aCe: WAR IS HELL

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE 25
LAVA PITS OF PRIMUS
9TH CYCLE-2120

As Aegis made a quick once-over of his body armor, Lance At-Las entered the cave-like ROC locker room, returning from a scouting mission.

Lance: I do not believe he is here, Aegis. I of course could not get into the Crusade locker room, but I have not seen nor heard any indication that he has come with the rest of them.

Aegis: (looking away, almost through the stone walls) Thank you, Lance. But I know he is here. I can feel it. (turning back to Lance) We will have to be on the lookout throughout the entirety of this battle. He’s hiding here somewhere, and when he sees fit, Murdok will reveal himself. (looking away again) All we can do is be prepared for whatever he may have planned for us.

Nemean & Holocaust vs. Grovel & Krypt
Holocaust had Krypt battered, but a miscommunication between Nemean and Holocaust caused Nemean to take an accidental wicked clothesline from his partner and get hit with the RED DAWN for the Tribesman victory!
WINNERS: GROVEL & KRYPT
--Nemean’s neck appeared to be slightly hurt after the match, Nemean is injured

The savage crowd of Tribesmen let loose a torrent of screeches and cheers as their king, Paganax appeared accompanied by the banging of war drums. With the Battlefield Title slung diagonally across his hefty frame and the One Essence Championship secured tightly around his waist, the proud Heathen Chief strutted his way to the ring and raised his arms into the air, letting out a mighty and dominating roar! As the Tribesmen continued to screech with excitement, the angry and bitter Ventross appeared to a hail of howls. As Paganax handed off his titles, his veins began to glow but Ventross simply snorted and growled, and underneath the roaring gaze of the Tribesmen of Primus, prepared to go to war with the One Essence Bearer of Centra.

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Paganax © vs. Ventross
Looking mightier than ever before, Paganax and Ventross clashed in the center of the ring! But no matter what the Heathen Chief threw at Ventross, the angry Ravager struck back, overwhelming the stunned Fire Beast and taking him down with the MERCY KILLING!
WINNER: VENTROSS (RAVAGER ARMY ACHIEVES BATTLEFIELD TITLE)

As the crowd of Tribesmen went berserk over Ventross’ shocking victory, General Rankor, the Treacherous Dog, jumped Ventross from behind and managed to tie him up in the GUILTY OF TREASON! Ventross struggled to break free, but Rankor delivered vicious kick after vicious kick to the Ravager Wanderer’s skull until he went limp in a combination of unconsciousness and suffocation! With his bitter enemy out cold, Rankor leaned into his ear and hissed.

Rankor: The time for playing our little games of cat and mouse are over Ventross! Thanks to you, my plans for this dimension have been set back an unforeseeable amount of time and this is unacceptable! In war, you must drive your foes from the battlefield, and if you insist on keeping me from the Essence, then I have no choice but to drive YOU from the aCe! ONCE AND FOREVER MORE!!!

Before Rankor could say anything else, Paganax ripped Ventross out from between the ring ropes and with a ground shaking bellow delivered the PAGAN VOID! Still enraged, the Volcano King lifted the beaten Ravager up once more and delivered yet another PAGAN VOID! With black smoke steaming from his shoulders and head, Paganax looked over to General Rankor, and for once, the two ‘comrades’ found common ground in the destruction of Ventross.

With one of Scorch’s trademark gloves filled with Primus stones and fastened to the top of a hastily crafted steel pole, The Painmaster and Scorch himself took up positions in their respective corners. General Rankor had devised this match for the two men in the hopes of getting on the good side of the Primus savages. Rankor believed the Tribesmen would enjoy watching Scorch fight to retrieve the very glove that had done so much damage to their brethren. For if he could not retrieve the glove, Scorch would not be able to utilize his TRAILBLAZER maneuver in this fight and with such a dangerous opponent as The Painmaster, being able to fight to the fullest of his ability was essential to the rugged miner’s survival!

COAL MINER’S GLOVE MATCH
Scorch w/ Shepard vs. Painmaster w/ Sycophant
Painmaster took on a ‘keep away’ strategy, using every move in his arsenal to stop Scorch from retrieving his glove and finally making the miner pass out in the Torture Rack!
WINNER: PAINMASTER w/ Sycophant

Sycophant tossed Painmaster a burlap sack, and the Sickening Sadist opened it to reveal a new steel whip but with a barbed blade latched onto the end of it! Shepard attempted to get into the ring to save his partner, but Painmaster lashed him forcefully and sliced his chest open! Sycophant strapped Scorch up in THE TOURNIQUET as Painmaster began to lay into him with his destructive new playtoy! Shepard tried in vain to stop the assault, but could not get into the ring against Painmaster’s lashes! Finally, when the rest of the ROC appeared, Painmaster and Sycophant scattered, but the damage to Scorch had already become apparently and gruesomely clear!

Godsend appeared in his usual tower of flames for the next battle, but the flames were far less powerful without the bolstering of the Essence of Centra. In addition, Godsend’s usual arrogant grin was replaced by an angry scowl. The King of Demons was not happy.

Aegis & Exodus vs. Godsend & Noxious
Godsend was unfocused and frustrated, which allowed Aegis and Exodus to isolate him, but it wasn’t long before the Demon King’s eyes went red and Exodus payed the price, eventually being forced to submit to a forcefully and angrily applied HELL’S THRESHOLD!
WINNERS: GODSEND & NOXIOUS

Aegis helped Exodus from the ring, keeping his eyes peeled across the igneous arena for any signs of a Crusade ambush.

