Written by Reddit Users - u/Machampking & u/SilentEvil4554
David King versus Cassius White
Cassius POV
He stood silently atop a rock, staring at the valley floor that sat so far beneath him. Trees and hills extended upwards like the paw of a massive beast, the horizon a claw tearing the sky downwards. A testament to the earth's eternal battle to catch the heavens, and bring her closer.
He breathed in the air, smiling as he did so. It was crisp, cold, and refreshing. It was old air though, as it was the same air his father had breathed decades before, and his father before him, and so on. That was the beauty of it however, for no matter where he went, his ancestors would always be with him, at least in spirit.
He had to bring food for the winter, his elder and him couldn't do without a hearty supply. But, today had been a successful day in that regard, as he currently held a bag of small game. They needed to be skinned, tanned, and turned into jerky, but they would be quite delicious once it was done. But that was then, and this was now, he needed to get home.
He cast one last longing look at the sun as it hid behind the horizon, grateful for the warmth it provided him in the cold months. With a sigh of complete content he turned to the hill he'd climbed up, and began the long walk back home.
He was seventeen, strong as a hudj, and almost as tall as one too! His Blessing was coming along nicely as well, as he could now easily support the weight of a tree on his back. It wasn't the largest tree mind you, but it was still a hefty weight to bear. He was fast enough to catch the witcawa, and tough enough to wrestle the huwa.
He stopped dead in his tracks as the world continued to grow darker around him. It wasn't the night rapidly approaching, this was like the world was being consumed by a black tide. He ran from it, channeling his blessing to run like the wind. However, the blackness came hard and fast, shooting past his feet and converting the world to a blank black canvas. As his feet slapped softly on the smooth black surface, everything suddenly shifted.
His surroundings shifted to that of a small living room, a brick campfire to the left of him, and a small blanket wrapped infant in his arms. He felt older, as though a decade had passed. It was akin to being asleep in a car, and waking up at your destination. He was clad in a green turtleneck sweater, and a pair of khakis.
The infant was his, he didn't remember why he had one, but he knew she was his. She was Sarah, and she was the sun upon which his life now orbited. Her blonde hair was pretty, just like her mothers. Her brown eyes stared at him with such an intense curiosity, that he couldn't help but smile. They seemed to ask him, 'who are you and why are you staring at me?'
"I'm yer daddy kiddo," he whispered softly as he tickled her tummy. Her giggle brought him nothing but pure elation, it was magic in the best way. If he were to die right then and there, he would feel nothing but content. After all, he'd die with the beautiful face of his…
What was wrong with her face?
He was suddenly jolted, finding himself jumping more than an entire decade ahead in his life. He found himself floating above an arena, although something was strange about it. Below him in the sandstone pit that made up the ground, was a singular figure with undeterminable face or body. With a crashing noise, and a flash of light, he found himself standing in the ring. The figure across from him was clad in a pale yellow and red sweatshirt, the hood drawn over their eyes. The figure tilted their head upwards, causing the light to reach their eyes and face. And with a single sentence, Cassius's world crumbled around him.
"Why didn't you come back Dad?" she asked.
Cassius sat up suddenly, sweat running down the back of his neck in rivets. He held his head in his hands, having tripped on his walk down memory lane. The familiarity of each individual memory, combined with the waking nightmare had his heart pounding like a jackhammer. The implications were clear, and he didn't have the gall to dare try and decipher what it all actually meant.
He looked at his right ankle, and swore silently. The Shaman had broken the same leg three years prior after slipping on ice and taking a header down the side of a hill. He'd spent the winter, and part of the spring nursing it and recovering. It still hurt when it got cold, but he'd learned to push the feeling out of his mind.
His entire skull ached, from his dislocated jaw, to the crack in the back of his skull. Combine that with the unending pain in his chest, the fact that his heart beat irregularly and occasionally stopped entirely, his blurry vision, and he felt like hudj dung. He could hardly move, his muscles ached that much.
But he still needed to rise, to get back on his feet and finish out the hunt. His dreams, his pain, every problem would be solved in time. If I have time, he thought bitterly. This final hunt of this long string of them would be his hardest. Not only because his body was giving out, but because of the quality of his prey.
The man was young, more than two decades younger in fact. And despite missing an eye, he continued to fight, to hunt, to conquer, like some kind of crusading king. He was stronger, faster, larger, and far more aggressive. But despite that, Cassius would not back down, he wouldn't allow the hunt to cease. If he was to die, he'd die in the dirt, and in the mud he made with his prey's blood.
So with a growl, and help from a crutch he'd been given, he got to his feet. One more time, one last go, one more hunt. He just needed to keep going, keep pushing, keep crawling. This was the final prey to hunt in the tournament, and it would be his finest to hunt down.
It was destined.
David's POV
An image of a beautiful landscape was shown. Tall, grassy fields, surrounded by even taller pine trees. Across from the fields flow a calm river, and beyond that was a magnificent kingdom. As the winds started to blow, it revealed a young man laying in the grass. He looked fast asleep. There didn't appear to be a care in the world in his demeanor. As the winds started to blow even harder, his eyes opened up.
"I'm home? I can't believe it." Thought the young man as he stood himself up. Looking at his surroundings, it was indeed his home, his nation. Everything looked the same as he last remembered it. However, as the winds started to pick up in speed, he realized unlike the wind, he wasn't free. "No I'm not free. I'm still a caged lion forced to fight." said David King. There was sadness in the man's soul; a teardrop fell quietly in the grass. He looked down and noticed the handcuffs still chained on each wrist.
Almost as if it was on cue, as soon he reminded himself of that fact, he felt a tight chain collar strap that was uncomfortable around his neck. It was so tight, it was a struggle to even let out a breath. It didn't matter how much he tried pulling off the collar, there was no way in escaping his fate.
Turning around, he saw a menacing figure. It was a man shadowed by a powerful battle aura. His mere presence brought shivers down the prisoner's spine. The magnitude of the situation only got worse as the seconds went by. From the top of his lungs, David shouted "WHO ARE YOU?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Cold sweat began to drip down from his neck.
As the figure stepped closer, it was clear who it was. "It was an honor hunting you down, king... " David tripped over as the figure approached closer. Standing over him, was the hunter, Cassius White. Realizing the cold reality, the young king did something he was taught to never show in the battlefield. There was fear in David's eyes, he was now the hunted. For a split second, he blinked. He wasn't able to open them afterwards, everything was just pure darkness.
"Wake up boy!" shouted the dark art Master, Agatsuma Takeo. The man was pulling his student from his shirt. Violently shaking him to wake him up. Slowly lifting up his eyes, the young prince saw his master, his childhood best friend Carmilla, and his employer Mister Fujiwara.
"You really have to stop sleeping so much boy. Sleep too much and you might miss your last match." Takeo jokingly said as he slapped his student on the shoulder. This was merely a diversion, Takeo knew something was wrong but he didn't want to alarm the others of this feeling.
"David, is there something the matter?" the white haired assistant said as she caressed her hand on her king's cheek. Her eyes showed obvious signs of worriedness. She also knew something was wrong as well.
"It's fine, Carmilla, it was just a bad dream is all." David looked back at her with a smile. His ability to lie was as natural as breathing. He knew his friend worried for him every time he fought. Having her know about his true feelings would only just make things worse.
