Match of the Millennium

Description: Taking place in a specially crafted arena in international waters out in the Atlantic Ocean, this massive arena will be hosting not only one of the greatest lucha team ups the world has ever seen, but the one and only Brandon Malone, the hot-headed activist protesting Violet Systems and the HitBit brand. Teaming up alongside him is Terry Bogard and Rock Howard, relative unknowns in the world of organized fighting. With the likes of the heroic Griffon Mask, the amazing Jaguar King, and the terrifying MURDERHOUSE coming in the wings, we can only see if Brandon does better than his debut match last KOF in his fight for a position in the 6th Bracket.

[JAGUAR KING]
This particular qualifier has brought combatants out to the middle of the Atlantic. The steel stadium construction floats almost ominously out on the Atlantic, it's bright spotlights illuminating it for miles around. From a distance, it is silent except for the crashing waves. Inside, well, that is an entirely different story.

Even in an isolated location like the floating stadium, excited fans have managed to make their way to see their favorites fight. The crowd surges with electricity as fans work themselves up even before the fighters themselves make an appearance. There's a murmur and the crowd quiets once the announcer takes center stage and the lights dim, putting the focus on the ring itself. It's a large, wrestling style arena with reinforced turnbuckles and a huge CWA logo plastered right in the middle.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the man echoes through the loudspeaker. "Thank you all for coming to this exciting event! Welcome to the first round qualifiers of this year's King of Fighters tournament!" The crowd erupts. "Tonight's match-up brings the ferocious battle power of the Hungry Wolves against the mighty throws of the Masked Men!" The crowd gets even more heated, excited fans anxious to see the first matchup. In the blue corner, representing the Masked Men--"

"KING JAGUAR!"

Pyrotechnics erupt from the right catwalk as Jaguar King strides down it. He is dressed in a purple cape for the moment. It billows behind him. Brandon and Terry are certainly formidable, but for the wrestling fans here, King is royalty. Cheers echo throughout several sections of the crowd, roars of excitement almost drowning out his intro music.

"Standing at 6'7 and weighting in 270 lbs, King Jaguar hails from Mexico and is here representing the style, speed, and power of lucha libre."

King continues to make his way to the ring, climbing to the corner, bouncing on the ropes, then flipping himself over them to land upright on the mat. He thrusts one fist, his index finger extended, and bellow out of a fearsome roar.

"And ladies and gentlemen, from the red corner...!"

[BRANDON]
Brandon's experiencing a moment of deja vu. Last year, in the same tournament Brandon came into the preliminaries, and would lead off his team in the tournament to determine the brackets for the tournament proper in a big arena. A year later, and Brandon Malone, the supernatural private investigator finds himself in another tournament. A different arena but similar circumstances.

This year, like last, he would be going first in a campaign to determine the fate of his team. But as many thing that were similar this year, there were a few things that were different. This year, Brandon was the team leader. Also there was the fact that the Jaguar King was more of a known quantity than Miguel was last year. And most important, this year Brandon was entering this tournament with an agenda in mind.

Brandon makes his way into the arena as he shuffles his deck gradually pumping energy into the cards as a jazz instumental is played as he approaches the ring.

The announcer continues the introductions. "Standing at 5'11" and weighing in at 154 lbs, Brandon hails from Metro City representing a style he calls..." There's an awkward pause. "Thaumaturgic Brawling?" The announcer never quite finishes announcing Brandon's entrance because he's so flummoxed by the name of his fighting style.

Brandon finally gets to the ring and he doesn't do a fancy flip but instead climbs up on the apron and slips in between the top and middle ropes. His hand is held up high into the air as he holds up a tarot card. He doesn't need pyrotechnics. He is the damn light show. The card had a preset ritual on it to fire off illusions of a wildly colorful light show along with illusions of pyrotechnics firing off even from above the audience where no concievable machine could be. And because they are illusions, physically safe for the crowd as well.

The light show ends and Brandon makes the tarot card disappear through sleight of hand as he bounces on the balls of his feet eager to get the show on the road.

[JAGUAR KING]
King Jaguar continues to work the crowd, waving his arms in a gesture to tell the fans to "pump it up." By the time Brandon arrives, however, King Jaguar has settled down. He watches Brandon's arrival in mute appraisal, clearly assessing the man even with the concealment of the jaguar mask. When Brandon has gotten himself fully situated, King steps forward. He unclasps the cape with a smooth motion, tossing it aside as he takes steady steps toward Brandon. Despite the height difference, King does not aim to look down on the man. He instead positions himself to look him well in the eye on the approach before finally extending a hand for a firm shake. He gives him a silent nod of acknowledgement.

[TERRY]
Watching from the distance is the leader of the Hungry Wolves. Terry Bogard remains silent and relaxed while watching the two men meet in the arena and the battle about to begin. Of course being relaxed is easier said than done. Terry was ready to fight himself, but he has to be patient. He wanted to see what Brandon could do and thus why he had picked the fighter he still knows little about to start things off. He glances between both Brandon and Jaguar King as he sizes the latter up. He knows a bit about his opponents, but mostly just what people have told him or a few videos he managed to catch when hanging out at Duck's club.

"Good luck." he says under his breath as he reaches up to tip his cap a bit to Brandon. He can't see or hear Terry more than likely, but it is the thought that counts right? For now he just remains prepared to enter the fay whenever he is needed and for now leaves things in Brandon's capable hands.

