Post by occulo on Apr 30, 2016 15:49:48 GMT -5
We open to the sound of physical utterances, the sound of punches and kicks been thrown and feet tapping on wooden floor. The camera fades in to an intense sparring session between Occulo and Itami. He lands a punch to Itami's chin followed by a swinging, rather acrobatic kick. Itami stumbles back and finds Occulo has disappeared from sight. He turns 180 degrees and receives a more powerful kick to his head. He goes for it again but this time Itami catches it and pulls at his foot, before landing a shattering jab to Occulo's jaw. He stumbles backwards and falls to the ground.
Occulo: Fuck that hurt
Itami: You almost made me feel light headed there. Excellent work. I think you're ready.
Occulo gets to his feet, rubbing his jaw
Occulo: Ready for what?
Itami: Your very first test in combat. If you win the fight your training will continue. If you lose, you'll be taken back to America and your training will end. That's it.
Occulo: What? Don't I get a second chance?
Itami: No. Knowing you have a second chance will create complacency. You should always fight like this is your last. Like you would lose something considerable should you lose.
Occulo: I see
Itami: Follow me
He follows Itami through two double doors, painted in a blood red colour. On the doors is a sign which reads "Arena" in Japanese. Itami lifts a horizontal, clyndrical metal bar holding the doors closed and opens them revealing a large arena with a white tiled area in the centre. Around the ring is a 6 foot perimeter of white stone, with cherry blossom leaves resting delicately here and there. In each corner of the stoned perimeter stand four cherry blossom trees in full, beautiful bloom. Four red wooden pillars stand behind each tree, holding up a slate tiled roof, which provides shelter for tiered wooden spectator stands, with a capacity of 200 red cushions equadistantly spaced out to sit on. Parallel to the entrance of the the arena was a white marble statue of the elder Occulo met in the cloud. A very thin white canopy fluttered above the white tiled area, each corner strung up with hair made from the donkeys which were highly regarded in the village.
Occulo: Wow...
Itami: Indeed
Occulo steps on to the tiles. They are pristine. As if new.
Tomorrow you will face your opponent, Tesuto, here in this very ring.
Occulo: Tesuto, who is he?
Itami: He is one of three warriors we trained to test our Single Cloud student. Each one has been trained on three increasingly intense levels. So, each fight will be considerably more difficult than the last.
Occulo: So be it, but...Tesuto, he's been training for so much longer than me. What chance do I have?
Itami: Occulo, you are ready. Trust me. He will be an extremely difficult opponent, but you are capable. Beat him.
Occulo releases a substantial exhale of air and looks in to the eyes of the statue with great determination and confidence.
CUT
A day later, and the arena is full with the residents of the village. Women in smart red uniform hand out bowls of tea and trays of
sushi as in the ring a band of ten drummers play a scintillating beat. Akuma and Itami are sat just in front of the statue.
Akuma: Well. You actually think he's ready to fight Tesuto already? You're deluded Itami.
Itami: He is. He absolutely is. In training he has been absolutely ferocious. He wants this more than anything in the world. This will show in this match. Trust me, for once in your life Akuma.
Akuma: We'll see
Itami shoots him a frustrated scowl as we cut to Occulo standing on the other side of the arena doors. Eyes closed, slowly muttering to himself. All of this will go away if he loses. All of this will go away without understanding one iota why he was so important to these people. He felt a great deal of responsibility, not only for his own career, but he had developed a responsiblity for the village. He felt a reliance on his shoulders, and he wasn't about to let them down. A man in uniform walks up to Occulo from the opposite side of the room and rests his hand on his shoulder.
Uniformed Man: Occulo. It is an honour to meet you. I am your match referee and I would like to run the rules by you.
Occulo: Certainly
Uniformed Man: Please, bow in respect for the laws of the arena
Occulo bows, and receives one in response
Thank you. The rules are as follows:
- You win if you incapacitate your opponent to the extent where they cannot answer to a count of ten
- You win if you knock your opponent out of the ring so both feet touch the floor
- The arena is sacred ground. If you curse then you are disqualified.
- Killing your opponent is prohibited and is punishable by death
- Use of weapons is prohibited and will result in disqualification
- Use of any martial art except The Single Cloud is prohibited and will result in disqualification
- The match will continue until there is a winner, with no time limit
Please bow to me, confirming that you understand the rules
Occulo nervously nods and gulps, before bowing cautiously
Uniformed Man: Thank you. Please follow me.
