Author's Note: For this battle I am using a lower level Lin Kuei warrior, meaning that he will not have the cryokinetic abilities of Bi Han, Kuai Lang, or Frost.
Also, Sub-Zero and Smoke will appear as they do in the current timeline, meaning Smoke still has a human appearance here.
This is also a lower level Assassin I am featuring here, so no Eagle Vision either to keep the battle fair.
Just looking to put that to rest right away and until then, on with the story!
XXXXX
(A man in a hooded white robe with a red cape over his shoulder flicks both wrists and hidden blades shoot out from underneath.)
Italian Assassin: The secretive Renaissance-era killer who fought a shadow war on the streets of Rome against the Templars...
(A lone Assassin leaps from a rooftop and lands on top of a Templar-affiliated merchant, driving his hidden blade into the man's neck.)
vs.
(An Asian man in a blue outfit with steel pauldrons and a matching black hood and mask gracefully swings a dao at the screen.)
Lin Kuei: The silent killers from the frozen mountains of Earthrealm who put the icy fear of death into their enemies.
(A Lin Kuei slashes into the gut of a Shirai Ryu before bringing the dao down on top of his head.)
WHO IS DEADLIEST?!
To find out, we've assembled a team of world class fighters to test history's most lethal weapons. Using 21st century science, we'll see what happens when two warriors go toe to toe.
No rules. No safety. No mercy. It's a duel to the death to decide who is...THE DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
Here in our elite fight club we have gathered doctors, medical scientists and weapons experts to test out the lethal arsenals wielded by each of our combatants to determine who would win a fight between warriors who never met in a face to face duel:
Italian Assassin
Appearing From: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Armor: Plate Armor
Loyalty: Assassin Mentor
Lin Kuei
Appearing From: Mortal Kombat series
Height: 5' 7"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Armor: Leather Lamellar, Steel Pauldrons
Loyalty: Lin Kuei Grandmaster
"Today we have a battle between two deadly assassins representing secretive organizations that go back centuries, the Assassin Order during their prime in Renaissance Italy, going up against the Lin Kuei, the ancient order of assassins still active to this day," biomedical scientist Bradley Foster started.
"This is a battle between two warriors who are in tip top condition and trained in various forms of martial arts, in addition to stealth and reconnaissance, meaning they are used to sneaking around when necessary. Deception and adaptability are key weapons of theirs," trauma doctor Joseph Kaiser continued.
"Speaking of weapons, these guys come equipped with weapons meant to kill quickly and quietly, as well as make use of their physical abilities they acquire from their years of training. I'm excited to see how this match is going to turn out," computer expert Eddie Cortez concluded.
The camera cuts to a young man with tanned skin and a black buzz cut, wearing a white hoodie, blue jeans and black sneakers. He has a bracer strapped to his arm and with a flick of his wrist, a hidden blade pops out.
Up first to represent the Assassin is a man with direct blood ties to the secretive order, Desmond Miles.
A direct descendant of the legendary Mentor Ezio Auditore, Desmond was kidnapped by the Templar organization Abstergo Industries, where he was forced to relive the genetic memories of his ancestor through a machine called the 'Animus.' It was through overexposure he would be subjected to the 'Bleeding Effect,' learning the abilities and tactics employed by the Italian Brotherhood of Assassins.
"The Lin Kuei are a bunch of wannabes. The Assassin would cut him down before he even knew what hit him," Desmond said, shooting out his hidden blade in emphasis.
Nearby a man with short brown hair and glasses typed data into a computer.
Also representing the Assassins, Shaun Hastings.
A historian and analyst, Shaun has served numerous teams of Assassins across the globe, most notably assisting Desmond as he sought to relive the memories of his famed ancestor in an effort to stop the 2012 apocalypse.
"To go against the Assassin Brotherhood is to go against an order with roots spanning all the way back to the days of the Pharaohs. With all the knowledge we've accumulated throughout the centuries, there is no way these Lin Kuei blokes will be able to find their way past our advanced tactics and training," the historian spoke in his thick British accent.
Having its earliest origins in Ancient Egypt as the 'Hidden Ones,' the Assassin Brotherhood has served as a secretive peacekeeping organization dedicated to preserving the survival of freedom. Locked in a centuries-long war against the Templars, one of their most famous episodes happened during the Italian Renaissance.
"This was a dark time as the city of Rome was locked in the oppressive grip of the Templars, then led by Rodrigo Borgia, the Pope Alexander VI.Ezio Auditore had just arrived in 1500 following the siege of Monteriggioni to find the Brotherhood there failing in their fight against corruption. He was determined to rebuild the Guild and liberate Rome from the clutches of the Borgia family," Shaun explained.
It wasn't long before Ezio began recruiting oppressed citizens and training them in the ways of the Brotherhood, amassing an army that would become powerful enough to liberate Rome and eradicate the Templar's influence in Italy.
"The Assassins are fully dedicated to their mission and they would see the Lin Kuei as a bothersome nuisance in a greater war at hand," Shaun concluded.
The Assassin quietly eliminated his targets with an arsenal suited for all forms of combat:
Short Range: Schiavona
Mid Range: Halberd
Long Range: Hidden Gun
Special Weapon: Hidden Blades
But how will the Assassin match up against another secretive killer who is in many ways very similar to himself?
Two men are shown sparring in the fight club with weapons in hand. The first is a man with dark hair and a beard who also has a jagged scar running down along his right eye. He is clad in a black and blue outfit and performing a martial arts demonstration with a dao in hand.
Up first representing the Lin Kuei is the current grandmaster of the reformed order, Kuai Liang, better known as the second Sub-Zero.
Abducted as a child alongside his older brother Bi-Han, he would be trained in the techniques of assassination throughout his life, giving him an intimate knowledge of the secretive clan's weapons and battlefield tactics.
"The Lin Kuei are the masters of their craft. They are experts in combat and secrecy. They are willing to go to any length to emerge victorious. The Lin Kuei will show the Assassins what it means to fight in Mortal Kombat," Liang confidently proclaimed.
