The roar of the crowd hit like a rolling thunder. Spotlights blazed across the circular caged arena, slicing through the haze of smoke and sweat.
High above, a figure floated – clown faced, a mad grin plastered across his painted features. Diego Jeremiah better known as DJ, twirled lazily midair, his garish cane–microphone glowing faintly with arcane light.
“Welcome back you twisted ladies and sick gentlemen of blood and glory!!’’
His voice boomed across the underground stadium making the crowd cheer and roar louder shaking the stadium walls as the clown spun midair enjoying every bit of their thrill and excitement.
“It’s been a long hard and bloody tournament’’ he declared, “as we stand witness…today is the day history shall be made!!’’
And with a crackling arcane energy he descended gracefully into the centre of the caged arena. Spotlights cut through the gloom behind him like blades.
“Today is the finals of the inter-sector qualifying tournament!!’’
His cane spun in his hand as his voice thundered across the arena.
“Today’s match will decide who is worthy to rule the eastern region, will the rising super rookie defend his title against the former champion of the eastern region?…or will the old guard take back his throne!!’’
He slammed his cane into the ring redirecting the spotlight to himself.
“And without further ado–let’s present our champions!!’’
he points to his left…
“On our left is the undefeated former champion of the eastern region 8 years ago…before his arrest 4 years ago…he had held the throne with firm grip!!’’
“They called him the undefeated Kaiju of the east…hailing from sector four, he fought 37 matches and won 37 matches all ending in a fatalities’’
“The man, the myth, the juggernaut of team B…RYKER THE MERCILESS!!’’
spotlights slammed to the left, revealing a hulking, eight foot tall reptilian creature of a man. His hide was scaled and ridged like living armour, claws screeching across the cage as the monster gazed forward revealing jagged fangs from his gator–like jaws, the monster squinted his blood red eyes burning with animalistic rage. The only scrap of humanity left on him was the torn pants clinging to his waist.
He let out a guttural, primal roar that shock the arena.
[Name:Ryker]
[Rank:former champion of eastern region and current champion of sector-4][titles:Ryker the merciless and the kaiju of the east]
[Homo chimera]
[Ability:Reptilian].
DJ’s cane swung to the right.
“And to the right…the undefeated champion of sector-7! The one who rose as the champion of the eastern region from the shadows after Ryker was arrested 4 years ago..they called him the Underdog because he rose to the top with no powers, no magic, no bloodline. Just grit, pain and four years of clawing through hell to the top!’’
DJ grinned wide.
’’Thirty seven fights survived, 16 won by fatalities and 21 won by submission. Give it up for Ash valestorm!!’’
the spotlights hit ash.
he was bouncing on the balls of his feet. Tall. Focused. His lean frame looked almost fragile next Ryker’s monstrous bulk–but ash’s golden eyes burned with quiet confidence.
[Name:ash]
[Rank:current champion of the eastern region and current champion of sector-7]
[Title:Underdog.]
[Homo sapien]
[Ability:None].
Some of the crowd cheered for ash as well.
“YOU CAN DO IT UNDERDOG!!’’
“SHOW US ANOTHER GREAT FIGHT!!”
While others were sceptical about his current fight…right fully so even…since throughout the tournament…ash barely won his matches.
“Will he perform another miracle this time around?….’’
“His luck might have run dry so I doubt he will win..’’
“besides…his opponent is Ryker the merciless…his done for!!’’
Ash heard it all but chose to ignore it, his gaze was on Ryker, studying his every twitch, ash’s muscles were relaxed yet ready.
DJ ushered them forward.
“Alright boys you know the rules, one: submission or death, two:anything goes in the ring, three:aim to kill or die trying!!’’
Neither man nodded. DJ grinned wider, laughter escaping his lips as he floated out of the ring, then– Ding!!
the bell rung signalling the start of the death match.
Ash struck first blow, a sharp punch to the ribs. It landed with a clang. The giant didn’t even flinch.
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“pftt…tickles…” Ryker sneered.
“Is that all you got?..champion?…’’ he mocked.
Ash answered with a barrage of combos– fast, precise, each strike flowing to the next but the monster never moved or wavered.
Then suddenly, with a blur of motion and a WHACK, Ryker’s tail smashed into ash like a battering ram. The impact rattled his bones to their core and sending ash skidding across the ring.
(“Danm…that came out of nowhere!!) ash exclaimed.
the monster didn’t let up before pouncing on him, claws flashing with deadly gleam.
“CONE ON CHAMP” Ryker bellowed.
“SHOW ME YOUR TRUE SELF I’VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT!!”
Ash rolled out the way just in time before Ryker’s claws came down with a swift and brutal motion slicing the enhanced steel fence of the cage like paper. The giant lashed out again– his tail wrapped around ash’s leg, yanking him up before slamming him into the ground with a sickening THUD!!.
Ryker jumped upon him claws stabbing down– ash jerked his head aside, the strike missing his skull by an inch.
Ash wasted no time as he drove his elbow into Ryker’s knee joint, toppling the giant, and with cold efficiency, gauged out his left eye.
Ryker’s screams shock the rafter.
On reflex, his tail whipped across the cage, hurling ash into bars of the cage. Rips cracked like dry twigs before slamming to the cold ground.
“Bastard…you’ll pay for this…’’ Ryker growled as he glared at ash.
ash stood up slowly wheezing and coughing as blood trickled down his head.
’’you…are not worthy…’’ ash said with trembling voice.
“Huh?…’’ Ryker said.
“You are not worthy to see my true self…I’ll dismantle you with my own two human hands!!’’ Ash said in defiance!!
The crowd roared in excitement.
“Danm…the boy drew first blood!!’’
“you can do it underdog!!’’