The referee opens the door and leads Occulo out in to the arena. The villagers stand and cheer him as he stands in front of Akuma and Itami, bowing to them before turning around.
Akuma: He looks absolutely terrified. He's finished. Congratulations Itami.
Itami doesn't respond with words or even a glance. His eyes are fixed on Occulo, who stares at the doors opposite as a young, bald man enters the arena. He is wearing orange and white fighting gear and has an excited look on his face. He stands opposite Occulo at the other side of the ring, as the referee motions them closer. They step forward and stop 6 feet away from each other.
Referee: Occulo, Tesuto. You aware of the rules. Please respect this ancient art by obeying at all times. Please bow in acknowledgment.
They bow and adopt a fighting stance. Occulo's is slightly sloppy and Akuma shakes his head.
Akuma: We're all dead. Itami, you've killed us all.
Itami is still transfixed on his student. The referee raises a hand and shouts...
Referee: BEGIN!!
CUT
We cut to three days before. Occulo has just finished a gruelling training session and has flopped, exhausted on his bed. He lays there for a few seconds and with a groan sits up. It was 4pm, and a beautiful day outside. Sunny and warm, with a refreshing breeze. He hops out of bed and heads outside. His training was inside a stuffy hut all day, and almost medicinally he inhaled the fresh mountain air. The villagers were carrying out their daily tasks, some of them acknowledging Occulo with a bow. Three children passed him with a gargantuan fish, which they carried like a coffin.
Occulo: Do you need a hand with that?
They looked at Occulo and laughed, before picking up a bit of pace and scurrying to the village. Occulo smiled and decided to head down to the lake. He untied his shoes and submerged his red raw feet in to the beautiful, crisp water.
Occulo: I could get used to this. I think when my career is over I'll bring Bonnie and we'll live out the rest of our days. Until then, and now, I have some slaughtering to do. Roll up roll up.
So Phoenix, unfortunately for you here we are again. Unfortunately for you you've been squared up against me...and unfortunately for you that means it spells the end of the road for your Trios team. You're probably feeling a great deal of animosity for me for not simply getting my hands on Marx and crippling him even further, because he'd be an easy target, and I wouldn't get hurt. Nah, unlike you Phoenix I have no fear of getting stuck in. I have absolutely no desire in attacking someone who can barely stand on his own two feet. But you know what Phoenix? I have absolutely massive respect for Marx. He knew despite his injury that he had a job to do. He walked down to that ring in agony and he fucking tried. And do you know what the most powerful thing he did that night? He made you look like an absolute fucking tool. He made you look an inch tall. He outshone you. If we had a Power Ranking out of 25 wrestlers, you'd be languishing at number 50. Although he could barely throw a punch, just his mere presence that night was a massive victory...over you. Marx has a hundred times the character you have. You've been made to look what you are, absolutely nothing. You have no future here. You tried to be sadistic and you failed to do that. If you were truly as evil and ruthless as you think you are, Marx would have been nowhere near the arena. But there he was, an example of your failure.
There's even more failure to come from you, that much is clear. Starting Sunday. However low your career is now, fuck that shit is plummeting even further, -273 degrees. Absolute zero. Call it a day Phoenix. You see you're not only going to be outclassed by me, Beaver and Atreyu are lightyears ahead of you and your team. I want to continue your humiliation. I want to continue your utter degredation. I want you to realise just how utterly hopeless your chances are in this company. Yeah, go ahead and carry on with your sadistic nature. You're fooling absolutely no-one. You've lost all credibility. You have nothing. Dickhead, literally the only way you could possibly salvage your career is either turn up at Marx's hospital bed with flowers and a thank you card...or turn up at Marx's hospital bed and finish what you started. Do neither and you'll just be totally irrelevant. A complete unknown. "Hey who's that guy fighting with Shadowlove and Cormac MacNeill? Oh isn't he that guy who couldn't even keep a guy out of action for a week" "Oh yeah, haha! Oblivion wannabe". What an absolute pathetic loser you are. You're dead to us all. Pointless. Your life from here is a very dark and lonely path Phoenix. I hope you fall and are picked apart by wolves. I hope a new wrestler appears and absolutely obliterates you just as you think things are looking up just because a kid in the audience nodded at you (but you look away and he flips a finger at you, receiving a pat on the back from his parents). That would be excellent. That would be just. That would be exactly what you deserve.