[BRANDON]
And in that moment, the Jaguar King illustrates another difference between himself and the one who ended his participation in the tournament before it could truly begin. This would be a civil fight. As the Lucha Libre wrestler takes off his cape, Brandon flings his fedora and more through dumb luck than actual skill does it land on the turnbuckle. When King reaches out to shake his hand, Brandon does so with a firm grip of not out prove something by attempting to squeeze the ever-living daylights out of. Just respect. Would he have done that with his other team mates? Tizoc? Fairly likely. MURDERHOUSE Mick? Probably not. But that had more to do with each of their reputations.

With the handshake done, Brandon steps back and takes his modified Philly Shell boxing stance. One hand near his pouch. The other, protecting his face. Then he waits for the bell.

COMBATSYS: Brandon enters the arena, to the roar of the crowd!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Brandon          0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King enters the arena, to the roar of the crowd!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Jaguar King      0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Brandon

[TIZOC]
Also from the distance, on the other side, is the Griffon Mask, who seems intent to keep quiet and maintain a respectful watch of the proceeding match.
The grandiose entrance. Joining the invitation to 'pump it up!' The sportsmanlike handshake. There are many among the crowds that can claim to be fans. Tizoc would say nothing against their claim to be such!
Under the mask, Tizoc soaks in the atmosphere and the sheer joy of getting to walk alongside the Jaguar King - almost nothing Mick can say or do would take this feeling from him!! He returns to crossing his arms underneath the cloak.

[JAGUAR KING]
"All right gentlemen," the referee cuts in. "We're looking for a good clean fight out there, but I don't need to tell you that." He nods to Brandon and King, taking several pointed steps back. "3...2...1..." The countdown starts on the jumbotron as well, psyching the crowd up further.

FIGHT!"

And as soon as the match starts, King Jaguar is on the move. He powers forward, extending his arm for a running lariat. The man's muscles tense, bringing to bear all the power and speed he's gained from years of rigorous training.

The Shadow Lariat also carries with it a mighty jaguar noise, as is King's preferred method of communication.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King successfully hits Brandon with Shadow Lariat.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Jaguar King      0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0          Brandon

[BRANDON]
There's a difference between seeing a man move as an outside observer and when he sees the being performed on him personally. It's much much faster when the move is practically flying at him in real life. As the jaguar masked wrestler bears down on him, the detective brings his forearms up to take on the impact and gets /smashed/ off his feet.

He takes a moment to get back to his feet before he's back into his stance. He circles around for a moment, trying to not only find his range but to get his head back together. His finger tips brushes the leather pouch on his belt before he moves in. A golden light emitted by the Strength Tarot card illuminates the ring a moment before the card is smashed into the Jaguar King's chest by way of palm strike. There's a burst of chi before Brandon draws it back with card no longer in sight.

That was one shot the mystic detective was not in a hurry to experience again.

COMBATSYS: Brandon successfully hits Jaguar King with VIII - Strength.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Jaguar King      0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0          Brandon

[JAGUAR KING]
King Jaguar keeps his momentum going, bouncing along the mat as he comes to a stop. The luchadore spins on his heels to face Brandon even as he gets back on his feet. King thumps his chest in a challenge, curling his fingers in a gesture for Brandon to come at him.

And for a moment, King seems ready to take the blow. He sticks out his chest, ready to intercept the strike from Brandon and put himself in a better position. Instead, the impact and flash of chi hits King harder than the wrestler seemed to anticipate, which causes him to stagger backwards from the hit. He growls as he shakes it off, lunching over slightly as he places a hand on the impact site.

But King doesn't linger. In a moment he's powered forward again, rushing in low with a gut-punch toward Brandon to buckle him over. If it does, King leans forward over the man's back, wrapping his arms around him and then hoisting him head-over-heels into a sudden piledriver!

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King successfully hits Brandon with Jaguar Driver.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Jaguar King      0/-------/-======|=======\-------\1          Brandon

[BRANDON]
This time, the Thaumaturge seems to anticipate that the wrestler is just moving too fast for him to defend and so he determines that his best approach might be to take the hit and just react to the recovery for an opportunity for reprisal. If it was just the gut punch, that might've worked. Instead, while the doubled over brawler reaches for the back of the knee of the wrestler in an attempt to keep him close, he gets scooped up and slammed back down in a pile driver, dazing him too much to seek an opportunity for him to reposition in an ideal manner.

He rises back to his feet, groaning in pain as he does so, taking a moment to clear the cobwebs from his head. He takes a deep breath and gives himself an opportunity to get his legs back under him. The Empress tarot card appears in his finger tips as the energy washes over him surrounding the Mystic Brawler in an aura of golden light as he tries to charge down the wrestler with his shoulder.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King blocks Brandon's III - The Empress.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Jaguar King      0/-------/=======|=======\=------\1          Brandon

[JAGUAR KING]
King Jaguar releases his grip on Brandon following the piledriver and hops back a half-step before tapping his chest again, urging Brandon back to his feet. Even if he says little, King communicates clearly: he's into the fight and wants to see what Brandon's capable of doing.

And when the energy flares again, King readies himself. The shoulder charge surges with energy, and King knows it packs power. He meets that power with his own, locking his arms along his waist and bracing his shoulder to meet Brandon head-on with a shoulder block. There's a heavy thump of muscle against muscle, the impact of chi-infused power sliding King back slightly.

