Match of the Millennium

As the broadcast goes live, Lou and Tom are standing in the NFG studio on either side of a screen displaying the logo. LOU: "Ladies, gents, and all of our other friends, we're back with your latest NFG rundown!" TOM: "Yes indeed! We decided to make like sick babies and change up the formula!" LOU: "That's right! We're flipping the script on - wait, what? Sick babies?" TOM: "Yes, Tom. You know, if a baby was sick, you'd change its formula. I thought it seemed like the kind of thing you might say, since we decided to swap roles here and keep things fresh." LOU: "Tom, I'd never invoke infant illness for a bit of clever wordplay. I'm not tasteless. Now, let's make like Ichika's dad and take a closer look at the fights from round one of the finals!" The screen shows a close-up of Ichika's dad taking interest in his daughter's match with Djamila from the first round of the pre-season tournament. TOM: "Thanks for getting me back on track, Lou. Now, shall we start with Braun versus Zarine?" LOU: "Well, we kind of have to by default, don't we? I mean..." TOM: "Oh, yes. The New Fighting Generation would like to apologize for Hated R's absence from his scheduled match. It appears that after travelling to Toronto for a gig the night before the match, Hated R was held up at the border when he declared his nationality as 'Canadian-Americano.'" LOU: "A true slap in the face for Canadian-Americanos everywhere. That means we got Junko movin' forward to the next round by default." -=*=- RUNDOWN: BRAUN VERSUS ZARINE -=*=- TOM: "As for our other first-round match, it was a case of beastman versus vampire." LOU: "The classic. Werewolves and vampires have been enemies since the dawn of horror cinema." TOM: "Have they? I thought that whole thing started with Twilight." LOU: "In fact, they're rumoured to have been nemeses even longer than that, but here, Team Jacob fans finally got the win they were hoping for." TOM: "This was probably one of the best highlight moments of a brutally short match." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- Braun looks up, instinct and speed alone saving him, as the first of Zarine's strikes come hurtling inward like the twinkle of an eye. His claws catch the sword as it comes in, turning it aside with a sparks flying and chi crackling like red lightning against the red ribbons of her own roaring fury.. Again and again he swings, blocking and redirecting her attacks before finally ducking to the side in a sudden flash of movement that seems to almost cause his body to disappear and then reappear again in an explosive burst of force. The ring shakes as a shockwave rings out from his movements as he slides to a stop and then drags both of his massive arms up infront of him, crossing them over each other and then splaying them back out once more in a wild burst of movement that rips a jagged tear of 'X' shaped bestial chi into the air and launches it violently across the mat towards Zarine. He bursts right into movement after it, once again flashing with speeds that defy his massive frame. His mane like hair crackles red as his body seems to enlarge in size, growing into amore vast almost battle-form like visage as he tries to cross her up with his previous assault. His gigantic arm lunges down and then up again as he leaps going into a wild spinning upper cut that drags yet more of that wild raging energy behind it as he spirals upwards with the vampire ideally caught between the rapid fire asault. COMBATSYS: Braun successfully hits Zarine with Sky-Rending Claw. COMBATSYS: Braun blitzes into action and acts again! COMBATSYS: Zarine parries Braun's Whirlwind Fang! Blocked again. Claws meet blade sending red arcs of power off and to ground into the posts of the ring. Zarine grits her teeth and takes a hop back to get a little space. Some room to breathe if she actually needed to. Red eyes narrow as she watches what he does. She can feel the buildup of power. It tickles her nose. The shockwave from his movement catches her off guard and she wobbles, which is enough time for him to launch the ragged X of power her way unmolested. She brings her blade up to try and intercept, but she's not fast enough. The burning chi consumes her and she howls, hair rising in wisps from the static, her skin darkening and cracking almost like it's real fire. An undead ruin, her beauty and poise have been shredded by the wave of power. She's not finished, though. He follows up, hurtling across the ring like a hunting cat. No fear, all ruthless, efficient aggression. Her eyes glow balefuly as she moves as well. He grows, or at least seems to, as he comes, and she surges to meet him.Her blade meets his massive hands with a flash of power, and she's launched upward, batting aside his strikes even as she rides the vertical momentum. Her free hand lashes out to the side, drawing in some of his crimson power even as some of her own blood emerges to mingle with it, forming a crackling red blade of sanguine power. She ascends even further as the uppercut launches, impacting upon the crossed twin blades. She spirals upwards, dress flaring almost like wings as her heels impact upon a lighting rig. She hangs for a moment, almost seeming to stick as she draws upon every last ounce of power in her blood. Her eyes burn red, both swords burst into black fire. She looks like she wants to say something, but she doesn't. Instead, her knees bend, and she rockets downwards, her launch wrenching and warping the metal of the rig. Like a bullet or a bolt of crimson and black lightning, she races downwards at Braun. Her blades are drawn back, arms crossed over her body. When she is in range, they swing in tandem once single time like a great pair of shears. They leave trails of bloody chi and black fire in their wake as they strike. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "As you alluded to previously, this ended soon after with Braun taking the win, if only just." LOU: "Yup. Nearly a double knockout! So..." TOM: "..." LOU: "...Looks like we're done early?" TOM: "Seems so." LOU: "Wanna go to yoga?" TOM: "Yeah, sure, why not?" The camera pans out to reveal that both commentators are wearing what appear to be NFG brand yoga pants. As they turn to walk off, it's revealed that Tom's say 'TASTY' on the seat, while Lou's read 'LOVERBOY.' (Continued in next post!)