"Everyone, may you please step out from the room for a second? I need to discuss strategies with the boy." Takeo spoke up. Warden Armstrong understood loud and clear, he made sure the room was clear. It was going to be a moment between master and student.
As Carmilla was the last to leave, she quietly closed the door behind her. As soon as the room was absolutely quiet, Takeo spoke up once again.
"You're afraid going into this last fight aren't you?" Takeo said as he eyed the student.
David would be lying to himself if he didn't admittedly feel at least a little uneasy going into this last battle. Though he respected the grand elder, Cassius White would be the greatest challenge he would ever face. Ever since David saw the aged Alaskan go at it during his first fight, he was indeed impressed. Though the older man was no longer in his prime, he was still a force to be reckoned with. Cassius was a skilled hunter not only because of the creatures he hunted, but also by the men he was able to slay. He defeated Kure Clan member Steve Johnson, the sadistic psychopath Raphael Empio, his friend king Vlad Voiculescu, and finally, the genius grappler William Brando. The Shaman was mighty in speed and strength, if he was to be classified, David would rank his opponent at least king level.
The Land of Asura, David's home, was occupied by many kings. Each section of the nation carried with it their own specific ruler. To be king was to be regarded as the strongest, being the strongest carried with it respect. David wasn't going against another challenger. He was going against a man that was to be admired. As crazy as it sounded, Cassius brought the young prince a sense of nostalgia. The way he expressed himself during his fights showed the never giving up tenacity his nation was known for.
"David! Look alive boy!" snapped master Takeo. He was growing more impatient with his student's indecisiveness. He understood the young man's uneasiness going into this last battle, however, he could worry about it after. At this present time, the most important thing was knowing how to deal with the Druid kengan matches.
"David, even with that one eye, I know you aren't completely blind." Takeo began as he stroked his beard. "Cassius grappling skills far exceed your levels. He is a dangerous individual, but do you know why exactly?"
David looked back at his master and with a straightface, he said, "It's because the man is unpredictable. His movements are hard to read." Throughout all of Cassius' battles, there was never a point in time he didn't surprise many with his moves.
Takeo nodded his head. "Indeed boy, the man lived out in the wild for so long that he became one with mother nature." Takeo stared at the young prince, what he was about to share was of great importance.
"Mother nature is such a fickle mistress. As humans, we search for patterns, we look for order; some sort of solution." Chuckling for a moment, he continued. "For all of nature's wonders and beauty, it is also hostile. Cassius isn't easy to figure out, which makes it a difficult counter for you."
Walking awfully close to the young king, Takeo raised his hand up in the air. "However..." Suddenly in a quick motion, Takeo performed a knife-hand strike to the blind side of David's bandaged face. The young king was able to catch the strike and swiftly push his master away with his foot.
"However, those who decide to dwell in it's domain continue to because what else can they do?" He said with a strange smile. "There's an inherent difference between those who have lived in the wilds with nearly no company to speak to, compared to someone who has lived with a tribe or group to teach and nurture them. Those with nearly no company, are far more wicked and wily than those with companions to call their own."
He took a breath before considering his next words very carefully. "The fundamental difference between you and him, is that that man doesn't have a singular strong reason to continue fighting. He has many, many, fragments of ideas for him to keep fighting tooth and nail, but not one strong conviction. There most likely is nothing more to him than you see in front of you." He let out the pent up breath and rolled out his neck.
"David, I won't lie to you. Cassius is a force of nature, but you must brave through the storm. Do so and I promise you victory can be assured."
"Thank you master, I needed that." said David. Right before he was about to make a bowing motion, the dark master stopped him. "You are a king, show everyone tonight why this is the case David."
Stadium Stands
Not surprisingly, the stadium was packed with a massive amount of fans from all corners. There was not a single spot untouched. It seemed like everyone in the island wanted to see the final fight of the Kengan Annihilation Tournament. However, the ones who seemed the most excited for its conclusion were the ones who had the closest connections. For instance, the fighters, the company owners, as well as the people who were closely associated with the fighters.
"At this time, we are no longer accepting any more money. The time for betting is now closed." Said a woman over the stadium's speakers. The bets were close, it was about 50-50 for both David and Cassius respectively. It was difficult for people to make bets during the whole process. Cassius carried the high lead in the beginning due to his high performance, but David was able to win the crowd over his victory against the russian experiment. This is why both fighters were dead even when it came to the betting process. It was honestly hard to predict who was truly going to walk away from this.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?" Said the ring announcer girl Sayaka Katahara.
"We apologize for the delay! We wanted to give ample time of rest for these two men who are about to battle it out! They have fought the toughest opponents throughout this whole tournament and will now grant us the honor to witness a magnificent battle of epic proportions!"
The crowd began to clap and cheer. They were eating this whole dramatic performance. While some were eating, others were literally drinking.
"I thought you said you hated light beer?" Spoke Qi Ling as he noticed the other fellow fighter Maxwell Beckett drink himself another 12th bottle. "It's not like I wanted to drink this stuff. But, doctor's orders. That quack got me taking pain medication. You believe that?" responded Maxwell.
"I don't think that's how it works, but you do you my dude." Ling responded back with a smile.
Introductions
Drifting her hand to the south entrance tunnel, Sayaka was ready to begin with the last of the introductions. She smiled as the music began to play.
"A fan favorite of the kengan tournament, he goes by many names. Shaman, druid, hunter. However you decide to call him, all is but certain, he is touted to be mother nature's manifestation of power! Put your hands together for...CASSIUS WHITE!"
With his name being called out, Cassius calmly walked himself to the center of the arena. Fans went crazy as he appeared in front of them. To some, it's a little funny in retrospect. When he first appeared, he was but just another fighter in a huge roster. However, his amazing battles thus far have cemented him in the legendary history books of Kengan fighters.
Shifting her direction to the north entrance, Sayaka spoke once again. "Throughout Kengan history, many have proclaimed the title of king, yet very few were actually able to demonstrate it. He is the last remaining king in this tournament. Please welcome...DAVID KING!"
Inside the tunnel
"That's my name...wish me luck" said David. But before he could move another inch, he felt the hand of his master touching his shoulder.
"Wait, there is one last thing I want to tell you before you go" said Takeo. David simply blinked. He didn't know what his master wanted to say to him.
"Is it to keep my guard up? Listen I know I may just be a boy in your eyes, but I promise I'll-" David was silenced when his master interrupted him. He patted down his student's shoulders.
"No it's not that David. I want to tell you to go out there, but know you are no longer a boy. You are a man. You've changed so much in the past few days, it has been a journey."
"This tournament is full of surprises" thought David. He didn't expect the strict old man to show this level of care. "Thank you master, thank you for everything." David said with a smile, and with that, instead of walking to the arena, he ran.
Center Ring
As both men shared the same presence, many would assume uneasiness as well as bloodlust coming from at least one of them. Surprisingly, there was no animosity nor ill will towards each other. In fact, the atmosphere was purely tranquil. This was because neither man held a grudge. Both men held respect for one another. This didn't mean however, that they were going to hold back. In the presence of the battlefield, it takes everything; it leaves nothing back.
Both men were silent for a moment; only capturing glances of each other. It wasn't until Cassius was the first to break the silence. "You did amazing to get this far, young one."
