinced he had vanquished her. Yet, it was his own arrogance that betrayed him at that moment, as Phosphora materialized behind him and launched a decisive bow strike upon his unsuspecting skull.

Enel let out a guttural grunt as he attempted a sweeping attack with his staff, missing his mark against Phosphora's elusive maneuvers. Undeterred, he pressed on, lunging at her with aggressive strikes, but found himself outfoxed as Phosphora cleverly evaded his attacks, delivering a decisive strike with her enchanted bow, leaving a gash across his chest that started to seep blood. Enel voiced his astonishment, exclaiming,

"How is this even possible?! I possess the ability to discern your innermost thoughts, yet you somehow manage to defy me time and again!"

His frustration with the unpredictable nature of their clash was evident. How could he, a god, be outwitted by a lesser being? Phosphora chuckled with satisfaction, her finger gently tapping her temple as she explained,

"Well, I had to think of something to counter your mind-reading abilities. I couldn't have you snooping through my thoughts, so I cast a spell on my brain. It's sending you false signals, while I keep my true intentions to myself. Rather clever, isn't it?"

Enel's mounting frustration surged, pushing him to reach his breaking point. Not only had Phosphora dared to harm and defy him, but she had also foiled one of his most trusted abilities. As the realization of losing seeped in, he unleashed a thunderous proclamation that echoed through the heavens:

"I am God Enel! Victory will never elude me, especially not by a counterfeit deity like yourself!"

Enel's body transformed into an awe-inspiring manifestation of raw energy, a colossal lightning Raijin figure radiating an electrifying aura. The air crackled with the sound of thunder as he bellowed,

"200 Million Volt Amaru!"

The sheer intensity of his presence, an embodiment of divine authority, filled the air with an intimidating presence, emanating with unyielding determination and untamed fury. Phosphora wore a determined expression, a spark of challenge flickering in her eyes. With a determined nod, she responded,

"Great, you're finally getting serious. Okay, let's see if your blasphemous boasts truly elevate you to the level of genuine gods. Come on, prove it to me."

Her confidence was not rattled by Enel's imposing form, bracing herself for what was about to unfold in this epic clash between gods. As Enel ascended into the storm clouds, he manipulated the energy to gather and form a colossal sphere, fusing the lightning into a tumultuous entity. Transforming his staff into dual tridents, he drove them into the sphere, declaring with a manic grin,

"You will experience this surge coursing through your very being! Allow me to illustrate the epitome of divine supremacy! Raigo!"

Two immense intersecting lightning bolts, their power and might immense, erupted from the sphere, crashing down upon Phosphora. The goddess cried out, the sheer electrical surge almost overpowering her ability to absorb it all. Undeterred, she pushed through the pain, flying through the lightning with a shield of magic. In a bold move, she pierced through the Raigo and thrust herself Into Enel's electrifying essence, challenging him from within.

"Huh? What is she doing inside me?"

Enel felt a shift within his form, perplexed by the goddess' actions. However, his confusion quickly turned to shock and consternation as he realized his power dwindling, his voltage being siphoned away.

"What… what are you doing?!"

Enel cried out, his voice tinged with panic. As Phosphora siphoned off Enel's power, his Amaru form gradually shrunk, culminating in a state where she now held him by the throat, suspended in the air. Her expression remained resolute, radiating confidence despite her smaller stature compared to Enel. Enel's voice echoed through the clouds, his desperation evident.

"You cannot do this to me! I am a god!"

His fingers clawed at her arm, desperately attempting to muster the force to overcome Phosphora. However, his power grew weaker, rendered impotent as she siphoned away his electricity. The disparity in strength was becoming increasingly apparent, leaving Enel vulnerable amidst the ethereal storm. Phosphora, exuding unwavering confidence, posed an incisive question as she smirked.

"Hehe, if you're a god, what does that say about me?"

Her eyes pulsed with a bluish-white radiance, and she unleashed a colossal surge of electricity, measured in tens of billions of volts, directly into Enel's being, harnessing the energy accumulated during their epic confrontation.

Enel's electrical resistance proved insufficient against the potency of the attack, as the divine magic amplifying Phosphora's assault overwhelmed his innate resilience. Enel's body succumbed to the overwhelming surge of energy, succumbing to the destructive effects of exposure to an exorbitant electrical force beyond his capabilities.

As Enel's demise echoed through the skies, his lifeless body plummeted to the ground below. Phosphora, now liberated from the ordeal, stretched out her arms, letting out a content sigh, and remarked,

"Well, that experience was electrifying. I should rest after that."

With graceful ease, she morphed into lightning, gracefully ascending into the heavens, ready to enjoy a tranquil respite.
—————
Strength: Both wielded lightning impressive enough to be gods of their worlds, but only one could boast true divinity. If Enel could've used his strongest Raigo at Skypiea, that would've been a blast about 868 GT of TNT. But Phosphora could harm Pit, who is able to harm and withstand the power of opponents that can output 320 Teratons, about 369X stronger than Enel.

Speed: Weirdly enough, despite both being able to move as lightning, Phosphora is much faster than anything in One Piece. While Enel possesses a certain type of Observational Haki, letting him know what a person is thinking, Phosphora is millions of times faster. 8.9 million approximately. Even if we give Enel the benefit of moving at 33% light speed, that only makes the difference 26.7 million times more. She could literally zap circles around him without Enel noticing.

Skill: Phosphora has greater skill, as she's able to battle real angels and actual gods of her level, while Enel, despite capable of combat, is unable to win against someone who can consistently counter his main powers.

Experience: Again, Phosphora has a better reputation in combat, fighting kinds of foes that would eventually overwhelm Enel eventually once they get past his powers.

Powers: Enel does boast a wider range of abilities, having more practice with experimenting with his powers, but with Phosphora being able to absorb Enel's electricity, it doesn't really matter how broad his abilities are if she can safely absorb them.

The winner is Phosphora
—————————————
Next time:

"People have so many things pent up inside of themselves... So many things they can never forget... Strange... isn't it?"

"Exterminating! You asked for this... System overload MAXIMUM OUTPUT! Target oblitterated."

Chapter Text

Tifa Lockhart

Backstory:

Born in the town of Nibelheim, Tifa was a childhood acquaintance of Cloud Strife but lost contact with him when he left to join the Shinra Electric Power Company's elite military, SOLDIER. Tifa stayed in Nibelheim and grew to become a martial artist and local guide. One fateful day, the Shinra Company sent a team, consisting of first-class SOLDIER members Sephiroth and Zack Fair, to investigate one of their reactors near the town. During the mission something happened, as Sephiroth snapped and burned Nibelheim to the ground, with Tifa's survival being nothing short of a miracle.