He cups his hands and splashes the cold water on to his face. It was biting but incredibly refreshing.
Cormack, a good guy. A good guy by your own standards, but an angel compared to that Phoenix cunt. So I have to ask, why on EARTH are you willing to team up with him? I'm not sure what that says about you. Your team dynamic is bizarre. A good guy back to make a name for himself, a wannabe failing sadist and whatever the hell Shadowlove is. It's like the evolution of a heel illustrated in one team. Watch your back Cormack. I'm pretty sure they'd quite happily use you in whatever way they wish with not even a second thought on your health. Cormack, things are going to get desperate. If by some absolute miracle you get past me, Beaver and Atreyu there'll come a time when you are absolutely pushed to the limits and mistakes will be made. A recklessly thrown punch will hit one of your team mates and all hell will break loose. CJ Phoenix will try and break your back and Shadowlove will go ballistic at the sight of his own broken pride. Your team will completely implode and thus will end your Trios journey. You'll get hurt and I'll have absolutely no sympathy for you whatsoever. Your team are a ticking timebomb, volatile, fragile. So you know what Cormack? We're gonna do you a favour. We're gonna stop your team dead before you even got going. Your team will disband and you no longer have to associate yourselves with them. You'll learn not to associate yourself with the scum of the Earth.
Until then thougb buddy, we're going to approach you like we're going to approach your partners - with no mercy and with the intention of sending a message. The message that WE are the dominant force in this competition and that it can be won with pure wrestling ability and absolute team cohesion. The underhanded, cowardly ways Phoenix and Shadowlove operate will be thrown in their faces and shoved down their throats, and, with no remorse, down yours also. You've shown absolutely no ambition whatsoever in your choice of partners Cormack, and this all being part of your comeback. How pathetic. You should have distanced yourself from this altogether and used the time off to get in shape so you're in peak condition to advance your singles career. But nah, wasting your energy with two idiots is a good use of your time. You're going to be Phoenix and Shadowlove's bitch and that's how you're going to be remembered. Again, thank us later when we kick your ass straight out. I just hope your THIRD comeback after you pick yourself up from this crushing defeat is more thought out and not a complete waste of time.
He takes off his clothes and with a deep breath submerges himself in the waters. It was incredibly clear. Not a single traffic cone or newspaper in sight. Ducks flew down in formation and landed gracefully with a wake only a couple of meters from him. Man and nature was truly in touch here. There was no fear. Or else, he did not detect any. The serenity of the lake was so much so that he almost felt like he was polluting it with his shoot against his trios opponents. But such is his burden. He swam to the other side of the lake and sat on a sun kissed patch of grass. He shivered but was soon warmed up the glorious, baking sun.
Finally Shadowlove, a guy who just does what he wants. I've seen you sticking your oar in to my persistence in getting Duck Riddik to follow through with his open challenge. To that I say: Shadowlove, shut the fuck up and mind your own business. Fuck does your name even mean? Shadowlove? Do you love Shadows because you've been living in one all your life? Well expect that to continue. Your little smarmy face will be buried in the crotch of our shadows as we raise our arms in victory on Sunday night. So what do you have to back up your arrogance Shadowlove? How is it that you are so arrogant and proud, yet your standards in team-mates are so dysmally low? Was it a "they suck so I look better in comparison" strategy? Must be. But you see you've already associated yourself with them, so you're just as much of a talentless prick as they are. You're fucking going out of the trios tournament in the first round. That's gonna stab your pride in the heart isn't it? That's gonna rip out your arrogance leaving a cold empty space in your soul. Not that anyone cares. You just appear to me as a Dustin Beaver-lite character. He's a better wrestler than you and has already filled a gap. There's no space for you. You're surplus to requirements. You're an understudy nobody knows the name of. Just another guy who is good looking and for some reason promotes that as a career-forwarding gimmick. I mean that's all you have, it's a great quality - in the wrong career.
