------------------------------- UVR2- THE DESTRUCTION CONTINUES ------------------------------- SECTION FOUR RESULTS ------------------------------- As Pyron entered, he instantly saw his target. Haohmaru, battling across the ring with the Silver Samurai. Haohmaru, possessor of the megacharged soul that would garner him the power of a thousand dimensions. Before attacking, he made mental contact with Mizuki. "Have we had further luck in recruitment?" The demonic sorceress replied. "Indeed. Erick, Shura, Johnny Maximum, Fuuma, Jack, and Zeus of the World Heroes are all ours now, joining Neo-Dio. I may be able to snare Ryoko as well...she so desperately desires to not be cute, she may do anything." "And the other World Heroes?" "Tough sells. Hanzou and Kim Dragon are too upright. Rasputin knows a thing or two about souls, as does Mudman. Ryofu simply laughed in my emissary's face. Brocken is in some sort of trance...he seems obsessed with Sub-Zero. And Kidd..." She paused. "Kidd is odd. I *should* be able to snare a thief like him, but my emissary was thoroughly beaten up by him when he approached..." "No matter. These additions to our forces now make us the equal of the alliance between Rugal and Number 27. Excellent work, my compatriot..." Pyron suddenly noticed Galford standing in front of him. "Excuse me...are you the alien demon elemental known as Pyron?" "Yes! Puny mortal, I am Pyron...scourge of the Fiery Plane, Master of Heat, King of Combustion! I shall reign victorious over all I see! Now, get out of my way...my choice of opponent is the samurai known as Haohmaru, for he won last year's tourney." "Just checking." Galford then slashed Pyron full across the chest. As Pyron staggered back, Galford remarked, "I was *wondering* what the flaming explosion in San Fran a few weeks back was caused by. Guess I have my answer." Pyron stood, enraged. "Insolent mortal! Die at my hands!" He then jumped into the air and performed a Fiery Planets, which sent Galford flying across the ring. Michelle Chan and Orion, two new entries, were both firmly attempting to prove themselves major contenders. Orion, a Rumble veteran, went after the big ticket, Haohmaru (even though, in the pit of his stomach, he knew he was going to fail), while Michelle clobbered the most impressive displayer of power thus far, the Silver Samurai, with a triple spin kick. The Samurai went down, but Haohmaru stood firm and slashed Orion back. The Time Killer was sent spinning across the ring, over to Athena. Orion got up quickly, brandishing his laser-sword. "Okay! Prepare to die at the hands of..." He never got a chance to finish, as Athena grabbed him into a big hug. "Mr. Flopsy! I haven't seen you since I was six!" She kissed Orion on the cheek. "You were the smartest rabbit I ever had...you ate carrots and everything..." Orion was confused. "Um. I'm not Mr. Flopsy..." Athena looked at Orion. "Hmmmm." She stood back. "No, you're right. You aren't." She then grabbed him again and tossed him over the "ropes". He landed in Shao Kahn's Dead Pool in MK2. *SSSSSSSSSSSSS* A little while later, his clean skeleton began floating upwards. Athena sniffed. "Serves you right for impersonating my rabbit." Chang Koehan had now entered, and waddled over to Haohmaru. He began pounding the samurai with his big iron ball. Haohmaru went down like a ton of bricks. Chang continued pounding on the fallen samurai. However, Wolf was ever-vigilant. Quickly kicking Mai Shiranui away, he ran over and shoulder-butted Chang in the back. Chang staggered away. Meanwhile, Galford was getting cohesively massacred by an angry Pyron. The Darkstalker was screaming things like "Insignificant mortal!" and "Pathetic worm!" with every blow. Fire Moons, Fiery Planets, Flame Drills...Galford was getting it *all*. Wolf stepped away quickly. He had seen Riptor enter the ring, and the Instinctual Killer was making a beeline for Haohmaru. Wolf held his breathing at a normal pace and prepared to Frankensteiner the lizard... "YOU!" ...which was unneccessary, as Wan-Fu had apparently decided that Riptor would be tastier after severe tenderization. Slamming the Pillar of Pain on the reptile's head, he screamed again. "YOU!" for extra emphasis. Riptor collapsed. Wan-Fu started hammering on the Instinctual Killer yet further. "YOU! YOU! YOU!" A newly entered Rose quickly ran over to Dan, who was resting after uppercutting Mai Shiranui away from him. Mai landed near Lion Rafale, who pounced on her as fast as he could. "Dan! We have to talk! It's important!" "It had better be." _Room 528, RumbleDome Hotel_ Number 27 flushed the toilet and quickly washed his hands. Taking the towel (unlike some of the stupider Ultratech employees, he always did menial tasks himself...it helped one keep a healthy respect for the nothings of society, and the