(An avian-looking humanoid with its body covered in a black cloak swings a pair of elven blades at the screen.)
Ra'zac: The master assassins of Alagaesia who killed all opposed to Galbatorix...
(A Ra'zac silently sneaks up on an elf and clamps its hand over the elf's mouth before slicing its throat open with a knife.)
vs.
(A reptilian humanoid clad in a green and black ninja outfit swings its claws at the camera.)
Saurian: The secretive, cold-blooded killers of Zaterra who fiercely opposed those who threaten their existence.
(A Saurian is shown leaping down from a tree branch onto an unsuspecting Outworld warrior, tearing into him with his claws.)
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 FICTIONAL DEADLIEST WARRIOR!
Here in our elite fight club, we have gathered doctors, scientists and weapons experts to test out the lethal arsenals wielded by each of our combatants to determine who would win a fight between two warriors who never met in a face to face duel:
Ra'zac
Appearing from: The Inheritance Cycle
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 155 lbs.
Gear: 14 lbs.
Armor: Exoskeleton
Loyalty: Galbatorix
Saurian
Appearing from: Mortal Kombat expanded universe
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Gear: 8 lbs.
Armor: Hardened Skin
Loyalty: Themselves
"Today, we are having a battle between two stealthy killers of inhuman origins who were hired to serve as assassins for powerful tyrants. In one corner, you have the avian Ra'zac of Alagaesia who loyally served Galbatorix. In the other corner, you have the reptilian Saurian of Zaterra who have had one of their own fight for the emperor of Outworld," biomedical scientist Bradley Foster started out.
"This will be an interesting battle for sure. Both of these warriors possess a much different physiology compared to human beings. They both possess enhanced strength, speed, agility and stamina. The Ra'zac comes equipped with their own natural exoskeleton that defends them as much as regular armor without weighing them down, plus an evil breath that fogs the minds of humans. The Saurians have evolved from dinosaurs and possess hardened skin, a corrosive fluid that could burn through steel, and can even alter their forms to become invisible or look human!" trauma doctor Joseph Kaiser exclaimed.
"Both these guys use their own unique weapons unlike any others seen on here and I'm excited to see what they can do with them," computer expert Eddie Cortez piped in.
"We've got another battle of assassins on hand. Let's see what they can do," Bradley said.
The camera cuts to a teenaged boy with brown hair who practices some slashes with a leaf-blade sword.
Representing the Ra'Zac will be Eragon Bromsson.
The new leader of the Dragon Riders, Eragon has personally done battle with the Ra'Zac and can attest to their deadliness.
"The Ra'Zac were among the most dangerous tools Galbatorix had at his disposal. They could kill you in a hundred different ways before you even knew they were there," Eragon explained.
One of several ancient races that likely came from the same homelands as the humans, the Ra'zac are thought to have followed humans across the sea to the land called Alagaesia. They quickly gained a deadly reputation as they preyed upon humans as a food source and roamed the wild for many years, until the Dragon Riders would agree to stop them and engaged them during the Ra'zac War.
"They proved to be a deadly adversary then, but they were hunted to near extinction and in the end only two would survive. Even then, that proved to be too much as they were still able to cause a significant amount of trouble for the enemies of Galbatorix," Eragon explained.
Their unnatural abilities would catch the attention of the evil tyrant Galbatorix, who promised the remaining survivors a limitless supply of human flesh in exchange for serving as his personal assassins. They became his 'dragon hunters,' sent to investigate any rumors of dragons who may have escaped the downfall of the Dragon Riders.
"The Ra'zac pride themselves on stealth and endurance. If not even mages and mind readers can detect their presence, then how could this Saurian hope to stand a chance against such an enemy?" Eragon concluded.
The Ra'zac made use of a cruel arsenal they used to torture and kill their enemies:
Short Range: Leaf-Blade Sword
Mid-Range: Twin Knives
Long Range: Throwing Knives
Special Weapons: Seithr Oil
But how with the Ra'zac compete against an equally sneaky, equally ferocious newcomer?
The camera cuts to another corner of the fight club where a translucent figure makes himself visible. He is a humanoid reptile clad in crude armor. He narrows his eyes before showing off his lengthy tongue and then displaying his claws.
Representing the Saurian will be Syzoth, better known as "Reptile."
The last known surviving member of the Saurian race, Syzoth brings intimate knowledge of the critically endangered race.
"These Ra'zac are nothing more than tasty morsels. Let they play hide and seek. A Saurian would track them down and tear their face off!" Syzoth growled.
Also called the 'Raptors,' the Saurians are a race of reptilian humanoids originating from Earthrealm. Having evolved from the dinosaurs, they come from a civilization that thrived countless centuries ago, their age coming to an end when a great war raged amongst the Elder Gods, one so devastating it ravaged Earthrealm. They would flee to another realm known as Zaterra, where they would attempt to thrive once more, until the emperor of Outworld Shao Kahn arrived to conquer the realm.
