Category: Uncategorized

Secret Six (7): Catman, Deadshot, Scandal Savage, Ragdoll, Bane, Knockout

Excalibur (10): Captain Britain, Meggan, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Nightcrawler

“Dibs on the guy wearing a Union Jack,” Deadshot explained flatly as his boot crushed the cigarette that had fallen from his lips just moments ago. He pulled his mask over his face, adjusting his sights so that Captain Britain was locked in his sights.

“OOOH dibs on the hot one!” Ragdoll delights.

“Aw, I wanted the hot one!” Knockout eyes Meggan.

“No, the BLUE one!” Ragdoll clarifies, “RRRRow!”

“Don’t care. Looks like we’re the only team in here with six people. Either we got really lucky, or REALLY unlucky. Given our history, my money’s on the latter, let’s try to make it quick.” Deadshot lines up the barrel on his left arm and fires.

“I have broken the Bat, I will break these little ones.” Bane charges in behind the shot.

“Don’t have all the fun without me!” Knockout tromps along side Blip.

The bullets bounces off the center of Captain Britain’s forehead, hitting perfectly at the intersection red on his flagged uniform. His head rocks back with surprise. “It looks like I’ve been shot, I’ll have to show him these yanks how to aim.” He rises above his team and zooms across to confront the shooter.

“#*&@. Because why not.” Deadshot complains, “Switching to armor piercing.” He rockets off another shot at Captain Britain, hitting him square over his heart. The shot knocks him out of the sky, Deadshot trots off to pursue. He get about halfway before Brian Braddock, the magnificent Captain Britain, floats quietly in front of him, landing gently.

“You Americans and your guns.” He reaches  out and grabs Deadshot’s wrist mounted firearm. Two rounds go off in his hand and Deadshot tries to escape, and the rifle falls to the ground.

“That was expensive.” Deadshot complains as he pulls a knife and swipes at the hero.

“Bill me, I’m rich too.” Captain Britain grabs and punches him. “If you ever wake up.”

Behind Deadshot’s ill fated advance, Bane and Knockout meet up with Colossus. “Good afternoon friends, I am sorry to have to fight you.” Colossus greets, “But one must do, what one must…”

POW! “Quick, right Lawton?” Knockout calls back to Deadshot after clobbering Colossus.

“Boz moi…” Colossus mutter under his breath, clutching his jaw. He springs around and wallops Knockout back, staggering her a few feet. “I hope, for your sake malyshka, that your fighting skills are better than your manners.”

“Hahahah! This one has spirit, come combatiente, let’s see how strong you are.” Bane pumps the Venom on his electrical wrist mounted injection system. His muscles bulge and he lumber in to grab the Russian. The two lock hands and grapple. B,ane gets the jump and pushes Colossus back, for one, brief moment, he believes that he has the advantage, and then Colossus pushes back.

First he buckles Bane’s hands backwards, then, Bane’s entire body bends back, feet planted. Colossus leans in, and headbutts. Bane drops to his knees. Still locked in the grapple, Colossus pulls Bane to his the feet, drops his arms, and gut punches him. Bane hops a few feet into the air and lands on his face coughing. Colossus stomps forward and PTANG!

Knockout’s punch rings throughout the stadium, Colossus reels sideways. “Aw, come on now, you didn’t think I’d give up that easily, did you?” She drives another blow to Colossus’s face, spinning him around. Her foe still teetering, she grabs his shoulders, lifts him up, and smashes him into the ground. “Strong enough for you, Bane?” Knockout taunts her teammate as she turns around to help him up.

Colossus stands, snarls, just a little, and re-engages. He grabs Knockout and turns her around, punching her head. The shot takes her a little by surprise, and allows Colossus to follow through with a second. He pulls both arms high, towering above the New God, he screams, “DASVIDANIYA!” and smashes down, clobbering Knockout into the ground. He reaches down to continue his assault and Bane is just able to snag his arm and redirect.”

“NO ONE BESTS ME!” Bane knees into Colossus’s side, punches his head, and lifts the his off of his feet. He tosses him into the ground. Colossus rolls over, pops up, and grabs Bane with an extended left arm.

“Please comrade, you are embarrassing yourself.” He tosses Bane aside, “Worry not, rebenok, I will come back for you.” Colossus hadn’t noticed Knockout rising behind him, coughing out the crushed earth kicked up in the fray. He turns to check her status and gets hammered in the face. Status checked.

“Okay tinman, NOW I’m pissed!” She limps to the follow through and punches him again, and again. Each strike pushing him back a step of two, until he lurches forward to stop the offensive, hoping to wrestle her down. The two lock up and push. Through gritted teeth and strained muscles, Knockout feels Colossus starting to slip. She surges forward, and takes control. She grabs him around the neck and slings in to the ground. This time without a moment of hesitation or boasting, she punches down. Colossus falls, out. Knockout sits atop his lofty chest, hair frazzled, covered in dust, and take a deep breath. “Good fight big man.” She kicks a leg into his side. “I’m gonna need a minute here.”

Slinking past the match of titans, Ragdoll makes his way to the fuzzy blue of his affections. “I hope your insides are as adorable as the rest of you.” He whispers in the mutant’s elfish ears.

“Da, you’ll find many things about me remarkable, I’m sure mein freund.” BAMF Nightcrawler disappears in a cloud of midnight sulfur, reappearing a six feet in the air, behind Ragdoll. He strikes out with his two toed foot and kicks him in the back of the head.

“Ow! You like to play rough!” Ragdoll lurches forward to attack and BAMF, he disappears again. Whipping around instantly, Ragdoll find Nightcrawler above him again, this time punching chest height. Ragdoll bends backwards 90 degrees, avoiding the punch. BAMF Nightcrawler teleports into another attack, again Ragdoll contorts into an impossible position to avoid.

“You are not so easy to hit, I see.” Nightcrawler pops across, giving himself some distance.

“Ve may be here a while.” He ‘ports again and the two tussle in a confusing cloud of indigo.

Jogging past the smokey confrontation, Scandal Savage arrives face to face with Meggan, “Looks like I get the hot one.” She winks, but wastes no time in attack. He plunges her Lamentation Blades towards Meggan’s midsection. On instinct, Meggan conjures her abdomen into rock hard plates. The attack glances off. “Interesting,” Scandal pulls back, “This could get fun.” She slashes again, Meggan raises her arms and scales appear, blocking the strike. Scandal flips over Meggan, hoping to land as a surprise, preventing the automatic mutations. Wings pop out of Meggan’s back and flap once, propelling her away from Scandal. “This could be a LOT of fun!” Scandal smiles and spins low, tripping Meggan, knocking her onto her back. Scandal pops up and ax kicks down.

Meggan rolls out of the way and on all fours, she grows twenty feet tall, her neck stretches out, her face pulls, the armored scales on her midsection and arms sprout around her body, the leathery wings expand, and a long tail stretches out. “Still fun?” The looming dragon snaps at Scandal.

“Not fun, not fun!” Scandal turns to run, but Meggan flaps into the air and in one thrust, has Scandal in her talons. She tosses her upward, and snaps her up in her jaws.

From the ground, Catman’s gaze follows the dragon around the arena and back to her starting area. As it lands, he’s confronted directly in front of him by a young woman in a blue tights, a leather jacket, and a mask. “Well, hello there.”

“Are those whiskers? What are you? Cat-Man, or something dumb like that?”

“Uh, well, yes…”

“I’m Kitty!” Shadowcat smiles and punches him in the nose.

“Of course you are…” He mumbles through the bloody nose. “Look, I really don’t to hu…” she punches him again. “Okay listen little girl! I…” she punches him again.

“Good luck!” She taunts pressing her advantage, she punches out again, though this time, Catman grabs her arm.