Years later, Tifa moved to Midgar, the city where Shinra's Headquarters were located, and joined AVALANCHE, an anti-Shinra extremist group led by Barret Wallace. During that time, she would meet again Cloud, who successfully became a First Class SOLDIER, but had abandoned the company and was currently working as a mercenary. However, Cloud's recount of events seemed erroneous, and he insisted to have been in Nibelheim during the incident years ago. Concerned, Tifa invited him to join AVALANCHE under the pretense of being another job, but in reality, wanting to learn what had happened to Cloud the day he left, and keep an eye on him, to also learn what happened in Nibelheim when she should have been dead like everyone else.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Master Martial Artist,

Acrobatics,

Energy Manipulation (can empower her attacks with her Spirit Energy when using Limit Breaks for higher power and different effects: Attack Boost in the form of raw power boost (Limit Breaks are stated to reach power much higher than the user's usual capabilities, furthermore, Tifa's Spirit Energy may peak at moments and deal critical hits for double damage, which is indicated gameplay wise by "Yeah!" in her Limit Break interface) and additional properties in the form of Minor Water Manipulation (via Dolphin Blow),

Explosion Manipulation (via Meteordrive, Meteor Strike and Final Heaven) and Durability Negation (via Final Heaven which sends Spirit Energy into the enemy and destroys them from inside),

Non-Physical Interaction (able to hurt and defeat the ghosts and souls of the fallen Gi Tribe),

Regeneration Negation (Up to Low-High, the pieces of Jenova, even cells, destroyed by the party are gone for good and can't be used for the Reunion to rebuild Jenova's body) and Immortality Negation (Types 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8. Can permanently kill pieces of Jenova, who, aside from being extremely durable, can regenerate from single cells, as well as survive as long as her cells remain, through which she can enforce her will, even though other people injected with them. Additionally, can permanently finish off the souls and spectres of the Gi Tribe),

Resistance to Banishment (despite entering the Planet's Core within the Lifestream itself, Tifa was not taken forcefully taken from the living world),

Mind Manipulation and Memory Manipulation (her mind has grown strong enough to not collapse nor be eroded under the weight of the Spirit Energy of the Lifestream),

Soul Manipulation, Soul Absorption and Empathic Manipulation (her spirit was not forcefully diffused nor reabsorbed by the Lifestream),

Biological Absorption, Deconstruction and Matter Manipulation (her physical body wasn't absorbed nor was dissolved by the Lifestream to retake her Spirit Energy),

Corruption (Types 1 and 2, despite immense exposure to Spirit Energy she never became a Makonoid. Additionally, was unaffected by Jenova's Virus despite confronting her directly),

Extreme Heat and Extreme Radiation (withstood Sephiroth's Supernova),

Mind Reading,

Perception Manipulation,

Illusion Creation and Telekinesis (by the time of the final battle, she had grown strong enough to resist Sephiroth's mental abilities),

Power Mimicry and Power Absorption (Limit Breaks are born from the user's Spirit Energy, which shapes their mind and soul, and cannot be copied or imitated, the sole exception being Zack who is acknowledged as an unusual case, and even then creates a variant of the original move)

Statistics Amplification (with the Premium Heart, which increases Tifa's destructive power the more her Spirit Energy overflows),

Resistance to Poison Manipulation (which also protects Tifa from Acid Manipulation),

Paralysis Inducement,

Sleep Inducement,

Blindness,

Silence Inducement,

Transmutation,

Curse Manipulation,

Power Nullification (of magical, spiritual, physical and mental abilities),

Petrification,

Size Manipulation,

Madness Manipulation,

Berserk Mode Inducement, plus additional resistance to Empathic Manipulation (thanks to the Ribbon she wears in honor to Aerith, Tifa is protected from most of the game's Status Ailments)

Damage Boost (via Deathblow),

Attack a wide area beyond her normal reach (via Slash-All),

Life Absorption (via HP Absorb),

Instinctive Reaction of different varieties: Counterattacking (via Counter Attack or Counter),

Weaknesses: Tifa must be pressed in the battle to use her Limit Breaks and is not as proficient in magic as some of her teammates. In Advent Children, she acknowledges she has become weaker after two years of not having fought, with Cloud being the only one who could regain his former strength.
——————————
Bullet

Backstory:

Bullet is a member of a mercenary troop who appears to be against the 7th Agency, due to an incident in the past involving 7th Agency which led to the deaths of her squad mates. Having been raised by mercenaries since she was young, she fights from one battlefield to another. The incident in question is the retrieval of the Arch-Enemy Event Weapon, Machine God: Nirvana from the 4th Hierarchical City of Naobi; an event orchestrated by Relius Clover. While originally thought that Nirvana was the one who decimated Bullet's mercenary troop and the squad sent by 7th Agency, in reality, it was the Mad Dog; Azrael.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Ars Magus User,

Martial Arts,

Enhanced Senses (Sensed Valkenhayn while concealing himself),

Non-Physical Interaction (Can harm Arakune),

Fire Manipulation,

Explosion Manipulation, and Homing Attack,

Statistics Amplification (Via Overdrive),

Shockwave Generation (Capable of blowing people away by bursting),

Regeneration Negation (Up to High-Godly; is able to utilize Ars Magus, a weapon capable of killing the Black Beast, a creature that has the ability of Self Observation, which is what Terumi used to regenerate from Hakumen's Time Killer)

Resistant to the Following:

Poison Manipulation,

Madness Manipulation,

Biological Manipulation and Statistics Reduction (Can resist the effects of Seithr, which is poisonous, can induce addiction and deteriorate bodies, as well as reducing the power of others),

Memory Manipulation (Can resist the effects of Cauldron and/or Boundary, which erases memories),

Chaos Manipulation (Resist the Boundary, which turns everything into a spiraling chaos),

Void Manipulation/Existence Erasure and Corruption (Can resist the effects of the boundary, which can erase those that enters it, and corrupt them beyond recovery in a similar fashion to what happened to Arakune),

Technology Manipulation (Is unaffected by the effects of Seithr, which can mess with technology),

Corrosion Inducement (Resists getting corroded by the Cauldron),

Time Manipulation (Can resist the effects of Cauldron and/or Boundary, which stops time by existing),

Mind Manipulation and Information Manipulation (Able to resist the boundary/cauldron, which when entered or get closed, will result in taking infinite information and memories, dating across beginning of time and all possibilities),

Heat Manipulation (Is unfazed by the intense heat from a cauldron),

Paralysis Inducement (Could fight Hakumen without getting paralyzed),

Transmutation (As a chosen, she's unaffected by the Embryo's effect to turn everything into seithr),

Perception Manipulation (Resist the effects of Ars Magus, which nullifies senses of the user),

Soul Manipulation,

Healing and Regeneration Negation, and Fear Manipulation (Is capable of fighting against Ragna numerous times with the Azure, which can inflict soul damage beyond the help of a multiversal entity, and negate any form of Recovery, is also unfazed by his passive fear hax, can withstand the blows of the Azure, which is far superior to the Nox Nyctores, which are also superior to Ars Magus, weapons that are capable of killing the Black Beast, a creature that has the ability of Self-Observation, which is what Terumi used to regenerate from Hakumen's Time Killer),

Physics Manipulation (Could tanks blows from Azrael, who is so strong that he bends and breaks physics whenever he strikes),

Life Manipulation (Can withstand the effects of seithr, which can give sentience with its presence),

Power Nullification (Is able to use her powers despite Kushinada's Lynchpin being activated),

Explosion Manipulation, and Spatial Manipulation (Was able to withstand Bolverk, which can pierce through space)

Weaknesses: None notable
——————————————
Song: Astral Limits

Tifa Lockhart strolled out of the Seven Heaven bar, her serene expression betraying her deep sense of contentment with her life. Heading towards the store to gather groceries for her adoptive family of Denzel and Marlene, and her life partner, Cloud Strife, she reflected on the simple pleasures of her settled existence as she juggled her responsibilities as both an adoptive mother and proprietor of the bar.

Tifa's ears caught the sound of disturbance emanating from a nearby alley, the unmistakable sound of a confrontation and someone possibly being harmed. Although she no longer embraced the role of a hero actively seeking perilous situations, she couldn't ignore the signs of danger if it meant someone was in need. With caution guiding her steps, she ventured into the alley, ready to lend a helping hand.