The hilarious thing about you Shadowlove, is that, as I said above, you are literally JUST a pretty face. You speak a lot...but you never actually say anything. None of what you say actually makes any sense. You fuck about beating around the bush, you're like a fighter jet circling around the target making a lot of noise but never pressing the trigger and firing the missile. It's like you get lost in your own thoughts, wandering deeper and deeper into the shrubbery maze of your own mind and have no idea what you were looking for and then have no idea how to get out. You can't form a coherent point. You ramble on and on and on. People don't listen to you, they just see that pretty face and say "It's a good job he's beautiful isn't it?". Yeah it certainly is. There's a reason we never hear models speak, nobody takes them seriously. Just like nobody takes you seriously Shadowlove. Fuck sake that's a terrible and stupid name. I'm going to refrain from saying it from now on.
Aftermath was pretty funny. How utterly lacking of brain cells must you be, how stupid must you be to get screwed over by Logan? The guy couldn't find his ass with both hands and yet he made YOU look like a total moron. You pathetic, air-headed, jumped up little dickhead. You're nothing Shadowlove. That much was clear by how Logan just disposed of you, left you there like an empty paper cup in Starbucks "I'll let someone else clean that trash up" and that's exactly what happened. Zmac had to step up and carry the burden. You carry on being nothing more than a pretty face, stick to what you're good at, the only thing you're good at.
Your tournament ends here guys. The failed psycho, the misguided idiot and the face are falling at the first hurdle.
CUT
Occulo steps forward, trying to anticipate what Tesuto's first move will be. The young, bald warrior takes a side step and then runs towards Occulo. He throws a punch which is caught and batted away. Occulo throws a punch of his own but its sloppy, missing by a good five inches. A strong laces to the ribs by Tesuto catches Occulo by surprise causing him to double over. Tesuto follows it up by a jump kick to Occulo's forehead. He staggers backwards and receives a chop to the back of the neck. This heavily disorientates him and he crashes to the ground.
Akuma: There was no rush Itami. We had so much more time. He only learned the name Single Cloud a few weeks ago.
Itami is still transfixed. Occulo is face down in the ring causing the referee to start counting. Tesuto stands a few feet away, ready, prone.
1
2
3
4
Occulo jumps to his feet and shakes away the cobwebs.
Tesuto: Good
Occulo nods and rushes towards Tesuto, they exchange a flurry of blows and Occulo closes one eye. He crouches slightly and throws a spear like punch, we see this in slow motion as Tesuto dodges it and on his back, rolls across Occulo's back and in one clean sweep, takes out Occulo's standing leg. He goes to ground, hitting the side of his head on the tiled floor. Akuma rolls his eyes and takes out a small pipe. He lights it by taking out a small piece of dried grass, and striking it against a piece of rough parchment. Occulo sends a storm of spinning kicks at Tesuto, who again in slow motion, we see him dodge, duck and then jump over Occulo's kicks. He grabs Occulo's leg and pushes it upwards, causing Occulo to fall on to his back.
Akuma's face becomes one of concern as the man who burned his face on the candles gives him an ominous stare and gets up to leave the arena, an absolutely venomous look on his face. Akuma closes his eyes, and sighs, his head dropping almost in defeat. Itami remains transfixed.
Occulo: I can't...I can't hit this guy...come on...let's try this again...
He hops back up and sprints towards his adversary. This time he goes for Tesuto's throat with a jab. He catches Occulo's hand however, and sends a perfect, on-point jab to Occulo's jaw, followed by a thunderous take down. Occulo bounces off the hard ground with a crack. The referee rushes over and starts to count.
1
2
Akuma: That's it. All this is over. You've failed Itami.
3
4
5
Itami: No. It's not over. Damn it Akuma, believe.
6
7
Tesuto: ...
8
To a rapturous applause the audience get to their feet as Occulo agonisingly gets to his feet, holding his ribs.
Itami: Yes...
Tesuto: Good
Referee: Are you okay to continue?
Occulo: Of course.
Akuma: He won't last. His ribs are shot. He hasn't landed a single blow on Tesuto.
Itami looks at him and sighs nervously. Occulo takes a few deep breaths and looks at the audience. Men, women and children all cheering him with smiles that seem to come only with revolution. He stares in Tesuto's eyes. Pure confidence. Pure discipline. Pure concentration. He charges at Tesuto who simply sidesteps and gives Occulo a slight nudge to his shoulder, causing him to lose balance and stagger towards the edge of the ring.
Occulo: Shi-
He cringes and manages to stop about a foot away from the edge. He fails to telegraph Tesuto right behind him and receives a thunderous kick to the head. Occulo steps forward and is teetering on the edge. The world blurs and spins as the referee holds Tesuto back, evaluating Occulo's condition.
