Richard Woods: This match is the beginning of the Tag Team Tournament. The rules of the tournament are as follows.

-There are two brackets. Either bracket will face off in round robin style.

-The leaders of the two brackets will face each other in a Ladder Match.

-This begins now. Introducing, from Bracket A, Cyras and Ahmond.

Cyras grinned as she stepped out onto the stage, with the coywolf trailing behind her. They both exchanged glances, before running down the length of the stage into the ring.

Richard Woods: And their opponents, Tarax and Reich!

A dark blue dragon wandered in with a small fox on his head.

Cyras said, "Please, like he's ever going to win anything."

As the four squared off, Cyras was decided to go first as well as Tarax.

Richard Biggs: Beginning the match with Cyras and Tarax, water versus fire.

Richard Littles: Hot water, versus hotter fire.

Tarax rammed at Cyras, but Cyras jumped onto the top rope. He came after her, but she slammed his head down towards the rope, guillotining his neck with the ropes.

Tarax's head snapped back, before Cyras bounded from the rope, and stomped on his head.

He thrashed around as she crawled all over his body, before he slammed himself onto the

ground. She escaped being crushed narrowly, before going to tag in Ahmond.

Tarax's tail thrashed, as the water dragon focused on the small coywolf. He easily outmassed both, combined. As she ran at him, he put a paw on her forehead, slowing her.

Brown waves of energy filled Ahmond, and she pushed Tarax towards his corner. His eyes widened as he attempted to take steps forward to stop her encroachment.

Richard Littles: Ahmond's power of Dependability allows her to tap into her innermost resources, and increase her own strength, stamina, etc.

Richard Biggs: This little girl's not so little.

Reich tagged in on Tarax's rump. He ran across the dragon, jumped in the air, and unleashed several shocks that burnt the mat near Ahmond.

As Reich landed, Ahmond twisted around, and kicked his back legs out from under him. Reich fell on his back, as Ahmond pinned him, but Reich pushed her away.

Both smaller mammals squared off, each daring the other to take a move. Reich blasted to behind Ahmond with his lightning, and unleashed a volt, but Ahmond rolled away. She jumped back up, and bucked Reich in the head.

As the kicks hit his face, Reich stumbled back, almost groggy from the hit. His body swayed, but he ran at Ahmond again, only for her to slap the spit from his mouth.

Richard Biggs: Those enhanced strikes from Ahmond, easily enough to knock even Berand down.

Richard Littles: And that was 444 pounds of bear.

Ahmond picked Reich up and lifted him on her shoulders, before dropping the fellow quadruped.

Reich writhed on the ground, while Ahmond tagged in Cyras. Ahmond got over to Reich, and bit down on his nape to keep him still.

Richard Biggs: Folks, as a reminder, you have until the count of five to leave the ring after a tag in.

Cyras ran at Reich. Ahmond dropped Reich, and headbutted his noggin, before Cyras got him into a flying headlock and smashed him face first into the canvas.

Reich's body jerked up as he rolled over. Cyras went for the pin, only for Tarax to pull back on her brush to stop the pin.

The referee proceeded to yell at Tarax for interference, while Cyras slapped Reich in the eye.

Tarax pointed at Cyras' cheating, but the referee just told Tarax to get back in the corner. Meanwhile, tears escaped Reich's eye as he rolled out of the ring. He stumbled around in the alley between barricade and ring.

Richard Littles: Cyras is taking full advantage of everyone.

Richard Biggs: If the referee didn't see, the referee can't call the action.

Cyras took a charge, before jumping over the ropes, and fox jumping onto Reich's head, slamming said head into the ground. She threw him back up into the ring.

Richard Littles: All those shots to Reich's head.

Richard Biggs: No way he can survive.

Cyras climbed to a top rope, took aim, and jumped at Reich again. However, an arc of lightning hit her and knocked her away. Cyras writhed as electricity coursed through her. In desperation, Reich made a tag to Tarax.

The audience cheered as Tarax entered again. Now Cyras was slowed down.

