Snoop Dogg pulls up Walter's stats again to make sure, and yet it still seems Walter is still the same level 1 as before.

You look confused. Those are my two special moves!
And!? You're somehow still sendin' these fools flyin' for a loop regardless! What are ya, a hacker!?
Well, just because I'm sorta strong doesn't mean it was only reason why they worked. I've been training these techniques for about a decade, all so they'd be skilled enough to have these effects.
Really, I just polished them to the point where... well... I don't remember the last time they've lost to another move. So I think I did something right!

Walter teleports again. This time, Snoop Dogg is the one to move as he floats over to the side, avoiding yet another Azure Apeiron. Walter teleports.

Don't think it'll be as easy dealin' with the Lethal MLG as it is for you those four.

Snoop quickly locks on to Walter's location, amplifying his power with weed and bopping him with a knee to the back of the head... but the knee seems to only graze Walter's head, the momentum flipping the latter around and leaving him in prime position for a double-fisted slam to Snoop Dogg's back, knocking him downwards instead!

Heheh.

Snoop Dogg flies back up, meeting at eye level.

I know that wasn't a special technique of yours. What gives, Wiz Kid?
Well. All I did was use the momentum of your own attack, and turned it onto you yourself. On my own, all I would have done was hurt myself. But since you leaned into it, I was able to divert most of the power that would have been used to hurt me.

Snoop Dogg chuckles, chiefing another puff of the blunt in his mouth.

So you used Newton's Third Law to your own advantage...? Cleva, I'll give you that one.
New Tin's Third wha...? Sorry, I just like hitting people.
Hmph. A simple guy, this Wizzle Olizzle.... but if I heard ya right... didn't you say you avoided "most" of the damage, and not all...?

Crud... | Walter Oliver | Level: 1 | Energy: 0.1/10 | Attack: 2 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ | Defense : 1 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Speed: 1 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Just like I thought. You shifted the surface of only the majority of where the attack went... the most miniscule portion you kept, but that's still enough to screw ya hard.
(He's right. I was able to land a good one on him, but I had to sacrifice a lot just to do that... I might be able to hold him off with my attacks, but even if they outpriority him, with my stats as they are that doesn't mean they'll be able to do real damage to him.)
(If I use that, I could probably still beat him. But I'm not sure if it's too soon....)

---

Puff Ring (Wind/Swift)- The user puffs out a ring of smoke-like substance that blinds the target upon contact, charging at it in a straightforward manner.
Weed Star (Nature/Level)- Gains two additional hits for every Level the user has, and two additional hits for ever 10 Speed the user has.
Cannabis Boom (Explode)- The user ignites their own weed, channeling the energy to release a tremendously powerful AOE explosion. If multiple targets who know this move gather and use it together, the damage and AOE is multiplied square.
Aetherette (Shadow/Wind)- Snoop Dogg throws a cigarette powered exclusively by the dark energy of the Shadow Realm. Curses the target upon contact.
Darting Doobiehit (Flame/Wind)- Booftton revs up, unleashing the sparks from their boof into flames that surround them as they bash the user. May Burn targets.

Azure Apeiron (Impact/Light)- Walter dashes straight at the target, punching them. Invulnerable and interrupts other moves, regardless of priority.
Blueminescent Beam (Light/Shine/Ki)- Walter fires a blue wave of powerful energy. Invulnerable and interrupts other moves, regardless of priority, and destroys defenses before damage calculation.

So. This the guy known as Walta Oliva, huh? Ain't seem like much to me anymore.

Wh-what's that supposed to mean? | Walter Oliver | Level: 1 | Energy: 10 Attack: 9 | Defense : 7 Speed: 7
Means you're weaker than eva befo', due to that Weed Residue m'boi. Take a look at your stats....
Wait a minute...
But... I still feel kinda funny from the end of my last fi--
--D'aw! That's just mean! | Walter Oliver | Level: 1 | Energy: 10 | Attack: 2 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ | Defense : 1 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ Speed: 1 ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

♫ DIPSET TRANCE PARTY 2. War Ready - Prod. Dave Mcvay ♫


Heard you was looking for a real fight. How 'bout now?

Snoop Dogg snaps his fingers, performing a Mecha Summon. Four Mechas manifest in front of Walter....

.... | Booftton | Levels: 420 | Energy: 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Attack: 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Defense: 60,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Speed: 50,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Oh, curse words...!

Walter tries to fly upwards, but all the Booftton quickly surround him before he can even realize it.

Doobie.

Booftton uses Puff Ring. Walter manages to dive inside the center of the attack, avoiding damage. He

!


An exploson scatters throughout the entire island from the sheer radius of a Cannabis Boom.

---

Snoop Dogg waves his hands, seemingly not very affected from a safe distance more than he is by the smoke itself...