“I’ve had enough of this!” He pulls her into him, ready to punch. He’s a hunter, a tracker, a fighter, he puts everything he has into the punch, he pushes through the target. He’s incredibly surprised to find the he actually punches through the target though, as Kitty Pryde phases through his grip and his attack. He loses his balance and falls on the ground. Kitty kicks him in the head.

Catman turns on the ground and tosses three catarangs. They glide through their target, the same as his punch. She kicks him again.

“Ooh! Cat toys?” She swipes into his utility belt and empties its contents on the ground in front of them.

As Catman scrambling to collect BAMF! Nightcrawler cracks him the back of the head with a kid. “Guten tag Katya, I know you do not require my assistance, but I believe zat I require yours!” He grabs his long time friend and teammate and BAMF

“I thought you’d left me forever, oh I’m so glad that I you’re back! I can’t wait to wear your fuzzy skin as a cape!”

“See vhat I mean?” Nightcrawler shores up with Kitty. Captain Britain flys over ands with them. Seeing her teammates, Meggan flies over in her dragon form and settles with a WHOMP. She turns back into her human form, standing next to her husband.

“More of them? I hope they aren’t as tough as the metal guy.” Knockout walks up behind Ragdoll.

“I hope they are.” Bane rolls his head, cracking his neck. He reaches down and doubles his Venom dosage. His muscles pop, his veins bulge, and he flexes, ready to fight.

“Two’s company, three’s a party, five… I guess we’ll see.”

Nightcrawler BAMFs out above Bane and kicks down, Bane is far quicker than Nightcrawler anticipated for a man his size. He grabs the foot.

“I think not señor.” Nightcrawler tries to teleport away, Bane’s kung fu grip refuses to relinquish.

“Mein Gott!” Nightcrawler pops in and out around around the stadium, bane refusing to let go. He tries one final tactic, launching himself him, and a series of as many short trips as he can make. “I know zat I am used to my powers, I have found most others are not!”

“You will find I do not give up easily.” The two reach the top of the domed energy field encapsulating battle. Huffing and puffing, Nightcrawler passes out. The two plummet to the ground, landing in a cloud of dirt.

“Kurt!” Kitty Pryde calls out.

“”Yes… Kurt was his name, I knew that because he and I were very close.”

“You son of a… “ Kitty storms off after Ragdoll. She throws a punch and he swings underneath it. She grabs his arm and he pulls it immediately out of her grasp. He smacks her coolly as he swings it back around. “I see why he hated you so much.”

“Hated? Why ‘m hurt!”

“Not as bad as you’re about to be.” Shadowcat dives on top, as Ragdoll impossible pulls himself out from under her, he’s abruptly stopped. He stares down, his legs having been phased into the ground. “Dodge this.” Kitty kicks him in the head.

“I can pull you out!” Knockout walks up

“NO NO NO NO! I’LL BE RIPPED IN HALF!”

“Suit yourself,” Knockout drops his raggedy hair and moves on to his attacker, she opens her arms and Kitty phases right through. She whirls around and finds Kitty reaching out, pulling her into the same ground, then running off. “Think that kind of thing will work on me?” She pulls her legs up and bursts through the ground. “I’m made of sterner stuff than that one!”

“I’d hope so, for your sake.” Captain Britain saunters up and punches. Knockout takes the hit and cracks back. Meggan rushes to his aid, transforming into a werewolf along the way. She leaps, fangs bared, claws out, and latches onto to Knockout.

While his adversary is tussling with the lycanthrope, Captain Britain gets in his shots. He punches around Meggan with every available opportunity. He smashes down, as hard as he can hitting legs, sides, back, head, until Knockout gets a good grip and tosses Meggan aside.

Turning her full attention to Captain Britain, Knockout unleashes a thunderous flurry of punches. The two box away, each refusing to yield. Knockout is stronger, tougher, has slighgtly more endurance, but the fight with Colossus took a lot out of her. Captain Britain came in fresh, full of confidence. The two stand heaving, each punch losing a small amount of force until a shadow slowly casts over them.

Meggan, morphed into a gryphon, lands claws first on Knockout. Pinned to the ground, Knockout struggles to escape. Meggan’s beak, pounding down, tearing at the flesh of the Fury. Eventually escaping, Knockout slips out from under the monster. Captain Britain pulls together all of his strength and punches Knockout as she gets up. Knockout and Captain Britain both collapse.

Meggan rears her eagle head and lets out a cry before taking to the air to survey her opponents. Just as her feet leave the ground, she notices Bane climbing out of the crater he made, holding a lifeless Nightcrawler. He runs up, springs over her head, and lands on her back. He activates his Venom once more and wraps his arms around her neck, choking her as she flies. She gets a few feet into the air, unable to shake her assailant when an idea pops into her head.

Using her eagle eyes, she finds Shadowcat, standing and ready to fight. Meggan makes a hard turn barrelling through the air on a direct collision course with her friend. Kitty knows the play here. As her friend arrives she phases. The mythical beasts and it’s passenger zoom through. Meggan passes unharmed, but the electric mechanism that affords Bane his strength is compromised as it phases. The wristband sputter with electricity that tracks up Bane’s Venom tube, shocking him. He tumbles off and rolls on the ground. The hose on the back of his head pops off and the green liquid oozes out. Bane tries to stand, but the bruises and cuts of are starting to show. The wounds he was able to push through on Venom take their toll, and Bane crumbles.

WINNER: Excalibur

Guardians of the Globe (6): Invincible, Atom Eve, Rex Splode, Robot, Duplikate

Doom Patrol (11): The Chief, Robotman, Elasti-Girl, Negative Man, Flex Mentallo

The Chief wheels around, addressing his team, “Doom Patrol. I know that we’ve encountered more than our fair share of hard to explain phenomena. I also know that the Doom Patrol has always persevered through our shared adversity. This time will be no different!”

“Why not?” Cliff Steele, better known as Robotman, storms off, “Maybe I’ll feel better after some punching.”

“I’ll watch over your corporeal form Lawrence.” The Negative man slips out of his body and rushes ahead. Elastic-Girl and Flex Mentallo follow in suit, somewhat reluctantly stomping off to battle.

Robot scans the Doom Patrol as they’re huddled, taking orders. “Interesting power readings.” He watches the body of Larry Trainor drop. “Most interesting…”

“Interesting powers? I’ve got you covered!” Rex Splode leaps in front of his team, reaching into his pockets and grabbing the small staves he uses for just such an occasion. He pushes them to an unstable molecular stability and throws them. The resultant explosion scatters the morosely advancing Robotman, Elastic-Girl, and Flex Mentallo. Negative Man streaks past, seemingly unaffected.

“How’d I miss that one?” Rex questions without noticing the trail of his blast turning back to him.

“It didn’t, he’s absorbing it!” Robot shouts too late, Negative Man pulls together the remainder of the blast and redirects it at Robot. “Can it tin man!”

“Hey now! Let’s not make this a robot thing!” Robotman bellows from behind, gathering himself up and resuming his march.

“I guess there’s no reasoning with them, Eve.” Invincible turns away from his partner and dashes off, punching Robotman in the gut. The force of the blow bends him in half, dents his steely exterior, and send him flying back.

“I think I see a worthy contender!” Flex Mentallo picks himself up and begins to stride toward Invincible.

Seeing the confident visage of Flex Mentallo approaching, Invincible turns his attentions and confronts him. He punches Flex in the face. The hit turns Flex’s head, blood shoots from the side of his lips and he takes a step back. Flex recenters and punches back. Invincible is stunned that Flex could take the punch. He hits him back, as hard as he can. Flex braces for it, a bizarre “Hero of the Beach” appears glowing above his head, and Mark’s hand crumbles punching into Mentallo’s chest.

Pulling his broken right hand back, Invincible looks confused and angry, he lashes out with his left. Flex Mentallo puts his hands on his hips and puffs out his chest, “Hero of the Beach” appears again. Invincible’s left smashes against the muscular chest.

