Better luck next time, kiddo. Anyway, I'm not gonna beat around any bushes with my intentions.

Shake King points to Wario.

I'm here to take that rotund dude with me. Lemme and I'll probably pull at least one prank while leaving. Don't, and I will pound all of you mercilessly at relativistic speeds. Your choice.

Hmm...

The speedster quickly grabs Red and drops him in front of the bomb.

Wh

...

The one responsible slows down.

Oh, relax! He's not dead. That pleasure is saved for when the boss gets his hands on him.
That voice...
(He took both Wario and that other guy in an instant. This is bad.)

Oogway motions his assent.


Hey, no problem.

Joe poses to the side.

Henshin-a-go-go, baby!

Joe waits... nothing happens.

...Nothing's happening.

You don't mean...!

Nrgghh!

Oogway points to the outside of the palace. Joe storms out.

---

What the--

Wario is suddenly clobbered all over by an opponent to fast to see, seconds later being knocked onto the ground and into a bloodied mess.

Joe, however, fails to move due to his paralysis.

Dang it...! If I could just...!


Oh, yeah!? Then how do you propose I get real strength?

Joe is suddenly poked on the back by Oogway's staff (also relaxing his pressure points enough to free him).


...




Don't tell me that's why I couldn't use Six Machine.

Oogway nods.

'doh.

Joe smirks.

I promise I'll go easy on you, old geezer!

Joe dashes at Oogway with a lightning fast flurry of kicks, but Oogway blocks all of them with his staff.




You want weight!?

Joe uses Slow-Mo, slowing down time around him as he tries to punch Oogway in the face... but the slowed Oogway still dodges, weaving his head to the side.

(He's predicting my movements and moving beforehand!)

Exiting Slow-Mo, Viewtiful Joe leaps back.

(Guess there's only one thing left to do... Move in with a quick and strong attack and hope I can connect)
Your wish is my command!

Joe races towards Oogway, activating Zoom!

Bastard! Red Hot One Hundred!

Joe attacks Oogway with a torrent of blurred fists... ...but...


What!? H-how?!!?


After the last punch is parried, Oogway uses his staff to knock aside Joe's arm, moving in with a pressure-pointed blow to Joe's chest!

Oof!

Joe drops to the ground...

Okay... you may have gotten me to me that time... but...

Viewtiful Joe's wrist begins lighting up... until he transforms completely back to normal.

dang it, moving like this is really really difficult... this... isn't... over...!

Joe, unaware that he is back to his regular state, tries getting up, only to find himself unable to move.

---

Zoom (Swift)- Viewtiful Joe uses his VFX powers to zoom in on enemies and as well as his own attacks, making all of his attacks critical hits and giving him the ability to identify any weaknesses.
Red Hot One Hundred (Flame/Swift)- Viewtiful Joe strikes the opponent with 100 punches in the blink of an eye, scorching the opponent with each one.

Okay... And what is that supposed to mean?

Well, for one, my V-Watch. Without it, I can't really use Slow, Zoom, or Mach Speed, and I wouldn't be able to utilize Six Machine, either.

Uh...


Hey, well, it's more like a weapon, is all!

Joe points at Dante.

Like him and his guns!



Oogway spins his staff around before also pointing it towards Dante.



Alright, now that's just unfair!

Joe takes a fighting position. Oogway takes very little reaction.

How about I prove to you just how capable I am!?

Oogway plants his staff on the ground.

I'll order later. Heya!

The figure sluggishly turns it's head around, meeting Joe.


That's right. I've been wondering if-- wait what

...


Then... you know what I'm looking for? You know a way for me to get stronger?

Joe walks inside, seeing everything... mostly empty.

Huh... Kinda vacant, don't'cha think?

He then spots a figure up ahead.


Hey! I'll bet that's the master behind this place!

Joe approaches the figure, trying to get his attention.

Yo! Hellooo~!

Well, it's now or never!

Viewtiful Joe races inside.

After running all the way up the steps, Viewtiful Joe comes to a screeching halt, skidding across the ground, looking at the building ahead of him.

...Huh. A temple, eh? I can dig that.

*sigh*.... Well, then in that case... Mach Speed.

Joe zips off.

---

Mach Speed (Speed/Flame)- Viewtiful Joe uses his VFX power to greatly increase his movement and attack speed, as well as giving him enough velocity to generate several afterimage clones instantaneously, all of which can deal damage but disappear after being hit. Also produces a fiery aura once used long enough. Despite it's name, this ability is not limited to the speed of sound.

Alright, it's been forever since I've had to do this, but...
...Henshin-a-go-go, baby!

Joe's V-watch begins to glow. Soon enough, he begins to morph into his costume, before doing a collection of lame poses, now fully immersed.

Never gets old. Now, then...

Viewtiful Joe looks forward, seeing a very, very, very long stairway ahead.

......Not dealing with that. COME ON, SIX MACHINE!

Joe waits. No Six Machine.

...Heheh. I said, "come on, Six Machine."

Joe waits. Still no Six Machine arrives on the scene for him.

Bruh.

"Gee, Wanda, it sure is nice of you to let us feed into your inferiority complex! We totally won't come back 1 trillion times stronger than you! Durrrr!"

---

Joe suddenly steps out of the wormhole, which closes (once Dante is out).

Ugh... this place is pretty chilly.
Luckily, I know just how to spice things up!

---

Ah, the amateurs fight.
I'm... not sure you have the right to--

Ryoga is suddenly decked in the face by a quick gray blur, sending him flying miles away!

---

I mean I was gonna just teleport you guys to around the outside.
What's in it?
A guy I met a very, very long time ago when I was little. He's the wisest person you can learn from and I have no doubt you'll get what you want given time.

Wanda makes a circling motion with her wand. Sure enough, a wormhole appears.

Thanks a bunch, Wanda.
Hey. Someone has to be the one with the brains.

Joe braces himself before slowly walking in the wormhole.

Hey, I'll have ya know I got a couple of hits in myself!*
That was reckless! You could've gotten killed.
Yeah, well, I'd rather go out as my own hero than as some kinda sidekick (this must be how Blue Jr. feels...)

Wanda again zaps Joe with magical energy. this time, almost completely cluelessly Joe removes his bandages, and sits upright on his hospital bed.

I mean, can ya blame me? I'm not exactly wrong to think this way, you know. Call it a reflex, but I'd rather not fall into certain obscurity.
Sure, whatever, come help us already.
...I don't think I will.

---

*Joe landed approximately one clean hit on his opponent.

Yeah. I've pretty much been helping take this one bad dude out that's been messing with her for a while now. Was, anyway.
Wait, hold on. Joe, what-- what happened to you?
Er...! Uh... You can heal me back to normal, right, Wanda?
Sure.

Wanda points her wand at Joe, shooting a blast of magical energy at him... only for him to feel the exact same as before.

...My everything still hurts...
That's because it doesn't work on people who keep dodging the point.