"My people fought back bravely against the invaders, but they were much stronger than we had ever anticipated. My race was nearly driven to extinction. As far as I know, I am the last of my kind. Shao Kahn promised to revive my people, but in the end he tricked me," Syzoth grumbled.
It wouldn't be until Syzoth turned on the emperor that he would force the sorceror Shang Tsung to use his Flesh Pits to restore the Raptor race. After many agonizing attempts, the first broodlings would be created and they would end up storming Outworld.
"Humans...Shokan...Tarkatan...Centaur...Ra'zac, it doesn't matter. Anything that comes before the Saurian is just its next meal," Syzoth grunted before wagging his long tongue excitedly.
The Saurian had his own deadly arsenal to tear through all his challengers:
Short Range: Kirehashi
Mid-Range: Battle Axe
Long Range: Acid Spit
Special Weapon: Claws
When both warriors needed to cut down enemies that stood in their way, they relied upon trusted swords for battle. For the Ra'zac, they used an ancient blade to eliminate their targets, the Leaf-blade Sword.
(A Ra'zac is shown cutting down a defending elf with an overhead strike to its collarbone with the leaf-blade sword.)
Leaf-Blade Sword
Double-Edged
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Material: Elvish Steel
"This sword represents the highlight of elvish craftsmanship," Eragon explained showing a broadsword with leaf decorations on the hilt, "The Ra'zac would kill elves and then take their blades for themselves and thanks to the material and craftsmanship, they can use them for decades. It's light, flexible, and naturally, lethal."
"It definitely reminds me of the classic Celtic long sword design," Eddie commented.
"And we're eager to see what kind of damage you can dish out with that blade," Bradley spoke as he motioned to a suspended pig carcass behind him, "Here we have one of the closest things to a human target, a pig carcass that is very similar. We want to see the kind of slashing and stabbing damage you can inflict."
Eragon nodded and took his position in front of the pig.
"Alright Eragon, on 3...2...1, hack 'em up!"
Eragon swung the sword with all his might and hacked off the pig's lower half. He then took a step back before shooting the blade outward into the pig's gut until it punched through to the other side. He then drives his blade through a little higher before slicing the pig's head off.
"I believe we're finished here," Eragon said sheathing his sword.
"That we are," Dr. Kaiser said making his way over to assess the damage, "Your first slice alone cleaved this man in half for a quick bleed out," he said kicking the lower half away before turning the carcass around, "Your first stab went right through this pig's stomach and out the back for an instant kill. Your second shot pierced its heart for another instant kill. For your final strike, we're talking decapitation here. No need to further elaborate."
"A Saurian would never allow your bird friend to see him coming and when he does catch up to him, he will have a mighty blade of his own to cut him down," Syzoth hissed.
To answer the challenge, the Saurian slashes back with an ancient blade popularly used by the Saurians, the Kirehashi.
(A Saurian is shown slashing into the gut of an Outworld fighter, disemboweling him with the Kirehashi's jagged blade.)
Kirehashi
Single-Edged
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Material: Zaterran Steel
Syzoth pulled out his Kirehashi and took a few practice swings with it before stopping to show it off to the panelists.
"This blade is one of the last remaining relics of my people. It was one of our most commonly used weapons in the battlefield. This blade was personally given to me by the vampire Nitara to use against a cyborg invader from Earthrealm. It will cut through anything I use it against," Syzoth explained.
"Man, that looks nasty!" Eddie said eying up the blade's jagged texture, inviting a sadistic glare from the Saurian.
"Take it easy, Syzoth. We already have a target picked out for you," Bradley said stepping in to defuse the situation and then motioning towards a suspended pig carcass. "We want to see how deadly a jagged blade can be compared to the leaf-blade sword."
"Very well," Syzoth rasped, narrowing his eyes at Eddie, who only gulped in reply.
Syzoth took his position in front of the carcass with his blade raised.
"On 3...2...1, slice 'em and dice 'em!"
Syzoth launched himself at the carcass with his blade drawn and let it tear deep into the pig's stomach, a ripping tear that left a massive gash followed by gallons of blood and strands of intestines falling out before he followed up with another strike that tore the pig in half. Not finished with his target, the Saurian shot his blade out into the pig's throat with a deep wear tear that left a deep gash before swinging again and beheading his target.
"Brutality," Bradley commented.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the target, "Despite this being a single-edged blade, that jagged design really does wonders. Your first strike disemboweled this guy in one blow, more visible trauma compared to the leaf-blade sword."
"The leaf-blade sword did cut your target in half with its first strike, but all that extra trauma makes this all the more gruesome and painful before your enemy gives up the ghost," Bradley added.
"The Ra'zac wouldn't be deterred. As long as he sees a potential next meal, he'll do whatever he can to sneak around and get the jump on the Saurian," Eragon spoke with skepticism.
