Author's Note: At last it is time for the battle inspired by the (in)famous "Pirates vs. Ninjas" meme!
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(A blond-haired man in a hooded robe stands with a cutlass in one hand and a flintlock pistol in the other.)
Edward Kenway: The pirate of the Caribbean turned Assassin who fought and plundered his way into legend...
(Edward is shown firing his flintlock into the chest of a Spanish sailor before slicing through another with a swing of his cutlass.)
vs.
(A silver-haired man in a dark ninja outfit with a matching mask covering the lower portion of his face and a distinctive scar over his right eye swings a ninjato at the screen.)
Rikimaru: The master ninja who embarked upon the most dangerous missions and rose to lead the Azuma Ninja Clan.
(Rikimaru is shown silently creeping up on a samurai and reaching around to slice the man's throat open with his ninjato.)
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 in a fight between two warriors who never met in a face to face duel:
Edward Kenway
Appearing from: Assassin's Creed: Black Flag
Allegiance: Jackdaw Crew, Assassin Brotherhood
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Armor: Leather
Rikimaru
Appearing from: Tenchu series
Allegiance: Azuma Ninja Clan
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 140 lbs.
Armor: None
"Today we have a battle between two secretive assassins who came from very different backgrounds and found themselves embroiled in something much larger than either of them could have ever imagined. Up first we have Edward Kenway, the Welsh pirate who sought wealth and unwittingly found himself drawn into the centuries long war between the Assassins and the Templars. On the other side you have Rikimaru, a ninja who served the Azuma Ninja Clan and embarked upon a series of missions that saw him experience much hardship, yet proved him worthy of becoming the youngest leader of his ninja clan ever," biomedical scientist Bradley Foster opened.
"Both of these men are in excellent shape, quick on their feet, and very agile. They are used to scaling buildings like they are nothing and are expert free runners. While they rely primarily upon stealth to complete their mission objectives, they can still fight just as effectively at hand-to-hand combat with both men being expert swordsmen and being skilled with the weapons of the respective time periods," trauma doctor Joseph Kaiser spoke.
"Different approaches and methods of combat yes," Bradley picked back up, "Edward was a pirate who was used to naval conflicts and also used to firearms, in addition to his own set of skills that rivaled those of the Assassins, utilizing stealth, eavesdropping and pickpocketing. Rikimaru was trained in various ninja arts emphasizing stealth, escape, disguise and using the environment to his advantage."
"But we also have to keep in mind their vastly different personalities," Dr. Kaiser continued, "In his prime, Edward was very reckless and infatuated with wealth, power and glory which initially spurred his desire to find the Observatory, whereas on the flip side, Rikimaru was very stoic and disciplined, yet still prone to bouts of overconfidence and great anger on rare occasions. It will play a factor in how they approach this battle and how they handle themselves during such."
"We've got the Golden Age of Piracy and Feudal Japan we're dealing with here, so we've got the conventional blades and gunpowder weapons of their respective eras, plus the funky gadgets used by the Assassins and the Azuma Clan that you totally wouldn't expect. It's going to be awesome to see them in action," computer expert Eddie Cortez piped in.
"Then let's get to it," Bradley concluded.
The camera focuses on a red-haired woman in traditional pirate garb taking aim with a flintlock pistol.
Up first representing Edward Kenway will be the Irish pirate, Anne Bonny.
A former quartermaster aboard the Jackdaw, Anne is an expert on the weapons and tactics used by pirates of the period.
"This isn't the first time someone's been out to get Captain Kenway. This Rikimaru fella might as well stick to playin' hide an' seek," Anne nodded.
The camera then cut to a man of African descent in pirate garb who drew a cutlass and took a few swings of it.
Also representing Edward Kenway will be the slave turned pirate, Adewale.
Originally serving as the Jackdaw's quartermaster, Adewale later left to join the West Indies Brotherhood of Assassins, bringing knowledge of the abilities and creed Edward would later adopt.
"I fought alongside Edward Kenway. He's cheated death so many times, he'd be ready for Rikimaru," Adewale spoke.
Born to humble farmers, Edward Kenway started his career as a privateer with the Royal Navy. However, the abrupt end to the War of Spanish Succession and the promises of wealth, glory and fame seduced the young man into a life of piracy. It was during this time he would find himself unwittingly drawn into a secret centuries long conflict following a chance encounter with a rogue Assassin after finding himself shipwrecked on an island in the Caribbean.
"Edward was able to defeat the rogue Assassin Duncan Walpole, take his uniform, and then make his way to Havana where he established contact with the Templars – even getting inducted into their order, but things would gradually go in another direction before he made contact with the Assassins," Adewale explained.
After being exposed, Edward was captured and sentenced to death. It wasn't too long before he met Adewale and the two managed to break free, commandeering a ship they would christen the "Jackdaw." What followed was a campaign of piracy that saw them becoming acquainted with various famed pirates and becoming an established threat to the Templars. He would soon find himself formally inducted into the West Indies Assassin Brotherhood and help work to rid the area of the Templar's influence.
"He proved himself to be both a capable fighter, but an even better leader and the West Indies was forever changed because of his actions," Anne concluded.
Edward battled the Templars with a deadly combination of pirate and Assassin weaponry:
Short Range: Hidden Blade
Mid-Range: Cutlass
Long Range: Flintlock Pistol
Special Weapon: Roped Dart
But how will the Assassin fare when pitted against an equally sneaky, equally lethal menace?
