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RYUJI YAMAZAKI
"Two Dragons beyond the Mountain"
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Birthplace: Japan
Birthdate: August 8, 1964 (35 years old)
Height: 1.92 m (6'3")
Weight: 96 kg (209 lbs)
Blood type: A
Hobbies: Collecting knives
Favorite food: Basashi
Favorite sport: None
Most valuable: Anything that financially benefits him
Hates the most: Labor
Fighting style: Self-taught brawling skills
Ryuji Yamazaki is a man with a tormented past. Ever since he was young,
Yamazaki had no parents to look up to, so he became a dweller in the streets of
Hong Kong, trying to survive in the harsh life of the streets, escaping from the
dangers of crime and weather. That is, until Yamazaki met a very powerful man,
respected in the criminal circles of Hong Kong. Seeing a spirit and
determination in Yamazaki's eyes, this man takes the little boy with him, and
soon, Yamazaki becomes acquainted with the criminal activities that happen in
Hong Kong.
Yamazaki grew up to be the right man of this mysterious fellow. He
certainly was not wrong about him: Yamazaki sported a cunning sense of crime,
and was also very skilled in using his trusty knife, his eternal partner.
Yamazaki also likes to dress with class, and have the highest priorities. This
all changed when Yamazaki and his boss went to strike a deal with another gang.
Yamazaki felt something was terribly wrong, but his boss discarded it as a
simple premonition. Yamazaki was right, as the rival gang ambushed them, and the
results were terrible. Yamazaki's boss and benefactor, who was almost like his
father, was killed in the ambush. This turned out to be fatal for Yamazaki, who
then became a crazy, sadistic maniac, who loves to torture and make his victimes
suffer before they finally die. With his maniac laugh and dirty tricks, Yamazaki
will do anything to win, even if the opponent is killed in the outcome.
Since then, Yamazaki has worked as an assasin for hire. He has worked for
many powerful crime leaders, and they have been more than satisfied with
Yamazaki's work...even more than they expect to. That is because Yamazaki takes
pleasure in killing people and making them suffer, and his salary is not bad,
either. One day, he was signed up by the two Jin twins (Jin Chonrei and Jin
Chonshu), to protect them and the scrolls of inmortality. After that job,
Yamazaki kept working upon other people's lives. However, taking some time for
himself, Yamazaki went to a local dojo, and found a lot of competition there. He
dedicated himself to have a good time and trash the fighters. As he was having
some fun, Yamazaki was faced by Billy Kane, personal bodyguard of Geese Howard,
main crime leader of Southtown. Billy offers Yamazaki to join him and
participate in the King of Fighters tournament. Yamazaki refuses at first, but
after terribly mauling one of the warriors, he felt a adrenaline rush through
his blood. It was as if he was excited to meet some worthy fighters for him to
demolish. Feeling a need to fight and kill, Yamazaki accepts Billy's offer, and
Billy offers to Yamazaki double the amount of the prize money if he wins.
Yamazaki fights in the tournament, and both Billy and Blue Mary (his other
partner) notice how Yamazaki goes more and more berserk. His thirst for blood
becomes more and more uncontrollable. He is seemed to be lured by something, and
when the Orochi New Face Team finally appears, they reveal that Yamazaki is of
Orochi blood! That surely explains his violent attitude and pleasure in killing.
However, Yamazaki refuses to obey the Orochi as he does not like to follow other
person's orders. However, after the tournament, the Orochi blood in Yamazaki's
veins finally awakens, and goes to Geese's office to demand his pay!
Yamazaki is a man propense towards violence, and loves to kill his
opponents with sadism. He even doesn't care if he takes a hit or two to make the
opponent suffer! He loves to use dirty tricks such as wielding his sharp knife
and kicking sand in the opponent's eyes. He also works only for those who can
reach his price. However, far beyond the money, Yamazaki loves the smell of
blood and the sound of broken bones!
*Fun fact = Yamazaki, after KOF '97, does not seem to adopt a Riot of Blood form
like Iori and Leona do. Maybe it is because he is so familiar to violence that
he has already adopted his Orochi blood as part of himself?
Appearances: The King of Fighters '97, The King of Fighters '98
Other games: Fatal Fury 3: Road to Final Victory, Real Bout: Fatal Fury, Real
Bout: Fatal Fury Special, Real Bout: Fatal Fury 2
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