The second man in the sparring match had shoulder-length silver hair and was clad in a black and silver ninja outfit with a mask covering the lower half of his face. He gracefully twirled a set of butterfly swords as he sparred with his colleague.
Also representing the Lin Kuei will be Tomas "Smoke" Vrbada.
Recruited into the secretive order at a young age for his impressive ability to escape capture, Smoke has participated in countless missions over the years and has mastered numerous forms of martial arts and weaponry utilized by the clan.
"The Assassins have spent centuries hunting artifacts and chasing ghosts, while the Lin Kuei have been fighting threats from all over the world and beyond the Earthrealm. To the Lin Kuei, they are mere vermin," Smoke proclaimed.
It is unknown when exactly the Lin Kuei was formed, yet they have haunted Asia for centuries, acquiring a lethal reputation that left them feared from the lowest peasant to the highest king. They recruited only the best fighters from around the world with a strict code of conduct, including the rule that once you joined, you could never leave. It was in the shadows they fought a centuries-long conflict with a sect of Japanese ninjas led by a former member known as the Shirai Ryu. They would serve malevolent forces for centuries until the original clan was brought down from within.
"Our original grandmaster had become insane to the point he wanted to convert all of his followers into cyborgs. I refused the procedure, as did Smoke, but it wasn't long when our former colleague Sektor killed the grandmaster and assumed leadership of the clan, continuing on with his radical agenda," Kuai Liang explained.
Following his older brother's death, Kuai Liang would assume the mantle of Sub-Zero in his memory. Upon his resurrection, he sought to cleanse the old clan of its dishonor and with the help of Cyrax, the clan of old soon died out and Liang would reform it as a force of good.
"The Lin Kuei has endured much throughout its existence and it is unlikely a small group of Assassins would stand in their way," Kuai Liang concluded.
The Lin Kuei warrior utilized a deadly arsenal of traditional weapons for taking down his foes:
Short Range: Dao
Mid Range: Guandao
Long Range: Chinese Recurve Bow
Special Weapon: Butterfly Swords
Both warriors were masters of close quarters combat that emphasized a mixture of martial arts combat and swordplay. For the Assassin, he depended upon a basket-hilted broadsword made popular during the Italian Renaissance, the Schiavona.
(An Assassin has his Schiavona drawn and is locked in a swordfight with a Templar guard before ducking low and driving the blade through his gut.)
Schiavona
Material: Steel
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 2.4 lbs.
"This sword was a popular weapon of the Italian Brotherhood. It is a double-edge blade that was designed primarily for thrusting, yet it also possesses great thrusting capabilities that can surprise some enemies. Plus, the basket hilt is good for protecting the user's hand," Desmond explained showing off his blade.
"Well we want to see both the thrusting and the cutting capabilities of your sword," Bradley said motioning to the set up in the fight club, "We have set up two targets, one moving and one stationary. Up first we have a moving pig carcass for showing off your sword's slashing ability. After you are done with that, you will move over to a ballistic gel torso that has been outfitted with the Lin Kuei's leather lamellar."
"As you wish," Desmond nodded and got into position with his sword drawn.
"Alright, on 3...2...1, release the pig!"
The pig came zooming towards Desmond on the zipline and when it got within distance he swung the blade with all of his might, cleaving it in two.
With the first target eliminated, he made his way over to the armored torso and swung into its gut, leaving a deep indent and managing to break off some leather scales. Drawing back with his blade extended, he would launch himself forward and plunge the sharpened tip right through the breastplate.
Desmond could only stand back and smirk at his handiwork as Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the aftermath.
"You bisected this pig with a clean slash, going through several vital organs and the spine. This is a kill," Dr. Kaiser said brushing the pig's severed bottom half aside before making his way over to the armored target.
He carefully examined the spot where the scales were broken off and the indentation left beneath, "From what I'm seeing you didn't achieve penetration with your slash, but did generate enough force to possibly break a rib," he said before slowly removing the armor and checking out the stab wound underneath, "You did manage to pierce this man's aorta and if it weren't for the armor, you would have gone all the way through. That shot alone is an instant kill."
"So what do you think?" Eddie asked looking over to Kuai and Smoke.
"He is using a straight blade. It will take him more effort to slash through an enemy. The Lin Kuei have a sword meant solely for slashing through an enemy," Kuai responded.
Undeterred by the Schiavona's show of force, the Lin Kuei strike back with a Chinese saber known as the "General of All Weapons," the dao.
(A Lin Kuei assassin is shown locked in a swordfight with a Shirai Ryu member before twirling his body and slashing through the man's gut.)
Dao
Material: Steel
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Kuai stood with his dao in hand showing it off to the panelists, "This is a single-edged, slightly curved blade designed primarily for slashing and chopping, also possessing a secondary thrusting capability. This is an ancient weapon considered to be one of the easiest swords to learn and was used in actual combat as late as World War II."
"It's the same test for you Kuai. You have one unarmored target coming at you, and another clad in the plate armor of the Assassin. Show us if your blade can perform any better," Bradley said.
Kuai nodded and got into position.
"On 3...2...1, release the pig!"
The pig carcass came zipping towards the warrior, who waited for it to come in range before launching his blade outward and slashing his target in half.
With his first target eliminated, Kuai turned his attention to the armored torso and swung his blade at it, only to be rewarded with a jarring 'clang' and a scratch left on one of the plates. Trying a new strategy, he thrust the blade's tip into one of the weaker chain mail sections underneath and pulled it out with a hard yank. Wanting to show off more, he delivered one last diagonal slash that took off a portion of the dummy's skull. Kuai then signaled he was finished.
"You know they don't give out points for extra credit, right?" Desmond asked Kuai, who only smirked in reply.
Dr. Kaiser ignored the exchange and made his way over to the bisected pig, "Once again we are seeing a victim cut in half for an instant kill," he said before making his way over to the armored target.
The good doctor took his time inspecting the scratched plate where the dao made contact, "There is no penetration here. We could be looking at your opponent being winded, possibly a cracked rib and that's it," he explained before carefully inspecting the hole left by the dao's point and then removing the armor.
