A lot has happened recently... heavy stuff. I've been in a dark place, coupled with the fact that I screwed things up with a dear friend, and it's torn away a pretty huge chunk of me. My writing motivation is fluctuating every day, but I swear that somehow, SOMEHOW, I'm going to see this story through. Show must go on.

Let the combat begin!

Everything went the way it was supposed to. Seats sold out, gift shops and food stands abuzz, and the fighters found refuge only in the locker rooms, for any other facet of the Stadium was subject to predatory attacks by the fans.

Ever the gracious host, Rose called them all to the locker rooms for a special meeting. 48 testosterone-fueled fighters in one place... that always led to some fun interactions.

"So here we are, another year." Terry stated the obvious with a smile. "Did everyone make it alright?"

Andy stroked his chin, as his keen ninja eyes carefully scanned the room. "Hmmmm... everything looks to be in order... Psycho Soldiers, Ikari Warriors, Beni, Shingo, Koreans, Geese's ex-guys, Hakkeshu..."

"I dunno, it feels like someone is missing." Mai spoke aloud on the nagging feeling tugging at her chest. "It's like... agh, I dunno. SOMEBODY we know, but we never really paid much attention to?"

"Any idea who?" Joe asked.

"Well, I think he had a hard-on for me in the past." Mai replied, a smile creeping.

Joe rolled his eyes with a grin. "Oh you are just the most humble little rice cake, aren't you Mai?"

Mai flipped out her fan and waved it in her face with a loud giggle, her cheeks blushing.


On the Korean front, one master was preparing his disciples for glory, while a rival master was licking his wounds.

"Alright you two, I want a clean fight today!" Kim commanded. "Bear, that means no cowardly yellow mist."

"Wh-WHAT!" Raiden whined. "But that's my trademark move!"

"And Jai, no drinking your steroid juice."

"IT'S NOT STEROIDS!" Hwa Jai screeched. "It's a natural blend of herbs and minerals!"

"Quiet!" Kim shouted. "Now remember, this tournament is about more than just winning the 2.5 million cash prize. We have something to PROVE today. We're going to show the world that even the likes of Geese Howard's flunkies can rise above and claim the ultimate glory."

"I take offense to that." Raiden scoffed.

"Furthermore!" Kim presented two fingers. "We must defend our honor against Jhun, who brazenly accuses me of disgracing our great nation! I'm going to prove to him that my decision to take you two under my wing in Chang and Choi's place was not a mark of failure! Now... ARE YOU TWO WITH MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

"...Not really." Raiden and Hwa Jai spoke in unison.

Their little gathering was interrupted by a harsh, aggressive callout. "KAPHWAN!"

The trio turned, just in time to see Jhun Hoon approaching with a disgruntled face, Choi at his side. One thing was missing... one very BIG, stout, noticeable thing.

"Jhun." Kim bowed.

"Chang got jumped last night by that bastard Saisyu." Jhun hissed. "But don't think this means I concede defeat! Choi and I are still more than qualified to run through this tournament, and destroy your ranks. 3 against 2 doesn't even qualify as uneven odds."

"Very well then." Kim remained composed. "Then let us have a great battle today. May the better master reign supreme."

"That I shall." Jhun bowed respectfully to his old friend. "Cmon Choi, we gotta make sure you're in fighting shape. First, you're going to do 200 pushups. Then you're gonna sprint around the Stadium ten times..."

"I'LL BE EXHAUSTED AFTER THAT!" Choi squealed.


Chizuru was uttering a silent prayer, eyes closed. Was she wishing for a safe fight, for the well-being of the contestants, audience, and Stadium alike? Perhaps it was a more selfish prayer, wishing for personal strength and victory? Nah... anyone who knew Chizuru Kagura knew she put others above herself any day of the year.

As she was lost in her prayer, a pair of hands brusquely clasped around her face. "Guess who."