"Just you watch your tongue, human!" Syzoth hissed.
"Gentleman, save it!" Bradley piped in.
"Easier said than done," Eddie whispered to him.
Both swords cut through their targets with ease, but where do our panelists stand?
"We're talking double-edged versus single-edged here and while the leaf-blade sword does offer options, whereas the Kirehashi is straight up for slashing, the Kirehashi still looked much deadlier in the final cut, pun intended. Edge Kirehashi," Bradley started.
"I agree, man. The Kirehashi was just straight up brutal. I feel sorry for anybody who's ever felt the business end of that blade. Edge Kirehashi," Eddie seconded.
"I felt tempted to side with the Leaf-blade Sword at first given that it is capable of both stabbing and slashing, but just the sheer and devastating cutting power of the Kirehashi won me over in the end. Edge Kirehashi," Dr. Kaiser concluded.
In short range weapons, the Saurian takes the edge with the Kirehashi.
Coming up, a set of twin killers is pitted against a dismembering battle axe, and then later, two stealthy killers clash for the very first time!
XXXXXX
The tactical Ra'zac and the savage Saurian, two sneaky warriors with two very different approaches to combat.
"The Ra'zac prize intelligence over force. They would find other ways to take down an enemy rather than just rushing them head on. If they can find one weakness in your defense, they exploit it without a second thought," Eragon explained.
"The Saurians are masters of their environment. Once you are in our sights, we will know of more than one way to bring our prey down," Syzoth spoke.
When the Saurian faced tougher opponents, he trusted a deadly killer to chop his enemies into pieces, the Battle Axe.
(A Saurian is shown bringing his axe down to sever one of the arms of a Shokan before bringing it down onto the four-armed giant's leg, severing that as well before bringing it down on the back of his head.)
Battle Axe
Double-Headed
Length: 3.5 ft.
Weight: 4.5 lbs.
Material: Steel head, wooden handle
"This was the kind of axe used by my people in battle. It would hack through any larger enemies that got in our way with great ease," Syzoth explained showing the axe off for the panelists.
"We've set up a cattle carcass for you to test out the battle axe's hacking power on," Bradley said motioning to the suspended slab of beef nearby. "You'll have 15 seconds to prove your point."
Syzoth nodded and took his position with his axe at the ready.
"On 3...2...1, hack 'em up!"
The Saurian raised the battle axe high and brought it down with a deadly chop that cut deep into the slab before he yanked the blade out and brought it down again, going in even deeper. He drew the blade out and went for a third sideways strike and then followed up with another before bringing the axe down for another overhead strike before Bradley called out "Time!"
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to examine the deep cuts into the slab, "Your strikes managed to cut through five ribs on this guy and you've even gone deep enough to hit his spine. You also delivered a blow to its femur, which might not kill immediately, but would lead to a rapid bleed out."
"You sure finished him," Eddie commented.
"Yet it's very cumbersome, enough that a Ra'zac would be able to maneuver around the Saurian and cut him down before he could turn around," Eragon cut in.
To answer the Saurian's challenge, the Ra'zac comes slashing back with his own twin terrors, the Twin Knives.
(A Ra'zac is shown dodging strikes from a human swordsman before cutting him down with his twin knives.)
Twin Knives
Single-Edged
Length: 29 in.
Weight: 3 lbs. each
Material: Elvish Metal
"These are the Ra'zac's best friend," Eragon said showing the short swords off to the panelists, "They are lightning fast and multi-faceted. They can slash, stab and block incoming sword strikes. Their durability is a further testament to elvish crafting, plus they can be used either at short or mid-range."
"Very nice. We've got a 'volunteer' for you to test your knives on," Bradley said motioning to a ballistic gel torso behind him, "15 seconds on the clock for you to show how much damage you can do."
"Consider it done," Eragon said taking his position.
"Then on 3...2...1, slice 'em up!"
Eragon let out a battle cry and launched himself at the gel torso, shooting one of the blades out and opening up its throat in a gory display. He wasn't done as he then stabbed the other blade into the side of the dummy's head before stabbing him with a clean strike through the chest before following up with other repeated stabs to the chest and gut before finishing him off with an uppercut stab just as Bradley called out "Time!"
"Damn, I didn't know you had it in you," Eddie said to Eragon.
"You can never expect mercy from a Ra'zac," Eragon shrugged while cleaning the blood from his blades.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage, "Your first blow alone was a kill shot, opening his throat up and severing his wind pipe. Your second strike follows suit, piercing his temple for another instant death. Your third strike was about as clean as you could get, right through the ribs and piercing the lung for another quick kill. Your last strike just goes straight up and right at an angle it pierces the guy's brain stem. Kills all around."
"Heh, good luck getting that close to a Saurian. We'd be chopping your head off before he could get that close," Syzoth piped in.
