"Cluny the Scourge, I have come to settle with you!"
— Matthias, Redwall (1986)
A stock phrase that is a form of Throwing Down the Gauntlet. Very common in Shōnen action series, as one would expect. Sometimes used when the speaker wants their opposition to disengage from a fight with someone else, and engage the speaker instead (for example, a Big Damn Heroes moment, to foiling a You Shall Not Pass!).
Sometimes translated literally, sometimes the translator will go for idiomatic phrases which fit the context, such as "Let's Dance" or "You're facing me now." Similar to Go Through Me, except with the implication that the user may go through you first. Compare This Is Unforgivable!, Draw Aggro. Heavily related to Bait-and-Switch Boss.
May overlap with My Name Is Inigo Montoya, I Am X, Son of Y.
Examples
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Anime and Manga
- Bleach:
- Ichigo to Jin Kariya during the Bount arc, while Yoruichi and Byakuya are also present.
- Ulquiorra does this to Ichigo when he leaves in the middle of their fight to try to stop Loly and Menoly from beating Orihime.
- Dragon Ball Z
- Used in the movie The Tree of Might. Piccolo shouts this in the Japanese version as he attacks the Big Bad Turles as he's watching his minions in combat. In the English dub, he shouts out, "This isn't a spectator sport!"
- And during the main series, while Captain Ginyu is fighting Krillin and Gohan, Jeice is about to help him, but is stopped by Vegeta.
- Gohan responds to Super Buu this way when the latter challenges Gotenks to a rematch.
- In several movies, Vegeta interrupts a fight Goku is having with the Big Bad (or outright saves him if he's about to die), mixing this trope with The Only One Allowed to Defeat You. He usually ends up worse off than Goku was.
- Gundam is keen on this, especially as most stories give the protagonist a (usually masked) rival who over time becomes obsessed with beating the lead Gundam. Possibly the most extreme example of this occurs in Gundam 00's second season with the character of Mr. Bushido (Graham Aker), who uses his One-Man Army License to completely ignore orders and standard military structure so he can fight Setsuna; he even says this phrase a couple of times when Setsuna tries to break off their duels.
- Setsuna says this to Hilling Care after destroying her BFG when the latter attempted to shoot down the Ptolemaios during the assault on Memento Mori.
- In Episode 3 of HeartCatch Pretty Cure!, Cure Marina declares this to Sasorina upon her transformation.
Come on! I'll be your opponent! Let's go!
- Attempted by Wajima in Rokudenashi Blues. Maeda gives him an Offhand Backhand for his trouble.
- Happens all the time in Naruto (episode 115 is titled after this phrase). Bad guys (and, less often, good guys) find it difficult to complete their primary mission when facing an imminent duel to the death.
- Lampshaded/parodied in a flashback to Tobi making Minato fight him instead of defending his village, said even though he's about to win instantly, amending "And... we're done!" to his declaration.
- in the beginning of Naruto: Shippuden, Akatsuki Sasori to Kankuro, to stop him from interfering with Deidara leaving with the unconcious Gaara. Sasori had to say it twice to make it take.
- Kakashi to one of Pain's bodies in order to save Iruka.
- When Naruto finally shows up to fight Pain, Tsunade refuses to stand down since it's her duty to protect the village. Pain declairs that "His business is not with her" and dismisses her by launching one of his bodies forward for a killing blow. The moment before it reaches her Naruto smashes it to pieces with a rasengan, declaring "Your business is with me!".
- In Inuyasha, Inuyasha uses it several times, Sango a couple of times. It's also frequently inverted by Naraku, who prefers, "He is your opponent."
- Negima! Magister Negi Magi: Used frequently, to the point of almost being Arc Words. For example, it was used by Yue during the "Negi lip-capture contest" in the trip to Nara and Kyoto. Said to Setsuna during the battle vs 150 summoned monsters. Said by Fate Averruncus to Negi and Asuna. Chachamaru said it, in preparation to confront Chisame. Yue used it again, when facing the griffin-dragon.
