aCe: WAR IS HELL

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE PLAN

BATTLE 23
LAVA PITS OF PRIMUS
8TH CYCLE-2120

Shepard w/ Scorch vs. Sycophant w/ Painmaster

Grovel vs. Exodus
*Grovel requested this one-on-one duel with Exodus*

Heroes United vs. Noxious & Godsend w/ Trisis

GUTARR STICK MATCH
Hustler vs. Gheist
*After entertaining his people so much last battle, Paganax has decided to pit these two in battle yet again*

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Paganax vs. Ventross
*Although The Ravagers have shunned him, the Tribesmen still view Ventross as the epitome of a proud and might Ravager warrior. In order to cover for his loss at the last battle, Paganax will defeat this symbol of malevolence for all of his people to see*

Scorch w/ Shepard vs. Painmaster w/ Sycophant
*The Painmaster has commented that he will bring Aspin to Primus and that if Scorch can win this fight, he will allow The Specialists to see Northstar!*

Holocaust & Nemean vs. Avarice & Flatliner

TAG ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
[glow=blue,2,300]NuBorn Destruction ©[/glow] vs. Darkness Falls
*Paganax has threatened severe consequences if Krypt and Jakyll cannot repeat their success from the last battle and bring the Essence of Centra home to Primus*

[Mr. Hyde]

New page, new link: Click here to play a part in deciding the fate of Aspin Northstar, Murdok, and the Dimension of Centra itself.

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE 23
LAVA PITS OF PRIMUS
8TH CYCLE-2120

Toward the top of the soaring and cavernous arena, Avarice the Blackheart and Flatliner had gathered around the founder of the Judas Syndicate, General Rankor.

Rankor: (touching his heavy neck brace) Damnable thing. Holding the Battlefield Title should be a great thing, but with that oaf Paganax in charge I will never be allowed a chance at the Essence. (looking toward his cohorts) And if the little vermin can somehow defeat NuBorn Destruction tonight, YOU two will never have a chance at the Essence. Some sort of system of Essence defenses must be created and agreed upon by all the factions, otherwise my plans may never come to fruition.

Avarice: (as Rankor begins to think) Nicodemus and Aegis you may be able to sweet talk. Godsend and Paganax…good luck with that, Rankor.

Shepard w/ Scorch vs. Sycophant w/ Painmaster
Sycophant has early control, tossing Shepard to the outside where Painmaster sneaks in several cheap shots. Shepard eventually takes over and Sycophant takes a lot of punishment, of course. Shepard throws Sycophant from the ring and then hits him with a big suicide dive! As Shepard gets into the ring, Scorch nails a dazed Sycophant with THE TRAILBLAZER behind the referee’s back, KO’ing Sycophant for the countout win!
WINNER: SHEPARD w/ Scorch

Grovel was once again welcomed to the ring like a hero.

Grovel vs. Exodus
Exodus has to beat on Grovel for upwards of 20 straight minutes in order to win this grueling and competitive match with a Top Rope Legdrop.
WINNER: EXODUS

Heroes United vs. Noxious & Godsend w/ Trisis
Trisis low-blowed Lance early and things went downhill as Godsend tagged in and had fun picking Lance apart. He finally locked in the HELL’S THRESHOLD, but modified a bit, gripping Lance’s bottom ribs and pulling up, as if ripping them from his body! Lance had to tap so quickly that Aegis did not even have time to get in the ring for the save.
WINNERS: NOXIOUS & GODSEND w/ Trisis

Godsend cackled as he escorted Noxious and Trisis away from the ring and away from a writhing Lance At-Las. As Gheist appeared for the next match, the Tribesmen were still unsure of how to react to him, but many of them actually cheered Hustler as he approached the ring!

GUTARR STICK MATCH
Hustler vs. Gheist
Gheist had Hustler in trouble on the outside and grabbed a stick swinging once and missing and then swinging again. Hustler ducked the blow and Gheist broke the stick over a spectating Tribesman’s head! Gheist was momentarily shocked and this gave Hustler enough time to grab a stick and bash Gheist with it! Hustler beat Gheist down from there and finished the match by making Gheist bite a Gutarr Stick and then delivering a Curb Jaw right after! The stick actually shattered in Gheist’s mouth!
WINNER: HUSTLER

The crowd wildly cheered for Hustler as he raised a Gutarr Stick high in the center of the ring. Hustler quickly cleared out as the banging of war drums began to pervade the arena, signifying the appearance of Paganax! The crowd went wild for their Chieftain as he entered the ring, and then howled forcefully as a bitter and deeply miserable Ventross appeared. Ventross got into the ring and got face to face with the Heathen King! Both soldiers were looking for a fight and they were both going to get one!