He loses his footing and falls forward, but as he does the camera cuts to Akuma and Itami, who are looking on, their eyes wide.
Cut to the referee who sighs and then takes a breath to speak, but just before he does we...
CUT
Occulo: Fuck that hurt
Itami: You almost made me feel light headed there. Excellent work. I think you're ready.
Occulo gets to his feet, rubbing his jaw
Occulo: Ready for what?
Itami: Your very first test in combat. If you win the fight your training will continue. If you lose, you'll be taken back to America and your training will end. That's it.
Occulo: What? Don't I get a second chance?
Itami: No. Knowing you have a second chance will create complacency. You should always fight like this is your last. Like you would lose something considerable should you lose.
Occulo: I see
Itami: Follow me
He follows Itami through two double doors, painted in a blood red colour. On the doors is a sign which reads "Arena" in Japanese. Itami lifts a horizontal, clyndrical metal bar holding the doors closed and opens them revealing a large arena with a white tiled area in the centre. Around the ring is a 6 foot perimeter of white stone, with cherry blossom leaves resting delicately here and there. In each corner of the stoned perimeter stand four cherry blossom trees in full, beautiful bloom. Four red wooden pillars stand behind each tree, holding up a slate tiled roof, which provides shelter for tiered wooden spectator stands, with a capacity of 200 red cushions equadistantly spaced out to sit on. Parallel to the entrance of the the arena was a white marble statue of the elder Occulo met in the cloud. A very thin white canopy fluttered above the white tiled area, each corner strung up with hair made from the donkeys which were highly regarded in the village.
Occulo: Wow...
Itami: Indeed
Occulo steps on to the tiles. They are pristine. As if new.
Tomorrow you will face your opponent, Tesuto, here in this very ring.
Occulo: Tesuto, who is he?
Itami: He is one of three warriors we trained to test our Single Cloud student. Each one has been trained on three increasingly intense levels. So, each fight will be considerably more difficult than the last.
Occulo: So be it, but...Tesuto, he's been training for so much longer than me. What chance do I have?
Itami: Occulo, you are ready. Trust me. He will be an extremely difficult opponent, but you are capable. Beat him.
Occulo releases a substantial exhale of air and looks in to the eyes of the statue with great determination and confidence.
CUT
A day later, and the arena is full with the residents of the village. Women in smart red uniform hand out bowls of tea and trays of
sushi as in the ring a band of ten drummers play a scintillating beat. Akuma and Itami are sat just in front of the statue.
Akuma: Well. You actually think he's ready to fight Tesuto already? You're deluded Itami.
Itami: He is. He absolutely is. In training he has been absolutely ferocious. He wants this more than anything in the world. This will show in this match. Trust me, for once in your life Akuma.
Akuma: We'll see
Itami shoots him a frustrated scowl as we cut to Occulo standing on the other side of the arena doors. Eyes closed, slowly muttering to himself. All of this will go away if he loses. All of this will go away without understanding one iota why he was so important to these people. He felt a great deal of responsibility, not only for his own career, but he had developed a responsiblity for the village. He felt a reliance on his shoulders, and he wasn't about to let them down. A man in uniform walks up to Occulo from the opposite side of the room and rests his hand on his shoulder.
Uniformed Man: Occulo. It is an honour to meet you. I am your match referee and I would like to run the rules by you.
Occulo: Certainly
Uniformed Man: Please, bow in respect for the laws of the arena
Occulo bows, and receives one in response
Thank you. The rules are as follows:
- You win if you incapacitate your opponent to the extent where they cannot answer to a count of ten
- You win if you knock your opponent out of the ring so both feet touch the floor
- The arena is sacred ground. If you curse then you are disqualified.
- Killing your opponent is prohibited and is punishable by death
- Use of weapons is prohibited and will result in disqualification
- Use of any martial art except The Single Cloud is prohibited and will result in disqualification
- The match will continue until there is a winner, with no time limit
Please bow to me, confirming that you understand the rules
Occulo nervously nods and gulps, before bowing cautiously
Uniformed Man: Thank you. Please follow me.
The referee opens the door and leads Occulo out in to the arena. The villagers stand and cheer him as he stands in front of Akuma and Itami, bowing to them before turning around.
