Aired - June 26, 2026
(Black screen. The sound of a heavy book opening.)
(A candle ignites. Ink creeps across parchment like it’s alive.)
(A choir hums low. A single bell tolls—slower this time.)
Voice-over (smooth, ominous):
“Once upon a time… they told you monsters weren’t real.”
(beat)
“They were wrong.”
(The ink burns darker now—spreading like rot across the page.)
“Here… they don’t hide.”
“They reign.”
(The words sear into the screen like a cursed fairytale title card.)
NPCW: DARK FABLE
Voice-over:
“This is the MYTHIC Division.”
“Welcome… to DARK FABLE.”
SIGNATURE MONTAGE (Q2)
1) Frankenstein’s Monster — Mythic Crown Champion
(Lightning rends the sky. Thunder shakes the frame.)
Mordred swings with fury—desperation made flesh.
The Monster does not fall.
He absorbs. Endures. Advances.
A hand clamps around Mordred—lifting him as if he weighs nothing.
A devastating slam. The ring buckles.
Silence—then impact echoes like judgment.
The Monster stands over him. Crown claimed. Not won—taken.
2) The Enforcers — Kong & Ogre
(Steel chains drag across stone. Heavy footsteps echo.)
Kong crushes a man into the mat with raw force—no finesse, only inevitability.
Ogre follows—lifting, driving, ending.
Tag precision without mercy.
Two bodies fall.
Two monsters stand.
Gold raised—not in celebration… but in ownership.
3) King Arthur
(A sword is driven into the ground. The camera circles.)
Arthur rises from one knee—battle-worn, unbroken.
A strike dodged. A counter delivered clean.
Another opponent falls. Then another.
He does not roar.
He does not boast.
He simply stands…
The last one left.
4) Takuma Ryujin
(A dragon’s silhouette coils through smoke.)
Takuma explodes forward—precision wrapped in violence.
A brutal strike combination snaps his opponent backward.
Then—final impact. Sudden. Absolute.
He kneels for a moment… not in weakness—
But in control.
5) Morgana Le Faye
(Dark mist curls across the screen.)
Her opponent charges.
Morgana does not move—until it’s already over.
A twist. A trap. A cruel, inevitable finish.
She rises slowly, eyes cold.
This was never a match.
It was a lesson.
6) Blonde Bombshells — Alice & Dorothy
(Bright light flickers… then distorts.)
Alice spins through an opponent—fluid, sharp.
Dorothy follows—precise, perfectly timed.
Double-team execution—clean, ruthless, synchronized.
They stand side by side.
Not innocence.
Not nostalgia.
Something sharper… wearing a familiar face.
7) Robin Hood
(An arrow cuts across the screen—transitioning the shot.)
Robin slips a strike by inches.
Counters instantly—clean, efficient.
Another opponent falls to precision, not power.
He looks into the hard cam—calm, defiant.
A thief.
A hero.
A problem.
8) Monsters of Myth — Hydra Veyne, Medussa Nemesis, Serpenta Veyne
(A low hiss fills the air. Multiple shadows move at once.)
Hydra overwhelms—relentless, many-headed offense.
Medussa strikes—cold, calculated, finishing with venom.
Serpenta coils and crushes—tight, suffocating control.
Three forces. One presence.
They do not fight for victory.
They consume it.
(The choir rises. War drums thunder beneath it.)
(The arena appears—lit like a cathedral built for conflict.)
Voice-over:
“This isn’t the North.”
“This isn’t the light.”
(beat)
“In DARK FABLE… the story doesn’t end happily.”
(The music drops—just the bell now.)
“It ends… with a winner.”
(beat—longer than before)
“And now… the winners are changing the story.”
“This… is DARK FABLE.”
The camera sweeps across Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The stone arches glow under torchlight. Banners hang from the rafters. The air feels heavier than usual, not with celebration, but with expectation.
This is the final Dark Fable before Ashes of Empire.
The crowd knows it.
A massive chant rises from one side of the arena.
“AR-THUR! AR-THUR! AR-THUR!”
The camera finds signs for King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, and the Champions of Camelot. Replica crowns lift into the air. Blue and gold banners ripple through the stands. The support is proud, loyal, and desperate to believe that Camelot can survive the coming war.
Another section answers with a roar of its own.
“RO-BIN HOOD! RO-BIN HOOD!”
Green flags wave. Wooden bows are raised above heads. Fans wear hoods and carry signs for Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Lark of Sherwood, Little John, Friar Tuck, and Allan-A-Dale. The support for the Merry Band is fierce, defiant, and less polished than the cheers for Camelot. These are not palace cheers. These are forest cheers. Rebellion cheers.
Then the sound shifts.
A deep red-gold glow washes across scattered signs in the crowd.
“MA-RYU! MA-RYU! MA-RYU!”
The camera catches painted masks, dragon symbols, and banners bearing the name Raigen the Maryu. His support is different now. Not just admiration. Not just hope. The crowd reacts to Raigen like they are watching something painful become powerful.
A sharper chant follows.
“HAN-SEL! HAN-SEL!”
