[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjY2LmUyMTUwOC5SMDAsLjAA/chapbook.regular.png[/img][/center]

The underground subway arena was cool in temperature and bore a wet cement smell along with other odors from multiple drugs. A mixture of the Platform City wealthy and riff-raff surrounded the square stage on two floors. A net encasing the stage protected the fighters within from any objects that might drop or be purposefully thrown at those who the crowd disliked.

For Team One, the first pairings were: Fox and Zangief.

Team Two, Cloud and Mitsurugi (will be using dice for this match because I can't really face myself lol).

Team Three, Jack & Shadow and Cyrax.

Team Four, Shantae and Isaac.

All fighters would be fighting on an equal playing field. However, it would not be equal for those who swap out. The possibility for victory will still be somewhat equal.
[hr]

[center][h3]Team One[/h3][/center]
[center][@Bright_Ops][@Etherean Fire][/center]
Fox’s opponent stood across from him—a giant of a man! The man was humungous, standing at seven feet and weighing 400 pounds. The Russian had been wearing a white T-shirt and blue denim jeans that barely contained the mountainous muscle stacked upon his wide frame. Curling his arms at the elbows and sinking slowly until his thighs were parallel to the floor. The bear of a man, the legendary Zangief grit his teeth. His eyes near fiercely bulged from their sockets as he flexed, his pants and shirt exploding into shreds as his every muscle seemed to effortlessly inflate with his might.

[color=f7941d][b]“RAAAH!”[/b][/color] Zangief bellowed.

The crowd cheered, enthused by the display of power. Moneybags had a shamelessly greedy smile on his face as his betting bag started to swell with currency in result. Zangief straightened and spread his tree-trunk arms, curling them as he flexed biceps bigger than Fox’s head.

[color=f7941d][b]“I, Zangief, Little Fox. I will skin you and use your fur as new pants!”[/b][/color] the wrestler declared.

Standing behind the ropes was [url= http://2static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Character_5f5062_5794256.jpg]a man wearing a mask[/url] and hiding beneath a red and white hood. The current mask he had on his face was smiling. His arms were crossed before his chest as he stared across the ring at Luigi. No one had ever seen the jester of a man before.

[center][h3]Team Two[/h3][/center]
[center][@DracoLunaris][/center]
Cloud gazed across the ring at the samurai who was seated cross-legged on the floor. His hands were resting on his thighs and a small reed was protruding from the corner of his lip. His tongue played with it, causing it to bob up and down as he stared nonchalantly through half-lidded eyes off to the side.

[color=00a99d][b]“Are you ready?”[/b][/color] Cloud asked him as his hand went behind his head to grasp the wrapped hilt of his buster sword.

Mitsurugi’s black eyes slid to their corners as he first peered at Cloud before turning his head to regard him.

[color=0072bc][b]“Hmph, I guess. Last guy who fought me with a sword that big didn’t last ten seconds. You sure that sword isn’t for show?”[/b][/color]

Cloud calmly removed the buster sword from behind his back and brought it before himself. Both of his hands took hold of the hilt as he held the massive sword aloft at a cleaving angle. Spreading his feet comfortably, Cloud slowly sank into a stance and a flash of light winked between the two swordsmen. The light had been a glare off of Cloud’s buster sword. In what seemed like a flash, his sword was against the samurai’s half-drawn katana blade.

Mitsurugi’s black eyes were shrunk in surprise at how fast Cloud had moved. If he hadn’t been a master swordsman, then Cloud might had actually cut him down. The corner of the samurai’s mouth quirked with excitement.

Cloud dashed backwards to allow the samurai to rise to his feet.

[color=00a99d][b]“Satisfied?”[/b][/color] Cloud asked.

Mitsurugi laughed softly behind a smile. [color=0072bc][b]“[i]Hai.[/i]”[/b][/color]

A blonde-haired girl leaned upon the ropes of the ring. Her head was tipped into her hand and her cheeks were puffed out in boredom as she watched Mitsurugi and Cloud measure each other’s dicks with their blades. Her blue eyes lazily rolled over to Naija. Lux’s wand was tucked under her arm, sparkling with a strange luminescence as she tried to figure out what her opponent exactly was. Was she really a fish? Really? Good lord.

[center][h3]Team Three[/h3][/center]
[center][@Crosswire][@Lmpkio][/center]
The being that stood on the other side of the ring was difficult to determine if he was man or machine. He stood as still as a statute as though needing to be powered on. It was when the fighter’s head moved, motioning down to his opponent’s dog that any life was indicated. The voice that left the machine was low and slightly distorted by an artificial timbre.

[color=fff200][b]“Your pet won’t be able to save you,”[/b][/color] said Cyrax.

The soldier standing behind Cyrax looked down at his armored dog, and similarly the armored dog looked up at him raising his ears in surprise. Juno rolled his eyes with a smirk on his face. That guy’s dog may not have been his dog, Lupus, but he wouldn’t have underestimated him. The husky was huge and would probably put up a fight protecting his master…or was it a her? Juno didn’t know much about his robotic teammate but as he glanced from Lupus to Samus, he wished Cyrax had been fighting him (he didn’t know Samus was actually a woman). Juno was eager to see how well Lupus faired against Jack’s dog.

[center][h3]Team Four[/h3][/center]
[center][@Guardian Angel Haruki][@WingsOfBronze][/center]
Another blonde-haired and blue eyed swordsman stood in the ring, gazing upon the young woman who stood before him. His face beneath his eyes was hidden behind a yellow scarf and he stood with his side turned slightly toward her, his hand upon the hilt of a short sword. The swordsman looked young enough to be a teenager. His eyes were calm and his stance was confident as he silently studied the woman.

Behind him was a strange character that had no limbs, but he had hands and feet. He was lounging in a lawn chair, wearing sunglasses and sipping lemonade through a straw. He looked like he was on vacation. His hands and feet seemed to hover in proximity to his purple torso, and two locks of hair protruded from his scalp in an unkempt fashion. He looked like he had gotten into a fight with a lawnmower.

[color=662d91][b]“Hey, pal, if you need help just let me know,”[/b][/color] said Rayman to Isaac, who never answered back.

The swordsman’s eyes motioned from Shantae to Bartz as he thought to himself.

[color=aba000][b][i]I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but…I think the other guy would have been more of my style,[/i][/b][/color] Isaac mused.
[hr]

With the first matches having been laid out, Steve made one final announcement:

[h3][color=ed1c24]FIGHT![/color][/h3]