"From what I'm seeing here, you managed to nick this man's aorta and went deeper than expected, almost rivaling the depth of penetration caused by the Schiavona," he said before examining the missing corner of the dummy's head, "I don't even need to elaborate any further upon that. Altogether, you have two kills," Dr. Kaiser reported.
"When I review the following footage, it definitely seems like Kuai had an easier time with the dao, whereas Desmond had to put more effort into his slash," Eddie commented.
"It's a straight blade that is meant for thrusting," Shaun replied, "It never receives its due as a slashing weapon, which can be made easier by a double-edged blade as opposed to a single-edged. It's too easily underestimated if you ask me."
"On the flip side, it seems like Kuai struggled more when thrusting the dao, as opposed to the Schiavona. That's what happens when you use a weapon outside of its normal intended usage," Bradley added.
Both blades showed off their individual strengths and eliminated all targets, but where do our panelists stand?
"This is going to be a very tough call for me as you've got two swords with very purposes, one is double-edged and intended for stabbing and the other is single-edged and intended for slashing. While I like that the dao proved to be a deadly slasher, it only really does its most damage once you get past the Assassin's plate armor. In a real battle, no Assassin will just stand still and let someone stab him like that, so I'm giving the edge to the Schiavona for its superior armor penetration," Bradley started.
"I have to disagree. The dao really cut through the unarmored target without difficulty and even stabbed better than I had expected, whereas the Schiavona's user has to put extra effort into a slash. That extra effort will cause faster fatigue in the user. Edge dao," Dr. Kaiser countered.
The tiebreaker would fall down to Eddie on this one.
"I liked the dao for its slashing power, yet I liked the Schiavona more for its versatility. It's a double-edged blade with superior stabbing ability and its basket hilt allows for greater protection of the user's hand. Edge Schiavona."
In short range weapons, the Italian Assassin takes the edge with the Schiavona.
Coming up, two deadly polearms are pitted against each other, and then later, a reliable bow goes up against a sneaky blackpowder killer.
XXXXX
The time has now come for both warriors to break out their mid-ranged arsenals. Up first will be the Lin Kuei with a deadly polearm that has served as a staple in Chinese warfare since the 3rd century A.D., the guandao.
(A Lin Kuei is locked in a struggle with two bandits at once, but twirls his body and cuts both of them down in succession with his guandao.)
Guandao
Material: Steel head, wooden shaft
Length: 6 ft.
Weight: 5.5 lbs.
"This weapon is also known as the 'Green Crescent Blade.' It has long been used in contemporary martial arts and could keep an Assassin at bay long enough for the user to stab or slash them up. It's similar to the Japanese Naginata or the Mongol Glaive. The one we use also has a spike on the back for hooking enemy weapons. It's not our most popular weapon, yet we will use it when necessary," Kuai explained.
"That's a nasty looking weapon you've got yourself there and we want to see what it can do when pitted against both armored and unarmored opponents," Bradley said motioning towards the targets set up in the fight club.
"You are surrounded by 3 attacking Assassins, two unarmored and one wearing the plate armor of a Renaissance Assassin," he said motioning to two pig carcasses and another gel torso outfitted in plate armor. "You have 15 seconds to do as much damage as possible."
Kuai nodded and got into position.
"Alright Kuai, on 3...2...1, hack 'em up!"
Kuai Liang launched himself towards the first pig carcass and slashed across its stomach, leaving a deep rend that spilled out blood and intestines. He then launched the point into its chest and tore it out in a nasty spectacle. His first target incapacitated, he ran over and sliced into the second pig's throat, nearly decapitating it before twirling himself around and slicing deep into its back. With the unarmored targets dealt with, he made his way over to the armored torso and swung towards one of the large plates, only to be met by another loud 'clang.' Undeterred, Kuai went for a stabbing attack and struck a chain mail portion near the target's stomach. He then finished off his last foe by driving the spike end into the side of its head before Bradley called out "Time!"
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done to the targets, starting with the first pig.
"You totally disemboweled this poor guy and then tore his heart into shreds. The former would kill him quickly, yet the second strike is instant death," he reported before making his way over to the second target.
"With this guy, you cut all the way through his carotid artery, windpipe, and spine in one fell swipe. He is D.O.A. As for the strike to his back, you are severing his spinal cord and tearing one of his lungs open for a delayed kill."
The good doctor then made his way over to assess the armored target, "Your first blow only dented the plate on his armor. He might be winded, but the costliest thing to happen to him is the trip to the blacksmith afterward," he said before examining the hole, "Your strike with the tip end though just opened a crater in this man's stomach," he said before moving around and checking out the back, "You actually managed to all the way through this poor chap and dent the back plate." He then finished by inserting his finger into the hole left behind by the spike shot, "You've pierced this man's brain for another killing blow. Altogether, you have 3 dead Assassins lying in your wake."
"The only problem is, you would've never seen the Assassins coming, and if you did, we have a polearm of our own that does just as much damage and offers more options," Desmond chuckled.
To counter the Lin Kuei's Guandao, the Assassin strikes back with a deadly polearm that was a staple in European warfare, the Halberd.
(An Assassin runs a Papal Guard through with his halberd's pike before bringing the blade end down onto the man's collarbone.)
Halberd
Material: Steel head, wooden shaft
Length: 7 ft.
Weight: 5 lbs.
"Variations of this weapon saw action in nearly every major European conflict from the Medieval times up until the Napoleonic Wars, it was just that damn effective. There's an axe end that I can use to hack enemies up, a long metal spike on top for thrusting, and in this case, a hooked fluke I can use to hook an opposing rider from his horse, plus a shaft with metal rims I can use for blocking. This was considered to be one of the deadliest weapons around up until the advent of gunpowder," Desmond explained showing off his weapon.
"Well it's going to be the same test for you Desmond, except this time your last target is wearing the leather lamellar of a Lin Kuei. You have 15 seconds to make your point," Bradley said, looking down to the noticeable spike protruding from the halberd's end.
