Round 1

Ryu Hayabusa vs. Vergil

Ryu Hayabusa glared at the camera, his hand clutched at his side as if to draw his sword. From match graphic to interview, his pose remained unchanged.

"So um…" Nikki paused, intimidated by the hardened glare, "What do you think of Vergil?"

"I have spoken with Dante at length about him and, quite honestly. I'm still not quite sure what to expect. Nonetheless, I hope to knock him down a few pegs," came Hayabusa's quick reply

"Alright, who are you looking forward to fighting?"

"I've been training with several of my fellow ninjas, Greninja and Yoshimitsu among them. I wish to fight them. Also, Mister Rizer appeals to me in ways I cannot understand. Perhaps I wish to test my might against a man with a gun? I'm not sure."

"Alright, fair enough," Nikki concluded, "Thank you,"

Hayabusa simply nodded, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Vergil's match graphic saw him dramatically turning his back to the camera, sheathing Yamato in a brilliantly captured lens flare. Now, the other half of Sparda Brothers sat in the interview chair.

"So, what do you think of Mister Hayabusa?" came Nikki's now patented question.

"A fine ninja he may be, but just an obstacle on the road to the inevitable rematch with my brother in the next round," Vergil replied as haughtily as he could

"Is he the only person you're looking forward to fighting?"

"Yes," Vergil stated flatly, "I have defeated warriors of all other kinds with no effort. Dante is the only who has ever remotely poised a challenge."

"Okay that's all I've got thank you for my-"

"Don't waste my time with such things again," Vergil snapped as he huffed out of frame.

Now, Cranky and 9-Volt had the floor.

"Well, mister sunshine and rainbows himself Vergil with another scintillating reminder why he's beloved the world over." 9-Volt growled

Cranky shrugged, "Meh, I blame the half-rate developers for dreaming characters like this into existence, and the young twerps who watch too much anime for consuming it. Hayabusa's game might have too many of those new-fangled cutscenes…"

"New-fangled…" 9-Volt interrupted.

"Boy shut I'm talking," snapped Cranky, "But at least he's an NES original with a hard as hell game. Futaba, what do you think?"

"My boy Hayabusa better do himself justice. I've been pining for his inclusion since I find out about the character," Futaba squealed overexcitedly.

"You sound like one of those over-excited Hayabusa stans on the internet," 9-Volt commented.

"Spam a few discussion boards with Hayabusa content, dox a couple, it's what you did when you were a 13 year old shut-in. Mega cringe though, so don't do that now," Futaba spoke her last point rather fast.

"Right, let's throw it down to…"

POOF!

In a blast of smoke Hayabusa was already on stage!

"Can the writer just not think of entrances or something?" quipped Cranky Kong.

"He's a ninja!" countered 9-Volt, his voice cracking in frustration, "What do you expect, an entrance with pyrotechnics?"

After a minute of delay, the camera cut to a choir of young looking people in royal blue robes stacked on three rows of standing risers.

I am the storm that is approaching.

Provoking, black clouds in isolation

"Show me your motivation," demanded Vergil's pre-recorded voice.

As the choir began to sing to a thrashing metal instrumental, Vergil slowly walked out of the tunnel, casting a smug look at the crowd, then the choir as he confidently strode to center stage.

"We'd like to thank the Crosstown High Choir from The River City Universe for their version of the redux of Bury the Light," 9-Volt said.

"Just proves that these characters with theme songs all have egos!" grumbled Cranky.

As the choir finished their rendition, Vergil made it to the center, Mills appearing between he and Hayabusa, who's arms had remained crossed for the entire performance

"And now. The following contest is a First Round Match of the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate tournament! The winner will face Dante in Round 2! Introducing first, to my left," Mills announced, "He comes to us from the Ninja Gaiden universe. He is the Leader of the Hayabusa Clan, he is RYU HAYABUSA!"

Quickly extending the peace sign to a relatively muted cheering section, Hayabusa barely made a move as Mills continued on.

"Introducing next, to my right, he comes to us from the Devil May Cry universe. He is The Alpha and Omega, he is VERGIL!"

The crowd cheered. Vergil only sneered.

"You know how this works by now gentlemen," Mills explained, "If Hayabusa wins the coin toss, the stage will be Basilisk Minefield. If Vergil wins the coin toss, the stage will be The Tower of Temin Ni-Gru! Call it gentlemen!"