Tifa cautiously peered around the corner, beholding the scene unfolding before her. There, a woman with an unfamiliar face was harshly questioning a Beastkin for information about an unknown "Koronoe," using aggressive tactics in the process. Tifa, though unaware of Bullet's identity as a mercenary from Sector 7, could discern that the Beastkin was innocent and ignorant of the person being sought.

Tifa, driven by the need to defend the innocent, took swift action. With lightning-fast agility, she twisted her body, preparing for a powerful punch. The air became condensed as she unleashed a thunderous shockwave that surged through the alley, emanating from her precise strike. Bullet, caught off guard, swiftly jumped back, narrowly evading the wide-reaching attack.

Tifa swiftly turned to the Beastkin, her voice firm and reassuring.

"Flee quickly, now. There's no need for you to stay here any longer."

In a gentle yet urgent tone, she directed the Beastkin to escape from the scene, while her gaze locked onto Bullet, assessing her with a mix of wariness and determination. The Beastkin thanked her, before escaping. Bullet, clearly irritated by the turn of events, scoffed in frustration. Her voice carried a hint of annoyance as she retorted while cracking her knuckles,

"You let them get away. I had no intention of killing them; just needed to rough them up a bit to get some info."

Tifa's gaze remained steadfast, her expression a mix of wariness and concern.

"That may be the case, but there are better ways to obtain information. Violence isn't always the answer."

Bullet, her frustration simmering, assumed an aggressive grappler stance, her muscles coiled with readiness. Her voice carried a defiant tone as she spoke,

"Perhaps. But it's my easiest option. Maybe I should show you."

Tifa, recognizing the imminent conflict, took a defensive stance, her eyes locked with Bullet's unwavering gaze. She took a deep breath, readying herself for the inevitable clash. The tension between them had reached a crescendo, a silent understanding passing between them that the only way this situation could end would be through a fight.

Bullet charged toward Tifa, initiating the confrontation with a bold grappling attempt. The AVALANCHE member swiftly evaded the attack by jumping over Bullet, smoothly landing on her feet. With calculated precision, she countered with a swift punch. However, Bullet swiftly reacted, halting her charge and pivoting to launch a punch of her own. In an explosive clash, their colliding punches produced a shock-wave, emanating outward and causing the alley to shudder, while a minor tremor rippled through the earth surrounding them.

Tifa, seizing the momentary pause, took the initiative, launching a swift assault. With lightning-fast strikes, she targeted Bullet's vulnerable spots, delivering a rapid flurry of punches and kicks aimed at her midsection since Bullet kept her gloves up to avoid any head shots. However, Bullet, displaying her combative prowess, deftly seized Tifa, executing a textbook German Suplex that slammed the AVALANCHE member onto the ground with a resounding thud.

Bullet, swiftly rising from the ground, seized Tifa by the throat, unleashing a relentless barrage of explosive punches to the face infused with fiery energy. Each merciless blow delivered a shockwave of pain, adding to the intensity of the assault. Yet the AVALANCHE member, unyielding in her determination, managed to grasp Bullet's hand, exerting an unyielding grip that forced her to release her grasp. As Tifa gained her footing, she swung her foot in a forceful kick, propelling Bullet backward with a powerful sweep.

Tifa swiped at her bleeding nose, feeling the subtle throb of the impact. Her senses heightened, Tifa recognized the undeniable strength of her opponent. This realization fueled her resolve, knowing that brute force alone might not suffice. Instead, she resolved to rely on her skill and technique, employing a more technical approach to overcome the formidable force that Bullet possessed.

Tifa approached with a feint, initially aiming for a low sweep, before swiftly transitioning to a straight punch. Anticipating the sweep, Bullet crouched to defend but was caught off guard by the unexpected change of trajectory. Her arms hurriedly rose to block the incoming punch, yet the force behind it was palpable.

Though Tifa's punch failed to break through Bullet's guard, the sheer momentum of the strike propelled Bullet backward, her legs sliding along the ground and leaving trails in their wake. With the attack's force gradually waning, Bullet lowered her arms to find a distinct impression of the punch etched onto the metal surface of her gauntlet.

Tifa persisted in her onslaught, charging aggressively with a flying kick that sent Bullet soaring into the streets. Without missing a beat, Tifa followed suit, ripping a boulder from the sidewalk and hurling it toward the mercenary. Undeterred, Bullet rose from the impact and unleashed a powerful punch, effortlessly shattering the boulder into countless fragments.

Bullet swiftly dusted off the debris, preparing for another intense assault. In a swift move, she charged at the AVALANCHE member with remarkable speed, unleashing a fierce flurry of punches that tested Tifa's agility. Deftly weaving from side to side, Tifa expertly dodged the incoming blows, her reflexes on full display. In a countermove, Tifa launched a sharp right hook, only to find Bullet swiftly sidestepping the attack.

Tifa's attempted a spinning kick, driven by the momentum she had built, but it was thwarted as Bullet grasped her calf, halting her advance. With a quick twist, Bullet flung Tifa overhead, slamming her down to the ground with a resounding thud. Straddling the AVALANCHE member, Bullet continued her relentless attack, pounding her mercilessly into the ground with a forceful barrage of powerful punches.

Tifa, seizing the opportunity, forcefully struck Bullet away, sending her crashing into a nearby building. The mercenary swiftly emerged from the wreckage, searching for her elusive adversary, but Tifa had swiftly repositioned herself, ambushing Bullet with a strategically wielded lamp pole as a makeshift bat. The impact sent Bullet flying backward, crashing into a parked car with a pained grunt.

Tifa held the pillar aloft, a confident smirk gracing her lips. With the weight resting effortlessly on her shoulder like a bat, she taunted,

"You crave more of this? I've got plenty of strength left in the tank if you're game for another round."

Despite the bruises and wounds that marred her body, her voice carried a firm resolve, her determination undeterred. Bullet, rising from the wreckage, stood upright, a steely determination glinting in her eyes. Brushing off any lingering pain, she rolled her neck, cracking the vertebrae, and declared,

"Bring it on. I can go all day against someone like you."

With a powerful grip, Bullet ripped out her own lamp pole from the street, setting the stage for another intense clash. As the two women wielded their makeshift weapons like elongated swords, the resounding clangs of metal reverberated through the narrow alley, echoing with the intensity of their determined duel.

As the lamp poles splintered from the relentless exchange, Bullet seized the moment, plunging into Tifa and tackling her to the ground, both figures tumbling across the battlefield. Swiftly, Bullet attempted to launch a punishing series of strikes, but Tifa swiftly blocked her advance with a calculated counterpunch, sending Bullet flying backward.

Bullet, seizing the opportunity, punched the ground with explosive force, unleashing a fiery energy wave towards Tifa, but the AVALANCHE member swiftly responded, punching the ground with equal force, disrupting Bullet's attack and negating the impending blaze. The impact echoed through the air, their skills and powers matched in this epic display of strength and strategy.

Tifa and Bullet, propelled by their leaping momentum, collided in mid-air, their fists locked in battle before landing on the ground. Tifa initiated the barrage with a series of quick punches, unleashing her speed and agility. Bullet, displaying her martial prowess, countered with a calculated back kick, a crouching punch, and a low sweeping attack, attempting to trip her adversary. Though her efforts fell short of tripping Tifa, their clash showcased the intensity of their struggle.

