Match of the Millennium

Description: No its not Johnny Cage's next movie direct to DVD. Kotal and Erron's journey to pierce Earthrealm's veil takes them to Sunshine City where an ancient relic is stored in a hidden temple. Unable to pass through the holy barrier that protects the artifact, Kotal sends his trusty cowboy in to retrieve, but who would it be that dares try to stop them??

[KOTAL]
SUNSHINE CITY

EARLY AFTERNOON

Never forget that Kotal's mission is to ultimately open the rift between Earthrealm and Outworld. Gathering recruits to bolster the Emperor's forces and taking her Highness Princess Kitana shopping aside, it will be all for naught if the Emperor and his armies are unable to push through the veil of reality and attack Earthrealm directly.

For this purpose, ancient artifacts of great power must be gathered and brought back to Shang Tsung, only then will the sorcerer be able to finally push past the decrees of the Eldergods and have the Outworld forces direct the mortals directly through Mortal Kombat. There is no one better for this task than Kotal as he has been on both sides of such a thing. Defending and Attacking. He knows just where to start.

"This is the place." Still in his guise of a mortal man, Kotal had summoned his Earthrealm mercenary, Erron Black, to accompany to a secluded temple in the outskirts of Sunshine City, a far cry from the scum that is Metro City. "This is where the champions of Earthrealm congregated in the seventh Mortal Kombat. This place.. it is hallowed by the blood of shaman and crusader alike. I have never been able to pierce it."

Indeed, as the disguised Kotal extends a hand through the main gate of the temple a barrier of energy pushes him and only him away, the enchantment recognizes him for what he is.

The Aztec deity looks at his hand first and then to Erron. "You have not been in Outworld for so long that you've been tainted as I have. Go to the inner temple and weaken its barriers. Only then will we be able to get the artifact we need."

[ERRON BLACK]
A short distance behind his hulking employer, the outworld mercenary is currently taking his ease. His back rests against the gritty surface of a decorative pillar, one booted heel propped up in a posture of casual indifference. The afternoon sun beats down upon him, face thrown into deep shadow by the wide brim of his hat.

"Gods." The merc murmurs dryly, watching with some faint amusement as his boss's hand is shunted away from the open gate by mysterious extra-planer energies. For not the first time he is reminded of the limitations that come with such great power. And, perhaps that is why he is not one himself. Surely there must have been opportunities? Lost relics of ancient power buried beneath the wastes of Outland, in places few men would dare to venture. Offers from beings with seemingly limitless power.

Shrugging off of the wall, Black drops his left hand to hover over his thigh holster as he ambles forward at a lazy pace. He seems to be in no big hurry, the expressionless slits in his mask granting no hint of his emotions.

"Five minutes." Erron offers up to the towering form of Kotal as he saunters through the open gate, the soles of his worn black boots crunching lightly through dead grass and shattered tiles. A ninja would have entered with more stealth. A conqueror would have entered with more force. But Erron is his own peculiar beast, and he seems unconcerned as he wanders between busted pillars and tumbled down walls, surrounded by the gutted remnants of once fine statues. Here an arm, there a head, most features worn to lumpy smoothness.

Always the gate dwindles further behind him, the Outworld cowboy's muscular silhouette growing faint in the dappled shadows of what remains of the temple.

[KUNG JIN]
Hardly the best place to find people, this temple. It's a mess, and the place just FEELS like death. No, not death-- that indicates a rebirth is about to happen. This is the kind of death that leaves the cycle of life, death, and rebirth... the kind of death that gives birth only to hungry ghosts.

So of course it's the perfect place to train. Some of these pillars need arrows in them anyway; maybe defacing some of these horrible icons will make the disgusting air of stagnation and rot lift a little bit. If not, at least Jin's getting in some practice time that doesn't involve someone trying to feed him a knuckle sandwich, right?

Maybe not.