But then he's moving forward again, reaching out to try and snatch Brandon by the arm. If he does, King pivots on his heels, swinging the smaller man around behind him and toward the ropes fencing off the ring.

COMBATSYS: Brandon counters Quick Throw from Jaguar King with IX - Hermit.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Jaguar King      1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1          Brandon

[BRANDON]
After that piledriver, it probably should be Brandon that's seeing double. The whole audience saw what Brandon could do with illusions in a non-combative capacity when he put on that light show without actual pyrotechnics. In combat, it allows the Thaumaturgic Brawler to make Lucha Libre Wrestler as well as the rest of the audience see double instead.

When the Jaguar King reaches for an arm he finds his hand going through the arm as another Brandon splits off away from the one being grabbed. The real Brandon holds up the Hermit tarot card as the chi-based illusion cocks back and throws a haymaker at the wrestler's jaw and then fading from existence.

Meanwhile the real Brandon is beginning to breathe harder as the tarot card disappears. The audience doesn't know how to react to this. Brandon projects babyface in temperament but uses heel tactics. Could he be tweener?

[JAGUAR KING]
King Jaguar pulls on "Brandon" but something feels off. Before he can pin down what, the illusory double coldcocks him with enough force to cause King to stagger backward holding his jaw. He works it with his hand, shaking his head to clear the stars from his vision. With a clench of fist, King stares Brandon down for a moment, maybe in anger from the blow or maybe in disgust as the underhanded tactic.

Whatever his reasoning, King does not simply stand and stare, but instead surges toward the Thaumaturge once more. This time King steps out, throwing forward a leg to try and hook Brandon with it. If he connects, King pulls himself up by his leg, swinging the other around in a flipping roundhouse which lays King flat on the mat with its force. While not quite a dropkick, the lasso kick does carry a lot of power with it--perhaps King is wary of investing it all on what might be another double.

COMBATSYS: Brandon dodges Jaguar King's Roundhouse Kick.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Jaguar King      1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1          Brandon

[BRANDON]
Brandon receives the staredown and for a moment, he's wondering if the two are operating from two different cultures where two different social mores operate. Brandon's used to operating from a street fighter, fight hall type of culture and he's suddenly realizing he might be out of his element in a more wrestling based background.

King doesn't waste time and is immediately back in Brandon's personal space. The set up with the foot hooking towards him. Brandon desperately backpedals to get himself away and goes to the ropes before going right back in an attempt to leap towards King elbow first.

It's been awhile since Brandon has taken even the Minor Arcana out of the equation while not reaching for his power directly. It's a testament to how hard the Jaguar King has pushed him this fight.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King endures Brandon's Power Strike.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Jaguar King      1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1          Brandon

[JAGUAR KING]
King Jaguar seems equally pushed. His chest rises and falls in heavy breaths and he seems to be working against soreness of his chest and shoulders from the earlier blows. Even so, the luchadore carries on with a determination that befits a man who prides himself as a hero of his sport and his nation. The roundhouse kick goes wide, which leaves King with better footing than if he'd not started with the lasso. His foot falls heavily and he winds up slightly off balance, but it is a brief opening. Rather than fall backwards, he meets the elbow strike head-on by throwing himself bodily into it, taking the blow right in his rock-hard chest. It's a daring, if painful manuever, but it seems to put King Jaguar right where he wants to be for the follow-up.

King snaps out, reaching forward to try and wrap his arms around Brandon in a bear hug. From there he lifts the man over his head, dropping backwards with a suplex. It doesn't stop there, however, as King suddenly shifts around, grabbing Brandon by the legs and slipping him into a Cobra Twist by stepping over Brandon and applying pressure to one of his legs. If he succeeds, one can already here the excitement from some of the diehard fans. King is well-known for his chain throws, and it's this kind of move that gets the fans chomping at the bit for more.

From there, King steps over again, lifting Brandon up onto King's back and hooking his legs over his shoulders. WIth a mighty leap, King goes airborne, dropping them both down with his signature Muscle Buster finish.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King successfully hits Brandon with Muscle Buster Combo.
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[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Jaguar King      0/-------/------=|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2          Brandon

[BRANDON]
Brandon's wild elbow meets a wall of muscle and he bounces off as he tries to plant his feet on the ground. Later, when video of this fight circulates, it will catch the zoomed in look on Brandon's face with the bulging eyes right before the Jaguar King grips him up. It will pause. A narrator will say, 'It was at this moment, Brandon Malone knew he fucked up.'

After that, Brandon enters a world of pain where he's slammed, twisted, and is taken for painful ride before being slammed one last time. He writhes in pain for a few moments before gets back one knee. He pulls one last card. The Fool. A large swirling mass of light and colors moves towards the Jaguar King.

He falls over, long enough to be counted out and after some time on the ground, he rises, limps over to Jaguar wrestler to shake his hand once more before limping over to the red corner and slide out of the ring.