Damn! Yous still alive? How the *cough cough* hell?
Precision beats speed, and timing beats power. There are subtle tells in the way your little friends act before they attack, things not even they would notice.

Snoop Dogg throws an Aetherette at Walter... and then turns his body to the left, now facing a Walter who has somehow avoided that attack as well.

Also I can teleport.
Good for you.... but'cha know, you'll remain a level one until the one the Weed Residue came from is defeated. And running away from all these attacks ain't gonna make that happen any faster.

Doobie!

All four facing Walter on all sides, the Boofttons all Weed Star. Walter simply teleports from place to place, dodging each combination of projectiles one by one in an unpredictable manner of warping, slowing down only when it seems the Weed Stars have ceased, then flying towards one Booftton...

You might not be wrong there. However...

The Booftton attacks Walter with a Darting Doobiehit but is immediately snapped back with an Azure Apeiron. Two more come with another volley of Weed Stars, but Walter teleports behind the both of them, Blasting them both away with Blueminescent Beams. Another Booftton comes soaring down at him from above, but an Azure Apeiron uppercut knocks the fourth one back into the skies from where it came...

!?!??

So, you were saying?
WhWHAT..!?... HohoWHOW is... HOWWW...!?!??
Pretty strange, right? We're the "same", so you should have been aware of this emergency protocol yourself. How I foresee something but not you?
The answer is... I didn't. I just assumed I'd have an emergency command for this exact situation that would single out a fake due to the wrong genetic makeup.
!!? 1?!11!@? 1?!?!?22!?!1?!?21!22?1!21!2!@
Of course, it'd be a problem if they knew of this exact same protocol as well. So, I came to the completely logical conclusion that I probably already made the emergency protocal in the past, and erased my own memory so no one would know about in it a situation like such.
The numbers were a guess, though.
!!!!! !!!!!!?!?!?!?!!? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?@?!!?!!!!!?!!!!!?!!!!?!!!!!!!?!!

Scale claps his hands together, dusting them. He stretches at leisure, back against the imprisoned Dark Scale, who takes such positioning as an even greater offense.

You understand what I mean now, right? You could never come up with such a thing, because you're not like me. You may think remotely similar, contrast to 99.9% of other lifeforms...
...But you don't have the ego, as well.

---

Turbo Scale Streaker (Anti/Laser)- Scale Streaker amplfied by Antimatter energy. Far more powerful than its original counterpart, faster, and does tenfold the amount of hits.
Auto-Defensive Anti Barrier. (Defense/Anti)- A holigraphic, spherical barrier centered around Scale, generating enough antimatter to deflect and divert all attacks headeed in Scale's direction.

Scale zooms through the sky, his velocity reaching an astonishing rate. Only a second behind, Dark Scale follows.

...

I'll never believe for a second that I'm trapped in this useless deadlock. If I am, that's only because I planned it that way, and I didn't realize it.

There's definitely a way to stop this filthy impostor.

I know where we're headed... directly to our headquarters. Do you think going there will give you some sort of homecourt advantage...? You already know better than that.

Dark Scale shoots more Repulse Torrents in Scale's direction. They are avoided, but not without effort on Scale's part.

Do I?
?
"We're the same. Therefore, our odds must objectively be equal." That's your thought process, right? Or do you think you'd win regardless just because?

Scale suddenly spins around, unloading Spread Bombs in Dark Scale's direction while still flying. Dark Scale somehow sees this coming, flying downwards.

Are you implying...?
That's the difference between us. You were born from something artificial. Material. Your knowledge is based on all that you know and perceive, and therefore you set yourself to the standards of such.
Me? I could never be so peasantly as to accept mediocrity, or compromise my pride for anything. It's true rationale is of great importance....

As scale is speaking, a Turbo Scale Streaker completely showers his body, coming directly from an increasingly agitated Dark Scale... but, this is foiled as Scale had already equipped an Auto-Defensive Anti Barrier.

He was probably saving them as well, but it doesn't matter if he nor I use antimatter reserves at this point. He also realizes that.

---

But just that, and you're nothing beyond any sort of computer with an algorithmic function.

Windows auto-open as the two land into a random empty floor. Scale picks up a table and throws it at Dark Scale, but his Auto-Defensive Anti Barrier. is equipped as well.

You're not human. You're artificial, made by external sources shaped into something trying to pass off as such. Which is why you just going off of what you know, not what you think.
Stop dodging it an accept the truth. You know as well as I do that in this world, there is nothing but facts. Everything is or isn't. You can't say it's not just because you feel like it.
You've wasted both of our time with this nugatory psuedobabble. If you've finally finished, go ahead and try whatever last trick you have up your sleeve. It won't work, I know the ins and outs just as well as you do.
....