dangers they could pose), he smoothly dried off his hands. He reached for the door lock, and, opening the door, strode out... ...to a scene of utter chaos. His three guards were lying on the floor...one with severe bruising on his face, one clutching his temples convulsively and moaning, and the last one with his shirt ripped open, as if by teeth. Instantly assuming the worst, he ran to his travel-case, which contained the soul energy (at least, that was what Ultratech had assumed it was, and Number 27 had spearheaded the project, so that's what it was, dammit) of the Instinctual Killers. Each Killer's soul energy was contained in a small vial. (With the obvious exception of the Fulgore-1, which had no soul.) Looking through the vials, he breathed a sigh of relief. Combo...Orchid...Cinder...Spinal... Wait. Where was Jago's vial? _The Ring_ A newly cognizant Dan ran over to the newly entered Kano (who was running for Haohmaru). However, on the way he was intercepted by Athena. "Robert! Hi, Robert!" "Look, I've already said to someone else...I'm not Robert. Who the hell is Robert?" "Look, Robert, this isn't funny! I mean, first Mr. Flopsy tried to betray me, then a giant winged frog broke a date with me...I don't need this now! I don't I don't I don't!" Athena ended her statement with a Psycho Uppercut that sent Dan flying over the "ropes" and on top of Jokey Smurf's house in Smurf Village. Unfortunately, that was where Jokey stored all his "presents". *BOOOM!* Papa Smurf shook his head in exasperation. "We have to send a delegation to this Rumble next year to make sure that they all land on Gargamel's house or something..." "YOU! YOU! YOU!" Wan-Fu, tiring of his sport, ended his assault on Riptor with a powerful Flaming Pillar Circle that sent the beast flying over the "ropes". The big lizard landed in Tung Fue Rue's stage in Fatal Fury Special. Tung noted that there was a dinosaur present. "It's not like the old days..." he muttered as he assumed his more muscular form, "then, when a dinosaur showed up, they'd show you some proper respect instead of just roaring..." He started hammering on Riptor with huge fists. Kano threw a pair of knives at Haohmaru. However, the samurai expertly blocked with his katana, and ran at the Mortal Kombatant. Exactly what Kano had wanted: as Haohmaru ran in, he first slashed upwards with one of his stun batons, temporarily staggering Haohmaru, then used the time lapse to grab the Samurai Shodowner by the neck and start strangling him. After a suitably long time, he dropped Haohmaru. Fingering his eyepiece to activate the laser mount, he grinned. "So, the high-an'-mighty one got beaten, eh? And by who? I'll tell ya who, mate. Me. Kano. The one-and-only." Haohmaru replied by slashing upwards as he stood. Kano was staggered back this time... ...right into Wolf. The Virtua Fighter tripped Kano and started spinning him by the legs. Finishing off the Big Swing, he tossed Kano over the "ropes". Kano fell through the warp field and landed, hard, on a big pyramid. He looked around. Nobody was present...except for the big orange hopping thing...which was hopping this way. Kano looked for a place to run, and saw no escape. Up in the booth, Geese winced. "Ouch. Death by Q*Bert." Meanwhile, Neinhalt Seiger and Colossus were warily circling one another. Neither struck first, each waiting for the other to strike the first blow. Unfortunately, Mai Shiranui (who had been getting pummelled for the last little bit, and was in a nasty mood) didn't seem quite as patient, and ran up to Seiger, quickly encircling his head between her legs and vaulting the giant Prussian over to the edge of the mat. Seiger, keeping his wits about him, managed to keep his gigantic metal fist out of the "ropes"...but it did no good, for Mai's Flame Fandango sent the Samurai Shodowner over them and right into the Rampart node, where he was quickly hit by four cannonballs in quick succession. Galford was now a wreck. Pyron had forgotten about Haohmaru completely in his rage to destroy the American ninja. Countless burn marks marred the Shodowner's skin and clothes, and even Poppy sported some charcoal-coloured fur. As Pyron prepared to deliver the coup de grace, Galford considered his options. Or, rather, option, as he could only think of one. Pyron spun in with a final Fiery Planets, and incinerated...a log. As Galford dove on the Darkstalker from above, he reflected on how useful this technique was. Burying his ninja-to in the alien's back, he watched with satisfaction as Pyron staggered. Pulling out his blade, he ignored the heat it had conducted through Pyron as he sheathed it; and grabbing Pyron, the fire on his palms was nothing more than an inconvenience as he tossed Pyron out. Pyron landed in Venice in the KOF95 node, where he started screaming in