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Paganax vs. Ventross
Paganax was on the warpath tonight and earned a dominating win over Ventross with the PAGAN VOID!
WINNER: PAGANAX (PLANET PRIMUS RETAINS BATTLEFIELD TITLE)

Scorch w/ Shepard vs. Painmaster w/ Sycophant
Scorch came out furiously with the hopes of being able to see and possibly rescue Aspin Northstar. But Painmaster was crafty and used Scorch’s own eagerness against him, gaining control and pounding Scorch down. After being choked out on the outside of the ring by Sycophant, Scorch was rolled back into the ring where he was promptly defeated by the Painmaster’s diabolical FACE FIRST CRASH!
WINNER: PAINMASTER w/ Sycophant

As Shepard leapt into the ring to protect his fallen comrade, he didn’t even see Sycophant coming from behind him with a chair! Shepard had no idea what hit him as Sycophant blasted him right in the back of the head with the chair, knocking him out cold! Scorch attempted to get to his knees but was promptly put back down by several wicked shots from Sycophant as S&M once more stood over their beaten nemeses.

Painmaster: (snickering) I know I had stated that I would only let you two see Northstar if you won this match, but I’m in a charitable mood! (holding his hand to the side) If you will, Sycophant.

Sycophant took a small velvet box from somewhere within his restrictive outfit and handed it to the Painmaster. The sickening sadist then got on his knees in order to be closer to his foes.

Painmaster: I’m sure you’ve been worried about him, so just because I’m a nice guy, here he is! (opening the box to reveal a severed human ear) Aspin Northstar!

Painmaster let out a sinister chuckle as he gently placed the box, still proudly displaying Aspin’s severed ear, right in front of The Specialists. After looking at what they had done, Painmaster grabbed Sycophant by the hair and dragged him from the ring, laughing gruesomely all the way to the Crusade Locker Room.

Holocaust & Nemean vs. Avarice & Flatliner
Nemean and Avarice started off a very back and forth match by trying to outdo each other! Avarice eventually won this but Nemean was able to tag Holocaust. Holocaust eventually ended up isolated but after fighting off Flatliner was able to tag Nemean back in. After another brief battle with Avarice, Flatliner tagged back in and planted Nemean with a devastating Double Arm DDT that secured an abrupt victory!
WINNERS: AVARICE & FLATLINER

The mountain trembled with howls as NuBorn Destruction appeared and made their way to the ring. As expected, the Tribesmen exploded in cheers, screeches and other abrasive noises as Darkness Falls arrived and entered the ring. With such seismic noise outputs for both teams, it was miraculous that the mountain did not come crashing in on itself!

Krypt and Jakyll, though soaking up the adoration of their brethren, were focused as NuBorn Destruction eyed them coldly, intent on decimating these creatures and stopping any of the events from their last confronatation from taking place. With the power of the Essence now charging up the already tremendously powerful bodies’ of their foes, Krypt and Jakyll knew that if they wanted the Essence and they if they did not want any of Paganax wrath, they would have to battle the best fight of their primitive lives.

TAG ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
[glow=blue,2,300]NuBorn Destruction ©[/glow] vs. Darkness Falls
Tekaro and Krypt battled back and forth until Krypt gained the advantage and tagged in Jakyll. Tekaro was able to take over on Jakyll and began to use his Shield of Ancients to bash Jakyll’s head in! Warfare tagged in and hit his biggest moves, trying to finish off the rowdy Tribesman but to no avail as Krypt made the save time and time again. Warfare finally hit a Guillotine Leg Drop and Jakyll looked to be done when a rabid spectator charged the ring and attacked Warfare! Tekaro came in and began to fight with the spectator as Warfare went up top and hit a HUGE crossbody block! But Jakyll rolled through and Warfare barely kicked out! After delivering a double dropkick, Krypt sliced his partner open and hit a still loopy Warfare with RED DAWN! Tekaro came in and cracked Jakyll in the head with his spear for the save, but as the referee corralled Tekaro he accidentally dropped the spear and Jakyll recovered it, bashing Warfare in the head with it and going for the cover! But again Warfare kicked out! Krypt tagged in and whipped Warfare to the corner and charged in, meeting a back elbow! Tekaro tagged in and beat Krypt down but Darkness Falls battled back! After a few minutes of back and forth war, Jakyll blind-tagged Krypt and Krypt averted Warfare’s attention. Jakyll sprung from the top rope, going for the KILLER Instinct, but Warfare evaded the soaring savage and Jakyll crashed violently into Krypt, sending him sprawling from the ring! Warfare tagged Tekaro and as Jakyll tried to stand up, Tekaro leveled him with the RING OF DESTRUCTION for the grueling victory!
WINNERS AND STILL ESSENCE BEARERS: NUBORN DESTRUCTION

The natives were not only growing restless but pissed off as well and NuBorn Destruction could tell. They quickly took their titles from the Ravager Referee and together with him made a hasty retreat. As Krypt dragged himself back into the ring to aid his partner, a hush fell over the arena and out of the Planet Primus Locker Room came Paganax, smoke billowing from his mouth. With a look of abject terror, Krypt helped Jakyll up and with heads hung low, Darkness Falls made their way past their Heathen Chief and into the Planet Primus Locker Room.