Jin scrabbles atop a non-broken pillar, watching as the cowboy enters the area. One brow raises in question and he just waits, trying to see what's going on. Who's this? Why is Clint Eastwood's demonic doppelganger in a place like this? Probably not for anything good.

Erron's 'spider sense', or whatever it is he's got, probably went absolutely BAT SHIT precisely three and a half seconds after Jin started watching him. Three and a half seconds being a conservative estimate. So it's not a tall order for the cowboy to pick him out. There he is, atop one of the pillars there.

Crouched atop said pillar is a compact but still well-built man dressed all in black, his head covered by a black hood and his face covered by a black mask. He's got a quiver of arrows on his back, and in-hand a staff with a roaring dragon's head upon it. The staff has a curved shaft, and the glimmer of a string might be seen by a sharp eye. He's just watching Erron, head tilted to the side curiously.

[KOTAL]
Kotal ignores Erron snarks about his godhood being more of a burden than a boon. Ultimately, the cowboy is doing what he is paid to do and that is all that matters to the Aztec deity. Let the warlords of Outworld fly into a rage and slay their minions due to petty pride. As long as Erron continues to be an asset, Kotal is willing to tolerate a certain amount of sass.

He crosses his arms and watches as the cowboy walks casually within the temple. He can still sense him due to his chi signature as well as the object they are after. With any luck it will take exactly five minutes to be done with this task and get back to their lair.

But of course, if conquering Earthrealm were that easy Outworld would have done so already.

Erron's sixth sense would not be the only one being triggered as a pure presence makes themselves known here. Kotal's eyes flare open as he recognizes that champion spirit that marks someone as an Earthrealm warrior.

He SLAMS his mighty hands upon the barrier to alert Erron that he is not alone, the pillars of the temple trembling, but not budging, against Huitzilopotchli's power. "On your guard!!" He yells out in warning just to be completely certain Erron is aware of what is happening.

[ERRON BLACK]
'On your guard!'

It is difficult to say whether or not such a warning is necessary, or even whether or not Erron chooses to heed it. For as he wanders through the ruins, he makes no effort to draw a weapon, dive for cover, or otherwise do any of the things normally associated with someone readying to defend their act of larceny.

Instead, the mercenary tilts his head up to cast an idle glance toward the archer perched high above him, the sunlight that falls across his masked face revealing the thick rings of coal smudged around his dark blue eyes. Said eyes narrow slightly, consideringly, as he slows to a halt beside a waist-high pile of rubble and hooks his thumbs through his belt.

"We going to have a problem, Robin Hood?" Black queries, his deep voice bland and sardonic. "How 'bout you go one way, I'll go the other. I get what I'm here for, and you don't get hurt."

The words are big, and do hold a certain amount of condescension, but the man who speaks them has clearly seen some shit. His clothes are worn and dusty, the visible weapons at his thighs and back battered and well-used. And, there is a sense of confidence. An easy nature to his movements that belies a certain familiarity with his body. A comfortable ease in his skin that long time fighters tend to gain.

Quietly the cowboy waits, head tilted up and eyes taking in his black-clad visitor. The tattered remains of his sandy brown poncho hangs limp across his back with the lack of a breeze. If it comes to a fight, he'll deal with that. But he'd rather not waste the bullets.

[KUNG JIN]
The second voice from outside the perimeter, that of Kotal's, gets Jin's attention quickly; he looks that way, eyes wide. Fortunately the cowboy doesn't just instantly make him into Swiss cheese. That'd have been unfortunate, since right at that moment Jin was majorly distracted. Which he realizes too late. ('Stupid...')

But fortunately the cowboy doesn't shoot first and ask questions later. No in fact, he asks a question. That almost sounds fair, Jin realizes. Except whatever's here, it's probably not something that anybody needs to get their hands on.

On the other hand... Jin knows that tone. Arrogant, but not baselessly so. He often hears it in the tone of people that generally make him sorry he messed with them! So it's experience versus experience-- avoid pain or keep something nasty out of the hands of someone who probably shouldn't have it?

