#2: "The Ultimate One" - Awakened
Jul 29, 2017 6:54:14 GMT -5
David Sanchez and Stephen Singh like this
Post by "Iron Heart" Ethan King on Jul 29, 2017 6:54:14 GMT -5
TWO FACED
Unspecified Date.
Unspecified Time.
The scene returns back to the white room that Ethan found himself in at one point during his last promotion. Unlike last time however, he is now sitting down cross-legged in the middle of the room, still holding the red-streaked mask that he now stares at, taking into account its simplistic beauty with his own icy eyes. Satisfied, he leaves the mask resting in his lap, and pushes his head upward, allowing his eyes to seep their coldness into the camera that is panned over his face.
“I feel as though I’ve spoken enough about the corrupted ideologies that plague the poor participants who will find themselves subjected to Everest’s will come the Ultimate Showdown match. I’ve gone through the mindset of the needy veterans in Gravedigger and Jayson Price. I’ve spoken of Sidney J Warwick and the eagerness that will end up turning back on him and consume any chance of success he may have once had. And I spoke of the current World Champion, Dion Necurat, the man of traditional values, who this week has done absolutely nothing of worth except prove to everyone that his ultimate victory was nothing but pure luck, and that deep down? He’s nothing but a coward.
“And that only leaves two men to be dissected and fed to the wolves, and that’s Andre Holmes and John Rabid. These men are the last two active representatives of a group that went from the highest peak, to mere irrelevancy in the course of a few months. That’s how the wrestling industry works, and it turns out that nobody in Pantheon were able to predict that this fate would be cast down upon them. A group filled with numerous former World Champions, men with a once undying hunger and thirst to conquer The World and leave it broken at their feet, and now here we are… with the two men who arguably least fill this quota. In fact, Pantheon has been left in such poor hands, and in such a dishevelled state, that the most relevant member at the moment is a veteran who isn’t even actively performing, and will instead be spending his time at this Ultimate Showdown PPV beating the ever-living crap out of FPV.
“So, John and Andre, you two have been the unlucky men who that were passed down a once flaming torch that is now nothing but a few embers that will soon find themselves dead once they’re caught in the raging wind that is Everest and our meteoric rise to the top of this federation.
“And do you know what’s the most pathetic about this steady decline that one of the WCF’s most historic and well-known factions is going through right now? Is that the last two men who are actively representing the brand, the last two men who are supposed to be giving the group at least a fighting chance… are doing absolutely fucking nothing. They’re just standing by and watching, resting on their sinking ship which will eventually take them down with it and leave them with no choice but to drown among the waves.
“I expected this from Andre. If you look throughout the years and see the type of men that have been members of Pantheon, you wouldn’t peg Andre as the type of guy who would be kicking it with these types of guys. In a sense, he’s the odd one out, the guy that’s so desperately trying to fit in by squadding up with all of his ‘buddies’ who in reality have almost zero fucking respect for him whatsoever. If it weren’t for his status as a champion, a necessary requirement to achieve their goal of holding ‘all the damn belts’, than Andre wouldn’t even still be here. This guy has been relegated to a division by his Pantheon superiors, all of whom aren’t even fucking present in the federation anymore because they’ve either been planning to betray one another, or have fallen off the face of their planet due to their lack of commitment and motivation to actually be truly dominant forces. I almost feel bad for Corey Black, knowing that he still has to associate with a complete liability such as yourself, Andre. You’re literally such a fucking beta that even when all your Pantheon brethren who were fighting for the World Title up and left, you were still too afraid to try your hand at the ultimate prize. You proved yourself to be the complacent non-factor that everybody knows you are. That’s why you were happy long ago when you were merely being another member in Rebellution who did nothing but choked away all their opportunities and were happy to cash in on smaller championships – which is exactly what you did with that Hardcore Title.
