Pepper and Katsuobushi's Retro Game Showdown – Part 3
Bushikazzo's build character, Riel, leveraged her Rejector Armor's hovering mobility, explosive initial speed from focused propulsion, and armor-piercing capabilities at max acceleration.
Through 300 battles, Bushikazzo meticulously analyzed build stat allocations, collecting precise data. Studying A-Z's combat style, he pinpointed a weakness: A-Z's reflexes were slightly below other top gamers.
Yet, despite this insight, Bushikazzo still trailed in their win record. The true reason? A-Z's profound strategic thinking, anticipating even the slimmest possibilities, and his knack for unleashing hidden trump cards.
"Maybe he'll use a finisher as bait for a normal move, so I countered with a throw."
"If I got rushed there, I couldn't escape, so I saved stamina for a full counter."
"Even if he used a throw instead of a dash, I adjusted spacing for a gut punch to down him."
After every match, Bushikazzo asked A-Z about his pivotal choices. Each time, he witnessed A-Z's deep foresight and concealed sub-weapons. This time, Riel's Rejector Armor—switchable between arms and legs with armor-piercing at max speed—was tuned for a blindside kill, masked by dust and steam. Yet, it only shattered Nobu=Nash's left arm and leg gauntlets, failing to take out his limbs entirely.
(A-Z's mind operates one or two steps beyond my imagination. His intuition is so sharp, he rarely falls for blindsides. Gamers like him are rare.)
As a pro battling global titans, Bushikazzo enjoyed retro fighters on his off days. Two years ago, he heard a rumor: A legendary retro gamer haunts a remote arcade, overwriting every high score. Gathering intel on this gamer's playstyle, he trained in their favorite game and faced A-Z for the first time.
The result? A crushing 2-0 loss in a three-round match—a bitter, humbling defeat, only his second ever. Since then, their win rate had evened out, but A-Z's fathomless strategies remained unreadable.
"!"
On Bushikazzo's screen, Nobu=Nash stood resolute, down to one gauntlet and 40% Health, still guarding firmly. His Finishing Gauge was halfway to MAX from Level 3.
"What's wrong, Bushikazzo?" Azusa taunted. "A speed-rush character not rushing? Come on!"
Nobu=Nash beckoned with an open hand, baiting him. The goal was clear: Nobu=Nash's ultimate Level MAX move, Gashinsho Tan – Zetsugeki (Bitter Endurance – Absolute Strike), a devastating counterattack dealing damage equal to what the user endured. For a Defense- and Health-focused build at MAX, it flipped the script: though slow and dodgeable, a direct hit was a guaranteed one-shot lethal against non-tanky characters.
"I'll rush, alright," Bushikazzo said. "Winning by timeout is nonsense for a gamer. I'll crush your plan and take the win."
"That's the spirit," Azusa replied. "I'll take it all!"
Riel's left leg Rejector Armor switched to her left arm, erupting in flame and steam. Explosion Charge, when activated at Level 3 or higher, boosted Attack and Speed for the round; at MAX, it lasted the entire match. Bushikazzo fine-tuned Riel to maintain max speed, ensuring every attack carried armor-piercing power.
That meant—
"!!"
Every attack from here on would shred armor.
"Before you fire your finisher, I'm taking this round, A-Z!"
Riel's Rejector Armor unleashed a machine-gun barrage, pummeling Nobu=Nash.
"Augh, a beatdown!?" Azusa yelped.
"Is that a pseudo-Gatling Voyage!?" a spectator shouted.
"A-Z can't fight back!"
"It's over! He's done!"
The storm of Break attacks shattered Nobu=Nash's waist armor and right gauntlet, his Health dropping below 30%.
But then—
"GAUGE MAX!!!!" blared from the cabinet. Nobu=Nash's Health- and Defense-heavy build reached the counterattack threshold before being wiped out.
"Here it comes! Gauge MAX!"
"Do it, A-Z!!"
"Crush him!!"
The crowd roared, Bushikazzo braced.
Yet, A-Z didn't trigger the finisher. Nobu=Nash endured Riel's onslaught, guard unbroken.
Everyone thought A-Z had thrown the round.
(No way!)
Except Bushikazzo.
(This guy's never had a half-hearted thought! He endures, outlasts, and flips the script at the end. That's A-Z and Nobu=Nash!)
That's why—
(That's why!)
"I'm—gonna win!!" Bushikazzo shouted.
Riel's left uppercut pierced Nobu=Nash's guard, hitting his solar plexus, dropping his Health to 10%. A final right straight aimed to crush his face.
But then—
"Level 1! FINISH MOVE!"
A finisher activation sounded.
Nobu=Nash's raised torso recoiled like a spring, arms spreading to grab Riel.
(A grapple here…!? No, I can still dodge!)
Grapples moved straight, and Bushikazzo knew Nobu=Nash's Defense could tank a hit or two. So, he made Riel backstep, dodging the grapple to land the final straight.
"…Thanks, Bushikazzo."
Azusa's voice cut through, sounding like gratitude. On-screen, Nobu=Nash wore a sinister grin, like a demon king Bushikazzo knew.
"You'd take the backstep here…" Azusa said. "I believed you would."
Bushikazzo realized it. This moment, this board state, was A-Z's turning point for victory.
"Yamabiko Nekodamashi!!!!" (Echoing Cat Feint)
The supposed grapple was a Level 1 debuff move, inflicting a 2-second forced stun and 1.5x damage on the next hit.
"Level 3! FINISH MOVE!"
"Garyotensei Ippon Seoi!!!!" (Dragon's Finishing Touch – One-Arm Throw)
A high-risk throw finisher: failure exposed a massive opening, but success guaranteed devastating power. The backstep, meant to evade, was halted by the Nekodamashi's stun. Two seconds—short, yet eternal—gave Nobu=Nash ample time to seize Riel.
(Dammit, I'm done…)
Bushikazzo cursed inwardly.
From the match's start, A-Z had considered Rejector Armor's arm-switching potential. Sacrificing his arm and leg armor confirmed the gimmick. Luring Riel to equip both arms with armor, he timed the Level 1 Nekodamashi for a 2-second stun, setting up the Level 3 Garyotensei Ippon Seoi for a guaranteed one-throw kill.
As Riel was slammed back-first, her Health hit zero. The cabinet flashed "KO!!!!" and the gong rang.
"WINNER! NOBU=NASH!!!!" blazed across the screen.
Victory Forged Through Bitter Endurance
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