It took a bit of badge-flashing to secure a ride, but Mary proved that holding onto her old Southtown PD shield was an effective tool to get her way. A willing patron on the highway rushed her and Anton back towards the city, where she already began pondering her first dilemma... scan the crime scene for leads? Or go visit the hospital, to get the firsthand story?
It slightly weighed on her, choosing against checking on the injured first, but she had to get there... back to the Stadium, before police trampled all over the scene. One flake of skin, one nail, hair, his blood, ANYTHING... Anton could lead her right to him.
"Ma'am, you can't be h-"
"I'm Detective Mary Ryan, and if you have a problem with it, I'll show you what it's like to be twisted dough." she spoke with a face exuding authority, but was surprisingly solemn.
"Hey, you can't talk to a police officer that wa..!"
"Leave it... trust me, you don't want to cross her."
"That's Blue Mary Ryan, you idiot. I heard she once..."
She and Anton quickly bypassed the sudden influx of whispers and gossip, the legions of conjecturing eyes bearing down on her. They could talk all they want. She was here on business.
Her stomach did the slightest of tumbles when she saw the blood... she felt herself caught between taking a shallow breath, and exhaling, and ended having to turn her head away to regain herself. She wondered how many times Kevin had to see this... this grotesque, contemptible artwork "He" left behind with every unfortunate victim.
"Detective Mary Ryan. Move please." her command was short and firm, not stopping to look the direction of the man currently attempting to scrub it.
"H-hey! I'm Liam Brantner, the janitor here. Rose ordered me to clean up all this blood before tomorro-"
"It can WAIT." that last word oozed a sharper cut. "Just back off a minute. Please."
"...Fine."
The humble janitor stayed his mop, dunking it in the frothy white and red contents of the mop bucket and rolling it backwards out of her way. She was amazed the man still kept his lunch intact, having to deal with such gross conflicting colors: the suds of the chemicals, the blood and water, all mixed in a revolting pink slop, offset by the ugly shade of the yellow bucket... she was making herself sick just thinking about it.
Back to business. Her eyes were keen, thorough, never failing to capture every square inch of the combat zone... yes... she could see clearly how it happened. The patternless scuffing in the dirt, from the two combatants... the extra third set of intruding steps that followed after... she could see where the blood spatters indicated ruthless attack, and vain defense. She just had to retrace these steps... follow the sources, as if she herself was inside those moments...
"Hello..."
Mary nearly smiled when she saw it. She knelt down to a knee, reaching into her utility belt to pull out a small plastic bag. Her surgical fingers pinched the evidence, holding it up high to scan its components... yes, it was undeniable...
A long, red strand of hair.
ROUND 2 FIGHT #1: WOLFGANG KRAUSER VS CLARK STILL
Rose's strategy for winning the crowd was simple: an explosive start, crossing her fingers for some favorable meat in the middle, but willing to endure some stinkers... and then finishing off with her brother claiming victory in the main event. Simple equation. She had all the power to manipulate the contest as she willed. Thus, it was easy for her to make sure Krauser looked good, and achieved maximum pop, by pairing the gargantuan, well-rounded fighter with a bread and butter grappler like Clark Still.
Anyone who saw Goro Daimon, the legendary Judo champion, last year... knew it was excruciatingly difficult to impose that kind of game on the towering Emperor.
Clark tried to move first, and move hard; he threw a sloppy haymaker with his left, and immediately regretted it when his knuckles collided with the gold-plated gauntlet Krauser wore for protection. No time to even air out his stinging hand, before Krauser brutalized his face with a nasty forearm check, busting his sunglasses upon the first blow.
The crowd was already roaring as they watched Clark stumble backwards on chicken legs... Krauser stepped forth with no regard for safety, his arms down by his sides, and delivered the most classic "Sparta Kick" right on his belt line, reducing the Ikari Warrior to half size as he hunched over in pain.
"HE'S NOTHING, FOLKS!" Krauser boomed to his beloved people. "NOTHING!" Upon that final exclamation, he sent Clark into the dirt with a picture-perfect sobat, his boot planting into Clark's face and knocking the man into a complete somersault, to land facefirst on the ground.