"Tails." Vergil declared

Mills examined the coins.

"HEADS!"

Vergil shrugged, "No matter," came his simple reply.

"Ooooh this is one of my favorite stages from the original Ninja Gaiden," 9-Volt explained, "A mine shaft with a bottomless pit down the middle. Think Mushroom Kingdom 64 in terms of layout, but with the occasional flying enemy to ruin your day!

"Soul and controller smashingly hard, like video games should be," Cranky sighed dreamily.

"Smashers, are you ready?" asked Mills.

Both men nodded, disappearing.

Stage: Basilisk Minefield

Rules: 2-stock, items medium

Music: Basilisk Minefield

3

As he had for his entrance, Hayabusa appeared in blast of smoke.

2

Vergil appeared, resting upon his sheathed sword. Vergil got into a combat stance, straightening his undershirt.

1

GO!

Immediately, Hayabusa clasped his hands together, "Art of Flame Wheels!"

Upon speaking the incantation, a barrier of fireballs began to circle him.

Vergil nodded, impressed, "So that's how it's going to be hm? Fine. ROUND TRIP!" he called

A flaming blue circular dance of blades surround Hayabusa, immediately snuffing out his firey defense, even jumping with him as he charged the center pit, leaping over it to avoid the barrage.

"Mirage Blade," Vergil commanded.

From nowhere, blades of blue light began to pelt Hayabusa further and further into the bottomless pit, a troublesome bat sealing the deal.

Hayabusa: 1

Vergil: 1

"Another one of these yahoos who takes a stock barely moving. In my day, if you didn't move, you lost a quarter."

"This ain't your day any more Cranky, and these powerhouses never get any less terrifying," 9-Volt quivered.

"Spiral Blade," called Vergil as soon as Hayabusa leaped wordlessly off of the Revival Platform.

Leaping over the gap to get to Hayabusa, Vergil flipped in the air, landing just short of Hayabusa, who backflipped away himself.

"DEEP STINGER!" cried Vergil.

Yamato was replaced by a blue blade of fire, and 19 unanswered blade slashes drove Hayabusa to the blast zone like a car being pushed haplessly by a barreling train.

"And just like that it's done!" a shocked 9-Volt cried.

GAME!

In the Smash Courtyard. Vergil had his back to the camera, sheething Yamato.

"Never show that face before me again," he warned.

VERGIL WINS!

Hayabusa begrudgingly clapped, but disappeared as Mister Zero walked up to him.

"Ladies and gentlemen we're being informed that…angry unf?" a perplexed 9-Volt informed the audience.

"Yeah, Ryu's refusing to be interviewed so Sans is just filling the time with jokes," Cranky said, his voice laced with disgust.

"Well, at least the pain is over as quickly as it began," 9-Volt sighed, "Rita, to you my friend!"

"Thanks Volt," said Rita, "I'm here with Vergil. One hell of a victory, what're your thoughts."

"He was just a stepping stone to get to what I wanted. Dante, it's you and me for the umpteenth time, and only one of us gets the…jackpot," Vergil punctuated his statement with a labored wink, stomping up the tunnel.

Fox McCloud saw Vergil come up the tunnel, and saw Krystal standing to happily applaud for him.

Man, she really does want to have crazy stuck in her, Fox thought, rolling his eyes.

Meanwhile, Dante extended his hand to Vergil, "Looks like it's on again bro,"

"Yes brother it is," Vergil said, clasping his hand in Dante's, "I look forward to it."

The shredding guitar cords of the randomizer circled through the remaining matches...

"SONIC VERSUS KING DEDEDE!"

"Whelp Belle, it's finally my time," Sonic said, pecking an unsuspecting Isabelle on the cheek, "Wish me luck!" he cast her the thumbs up, zooming off.

Snake could only grumble as he watched Isabelle daintily touch her cheek, the flesh under her fur a fire engine red.

"I'MMA CLOBBAH DAT DERE HEDGEHOG MARK MCGUIRE STYLE!" Dedede declared.

"You've been waiting to say that haven't you sire?" Meta-Knight coldly stated, arms crossed.

"I ain't spend all last tournament watchin' them baseball tapes from Snake's universe fer nothin!" Dedede laughed, "Whelp, time for me to hit the trail!"

"Sonic's in Tunnel A, so you're in B!" quacked Mikey.

"Gotcha," Dedede smirked, shuffling down the tunnel.