Death Battle Arena: Zero

DEATH BATTLE ARENA
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Name: Zero
Age: Unknown
Race: Reploid
Title: The Maverick Hunter

Bio: Created by Dr. Wily, Zero originally went rogue after a virus infected his systems, causing him to attack his own creator. After a century-long stasis, he fought and was brought down by Commander Sigma. In a strange twist of fate, however, Zero's own virus jumped to Sigma and resulted in them swapping morality codes. Free of his evil coding, Zero proved a valuable ally against the forces of evil, now with Sigma among their ranks, and has put his incredible fighting skills to the test against them.

Costume 1: Traditional Megaman X Appearance
Costume 2: Megaman Zero Series appearance
Costume 3: Zero.exe
Costume 4: Megaman X color scheme
Costume 5: Black Armor Zero

Voice Actor: Johnny Yong Bosch

Playstyle: Maverick Cutter (Rushdown/Combo-Heavy)
Zero's sword skills are perfect for a Rushdown-style--pushing opponents to a corner and maintaining pressure until they break. He also has good coverage on all manner of ranges, but a lot of his more unique specials require specific inputs, timing, and knowledge on hitboxes to be truly-effective. His combo potential is high and his moveset is versatile, but the moves on their own don't do a lot of damage, making Zero somewhat high-risk-high-reward.
Difficulty - 4/5 (Mildly-Difficult)

Normals:
Standing Light Punch: Does a vertical high-to-low slash of his saber.
Standing Medium Punch: Thrusts his saber forward.
Standing Heavy Punch: Swings down hard in an overhead chop that hits the opponent more than once.
Standing Light Kick: A forward snap-kick.
Standing Medium Kick: Spins to kick high at the opponent's head with his heel.
Standing Heavy Kick: Punts with one leg, then thrusts with the other.
Air Light Punch: Stabs forward with his saber.
Air Medium Punch: Swings his saber down hard.
Air Heavy Punch: Spins like a wheel, saber outstretched to hit multiple times.
Air Light Kick: Kicks forward in midair.
Air Medium Kick: Spins to kick forward with one foot and angling another kick up with the other.
Air Heavy Kick: Thrusts his feet down and at an angle, pushing the opponent downward and springing himself upward.
Crouching Light Punch: Backhands using the hilt of his saber.
Crouching Medium Punch: Swings low at the opponent's legs with his saber.
Crouching Heavy Punch: Twists his body to spin and sweep the ground with his saber, tripping unguarding opponents.
Crouching Light Kick: Kicks low at the opponent's legs.
Crouching Medium Kick: Leans back and kicks at the opponent's midsection with the sole of his foot.
Crouching Heavy Kick: Slides across the ground, foot extended, to trip unguarding opponents.

Special Attacks:
-Z Buster: By holding down an attack button, Zero can charge a powerful blaster in his right arm. When the button is released, he'll fire the blast, its strength based on its color (Blue=weak, Green=average, Red=strong).

-Hadangeki: Zero slashes with his Z-Saber, creating a wave of green energy. Heavy variant creates two waves instead of just one.

-Sentsuizan: Midair Move. Zero plummets to the ground, going either straight or down at an angle to strike grounded or falling foes.

-Hienkyaku: Zero dashes towards the opponent fast enough to leave after-images. Not offensive, but good for mix-up strategies and maneuvers. In midair, can send him straight down.

-Ryuenjin: Zero lights his Z-Saber on fire and springs up in a spiraling uppercut.

-Raikousen: Midair Move. Zero flies forward, sword poised to thrust and laced with lightning.

Throws
FORWARD: Zero grabs the opponent, puts his Z-Buster up to their gut, then blasts them.

BACKWARD: Zero maneuvers behind the opponent, then hacks them in the back with his Z-Saber.

Super Moves:
-Rekkoha: Zero charges his fully-charged Z-Buster and rains down multiple pillars of rainbow-colored energy. Does devastating damage if unblocked, but it has a limited effective range--only a short distance around Zero. If the opponent stays out of that range, the move will miss.

-Sougenmu: Zero creates a grayscale copy of himself that will follow him and mimic his moves, allowing him to land more hits and inflict more damage to the opponent. The downside is that it can't imitate special/super moves and vanishes after a few seconds.