"GET UP, CLARK! GET UP!" Ralf desperately attempted to coach from the seats. "FEINT THE LEFT AND SHOOT!"
Krauser approached the slowly rising Clark, still no attempt to keep his guard up. He seemed completely unafraid of whatever Clark had to offer, and thus didn't care to protect his face the slightest.
Clark shook his head rapidly, ignoring his fallen hat... with no real strategy to think of, he obeyed Ralf, and came forward with the left... but withdrew it and quickly dived at Krauser's legs.
"Ha." Krauser was already prepared. Just as Clark shot for the takedown, Krauser dipped low and stuffed his head with both hands, preventing Clark from reaching the depth he required to lock his arms around Krauser's legs.
KRACK! Clark received a faceful of a gold-plated kneecap, as Krauser brought his knee up and obliterated the Ikari Warrior's jaw with punishment for that failed takedown. With a small laugh, Krauser merely let go of Clark's head... and the soldier stumbled around in a dizzying pattern of inebriation.
As Clark danced the dazed dance, Krauser took time to turn away and play up to the crowd. 80,000 fans were SCREAMING his name, as he flexed his immortal biceps, and demonstrated his envious abs and pectorals.
"HAHAHAAAA! YAAAAAAAAAAH!" Krauser roared with confidence to the people around, him, drunk with the intoxicating feeling of their approval.
"KRAUSERRR! KRAUSERRR! KRAUSERRR! KRAUSERRR! KRAUSERRRR!"
Almost lost in the moment, Krauser wisely returned focus to his opponent, who was staggering forward with his fists up, looking for a last stand at the very least. Krauser smiled, relishing the chance to do more damage,
"LEG TOMAHAWK!" he flew forward and pummeled Clark with his signature flying kick, sending the Ikari Warrior into the dirt for the second time, to Krauser's zero.
"This is almost painful to watch." Joe winced. "Brings back memories, eh buddy? Huh?"
...But Joe would receive no acknowledgement from his respected friend and team leader. Terry was clearly in no mood for any warmth or conversation, having one leg draped over the other, his cheek sank so deep into his hand, it bulged against his eye. His face bore no enjoyment of the atmosphere, or any other emotions. Pure indifference...
Clark was back up, a final rally for the glory of the Ikaris. Krauser unleashed a low Blitz Ball; the soldier dived over it and barrel rolled forward, easily closing the distance. Once again, he threw himself against Krauser and tried to work the legs. Krauser wouldn't budge... so Clark threw a short fist into his pelvis to give some incentive.
"ATTABOY CLARKY!" Ralf cheered. "MAKE IT DIRTY!"
"Hnf!" Krauser slightly grunted, bothered but ultimately not damaged... but it did give Clark a chance to follow up. He attempted to go airborne from their close proximity, locking his legs around Krauser's neck to prepare a Frankensteiner. Unfortunately, Krauser's subsequent counter put him on the road to oblivion.
"HRRRRAGH!" Krauser lifted his legs like wheelbarrow handles. Clark could only cry out an airy rasp as Krauser powerbombed him into the ground, and didn't even stop there... he scooped Clark back up with one hand, lifting him high above his head...a mighty vertical uppercut sent Clark airborne, and Krauser simply waited for the man to descend back down.. for the final blow.
"GIGANTIC... CYCLONE!"
Krauser's terrifying super move unleashed, just as Clark fell into his kill zone... his arms outstretched, his body spun around like a high-powered turbine, creating a literal human tornado of bone-breaking proportions. Clark was bashed and battered within the tempest of Krauser's fury, naught but a cry of defeat ringing out from his lungs as he suffered dozens of blows within seconds.
"ARGGHHHHhhhhhhh..." THUD. Clark's unconscious body hit the ground, just as Krauser too landed before him. A flawless victory.
WINNER: WOLFGANG KRAUSER
It went exactly as planned. The high of victory surged through them all, making the suspicion, the controversy of last nights events a mere afterthought, as their influenced minds were busy screaming the name of their German king.