A heavy, shoddily constructed and subsequently more visceral looking steel cage was fastened to the ring for the next battle. Hustler approached the cage while looking over his shoulder, wary of a Crusade sneak attack.

COSMIC CAGE MATCH
Hustler vs. Gheist
In a bloody war, Hustler had Gheist reeling, utilizing the rickety cage to full effect until Gheist began to target Hustler’s abdomen and apparent Achilles Heel. Hustler is able to battle back, and even bring his pistol to bear across Gheist’s skull! But as Hustler attempts to scale the cage to escape, Gheist delivers a HUGE superbackdrop from the top rope! This put Hustler on the defensive as Gheist grabbed The Possessor and used it to repeatedly slice Hustler’s forehead open, while simultaneously trying to choke him out with rear chokes! At this point, Hustler was bleeding heavily and Gheist began to scale the cage. With his last ounces of strength, Hustler caught up to his foe at the top of the cage and drug him back over the top of the wobbly steel frame! Battling precariously on the top rope, Hustler fought valiantly, but the blood in his eyes left him open to a devastating SOUL SLAYER off of the top rope! With Hustler layed out in asplattering of his own blood, Gheist literally drug himself out the hefty cage door and to the stone arena floor for the victory!
WINNER: GHEIST

As Hustler barely began to stir, Gheist pulled himself BACK into the cage and grabbed one of Hustler’s large custom pistols! The Tribesmen crowd rose to their feet in macabre anticipation as Gheist raised the handgun to his foes head! But Hustler struck Gheist in the groin out of nowhere, causing the Spectral Assassin to drop the weapon! Hustler now began to unload with a flurry of haymakers, grabbing Gheist by the head and launching him full force into the shoddy steel cage wall, only to see it COLLAPSE AND CAREEN INTO THE STANDS, crushing and maiming about 30 Tribesmen to death! Hustler collapsed in the center of the ring as Gheist’s beaten and broken body just lay on top of the now destroyed portion of the steel cage as the Tribesmen in attendance went berserk in an attempt to rescue their brethren!

It took roughly an hour and a half to remove the steel cage, rescue the surviving savages, and cart off the dead and dying ones, but during this time Aegis, Lance At-Las, Nicodemus, and Paganax all came together to make a stern decision. After 3 months of endangering, inuring, and killing spectators with their wild and out of control actions, Gheist and Hustler would NEVER be allowed to fight each other again! This was war and no soul brave enough to bear witness to the battles fought in the aCe could have their safety guaranteed, but Gheist and Hustler had taken things to a level that none of the Faction Commanders were willing to deal with. Much like nuclear weapons, they had simply become too dangerous to deploy against each other in a situation where innocent civilians may be near.

Lance At-Las vs. Nicodemus
Nicodemus poured an immense amount of offense into At-Las, but the Martian Wanderer would not stay down! Coldly, Nicodemus kept up the pressure, fending off comeback after comeback, and with frustration burning in his fishbowl helmet, was finally able to spike Lance hard into the canvas with a fight-ending fusion bomb!
WINNER: NICODEMUS
--Lance At-Las is cringing in pain while holding is neck and is injured

Painmaster and Sycophant suddenly charged the ring, tossing Nicodemus out headfirst and putting the boots to a still downed Lance At-Las! But this was all to clear the way for the real assault, as flanked by Noxious, Cremator, and Trisis, Murdok appeared! He sauntered his way to the ring and ordered S&M to lift At-Las up, only to deliver a shattering POWER OF THE PLAGUE, snapping Lance’s already injured neck back! Mercilessly, Murdok delivered another POWER OF THE PLAGUE clothesline, and it was clear Lance was in serious danger as Aegis quickly led Exodus and Shepard to the ring! But just as the ROC was about to charge into the Lion’s Den, Murdok grabbed Lance in his powerful arms and threatened to snap his neck!

Murdok: Stay right where you are, Ramparts, or you will watch this man die in my arms!

Aegis immediately halted his forces and alone slid into the ring.

Aegis: I knew you were just lying in wait, Harvester. Just like a snake. If you want ME, then you come get ME. Leave my men out of this, you bastard!

Murdok: (smiling) Oh, I have every intention of coming to get you, Corporal. You see, the person who freed me from YOUR tomb wants you just as dead as I do, and WHEN I decree, WHERE I decree, and HOW I decree, I will oblige!

With that, Murdok slammed Lance forward toward his friend and turned his back on Aegis.

Murdok: (turning back to Aegis) When you sleep, when you eat, when you bathe, be wary. Because I have been resurrected for one purpose: to end you. And you can be assured that when I decide to, and ONLY when I decide to, I will indeed watch you draw your last breath.

As the arrogant mugs of Murdok’s Crusade exited the ring, the forces of the ROC entered the ring to check on the status of their ally. Simultaneously, as the Dread Lord left the ring area, Aegis could not pull his burning eyes from him, and could not get his putrid words out of his mind.
--Lance At-Las is severely injured

The rowdy and wily Tribesmen crowd shook the mountainous arena with their howls in response to the arrival of the increasingly dominant Tag Essence Bearers, NuBorn Destruction yet found themselves strangely attracted to support the enigmatic Blackheart, Avarice and his partner, the murder machine, Flatliner. As all four men entered the ring against each other, Avarice grandly removed his cloak and stepped forward with a black rose in his hands.