The Eternal Flame Champion has his own corner of the arena burning loud. Fans hold flame signs and raised fists. Hansel is not cheered like a clean hero. He is cheered like a survivor the crowd refuses to abandon.
Then the camera moves to another pocket of the Coliseum.
Scaled banners.
Dragon crests.
Green and silver signs.
“SCALE-KEEP-ERS! SCALE-KEEP-ERS!”
The support for the Scalekeepers is focused and disciplined. This is not noise for noise’s sake. The crowd understands what tonight’s main event means. The Monster Bash Enforcers have crushed teams across Dark Fable, but the Scalekeepers arrive with Lady Ayame Ryu and the weight of an entire house behind them.
The camera cuts to the commentary desk.
Julian Ward: “Good evening, and welcome to NPCW: Dark Fable, live from Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum. I am Julian Ward, joined as always by Brick Brody. Tonight is not merely another chapter. Tonight is the final page before Ashes of Empire this Sunday, June 28.”
Brick Brody: “Final page? No, Julian, this is the part where the ink starts looking like blood. Everybody’s got banners. Everybody’s got songs. Everybody’s got courage because they’re sitting behind barricades. On Sunday, courage gets tested with fists, steel, and broken bones.”
Julian Ward: “Last week, the road to Ashes of Empire narrowed. King Arthur stood against Sir Agravaine, and the shadow of Mordred grew longer over the Mythic Crown. The Broken Crown made it clear that their war with Camelot is not only about victory. It is about rewriting the meaning of rule.”
Brick Brody: “And I liked every second of it. Camelot keeps pretending honor is armor. It isn’t. Honor is a target. Mordred, Myrrden, Sir Agravaine, the whole rotten side of that bloodline, they understand something King Arthur better learn fast. Crowns don’t stay on heads because people clap for them. Crowns stay on heads because somebody else gets dropped before they can reach up.”
Julian Ward: “The conflict in Sherwood also approaches its breaking point. At Ashes of Empire, Robin Hood faces Will Scarlet, while Lark of Sherwood and Maid Marion meet Prioress Malveil and Lady Isolde Blackthorne. The Merry Band stands divided, tested by betrayal, ambition, and the price of loyalty.”
Brick Brody: “That’s what makes Sherwood fun, Julian. All those songs about brotherhood, all those little campfire promises, and then somebody gets offered power. Suddenly the tune changes. Will Scarlet didn’t betray the Merry Band. He just stopped pretending he was happy standing behind Robin Hood.”
Julian Ward: “Tonight, that pressure continues. The Queens of Despair, accompanied by Huntsman, open the night against Sayaka Mizuhana and Mother Earth, who will have Lady Ayame Ryu in their corner.”
Brick Brody: “That’s not an opening match. That’s a bad omen with a bell. Regina, Malice, and Morgana do not walk into a fight to prove a point. They walk in to leave something damaged enough that the point explains itself.”
Julian Ward: “We will also see Ghost of Christmas Past, accompanied by Fenwick Grimbough, meet Prince Charming. The former Universal Champion remains one of the strangest and most unsettling forces in Dark Fable.”
Brick Brody: “Strange? I call him effective. Ghost of Christmas Past doesn’t need to scare you with what he might do. He scares you with what you already survived and wish you could forget. Prince Charming better bring more than a smile and a sword-polished ego.”
Julian Ward: “In tag team action, Monsters of Myth, with Serpenta Veyne, face Lady Guinevere and Snow White, accompanied by Merlin. That match carries immediate implications, especially with Serpenta Veyne scheduled later tonight for the Aurora Championship Tournament Quarter Final.”
Brick Brody: “That’s how you know Serpenta Veyne is dangerous. She’ll stand beside monsters, then step into a tournament fight like she was born for both. Lady Guinevere and Snow White better not mistake elegance for safety.”
Julian Ward: “The Eternal Flame Championship will be defended as Hansel puts the title on the line against Dread Knight 1, who will be accompanied by Myrrden.”
Brick Brody: “Now that’s a title match. Hansel has fire. Dread Knight 1 has no conscience. Add Myrrden, and you’ve got strategy with no mercy attached. If Hansel wants to keep that championship, he’d better burn hotter than fear.”
Julian Ward: “Then, in a major Aurora Championship Tournament Quarter Final Match, Serpenta Veyne meets Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts.”
Brick Brody: “That one’s poison against royalty, and I don’t trust either of them. Crimson Viper doesn’t need permission to hurt someone. Serpenta Veyne doesn’t need forgiveness after she does it. That tournament match could steal pieces from both of them.”
Julian Ward: “And in tonight’s main event, the Universal Tag Team Champions, Monster Bash Enforcers, accompanied by Dr. Frankenstein, defend their position against the Scalekeepers, accompanied by Lady Ayame Ryu, in a Universal Tag Team Title Tournament main event.”
Brick Brody: “The Scalekeepers have discipline. They’ve got dragons in their bloodline, honor in their bones, all that pretty stuff. But Kong and Ogre don’t care about bloodlines. They care about impact. Dr. Frankenstein built a team that turns opponents into evidence.”