"KRAUSER! KRAUSER! KRAAAUSER! KRAAAAUSER! KRAAAAUSER!"
The purple-haired man let out a hearty laugh as he brought his arms up, beckoning their cheers to his ears. With great euphoria, he shouted: "THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING, FOLKS! WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE MY NEXT FIGHT! JUST YOU WAIT! I'M COMING FOR HIM! HE WON'T ESCAPE ME!"
"...Think he's talking to you, dude." Andy nudged his brother to try and get his attention... but to no avail. Terry was still in his same slump, seemingly showing no interest in his one-sided rival's great victory, as well as his powerfully vocal vendetta.
He simply did not care. There were bigger fish to fry.
"Bogard."
Terry's head perked up; he looked over and saw Silber standing before him, arms folded.
"You're fight's coming up fast. Go get ready."
ROUND 2 FIGHT #2: RYO SAKAZAKI VS HOTARU FUTABA
A show of respect among two Japanese warriors, they shared a bow before assuming their fighting stances.
FIGHT!
"RENGEKI SHOU!" Hotaru shot quickly out the starting gate, to test Ryo's defense. Swift and accurate as a loose arrow-, she went airborne with a flying kick, her foot bouncing off the sturdy, ice pillar-shattering forearm of Ryo, sending her backwards into a backflip to land safely on her feet.
Ryo lunged in with a loud kiai and a straight punch; Hotaru demonstrated that her best defense was to not get hit, and she barrel rolled under it, bringing their bodies to a suffocating clinch. Anyone who saw their size difference would think Hotaru mad... but she didn't intend to stay there. She pressed her foot on Ryo's shin for leverage, vaulted herself upwards... somehow, from their impossible proximity, she nailed him in the chest with a short kick and backflipped gracefully through the air. Upon landing, she glowed blue with her fighting aura, and unleashed a fireball.
Stunned from the kick, Ryo had no choice but to tank the projectile, as it hit him square in the face and sent him into a slight stagger.
Hotaru allowed herself a moment to look at the stands... to make sure he was watching.
Gato onii-sama... I'm going to prove myself worthy of you. And then... maybe you'll...
"Holy... she is FAST." King's voice held no shortage of admiration.
"A raging blue blur." Yuri seconded. "Big bro might have trouble on his hands."
They closed once more. Hotaru attempted a high palm, following up with a mid right behind it... Ryo parried the shots, and she slightly stepped back, to gather range for a power kick. Ryo brought his leg up and their shins crossed... but his face twisted with surprise when he saw the fire in her eyes.
"What?!"
At that moment, she had channeled her chi, and her leg began to blaze blue with power... Ryo was being pushed back! She had redirected the chi in her body to a single focal point; a true mark of a balanced fighter.
Ryo broke the stalemate, and came around 360 with a sweep kick; Hotaru backflipped one, two, three times, easily avoiding the trip, and she unleashed a second fireball.
"Not this time! KOUKEN!" Ryo snuffed it out.
They came at each other once more. Hotaru leaped at him, swinging her hands in a successive overhead pattern, right hand coming down, followed by the left. Ryo caught her in mid-air, and utilized a page out of Kasumi's book: a head and arm throw counter, tossing her into a dirt tumble.
Scuffed and dirty, but not hurt, Hotaru leaped back up with no pep lost, and came at Ryo once more. She cut her eyes to the stands again, but much more brief than usual.
Ryo parried a high kick, and before he could even get a strike in, he took a body shot, and a palm to the jaw. The strikes didn't hurt much, but Hotaru threw with such a volume that he couldn't match!
"HIYAHHH!" Ryo stayed true to his power roots, and tried to come down on her with a classic board-breaking chop; to his amazement, Hotaru's hands came up in a clap, and caught his hand mid-swing!
Ryo grimaced; he looked down, and saw her feet dragging through the dirt with two deep skid marks, a recoil from the force of his strike. It was all she could do to stop it... but the fact remained, she did. His hand was trapped between hers.