The camera cuts to a young Japanese woman with feathered black hair and wearing a black outfit different from typical ninjas. She checks over a ninjato before sliding it back into its sheath.
Up first representing Rikimaru will be the kunoichi, Ayame.
A longtime member of the Azuma Ninja Clan, she is an expert on their weapons and tactics.
"Rikimaru is as cool and as deadly as they come. Some greedy, loud mouthed pirate would be no match for him," Ayame smirked.
The camera then cuts to a Japanese man with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing a fishnet top with baggy black pants. He finishes up with sharpening a shuriken before tossing it into a wooden target.
Also on hand to represent Rikimaru will be fellow shinobi Tatsumaru.
A former member of the Azuma Clan who grew up alongside and later clashed directly with Rikimaru, he knows exactly what his former ally is capable of.
"Rikimaru is the toughest opponent I ever faced. Kenway is in over his head," Tesshu spoke.
Born the son of a samurai, the infant who would become Rikimaru was the sole survivor of an attack carried out by the Azuma Ninja. Spared by the ninja's leader Azuma Shiunsai, he was taken in by the clan and raised in their ways. Undergoing an intense training regimen from an early age, he was made an Azuma Ninja at the age of 18, serving as a loyal spy of Lord Gohda and enduring a series of harrowing trials.
"We were subjected to a harsh training from day one that was meant to mold us into the perfect assassins. Rikimaru was brash and overconfident at times, but Master saw something special in him," Tatsumaru spoke.
The young ninja's life would change dramatically when his brotherly figure Tatsumaru seemingly perished while locked in mortal combat with Lady Kagami. Rikimaru was then left as the one chosen to lead the clan and carrying on the war against the Burning Dawn, as well as fighting the demonic Lord Mei-Oh and his followers the Onikage, and even clashing with Tatsumaru, who had been robbed of his memories and taken the mantle of Seiryu, the Blue Dragon.
"Whether you are sending him to take down a corrupt merchant or a dark overlord, Rikimaru never stands down, even when the circumstances seem dire," Ayame concluded.
The ninja master came equipped with an arsenal that allowed him to eliminate his targets with silent, deadly precision:
Short Range: Kunai
Mid-Range: Izayoi
Long Range: Fukiya & Explosive Arrow
Special Weapon: Grenade
When both assassins needed to quietly eliminate a target, they relied upon small, yet deadly blades to carry out their secretive task.
For Edward Kenway, he relied upon the trademark weapon trusted by the Assassins for centuries, the Hidden Blade.
(Edward is shown quietly driving his blade into the chest of a Templar agent in a crowded outdoor social gathering.)
Hidden Blade
Length: 12 in.
Weight: 1 lb.
Material: Steel
Adewale stepped forth and with a flick of his wrist, the hidden blade shot out.
"This is the signature weapon of the Assassins. Edward carried two of these into battle. It's portable and easily concealed," Adawale said as the blade retracted back into his gauntlet.
"We've already seen the Hidden Blade tested on here before and can indeed attest to its quiet lethality, but have not seen it done with two blades and we have a set up for that," Bradley said motioning to three stuffed dummies standing behind him, "Here we have 3 roving guards out on patrol. We want to see more of what the Assassins are capable of and are going to have you launch a surprise attack on them."
"Consider it done," Adewale nodded and gracefully scaled the 10 foot wall before moving into position over the center target, waiting as Eddie activated the other two roving targets.
"Alright Adewale, on 3...2...1, strike!"
Adewale waited for the other two "guards" to approach before they turned away from each other. It was then he leaped down onto the center target with his hidden blade extended and landed on its torso before plunging the blade into the dummy's neck. The second target whirled around, only to have Adewale shoot his arm out and drive his other blade into the dummy's chest. The Assassin then pivoted and leaped onto the last target before it could turn around, driving his blade through its back.
Without a word, Adewale stepped back and let his blades retract.
"Another impressive showing by the hidden blade. You've got 3 guys dead within mere seconds," Dr. Kaiser said walking over to inspect the damage, starting with the first dummy, "With this guy, you've already got him incapacitated with you bringing the full force of your entire body down on top of him, followed up by a strike right to his carotid artery. Instant kill."
He then made his way over to assess the other two targets, "With your second guy, you are severing his aorta upon contact for another instant kill. With your last guy, you are going right between his ribs and striking his heart. Three kills altogether."
"I won't lie, it is a unique weapon you've got yourselves there, but it's very one-dimensional. Good luck getting up close to Rikimaru. He would catch you from a mile away and when he does, he'd be dropping your friend from a safe distance," Ayame spoke.
To answer the Assassin's challenge, Rikimaru responds with a multi-purpose gardening tool turned deadly killer, the Kunai.
(Rikimaru is shown sneaking up on a guard and stabbing him in the throat with a kunai before pulling it out and tossing the same blade into the throat of another guard before he can react.)
Kunai
Length: 7 in.
Weight: 1 lb.
Material: Steel
"Like most ninja weapons, this got its start as a common household tool, used for gardening and masonry. These can be used for close quarters combat, or thrown at enemies from a distance," Ayame explained showing the small knife to the panelists before pausing to toss it into a nearby wooden target, "They're cheaply produced, easy to sharpen and come in a variety of designs."