- Also used in a variation by Fate with "I am his opponent."
Tsukuyomi: I will take the boy by myself. I'm sure you'll have no issue with that.
Fate: ...That is not acceptable, Tsukuyomi.
[The entire upper half of the tower explodes]
Fate: His opponent shall be me.
- Also used in a variation by Fate with "I am his opponent."
- Night Wizard: Bell Zephyr says this to get the Big Bad to attack her rather than attacking Hiragii Renji, thus buying him time.
- Yu-Gi-Oh!: Yami Yugi uses it a few times.
- Even mentioned once in Wedding Peach, between Limone and Pluie.
- Used with a twist in One Piece. When Luffy is lying on the ground during his fight with Lucci, too exhausted to move, Usopp suddenly takes off his mask and yells at Lucci that he'll be his opponent. Luffy immediately tells Usopp that he's not strong enough to take on Lucci, and he'll finish off Lucci. Usopp replies:
Usopp: Then stand up! And don't act like you're about to die! It's not like you! Even if there are billows of smoke, we can still see the sky! We can still see the ocean! IT AIN'T LIKE IT'S HELL HERE! Don't act like you're about to die! Don't make me worry so much damnit!
- This is also done in a straighter manner from the Franky Family to Baskerville.
- Also in an early arc, when Buggy the Clown ignores his fight with Luffy to pursue Nami, Luffy reminds him of who his opponent is by kicking him in the groin.
- In the same arc, when Cabaji attempts to attack Luffy, Zoro intervenes, declaring that swordfights are for him to handle.
- There's a great one during the Whitebeard War when Shanks and his crew arrive. He calls for the battle to end, and says 'If there is anyone out there still thirsting for more...then step forward! We...will be your opponents!' Everybody immediately backs down.
- Ginrai in Transformers: Super-God Masterforce says this so often it qualifies as a catchphrase. Grand Maximus also gets in on the action once in a while.
- He also said the same phrase when he came to Star Saber's rescue in Transformers Victory.
- Arf of Lyrical Nanoha may not have used the exact words when she faced Zafira in the second season, but it had the same intent.
Arf: Our mastersnote are going to fight one on one. We'll do the same.
- Reborn! (2004): Usually said by Tsuna.
- In his fight against Xanxus, when they are watching the Guardians do some action, Tsuna reminds Xanxus that he is the opponent.
- When Uni is temporarily held hostage by the Funeral Wreaths, and... Gamma, Tazuru, and Nosaru come to save the day, but are about to lose... Tsuna comes in Hyper Dying Will Mode and with his incredibly cute and adorable Box weapon Nuts and says the near-same line.
- In Shakugan no Shana, this is a favourite phrase of the Ninja Maid, Wilhelmina, de arimasu~.
- In an episode of Transformers: Armada, Starscream says this to Optimus Prime.
- Naoe Kanetsugu tries this line on Honda Tadakatsu in Sengoku Basara's anime adaptation. It works about as well as can be expected.
- All the time in Saint Seiya, where the heroes' standard operating procedure is to run through the enemy's stronghold and face each one of his lieutenants individually. Typically, one or more of Athena's Saints will arrive at a new battleground, he'll be faced with the guardian du jour, and an ally will come along or stay behind to fight the guardian instead, letting the original Saint (mostly Seiya) continue on the mission. Sometimes with these exact words.
- And parodied in Ranma ½ The Movie, Big Trouble In Nekonron, China, where Shampoo does this exact thing to save Ranma from the lute-wielding Monron, and indeed says that she's "[Monron's] only opponent now" while Ranma and Lychee escape. But then, the entire Seven Lucky Gods sequence was a parody of Saint Seiya's Sanctuary arc.