"I can say the same thing to you." David replied. He was about to say some more stuff, but was distracted by the fortune necklace Cassius was wearing. David didn't know if it was some sort of intimidation factor Cassius used on his opponents or whether he proudly carried it as a trophy of success. The necklace carried the remains of the past hunts. All successful.
Cassius chuckled as he noticed the young man eyeing his necklace. "Do not worry, you were never on my list of hunts."
Admittedly, David was surprised. "You saying I'm not good enough?" Again the Shaman laughed at the young man's naivety.
"David...hunting is not a sport. In a sport, both sides should know they're in the game." said the older man as he rubbed his grizzled chin.
"Young one, you are indeed impressive. However, I cannot without full consciousness hunt something which does not want to fight. You are forced to fight, are you not? It seems to me you are only but a caged lion forced to fight in a gladiator coliseum."
Cassius was not much of a talker. He was more of the observant type; he only spoke if he thought it was necessary to do so. His words actually stunned David, the older man understood him completely well.
Before David could respond with any words of his own, he instinctively flinched away as the older man extended his hands forward. Cassius eyed the young warrior. He didn't even have to say a thing, his eyes were all it needed to say that everything was fine.
David giving the okay, nodded. Cassius once more extended his hands out and grabbed both of the king's wrists. Observing the metal handcuffs, he could see they were extremely well made. It seemed like the young king tried breaking them before, but to no avail. Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, Cassius spoke.
"If you fight, fight like a free man. If you die, die like a freeman." and with that the sound of David's metal cuffs began to break. Cassius' mighty grip shattered the cuffs to tiny little pieces.
Watching from the stands, Kaiya Nariko commented, "That's a pretty mighty grip old man, but beware. You might have just unleashed a ferocious lion." Hearing a chuckle, he looked to his side. "The stronger the opponent, the more interesting it will be!" Flashing a smile was Victor Faye and his friend Antonio Dos Santos.
"What's the point of winning if there is no challenge? As fighters, we constantly fight an upward battle." Pointing his thumb towards himself, Faye continued with his little speech.
"Though we walk this never ending journey of battles, we must not forget the steps that led us to this point. A win, a loss, even a draw, can teach a man. We grow stronger because of it. Everyone in this tournament has gotten stronger; we are all going to be in the history books."
Narrator: "All men desire strength at one point or another. But why exactly? To some it's the ultimate expression of freedom. With the powers at one's own disposal it can shape our destinies.
In a way this was Cassius wanting to set David free."
"Fight strong, young one" said Cassius as he shook both of David's hands together.
"Alright you two, please, each to your corners. We are about to start." said referee Tashiro Mosashi. Both men nodded and went to their respected corners.
Looking at both fighters, the referee questioned if they were ready. As both nodded in unison, the fight was ready. "BEGIN!" shouted the referee as he swung his arm down commencing the start of the fight.
Fight 1/7
"AHHHHH!" shouted the young prince. His war cry echoed the arena loudly. He positioned his body like he was a runner in a race. As his body sprinted forward, Cassius could see the color of David's eye change.
"Serious already huh?" thought Cassius. Before any other thoughts could come in, he was already face to face with that alluring golden eye. It was an enchanting gaze, but he understood its deadly nature. That's when he could feel David's knuckles drag themselves deep into the right side of his cheekbone. The force of the punch propelled the aged Alaskan to the concrete wall.
"WHAT A PUNCH!" said the surprise ring announcer girl as she stood up from her desk. "That was a small taste of what's to come" inteverned co-commentator Hiruma Niou. The Chessmaster was correct, there was more to come. David wasn't finished with his assault. The caged prince sprinted once again, ready to dish out more punishment.
As David was about to swing in for another punch, Cassius ducked down and grabbed hold of the younger man's arm. Using his own momentum against him, Cassius hurled David across the arena. The young man seemed weightless as his body was flying for a moment. Obviously, men weren't created to be airborne. So it wasn't a surprise when David's body dropped down like a meteorite.
A loud crashing sound could be heard, and following that was a small dust cloud. "Yikes. Who knew the geezer had so much strength? Where was he hiding that? That looked deadlier than the king's punch!" explained Alexander Flesas.
Interjecting, Takeo spoke to the younger fighter. "It wasn't the man's own strength necessarily. In martial arts, specifically wrestling in this case, it's not always about strength. Cassius holds a deadly level of technique. His unorthodox wrestling seems to rely on using his opponent's own power against them."
"I've heard rumors of a wildman. A Human Yeti, the beast of nature that easily defeats the largest predators on the planet; from grizzly bears to polar bears. There seemed to be no equal. This beast didn't have any guns, only its two hands. I guess you're nature's deadly beast aren't you, Cassius?" Thought Takeo as he continued to observe.
Walking calmly towards the crash site, Cassius began to speak up. "You are like thunder and lighting. Your strikes are even deadlier than expected" he said as he was wiping away the small traces of blood off his lip. He then smiled.
The young lion's power was fearsome, terrifying, and all too familiar. The Human Yeti may have finally discovered a worthy adversary. A challenge that would honor any respectful hunter. Looking at the imprisoned king, Cassius tapped his chin with his right fist. His smile only grew larger. "This fight has only just begun" he thought.
Bowing his head, the hunter stood there quietly. The crowd waited patiently for the man's next wise words of wisdom. Some were even on the edge of their sets.
"Eeeyyaaauuugghhhhh!" roared the Shaman. The heavens arena was filled with the scream. The duration of the war cry lasted longer and sounder even louder. The ones closest in hearing proximity felt their eardrums pounding, but their hearts were pounding even harder. To Cassius, this wasn't a shout for intimidation. It was a shout to represent his own power to the young one.
Looking up at Cassius, David understood this wasn't a man. He was mother nature's hunter. This wasn't going to be easy. A little unsure of himself, David then mentally slapped himself. "You're a fool, David. Fear should not determine your future. Fight till your dying breath!"
Picking himself up, David changed back to his usual fighting stance. His body was ready to go on the offensive once more. Springing forward, David was bobbing his head and patiently waiting for an opening.
Throwing a fast jab, Cassius was already prepared for it. He did his best in blocking some of the younger man's punches. However, each of the strikes stung a little as he used his hand to swipe them away. "The jab, one of the fastest punches in martial arts. But why do I get the feeling David has something more planned?" thought Cassius to himself.
David was circling around Cassius. Each of the jabs were getting progressively faster. It was then a surprise when it appeared David tried going for a front kick. "Mixing things up I see?" As Cassius was getting himself ready for the front kick, he saw a fist coming downward. "A feint?!" thought Cassius. He saw the foot retreating and the fist was mere inches to his face now. He shifted his arms up ready to protect the upper half of his body.
Yet again, their eyes glanced one more, but strangely those golden orbs were drifting downward. "WHAT THE?! A FEINT WITHIN A FEINT?!" Sayaka's words rang true. It started to make some sense. The fist wasn't going downward because David directed the motion. Rather it was because David's whole body was moving downward.
"To cut a mighty tree, you start with the legs" thought David. As his body went to the floor, he used his foot as a hook. He pulled Cassius's ankle in, thereby causing the Druid to lose his center of balance. Falling down, Cassius knew he was in trouble. The lion of a man pounced on the opportunity.
The younger fighter quickly got on top and was already able to establish a mounting position. Before Cassius even had time to block, David was already repeatedly pelting the older man with machine gun like fists. More screams erupted as the young man kept going on with his assault.