COMBATSYS: Brandon can no longer fight.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Jaguar King      0/-------/------=|

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King blocks Brandon's 0 - The Fool.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  <
Jaguar King      0/-------/-----==|

[JAGUAR KING]
By the time King Jaguar releases Brandon again, memes are already starting to form in the minds of the audience. The luchadore takes several steps backward, breathing heavily and working his shoulders. He paces around Brandon, keeping an eye open for a follow-up before counting the man out--and wisely so. The prismatic projectile moves toward King, but the wrestler throws up his guard and soaks the blow. It hits him hard enough to drive him back across the mat, but he stands firm until the lights fade. When he lets down his guard he shakes his arms, probably trying to get rid of the lingering sting of the impact.

But Brandon gets to his feet. He moves in for the shake and King takes it firmly, giving Brandon a pat on the shoulder as well. He nods once, firmly, as acknowledgment for the bout. Once they have concluded, he moves back to his own corner to rest against the turnbuckle and catch his breath. Once there, he gives Tizoc a quick thumbs-up, and acknowledgment that he still has some fight left.

[TIZOC]
Tizoc gives a celebratory pump of both fists as King remains standing from the mysterious onslaught of Brandon Malone! The awe-inspiring CRITICAL SLAM is but a reminder of the great legacy of King Jaguar on full display for the King of Fighters tournament! Strength, and sportsmanship! He sure hopes that MURDERHOUSE next to him is taking notes!
...
Because Tizoc forgot to bring a pen and paper.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King awaits the next challenger.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Jaguar King      0/-------/-----==|

[TERRY]
When Brandon is slammed down even Terry winces at the impact. And with it it seems Brandon is done and he has nothing to be ashamed of. He went up against a tough opponent and did well. Terry starts to step forward and he just gives a grin at Brandon when he manages to make it back to where Terry has been waiting. "Good job. Picked a good team mate for sure." he chuckles and moves forward.

"Brandon Malone is down! Up next, standing at six teel and weighing at one hundred and sixty-nine pounds. Ladies and gentleman......Terry Bogaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrd!"

Forward Terry strides and he hops up onto the ring apron and then over the top rope to land on his feet. "OUKEI!" he says and gives a big grin to the large luchador. "You are good. Lets have a good fight now, right?"

He is obviously excited and it seems like he all he is waiting for is a nod from his opponent before going into motion. Instead of rushing forward though he holds his ground as he rears back with a fist as it ignites with energy. "Here we go! Power....." he then slams his fist into the ring mat, the energy he has gathered moving along the ground and right for Jaguar King. "Wave!"

COMBATSYS: Terry enters the arena, to the roar of the crowd!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Terry            0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0      Jaguar King

COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Jaguar King with Power Wave.
+=+=!= Power Slam! =!=+=+

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Terry            0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0      Jaguar King

[JAGUAR KING]
After hydrating a bit (through the mask, somehow--it is mysterious), King Jaguar hops to his feet and rolls his arm and neck to get himself worked back up for the next bout. He paces forward, nodding to Terry in response to his greeting. He then shifts into his low wrestling stance, ready for what comes next.

Or King thinks that he's ready. The Power Wave comes out with such force and speed that it catches the luchador well before he's ready. His eyes widen as it blows into him and explodes with such force that it slams the wrestler back against the ropes once more. He dangles for a moment, breathing heavily, before shaking it off and letting loose a mighty roar once more.

And with it King barrels forward, ramping up to full-speed to try and slam into Terry with a powerful shoulder tackle. The move in itself packs plenty of power, but King Jaguar doesn't stop there. He instead uses his momentum, trying to spear Terry right up off his feet and onto the wrestler's back, where he'll spin him around into a sudden piledriver!

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King blitzes into action and acts again!

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Terry            0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0      Jaguar King

COMBATSYS: Terry blocks Jaguar King's Ultimate Tackle.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Terry            0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0      Jaguar King

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King successfully hits Terry with Improvised Throw.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Terry            0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0      Jaguar King

[TERRY]
The Lone Wolf quickly straightens back up and he raises his fists up. His strike had oomph behind it, but he knew better than it would take down a man like Jaguar King. Even with Brandon softening the large luchador up there is plenty of fight left in the man and he is proving it by the way he quickly recovers and gives that mighty roar.

He is quick for his size, but Terry is ready. A tleast ready for that charge because Terry plants his feet and leans forward to meet it with his own shoulder. But at the same time he soon realizes the true intention and he looks to quickly move away from the grip of Jaguar King. He isn't quick enough and Terry is soon meeting the mat head first due to the piledriver. He quickly rolls away and does his best to quickly get to his feet. Yeah, plenty of fight left in the bigger fighter for sure.

"Wrestling, never had the size for it. You guys always have impressed me." he admits when adjusting his hat which somehow didn't go flying off when he was being flung about into that piledriver. He moves forward then pivots on a foot. His fist once again igniting in flame as he looks to deliver a backhand right into the chest of the mighty Jaguar King.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King dodges Terry's Power Drive.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////                   ]
Terry            0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0      Jaguar King

[JAGUAR KING]
King Jaguar springs backward almost as soon as he executes the piledriver. He's run ragged, and this point seems to need to stay quick on his feet to avoid more hits like that from Terry. When the Lone Wolf speaks, he has King's full attention. The wrestler nods once to Terry's comment, acknowledging the respect. It seems to not be lost on him. He makes a jaguar noise in confirmation.

