Chapter 35

Beginnings of Ends

Wonder Womans POV

"That must have been painful!" the saiyan, Son Goku said as he and Superman walked with me away from the arena.

"Don't get me started," I hissed placing my hands to my forehead to try and get rid of the headache I had recieved.

Thankfully it wasn't what Nova had actually done in the virtual arena... even I could not heal from that.

We cointnued walking, where too I had no idea until someone called over to us.

"That was a well fought battle!" a female voice called.

I along with Clark and Goku turned around to see the leather clad warrior named Satele Shan, the one who had managed to take victory after I was eliminated.

"Thank you," I responded holding out a hand to Satele which she took with a smile, "Of course."

More words would have been shared but at that moment a man under a cloak walked past us slowly, with armour clearly under it and some kind of odd mask covering his mouth, and a weapon that looked somewhat similar to Sateles lightsaber but with blades on the edges of the hilt.

Catching a glimpse of this man made Satele place a hand earily on her own double sided blade and bend at the knees slightly clearly readying herself to jump into a battle stance.

"Who's that?" Goku asked confused at the womans response.

"Darth Malgus!" Satele hissed. "The most infamous Jedi hunter of the galactic war!" She explained.

Despite them believing he was out of earshot Darth Malgus stopped walking and turned to theem removing his hood to reveal the mask I now know must have been helping him breath.

He shook his head as if having contemplated attacking before turning away again.

"He's more calm then that look would make you believe," I had said placing a hand on my hip.

"Until he enters combat, once he engages in battle his rage turns him into an unrelenting force!" Satele said clearly remembering something.

"You've done battle with him?" I asked.

"Indeed... I would have lost my life had my friend Jace Malcom hadn't stepped in." Satele admitted. "Alas I must be off, though I'm sure our paths will cross again." and with that the Jedi turned around and walked away.

Dantes POV

"It's about time we got to see a bit more action!" I said to myself kicking up my feet on a table across from my partner.

"Indeed, yet arrogance will be our downfall, you remember who our opponents are right?" Illidan asked way more seriously then he really should have been.

"Yeah I know and who says I'm being arrogant." I said rolling my eyes, "Just no need to be brooding before a fight after all."

"If you say so," Illidan said getting to his feet. "I'll be outside if you need me."

"Alright, oh and tell the skull I said hello!" I yelled back sarcastically.

Illidan just looked back at me with his eyeless stare and shook his head before just continuing to walk.

"And here I am getting impatient to fight!" I mumbled to myself also getting to my feet just as I caught sight of the two people I'd be seeing on the battlefield tomorrow.

Zod and Atrocitus.

"So you are one of the worms we are to fight." the Red Lantern said with what I could only assume was meant to be a sneer though with those giant teeth it looked more like a growl.

"Worm huh? says the guy who's skin looks pink in this light!" I said crossing my arms and leaning against the wall with a smirk.

The evil smirks on their faces probably would have sent chills down the spines of most people, but to me all I could think of was how they were cheesey as all hell.

"You truly are arrogant devil hunter!" Zod growled with a grit of his teeth and a red flash of his eyes.

"You would know." I shot back. "Now you can try to intimidate me which would be funny I'll admit, or you can back off and we can settle this tomorrow in the arena."

"Very well devil hunter!" Atrocitus said beginning to walk past me. "We'll wait until tomorrow to crush your skull underfoot!"

When they were out of earshot I couldn't help but chuckle. "And Illidan called me arrogant!" I said to myself.

Novas POV

"So close," I mumbled to myself as I continued to twirl my knife in one hand with my leg kicked up against the wall of the outside of the coliseum.

Standing there I let my mind drift to what could have allowed me to win my fight with the Jedi or whatever she was called.

Of course bringing with me the Psi Blade I had taken from that protoss might have helped but probably not a hell of a lot. In truth if I had simply been able to aim better with my knife during that last second.

Hey that's a hard thing to do when you've already got a laser going through your stomach.

My eyes widened as I felt a presence around me.

In but a second my knife was sheathed on my belt and my C-10 was off my back and in my hands pointing around in anticipation.

"You know if you had opted to become a spectre the odds of you winning would have gone up!" came a heavily accented voice said.

I smirked as I saw the red outline of a man appear only for the black skinned and white eyed appearance of my friend turned enemy Gabrial Tosh.

"And why the hell would I have done that and joined your little band of physcopathes and murderers!" I proclaimed not lowering the grip on my C-10 for a second.