- As if Code Geass wasn't full of Wham Moments already, a once thought to be dead Nunnally shows up and declares herself enemy to Lelouch and Suzaku, who are in the middle of the Zero Requiem. Even better: she's a wheelchaired little girl with the remote control to an arsenal of nukes.
- This is spoken word-for-word by Alita in Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, when trying to redirect the attention of the attacking Giant Mecha from innocent bystanders to herself.
- Expect to hear this often in either Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin or Ginga Densetsu Weed.
- Mazinger Z series: "Great Mazinger will be your opponent!"
- Used in Soul Eater several times. Black*Star is fond of claims to this effect, though on one occasion Maka insisted otherwise, and he has been outright ignored at least once.
Comic Book
- Star Wars: Legacy: Cade Skywalker and Wolf Sazen burst into the secret lab of the Sith scientist Vul Isen to stop him from releasing a toxin that will kill all life on the planet. Darth Azard, Isen’s bodyguard, draws his lightsaber and orders Isen to release the toxin while he deals with these Jedi fools. Sazen retorts that "You will deal with me, monster!" and takes on the Sith Lord alone, allowing Cade to chase after Isen.
- The Walking Dead: Connor, a ruthless member of the Saviors, starts beating Andrea telling her to not focus on her friends down there who are at the mercy of Connor's leader but on him up here.
Fan Works
- Star Trek: The Original Series fanfic Something Wicked This Way Comes
, Spock tries this twice with the psychic Eldritch Abomination that is threatening the non-telepathic Captain Kirk. The first time he is unprepared for the sheer alienness and strength of the entity and ends up in a coma (though he does manage to protect Kirk and get some important info on its weaknesses). The second time, though, he's ready for it.
- In the Pony POV Series, Applejack ultimately ends up pulling this on Nyarlathotrot, one half of the Big Bad Duumvirate. She does this to allow the CMC and Daring Do to continue on towards the World Tower, but also because It's Personal and she intends to defeat him. She succeeds, resulting in him and his family who helped him being banished from the Pony POV Multiverse for 8 billion years.
- Queen of All Oni: When they reencounter each other in the Hall of Ice, Blankman pulls this on Jackie, who he views as a Worthy Opponent. He says that if Jackie faces him in a continuation of their previous duel in the Vault of Endless Night, he'll allow the rest of the J-Team to pass and continue their quest to stop Jade. Since they're hard pressed for time, Jackie agrees.
- Star Trek: The Original Series fanfic Sole Survivor has a former classmate of Kirk's turned into a reality warper thanks to mental fusion with an alien. Unfortunately, not being mentally equipped to handle such power, the guy goes nuts, and manages to kidnap Kirk into his mind-powered pocket universe. Spock manages to follow them in, and challenges the Reality Warper in a Go Through Me gesture. Being sane as well as a powerful telepath, the Vulcan is able to hold off the attacker long enough for The Cavalry to arrive.
Films — Animated
- In the third act of Kung Fu Panda, Shifu issues one to Tai Lung.
Tai Lung: Where is this... Po? Did I scare him off?
Shifu: This battle is between you and me.
Tai Lung: So that's how it's going to be.
Shifu: That's how it must be. - At the climax of Mulan: When Mulan reveals herself to Shan Yu. Impressively, he doesn't seem to care that she's a girl. He simply recognizes that she's the one who wiped out his army with the avalanche.
Shan Yu: (preparing to kill Shang) You! You took away my victory!Mulan: (throws her shoe at Shan-Yu's head) No! I did. (holds her hair the way it was as a soldier)
Shan Yu: [Almost awestruck] The soldier from the mountains. - Done with a roar in The Lion King (1994), where the hyenas had chased Simba and Nala into a corner. Simba tried to challenge them with an ineffective roar, to which they laughed. The second roar was much more startling- because it came from Mufasa, Simba’s father, and the rightful king of the Pridelands.