Avarice: I truly hope you two have seriously worked on your conditioning for tonight, because-

Before Avarice could finish his taunts, Warfare charged across the ring and leveled him with a clothesline, tossing him from the ring and challenging Flatliner!

[glow=blue,2,300]Warfare:[/glow] (as the ring bell tolls and the match begins) I let you leave this ring alive last time, but that was my own weakness! Not this time, Flatliner! NOT! THIS! TIME!

TAG ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
2 OUT OF 3 FALLS MATCH
[glow=blue,2,300]NuBorn Destruction ©[/glow] vs. Avarice & Flatliner
FIRST FALL
Warfare and Flatliner stood toe-to-toe, clobbering each other for the first few minutes, and this would set the tone for the rest of the first fall. After a nearly half-hour long struggle that saw every fighter in extreme danger of being defeated, saw both teams use every ounce of teamwork they could muster, saw a Ravager Referee get knocked out which started an all out brawl, and after both Tekaro and Avarice were left split wide open, Flatliner put Tekaro down and wisely tagged in Avarice, avoiding the use of his exhausting finisher and letting Avarice capture the First Fall of the match with his 7TH SIN!
-Avarice & Flatliner lead 1-0 by pinning the Tag Essence Bearers for only the 2nd time in about half a year!

SECOND FALL
After a brief rest period, Tekaro, covered in blood, went to war with Flatliner. Once again, momentum shifted back and forth as both weary and bloodied teams tried in vain to finally put each other away. Avarice finally got Warfare down and went up top, coming off with a double axe handle, only to eat a huge boot to the teeth from Warfare! Warfare whipped Avarice into a corner and charged in, but the Blackheart moved and Warfare crashed into the buckle, allowing Avarice to roll him up! Tekaro made the lunging save with his spear, but as the Referee corralled him back into his corner, Flatliner jumped into the ring and hit Warfare with the SHOCK AND AWE! As Flatliner collapsed outside the ring, Avarice drug himself on top of his massive opponent and pinned him, defeating the most dominant Essence Tag Bearers of the entire war!
WINNERS AND NEW TAG ESSENCE BEARERS: AVARICE & FLATLINER

The Tribesmen crowd actually erupted in screeches for Avarice the Blackheart as the Ravager Referee reluctantly handed he and a burnt out Flatliner the Essence Championship! With his golden locks stained crimson, Avarice got to his knees and fastened the belt around his waist as Flatliner managed to get the belt around his own robotic waist. As soon as the belts snapped, Warfare and Tekaro seized up as the Essence of Centra flowed from them into their enemies! An eerie golden glow suddenly sprung upon Avarice alone as he seemed to caught within an unseen vortex of wind!

As his strength came back, the Blackheart was able to stand up, and looked to his side where Flatliner let out a scream that was all human. The seemingly dead body of Trench that had been incarcerated within the Flatliner armor now awoke, but only to feel indescribable pain as Avarice watched with a combination of horror and intrigue as all of Trench’s flesh was stripped away from his bones within the whirlwind of Essence power! When all that was left of the body was skeletal, the man known as Trench was truly dead, and his stripped skull seemed to droop a bit within the cyborg armor.

With the Passing of the Essence completed, and his strength restored, the still bloody Avarice reached for his cloak and withdrew a black rose. Pouring blood, Tekaro dragged his weapons and partner from the ring and watched as Avarice approached the center of the ring and smirked at him. With untold powers in his veins, a macabre skeleton wearing cybernetic battle armor beside him, and defeated foes before him, Avarice ever so gently placed the black rose on the canvas and watched as it sent a literal shockwave throughout the arena.

Smiling broadly, the Blackheart donned his cloak and placed his hands on Flatliner’s cold metal shoulder. NuBorn Destruction had been defeated, and with Avarice & Flatliner’s win, the Planet Primus Team now controlled all of the Essence of Centra! They had vanquished their foes, now all they had to do was vanquish their obstacles within and Planet Primus would be able to win the Battle for Centra!

[Mr. Hyde]

THE SCENE: THE COMMAND DECK OF THE RAVAGER MOTHERSHIP

With his personal guard, NuBorn Destruction, flanking him, Nicodemus the Ancient One sat plugged into the largest control panel of the room. While staring into reams of binary data scrolling rapidly across the face of his fishbowl helmet, the Ravager Commander continued his conversation with his two most trusted warriors, Tekaro and Warfare.

Nicodemus: As long as we hold the Battlefield Title, you two are guaranteed aother encounter with Avarice & Flatliner. Planet Primus must not be allowed to hold such a solid advantage in this war for very long. Which is also why I will challenge the Heathen Chief at Battle 26. Now more than ever, the Essence of Centra is an essential piece of my-

A sudden welling up of loud noises broke Nicodemus' sentences as a commotion outside the Command Deck could clearly be heard making it's way closer.

Holocaust: (franticly) Ventross! Stand down! Ventross!

Nemean: (franticly) Chillax bro! Ventross, chill! You can't go in-

Digits could be heard being pounded into a control piece outside the room, and moments later with Holocaust and Nemean trying to stop him without physicality, Ventross stormed onto the Command Deck of the Ravager Mothership!