Akuma: He looks absolutely terrified. He's finished. Congratulations Itami.
Itami doesn't respond with words or even a glance. His eyes are fixed on Occulo, who stares at the doors opposite as a young, bald man enters the arena. He is wearing orange and white fighting gear and has an excited look on his face. He stands opposite Occulo at the other side of the ring, as the referee motions them closer. They step forward and stop 6 feet away from each other.
Referee: Occulo, Tesuto. You aware of the rules. Please respect this ancient art by obeying at all times. Please bow in acknowledgment.
They bow and adopt a fighting stance. Occulo's is slightly sloppy and Akuma shakes his head.
Akuma: We're all dead. Itami, you've killed us all.
Itami is still transfixed on his student. The referee raises a hand and shouts...
Referee: BEGIN!!
CUT
We cut to three days before. Occulo has just finished a gruelling training session and has flopped, exhausted on his bed. He lays there for a few seconds and with a groan sits up. It was 4pm, and a beautiful day outside. Sunny and warm, with a refreshing breeze. He hops out of bed and heads outside. His training was inside a stuffy hut all day, and almost medicinally he inhaled the fresh mountain air. The villagers were carrying out their daily tasks, some of them acknowledging Occulo with a bow. Three children passed him with a gargantuan fish, which they carried like a coffin.
Occulo: Do you need a hand with that?
They looked at Occulo and laughed, before picking up a bit of pace and scurrying to the village. Occulo smiled and decided to head down to the lake. He untied his shoes and submerged his red raw feet in to the beautiful, crisp water.
Occulo: I could get used to this. I think when my career is over I'll bring Bonnie and we'll live out the rest of our days. Until then, and now, I have some slaughtering to do. Roll up roll up.
So Phoenix, unfortunately for you here we are again. Unfortunately for you you've been squared up against me...and unfortunately for you that means it spells the end of the road for your Trios team. You're probably feeling a great deal of animosity for me for not simply getting my hands on Marx and crippling him even further, because he'd be an easy target, and I wouldn't get hurt. Nah, unlike you Phoenix I have no fear of getting stuck in. I have absolutely no desire in attacking someone who can barely stand on his own two feet. But you know what Phoenix? I have absolutely massive respect for Marx. He knew despite his injury that he had a job to do. He walked down to that ring in agony and he fucking tried. And do you know what the most powerful thing he did that night? He made you look like an absolute fucking tool. He made you look an inch tall. He outshone you. If we had a Power Ranking out of 25 wrestlers, you'd be languishing at number 50. Although he could barely throw a punch, just his mere presence that night was a massive victory...over you. Marx has a hundred times the character you have. You've been made to look what you are, absolutely nothing. You have no future here. You tried to be sadistic and you failed to do that. If you were truly as evil and ruthless as you think you are, Marx would have been nowhere near the arena. But there he was, an example of your failure.
There's even more failure to come from you, that much is clear. Starting Sunday. However low your career is now, fuck that shit is plummeting even further, -273 degrees. Absolute zero. Call it a day Phoenix. You see you're not only going to be outclassed by me, Beaver and Atreyu are lightyears ahead of you and your team. I want to continue your humiliation. I want to continue your utter degredation. I want you to realise just how utterly hopeless your chances are in this company. Yeah, go ahead and carry on with your sadistic nature. You're fooling absolutely no-one. You've lost all credibility. You have nothing. Dickhead, literally the only way you could possibly salvage your career is either turn up at Marx's hospital bed with flowers and a thank you card...or turn up at Marx's hospital bed and finish what you started. Do neither and you'll just be totally irrelevant. A complete unknown. "Hey who's that guy fighting with Shadowlove and Cormac MacNeill? Oh isn't he that guy who couldn't even keep a guy out of action for a week" "Oh yeah, haha! Oblivion wannabe". What an absolute pathetic loser you are. You're dead to us all. Pointless. Your life from here is a very dark and lonely path Phoenix. I hope you fall and are picked apart by wolves. I hope a new wrestler appears and absolutely obliterates you just as you think things are looking up just because a kid in the audience nodded at you (but you look away and he flips a finger at you, receiving a pat on the back from his parents). That would be excellent. That would be just. That would be exactly what you deserve.
He cups his hands and splashes the cold water on to his face. It was biting but incredibly refreshing.