Films — Live-Action
- Star Trek:
- The phrase, if not the context, was used by the Klingon Captain Kruge to Kirk in Star Trek III
- Meanwhile, in Star Trek VI, Sulu does this in context but without the line, presenting the Excelsior as a tempting target to the villain in order to take the heat off of the badly battered Enterprise.
Captain Sulu: All right, now we've given them something else to shoot at. - Liu Kang's challenge to Shang Tsung in Mortal Kombat: The Movie came off Shang Tsung's challenge to Johnny Cage, who had beaten Goro in the last major fight in the Earth Realm. "Do you accept, or yield?"
- The final battle of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, starts with Optimus demanding the Big Bad come and duel him. Sort of subverted though in that said big bad proceeds to order the Decepticon troopers to fire at him a few seconds in, which causes Ratchet, Bumblebee, and Sideswipe to rush the big bad in turn, cause the battle to become rather chaotic.
- Hook: "The old man is mine!" Subverted, because Peter immediately gets distracted by his kids, leaving Rufio to fight Captain Hook.
- The Never Ending Story: Atreyu does this to Gmork overlapping with Bring It:
"If we're about to die anyway, I'd rather die fighting! Come for me, Gmork! I am Atreyu!"
- Doc Holliday in Tombstone shows up to a duel when his opponent, Johnny Ringo, was expecting Wyatt Earp. Despite the fact that he's dying from consumption, Doc Holliday is easily the quickest draw in Earp's posse, so Johnny Ringo is not happy.
[stepping out of the shadows]: ...I'm your huckleberry.
Literature
- Gideon the Ninth: When the Third House cavalier challenges the Sixth to a duel when the Sixth is already badly injured, Gideon and Harrowhark announce that Gideon will represent the Sixth. Faced with Gideon, a peak-condition, extremely skilled Blood Knight, the Third backs down.
Harrowhark: The Ninth House will represent the Sixth House.
Ianthe: The plot congeals. Since when as the Ninth been bosom with the Sixth?
Harrowhark: We're not.
Ianthe: Then—
Harrowhark: Death first to vultures and scavengers. - Happens often in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In a particularly memorable battle, Zhang Fei issues one to Lu Bu.
- In Taiko, set during the Unification of Japan, it is noted that the style of warfare is changing, and that the custom of declaring yourself as "so-and-so of clan so-and-so" is on the decline.
Live-Action TV
- Doctor Who: Invoked by the Doctor in Victory of the Daleks, while beating a Dalek (feigning ignorance of him) with a giant wrench.
Doctor: You! Are! MY! Enemy! And I am YOURS!
Tabletop Games
- Swashbuckler rogues in Dungeons & Dragons 5e have a 9th level ability that gives an enemy character disadvantage on attack rolls against every target except the rogue, making their attacks ineffective against anyone else. Additionally, this also disables their attack of opportunity against all other characters, allowing them to freely vacate the area, essentially forcing the enemy into a duel with the rogue (a situation in which the swashbuckler can use sneak attacks even if they don't have advantage). This ability is governed by the rogue's charisma score and the target must be capable of understanding the rogue, making it essentially a challenge or a taunt.
Video Games
- In one of Karin's prefight openings in Street Fighter Alpha 3, her gargantuan butler pounds his fists together as if he's about to fight and Karin is nowhere to be seen... until she tosses his serving platter at him from offscreen and he sheepishly lets her take center stage.
- This is Duke's introduction against a non-central character in The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact.
Duke: "The plan is that I am to be your opponent. And I promise you... heh, heh... you'll enjoy it. But... you will pay the price... with your blood."
- King's special introduction against fellow Muay Thai fighters Joe and Sagat in Capcom vs. SNK and Capcom vs. SNK 2: "Aite ni naru wa." ("I'll be your opponent.")
- Happens a couple of times in the main storyline of Dissidia Final Fantasy, generally between characters that didn't feature in the same game, such as Warrior of Light fighting Sephiroth, Zidane versus Garland, or Ultimecia against Firion.