[Mr. Hyde]

THE SCENE: THE BASE OF MT. RAGNAROK

At the bottom of the mighty mountain, General Rankor had brought himself and his Judas Syndicate to meet with the Heathen Chief and his best soldiers, Darkness Falls and Grovel. Now that the Mad Designer was fully healed, he had every intent of snatching the One Essence up for his own purposes. However, to accomplish this, he would have to win a battle of wits with the Fire Beast of Primus.

Rankor: But you have already failed to defeat Godsend THREE times! It is obvious you cannot get the job done!

Paganax: (fuming) And so it is obvious that YOU cannot beat Godsend! If Tribesman cannot do it, then noone can!

Rankor: Spare me. I was the very first soldier to ever hold the Essence. How many times have any of you or your Tribesmen COLLECTIVELY held the Essence? That's right. None.

Paganax: (eyes beginning to glow) I fight Godsend until I defeat him. No matter how long takes.

Rankor: And that is why Planet Primus will NEVER hold any Essence again.

Paganax put his massive and bitter face right into General Rankor's as both warriors looked about to come to blows. Flashbacks to 2119 began to swirl within the heads of Krypt, Jakyll, and Grovel while Avarice grew tired of the bickering and finally spoke up.

Avarice: (uninterested) Why don't you both fight him. Triple Threat rules.

For a few moments only the howling of the Primus winds sounded over the scene as Rankor and Paganax both scrambled to think of a way to make their opponent stand down.

Rankor: Well, if the Heathen Chief feels like he can handle it.

Paganax: (smoke beginning to billow from his mouth) I more than ready.

Rankor: (unhappy with outcome) Then it is settled. The first one of us to defeat Godsend-

Avarice: (gazing into the horizon) Or each other.

Rankor: (eyes narrowing at Avarice) Or each other...will bring the Essence of Centra to Planet Primus! (turning sharply from Paganax) See you there, Heathen Chief!

As General Rankor led his Judas Syndicate away from the Tribesmen band, Paganax spoke in his native tongue to Krypt.

Paganax: This will be difficult.

Rankor: (away from the Tribesmen, now) This...will be difficult.

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE PLAN

BATTLE 24
LAVA PITS OF PRIMUS
8TH CYCLE-2120

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Grovel vs. Exodus
*Grovel still wants a crack at Exodus*

NON-TITLE MATCH
[glow=blue,2,300]NuBorn Destruction (c)[/glow] vs. The Specialists

Lance At-Las vs. Noxious

Ventross vs. Hybrid
*In a never-ending effort to rid Centra of Ventross, General Rankor has pit the former Ravager Shield against the Abomination of the Ancients*

Holocaust & Nemean vs. S&M w/ Trisis

Aegis vs. Nicodemus
*General Rankor wanted to give Nicodemus a good welcome back to the battlefield by pitting him against the bravest of Ramparts*

LEPUS STUN ROD MATCH
Hustler vs. Gheist
*Paganax and his people still want to see these two soldiers do battle, and both of the involved combatants would like nothing more*

NUMBER ONE CONTENDER MATCH
Darkness Falls vs. Avarice & Flatliner
*In an extension of their own 'feud' Paganax and General Rankor have put their own tag-teams against each other to see which one is worthy of an opportunity at the Tag Essence*

ONE ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
[glow=Maroon,2,300]Godsend ©[/glow] vs. Paganax vs. General Rankor
*Godsend willk face his toughest challenge to date in both of the leaders of the Planet Primus Team. However, the King of Demons is determined to leave Battle 24 with his Dominion intact and the alliance of Tribesmen and Judas Syndicate in ruins*

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE 24
LAVA PITS OF PRIMUS
8TH CYCLE-2120

With the roaring crowds of Primus overhead, Nicodemus stood pondering within the veritable cave designated as the Ravager Locker Room. With his ever-present personal guard NuBorn Destruction present, the Ancient One felt free to wonder aloud.

