Post by C̸̣̠̑̊ŗ̸̙̔͠u̵̗̾̾Z̴̗̺̿̀e̷̛͓͕̕ on Oct 19, 2022 3:58:07 GMT
Cybernetic Ninja Z
“What're you wearing,” CruZe asked, eyeballing Max Hopper's strange robe attire.
“The proper attire, guy,” Hopper replied in an upbeat voice. “And, your clothes just won’t do so put this on.” Max tossed a clump of clothing at CruZe giving him no choice but to catch it.
CruZe examined the clothes while asking, “Where exactly are we going?”
“When,” Max corrected CruZe. “Just put those clothes on then we’ll teleport down, guy.”
Upon changing, CruZe examined himself in the mirror. “I look like Sub-Zero.”
“A ninja, but close enough. Onward,” Max Hopper exclaimed before leading his stablemate through the ship to a wide space with pads on the ground that was otherworldly technology.
CruZe took his spot, standing on one of the pads as Max took a spot beside him.
“We’re ready, El Gringo Loco,” said Max into a comms device.
“You never told me when-!”
Before CruZe could finish speaking, the room flashed in a bright light, and he found himself falling to the ground on green pastures. Max Hopper appeared beside him standing. CruZe stood, dusting himself off in the process while shivering.
“I’m still not used to that shit,” he noted aloud, referring to the teleportation’s affect on his body. “I feel like I got microwaved or something.” CruZe took the moment to look around, inspecting the surrounding area. He could see a village with buildings with Asian architecture. In the distance, he could see rice paddies. “So, uh, why do I feel like I just fell into feudal Japan,” CruZe inquired while scratching his head.
“Because you did. You’ll need this,” Max tossed a very small device to CruZe which he just barely catches. “Put it in your ear.”
“What does it do,” CruZe asked as he put the device into his ear.
“Well, you’re going to need to understand what people say, guy,” Max pointed out before walking off. “Follow me.”
CruZe noticed Max was walking surprisingly fast and had to catch up with him. “Why are we here?!”
“You have a Barebones match with a ninja to prepare for so when else would be better to prepare for something like that than here and now?"
Max continued walking, but CruZe stopped a moment to think about Max’s point. A moment later, he realized Max was way ahead of him. “Hey, wait up!” CruZe sprinted after Max
It took the two champions a while to reach the village CruZe had seen earlier. Once they had arrived it was night time.
“Perfect timing,” Max Hopper noted mysteriously as they walked past farmlands just before the village.
“Perfect timing for wha-?”
Once again, CruZe's question was interrupted as a smoke bomb suddenly appeared in their path and went off. Smoke covered the area and suddenly a blue-robed figure emerged from the smoke. There was something in the figure’s hand which they crushed and flung into CruZe’s face! Whatever was inside caused his eyes to burn as he clutched at them.
Next thing CruZe knew, he was laying on the ground on his back thanks to a leg sweep. The dark figure had moved so fast that it was as if they had teleported.
CruZe couldn’t see anything, but he could hear Max's voice, “Defend yourself, CruZe!”
CruZe was able to force his eyes open through the burning just enough to see the dark figure over him with a kama in-hand coming down on him. Just as the kama’s point was about to reach his throat, it stopped.
“Well, that won’t do,” CruZe heard Max say. “If you can’t take on this ninja. How can expect to take on a Murder Ninja, guy?”
As CruZe tried to wipe whatever was in his eyes out, “You set this up,” he questioned Max angrily.
The ninja got off of CruZe and returned the kama to their belt. CruZe could then feel what he assumed was Max’s hand grip his own hand and pull him to his feet.
“What’s in my eyes,” CruZe asked through the pain.
CruZe could only make out blurry shapes thanks to the mysterious substance.
“Oh, that’s a Black Egg. It was filled with chili oil. You’ll be fine,” Max replied casually. “Now, come. We have a lot of work to do.”
“With less Black Eggs involved, I hope,” CruZe said begrudgingly while still tending to his burning eyes.