"Well we want to see what the kunai can do in a fight and we've got 3 targets waiting, one you will engage in close quarters combat, and the other two you will attack from mid and long range distances," Bradley explained motioning towards the dummies.
"Fine," Ayame nodded as she drew a kunai and took her position.
"Alright Ayame, on 3...2...1, attack!"
Ayame drove her kunai into the chest of the close range target before pulling it out and driving the dagger into its throat. She then drew another kunai and chucked it into the throat of the mid-range target before drawing another and chucking it into the face of her last target.
"Dead on precision," Dr. Kaiser commented as he stepped up to examine the targets, "Your first strike is actually going between this guy's ribs and is piercing his heart for an instant kill. Your second strike wouldn't have been necessary, but this too would have been an instant kill as you stabbed right into his carotid."
The trauma doctor then made his way over to examine the ranged targets, "With your mid-ranged target, you are scoring a direct hit on his windpipe for another instant kill and your last guy has this kunai going through his eye and piercing his brain. You are 3 for 3. Good job!"
"The Azuma pride ourselves on precision. When we strike, we expect it to be a kill," Ayame spoke.
"A well-trained Assassin like Edward would know to expect anything. Whether you try striking him from close or afar, he will know how to respond and when he finds Rikimaru, the consequences will be deadly," Adewale replied.
Both short ranged weapons showed off their killing potential, but where do our panelists stand?
"For me it's all about the versatility of the kunai. It can be used for both up close and ranged combat, whereas the hidden blade requires the user to be much closer and works best with the element of surprise. Edge Rikimaru," Bradley started.
"I disagree. While you make some good points with the kunai, the hidden blade has the advantage of getting more force behind a strike than an average dagger due to its placement on the user's arm that allows the user to stab with a palm strike. Not only that, the hidden blade is longer, it brings the element of surprise, and it's harder to disarm the user given it's strapped to the user's arm. I feel tempted to call this even," Dr. Kaiser countered.
The tiebreaker would fall down to Eddie.
"Doc brings up some good points. The hidden blade has proven its effectiveness for centuries, yet the kunai is effective at more ranges. I'm siding with Doc on this one. Even," Eddie concluded.
In short range weapons, our warriors are even.
Coming up, a weapon passed down through the Azuma Clan for centuries takes on an iconic pirate sword.
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Edward Kenway, the pirate, and Rikimaru, the ninja, both warriors who are confident in their vastly different approaches to battle.
"A drunken pirate is no match for a truly skilled ninja. Rikimaru would blend in with the shadows and then swipe in when Kenway least expected it," Ayame spoke.
"What is a ninja once they are exposed? Nothing! Edward would hunt high and low for this Rikimaru fella and would drag him kicking and screaming into the open before finishing him off," Anne spoke.
When both combatants engaged their enemies in a face-to-face duel, they relied upon trusted blades to cut them down.
For Rikimaru, he trusted a specific ninjato that was utilized by the Azuma Ninja Masters for countless generations, the Izayoi.
(Rikimaru is shown decapitating a Blue Jonin ninja with a lightning fast slice from the Izayoi.)
Izayoi
Length: 34 in.
Weight: 2 lbs.
Material: Steel
"The Izayoi is a sign of the Ninja Master's office and a deeply important historical artifact of our clan, this is a replica of the very sword passed down to me when Azuma Shiunsai named me Master Ninja," Tatsumaru said showing a replica ninjato to the panelists, "It has been damaged and reforged numerous times, yet was believed to possess a magical durability that enabled it to serve our masters for so long."
"Even if it's only a replica, it has still been crafted to the specifications provided by our research and now we want to see what a legendary sword would be capable of doing," Bradley said before motioning towards two targets, one a suspended pig carcass and the other a hooded gel torso with armor on underneath, "First up, we want to see how effective this blade would be against an unarmored target represented by the pig. Next, we have a gel torso wearing the hardened leather armor worn by Edward in battle to see how effective your blade can be against body armor."
"It's nothing new for us, but very well," Tatsumaru said taking his position.
"Tatsumaru, on 3...2...1, cut 'em up!"
Tatsumaru let out a war cry as he launched himself at the pig and delivered a brutal slash to its abdomen before following up with a thrust to the pig's chest.
With the pig dispatched, Tatsumaru turned his attention to the armored target and thrusts his sword through its chest, driving it through and pulling it out covered in blood. Without having broken a sweat, the ninja pulls out a cloth and wipes the fake blood from his blade before sheathing it.
"Once again, you are making my job pretty easy here," Dr. Kaiser said approaching the pig carcass and inspecting the deep gash, "Your blade went deep enough to nearly disembowel this guy. He'd be bleeding out within seconds as he struggles to hold his guts in. Your second shot wouldn't have been necessary, yet you chose to prolong his suffering with a shot that pierced his aorta for another rapid bleed out."
He then made his way over to inspect the armored target and probed the opening with his gloved hand, "I'm feeling broken ribs here and going further...the heart has been pierced for another kill."
"We are used to fighting armored samurai. The straight blade is optimal for piercing their lamellar," Tatsumaru nodded.
"Edward was fighting on a daily basis whether it was Templars or the Royal Navy. He'd be ready for your friend and he'd have just the sword to take him down with," Anne spoke up.
Whether on land or by sea, Edward carried into battle the signature sword of piracy, the Cutlass.
(Edward is shown parrying an attack by a British sailor before forcing him backward and then driving his blade through the man's gut.)