As Cyras stood, Tarax whapped her in the side with his tail, knocked her down. He grabbed her around the waist, before flying up, flipping over, and crashing down on her head. She grit her teeth before the split second afterwards falling to darkness.

Tarax pinned Cyras.

Richard Short: One, two, three!

The bell rang, as Tarax and Reich stood triumphant, getting their first win in the tournament.

***

Lazarus sat on a casket.

"We are gathered here today, to talk about the tragic passing of JAC. Or Jesus Avalon Cross. I invited all of the people who loved him..." Lazarus stared at the empty seats. "...Oh, right."

He stood up. "JAC was known as many things. Petty." Lazarus bit his lower lip. "Uh, ridiculous. A goofball. But we have here the top moments of his career."

He gestured to the megascreen. Images of JAC being thrown off the Steel Cage during his fight with Berand, and him being beaten by Swillow played. And then him being viciously attacked by Noah, and him being ran over by the ice cream truck, and him being smothered in ice cream.

Lazarus said, "He's lived a long, and eventful career. He's made many enemies... And that's how we got here-"

The casket opened as blue smoke poured out. Lazarus backed up, and leaned against the ropes in horror, as someone came up.

Citrus Snow, dressed as JAC. Specifically she wore a pink beard with a pink toupee, and wore a loin cloth like a caveman. "Ugg, ugga."

"Oh no, JAC came back from the dead!" Lazarus pointed at Citrus Snow repeatedly in shock. "Oh my damn. Why have you ceased your death, and come to rejoin us, oh spirit!?"

That's when the Itsy-Bitsy Spider played. Lazarus' eyes bulged from his skull before seeing someone in a bear costume walking down.

"And now apparently his new butt buddy, Berand is coming down!"

The person in the bear costume cracked open a can of root beer, drank, crushed the can on Reich's head-

"OW!-"

-Before belching.

That's when the lights went off, and writing scribbled on the walls. "WhereisWasting. WhereisWasting. WhereisWasting."

The lights flickered back on, as Swillow walked down, blue dye on her fur to make her look like her brother. "Here I am, about to flip flop on my morals."

"Wasting?" Lazarus asked, staring at Swillow. "Why, I don't even know anything about you besides some vague threats and promises."

"Well you see, when we were younger," Swillow said, "I framed my sister for a murder. She got kicked out of our kingdom, got turned into a Void Wolf, all kinds of horrible stuff, all because I'm too much of a cuck to tell my queen I won't kill my own sister for her. Then, we met up again, she forgave me, and I promptly went off on a diatribe and attempted to murder her."

"Wow, what a piece of shit you are," Lazarus said.

Swillow nodded. "Aye. I'm definitely the hugest jerk in the roster."

Citrus Snow stepped up. "Actually, I'm the biggest jerk in the roster."

The Berand costume person got in between them.

"No," Lazarus said, "HE'S the biggest jerk."

"That's a whole lot of jerk," Swillow said. "444 pounds of pure jerk."

The lights flickered off again.

"Was this in the script?" Swillow asked Lazarus.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"...No."

WhereisWasting appeared on the walls.

Lazarus shouted, "Everybody, go cover one side of the ring." Lazarus scanned for any intruders. "We cannot let anybody get in here."

As everyone focused on one side, the man in the bear costume took off his costume, revealing Berand. He threw off the rest of the clothes, before tapping Lazarus on the shoulder, and turning him around. He got a headlock in, and dropped down.

Lazarus chin smashed into Berand's shoulder. As Berand released, Lazarus flew, and collapsed into a corner of the ring, grabbing his broken jaw.

Swillow turned, growled, and went for Berand, only for a blue blur to bite her neck, before flipping her over. She gasped and pawed her throat, trying to halt the bleeding.

Richard Littles: How is she going to stop Leroy now? He just ripped her throat out. Not fair, the match has to be postponed!

Richard Biggs: I don't think we're getting anything postponed soon.

Swillow stumbled, and slipped on her own blood, as Citrus Snow threw off the hair, and took off running.