Scale shrugs to himself.

I wanted to monologue a bit more, but it's your funeral. Activate Protocol: 0100100101101100011011000110110101100001011010110110010101111001011011110111010101100101011000010111010001110100011010000110111101110011011001010111011101101111011100100110010001110011

Nothing. Dark Scale chuckles at the lack of effect of his counterpart's words.

...And now you're making up false protocols? Seriously? How hath the mighty fallen. At this rate, I'll be the one and only Sca

A cube-like Anti contraption suddenly comes from the floor Scale is on, capturing Dark Scale and electrocuting him.

Aagh!!?

---

The music changed from before... but I can't get that tune from before out of my head. Get a nostalgic vibe from it.
....

---

...

Walter looks around at the ever-so-shaking ground, back and forth with a rather solemn expression. After a while of staring, the earthquake begins to stop.... Walter sighs.

I'm probably just getting paranoid... things have been a bit confusing for me as a late, so maybe I'm just getting in my own...

Cracks in the ground form as the previous tremors triple.

...Head?


A ray beam of light rises from the ground, enveloping the entire island and above. The confused simply stands there, sensing a figure floating above the ground...

Finally... after years of dormancy... it's time to blaze that shit up.

The figure reveals themselves as the yellow light blaring out fades, showing the father of all blunts himself....

It's time for The Next Episode.
!?

---

.....
So, it is Snupu Dogu himself... indeed, he is very popular in Japan.
Yeah, but... why's he here? Why now?

John Cena comes in between Rambo and Segata, pointing at the monitor.

You idiots! Zoom out.
But what does that have to do with the damn--
Just do it! We don't have time for this.

Silent, but still nodding, Will Smith opens up few of the globe, shrinking it down to the bermuda triangle... which is now just a triangle of eyelands, with one dot in between.

I knew it. That's why Snoop Dogg appeared, that's why that damn music was playin'! That's the Illuminati's theme!
!!? What!?


So that's what you're getting at, eh?

---

---

And Walter's in the eye of the storm. They've almost definitely been waiting for a chance like this... to hit Walter with Weed Residue, which resets anyone's stats to a hypothetical level one.

Will Smith, Rambo, and Segata facepalm.

And it's especially unlucky Walter got caught up in it this time. He may be a reaper, but almost all his power comes from the results of training and hard work.
....Then we have no choice. Now is the time for us to act.

John turns around, walking away.

I'm heading out. This could be Chris Rock at play again, and I have more knowledge of the Illuminati than the rest of you. And it's better we have more people to handle other crisises.
Undastudo. Best of luck, Cina-san.

♫ DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi 2 OST - Track14 - King's Uneasiness ♫

Ahoge floating from the wind, ??? Walter stares at the distance, keeping to himself.

...I know you're there. And you know I know you're there.

Footsteps come from out behind ???, reavealing his follower to be none other than...

That's true. but I knew you knew I knew you you knew that I was there.
What do you want from me? I'm busy. Thinking. If you have no business with me, go away.
Thinking? That sounds awfully unlike the man known as Walter Oliver, trololol.

??? Walter shakes his head no.

I'm not that man. I'm something else, I don't know what. Who I am, what I am... even though I have his memories, my mind and body don't click. I don't know if I should go to my natural instincts or reason.
And speaking of the original Walter... I... I don't think I like him.
Ho? And why is that.
Back when I was still at my most savage, I was obsessed with him. I had this primal urge to fight, and he was the only one who I knew for sure that could keep up. That could compete. Every time I hit him with something hard, he would always come back stronger.
But now, something about him feels wrong to me. I can feel vitriol bubble up when I think about him. As if he...
Took something from you. Correct?

??? Walter turns around. He looks at The General, silent for a few seconds as if to ponder something... then utters only a few words.

You know something.
I do.
Then tell me.

The General walks over to and past ??? Walter, stopping short a few yards ahead of him.

The truth is... you're far more than just his mirror. But you're at a Xroads. Unable to go beyond what lies on the surface.
If you want to know who you are, you'll have to rise above such troubles... both mentally... and in another battle against your counterpart.

The General looks up in the air, his gaze at the blue sky.

...
If you wish to know more, I can fill u in... you may not know me, but you can have my very word this is no con.
....Sure. But are you sure you don't have any ulterior motives for this....?

The General walks towards ??? Walter.

....Truthfully, this is a part of my selfisness as //311. But I can most definitively guarantee u... everything we agreed upon... I will honor.

---

Pac-Man quickly directs his attention towards the orange one. Bumping fists and radiating electricity, he packs powerful Magnetic-Pac-Pummels onto its head, hoping to render it unable to find as swiftly as possible.

....

Hey.