"Sounds good to me," Desmond said getting into position.
"Alright Desmond, on 3...2...1, hack 'em up!"
Desmond launched himself at the first target, driving his spike through the pig's gut and pulling it out, followed by a strand of the pig's intestines. He then brought the blade down onto the pig's neck and left its head hanging backwards by a strand of flesh before moving over to the next pig. He turned his halberd sideways and slammed it into the pig's ribcage before driving the spike through its throat. With his unarmored targets dealt with, Desmond made his way to the armored target and went for an overhead strike that tore off the back of the dummy's skull to expose a large amount of brain matter. Taking a step backwards he drove the pike through the dummy's abdomen and once through the throat before turning the weapon over and using its fluke to pull the dummy to the ground, bringing the axe end down to decapitate his last target.
"Wow..." was all Bradley and Dr. Kaiser could say in unison, while Eddie stared quietly with his mouth agape in shock.
"Not the kind of brutality an Assassin would usually go for. Rather Spartan in its execution, but still my colleague wanted to make a point," Shaun chimed in.
"Try beating that," Desmond said to Kuai and Smoke, who both seemed unfazed, having already witnessed similar bloodshed in their previous battles.
Dr. Kaiser collected his bearings and went over to assess the damage done to all targets, starting with the first pig.
"Once again we have another disemboweled enemy on our hands," he said picking up a strand of intestines, "and a functional decapitation. A kill either way," he said slowly lifting the pig's nearly severed head so as not to snap the strands of flesh holding it to the rest of its body.
He then made his way over to the second target and checked out the large gouge left in the pig's side, "Fractured ribs all around and a shredded lung, not to forget all the broken bone fragments that could be piercing other vital organs," he said before examining the gaping hole in the pig's throat, "And we have a pierced trachea for an instant kill."
The trauma doctor made his way over to the armored target and knelt down to pick up its severed head, "We're literally talking 'off with his head' here. Your first strike tore the back of this man's head off, that would have been an instant kill," he said before carefully inspecting the body blows, "Your second strike caught this man in his lower abdomen and from the looks of things, turned his intestines into stew and even connected with his spinal column, paralysis and a kill in one strike. Your third strike again pierced the man's trachea and your last strike...well," he motioned to the dummy's severed head, "All in all, you have 3 kills."
Following a gruesome display by both weapons, it's time to decide where our panelists stand.
"I personally wanted to like the guandao for its speed and its grace, yet the halberd has the reach and the versatility. Edge halberd," Bradley started.
"I agree with you there. The guandao possesses a multi-use blade that can offer more ways of killing than one would think, it still struggled with the Assassin's plate armor, whereas the halberd could punch through the Lin Kuei's like it was nothing. Edge halberd," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"I'm in agreement with both of you. Edge halberd," Eddie concluded.
In mid-ranged weapons, the Italian Assassin takes the edge with the halberd.
Coming up, it's a long range shoot out when a trusted bow goes up against a surprise killer.
XXXXXX
The time has now come for both warriors to break out their long range killers. Up first will be the Lin Kuei firing a deadly accurate bow that has felled thousands over the centuries, the Chinese Recurve Bow.
(A Lin Kuei assassin takes aim with his bow and fires an arrow into the chest of a searching Shirai Ryu.)
Chinese Recurve Bow
Material: Wood, sinew, animal horn
Length: 4 ft.
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
"The Lin Kuei employs many archers who have been training for most of their lives to perfect their shooting skills. We are used to fighting armored opponents and have armor-piercing arrows for such an occasion," Smoke explained showing off his bow to the panelists.
"We've set up 3 targets for you to test your bow on, two unarmored and at 40 yards away, and one wearing the Assassin's plate armor at 50 yards away," Bradley said motioning to the 3 foam targets on the outdoor range, "You have 10 arrows to make your point. Good luck!"
"Very well," Smoke said getting into position and readying an arrow.
"On your go, Smoke!" Bradley called out.
Smoke took aim and fired his first arrow into the chest of an unarmored target. He then reached into his quiver for another arrow and took aim to fire it into the same target's eye. He took out one more arrow and notched it, firing it into the target's throat. Having done enough damage, he takes aim at the next target and fires a round that soars through its right eye, before notching another arrow and hitting his target in the center mass and then firing a third arrow through its nose before setting his sights on the last target. Smoke takes aim and fires an arrow that strikes one of the dummy's plates, yet it bounces off. Undeterred, he fires another arrow that catches his target in a chain mail portion and the arrow sticks. Wasting no more time, he fires his last two arrows in rapid succession, the first striking his target between the eyes and the last through its jawbone.
"Done!" Smoke called out.
Dr. Kaiser made his way down the range to assess the damage done to the targets, starting with the first as always. He pulled out the arrow stuck in the foam dummy's chest, "This guy right away has a collapsed lung. This shot is a delayed kill," he said before looking over the arrows through the target's eye and throat, "We have two instant kill shots with a pierced brain and trachea," he said before making his way over to the second target and pulling out the arrows, "We have another shot right through the eye. My god that is just a horrible way to die because you would feel it going through your skull, then you'll hemorrhage and die. Next we have a pierced aorta and a pierced brain stem as you shot this guy right through his nose...ouch!"
"And now for the moment of truth," Bradley said as the good doctor approached the armored target.
Dr. Kaiser examined a deep indentation where the first arrow struck, "All I'm seeing is a small hole, but not enough penetration to leave any serious damage behind. However, for your second shot you struck a chain mail portion that offers less protection," he said before removing the armor, "This shot hit right through the left pectoral. You managed to hit a rib and hit with enough force to fracture the bone, but no kill. Your last shots though go around the armor, where you get a shot between the eyes for an instant lights out, and another that tore through this man's jawbone and went all the way through to pierce his jugular...just nasty! All in all its three kills."
"Hmm, I'm noticing that the real damage wasn't done until you fired around the plate armor," Eddie commented.
"Ideally, a Lin Kuei archer would aim for the unarmored areas of a target, but only since it was required this time around did I aim for his center mass," Smoke answered.