Nicodemus: Hmm. We saw it when Murdok’s Crusade held the Strategic Advantage, and now it is evident here yet again. As long as Planet Primus holds Strategic Advantage, no matter how many times Godsend fends them off, no one else will get the opportunity to dethrone him.

[glow=blue,2,300]Tekaro:[/glow] What do you plan to do, Ancient One?

Nicodemus: There must be some system created to determine contenders to the Essence championships…but how-

Just then, a Tribseman looking as noble as one of his kind could possible look entered the chamber.

Tribesman: (broken standard) General Rankor requests peaceful meeting…(facing out of the room) Follow.

Cautiously, Nicodemus stood his ground for a moment. And then with a wary glance stepped toward the Tribesman and exited the cave with his personal guard right behind him…

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Grovel vs. Exodus
Exodus used every single wrestling maneuver he knew but was unable to keep Grovel out of the fight. The Tribesman eventually took the fight to the outside where he bodyslammed Exodus on the stone floor, rolled him back into the ring, and won this grueling war with a fallaway slam.
WINNER: GROVEL (PLANET PRIMUS RETAINS STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE)

The appearance of NuBorn Destruction evoked a roaring howl from the entire Tribesman crowd as the dominant Essence Bearers had now defeated both of Planet Primus’ tag teams, including the Tribesmen’s ‘heroes’ Krypt and Jakyll.

NON-TITLE MATCH
[glow=blue,2,300]NuBorn Destruction ©[/glow] vs. The Specialists
Scorch takes a beating from the Essence Bearers before making the tag to Shepard. But the Vagabond Priest gets assaulted by Tekaro and his shield and spear, wearing him down quickly. Tekaro tags in Warfare who hits THE BIG PAYBACK forcing Scorch to make the save! Warfare now charges back into the ring to brawl with Scorch but Scorch knocks Warfare through the topes, turning around to get blasted with Tekaro’s spear to the head! Scorch rolls from the ring and is promptly attacked from behind by The Painmaster and Sycophant while Tekaro uses his RING OF DESTRUCTION to fell Shepard once more for the victory!
WINNERS: NUBORN DESTRUCTION

Tekaro retrieves his weapons and the Essence Championships and gathers up Warfare. Together, NuBorn Destruction leaves Shepard and Scorch to be assault by their nemesis, Painmaster and Sycophant! Sycophant whips Shepard brutally with one of his leather straps as the Painmaster uses his bare fists to beat Scorch’s forehead in! Aegis, Lance At-Las, and Hustler hit the ring to save their allies, but S&M escape, once again leaving their foes bloodied inside the ring and Painmaster shouting!

Painmaster: Make the right decision, boys! Either you hand us Murdok safe and sound, or we deliver you Northstar, cold and dead!

Lance At-Las vs. Noxious
At one time, Lance At-Las could barely stand to be in the ring with his former friend Noxious. However, due to the recent events surrounding his still living friends, Lance had no problems showing a rarely seen ruthless side against Noxious en route to a victory with the MARS MANHANDLER.
WINNER: LANCE AT-LAS

The crowd showed the utmost contempt for both Ventross and Hybrid by spitting on them as they approached the ring. This set the still bitter Ventross off and he actually dragged a Tribesman over the barricade and proceeded to beat it mercilessly!

Ventross vs. Hybrid
After some wild brawling outside the ring, Ventross was able to chop the monstrous Hybrid down and deliver a string of punishing offense, ending the match with a second MERCY KILLING.
WINNER: VENTROSS

With his face contorted into a scowl, Ventross exited the ring area, catching sight of a cocky General Rankor mockingly clapping for him and smirking.

Holocaust & Nemean vs. S&M w/ Trisis
S&M used superior teamwork to take advantage of a blaster misfire by Holocaust, beat him down, and then isolate Nemean for the win with Painmaster’s diabolical FACE FIRST CRASH.
WINNERS: S&M w/ TRISIS

No sooner had the referee declared victory for S&M before The Specialists stormed the ring, assaulting the men who have been tormenting and sneak attacking them for the entire year! As Shepard bashed Sycophant repeatedly with a steel chair, Scorch loaded up his glove and bashed Painmaster’s forehead open with several TRAILBLAZERS! After Painmaster was unconscious and bloody and Sycophant was squirming and squeeling on the canvas, Shepard and Scorch left the ring, content with getting some retribution for themselves and for their captive comrade, Aspin Northstar!

Aegis vs. Nicodemus
Nicodemus survived a large assault from Aegis to mount a comeback and earn a hard-fought battle with his NUCLER WINTER.
WINNER: NICODEMUS

Hustler once again received a somewhat positive reaction from the bloodthirsty Tribesmen crowd.

