Llew and Flogal's footsteps echoed through the narrow corridors of the Arena, the main venue where the Commercial Wrestling Federation organised its matches, or so they had been told. The dark and cold pathways were desolate and empty, but the rambunctious cacophony of chatter and cheers streamed through the solid steel walls from all directions, shaking the very earth itself.
"Are you sure we'll be able to find out something here?" asked Llew.
"Of course!" Patrick replied from ahead. "I've a friend who gets all the latest news in Star Gate. She's bound to know something!"
As they proceeded forward, the mechanic halted before a flight of stairs labeled '16', then turned and made his way up. Llew and Flogal followed.
There was a flash of light as the group exited the walkway.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! ALIENS AND BATTLEROIDS! WELCOME BACK TO SYAT GATE'S FINEST ATTRACTION! THE ARENA! AFTER THAT BRUTAL MATCH BETWEEN TOUGH BOY AND TWIN BLADER, WE NOW HAVE A WONDERFUL SURPRISE FOR ALL YOU LOVELY FANS OUT THERE! IN THE NEXT MATCH, WE HAVE THE ONE, THE ONLY, THE ALMIGHTY SIX-HANDED KILLING MACHINE AND TEN-TIMES LEAGUE CHAMPION IN THE SOLO CATEGORY.. ASURA KAISER! AND HIS OPPONENT! THE FEARLESS! THE NOBLE! THE UNDISPUTED KING OF THE TAG RING! KING OF SWORD! PLACE YOUR BETS PEOPLE, PLACE YOUR BETS! WILL THE CRIMSON EMPEROR CONTINUE HIS REIGN?! OR WILL THE MIGHTY KING TOPPLE HIM FROM HIS THRONE?! ONCE AGAIN, BRINGING THIS AMAZING MATCH TO YOU LIVE IS THE WONDERFUL SCREAMIN' AND DANCIN' ANNOUNCER.. SHOUT!"
The audience roared in enthusiasm as the silver octopus flitted around in a ridiculous jig, blabbering into his mic as he went.
The Arena was a huge circular metallic platform rimmed by a hollow moat of unknown depth. Four short spires bordered its edges, producing a barrier of three crackling lasers which seemed to serve the dual purpose of frying anyone who approached and preventing them from plunging into the abyss. Two bridges protruded from the solitary island in opposite directions, connecting to two massive panels etched in the inner wall. Circling all of this was the greatest grandstand that Llew had ever seen, upon which he now stood. The staggering array of stairs and seats towered so closely to the clouds that the rest of the city was blotted out, leaving only the Mass Driver as the sole backdrop against which epic duels were fought.
Realising that both Llew and Flogal were distracted by the events below, Patrick stopped.
The panels on the inner walls slid open vertically with spectral hisses, revealing their identities as gates.
"HERE HE IS, FOLKS! IN THE WEST CORNER, THE NUMBER ONE NOVA GRAPPLER IN ALL OF STAR GATE! THE RED BUTCHER HIMSELF! ASURA.. KAISER!"
With a boom and a crash, a massive mechanoid stomped across the bridge closest to them and somersaulted over the laser fencing into the Arena. His bulky robotic form was mostly black but covered in places with heavy armour of red and steel. Three pairs of whip-like appendages stretched out from his torso in place of arms, attached to a variety of lethal weapons. Their blades glistened in the blinding fluorescence of the spotlights.
"AND IN THE EAST, THE INDOMITABLE CONQUERER! KING! OF! SWORD!"
A blocky humanoid made his appearance through the other gate, decked out in solid armour of beige lined with joints of shining gold. A regal crown upon his head served to emphasise his nobility, as well as a mantle of deep red which rested upon his back and shouldered like a layered shield. Within the grasp of his right hand lay the hilt of a humongous sword with a blade of darkest black, encrusted with a blood ruby core that glinted maliciously.
Bowing with all the pride of a hero, the giant then strode forward and joined Asura Kaiser in the ring with a powerful leap.
Asura Kaiser smirked. "Never thought I'd see you in my side of the League, my friend."