Richard Biggs: A ceremony only in poor tastes. We're moving on now, but we'll keep in touch about the situation.

***

"So Rexcelsis," ONE said in the ring, holding the microphone, "you apparently want my job. You want to make the SOS dissolve into the Dominium. You want to break my spirit, break my skull, break my bones... But lemme tell you something. I literally went to hell and back."

ONE grinned. "I went from hell and back, and you expect that you can just take my job?"

The ground rumbled, as the music hit.

"5

4

3

2

1

Ask not for whom the bells toll

They toll for you!"

Rexcelsis roared before charging down.

ONE stared up at the 35 foot dinosaur, but said, "You may succeed, but I'm not going down easy-"

Rexcelsis slammed his tail down on ONE. ONE bounced up in the air, but Rexcelsis slammed him with the tail again.

Richard Biggs: Rexcelsis is dribbling ONE with that KT Powerbomb.

Richard Littles: This is inhumane!

Richard Biggs: Yeah, probably.

The bell rang, and Rexcelsis did a somersault over ONE, completely flattening him with the full 20,000 pounds of weight.

Richard Biggs: That's new.

Richard Littles: Well, he's dead.

With a final legdrop, Rexcelsis stayed there for a pin of three. ONE had lost.

Richard Biggs: Rexcelsis matches are really, let's face the facts, just sessions of Rexcelsis killing someone. Anyway, we've got some news.

The megascreen played, showing Swillow in the back, getting medical attention. A gauze soaked with blood remained on her neck, and she said, "There's no way I'm going out there tonight."

Lazarus nodded, still getting attention to his jaw. "Yeah, I understand. That's why, we're going to have someone defeat Berand for that belt. I'm going to send my finest person out on the job."

"Who's that?" Swillow asked.

Citrus Snow walked into the room, and stared at Swillow. Both glared at each other, but Citrus Snow said, "I suppose our mutual cooperation will be beneficial."

Lazarus said, "Anyway, there's no way Berand is going to keep that belt for very long. He's going to be a one defense wonder."

Lilith entered the room, standing by the door. "Swillow, your match with Leroy is still coming up."

"She's injured," Lazarus said.

Lilith said, "She can heal. This will be a streetfight, and this is taking place tonight, and if she loses, Leroy challenges for the belt in February at Heart of Ice."

Lilith walked away, leaving Swillow and Lazarus.

Richard Biggs: Some amazing news. Not too good for them, though.

Richard Littles: How is that fair? Swillow got her throat broken by Wasting. How about we break Leroy's arm to even the odds?

Richard Biggs: Regardless, the tag team title has been made, and we're going to see our next match. This time Bracket B. Ice Cream Pack versus The Alliance, but how about we show the tournament brackets.

Richard Littles: Right.

Megascreen showed:

Bracket A:

Reich and Tarax.

Arson and Harper-Jay

Cyras and Ahmond

Berand and Wasting

The Ghosts

Bracket B:

ONE and MEW3

Leroy and Rexcelsis

Michelle and Vicyl

The Alliance

The Ice Cream Pack

Richard Littles: Everybody gets three fights. Afterwards, the leaders of Bracket A, and Bracket B will go on to face each other for the titles at March, on Countdown.

Richard Biggs: Yes, because Countdown is our final Paper View on the way to Dragon's Jewel.

Richard Littles: That's about five months away. So let's worry about getting to Countdown.

Richard Biggs: At Countdown, our number one contender will be facing Swillow, if she's still the Beast King by then. Let's go on.

***

Tiercel and Tuwil stood in the ring, against Vanos and Kyofi. The strongest two of the Ice Cream Pack, versus the most devilish two of the Alliance.

Kyofi squared off with Tiercel and both put their paws against each other in a test of strength. Naturally, Kyofi pushed Tiercel over to a corner, and Tuwil tagged in. She jumped over Kyofi, before kicked her leg out under her.