- In Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), after Amy stands infront of Sonic the Hedgehog against Silver, Silver takes a break before going after Sonic again. This trope comes into play when Silver catches and almost kills Sonic, only to be stopped by Shadow the Hedgehog, who takes on Silver while Sonic runs ahead.
- While not spoken, this occurs many times in Mass Effect 3, where Shepard will literally charge down a Reaper, on foot, causing the Reaper to immediately focus their main gun entirely on him/her. Then Shepard kills them.
- In Dragon Age II, Aveline says "Face me, I stand for all of us!" when she uses her taunt.
- In The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, this is frequently invoked by the Dragonborn whenever a Dragon attacks.
- In Shin Megami Tensei IV's Clipped Wings 2 DLC, you first engage the Archangel Gabriel and defeat her. Before you can land the deathblow, however, Michael bursts in, allowing Gabriel to bail out.
- Diablo III has Kormac the Templar as an NPC follower, who drops this line almost verbatim when he uses one of this skills to taunt enemies into attacking him instead of you.
- In Hearthstone, the following nine Large Ham words indicate that the Godzilla Threshold has officially been reached, you're no longer fighting the puny warlock hero, instead..
"You face JARAXXUS, EREDAR LORD OF THE BURNING LEGION!!"
- This is also his beginning quote in his debut game after undoing a trifling gnome that tried to bind him, making sure that you're not fighting some 'fearsome Doomguard' like that trifling gnome clamored.
- In Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem, the Hero of Shadow uses this trope to challenge Emperor Hardin.
Hardin: "I've no quarrel with you... Bring Marth to me!!"Hero of Shadow: "Dark Emperor Hardin... Look nowhere else, I am your opponent!"
- In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, the party comes face-to-face with the leader of the terrorist group the Imperial Liberation Front, C, for the first time or so they think. All of the groups main members are there, but he declares that he will face them.
C: Wielders of the longsword, the greatsword, the twin gun swords. Stand and face me. I shall be your opponent. ... Haha. Think of this as an entertaining way to kill some time.
- Rean Schwarzer, rather awesomely in the sequel The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II when facing Blueblanc and Duvalie after activating his Super Mode (or "ogre power") at will for the first time.
Rean: Eight Leaves, One-Blade, intermediate level. I, Rean Schwarzer, will be your opponent!
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III gives us the battle between Principal Aurelia Le Guin in her specialiazed golden Spiegel S and Rean in Divine Knight Valimar, with Randolph supporting in another Panzer Soldat unit.
Principal Aurelia: Well then, let us begin. I, Aurelia Le Guin, the Golden Rakshasa, shall be your opponent. Now! Face me in battle! Ashen Chevalier and Red Reaper!
- In Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force, in the Vile God timeline, Fang orders Paiga to fight the party, but he replies that he's not trained for combat. When Fang threatens to defer his next bonus into a research fund for a product that they've never been able to sell, it motivates him.
Vivian: Strengthen your resolve, Paiga. If you take action here, the president might actually take your advice later on.Paiga: ...A-All right, then! Heed me, kidnappers! I am your opponent! Stand and fight me!
Webcomics
- Used in Circumstances of the Revenant Braves by both Sol and Pyrus.
- Used here in Goblins.
- In Weak Hero, not wanting the innocent Gray to get pulled into a fight, Ben shouts at Jimmy Bae that he is Jimmy's opponent, and to keep his attention on him.
Western Animation
- Tygra from ThunderCats (2011) made it awwwwesome!
Tygra: You better be sure you want to do this. Because I've got his back.
Real Life
- Shortly before The American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin wrote to Mr. Strahan, a member of Parliament with whom he had once maintained a correspondence, accusing him and Parliament of crimes against the American people. He closed the letter with this laconic salutation:
You and I were long friends; you are now my enemy, and I am...Yours,
-B. FRANKLIN
