Stalking through the halls of BORED's ridiculously typical Secret Volcano Lair, Ban of the GetBackers was summarily decimating all opposition. It wasn't much of a challenge however; part of what was putting him in a bad mood in the first place. Nothing but weird hooded men in sleeveless shirts and what looked to be some sort of secret-service wannabes. They had guns, sure, but mundane projectile weapons weren't even in Ban's 'Top Ten Dangerous Things' list. So after mowing down a few pairs of these low-level goons, Ban was looking forward to some meatier fare as he went deeper into the Lair.

Of course, he only assumed he was going deeper into the Lair, since there was nothing like a directory map anywhere on the steel walls that he could see. Bottom line, the more people ahead of him, conscious, dead or otherwise, he took as a good sign. Stairs leading up were also his chosen path, since he was assuming the BORED execs would be taking some sort of airborne transport off this rock. He was a little worried about the dead and unconscious bodies, since someone was obviously ahead of him, but Ban was nothing if not practical: one ass to kick was as good as another.

Rounding a corner in his latest hallway of choice, the urchin haired man was pleasantly surprised to see a trio of what looked like mutated, winged monkeys halfway down the hallway. They caught sight of him, or more appropriately his stomach which was at their eye level, at the same time, and let out hideous sounding shrieks of surprise and anger. Not seeing any reason to try and talk it over, Ban charged at the knife-wielding little imps as they responded in kind. Say what you want about looks, these little bastards aren't pushovers, thought the GetBacker as the winged monsters actually used some strategy and fanned out, right, center and left. It was a simple strategy, but effective in close quarters, especially when the rearmost and center imp used its wings to hop up while the other two closed from either side.

Unfortunately, they were neither as strong nor as fast as Ban, as he used the opportunity presented by the center, airborne imp to sprint between the two trying for a flanking maneuver and get their backs. Targeting the one to his right, the young man didn't even bother with a Snake Bite and kicked the puzzled red creature into the wall hard enough to break an arm, crack ribs and dent steel. The other two had turned toward their target by then, but Ban was already moving to his right, trying a flanking move of his own. In a flash he'd seen the error of his ways, as the newest target thrust with its knife. Ban had no choice but to dodge farther right, where the other demon was waiting, knife already slashing for the GetBacker's gut.

Only thanks to his speed and dexterity could Ban avoid the slash, and he was right back where he'd started when the two sides had first clashed. Damn, these guys work together like they can read each others minds! At least one's down for the—Ban's thoughts were stopped short as the one he'd kicked into the wall began to pick itself up, albeit slowly and with obvious difficulty. Snarling in frustration, Ban took a defensive stance and thought a moment, trying to come up with a plan on short notice. Before he had much more than an inkling of something that might work, however, the three small demons were smothered in what smelled like… chocolate?

If it weren't for his previous experiences in the Limitless Fortress and on this very island, Ban may have flipped out when he saw the majority of chocolate rise up into a humanoid form, with the red imps still trapped inside. Limbs covered in chocolate pushed out against the edges of the apparition as it smiled down at them, obviously reveling in their panic and suffering. Ban took some distance from the creature and readied himself for his last Jagan, hoping it would give him some time to flee. Not a prospect he was familiar with, but he wanted no part of the fate those three demons were experiencing.

Before he made eye contact with the chocolate creature, it spoke in a sickly sweet voice, "You must be one of the latest batch of Sakyo's playthings. Midou Ban, is it?"

When the chocolate monster looked up and finally met his eyes, Ban didn't even try for the Jagan. He didn't know for sure, but his gut told him it wouldn't have any effect except to piss this creature off. He might be able to damage it with some help from Asclepius, but he wasn't entirely sure he could recite the full chant quickly enough. Ban decided he'd try and stall for time, "I don't know who Sakyo is. Care to elaborate?"

The monster raised a brow at that, and hummed softly to itself before muttering, "An ignorant plaything. A contestant, I suppose…" Before Ban could interject, the monster continued, "My name is Death by Chocolate, for obvious reasons," obvious indeed, since the flailing appendages of the imps were now absent, succumbing to the lack of whatever they needed to live inside the chocolate shell of DbC, "and you are very lucky, for reasons not so obvious. Do you have any idea why you're here, Midou Ban?"

Thinking briefly about feigning ignorance, Ban decided against it. Wasn't honesty the best policy, anyway? "I came here to win a tournament. Now I'd rather get some retribution." When the demon across from him cracked a very wide, very evil grin, Ban couldn't suppress a shudder.