"Cassius, this is a very bad position you are in. The mounted position is considered one of the most dominant grappling positions. Figure something out fast!" Thought William Brando as he observed the fight over a balcony. The wrestling genius was a caulating individual, but even he knew that this current fight was a toss up. Anyone could win or lose.
The man was injured by the Shaman, but like David, he also carried respect towards Cassius. The man was honest; he was a fighter. Nothing more and nothing less. As William was trying to extend himself further, his loving boss, Risa Vergo had to hold him back. "William don't move too much, you're still injured!" She explained. It was times like these where some people couldn't control themselves. In the heat of battle, emotions tend to roam wild.
As Cassius was feeling the fire from the king's fist, he soon realized something. Lions have thick manes; David was no exception. When the time was right, Cassius was able to grab a chunk of his opponent's brown hair. Pulling the young man close, Cassius said, "You are thunder and lightning, however, I'll be the one making you see the stars tonight." David uncontrollably started to sweat. It was at that moment he knew he would experience some level of pain.
The older man started wailing at him. Each of his strikes caused David to see more and more stars. It started with one star, then one hundred and then a thousand. David couldn't find a way to fight back because he was struggling just to hold the man down.
As Cassius kept bucking his hips, he was able to slip his knee through. "You are no animal. Fight me like a man!" shouted Cassius as he thrusted his foot into David's stomach. The kick pushed David a few feet away.
Easily annoyed, David went in for another attack. "Frustration...the first sign of a breakdown" thought Cassius. Instead of striking Cassius with either a punch or a kick, David opted to out grapple his opponent.
"AHHH!" shouted David as he picked up his opponent and shoved him against the cement wall. Cracks started to form as David kept thrusting the older man's body into it.
"Wow, folks! David is showing off his grappling prowess!" Commented Sayaka. She winced a little as David also implemented some headbutts into Cassius's face. Some blood started to drip down but it was hard to tell who's blood exactly it was.
"There's a problem with today's youth. They can easily get hot headed" explained Hiruma. To the audience's surprise, Cassius with a single hand was able to shove David's whole body to the floor.
"Wait what?!" said Sayaka. Obviously confused by what just transpired. "David you fool. Are you forgetting you are dealing with the better grappler? Are you trying to out grapple a grappler?!" Shouted Takeo.
Due to David's hot headedness, he didn't realize Cassius was able to pull back David's leg. Additionally, the force of the hand wasn't a simple push. It was in fact, an open hand strike. These whole combinations of sequences lead the king to fall.
"Smart bastard. You knew hitting the skull was risky, you didn't want to risk your hands!" angrily shouted Viktor Miller. He was still obviously frustrated with him breaking his hand with David's skull.
"Be glad you didn't hit my skull or your fist would have winded up to dust" shot back Vlad Voiculescu. "I have one good fist left. Want to test out that theory?" Stated menacingly by the Russian. However, both men started to laugh because it was both of the men fighting right now that got the better of them. It was no use in holding on to grudges.
As for David, he was now in a bad position. He was now in the receiving end of the mount and pound. As try as he might, he couldn't get out of Cassius' tight hold on him. The older man's punches were indeed powerful, yet David's durability allowed him to take some of the beating.
Technique wise, he understood his mistake. Cassius lived out in nature. He wrestled the biggest predators and won. Wrestling federations had weight classes for a reason. However, Cassius' skill and adaptability allowed him to overcome the normal conception to wrestle. So in order to have any chance of escape, David must play off with his natural abilities hidden deep inside his body.
His heart pounded, he could feel the massive amounts of adrenaline flowing throughout his body. His primal instincts kicked into overdrive. He forced himself up taking in the beatings. Shocked by the young one's resolve, Cassius became even more shocked as David was able to perform a front head lock on him.
Using all his might, David performed a pseudo belly to belly suplex. Both bodies had fallen to opposite sides, but the demand to get back up and fight was palpable. It was a smart move on the young lion's part, as it created distance between him and the Shaman.
Fight 2/7
Breathing heavily, David turned around and saw the Shaman quickly getting back up. "SHIT!" David thought to himself. Instead of confronting the hunter, he instead determined the best course of action was to run away. Cassius, seeing his prey flee, bounded off after him. He was moving his body steadily as if it was another hunt for him.
"Wow, what a surprise! The opposite is happening! It's Cassius now on the offensive while David on the defensive!" Explained the ever observant Sayaka. The people watching the fight were confused on why exactly David was zigzagging around the arena. Was David too afraid to fight now?
"Good. Get some distance and think of a plan, David. Do not listen to the fools who mistake your retreat as cowardly" said Takeo to himself. The dark master tried looking calm on the outside, yet inside, he was indeed worried. The co-commentator next to Sayaka was able to see the emotional worry in his old friend's eyes.
"Do not worry old friend. No one has ever won a game of chess by taking only forward moves... Sometimes you have to move backwards to take better steps forward. That's life…" thought Hiruma to himself.
"Shit, the old man is quicker on his feet than I expected" thought David as he foolishly turned around. As try as he might, he couldn't get enough distance between him and the Alaskan. "Cassius is leading David to a corner. How's the prince going to escape this little situation?" commented his friend, Sigfried "Blood" River.
It was true, Cassius led David to a corner. The only viable way of escape was to confront the hunter head on. However, it was something David dreaded to do. Not because he was afraid, but because wrestling Cassius took a lot out of him. Wrestling was indeed very taxing on his body. He understood what Cassius's plan was. He wanted to tire the young buck; break him down little by little, eventually over exhausting him to the point of defeat. Cassius may not have been a genius in terms of academics, yet he could be considered an Einstein of combat.
Two options were available. Either David runs straight to the brick wall or confronts Cassius. The first option only worked in cartoons and the second meant another round of grappling. "Well, here goes!" said David as he ran straight to the wall.
Still trailing behind, Cassius was now only in arms length. He was ready to tackle the elusive prey if necessary. But before he could make those plans come together, he felt something strange. "This is feeling too easy."
Just then, David planted his foot onto the cement wall. "I won't run from you. It's unbecoming of a king." the young man thought to himself. He then generated a tremendous amount of force behind his foot and torqued his body. As his body spun around, so did his fist. It happened so fast, but the young fighter delivered a devastating backhand fist to Cassius face knocking the Druid down to the floor.
"Truly, I was fooled. To think that I was in control? You are a man of many surprises, King" thought Cassius to himself. Though he was surprised, David was able to catch him off guard. He was more surprised with the fact that David didn't attack him as he tried to get back up. Was the young man still wary of his wrestling prowess?
"I have to thank you. You've reminded me to always guard my honor. A king only charges, never retreats." said David. With a smile, Cassius did get back up, but extended his hands to the sides. He was like a goalie, and David was the ball. It was a sign of no escape.
Squaring up like a boxer, David began to bounce back and forth. "You know all that running got me thinking. I think I found a weakness to your grappling, Cassius." Amused by the young man's comment, Cassius joyfully played along. "Oh, what might that be?" Said the elder as he planted his feet firmly to the sandy textured ground.
"I'll show you." and with that final word, David lunged to what looked like a haymaker. Cassius saw the attack incoming and used his sturdy palm to block the attack. David went in for another attack; this time actually connecting to the upper cheekbone, but Cassius retaliated with a clean uppercut.