As Bullet launched an overhead elbow strike, aiming to strike Tifa directly, she swiftly sidestepped, evading the blow. In retaliation, Tifa sought to execute a jump kick, catching Bullet off guard. But the mercenary, in another impressive move, countered with a standing split kick, their feet clashing in the process. The intricate dance of their martial styles unfolded, each maneuver meticulously executed in this captivating display of combat skill.

Bullet, swift in her reflexes, intercepted Tifa before she could land on the ground, delivering a powerful knee to her midsection. With an expert follow-up move, Bullet swiftly kicked Tifa, propelling her through a nearby storefront window. Tifa emerged from the storefront, adorning her beloved gloves: the Premium Heart. With a determined gaze, she assumed an offensive stance, the blue crystal gauntlets gleaming. She declared,

"Prepare yourself. I'm going to blow you out of the water!"

As Bullet unleashed her Overdrive, her body surged with heat, and her gauntlets glowed a fiery red, radiating intense energy. With a powerful flex and a shout, she yelled, "Time to beat the heat!"

Bullet, surging forward with blazing speed, grabbed Tifa's face, slamming the back of her head onto the ground with a thunderous impact. Continuing her assault, Bullet sprinted with unparalleled speed, generating such intense friction that she ignited a line of fire beneath Tifa, propelling her further away with explosive force from her fiery gauntlets. The impact sent Tifa hurtling through the air with a painful cry.

In a swift display of agility, Tifa spun mid-air, executing a three-point landing against a wall with such force that it shattered the surface. She then propelled herself at Bullet with a swift flying haymaker. However, Bullet adeptly countered Tifa's attack, delivering a spin kick with incredible force, generating a shockwave that halted Tifa's progress. The power of the clash echoed through the air, showcasing their extraordinary abilities.

Bullet, in a relentless display of strength, grabbed Tifa, launching her upward with a forceful kick. Without missing a beat, she seized the AVALANCHE member once more as she was near the peak of her flight and slammed her into the ground with remarkable force, finally hurling her backward.

Tifa, refusing to be outdone, swiftly sprung up just as her feet touched the ground, executing a hard strike against Bullet's back. Undeterred by the initial exchange, Bullet countered with a fiery punch, but Tifa swiftly sidestepped the response, seizing the opportunity to launch her own counter-assault. With practiced precision, Tifa mercilessly punched and kicked at Bullet's vulnerable spots, seeking to exploit any opening and gain the advantage.

Bullet, her fiery determination undeterred despite the relentless beatings, surged forth with an upward kick, propelling Tifa into the air. Without missing a beat, she unleashed a series of combos, culminating in two powerful punches and a blast from her Magic Formula Weapons. Continuing the assault, Bullet grasped Tifa, dragging her backward, and delivered a powerful shot that sent her hurtling upward. Finally, Bullet leaped into the air, executing a forceful explosion punch that drove Tifa crashing down onto the burning ground. Tifa, filled with newfound strength, shouted,

"All right, let's see if you can keep up with this!"

She channeled her energy, activating her Limit Break, initiating a series of swift attacks. Bullet adeptly blocked the initial triple punch onslaught, gracefully leaping over a water-imbued kick, but was caught off guard by the rapid somersault kick that landed squarely on her chin.

Tifa soared into the air, seamlessly securing Bullet into a powerful vertical suplex position. With unwavering determination, she executed a downward slam, driving Bullet's head into the ground with earth-shattering force before unleashing a mighty uppercut augmented by the inexplicable presence of a chirping dolphin. Grasping Bullet, she hurled her into the streets with explosive force, culminating in a resounding eruption.

Bullet, dazed after the fierce assault, shook her head, trying to regain composure. With a questioning tone, she murmured to herself,

"Did I just see a dolphin? What the...?"

Tifa Lockhart, harnessing her power, yelled out,

"Final Heaven!"

She focused her energy, amassing a giant ball of energy in her fist, and unleashed a devastating punch as she sprinted past Bullet. The force of the impact unleashed an explosion with staggering intensity, leaving a trail of destruction countless times more potent than her previous attacks. Bullet, battered but resilient, emerged from the fiery inferno, her scorched undershirt exposed as her jacket burned away. Firmly determined, she yelled,

"Enough!"

She unleashed a powerful punch, her fist connecting forcefully with Tifa's jaw, momentarily stunning her. Tifa, taken aback and left aghast, cried out,

"Ah! What the—?!"

Before she could react, Bullet seized her, mercilessly delivering multiple explosive blows directly to her face with her Magic Formula Weapon gauntlets. Then, with a ruthless move, Bullet hurled her to the ground, where an ominous pile bunker extended from her gauntlet, charging up a tremendous heat energy. As the energy reached its peak, it discharged, obliterating the entire area with cataclysmic force.

Bullet stood triumphantly at the center of the deep crater where the battleground once was, where Tifa lay unconscious in a crumpled heap. With a deliberate gesture, Bullet tore off her charred undershirt, revealing her black bra. Looking down at Tifa, she uttered,

"Count yourself fortunate that I've vented enough steam to let you go. Don't get in my way again."

She turned and walking away, leaving the fallen warrior behind.
—————
Strength: Okay, it was difficult to make this a fair comparison of brute strength. If she were scaled as high as possible to match with all the characters, she'd be infinitely stronger than Bullet, and if we know one thing from Goku vs Superman 1 & 2, infinite strength isn't fun unless it's actually part of the character like Hecules, Son Wukong, or multidimensional beings. So I made a generous low ball to give Tifa a knowable limit. Tifa early on could scale to Vincent Valentine, where characters at that point were capable of challenging Ifrit, a summon who could turn the surface of the planet to ash, a feat that would need 12 Exatons of TNT. That's cool, but given that Limit Breaks multiply Tifa's power with no specified limit, let's be very generous again and say her power is multiplied to 433 Exatons, just slight enough power to destroy the moon outright. Bullet, meanwhile, scales to characters who are capable of generating enough power to destroy the planet, and the moon, requiring about 16 Yottatons. That makes Bullet 39,952X stronger than Tifa. Tifa has admitted she has gotten weaker when she started slacking off.

Speed: This one seems tricky, but was easy to solve enough. Tifa could share Cloud's Death Battle feat of being able to move and react 1,200X faster than light, but let's take this to a logical extreme. Tifa is comparable to characters who match the speed of the Knight's of the Round, with King Arthur being able to destroy the entire dimension. Given that Gaea is a stand in for Earth, it's safe to assume their universe is the same size as ours. Given the attack lasts at least 4 seconds, to destroy the entire observable universe in 4 seconds would require traveling 72.4 quintillion times light speed. That's stupid fast, but since Bullet has infinite reaction time as the rest of the Blazblue cast, she could anticipate anything Tifa throws at her, even the counterattack materia.

Skill: While both women seem equally skilled at their respective fighting styles, I'd say that Tifa wins due to the versatility of her martial skill, compared to Bullet's heavier focus on grappling.

Experience: Both women appear to be equal in how long they've been fighting, and the versatility of their foes, but Tifa is more used to fighting in a team while Bullet normally fights 1-1 matches.

Powers: Normally, Tifa would be able to win with the sheer quantity of material she has over Bullet's exclusive fire attacks, but not only is magic not her strongest suite, her lack of specialization means that she's likely no better of magical abilities than the dedicated masters of Blazblue, so that's a muted advantage. So in terms of power versatility or quality, they were mostly even.

The winner is Bullet.

Chapter Text

XJ-9/Jenny Wakeman

Backstory:

Jenny was designed as a teenager of about 16 years of age (in design and mentality), but it was 5 years since she had been created. As her number indicates, she had eight prototypes, whom she treats as her older sisters.