"Oh, you are right to fear me, no shame in that. However, I find myself of a mind to assist you with your retribution in a very small way. I assume your objectives are the ringleaders of this little circus?" At Ban's nod in the affirmative, the demon's grin became inhuman, in more ways than one, "Then I will take you to one of them, the Sakyo Valdez I mentioned a moment ago. How does that suit you?"

More wary than before, Ban's reply was measured, "Thank you for the offer, but I would be just as content with directions, Mr. Chocolate." When in doubt, best to err on the safer side of address.

When the demon began laughing, Ban feared he'd made a mistake, but DbC's words calmed him slightly, "That is agreeable, Midou Ban. Never wise to enmesh oneself too fully in a demon's care, after all. Simply turn around, take the first right, and the second left, then straight up until you arrive at the roof. Sakyo should be along shortly thereafter. He's traveling most… cautiously." The demon began laughing again, and Ban took it as his cue to make himself scarce. The GetBacker had taken hardly a step when DbC continued in a receding voice that sent more chills down his spine, "And please, Midou, when next we meet," Ban looked over his shoulder to see a puddle of chocolate seeping into the cracks of the hallway, "Call me Death…"

After his most unsettling encounter yet, Ban wasted no time in following DbC's instructions to the top. At worst, he could simply commandeer one of the escape craft and get the hell off the island. Grand Cross was becoming a bit too much for a simple recovery agent like himself to deal with, although a large part of him hoped Sakyo would be waiting when he got to the roof. Topping the last flight of stairs, he came face to face with a crew of hooded, gun-toting goons who were far more surprised to see him than he was to see them. With a leap, Ban cleared the distance between them before the five could bring their guns to bear, and it was only seconds later that the last dropped unconscious to the ground. Rising from his fighting crouch to his full height, Ban surveyed his latest handiwork with a practiced eye, catching on the masks at each goon's belt. They seemed to be filtration units of some sort, likely for toxic gases found in the volcanic air outside.

Grabbing one and checking it over for damage and operability, Ban found it to be simple enough to use. Strapping it on, he unlatched the air-tight door leading outside and calmly stepped through, shutting it behind himself with a clang. Immediately his eyes were assaulted by the toxic, volcanic vapors of the bowl of the volcano, due to the lack of coverage on his mask. It was just a mouthpiece and filtration cylinder, no eye-shield to speak of. Shouldn't matter though, since his opponent wouldn't be in any better shape than he was. Even if this Sakyo had eye protection, it would at least partially affect his vision, and that would be in Ban's favor, since he was suffering only minor discomfort.

Looking around, the young man found himself on a platform nearly as large as a football field, dotted with three gunboats and what appeared to be a VTOL jet of some kind. There was one other entrance to the roof level of the Lair straight across from Ban, on the other side of the VTOL which appeared to be generating some activity. Grinning underneath his mask, the GetBacker walked forward a few yards and jumped on top of the jet, watching his target and attendant bodyguard make their way out of the base. Sakyo was the only one wearing a mask. Crossing his arms, Ban waited for the group to catch sight of him. It didn't take long, as a particularly ugly man with…horns?...glanced up, eyes widening as he took in Ban's looming figure.

The horned man turned to his companions to shout a warning, but Ban was already in front of him, "Snake Bite!" en route to the strange person's gut. As his opponent was sent flying out over the edge of the platform, screaming like a little girl, Ban turned to his left where a bright-yellow skinned man with strange, yellow hair that looked like feathers was leveling an automatic at the GetBacker. Catching the barrel, Ban crushed it in his two-hundred kilogram-force grip, yanked it away and threw it aside before lashing out with a roundhouse to the side of the man's neck. Ban connected solidly, though was dismayed that the blue suited man's neck remained unbroken. As this man was sent rolling across the deck, Ban spun to face Sakyo, who wore a very expensive-looking suit with long, black hair and a somehow tasteful scar over his right eye. Also, one very sultry woman with blue skin and a whip-like tail, and a large burly man with patchwork skin like the bottom of a dry creek bed.

When the well-tailored man held up his hands for the Goon Squad to halt, Ban took a moment to raise an eyebrow. Not often was a fight in progress stalled by the raise of a hand, but hell, why not? The chick had a tail.