But then there's a chi-infused backfist. In a surprising display of speed, King slips around Terry, narrowly evading the blow as it cuts through the air. From there, he slips back around, trying to push Terry forward before slipping him into a headlock. With a headlock fully established, King would then try to launch forward, dropping himself to the mat and bringing Terry along in a dangerous DDT.

COMBATSYS: Terry blocks Jaguar King's DDT.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Terry            0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0      Jaguar King

[TERRY]
There is a swing and instead of meeting a meaty chest Terry finds himself a bit thrown off due to hitting nothing but air. It is a mistake that Jaguar King is smart to capitalize on. He gets a firm grip, but what the luchador finds is despite being rather on the small side in comparison, Terry isn't easy to throw around on whim. There is a struggle and even as Jaguar King falls to the mat he finds himself slamming nothing into the ground. Terry manages to pop his head free and then snag his hat out of the air while staggering back.

One hand rubs at his sore, wrenched neck while the other looks to put his cap back in place. He just gives a bit of a smirk and he gives Jaguar King at least a bit of time to get to his feet. Of course once it seems the bigger fighter is mostly back on his feet he is soon meeting the incoming fist of Terry. The plus side that it isn't surrounded by the fighter's energy like last time. The bad news it is coming in rather quickly and looks to slam the luchador square in the jaw.

COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Jaguar King with Medium Punch.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Terry            0/-------/---====|=======\=------\1      Jaguar King

[JAGUAR KING]
After the beating he's received between Brandon and Terry, King needs a moment to get back on his feet. He staggers slightly, but stands firm and ready to go. When Terry goes for a straight, simple punch King seems ready to stack on the chin and keep going. Instead, the blow rattles him much more than he seems to be ready for. It knocks the wrestler backward with a stagger, his vision blurring and his jaw rattling. He even staggers for a moment, drawing several shocked gasps from the crowd. But, with a shake of his head, King continues onward despite running on fumes. Such is the spirit of lucha libre!
And so King rushes in, going low toward Terry. He seems to be aiming for a front grab, but before he gets hold he slips to the back, trying to catch Terry around the waist from behind. From there, King tries to slip Terry into a cobra clutch, wrapping a meaty arm around the street fighter's head and giving him a squeeze. King would likewise fall backward, rolling on the mat until he puts the elder Bogard into a sleeper hold. Applying more presure then, King would lastly roll Terry around, putting his leg across the back of his neck and pulling down with his shoulders as leverage.

COMBATSYS: Terry barely endures Jaguar King's Human Necktie.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Terry            1/------=/=======|=------\-------\0      Jaguar King

[TERRY]
There was a huge impact of fist on chin and even the strike isn't enough to down the mighty luchador. The fact he is still able to still keep going after all he has been trough commands the utmost respect from Terry. "Tough. Damn tough." he says with a chuckle then he goes a bit wide eyed at how quick Jaguar King still manages to be after all this punishment.

He ends up in the strong grip of the other fighter and he flails at first. The big arm is resting across his throat and cutting off his air quickly. He looks like he might actually be going down for the count the way he is pulled down onto the ground. Though he fights back and he flails again, his body twisting some to try and free himself from that strong grip of Jaguar King. "Hnnnburn....." he raise a fist and then it ignites once more. Once more he looks to connect with the larger fighter and hopefully with enough power to ease the vice like grip and give Terry a moment to breath.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King endures Terry's Burn Knuckle EX.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >                                ]
Terry            1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0      Jaguar King

[JAGUAR KING]
The Burn Knuckle slams into King's chin with a mighty crack. It staggers the man with enough force that drops Terry entirely and almost goes down right then. For several moments he staggers in long, loping strides, the giant looking ready to fall right over onto the mat with a heavy thump. That, however, is when it starts.

KING! JAGUAR! KING! JAGUAR!"

The chanting of the crowd, at least those who favor the Masked Men, rises up from the stands. King continues to stagger, planting a hand on the ropes as he almost goes down. He dangles there for a several moments, barely able to stay up, but the chanting grows louder. More desperate. King stands up properly, gesturing to the crowd with a sweeping point. He then thumbs his chest, then points to the sky. Together, he seems to say, they are going to the top.

tAnd then King throws himself hard against the ropes, stretching the back like a spring. He shoots forward with the stretchiness of the turnbuckle, launching himself back toward Terry. He goes in low on the charge, aiming to take the Bogard's legs out from under him. If he does, King then pulls, lifting the smaller man up as he swings him around once, twice, three times before letting go and hurling him back toward red corner.

But with that, King is entirely spent. The luchadore collapses onto the ground, having either thrown Terry across the ring or failed to make his grab and fallen flat on his face. He breathes heavily, flashing the crowd one more thumbs-up before the count is made and he has to be helped back to the sidelines.

COMBATSYS: Jaguar King can no longer fight.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Terry            1/-----==/=======|

COMBATSYS: Terry blocks Jaguar King's Giant Swing.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Terry            1/----===/=======|

[TERRY]
Terry finally frees himself and he is up to his feet quickly. Though the choke hold has taken its toll and he isn't exactly seeing straight. Things are a bit fuzzy and he just brings up a hand and gives the 'bring it' motion to the luchador. "C'mon c'mon!" he urges his opponent to come at him and Jaguar King is more than happy to oblige.