('...Sometimes I hate being the nice guy.') Inwardly, Jin sighs. ('Welp. Knuckle sandwich, here I come.') Bright side, he could see the way the man outside's hands rested on... well, nothing. So it was unlikely (Jin hoped) that they'd be able to gang up on him. So the beatdown is likely to only come from one source.

Jin's answer is delivered in the same sort of confident tone. "Depends on what you came here for, cowboy." He hops down from the pillar-- yes, hops, as if he's just jumped down a few feet-- and lands on the ground easily. "Not sure you noticed, but this place isn't exactly Prettytown, US. Whatever's in there probably needs to STAY there. Ideally behind ten layers of concrete, just to make sure."

[KOTAL]
Kotal is not one for pointless arrogance. They are not here to flaunt their power against these pitiful mortals-- they will get plenty of opportunity for that when the veil is torn. No, Huitzilopotchli has never been one for empty talk that leads to the inevitable battle, there is no time for banter, only for Kombat.

"HRAAA!!" Kotal had said he'd never been able to pierce the barrier of the temple, yes. That did not mean he was still not willing to try if it meant spurring his underling on to do what he's supposed to do. Blast Erron and his egotism. Just shoot that annoying archer and be done with it!

With a mighty heave, Kotal brings both palms into the barrier and begins pushing with all his might to try and overpower it. The barrier groans and crackles with holy power as it strains to keep the God of War away. Even now however, the taint of Outworld inside is already ever so lightly weakening the temple giving Kotal the slight edge that he needs to fully push through. Whether Erron and Jin decide to simply talk it out is irrelevant now.

Huitzilopotchli has grown impatient and he's eventually going to break through. That gives Jin only a limited time to convince the cowboy out of the temple one way or another.

COMBATSYS: Kotal has started a fight here on the right meter side.

                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Kotal

[ERRON BLACK]
"Four minutes, 10 seconds." Erron replies in a lazy, almost amused drawl, the entire temple shaking around them with the wrath of Kotal. As the young-sounding archer lands before him, the cowboy gazes squarely into his masked face and attempts to meet his eye.

It is an old trick. one that works as well on animals as it does humans. Catch their gaze, hold it. Allow them to search for meaning that isn't there. And if you can get them stuck...

Black darts forward in a sudden lunge, the dirty tatters of his poncho fluttering out behind him. His entire weight is behind a vicious left hook, scarred knuckles aimed squarely for the masked man's right temple. His intent is to smash Jin backward into the pillar he just vacated, before following him in to deliver two brutal body blows to his ribs and gut. Only then can he swing his fists up and around in two more hooking punches meant to bust the archer's ears and knock his head about a bit.

If anyone were to ask, they might be surprised how often people expect the gunslinger to go immediately for his guns. Rarely do they expect him to get right up in their face and start punching. But how else could he have survived in Outworld for so long if not by doing the unexpected? That, and having a pretty mean left hook.

"Should have taken the deal." Erron grunts through the slight muffling of his mask, dark eyes cool and dispassionate. After all, according to him, he only has in the neighborhood of 4 minutes to wrap this up, and there is a very annoyed war god spurring him on to action.

COMBATSYS: Erron Black has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Kotal

COMBATSYS: Kung Jin has joined the fight here on the left meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Kung Jin         0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Kotal

COMBATSYS: Kung Jin blocks Erron Black's Put 'em Up.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Kotal

[KUNG JIN]
Once more Jin's eyes are drawn to the man straining against... some sort of barrier. One of the archer's eyes narrows, but not the other one, leaving a very odd sort of confused and rather... well, weirded out expression. Looking back to Erron, Jin notes, "Uh... you might want to go see to your... friend I guess. He sounds like he's having some trouble back there-- WHOA!"