For an uncertain amount of time, she was prevented from leaving the house by her mother, except for the purpose of saving the earth, where she would not be viewed by the general populace. She finally managed to interact with the outside world and make human friends, namely Brad Carbunkle and his younger brother Tuck, and later enrolling in Tremorton High School where she soon met and befriended Sheldon Lee.

Powers and Abilities:

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, including:

Bulletproof Durability (is invulnerable to bullets),

Space Combat (capable of fighting in space),

Inorganic Physiology (Type 2; Bionic Physiology),

Enhanced Senses, including:

Electromagnetic Vision,

X-Ray Vision,

Infrared Vision,

Ultraviolet Vision,

Radar (Can track flying objects with her radar),

Self-Sustenance (Type 1 [Vacuum Adaptation] & 2),

Bodily Weaponry (Has a wide arsenal of weapons and technology), including:

Gun Protrusion,

Saw Protrusion,

Engine Protrusion,

Drill Protrusion,

Shield Protrusion,

Claw Retraction,

Object Manipulation (can create/protrude and use various objects), including:

Additional Limbs (Can generate additional arms and legs),

Martial Arts (Capable hand-to-hand combatant),

Acrobatics,

Supersonic Scream,

Energy Projection (Can shoot energy from her hands and eyes),

Body Control, including:

Power Fists,

Head Reattachment,

Digit Manipulation,

Shapeshifting,

Transformation,

Flight,

Weapon Mastery (Mastery of various heavy armaments), including:

Gun Mastery,

Sword Mastery,

Knife Mastery,

Axe Mastery,

Flail Mastery,

Hammer Mastery,

Saw Mastery,

Crossbow Mastery,

Grappling Mastery,

Genius Intelligence (Can access all the information from the Internet),

Longevity,

Regeneration (High-Mid: The ability to regenerate from being blown/cut to pieces, brain included, or from a small piece of the user's body, such as a finger, or the heart.),

Spin Dash (Can perform a spinning dash maneuver),

Healing (Can heal others),

Elemental Manipulation, including:

Fire Manipulation,

Ice Manipulation (Can freeze individuals and extinguish flames),

Snow Manipulation,

Water Manipulation (Can shoot water out of her body),

Electricity Manipulation,

Limited Air Manipulation (Can generate powerful winds with giant fans),

Limited Magnetism Manipulation,

Plasma Manipulation (with Plasma Blaster),

Light Manipulation,

Temperature Manipulation, including:

Heat Manipulation (with Heat Gun),

Rocket Manipulation, including:

Missile Projection (with missiles),

Living Factory and Living Arsenal (Can generate ammunition from her body),

Personal Equipment (possesses her own, highly personalized equipment for anything),

Weapon Creation, including:

Hammer Generation,

Clothing Generation, including:

Armor Creation,

Stun Attack (with Stun Grenade Gun),

Limited Attack Reflection (Can reflect lasers with her shields),

Candy Attacks (with Candy Cannon),

Discomfort Immunity,

Sensation Immunity,

Toon Force & BFR/Plot Manipulation (Can survive & reform after getting flattened. Can hide in places much smaller than her. Appeared in the bathroom before Tuck did. She is bigger from the inside than outside since her body carries inside itself weapons bigger than her. She accidently threw a girl far away at the start of an episode & the girl only lands in the blackscreen after the episode ends, with several days passing during the episode),

Resistance to:

Radiation Manipulation,

Heat Manipulation (Can also resist magma as seen in Last Action Zero),

Ice Manipulation (Can break free after being frozen),

Corrosion Inducement,

Acid Manipulation (Bathes in a vat of acid. A metal-dissolving fly that turned parade floats into hunks of goop could only scratch Jenny's paint job),

Soul Manipulation (Being a robot she obviously retains no soul),

Disease Manipulation (Was unfazed by the virus she was accidentally spreading),

Poison Manipulation/Fragrance Manipulation

Weaknesses: She can be careless and stubborn at times. Her internal parts are far more vulnerable to damage than her external parts. She quickly shuts down if her power source is cut off, but she can compensate somewhat with solar panels and backup batteries. She is more vulnerable to electrical, magnetic and sometimes water-based attacks (Varies from briefly shortcutting her to rusting her whole body though on few occasions it doesn't have ill effects on her). Her regeneration is based on reattaching body parts or replacing them with spare ones. This won't work if her body parts are too damaged/far away, and she carries a limited amount of spares at the time.
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Robotboy

Backstory:

Robotboy is a robot built by Professor Moshimo. He was designed to resemble a real boy. Robotboy has three activation modes: deactivation, where he resembles a doll; normal, where he is roughly Tommy Turnbull's height; and super activated, where he towers over most adults, and has a plethora of machine guns and rockets.

Moshimo intended to enter him into a robot fighting TV show, but before he could do that, his old-rival Dr. Kamikazi learned of Robotboy and intended to steal him to take over the world. Knowing the evil he could do with Robotboy, Moshimo sent him to his pen pal and "biggest fan", Tommy Turnbull. During the opening, it's stated that Robotboy was given to Tommy for Robotboy to learn how to be more like a human boy, but it is not stated how long he had been activated or why Tommy was his chosen guardian (we can presume that Moshimo's reasoning is behind Tommy being his number 1 fan)

Powers and Abilities:

Flight,

Superhuman Physical Characteristics,

Superhuman Speed,

Enhanced Senses,

Freeze Ray,

Gadget Usage,

Size Manipulation, can increase his size by turning a knob inside of him),

Wind Breath,

Heat Vision,

Energy Absorption,

Martial Arts,

Forcefield,

Regeneration (Mid: The ability to regenerate from decapitation or severe brain damage. For machines and vehicles, this would be regenerating from the destruction of critical parts, such as the engine.)

Weaknesses: None notable
——————————————
Song: Mechanized Melee

In the town of Tremerton, the world-saving robot, formally designated XJ-9 but affectionately known as Jenny, emerged from a mechanical makeover session. Her distinctive blue and white color scheme now gleamed with newfound vibrancy, the polish bringing out her shine as if emerging from a luxurious spa visit. All kinks were meticulously smoothed, resulting in a fresh and revitalized appearance. Jenny gushed, her giggles filled with delight. With a glimmer in her metallic eyes, she mused to herself,

"Ah, nothing quite compares to a rejuvenating stint at the mechanics, a mechanical spa day for me. I can't wait to see Brad and Tuck's reactions to my brand-new, shiny look. It's as if I've had a makeover!"

Just as she started walking to their place, Jenny's advanced sensors abruptly alerted her to something fast approaching from behind. She swiftly turned, only to catch a glimpse of a blur whizzing by with astonishing velocity, its sheer force disrupting the collected mud on the ground, splattering her. Almost simultaneously, a second fast-moving object dashed past, scattering the mud in its wake. However, in the process, picked up debris struck Jenny's metallic chassis, tarnishing her once-pristine, polished exterior with fresh scratches and smudges. Jenny was left stunned, grappling with the fleeting and sudden occurrence.

Jenny's eyes narrowed in mounting anger as her body glowed from her usual blue to a fiery, furious hue from her feet all the way to her head. A metallic hissing intensified, mimicking the boiling kettle's sound as her frustration reached its peak. In a powerful outburst, she screamed, "What in the world?! I just got myself done! Oh crikey, they'll pay for this."