Kyofi winced, and turned to Tuwil, only for Tuwil to grab the bottom of her jaw, and flip her over. Both dropped to the ground, and Kyofi grabbed her neck again.

Richard Biggs: A neckbreaker onto Kyofi.

Tuwil tagged Tiercel back in, before she suplexed Kyofi, fisherman style. As Kyofi's back hit the ground, Tiercel jumped from the top rope, and somersaulted onto her.

The air burst from Kyofi, and she wriggled. Tiercel's claws became knife like, before he slashed her across the face.

Richard Littles: Oh my word!

A red mask came over Kyofi's face, as the jagged knife lines leaked. Tiercel tagged in Tuwil who jumped over, before kneeing Kyofi in the face, releasing a red spray. Since Tiercel had five seconds to leave the ring, he stomped down on Kyofi four times and ran off.

Richard Biggs: Absolutely savage in the ring.

Richard Littles: This rematch isn't even equal footing.

Kyofi attempted to stand up, but slid on the blood. Tuwil threw Kyofi into the air, before dropping Kyofi's jaw down on her knee, causing a cracking sound.

Kyofi fell on her back as Tuwil covered. One, two, three.

Richard Biggs: Amazing how quickly they dispatched the two.

Richard Littles: Kyofi was too slow. Vanos never even had a chance to enter.

***

Richard Short: This is our main event of the evening. This is a Falls Count Anywhere match. There will be no disqualifications and no count outs. The only way to win is the pin or submit your opponent anywhere. Introducing first, weighing in at 303 pounds, standing at six feet tall, she is the Beast King, the World's Champion, the Slaughterhound, Swillow!

As flare jets burst in front of the tunnel, Swillow ran out, fur now covered in embers. Electronic wolf howls and dog barks reigned in the arena.

No more blue dye on her as she walked down to her theme.

"UNTIL THE BITTER END!"

She jumped over the ropes, and into the ring.

Richard Short: And her opponent, weighing in at a bottle of Mountain Dew, they are the gamer, Leroy!

"Dark days are up ahead and in my mind.

Evil is gonna try to catch us blind.

Up Down Up Down Left Right Left Right A B A B"

Leroy drove in a small tank designed to be a video game controller, with a smaller controlled attached that they used to navigate. The velociraptor drove the vehicle around the ring before stopping.

Swillow said, "Better give up now, dino boy... Girl... Hm, neutral? Non-binary? Come on, I can be up with the times as well."

Swillow laughed. "Regardless, you kinda strike me as a little too small to hang around with the big boys."

Leroy hopped into the ring, and came face to face with Swillow.

"Heh," Swillow said. "You made your bed, now you're gonna have to-"

Two arms wrapped around Swillow's waist. Her eyes widened, before Berand suplexed her overhead. She crashed on her back with a grunt.

Richard Biggs: Welp, that's gonna hurt in the morning.

Berand charged after Swillow, but she sidestepped him, forcing him to hit his shoulder into the ring post. Metal clanged, and Swillow growled.

Leroy's arms wrapped around her neck, and she fell face first onto the ground. She bounced back up from the force, and shook her head. Leroy tore ass getting out the ring, and Swillow jumped out to pursue them.

Leroy ran up the audience stands, pushing various members in the way, as Swillow tried to get past.

Richard Biggs: Using the sea of humanity to prevent Swillow from chasing them.

Richard Littles: But man, if they're not quick.

Leroy grabbed a trash can, and threw the can at the approaching wolf. She jumped up, smirking, only to realize she had to keep running on the barrel.

Richard Biggs: And Swillow's now doing some log rolling.

Swillow gasped, and tried to figure out how to run forward, but there wasn't any way too... Audience members who hated being crushed by a 300 pound wolf ran off, before Swillow's trash can rolled over a stage and crashed in the technical area.

An explosion occurred, and sparks flew, as Swillow's body got fried. Electricity coursed through her, while various lights shut down.

Leroy stumbled into the concession stands. They looked around for any weapons, settling with several chairs. The velociraptor set two up, facing each other, to create a platform, before they set up a table over the chairs.