Nicodemus: I have not seen this sight in very nearly a year. Why-

Ventross: (approaching Nicodemus rapidly) I want General Rankor now! Give him to me!

Warfare: (as he and Tekaro stepped forward forcefully) Stand down now Ventross or we will make you stand down.

Ventross: (snarling in Warfare's face) You need to back off...

Nicodemus: ENOUGH! (all turn to him) As reward for felling Paganax and earning us the Battlefield Title, I will order General Rankor to meet you in battle at Battle 26.

Ventross: Not good enough. I don't just want one fight, I want him on the battlefield for however long it takes me to take him out!

Nicodemus was silent for a few moments as NuBorn Destruction kept eyeing an increasingly impatient Ventross. Eventually, Nicodemus plugged himself back into his control panel and issued a stern but detached decision.

Nicodemus:(going back to his binary code) Done. Now get off of my ship.

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

THE SCENE: GODSEND'S PERSONAL CHAMBERS WITHIN CASTLE BONESHATTER

Eerily illuminated by the light from several gradually melting candles, Deacon Grimcraft sat at a round and ornately carved wooden table. Across the chamber of bleached bone stood the King of Demons, Godsend, who was not feeling particularly majestic as he stood peering out of a window across the dreary Antilian landscape without his Essence Championship firmly around his waist.

Godsend: (bitterly) Plans have changed Grimcraft.

Grimcraft: Yes, lord?

Godsend: The Plague Harvester has returned, and is more unbearable than ever before. And on top of that, I have been conspired against and cheated out of ultimate power. I am tired, Grimcraft. I am tired of being under the command of the insufferable Dread Lord, I am tired of watching the slovenly humanity of this dimension continue to live, and I am tired of fing around.

With his eyes glowing red, Godsend turned to face his vassal.

Godsend: The deadline has been moved. I want the souls within 2 cycles.

Grimcraft: 2 cycles!? My lord, I do not know if I-

Godsend: (standing imposingly over Grimcraft) You will bring me the souls I require, and you will do it within these next 2 cycles. (putting his face into Grimcraft's) Plans have changed. And now I must summon my Knights of Hell before the end of this year. You will enable my Dark Harvest, or you will be counting yourself among those sacrificed. Understood?

Grimcraft: (not daring to look the Demon in the eyes) Yes, my liege. Of course.

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE PLAN

BATTLE 26
THE RAVAGER MOTHERSHIP
9TH CYCLE-2120

Hustler vs. Grovel

Darkness Falls vs. The Living Dead

CENTRA DEATH MATCH
Ventross vs. General Rankor
*Nicodemus has not only given Ventross his requested encounter with General Rankor, but has given him any opportunity he needs to finish the Mad Designer for good*

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Holocaust (c) vs. Gheist

TAG-TEAM STEEL WHIP MATCH
The Specialists vs. S&M
*After Planet Primus saw fit to make Scorch fight for his signature weapon at the last battle, Nicodemus has taken it upon himself to make The Painmaster fight for HIS signature weapon, his barbed steel whip*

Exodus vs. Godsend

Aegis vs. Hybrid

NON-TITLE MATCH
[glow=red,2,300]Avarice & Flatliner ©[/glow] vs. NuBorn Destruction
*As long as the Ravager Army holds the Battlefield Title, Nicodemus has guaranteed Avarice & Flatliner that they will face NuBorn Destruction once more for the Essence. In this non-title environment, NuBorn Destruction has one mission: find the way to defeat the Essence Bearers when it counts*

ONE ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
[glow=yellow,2,300]Paganax ©[/glow] vs. Nicodemus
*The last time one faction held all of the Essence of Centra, Centra Prime, the largest city in the entire dimension, was almost completely consumed by infected plague ghouls. If all of the Essence of Centra remains under the control of a Mad Designer and a Heathen King for very long, there is no telling whom or what will feel the seismic wrath of Planet Primus. Out of the incalculable knowledge of Ravager Ancients, this is one question they never want to know the answer to*

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE 26
THE RAVAGER MOTHERSHIP
9TH CYCLE-2120

Nicodemus peered out into the crowded arena within the Ravager Mothership and took account of how the portion of crowd made up of Tribesmen of Primus, formerly only about 10% of the arena, had swelled to taking up nearly a third of the total audience. With NuBorn Destruction by his side, Nicodemus spoke freely.

Nicodemus: Just as I feared. It has only been one cycle, and the Heathen Chief is leading them off of Primus en masse. (turning to NuBorn destruction) This must stop tonight. Everything that we have set in motion is now secondary. Paganax and The Tribesmen must be defeated, and if we cannot destroy them from the outside…(turning to the arena) we must destroy them from within.

Hustler vs. Grovel
Gheist appeared at ringside, distracting Hustler and allowing Grovel to go to work, busting the Street Soldier open, but eventually getting DQ’ed for taking a spear-head from a Tribesman in the crowd and attempting to use it as a weapon!
WINNER: HUSTLER by DQ

Gheist charged in to sneak attack Hustler when the bloody Blue Steel Commander got to his feet. Gheist backed off arrogantly as it was apparent that while they could no longer do battle with each other; their hostilities were far from defused.

The Centrans in the crowd booed in disgust as Noxious shambled his way to the ring along with Cremator. Centran Citizens had believed that Lance At-Las had permanently put the ghoul out of commission with his actions at Battle 21, but the return of the zombie to battle fully regenerated served as another grim reminder that the Plague Harvester had indeed returned, and had picked right up where he had left off.