"AH!" Chizuru yelped upon being disturbed so abruptly. Her eyes popped open... yet she still saw darkness. Grasping one of the wrists with both hands, she forcefully pryed the hand loose and looked at it; her eyes widened when she saw the crest of Kusanagi.

"K-Kyo?!"

"Wrong Fire Dude."

Chizuru spun around; her cheeks flushed when she was met with the dapper, charismatic grin of not Kyo... but his elder.

"S-Saisyu?!"

You don't visit us enough, Chiz." Saisyu poked fun. "So I figured I'd come to you this time."

"B-but if you're here, then where's K-"

"Why is everyone always obsessed with where Kyo is?" Saisyu grumbled. "Doesn't it matter enough that I'M here?!"

Chizuru's face seemed to get redder. However, she managed to compose her speaking. "Yes... you're right. Forgive me, Saisyu-sama."

A laugh. "Ahh don't call me that. So tell me... where's that little runt that's always trying to murder my son?"

Chizuru lightened up finally, with a chuckle. "Aw, he's not going to do that. We both know it. But, that being said... it's best if you keep your distance from Iori. He's pretty unpredictable, and we don't want to cause any disturbances. You never know what kind of drama we'll have WITHOUT Iori involved."

Saisyu stroked his facial hair. "Hmmm... perhaps you're right, Chizuru. Very well then."

Chizuru bowed, as if their business was concluded... but Saisyu kept standing there. Just looking at her.

She could feel her face warming again. "S-something else you wanted."

A grin. "You know... Kyo doesn't talk enough about you. About how lovely you are."

Full-on tomato. "B-b-behave, Saisyu-sama! Don't make me tell your wife."


Things were fairly mellow in the locker room, with everyone mostly just standing around and waiting for the hostess to finally show. Nobody expressed interest in starting a ruckus, even the more notorious rogues of the group. Against odds, it was actually a decent and harmonious environment for the (mostly) 48 contestants.

Of course, one could always be counted on to much everything up.

"WELL WELL WELL!" a very familiar, brash, obnoxious female voice disrupted the harmony.

Everyone swung around just in time to see Angel come strutting into the scene... and she wasn't alone. Tucked in her arm, in a painful, crushing squeeze, was the unfortunate neck of Kula's long-time guardian Foxy.

"Look who decided to come snooping around my room last night!" Angel looked down at Foxy and gave a sharp little squeeze, further increasing the breath-robbing strain on her.

"Aggghghhhhhkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk..."

Kula and posse did not take this standing down.

"FOXY!" Diana flanked Angel from the side, presenting a blade across her neck. Candy got behind her, armed with a laser pistol, heating up to fire.

Angel just laughed at their threats. "Hee hee! AHAHAHAHAHA! You guys are just so adorable, nya! To how bout it, Foxy darling? Care to tell everyone what you were doing last night, hmmmm?

Foxy couldn't answer. Her fingers were digging underneath Angel's arm, desperately trying to pry the vice-grip loose and restore her liberty of breathing.

"Weeeell~? Angel tightened it even more. "Wanted to catch a glimpse, did ya? I do like to sleep in the buff~"

"GGGGHHAHAAAKKHHHGHKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKk...!" Foxy let loose a rasp so disturbing, it sent an unsettling chill into every spine witnessing. Tears were starting to pour down the woman's eyelids, as her face grew purple as a plum.

Kula finally approached from the front... her hair went blue in a flash, eyes glowing an even brighter crimson, as she presented her hand and slowly formed a sharp icicle withing her palm.

"Let her go... NOW." Kula demanded. With each word, the frozen blade grew in size and sharpness.

"What you gonna do, little girl? Shoot snowflakes at me?" Angel fearlessly taunted, SHOVING Kula backwards. "You're not so tough without K' to back you up, are ya?"

Kula stumbled backwards and fell on her backside, prompting another laugh from the white-haired bitch. Candy broke her current protocol to go and instinctively help Kula. Foxy, still in Angel's grasp, was starting to go limp: her eyes had rolled in the back of her head.