Though the attack landed, Cassius was able to see the man grinning back at him. "This man…" thought Cassius as he tried grabbing David's arm. He somehow was able to slip away from the elder's grasp. "He…" Cassius again blocked away the strikes, and again tried grabbing the slippery fighter. David however, seemed more than happy in allowing Cassius to grab him.
"Come on, grab me!" Shouted David as thrusted his head forward. The headbutt did momentarily stop the elder, but Cassius understood something was wrong. Using his feet, Cassius kicked the sand on top of them.
A cloud of smoke covered them both. A volley of attacks were being thrown by David, but he couldn't see a thing. Confused by the momentary chaos, Cassius slipped away from the sandy cloud.
Looking at his chest, his palms, and the cut on his cheek, it finally dawned to him. "This man. He reminds me of wrestling mountain lions." The crowd in horror were able to see several lacerations.
"Man, Cassius is covered in so much blood" said one person in the stands. "Yeah, there's so much blood they could supply a blood bank" joked another.
"Interesting," said the turkish oil wrestler Oguzan Maharret. Twirling his manly moustache, he felt it was necessary to explain the situation. "Instead of oil, young David is using blood to make things hard for the other grappler to grasp."
It was true, Cassius indeed felt strange that David's barrages of attacks didn't exactly have the same power as previously experienced. David instead focused more on the sharp edges of his body. His knuckles, elbows, etc. This was reminiscent of how felines in the wild wrestled. They clawed, bit, and lash out at each other.
As the sandy cloud died down, David revealed a toothy grin. "Those papercuts aren't going to defeat you. I'll have to take a big chunk to really do a number on you" said David as he showed off his sharp looking fangs. The sharp edges reselembeed boney knives. A good bite could tear out a major artery.
Chuckling, Cassius spoke back to his opponent. "All these battles were simply appetizers for the main course it seems. Go on king, take a bite out of your last meal" the aged Alaskan didn't have fears. The comment wasn't some sort of bluff. He was tremendously excited of what was to come to next.
Letting out a roar, David went charging full speed ahead. Keeping his arms behind his back and head forward, strange as it may seem, was actually difficult to read. "Will he bite first? Or will he surprise me with a barrage of punches? I am hungry to find out" thought Cassius as he took a deep breath.
Standing firm, Cassius aimed a kick towards David's face. Smiling, David quickly used his hands to leap from the leg. That small momentum was just enough to launch him close enough for a chance bite down on the hunter's neck. "I GOT HIM!" thought David as his fangs were mere inches away.
"Pity" spoke out Cassius as he jammed his fist into that lion like mouth. "AAHHH!" yelled out the woodsman as he slammed David to the floor. The first thing that made contact with the floor was David's skull. His brain was rattling from within; out of desperation he bit down on Cassius's hand with all his might. A crunching sound could be heard, hot blood began to leak. That blessed hand may have just been destroyed.
Those boney knives were indeed sharp. Cassius could feel the fangs penetrate through muscle and bone. It was indeed painful, however, he experienced worse from actual predators. This pain was nothing compared to the pains of the past.
David would be lying to himself if he didn't admit to admiring the elder. This hunter was wise and it was like he was teaching him as the fight went on.
Charging his fist, Cassius said to David, "When animals bite their prey, they rarely consider how exposed their throat is once they latch on. Shame you didn't think so either."
At that moment, Cassius struck David in the throat. This attack made David stop biting and let go. A rush of pain coursed through his neck. Spitting out blood, David's heart was pounding. He curled up to a ball. His mind went blank; he lost himself in the sea of pain. For the first time ever, David was now put onto his knees, he looked to be at the mercy of the Shaman.
Arena Stands
"CASSIUS! CASSIUS! CASSIUS! CASSIUS! CASSIUS!" Cheered the enthusiastic crowd. The crowd was overloaded with excitement; that devastating blow may have ended this fight. To some, martial arts carries a type of deadly beauty. The combinations of movement, planning, and ferocity is what attracts people.
However, that being said, one also has to take into consideration that all art is subjective. A portion of the crowd was indeed finding enjoyment, but another sector was being driven to tears. The people of the land of Asura couldn't help but weep over their fallen king. Laying on the floor, his body riddled in pain, and for what? A chance for freedom?
Their young king wasn't simply fighting for his own freedom, but for theirs as well. If their king was willing to give up his life for theirs, they would do the same. A large movement of able bodied men were getting ready to storm in. They were going to fight on their king's behalf.
However, they were stopped by a single white haired girl. "STOP IT! ALL OF YOU!" Shouted Carmilla. "David told us that whatever the outcome was, we should not interfere!" She was loyal to her prince. Though it pained her to see him like this, she had to hold back the tears for him.
"GET UP, DAVID! WIN THIS! PLEASE! LET'S GO BACK HOME TOGETHER!" She shouted.
The blood, the sweat, the tears. It all came down to this. In all hunts, one must be focused. One slight distraction would cost a hunter dearly. But hearing those damn words…being surrounded by so much emotion. For a brief moment, it brought the hunter a sense of remembrance. Within the depths of the Shaman's memories, he remembered clearly. "Why didn't you come back?" "Please let's go back home together" he heard her say. The blood he shared with his daughter, that unconditional love. Love is the reason for some people to continue fighting on. But what happens to those who use the opposite?
Fight 3/7
"Are you able to continue?" Asked the referee Mosashi. No response. "Do you want to keep on fighting, David?" He asked again. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. As soon as Mosashi was about to ask the downed fighter that same question, the prisoner bolted. He was able to move faster than Cassius's eyes were able to keep up.
"That smell, this feeling…" thought Cassius. Sensing a presence behind him, he turned around and saw David. His wild, unkempt hair was blocking his eye. He didn't need to stare into his eye to notice a change.
"You aren't the same man I've been fighting" said Cassius as he began to slowly walk towards his opponent. Suddenly, David lunged at the hunter and his eye looked thirsty for blood. David swung a downward punch intending to break open the Shaman's skull. However, Cassius in the nick of time shielded the attack with his forearm.
"'GRYYAAAH!' He roared. His other hand flew out with the force of a cannonball, cracking the young lion in the jaw. But this attack seemed to be futile as it didn't slow his attacker down. "Is he even registering pain?!" The Shaman thought to himself. As Cassius tried once again to go on the offensive, he was stopped by the beast's quicker reaction time. Looking at Cassius with a mischievous indent, the beast attacked wildly. Using a multitude of consecutive punches, the beast overwhelmed the hunter by using his move, Fist of Kings.
The volley of attacks was too much. Cassius couldn't even see them, it was like invisible fists attacking him at every angle. It was bad enough he couldn't see them, but it was incredibly difficult to withstand such potent striking power. Those barrages of fists sent the aged Alaskan flying across the stadium ring.
The only thing that was able to stop him from flying was the wall behind him. Spitting out some blood, Cassius looked up and saw his opponent. David was carrying a sadistic smile, reminiscent of Raphael. "Good thing I was able to draw out a breath before those punches made contact with my body" Cassius thought to himself. His move called "Log Cabin" proved to be an effective defensive technique.
There was a killer's intent behind that attack. It wasn't like the usual David he remembered. "Who is this man? This isn't David!" Shouted Carmilla. Hearing the girl's comment, Takeo shook his head. "This is the true king's rage. They say those who are born with the golden eyes are born to rule. They rule because of the inherent powers they were born with. Those traces of primal DNA seemed to have taken full control. He is more beast than man now."
