Match 3: Russia VS America

Live Match at Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Local Time: 21:30

The curtains were rolled back to show the audience the BTV camera setup. Soar naturally took the center. "Дамы и господа... Это… The King of Fighters! Представляю вам... Team Russia!" He cheered into his microphone. Vector, Charmy, Espio, and Mighty walked onto the stage. All were met with tremendous applause by the live audience.

"And they're not alone. Позвольте представить вам… Team America!" Antoine, Bunnie, Tangle, and Whisper took the other side of the stage, being met with markedly less applause. "Немного диалога. И тогда они соревнуются! Put some subtitles on that, will you?" He stepped back as the first competitors were permitted their dialogue.

Vector and Antoine stepped forward. Vector cracked his shoulders, while Antoine drew and expanded his baton to full length.

"You're American. Why Russia?" Antoine asked. The stage operator repeated all dialogue in Russian for the audience.

"Already had you guys. Espio could have gotten us into team Japan, but they were there too. Mighty landed us here." He responded.

"Those crazy Americans." Antoine laughed.

Vector groaned. "It's time. On with the show." He ordered. They shook hands, but never looked away.

Soar separated the competitors. "Teams ready? BEGIN!"

Antoine leaped over the gap and brought his baton down on Vector's extensive snout. With his opponent's head turned down, Antoine landed a rising axe kick on the crocodile's jaw. Vector swung at Antoine and sent him to the ground with a right hook.

"You're tougher than I thought." He snarled, getting up. He charged Vector, sliding across the polished stage floor. He reached down just as Antoine got to him. He picked up Antoine by the leg and threw him across the stage, landing solidly on his knees.

"Hey, go on in." Antoine ordered to Whisper, gesturing with his baton. Whisper entered from the one sideline. Vector approached her and took an identical swing. When Whisper ducked under it, he tried a left cross. She leaned out of the way of Vector's uppercut and seized he moment. Whisper landed a hammer punch on the crocodile's lower back and sent a jab at his neck. "Char-" He coughed.

Charmy ran in as his leader recovered. He hurled himself into a dropkick, as Whisper tried to sweep his legs. He pushed her down, but was tripped upon landing. Both strikers left the scene.

Antoine had been waiting. He struck Vector immediately after he knew the strikers had eliminated the other. He landed three successful blows to the chest before Vector seized his baton. "I'm sick of you." He grunted, pulling the coyote in. Vector raised his by the neck, allowing him peak access to kick down on his snout. He tossed Antoine up and punched him square in the chest. All the air he breathed was forced out from that devastating blow.

He landed on his feet and acted quickly. Antoine dashed at his opponent, weapon swinging. He lashed Vector across the chest, then struck his arm as he prepared to punch. Using reflex, he gave Vector a new bruise every time he tried to attack. After eleven, Antoine collapsed his baton.

Vector seized Antoine with both arms and bit his right shoulder. He screamed, but dropped his weapon to the other hand. Antoine set the baton against Vector's head and pressed the expand button. Two lengths of steel crashed against the crocodile's head, knocking him out instantly. Vector fell loudly to the stage floor and did not get up, even as the entire crowd echoed the ten count. He was finished.

"Первый раунд отправляется Team America!" Soar cheered, meeting more applause than they got for their arrival. The Russian team dragged the monstrous crocodile to the sideline as they waited for him to come to. Antoine met his team backstage to celebrate and reenergize.

"And now a few minutes of rest. Antoine prepares to battle the ninja in round two. We'll see you after the break!"