"Angel, you're hurting her!" Vanessa yelled.

Diana had definitely had ENOUGH. She pressed her blade against the nape of Angel's neck, so deep, a red trickle started to escape and accumulate on the shimmering silver.

"Angel, if you don't let her go RIGHT NOW... this tournament's about to be one head short."

Having definitely felt her own blood just now, and also knowing Diana wasn't a competitor bound by rules, Angel was actually somewhat inclined to buy this threat... but damned if she'd ever show it. She played it off as well as she ever did: with an eyeroll and obvious sarcasm.

"Psssssh. Whatever you say Di Di, my precious butterfly~"

With a cheeky grin, Angel released Foxy from her arm, immediately opening up her airways, but not enough to save the poor woman from the realm of unconscious. She had no legs to stand on, as she collapsed to the ground in a crumpled mess; thankfully there was no damage, as her brain hadn't been devoid of oxygen long enough to cause long-term effects.

"You're all so disgustingly adorable, the way you always stick together, not able to even stand on your own feet. I'd pinch your cute little cheeks if I wasn't so repulsed at the sight of you." Angel insulted Kula and friends, as they all gathered around Foxy's limp body to tend to her.

"GO AWAY!" Kula screeched. Her eyes were glistening, the reservoirs close to giving out and letting loose angry tears.

By some miraculous gesture, a minute extension of mercy from her jaded heart, Angel turned her back to them and granted the reprieve they so desired. Of course, the bratty girl couldn't just walk off thinking she had bent to their commands and was subdued by their threats... and so she flashed two middle fingers, and left them this threat:

"When Flag Girl there wakes up, tell her the next time she tries to steal my entry card, I'm gonna finish the job from 2001 and break her f***ing neck. And if any of you putas have a problem with it, I'll take you down with her. Adios~!"

And thus, the situation had boiled over for now. At least with Kula and her posse... Vanessa, Mary, and Ramon were another issue. The redhaired girl was hasty in her footsteps to pursue, Mary in tow, while Ramon seemed to err more in the department of peacemaking.

Despite all this, Shermie casually opened her mouth. "I like to sleep in the buff too~"


Angel didn't make it many steps before Vanessa finally caught up to her, forcefully grabbing her wrist. "Hey!"

Angel swung around defensively: within a moment, she was cornered by Mary and Vanessa, while Ramon stood sheepishly on the sidelines.

"What's your problem, huh?" Vanessa sounded off. "Why do you have to cause trouble?"

Angel snarled as she snatched her hand free and forcefully shoved Vanessa back. "What, you got a problem with me? Huh? Then step to me! We'll settle this shit right here in the locker rooms, bitch!"

"You're drunk." Mary deduced as she had been eyeballing Angel carefully. For a former detective with eyes sharp as hers, ascertaining the truth was no trouble for her.

Angel flashed a kooky smile. "BUUURP. I won't lie, I did tank a bottle or two of tequila before coming to the Stadium, nya-HIIIC~!"

"Drunk in the morning?" Vanessa said those words with the purest of pity, her head slowly shaking left and right.

"Better to start early with you putas coños." Angel insulted. "You're all a bunch of paper-skinned, weak-livered fairies. They way you all get so offended by this and that, always rushing to pick people up, like they matter SO MUCH to you! Why don't you all just mind your own business and chill the f*** out, huh? ¡Vete al cuerno!"

Mary and Vanessa were reduced to no words. Angel's madness had proved too formidable for them, perhaps not so much that they allowed her words to attack them... but maybe that they felt the hopelessness of trying to reason with her. Drunk, angry, amygdala out of control... there was nothing that could be said to appease Angel.

With a sarcastic chuckle and an eyeroll, Angel turned to Ramon and wrapped her arm around him. "Cmon Ramon. Let's ditch these squares."

Ramon looked on at the two girls, a tinge of remorse, of clouded judgement filling his one eye. As he was escorted away by the white-haired girl, he closed that eye and turned away from them, to hide his uncertainty.

