CHARACTER EPISODE #2: Armor King
He adopted the mantle of the legendary Armor King from his brother, who had died in a bar brawl at the hands of one Craig Marduk. When he confronted him at the grave, the two engaged in a battle that proved so destructive to them both that they had both wound up hospitalized from the injuries suffered.
Come the King of Iron Fist Tournament 7, had recovered fully in time to enter. However, rather than biding his time facing off against the competition standing in his way, Armor King stepped up against Marduk after the latter had fought against a formidable opponent, for an impromptu battle to finish where he had left off so many months before. This rivalry had to end, once and for all...
INTRO
"What'd I tell you!? You're nothing against me!"
Even from backstage, Armor King could clearly hear the familiarly aggressive tone of Marduk...
"And that goes to the rest of the punks in this tournament! Ain't nobody gonna mess with me! Nobody...!"
Stepping out on stage and making his way down, the 'Dark Jaguar' had only revenge on his mind – revenge on behalf of his dead brother. He stopped at the bottom of the ramp to stare at the bulky brawler standing at the center of the cage, as the crowd maintained its volume along the way.
"I heard you were looking for me." Armor King growled. "It's time to finish this."
Marduk scoffed, adopting a very wicked grin. "Alright...!" He assumed his fighting stance. "It's time for the rubber match!"
OUTRO
Armor King stood over Marduk, who had been brought down to one knee, exhausted and defeated.
Although Marduk's mind told him to get in one more round, his body body was clearly admitting defeat. "Grr... fine." He fully sat down, gasping out exhausted breaths. "You win... but don't think this'll bring him back..."
It was over. It had to be over. The late brother was avenged. But it didn't seem like the favor was fully returned.
Armor King was prepared with a fist still clenched tight, to finish off the man he seeked vengeance against, raised up high to be brought down as hard as possible...
...but it was caught. "Wait!" Armor King turned his head.
It was King. He had quickly made his way out, still in his workout clothes, to dispute what was going to go down in the aftermath of this match.
"You don't have to do this," he growled in worry. "I know what you feel – losing someone close to you... but you don't have to do this..."
The thoughts that rambled through King's head helped flood in some memories of his past, when he too looked to enact revenge upon Marduk. He had spared him when he was hospitalized and at his weakest, and he never looked back.
King continued, "The pain you feel from those you lose shouldn't be spread to others... you can recover from it... you can come back stronger without having to resort to revenge..."
Armor King kept his focus on the fellow luchador, staring at him through the mask as the words of wisdom began to make their way around his mind. Ultimately... he loosened his fist and lowered it, slowly coming to realize how true those words were...
The jaguar men looked to the night sky past the open dome of the arena... off into space, a shooting star flew by...
The sign of a legend's legacy, still there in spirit...