-Absolute Zero: Zero becomes consumed by a sparking, violet sphere and turns into a new form with dark armor, batlike wings, and wicked claws. In this state, he becomes vastly stronger and faster than his base form and his Specials cover more area. He can also fly to allow better air-control. It fades after a few seconds, leaving Zero vulnerable for a few seconds.
*Calamitous Arts: Available only when in Absolute Zero mode, Zero rushes the opponent and swings with his claws. If he connects, he will drag the opponent into the air and unleash a barrage of lightning-fast dash-attacks from every direction, then raises his arms over his head and slams through the opponent, letting them fall after he touches down. Turns back to normal after its execution.


FATALITIES:
-Mark of Zero: Zero ignites his Z-Saber, then slashes three times in a "Z" pattern. The opponent seems taken aback and shocked at what happened until Zero deactivates his blade and turns away. When he does, the "Z" patterned cut burns bright on their body, causing the head to fall off, the torso to fall in half, and the legs to fall off at the thigh.

-Split Second: Zero closes his eyes, then snaps them open and takes a curving, vertical swipe with his Z-Saber. He turns his back on the opponent, deactivates the blade and sheathes it on his back. Just as he fully sheathes it, the opponent's eyes roll upward and a long, bloody gash shoots down the center of their body before the opponent falls in half.

FRIENDSHIP: Divide By Zero
Zero dons a pair of coke-bottle glasses and run off-stage to wheel in a chalkboard. He showcases three simple mathematic equations with a pointer (2+2=4, 4-7=-3, 5x3=15), but then he gets to a division equation of 0/0=?. He looks around nervously at first, but then he takes out his Z-Saber and slices the chalkboard into two (a pun of showcasing REAL division) before he turns to the camera while shrugging his arms and sporting a sheepish grin.


Intro: A red beam of energy hits the ground to reveal Zero with his back turned. He casts a glance at his opponent, then takes a combat stance.

Outro: Zero nods in a determined fashion, then turns his back on the camera and disappears in a beam of red energy.

Intro Quotes: "I won't even need my sword to beat you."
"This will be over in a nanosecond."
"Beginning mission..."

Outro Quotes: "Mission completed."
"Target eliminated. Returning to base."
"I expected a challenge."

Special Character Intros:
(vs. Metal Sonic) "When will you learn?"
(vs. Boba Fett or Samus) "I'm a different kind of hunter."
(vs. Bomberman) "After all the damage you caused, you expect me to believe you're not a Maverick?"
(vs. Vegeta) "Are all Saiyans as arrogant as you?"
(vs. Shadow) "You're the ultimate life form? I'll keep my guard, then."
(vs. any Giant Robot) "Found a Maverick. I'll take care of it!"
(vs. Sonic or Archieverse Sonic) "You look like...Are you what HE was based on?"
(vs. Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan or Yoda) "Let's test your saber-skills."
(vs. Eggman) "You'll never take me alive."
(vs. Wily) "I may be your creation, but I'm not on your side."
(vs. Bass) "Another soulless copy."
(vs. Peach) "Huh? Are you in trouble, ma'am?"
(vs. Link or Ichigo) "You sound familiar. Have we met before?"
(vs. Cloud) "I sense that you're carrying your own burden."
(vs. Strider Hiryu) "The legendary Strider is a human?"
(vs. Robocop, Fulgore, or Android 18) "Something's different about this Reploid..."
(vs. Captain America) "Stop lecturing and show me what you got."
(vs. Raiden) "A reploid-? No, wait...you're human?"
(vs. Mega Man) "X? Wait...you're not him."
(vs. Zoro) "Show me your skills, swordsman."
(vs. Nathan Drake or Frank West) "A civilian? Here?"
(vs. Ultron) "You beat Sigma...and yet you're a bigger monster."
(vs. Sigma) "I'll send you to hell again and again, Sigma!"
(vs. Megaman X) "It's good to see you, old friend. Don't hold back!"
(vs. Megaman.EXE, Volnutt or Star Force Megaman) "How many versions of X are there?"
(vs. Dracula, Magneto, or Alex Mercer) "Your tragedy doesn't excuse your actions. Not in the slightest."
(vs. Static or Cole MacGrath) "It takes a lot of voltage to short-circuit me."
(vs. Genos) "You're better than you think you are. Let me show you."
(vs. Cable or Booster Gold) "I don't remember seeing you in my time period..."
(vs. Oni) "There's only one merciful fate for you now..."
(vs. Excalibur) "The future will fall to ruin? I'll do all I can to prevent it!"