"Still, that was a great display of accuracy shown by your bow," Eddie replied.
"Sheer luck if you ask me," Desmond chimed in.
"The only luck a Lin Kuei needs is skill," Smoke countered.
"Well, the Assassins have always been about the element of surprise. It's unlikely your friend would see what an actual Assassin would have in store for him when he draws his weapon," Shaun added.
To counter the deadly recurve bow, the Assassin strikes back with a compact killer that bore myths of an Assassin's supposed abilities, the Hidden Gun.
(An Assassin is shown stepping out of the darkness and shooting down a Templar guard after pointing at him.)
Hidden Gun
Length: 6 in.
Weight: 1 lb.
Ammo: Lead bullets, poison darts
Shaun pulled back his sleeve and showed the panelists the bracer strapped to his arm, "The hidden gun is a nifty little tool designed by THE Leonardo da Vinci and originated the rumor that an Assassin could kill you simply by pointing at you. It was designed as one of the innovations for the hidden blade, easily concealed and accurate for eliminating targets from afar."
"This is definitely unlike anything we have ever seen before and I'm eager to see it in action. We're going to have a similar test for you, but we bring the targets in a little closer and one of them is a ballistic gel dummy wearing the leather lamellar of the Lin Kuei. We're giving you 3 shots to make your point," Bradley explained.
"Very well then," Shaun said getting into position.
"Okay Shaun, fire when ready!" Bradley called out.
Shaun took aim on the first unarmored target and a thunderous boom followed as a bullet tore through its chest. With his shot expended, he went through the motions of reloading the concealed pistol, pouring in the black powder and then jamming the lead bullet in.
"I don't like that lengthy reload," Eddie whispered to his fellow panelists as Smoke looked to Kuai and shook his head.
Shaun had the bullet loaded and took aim on the second unarmed target, another loud bang following as a hole tore through the second dummy's chest. He repeated the reloading process and took aim on the armored target, firing a round that tore through its leather armor and sent stage blood pouring out from underneath.
Dr. Kaiser again made his way over to assess the damage done to the unarmored targets, "Your first shot hits this guy straight through the heart for an instant kill and it's another lethal shot for this guy too, dead center chest, right where the aorta comes down.
He then made his way over and examined the hole left in the leather lamellar, "This guy may as well have been wearing just a t-shirt. This armor did nothing to stop the bullet."
"It's very accurate for a gun that is so small. I'm surprised," Bradley spoke while looking the gun over.
"For someone who relies upon the 'element of surprise,' you're giving up your position after every time you open fire. Not very stealthy if you ask me," Smoke commented.
"He makes a good point. That can lead to a sticky situation if you are in a crowded area with other guards nearby," Eddie added.
"The Assassins were always one step ahead of their adversaries and when appropriate, had an alternative method for dispatching a target in a much more subtle manner," Shaun replied while producing a small dart.
"In addition to lead bullets, the hidden gun would also be modified to fire darts tipped with aconite, an extremely effective poison that was popular for political assassinations. It was difficult to detect unless one knew what to look for," Shaun explained before loading the dart into his hidden gun.
Shaun took aim at another foam target positioned off to the side and a quiet spring noise was barely heard as he fired the dart into the target's neck.
"Right in the neck...ouch. You're hitting a major vein and that will distribute the poison throughout his system pretty fast. Within seconds, he's going to be confused, followed by an arrhythmia before he becomes a convulsing mess and then, he's giving up the ghost," Dr. Kaiser explained.
Following the vast differences displayed by each weapon, which long range weapon do our panelists believe to be superior?
"As cool as the hidden pistol is, I still have to go with the recurve bow on this one. It has the superior speed and in a fight like this, speed is everything, edge Lin Kuei," Bradley started.
"I'm in full agreement. The recurve bow has the faster rate of fire, a much faster reload time, and the superior range. Edge Lin Kuei," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"While the hidden gun is unlike any other firearm I have ever seen, it has its glaring weaknesses. It takes longer to reload, even in the hands of a seasoned Assassin, and it makes a lot of noise. Given the type of scenario the user is in, that can cause problems when going for what should be a quick, clean kill. I'm going with the recurve bow this time," Eddie concluded.
In long range weapons, the Lin Kuei takes the edge with the Chinese Recurve Bow.
Coming up, it's a battle of direct action versus devious surprise as dual-wielded killers go up against an iconic Assassin weapon.
And then later, it's Assassin vs. Assassin on "Fictional Deadliest Warrior!"
XXXXXX
The time has come for both warriors to unveil their special weapons. Up first will be the iconic weapon of the Assassin Order, one that has carried out political assassinations since ancient times, the Hidden Blade.
(An Assassin is shown walking past a corrupt politician in a crowded marketplace and driving his blade into the man's back before casually walking past some Templar-affiliated guards.)
Hidden Blade
Material: Steel
Length: 12 in.
Weight: 1 lb.
Retractable
Desmond stood before the panelists and put on a leather bracer, "This is the weapon that made the Assassins famous," he spoke before flicking his wrist and extending the blade, "With a simple flick of the wrist you can instantly run someone through and then walk away afterward as if nothing happened. This simple blade has changed history more than once with countless targets having fallen to it since before the Order was ever even founded."
"That's quite the tool you've got yourselves there. Well let's see it in action," Bradley said before motioning towards a ballistic gel torso, "Here we have an unaware target you've been assigned to eliminate. Let's see what you can do."
"Quick, clean and quiet," Desmond nodded, "Unless you want something brutal."
"Either way is fine by us," Eddie replied, halting himself after he suddenly realized what he had just said and thought back to the halberd test.
"On 3...2...1, let 'em have it, Desmond!" Bradley called out.
Desmond casually walked over to the target and with a suddenly flick of his wrist, shot his hidden blade into the target's left chest before extracting the blade and then jamming it into the target's neck.