“Now, you could accuse me of the same thing, considering that criteria somewhat applies to me as well. But the difference between the two of us, Andre? I’ve been gunning for the World Title ever since I came back. Every action, everything I’ve done, it’s all been in the attempt to get myself closer and closer to a title that has eluded my grasp ever since I arrived here. I’ve been overlooked, I’ve been overshadowed, and while everyone around me, and even all of the competition that I come up against have been getting their chances to stand at the top of the mountain? I’ve been honing my craft, bit by bit, I’ve been raising my stock and going on a streak of dominance and victory that most men can only dream of. And now? The time is fast approaching, the time where I solidify myself as the best damn wrestler in this entire fucking federation.
“You? You’ll be overjoyed if you walk out with your Hardcore Title. In fact, you’ll be pleasantly surprised if you happen to walk out with any type of championship at all. Because that’s all you need to feel good about yourself, you don’t need to be THE best. You just want to be ONE OF the best. You want to be in that category, you don’t care whether it’s the top spot or not. You just want to feel as though you belong and that you can hang with the best in this company. You talk yourself up as though you’re relentless, you pride yourself on the fact that you have this supposed ‘never back down’ attitude, but in reality? You’re just a man who is happy to tag along for the ride. That’s what your joining of Pantheon essentially was – you accepting that you’d never be good enough to compete with them, so instead you sucked up to them and eventually got yourself a spot. And for what? So that you can sit around aimlessly in a hardcore division that’s done nothing except provide you with mostly lacklustre talent? So that you can beat these men and feel good about yourself, knowing that there’s no real threats that will ever happen to challenge you and expose your true lack of ability?
“It’s tragic, really. There was a time when you were being hailed as one of the best of the new wave of talent that had found themselves floating into the WCF. I came a short while after you, and it turned out that even when I was trapped within the confines of The Pride, I was still out-performing you and capturing the consenus number two championship in the federation. And while I held higher aspirations then merely being the United States Championship, it was still a nice thing to have at the time, while I worked on placing myself in the upper-echelon of the federation. For me, that title was a nice trinket, a nice point to add upon my resume. But the tag title you won alongside Gemini Battle, and those Hardcore Title reigns? They’re everything to you. They’re the basis of your career, they’re the only things that validate you, the only things that give you value and meaning in your existence. That’s why you desperately cling onto Pantheon, hoping that there’s a resurgence, hoping that you’ll be able to quietly hide in the background, while you allow former World Champion’s and men of actual talent to bring you to a higher-level than what you actually are.
“In a way, you’re rather smart. Hide your flaws by having better men watch your back and ensure you don’t fuck things up too badly. But hey, you still managed to mess that up, didn’t you? Just take a look at the Trios Tournament, where you ended up getting yourself pinned by an unimpressive, past his prime Jayson Price when you had one of the greatest wrestlers of all time in Corey Black by your side.
“Now you step into this match without him, and you’re up against better competition than what you were in that Trios match. So tell me, Andre… what exactly is your plan heading into this one? Are you going to hide in the corner and abandon any hope of scoring any actual eliminations? Are you going to simply try and last to the final two, so that you can end back up with that Hardcore Title, a belt that you won’t be expected to defend, so that you’re able to blend into the background with all the other meaningless wrestlers still trying to make a name for themselves in this federation? Or are you simply going to lay down and die, accepting your fate as you realize just how fucking bad you really are?
“The answer is all of the above.
“But the ‘solution’ you’re probably thinking right now? ‘Follow John Rabid! He’ll protect me!’
“The problem with that whole mindset, though? Is that Rabid is in the very same predicament you’re in. Hey there, John. I know you’re probably sitting all high and mighty at the moment, as you make your preparations for a match you’re bound to fall so utterly short in. Because that’s the way you operate with these sorts of things. You see… you’ve always been the middle man when it comes to Pantheon, and even the #BeachKrew to a certain extent. While you’ve always considered yourself the mastermind behind all of your factions operations, and the most talented individual in all of those groups… you’ve in fact always been one of the lesser players that are expected to stand by the star. Because you? You’ve never been the star. There’s always been someone that’s just a little bit better, a little more smarter, a little more resourceful than you’ll ever happen to be. And that? That eats away at you. Even when you were the leader of the #BeachKrew, there wasn’t any belief in you. Nobody thought that when Jared Holmes came back, you’d still be the man in the top spot. Because when he came back? You went back to playing number two alongside Wade Moor.