Hotaru wowed him once again with her next move. Using his hand for leverage, she vaulted herself upwards, her legs coming up behind her head, and nailing him in the face with a bicycle kick! Three rapid shots in succession peppered his nose and mouth, before she let go of his captured appendage and leaped backwards to safety.
"Damn! Girl is slick." Malin complimented.
"Hotaru is such a cutie, but man can she fight~" Jenet praised her friend.
If this were a timed match, with judges, Hotaru would easily be up on the scorecards. But such things didn't exist in this singles tournament... there was no time limit, no bell, no judges. The fight wouldn't end until one went down.
Ryo had taken a multitude of blows at this point, and had yet to land a single hit on Hotaru. To lesser warriors, it'd be disheartening... but Ryo was a seasoned veteran. A martial arts master. A fighting scientist. Beyond his sore face and the slight taste of blood, he could see the other side of the spectrum... Hotaru's tiny body was producing labored pants. To hurt a man of his size, she had to put more strength into her hits, not to mention expenditure of her chi. The more tired she got, the slower she got... the more hittable she became.
Ryo tightened the belt on his black gi, extended his hand... and beckoned her forward.
"ORA ORA!"
Hotaru looked over at the stands; seeing his face filled her with fire. She looked back at Ryo and came forward, switching to her "Ri En Position"... she suddenly spun around and lunged forward, as if to attack!
"HYAH!" Ryo unleashed a roundhouse, intending to take her out as she came in... but Hotaru surprised him by not attacking at all, instead dipping low into her other stance, "En Un Jyuurokushu". A beautiful fakeout by the practicioner of Chinese arts. An attack came right after, as she thrust her palm upwards at a diagonal angle, generating enough height to nab Ryo in the chin, snapping his head upwards, as a tiny pattern of blood particles spat from his lip.
Hotaru came forward with a lunging left to follow... that's when Ryo finally nailed her. There was no setup, no special angles to her attack, thus Ryo was able to easily parry her arm upwards, exposing her midsection... that's when he struck.
"DORYA! TAAH! HYAH!" Ryo finally made her feel his power, as he drove a straight fist into her gut, following up with an uppercut, then going back down to the body with a kick, and finally... a roundhouse to her dome. The four hit combo left Hotaru reeling, just barely able to maintain her footing.
"Ah! Ryo caught her!" Jenet gasped.
"It was only a matter of time... she couldn't avoid getting hit forever..." Kula shook her head.
Hotaru wobbled forward, her eyes still darting towards the stands... right now, she was wishing he DIDN'T see.
Ryo aggressively pushed the pace, stepping in with a kiai and letting loose a straight left. Hotaru still showed some defiance; she sidestepped and parried his arm, leaving him swinging past her sloppily, and she drove a hard chop into his ribs. Ryo tensed up, and she seized that frozen moment to smack him in the face with an openhanded strike, opening up his lip even further, until the blood was trickling down his chin.
Ryo staggered backwards... he could have sworn his vision flickered for a moment. But she still still coming forward, and he was ready for her.
She threw a left roundhouse... blocked. She tried to follow up with a left palm; he caught her with an unholy counter, driving a straight right into her stomach, and her defenses fell all at once. He curved that same fist slightly upwards and popped her in the nose, sending her slightly backwards, and he unleashed a kick low, tearing through her stance and sending her butt-first onto the ground. She was able to scramble upwards quickly, but she didn't get her hands up quick enough... a beautiful arcing kick cut across her forehead, sending her into the dirt.
"FIGHT ON, HOTARU! BE STRONG! BE BRAVE!" Kula cheered her on, despite the turn of tides.
Hotaru shook the cobwebs, quickly darting her eyes to the stands, then back at Ryo. His face was pink and red, blood drizzling down his mouth... but he looked so firm. So strong. Was there any way to put him down...?!
No other options.
Gato onii-sama... this is for you.
Her eyes glowed blue, as the chi ERUPTED from her body. This was no economical strategy... she was using it all, right now. Every bit of energy in her body. She went airborne and leaped at Ryo, knees-first.. she was going to plow into him, mount him, unleash all of the chi in her body with one massive explosion, to put him away!
