Colosseum - Quarterfinal - Shang Tsung vs Strazio Rockwell

[Strazio Rockwell]

There was no time to contemplate the sudden disappearance of reality, Strazio's opponent was already upon him. Blow after blow tore into the shattered mage’s body. Shang’s fists were stones and he struck with the precision of a cobra. There was no weakness to exploit, nothing to stop the unyielding flurry of blows. Strazio stumbled back with each strike, trying in vain to protect his gut from the assault. The numb pain that each fist brought sent pangs of fear through Strazio’s body. Desperate power raced through the avatar’s veins, his muscles surged with inhuman strength. Using his newfound strength he reached out and grabbed Shang’s arm. A blood-filled roar ripped from Strazio’s throat as he strained against his opponent. Using the remaining scraps of his strength he threw Shang across the street.

Everything hurt. His muscles pulsed with every heartbeat and bruises covered his ravaged body. His jaw hungs distended and hurt with an intensity usually reserved for mortal wounds. A river of blood poured from his face and mouth, staining the remains of his tattered cloak. But despite his shattered jaw and ruptured organs Strazio still stood tall. Wicked sparks ate away at the open wounds, closing them with flame. The side of his face was nothing but a seeping mass of charred flesh and burnt blood. Inside his mouth he felt his teeth, or rather the shattered shards of his teeth. He spit a mixture of copper blood and white porcelain onto the street.

“You movveruckers aways ave to it my ead” he snarled through a broken maw.

An unending rage burned within Strazio’s chest. He wished to beat Shang in the worst way. The pain in his jaw made him wish that the battle was bloody. He wished that every blow was a pound of flesh carved from a screaming body. Abbadon was never a more fitting word to describe Strazio’s charge. Shang stepped back, unsure of what unholy powered fueled his opponent. The Avatar roared with the intensity of a dying star. Shang smirked and drew a long double-edged sword from his waist. The soulstealer side-stepped his rage-drunk opponent and sliced

*SCHINK*

The Avatar scrambled to block the incoming attack and raised his arm. The blade cut deep into his forearm, slicing through bone like butter. Strazio swallowed the pain and continued the attack with his free arm. A bursts of white magic crashed into Shang’s body, forcing him onto his ass. Blood spurted from Strazio’s stump and his magick went to work sealing the massive wound. His hand hung limp by a strand of skin and sinew. Two sticks of broken bone stuck free from his cauterized stump, a grim reminder of his foolish charge.

“Your rage makes you foolish,” Shang laughed and stood “and I thought this was going to be a tough fight.”

“My wayge?” Strazio still found strength to grin, “it maykth me dangerouth.”

He ripped his worthless hand from his own body. The limp limb felt heavy in his free hand. He tossed the dismembered limb at Shang, splattering him with blood. The soulstealer smirked and flourished his blade. He raised his hand, palm up, and beckoned Strazio to come and fight. His arrogant display was interrupted by the smell of burning flesh and the sound of electricity arcing. White sparks of lightning consumed the missing limb and it became a small ball of energy. An incredible explosion swallowed his body.

Roaring echoed throughout the stadium. The sight of Shangs defeat made the already spirited crowd berserk. Strazio fell to a knee, he was almost at his limit and despite his cauterized wounds he had lost a lot of blood. Two more fight to the championship he thought I can make it. He looked at his stump and cringed, it pulsed with pain. Blood still seeped through the charred flesh, forming a small puddle on the cobblestone. His lungs burned with exhaustion and his ribs creaked with every breath. From the smoke emerged a figure belching smoke and fire. A bright red blade of light cut through the smog as Shang stalked forward. Burns marked where his skin had been kissed by the resulting fire.

“You’re dead, I’m going to grind you to dust.”