"Ramon's a f***ing traitor." Mary wasted no time spitting fire once they were out of sight.

Despite everything... Vanessa was quick to defend him. "No he's not. Don't blame Ramon, okay? He's just too kind for his own good. He's been a better friend to Angel than most."

"Or he's trying to f*** her."

"Look, Angel doesn't have much, okay? Not after NESTS was..."

"Alright, alright. I got it." Mary cut her off. Deciding there was nothing more that could be done, they walked back the main gathering area. If there's one thing Angel succeeded in, it was turning any bright environment into a toxic one; they both felt like they were in a bad mood now.


With Angel's absence, tensions had calmed down once again in the back room. However, a NEW component was close to being introduced into the formula to cause unease and irritability: impatience.

"Alright, what's taking this chick so long!" Joe complained. "I got places to be, foreheads to split!"

"Will you calm down. She'll come when she comes." Benimaru countered fire with ice.

"Oh go play with your hair some more!"

"Actually, I'm with Joe on this one. Sorry Beni." Shingo popped in. "I'm ready to bust some chins already! Hey, you seen Yagami around?"

Just that name made Benimaru seethe. "For the love of... will you stop worrying about that nutcase? Why are you so eager to be around him anyway?"

"I dunno. I just am." Shingo beamed with a wide, tooth-baring grin.

FINALLY... a sudden influx of presence filled the room. Three figures came in: one smaller, blonde girl, flanked by two absolute hunks in comparison.

"GATHER ROUUUUND FIGHTERS! The time is heeere~!"

Everyone went silent as they flocked to the center of the room, Terry, Benimaru and Ryo standing at the helm with their arms folded, as they awaited Rose Bernstein's instructions. On her left was Adelheid, who broke off from her to join the rest of the competitors. The man on her right, Silber, stayed planted firmly at her side.

"Glad you all could make it!" Rose exclaimed, with a clap of her hands. "Now then, let's discuss a few things before I let you kiddies out to play. FIRST OF ALL... ahahaha... let's make one thing clear: this is not your moment of glory. It's ADELHEID'S. My brother is going to soundly and thoroughly trounce you all, so I suggest not even getting your hopes up too high."

"Rose..." Adelheid uttered his same tired one-liner, shaking his head with embarrassment.

"Secondly," Rose continued, "We have four full-sized locker rooms available for your convenience. There's also two coach locker rooms and two referee locker rooms if you want, so plenty of you will get your notice a few fights prior if you wish to go back there and prepare. Now, I ask that you all stay on the sidelines near the benches, and don't go sit up there with the rest of the crowd. Otherwise, I'll never be able to find you!"

"The peanut gallery is back another year." Benimaru scoffed with a grin.

Rose held up a third finger. "And lastly, just a formality here, but please don't kill each other. We simply cannot have a live death on television. The people would go bonkers! If you ruin my tournament, I'll make sure Mr. Silber here breaks your spine in half with a single Karate chop!"

Silber let out a menacing grunt in response to that.

"Welp, that should do it!' Rose exclaimed. "Fighters, go out there and entertain! Put on a show! Don't besmirch the name of King of Fighters! Oh and Adelheid, do play nice with the others~"

"Alright!" Shingo eagerly exclaimed. "Let's go clock in and start clocking each other!"

The fighters all began to exit the locker rooms in an orderly fashion (save for a few who had their fight notices)

...As Yuri was walking away, she let out a LOUD gasp, tensing up; a hand had forcefully grabbed her butt and gave a sharp squeeze:

"You're dead meat today, Yuri. Mark my words." the threatening voice of Malin whispered in her ear.

OPENING ROUND FIGHT #1: MAY LEE VS HINAKO SHIJOU

"PLACE YOUR BETS! PLACE YOUR BETS HERE!" the sales pitch-worthy bookies shouted in the stands, hired by Mr. Big to start churning out a profit on the bouts to come. The fact that the bald mastermind could organize a betting rink under the nose of Rose and her security told a good story of how cunning the former kingpin truly could be.