Cormack, a good guy. A good guy by your own standards, but an angel compared to that Phoenix cunt. So I have to ask, why on EARTH are you willing to team up with him? I'm not sure what that says about you. Your team dynamic is bizarre. A good guy back to make a name for himself, a wannabe failing sadist and whatever the hell Shadowlove is. It's like the evolution of a heel illustrated in one team. Watch your back Cormack. I'm pretty sure they'd quite happily use you in whatever way they wish with not even a second thought on your health. Cormack, things are going to get desperate. If by some absolute miracle you get past me, Beaver and Atreyu there'll come a time when you are absolutely pushed to the limits and mistakes will be made. A recklessly thrown punch will hit one of your team mates and all hell will break loose. CJ Phoenix will try and break your back and Shadowlove will go ballistic at the sight of his own broken pride. Your team will completely implode and thus will end your Trios journey. You'll get hurt and I'll have absolutely no sympathy for you whatsoever. Your team are a ticking timebomb, volatile, fragile. So you know what Cormack? We're gonna do you a favour. We're gonna stop your team dead before you even got going. Your team will disband and you no longer have to associate yourselves with them. You'll learn not to associate yourself with the scum of the Earth.
Until then thougb buddy, we're going to approach you like we're going to approach your partners - with no mercy and with the intention of sending a message. The message that WE are the dominant force in this competition and that it can be won with pure wrestling ability and absolute team cohesion. The underhanded, cowardly ways Phoenix and Shadowlove operate will be thrown in their faces and shoved down their throats, and, with no remorse, down yours also. You've shown absolutely no ambition whatsoever in your choice of partners Cormack, and this all being part of your comeback. How pathetic. You should have distanced yourself from this altogether and used the time off to get in shape so you're in peak condition to advance your singles career. But nah, wasting your energy with two idiots is a good use of your time. You're going to be Phoenix and Shadowlove's bitch and that's how you're going to be remembered. Again, thank us later when we kick your ass straight out. I just hope your THIRD comeback after you pick yourself up from this crushing defeat is more thought out and not a complete waste of time.
He takes off his clothes and with a deep breath submerges himself in the waters. It was incredibly clear. Not a single traffic cone or newspaper in sight. Ducks flew down in formation and landed gracefully with a wake only a couple of meters from him. Man and nature was truly in touch here. There was no fear. Or else, he did not detect any. The serenity of the lake was so much so that he almost felt like he was polluting it with his shoot against his trios opponents. But such is his burden. He swam to the other side of the lake and sat on a sun kissed patch of grass. He shivered but was soon warmed up the glorious, baking sun.
Finally Shadowlove, a guy who just does what he wants. I've seen you sticking your oar in to my persistence in getting Duck Riddik to follow through with his open challenge. To that I say: Shadowlove, shut the fuck up and mind your own business. Fuck does your name even mean? Shadowlove? Do you love Shadows because you've been living in one all your life? Well expect that to continue. Your little smarmy face will be buried in the crotch of our shadows as we raise our arms in victory on Sunday night. So what do you have to back up your arrogance Shadowlove? How is it that you are so arrogant and proud, yet your standards in team-mates are so dysmally low? Was it a "they suck so I look better in comparison" strategy? Must be. But you see you've already associated yourself with them, so you're just as much of a talentless prick as they are. You're fucking going out of the trios tournament in the first round. That's gonna stab your pride in the heart isn't it? That's gonna rip out your arrogance leaving a cold empty space in your soul. Not that anyone cares. You just appear to me as a Dustin Beaver-lite character. He's a better wrestler than you and has already filled a gap. There's no space for you. You're surplus to requirements. You're an understudy nobody knows the name of. Just another guy who is good looking and for some reason promotes that as a career-forwarding gimmick. I mean that's all you have, it's a great quality - in the wrong career.
The hilarious thing about you Shadowlove, is that, as I said above, you are literally JUST a pretty face. You speak a lot...but you never actually say anything. None of what you say actually makes any sense. You fuck about beating around the bush, you're like a fighter jet circling around the target making a lot of noise but never pressing the trigger and firing the missile. It's like you get lost in your own thoughts, wandering deeper and deeper into the shrubbery maze of your own mind and have no idea what you were looking for and then have no idea how to get out. You can't form a coherent point. You ramble on and on and on. People don't listen to you, they just see that pretty face and say "It's a good job he's beautiful isn't it?". Yeah it certainly is. There's a reason we never hear models speak, nobody takes them seriously. Just like nobody takes you seriously Shadowlove. Fuck sake that's a terrible and stupid name. I'm going to refrain from saying it from now on.