LEPUS STUN ROD MATCH
Hustler vs. Gheist
Gheist jumped Hustler as he got into the ring, but the Street Soldier battled back and was able to grab the Stun Rod. But The Possessor, of its own accord, suddenly rocketed out of Gheist’s overcoat in the corner and sliced Hustler’s bicep, sailing once again into the crowd and once again slicing through Tribesmen! Hustler dropped the Stun Rod allowing Gheist to recover it and Gheist struck Hustler in the abdomen, exactly where The Possessor had almost killed him months before. This seemed to be Hustler’s Achilles heel as Gheist used 3 consecutive SOUL SLAYERS to defeat the Savior of the Streets!
WINNER: GHEIST

As Hustler rolled from the ring to regain his senses, The Possessor returned to Gheist covered in blood. With a Stun Rod in hand and the crowd upset over what the Possessor had done, Gheist leapt from the ring and assaulted Hustler with the Stun Rod, finally leaving him spasming on the stone floor in a broken heap.

As the next four combatants made their way to the ring, the Tribesmen could not help but be somewhat mesmerized and cheer for the enigmatic Avarice. Darkness Falls received another champions welcome, and as soon as both teams had entered the ring, with their respective leaders Rankor and Paganax at ringside, the crowd turned overwhelmingly in favor of Krypt and Jakyll.

NUMBER ONE CONTENDER MATCH
Darkness Falls vs. Avarice & Flatliner
Avarice lets himself get isolated early on and takes a pounding from 2 separate RED DAWNS, forcing Flatliner to make the save. Avarice rolls through a cross-body from Jakyll and tags in Flatliner, but Flatliner soon gets isolated as well, as Krypt and Jakyll keep a never ending barrage of RED DAWNS coming, forcing Avarice to make the save! After about the 5th RED DAWN of the fight, Rankor loses it and leaps into the ring, pulling Jakyll off of Flatliner! The crowd is not happy as Rankor pitches a fit inside the ring until Paganax leaps in and The Mad Designer quickly retreats from his fired-up ‘comrade’. Flatliner is able to recover and levels Jakyll, going for the pin, but Krypt charges the ring and Avarice comes in as well! With order already lost, and a brawl now breaking out, the Ravager Referee calls for a Double Disqualification! But now Rankor and Paganax leap into the ring furious and under extreme pressure from both co-commanders of the Planet Primus Team, the referee restarts the bout! After regaining their composure in their respective corners, Avarice and Krypt come out fighting but Avarice is smooth and dangerous with his techniques, forcing a desperate tag to Jakyll who eventually meets the 7TH SIN! Now it is Paganax time to interfere as he places Jakyll’s foot on the rope to break the pin! An exhausted and overwhelmed Avarice looks as if he loses his suave composure for just a moment before dragging the already unconscious Jakyll to his feet and planting him with another 7TH SIN to win this out of control war!
WINNERS AND NUMBER ONE CONTENDERS: AVARICE & FLATLINER
--Jakyll is left clutching his neck after the finishing 7TH SIN and is injured

General Rankor claps heartily and laughs big for his Judas Syndicate cohorts, but his smile drops right off of his face as his eyes are drawn across the ring to a livid Paganax who, thanks to the punishment dealt to Krypt and Jakyll, has powered up more immensely than ever seen before! Paganax molten eyes locked onto his co-commanders, and at no point in time previous has the alliance of the Judas Syndicate been in more jeopardy!

With a roar Paganax jumped into the ring, and as Rankor looked up slack-jawed at his opponent and teammate, the thought that his precarious alliance with Planet Primus might end crossed his mind along with the thought that indeed his very own LIFE could end along with it!

As General Rankor cautiously made his way into the ring, a cocky and arrogant Godsend arrived within a pillar of flames! With the One Essence Championship wrapped firmly around his demonic waist, Godsend began to open his mouth to make a witty remark when the steaming Heathen Chief let out a roar that shook the mountain and shut the Demon King up! Godsend, seeing that his humor was not welcome here quickly handed off his title and prepared for an uphill fight. With General Rankor standing warily in a corner, Godsend in a fighting stance in another corner and Paganax billowing smoke and flame in the center of the ring, the bell was rung and the battle for the One Essence began!