Terry anticipates the big man to go high, but instead he goes low and pulls Terry's legs out from under him. As if he wasn't feeling out of sorts enough now he is getting spun about and then launched away towards the corner. He instinctively sort of tucks himself up and lessens the impact in the corner. Even so he is still shaken up and slow to his feet. At least it finally seems that Jaguar King has been taken down. "Good......job....oww."

Terry just sort of slumps back into the corner and catches his breath while waiting to see who he is going to face next on this episode of Lucha Underground.

COMBATSYS: Terry awaits the next challenger.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Terry            1/----===/=======|

[TIZOC]
The Griffon Mask stands at the ready with arms crossed at the end of the entrance aisle. Tizoc was more of the mind to wait at the ringside and have a hand out to be tagged in instead, but the producers behind the fight want to make every round as grandiose an entry as any.
The classic theme of the Griffon Mask, the Invincible Mask, blares out. There aren't quite as many fans of him in comparison to the noise made for King Jaguar, but they are there - mostly children.
"NEXT UP FROM THE MASKED MEN! STANDING SEVEN FOOT ONE, WEIGHING IN AT TWO-HUNDRED AND SIXTY POUNDS, FROM MEXICOOOO, WE BRING YOOOOUUUUU---"
Cue the pyrotechnics. The light, the flash, the very sight of the Griffon Mask walking down towards the ring. He seems much more sedate in tone.
The man underneath is nervous. His body language does not hide this. The showmanship! The bravado! It all seems so subdued, in this moment. Is Tizoc losing his nerve?
He takes a hand upon one of the ropes. Under the mask, his eyes close. He is experienced as a performance wrestler. To take it all to the real ring... he knows the environs well. The wrestling ring is his forte. He can see it in Terry's eyes, as the Hungry Wolf bides his time.
There is a hunger in that man for battle that is nothing short of incredible.
"THE GRIFFOOOOOOOOOOOOOON.... MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSKKK!!" Finding his resolve to not be chicken dinner (no matter the opinion of a certain Brasilian martial artist who happens to be in the audience making this comparison), the Griffon Mask leaps up into the air in an impressive set of multiple flipping rotations before landing in a three-point crouch in the ring. The other arm takes off the cloak, allowing it to fly free into parts obscure and unimportant.
The Griffon Mask towers over the majority of his opponents, but no matter how much taller he stands... there is no casting the Hungry Wolf in a shadow. The wrestler spreads his arms apart, breathing in and out as he sizes up the blonde fighting superstar with all the weight riding on his shoulders.
"GO!" There comes the call, and the Griffon Mask goes on the immediate offensive as he slides forward across the canvas, his left forearm drawing back until it gets close enough to be swung right into Terry.
"POSEIDON WAAAAAAAVEE!" He calls the attack's name as it happens.

COMBATSYS: Tizoc enters the arena, to the roar of the crowd!

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Terry            1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0            Tizoc

COMBATSYS: Terry dodges Tizoc's Poseidon Wave.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Terry            1/----===/=======|=------\-------\0            Tizoc

[TERRY]
They just get bigger and tougher it looks like. Terry doesn't exactly keep up with the world of lucha libre too much, but he has a feeling Jaguar King wouldn't just pick any random masked musclehead to put on his team. And the way the fans cheer only seem to show that while perhaps not as popular as the last luchador to fight, Tizoc still popular in the eyes of many fans. "Okay okay. I am ready."

Not like he has much of a choice in the matter. He is still doing his best to recover, but he is there in the corner with Tizoc flying right towards him like some giant meat missile. "Oh man...." he mumbles and leaps right out of the way at the last moment, a dive to the right and landing in a forward roll before popping back up to his feet on the other end of the ring. "Here is to a good fight!" He says and gives a bit wink to the luchador.

That is when his fist ignites once more with the energy he wields. It seems he is soon about to feel what Jaugar King did when Terry first entered the ring. "POWER....." He jumps forward this time. THe energy growing around him by a large amount and he comes to land in the center of the ring. "GUYSAH!" The fist slams into the mat and the ring shakes under the explosive power of the chi released and looks to impact into Tizoc

COMBATSYS: Tizoc blocks Terry's Power Geyser.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Terry            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0            Tizoc

[TIZOC]
The Griffon Mask goes wide, a ways past Terry as the massive wrestler turns about to try and face them again before the opening can be taken.
The eyes widen underneath the mask as Terry makes good on his promise to bring the 'fight' to 'a good fight.' The power that builds within Terry's fist...!
The entire canvas shakes violently under the explosive geyser of energy by the Board's hand. At ground zero, a muscle-bound luchador who does not fully comprehend what he's getting into. All that holds Tizoc together under a force that is difficult to withstand is the reminder that he is the Griffon Mask - to whatever end being the Griffon Mask entails!
He falls to a crouch, both arms flexing into a defensive cross as the dust settles after the burst of power echoes into the cherished memories of the fans who get to see this encounter live today... and the Griffon Mask withstands it.
Tizoc rises to a stand as though on some level disbelieving it. The casual, friendly character of Terry, but such a fierce determination given form by such a force of strength...!
If can stand to this, Tizoc reasons, then I am ready to live up to the standards of some of the best the real leagues can offer! The cheering of the children, however quieter in number in comparison to his opponent, brings him out of the numbing, sobering pain that runs through his forearms and abdomen - suggestive that maybe the Power Geyser did more of a number to him than he can recognize at present.
He jabs out with a knife-hand at around chest level for Terry, before going down to a kneel to do so a second time at around abdomen level - and then a third one, at the same elevation, making use of his superior wingspan to try and better gauge Terry's defenses and maybe soften him up enough to come closer.