"LEMME HEAR 200 ON HINAKO! 200 ANYBODY! PLUS 200 UNDERDOG HERE! YOU HEARD ME FOLKS, BET 100 DOLLARS ON THE SUMO GIRL, GET 200 BACK IF SHE WINS! GOTTA LOVE THEM UNDERDOGS! HOOH HOOH HOOH HOOH!"

Meanwhile, the peanut gallery had gotten nice and cozy on the benches. That warm little puddle of anxiety was awash in each of them, as they found themselves idly passing the time with their small talk and commentary, knowing at any moment that their name could be called next.

"So who we got, bro?" Terry asked Andy.

"High school girls. Korean, Japanese. Shingo's probably going wild." Andy responded.

"Who you going for? May Lee?"

"Tough to tell. I only remember them from one year... 2001?"

"Yeah that was it. I don't think we ever fought em? Guess we'll be seeing something new."

"Look, there they come!" Mai pointed out.

Out of the "red corner" Hinako was the first to emerge. The girl slowly lumbered towards the center stage, where a makeshift ring had been established in a now-barren circle in the middle of the Stadium. Dirt would be their terrain; loose, shifty, unpredictable... but resting atop solid Earth underneath. The combat zone had been shaved down to the last sprig of grass, so no other hindrances would stifle them.

People were starting to question why a small girl like Hinako was waddling like a fat guy, until the purple-clad girl finally stopped. Taking a deep breath, she spread her legs, bending her knees, protruding her backside out. Placing a hand on each thigh, she slowly lifted her left foot...

STOMP! She brought it down on the ground, kicking up a small dirt cloud. She repeated the motion once again with the right foot, lifting it high, and bringing it down with great force. She continued on: left, right, left, right, she was stomping her way to the ring.

"What's she doing, Mai?" Andy asked his Japanese girlfriend, who was probably way more educated.

"Ancient Sumo culture. Before a match, Sumo wrestlers stomp the ground repeatedly to ward off evil spirits. It's called shiko." Mai explained.

At last, Hinako planted her feet firmly. And now came the final step... reaching into her pocket, she whipped out her hand and let loose a fine, granulated swarm of particles, which covered the ground at her feet.

"Did she just throw sand?" Andy asked.

"Salt." Mai corrected. "It's another Sumo ritual. They throw salt before a match as a purifying agent. A Sumo ring is meant to be a sacred place."

"Ah. Thank you, Mai. I love it when you teach me stuff."

"Call me Mai-senpai~"

After Hinako completed her entrance, May Lee was the next to come out. And if Hinako's ceremonial walkout was an attention grabber... May Lee took that and cranked it up to over 9000.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Rose nearly flew out of her VIP booth, landing squarely in Silber's arms. "EEEEEEEEK! What was that? I didn't authorize pyrotechnics!"

A thick, crimson smokescreen appeared from the "blue corner" entrance. It slowly began to dissipate, as the crowd awaited with hushed gasps...

A blue haired figure appeared, striking a dramatic pose.

"FOR!"

Transition to another pose.

"HEART!"

Another pose. Strangely, her poses seemed to be transitioning unnaturally, via some kind of screen cut.

"AND!"

One last overly hammy, utterly dramatic pose.

"SEOUL!"

Let's go, May Lee, let's go!

Fighting evil with burning Seoul spirit!

May! Lee!

Living and breathing justice!

Evil will never prosper!

So long as one heart

Burning with Seoul Spirit

Stands against them!

MAY LEE!

Let's go, let's go, let's go!

YE!

As May Lee sprinted to the center ring to this seemingly omniscient walkout song, a barrage of words from baffled tongues ran rampant.

"Who the hell is that singing?!" Benimaru grunted.

"Who cares? She's awesome~" Shingo swooned.

