Match of the Millennium

Doctor Atticus Blaine sits in his armchair before the bank of monitors in the heart of the PrimoGen BioTech research station, his glasses reflecting the cool glow of the screens as they show half of the New Fighting Generation intruders equipping themselves with gear from the gore-spattered armory while most of the other half break free from the Latino mercenary that had accosted them. The two groups meet at a junction in the corridor, encountering what appear to be two bikini models - one with purple hair, the other with a long, black braid - who have also managed to infiltrate the station. A bead of perspiration trickles down the side of his face. The sensation snaps the head researcher out of his observations, and he dabs it away with a tissue. "Imogen, has the temperature increased in here, or is it just me?" the man asks. << The average temperature in the facility has risen by two degrees Celsius in the past minute. However, I detect that your internal temperature has also risen to clinical fever levels since your injection of the Omega Serum. To answer your question more succinctly: 'No.' >> "Tell me more about the temperature increase. Are we experiencing a malfunction in the cooling mechanisms?" Atticus asks, rising from his chair with a slight limp as he takes hold of the collar of his woolen sweater and starts pulling it off over his head, leaving him in a white dress shirt, which he then starts methodically unbuttoning. << Our climate control systems are operating at full capacity and report no errors. However, seismology indicates that volcanic activity has increased. There is currently a forty-seven percent chance of eruption within the next twenty-four hours. >> "No doubt a result of our friend the fire-bird," Atticus murmurs as he strips down to a white tank top, revealing the swollen state of his biceps and torso beneath. He grimaces as a spasm runs through his body. "How are my vitals, Imogen?" he asks with a groan. << Along with your elevated internal temperature, your blood pressure has accelerated, and synaptic activity has increased dramatically. However, your breathing appears to have improved. I recommend that you consider taking a break from any stressful activities. >> "That sounds like a lovely idea," Atticus says to the artificial intelligence as he picks up a large injector from the desk next to him, examining the small biological object floating inside it. It looks like a flower waiting to bud, but as the scientist gazes at it, the flesh petals blossom open, revealing a single humanoid eye that stares back at him. Atticus doesn't flinch at the grotesque sight; instead, he sets the injector back down and takes up a bottle of disinfectant and cotton from the worktop, setting to work rubbing it on his exposed, bulging arm. "Let's hope that the added muscle mass doesn't interfere with the injection site. I remember what it was like working with fighters back in my university days," he remarks jovially. << Would you like me to request an assistant to help you with your planned procedure, Doctor Blaine? >> "No need," Atticus says as he finishes prepping his arm, then lines the needle of the injector up with a soft spot on his flesh just above the joint. "Besides, they're all dead, anyway." He purses his lips for a moment. "Imogen, play something... villainous." << Finding that for you on Karatify. >> With that, the bass line of Billie Eilish's 'bad guy' starts to play over the sound system. Atticus shrugs his shoulders. "I suppose that works," he says, before pushing the injector into his arm. As the music plays, the protean creature is forced through the needle and into the scientist's arm. He clenches his jaw as the flesh of his limb starts to roil with the parasite's movements. Soon, an eye bursts out of the scientist's bicep, and tendrils spread like veins from the ocular mutation to his hand and up through his chest. He lets out a growl as he tears the tank top off of his body, revealing that his chest is visibly thumping with each heartbeat. "Imogen..." Atticus gasps out. << Yes, Doctor Blaine? >> "...Initiate release sequence for all specimens in my personal laboratory," the doctor says as he starts to stagger down a flight of grated steel steps into the main floor of the expansive chamber, gripping onto the railing for support with the tentacles that have become his left hand. << Initializing all specimens for sequential release. Timed activation will begin in five minutes. >> "Perfect," Atticus says through clenched teeth as his body shudders with rapid mutation, his right hand reaching up to remove his glasses as he gazes up at the screens, which show the New Fighting Generation fighters approaching the door to his personal laboratory. "Just enough time for our guests to arrive." Drawing in a slow, slick breath, Atticus adds: "Imogen, set my status to 'Available.'"