ONE ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
TRIPLE THREAT MATCH
[glow=maroon,2,300]Godsend ©[/glow] vs. Paganax vs. General Rankor
Paganax immediately cornered Rankor who cowered and dodged away from him, letting Godsend land a dropkick right to Paganax exposed back and sending him to the outside. Before Godsend could recover, Rankor showed his true colors and leapt upon him, taking the advantage and using the GUILTY OF TREASON! As Godsend struggled to escape, Paganax re-entered the ring behind Rankor and military pressed him right to the stone floor below the ring! Godsend was able to slip out of the ropes but walked right into a PAGAN VOID from the Heathen King! As Paganax goes for the cover, Rankor slides into the ring and uses a chair to bash Paganax in the head, breaking the pin! Rankor continues to assault Godsend until the Demon King manages to escape to the floor where Paganax recovers and tosses Rankor into the stone ringside steps! Godsend then dropkicks Paganax into the same set of stairs and drags Rankor back into the ring, attempting to gain some offense until Rankor used an uppercut headbutt to wrap Godsend up for a pin! But Paganax came soaring from the top rope and crushed both of his opponents beneath him to break the pin! All 3 men rolled to the outside where Paganax hefted up a set of stone ringside stairs and hurled them at his foes, bowling them over! Paganax grabbed a bloodied and beaten Godsend and tossed him back into the ring and turned around to stop Rankor from getting back into the ring when he spotted Ventross with a steel chair in hand charging to the ring! With ferocious impact Ventross unloaded on a downed General Rankor, beating the Mad Designer senseless and bending the chair over his head, busting him open! Before leaving the Traitorous One in a pool of his own blood, Ventross delivered a Severed Ties right across the stone retaining barrier outside the ring and left the area as suddenly as he had appeared. The distraction allowed Godsend to recover and apply his SPEAK OF THE DEVIL to Paganax, but the unstoppable Heathen Chief slammed Godsend forward hard onto the canvas and after delivering a brutal onslaught of his power maneuvers, locked on his own sleeper hold: the face smothering! Paganax squeezed until Godsend stopped moving, and with Demon blood running down his arms, the match was stopped and Paganax was declared the winner!
WINNER AND NEW ONE ESSENCE CHAMPION: PAGANAX

Miniature avalanches rolled down the façade of the mountain as the Tribesmen spectators exploded in screeches and cheers! The Ravager Referee handed the Heathen Chief the One Essence Championship and the crowd went wild as the Son of Primus wrapped the belt around himself and with the snap of the final clasp, Mount Ragnarok erupted outside of the arena! But the eruption of Mount Ragnarok was nothing compared to the transfiguration of Paganax as like some infernal machine, his blood began to glow neon red, making every vein in his volcanic body glow brilliantly! His eyes opened wide as they turned to pure red and with a ground shaking bellow, every orifice of the Heathen King spat thick black smoke that created a huge cloud of debris all over the ringside area!

In anxious anticipation, the Tribesmen waited for the smoke to clear in order to behold their champion once more. As the thick mist dispersed, Paganax stoically came into view once more, larger and meaner looking than ever before! Standing over his still bleeding and beaten ‘comrade’ and with his eyes burning completely maroon and the veins in his body all glowing from beneath his igneous flesh, Paganax had become one with Centra itself! The Son of Primus, the Heathen King, the Fire Beast himself was now the One Essence Champion of Centra!

[Mr. Hyde]

THE SCENE: ROC COMMAND CENTER, THE BARRACKS

The House of Centra had passed down their edict late last night, and throughout all of the day each member of the ROC was tortured by it. Aspin Northstar would be executed, and Murdok would not be freed. It was a bittersweet victory against the Crusade, but somehow the brave men of the ROC were having trouble distinguishing between the bitter part and the sweet.

Now, with only one hour remaining before the Crusade forces set down in the dark side of Mecatoid Moon, time had truly run out. It would be imposssible to recover Murdok's watery tomb at the depths of the Tarkanian Sea, and so it seemed impossible to win Northstar's freedom. Assembled together within their Command Center, the men of the ROC quietly pondered this fact.

Scorch and Hustler sat in a corner, taking their minds off of things by silently playing Poker, neither man truly concentrating on the game, but both being able to pull off a solid 'Poker Face'. In another corner of the large room sat Shepard and Exodus, both on bended knee with heads bowed and hands clasped, praying for Aspin's soul and praying for a quick and painless death.

At the window, with his sunken face leaning on the glass, was Lance At-Las, who occassionally dragged his eyes upward to look at Mecatoid, as if waiting to see some visible sign of Northstar's fate. He had promised the Shaman of Tarkania that he would aid Northstar in his blooming into the Warrior of Prophecy, but now he had most certainly failed. In the middle of all this, sitting alone at the large circular table like an entity unto himself was the leader of the Ramparts of Centra, Aegis. In deep thought, the Corporal ran over all of the events tht had led to this day, starting back many, many years ago when Murdok was first ressurected. There was a lot of difficult thinking to do, but when he was finished, the Bravest of Ramparts solemnly stood up.

