After the conclusion of the Round of 16 and a short intermission for players and spectators to catch their breath, the tournant moves into the intense Round of 8. The match-ups are announced, and the atmosphere in the arena is electric:
Rikimaru [Rikki] vs. Ougi [Osaka Champion - Blanka]
Hayabusa [Endo] vs. Keburu [Shiga Champion - Balrog]
Takayuki vs. Riri [Yamaguchi Champion - Vega, and notably, another female player beside Yoko]
MuSho [Yoko] vs. Inarikyo [Shizuoka Champion - Sagat]
As excitent builds, Yumi takes the stage with her usual charisma. "Alright everyone! The Best of 8 is about to begin! From now on, each match will be played one at a ti so we can all enjoy every mont! First up: Rikimaru vs. Ougi—get ready!"
Rikki steps up to the stage, calm but focused. Opposite him is Ougi, whose real na is Osamu Gin—a college student from Osaka who spends nearly every spare mont in the arcades. Despite being nearly broke, his dedication to the ga is unmatched. His story might similiar to Sakaki, Rikki’s friend and one of Bakudan Boys that now already work at ZAGE. The two shake hands in a show of sportsmanship before heading to their machines.
"Okay, fight!" the announcer calls. Rikki selects Chun-Li, his signature character, while Ougi confidently picks Blanka as expected.
From the outset, Rikki struggles. Ougi’s Blanka is an impenetrable wall of defense and counterattacks. His timing with Electric Thunder and Rolling Attack is flawless. It feels as if Ougi is reading Rikki’s mind—every advance is predicted and punished.
Rikki narrows his eyes. ’Again... that sa feeling—like my every move is being read. It’s just like facing Endo.’
Back when Rikki sparred with Endo outside of tournant play—during one of their friendly matches in their downti—he had asked Endo to pick soone other than his usual Ken. Endo agreed and chose Blanka. The way Endo played back then left a lasting impression: fast reflexes, sharp counters, and calculated aggression seems like Endo read all of his movent. But as Rikki fight against Ougi now, he can’t help but notice that Ougi’s style is eerily similar—perhaps even more refined. It’s as if Ougi has taken Endo’s approach and polished it to perfection. The resemblance is uncanny, but Ougi appears even more formidable.
The match ends in a decisive 3-0 for Ougi. Though disappointed, Rikki walks away with grace. The audience applauds him warmly. He fought well, but Ougi was simply on another level.
The next match features Endo, known as Hayabusa, facing off against Keburu and his Balrog. The match begins, and Hayabusa is ferocious. His Ken overwhelms with constant pressure. Every missed attack from Balrog is punished, and in one round, Endo achieves a perfect victory without getting hit once. The final score: 3-0. Another dominant win for Hayabusa.
The third match, Takayuki vs. Riri, is a true nail-biter. Riri, using Vega, brings finesse and precision to every jump and strike. Her mastery of Vega’s acrobatic wall-jump moves makes her a formidable opponent. Takayuki, using Ryu, finds himself in a tough matchup. Despite his best efforts, Riri takes the first round. Takayuki adapts and fights back, winning the next two rounds. The fourth round goes to Riri. In the final round, both players are down to a sliver of health. Takayuki launches a Hadoken, but Riri, with perfect timing, leaps with a Flying Barcelona Attack, soaring over the projectile and striking Ryu for the win.
The audience erupts in cheers. Takayuki smiles and offers a handshake. "You’re really strong."
Riri beams. "You too. That was fun!"
The last match of the quarterfinals pits MuSho (Yoko) against Inarikyo. Inarikyo prepares for Yoko’s usual Chun-Li... but Yoko surprises everyone by selecting Zangief. Despite her personal dislike for big, burly grappler characters, she can’t deny Zangief’s power. Her calculated and efficient use of grabs and spacing completely dismantles Inarikyo’s expectations. The match ends 3-1 in Yoko’s favor.