Cutlass
Length: 3 ft.
Weight: 3 lbs.
Material: Steel
"This blade brings a perfect balance of speed, maneuverability, and power," Anne said before giving a few practice slashes and then a thrust, "It allows for reach, is strong enough to hack through ropes, canvas and wood, and yet small enough for when you're fighting on the crowded deck of a ship. Plus, this has an armored handle I can use for blocking blows, or punching enemies."
"For this test, we are simulating a battle on the crowded deck of a pirate ship," Bradley said motioning to slabs of beef suspended around him, "Here we have three enemies charging you from all angles and you are to do whatever you can to subdue them."
"You can count on it," Anne said taking her position in the center.
"Then on 3...2...1, slash 'em up!"
The first slab of beef was sent zooming towards Anne, who spun around and slashed her sword into the slab, just before the second slab came charging at her and she shot her sword outward, jamming it into the slab. The third slab zoomed towards Anne faster than the others, but she held it off by shooting her fist outward and striking it with the knuckle grip before delivering two rapid fire slashes into it.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done, running his fingers along each of the deep grooves.
"There is significant penetration achieved with this blade. You are making it past the ribs and going deep enough to hit lungs and in one case, nick the heart. Your stabbing attack went all the way through your second target and pierced the heart for an instant kill. Altogether you had 3 kills," the good doctor reported.
"Plus you've got tht knuckle grip too that can act sort of like brass knuckles as we saw with your third target," Eddie commented.
"Not like that would matter much in the end," Tatsumaru piped in, to whitch Anne simply scoffed.
Both blades cut down their targets where they stood, but where do our panelists stand?
"Both these blades are of similar length and one-sided, and able to stab and slash, but for me the addition of the cutlass' knuckle guard gives them the added protection they needed in battle. Edge cutlass," Bradley started.
"You also have to take into consideration that Edward came from a time in history where he would have had access to superior steel working that would have given him a more dependable blade, whereas the Izayoi had sustained damage and needed to be reforged multiple times. Edge Edward," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"I'm in agreement. I thought this would be a fairly even matchup, but that extra little factor of the cutlass' knuckle guard inches it across the finish line. More protection and an extra means of attack. Edge Edward," Eddie concluded.
In mid-ranged weapons, Edward Kenway takes the edge with the Cutlass.
Coming up, an early pistol goes up against a sneaky ninja combination in a long ranged shootout.
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The time has now come for both warriors to unleash their long ranged arsenals.
For Edward Kenway, he carried an early single-shot firearm that laid the lethal foundation for all modern guns, the Flintlock Pistol.
(Edward is shown dropping a pirate hunter with a shot from a flintlock pistol before quickly drawing another pistol to drop a second hunter.)
Flintlock Pistol
Length: 16 in.
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Material: Wood and Iron
Cartridge: .50 caliber ball
"Edward always carried four of these on his person at all times," Anne explained showing off one of her pistols to the panelists, "He didn't have the luxury of reloading in the heat of battle, so he always kept these loaded, ready to draw and fire in quick succession."
"You've got 4 pistols, but we've got 5 targets charging you at once," Bradley said motioning towards the 5 foam targets set up at a distance, "We want to test the damage and accuracy of your pistols and then after you've fired your fourth shot, we want to test your reload time before you take your last."
"Heh, piece of cake!" Anne said taking her position and drawing a pistol.
"Then on 3...2...1, open fire!"
Anne fired her first shot into the chest of her first target before quickly drawing her second pistol and firing a shot into its gut. She drew her third pistol and fired, yet her shot only struck the foam target in its shoulder. She then drew her fourth pistol and hit her last target square in the face. With her pistols emptied, only the final target remained. She proceeded to reload the pistol, a process which took her 15 seconds, before she took aim and fired her final shot into the last target's chest.
"Done!" she called back.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over and examined the damage.
"Wow, this is freakishly unreal how much damage you did. On 3 of your targets you had instant kill shots, but with your shot to the gut it's a mortal wound and with your shot to the shoulder, you'd be rendering his arm useless, but he could still fight back," the doctor concluded.
"I also didn't like the reload time," Eddie piped in, "That's a lot of time you're taking to load just one more shot, especially under the circumstances which Edward and his men fought. What's to stop another pirate or ninja from attacking?"
"Ha! Whoever said pirates fight fair to begin with?" Anne chuckled, "That's why we have more than one gun on us. Don't think too many ninjas would expect that."
"Well ninjas can be just as dirty if we have to be and we've got our silent killers that your buddies would never hear," Ayame spoke.
To answer Edward's challenge, Rikimaru responds with a one-two punch consisting of the Fukiya and the Explosive Arrow.
(Rikimaru is shown taking his fukiya and shooting a poisoned dart into the exposed neck of a guard before another approaches, only to be met by an arrow tossed into his armored torso that explodes upon impact.)
Fukiya
Length: 20 in.
Weight: Under 1 lb.
Material: Bamboo
Ammo: Poisoned Darts
Explosive Arrow
Length: 18 in.
Weight: Under 1 lb.
Material: Wood, Iron and Feather
"This is what we used to shoot poisoned darts at our targets," Ayame said holding the hollowed out bamboo tube for the panelists to see, "We use darts tipped with the toxins from puffer fish. We can also use these as an improvised snorkel when hiding underwater."
"Good luck getting one of those past Edward's armor," Anne commented.