Jenny, filled with sheer frustration, propelled herself into the sky with the help of her metallic pigtail boosters. Her eyes locked onto Protoboy and Robotboy who battled fiercely in midair. Seizing the opportunity of Protoboy's incapacitation, Robotboy made a satisfied nod. But his victory was fleeting. Jenny's sharp gaze fixed upon Robotboy, her voiced ringing out,

"Hey, robot!"

As Robotboy reverted to his regular form, he tilted his metallic head in a gesture of innocence. With a finger pointed at himself, his curious tone asked,

"Huh? You talk to Robotboy?"

Jenny fumed,

"Absolutely! You ruined my paint job! And I expect you to cover every single scratch and smudge you left on me! Be prepared to shell out for the damages!"

Jenny gestured to her marred appearance, the evidence of Robotboy's recklessness evident in the smudges and scratches. As Robotboy chuckled in awkwardness, attempting to make his escape as swiftly as he could, Jenny reacted quickly. With a metal lasso forming from her arm, she threw it with precision, ensnaring her elusive target. A triumphant glint flashed in her eyes, her voice firming as she declared,

"Oh no you don't! You've got nowhere to run now!"

Robotboy, realizing the futility of evading Jenny, swiftly turned his head with a serious demeanor. Activating his fighting mode, he grew in stature to match hers. Executing a quick yank, he pulled Jenny toward him, causing her to yelp in surprise. A powerful kick followed to her head, striking her forcefully and sending her soaring through the air. The metal lasso snapped from the tension, as she crashed down onto the street below with a hard impact, her metallic form leaving an imprint in the concrete.

Jenny, determination burning fiercely, opened her eyes with unwavering focus. Rising up, she rolled her metallic neck, alleviating tension with a series of metallic pops. In a calm yet resolute voice, she declared,

Jenny swiftly initiated repairs, restoring her damaged arm to peak functionality. With determination, she launched herself upward, transforming her leg into a colossal spinning drill. Robotboy resorted to his Gatling arms, unleashing a torrent of bullets, but to no avail as his attack deflected off Jenny's metallic form and drilling appendage.

Robotboy narrowly evaded the drilling leg, sparks flying as it grazed his side. Retracting his hands, he attempted a karate chop, severing the drill from Jenny's arm. Nevertheless, a determined glint gleamed in Jenny's eyes as she swiftly formed her other leg into a spinning drill and powerfully skewered it into Robotboy's midsection. Sparks erupted from the point of contact, the impact causing visible damage to his metallic exterior.

Despite the formidable drill's impact, Robotboy remained unfazed, grasping it firmly to halt its momentum. To Jenny's dismay, the drill's sudden stoppage sent her rotating uncontrollably through the air. As her joint connection gave way, she spiraled wildly, her metallic form a blur amidst the air. The force propelling her sent shockwaves through the surroundings, accompanied by her cries of surprise.

Amidst the dizziness unleashed by the whirlwind spin, Jenny struggled to regain her equilibrium. Before she could stabilize, Robotboy charged forward, executing powerful punches and kicks. Each strike made contact with her sturdy metal frame, eliciting a resounding clang that resonated through the air.

Realizing the need for space, Jenny channeled her energy into transforming her arms, one into a hefty spiked flail, and the other into a sturdy battle axe. Swinging her weapons with unrestrained fervor, she aimed to regain her footing. Robotboy deftly evaded the battle axe, but the resilient flail delivered a formidable blow that sent him twirling through the air before he recovered his composure.

In a swift transformation, Jenny replaced her arsenal with multiple lasers firing from various parts of her body. Aiming to overwhelm, she unleashed a barrage of shots in quick succession. However, Robotboy swiftly deflected each laser with his fast-moving arms, demonstrating that he was not only swift but resilient as well.

Robotboy, quick on the draw, aimed a tiny blaster at Jenny and shot a stream of acid towards her. Though the acid failed to damage her optics despite its potency, it effectively obscured her vision. Crying out, Jenny attempted to wipe away the blinding substance, exclaiming,

"Ah! That's unfair! I can't see anymore!"

Because of her impaired vision, Jenny found herself unprepared for the surprising strike. With a powerful rocket-propelled punch, Robotboy delivered a powerful blow to her stomach, sending her crashing against a brick wall. Upon impact, the force of the collision drove her partially through the bricks, leaving her embedded in the wall with a resounding grunt. The fist then shot back toward Robotboy, leaving Jenny momentarily incapacitated.

Seizing her chance, Jenny activated her tear ducts to generate a neutralizing substance, swiftly flushing away the hindering acid from her eyes. Regaining her vision, she narrowly caught sight of another attack unfolding: Robotboy hurtling forward with astonishing velocity, his fist aimed squarely at her stomach. The impact propelled her backward, smashing through multiple structures, before he delivered a forceful spin kick to her face, hurling her out to land forcefully onto a car.

With a powerful emergence through the building's roof, Robotboy unveiled four additional gatling barrels, these laser-based. Unleashing a flurry of focused energy, he bombarded Jenny with an onslaught of powerful laser blasts. The intensity and force of each strike were heightened, manifesting as explosions upon impact. Gradually, Robotboy ceased his attack, leaving the battlefield engulfed in obscuring dust clouds. Uncertainty lingered as to whether Jenny had succumbed to the barrage or required even greater firepower.

With an impressive aerial ascent, Jenny emerged unfazed from the cloud of dust. Equipping her hand with a sizable power fist, adorned with rugged spiked knuckles, she unleashed a devastating punch, launching Robotboy skyward in a forceful arc. In the same motion, Jenny spun her arm backward at the elbow, seamlessly transitioning from melee to ranged attack. Transforming her arm into a colossal laser bazooka, she targeted her opponent's trajectory with laser-sharp precision. Unleashing a behemoth laser blast, she aimed straight at her airborne adversary.

With nimble agility, Robotboy executed a mid-air backflip, deftly orienting himself correctly. He then rapidly extended his arm, initiating a forceful force field. The split laser blast rippled around him, failing to land a direct hit. Robotboy utilized the force field to plow through and evade the laser, seamlessly moving to the side with precise timing. Closing the distance, he swiftly resumed the physical assault on Jenny, raining a flurry of powerful blows upon her.

As Robotboy unleashed a powerful fan from his chest, the forceful gust propelled Jenny backward, smashing her through a colossal #1 Fan sports billboard and into the rooftop. Shaking her metallic head with tenacity, Jenny quipped,

"So, you've got a fan, huh? Well let me blow you away with my two biggest fans."

In a seamless transformation, her metallic pigtails metamorphosed into gisnt turbine fans, generating vigorous gale-force winds all around. Jenny launched herself forward with supersonic speed, unleashing rapid-fire fists to overwhelm Robotboy. However, Robotboy retaliated with a swift top spin, rotating his upper body with astonishing revolutions, while swinging his arms in a protective pattern, effectively deflecting Jenny's onslaught, swatting her back, and gaining distance. Upon stopping, Robotboy unleashed a barrage of lasers, targeting Jenny amidst the whirling chaos.

Jenny, displaying impressive improvisation, fashioned a giant hammer from her right arm and charged forward, delivering a decisive blow with the metallic mallet. Robotboy swiftly countered, extending a deadly saw blade from his right arm, slicing the metallic mallet away. Reeling from the loss, Jenny exclaimed,

"Hey, stop destroying my weapons! They're not cheap, and part of my limbs, for crickey's sake!"

As Robotboy remained silent, a tiny projectile shot out from his finger, landing on Jenny's chest. With a quizzical expression, Jenny closely examined it with a magnifying glass, her tone laced with skepticism.