...It was no use. As she descended upon him, he had already timed the arrival, and went airborne... she was going to miss.
Ryo leaped out of the way at the last second, and Hotaru's knees skidded across the dirt. She could only look up in vain... as Ryo came down on her with his powerful airborne Karate chop, the "Thundergod Slash".
Hotaru took the full brunt of his rigid hand atop her skull, and her lights went black. She went down to the ground, eyes fluttering between coherence and slumber.
WINNER: RYO SAKAZAKI
The reception for Ryo's victory was mixed: many were more than ecstatic to see the former pioneer claim victory once again, but there were also plenty who had their hearts captured by a babyface like Hotaru, and were saddened to see her time in the tournament end.
Regardless, they both had supporters from the fighter stands come out to respectively console and celebrate. Ryo's crew (Yuri, Robert, King) approached him, while Kula and Jenet went over to try and comfort their fallen friend (last night's shenanigans between them be damned)
"Awesome job, bro!" Yuri glomped her brother, who easily scooped her up with his strength and spun her around. Upon setting her down, he pulled Rob in for a more brotherly "handshake and chest bump" type of hug.
Finally, King herself approached with a more affectionate hug, pressing herself against his chest, a smile beckoning his hand towards her hip... upon accepting that silent invitation, she slowly closed in, and pressed her lips to his.
"See you in Round 3, babe." she flashed a wink, before distancing herself, but not before giving Ryo a seductive little stroke on the chin.
...All Ryo could do was turn around, face Robert, and raise the roof with his eyebrows several times. Robert and Yuri simply facepalmed.
On the other half, while Ryo was glowing in the warmth of victory... Hotaru was singing a different tune. She had yet to get up from her downed position in the dirt, her blue pigtails messily draped over her face and lip. Itokatsu was next to her, attempting to nuzzle her for support.
Kula knelt down softly, and took her hand. "Hotaru...?"
...A sniffle. A few seconds passed... and a few more spilled out.
"Hotaru?" Jenet was the second to take a knee. She reached over, and removed her pigtails from her face... tears.
"Sniff sniff... all I.. sniff... wanted... sniff sniff... was for him to... sniff sniff... appreciate me..." Hotaru sobbed. "I thought if I could... sniff... win this contest... sniff... MAYBE THEN HE'D LOVE ME!"
Kula said no words; she pulled Hotaru into her bosom and held her tight, as the girls' body trembled, from the massive release of tears. Kula gently rocked her back and forth, her hand reaching up to stroke the pigtails, while occasionally plucking out dirt and debris.
"Aww Hotaru..." Jenet spoke her name softly as she too joined in the hug, draping her arms around the both of them, and sandiwching Hotaru between them in a bubble of affection.
In the aftermath, Kula escorted a sobbing Hotaru to the locker rooms, while Ryo and his group returned to the stands. There was one person in particular, who was significantly impacted by the sight of the tear-ridden girl being carried away between sobs, and her Aries-born brazenness was a driving factor in her willingness to voice her outrage to a certain someone...
"Aren't you even gonna console her?!" King was shouting at the man sitting before her, who still was somehow able to maintain his forward focus and completely block her out. Not an easy feat by anyone.
Ryo tried to jump in. "King, maybe that's not a wise-"
Temper reaching its apex, King did the unthinkable: snatching Gato by his yellow gi, finally getting the cold man's attention.
"You're a jerk, you know that? You don't deserve her!" King yelled in his face.
Gato stared blankly at her... though his eyes seemed to slightly narrow...
After 20 seconds had passed, and King was convinced the man truly had no passion to defend himself, she blew a blonde strand up and let go of him. With a disgusted snarl, she said her parting words:
"I hope you lose everything. Hotaru, this tournament, and your stupid pride. Espèce de connard sans âme..."
The tense "standoff" ended, as King vacated the area and proceeded towards the locker rooms. Maybe preparing for her fight. Maybe going to console Hotaru herself. Regardless, Gato merely blew air through his nostrils and let the situation pass. Ignorant... that's all she was. They were all ignorant.