Next, the coup de gras. Setting up a ladder, Leroy position the equipment so anybody falling from the ladder would hit the rest of the furniture.

Richard Biggs: Leroy is scrappy, and is getting innovative.

Richard Littles: Leroy's a bit of an engineer.

Richard Biggs: Now if only Leroy could platform as well as they play platformers.

Swillow lurked back up into the stands, and entered the hallway with the concessions. She saw Leroy, with their trap.

Swillow unleashed a howl, as she ran after Leroy. Leroy climbed up onto the ladder, but Swillow said, "How dumb do you think I am!?"

She got on her hind legs, and pushed the ladder over, but Leroy jumped from the ladder, onto the top of the popcorn stand.

"Very!" they shouted.

Swillow jumped to get atop the popcorn stand, but Leroy went for the cutter. Both smashed through the roof of the stand, before hot grease splashed over Swillow.

She growled, and bared her fangs at the burns. Leroy got the least worst of the exchange, but still, they were staggering.

Swillow smirked, her fangs glowed black, and she ran towards Leroy.

A knee came to the side of her head, knocking her away. Vicyl stood over Swillow, and the wolf kin said, "That's what you get for Athyn!"

Richard Biggs: Athyn had his life stolen by Swillow months ago.

Richard Littles: Seems like Vicyl never forgot.

Vicyl suplexed Swillow into the lemonade stand as well. After the stand exploded, liquid poured over Swillow's eyes.

The burn registered. Swillow screamed and covered her eyes with her paws, while trying to simultaneously remove her eyeballs, and the fluids on them.

Vicyl ran for a second knee into Swillow, but Swillow blindly - led by her nose - grabbed Vicyl's throat, spun around, and slammed Vicyl through the wooden flooring.

Richard Biggs: Oh, well, she's dead.

Richard Littles: Vicyl did her best, but got Hellfire Chokeslammed out.

Leroy grabbed the table, and reset the table, so there was only the wooden part.

Swillow said, "Come back here..." She came towards them, but Leroy used the table, gave the table to an audience member, before jumping up.

Richard Biggs: Leroy is literally crowd surfing.

Swillow couldn't see the rude gesture Leroy gave with their finger. Still, ragged in breath from rage, Swillow walked down the steps.

Leroy got back to the main stage, and down the entrance tunnel, all while looking over their shoulder to see where Swillow was. The big beast could run fast, just not while she was blind.

They got into the warehouse, into the loaded area, thinking they were safe, when a flaming form ran them over. Leroy flew in the air, before landing on some boxes. Their spine hit a section of hard cardboard, and Leroy gasped for air.

Richard Littles: Like being hit with a jet plane.

Swillow opened her eyes, now red and filled with veins. She said, "Leroy, you can hide behind your friends all you like, but now I've got you-"

Wasting pounced Swillow. The blue wolf pinned her, and he said, "Now!"

Leroy ran off, but Swillow kicked her brother off. Instinctively, she tucked her neck, before headbutting him in the snout.

The headbutt crushed his snout, and almost dislodged his front teeth. He whipped his head back, only to return with a slap to her chest.

Boxes from the warehouse spilled over, knocking into Swillow, and pushing her over. A forklift barreled in, before squashing prongs down on her belly. Swillow's limbs were spread out so she couldn't push away. Metal jugs sat on the forklift prongs, adding even more weight.

Richard Biggs: She's squashed like a bug!

Richard Littles: This is Leroy's shot!

Leroy ran out, and pinned Swillow under the weight.

Richard Short: One, two, three!

Leroy won.

Leroy jumped off, as Berand, Vicyl, and Wasting came to join them. Wasting threw Leroy in the air, before other members of the locker room entered. Harper-Jay, Arson, Reich, even Michelle and Slash, and others came down to put Leroy in the air.

Leroy grinned and they raised their arms.

Richard Biggs: Leroy just defeated Swillow for the first time ever.

Richard Littles: Congratulations to the little dino who could.