Tournament Arc
Chapter 11 – Heavy hitters
…
"You okay there Blazy?"
"I feel like I was run over by a truck."
His fight with Pangoro had been a painful reminder of where he was. They'd all fought through the dregs, earned their place in the final eight. If he tried holding back again, then that was it, he might as well throw in the towel before he ever stepped into the ring.
"You gonna live chicken legs?"
Blaziken gave his rival a cocksure grin, "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction."
The monkey mon returned the grin, "Good. It just wouldn't be the same if I didn't get to do it myself."
Blaziken knew what he meant, and as much as he would have liked to give up after the beating he'd just taken, he couldn't. He had too many reasons to keep fighting. His family was watching, and the chance to stand toe to toe with his old rival again.
He'd probably be more excited about that one if there were a part of him that didn't hurt.
"Seriously though, what did you do to that guy. That was some serious distance."
Before Blaziken could try to explain or attempt to make something up there was a thunderous crack. The next fight had begun.
"Damn that was loud!"
And powerful. Hariyama wasn't as tall as Pangoro but he was at least as wide and Machamp was a four-armed mountain of muscle. The crack had come from two of Machamp's fists impacting one of Hariyama's massive palms. It happened again when all four came straight down on the two mighty catcher's mitts.
"Not much finesse from these two," Infernape remarked.
"They hardly need it," said Blaziken.
The sheer power of Machamp's blows cracked the air with every impact and Hariyama took each hit in its massive hands with stoic resolve.
"You think he'll ever start hittin back?"
"If he doesn't, we'll be here all day."
Hariyama did retaliate. When Machamp raised all four arms for another crushing Slam Hariyama countered with a devastating Double slap. Machamp was pushed back by the rapid twin blow but showed no sign that it had hurt.
He rushed back in with a sweeping Low kick and followed up with a swift Double kick. Displaying surprising agility, Hariyama hopped over the Low kick and blocked the Double kick. Being airborne at the time he was pushed back, and he used the space to plant himself firmly again.
"It's like watching a tree wrestle with a boulder."
Blaziken smirked, "I think you're forgetting one of us is going to have to fight that tree or that boulder."
"Ewww."
"Any preference?" Blaziken said with a chuckle.
It was sort of like asking someone how they preferred to die, by hanging or by drowning. Neither option seemed all that much better than the other.
Hariyama pivoted out of the path of another crushing blow, allowing it to shatter the floor. He ignored the shrapnel and returned with a punishing chop that Machamp blocked with his two upper arms.
Still having the superior position, Hariyama followed up with a Cross chop. Machamp blocked but flinched at the effort. Hariyama took advantage and followed his attack with a Headbutt.
Machamp was momentarily stunned, his arms swinging out wildly. By luck he caught Hariyama a glancing blow across the face. It wasn't strong, but it was enough to give him pause which gave Machamp a chance to regain his bearings.
"Think they might just knock each other out?"
"Wishful thinking."
Machamp retook the initiative and came at Hariyama with a rain of powerful punches, his four arms firing like steel pistons. Hariyama took the attacks in stride but slowly began to give ground under the tireless assault. Even the mightiest stone can only endure so much.
Getting flashy, Machamp threw out a Thunder punch, catching Hariyama by surprise. The receiving hand twitched and left him open to a Double kick to the head.
"He's done."
"Perhaps."
Machamp moved to capitalize on his position and was caught completely off guard when Hariyama swept his foot out with a surprise Low kick. The Karate chop that followed knocked him on his back and set the little birdies to chirping around his head.
A massive shadow scared the birdies away and he looked up just in time to see a massive form descending. The Body Slam threw up a cloud of dust in its wake and once it had cleared, only Hariyama remained standing. Breathing heavily, but still standing.
"Machamp is unable to battle. Hariyama is the winner."
"Well, that was something," said Infernape.
"Certainly was."
"Have fun fighting him."
"No, no, I already fought one of those. It's your turn."
Infernape looked at his rival then at the massive wall of flesh, "But, I don't wanna," he whimpered.