“It happened with Pantheon, too. You ended up having to take the leftovers in the Television Title that you now find strapped around your waist. Just like Andre, you were relegated to a division that you undoubtedly think you’re far beyond. But no, as you usually are, you’re left to do nothing except take your supposed ‘talents’ against men like Marty Barrett, against fucking failures who make you look good. You’re left to pick the scraps, you’re given the leftovers. That’s what the TV Title was, and what did you do? Instead of push for something more, you welcomed this ‘opportunity’ with open arms. Because that’s the John Rabid way. Don’t try and surpass your limits. Just act out your time in the WCF as the platinum-version of Andre Holmes. You’re both in the exact same fucking boat, and yet neither of you do anything about it. This match? It’s your first chance to finally break free and establish yourselves as something more than just more Pantheon members who did far less than what they were expected to. To be more than just a champions in niche divisions like Alex Richards and Scarecrow. To do more than just be the fall men like Jeff Purse. In a couple months time, when Pantheon is completely dissolved, and it’s nothing but a tattered banner being carried by Corey Black’s retirement tour… you know who’ll be the one taking the blame for all of this?
“John Rabid… and Andre Holmes. The last two who had a chance to do something, but let it all fade away into nothingness, as they remained complacent and underachieving, because that’s where they fitted in best. There is no World Title potential here, there is no shining moment, there’s just mid-card championships where the two of you remain dominant… but never progressive. That’s all either of you have proven, that you have what it takes to be successes as the mid-lower levels of the federation, and there’s been no hint, not even a moment, that you could possibly be any more than that.
“So come on, then. Prove me wrong. Stop being the middle-men, stop being the men that are used and abused by their betters, and then thrown away once they no longer serve any purpose. I’m dying to meet a challenge that I am unable to surpass, so that I can further improve myself and reach heights that no others have seen before. Will either of you manage to push me to those lengths? I think not.”
He lets out an echoing laugh, one that is somewhat haunting as it reverberates throughout the room. This lasts for a few moments, before he composes himself, as he closes his eyes. When he reopens them, there is a newfound intensity trapped inside of them.
“And now, we come down to the final ideology. The Divine Ideology, the one that has proven itself to be the most worthwhile and successful in reaching the absurd heights that only men of Everest’s talents could possibly reach. We began as nothing more than a group of talented individuals, who would treat each other as equals and use their combined might to overcome the Pantheon threat who at the time, were capable of taking over the federation. Fast forward a few months, and take a look at what ended up happening to them? We barely had to make contact with them, and they imploded from the inside and have turned into nothing but a few men with no chance of returning the stable back to its former glory.
“Along the way, we removed threats and showed people their true places in a federation that would eventually go on to be ruled by Everest’s hand, an iron fist that would descend over the WCF and enlighten all that believed they could one day reach the amount of success we’ve had in recent times. All those that opposed us? Each man that thought they could overthrow us and potentially put an end to everything we’ve been working to establish? They fell, and they fell hard. These are the same men that have had their legacies buried deep at the foot of Everest, left with nothing except the harsh reminder that they simply are not good enough to make it in a World were Everest stand Above All.
“At this moment, I’d like to thank my two partners-in-crime, David Sanchez and Steven Singh. The two of you have made this journey a true wonder to behold, and a joy to be a part of. Now, I’d be lying if I attributed all of my success to the two of you, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ve assisted each other in proving to The World that we are the men that have been overlooked, and that we are the men most hungry and deserving of sitting upon The Throne.
“Everything we’ve done has been in preparation for this, and that’s why I am certain that no matter which way this goes, one us will be walking away with the World Championship. And while this is a comforting feeling, I must admit that I am still as prepared as ever to take the opportunity to hoist that championship high and proudly above my head. I’ve spent too much time waiting, too much time being underappreciated and overlooked, to allow it to simply slip by without taking the chance.