Both weapons tore through their targets with ease, but where do our panelists stand?
"I'm giving this to the twin knives. While the battle axe has the reach and can do more damage, the Ra'zac is carrying two weapons at once, one he can use for offense while the other is being used for defense. They are also more versatile and multi-faceted," Bradley started.
"I don't know, man. You make some good points, but the sheer power of the battle axe just wins it for me in the end. That, plus the extra reach, the Saurian could be chopping off the Ra'zac's head before he gets close enough to use the knives. My edge is for the Saurian with this one," Eddie countered.
The tiebreaker would fall down to Dr. Kaiser.
"I'm siding with Bradley on this one. The versatility of the knives has won me over. When you factor in the Ra'zac's stealth capabilities and decades worth of experience, that could allow them to find a way around the axe's reach. Edge Ra'zac," the good doctor concluded.
In mid-range weapons, the Ra'zac takes the edge with the Twin Knives.
Coming up, both killers unleash their long range arsenals!
Ra'zac versus Saurian continues!
XXXXXX
The Ra'zac and the Saurian, two sneaky killers clashing for the first time ever.
When the battle went to long range, both combatants relied upon very different methods to take their enemies from afar. For the Ra'zac, he relied upon the silent and deadly Throwing Knives to take down his foes.
(A Ra'zac is shown dropping an elf with a throwing knife to his upper back.)
Throwing Knives
Size: 10 in.
Weight: 10.5 oz.
Material: Elvish Steel
"These are another favored weapon of the Ra'zac," Eragon said drawing a curved blade, "If you somehow see them drawing one of these, you're already dead."
"We've seen throwing knives on here before. Are these any more accurate than what we've seen those other times?" Bradley asked checking over the knives.
"The Ra'zac have much longer lifespans compared to normal humans, they have decades worth of experience to perfect their aim," Eragon answered.
"Then lets test it," Bradley said motioning to a wooden board with an 'X' in the center, "Your goal is to hit the target, but we will be adding an additional obstacle. We have 3 glass orbs you have to get through first."
"No problem," Eragon said taking his position.
Taking one of the knives, he threw it end over end, the knife spinning through the air and piercing each of the blood-filled orbs before it embedded itself in the wooden target.
"Hmm, even then your throwing knife still proved to be fairly accurate, even when presented with obstacles," Bradley observed.
"It is fairly accurate, but how powerful is it?" Dr. Kaiser asked motioning towards a gel torso outfitted with leather, "Here we have another Saurian stand-in, this one outfitted with leather to mimic the hardened skin of a Saurian. We are giving you 3 knives to use and see if you can pierce his skin."
"This would be no problem for a Ra'zac," Eragon said pulling out his 3 knives and taking aim.
He took his first throwing knife and chucked it at the target's chest, the blade getting stuck and sending a trickle of stage blood down the surface. He took the next knife and tossed it into the dummy's throat for another wet tear and then tossed the third knife into the Saurian's stomach, which again got stuck.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done to the "Saurian" and pulled out the first knife to inspect the hole left behind, "You hit this guy hard enough to pierce his skin and draw blood, yet it doesn't appear that the knife went deep enough to cause any serious damage. He's hurt, but he's not dead. The same could be said for your second body shot," he said pulling the knife out of the target's stomach.
He then pulled the knife out of the the dummy's throat, "This shot though, managed to pierce the target's neck. This would be an instant kill."
"I don't know. That didn't look like your knives did that much damage, at least not until you get to a weaker spot around the target's neck," Eddie commented.
"Normally, the Ra'zac wouldn't mess around with a target's armored areas. They would go for the weakest spot first," Eragon replied.
"That would be no problem for a Saurian," Syzoth spoke up, "There would be no defense for what I have in store for him."
Answering the Ra'zac's challenge, the Saurian retaliates with his own vile attack, the Acid Spit.
(A Saurian is shown dodging swipes from a Tarkatan's arm blades before spitting a glob of acid into his face, causing him to shriek in agony.)
Acid Spit
Acid
Length: Varies
Weight: Varies
"Umm, okay then...so where is your weapon?" Eddie asked looking around nervously.
Syzoth looked over to a wooden target and with a loud hiss, spat a glob of acid onto it. The panelists covered their noses at the foul stench that followed and looked on as the corrosive substance ate through the target until much of it had dissolved away.
"I guess that answers your question," Dr. Kaiser answered.
Bradley then quickly motioned towards a nearby gel bust as Syzoth set his sights on him, "We actually have a stand-in for you to test your acid spit on...if you will!"
Syzoth looked to the target and a jet of acid spit came from his opened mouth, striking the target in the middle of its face and enveloping it in a green substance that left the gel rotting away, followed by the synthetic bones beneath.
