A system and method is provided for processing a first instruction set and a second instruction set in a single processor. The method includes storing a plurality of instructions of the second instruction set in a plurality of buffers proximate to a plurality of execution units, executing an instruction of the first instruction set in response to a first counter, and executing at least one instruction of the second instruction set in response to at least a second counter, wherein the second counter is invoked by a branch instruction of the first instruction set.