"Maaaan... she comes straight out of a comic book." Vanessa rolled her eyes.

"A+ on the reference, V." Yuri winked.

"...What reference?"

May Lee at last secured herself on her respective side of the ring, standing rather awkwardly with her legs spread wide. When at last the two met face to face... May Lee thrust her finger with conviction, like she was condemning an evil-doer.

"What's your style?!"

Hinako spread her legs, opening her arms wide in a bear-hugging motion. "I am Rikishi! I am ranked #12 in the Jonidan division! My number 1 goal is to rise to the top, and become a revered Yokozuna!"

May Lee retracted her finger, instead using her arm to protrude towards the sky, fingers outstretched, while her legs spread even further. "AHA! Your heart is pure! You are spared from my judgement! However, I too must achieve victory, for my homeland! Two pure souls, locked in a battle of wills... may we both prosper from this battle and progress as warriors!"

Hinako nodded. "HAKKI YOI!"

FIGHT!

Hinako started the same way any Sumo wrestler predictably would: an immediate, barreling, advancing exertion of bodily force, usually reinforced by their immense weight. While Hinako wasn't exactly two tons of belly fat, she DID manage to catch May Lee off guard with the surprising charge, knocking the Taekwondo fighter to the ground like she was a runningback.

It didn't exactly hurt, but the blunt force collision did rattle May Lee a bit, while also succeeding in causing her to have to get back up... and that's where Hinako pressed her advantage. While May Lee was forced to recover back to her feet, she was wide open to a formidable Sumo slap across her cheek.

"OOF!" she grunted as she was wobbled by the open-handed strike. Hinako seized the moment and charged forward, securing May Lee in a clinch, her arms wrapped around her waist. Now with May Lee secured, Hinako went to her bread and butter: reaching down to snatch the Korean by her belt loops, the blonde girl lifted May Lee with impressive strength, and TOSSED her across the ring.

"Damn! That little girl's got some muscle hidden somewhere!" Ryo exclaimed.

May Lee was wise to scramble back to her feet quicker this time. She spun around, just in time to see Hinako come rushing in fast. But this time... she would be ready.

"I HALT EVIL'S ADVANCE WITH A THRUST OF MY HOLY LANCE OF JUSTICE!"

This time, Hinako's charge would come to a screeching, violent halt, as May Lee extended her foot and drilled into the blonde girl's body with a stunning kick. Hinako went stiff, May Lee's foot seeming to sink into her, paralyzing her...

May Lee used her agility well; right foot still in Hinako's stomach, she pushed off with the left foot and brought it high, clobbering Hinako in the chin with a mid-air kick. May Lee gracefully stuck her landing, complete with a dramatic pose... while Hinako took a tumble in the dirt.

"What's the matter, Sumo girl? You forgot your little diaper? NYAAAA!" Angel heckled Hinako from the sidelines. Everyone looked at Angel with hostility.

Hinako struggled to her feet, shaking her head a few times. The two of them reset back to the middle of the ring, circling... Hinako lunged with an openhanded slap, but May Lee juked it and fired a body kick. Hinako absorbed it, unshaken, and came forward with a rushing combination, flinging wide slapping strikes toward's May Lee's face with the intent to knock her down.

May Lee was simply too fast, and she punished Hinako dearly: a left kick to the stomach, a right to the same spot. Her body tenderized, May Lee went HIGH with the third kick, once again using her right foot to bash Hinako in the chin, and send the Sumo girl on wobbly legs.

"HYAAAA! KICK OF DIVINE, UNRELENTING, UNCOMPROMISING, IMPOSSIBLE JUSTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!"

May Lee's overly verbose delivery of the final fourth attack was measured equally in how powerful it was: a tremendous flying kick, smashing into Hinako and sending the Sumo girl down into the dirt for a second helping. In terms of who had tasted the ground more, Hinako was now winning.