King of Sword remained silent. But whether he had no words to say, or was incapable of speech, Llew didn't know.
"BOTH COMPETITORS HAVE ENTERED THE STAGE! ARE ALL YOU GOOD FOLS READY! TO! RUMBLE?!"
The crowd answered with a thunderous roar.
"THE RULES ARE SIMPLE! THE FIRST TO SURRENDER OR BE RENDERED INCAPABLE OF FIGHTING LOSES! READY.. FIGHT!"
At his cue, the mighty echo of a gong vibrated through the stadium. And so the battle began.
Making full use of his serpentine limbs, Asura Kaiser launched a long-range assault with a shortaxe and a huge double-edge sword.
King of Sword ducked under one and batted the other away before rushing towards his opponent, closing the distance between them I an instant
None of Kaiser's arms were close enough to defend himself.
Hefting his blade over his shoulder, the King struck with an aggressive dual-handed blow.
CLANG!
The weapon stopped short, unable to penetrate the Battleroid's armour.
Asura Kaiser grinned.
A deft kick sent the King staggering away. But instead of following up with a series of attacks, the champion merely stood arrogantly, baiting his opponent to strike back.
Having recovered, King of Sword resumed his stance and refused to hesitate. Charging once again, he attacked with another heavy slash.
Pooling a triad of his weapons together, Asura Kaiser defended himself. He then attempted to retaliate with a second trio but the King managed to shove the first away in time to deflect it.
Breaking free from the tormenting cyclone of attacks, King of Sword jumped and used the momentum of gravity to empower his sword in a giant vertical sweep.
The impact failed to damage the Nova Grappler champion but was sufficient to knock him towards the lethal embrace of the electrified laser fencing.
In a split second, two of his cable arms had shot towards both flanks, stabbing into the Arena floor with their weapons, anchoring him into place.
His head dangled mere inches from the dangerous border, but at this point of time his balance was questionable.
There was a glint in King of Sword's eye as he aimed for Asura Kaiser's feet.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Snaking from behind, one of Asura Kaiser's whips had lashed out at the King's knees with a vicious spiked lance, causing him to trip and miss his target.
Yet another pair of Kaiser's arms released their arsenals and attached themselves to the back of King of Sword's shoulders.
They pushed.
Like a murderous pendulum, the force flung Asura Kaiser back towards the safety of the ring, while drawing the King into an inevitable collision course with the hungry jaws of the Arena fencing.
As the Champion landed nimbly, much to everyone's surprise, he tugged, dragging his opponent towards him.
In a flash, King of Sword was on the ground. His torso, neck and each of his limbs were immobilized by Asura Kaiser, who stood triumphantly over him.
"THERE IT IS FOLKS! OUR BELOVED CHAMPION'S SIGNATURE MOVE! THE FINISH HOLD!"
The crowd erupted.
Llew was in complete awe. He had never witnessed such fighting techniques before. It was completely different from the swordplay he had been taught in the academy. Brutal.. yet elegant at the same time.
"Well, well, what do we have here? Friends of yours, Patrick?"
A beast approached the group. He was distinctly a silver-maned lion but he travelled naturally upon a single pair of legs, over which he wore a pair of skinny dark jeans. His alternate pair of limbs had evolved into solidly muscular arms equipped with massive fists, the left of which was armed with a brutal clawed gauntlet.
"Back off , Heat," Patrick warned.
The creature sneered. "Paladins, are they? What are a bunch of spineless cowards doing in our city?"
"I beg your pardon?" muttered Llew darkly as he turned to face the beast.
Smirking, he continued. "All you knights know how to do is babble about your stupid pride and honour. Hopeless fools. What good will those do you in a real battle? Power is everything! You just keep prattling on about honour to hide the fact that all of you are just a bunch of skinless weaklings! I bet even a Battleraizer could crush your little king!"
Llew couldn't take anymore of the animal's sacrilegious insults. "Well if we're such WEAKLINGS, you should have no problems beating me, eh?"
"Is that a challenge?"
The Knight of the Future brandished his personal blade.
"Bring it. I'll crush you like the bug you are!"