COMBATSYS: Tizoc successfully hits Terry with Medium Punch.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Terry            0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Tizoc

[TERRY]
It still seems Terry still has some fight left in him, but he seems to also be expending quite a bit of energy with each strike so it is hard to tell how much longer the smaller fighter can keep going. He straightens back and seems impressed by the way Tizoc handled such an attack and even is....oh he is coming in rather quick!

Terry starts to backpedal, but the reach of Tizoc is enough for that first strike to hit him solidly in the chest and the next two land as well and cause Terry to go stumbling back and falling over and almost rolling out of the ring. He catches the bottom ring rope with a hand and pulls himself back in and up. "Yeah. You all hit hard." he says with a chuckle. He takes a deep breath and supposes he will just have to hit hard himself!

He crouches then launches himself forward. His fist pulling back as it ignites once more. "Burn....." he murmurs as he looks to slam that fist right into the chest of Tizoc much like he did to Jaguar King earlier. "KNUCKLE!"

COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Tizoc with Burn Knuckle.
+=+=!= Power Slam! =!=+=+

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Terry            0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1            Tizoc

[TIZOC]
When Terry gets pushed out of the ring outright through a series of probing knifehand strikes, the Griffon Mask doesn't follow. The cheers get a little louder at the appearance of the upper hand, and two fists are pumped in the air in acknowledgement of the cheers - to drink in the feeling. These are the big leagues.
He snaps to attention as Terry comes back in with a good-natured chuckle and admission about the physical strength of his opponent. There are some flashes of familiarity to that very day... the day a certain someone decided to crash the ring and give a crash course about what real fighting strength is like.
Tizoc's feet spread wider apart as Terry comes in, keeping his arms uncrossed in the face of that leaping lunging fist. In the heat of the moment, his idea is to use his superior mass to anchor himself when Terry overextends by striking him, then try to grab hi--
Everyone has a plan until they take a Burn Knuckle dead center to the chest, and the Griffon Mask finds himself launched across the expanse of the ring like he's a flyweight. He hits the side of the ropes at an angle that doesn't make great use of its elasticity, and finds his bodymass rolling off to the side until he stumbles and hits his flank against the turnbuckle.
"Such moves...!" The Griffon Mask sputters. "You've... you've fought some real battles, huh?" He sucks in air as he comes back to his feet. Tizoc could feel some of his resolve waver.
The Griffon Mask does not back down from a challenge, is what he reminds himself. He takes a short hop on top of the turnbuckle, a tell towards an exciting high-flying, high-risk maneuver that always charges up the crowd. It is the cries of his fans that give a troubled man his strength to keep going.
"OCTAVE TOUPON!" He calls once more, leaping forward in a curled-up ball of somersaulting flips as he tries to descend upon Terry's shoulders in a seated position, then flip back and slam him into the canvas by his legs if he can catch him...!

COMBATSYS: Terry just-defends Tizoc's Active Toupon EX!

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Terry            0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1            Tizoc

[TERRY]
There is a flick of the wrist and the energy dies down after delivering that strike. He may be much smaller, but it seems his strikes can hit just as hard as any of the big men that Tizoc has been in the ring with. Terry may be tired, but that playful grin hasn't faded and even with all the punishment he is sustaining he is having fun. Entering the tournament was a good ide and he can only hope both Rock and Brandon will find fun when all is said and done too.

"I have had a lot of tough ones. Life wasn't easy, but sometimes you got to grin and bear it and wait for the good to come to you. Days like this where I get to fight honorable fighters such as you and your friend are the days I treasure." he explains and keeps himself ready for whatever Tizoc might try next. It seems that would be coming down at Terry and landing on his shoulders with all his weight and use the momentum to flip him. Only well...he lands and leans back.....and Terry isn't pulled off his feet. Instead Terry looks to slip his arms around the legs of the bigger man. "Not this time!" He says and looks to heft and toss Tizoc right into one of the corners of the ring.

COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Tizoc with Buster Throw.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Terry            1/------=/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\1            Tizoc

[TIZOC]
Terry's earnest, open speech seems to pierce even the hardened walls of sound and light that would distract and rile up the people invited to compete within the ring. The depths of the challenges the young man has faced... sure, Tizoc grew up in central Mexico, no walk in the park itself. To be able to have gone through so much that he can simply relax and enjoy himself in the moment of the fight... that kind of comfort cannot be so easily obtained.
Imagine the eyes under the mask trying to bulge out the eye-holes of the griffon mask (actually, no, don't that's kind of gross even as a funny visual) as he hits the corner, sitting upright.
Tizoc is a man whose career - his entire life - seems to be on the brink of viability. Terry considers him an 'honorable fighter,' which is true. There's nothing to really hate about Terry in turn. He's a wild, honest guy who has channeled his talent and life experiences into devastating mastery of the martial arts. Clenching the ropes, the Griffon Mask rises again.
An important question must be raised... how much of Tizoc's heart remains into it, rather than simply living up to the lofty ideals of what the Griffon Mask represents?
With a short running start, Tizoc doesn't focus on these deep-seated questions. A small misstep on the canvas hampers him for half a second, like someone who has never felt the weight of the canvas underneath his boots before. He leaps forward to disguise this, both legs pointed out towards Terry as he leaps like an arrow - like a maneuver more appropriate for one at their top, rather than in a moment of confusion and crisis. Some elements run on autopilot.
"KIIIIIIICK!"