"I barely heard anything. You literally came from out of nowhere with that one," Eddie commented.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done, "Your first strike was dead on perfect, right at the base of his heart. He'll be dead within seconds. Your second strike severed this man's jugular vein in one blow. You could be in an out of a crowded public place with nobody suspecting anything."
"Like I've said, quick, clean and quiet. The Assassins want to eliminate their targets without drawing attention or alarming the public," Desmond nodded.
"But do you honestly believe you would be able to get up close to a seasoned Lin Kuei warrior just like that?" Kuai Liang asked.
"As small as that blade is, I'd be cutting you down with my special weapons before you'd even have the chance," Smoke added while drawing his special weapons.
Unimpressed by the demonstration of the Assassin's secretive killer, the Lin Kuei strikes back with the lethal twin killers of his own, the Butterfly Swords.
(A Lin Kuei is shown slashing a Shirai Ryu ninja across his gut with one sword before twirling his body and cutting down a second ninja with the other.)
Butterfly Swords
Material: Steel
Length: 1 ft.
Weight: 1 lbs.
Smoke performed a small martial arts demonstration with his butterfly swords before showing them off for the panelists, "These swords are essentially knife-sized versions of the Dao, yet they could be hidden beneath one's sleeve for the added element of surprise. The Assassins aren't the only ones who can do that," he smirked over to Desmond and Shaun, "In addition, they also come equipped with a crossguard similar to that of a sai, enabling the user to hook or block an opponent's weapon."
"We're going to do a similar test with your butterfly swords, however this time you will be going up against a dummy wearing the Assassin's plate armor and we're giving you 15 seconds to do as much damage as possible," Bradley explained, motioning towards the armored gel torso.
Smoke nodded and got into position before looking over to the Assassin experts and saying "This is how you do it!"
"On 3...2...1, slice 'em and dice 'em!"
Smoke went high with his first strike, slicing the dummy's throat wide open and spilling stage blood all over before he went for his second strike against the plated armor, yet was met by a loud 'clang.' He was undeterred following his initial success and stabbed both blades into his target in succession, striking through the chain mail portions. He ripped both blades out following a bit of struggle and went for another slash that cut deeper into the dummy's neck and then another before he finally decapitated it and then stabbed once more into its gut before Bradley called out "Time!"
"Like I told you, that's how you do it," Smoke repeated to the Assassin experts, who only scoffed in reply.
"Good luck. You'd never seen an Assassin coming!" Desmond called back.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over and picked up the dummy's severed head, "Your first blow to this guy's throat alone was a kill shots. Your last two strikes were overkill, but I understand you were just trying to make your point," he quipped before checking out the damage done to the rest of the body.
"Once again I am seeing no serious damage done to the plated areas of this man's armor. It's only when you reach the chain mail portions with stabbing attacks that you managed to get anything significant. Your first strike again is another one that tears through the heart and your second collapsed a lung, we have both an instant and delayed kill. Your last body blow pierces this man's stomach for another delayed kill," he explained.
"Hope you're feeling intimidated," Smoke chuckled.
"Are you shitting us? The Assassins have been around much longer than your Lin Kuei. It's not like your style isn't something we've encountered before. You think a couple of kitchen knives are really gonna do the trick?" Shaun laughed.
"You have to remember the Lin Kuei carry these swords in pairs. We have one blade we can block your attack with while still attacking you with the other," Kuai Liang refuted.
Both special weapons eliminated their targets, but where do our panelists stand?
"While the hidden blades have their cool factor, the butterfly swords allow for more freedom of movement and the Lin Kuei carry two at once for an offensive-defensive combination. Edge Lin Kuei," Bradley started.
"I disagree. While the butterfly swords offer more versatility and can do more damage, the hidden blade is easily concealed and quicker and quieter for that surprise assassination you need to carry out. I'm calling this even," Dr. Kaiser countered.
The tiebreaker would fall down to Eddie.
"I'm going with the butterfly swords on this one. They allow for more freedom of movement and can be used for direct combat, whereas it seems that the hidden blade is more so intended for a stealthy assassination, edge Lin Kuei," Eddie concluded.
In special weapons, the Lin Kuei takes the edge with the butterfly swords.
As it is with all warriors, there is a critical X-factor that makes them who they are. For the Assassins, it is how their secretive actions have anonymously shaped history over the centuries.
"The Assassins have a long and storied history going back to the ancient times, having carried out the assassinations of numerous major political and royal figures that had been utilized as puppets by their adversaries the Templars. It was particularly in the time of Renaissance Italy where they played a major role in the downfall of the powerful Borgia family, which would shift the course of politics for centuries to come, not just in Italy, but all throughout Europe when their ally Julius II became Pope," Shaun explained.
For the Lin Kuei, its his extensive martial arts training that has been handed down to him for generations.
"Since its founding, the Lin Kuei has trained its warriors from an early age in various forms of armed and unarmed combat. We've taken in warriors from all over the world, some with supernatural powers, and have learned their tactics to incorporate into our own. The Assassins might have their own style, but we've created something that would be completely alien to them.
Coming up, it's a battle between two deady assassins to determine who will be crowned "The Deadliest Warrior!"
XXXXXX
With our testing completed and our X-factors evaluated, we are now one step closer to determining who is "The Deadliest Warrior."
Our team has tested 4 weapons wielded by the Italian Assassins: The Schiavona, the Halberd, the Hidden Gun and the Hidden Blade.
On the opposite side 4 weapons utilized by the Lin Kuei were tested for battle: the Dao, the Guandao, the Chinese Recurve Bow and the Butterfly Swords.
In close range weapons, the Schiavona's superior armor-piercing capabilities allowed it to cut through the Dao.
EDGE: Italian Assassin
In mid-ranged weapons, the Halberd's greater versatility allowed it to strike down the Guandao.
EDGE: Italian Assassin
In long range weapons, the recurve bow's superior rate of fire and range allowed it to outgun the Hidden Pistol.
EDGE: Lin Kuei
And in special weapons, the offensive and defensive combo and greater freedom of movement allowed the Lin Kuei's Butterfly Swords to cut down the Hidden Blade.