Darkness Falls vs. The Living Dead
Krypt secured victory for his team with a cross-body block from the top rope to pin the ambling Cremator in this back and forth battle.
WINNERS: DARKNESS FALLS

General Rankor was greeted with howls and boos as he approached the ring miserably for his showdown with Ventross, but could not help but smile as the deeply bitter Ventross was welcomed with a worse reception due to the howls of the Tribesmen of Primus. Ventross noticed the Treacherous Dog’s smirk and charged the ring in fury, only to see Rankor scurry away, still playing his mindgames. As Rankor began to taunt his mortal foe, Ventross let out a roar and leapt over the top rope, colliding with General Rankor on the floor and wasting no time in beginning what could be, if Ventross had his way, their last duel!

CENTRA DEATH MATCH
Ventross vs. General Rankor
This visceral brawl became ugly quickly as Ventross crashed sternum first through a table and Rankor proceeded to pound his gut until the former Ravager Shield began to spit blood. Ventross battled back, and when the fight spilled into the Ravager portion of the crowd, it was a miracle that neither soldier was attacked by a spectator. The war finally made it’s way to the ring where Ventross was finally able to obtain victory with a Severed Ties that sent Rankor face-first into a chair!
WINNER: VENTROSS

Holding his abdomen, Ventross dragged himself to the barely conscious Rankor, leaned in and began to hiss blood in his face. Ventross told the General that they were at war, and war only ends in the surrender of one force. That is why, at the next battle, surrounded by a steel cage, the Battle for Centra will end for either Ventross or General Rankor in an UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER match, with the loser being forced from his faction, never to return to these battlefields again!

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Holocaust vs. Gheist
Gheist looked to have Holocaust in trouble and went for a deathjump, but Hustler appeared and charged at the ring, causing Gheist to hesitate and allowing Holocaust to launch him from the top rope to the outside floor far below! Holocaust then dragged Gheist back into the ring and blew him away with a huge SHOCKWAVE for the victory!
WINNER: HOLOCAUST (RAVAGER ARMY RETAINS BATTLEFIELD TITLE)

As Gheist tried to recover, Hustler nodded his head in satisfaction and walked away confidently, happy with causing Gheist’s defeat and repaying the Spectral Assassin for his actions earlier in the battle.

The Centrans in the crowd gave a standing salute to Shepard and Scorch as preparations for the next battle were made. Shepard and Scorch were made to stand in the ROC Entrance way as Painmaster and Sycophant stood in the Crusade Entrance door. In the center of the ring, between the two teams, was placed Painmaster’s diabolical barbed steel whip. When the bell sounded, both forces would charge at each other and scramble for the devastating weapon, in an attempt to gain control of it and use it! The confrontation was sure to be brutal, and with tensions running high, both teams prepared to charge as the bell sounded and the fight was on!

TAG-TEAM STEEL WHIP MATCH
The Specialists vs. S&M
This was a bloodbath that saw every soldier get bit into by the diabolical barbed steel whip. The Specialists did a good job of isolating their foes, and after all four warriors were bleeding heavily, Scorch put The Painmaster down with a TRAILBLAZER!
WINNERS: THE SPECIALISTS

Sycophant came out of nowhere with his leather straps and began to choke and whip Scorch! In an attempt to save his partner, Shepard jumped on Sycophant with one of his cross daggers and began to dig it into Sycophant’s head! As Sycophant’s eyes began to roll back, Painmaster got his hands on his steel whip and began to lay into Shepard until a recovering Scorch whirled him around and used his loaded glove for a TRAILBLAZER! The Specialists kicked the limp and bloodied bodies of S&M from the ring and stood tall in the center of the ring, beaten, bloodied, but victorious!

Exodus vs. Godsend
A still angry Godsend weathered Exodus’ offense and locked him the HELL’S THRESHOLD, forcing the submission.
WINNER: GODSEND

Aegis received a standing salute from his fellow countrymen as he prepared to meet Hybrid. Most of the Centrans in the crowd were terrified of the hideous behemoth, and wanted to give all of their support to Aegis in his fight against such a vile abomination.

Aegis vs. Hybrid
Murdok immediately appeared at ringside, distracting Aegis and allowing the out of control Hybrid to deliver his Brain Damager to Aegis on the arena floor, then following it up with 2 POISON DRIVER’s, knocking Aegis out and possibly breaking his neck!
WINNER: HYBRID

Hybrid stalked off as Murdok entered the ring, throwing the Ravager Medics aside and gripping Aegis by the head, twisting his neck and preparing to finish what Hybrid had started! Hustler and bandaged Specialists stormed the ring, but Murdok told them to back off or watch him kill Aegis right then and there! The ROC Forces had no choice but to comply. An unconscious Aegis was completely at Murdok’s mercy, as the Dread Lord literally held his life in his rotting hands. But as Murdok gazed at Aegis, and then at the ROC, a wicked thought crossed his mind and he released Aegis, throwing him towards his comrades!

Murdok: (cackling as the ROC check on their leader) When that fool is eventually awoken, make sure he knows that not only could I have killed him with the greatest of ease here tonight, but that the only reason he still lives right now is because I have decreed that the ‘Bravest of Ramparts’ must bear witness to ONE thing before he is murdered…and that one thing is the destruction of his precious bitch, Trisis. HahaHAaha!