Suddenly the cowboy explodes into a flurry of punches, and about all Jin can do is try to minimize the damage. He's forced on the defensive, bringing a hand up to block the first punch to his head. Though given the sudden frown, it looks like that hurt. The blows to the body aren't quite so easily blocked, and the wind's knocked out of him by one of those punches. And the staff's brought up to block the final strikes at his head.

Still though, he's surprised at the sudden vicious flurry of attacks. But as it turns out the roaring dragon on the end of that staff is aimed forward. More to the point, it's aimed at Erron. Which becomes clear that it's a Thing because that roaring dragon spits a ball of flame in Erron's direction. It's a quick move pulled off for the sake of getting some breathing room, more than an actual planned attack, though.

COMBATSYS: Erron Black dodges Kung Jin's Burnt Out.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0            Kotal

[ERRON BLACK]
Erron Black's fists thud heavily into Kung's staff as the lighter man twists it up to block, the mercenary's scarred knuckles coming away from the experience without even a scrape.

What, exactly, has he been punching these past 100 years?

Such trivial issues can be pondered upon later, for now there is little time for distractions. As close as the cowboy is standing, crowded in upon Jin in an attempt to cut down the effectiveness of that staff, there is only the faintest of orange flickers in the mouth of the carved dragon to warn him that not all is as it should be.

As the staff swings around to align itself with his chest, Black's right hand darts out quick as a snake to grab the dragon by the throat. With a hard step and tug, he pulls himself forward and juts the flaming maw over his right shoulder, its fiery breath roaring out to splash uselessly across a crumbling wall some 15 feet away.

However, as the cowboy was stepping in, his left hand shifted into a downward blur. It now rises, the reinforced steel butt of a battered black revolver sweeping up and over the staff as he attempts to keep it clutched firmly in place.

Unless the dark-clad archer can save himself, the weighted handle of Erron's revolver will hammer home squarely in the center of his forehead, before the mercenary releases his staff and drops low, gun sweeping down and around in a smashing strike for the outside of his right knee. And if Kung Jin drops, his joint buckling from the precise blow; the muscular cowboy will stand, looming above him, and aim his revolver down nearly point blank at the young man's stomach.

'Chlk.'

The hammer is cocked back, cylinder rotating in its scratched black frame.

'BANG!'

[KOTAL]
As the battle rages on within the temple, the swirling chi of the two Kombatants is more than enough to urge the War God on to break the once impenetrable barrier. It'll take more than just two warriors worshiping Huitzilopotchli through battle to destroy the hundreds of years old barrier however, Kotal knows this quite well.

Try as he might, the Aztec deity seems unable to push those mighty hands of his through the veil. He steps back, exhaling, annoyed, but not spent. He turns to another source of energy as he looks up and the rays of the sun shine brighter upon him. "Up the stair path.. to the fire's edge.." He mutters as his massive figure grows brighter before launching himself at the barrier with greater effort.

"By the Light of the Sun!!!"

COMBATSYS: Kotal enters a trance-like state.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                  |==-----\-------\0            Kotal

COMBATSYS: Kung Jin dodges Erron Black's Above Snakes EX.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                  |==-----\-------\0            Kotal

[KUNG JIN]
Jin can hear the other guy out there, and it's not going to be long before he makes it into this place. Yes, he looks normal... but a barrier wouldn't be keeping him out if he was completely normal. Besides that, there's probably a reason why he's not able to get in just yet. And it's probably a good one. But at the moment, there's another thing to worry about. Like, the loud report of a gun fired in his direction.

The sound of a bullet being fired is a sobering moment for anyone. Bullets can mean a quick death, particularly at short range, and they're not something one finds in a fight. Then again, neither are arrows, and Jin's loaded for bear. So, eh. Your mileage may vary. Either way, Jin's attention is focused on Erron when he sees the cowboy's hand move down to where those guns are holstered. He's not stupid (he just acts that way); he knows exactly where Erron's reaching. And he's pretty sure he's not going to like it if he succeeds!