EDGE: Lin Kuei
Our scientists and weapons experts are done testing. The results are in and the time has come to decide who will be the victor. To ensure the battle won't be decided by a single lucky blow, the battle will be simulated one thousand times in a duel to the death.
Who will prevail in a battle between two secretive killers?
Assassin
(An Italian Assassin steps out of the shadows to stab a passing Templar guard in the neck with his hidden blade.)
vs. Assassin
(A Lin Kuei sneaks into a temple's inner chamber to eliminate a rival grandmaster with a strike from his butterfly sword.)
East
(A disarmed Lin Kuei attacks a Shirai Ryu with various strikes from Dragon Kung Fu before retrieving his dao and slicing the ninja across his chest.)
vs. West
(A trio of Assassins leap across the rooftops of Rome, gracefully pulling themselves over any obstacles in their way and quietly cutting down the Borgia guards before them.)
A secretive peacekeeper
(An Assassin uses his hidden gun to shoot down a thug terrorizing a courtesan.)
vs. A cold and precise killer
(A Lin Kuei ruthlessly cuts down a Shirai Ryu with repeatedly slashes from his Guandao.)
"We've got all our data compiled for what should be a pretty badass battle between two deadly assassins. Let's have some fun!" Eddie said before typing in a few commands and then hitting the 'ENTER' key.
XXXXXX
In a dense forest a lone Assassin perched himself in the tallest tree he could find, quietly scouting the area for threats.
He had been personally dispatched by the Italian Brotherhood to investigate the possible arrival of a new threat, one so secretive even they weren't aware of their existence until they attacked a small group of Assassins on a previous mission with only one barely making it back alive to tell the tale.
Had the Templars found themselves some new allies? He didn't know, but he was going to find out.
Not too far away, a Lin Kuei warrior crept his way through the brush, wisely avoiding the open dirt trail that would have made him an easy target for any nearby threats.
He had been hearing reports from his grandmaster of a new band of mysterious fighters very similar to them, yet there was no idea of whom they were aligned with and thus assumed to be a threat. He had to remain on his guard, both his recurve bow and guandao strapped to his back, a dao sheathed at his side and two butterfly swords concealed beneath his sleeves.
So far nothing had seemed out of the ordinary, yet he was getting deeper into the forest and it would be dark soon. He needed to get to the rendezvous point fast.
He was moving farther along until he was alerted by the sound of a chirping bird.
Taking cover behind one of the tall trees, he quickly drew his recurve bow and readied an arrow. He slowed his breathing and listened for any unusual sounds as he scoured the foliage above for any signs of threats. He slowly crept along until he heard more chirping, followed by the rustling of the branches above. He fired on instinct, only to hear the hollow 'thwok' of his arrow connecting with wood.
Realizing he could have given away his position, he knelt down and readied another arrow while carefully remaining on heightened alert. There was another rustle from above him and the Lin Kuei jerked to the right, unwittingly saving himself as a dart bounced off his lamellar vest. He looked down and noticed the liquid dripping from the tip. It had been coated with poison.
The Assassin mentally scolded himself after his target had moved at the last second. He leaped between trees until he noticed the large brush pile beneath one and then executed a leap of faith. From beneath the dead foliage he was able to get a better look at his target, a man in a mostly blue outfit with a black hood. His uniform was unlike anything he had seen before, so him being a Templar was unlikely, yet he was still an invader who needed to be dealt with.
He whistled again to catch the foreigner's attention.
The Lin Kuei heard another bird whistle, coming from much closer this time. Tossing his bow to the ground, he withdrew his dao and crept towards the source – the brush pile beneath the taller trees. He sensed it could be a trap and stopped just feet away from the pile while keeping his blade at the ready.
And then he heard the rustling from behind him and barely caught the arm of his assailant just in time, the hidden blade having been inches away from piercing his neck. With a mighty heave he tossed his attacker over his shoulder and the man struck the ground with a hard thud, yet quickly pushed himself back to his feet.
It was then the Lin Kuei finally caught a glimpse of his stalker – a man in a hooded white robe with a red cape draped over his shoulder.
Before the Lin Kuei could advance, there was a small crash and then sudden 'whoosh' as the hooded man was swallowed up in a cloud of smoke.
The Assassin had lost his element of surprise and retreated deeper into the forest, reclaiming the higher ground as he ran up along a splintered tree.
The Lin Kuei instinctively rolled along the ground to avoid any attacks that may be directed at his head and he was soon outside the cloud's reach. Honing his senses from years of training, he listened for the running footsteps and the rustle of branches and he looked up to see the Assassin attempting to flee from him. Seeing the same splintered tree, he ran up along its narrow surface after his retreating opponent and began leaping from branch to branch in pursuit of the sneaky fellow until he reached a larger, sturdier branch and was forced to duck beneath the steel directed at his head.
The Lin Kuei lost his balance and slipped off the branch, yet caught himself at the last second. He would be forced to drop down as the Assassin had drawn his Schiavona and brought it down in an effort to slice his arm off and he fell into the river below.
The Assassin watched his enemy fall into the water, yet he needed to make sure the man was dead and he reloaded his hidden gun before making his way back down to the ground and carefully following the river and looking for any clues of his opponent with his Schiavona drawn. He was about to round a large rock formation when the Lin Kuei suddenly leaped out swiping at him with his guandao.
The Assassin brought his blade up just in time to parry the man's blow and kicked him in the stomach to send him stumbling backward, yet the Lin Kuei recovered quickly and went for another slash with his guandao that forced the Assassin backward into a nearby rock wall. With nowhere else to go, the Italian warrior leaped up and pushed himself forward to take the Lin Kuei off his feet with a spinning roundhouse kick.
The Lin Kuei hit the ground hard and was left disarmed, but kept the Assassin at bay with a kick to the man's midsection and then kipped back to his feet, drawing the butterfly swords that were concealed beneath his sleeves and slashing at the Italian warrior, only for his blade to dent the man's plate armor. He tried to stab him with his other sword, but the Assassin parried his attack again and managed to slash his arm, sending the Chinese warrior recoiling and struggling to keep his grip on his weapon. The Italian attempted to follow up with a stab, but the Lin Kuei twirled his body to avoid the blow and in the process swung his blade at his rival, who leaped backward to avoid the strike.