Special Character Outros:
(vs. Metal Sonic) "For all your 'superiority', you're not unstoppable."
(vs. Boba Fett or Samus) "I have better things to fight for than money."
(vs. Donatello or Tails) "If you're smart as you say, maybe you can destroy the Sigma Virus?"
(vs. Bomberman) "Everything around you is frailer than you think."
(vs. Shadow) "Seems we both have much to atone for."
(vs. Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan or Yoda) "Your swordsmanship is sloppy.
(vs. any Giant Robot) "Target destroyed."
(vs. Eggman) "Child's play, doctor. Child's play."
(vs. Wily) "I'm not bound to you. Not anymore."
(vs. Cloud) "Don't let your past define you. You're your own man."
(vs. Strider Hiryu) "To think a human can do what you can. It's admirable."
(vs. Robocop, Fulgore, or Android 18) "Hm. Nothing's changed after all."
(vs. Luigi) "You don't always have to be the sidekick. Believe me."
(vs. Captain America) "I don't need your advice. I already know all I could ever need to."
(vs. Epyon) "Fight for a better future. For your own sake, too."
(vs. Raiden) "Keep your 'ripper' in check if you want to succeed."
(vs. Mega Man) "I expected so much more from you..."
(vs. Ratchet) "Take pride. You and your friend make the galaxy safer."
(vs. Doomsday) "A creature designed solely to destroy has no place in the world."
(vs. Nathan Drake or Frank West) "You've braved a lot. But you're still a civilian."
(vs. Vergil) "Tell me, the moment you have ultimate power, what then?"
(vs. Ultron) "We always opposed Sigma. We'll oppose you too."
(vs. Sigma) "This time you're staying down for good."
(vs. Megaman X) "We can chat later. The mission awaits."
(vs. Genos) "Don't compare yourself to your master. You're your own hero."
(vs. Cable) "If Apocalypse is anything like Sigma, he must be stopped!"
(vs. Booster Gold) "If you're positive the future can be better...then I'm willing to try."
(vs. Crona) "I abandoned my initial purpose. Glad you did too."
(vs. Red Team) "That's for insulting my friend, 'Sergeant'."
(vs. Ryuko) "You're right. Life Fibers need to be eliminated."
(vs. Steven Universe) "Sometimes pacifism isn't an option, kid."
(vs. Magneto) "Your actions only serve to further the divide between man and mutant."
(vs. Predator) "The hunt is over. Give up."
(vs. Excalibur) "I'll stand and dethrone the Grineer Empire, or die trying."
(vs. Silver Surfer) "I never did thank you for guiding me through the cosmos that one time."

Stage: Maverick Hunter HQ

Theme Song: Zero's Theme from "Marvel vs. Capcom 3"

_

Prologue: In the distant future, Zero and his fellow Maverick Hunters were among the first to investigate one of the many portals dotting the world. The thoughts of it being related to the armies of Sigma or a lost relic of Wily were quickly discarded, due to the unknown nature of the energy. It might have been a trick of his optic sensors, but Zero could have sworn he saw two familiar objects--a blue robot and a doctor he had long believed dead. Wanting to make sense of it all, Zero dashed through the gateway and into the world of Death Battle. He wouldn't leave until he was victorious and had the answers he wanted.


Rival Cutscene:
(In a ruined, futuristic roadway riddled with ruined cars, a beam of red light touches down to reveal Zero, who scans the area around him for immediate danger.)

Zero: I'm no closer to answers than when I started...but what did I see back in my world? Why did that robot look like X? And that man?

(flash to a vision of Dr. Wily's silhouette)

Zero: Could that have been...my original creator?

(Out of his peripheral vision, Zero sees something coming at him at high speeds and springs into the air, letting it pass under him. When he lands, he dashes after it and swings his Z-Saber only to hit a diamond of dark energy. He backs off, saber still ignited, then the diamond dissipates, revealing a robotic hedgehog with menacing, glowing-red eyes.)

Metal Sonic: It's been a while, Maverick Hunter.

Zero: You again...

Metal Sonic: I still recall our last duel. I will not suffer another defeat to an inferior machine like you!

Zero: (readies Z-Saber) I see you haven't changed. If you're so eager to lose again, who am I to refuse?

(Metal Sonic rockets at Zero, who dashes forward, Z-Saber posed to strike. As they close in, time appears to slow to a crawl before the screen fades to black.)


Ending: Victorious over the Mastermind of Death Battle, Zero learned the truth. Wily and Mega Man were the real deal, for the portals didn't appear to just open across different realities, but back and forth through time. It gave him the answers he needed, and he could return to his timeline with some peace restored to his conscience. He recalled being offered teachings in the "Jedi Arts" by a human named Skywalker, but he politely turned him down, claiming his saber skills were already well-honed.