"Don't mind her, Gato." Jenet comforted him, or at least made an effort. "She has a little brother, so she gets really sentimental about this stuff."
Gato rose upwards a second later, turning his back to the stands, straightening out his gi, before uttering a few frozen words. "I wasn't minding her in the first place."
He left the area with that final statement, perhaps preparing for a fight of his own. Jenet, who was left sitting there with a confused face, simply shrugged and spoke aloud:
"You are a jerk, though."
ROUND 2 FIGHT #3: BENIMARU NIKAIDO VS TERRY BOGARD
Mary...
In a meeting of two decorated King of Fighters champions, it should have been the pinnacle of evenly-matched, masterful, technical fighting ability at the most prestigious level. But the more Terry's thoughts dwelled on Mary out there... putting herself in danger, by herself, while he stayed behind to fight in a silly contest... his muddled mind lost sync with his limbs, resulting in a flawed technique.
A punch to the body. Benimaru's guard shifted mid to block it. He fired back with a lashing leg kick, sending a numbing buzz into Terry's right leg. Terry backed away.
Benimaru, meanwhile, couldn't have been more motivated. He saw nothing but opportunity: with the great champions who always overshadowed him away, nothing could interfere with his goal to stand on his own two feet, to claim gold with no crutches, no helping hands to discredit his victory. To topple the legendary Wild Wolf would be a great start.
Terry pressed forward with a 1-2 body/head combo. Benimaru's guard defended them well, and Terry's body came in close proximity as he beat Beni to a knee strike. Benimaru took it partially and stumbled backwards, allowing Terry to follow up with his patented:
"BURN KNUCKLE!"
Benimaru carthweeled out of the way, springing back up to his feet and coming in hard on Terry. He started unleashing hands, left, right, left, a high kick to top off his combo... Terry's guard managed to hold up for now, but that roundhouse nearly cracked him...! As he backed away, another leg kick came from Benimaru and hit him in the same spot. His leg buzzed a bit more...
How can I be here right now? I'm in a damn soccer arena, fighting for show, when Mary's out there fighting a REAL battle...
Terry lunged with a spinning mid kick to the stomach; Benimaru's knee came up at blurring speed and checked it. As Terry stumbled back, Benimaru came forward flinging kicks in succession: a left kick softened Terry's gut, a right kick caught him on the ear and slightly dazed him, and a third kick came down to the legs, to continue tenderizing that same spot...
"POWER WAVE!" Terry was forced to launch a close-range burst of chi, just to repel Beni's advance. Since it wasn't the portable, traveling version, Benimaru was successfully repelled, and the pillar-haired blonde retreated.
Maybe it's better if I lose here...
Benimaru went airborne and came spiraling down on him with a kick; Terry took it on the forehead, and Beni stuck the landing, to continue coming forward.
The Wolf shook it away, and awaited Beni's arrival... Beni tried to come over the top with a right cross, but Terry won the exchange with a left to the body. He could see the wince in Beni's face, as the pillar-haired blonde backpedaled... Terry nailed him with a right to the body as well, and came in close to unleash a special.
"POWAH DUNK!" a lifting knee strike set Beni up in the air... and a spiking fist behind it sent Beni crashing into the dirt.
CRACKLE! A host of vicious lightning bolts crashed down around Benimaru, backing Terry up... seems Nikaido elected to unleash his electrical abilities to regain the favor in this fight.
Terry steeled himself as Beni rose upwards, eyes glowing bluish-violet, electricity sizzling from his pores... he was certainly an intimidating sight.
"You're pretty good, Bogard." Benimaru jeered. "But you're no Kusanagi. I've fought you enough times in the past to know what you're all about."
"The same could be said for you!" Terry barked in response. "BURN KNUC-"
Stupid! Terry should have known better than to throw that naked; Benimaru saw it coming, and starched him with his Thunderblast Thrust, swinging a hand in a wild arc to send an electrical slash tearing into him. Terry's muscles felt the sizzle of Beni's chi for the first time of this fight, and brought back some unpleasant memories... he had to be careful not to take too many of those, lest he suffer serious spasms.