Both men began to circle each other from a safe distance with the Lin Kuei acting first, swinging both his swords at the Assassin, who shoulder rolled to avoid the barrage and then tried swinging his blade at the Chinese warrior's arm, yet it bounced off his steel pauldron when the man moved at the last second and delivered a downward slash that caught the Assassin in his thigh and sent him leaping backward. At that very moment the Assassin suddenly pointed at the Lin Kuei, but the eastern warrior's extensive training made him suspicious of the sudden move and he dodged to the side just as a thunderous explosion sounded from the Assassin's hidden gun, the lead bullet sailing past his head and smacking into a nearby tree.
With his opponent open, the Lin Kuei charged the Assassin, who brought his Schiavona up to parry another blow, but was instead taken by surprise as the warrior used his sword's crossguard to hook the Assassin's blade and disarm him. The Assassin ducked low and executed a spinning sweep kick that the Lin Kuei was forced to leap backwards to avoid and given the extra space he was allowed to draw the halberd that was strapped to his back.
The Lin Kuei remained on guard with both butterfly swords still in hand as he anticipated the Assassin's next move, inching backwards as the Assassin pointed the spike end at him, only for him to flip his weapon upside down and use the fluke to hook one of his swords away from him. With no other option, the Lin Kuei again withdrew his dao and brought it up to parry another attempted swing from his opponent before he again inched backwards to avoid being impaled through his midsection.
The Assassin continued stalking towards the Lin Kuei and again attempted to drive his spike through the Lin Kuei's gut, but then quickly caught himself and went for another low swipe with his axe end that would have chopped off the man's legs, yet the Lin Kuei lowered his blade to intercept the attack in a bone jarring clash of steel. The Assassin went for another swing that was halted by a block from the Lin Kuei's dao and the two men found themselves locked in a test of strength that was broken as the Assassin drove his knee into his opponent's stomach. With his challenger stunned, he went for an overhead chop that the Lin Kuei barely managed to avoid and his blade found itself stuck in the ground. The warrior took advantage and brought his dao downward to split the polearm's shaft in half.
The Assassin was left temporarily disarmed and the Lin Kuei went on the offensive bringing his dao downward onto the man, yet the blow was blocked by the Assassin's leather bracer and he ducked low to drive his hidden blade into the Lin Kuei's side.
The Lin Kuei warrior gasped in pain and out of desperation head butted the Assassin, stunning the man and sending him stumbling backwards. He fell to the ground unarmed and with a hand clutched to his bleeding side. He needed to think of something fast.
And then his hand brushed against a long wooden shaft – his guandao!
By now the Assassin had regained his bearings and had his Schiavona in hand, closing in for the kill. The Lin Kuei reclaimed his guandao and rolled to the side before the blade could be driven through his face and pushed himself back to his feet.
He waited for his opponent to turn around and face him before taking one final swing that connected with the man's neck and sent it flying from his shoulders, twirling one last time and delivering another strike that split the airborne head in two before it hit the ground.
FATALITY!
With his opponent defeated, the Lin Kuei clutched at his wounded side and quietly limped away back into the woods.
XXXXX
Winner: Lin Kuei
Lin Kuei:
Dao: 155
Guandao: 116
Chinese Recurve Bow: 115
Butterfly Swords: 127
Total: 513
Italian Assassin:
Schiavona: 122
Halberd: 158
Hidden Gun: 95
Hidden Blade: 112
Total: 487
In what has proven to be the closest match up to date, the Lin Kuei barely emerged victorious over the Italian Assassin, despite the Assassin having the most effective overall weapon with his halberd, the Lin Kuei scoring kills in every other category.
"This was a battle that truly could have gone either way given the extensive training and kinds of weapons both warriors used, but in the end, the Lin Kuei barely eeked out the victory thanks in part to having the more versatile weapons, including a more effective and faster long range weapon and having more experience in direct combat with armed combatants, whereas the Assassins relied more so on stealth and surprise. While the Assassins were certainly no slouches, the Lin Kuei was something so alien to them, it just proved too much," Bradley concluded.
"While I respect the Lin Kuei fighting to safeguard the Earthrealm, still this is only a computer program. They would have never seen an Assassin coming in an actual fight," Desmond remarked.
"We have been the Deadliest Warriors of Earthrealm since the beginning of our clan and we shall continue to emerge victorious against all future threats that should arise against us," Kuai Liang concluded.
(The final scene shows the victorious Lin Kuei warrior now patched up and returning to the clan's temple in the snow-covered mountains, ready to rest following a hard fought victory.)
XXXXX
Next time on "Deadliest Warrior" it's a battle of the leading ladies:
(A Caucasian woman with long brown hair worn in a ponytail and wearing a brown halter top, brown shorts, black fingerless gloves, and black boots points a Mini Uzi at the camera.)
Lara Croft: The British archaeologist who has traveled to all corners of the globe seeking the most legendary of artifacts...
vs.
(A Caucasian woman with long brown hair and bright blue eyes wearing a light blue hat, matching sweater, dark blue pants, and black boots pulls out a Beretta M92F and pulls back the slide, posing with a look of sheer determination.)
Jill Valentine: The former S.T.A.R.S. agent who was instrumental in the downfall of the corrupt Umbrella Corporation.
Who will be...THE DEADLIEST WARRIOR?!
Author's Note: A special thanks goes out to DeadAliveManiac and Zivon96 for their assistance with weapons edges for this particular battle.
For the random legal jargon, the Assassins are owned by Ubisoft and the Lin Kuei are owned by NetherRealm Studios (just hoping the mention of that group alone doesn't end up "triggering" Poseidon Productions.)
With apologies to fans of the "Assassin's Creed" series.
As always, this is Metal Harbinger saying SPREAD THE SICKNESS, ONE MIND AT A TIME!