“Mark!’ Atom Eve shrieks taking to the air, “You bastard!” she forms up large pink glowing constructs around her fists and starts pounding as she reaches the Man of Muscle Mystery. Surprisingly, her constructs push through the Hero Halo and Flex drops. Atom Eve continues to punch until Elasti-Girl reaches out, growing to suit, and grabs her from behind. Eve, furious, busts out of Elasti-Girl’s hand and punches her in the face. The strike topples the giant, but Eve stays in pursuit, shouting, “They always just get back up, don’t they? NOT TODAY!”

ZAP! Negative Man envelopes Atom Eve with negative energy, forcing her constructs to fail, and she drops from the sky, saving Elasti-Girl the fury.

Rex Splode dives towards her to catch her before hitting the ground, he stands her up and asks, “Are you okay?”

“I’m… I’m fine. I don’t know why my powers just… REX!”

Behind them Robotman grabs Rex Splode by the shoulder, and turns him around. Rex fights and kicks trying to escape, but the grasp it too strong. Rex reaches out and grabs a hold of Robotman’s arm and looks back at Eve to yell, “RUN!” Robotman punches Rex and drops him unconscious.

Robotman takes one step away, after the fleeing Atom Eve, when he notices that his arm is beginning to glow. The luminance spreads to his shoulder and grows brighter. “Aw crud…:” Robotman’s body explodes.

“Of course they’d focus on that crude machine first.” Robot scoffs as he quietly sneaks past the Doom Patrol on his way to the Niles Caulder. “I saw the energy form leave that body, and that other man is guarding it for a reason, it stands to reason that’s how I stop him.”

As he sneaks around he notices Invincible’s battered hands, and starts to worry about the uncomputable power of Flex Mentallo as well. He see Invincible take off after him, trying to add to the damage Eve was able to do. “Fascinating, he thinks to himself, “it seems that Eve’s manipulation of the atomic of structure of things was able to force it’s way through, but Invincibles brute was is not.”

Invincible tries to wrap his arms around Flex Mentallo’s midsection and fly off with him, but he continues to slip from his hold until Negative Man soars through the Viltrumite. Invincible seizes up as he’s phased through. Negative Man whips around and blasts down with everything he has. Mark Grayson collapses. With after taking out a few of the Guardians, Negative Man is spent, he rushes back to his body to recoup.

Not a moment too soon, the body of Larry Trainor sits up. He gazes out and see Robot lurking a few steps away. He rolls over and stands. Robot fires an energy blast at newly reanimated body. It bends around him. “I see you have some of the powers when your two selves are bonded.” He rushes towards him, “But I know your physical body holds it’s weaknesses.” Robot reaches to take hold when unexpectedly, the Chief launches himself from his wheelchair, legs dangling behind. He slaps a small patch on Robot’s head piece it falls.

“A little something I keep in case Cliff gets in one of his moods. I can’t guarantee how long it will last though.” He begins fiddling around, probing at the bolts keeping the Robot armor together until he’s able to pop the head off. “My god, there’s a man in here!” Caulder exclaims, removing the helmet.

“Well, ain’t that special?” Trainor walks up to the armor and gives it a swift kick. He hops around after doing so hurts his toe.

The eyes of Rudolph Conner, in the cloned body of Rex Splode, sitting in the Robot armor, open wide. “I may not be able to access my robotic functions, but I don’t need them to exploit your weakness.” he lifts his arm and punches Caulder. Turning to attack his protector, eh witnesses the body collapse again.

Robot moves to strike fast, before the Negative Man can escape, while the body is still vulnerable. He picks him and prepares to dispose of the body when surprising him yet again, the Negative spirit is nowhere to be found. Larry Trainor looks down at the Chief, “Sorry about this.” And he pulls the bandages off of his face. The radiation leaks off in a strange dark glow, focused on Robot. The exposed skin on his Robot’s head begins to form boils and peel off. The two drop.

The depowered Atom Eve is running, chased by Elastic-Girl,  at the far end of the stadium, having witnessed the fall of Robot, Invincible, Rex, and Kate… wait… where’s Kate?!? The answer comes quickly, as three versions of her friend pop out and jump Elasti-Girl. Elasti-Girl pulls one off and tosses it aside, she swats another one and as she reaches to grab the third and pull it off of her, a fourth one is left behind. The three discarded Kate’s attack again, as the fourth is brushed off, falling it splits into two additional. Now six, each clone pops into two and a dozen wash over the towering member of the Doom Patrol.

Flex Mentallo rushes to her aid. He looks into the pile of Dupli-Kates and pulls his arms down, flexing his biceps inward, his “Hero of the Beach” aura pops overhead, and the heap of Kate’s is reduced back to one. Elasti-Girl is nowhere to be found. Flex snarls and glares, pushing his facial muscles to the max, Dupli-Kate drops to the ground.

Atom Eve stands pushing through the Negative Man’s intrusion. Her power begins flickering on and off, like a car trying to start, until POP! She begins glowing with a soft, radiant pink. She pushes out, transforming the air around her into explosive blasts, knocking Flex down, distracting him from focusing his powers. She thrashes down again. She pulls the ground up around him, and brings it crashing down, burying him under a pile of debris. Before he has a chance to flex his way out, the debris turns to water and sits, in a giant bubble around him, as he swims to the edge, the bubble rolls with him.

Eve, concentrating all of her powers on containing the Man of Muscle Mystery, doesn’t notice Elasti-Girl running up to her, hidden in her shrunken down size. She pops up in an instant and punches Atom Eve. The assault sends her to the ground, landing hard on her back. Flex Mentallo washes aside with the water. Elasti-Girl doesn’t waste her advantage and stomps down.

WINNER: Doom Patrol

Asgardians (2): Fandral the Fair, Hogun the Horrible, Volstagg the Voluminous, Thor, Lady Sif

New Warriors (15): Nova, Justice, Namorita, Speedball, Night Thrasher

The New Warriors huddle up, Speedball pokes his head out of the circle and pulls himself back down, “Um… guys, we have to fight actual gods?”

Namorita responds, “I think the red guy with a short cape may have some kind of demigod, and we just watched the New Mutants beat him. Besides, I’m pretty sure that my uncle has defeated Thor more than once.”The rest of the New Warriors scoff at the idea that Namor could ever best the Thunder God. “What? If he hasn’t, I’m still sure that I can!”

“And I know I’m good to take out at least one.” Justice coolly adds.

Speedball pokes his head upward again, “ACTUAL GODS!”

Across the craggy expanse Thor jests, “Doth my godly ears burn red with insight?”

“Tis truth, they seem to be disbelief that we are unbeatable” The Lady Sif raises her sword and steps ahead of her companion Warriors three and Thor. “To Battle!”

A round of resounding “AY!” is heard echoing throughout the arena. Thor raises his mighty hammer, Mjolnir above his head, sparking electric. “This is realm is full of strong thunder magics, I am powerful here as if I were in Asgard itself!”

There’s a flash of white light, followed almost instantaneously with a deafening clap of thunder KRATHOOM! The bolt of lightning strikes the very center of the New Warriors huddle. As they were arm and arm with one another, in such close proximity, the chain of electricity circles through them again and again until Thor shunts his elemental barrage.

Speedall, Justice, Namorita, and Night Thrasher all fall immediately, bodies smoking from the attack. Nova drops to one knee coughs hard and stands. He focuses the Nova Force and blasts into the Asgardians, full of rage.

The Warriors scatter as the Human Rocket flies to their position. All save Volstagg are able to dodge, but Nova nails the Voluminous, twin fists pressing into his generous midsection. Volstagg laughs at first, until he notices that he’s slowly sliding back from his position. “Well, we can’t have this!” He punches down on Nova’s back, there’s no effect. He punches down again, still nothing. “A little help here?”