GBNDJGBNADKJGBNAJKSBGKAJSBGKAJSBGAKJBNGKAJBKGJABSKGJBAKJBGKJBKAJSG!!!!!!! I'M ALIVE.
Oh yeah... I almost forgot. Even a guy like Master has a pampered brat.
Maybe I should wake her up....

Vyole walk over, looking at Elizabeth... and then closes the door, snorting to herself all the while.

Yeah, right. Go ahead and count electric sheep until the end of time for all I care, sleeping beauty.

She walks away, quickly opting to pace around, lost in her thoughts.

I get off vibes from her, and those are the last things I need. I'll just say we were playing hide and seek or something. Master's out of touch enough to believe that's something teenagers still do.
...Now that I really think about it, some things don't add up... If he has a daughter, he definitely should have had some kind of wife, or ex-wife, or girlfriend or something. She's either missing, or late. I've asked about the rest of his family, too, but everytime I get around it he always changes the topic.
I also feel... like somehow, I've knew of him even before we met. Maybe I heard his name in passing, or something. But I dunno how.
...Meh. I can press him about that stuff later. Where'd I put that book..? It looked like a spellbook, but with ways to hit people instead of using spells.

Vyolen quickly spins her head back, surprised by something. She looks back at the closet door... only to see it's still closed.

...Eh.

She opens the book she has in one of her hands...

---

Wawa... I... probably wasted enough time here. I have, um, things I should be doing and not putting off...

Walter begins to levitate into the air. He gives a goodbye-gestured salute...

I should really get going. See you around, High--
♫ the x files theme song (full version) ♫
...What.

The ground shakes once more (though Walter doesn't move due to already being in the air)...

Oh, boy...

---

Ryo and his bot seem to still be fighting, but Ryo is still near completely fresh while the robot is now significantly worse for wear.

Let's end this!

Ryo swerves, avoiding a hook from the robot. He tugs on its coat, holding it while leaping into the opposite direction and throwing it out of bounds.

Well... I guess that'll do for introductions.

After his victory is confirmed, Ryo steps down from the mini-arena. He stretches.

I probably could have ended that faster, but it's better safe than sorry... besides, the big guns can come later.

Ryo looks around, watching everyone else still remaining with their battles....

(Supposdely, that General guy will show up by the time the tournament starts...)

---

♫ SvC Chaos Station Obsolete Stage (Soundtrack) ♫

(It's my best chance! If I'm going to put a stop to her, it'll be here!)

As Dark Peach is still trying to regain her bearings, a Frying Pan is caved into the roof of her head. She winces as Toadette still doesn't give her any room to recover, battering her with numerous strikes with one fertical one at the tail end of her combo, knocking the copy upwards.

!?!

Toadette Wall-Jumps through the air (somehow,) catching up to the mirrored clone within the air, this time ending up above her, reeling up for her most powerful strike yet...!

And somehow...

...
...

Despite the sizzling sensation of an impact emitting from the pan... it's stopped short as Dark Peach manages to fend it off with a hand, gripping against the cooking instrument.

...Ugh... that truly was a troublesome ability from back then... but you won't be settling things like that!

Twinkles surround the two, as a pink and light purple aura grows ever present particularly in Dark Peach. Her Frying Pan being held, she only manages to question what is going on right as she is struck hard in the abdomen, kicked with a Heartful Smash!

Wh-whuh...!?

Peachette rockets back downwards into the ground, breaking her fall with a handstand as she does numerous aerobic somersaults backwards, avoiding Heart Shots aimed directly from above. Dark Peach, too, lands and swiftly after dashes towards the pseudo-peach.

(I just have to hold out a little more...!... She's super resilient, but I guess that's what I should have expected from a Smash veteran like her ma--) Ack!

A Golf Club connects with Peachette's chin. The peach-powered toad is flipped over and over by the force, and then smacked again at full power, bashing her aside. Even after hitting the ground, the momentum has her rolling dozens of times before she can come to any sort of halt.

....
You lack focus. Perhaps you'd be a formidable foe with the skills you posess... but without discipline, all you're doing is spinning your wheels.

Dark Peach slowly walks towards Peachette. Peachette tries her darndest to get up, but her body has seeming difficulty in responding to her.

Nngh.... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhh!!
I was surprised a few times. But that is the most I can say for the likes of you.

Dark Peach prepares a special attack.... but see's Peachette look upwards, her gaze diverting from the copy's. Confused, Dark Peach herself turns around as a shadow looms over the both of them...

...No......