Inclining his head to Ban, the scarred man said in a rather muffled voice, "That was an impressive assault on Kaito and Daruma. You are Midou Ban, correct?"

Straightening up, Ban inclined his head slightly in greeting, "Yeah, that's me. Sakyo Valdez, I presume?"

Ban could almost see the smile underneath the businessman's filtration mask as he replied, "Yes. Well informed for a contestant, aren't you? What is it you want? Passage off the island? Your well-earned reward? Name it, Midou, and I shall provide, but I don't have time right now to discuss particulars. If you would join me?" And Sakyo motioned to the larger of the three helicopters to the left of the VTOL.

Giving Sakyo's suggestion and offer due consideration, Ban replied shortly, "Death by Chocolate says hi. Get ready for an ass whuppin." Ban barely gave Sakyo time to process this information before he went for the girl with the funky skin and funkier tail, trying to take her out at the soonest opportunity. In his experience, women were nearly always the biggest problem.

This one proved to be no exception as she whipped her tail around fast, taking Ban in the right side under his ribcage, right in his liver. Liver blow! Gah, if they allowed tails in boxing… Ban couldn't help the direction his mind took as his body went flying several yards to the left, though he managed to land, catlike, on his feet. Looking his opponents over once again, Ban was a little disappointed they were hanging back, waiting for him. The blue lady and creek bed man were both getting taller, but the man was getting wider while girly was just getting longer. Ban was guessing the girl was built for speed to ferry him into the big guy's strong, slow blows.

Fine, then. Let's see what these bastards can do. Ban readied himself to fight seriously, without Asclepius, which he wanted to save in case of a three on one situation. Charging into the middle of the two demons, the GetBacker went first for the woman, who hissed and backed off. Out of his peripheral, Ban caught a glimpse of the burly guy bringing the hammer down, so to speak, and waited before he threw himself aside at the last moment. The big guy's fist made an impressive dent in the steel flooring, but nothing Ban couldn't duplicate if it came to it. That almost worried the GetBacker, but he shoved the thought aside. The woman was moving gracefully his way while he was still airborne, and he could tell that he wouldn't make it back to the ground before she had him. So he did the next best thing: he bluffed.

Throwing his right fist out as if he was going to hit her from ten feet away, Ban was pleased to see her flinch back, giving him time to land and ready himself again. Smirking at the furious look she sent him, the urchin-head tossed her a wink that sent her over the edge. Shrieking like a banshee, the demoness threw herself at Ban in a flurry of blows he was hard pressed to dodge, while the big demon stayed back somewhat, out of the way. Ban noticed it's eyes following his every move as he bobbed and weaved, trying to send blows back at the bitch whenever he had an opening. The bastard's trying to gauge my speed, see how far in advance he'll need to plan to hit me. He's slow as hell, and that could actually work for me in this instance. Ban continued the game of cat and mouse for a minute longer before the big, strong demon began moving itself to intercept the deadly dance between contestant and bodyguard.

Ban continued to dodge as predictably and slowly as he could while maintaining an unhittable pace, and timed his move just right. As soon as he heard the big demon draw back it's arm, the GetBacker winked at the demoness once more, further fuelling her rage. As she came at him one more time, once more than she should have to keep herself out of harm's way, Ban grabbed her arm quick as a snake and hopped back, just under the big demon's haymaker to his left. That punch, more powerful than his relatively quick jab earlier, nearly took off the woman's head. As it was, her neck broke with an audibly wet crack, and she was dead before she hit the ground.

Turning his attention to the stupefied, gaping male to his left, Ban flexed his right hand and dove straight for the creature's back, shouting out, "Snake Bite!" His right hand found it's mark, digging in between the muscles of the lower back, breaking skin, and latching onto bone, then yanking back with force enough to drag the demon's spine out of the skin. Nerve endings glinted in the harsh red light from the end of the spinal cord as Ban let go, and watched the big demon collapse onto it's chest. As it howled, Ban hopped up onto it's shoulders, grabbed the back of the head, and crushed skull and brain in a killing grip. The demon ceased its movement instantly as the brainstem was mangled between the GetBacker's blood soaked fingers.