The sudden motion attracted the attention of Scorch and Hustler first, followed by Exodus and Shepard, and then finally Lance At-Las. Aegis looked around at his surroundings, at his soldiers, and then looked up to the heavens for a moment.

Aegis: Screw this.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE SCENE: THE DARK SIDE OF MECATOID

Until the death of the Southern Sun, Mecatoid had functioned like any other celestial body. With two suns, casting their brilliance upon the moon alternatingly throughout a 24 hour progression, as one side of the moon went to sleep, the other would wake up. However, with the murder of the second sun came an end to the lighting of one side of the body.

Almost like a miniature Antilia, devoid of all vegetation and now devoid of all human life save those of Murdok's zombie ghouls, since the destruction of the Southern Sun, this side of Mecatoid Moon had been eternally plunged into the gloom of a late evenings darkness. It was in this bastion of depression that the terrorists known as Painmaster, Sycophant, and Gheist had brought their captive.

Gheist: (with his handgun pointed at a kneeling Northstar's head) Time is up, Painmaster. They have made their decision, now let me pull the trigger!

Painmaster: (with one final glance at the violet horizon) Indeed. It seems your allies have abandoned you, Northstar! (turning) Sycophant, go get the vid equipment!

Sycophant: (pointing back to the horizon) Master.

Painmaster turned back towards the violet sky to see a shuttle coming into view, flying low as if to land. It was the ROC.

Painmaster: Nevermind, Sycophant. They have arrived. Took them long enough.

Gheist: (grumbling to himself) Bastards...

The shuttle soon slowed at about 60 yards from the Crusade forces and slowly came into a landing position on the craggy surface of the moon. Slowly, the side bay doors slid open and a ramp descended into the dusty soil as Aegis, flanked by Shepard and Lance At-Las stepped from the vessel. Taking position in front of their shuttle and staring coldly at their foes across the surface, the men of the ROC were ready to make a prisoner exchange.

Painmaster: Where is Murdok?

Aegis: (motioning behind him) We have had to keep him restrained tightly for the length of his imprisonment.

Scorch and Exodus then pushed a large and solid coffin, wrapped in blessed chains out of the vessel, wheeling it up to the rest of their teammates.

Painmaster: Release his chains. Open the coffin.

Aegis: No. Let us see Aspin, remove his hood and then we will wheel the coffin to you for you to open. We will not risk releasing him ourselves.

Painmaster gave no response for a few moments, but then motioned to Gheist who promptly and roughly pulled the hood from around Aspin's head, revealing the final piece of what was already a grizzly looking puzzle.

On his knees and naked in the dusty soil was the Soldier of Prophecy. He was covered from head to toe in dried and caked blood, with hideously burned closed scars all over his body. His face was bruised and swollen to the point of not being recognizable, and his hair was matted, tangled, and soaked with his own sweat, blood, and vomit. Shepard looked closely at the left side of Aspin's head, and instead of viewing an ear saw a ragged and burned closed mound of torn flesh. It was amazing to the men of the ROC that their brother in arms was even still alive in this state, but he was. His empty and pleading eyes solidified this.

Aegis gave the signal and Scorch and Exodus begrudgingly pushed the heavy coffin toward their foes, stopping beside where Aspin was being held, and then falling back to their own comrades. Painmaster took Gheist's handgun and held it to his captive's head while Gheist and Sycophant began to unravel the heavy chains.

Aegis: You have your Plague Harvester, now release Aspin.

Painmaster: I am a man of my word, Aegis. You will recieve Northstar when we have confirmed Murdok's safety.

Aegis: You will find Murdok unharmed.

Painmaster: (smiling) Please. I'm not that stupid, Aegis. Do you really think I believe you?

Aegis: (getting a bit unsettled) Why would you not believe me. You hold the cards here, not me. Why-

Painmaster: HA! I will give it to the ROC, you guys sure know how to put on an act! But I don't believe you for one moment, especially because I can ALREADY confirm Murdok's safety!

Aegis: (angered) What are you talking abou-

From behind the ROC shuttle came a voice, more of a croak, as if the putrid mouth that formed the words had not spoken in for a long, long time. And it sent a chill down Aegis' spine.

Murdok: So tell me Aegis, were proud of yourself for casting me overboard?

Aegis whirled angrily, along with the rest of the ROC to see the Dread Lord, Murdok, ressurected yet again standing atop a small hill!

Murdok: You may have been in awe at my first ressurection, but what creature, if any, can claim they have emerged from death TWICE! I have been given a second chance, Aegis, and I have been brought back for one purpose: to murder YOU! (with his arms raised into the air) FEED!