---

Wall-Jump (Impact)- The user kicks themselves off, elevating themselves even further into the air. Despite the name, this move may not be limited towards actual surfaces.
Heartful Smash (Impact/Crystal)- Gathering pure energy around herself, Princess Peach kicks the target as though they were a soccer ball, negating all forms of negative energy entirely and doing extreme damage.
Heart Shots (Crystal/Energy)- Princess Peach fires a heart-shaped projectile which travels towards the target. The more health the target has, the more damage it does. resistant to negative forms of energy.
Golf Club (Speed/Impact)- Princess Peach brings out her own personal Golf-Club, smacking the target swiftly. Accuracy increases by 300% for every consecutive use of this ability.

Pac-Man is somewhat alarmed at the appearance of a second ghost-like monster, but doesn't let it show.

(WAKA-WAKA! WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA... WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA!) ((A-another! And I'm getting deja vu from how it acts... I have to stop this one before any more arrive!))

Sizzling with electricity, Pac-Man promptly whips the red one with another Magnet Tongue, this time from above. He bounces off the surface of it's head with several Butt Bounces, which ricoche on top of it, then finishes his combination with an upside-down Flip Kick!

---

Butt Bounce (Impact/Swift)- Pac-Man quickly drops down on the target rear-first, bouncing back into the air after making contact.
Flip Kick (Swift/Impact)- Pac-Man does a flip with his foot extended, doing a bicycle kick. Can be used on the ground or in the air, and cancelled into from a Rev Roll.

---

Urgh! Nothing has been going right!

When exactly did he put on that coat?

That Hydra lady probably hates my guts because I crashed into her place uninvited. A big threat was supposed to arrive, but that's a bust. And now this... whatever just happened... happened!

Walter turns around now. It seems more like he's talking to himself than HighTower at this point...

Maybe I shouldn't have ditched Vy like that... I basically left her and told her to go learn without me. I should've been more involved.

(Apparently, Beta has multiple entries that go beyond the limit of the roster. This is a violation of the tournament's premise and will likely be handled by him... somehow.)
(Also, like Brash demonstrated, you can choreograph the fight on your own, lol)

---

Ryo and his robot walk around the mini-arena, circling each other as they size their opponent up...

(Robots are sort of a pain to fight. It's not that they don't have weak points, but they don't share the same ones as humans do.... However, it's still not much different from fighting man-to-man... All I have to do is hit them until they can't get up.)

Ryo and said robot dart toward each other at the exact same time. Ryo starts out with a Beer Bottle Slicer, but to his surprise, his attack is actually grabbed from two arms bothabove and below his chopping hand. Ryo Tech Grabs, stopping the robo and proceeding onwards with follows up with Zanretsuken.

!

In calculated fashion the robot attempts to parry. While at first it finds success warding off the accelerated punches, Ryo's hits eventually prove too manifold and too precise, landing their mark all the while as Ryo follows up with a strong fist to the midsection, causing the robot to go flying back with a hard knockdown.

....

The robot Tech Rolls and quickly gets back up, all the while firing ranged charged-shot attacks which Ryo dashes past them with little issue. After rolling past a final General Buster, (with neutered effects due to their now equal stats), he once again barrages with a Kyokugenryu Renbu Ken which this time the robot opts to dodge, unleashing a rising uppercut at the same time as Ryo's Kohou, clashing. Still, Ryo manages to stay one step ahead, shoving a Ko'ou Geki into the robot's torso while the two are in the air, continuing to bary it downwards with three Hien Shippuu Kyaku kicks!

---

Beer Bottle Slicer (Impact/Cutter)- Ryo horizantally chops the air. Slices through attacks with special energy-like properties.
Tech Grab (Grapple/Defense)- The user techs right as they are about to subsequently become grabbed, cancelling any grappling attack out.
Zanretsuken (Swift)- The user throws multiple, precise superspeed punches at a singular target, and then finishes the combination with an strong uppercut.
Tech Roll (Earth/Defense)- Just as the user is about to hit the ground, they enter a rolling state as they get back up. Passes through attacks until tech roll is over.
General Buster (Neutral/Energy)- The user charges to build power, losing a little bit of attack, defense and speed. when released, this ability can release an energy shot to unleash powerful chargedshot which sharply amplifies the user back eyond that of their standard.
Kyokugenryu Renbu Ken (Impact)- Ryo attacks with three body blows. Flip five coins. If two or more are heads, Ryo attacks wth three more. Cannot be interrupted and repeats until unless one coin or none is heads.
Kohou (Impact)- The user jumps into the air with a leaping uppercut. Travels past projectiles.
Ko'ou Geki (Ki/Energy/Wind)- Using their spirit energy, the user fires a strong blast releasing it from one hand. in midair. Accumulative direct hits can lead to extreme damage as well as stun.
Hien Shippu Kyaku (Swift/Impact)- The user leaps forward into the air to perform a spinning kick onto their target. Passes through projectiles.

Will puts his hands to his hips.