Nova turns, slightly, and angles up, to all five Asgardians’ surprise, Nova lifts the god off of his feet and propels him through the air. Mid flight, he begins punching the god in the face, turns him around, and sends him barreling down. He lands between Fandral, Hogun, and Sif and the resulting shockwave of his impact sends them all off their feet. Only Thor, gifted the ability to fly remains at the ready.

“HAVE AT THE!” The thunderer twirls his hammer and waits for Nova to turn his direction. He launches the weapon with his tremendous strength and the object collides with the crown of Nova’s helm. There’s a blinding light as Nova’s forcefield is taxed to its limit and Mjolnir tries to push through its target.

As sight returns to the onlookers, Nova is seen laying on the ground, Mjolnir at his feet. “Another foe, vanquished by the mighty Thor!” the Odinson calls and Mjolnir comes rocketing back to his hand. To his surprise, Nova staggers to his feet, shakes off the attack and torpedos Thor, punching him in the face, knocking him over.

He turns on the follow through and punches down again, whizzing past to attack the other gods. He bowls through Fandral, Hogun sidesteps and knocks him with his mace. The strike does little good, but in his weakened state, it knocks him off course just enough to allow Sif to make her move. She takes a running start and slides underneath her opponent, as he crosses overhead, missing his charge, she stabs up. Most any other weapon, most any other warrior, most any other time, this thrust would fail to achieve objective. But Nova has been thoroughly electrocuted and bashed in the head by Mjolnir. He’s pushed through the nigh unmovable Volstagg, and been drubbed by Hogun. The Lady Sif’s sword is enchanted by Odin himself, and there’s nary a warrior her equal in all the nine realms. The sword punctures his protective blast and slices his midsection.

Nova’s flight sputters and he crashes to the ground. Trying to recapture his efforts and salvage the victory he stumbles and falls.

The Lady Sif stands, “A valiant effort,” she walks to her fallen combatant, “and a true warrior. Rest easy in the halls of Valhalla.”

WINNER: The Asgardians

JSA (3): Hourman, Flash, Green Lantern, Stargirl, SHAZAM

New Mutants (14): Cannonball, Magik, Wolfsbane, Karma, Douglock

“Magic,” Doug Ramsey tells his friend and body-mate Warlock, “is just another code, another language. And that flying guy in the white cape just gave us a heck of a clue.”

“Self-friend is correct, Doug. Query: is that why we are allowing him to fly above the battleground unopposed?”

“Mostly. Also he’s very big and strong.”

Douglock pauses to sidestep a furry missile as Hourman hurls Wolfsbane off his back and into the wall behind them.

“Oofta! Wee bitta help, boyos? We’re gettin’ hammered out here, an’ nae in the fun way!” Rahne growls as she shifts into full wolf form and races back to Stargirl, biting into her cosmic staff.

“Jeez! Somebody help me out with Team Jacob here!” Courtney shouts as two human-sized streaks of light shoot past her. She hears an echo of “Istilldon’tgetthatreferencebutI’malittletiedup!” as she and the wolf begin to float towards the ceiling of the cavern, where two backlit figures, one green, one gold, duel in the sky.

“What reference?!” Sam Guthrie yells as he chases the old guy in the helmet. “How can you hear anything when you run this fast?!” He had to be doing at least Mach 2 and didn’t show any signs of slowing down. They must be lapping the arena ten times a second! “C’mon, old timer! What’s your secret? Should I get head-wings like you and Cap?”

We’re only lapping the arena ten times a second and the rocket kid’s already slowing down! He’s wasting a lot of energy trying to talk at me, Jay Garrick thinks to himself. Wish I’d thought to wear goggles like him, though. Got him caught in my windstream, though– time to aim him at his friend who’s tying up GL!

Suddenly the scenery in Sam’s tunnel vision changes and before he can react, he realizes he’s hurtling straight towards Magik and the glowing green guy.

Aw, hell, Illyana’s gonna be pissed–

“Sam’s heading your way,” Karma says conversationally inside of Magik’s mind. “I’ve got my hands full keeping this Hourman guy off my and Doug’s backs for another… 48 minutes?! Merde! We need a new plan!”

“Kind of busy up here myself, Xian!” Illyana mutters to herself. Thankfully, the guy who looks like her brother in a white cape was still stuck between two teleportation portals, and the old glowing green guy was starting to wear down. Her Soulsword was starting to chip away at his weird forcefield. How can something be half magical and half… not? she thought. But Cannonball was soaring straight towards her! With no time to think, she yanks the big guy in the red pajamas out of Limbo, opens up one portal in front of Sam and another at an angle that should put him right above Wolfsbane, the floating American girl and this “Hourman”. An orange streak shoots through one portal and out the other, clobbering Stars, Rahne (regrettably), and the guy in the black hood. They all fall to the ground in a heap. “Rick!” exclaims… Green Lamp? What strange names these people have! “Courtney!” cries the flying guy in red with a lightning bolt– not to be confused with the running guy in red with a lightning bolt. Names *and* uniforms. If they weren’t yelling each others’ names I’d wonder if they even knew each other. “Rick and… Courtney, was it? They’ll be alright, Mister Green Lamp. My teammates aren’t killers.” Her Soulsword clashes against the blade of green flames the old man wields. “Myself, on the other hand…”

Alan can tell the Russian girl isn’t fooling around. Her technique with that magic sword is no joke, and those portals she could open smell like hellfire, which didn’t feel like a coincidence to Alan, what with those horns she was wearing– but she’d made a mistake, letting Shazam go to take out Courtney and Rick… “Sha– Billy! I could use some help!”

Too late, Alan observes. He thinks the rocket kid did it on purpose.

Karma staggers back as unconsciousness jolts her out of Hourman’s mind. It was much like losing at a video game where you could feel Mario hit the bottom of the chasm. “Great plan, Illyana…” she mutters as she surveys the crater. Sam lies in the epicenter, with Star-Spangled Girl (I think that’s what Rick called her?), Rahne and Rick– Hourman– littered around him. The red guy in the metal helmet (that’s Jay, the Flash, Hourman’s memories told her) is trying to wake Rick up, while the red guy in the cape (Billy? Captain Marvel? Shazam? Is that all one guy?) tends to the Stargirl. Douglock remains standing beside her, but techno-organic tendrils shoot out of his shoulders and drag Rahne away from Sam’s blast radius, all while turning his attention back and forth between Magik’s battle with Green Lantern and the big red guy. “So Illyana took out two of ours and two of theirs,” she says to Doug. “And Big Red looks upset. What’s the play, boys?” He’s got that look in his eyes– Doug and ‘lock are trying to work something out.

“Yes, the big red one is in love with the Stargirl– distract him. For at least a minute. Oh, and keep psionically shielding yourself. I don’t think anyone besides the Hourman has noticed you yet.”

“Gee, thanks.”

She closed her eyes and when she opened them again she was looking out through Rick’s. She could feel the– Miracle-Gro? No, Miraclo, that was it– coursing through his veins. She allowed the smaller red-lightning guy– Jay, Flash– Rick’s brain kept telling her– to help them up out of the crater.

“That rocket kid packed a hell of a wallop, didn’t he?”

“Sam. Or Cannonball,” she said with Rick’s voice.

She wanted to wait for the look of realization on the old man’s face, but she knew superspeed wouldn’t allow for it. Rick’s fist was just barely quick enough and strong enough to connect, knocking Jay out for what she knew, thanks to Rick, would be a two-minute concussion at most. She went to pick a fight with Big Red.

Billy had had about enough of this. The devil-girl had tried to trap him in some kind of pocket dimension full of demons, and then freed him so that her teammate could build up enough momentum to knock out Courtney and Hourman, along with one of their own! Once I knock out the robot guy and make sure that hotshot with the goggles is down, I’m coming for you, devil-girl. 

The blonde guy with the goggles and his friend the wolf-girl stirred, semi-conscious, in their black-and-gold uniforms. They looked more like an Olympic team than proper superheroes.