"This guy's face is literally melting away right before our very eyes," Dr. Kaiser commented keeping a safe distance as the acid took time to dissipate, "It's all the way down to the bone, eating away at the skin and muscle in seconds. What's worse is that you hit this guy in the face, where he's not well protected. He'd be dead within seconds. What's even worse, acid isn't something you can just apply medicine to, no matter where you get hit."
"Then would it be any different if he were up against an armored opponent?" Eragon asked as he pushed a gel torso into view, outfitted with leather.
"All Ra'zac possess an exoskeleton that is said to be as strong as regular armor, well now we're putting that to the test," Bradley said before looking to the Saurian, "Syzoth, would you do the honors?"
Syzoth spat a more powerful stream of acid upon the armored target and the panelists could only look on as the makeshift exoskeleton proved useless, the leather rotting away as the corrosive liquid soaked in.
"I think that answers your question," Eddie spoke to Eragon, who frowned at the sight.
The throwing knives and the acid spit, where do our panelists stand in the end?
"The acid spit takes it for me. Compared to the throwing knives, it's something you would never expect to see coming. Having seen what it did up close, that's just brutal," Bradley started.
"I agree. Acid burns are a nightmare to treat and could cripple any part of the body touched by it," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"Having seen it up close and how it melted through that leather exoskeleton, compared to how the throwing knives struggled against the Saurian's hardened skin, I'm with the Saurian all the way," Eddie concluded.
In long range weapons, the Saurian takes the edge with the Acid Spit.
Coming up, it's savagery versus surprise when special weapons are put to the test.
And then later, the Ra'zac and the Saurian clash for the very first time.
XXXXXX
The Ra'zac and the Saurian, two sneaky killers known and feared for their vile tactics.
When a Saurian was left unarmed, he had one final option to rely upon in a battle, his Claws.
(A Saurian is shown dodging a swing from an Outworld warrior's guan dao before leaping off a nearby wall and slashing into the man's chest with his claws.)
Claws
Length: 1 ft.
Weight: Varies
Material: Keratin
Syzoth showed off his claws for the panelists, "We all have long claws like this that we carry on from our ancestors. It gives us a natural weapon we have at all times."
"I'm eager to see them in action and we've created a scenario where you will be attacked by enemies from all angles," Bradley said motioning to a training mat in the center of the Fight Club, "In this case, you have 12 enemies to deal with."
"I would have liked a better challenge, but very well," Syzoth grunted as he took his place at the center of the mat.
"Alright, on 3...2...1, attack!"
Syzoth waited as the first foam target came zooming towards him on a pulley, yet the Saurian shot his clawed hand out and tore deep into its chest. A second target came zooming towards him, only to be met by a claw strike that tore off most of its face. A third target came up behind him, yet he quickly twirled his body and performed an uppercut slash that tore the target's jaw off.
"He's just tearing through them like nothing," Bradley commented, yet Eragon was unimpressed.
They decided to up the ante and sent two targets at Syzoth simultaneously, who then shot both his claws out and deep into the guts of both targets before the seventh target was sent speeding towards him, only for him to deliver another uppercut sweep that took its head off. There was no time to rest as the eighth target was approaching and Syzoth shot his claws out and cut deep into the target's throat.
"He's like a machine," Dr. Kaiser added.
The next two targets came flying at Syzoth, who shot both hands out simultaneously again and tore deep into their chests as he sunk to a knee, launching himself into the air and bring his claws down onto the face of the eleventh target, before twirling his body and delivering a final swipe that tore the last target's face off.
"Wow...that was just brutal," Eddie gasped.
"It's like all these guys were just sent through a blender. You stacked these corpses like it was Judgment Day!" Dr. Kaiser commented, "No need to further elaborate."
"A Ra'zac would have seen him coming from a mile away. A Saurian would never see what a Ra'zac would have hidden up his sleeve, but he would feel it," Eragon spoke up.
To answer the Saurian's barbaric challenge, the Ra'zac brings a most lethal and unexpected concoction, Seithr Oil
(A Ra'zac is shown brutally torturing a suspected Dragon Rider, pouring Seithr oil all over him.)
Seithr Oil
Size: Variable
Substance: Plant oil, Glass
Range: 5 ft. (sprayed), 20 ft. (thrown)
"This right here is the Ra'zac's secret weapon," Eragon said pulling out a bottle filled with a clear, water-like liquid to pass around to the panelists, "Normally, it's harmless, but the Ra'zac perform a certain incantation along with a blood sacrifice that turns this oil into a deadly, caustic poison that burns away at living tissue. They can coat their throwing knives to add to their lethality or use it as part of a trap, but their favorite use is for torture."
"I'm almost afraid to ask, but would you be kind enough to give us a demonstration?" Bradley asked looking over to a nearby pig carcass.
"As you wish," Eragon replied and made his way over to the pig. He uncorked the bottle and sprayed the contents onto the pig.