If Ronald McDonald actually managed to acheive his true goal... we can assume he'll be stronger than ever. His Ran Ran Roo was already enough of a threat before. I'm not even sure if my New Rewind Time will work.
And things'll only get more and more hectic if we let them-- especially him-- stand in our way... so whaddya have in mind for the clown?
Burger King still owes me a favor for rewinding the "Foot Lettuce Incident" and keeping him from going out of business. I got in touch with him while we were watching Walter fight his dark copy.
So what, then? Is going to help fight against Ricky McDicky for us?
......Not exactly.

---

♫ Dragonball Super OST - Gohan's Concentration ♫ (put on loop if ends early)



On two separate sides facing each other, two fighters can be seen gathering energy to their fingertips placed on their forhead, electricity radiating as their power spikes up exponentially as they



A beam struggle of two parallel versions of the same Special Beam Cannon technique. Neither one seems to budge... until the bulkier fighter grins, doing the same firing motion with his other hand!





The larger one's Special Beam Cannon instantly surpasses the smaller's, as the laser-sharp attack hones in on him, forcing him to quickly twist outside the line of fire, avoiding taking the powerful technique head-on as it explodes from behind him instead of on him. Sensing the sheer power radiating from that attack, he wipes his abnormally large forehead in relief, landing onto the ground....



A step is heard. The larger fighter lands in front of him as well.




This remark causes the smaller one to chuckle.






Folding his arms, though not really looking at the smaller one anymore and instead staring into the distance, he continues.




The larger one nods, as if to justify the smaller's awe.




He looks back at the smaller figure once more.



The smaller one seems to recognize this stare and acknowledge it with a solemn expression. He nods.



As he's done speaking, the smaller figure takes up his own fighting stance. The larger one does as well, with little hesitation on his end.



Tension lies in the air as both parties wait for the other to take their move. Just as it seems like their fight is on the verge of resuming... a phone beeps, interrupting them.




Said tension disippates, leaving the larger figure to revert to a still large, but much less so state. The smaller one sighs.






He flies over, handing the telephone to him. Less than excited, the taller one begrudgingly holds it to his ear.

---

Special Beam Cannon (Laser/Ki)- The user concentrates electricized Ki, condensing it and multiplying it's damaging ability countless of dozens of times beyond a standard level, turning it into a piercing attack that can inflict damage on targets far more powerful than the user.

(I should mention that the EAST is a 6 on 6 Tournament, which means ONLY 12 fighters can be selected. None of the fighters after Kappa Muscle's introduction can be included beyond preliminaries unless an already registered one is swapped. This ALSO means that it's too late to join as a fighter if you haven't already. Sorry, Glacier.)

---

Sch. Do what you want, but you'd better hope we're on the same side... for your sake, Crawley.

Ryo gives John an icy stare, as it seems he's far from forgetting any past involvements.

Please allow us to introduce ourselves.

The two beret-wearing individuals step from the shadows. They immediately give salutes to all the registered individuals.

I am Minor. The man to my opposite side is Major.
We are The General's personal eyes and ears, seeing to things as his right and left hands. You will have an opportuntity to see him later on, but for now, it's time to move on to the next step towards the EAST.
...

---

Major and Minor lead everyone towards a different, much larger room. This one is filled with several square-like arenas (though without actual bordering rings to keep anyone from falling). In each ring is a robot, marked as "Lvl. 9"

Qualifications are simple. Defeat the enemy, and you pass. The only condition as that you are under the Equal Attributed Stat effect, meaning that it is just as powerful, fast, and durable as you.
So in other words... it's a skill ordeal.

Ryo cracks his neck.

Been there, done that.

He casually walks over, hopping onto one of the mini-arenas and faces down one of the robots.

I'll need 15 seconds at worst.
...Mission start.

These fights will be calibrated into scores depending on how you fare. The higher you score, the more eligible you are. If you are defeated by one of these robots, however, your attempt at qualifying will be immediately disqualified.
...I don't like that. Martial arts has nothing to do with arithmetic of any kind.... ah, whatever.

(Yes, both of you can join, seeing as technically neither have you have done anything wrong as of yet. But don't forget about the rules.)

---

The female of the two people behind the registering booth gives Scout a completely blank stare, as if not even to acknowledge his presence even as she responds.

I have no interests in trivial attempts at flirtation and seduction. If your goal in arriving is to "pick up chicks", you have chosen poorly and are better off elsewhere.
Nevertheless. Should you qualify beyond the preleminaries and emerge victorious... then I will have little reason to not give you proper attention.

The other, presumably male one responds as well, this time to Slizer.

Indeed. Once the time for registration has ended, we will begin the qualifying session.

Ryo redirects his attention towards Robert. More and more people begin to sign up for the preliminaries in the background.

Robert? I wasn't expecting to see a familiar face here... so, you want to put yourself to the test, too.