So he spins out of the way, towards the direction as is the hand that's clamped around the 'throat' of the bow/staff. And the motion might just scratch Erron's hand. That staff is pointy! Still, his movement saved him a potentially fatal series of wounds. And might have put him on Erron's side! And whether Erron let go of the staff or not, Jin seems to fly at Erron, one outstretched leg leading the charge, so to speak. If he hasn't let go of the staff yet, that's liable to encourage him to!

COMBATSYS: Erron Black blocks Kung Jin's Traditional Ways.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                  |==-----\-------\0            Kotal

[ERRON BLACK]
The loud booms and rumblings of Kotal attempting to force his way through the temple's magical barrier makes for a particularly chaotic soundtrack for Erron to fight to. But Erron is no stranger to battlefields. Through roaring cannons, rattling muskets, and screaming men, he has always kept his cool. It will be no different now.

Releasing the staff, the mercenary pivots to track his nimble opponent. Flinging both arms up, he catches the kick with a basic cross block, absorbing the full force of Jin's flying foot with his tough leather bracers. Still, the sheer momentum of an entire man flying at him forces the cowboy back a step, allowing Jin a moment to disengage.

With his hands raised defensively, left still clutching his smoking revolver, it is a simple thing for Erron to reach over his right shoulder and curl his fingers about the hide-wrapped hilt of his sword.

Stepping forward, the mercenary twists on his right foot and thrusts a heavy kick toward the archer's lower abdomen, attempting to blast through any guard he might put up and knock the lighter man backward into a large pile of rubble. But, hit or miss, he immediately whips the wickedly curved blade of his bone sword free of its sheath, stepping forward while the weapon hums through the air toward Jin in two vicious diagonal cuts, down left, then down right, before being slammed neatly back into place on his back.

With a final step, Black's left revolver comes up once more, the hammer thumbed into readiness with a quiet 'Chlk.'

"Nothin' personal." Erron states flatly, meeting Kung Jin's eyes across the barrel of his gun before he aims it down toward the younger man's left thigh.

'BANG!'

The second shot of the night rings out through the ruins, echoing from the bare stone walls.

COMBATSYS: Kung Jin fails to interrupt Dry Gulch from Erron Black with Hook Strike EX.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  ////////////////////////////  ]
                                  |==-----\-------\0            Kotal

[KUNG JIN]
Jin sees the hand go back for the sword. He expects an immediate swing, which is why the kick to his lower abdomen takes him off-guard. Down into the pile of rubble he goes, and as he tries to get up, the sword flashes across his chest, tearing bloody lines in the dark fabric there. No, he wasn't expecting that. Certainly wasn't expecting the final strike of that Kombo, either. And as the shot rings out, he emits a yelp of pain and turns onto his side, curling up.

He doesn't stay down, though. Jin growls, then turns, kicking back up to his feet. Well, one foot; he's clearly favoring the injured leg, and it's obviously bleeding. But damned if he's still up, and still standing in the way. "'Nothing personal'? Asshole! You SHOT me! I'd say you just made it PLENTY personal, cowboy!"

Through all this, though... as it seeps from the wounds inflicted upon him, Jin's blood is joining the ancient blood already on the ground, shed who knows how long ago. What greater tribute to a god of war can there be than the blood of a warrior with pure intentions, defending his home...?

[KOTAL]
SLAM!

SLAM!

No, that is not the big bad wolf blowing at a piglet's house. It's Kotal who's still slamming his hands at the barrier which is now clearly beginning to break. Crystal like cracks spread across what appears to be empty air and the holy incantations of a dozen crusaders and shamans begin to falter against the might of Huitzilopotchli. Kung Jin's blood spilling upon sacred ground being more than worthy sacrifice for the ancient war god.

"Stop playing with him and FINISH HIM!!" This kommand is clearly directed at the cowboy.