“Wha… did we win?” Goggles slurred as Billy approached. The Wisdom of Solomon told him to be calm, they’d all been summoned to the Rock against their will… but the Power, and fury and jealousy, of Zeus overruled him– they hurt Courtney!

“Not yet,” Billy said through gritted teeth. “Now stay down, Goggles, or I’ll knock you down again myself.”

“His name’s Cannonball. I’m Karma,” said a familiar voice behind him. He turned, and Hourman was there, with a weird glint in his eye.

“You’re Billy, right? I’ll say it like my old teacher said it to me… what’s your real name, Billy?”

Imperative: self must work quickly before LargeRedFlier sees us!

Yes, but quietly too. Reduce to 5% integrity. We may be able to get Flash and Stargirl out of the way while Karma has him distracted!

Douglock used his shapeshifting powers to turn into a techno-organic puddle, easily overlooked by the two super-strong men duking it out in the center of the arena. Karma’s thrall in the black hood wasn’t going to last much longer, from the look of things.

Analysis complete: staff fires plasma bolts and channels cosmic energy. Belt allows for reduction of gravitic forces on wearer. Neither can be assimilated as both are creations of foreign multiverse.

Damn, Doug thought. That would’ve been useful. He took it off her waist, tied it around her and the Flash’s feet, and turned it on. They immediately began to float into the air. With that done, he grabbed Cannonball and dragged him over to Wolfsbane, beside Karma, still shielded from their opponents’ sight and struggling to maintain control of Hourman.

“He’s fighting me, Doug! And Billy’s no slouch, either! Can I let go yet?”

“Yes. Goad him into knocking you out, then drop your shield. I want him to see us.”

“Easy for you to say, you’re not enduring other people’s concussions… here goes…”

Whatever had a hold of Rick wasn’t letting him go, and Billy was trying to pull his punches, but Hourman definitely wasn’t pulling his. “C’mon Rick, fight it!”

Suddenly Rick spoke up again, but in a different voice…

“We have him now, Billy! And we’re not letting him go! And we’ll take over your girlfriend next–” the voice shifted up an octave– “I dunno Doug, do we really need him him to think we’re evil?” But the strength of Hercules and speed of Mercury are faster than the wisdom of Solomon, and his fist was already connecting as he heard “no wait Billy it’s me it’s Rick–”

Douglock fired a warning shot from the cosmic staff to get Shazam’s attention. “You’re sure? His name is the magic word? And it’s the same as the wizard who brought us here?” Karma asked as the hero flew towards them.

“Yep,” he replied. “Query: what kind of corny world do they come from anyway? Be ready, his magic’s pretty powerful. You’ll meet with a lot of resistance, but you just need to get him to say the one word.”

Xian felt like she’d stuck her whole brain into an electrical outlet. This guy was fighting her way harder than any human, almost like–

—like he isn’t alone in here.

Illyana’s arm was getting tired. She was keeping Green Lamp occupied, but little more than that, and with Karma working on the Piotr lookalike, she was too far away from the rest of the team to tell what was going on. This old man won’t quit until one of us falls. That gave her an idea. “Oh! You have bested me, Green One!” Magik ended her flying spell and allowed herself to fall towards the floor of the arena. She saw Sam and Rahne unconscious, propped up against a wall beside Douglock, wielding the American girl’s staff, while Xian struggled with the big red man while the strongman in the black hood laid at their feet. She looked up and she saw the old man fly over to Stargirl and the fast one, trying to rescue them from the anti-gravity trap Doug must have made. Five feet above the floor, a portal opened. Five feet below the rock ceiling, a second portal opened. Illyana stretched her legs as she plummeted, and pointed her Soulsword downward. Momentum carried her right into Green Lamp’s unguarded back, knocking him into the other two opponents and sending them all falling through her next portal to the ground, landing on top of the man with the hourglass around his neck. Bozhe moi, she thought, I spent five years of my life in Hell fighting Belasco and I wear these horns. She pried the gaudy green ring off of the old man’s hand and prodded the speedster’s silver helmet with her boot. What’s their excuse?

Xian was at her limit. She felt like she could hear gods talking to her. Every nerve, every muscle was on fire. One word. Two syllables. Just. Make him. Say it.

Her brain was splitscreened, she and Billy could see each other and saw each other seeing each other, there were six other voices screaming in both their ears and the experience was maddening. Even controlling Madrox wasn’t the same, she thought. That was just 20 dudes who all wanted the same basic things. This is… is…

“Divinity?” Magik asked as she landed beside the other opponents. “Didn’t you and I fight Asgardians to a standstill? Aren’t you a child of the atom, trained by Xavier and Magneto? Fight them, Xian! Say the word!”

Slowly, the red titan’s jaw began to move. His eyes (and Karma’s) rolled back in his head. His mouth moved as his entire body thrummed with lightning until…

“Sh… sha… SHAZAM!”

Douglock, Magik and Karma squinted as their eyesight and hearing returned. The other heroes laid upon the ground of the arena, insensible but alive. As did a scrawny, black-haired boy in a red t-shirt. Karma staggered toward the boy to make sure he was alive. Suddenly the ancient, white-robed wizard who’d brought them there appeared before her. “My champion… you have bested him. You… you will proceed to the next round. How did you…?”

“You gave away your code–” Douglock began. Karma shushed him, stood and nodded in respect to their fallen opponents. “We’re X-Men,” she announced proudly. “We fight to survive.”

“Magic is not toy for children,” Illyana said disdainfully as they helped Rahne and Sam back to their seats. “I’d like to see Green Lamp or Kazam fight Belasco or Sentinels.”

“Green Lantern,” Karma said, distracted, as they sat back down. “And don’t say that boy’s magic word again. My head still hurts.”

WINNER: New Mutants

Legion of Super-Heroes (5): Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad, Cosmic Boy, Matter-Eater Lad, Mon-El

Howling Commandos (12): Manphibian, Zombie, Living Mummy, Man-Thing, Warwolf

You’d think that five teenagers, abducted from their homes, staring down five monsters, would be terrified. You’d assume that they wouldn’t know what to do, that they’d split up and they’d wander off into the woods and get picked off one by one in about 90 minutes. You’d normally be correct. But these five teenagers aren’t your typical teens. They’re from different worlds throughout the universe, they’re from the 31st century, and they’re from the Legion of Super-Heroes. And nothing they face causes them fear.

The Howling Commandos, assume, just like you might, that these kids will be afraid. They’re an… “interesting” team. Pieced together by SHIELD to combat the bizarre. They are the monsters that go bump through the night. They all have their different reasons to’ fight on the team, all of which is inconsequential to the fact that they’re each incredibly powerful on their own.

The Howling Commandos play to their strengths, Living Mummy and Zombie begin to shuffle out. Man-Thing and Manphibian lumber behind them, and Warwolf slowly stalk from the flank. The strategy is usually sound, if they’re unable to creep around in the shadows, lurk through the mud, and sneak through your subconscious, they make themselves painfully known. The eerie, confident march to their prey.

Saturn Girl tries to pry into their minds, “I… can’t really get much of anything off them. Half of them are all but completely mindless, and the rest have such brutal thoughts, that… that I don’t think I can control them.”

Saturn boy reaches out with his power too, “I don’t get it, there’s no metal, not much around them at all. And the chain on the zombie won’t budge.”

“They look like a bunch of old movie monsters,” Matter-Eater Lad chimes in.

“They look like they won’t mind that we have to take them down.” Mon-El adds, and dashes off.

The Howling Commandos were expecting the first reaction the teenagers had, slight confusion, which usually turns into abject horror. They did not expect Mon-El to charge at them, do did they expect his speed. In a flash he’s upon them, grabbing the wraps of the Living Mummy and pulls them frantically. The Howling Commandos however, are not distraught that the usual fear does not take hold. They’ve fought the brave, the warriors, the heroes of their world, and they have strength all their own.