"Really? This is your next attack? Not very impressive if you ask me-"

The tiny projectile suddenly detonated mid-sentence, generating a disproportionately massive explosion. The blast sent Jenny hurtling backward, carving a trench through the street with her metallic body. Jenny cautiously opened her eyes, shocked to find her body splintered into countless pieces. With a remarkable display of focus and control, she commanded the internal wires to reconnect and draw her fractured remains back together, seamlessly reassembling her form.

"Whoo. That was close. I'm nowhere close to being done yet."

Jenny reflected, her confidence remaining strong. Looking forward, she observed Robotboy swiftly approaching with a clenched fist. Focusing her energy, Jenny flew towards her opponent, mirroring his gesture with an outstretched fist. As their fists collided with each other's faces, a shockwave rippled through the area, shattering all nearby glass and cracking the ground. The intense impact left both combatants briefly disoriented, each struggling to regain their bearings amid the aftermath.

With remarkable resilience, both robots recovered and pushed against each other, locked in a tight grip. Slowly but surely, Robotboy's feet cut paths through the crumbling concrete beneath, unable to withstand the immense force. A smirk touched Jenny's lips as she boasted,

"Just for your information, you're facing the strongest robot ever. I possess the strength of a million and seventy men. I'm not entirely sure why I need that extra seventy, but rest assured, I'll make use of it to the fullest."

Sensing that brute force alone wouldn't suffice, Robotboy resorted to clever improvisation. Reversing direction, he used Jenny's momentum against her, executing a backflip and forcefully kicking her in the midsection with his rocket-propelled feet. The impact sent Jenny soaring through the air, crashing into the weight lifting section of a nearby gym.

Jenny, still feeling the effects of the counterattack, sat up groggily, only to have a 50 lbs weight drop on her head with a resounding thud. Shaking off the daze, she refocused, morphing her arms into a railgun and utilizing nearby weights as ammunition. Carefully charging and aiming at her opponent, she unleashed a powerful shot, launching a 100 lbs barbell weight at hypersonic speeds towards Robotboy.

At first caught off guard by the rapid succession of shots, Robotboy sustained successive impacts to his chest, head, and shoulder. However, displaying remarkable adaptability, he quickly adjusted, advancing towards Jenny while counterattacking by punching or backhanding any incoming weights away to thwart her assault.

Seeing Robotboy's adaptability, Jenny swiftly assumed her regular form and extended her fingers to ensnare the rest of the weights, forming a makeshift net. Spinning her arms with growing momentum, she built up tremendous potential energy before releasing them. Robotboy, quick to respond, raised his arms defensively, shielding himself from the incoming barrage of weights, successfully deflecting them with a resounding clang from each one.

Jenny attempted to ensnare Robotboy with her extendable arms, but he adeptly managed to catch them, using the momentum to swing her around. Jenny cried out and struggled as she was propelled into various structures and finally slammed against the ground in an overhead pull move, leaving her momentarily down.

Tugging her arms back, Jenny reshaped herself into a formidable rocket cannon, unleashing a barrage of missiles. However, showcasing remarkable reflexes, Robotboy managed to catch each rocket one by one, throwing them back with force. In a swift display of agility, Jenny transformed back and engaged in a daring parkour routine, evading the return fire with remarkable dexterity. Jenny posed a rhetorical question with a knowing demeanor:

"I have a science question for you. What happens when you rapidly heat something up and then rapidly cool it down?"

With a swift transformation, she equipped her arms with elemental weapons, bathing Robotboy in hot blue fire to raise his temperature and then rapidly freezing him over with a powerful ice blast. The rapid and drastic temperature shifts would create immense stress on his metallic frame. Jenny's voice reverberated through the air as she addressed her rhetorical question with a decisive remark:

"Here's the answer: one busted robot!" With a surge of energy, she propelled herself forward with a colossal spiked fist aimed at Robotboy. Robotboy endeavored to dodge the oncoming force, but his injured leg proved inadequate for evasion. Left with no escape, Robotboy braced for impact as Jenny's mighty punch delivered a crushing blow, overwhelming his already strained metallic form to the point of shattering.

Jenny skidded to a halt, transforming her fist back to its regular form and planting a proud kiss on her metallic knuckles. Hearing a disturbance behind her, she whirled around to behold Robotboy, reassembling himself despite the extensive damage. His battered form stood as testament to his resilience, not completely defeated even in pieces.

Taking a cue from Jenny's prowess, Robotboy attempted to employ her strategic tactics. He fired a flamethrower to heat up her metallic chassis and followed up with a freezing maneuver, encasing her in ice. However, as he approached to subject her to similar treatment, Jenny met his approach with a confident smirk.

"Nice try copying me, but that won't work on me so well!"

Defiant, she flexed her metallic strength to shatter the icy constraints effortlessly, showcasing resilience unaffected by the shifting temperatures. Alert and nimble, Robotboy swiftly raised his arms to defend himself from the incoming ice fragments. Meanwhile, Jenny activated a laser beam that emanated from her back, unleashing several targeted shots. Robotboy skillfully maneuvered through the air, evading each shot with ease as they disintegrated cars in their wake.

Thinking on his metallic feet, Robotboy grabbed a nearby manhole cover and hurled it towards the closest building, allowing it to ricochet off and return towards Jenny. Jenny yelped and attempted to duck beneath the metallic disk, but not quite low enough to evade its impact. The laser, which emerged from her back, shattered upon impact.

Strategically, Robotboy adapted by morphing his right arm into a saw blade and attempted an attack on Jenny. Jenny confidently responded, extending a massive sawblade from her own right arm, effortlessly slicing through Robotboy's smaller weapon. The force of her powerful swipe left a superficial wound on Robotboy's metallic form, demonstrating her strength and combat prowess.

Maintaining her offensive momentum, Jenny strategically retreated and emitted a barrage of missiles from her form. Keenly observing her offensive onslaught, Robotboy swiftly adjusted to the situation by generating rollerblades under his feet, which he powered with rockets for agile maneuvering. With remarkable agility, he wheeled around a corner, swiftly evading the incoming missiles as they exploded. Feeling a pang of frustration as Robotboy adopted her favorite mode of transport, Jenny exclaimed,

"Hey, rocket-powered rollerblading is my thing!"

Not one to be outdone, she promptly manifested her own rollerblades under her feet, and her metallic pigtails transformed into rockets, propelling her forward. With determination, she gave chase, pursuing her mechanical adversary.

Swiftly turning the corner, Jenny was shocked to find that Robotboy had played a cunning trick. Instead of initiating a chase, he was simply lying in wait behind the corner. Taking advantage of her surprise, he delivered a well-timed clothesline, catching Jenny off guard and forcefully flinging her into a nearby garbage truck. She cried out as she landed in the trash.

Jenny sat up, her metallic form tainted with various trash and garbage, a look of revulsion on her face. However, her initial disgust quickly turned to shock when she heard the sound of the trash compactor activating. Robotboy, having tampered with the controls, triggered the compactor. Jenny reacted swiftly, raising her arms in a desperate bid to withstand the crushing pressure.

"I will not… be turned into… scrap metal!"

She yelled, determination etched across her features. Curiosity piqued, Robotboy moved to check on the progress of the crushing process. However, to his surprise, Jenny had escaped the confines of the compactor, having broken free using her sheer strength. She swiftly grabbed him firmly by the throat, forcefully propelling his body into the street. The impact caused the asphalt beneath to crack, displaying the immense force she was exerting. Frustration and annoyance evident in her voice, Jenny railed at her robotic adversary,

"That's twice now you've made me end up in garbage! Do you get some twisted pleasure out of getting me all dirty and messy?!"