Murdok retreated, cackling the whole way as the ROC worriedly checked on their Commander, not only scared for his life, but the life of his enslaved wife as well.

Both teams were heralded wildly by their own faction and hissed and howled at ferociously by the faction of their enemies. But the grim appearance of Trench’s fleshless corpse entombed within The Murder Machine, Flatliner, drew a gasp from Ravagers, Tribesmen, and Centrans alike. With an arrogant grin, Avarice the Blackheart noticed how Warfare was unable to take his eyes away from his ghastly former partner and decided to use it to his advantage.

[glow=red,2,300]Avarice:[/glow] (motioning to Flatliner but calling to Warfare) I know you were pretty banged up at the time, but from the length and pitch of his screams, it sounded like Trench’s final death was rather agonizing.

Warfare took his intense eyes from Flatliner to Avarice.

[glow=red,2,300]Avarice:[/glow] And I can’t help but think that, if you had only killed him when you had the perfect opportunity to, you might have saved him those last agonizing moments of betrayal, shame, and unbearable pain.

Tekaro: Shut your foul mouth, Blackheart! Warfare, do not listen-

[glow=red,2,300]Avarice:[/glow] (looking into Warfare’s eyes) Such a shame. All that hatred inside and no courage to step up and save your best friend from being incinerated ali-

Warfare suddenly snapped and leveled Avarice with a running clothesline! The Blackheart was forced from the ring by the power of the blow, but quickly got to his corner as Flatliner sprung into action against Warfare, and yet another violent confrontation between these enemy squads was on!

NON-TITLE MATCH
[glow=red,2,300]Avarice & Flatliner ©[/glow] vs. NuBorn Destruction
Avarice’s plan backfired as Warfare and Tekaro had an answer for everything the Essence Bearers could throw at them! NuBorn Destruction had a mission tonight and they accomplished it efficiently, taking the victory in this back and forth, physical battle with Warfare’s THE BIG PAYBACK on Avarice!
WINNERS: NUBORN DESTRUCTION

Nicodemus arrived and could sense the apprehension within his own soldiers as they stood in salute. Most were not standing out of respect any longer, but out of fear, and the Ancient One knew this immediately. Since Godsend’s smear campaign all the way back in 2119, Nicodemus gradually felt support from not only his own troops, but from the rest of the denizens of Centra fading. They did not understand what it would take to finally bring peace to this Dimension, and that was why so many of them would have to perish.

But the pounding of war drums broke Nicodemus’ thoughts as the Tribesmen went berserk in adoration. Looking larger and more destructive than ever, Paganax appeared. His eyes were burning red and bulging and his veins could be seen glowing beneath his flesh. With gray smoke and ash already spewing from him like an infernal machine, the Heathen King entered the ring and stared down his foe.

Paganax: I humble you, Ancient One. (Nicodemus continues to stare, focused) And then, I lead people from Primus and we CONQUER Centra! (The Tribesmen go berserk)

Nicodemus, who was intensely focused on the task at hand, seemed to give a coldly detached answer.

Nicodemus: You and your people are doomed, Paganax. Whether you have the Essence or not…your fate has already been decided. Even so (his eyes narrowing) I require the One Essence of Centra.

ONE ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
[glow=yellow,2,300]Paganax ©[/glow] vs. Nicodemus
Paganax just bullied Nicodemus, but the Essence led him to rely on his agility far too much and Nicodemus was able to make comeback after comeback. After struggling to even knock the Heathen Chief off of his feet, let alone keep him down, Nicodemus was able to make headway with a savatte kick that floored Paganax! After a brutal and exchange of blows, Nicodemus floored Paganax once more with a savatte kick and then went up top, hitting the NUCLEAR WINTER and defeating Paganax!
WINNER AND NEW ONE ESSENCE BEARER: [glow=teal,2,300]NICODEMUS[/glow]

The Tribesmen in the crowd went crazy and began jumping out of their seats and causing a near riot! Ravager Troopers moved in at once and tried to control the savage crowd as Nicodemus was handed the Essence Championship! Noticing Paganax quickly recovering, the Ancient One fastened the belt around his waist and was lifted into the air by the force of the Essence leaving the Heathen Chief.

Paganax let out a great roar, almost trying to physically restrain the Essence from leaving him, but it was no use as coils of nuclear energy began to envelop Nicodemus and small shockwaves of energy were sent through the auditorium. With the Essence leaving him, for once Paganax was left on his knees, unable to stand as Nicodemus, his suit blinking and buzzing with overloaded energy, touched down on the ground. Frothing at the mouth and more furious than he has ever been, but with no power to do anything, all Paganax could do was watch as a satisfied Nicodemus calmly exited the ring and headed to his locker room, still somehow lost in his own thoughts.

[aquinas]

Haven't commented in a long time, but reading your results is like reading a great novel. Always a top-quality job. Great blend of action, drama....all that good stuff

[Mr. Hyde]

Aug 5, 2008 21:30:18 GMT -5 @aquinas said:

Haven't commented in a long time, but reading your results is like reading a great novel. Always a top-quality job. Great blend of action, drama....all that good stuff

Especially with my aCe fed, which I try to make SO story driven, that is a wonderful compliment. Thank you!

[Alexander Ubel]

Great action Hyde! Looking forward to the Ventross/Rankor match. Going to be big no matter who is driven from the aCe.