Ayame then reached into her pouch and pulled out an arrow much to the surprise of the panelists, "Fortunately, the Azuma always come into battle prepared. Dealing with armored enemies is nothing new to us and here we have an equalizer that allows us to get past that."
"Well then we want to see what both of your weapons can do," Bradley said motioning towards two armored gel torsos, "First up, we want to see the Fukiya in action and then on your second target, the exploding arrow."
Ayame nodded and took her position.
Putting the blowgun to her lips, she fired her first arrow into the dummy's neck, before loading a second and firing it into the dummy's left arm, and finished by firing another into its right arm.
With her first target deal with, Ayame pulled out her arrow and ignited the gunpowder on the end before tossing it into the second dummy's chest, resulting in an explosion that knocked the target flat onto its back and left it smoldering afterward.
Dr. Kaiser waited for a staff member to come over and douse the flames still covering the second target before making his way over and examining the first target, pulling out the darts one by one.
"None of these darts are striking vital areas and under normal circumstances, a target struck by them would only feel a small annoying prick. All would seem harmless at first, until the toxin kicks in and then he slowly wastes away as it courses through his system," Dr. Kaiser commented.
"Some decent accuracy too for a weapon you have to blow into, even if the range isn't the best," Eddie added.
"We would be trained to aim for the most vulnerable areas not covered by any armor," Ayame replied.
Dr. Kaiser then made his way over to the charred remnants of the second target, "Given the armor this guy was wearing, the arrow's sharpened tip likely would have done very little damage to him, that is until the added surprise kicked in. It seems in this case it was the concussive force of the blast that killed him."
"Either way, we are prepared. If an enemy is wearing armor, we'll still find a way to get around that," Ayame spoke.
"But you can't aim either of the bloody things. It's only falling down to luck alone to make those work," Anne commented before drawing her flintlock, "It takes actual skill to use one of these."
"But we carry multiple darts and arrows at a time, plus they don't have the long reload time your pistols have. While you're reloading, we're either killing you discreetly with poison, or blowing you up with our rigged arrows," Ayame countered.
Both long ranged weapons showed off their vastly different ways of killing, but where do our panelists stand?
"While Rikimaru has two different means of taking out an enemy with his two different weapons, the power alone of the flintlock still wins out for me in the end. The poison from the Fukiya takes time to take effect, whereas the arrow's immediate effects can vary based upon contact with the target. With the pistols, if they connect you have instant 'Bam! He's dead!'" Bradley started.
"Edward compensates by carrying more than one pistol at a time. Plus, his pistol requires skill to use effectively, whereas the blowgun and the arrow are harder to aim and the user is relying more so upon luck. Edge Edward," Dr. Kaiser seconded.
"Granted Rikimaru does have more options and Edward's pistol has that nasty reload time, Edward still has more power, range and dependability on his side. Edge Edward," Eddie concluded.
In long range weapons, Edward Kenway takes the edge with the Flintlock Pistols.
Coming up, its sneaky versus explosive as special weapons are brought into play.
And then later, it's Edward Kenway vs. Rikimaru in a duel to decide who is "The Fictional Deadliest Warrior!"
XXXXXX
The time has now come for both warriors to unveil their special weapons.
When Rikimaru needed to deal with more than one enemy at once, he relied upon the Grenade to blow his enemies to bits.
(Rikimaru is shown tossing a grenade into a group of Manji Cultists, blowing them to bits.)
Grenade
Length: 3 in. diameter
Weight: 11.5 oz.
Material: Clay, Shot, Gunpowder
"Normally the Azuma Ninja like to work in secret, but if it ever comes down to it we have these at our disposal as well," Tatsumaru said showing a grenade to the panelists.
"Always nice for wanting to send a message," Eddie nodded.
"Well here we have four guards who have converged and they need to be dealt with," Bradley said motioning towards an enclosed space with 4 suspended pig carcasses, "All of them are rigged with shock patches. If the 38G shock patch is tripped, your target is disoriented. If the 100G is tripped, he's dead. Tatsumaru, if you will so kindly do the honors?"
"Consider it done," Tatsumaru said making his way over to the enclosure, where a grenade was suspended from a cable. He pulled out a match and lit the fuse before retreating.
Four seconds later the grenade detonated and the pig carcasses were shredded.
"Not exactly what you think of when they say 'flame broiled,'" Eddie commented.
Dr. Kaiser made his way over to assess the damage done to the targets, taking time to count the lacerations he could make out and then check on the patches.
"Right away I am seeing the 100G patches tripped on 3 of your targets. These guys are just shredded beyond survival. There is one exception though. Your fourth target only has his 38G patch tripped, meaning he is left disoriented and he also has minor lacerations on him that will leave him hurt and bleeding enough to be a sitting duck. You are 3 out of 4 on this one," Dr. Kaiser concluded.
"An Assassin would have an idea of what to expect when they see you tossing something their way," Adewale spoke, "Not only that, you have a delayed fuse that would enable them to run away and seek higher ground, where they would be able to pick you off from above with their special weapon."
Answering the grenade's challenge, Edward responds with a silent killer from above, the Rope Dart.
(Edward is shown impaling a Templar operative from a distance with his rope dart, the dart going through his back.)
Rope Dart
Length: 10-16 ft.
Weight: 17 oz.