The Sumo girl was a lot shakier as she stood up... as much as she prided herself on a strong body, May Lee had softened her up dearly with those mid kicks. She was starting to feel the meals of yesterday welling up, threatening to expel involuntarily... no! Sumo is too powerful! A strong mind, body, spirit, will! She was a complete, immovable structure!

With a series of hearty slaps to her own face, Hinako got back into stance, with a mighty "DOSUKOIIII!"

May Lee charged forward again; she looked to once again unleash an explosive, theatrical kick of epic proportions.

"ARE YOU READY? KICK OF ULTIMATE, ASTRONOMICAL, LOGIC-DEFYING, UNDENYING, PURIFYING, MESMERIZING, UNDISPUTED, ILL-REPUTED, DIVINEEEEEEEEE JUST-thhhhhhhkhhhhkkkk! Oww owww owwwwww! I bih mah thangh...!"

Hinako was surprised when May Lee's advance had suddenly halted, and the blue haired girl was seemingly discomforted by something involving her face. She was hopping up and down, her tongue sticking out, her hands flailing aggressively at the air around her mouth.

...Whatever. This was her chance!

Hinako took a deep breath, got a running start... she could feel her momentum building... coupled with her massive spiritual weight... she was unstoppable, a relentless wrecking ball that would run through anything in her path!

"TSUKIDASHI ATTACK! HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAH HYAHHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHYAHHYAHHYAHYAHYAHHYAHYAH!"

Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right... her palm thrusts were never ending, like an endless barrage, a machine gun with a limitless clip.

Each strike found May Lee's face flush, pulverizing the blue-haired girl with an unstoppable volley of alternating palm strikes, over and over and over, no end in sight for the Sumo girl's unlimited energy and zeal. While normally a move for forcing an opponent out of a ring with rapid hand thrusts, Hinako had modified this for knockout purposes. It worked like a charm.

May Lee danced around on wobbly legs, her face utterly brutalized by the merciless thrusts. Hinako had all the time she needed for one final attack: bringing both palms together, she allowed her tension to store.

"Hrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...!"

And she let loose all at once.

"HYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

One sharp, absolute, decisive thrust of her palms caught May Lee in the chest and sent her flying out of the ring, skidding along the grass for several yards until finally stopping. The Korean was too dazed to get back up.

WINNER: HINAKO SHIJOU

With a victorious stomp of her foot, a thrusting of her palm, Hinako rotated her head clockwise and proudly proclaimed, "I WON! HAHAHAHA! I DEDICATE THIS WIN TO MY MENTOR TEMJIN, AND ALL THE ASPIRING YOUNG SUMO WRESTLERS OUT THERE! DOSUKOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

"...Well I'll be damned." Yuri shook her head with a smile. "She actually won with that weirdo style of hers."

"Don't be too shocked, Yuri. She did beat YOU once." King teased.

"Th-th-THAT WAS AN EXHIBITION!" Yuri angrily defended.

The first bout had gone without a hitch. The fans were eating it up, and with good reason: that was but a taste, an appetizer of the full course of 23 more fights to come. If fight #1 delivered the hype at even the barest minimum level, the fans had best settle in their seats, and prepare for an even grander series of ass-kickery...

Okay, I'll go ahead and say that wasn't my best work starting off, but there's a few reasons for that. For one thing, it's two stranger, less-popular, unorthodox characters. This first match wasn't meant to be anything too serious or climactic, just a nice little dipping of your feet into the water. Secondly, it has nearly been two weeks and I was ready to get another chapter out already. And lastly, let's face it, I'm going through a rough patch as of late. That's all I can say there.

Kudos to David Tai, for writing May Lee's walkout song. If you haven't read May Lee: HENSHIN JUSTICE WARRIOR, you need to go do that. It's fantastically absurd and will put a smile on your face. THANK YOU DAVE!

NEXT CHAPTER: Donut-eating time is over for this former detective! Will Blue Mary's opponent fall to her lethal ground game?

A Luchadora's reign of terror comes around full circle! Angel's Retribution draws near?

Find out next week!