Ban looked up at the sound of rapid footfalls, just in time for a huge fist to smash into his face, knocking him away with enough strength to fling him through twenty feet of open air and send him rolling along thirty feet of steel flooring. When he finally came to a stop, the GetBacker scrambled to his feet as fast as he could; this turned out to be a very slow, woozy ordeal. Looking in the direction he'd flown from, Ban was surprised to see an anthropomorphic penguin staring him down from the body of the woman demon. He assumed it was that yellow skinned man he'd knock away before, which actually made his ridiculous hair a little less so. Snarling at Ban, the penguin spoke with tightly controlled anger, "She was my mate, fleshbag. It was a mistake to kill her, one for which you will pay dearly."

Shaking his head slightly to help clear it, Ban hissed as a throbbing pain nearly brought him back to his knees. Probably concussed. Gonna make it pretty hard to take this guy out. The urchin-head was having trouble formulating a real plan, or seeing straight, and it wasn't until the muscle-bound penguin started doing something with his hands that the young man thought about attacking. Gritting his teeth against the pain he knew was coming, Ban howled and charged for the tattered blue suit Kaito was garbed in. A mere step away, Ban was halted by some kind of vaguely familiar pressure before a torrent of water surged forth from the outstretched hands of the penguin, catching the GetBacker full in the front.

As soon as the water left the demon's hands, Ban brought his arms up before his face to block what he could, trying to keep his head injury from getting any worse. This was all he could manage before the water hit him like a semi truck barreling along the freeway at eighty miles per hour, blowing him away from Kaito. Against all probability, Ban managed to keep his feet under him and slid back until the torrential blast stopped. Collapsing down to his knees and gasping for breath against the pain, Ban couldn't help but notice he was a scant two feet from the edge of the platform. Grimacing after a few seconds of trying to reoxygenize his sore, tired body, Ban glanced up through his wet, hanging bangs to see Kaito advancing toward him like an avalanche: implacable and unstoppable.

Ban once again struggled valiantly to his feet, the better to meet the demonic threat stalking his way. Swaying as he finally recovered his position, the GetBacker raised his right hand, "Until this cursed fate is spent is the one who houses Asclepius." Kaito was nearly in striking range as Ban finished his chant, "Strike with your fangs of poison!" The GetBacker lunged forward to meet the giant penguin's advance as he howled, "Snake Bite!"

Kaito didn't even try to dodge, but summoned a sheet of ice to his front to block the strike. Ban was taken aback when his attack hit and shattered the ice, but went no further as the demon's own left came hurtling towards him, knocking him through the air again as it connected with his side in the same spot the nameless female demon hit. Gagging from the pain as he hit the ground on all fours, Ban could only gasp for air as he knelt, stunned by the force of the impact. Seconds later, when nothing followed up the powerful attack, the urchin-head summoned enough strength to look up at his opponent.

The demon was hunched over his gut where Ban's attack had shattered the ice armor, likewise trying to get his breath back. Kaito was wearing a shocked expression, unbelieving that such a barehanded blow could inflict that kind of damage through his ice without making contact with his body. With a weak smirk, Ban regained his feet and began the slow, painful stagger to his opponent, chanting again, "Until this cursed fate is spent is the one who houses Asclepius. Strike with your fangs of poison," and Ban raised his left hand this time, to meet the upraised right hand of Kaito, who's eyes were wide with panic, "Snake Kill!"

Ban's attack met a slightly weaker deluge of high pressure water, briefly instigating a wave of vertigo from his injury which he pushed through with iron will. His willpower carried him through to the demon, ripping through the skin and bone of Kaito's right side. The GetBacker tore through the meat of Kaito's lung, liver and then into the heart, almost the full length of Ban's arm. The demon coughed a gout of blood, a look of the most comical incredulity on his face as the patron demon of macaroni penguins slumped to the ground and died. Withdrawing his blood drenched left arm from the penguin's dead body, Ban rose from his position on one knee, where he's gone after Kaito keeled over. Panting heavily, Ban wasted no time casting around the roof for any sign of Sakyo, though his body begged him for a respite as a fresh wave of dizziness staggered him. The GetBacker didn't give in, and kept scanning the rooftop for the businessman he would punish for all the hurt he'd gone through.

When Ban found Sakyo, he was surprised to see the executive of BORED had taken refuge in a helicopter across the platform, and seemed to be readying it for take off. Snarling in frustration, Ban moved to the chopper as fast as his weary legs could take him, hoping he could catch Sakyo before he left the base. When he neared the helicopter, Sakyo looked up and saw him coming, panic in his eyes, and motioned to the console as if he was flipping a switch. Ban didn't have time to dodge as one of the rockets on the gunboat was sent hurtling his way. It impacted the ground right next to the GetBacker as he vainly attempted to escape its trajectory, and blew his flesh and blood body into tiny, wet pieces.