The Living Mummy grabs Mon-El’s wrists, with a mystical strength that Mon-El was not expecting giving the Mummy’s sluggish crawl. He turns the legionnaire to the Zombie and allows the Zombie begins mindlessly thrashing at Mon-El.

“Oh no!” Lightning Lad courses out bolts from his hands. He knows they’ll have little effect on Mon-El, but he’s hoping they’ll slow the Zombie. It has little effect on the Zombie or Mon-El, but the Mummy holding him bursts into flames. He releases the Daxamite and begins frantically trying to extinguish the flames. Free of his grasp, Mon-El flies up and back in with a flurry of attacks on the Zombie.

After getting in a few good punches, and stumbling the monster back, Mon-El dives back in and finds himself caught by Man-Thing. Again, showing a hidden incredible strength. Man-Thing stares into Mon-El’s eye and purses out. “Whatever Knows Fear BURNS at Man-Thing’s Touch!”

“Hate to disappoint you, but that’s not me. Mon El breaks free, grabs Man-Thing by the arm and tosses him across the stadium. His back turned to the rest of the monsters, he’s helpless as Manphibian snatches his ankle and slams him back to earth.

“Can’t have that,” Cosmic Boy cries out and flies into the fray. Searching around the field for something metal to attack with, he looks down at Matter-Eater, “Tenzil, I need that chain, think you can free it up for me?”

Without a second though, Matter-Eater Lad confirms, “No doubt!” He rushes towards the Zombie, quicker than the heavy corpse can move, grabs the amulet sitting on his chest and takes a huge bite out of it. The gem in the center glows ruby as Matter-Eater lad takes another bite, and another until it’s finished. The chain around his neck falls to the ground and the Zombie stands tall and unmoving.

“That… that freed him entirely! There’s not a single thought in his mind!” Saturn Girl warns her compatriot a mere instant before the Zombie begins thrashing around indiscriminately. Matter-Eater lad gets knocked aside as the rampaging undead fit of destruction begins. Zombie then turns to the Legion’s core three and chases after them, but with their Legion flight rings, and the Zombies crawling gate, he becomes an easy evade.

Man-Thing can sense the panic growing in the discarded Matter-Eater Lad, and begin shuffling towards him. He reaches while the Legionnaire gathers himself and prepares to rejoin his friends. He is taken back as Man-Thing approaches. After the brush with death from the Zombie, and the half the Legion’s powers not doing much good, he’s a little afraid of what this one can do. Man-Thing reaches out and grabs Matter-Eater Lad by the arm, and it begins to burn. He thinks to himself, this is it. All of the adventure I’ve been on with the Legion of Super-Heroes, and this is it, this is how I die, burning to death, killed by an actual monster. He burns hotter.

Matter-Eater Lad reaches out in horror, in pain, and without thinking, or knowing, he grabs the Zombie. The burning courses through them both, and that send the Zombie on a far less dedicated march. He stumbles into the still aflame Mummy, knocking them both over, and the two collapse in a blazing heap.

Finally free of the Zombie’s hunt, Cosmic Boy lifts the chain with his magnetic powers and sends it hurtling at the two remaining monsters. It decapitates Manphibian and circles back to wrap around Man-Thing’s neck.

While the physical assault has little effect Saturn Girl flies up to the sole remaining monster. “Just one left, I can push through.” She focuses her telepathic powers, and shuts him down.

WINNER: Legion of Super-Heroes

Guardians of the Galaxy (8): Vance Astro, Yondu, Charlie 27, Martinex, Starhawk

Birds of Prey (9): Oracle, Huntress, Black Canary, White Canary, Lady Blackhawk

“Okay, we’ve got what appear to be five metas.” Oracle flips open a computer on the side of her chair, “I realize I’m not normally in the field with you, but I think I can find something on these guys if you can give me a few minutes…” She begins frantically typing away. “Not wifi, no 4G, no… no… NO! I’ve got nothing!” Let’s see what they’ve got and I’m sure I can get a plan together!”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way!” Black Canary rallies her troops and the four take off.

Vance Astro witnesses the charge and steps in front of his team, he hurls the ancient shield which once belonged to Captain America. It flies through the air as the four heroes sprint towards the Guardians. Black Canary, with martial trained reflexes, vaults over the disk.

“My shield now!” Oracle hollers from the rear, still frantically trying to analyse her opponents and connect to any available information system. “Wait… I… I’m not set up for it but give me another minute!”

“One minute might be all we need!” Huntress calls back, pulling her crossbow and loosing a bolt at her aggresors. The arrow strikes the mammoth chest of Charlie-27 and shatters. “Oh boy… one minute might be all we have.” Huntress corrects herself.

“Arrows? I’ve got that covered.” Yondu pulls his bowstring back and lets an arrow fly. Black Canary is able to just sidestep the projectile, as gracefully as she did the shield. Yondu lets out a small whistle and behind the women, the arrow turns and flies back.

“Behind you!” Oracle cries, but her warning is too late. The arrow takes root in White Canary’s back and she falls to the ground just as they reach the Guardians.

Martinex flares out a heat blast bushing the Birds back for just a moment. Lady Blackhawk leaps over the flames and jumps onto Yondu, she starts striking him about the face while he tries to fight her off. Huntress pushes through and tackles Starhawk, while Black Canary runs around and kicks Charlie-27 in the head, rolls off the attack, and lands on Vance Astro.

Yondu’s surprise is enough to allow Lady Blackhawk the upper hand, but Huntress just doesn’t have enough power to falter Charlie-27. He reaches over and grabs the ace pilot, tossing her aside. He moves to grab Huntress, but this time she’s ready to use his own power against him. She’s able to grab his arm and flip him onto his back. Yondu gets up and fires an arrow at Huntress straight up, he whistles and it turns towards Huntress.

Black Canary notices the pattern, “EEEEEEEEEE!” Her canary cry causes the arrow to lose course and drop to the ground. She turns from her position and ducks under an ice attack from Martinex. She slides past Charlie-27 and punches Yondu in the gut. She flips back and grabs Starhawk in a headlock, wrestling her to the ground. From her back, Starhawk forces out a photonic blast, knocking Black Canary back. She see Charlie-27 getting to his feet and pushes out another Canary cry, with all of her force. Charlie-27 grabs at his ears, his eyes roll back in his head, and blood starts dripping down his earlobes. He falls to the ground unconscious.

Starhawk floats up behind Black Canary, “Neat trick here’s mine!” And hits her square with another energy blast, taking her out. Blackhawk jumps to her aid, but Vance Astro rushes in and pushes out with his psychokinesis. The mental attack leaves Lady Blackout down. Huntress is kicking and punching around Martinex, and starting to show the slightest sign of effect, when she’s grabbed from the back by Starhawk, who tosses her aside and blasts her towards Oracle.

The Guardians of the Galaxy descend on the remaining Bird of Prey, while she’s frantically trying to hack into the Beyonder’s data source. Not noticing the Guardians upon her, she breaks through, “I’m in! Girls, I’m in, these guys are the Guardians of the… “ An ominous shadow looms over her computer screen as Vance Astro, Starhawk, Martinex, and Yondu reach their target.

“I believe this is mine” Astro grabs his shield and shuts down the incredible mind of Oracle with a psychic push.

WINNER: Guardians of the Galaxy (3000)

Thunderbolts (6): Red Hulk (Ross), Elektra, Punisher, Venom, Deadpool

Planetary (13): Elijah Snow, Jakita Wagner, the Drummer, Ambrose Chase

As the Thunderbolts are brought down to the arena floor Deadpool muses, “Man I kinda missed the ol’ battleworld. You guys remember the Beyonder? Oh man I loved it when he went to Spidey’s and just wrecked the bathroom–” but soon he’s met with the stern gazes of his teammates as they try to work out a strategy, shrugging “Well, I guess you had to be there.”