“This is why I wish the two of you good luck. I understand that at the end of the day, this is a competition, and in competition? Anything goes. We will work together, and we will fight together, as we have since forming this pact. As I’ve said – this is what we’ve been working towards. And that is why… I am certain… we will be the ones to make the most of it.”
He smirks, spreading his arms out to either side of him.
“And that’s all there is to it. This week has been interesting, to say the least. We’ve had a lot of silence from many of the men in this match. And you know what? This was to be expected. I know there is a lot of fear, a lot of doubt and uncertainty filling the hearts of the men who must set foot in the ring with an Everest unit that has been nothing short of deadly since joining forces.
“But I thank you all kindly for your participation. Even if it has been a little boring, it’s been nothing short of a marvellous ride. And now, the moment of truth…”
He glances down towards the mask that is still resting in his lap.
“Do I don this mask?”
He shakes his head in a deliberate manner.
“No, I do not. Because unlike all of you, who pander to a wider audience and still feel the need to try and prove your worth… I am made of harder stuff. Each of you feels obligated to present a different face to this World, a World which judges you for your every move and makes you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. That’s why Rabid dons the skin of a Serpent. That’s why Andre Holmes hides himself behind a championship, rather than any sort of actions that represent integrity or respect. It’s why Jayson Price and Gravedigger are still coming back, time and time again, to get their fix of the WCF and make sure everybody is still aware of who they are. It’s why Dion Necurat plays dress-up and attempts to absorb the spirit of a God, and it’s why Sidney J Warwick must establish the fact that he is an intellectual, and that he so desperately cares for all the issues that contaminate our World.
“But at Ultimate Showdown? I am going to purge every last problem that is present with this World that we live in, so that men like Sidney won’t have to rant anymore. I, Ethan King, and in turn Everest, are the Divine Intervention that this place has needed for the longest of times. It’s time I shine the light down over all of you, and expose these lies and shrouds that you hide inside.
“I’m going to reveal your real faces, and you know what those faces are going to show?
“Nothing but fear, and acceptance.
“Because now? This World is Ours.”
Awakened: Part One
21st of July, 2017.
Unspecified Location.
“What makes you say David Sanchez is a liar?”
Ethan ponders this momentarily from his seat across from the psychologist, whose grey eyes continue to stare at him with a newly developed interest. To emphasise his next point, Ethan raises his fingers, pointing them towards his own eyes.
“Once you’ve been around him for long enough, you kind of start to see it. I have no doubt Wright and Singh have probably figured it out too. He’s got a great poker face, but eyes? You can’t hide whatever it is that’s lurking behind them.
“And even without that… I’ve known him for long enough now. He’s just as hungry and desperate to capture the World Title as I am. Both of us know the others intentions, and at times we’ve acknowledged them and made them clear. But we haven’t allowed it to get in the way of the business that we’re handling together. I guess you could say it’s a matter of knowing that eventually, one of us will be the first to capture it, and then the other will just have to lay low and wait their turn.”
The psychologists nod upon hearing this, while grabbing at a half-filled mug containing the brown liquid of coffee. He brings it up to his lips and takes a light sip, before bringing it down into his lap carefully with both hands. He cocks his head sidewards, before speaking once more.
“Don’t you believe that this type of relationship is rather… destructive, perhaps?”
“Eventually it probably will be, yeah. But right now? I think we’ll be okay, at least for a little while longer.”
“Even with Ultimate Showdown on the horizon?”
“That… might be a different story. If it were to come down between he and I, I think at the worst we’d just have a heated and competitive match-up. Sure, there’d be a bit of tension afterwards, but I’m almost certain it would dissipate afterwards, if we make sure not to take any irrational action.”
“And what about the rest of your Everest stablemates? Do you have any similar feelings towards them?”
Ethan frowns, as though he were disappointed with the question that had been asked of him.