Within seconds, the pig's flesh was burning and turning raw and red, a shade that continued getting deeper as the oil worked its malicious magic.
"Damn, this is just horrific," Dr. Kaiser commented as he put on his gloves and goggles to assess the damage, "I've never seen anything this instant and horrible. It's eating away at his flesh as if it were nothing. This would be a very agonizing way to go."
"And as I've said, that's not the only way that it can be used," Eragon spoke as he put the cork back in and focused his attention on another gel target outfitted in leather.
He drew his arm back and tossed it at the target. The bottle shattered upon contact and the vile liquid began eating through the leather and into the target's arm, reducing it to a mangled husk.
"This man's arm would be useless after that. If this had been further on his head or torso, he'd be down right away," Dr. Kaiser observed, while Syzoth just shrugged.
"He would never get the chance," the Saurian harrumphed.
Both special weapons showed off their very different means of dealing damage to a foe, but where do our panelists stand in the end?
"I was definitely surprised by the Seithr Oil. It looks so harmless at first, but then when I saw how it just ate away at the pig's flesh, that's just something you don't forget. Imagine if that had been an actual opponent? I'm with the Ra'zac on this one," Bradley started.
"While the Saurian's claws give them a weapon while they are unarmed, they have very limited range and a Ra'zac would see them coming. The Seithr Oil brings an element of surprise and it can be used in multiple ways. Edge Ra'zac," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"I thought it was brutal enough when Syzoth tore through all of those targets like a veg-o-matic, but seeing what that Seithr Oil did up close...that was just plain EVIL man! I'm giving it to the Ra'zac," Eddie concluded.
In special weapons, the Ra'zac takes the edge with the Seithr Oil.
Now it is time to evaluate a critical factor that makes a warrior stand out. While we normally profile the X-factor that makes a warrior who they are, for the first time ever we will profile a factor that serves as a detriment to both warriors. For the Ra'zac, it is their mortal fear of water and sunlight.
"Because they have eyes that are so sensitive to brightness, powerful light brings great pain to them. Also, possibly because of their exoskeleton, Ra'zac are unable to swim and thus possess a morbid fear of water. Both those factors would have an impact depending upon where they fight," Dr. Kaiser explained.
For the Saurian, it's their gradual devolution if they drift away from the influence of their matriarch.
"The Saurians have a matriarchal society. Any Saurian that has drifted too far from the influence of their matriarch or surrogate slowly begins to lose their sanity, thereby losing their ability to maintain their human disguise. A loss of sanity would cause a Saurian warrior to lose their ability to strategize and thus behave more instinctive and savagely in a fight," Dr. Kaiser spoke.
Coming up, two stealthy killers clash for the first time ever.
XXXXXX
With our testing complete and our X-factors evaluated, we are now one step closer to determining who will be "The Fictional Deadliest Warrior."
Our teams tested 4 weapons used by the Ra'zac: the Leaf-blade Sword, the Twin Knives, Throwing Knives, and Seithr Oil.
On the opposite side, 4 weapons used by the Saurian were tested: the Kirehashi, the Battle Axe, the Acid Spit, and the Saurian Claws.
In short range weapons, the Kirehashi's jagged blade disemboweled the Leaf-blade Sword.
EDGE: Saurian
In mid-ranged weapons, the greater versatility of the Twin Knives cut down the Battle Axe.
EDGE: Ra'zac
In long range weapons, the Acid Spit melted away the Throwing Knives offense.
EDGE: Saurian
And in special weapons, the savage versatility of the Seithr Oil burned away the Claws.
EDGE: Ra'zac
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 lethal races?
Stealth
(A Ra'zac drops an elf from a distance with a throwing knife.)
vs. Stealth
(A Saurian stands cloaked as an Outworld warrior walks past, only to strike him down from behind with his battle axe.)
Cold-Blooded Survivor
(A Saurian spits a stream of acid into the face of an attacking Centaur after dodging a blow from him.)
vs. Hunter of Dragon Riders
(A Ra'zac runs a human warrior through with his leaf-blade sword.)
Cruel Intellect
(A Ra'zac is shown spreading Seithr Oil on a mattress, exits, and then listens from outside as a woman's shrieks come from within.)
vs. Savage Ferocity
(A Saurian maneuvers around to avoid a Tarkatan's arm blades before pouncing on him and then tearing into his face and chest with his claws in a bloody frenzy.)
"We've had our fun, but now it's time to find out who is deadliest!" Eddie said before starting the simulation.
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Night has fallen in the dense forest as an avian humanoid with its body covered by a black cloak navigates a narrow dirt trail. The being is equipped for battle, carrying several blades on its person. The individual in question is a Ra'zac assassin who has been dispatched by Galbatorix to investigate rumors of Dragon Riders being camped out nearby.