"RAIJINKEN! RAIJINKEEEEN!" Benimaru flung electrically-charged fists in succession, but Terry evaded them well and dipped low, crashing his fist into Benimaru's thigh. With such skinny legs, the hit burrowed deep into his muscle, sending a pained jolt through Benimaru's leg that sent him a step backwards.
Terry pressed forward, fists high. He launched a body punch, then doubled up with a 1-2 behind it, nailing Beni clean with each hit. Beni was wincing, clearly feeling the pain... Terry had the advantage!
The Wolf tried to come in with an overhead left; Beni parried his blow and caught him across the chin with a counter left. Terry stumbled backwards, and Beni fluidly unleashed a kick to his dome. It hit clean... Terry's legs buckled.
"BOGARD!" Krauser roared as he leaped to his feet. He of all people was invested in this bout on a higher level than the common masses.
"STAY STRONG TERRY! YOU GOT THIS!" Andy also showed his support, leaping from the stands and nearly toppling Mai in the process. She clung to his torso for stability.
He was nearly off his feet for a second... but Terry's legs kept him up, and he pushed forward as best he could. "CRACK SHOT!"
He went after Beni with his signature flipping heel strike, but Beni backflipped to avoid it, and the pillar blonde came forward with heavy volume. A left connected on Terry's cheek, a body kick rattled his ribs... a second kick came, and connected on the same leg Beni had been working on the entire fight. Terry's legs wobbled... he was going to give out.
"DON'T YOU GO DOWN, BOGARD!" Krauser commanded, spittle flying. "DON'T YOU DARE!"
Terry was about to fall, but he wisely threw himself against Benimaru and clinched at the last moment, keeping himself upright for the time being. But he was already at a disadvantage: Benimaru had underhooks on him, and was controlling him.
The knees started coming. One to the body... two to the body... three... four... Terry felt like puking his insides out. At this rate, he was either going to fall to his knees, or Beni would let him stumble backwards and finish the job with a kick...
Guess I'm coming after you, Mary... my time here is up...
Wolfgang Krauser was not having it.
"Move! Move out of my way!"
He was pushing past people: Rose, personnel, obstacles on the sidelines... he walked out to the apex of the grass, where one further step would net him a penalty for interference. His lungs burned with ferocity as he boomed:
"YOU'RE A PATHETIC WIMP, BOGARD! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE MAN WHO BESTED ME COULD BE SO DISGRACEFUL! I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU DENY ME MY REVENGE A SECOND TIME, YOU HEAR ME? NOW PICK YOURSELF UP AND FINISH THIS! DESTROY HIM!"
Krauser... god, he was so annoying. Terry wished he would just shut up... but he kept carrying on. His voice was ringing in his ears, like an irritating dog that wouldn't zip it!
With an angry grunt, Terry broke the clinch. Benimaru tried to throw a kick, but Terry's body was too close... Terry nailed him with an uppercut, and Beni was sent backwards. Terry poured it on: a left hook, a right body shot, a stomping leg kick... Benimaru was getting pieced up!
...But the pillar blonde was still fast, and tenacious. As Terry decked him in the face once more, Benimaru spun around with the recoil and emerged with a spinning backfist, smacking Terry's spit from his jowls. Just like that, Bogard was back on the retreat...
"YOU DARE TO ROB ME OF THE FIGHT I DESERVE?! YOU'RE A COWARD! YOU'RE A WHIMPERING, BLUBBERING COWARD, TERRY BOGARD! IF YOU LOSE THIS FIGHT, SO HELP ME I'LL DESTROY EVERYTHING PRECIOUS TO YOU! I'LL KILL YOUR BROTHER, I'LL LOCK YOUR GIRLFRIEND IN MY CASTLE AND HAVE HER RUB MY FEET FOR THE REST OF HER SORRY LIFE!"