"AHHHHH!" shouted the beastly king. He charges at the hunter, full intent to kill, sprinting like a hungry lion waiting to catch its prey to devour. Being consumed with so much primal energy didn't leave too much room for thought. There was no strategy, just pure destruction.
"My last attack didn't faze him. He's quick, he's powerful...I must do this...I have no choice!" Thought Cassius as he took a deep breath. He was performing his Maroonar's Blessing. Whether it was a spiritual power or some sort of deep concentrated trance, it did its purpose. He would need every bit of energy to survive this.
"COME AND FACE ME, DAVID KING!" Shouted Cassius. He shut his eyes and listened carefully to the footsteps coming his way. The Shaman didn't require his normal vision, it would have proven pointless. He couldn't see the attack, so he must feel the attack. He must trust his senses to survive like he has always done.
Drawing close, Cassius prepared himself. He cleared his body and mind. Cassius spoke out in his mind. Letting a deep breath out. "Shaman's sight." Opening his eyes, the world slowed down around him. The waving fans, the grains of sand dispersing out by the king's charge, everything was slow. This included the Shaman's own heartbeat. He wasn't merely close to death, he was holding hands with it.
"No retreat, no surrender" he thought. He was able to see the lion charging at him, but seeing was half the battle. He needed strength to match the beast. He quickly changed gears.
Taking a deep breath in. "Bears Might," Cassius thought to himself. Suddenly Cassius's chest and back muscles began to tighten and condense. Though his body increased in strength, it wasn't enough. He needed more, so he steadily shifted to another blessing.
"What are you doing standing around?! Get the hell out of the way, he'll kill you!" Shouted Liska Drabek. David was now in the hunter's domain; he was ready to deliver a killer punch. He swung a powerful looking punch. A punch that would blow a hole through any man. It was a mixture of his master's attack, "Dragon Cannon." He called it, "Lion's Charge."
Cassius took a deep breath out. "APE'S DEXTERITY!" Shouted the human Yeti. Suddenly, like a whip, Cassius struck David with a mighty fist, making contact with the king's mouth. Cassius could feel a number of teeth breaking in the process. Not only that, but as soon as the fist landed, it also sent the beast flying away. David was hurled away like he was just launched by a blow was tremendous; Cassius' attack sounded more like a gunshot than anything else. This caused a moment of silence from the audience.
Arena Stands
"What...what the hell just happened?" Stated Sakaya. Throughout all her years hosting, never has she seen such a move that phenomenal. Intervening to explain, Hiruma spoke up. "That gunshot like sound was Cassius breaking the sound barrier. Consider the accuracy and force of the strikes coming out from a barrel of a magnum rifle. This technique seems to rely on 3 major principles. Timing, force and velocity. He isn't simply combining them, moreso he is making them work in unison."
Takeo on the other side of the stands, nodded his head in agreement. "It's a remarkable technique. I can't imagine how someone can master it. Even I, with my abilities, cannot copy such a move…" Thinking in his mind, he continued. "If that's the case, what kind of…"
Stepping out of the shadows, "The Archangel," Raphael Empio revealed himself to Takeo.
"That technique! That beautiful move. One does not gain those skills by simply training. Those moves are impeded into his soul. It's a form of expression for him!" Spoke the Italian. "I thought that man was nothing but an ugly stain to the world. However, realizing now, he is an artist just like me!"
Fight 4/7
Switching to multiple different gears in a row was a gamble. It was taxing on the mind and body.
Clutching his heart, the Shaman could feel the immense after effects of his technique. His heart was rapidly beating again. He did his best to not show the pain. "Stay calm, stay steady. Pain is a sign that you are still alive" he thought to himself.
Stepping back to analyze the situation, Cassius thought accordingly. Having the longer arms proved to be useful because not only was he able to deliver the first blow, but he also kept the distance between himself and the primal beast. However, the question still remained, would this be enough?
As the referee was about to check the downed fighter, David flipped himself back up onto his feet. "RAAAUUUU!" snarled the primal king. He experienced a burning sensation in the depths of his body. It was pain, a level of pain like no other. No...he remembers a different kind of pain. A pain deep within his memories. It was the painful blows dealt by that russian monster. Whether he fully remembered that portion or not wasn't important. What mattered most in his primal mind was survival.
The threat was there. Losing to the Druid meant death. Not giving it his all would mean death. Winning the battle was the only way he would be able to see tomorrow. His life was dependent on his actions. He needed victory; the cost didn't matter to him. So the beast charged once again. He was going to end the life of the elder he respected so dearly.
"Strong, young one, this isn't you. You are lost in your primal mind, but I know the human inside of you is still there. You will die a man rather than a beast" said Cassius as he readied himself for another skirmish against the primal king.
Repeating the same motions again, Cassius took in and let out deep breaths. He needed to be absolutely focused or risk his technique breaking down. It was easier said than done; not many could stay calm dealing with an ancient beast from the past.
Repeating the same course of action, David was the one to throw the first punch. He swung many rapid punches at the Druid, but the Druid did his best to avoid the incoming attacks. Growing frustrated, David then decided to unleash his ultimate technique. The move was intended to finish the match. However, Cassius in his stable position was able to move out of the way from the attack. Cassius then tried counter attacking by throwing a left straight punch. Shockingly enough, the wild beast caught the punch.
"He's...evolving!" Shockingly stated Cassius. The wild beast was more clever than it originally let on. It winded-up its fist, and unleashed a new attack with his left hand. The fist was coming down hard, Cassius knew he couldn't move out of the way. So instead of dodging, he used his already broken hand as a counter.
Both opposing fists collided, yet David was the one that came out victorious. Cassius's hand split open. To the beast, it was a victory, but to Cassius it was another second of survival. True, his fist was now useless and his shoulder was in pain. However, this single action bought him some time. Letting out another deep breath, Cassius shouts.
"Deer's Speed!" Like a bolt of lighting, Cassius struck the beast's chest with his foot. This blessing worked in combination with his kicking attack "Toppling Elm". His regular move was a pushing front kick that is capable of launching a 300 lb man backwards 10-15 feet. But combining "Deer's Speed" provided him another power in leg development.
The kick's shockwave sounded like a gunshot. It knocked back the beast, but Cassius knew it didn't put it down. Cassius had to get away, so he quickly took in another breath. "Hare's Speed!" This particular blessing was useful as it allowed the user faster movement. The hunter had to reposition himself; he needed to situate himself. He needed to come up with something fast if he hoped to survive.
Arena Stands
"Cassius did it again! The mighty beast is feeling the heat! As long as he can keep guessing David's next moves, he's virtually untouchable!" Stated Sayaka. "Perhaps," interjected Hiruma. "True, at the moment Cassius seems to be the one in control. However, the beast hasn't seemed to stop. In order to defeat such an ancient beast, the technique will have to put him down…" the co-commentator began to think to himself.
"Timing, force and velocity. Simple concepts, but difficult to manage simultaneously. You aren't using all of them at once are you Cassius? Doing so would be even too much for you. No...no you are doing them one at a time. Your heart is the thing that's fueling your fighting spirit. Your heart must have a window, a small gap in which you can change interchangeably. But if I was a betting man, I would bet it would come with a hefty cost."