[Mr. Hyde]

THE SCENE: THE COMMAND DECK OF THE RAVAGER MOTHERSHIP

It had been only a cycle shy of one year since the Ancient One had wrapped the Essence of Centra around himself. And just like every soldier who had carried either the One or Tag Essence, Nicodemus' body had felt the strange ache for its ultimate power for that entire year. Once again empowered by the mighty championship, the Ancient One, much like he had done one year ago, placed his hand on the centerpiece of the trophy and felt the greates of comforts by doing so.

Just as the Ravager Commander's aching and hyperdriven mind began to slip into a semblance of calm, Nicodemus heard the mechanized voice of the loyal Holocaust behind him.

[glow=teal,2,300]Nicodemus:[/glow] Yes, Holocaust?

Holocaust: (as Nicodemus turns in his chair) Sir, at the risk of sounding insubordinate, I must say that I feel uneasy about your decision to allow this Unconditional Surrender Match between Ventross and General Rankor.

[glow=teal,2,300]Nicodemus:[/glow] There is no cause for unease for the Ravager Army has nothing to lose in this battle.

Holocaust: Sir?

[glow=teal,2,300]Nicodemus:[/glow] The stipulations for this fight are brutal. Both warriors shall be enclosed within a Steel Cage that has been wrapped in Barbed Wire. And they will do battle within this grissly battlefield until one man is forced to say the words: "I Surrender". At which point he will be discharged from his faction for-

Holocaust: Exactly Sir. Ventross will be in extreme danger-

[glow=teal,2,300]Nicodemus:[/glow] That matters not. This fight can only be an advantage to the Ravager Army. At the worst, we will lose a deserter turned vigilante in Ventross or we will be absolved of a chronic and dangerous enemy in General Rankor. And at the best, they will both destroy each other and we shall be rid of both of them. There is nothing to lose.

Holocaust: So you are not worried in the least bit about Ventross' safety?

[glow=teal,2,300]Nicodemus:[/glow] (growing colder than he had previously been) Ventross chose to fight his own battles one year ago. He forfeited his position in this army to pursue his own selfish agendas, and as such...he must deal with the consequences.

Holocaust struggled to find the words to express how he was feeling tactfully, but could not. In an awkward and somewhat eerie silence, both warriors remained still. It was Nicodemus who eventually broke the spell of silence.

[glow=teal,2,300]Nicodemus:[/glow] (turning in his chair away from Holocaust and going to work) If that is all I must ask that you leave me now, Holocaust. There is much work to be done, and time is running out.

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

THE SCENE: GENERAL RANKOR'S FORTRESS, PRIMUS

Safely inside the highest spire of his ever-expanding fortress on Primus, the Mad Designer gazed across the surface of the fiery planet. Where there once had been a large rock formation, Rankor could now only see a large rust-colored cloud of debris and dust. Peering closer, the General could also see the still fuming Paganax, who had single-handedly brought the rocks crashing down with his insatiable fury. However, what the Treacherous Dog did not see as he turned from the large window to converse with his teammate was the same furious Heathen King turn to his direction and let out a monstrous roar.

[glow=red,2,300]Avarice:[/glow] Worried at all, General?

Rankor: About this ridiculous Unconditional Surrender Match? No, not at all.

[glow=red,2,300]Avarice:[/glow] So, you're confident you can actually make Ventross proclaim to the entire Dimension that he surrenders to you? Ventross. The Ravager who has told you time and again that he will be at your funeral, no matter what?

As General Rankor turned to one of his workbenches, he looked back at the Blackheart with a sly and sneaky grin.

Rankor: I do not expect myself to be able to force his surrender. He will let himself be killed first. (Avarice realized where Rankor was going with this) And kill him, I can do.

Rankor set down the large prototype arm-mounted cannon he had been inspecting and turned to Avarice with a knowing and devious look upon his scowl.

Rankor: You see, it doesn't matter if Ventross surrenders or not. Either way, his tour of duty in the Battle for Centra will come to an end at Battle 27.

[Mr. Hyde]

BATTLE PLAN

BATTLE 27
RAVAGER MOTHERSHIP
10TH CYCLE-2120

TRIPLE THREAT ELIMINATION TAG MATCH
Holocaust & Nemean vs. Darkness Falls vs. The Living Dead

BATTLEFIELD TITLE
Hybrid © vs. Hustler

FOUR WEAPONS OF THE FOURTH REALM MATCH
The Specialists vs. S&M
*Shepard's Cross Dagger. Sycophant's Leather Strap. Scorch's Loaded Glove. Painmaster's Steel Whip. With each one of these 4 personal weapons atop one of 4 poles Nicodemus has pit these 4 warriors in what could be the very last, and bloodiest, of their showdowns*

Grovel vs. Gheist

Exodus vs. Paganax

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER MATCH
Ventross vs. General Rankor
*Surrounded by Steel and Barbed Wire, this brutal and bloody conflict can only end when one force consents to cease hostilities in the aCe by leaving their faction and verbally agreeing to an Unconditional Surrender*

TAG ESSENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
[glow=red,2,300]Avarice & Flatliner ©[/glow] vs. NuBorn Destruction
*One cycle ago, Planet Primus stood poised to win the Battle for Centra with all of the Essence. Just one cycle later, NuBorn Destruction must fight the hardest battle of their lives in order to accrue all of the Essence and put the Ravager Army in the same commanding position that Primus enjoyed for so briefly*

[Mr. Hyde]

THE SCENE: THE LARGEST AUDITORIUM OF THE RAVAGER MOTHERSHIP, MOMENTS BEFORE THE OPENING OF BATTLE 27

Just like the last battle aboard the Mothership, the crowd was split basically equally between Ravagers, Centrans, and Tribesmen of Primus. Unlike the last battle, however, Ravager Trooper presence was extremely heavy in order to keep the rowdy, savage, and irate Tribesmen under control. Spectators were still passing through security checks and filing into the auditorium, but War waits for nothing. To the shock of the Centrans in attendance, Murdok suddenly appeared, dragging the enslaved Trisis behind him!