“They have their moments that spite me at times, I’ll be honest. Keep in mind, I have little problem with any of them, including David, but there are some things they’ve done that haven’t left the best impression on me. Steven who threatened the safety of the whole group with his debt issues, Wright with his undetermined and beta personality, and Bale’s manager can often get underneath my skin. But these are all miniscule issues in the grand scheme of things, together we have accomplished great things, and I for one plan on making sure this continues as a trend.”
The psychologist doesn’t seem satisfied with this answer, he folds his arms and continues to watch Ethan with weary eyes. He pushes his chair forward slightly, bringing himself closer to the seated figure of Ethan, who remains slouched in his chair.
“It’s hard to believe that’s all there is to it, Ethan. You clearly have things that you would like to get off your chest. And I have a feeling you’re going to go about airing your grievances in a way that is unhealthy for you.”
Ethan laughs at this proposal, although there was a hint of paranoia behind it. He raises his eyebrows incredulously, his fists closing together as his fingers bent and tightened.
“Disregard Bale and Taylor for a moment, and look at the original founding trio that has allowed Everest to rise to the levels of prosperity it now stands upon. When you look at Ethan King, David Sanchez, and Steven Singh… you’re looking at three like-minded individuals who all share a common objective that we plan on reaching together. We’re all intelligent men, if you haven’t realized it. We understand the concept that we are more likely to achieve what we want to quicker, if we unite and work together. That’s one of the reasons Everest was established in the first place. Sure, we all could have fought as individuals against the likes of Pantheon, but where would it have gotten us in the long run? We’d have done far less than we have as a cohesive unit.”
An audible sighs comes from the psychologist, who taps his left foot against the carpet at his feet a couple times. He places the mug he picked up from earlier back on his desk, and reaches for a packet of cigarettes. After opening the packet, he slides a cigarette out and holds it in-between his middle and index fingers, he then takes out another one and offers it to Ethan, whose eyes light up at the sight of something that could relieve the small doubts that were now starting to gnaw away at him. He contemplates taking it, but then his mind drifts off towards Ultimate Showdown which will be having in roughly a week’s time. He shakes his head, chewing lightly upon his bottom lip as he does so. The psychologist shrugs, and places the cigarette back in the packet, before lighting his own with a lighter he pulls from his trouser pocket. Ethan watches on as he takes a small drag, followed by him turning slightly to the side to blow out the smoke that filled his lungs. After observing this same process be repeated twice more, Ethan interrupts.
“So then, do you think I’m right? That I’m a monster?”
The psychologist inhales another breath of smoke, holding it inside of him momentarily before opening his mouth and allow it to slowly seep out into thin air before his two eyes. He considers his clients question, while now holding the cigarette away from his lips.
“Well, I think we can both agree you have quite the narcissistic personality.”
Ethan nods, conceding this.
“And that in some instances, you’re displaying anti-social behaviors similar to a sociopath… but a monster? Ethan, that’s a large stretch of the imagination for any human being. You have to be a very far gone individual to be classified as something like that.”
A chuckle can be heard coming from Ethan, one that starts out as soft and near-inaudible, but then becomes louder, his face filled with disbelief.
“Oh, if only you knew. If only you knew what this was like, my friend…”
Before he can continue speaking, an alarm goes off, as a phone resting on the edge of the psychologist’s desk lights up. The old man offers Ethan an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, we’re out of time. I have another client who’ll be arriving shortly. I trust you’ll be back next week, after you’re done handling all of this wrestling business you’ve got going on?”
He smiles politely, and Ethan returns it, although his is half-hearted and forced.
“Maybe. I don’t know if I’m getting much out of this, to be honest. There’s only so much that can be talked about. Eventually… action has to take place, or nothing’s ever going to change.”
“It’s hard to change, Mister Atticio. The only way it happens is if you really, truly want to. Is that how you’re feeling?”
Ethan hesitates, before pushing himself to his feet by using the chair’s armrests. He stretches his arms and legs as he makes his way to a vertical base, looking down upon the seated psychologist who he now towers over.
“I’m not sure.”