Fight 5/7
Breathing heavily, Cassius felt like his heart would explode at any moment. The moves he was performing were bringing him closer to death. But every last second was necessary for survival. Never has he pushed his body and soul to these absolute limits. It was supposed to be used against that russian experiment, but fate destined the move to be used on the king. This move could lead to the death of him. Ironic really.
He had no choice but to use this move. Knowing full well of the risks. If he didn't, it would mean dying at the hands of the primal minded David. This was to increase the odds of his survival. Instead, speaking on behalf of probability, his chances are twiddling.
His primal opponent was aware of this fact as well. Wild, but not blind. David was readying himself, moving towards a low 4 limb stance. His stance resembled those of furious savage beasts of times forgotten. The original fighting stance, it was the antithesis of modern martial arts.
Martial art techniques were designed for the weak to defeat the strong, but it falls short once the primal force drives one to evolve. The prehistoric DNA running through his veins understands the needs and wants. Subconsciously, it wants to win, it needs to win. In order to fulfill that desire, his body must adapt. Strength, speed, endurance, durability, awareness, all necessary for survival. It's similar, very similar, and reminds the primal beast of...
"C-Cassius!" Shouted David. For a brief moment, the young king was able to remember. "David!" Shouted back Cassius. Did the young man come to his senses? Looking into his golden eye, no. It was merely a fleeting remembrance.
Shaking his head in sorrow, Cassius was ready for the beast to unleash its counterattack. He saw the kingly beast charge at him. All he could do now, is hope this last attack could defeat the ancient beast.
The beast was moving along a zigzag counter. It was difficult to pinpoint his exact moment of attack. "Will he attack from either the left or right side? Or will he charge ahead like he's always done?" These thoughts were running through the hunter's mind.
As the beast was drawing near, it opted to do the opposite of what the Druid had originally envisioned. The beast using its powerful legs, leaped into the air and seemed to have planned an aerial assault. It would seem like his previous analysis on the ancient primitive was correct. It was evolving.
With his body failing, soul quaking, and energy falling, it wasn't looking good. Cassius needed to combine all that he knew, all that he was capable of, into one attack. To put the beast down; to put him away, it needed to succeed, for the Shaman refused to believe that it wouldn't. No matter how much his body reminded him otherwise...
The beast once again tried using his newly developed move. His punch was coming down hard. But the Shaman used the beast's own power against it. As he jumped back from the attack, the Alaskan either brave or reckless, charged forward and was able grab hold of David's arm. "Forgive me," said Cassius to the primitive David. No matter how savage, he's still a man. No matter how primitive, David is still a companion. His heart regretted doing this, but he had no choice.
The primitive man must have forgotten the human language. But he understood the universal language of survival. He was sensing danger, but it was too late to escape now. The Shaman then retaliated with his own attack. He broke David's arm starting from the elbow. A horrible snapping sound could be heard, followed by the scream of the beast. Letting the beast drop to the floor suffering its agony by itself, Cassius was preparing himself.
This was his last chance, to unleash the final attack to end this. Readying himself, he was ready to inflict the finishing blow to the ancient's skull. However, the beast man was reluctant in giving up. Winning was his only survival as well. So as the Druid of the Kengan matches was about to inflict the finishing blow, the beast king quickly spun around and used the sharp parts of his broken Humerus as a makeshift blade.
He sliced through the Shaman's abodemen. It was a deep fatal cut. So much blood was running profusely that people within the stands had to turn away in horror. Unfortunately for the Shaman, he knew the blade sliced at least one of his organs. The Shaman's attack did go through, but it missed 50 percent of its original potency. As a result of each other's attack, both fighters fell to the ground.
Fight 6/7
"Simultaneous knockout!" Stated the pretty announcer girl. Her statement was true, both men were downed. But the question in everyone's minds was whether both men were still alive from each other's attacks. Both unleashed vicious attacks against one another; any normal man would have died a long time ago. This altercation led to the stadium having a moment of silence.
Referee Mosashi investigated whether both men were still alive. Checking the closest fighter to him was David. Checking his pulse and noticing signs of breathing, he declared the man still alive. This erupted cheers of joy for David's supporters. Their worthy king was still alive; there was still a chance for victory.
After checking David, the referee focused his attention to the Shaman. Analyzing the state he was in, he noticed the Shaman was partially paralzyed. The small pool of blood left the hunter in a state of shock. However, the good news was that he was still breathing. He was huffing and puffing; it was a struggle to breath. Maroonar's Blessing must have been more strenuous than he previously thought.
"As long as I can continue to breath, I will continue to fight." mumbled Cassius. He tried using his arms to push himself up. But in the weakened state he was in, he couldn't. But it didn't stop the aged warrior from trying. Everytime he tried pulling himself up, he fell right back down.
"Amazing! Despite Mister White's injuries, he still has the resolve to keep fighting to the bitter end!" Exclaimed Liska Drabek from the stands. He and other supporters erupted in a cheer as well.
As both parties were satisfied that the fight could still continue, the primal beast laying in the ground was also having his own reawakening.
"Wake up, son. You can sleep as much as you want after the battle" said the gentle voice in David's head. An image of his father appeared standing over him. "You were lost in your primal instincts. The blood we share is strong, but do not let it consume you. A king isn't a beast, only you can control your destiny."
Tired, David replied back, "But father, I'm in so much pain. I don't have the strength to-" before he could say anything else, he felt his body being lifted up.
"The pain you feel right now, won't compare to the pain you experience if you were to lose, David. Losing means giving up your freedom; it means losing the dream for our people" replied back the father. Embracing his son with a hug, he then suddenly disappeared.
Opening his eye, David soon realized he was reawakened. He was still badly hurt, but standing. His power was stronger than his pain. He understood that his father was right. Thinking to himself, he spoke in his mind.
"Being a king is more than just a title. I have to struggle and fight to earn the right to rule!" Holding onto his broken arm, David began to limp towards Cassius.
"I'm not just fighting for the honor of my title, I'm fighting for the sake of my people and for my land."
He finally made it towards where Cassius was downed. Standing over Cassius was strange to the young king. Cassius was considered a wise elder, someone above even himself. But today, David knew he had to forget all of that. He needed to win the tournament.
Seeing the hunter conscious in his own pool of blood, David spoke up. "Your life is about to come to an end soon if you don't stop the bleeding. Give up Cassius, there is nothing else to prove anymore. Dying in a place like this and with those ugly wounds would only cause disgrace!" Said David as he kneeled down to hold the mighty Druid. Both men eyed each other, the King and the Druid.
"I...I want-" muttered the wounded hunter. The open wound in his stomach was becoming unbearable, but he knew if he were to blink even once he would lose consciousness. Having a hard time hearing the older man, David came closer and waited for the elder's response.
"What is it you want Cassius? Please tell me so I can give it to you" said David. As he closed in within ear level. He heard the Shaman mutter.
"I want to die with honor…" Suddenly Cassius was able to grab hold of the younger fighter's shoulder. David's face went from a sympathetic look to a problematic one. He couldn't move. "This hunt isn't over!" Shouted Cassius as he delivered a powerful looking one-inch punch to his opponent's chest.
The resulting attack looked gruesome. Blood spurted out from David's chest and the sound of bones breaking came accompanying it. David then fell over backwards, as if he had just succumbed to the fatal blow.