Material: Rope, Metal Dart
"Edward first received one of these from the Mentor of the West Indies Assassins," Adewale said showing the rope dart to the panelists, "We can use these to strike an enemy from afar, pull them towards us, or hang them high."
"Well then let's see what your rope dart can do and we have some 'volunteers' here to help out," Bradley said motioning to two dummies, one of whom was positioned beneath a rafter.
"No problem," Adewale replied before launching the rope dart into the nearest target, a wet tear resounding as the dart pierced its chest and he yanked it towards him.
With the first target dealt with, Adewale scaled a nearby support beam and crept along the rafter until he was standing over the second dummy before he shot the dart down and impaled his target. Not yet finished, he dropped down to the ground level and used the dummy as a counterbalance, securing the other end of the rope to the ground and hanging his victim.
"Wow, now that's definitely a first for this show," Eddie commented as he stared warily at the hanging dummy.
Dr. Kaiser knelt down to examine the first dummy, rolling it over onto its back and examining the wound left behind, "Your strike to your first target hit this guy in a lethal area, piercing his heart. Anything else would have been unnecessary. Some superior accuracy there."
He then made his way over to assess the hanged target after it was cut down by a staff member.
"You initially struck this guy in a non-lethal area, but then you wrapped the rope around his neck and are crushing his trachea, cutting off his main air way and slowly suffocating him to death. A little more pressure and you could have snapped his neck," the doctor concluded.
"It definitely brings a great psychological shock when in the midst of ambushing a hostile group," Bradley commented.
"That or just watching them being blown to bits right before your very eyes," Eddie added.
"Our weapon requires to careful hands of an expert in order to be used at its most effective," Adewale spoke.
"Ours is more damaging and can take out more than one enemy at a time," Tatsumaru countered.
Both special weapons proved their deadly effectiveness, but where do our panelists stand?
"Both of these weapons definitely have their strengths and weaknesses. The rope dart brings the element of surprise and can be used in more ways than one, but it also requires a well-trained expert to be used at its most effective. The grenade is destructive and can kill multiple enemies at once, yet it also draws unwanted attention from elsewhere and has the delayed fuse. With that being said, I'm siding with the weapon that seems easier to use, which to me is the grenade," Bradley started.
"I disagree. The grenade has the destructive power, but the rope dart can be sleek and silent, plus it offers more variety. Edge rope dart," Dr. Kaiser countered.
The tiebreaker again alls down to Eddie.
"You make some strong points, Doc, but I'm siding with Bradley on this one. Edge grenade," Eddie concluded.
In special weapons, Rikimaru takes the edge with the Grenade.
As it is with all warriors, there is a critical X-factor that makes them who they are. For Edward Kenway, it was his Eagle Vision.
"Edward always felt an extra-sensory perception, his 'Eagle Vision' as he called it. It enabled him to see where others could not and sense when enemies were nearby," Adewale explained.
For Rikimaru, it was the supernatural connection he derived from Izayoi.
"Izayoi was said to possess magical abilities, which I too felt in the brief period I carried it. Any who carried it left a piece of themselves with it and in turn empowered those who carried it after them, making that warrior even more dangerous in battle," Tatsumaru explained.
Coming up, two warriors clash in a battle to claim the title of "Fictional Deadliest Warrior!"
XXXXXX
With our testing completed 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 Edward Kenway: The hidden blade, the Cutlass, the Flintlock Pistol and the Rope Dart.
On the opposite side, 5 weapons used by Rikimaru were tested: the Kunai, Izayoi, the Fukiya and Explosive Arrow combo, and the Grenade.
In short range weapons, the concealable nature and deadly effectiveness of the Hidden Blade allowed it to match up to the versatility and range of the Kunai.
EDGE: Even
In mid-ranged weapons, the Cutlass cut down the Izayoi.
EDGE: Edward Kenway
In long ranged weapons, the power of the Flintlock Pistol allowed it to withstand the one-two punch of the Fukiya and Explosive Arrow.
EDGE: Edward Kenway
And lastly, the Grenade vaporized the Rope Dart.
EDGE: Rikimaru
Our scientists and weapons experts are done with their 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 sneaky, lethal warriors?
Pirate
(Edward and his men storm a Spanish galleon and cut down the crew in a flurry of gunfire and steel.)
vs. Ninja
(Rikimaru drops behind a palace guard and cuts him down before he can react.)
Stealth
(Rikimaru creeps along a corridor before employing a disguise to casually walk past a rival ninja.)
vs. Agility
(Edward is shown free running along the railing of his ship to avoid musket blasts from British soldiers.)
Fighting for Wealth
(Edward and his crew members are shown looting a warehouse.)
vs. Fighting for Justice
(Rikimaru stands over a corrupt merchant who is begging for mercy before cutting him down with Izayoi.)
"It's Pirate vs. Ninja! What more could you want? Time to find out who is better," Eddie asked before starting the simulation.
XXXXXX
The battle takes us to an unnamed Japanese port town where the pirate ship called the Jackdaw has dropped anchor.
Night has fallen and a lone figure stands on a nearby rooftop observing the foreign vessel for any signs of life.
He is Rikimaru, master ninja of the Azuma Ninja Clan, and he is investigating reports of pirates causing trouble in the area. He is equipped for battle with the trusted ninjato Izayoi strapped to his back, in addition to a variety of weapons in the pouches on his person.
So far he sees nothing, yet his gut tells him otherwise and he makes his way toward the ship, leaping between rooftops to get over there.