The remaining four of the Thunderbolts take the opportunity to try to map out a plan, the years of military training among them giving them a bit of tactical strategy, but their opponents seem to just be four regular people off in the distance. After a few minutes of deliberation Thunderbolts draw their weapons and begin to get into position–after all their opponents look like four regular people, and one of them is pretending to play the drums.

Elijah Snow looks around impatiently, hands tucked into the pockets of his trenchcoat “Drummer, can you get us out of here? Not really in the mood to be a pawn in someone’s game.”

The Drummer waves his sticks in the air, beating against imaginary drums and using his technopathic power to try to mine Battleworld for any information. “Looks like the crazy cosmic being on that throne wants us to fight. Those people standing on the other side? They want to fight us, with guns. Lots of guns, and a Hulk.”

It’s that very moment that general Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross transforms into the imposing Red Hulk, leaping towards the arena at the Drummer. The Punisher and Agent Venom follow behind with covering fire, round after round of bullets rattling from their machine guns as the cross the battlefield with Deadpool and Elektra behind them.

The bullets are quickly stopped in place by the temporal powers of Ambrose Chase, each of them floating in midair before falling to the ground.

The Drummer wave his sticks in the air for a few beats, the Red Hulk looming over him but after a few beats the raging red giant reverts to human form and falls unconscious at he hits the ground without his super strength to protect him.

“Just guns now,” quipped the Drummer.

The battleworld arena quickly starts to frost over with ice as Elijah snow eyes the four remaining members of the Thunderbolts, his incredible ice powers dickly turning their guns into unusable ice blocks. Jakita charges in and knocks out the Punisher and Elektra each with a single punch.

Jakita moved closer to Deadpool, as more ice began to form around Agent Venom. “HEY BEYONDER” shouted Deadpool across the now Icy Arena, “I’M ON THEIR TEAM NOW!” Deadpool reached over and delivered a powerful knockout punch to Agent Venom.

“☠☠☠☠ YEAH! PLANETARY RULES!!”

WINNER: Planetary

Masters of Evil (3): Baron Zemo, Ultron-5, Black Knight, Radioactive Man, Enchantress

All New X-Men (14): Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, Iceman

Baron Zemo immediately draws his sword. In his own mind, he’s William Wallace, inspiring troops, fighting for the rights of his own twisted ideals. He honestly doesn’t care about the four individuals surrounding him at all. He knows they’re tools to be used in his crusade. He’s a little bit disgusted, thinking about the Mutants behind him, he’d fight them without cosmic influence. He doesn’t love using a Chinese man, but against filthy mutants, it’s acceptable.

Jean Grey sits across, reading the ambient hate emanating from Zemo. “Great, more of these guys.” She turns to fill in her team. “I’m pretty sure these guys are like, Avengers bad guys, the guy with the pink face hates us for being mutants, the rest of them just seem to be pretty normal type bad guys.”

“Baron Zemo” Hank McCoy, the Beast adds, “And his Masters of Evil. It’s always nice when they tell you upfront. The (very) tall one is Enchantress, she’s magic. The Knight is Black Knight- magic sword. The guy glowing green is the Radioactive Man, luckily we have a slightly higher than average tolerance.  Robot is Ultron, he’s probably the scariest. Zemo is skilled in strategy, science, swords, and swastikas.”

“Right, Avengers bad guys, got it!” Iceman jests.

“This is serious Bobby, any one of they’ve gone toe to toe with Cap, Iron Man, Hulk, even Thor.”

“Thor? Sure. But we’re the X-Men!” Now let’s chill these fools out! (I’m using that right, right? Right.” And with that, Iceman forms up ice in front of him and slides into the battle.

“I suppose we should help him?” Angel spreads his fiery wings and takes to the air.

“We always do.” Jean beckons for Cyclops and Beast to follow behind her. “Stay behind me, I’ll keep us shielded until you can a good shot in Cyclops.”

Angel soars ahead, passing Iceman underneath, and swoops down to make the opening gambit. “Well, first of all, I don’t think that I want you to have a sword.” He plunges with such speed that Zemo is unable to prepare, and Warren Worthington III snatches the weapon. He tosses the sword back and forth between his hands a couple of times, and decides to dive down to strike with it. “I could see myself getting used to this.”

At the peak of Angel’s ascent, Iceman reaches thee villains. He starts by encasing the distracted Zemo in a block of ice, “One down already, and we’re just getting started!” He continues to slide around the remaining four, encircling them while raining down ice shards. The Black Knight is able to shield himself, the Enchantress and Ultron don’t care at all, and the ice melts before hitting the Radioactive Man. Knowing what effect his radiation is having on the ice, he projects out his radiation and melts Iceman’s frozen support, his slide crumbles beneath him.

Angel’s dive reaches its target, just a moment before Iceman hits the ground. He aborts his attack to save his friend “You’re lucky I’m watching out for you.”

“And you’re lucky that I’m so worth saving!” Iceman continues to joke, hopping out of Angels arms and trying to attack again as Angel angles upward to build his momentum and make another pass.

“Why are you so violent young man?” Enchantress walks through the icy projectiles and strokes Iceman’s chin. She’s half a foot taller than the teenager, and as she reaches him, she bends down to kiss him, sealing his fate.

Iceman jumps back and sticks out his tongue in disgust, “Sorry lady, not my type!” And he encases her in ice.

The Radioactive Man walks behind and melts down the ice encasing Enchantress. “That’s okay, you’re not really my type either.” And with a deceptive quickness she’s back in front of him. She picks him up with her left hand, and pulls her right back to punch.

Suddenly, Iceman is pulls from her grasp by an invisible force. Jean and the rest of the team have arrived. “He’s all clear, take you shot!” she instructs.

ZARK! Enchantress takes a full optic blast in her midsection. The shot takes her off her feet and sends her flying back.

“Let me try!” Radioactive man pushes out his emissions.

“I’ve got this!” Jean pushes out her TK forcefield and bubbles it around him. “Hot enough in there for you?”

“You have no idea the power you’re dealing with!” The Radioactive man buckles over as he pushes the limits of his powers. The bubble flashes green, as the deadly isotopes try to escape.

“I think I’m getting the idea.” A trickle of blood starts to drip from her nose. “Scott, I, I think I can hold him, but I don’t know how long. Take the rest out and we can squeeze him down last.”

“Of course.” Cyclops turns his gaze to the Black Knight and lets loose another concussive blast. Black Knight takes the blast with his shield, but the force of it is more than he can stand. Digging into the ground, he slides back.

Taking inventory of the powers and levels he’s facing, Ultron is able to adjust for the force of the blast. He lurches out at Cyclops and clasps his steely adamantium hand around Cyclops visor. The red slowly peeking out from his clenched fingers until his fist closes.

Knowing the peril his friend is in, Beast dives in to save Scott. He’s able to pull him from Ultron’s grip, but his ruby quartz visor remains. Ultron crushes it in his fist.

“Thanks,” Cyclops pulls a pair of the ruby quartz glasses from a pocket. “Glad I’ve got my backups.”

“Your back or your front, it matters not. Ultron will defeat you all.” Ultron’s chromed maw cackles electric and an energy blast escapes him aimed directly at the young X-Men.

Beast’s natural athleticism allows him to grap Cyclops and dive out of the waw. “Oh my stars and garters!” This is not good. He bounds back and forth, dodging blasts setting up his next move. “Here’s a little something we picked up from the next generation!” He turns and tosses Cyclops at the robot. Cyclops lifts his glasses, and with no visor to control, unleashes the full fury of his optic blast, barreling down.

The blast rattles Ultron’s body, which remains unharmed, though the force is remarkable to jostle his interiors, the shot was wide enough that each slightly chink in the armor allows some to get through, and inside, the delicate guts of the android are pulled, torn, and disconnected.