Although a blunt answer, the psychologist accepts it, nodding slowly. Ethan turns away from him, as he walks over to the doorway to exit the room. Upon reaching the door, his hand slides up to the upper-right, retrieving a black winter coat that he had placed on the hook when he arrived for his meeting. He then proceeds to twist the doorhandle, pushing it open, as he takes a step out of the room, he hears the voice of the psychologist ring out to him.
“Ethan, this Ultimate Showdown you speak of. What do you plan of doing to the men that step into that match with you?”
Ethan fires back immediately, his mind made. He wouldn’t be returning back here, at least not for a little while.
“I’m going to break them.”
And with that, he leaves, delicately closing the door behind him, making almost no sound. An action unbefitting of a man – or a monster – who was approximately a week away from grinding his enemies into dust.
FORGIVE ME
26th of July, 2017.Chicago, Illinois.
A pair of double sliding doors make way for the lean and athletic figure of Ethan King, whose feet are nimble as he exits from the gym and discovers that The Windy City has decided to be more unforgiving than usual tonight. Rain that descends from the heavens pelts down against the pavement outside the gyms doors, and in turn harshly begins to soak through the thin material of Ethan’s casual shirt and shorts combo for this particular work-out. He pays little attention to this however, allowing the rain to mix in with the beads of sweat that still trickled down his face. With his mind elsewhere, he pulls out his phone and finds a certain contact, before attempting to make a phone call to someone that was one particularly special to him.
He leans up against a brick wall across from where his rented BMW M3 Pure is located. The carpark itself is relatively empty, allowing Ethan to embrace his thoughts and be alone with them for a moment, as he awaited for his call to be answered.
That’s why it is all the more disappointing, when Ethan’s ex-girlfriend, Cara Segreti, does not pick up her phone. With his thoughts running amok, and one of his few fears beginning to creep up over his shoulder, Ethan decides to do something that his ‘pride’ would usually not allow him to; leave a message.
“Hey, it’s Ethan… I just wanted to tell you that I’m… I’m sorry for what I did. I shouldn’t have stayed away after everything that happened, I should’ve came back, or at least called or… or something.”
He sighs, unsure of what to say next. He awkwardly pauses, before continuing.
“Look, I just need you to call me back. I need to hear your voice, I need to know that you’re still doing okay, even without me in your life anymore, okay?”
Biting his lip, Ethan returns back to his usual arrogant tone.
“Now… would be the perfect time for you and I to… to reconcile. Everything I told you would happen last year… it’s about to happen. Everything I’ve worked for, the dream that I told you about all that time age, in a landscape that was far different than the one you and I are both apart of now...”
He glances up to the sky, lips sealed together tightly. He watches as the falling rain continues to blast him and the pavement. At that moment, a small smile curves up on his lips.
“I just need you to listen to me, to hear me out, to give me one last chance. Because guess what, babe?”
He brings himself closer to this phone’s speaker.
“I’m about to become World Champion.”
CREATING THE BEAST
28th of July, 2017.
Chicago, Illinois.
“Ethan… where were you on the 27th?”
Ethan glances up from his tablet screen, where from a distance it appears as though he is watching over previous match footage involving some of the Ultimate Showdown matches competitors. Meanwhile, his agent, Gavino Deltas, leans over his kitchen counter with a glass of wine in hand. While he is usually the epitome of cool, calm and collected, his forehead is creased in what appears to be concern. His tone amplifies this tense feeling, causing Ethan’s interest in the matter to appropriately increase.
“I can’t really remember. David called me in for something, which I went to. I can’t think about what he might’ve wanted to talk about though, it happened pretty quickly? After that, I probably went training or some shit. Nothing out of the ordinary, why?”
Upon hearing this, Gavino’s worry only seems to grow. His phone, which is resting next to his wine glass now, is playing a video of Ethan, who is standing inside an elevator alongside Steven Singh, where they’re currently going up the floors of a hospital.
“You said David called you in for something? And that you can’t remember anything about it?”
“…yeah. What’s that you’re watching?”