Meanwhile, the Jackdaw's captain Edward Kenway sits alone in his personal quarters aboard the ship as he checks over a large map for any signs of possibly Templar hideouts in this foreign land, while his remaining crew members have made their way into town to raid a local warehouse, desperately needing to replenish their supplies after a recent clash with Korean sailors.
This is his first time being this far into the East and the recent skirmish is only a prelude to the dangers lurking ahead.
Outside, Rikimaru is using two of his kunai to scale the Jackdaw's side and it isn't long before he is pulling himself onto the deck with his hand on his sword's pommel, looking around for any signs of the pirates, yet so far finding nobody present.
Inside the captain's quarters, Edward is about to pull out another map when he halted himself.
Something didn't feel right and he tapped into his Eagle Vision, the whole world awashed in shades of blue as he was able to see beyond the walls of his cabin and pick out the red figure creeping along his deck.
The captain quickly reached for his nearby cutlass, as well as a couple of rope darts and some flintlock pistols to shove into his holsters, his trusted hidden blades already concealed beneath his sleeves.
He was ready for another battle.
Having spotted no pirates on the ship's deck, Rikimaru spots the door leading to the captain's cabin and looks around for any signs of danger before quietly opening the door and making his way inside.
The space appears devoid of life as the master ninja searches for any threats. His curiosity is piqued though as he looks up to see the rooftop hatch disturbed. He shoots his grappling hook up and pulls himself through the hatch, but once again finds himself standing alone with only the sound of the crashing waves in the distance.
Until the sudden rush of wind caught his attention and Rikimaru was forced to sidestep Edward attempting to dive bomb him from above with his hidden blades extended.
The Azuma ninja spun around with his ninjato drawn and found himself standing face to face with a blond-haired man in a white hooded robe with a cutlass drawn.
The two men stared each other down before Edward swung first, his blade intercepted by Izayoi and then finding himself shoved backward. Rikimaru was next to act, delivering a swing which Edward leaned backwards to avoid. Both men again leaped towards each other and their blades clashed in a jarring clang that rattled both their bones, yet Edward was first to recover and drew a flintlock pistol, firing a shot that soared past the ninja's head.
Rikimaru was quick to recover and responded with a kunai being thrown into the pirate captain's chest, only to be blocked by the leather armor beneath his robe. Edward responded now shooting out a rope dart, yet the dart found itself embedded in a wooden barrel the ninja had rolled behind for cover, only to be snapped a second later by a swing of the Izayoi.
Edward pulled himself onto the nearby railing and began free running towards the ninja, drawing his cutlass and aiming to cut the man's head off, yet he was again met by the ninja's blade and the two men found themselves locked in a test of strength that was only broken when Rikimaru drove his elbow into Edward's stomach, the blow again absorbed by his leather armor.
Edward was winded from the blow, but was forced on the defense again as he brought his arm up to block a strike from one of Rikimaru's kunai, the blow absorbed by the bracer beneath his sleeve. He managed to shoot his cutlass out and slash into the ninja's side, prompting Rikimaru to toss a smoke ball to the ground and letting him vanish in a cloud of smoke.
This kind of trick was nothing new to Edward and he knelt low before tapping into his Eagle Vision, spotting the ninja trying to flee for cover behind some gunpowder barrels. If he shot at them he would have risked damaging the ship, so he was forced to go for higher ground again and went for another strike with his hidden blade extended, only for Rikimaru to toss a kunai that embedded itself in his upper arm and causing the captain to make a rough landing.
The Welsh pirate grunted and pushed himself back to his feet as the master ninja stood before him with Izayoi raised and ready to strike again. The two men again locked blades and found themselves in another test of strength that was now broken by Edward shooting his boot out into Rikimaru's gut and reaching for his second pistol, firing a shot that again missed the ninja and out of desperation, left the ninja tossing another kunai in his direction.
The dagger only tore through the fabric of Edward's robe and sent the Assassin reaching for another pistol, but he was caught off guard by an explosive arrow that failed to hit him, yet the following explosion knocked him from his feet and again knocked the wind out of him.
Rikimaru attempted to finish him off by stabbing his blade into his back, yet the Assassin quickly rolled out of the way and tried to trip the ninja up, but Rikimaru leaped backward and found himself in front of the railing. With a sudden roar, the pirate captain launched himself into the air and tackled the ninja, sending both men tumbling over the ledge and into the water below.
It wasn't long before a Fukiya was popping out from the water and Rikimaru was emerging on the nearby shore, battered and exhausted, but with not out of the fight just yet and with no sign of his target in sight.
He had to make sure the menace was dead and began stalking along the shoreline for any signs of him.
Edward washed up not too far away, gagging harshly as he emerged from the cold water and looking over to breathe a sight of relief when he saw his cutlass waiting nearby. He scooped it up and looked around for any signs of his mysterious attacker and spotted some buildings nearby that seemed abandoned.
On the opposite side, Rikimaru figured his enemy would be looking to take cover somewhere and noticed a home nearby and its adjacent storage building. He approached the building and peered through one of the windows to see the hooded man entering. He looked down and saw the hatch leading to a crawlspace beneath the building and he knelt down to enter, crawling beneath the floorboards until he was at the opposite side of the house and behind his enemy. He drew his blowgun and loaded a poison-tipped dart in the tube.