As the Ra'zac makes his way along, another shadowy figure observes from a branch above, a reptilian figure who has cloaked itself from any other threats. It has a large jagged blade strapped to its side and a battle axe strung across its back. It is a Saurian who sees another invader in its territory.
When he is sure the cloaked figure is at a safe distance, the Saurian leaps down from the branch and gracefully lands below. It then begins to stalk the avian-looking figure from a distance intent upon learning its intentions.
He believes the invader to be unaware of his presence, but unknown to him, the Ra'zac has caught onto his scent, yet allows him to follow for a bit longer before he takes the reptilian humanoid by surprise, reaching beneath his cloak for a throwing knife and twirling his body around to chuck it in his direction.
The knife embeds itself in a tree next to the Saurian's head, prompting the assassin to duck low as the Ra'zac took the time to make his way into the foliage nearby. The irritated Saurian heard the rustling from a distance and carefully made his way through a small clearing in search of the avian invader.
The Saurian stalked his prey, yet the Ra'zac was nearby and could smell his pursuer, even through his optic camouflage. The avian drew another throwing knife from the belt around its waist and waited for the reptilian warrior to come within range before he tossed his second throwing knife and caught him in the shoulder.
The Saurian cried out in surprise as the knife struck him in the shoulder, yet his hardened skin protected him from receiving any serious damage. With a frustrated grunt, he ripped the knife out and tossed it to the ground as he uncloaked himself and scanned the area for any signs of his attacker, seeing the black figure darting behind some narrow trees. With a hiss, the Saurian spits a mouthful of acid at his attacker, yet it strikes a narrow tree and eats through until the tree is left snapping in half like a twig.
Taking cover behind a large tree, the Saurian peeks his head out and scans the area for the Ra'zac, eventually spotting the fluttering cloak and spitting out another acidic gob that eats through the tail of the fabric, yet misses the assassin's skin.
The Ra'zac draws another throwing knife and tosses it at the Saurian, who quickly raises his battle axe to deflect the knife away and charges at him with a swing the avian being barely dodges, followed by another swing that prompts the assassn to draw the twin knives concealed on the sides of his boots.
Both warriors stood across from each other with weapons drawn, tempting the other to strike first. The Saurian spits another gob of acid at his foe, which the Ra'zac barely dodges and is then forced to roll out of the way as the reptilian attempts an overhead chop and the blade is left embedded in the trunk of a fallen tree.
The Ra'zac attempted to jump the Saurian, launching himself forward with both knives raised, yet the reptilian dodged the attack and swiped back with his claws, which the avian assassin brought his knives up to deflect. The Saurian tried to follow up with an uppercut slash, yet the Ra'zac sidestepped the attack and slashed into the reptilian warrior's side before trying to follow up with a stab from the other knife the reptile barely avoided.
Drawing his Kirehashi, the Saurian brings the blade up to block another attempted slash from the twin knives before performing a spinning back kick that sends his opponent staggering backwards and creates enough room for him to attempt a powerful slash that only grazes the Ra'zac's side, yet he is largely protected thanks to his exoskeleton. He tries going for another slash, but is met by the crossed blades of the twin knives, catching his blade and pushing him backward. The avian assassin summoned his strength and shoved the reptilian backward before following up with a kick of his own that staggered the Saurian.
The Ra'zac raised his knives and attempted to slash at his enemy again, but the Saurian stepped back to avoid the strikes before catching one of the knives in one of the grooves in his blade and struggled to hold him at bay, just as the Ra'zac managed to stab the Saurian in his side with the other knife.
The Saurian was again saved from serious damage thanks in part to his hardened skin, but it had been enough to make him grimace in pain as the avian assassin attempted to drive his blade in deeper. Out of desperation, the Saurian shot his free hand out and slashed into the Ra'zac's side and with his enemy distracted, used his strength to turn his sword arm and send one of the Dragon Hunter's knives away before slicing into his opposite forearm and making him drop his other knife.
Finding himself temporarily disarmed, the Ra'zac quickly drew another throwing knife from his belt and launched it into the Saurian's stomach. The reptilian warrior grunted in pain and with a mighty yank, pulled the knife from his midsection and tossed it to the ground, looking up to see his opponent retreating further into the woods.
The Saurian had been much tougher than the Ra'zac expected and he needed to wear him down further before he could end the fight. Reaching into a pouch on his belt, he pulled out a glass vial filled with Seithr Oil and another throwing knife, pouring some of the vile liquid onto the blade as he waited for his enemy to follow after him.
The Saurian meanwhile, had suspicions he was about to be lured into another trap and had once again taken to higher ground as he pursued his prey, leaping amongst the branches until he spotted the darting outline of the black cloaked figure beneath him. An idea came to mind as he spat a glob of acid onto a nearby branch to get he Ra'zac's attention, leaving it to eat through and send the branch crashing to the ground below. A second later, a knife was embedded in a tree trunk not far from him and he looked over to see the liquid dripping off this particular blade, getting a bad feeling about it.