“Something you might be very interested in checking out.”
Ethan raises his eyebrows, before placing his tablet on the couch. He promptly picks himself up to his feet, walking over to the counter that Gavino is currently standing at. He leans over, closing the distance between his eyes and the phone, allowing him full view of the scene that is taking place.
“What is it?”
“A promotion filmed by your good friend, David Sanchez.”
Brow furrowed, Ethan pulls the phone closer to him, sliding it directly beneath him. From the phone, Ethan can hear his own voice, and watches as he begins to fall out of consciousness. As the video continues to play, and the elevators door open, David Sanchez walks out, over the now limp and unresponsive forms of both Ethan King and Steven Singh.
“What the fuck?”
“How do you not remember any of this?”
Mouth slightly open, Ethan continues to watch the scene play out, to the point where it looks as though he cannot bear it no longer. He locks the phone with a press of a side-button, causing the screen to turn black and the video to stop playing. He stands there for what feels like an eternity, shocked at what he just witnessed. Incensed, he turns away from Gavino, and begins to head through the apartment hallway to the front door.
“Where are you going?”
“Sit this one out, Gavin. I’m done playing these fucking games.”
AWAKENED: PART TWO
29th of July, 2017.
Somewhere In Richmond, Virginia.
We find Ethan sitting alone in a locker room, taping his own fists. It’s not often that he performs this ritual on himself, as he usually has an assistant to do it for him. But tonight was not the night of the match, and he still felt that he needed some time for preparation. After finishing wrapping both of his hands, he inspects his handiwork. Satisfied with the rough job he’s done, he glances up at the camera that is centred over his face. Usually, we would see a cocky smirk, or hear a condescending chuckle. But now? There is nothing but an intense stare, with clenched teeth that cause the back part of his jaw to protrude.
“There’s something to be said about a man who could betray a ‘friend’ so readily, so easily, without even the slightest hesitation. And trust me, I know you did it without even considering how this would cause events to play out in the future. Because the thing with you, David? Is that you’ve always been the type of guy to rush into his own ideas. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s admirable in a way, that you can be so fearless and stubborn in your method of trying to force your way into getting what you want.
“But tell me, David. Has that been working that way you’ve wanted it to, recently? Are you satisfied with what you’ve gotten out of this whole operation? Did it work out the way you expected it, or has it all gone fucking lopsided, and now you’re stuck with a one in nine chance of walking out with the World Championship around your waist?
“Wait, let me guess. You probably think you’ve got one third of a chance, considering you have both myself and Steven by your side, ready to help you fight and battle to bring the title to where it really belongs, with Everest… or should I say… with David Sanchez.
“Because that’s what this has always been about, now hasn’t it? It’s been about you finally getting your hands on the one thing that has eluded you since you arrived here. Because for someone of your talent? You’ve fucking underachieved. And you’ve underachieved mightily. You were at one point hailed as a future World Champion, but up until now? You’ve had almost nothing to your name.
“And this is what I mean by rushing into plans. You see, David. You have a history of doing this sort of thing. For example, you win Final Destination and plan on perhaps betraying Joey Flash and getting your hands on your first World Championship… but then you fuck it all up and slip up in a routine match against FPV of all damn people.
“You get what you want at the end of the Trios Tournament, Steven and I literally roll OUT of the ring to allow you the pin on Gravedigger. We give you the opportunity to go up against Jared Holmes, and while there were two other men in that match? You two were the only guys that mattered. And naturally, you let it slip again. You failed us, and you failed all the work we put in to get you to where you were.
“And the best part about all of this? I fucking let it happen. I sat by and watched, because I knew… oh I fucking knew… that soon enough, it’d be me getting that chance. It’d be me, and I wouldn’t blow it like you have on numerous occasions, because I place way more value and importance on this shit than you do.
“Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve never held any of it against you. I get it, I really do. You work your entire life to get to this stage, and then when you’re actually in that moment? It gets to you, you can’t operate on your usual level, a level that would almost guarantee you countless World Title reigns if you were given the chance. But that level? It disappears when you get into these high stakes matches, and that’s been the one thing that has haunted you throughout your time here.