...Man, he was laying it on thick. Terry was actually getting pissed. He KNEW what Krauser was doing: the most primitive form of psychological warfare. But despite being wiser... Terry must have been emotionally weaker than he thought.
Benimaru's leg came up in a blur... Terry never even saw the strike coming. All he felt was the pain, and his nose open up with a torrent of blood... he was dizzy.
"You're done, Wolf Boy." Benimaru grinned, having successfully nailed his Iadio Kick. His body began to glow, lightning bolts spouting from his limbs and orifices.. he was charging something nasty.
"I'm gonna make sure this last one puts you down for good." he declared his intent, as he drew his fist back, glowing with a huge, malevolent ball of electricity... anyone who had been around the block knew of his trademark Raikouken.
Krauser was close to pulling hair; his fight was officially in jeopardy. With no other options... he pulled out his dirtiest weapon.
"JEFF BOGARD RAISED A COWARD!"
...That lit a monstrous rage in Terry. He forgot about the pain, and his eyes narrowed, as he howled with all his might and charged at the unfortunate person put in front of him.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA POWER GEYSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!"
Benimaru's electric super move went right over Terry's head... Terry ducked and slammed his fist into the earth, unleashing a MASSIVE eruption of chi that blew Benimaru Nikaido sky high.
Terry didn't stop there. He went airborne, meeting Beni in the skies above... his fist glowed yellow as he unleashed the spike to end all spikes.
"GIGA DUNK!"
His fist came down, knocking Benimaru into the earth below, with a force so massive that only their high altitude could produce. Benimaru's impact was so great, an explosion of chi revurberated from his body upon landing, along with a massive dust cloud.
As Terry landed back on his feet, the dust cloud faded... Benimaru was groaning, unable to move.
WINNER: TERRY BOGARD
Terry immediately went for Krauser, charging at the grinning purple man with a fist raised.
"KRAUSEEEEEEEEEEEER!" he flew at Krauser with a punch. The Dark Emperor merely smiled, catching his fist in his palm, and slamming him to the ground.
"Hahahahahahaha! Good! GOOD!" Krauser laughed. "I want you mad. I want you FURIOUS!"
"If you ever speak my father's name again, I'll give you a pounding a thousand times worse than Geese!" Terry threatened. "You want me in Round 3? You got me!"
"Ha! Then we're done here!" Krauser let go of his downed opponent, allowing Terry back up to his feet... Terry was entertaining the notion of swinging at him a second time, but the Wolf stayed his hand.
"I'll be waiting for you, Bogard." Krauser pointed as he declared one last vow. "I want you at your best... so I can humiliate you so bad, you'll go hiding in the mountains like that other whelp."
And that's it for this chapter! A pretty good start, if you ask me. I hope the Mary flashbacks aren't too confusing for you, but since I'm just a fanfic writer and not a professional, I can get away with explaining that the italic events happened the night after Round 1. You know, when she got out of the tub and ran off still dripping wet. All will be revealed.
NEXT CHAPTER: A Psycho Soldier fights to keep his butt out of hot water! How will Kensou manage to win this whole thing and pay Malin what he owes... when he has a huge gash in his leg? Find out next time!
But first... let's jump to present-time Mary for a bonus scene.
BONUS SCENE
"That's it, Anton... that's it, baby... get a good smell."
Mary pulled the strand of evidence from the night before and pressed it to Anton's nose, once again allowing the dog to get a fresh sample of Freeman's DNA. This was her chip. Her edge, above the police force that had been dispatched to scour the town for him. She would rather they not find him... both for their safety, and for her satisfaction. SHE wanted to be the one to catch him. No, this wasn't about personal gratification, like Kevin... she felt a sense of duty to catch this guy, to be the one willing to traverse the danger, so that good, innocent people wouldn't have to spill their own blood. Like last night... that woman's scream-
"Agggh... get it together, dammit." Mary slapped herself repeatedly.
It was hard to shut out the still fresh, raw memories of her experience last night... it was only professional instinct that hardened her face, strengthened her to keep taking steps forward, into the terrifying unknown... into HIS world.
"Cmon Anton. Let's go catch this psycho."