Out of the darkness behind the Plague Harvester shambled 30 to 40 grotesque minions, starved and ravenous, and descending straight down upon the ROC!

As Gheist and Painmaster let out a hearty laugh, the coffin beside flung open with a loud SLAM! revealing Hustler, carrying two assault rifles!

Hustler: EAT IT, BITCHES!

Hustler opened fire, cutting Gheist down where he stood and sending Sycophant diving for cover! Painmaster turned his gun on the Street Savior and fired, but Hustler used the coffin as cover!

Lance: ASPIN! RUN!

With the last ounces of strength within his tortured body, Aspin Northstar pulled his head back and slammed it right into Painmaster's groin, dropping him! Aspin stumbled to his feet, and ran as hard as he could, tearing his bare feet open across the craggy moon surface!

Scorch and Lance At-Las rushed forward, grabbing the coffin and dragging it back to the shuttle as fast possible, with Hustler keeping suppressive fire upon Sycophant and a scrambling Painmaster! But this is not where his bullets were needed as Aegis and Shepard desperately tried to stave off the oncoming horde of zombies!

There were far too many for two pistols to dispose of and the ghouls closed in on the back of the shuttle, picking up speed when all of a sudden, with a loud roar, the shuttle started up, firing it's engines and unleashing a torrent of flames, incinerating most of the undead monsters!

Exodus: (shouting from the cockpit) Get in here now! We're ready to take off!

As Scorch and Lance At-Las dragged Hustler into the shuttle, he disembarked from it, standing back to back with Shepard as the unloaded countless rounds into their foes! But even under Hustler's suppressive fire, as the shuttle began to lift off with Aspin safely inside, Gheist got to his feet and opened his coat, unleashing The Possessor!

With speed and power unmatched, the demon blade rocketed toward the ROC shuttle, but the landing bay doors closed just in the nick of time as the blade shredded several layers of the shuttle's armor, but was unable to penetrate the hull!

As Gheist's cursed blade returned to him and the ROC shuttle began to lift off into the atmosphere of the moon, Painmaster threw his handgun down and let out a shout of frustration. The ROC had marched in, taken their comrade back, and survived Murdok's ambush!

With several more ambitious ghouls still hanging from the shuttle's thrusters, the personnel within the vessel shared a collective sigh as many of them collapsed onto the cold metal floor. In Lance At-Las arms, the petrified, terrified, and brutalized Aspin Northstar began to sob as he realized his ordeal was finally over. Almost like a father holding his son, Lance cradled the scarred and tormented Soldier of Prophecy.

Aspin: I didn't tell them anything, Lance...I didn't tell them...I didn't tell them anything...I didn't

As At-Las tried to calm his protege into some semblance of peace, Aegis peered out a shuttle window, down upon the darkened surface of Mecatoid. As Shepard walked up behind him, Aegis turned his angered and confused countenance on Shepard.

Aegis: Shepard! You told me Murdok could not escape those chains! You told me-

Shepard: I spoke the truth. Murdok could not have escaped his tomb, not for all eternity.

Aegis: Then why did he just try to kill us!?

Shepard: Sir, I assure you, Murdok did not break free from that coffin. If he escaped, it was because he was freed by someone else...

[Alexander Ubel]

Incredible Hyde. So Murdok is back, and there is a mystery to how he escaped. I look forward to seeing how this plays out.

[Mr. Hyde]

Thanks Dharneth. You're always a great fan to have on board!

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE PLAN

BATTLE 25
LAVA PITS OF PRIMUS
9TH CYCLE-2120

Nemean & Holocaust vs. Grovel & Krypt

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Paganax © vs. Ventross
*With Paganax recent acquisition of the Essence and Ventross' recent savagery, Paganax only trusts himself to defend the Battlefield Title*

COAL MINER’S GLOVE MATCH
Scorch w/ Shepard vs. Painmaster w/ Sycophant

Aegis & Exodus vs. Godsend & Noxious

COSMIC CAGE MATCH
Hustler vs. Gheist
*Despite Paganax displeasure over other creatures besides himself constantly harming his people, he has decided to give the Tribesmen yet another show of violence*

Lance At-Las vs. Nicodemus

TAG ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
2 OUT OF 3 FALLS MATCH
[glow=blue,2,300]NuBorn Destruction ©[/glow] vs. Avarice & Flatliner
*Warfare believed he had defeated his murderous former partner for good, but now he must do battle once again in a match that favors Avarice superior conditioning and Flatliner's mechanical lungs. Warfare has promised to kill Flatliner, but can he go through with his threats this time?*