Yet just as he put the tube to his lips and blew, Edward spun around with one of his pistols drawn and fired a round into the ninja's arm, throwing his aim off and sending his dart into a nearby wall. The pirate drew his last pistol, but Rikimaru leaped for cover behind a wooden barrier and reached for a grenade in his side pouch, managing to light the fuse even through all the pain before chucking it in the Assassin's direction. Edward saw the explosive landing at his feet and leaped through a nearby window as it exploded behind him.
Edward hit the ground with a hard thud and frantically patted his arm as his sleeve caught fire. He pushed himself back to his feet expecting his opponent to be on his trail, but looked over to see a shadowy figure staggering away from him. He followed from a safe distance, a trail of blood marking the master ninja's path to another nearby building and readied a pistol as he listened for any signs.
Quietly making his way inside, he noticed the blood trail suddenly stopped and froze in place, only to feel a warm stinging in his back as Rikimaru leaped down from behind him and slashed into his back. The ninja then went for another high strike that was blocked by Edward's bracer before twirling his body and slashing again, this time catching the Assassin in his thigh and dropping him to knee.
Things were getting dire for the Welshman as he looked up through gritted teeth to see the master ninja raising his ninjato high above his head ready for the killing blow. Remembering his final loaded pistol, he quickly drew it and fired a shot that caught Rikimaru in the stomach.
The ninja let out a loud gasp as he staggered backwards, coughing up blood beneath his mask. With another rope dart on hand, the Assassin shot it outward and caught Rikimaru in his already wounded midsection, causing him to cry out in pain before he was yanked towards the Welshman, who in turn drove his waiting hidden blade through the ninja's heart.
Edward stood tall over his fallen foe and watched quietly as the blood pooled around him. He was about to leave when a wooden chest nestled in the corner suddenly caught his attention.
He knelt down and used his hidden blade to jimmy the lock open, finding it filled with golden coins and precious jewels.
"Seems this trip wasn't a waste after all," he remarked.
XXXXXX
Winner: Edward Kenway
Edward Kenway:
Hidden Blade: 83
Cutlass: 223
Flintlock Pistol: 148
Rope Dart: 64
Total: 518
Rikimaru:
Kunai: 106
Izayoi: 203
Fukiya: 4
Explosive Arrow: 31
Ceramic Grenade: 138
Total: 482
"It was another close battle, but in the end, Edward largely prevailed thanks in part to the better steelworking that came with his cutlass and the power of his flintlock pistol. The X-factor brought by his Eagle Vision also played a major role.
"Rikimaru still proved to be a deadly challenger thanks in part to his diverse ninja training and the versatility of his kunai, along with the explosive power of his grenade that were able to score more kills in their categories over Edward's weapons," Bradley concluded.
"Your advanced technology doesn't know anything. Rikimaru would have cut down this Kenway fellow in an actual fight," Ayame grunted.
"You'd think Rikimaru woulda' known not to bring a knife to a gun fight, but he did and look where that got 'im," Anne smirked.
(Edward is shown aboard the Jackdaw, his wounds having been treated and celebrating a successful haul with Anne and the rest of his surviving crew members.)
XXXXXX
Next time on "Fictional Deadliest Warrior" two nasty brutes battle it out:
(A tall, bulky beastly figure clad in iron armor roars at the camera before swinging a large sword.)
Uruk-Hai: The bloodthirsty ravagers of Saruman who nearly brought an end to the Rohan...
vs.
(A hideous, inhuman creature clad in strange armor lets out a snarl before swinging its staff at the screen.)
Yuuzhan Vong: The vicious extra-galactic nomad who nearly destroyed the New Republic.
Who will be...THE FICTIONAL DEADLIEST WARRIOR?!
XXXXXX
Author's Notes: And so concludes yet another battle where I ended up making a lot of last minute changes, yet I still persevered and brought you a hopefully enjoyable battle, one which also allowed me to dig up a combatant from a series that is probably largely forgotten today.
I was going to make the Kodachi Rikimaru's short range weapon, but I decided against that as that was Ayame's exclusive weapon in the game. I then read about how much more versatile kunai are in real-life as opposed to how they are depicted in most mediums where they are almost always exclusively thrown weapons, yet in real-life they were often used for close ranged combat as well, thus I decided to make that Rikimaru's short range weapon.
I had it planned from the get go that I was going to give Rikimaru two long ranged weapons to try putting him on an even level with the power of the flintlock pistols and I was originally going to bring back the shurikens, but then I watched a video clip on YouTube of the side weapons used in the games and that introduced me to the explosive arrows, which I then opted to make his secondary long ranged weapon.
In "Black Flag" Edward is able to dual-wield swords, but I kept him with only one sword in this battle to keep things fair.
As for the Izayoi, I largely had to come up with specifications by myself and the limited information given on the Ninjato as portrayed on the "Deadliest Warrior" TV show.
They portray the ninjato as being more straight bladed in contrast to the katana, mostly to make it more suitable for stabbing and thrusting when pitted against the more heavily-armored samurai and their lamellar armor.
Anyways, I think that's all I have to say on that part. Edward Kenway and all Assassin's Creed characters and references are the property of Ubisoft. Rikimaru and all Tenchu characters and references are also owned by Ubisoft.
With apologies to Tench fans...those who still remain since this franchise is mostly forgotten now.
Until then, make sure to read and review and keep it FUCKING METAL!