Inarikyo looked at the young girl, Yoko, as they shook hands. He was still processing the match—of all characters, she had chosen Zangief. That alone had thrown him completely off. The image of this petite, quiet girl commanding the screen with the burly Soviet wrestler was a sight he never saw coming. He couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief, shaking his head. "Didn’t see that coming," he muttered. "You really caught off guard."
Yoko just grinned and shrugged. she thought ’Who says a beautiful ojou-sama can’t use a character like Zangief’
Yumi returns to the stage, her energy high. "What an incredible Round of 8! Let’s take a short five-minute break before we begin the semi-finals. Here are the next match-ups!"
Hayabusa [Endo] vs. MuSho [Yoko]
Ougi [Osamu] vs. Riri
Yumi hypes the crowd even further. "We’ve got a rematch here! Hayabusa vs. MuSho! Will history repeat itself, or will MuSho turn the tables this ti? The excitent is off the charts!"
As the players prepare, Yumi announces a special guest comntator. "While our players catch their breath, please welco an expert to share insight into the upcoming matches. It’s none other than the creator of ZAGE himself—Zaboru! And no, he told not to call him the ’God of Video Gas!’"
Laughter and cheers erupt as Zaboru walks on stage, dressed flamboyantly in a Seto Kaiba cosplay, complete with a Duel Disk but still wearing his iconic Z Helt. The crowd roars in delight and the crowds thought that Zaboru really great and sucks at the sati for cosplaying.
"Hello, Yumi-san—or should I say Princess Daisy?" Zaboru teases.
Yumi chuckles. "Welco, Kaiba—uh, Boss! Let’s hear your thoughts on our semi-finalists."
Zaboru nods thoughtfully. "I won’t predict winners, but I’ll give my thoughts on their strengths and weaknesses."
"Hayabusa is a precision machine. His inputs are fast, his timing is great too one of the best i seen Ken complents his aggressive style well. But over-aggression can lead to mistakes—if his opponent can weather the storm, there’s room to punish.""MuSho is unpredictable. She showed great flexibility by switching to Zangief, which caught her opponent off guard. That kind of adaptability is powerful. However, she tends to panic when her health drops, which can cause errors in clutch monts.""Riri’s Vega is a spectacle one of the best Vega player i’ve seen. Her wall-jumping tactics are near perfect. But she relies heavily on them—if her opponent catches the pattern, it could be turned against her.""Ougi is the master of timing. the way he anticipates is great and Blanka is known best for counter attack. His reads are so sharp it’s like he lives in his opponent’s head. But that can be a weakness too. If faced with unpredictability, he might falter."
The audience is visibly impressed—the analysis is sharp, thoughtful, and surprisingly accurate. Murmurs of agreent ripple through the crowd, and more than a few heads nod in appreciation. Not only is Zaboru a brilliant creator, he’s clearly soone who studies the ga deeply and understands it on a technical and emotional level. It’s clear now that he’s not just the mind behind ZAGE’s success, but a true gar at heart. Fans are thrilled to see that the person at the helm of their favorite ga company is just as passionate and nerdy as they are.
Even though it’s already well known that Zaboru is a masterful gar—proven by his victory over Endo at the R.C. Pro AM Tournant last year—it’s still a refreshing reminder that ZAGE isn’t run by detached corporate suits. It’s led by soone who truly lives and breathes gaming. Monts like these reinforce the reason fans are so loyal to ZAGE—because its leader is right there with them, sharing the highs and lows, celebrating the ga not just as a product, but as a way of life.
As for Zaboru himself, he was absolutely thrilled watching the tournant unfold. Seeing the passion of the players, the cheers of the audience, and the intense monts that could rival any professional sports event filled him with pride and inspiration. For him, it wasn’t just about the gas—it was about community, spirit, and pushing the boundaries of what gaming could be. In that mont, he made a promise to himself and to the fans: he would turn this tournant into an annual celebration. Each year, he would strive to make it even grander, more competitive, and more unforgettable, nurturing a legacy of competitive gaming under the ZAGE banner.
Yumi smiles, turning back to the crowd. "Thanks for the analysis, Boss! Now then—let the semi-finals begin!"
The crowd roars once more as the semi-finalists take their places on stage.
To be continued...
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