Aftermath was pretty funny. How utterly lacking of brain cells must you be, how stupid must you be to get screwed over by Logan? The guy couldn't find his ass with both hands and yet he made YOU look like a total moron. You pathetic, air-headed, jumped up little dickhead. You're nothing Shadowlove. That much was clear by how Logan just disposed of you, left you there like an empty paper cup in Starbucks "I'll let someone else clean that trash up" and that's exactly what happened. Zmac had to step up and carry the burden. You carry on being nothing more than a pretty face, stick to what you're good at, the only thing you're good at.
Your tournament ends here guys. The failed psycho, the misguided idiot and the face are falling at the first hurdle.
CUT
Occulo steps forward, trying to anticipate what Tesuto's first move will be. The young, bald warrior takes a side step and then runs towards Occulo. He throws a punch which is caught and batted away. Occulo throws a punch of his own but its sloppy, missing by a good five inches. A strong laces to the ribs by Tesuto catches Occulo by surprise causing him to double over. Tesuto follows it up by a jump kick to Occulo's forehead. He staggers backwards and receives a chop to the back of the neck. This heavily disorientates him and he crashes to the ground.
Akuma: There was no rush Itami. We had so much more time. He only learned the name Single Cloud a few weeks ago.
Itami is still transfixed. Occulo is face down in the ring causing the referee to start counting. Tesuto stands a few feet away, ready, prone.
1
2
3
4
Occulo jumps to his feet and shakes away the cobwebs.
Tesuto: Good
Occulo nods and rushes towards Tesuto, they exchange a flurry of blows and Occulo closes one eye. He crouches slightly and throws a spear like punch, we see this in slow motion as Tesuto dodges it and on his back, rolls across Occulo's back and in one clean sweep, takes out Occulo's standing leg. He goes to ground, hitting the side of his head on the tiled floor. Akuma rolls his eyes and takes out a small pipe. He lights it by taking out a small piece of dried grass, and striking it against a piece of rough parchment. Occulo sends a storm of spinning kicks at Tesuto, who again in slow motion, we see him dodge, duck and then jump over Occulo's kicks. He grabs Occulo's leg and pushes it upwards, causing Occulo to fall on to his back.
Akuma's face becomes one of concern as the man who burned his face on the candles gives him an ominous stare and gets up to leave the arena, an absolutely venomous look on his face. Akuma closes his eyes, and sighs, his head dropping almost in defeat. Itami remains transfixed.
Occulo: I can't...I can't hit this guy...come on...let's try this again...
He hops back up and sprints towards his adversary. This time he goes for Tesuto's throat with a jab. He catches Occulo's hand however, and sends a perfect, on-point jab to Occulo's jaw, followed by a thunderous take down. Occulo bounces off the hard ground with a crack. The referee rushes over and starts to count.
1
2
Akuma: That's it. All this is over. You've failed Itami.
3
4
5
Itami: No. It's not over. Damn it Akuma, believe.
6
7
Tesuto: ...
8
To a rapturous applause the audience get to their feet as Occulo agonisingly gets to his feet, holding his ribs.
Itami: Yes...
Tesuto: Good
Referee: Are you okay to continue?
Occulo: Of course.
Akuma: He won't last. His ribs are shot. He hasn't landed a single blow on Tesuto.
Itami looks at him and sighs nervously. Occulo takes a few deep breaths and looks at the audience. Men, women and children all cheering him with smiles that seem to come only with revolution. He stares in Tesuto's eyes. Pure confidence. Pure discipline. Pure concentration. He charges at Tesuto who simply sidesteps and gives Occulo a slight nudge to his shoulder, causing him to lose balance and stagger towards the edge of the ring.
Occulo: Shi-
He cringes and manages to stop about a foot away from the edge. He fails to telegraph Tesuto right behind him and receives a thunderous kick to the head. Occulo steps forward and is teetering on the edge. The world blurs and spins as the referee holds Tesuto back, evaluating Occulo's condition.
He loses his footing and falls forward, but as he does the camera cuts to Akuma and Itami, who are looking on, their eyes wide.
Cut to the referee who sighs and then takes a breath to speak, but just before he does we...
CUT