Ryo cracks his knuckles.

Just don't expect me to hold back on you if we end up fighting. After all, you'll always have the Garcia Foundation's insurance policy to fall back on if things go south for...

Ryo's stops short in his sentence. A serious glare forms in his eyes his friendly demeanor fades.

An incredible energy just came in... for a second, it almost reminded me of dad's. who in...?

Ryo quickly turns around, to see a figure slowly but surely walking through, in quite a nonchalant, yet sophisticated manner.

...Hmmm... I seem to be in the right location. Oh! Excuse me, gentle--

Ryo Dodge Rolls away on pure instinct alone, creating distance between him and the figure, and stops. He doesn't bother to say anything as he continues to stare the figure down.

.....
Oops... did my presence put any danger bells in your head, by chance? I do apologize, if that's the case.
What are you...?

The shadowed person continues walking over, until he's right at the booth himeslf. With a single stroke, he rights his name down, and walks away from it...

You'll find out soon enough.... Well, maybe you. I could also just fight some other unlucky soul.
....

Walter sighs, simply dusting himself off.

---

WAKA-WAKA WAKA-WAKA! (Not if I can help it!)

Pac-Man jumps towards the Red Monster, sticking out his Magnet Tongue, and slapping him with it right on the forehead!!

---

Magnet Tongue (Electric/Impact)- Titanium Pac-Man sticks out his tongue, which gains magnetic like properties as he brings it out, able to use it to attract or repel certain objects.

---

Duffel bag over his shoulder, Ryo Sakazaki skips the stairs of the bus he drops off of, taking in his surroundings as he reaches the entrance to a large, stadium-like building.

This place is big... almost makes me feel right at home, down at the KoF tournaments... I just hope there isn't any nonsense going behind the scenes.
....

Ryo looks left and right. There seems to be a rather large amount of people around, but most of them are idle.

Sheesh. Make up your minds. Are you going to gonna sign up, or aren't you?

After wandering for a few moments more, Ryo stops at a registration table. He picks up the pen, and-- praying he did not forget to spell his own name-- writes down his own signature.

If it was me, I probably would have made these old-school style brackets.. but it's still certainly interesting enough. The opportunity to test myself... I can't wait.

Screw that.
Extra Life Spin Dashes right towards Knack, who jumps to the side, avoiding the now-released Hedgehog... but Knack soon realizes he himself was never the target, as Extra Life smashes the box that captured him to bits. He turns around and gives Knack a sinister, yet smug side-eye.

I hope you weren't gullible enough to think for a SECOND that I'd go along with your request, chump... I've been waiting for this day for far too long, and I won't let any sucker get in my way!
Tch...! Well, guess I only have myself to blame. I definitely shoulda taken you for a rat--considering how much you both look and act like one.
Very funny, wise guy. But you won't be so quick to make quips after I'm done with you... judging by your appearance, you should make a good enough warm-up for a little test-run.
.... (Shows what he knows. I'm the one using him.... but he doesn't need to know that just yet. Come to think of it... blue fur, red shoes... this guy's almost like...)
Hey. By any chance, would you be Sonic the Hedgehog?

Extra Life is gone. The same moment, his back is facing Knack's, as he is suddenly behind him.

I oughta snap your neck for asking me that... but I'm too happy to care right now. The answer is yes. And no.

Knack rears his head to give Extra Life a confused expression.

....Meaning?
Meaning if you wanna know more, you'll have to eat my dust first!

Extra Life Super Peel-Outs away, his trail fading slowly. Knack grins.

Now let's see just how right Mr. Q really was.

Knack leaves a trail of his own, pursuing Extra Life as he speeds into the distance as well.

---

Super Peel-Out (Swift)- The user moves their legs in a specific pattern to build up speed, all while remaining in one spot. Once they have built up enough speed, they take off in the direction they're facing at an extreme velocity. Does no damage to targets.

---

Beats me.... but I feel something weird after it. Like something's missing... I'm not sure if I'm worrying too much or if I'm not worrying enough.

---

...
...WAKA...WAKA. (Uh... Meow?)

♫ End of the World - Sonic the Hedgehog ♫

A figure lands down on the ground, creating a small crater.

W-what the heck!? what just happened?
There we go... a quick little trip to the asteroid belt and I finally found it.

Carrying it above his head with both arms, Knack throws a capsule-like box aside, featuring a figure that seems to be almost trapped inside of it...

---

Two individuals seem to be playing an old-school styled 3D arena game.

Fascinating. Delta's small size allows for infinites in this game that simply shouldn't be possible... although, this will surely be fixed in the next patch.
As they say, he is quite the "jank" character.

Footsteps and a screeching halt. The two don't even bother to turn their heads behind them to see who enters.