With his opponent thrown off, the Saurian continued leaping from branch to branch until he landed behind the Ra'zac. The avian menace was taken by surprise and tossed the oil-filled vial at the Saurian, who managed to duck beneath it, leaving it to shatter harmlessly against a nearby tree.
The Ra'zac drew his leaf-blade sword from its scabbard and attempted to slash at his foe's stomach, yet the Saurian swung his Kirehashi and managed to deflect his blade. They again clash their swords together, yet the Saurian uses his blade's unique design to his advantage yet again as the leaf-blade sword is caught in one of the Kirehashi's grooves and the reptilian warrior uses his strength to force the Ra'zac into stumbling backwards, turning his back to him and setting the Saurian up to deliver a nasty slash across his back.
The Ra'zac grimaced in pain as the slash had been strong enough to penetrate his exoskeleton, yet he was continued to keep fighting and twirled his body around as he attempted to stab the advancing Saurian with his sword, grazing the reptilian warrior's arm and forcing him to drop his blade.
With a demonic grin, the avian prepared to finish his enemy off and went for another stab directed at his chest, yet the Saurian opened his mouth and fired another acidic stream that caught the Ra'zac all over his arm.
The Ra'zac let out a scream of agony as the acid ate away at his arm and he could only look on in horror as the limb was reduced to a mangled, withered husk that left his sword clattering to the ground. It would be the last thing he would ever see as the Saurian raked his claws across his face and left him blinded.
The blinded Ra'zac thrashed about madly reaching for his opponent, only for the reptile to bring his blade down and sever the avian's other arm before swinging low to sever both his legs just above his knees, leaving him to flail about helplessly until he bled out.
Looking down to his fallen opponent, the Saurian shot his tongue out and wrapped it around his victim's head, quickly retracting it and ripping the Ra'zac's head off to devour it whole.
Victorious, the Saurian rubs his tummy and lets out a satisfied "Mmmm!"
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Winner: Saurian
Saurian:
Kirehashi: 197
Battle Axe: 106
Acid Spit: 180
Claws: 50
Total: 533
Ra'zac:
Leaf-Blade Sword: 162
Twin Knives: 124
Throwing Knives: 51
Seithr Oil: 130
Total: 467
"In another fairly close matchup, the Saurian triumphed over the Ra'zac, largely in part thanks to them having the better short range weapon and their acid spit.
"While the Ra'zac also brought a similarly acidic weapon into battle with their Seithr Oil, that could also be used in multiple ways, the Saurian's Acid Spit had a greater range and could be deployed more frequently, whereas the Ra'zac's usage was limited to how much they brought along with them and how it was used.
"The Ra'zac otherwise did not go down easily with his leaf-blade sword and twin knives being his most effective weapons. Still, the Saurian came with more means to defend himself even when unarmed," Bradley concluded.
"I was surprised by the outcome after having actually faced the Ra'zac in battle, yet the Saurian showed they had more means to take out the Ra'zac whether they were armed or not," Eragon spoke.
"The Saurians will be back and we will kill all who oppose us!" Syzoth proudly proclaimed.
(The Saurian is shown returning to a cave filled with the eggs. He can only smile as they begin to hatch, knowing his race will soon be restored to their former greatness.)
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Next time on "Fictional Deadliest Warrior," it's a battle between two post-apocalyptic warrior societies:
(A man wearing body armor made from scavenged sports equipment and a motorcycle helmet outfitted with a feathered plume, goggles and a face wrap swings a crudely made machete at the camera.)
Caesar's Legion: The Roman-inspired slaver state that rules the former American southwest with an iron fist...
vs.
(A bald, shirtless man with his entire upper torso covered in white powder and black soot around his eyes, wearing black pants and biker boots shouts while firing a submachine gun into the air.)
War Boys: The fanatical road warriors willing to die for their leader and paint the highways red.
Who will be "The Fictional Deadliest Warrior?!"
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Author's Notes: I tried something different with the experts in this chapter, where I had only one expert instead of the usual 2 per side. This was inspired largely by my admittedly limited knowledge of "The Inheritance Cycle" series and also because I wanted to hammer to home how critically endangered the Saurians are and how Syzoth a.k.a. Reptile is shown as being thought to be the last of his kind with no knowledge of other survivors until his endings.
Speaking of Reptile's endings, I incorporated elements of his MK2011 ending into the Saurian introduction largely as filler, even though it is assumed to be non-canonical by MK storyline standards.
I think that pretty much covers everything until then and "The Inheritance Cycle" and all references are the property of Christopher Paolini. Reptile and all "Mortal Kombat" references are the property of Nether Realm Studios.
With apologies to Inheritance Cycle fans everywhere!
Until then, read, review and keep it FUCKING METAL!