COMBATSYS: Tizoc successfully hits Terry with Gri Dro Super Kick.
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[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Terry            1/---====/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2            Tizoc

[TERRY]
The spirit of competition. Terry seems to be someone that really believes in it and has given it his all this fight. Jaguar King manhandled him pretty well and yet he still pushes forward. Not even the weight of being the man that has to push his team forward into the actual tournament this night is enough to wipe that smile from his face.

Of course that dropkick might for a moment. Terry Steadies himself and arms are raised. Even then he could not expect the kind of impact of those big feet crashing into would do. Backwards he is knocked and with enough force the turnbuckles pop off one of the ringposts when he impacts the ropes and he ends up out of the ring and hitting the barricade that block the fans from getting into the ring. And there he sits there for a moments without movin much.

"Tch.....nice....." he reaches up and tugs down on his cap a bit which somehow didn't go flying off into the crowd or the like. He is a bit shakey when getting to his feet and he takes a deep breath. "OUKEI....." Even if not fully sensitive Tizoc can just feel the energy being drawn in by Terry at the moment. The crackling of it running through his entire body as he crouches low then leaps upwards. "HERE I COME!" And downward he comes, his body erupting with energy as it surges through his arm and into his fist. He impacts the ring with such force things rattle and it collapses. All the while large bursts of energy go off around the luchador. Unlike last time there isn't just one, but three of them.

COMBATSYS: Tizoc fails to interrupt Trinity Geyser EX from Terry with Big Daedalus Attack EX.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Terry            0/-------/------=|

COMBATSYS: Tizoc can no longer fight.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Terry            0/-------/------=|

[TIZOC]
It seems a pure concept, but it is one that proves difficult to grasp through all the good and the bad alike - to really and truly just enjoy competition for its own sake, above all.
The Griffon Mask stands anew, grabbing another gust of wind in his sails as he gives Terry a dropkick worthy of being put on a magazine cover. It's something to feel good about, even great about! To land such a solid hit against someone that seems several cuts above almost anything anyone could throw at them...!
Some pause is given when he watches Terry fly out the ring and into the barricade, and Tizoc's posture loses some of the battle-ready tension and vibrant energy he projects. In his moment of frustration, could he have just seriously hurt them?
Even in his old line of work, some form of injury was almost impossible to avoid. In a real fight, where real strikes with the intent to subdue are the order of the day, these sorts of things should also be considered a consequence of the craft. And yet, the very idea he would strike so far as to potentially deal lasting harm to someone who has proven of great skill, power, and temperment ali--
Terry gives the 'OUKEI' and the 'HERE I COME!'
The Griffon Mask falls upon guts and bravado, even as the actual man underneath seems something close to a deer in headlights watching Terry's descent.
"Biiig..." The Griffon Mask utters rearing back an arm. He would normally yell 'DAEDALUS ATTACK,' and he does - but it's lost to the ear-popping explosions of power that rock the arena.
The Griffon Mask swings those massive arms into the geysers, heedless of the gulf of power between them. Two of those swings see him smash through the first, but he loses ground and distance from it pushing him back. This single push-back is the deciding event on its own - he can't possibly reach Terry now.
When the second surges up, that the Griffon Mask remains upright as he hurls his entire body mass through another set of two swinging clothesliners is of little consequence. He is not within arm's reach of Terry any more. He loses even more ground from its push.
In that split second between the second and third geyser, the numbing aches of his body catch up, and one of his knees quiver. No matter the adrenaline and bravado, a human body - even one like his! - is not meant to withstand anything like that at point blank. Tizoc is in the process of falling to a knee within the fraction of a second between these three bursts...
Number three puts an end to the struggle in a final yell, ejecting the Griffon Mask clean from the ring to collapse on the ground, unconscious, outside of the ring itself. There is no counting given.
The bell rings several times, and a referee runs onto the canvas to make the necessary gestures to signal the end of the bout.

[TERRY]
The mighty luchador is felled and the energy gathered by Terry dissipates and he sort of staggers when trying to straight back up. Part because the ring is at an angle after collaposing and part because he is sore and tired. It is a good kind of pain though. One that he got because he fought two men that gave their all.

"The match is over! THE WINNERS ARE THE HUNGRY WOLVES!" The crowd may have been more leaning towards the fallen Masked Men, but they still cheer due to the amazing match they got to witness between the two teams. The referee that called for the bell rushes to raise Terry's arm which makes the Lone Wolf wince a bit, but he smiles and nods about to the fans.

He then turns about and heads back towards where Brandon is probably resting and trying to recover from his own beating. "Hey, are you okay?" He asks with a bit of a grin and just slaps his team mate on the shoulder playfully before slumping down to sit. "Hope I showed I am a decent enough captain." He then pulls the cap down a bit lower. Is .....is he really trying to nap during all this noise? "Zzzzzzzz......." Looks that way.

COMBATSYS: Terry wanders on to find the next challenge.

Log created on 13:16:45 08/10/2017 by Brandon, and last modified on 11:57:05 08/14/2017.