The Queen of the Damned could barely fight back in her weakened and infected state, but her eyes were so wild and feral that they sent shivers through Ravagers and Centrans alike as Murdok forced Trisis into the ring and began to call for the leader of the ROC, Corporal Aegis! Aegis stormed the ring as Murdok slammed Trisis’ zombified body to the ground and gripped her head in his arms, preparing to sever her brain stem and destroy her!

Aegis: NO MURDOK! STOP! Please!

Murdok couldn’t help but laugh strongly at Aegis’ desperate pleas and began to apply pressure, listening gleefully as Trisis rotting neck flesh began to tear. At this point Aegis leapt into the ring and stood like a statue, staring Murdok down but wise enough to refrain from attacking. Aegis watched as Gheist, S&M, Noxious and Cremator appeared at ringside and surrounded their leader, striking down any hope of an ROC rescue.

Aegis: Damn you, Murdok! Damn you! (opening his arms wide) Gut me like a pig, but leave her be!

At this moment, Aegis’ brow furrowed as he recognized a wicked thought pass through the Plague Harvester’s mind. Curling his wretched lips back, the Dread Lord let up slightly on Trisis neck and cackled.

Murdok: I had every intention of destroying this bitch tonight, but you have just given me a delectable idea! (the ROC arrive at ringside)

Aegis: All of this has to end, Murdok! Attacking my soldiers, taking my wife! I cast you to the bottom of the Tarkanian Sea so come get ME!

Murdok: (suddenly becoming vicious) Shut up! I have decided where and how you shall die, Corporal. But if you want your whore to live longer than you, you will do 3 things.

Aegis: Name them.

Murdok: (becoming arrogant and calm once more) First, you shall meet me on the field at the next battle for the final fight of your life-

Aegis: Done.

Murdok: (growing furious at being interrupted) IN A TORTURE CHAMBER, FOOL!

Aegis’ breath left him briefly as the mention of the hideous and foreboding Torture Chamber came up. Both soldiers were quite familiar with it’s horrors from the days of the GWF, and if Murdok truly wanted to kill Aegis by his own putrid hands, there was no better environment than the Torture Chamber to do so.

Murdok: (smiling) Ah, I knew that would shake you. But that is not all. Secondly, you will agree that after I have defeated you inside the Torture Chamber and either left you dead or dying…you will allow your little bitch Trisis to consume you, and make you my slave forever.

Hustler: Bullshit!

Gheist: Shut your damn mouth!

Aegis: (stone faced) Done.

Murdok: (grinning widely) Excellent. And thirdly-

Aegis: What if I win?

Murdok: (angrily) YOU GET NOTHING! Because you will not win.

Aegis: Do you want this to be over or don’t you!? If you’re so confident that you will end my life at Battle 28, then put something on the line! In fact, (pointing to Trisis) Put HER on the line! So that whether you kill me or not, this is OVER! DO IT! YOU COWARDLY SON OF A B-

Murdok: (applying pressure) I WILL KILL YOU!!! You want her back so bad? FINE! IF you manage to defeat me in the Torture Chamber, you can have your rotten little whore back! You don’t have nearly enough anti-virus to cure her anyway and no matter WHO wins the fight, YOU will have been damaged beyond saving! I promise! But, WHEN I end your life inside the Torture Chamber, she will feed off of you and enslave you to ME for ETERNITY!

Aegis: Done! Now give me your third stipulation, bastard!

Murdok: (throwing Trisis behind him) My third stipulation is that YOU will call off your dogs behind you, stand in the center of this ring, and take this beating like a MAN!

Before Aegis could react, Gheist, Painmaster, Sycophant, Noxious, and Cremator all descended upon the bravest of Ramparts in a 5 on 1 assault! The Specialists, Hustler and Exodus all tried to jump into the ring but in between punches and boots to the head, Aegis screamed for them to hold their ground. As Murdok dragged Trisis back to the Crusade locker room, the ROC was forced to stand mere feet away from their leader being physically dissected, busted open, and sliced open right before their eyes. Only out respect for Aegis’ love for Trisis did they stay and watch as the pack of animals beat Aegis to a bloody pulp, and finally left him unmoving, battered, and bleeding profusely in the center of the ring. When Murdok’s dogs had left the bones to be picked, they retreated, Gheist and The Painmaster making sure to taunt their way to their locker room.

The ROC immediately got into the ring to check on Aegis and began to help his limp body out of the ring. Basically dragging him up the ROC Entrance Aisle, they hoped to get him to Ravager Medics, but the Bravest of Ramparts suddenly began to stir, and somehow, with nothing but murder and fire in his eyes, let go of his comrades, and staggered to the back under his own power, holding his ribs, covered in blood, spitting up more blood, and ready to go to war.