As the shockwave from the missile blast ended, Sakyo breathed a sigh of relief. He never thought any single contestant would be able to take down three lesser demons and Kaito! Thank God the rockets on these gunboats locked on to their targets with magic, not some fallible technological system. Taking his time, Sakyo finished the start-up sequence on the helicopter and began his take off. As he rose easily into the air, the BORED member thought it might be time to cash in his chips and leave the organization behind. He missed his simple, easily run Dark Tournament, and was getting fed up with the other's attitudes toward him. Yes, a triumphant return to Demon World would be nice, I think. Just as he was cresting the lip of the Scar, the oil pressure gauge for the rear stabilizer began emitting a shriek and started flashing rapidly. Sakyo tried to correct for the lack of steering, but it felt like his arms were moving like lead.

There was no time for his too-heavy arms to try and keep the bird aloft as it plummeted toward the wall of the volcanic bowl the base was set in. His last thought before the bone crushing, metal twisting impact was one of regret that BORED was such a typical evil organization, with such a typical evil hide out.

Sakyo awoke with a groan to the sound of a lighter clicking to life, and a familiar voice saying, "Just a minute." Blinking his eyes open, Sakyo found himself staring up at the menacing figure of one Midou Ban, no more worse for wear than when Sakyo had seen him take down Kaito, though he was missing his filtration mask. Then Sakyo realized they were no longer outside, but at the top of one of the stairwells leading to the rooftop helipad and VTOL launch.

The businessman was briefly confused, then managed a small smile as he lay there awaiting death, "Of course. How could I have forgotten the Jagan?"

Blowing out a mouthful of smoke, the GetBacker replied, "Dunno, but it cost you. I was promised a hefty payday for finishing this tournament though, and I'm done. So where do I collect my winnings?"

Sakyo's singular attitude towards gambling, to the point where he would literally stake his life on an outcome, allowed him a small chuckle as he continued laying there, staring up, "Down two flights, there's a rather large, very posh room reserved for the winner of the tournament being awarded his or her millions. It doesn't matter which stair you take, the room is situated between them. Go get your money."

Considering, Ban grabbed Sakyo by the front of his jacket and hauled him to his feet. At the executive's surprised look, Ban smirked and blew another gout of smoke, this time into Sakyo's face, "Lead on, big man. I wouldn't want to get there and find nothing, with you gone into the wild blue yonder." With that, Ban gave Sakyo a firm shove back towards the stairwell, which the businessman ignored completely before doing as instructed. A scant five minutes later, they were standing in the room Sakyo spoke of, standing at opposite ends of a small table holding a suitcase as average and inconspicuous as Mohamed at Catholic Mass.

Raising an incredulous eyebrow, Ban undid the clasps and checked the contents, trying to keep calm at the sight of God knew how many millions of dollars. Latching the gaudy, gold-plated case shut once more, the GetBacker hefted it over one shoulder and pulled out another cigarette, lighting it up as he turned to walk out. Watching him go, Sakyo couldn't keep an amused note out of his voice, "You're leaving me here, just like that? No completing your vengeance?"

Not pausing at the door, Ban said nonchalantly, "Look out behind you."

Eyes widening in fear, Sakyo spun around to face… nothing. Momentarily confused, Sakyo relaxed with a faint chuckle. Damn kid, trying to—

The businessman's thoughts were cut off as chocolate descended from all sides, enveloping him in its viscous sweetness, cutting off his supply of oxygen. Sakyo struggled mightily, though he knew it was futile, to try and escape his malleable prison. In seconds, his frenzied struggles had sapped most of his air, and his movements turned sluggish, weakening until he could no longer move. He needed air, his lungs were on fire, everything was going dark… tunneling… he was dying… dead…

DbC felt Sakyo die as the businessman's soul left the body, but remained trapped in the folds of demonic chocolate the demon was named for. Content for the moment, DbC turned to one of the cameras in the room, and cracked a small, evil smile as he waved, then dissipated through the cracks in the floor. …And this little piggy went 'wee, wee, wee!' all the way to Hell…

AN: There it is, Ban's triumphant last stand. Triumphant, of course, if the judges vote in my favor. Also, there will be an epilogue if I win, so don't let the drop off in Ban's story throw ya. Was gonna say something else, but I forget what it was.
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