Ryker’s lips broke into a twisted smile without breaking eye contact, he ripped out his dangling eye ball and crushed it in his palm.
“Not worthy huh?…perfect’’ he said voice shaking with excitement.
“I love it when they resist the most…” ryker said, killing intent exploding as he went down on all four.
ash’s body tensed up as he sensed the danger, his body screamed to run.
The next instant, Ryker was gone.
“Shit!!’’ Ash’s eyes darted around but before he could locate him–
A fist like a cannonball slammed into his gut, sending him rocketing across the stadium before smashing into the wall of the cage.
Ryker filled with twisted glee was relentless as he appeared in front of ash, clearing 10 meters in an instant before starting to pummel him around with countless strikes, claws ripping ash’s skin, punches cracking ash’s bones.
the attacks came from every direction as ash’s guard weakened by the second. He tried to escape but a tail whip pinned him back to place, followed by an endless devastating stomps, each kick destroyed what was left of his ribs, ash’s arm snapped from the last strike. This drove ash into unconsciousness.
Ryker lifted ash by the neck with his tail, high enough for everyone to witness.
“I went to prison for only four years and you pathetic bastards let this human pipsqueak walk all over you?!’’ Ryker roared.
the crowed fell into a hush of whispers.
“I don’t know why I held my breath when the results were obvious…’’
“Yeah…there’s no way a human can win against an awakened…’’
“Guess his luck ran out this time around…’’
Ryker gazed upon his art work which was ash’s body filled with claw marks and broken bones, blood constantly dripping down.
“Champion of sector-7 huh?…guess they lost their touch..hmph!!’’
Ryker whipped away ash’s body to the side letting him die in blood loss, as he faced the crowd and raised his arm up in victory.
the crowd cheered in approval as DJ sighed in disappointment ready to call the match. But froze when he heard someone screaming ash to get up.
“GET UP BOY…YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE BORN READY…REMEMBER WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR!!’’
the old man with an eye patch and a bionic arm roared at ash to rise.
(So…this is how I die huh?…no…I don’t want to die…I can’t die!!) ash thought to himself as he drowned deeper into his unconscious mind. Then a vague memory popped into his mind.
(“I…I’m sorry…please…stop…it hurts…ash…stop) a vague figure lay beneath him bloody and broken beyond recognition, and just as it came the memory swiftly vanished into his subconscious.
then ever so suddenly…the air around the stadium shifted…an unnatural sense of oppression befell the stadium making the crowd go numb and sweat in fear.
ash’s fingers twitched, then his body started to beat with his heart, then with a sudden burst, ash started to convulse violently before sitting up with an unnatural speed.
The crowd felt it, raw and oppressive. Something was radiating from ash as he slowly stood up.
DJ’s maniacal grin turned full on devilish smile.
“Kill the human and let the devil rise once more!!’’ Excitement and fear evident in his voice.
Whatever came out wasn’t ash, at least not entirely, everyone instinctively knew this…everyone except Ryker…he didn’t feel a thing.
maybe it was because he was an apex predator for too long and that he never truly felt like his life was in danger. So he approached with his usual cocky attitude. Completely disregarding his instincts.
“You’re still able to stand?…truly impressive…I’m starting to see why they called you a champ-!!’’
but before he could finish, ash was already in his range then BAM!!
A single devastating shot to the kidney cracked Ryker’s tough scales and broke his ribs beneath. Ash’s knuckles weren’t any better as they shattered on impact.
Ryker slammed into the cage walls, coughing up blood.
‘’
“WHA…WHAT THE HELL?!’’ staring down at his cracked and falling scales on his side.
Ash moved towards him with calm determination, he never flinched or wavered, as though he wasn’t injured whatsoever.
Ryker felt it now…his hands started to shake instinctively, he felt that something had awaken inside ash…not power or ability nor was it magic or divine. Something primal.
Even though his instincts screamed at him to run, his ego was louder than his instincts to survive, Ryker pounced at ash, rage blinding him from the danger before him.
Ash seemingly in a trance just ducked down and aimed his elbow down Ryker’s throat–CRACK– cartilage crunched.
the beast staggered.
Ash kneed him in the leg joint, bending it backwards. A hook to the temple left Ryker's eyes blank for a heart beat. Then came a hammer fist– jaw shattering, blood spraying, all while Ryker was too confused to think straight.
Ryker tried to grab ash but ash was faster, he slipped under , targeted his joint and with full force snapped both his arms simultaneously.
all Ryker could was weep with one eye and release gurgling sounds.
Ash, merciless grabbed him by the horns and pulled him in.
Headbutt,
headbutt,
headbutt,
Headbutt,
blood spluttered with each impact.
headbutt,
headbutt,
Ryker’s face caved in with a sickening crack until he slammed like dead weight.
ash wasn’t done…he prepared to snap his spine with one brutal heel kick, but before he could act a loud voice roared outside the cage.
’’ENOUGH ASH…DON’T LET IT SWALLOW YOU WHOLE LIKE IT DID BACK THEN…WAKE UP!!’’ The old man roared as ash froze inches away from Ryker’s already dead body.
Stadium was quiet, Ash still upon Ryker’s dead body, his eyes shined with life once more as let out a soft gasp of air before raising his broken fist into the air.
the crowd was quite for a few seconds before screaming, stomping, howling, erupting in cheers.
“AND THERE TOU HAVE IT FOLKS’’ DJ screamed.
“THE BOY PERFORMED ANOTHER MIRACLE, THE UNDERDOG STANDS PROUD AND VICTORIOUS ONCE MORE!!’’
Ash couldn’t hear them, one part broken and another too tired to care, as he slumped over, now fully unconscious, the last thing he could remember was his blood stained hands and a promise he could never fulfill.
End of chapter 2.