COMBATSYS: Kotal enters a trance-like state.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Kung Jin         0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                  |====---\-------\0            Kotal

[ERRON BLACK]
Stepping back from his bleeding opponent, Erron idly twists his wrist, sending his battered black revolver into a tight spin around his finger. His cool blue eyes do not shift from Jin for even a moment, not even when Kotal begins shouting at him to hurry up and finish. he still has almost three minutes before the five minute deadline. Plenty of time.

The mercenary's right hand drops in a blur of motion, and before most men could react, a second revolver is spinning through the air, a blur of brown and silvery steel as it whirls around the slinger's right finger. With both guns in constant motion he snorts out a breath through his slitted leather mask.

"Your in way over your head." Black observes dryly, seeming very much disinclined to help his opponent out of the tight spot he finds himself in. "But you should know. it is nothing personal. Just following orders." These final words are said in a bland, deadpan tone. He doesn't seem to be taking any of this very seriously.

Still, the cowboy does have a job to do.

Advancing on the wounded archer, Erron catches both of his spinning guns by the barrels and brings them down in two swiping hooks. The left handed gun, black and shorter barreled, is aimed to smash its metal-plated butt hard into Jin's right temple, before the wooden butt of the right handed gun swings in toward his left cheek.

The slinger then jerks his wrists and flips both guns about, catching them by the grips to drive a second left-handed blow down toward his opponent's right collar bone, and a right-handed strike to the center of Jin's forehead.

"Best if you stay down." The mercenary quips, before the hammers of both guns cock with mirrored 'Chlk's.

'BANG!'

His right gun fires down in a quick snap shot for Jin's shin, attempting to bounce the bullet off of the bone and knock his leg out from under him.

'BANG!'

Black's left handed gun then bucks. Trailing fire and smoke, a single round passes through the air faster than thought, aimed squarely for the center of Kung Jin's eyes.

Orders are orders.

COMBATSYS: Erron Black successfully hits Kung Jin with Tunnel Vision EX.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Kung Jin         1/-------/<<<<<<<|======-\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                  |====---\-------\0            Kotal

[KUNG JIN]
Jin can't move fast enough, not with his leg like it is. He tries to raise an arm to block, but the lack of balance messes him up in a way he's not expecting. He ends up leaning on his bad leg and wincing, drawing attention away from his attempt at a block. And so the gun smashes into Jin's temple, dizzying him for the strike across the cheek. The strikes at his collarbone and forehead find no resistance.

The shot at his shin has the expected effect, and damned if it isn't the same leg that was ALREADY in horrible shape. He goes down like a sack of dropped sack of bricks, gritting his teeth. The pain draws him out of the dizzied state just in time to hear the second report of the gun going off. There's an odd, choked sound from Jin and his head snaps back as if he was struck. He goes absolutely still for a few moments, an expression of surprise and pain on his face. And then?

He tilts back, falling over backwards and tumbling down the other side of the pile of rubble he'd been trying to get out from in front of, landing on his side. He's still. Either he's decided to take Erron's advice or he's dead. Either way, he no longer stands in Erron's way.

COMBATSYS: Kung Jin takes no action.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Kung Jin         1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                  |====---\-------\0            Kotal

[ERRON BLACK]
Smoke wafts from the barrels of Erron Black's pistols, gusting out into two spreading wrings as he sends the weapons into two neat twirls around his fingers. His dark blue eyes track Jin's progress as he goes limp, tumbling backward over the rubble to land in an uncomfortable heap on the far side.

"Huh." He vocalizes vaguely, his dry Texas baritone full of bland amusement.

For only a second more he lingers, studying Jin's still form as he mulls something over. Then, making up his mind, he tosses his revolvers down into their holsters with finality, and steps around the rubble to vanish behind a tall stone pillar.

Moments later, the barrier Kotal is attempting to force his way through collapses, and the entire ruins grow oddly quiet. The weight of spiritual energy that had lain so heavily on the ruins seems to lift, the sun shining brighter, the grass a touch greener. Even the heavily leaning walls seem to hunch in weariness, rather than looming with malice.