-== RECORDING #15, PEAK, ZACK VOLCANO, 2:55 PM ==- Lou slides off of the Jeep and steps carefully around the various puddles and unconscious fighters covering the ring to approach Tanwen just as she's about to accept Chevy's hand, interposing between them to grab both hands and lift them up. The motion causes Tanwen to squeal as she's brought up to her feet faster than she was expecting. "Oh, wow! Hello, Mister Lou!" Tanwen says, practically dangling on her tippy-toes with the height difference as Lou presents the champions for the camera drone while the camera-medic-girls attend to Hawksley and Henry. "Hiya, girls! And congratulations on becoming our NFG Zack Island Tag Team Tournament Champions - and therefore, the new Queen and Queen of Zack Island!" Lou says with a smile for the camera behind his sunglasses. "The Queens?" Tanwen says, eyes widening. "And since Tom's not here to share his thoughts, I think he'd say that was an excellent demonstration of sportsmanship and athleticism, and you should all be proud of yourselves for overcoming so much adversity," Lou continues on, his voice wavering a little with emotion. "The Queens?!" Tanwen says, cupping her hands over her mouth as she starts to quiver. "And that he's so sorry. ...For not making it, I mean," Lou adds, choking up a little. "So, uh, did you two have anything you'd like to say to your fans?" "I'M THE DRAGON QUEEN OF ZACK ISLAND!!" Tanwen suddenly bursts out, leaping in the air and pumping her limbs. "I'm going to rename it DRAGON ISLAND! No, TANWEN ISLAND?!" "I, uhh -" Lou looks a bit lost for words as Tanwen starts running around in circles like an airplane. "I'm going to have a REAL DRAGON LAIR under a VOLCANO, I am!!" the dragon girl shouts in a high-pitched voice. "By the way, me and my granddaughter are huge fans," Lou murmurs to Chevy while the would-be viewership is distracted by Tanwen's antics. "And I am going to have SO MANY SHEEP...!" The sounds of the jubilant juvenile dragon are washed out by the sounds of helicopter blades approaching. The camera pans up to watch as Rodrigo and Sarah emerge from the vehicle via a ladder. Then, suddenly, the camera begins to shake roughly, as if something has unsteadied the cameraperson. A rumble overpowers the beating of the chopper. Ash billows into the sky, and the helicopter veers away to escape the burning plume. A reckoning is coming. -== RECORDING TERMINATED ==-

The time has finally arrived for the New Fighting Generation to face their tormentors and fight for their freedom from the hell that is Zack Island! -== BOSS BATTLE 1: AS ABOVE... ==- Atop the volcanic crest of Isla Zaca, the divine captor of the New Fighting Generation's fighters arrives to put them through one final test and a long-awaited confrontation. STAGE: Volcano PARTICIPANTS: CHEVY and TANWEN JUNKO versus HAWKSLEY and HENRY SARAH and RODRIGO -== BOSS BATTLE 2: ...SO BELOW ==- Below the volcano, a new nemesis awaits those who have stormed the laboratory and fought their way through to its core. What final experiment does the facility's diabolical head researcher have in store for his guests? STAGE: PrimoGen Research Station - Executive Office PARTICIPANTS: COCO and ROXANA ATTICUS versus BUCK and MAX BRAUN and AYALA and HOMURA -=*= EXPECT SURPRISES WITHIN THESE BATTLES! =*=- Special mechanics will be featured in each of these boss fights! Additional details will be provided by the boss players as the scenes progress! The boss players may request special +join instructions when the fight begins for clarity, so please bear with them! -=*= TIME TO GET HYPE: THE MORALE MECHANIC AND MORE =*=- Once all players have joined each fight, remember to have someone config/load RTZIBoss! This will initialize the effects of the NFG Fighters' Morale level of Resolute (36). This grants a ticking reserve bonus and a luck bonus to all NFG fighters as a result of their successes in their trials so far, allowing you to go extra ham with your specials and abilities. It will also grant access to other special 'equipment' modifiers earned in Round 4. There are no injuries after distribution of medical supplies to the participants this round, so you'll only be missing out if you forget to set this!

Greetings, doodz! For these fights, there will be NO deadline. After all, these battles will determine the fate of Zack Island, and they will need to be concluded. HOWEVER, we will be using the 24/48-Hour Rule from last season's RUMBLE. Once the scenes have been set, all participants will be expected to pose in and +join the fight in a timely manner. Once the order has been set and configurations have been loaded, participants will be expected to contact the next player in the order by tagging in scene-tag on the Discord or by @mail for players not in the Discord. That player then has 24 hours to contact me (Pringer X) via @mail or post in ?scene-tag to acknowledge receipt of their notification. After having done so, they will then have up to 48 hours after the original tagging to pose, after which they should tag the next participant. Otherwise, they will be forced to 'accept' any attacks against them and their turn will be skipped. Boss players are exempt from this rule for fight balance and because they will likely have a lot of players to react to. I'd like to thank everyone for participating so far! Once this event has concluded, an update on the NFG point standings will be provided. Good luck, have fun! - Pringer X