“Not likely,” Max Hopper said as he threw an arm over CruZe’s shoulder, leading him toward the village with the ninja not far behind.
Three days later...
The blue-robed ninja met with CruZe and Max Hopper after about three days of strenuous training at the village entrance.
“Aren’t you glad we came here to learn more about battling ninjas, guy? I daresay Murder Ninja won’t be prepared for you now,” Max Hopper proudly exclaimed to his partner. “He’s definitely got a big surprise coming at Fatal.”
“Yeah, this was so much fun,” CruZe said sarcastically. CruZe was bruised, cut, and his eyes were very sore from a barrage of Black Eggs.
“You whine like a little girl,” said their ninja acquaintance, their voice was surprisingly high pitch. Thanks to the device in CruZe's and Max's ears, the ninja could understand them.
“He talks,” CruZe said in surprise.
The ninja removed their mask, unveiling a strikingly beautiful Japanese woman.
“She, actually,” Max corrected CruZe.
CruZe’s eyes widened in bewilderment.
“Meet Ichika.”
“You know, usually you meet people who kick your ass before they do the ass-kicking,” CruZe said.
“Don’t be so sour, guy,” Max said in response to CruZe’s negativity. “You should be grateful to her. She’s the best ninja in this village. If you hadn’t gone through all those trials and tribulations, how else do you think you would tackle something as daunting as a Barebones Match? All of that pain will be nothing compared to what you’ve seen over these past few days.”
“I guess you've got a point,” CruZe agreed hesitantly before extending his hand to Ichika. She looked at it, confused by the gesture. “Oh,” CruZe realized why and bowed low to her.
A smile appeared on her face before she bowed back.
As they stood upright once more, CruZe spoke to her, “I hope we meet again someday. Thank you for teaching me.”
With that, The XBI members turned and walked out of the village into the sunset, leaving Ichika standing at the walls of her village.
Will CruZe's training be enough to defeat Murder Ninja at WrestleVerse Fatal? Find out on the next episode of Cybernetic Ninja Z!
The WrestleVerse logo flashed across the screen then gave way to CruZe sitting in front of the camera with the Eternal Championship over his shoulder. “Over the past couple of months, Murder Ninja and I have been allies and enemies. Let’s face it, the allies thing just wasn’t going to last. I applaud your trust in me, and we worked well as a team. Hell, we defeated Wild Things and served up KPN a loss in her only match before she gets to possibly contend for the WrestleVerse Championship. That’s saying a lot, but we weren’t ever going to be champions together, Ninja. In fact, we find ourselves at our final destination. Either I defend my title successfully against you or you walk away as the Eternal Champion.”
CruZe looked at the faceplate of his championship for a long moment. “I have to tell you, Murder Ninja. I have a lot of respect for you, but for all of the respect I have for you, I love my title that much more. You see, hot rod, I’m in the middle of something great, and I’m not quite ready to hand this over to anyone. At 5-0, I am beyond a shadow of doubt, the greatest competitor in the WrestleVerse. With all due respect to my partner Max Hopper, I’m even greater than he is, and I’m not going to let you take that away from me. A couple of weeks ago, you showed everyone and even me just how intent you are on putting a stop to my historic title reign. Again, I respect that, but you can throw all the smoke bombs you want. Hell, you can even try to bust out some Black Eggs. Point is: Whatever you do, I’m ready for it.”
“Everyone thinks the WrestleVerse Championship is what they should be reaching for, but in reality, the biggest prize in the WrestleVerse right now will be contended for in a Barebones Match. I don’t care whether I have to put you through the wood of the ring or use a piece of the turnbuckle on you, I am walking out of Fatal with my title, and not a damn thing you do will change that. Any other champion, Murder Ninja, and the story may have a different ending. But, not me. Not at Fatal. Not at Universal Studios. Reality sucks, don’t it?” CruZe stood up and walked away with the Eternal Championship still on his shoulder as the scene faded.