Stepping out from behind the pillar, Erron tosses a fist-sized emerald into the air and catches it, his worn boots crunching through the rubble as he saunters lazily back toward his employer.

COMBATSYS: Erron Black is willing to talk.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Kung Jin         1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0      Erron Black
                                  >  /////////////////////////     ]
                                  |====---\-------\0            Kotal

[KOTAL]
The end of the fight signifies the end of the ritual. The culmination of battle in all its glory. And with it, the end of the ceremony in which Huitzilopotchli is worshiped.

The barrier weakens at last and without the green emerald powering it, the holy defense against the emissary of Outworld crumbles. Kotal rips through the barrier with a powering crush which incidentally also removes his mortal guise from his body. Caring little that the barrier manages to reveal his true identity as a parting blow, the Aztec treads the once hallowed grounds of the temple in all his real glory.

If Jin is still looking he will see.

That was no man that the barrier was trying to keep away, but a supernatural being.

Turquoise skin, glowing golden tattoos across his muscled body along with glowing eyes. Armed with a serrated macuahuitl blade and Aztec warrior Eagle Knight armor.

Huitzilopotchli walks the Earth again and he seems.. pleased.

"Yes.." A dark chuckle escapes the warrior as he sees the fruits of his underling. "The relic of the sages will bring the sorcerer much power. Already can I sense the veil weakening after this victory."

As for the boy? A Fatality? Unlikely, not until he has the beating heart of his opponents does Kotal consider them dead. "Let us leave this place." He says to Erron as he walks past him. "But to the Earthrealmers.."

"A taste of things to come."

Kotal raises a hand to the sky summoning his personal obliterating cannon that sits in the sky. That being the sun.

A fiery beam of light comes down from the sun itself setting the temple on fire that quickly begins to spread everywhere.

The archer hidden in the rubble will want to run away quickly if he does not wish to be caught in the wreckage.

[KUNG JIN]
It was shocking, is what it was. The solid impact of the bullet against the circlet at Jin's forehead quite legitimately knocked him out. Though it was only briefly, it was long enough for him to have been in real trouble if the cowboy and the war god hadn't been concentrating on other things at the time. Oh he'd seen it all right. The shattering of the barrier had been what woke him up; the atmosphere ad changed just that much to draw him out of unconsciousness.

It's not going to KEEP him there, though... no indeed, Jin has lost too much blood for that. But as he pulls himself slowly and quietly-- and painfully-- into a hiding place, he does happen to catch sight of Kotal. The TRUE form of the man. He doesn't recognize him at a glance for WHO he is, but he definitely knows WHAT he is-- something that Jin should definitely not be soloing, not even at full strength. And he is most definitely NOT at full strength here and now.

More proof of this comes when the sun itself seems to shine an angry beam of light onto the temple... and sets it ablaze. EVERYTHING burns, even the stone. It shouldn't do that! Jin falls back from the sudden setting afire of the temple ruins, scooting back from the worst of the blaze. It's spreading, though... if he doesn't get out of here quickly he's going to burn to death, and that one tiny bit of good fortune of the bullet hitting his circlet instead of his BRAIN would have been for naught.

Wincing at the pain in his mangled leg, he gets to his feet and starts to limp away from the site as fast as he can. He manages good time leaning heavily against his staff, but he still only barely escapes before the conflagration is too large to have any hope of saving the temple. Once he's out of danger, he sits down heavily on the ground... and gets out his cell phone, which somehow managed to survive the fight. What's he doing? Sending a text to Cassie, of course. She's the best connected of their little group, after all.

-(sunshine city temple just went up, need to find out what's so special about it)
-(heading to hospital right now, bleeding out)

Jin leaves such wonderful messages for his teammates, doesn't he?

Log created on 13:48:39 08/21/2016 by Kotal, and last modified on 22:35:13 08/22/2016.