In response to her outcry, Robotboy fired a barrage of laser shots from his eyes, forcing Jenny to recoil and withdraw momentarily. As Jenny took a few steps back, she found herself on the defensive against Robotboy's relentless laser barrage. Quick thinking, however, allowed her to respond by deploying a mirror from her left arm. Adroitly positioning the mirror to capture the laser energy, she redirected the beam back towards her foe with a powerful and blinding force. The redirected lasers struck Robotboy, hurling him forcefully backwards.

Robotboy, regaining his composure after being knocked back, transformed his right arm into an enormous laser canon, signaling he intended to unleash his most potent weapon yet. Upon witnessing this, Jenny responded with a confident chuckle, exclaiming,

"Oh, we're playing the size game now, are we? Glad I still have mine."

With a quick, familiar motion, Jenny flipped her left arm at the elbow once again, assembling and charging the formidable laser bazooka she had employed earlier. As both robots charged their respective weapons, the energy built up exponentially until they unleashed a simultaneous barrage. The opposing beams met in the air, creating a powerful collision that rippled through the surroundings. The collision resulted in a brilliant explosion, sending both robots hurtling backward, crashing into distant buildings. In the aftermath, the street on which they had been dueling was left devastated and damaged.

Emerging from the rubble, Jenny surveyed the damage surrounding her. Her body had taken a significant beating, adorned with dents and scratches testament to the prolonged and intense battle she'd fought. Concern etched across her face, she looked around and observed the destruction wreaked upon her town.

"Tremorton is suffering enough damage; I need to end this fight promptly before the entire city falls into ruin."

She muttered resolutely. Robotboy, displaying marks of wear and tear that mirrored Jenny's own, struggled to take flight as his rocket-powered feet had exhausted their fuel supply, forcing him to resort to walking. Undeterred, he began moving towards Jenny with determination, setting his mind on concluding this longstanding feud.

Jenny and Robotboy advanced towards each other, their pace gradually accelerating from a walk to a jog, and then transforming into a full-fledged sprint as they closed the distance between them. They leaped over the deep chasm created by their clash, landing hard punches across each other's faces mid-air. Both robots landed with a loud thud on their backs against the ground, momentarily stunned by the impact.

The metallic robots slowly rose to their feet, their bodies groaning from the accumulated damage. Despite their sluggishness and hindered movement, they persisted, engaging in a fierce, hand-to-hand combat with only their fists and feet. The impact of each hit they landed against each other rang out with a resounding metallic thud, as both combatants worked tirelessly to wear down their opponent.

Searching for a tactical edge in the exhausting brawl, Jenny ingeniously generated an extra set of legs and six additional pairs of arms, overwhelming Robotboy with the abundance of limbs. Robotboy flailed in a futile attempt to defend himself as he was quickly immobilized by the extra appendages. In a swift move, Jenny forcefully spun him in mid-air, his speed and momentum preventing him from correcting himself in time before she could execute her clever plan.

Jenny retracted her additional limbs and shaped a colossal spiked boot from her right leg, swiftly kicking Robotboy with great force, propelling him high into the atmosphere. Simultaneously, she manifested rocket wings from her back and soared after him, catching up and ramming into him as they ascended to the fringes of Earth's upper atmosphere.

Sensing that there was no escaping the situation, Robotboy seized hold of Jenny's head and repeatedly headbutted her to disorient her and loosen her grip. He then forcefully kicked her away, creating a brief distance between them. Robotboy's arms transformed into powerful laser cannons, as he readied himself for a final, all-out attack, intending to give everything he had left.

Jenny, realizing what Robotboy was preparing for, retrieved a potent, chargeable laser from the back of her head, followed by five intricate magnifying glasses. She deployed one on the top of her head and three more from her left arm, with the final one extending from the tip of her left foot. Having Robotboy within her field of vision, she murmured confidently,

"Try to withstand this one."

Both robots charged their respective weapons with unwavering focus, and then they unleash their attacks. Robotboy's twin blasts merged into a sizable assault, racing towards Jenny's carefully concentrated and magnified laser. The anticipated collision occurred, momentarily halting both beams. Surprisingly, the smaller laser managed to pierce through the larger one, continuing its path and ultimately striking Robotboy square in the chest.

As the intense energy coursing through Robotboy's body heightened, he glowed green as more power overwhelmed his system. Unable to contain the internal pressure, his body ultimately gave in and exploded in a dazzling, blinding blast. Jenny instinctively shielded her eyes from the brilliant spectacle until the light eventually dissipated.

Jenny observed something hurtling towards her and swiftly reached out, catching it midair. Upon closer inspection, it revealed to be the deactivated and diminished form of Robotboy's head. Jenny gently shook it near her auditory sensors, noting the sound of jingling metal emanating from within. A faint chuckle escaped her lips.

"Hehe, seems like he's out of battery."

She remarked, amused by the anticlimactic end to her mechanical adversary after such a powerful explosion. Jenny soared back to Tremorton, Pennsylvania, executing a gentle descent and touchdown. Feeling a sense of triumph, she casually flung Robotboy's head over her shoulder, standing tall in celebration of her victory. However, the angry clamor of the townspeople reached her auditory sensors, expressing their discontent about the hundreds of million dollars of public property damage resulting from her intense battle.

All she could say was to sheepishly mutter, "Oops."
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Strength: Now in fairness, in pure physical strength, they're nearly equal. Robotboy once indirectly lifted a cruise ship into the air by punching a mountain into existence from the sea floor. At the time, the heaviest cruise ships was around 150,000 tons. Jenny meanwhile is said to be strong as 1,000,070 men. Assuming all those men are IPF powerlifters who can bench press 1000 lbs, she's capable of lifting over 500,000 tons. Only a 3.3X difference. However, in overall firepower, Jenny had much more to give. Said time that Robotboy created an island with that punch, that would've required a force of 87 MT of force, and nothing indicates that his laser fire would be that much stronger. But Jenny at the beginning of her series once blew up an asteroid that would've destroyed Earth. Given the size of the asteroid compared to the Earth, destroying it via violent fragmentation would require about 1 Zettaton of TNT. That makes her 1.15 quintillion times more powerful than Robotboy.

Speed: Robotboy has twice thrown his enemies from Earth to the Sun in seconds, which would mean his combat speed is around 250X light speed. But Jenny is much faster, able to reach from Earth to Saturn in just as much time with her flight speed, needing to go 1,600X light speed. That makes Jenny 6.4X faster.

Skill: Jenny is much more skilled, as she's able to apply her skills in a way that makes her an all-purpose tool, whereas Robotboy is mainly a hammer, even if he has moments of being smart.

Experience: Jenny has been active for about 7 years, if you include the comics after the show. Robotboy hasn't fought anywhere close that long. And while their rogue's gallery are mostly similar, I think Jenny is more well versed.

Powers: Jenny has way more tools are her disposal, and it's unlikely that Robotboy could destroy all her tech before getting destroyed himself.

The winner is Jenny Wakeman
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Next time:

"I can do it. No... we can do it! Because... from the day we were born... there was something special about us all... we're free!"

"On the day I realized I was a ghoul... I shed my weakness to protect what's important to me. Survival of the fittest is the law in this world. Only the strong survive. Who is the strong? I am. Me!"

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