“And now here we are again, at Ultimate Showdown, and you’re probably thinking that you’ve got this shit in the bag, right? That Singh and I are just going to give you the helping hand you need to come out on top, just like we did at Trios? That if you’re on the verge of being eliminated, one of us will save you and breathe life into your hopes of winning that elusive World Title?
“I want to, David, I really do. But honestly… do you deserve it? Look at what you fucking did to me. That shit? It’s humiliating. Remember when we started this fucking pact, this whole ‘Everest Above All’ thing? Remember when we were supposed to be equals? Well you threw that shit straight out the fucking window, because you had to grow too greedy, you had to be the one to let it all get to your head.
“And now here we are, not too far out from standing in that ring together in the Ultimate Showdown match, where the fate of the World Title rests in the balance between some of the best wrestlers in active competition today.
“Before you start getting worried… don’t worry. We’re still in this as a team. I saw what you did, and was it wrong? Absolutely. Is it unforgiveable? No. Like I said, David. I understand, I get it, and do you want to know why I get it?
“Because I feel the exact same way.
“Now, while I wouldn’t go to the extent of betraying you and Steven to get to that spot, I am sure as hell not against going about gaining the glory the RIGHT way, the way that it should be done. And thus, I’m going to explain to you how this shit is going to work; simply and systematically, as you would say.
“We’re going to walk into that match, and we are going to wreak havoc, just like we knew we would from the beginning. We’ll eliminate every threat, and we won’t turn on one another. For the time being, we’ll be a well-oiled machine, rampaging through the rest of the field.
“And then, whether it happens to be just you and me, or me and Singh? I’m going to treat it like any other match. You’re a friend, sure. But I know the way you are, and I’ve seen the way you perform. I won’t just give up my chance, I won’t allow you to take it just because you feel entitled and that you’re the only one that deserves it. Because Everest all being in this match? It was a team effort, without us? You may not have even had entry. After all, you weren’t one of the two men that beat The Captain and John Rabid to secure the Tag Team Championships, am I right?
“So there you have it. I’m going to find my way into the final two of this match, and whether it’s you, John Rabid, Andre Holmes, or whoever stands in my path before me? I’m going to do whatever it takes to defeat them.
“This is what you created, David. Do you see it? Are you proud of it? This is who you’ve shaped, this is the man that you have moulded into taking the crown for himself. I would ask if that worries you, or if you see me as a threat, but I already know the answer to that. Your actions speak for themselves.
“But like I said, we’re in this together. And then when the end arrives? We will find out who is the best.
“You’ve opened my eyes, David. For all your talk of me latching onto you, impersonating you, and everything else that you’ve accused me of… you’ve failed to realize one important thing.
“I have always had my eyes set on that World Title, even before you and I became intertwined within this pact known as Everest. And if you know anything about a man like me?
“You’d know that – just like you – when I want something? I get it. Whether it’s right away, or eventual, I always end up in possession of the thing I want most.”
Ethan now scowls, a scowl that is part apathetic, and part angry.
“Congratulations, David. You’ve brought out the side of me that no-one should ever have had to see. I’ve been able to supress it, I’ve been able to hide my hunger for the longest of times… but now, you’ve motivated me. You’ve given me what I need to break free. Not from Everest, but from the own constraints that I have placed over myself. I had myself trapped within my own mind, but now that restriction has been released, and now here… I… come.
“This is great for you, David. What this means, is that you’re going to have an absolute fucking monster by your side for nine-tenths of this match. But then, when we’re in that final stage of the match?
“You’re going to have to come up against that same monster.
“The time is fast approaching, we’ve been waiting for this moment since when we joined together. Soon? Everest will have the World Championship in its clutches.
“But something else that’s going to happen in this match? Everyone in The World, everyone that has ever doubted me and the mission I have set on from my very first day in this federation? They’re going to find out…
“That I am…
“The Ultimate One.”