"Oh right I forgot da child of confederate can't handle a little grit!" Tosh taunted despite my complete lack of understanding as to what the man was talking about.

"What are you talking about confederate child?" I asked any pretense of friendliness in my voice vanishing.

"Oh right, I forgot da dominion be erasing the memories of their pet ghosts!" Tosh said sneering, "You became nothing more but Megnsks pet Annabella, shame you let it happen after all that happened before it." and despite what I would have wanted to believe I couldn't help but feel a note of sadness coming from Tosh, though confirming it by reading his mind was impossible as the Spectre was one of very few in the galaxy who could stop me from reading their minds at will.

I was about to say more but Tosh had already reactivated his suits stealth functions and in a hue of red and vanished.

"You know is it just me or is it like a must for all assassins to have this mysterious past they never want to talk about?" Came a rather cheerful voice from a few feet away from me.

Well I shouldn't say voice, because it was a thought I had read... something I find hard NOT to do if you can believe it.

The thought had come from one of those tights wearing heroes this one in red and with yellow lightning, I think his name was Captain Marvel or something.

And yet apparently without a care in the world the captain approached me smiling, "You alright, hope you're not mad you lost!" He said.

I simply shook my head, even though the man looked like he was 30 years old at least I couldn't shake this feeling that he was still an adolescent with the way his thoughts were formulated.

"I can deal with a loss in an arena kid!" I said the kid statement sneaking into my statement before even realizing I had said it, "And besides just gives me something to think about." And with that I activated my own stealth abilities and in a hue of blue I vanished.

The Next Day at the Arena - narrative POV

The arena was once again packed, perhaps even more than usual due to the fact that an at least somewhat anticipated match up was set to occur.

"NOW MY FRIENDS, IT IS TIME FOR OUR FINAL MATCH FOR ROUND 2" President Awesome announced from his VIP booth at the top of the stands.

"TEAM DEMONS BLOOD, VS TEAM RAGE!" He announced without bothering to perform the draw because everyone knew they were the only teams left to fight.

Illidan and Dante both cracked their knuckles on their side of the arena while Zod and Atrocitus both crossed their arms and gritted their teeth.

"AND THEIR DUEL SHALL TAKE PLACE." and the only card that needed to be drawn was drawn. "THE FIRELANDS!"

Per the norm once the battlefield was announced the four red buttons appeared in front of all the combatants, who knowing full well what to do placed their hands on them and were transported into the virtual arena.

A/N - Good to be back guys, it's good to be back.

Now there obviously wasn't any fighting this chapter so I just have a few house keeping things I need to get onto the table.

First off the challenge I gave out last chapter was performed and the winner was none other then Insieme Per La Vittoria, I've already discussed battles with him and his choice of fight will be performed after Demons Blood vs Rage. What that fight is well... let's just say it's unique but oddly mundane, and leave it at that shall we?

Second a list of teams proceeding to round 3 shall be posted next chapter which should be up sometimes in Febuary

lastly if any of you remember my little sentimental episode in last chapters Authors Note, about how I had just taken a good hard look at the stats to this story. Well we just passed 10K views guys... a milestone and I once again want to give you all a high five for being here with me to read this novice writer rising to becoming pro (I hope)

And this ties into my next bit, see I'm sure few of you will know this but my 17th birthday is coming up on the 20th (about 2 days from the posting of this chapter) and I'd a birthday present from all of my awesome readers.

I'd like ideas and suggestions!

If I may be bold as to ask for a present from all of you guys, I'd like you all to give me ideas and suggestions, be detailed with this cus I am listening and will respond to anything, tell me do you like my guest battles or do you want me to get on with the tournament would you like me to bring back the discussions with the characters at the end? just tell me guys

And the fights themselves, if you do want more guest fights then i'm going to ask you guys for help there too. you see I have a document on my computer with all my ideas for fights, but pretty much all of them are my own and I'm not writing JUST for me in this so I want your suggestions, 1 on 1, 2 on 2 or a 4 way free for all (which will be handled in the same way I handled the one with Nova, Valeena, Satele and Diana)

Bottom Line is I'd REALLY like to hear detailed thoughts on what you guys want to see with Armagedon Aftermath.

Now I think that's actually everything I have to say this time around so I'll just end here and say hope you all had an amazing New Years and I wish you all the best 2015.

Until Next Time Ashbringer36 Out