pain. "AGGGGGGGH! WATER! I HATE WATER!" Clouds of steam were raised as Pyron screamed in torturous pain. The newly entered Kagemaru was now the latest target of Wan-Fu's wrath. Having had little chance to counterattack, the ninja simply fell apart, his powerful long-distance attacks useless under Wan-Fu's mighty Pillar of Pain. Ending the torment with a flaming uppercut, he sent Kage sprawling out of the ring...and right into the Ninja Gaiden node, where his brother ninjas defended him for the next fifteen minutes. Neo-Dio was now brawling with Colossus unsuccessfully. His new powers were crumbling beneath the X-Man's strength. A Power Charge by Colossus sent the World Hero flying back violently, intersecting with Wolf enroute. The collision between Neo-Dio and Wolf slowed Neo-Dio's flight, but transferred the inertia to Wolf...and the Virtua Fighter was knocked into the "ropes", where current began crackling across his bare skin. Colossus ran up to Neo-Dio, and began his own Big Swing, culminating in Neo-Dio being tossed over the ropes. The World Hero landed in the WarBots node, where he was targeted and eliminated in 10.2 seconds. Colossus looked at Wolf, now being kept up simply by the force jerking through his body, and pondered how best to eliminate him. Unfortunately, he pondered for too long. Haohmaru, who had been busy with people trying to unseat him all the while, had run up behind him, and promptly Sogetsuzaned Colossus over the "ropes", managing to eliminate Wolf in the same motion. Both fighters landed in the Pit from the MK1 node. However, Colossus was still steel, so he crushed the spikes beneath him; and Wolf had the good fortune to land on Colossus. Rose was dealing with two big problems: Chang Koehan and Lion. They were busily trying to eliminate her, having teamed up for mutual benefit. However, Rose was having none of it, and with one quick Scarf Snap knocked Lion out of the ring. The Virtua Fighter landed in Richard Meyer's stage in Fatal Fury, where he promptly began whaling on the Fatal Furite. Michelle Chan was tiring against the Silver Samurai. The only swordsman-er, swords*bot* she'd ever fought was Yoshimitsu, and his style was much different. The Samurai just kept using his sword...never used his fists or kicked at her at all! How did you fight against someone with a sword anyway? The Samurai suddenly hopped back and extended his sword in the air. Michelle, anticipating another lightning attack, prepared to block. However, nothing happened...his sword just suddenly acquired a thin layer of ice. Michelle, seeing her chance, ran forward. "So, your sucky sword couldn't make the spark this time, huh?" One swipe from the Samurai froze Michelle in her tracks, quite literally. "Well, I wasn't trying." He grabbed her and tossed her over the "ropes". "And I don't suck!" Michelle, ice flying off in flight downward, landed-hard-on a plateau of rock. She got up painfully and looked around. It was barren, except for pockets of shifting sand. Birdman shook his head. "Looks like Michelle Chan got off easy. All she had to worry about was the desert from Super-Mario 3..." Rose was finishing off the huge Chang Koehan, whose huge iron ball was no match for her scarf. Stepping back, she blinked suddenly, and activated her Super Uppercut. Blue after-images trailed her as she slammed the huge Korean upwards and over the "ropes". Chang landed in the Burger Time node. He got up and looked around. "I'm in heaven!" ****** FINAL TALLY (45 voters) ----------------------- HAOHMARU (SS2)- 37:10 (ratio=3.70) ROSE (SFA)- 35:10 (ratio=3.50) ATHENA ASAMIYA (KOF95)- 33:15 (ratio=2.20) WAN-FU (SS2)- 29:19 (ratio=1.52) SILVER SAMURAI (XM:COTA)- 28:18 (ratio=1.51) MAI SHIRANUI (KOF95)- 28:19 (ratio=1.41) GALFORD (SS2)- 28:20 (ratio=1.40) ***********LINE OF SURVIVAL************ COLOSSUS (XM:COTA)- 26:19 (ratio=1.36) WOLF HAWKFIELD (VF2)- 27:20 (ratio=1.35) LION RAFALE (VF2)- 25:21 (ratio=1.16) DAN (SFA)- 25:22 (ratio=1.13) KAGEMARU (VF2)- 18:27 (ratio=0.66) MICHELLE CHAN (T2)- 18:27 (ratio=0.66) NEINHALT SEIGER (SS2)- 17:28 (ratio=0.61) PYRON (DS2)- 16:29 (ratio=0.55) NEO-DIO (WHP)- 15:30 (ratio=0.50) KANO (MK3)- 15:30 (ratio=0.50) CHANG KOEHAN (KOF95)- 13:32 (ratio=0.41) ORION (TK)- 10:35 (ratio=0.28) RIPTOR (KI)- 8:37 (ratio=0.21) ELIMINATIONS: Haohmaru, Rose, Athena, Wan-Fu: 2. Samurai, Mai, Galford-1. CURRENT ELIMINATIONS LEADERS: Haohmaru 5, Athena 5, Galford 5, Wan-Fu 5, Mai 4, Wolf 4, Silver Samurai 3. "CUBES SUCK!" REDUX: In one round, the Virtua Fighters go from domination to elimination. Such is life. ATHENA SEES IT ALL: Well, it looks like a winning shtick *will* get you votes. :) (Of course, Haohmaru proved that last year...:) ) See you next round. Chris "Birdman" Bird Brant "I keep voting for MK3" Rogers Scott "The Enforcer" Johnson Austin "Say Cheese!" Loomis