"Oh my!" Screamed Sayaka. The bloodshed just wouldn't stop. Fights in this tournament seemed to only stop if both parties accepted. As everyone was rightfully shocked, they began to comment to one another of what just transpired.
"I don't get it? What the hell just happened!?" Shouted Alexander as he reached over to the railings. "One moment David had the older guy dead to rights, but now David isn't even moving! Can someone please explain!"
Takeo did his usual thing, which was explaining. "That attack. It looked awfully similar to how cattle guns work" he said. "The proper term is a captive bolt pistol." responded Maxwell.
"Farmers would use such devices to inflict a forceful strike into an animal there by killing it. Cassius' version seemed a bit excessive. Consider this a variation of Bruce Lee's one inch punch." Maxwell finished. This brought a nod from the dark master who was very impressed.
Fight 7/7
It took a considerable amount of strength to get up, but Cassius was able to do just that. Looking at the referee, he said, "Give me your undershirt, give it to me now." Not wanting to argue against the Shaman, the referee agreed and handed Cassius his white undershirt.
Stretching and tearing the fabric apart, Cassius was able to make a makeshift bandage over his stomach wound. "This won't stop the bleeding completely, but it might give me enough time to finish the fight" the Alaskan thought to himself. Suddenly, he was reminded of the pain he couldn't escape. His heart was still throbbing in pain. He had clutched his chest. His eyes went from a calm glance to a contorted mess. It's possible to stop the bleeding, but a bleeding heart was trickier.
Instead of standing over the downed fighter, Cassius decided to keep his distance. It's true that he has the highground. But if living off nature taught him anything, it was to always expect the unexpected. But truth be told, he honestly thought he finished off the young warrior.
"I'm sorry, King David. This technique was designed for mercy killings. It's supposed to be a quick, painless death...but in this case, I had to generate a lot more force behind it. If I hadn't, there would have been a chance you would have survived or somehow been able to take the blow."
Coughing up some blood, David opened up his eye. Even lying on the floor, injured as he was, he was still considered a dangerous threat. Cassius did the right thing to have kept his distance.
A bit surprised from seeing David still alive, Cassius spoke up. "How is it you're still alive? I thought I hit your heart!"
Chuckling, but still spitting out some more blood, David said weakly, "I have to thank my body for that. It sensed the danger and reacted for me, I call the move, Guardian Defender."
It was true, he may have escaped a devastating outcome, but Cassius was still able to break through David's Sternum.
David then began to weakly pick himself up. "I get it now. I understand your resolve, Cassius. Not as mere words, but within the depths of my heart" said David as he clenched his chest where his heart was located. His golden eye then suddenly vanished. It returned back to its normal brown color. "A real fighter fights with his fists, and nothing else." Raising his fist closely to his cheek, David continued. "It's a man's guts and pride that drives his fists to victory."
Cassius smiled at the young warrior's comment. "Your King's Rage was indeed impressive. It was able to push back my own powers. But as a result, we both tired each other out. We have no more fuel in the tank. A gust of wind could probably knock out the both of us right about now."
Positioning himself to his own fighting stance, Cassius said, "But that's not how we are going to finish this story. Let's go out with a bang." As both men smiled, they were ready to finish this battle once and for all.
Slowly shuffling to each other, it became apparent that they would settle this battle with a fist fight. Both mens' legs were weak. If one were to fall, it would be all over. Instead of David throwing the first punch, it was Cassius.
Using his mangled hand as a club, he clubbed David upside the head with repeated force. Blood started to leak down the king's face. Smiling, David counterattacked with a couple of punches of his own. He was hitting the man in the jaw, the nose, and the right side of the eye. Cassius at that moment could already feel his skin starting to bruise and swell up from the attacks.
Right hook, left hook, uppercut, jab, back knuckle strikes, hammer fists. Both men were delivering every form of strikes to each other; both were being covered by each other's blood.
"This is extremely impressive! Both men are giving it there all without taking a single step backwards!" Explained Sayaka. "Yes, but the hardest part would be trying to step forward." thought Hiruma.
"AAHHH!" Yelling out in pain, David could feel the recent bodyshot break the left side of his rib cage. Angrily, he retaliated with a quick succession of furious punches at the Druid's chest. Clutching one hand to his heart, Cassius felt obvious pain. The best thing at that moment was to continue to club David's head. It was slowly weakening him, he was bound to fall!
Gritting his teeth, Cassius with his good hand grabbed hold of David's hair. Pulling it down, he continued to club, but this time behind the skull.
David was biting his tongue to keep himself from losing consciousness. Understanding he couldn't hit Cassius in the face, he did the next best thing which was hitting the Alaskan in the body.
This was a difficult position to be in for Cassius. David was hitting him directly where he sliced his stomach. The white shirt he was using as a bandage was quickly turning into a bloody red color. The Alaskan had no choice but to let go of David's hair. He pushed David apart from him and the two continued to wail at each other.
Each man's fist was devastating. Every attack had a purpose. Not a single move was wasted. The combination of blood, sweat, and tears was raining down on the stadium floor. Both men stared at each other, waiting for the other to give in because both knew this deadly dance was about to come to an end.
Smiling at each other, they knew it was time. "GO CASSIUS!" "GO DAVID!" DON'T LOSE!" "WIN!" The fans kept repeating. The ones not saying anything at all were the fighters. They were more interested in the outcome, whatever it may be. The emotional ones were panicking. They just wanted it to end.
Charging his fist with the last bit of his energy, David was preparing his last attack. Cassius meanwhile was also preparing his own fist. As a blood drop touched the floor, they striked each other at the same time.
David was finally able to land a hit with his "Lion's Charge" into Cassius' stomach. While Cassius fist was able to land on David's skull. "Let's go home together," was the last thing the Druid said as he fell to the ground.
Shortly after, David followed suit. He fell to the ground, succumbing to the pain from that last attack. Both men gave it their all. It was only up to their bodies to see who wanted to continue now.
Checking both downed fighters, referee Mosashi examined the state of both of the bodies. David's eye still showed signs of activity. It was desperately clinging to life. His body may have given in, but his spirit was still fighting.
Checking Cassius was the troubling matter. The man's eyes were closed, but his lips formed a smile. It was like he completed something and was finally getting a well deserved rest. Mosashi, putting his ear close to the Shaman's chest revealed nothing. There was no longer the sound of the drummer's beat. His heart must have finally given out.
This revelation brought the referee an emotional feeling of sadness. He didn't show it out of professionalism, but deep down he was crying inside. This was the first death of the tournament, and he had to be the one to break the news.
Standing up, he was ready to make the decision. "Upon further inspection, Cassius White has died. Due to these unforeseen circumstances, the only living fighter left is David King. He will be your winner!"
Author's Note: Hello readers, my apologies for the extremely long wait. It was never my intention to stop writing for this project, I just became extremely busy with classes, work and a list of other things. Though these reasons may not have been justifiable, I still want to explain the reasoning for my absence. I cannot be sorry enough for any of my actions honestly. But I hope this chapter brought a small enjoyment out of someone.
Lastly as always I want to thank the team for sticking by this project. Thank you Reddit Users Historical_Pattern , Giover02 , CRAZY_DORITOS1 , alee51104 , akuisme , Machampking , Manofmanyfandoms2002 , krakaillou , El_John96 , dragora24 , Mymomgay1 , CanniTheAmazon , ShadowSlayer222 and sjasogun