Cyclops lands at the feet of Ultron. He looks up at the robot, still standing, towering over him. He hears the machinations of Ultron innards as his self repair sequence immediately kicks into high gear. Overhead, a dark shadow covers the glare off of Ultron’s chest. With a swift leap, Beast has reached the automaton and begins pulling at various parts, until he’s able to disconnect the head. The eyes, once a glowing red, shut off. The body, once making the industrious sounds of healing, falls silent.

“That ought to do it!” Beast, more than proud of himself, knowing how much of a threat Ultron is, misses the Enchantress walking up behind himself and Scott. She’s already lifted his companion, and kissed him. Beast notices as he turns around to see Cyclops standing, angrily, in between himself and Enchantress.

In an instant red concussive force erupts from his eyes, sending Beast flying across the stadium.”That’s it, don’t let up, don’t stop, hit him with everything you have.” She whispers in Cyclops ears. Beast smashes into the stadium wall and sits, unconscious, feet dangling in the air with the force of Cyclops’s bem holding him up. Cyclops falls to one knee. “Keep going, I know how strong you are, for me? Please?” Cyclops continues to push out his blast. “Oh, please, please show me all of that power.” Enchantress smiles, as Cyclops beam begins to flicker, then stops. He collapses, powers, and energy completely exhausted. “Looks like I’ll have to do everything.”

Enchantress turns to see Angel swinging around the air, locked in a swordfight with the Black Knight. It seems clear that the Black Knight has far more skill with a sword, but Angel has a decided advantage in terms of mobility. She sees Jean Grey locked in a battle of wills with the Radioactive Man, and she see Iceman about to help out his teammate fighting Black Knight. “This one again.”

Waiting for just the right moment, watching Angel fly around and clash repeatedly with the Black Knight, Iceman finds and opening, and freezes out Black Knight’s sword arm, locking it in place. His shield hand still available, he’s able to block Angel’s attacks, but he’s no longer able to attack. He freezes underneath him to slide around and cover, when he’s grabbed by Enchantress.

“You’re friends are preoccupied, no one to save you this time.” She wastes little time, and even less effort, and throws him into the ground. She walks over the the Black knight and flicks her index finger out, shattering the ice.

“Thank you puffkin.” He bluntly states as he continues his tetatet With Angel. As he screams down to strike again, he swings out Zemo’s sword, Black Knight parrys as they’ve done over and over, but Angel is not expecting the follow through of an Asgardian. As he corners around off of the deflection, he’s met with the fist of a goddess.

“One left.” She smirks and turns toward Jean Grey.

Jean has battle training, and incredible mental powers, and she’s situationally aware enough to see she has bigger problems to deal with now than the Radioactive Man. She releases him. Much to her surprise, instead of the release causing an explosion of his power as continued blasting out, she finds that he’s either suffocated or worn himself out. The green radiation dissipates around his lifeless body in a cloud. Pushing through the cloud she see Black Knight and Enchantress approaching. She feels out with her telepathy but Black Knight’s helm provides him mild resistance, and Enchantress’ Asgardian mind is too strong. Perhaps if she’d been fresh into battle, not containing a nuclear bomb for the past few minutes, she could push through. It’s all she can do to try halting the Masters advance, but Enchantress is too strong, and breaks through.

As the Black Knight and Enchantress reach their target, and Enchantress grabs the last of the X-Men, she commends the young redhead. “Your powers are very impressive. And one day, I’m sure, you would all grow to be fine warriors.” She pulls Jean in closer to whisper, because the gods are nothing if not dramatic, “Today is not that day.”

WINNER: Masters of Evil

Brotherhood (5): Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Toad, Mastermind

Outsiders (12): Black Lightning, Geo-Force, Katana, Metamorpho, Halo

“These look like some bad dudes” Metamorpho helps.

“Indeed.” Geo-Force replies, “So let’s get on wit it!” And the five take off towards the Evil Mutants.

“What do we have here?” Magneto ponders, “Aren’t they rambunctious.” Magneto rises above his four conscripted compatriots in an aura of sparkling blue magnetic energy. Shoring together the powers of one of the most basic forces of the physical world he creates a dome around his team, and forces it out. The energy pushes back the five intruders and knocks them to the ground. “I don’t who you are, or why you’re here, but I’m sure your powers are dubious at best compared to the Mutant Master of Magnetism!”

“The master of magnetism, right? How about, gravity?!” Geo-Force pulls down underneath Magneto, the gravitons overwhelming the forces of magnetism, pulling Magneto to the ground.

Scowling, Magneto points and commands, “Brotherhood, ATTACK!” And instantly, Toad hops over the rest of the team and lands in the middle of the collected outsiders. He bounds straight up and kicks his legs out in different directions, booting Geo-Force and Black Lighting straight back. He lands, recovers and jumps into kicking Halo and Metamorpho. Halo flies back, but to Toad’s surprise, his foot is stuck inside of Metamorpho’s chest.

“Nice try buddy!” Metamorpho consolidates his fist into heavy rock, and punches through Toad. He drops the mutant and re solidifies, when he’s hit by a hex blast from the Scarlet Witch. Turning his attention to her, he vaporizes himself to float towards her. As he begins, he’s rounded by Quicksilver, around and around, forming a wind tunnel, trapping the Element Man in a turbine.

Katana slices into the vortex and Quicksilver stops on a dime, barely stopping at the edge of the blade. She pulls back and slices at Quicksilver again. He whirls around her attacks, dodging with ease, and in a moment, he pulls the blade from her hands.

“Yow!” Quicksilver drops the blade, shaking his hands.

“Soultaker is mine to wield alone.” Katana somersaults grabbing the sword as she passes. “You may be fast, but are you as fast as… lightning?”

From just behind where Katana was, Black Lightning fires a bolt of electricity stopping the speedster cold, leaving him convulsing on the ground.

Scarlet Witch blasts back on her brother’s behalf, and Black Lightning’s powers divert to Katana,Black Lightning quickly cuts his stream off, but he’s too late, Katana drops to the ground along side Quicksilver.

A Scarlet Witch prepares another hex blast, Halo soars overhead and blasts out her orange aura, pushing Scarlet Witch over. She pops up quickly, but Halo presses the advantage. “You can’t escape me, and I’m not letting you magic someone else!” Halo forces out a green aura to trap the Scarlet Witch in stasis.

Scarlet Witch pushes out a hex just fast enough to push the stasis field to Metamorpho, trapping him as soon as he began to get back in the battle.

Seeing his daughter fighting, Magneto searches the field for metal and finds Katana’s blade, soultaker. Silently it levitates up to and through Halo.

“NOOOO!” Geo-Force shouts, blasting the rock underneath Magneto, throwing him back. He runs up and grabs Soultaker, leaps into the air, and stabs Magneto in the gut.

Much to his surprise, Magneto disappears, Black Lighting is laying on the ground. Mastermind is found a few feet away laughing and rubbing his hands together. The distraction was just enough for Magneto to grab the sword again and club Geo-Force in the back of the head.

WINNER: Brotherhood of Evil Mutants

Ultimates (3): Blue Marvel, Black Panther, Miss America, Captain Marvel, Galactus

Metal Men (14): Gold, Tin, Lead, Mercury, Platina

The Metal Men bounce around and make jokes, “We can do this!” Gold encourages.

“May… maybe… we’ve fought tough foes before…” Tin offers.

“I know how to win! Mercury is the only metal that’s liquid at room temperature!” Mercury wraps his legs into a coiled tail and hops into battle.

Platina rolls her chromed eyelids and walks away.

Lead stomps towards the action.

Galactus, able to alter his size to fit any situation, has appeared with his teammates approximately ten feet tall. While they talk strategy, he grows to the height of the dome over the arena, confining him within. He reaches down and scoops up all four Metal Men in one hand and tosses them into his gargantuan mouth.

Stunned, the remaining Ultimates stare at the Lifebringer, silent.

These creatures are not life, you four are. It was cosmic duty to protect you as efficiently as possible.

WINNER: Ultimates