So I heard about the tale of this dude who rose to become omniscient.... pretty sure that's at least one of you.
I'll be out of your... whatever... in a jiffy. I just needed to know one thing...
...Speak.

Knack scowls, somewhat annoyed that neither of them seem slightly engaged with his presence. Nonetheless, he proceeds.

Here's the dealio; I'm bored. I'd take another crack at that Wario dude... but I wanna save his hide for later. I won't ask you for someone able to rival me, since I know that's impossible. Just tell me where I can find someone that can show me a fun time.
.....Very well. Your answer lies in...

---

Knack is brought back to his current situation as he hears someone calling him.

Yo, whitey! Yoo, hoo!
....Oh yeah. You. What's your deal?

Knack taps his foot as the boxed individual pleads their case.

Help a brother out? I've been trapped in this infernal thing for who knows how long by some bad dudes!
Fine. But in exchange, you'll owe me a little favor... but we'll revisit that when the time comes.
Hey, I scratch your back, you scratch mine. But you can't really expect me to return the favor from inside, can you?
Of course not... so then, how am I supposed to set you free from this thing, anyway?
Top right button on the Capsule. Push it, and i--

A yellow spark erupts as Knack's finger is already on the button. The figure is ejected from the box, landing right on his posterior.

You're welcome.
....

The figure seems not to be completely able to process their freedom, as the only movement they make is their arm, feeling the grass beneath them. Knack rolls his eyes.

(Free... I'm actually free. That numb sensation is disappearing by the second... It's been so long, I've almost forgotten how it feels to be alive!)

They jump to their feet, holding their hands to their hands to their head.

Hahahahahahah! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! It's really happened! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
Yeah, yeah. Now if you're done smooching the dirt, we still have my end of the bargain.

Regaining their composure, their laughs diminished, as they readdress the slaty speedster waiting on them.

Oh, right!...
...I almost forgot.
*vine boom*
Knack raises an eyebrow as the silhouette curls up.

The winning team gets 500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000Ƶ each in reward.... And, additionally... they can choose to nominate one more fighter to face a very special opponent and each receive double the money, should they win. The losing team will receive about a fifth of their pay regardless.
At the bottom of this screen, there will be the coordinates to the preliminary grounds. If you want to prove you're the best, or simply want to test yourself against someone powerful, the chance is there. And one more thing.

The General's eyebrows droop.

It's come to my attention that there have been tournaments or events held in the past, some subject to going awry. Just so I'm crystal clear about this whole ordeal... The EAST has nothing to do with the world's fate. It has nothing to do with good, or evil, and I couldn't give less of a damn about the ratings. I don't care if you're an organic or artificial being, I want to see what this world has to offer me.... That is all.. I look forward to the event.

The screen fades to black again.

---

Pretty nifty, am I right or am I correct?
....
Sakazaki?

Ryo stands up.

You've gotta be kidding me, old man... this type of opportunity doesn't come often enough.

Ryo turns around and gives a thumbs up.

Advertising the Kyokugenru Dojo and against the most skilled of the skilled? You bet I'll go.
(That's the look I like to see. When he's like this, he's in his element...)
You going too?

Mr. Karate folds his arms.

Nuh uh. I prefer more organic forms of combat. I can watch, though.

You don't have her generational talent, and take time to learn techniques, even some of the rather simple ones. I suppose you two are separate sides of the same coin in that aspect.
...Gh. Well, it doesn't matter. I've already come a long way with how I've been doing things. I'm not going to stop now.
....Really? Then how about a chance to test yourself?
I don't care if it's you or anyone, geezer. I'm ready for the challenge.

Mr. Karate throws a paper in Ryo's face. The younger karateka freezes.

--....

Slowly, the paper falls from his face, and instinctively, Ryo catches it before it can hit the ground. He gets a good look at the headline, reading...

Upcoming tournament to be held... Is this just another KOF tournament?
Not quite. I thought it would interest you, though...
"Equalized atributted stat...?" Just... what exactly is this?
It came with a CD. Let's lower the volume before Yuri can find out..

Turning the TV on, places the disc inside the DVD player, and presses the start button. After a brief startup, the screen goes from black, to....

---

The General does a two-fingered salute at the camera.

43770, there. I am known as The General, The Perfect Soldier.
...and you, there, are a denizen of a most peculiar universe. A place with countless fighters, all varying in their strengths and weaknesses. One that's phenomenal and filled with countless types of combatants. With this knowledge, I've come up with the idea to do a little experiment. A contest, if you will. But not one of strength, or speed... but of skill.
Here's how it will work:

1. Go to the top right corner, where your profile is.
2. Click 'exit game' and wait 3 years.
4. Log in, go back on the forums, and ask this same question.


COPPA's rules means anyone below the age of 13 is not welcome here.