Julian Ward: “This Sunday, Ashes of Empire may decide the fate of Camelot, Sherwood, and the throne itself. But tonight, every final warning becomes action. Every alliance is measured. Every champion walks closer to consequence.”
Brick Brody: “Good. Let consequence bring a chair.”
The camera pulls back as the torches flare along the entrance aisle.
The crowd rises.
The first match waits.
Julian Ward: “The final night before Ashes of Empire begins now.”
The torches along the entrance aisle dim to a low crimson burn.
A cold hush moves through Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The first music does not rise so much as it creeps forward.
Huntsman steps through the curtain first, carrying himself like a man who already knows where the bodies will fall. Behind him come Regina and Malice, the Queens of Despair moving with cruel patience. Regina keeps her chin high, her stare sharpened by contempt. Malice walks with a twisted calm, shoulders loose, hands flexing as though already reaching for damage.
Julian Ward: “The opening match tonight begins with a warning. Regina and Malice are not here to win admiration. They are here to impose despair.”
Brick Brody: “Good. Admiration doesn’t win fights. Fear does. Huntsman knows it. Regina knows it. Malice definitely knows it.”
Huntsman stops at ringside and turns slowly toward the crowd. He does not speak. He simply watches.
Regina enters first, stepping through the ropes with regal disdain. Malice follows, dropping low under the top rope before rising with a grin that never reaches her eyes.
The atmosphere shifts.
A green-gold wash spreads over the entranceway.
Lady Ayame Ryu appears first, composed and solemn, her presence carrying ancient authority. Behind her walks Sayaka Mizuhana, focused and balanced, her eyes fixed on the ring. Beside Sayaka Mizuhana comes Mother Earth, steady and powerful, moving like a force that refuses to be uprooted.
Julian Ward: “On the opposite side, Lady Ayame Ryu leads two very different forms of strength. Sayaka Mizuhana brings precision. Mother Earth brings endurance and force.”
Brick Brody: “Endurance is nice until somebody breaks the thing you’re enduring with. Mother Earth better watch every shadow around that ring, because Huntsman doesn’t stand there for decoration.”
Lady Ayame Ryu stops near the corner, her gaze never leaving Huntsman.
Sayaka Mizuhana steps onto the apron, calm but ready. Mother Earth enters the ring and rolls her shoulders as Regina and Malice confer in their corner.
Louie Linville stands centered in the ring.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall. The referee assigned to this match is Honest Abe.”
The crowd reacts as Honest Abe checks both corners.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Huntsman. At a combined presence of malice and royalty, they are Regina and Malice... the Queens of Despair.”
Regina raises one hand with cold arrogance. Malice leans through the ropes and laughs toward the front row.
Louie Linville: “And their opponents, accompanied to the ring by Lady Ayame Ryu. The team of Sayaka Mizuhana and Mother Earth.”
Sayaka Mizuhana bows her head once from the apron. Mother Earth steps forward, planted and ready.
Honest Abe calls for the bell.
Minute 1
Malice starts fast, but the danger comes from the corner immediately as Regina joins her and the Queens of Despair cut Mother Earth off before the match can settle. Malice springs from the apron with a somersault plancha, crashing into Mother Earth and driving her toward the floor. Regina follows with a vicious stomp to the head, forcing Honest Abe to warn her back as Huntsman watches without expression.
Mother Earth fights through the double attack and answers with an Alley Oop Facebuster, planting Regina hard enough to draw a roar from the crowd. The impact spills Mother Earth outside, and Honest Abe begins the count. Mother Earth rises at five and drags herself back in before the count can become a crisis.
Julian Ward: “Mother Earth absorbed a chaotic opening assault and still found a counter. That may be the defining question of this match. How much punishment can she carry before the numbers overwhelm her?”
Brick Brody: “That wasn’t chaos, Julian. That was strategy with claws. Malice and Regina hit first, hit together, and made Mother Earth fight from underneath before Sayaka Mizuhana could even matter.”
Minute 2
Malice stays on Mother Earth, snapping her over with a sharp suplex that folds the spine and keeps the ring cut in half. Regina holds position as the defensive half of the double team, blocking the lane to Sayaka Mizuhana without needing to throw another strike.
Mother Earth powers back with an Air Raid Crash over the knee neckbreaker, jolting Malice and giving the crowd a flash of hope. Sayaka Mizuhana reaches from the corner, calling for the tag, but Malice rolls through the pain and keeps her body between Mother Earth and escape.
Julian Ward: “That was a tremendous answer from Mother Earth, but notice the positioning. Regina does not need to strike to help the Queens of Despair. She simply denies movement.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly. Pretty moves don’t matter if you’re still trapped. Mother Earth hit a big one and still ended up in the same bad neighborhood.”
Minute 3
The match slows for a breath as Malice, Regina, and Mother Earth all brace defensively. Then the Queens of Despair strike again. Malice heaves Mother Earth with a Fallaway Slam, and Regina snaps her down by the hair with a cruel hair mare.
Mother Earth tries to defend against the double team, but the pressure is too tight. She gets turned, dropped, and dragged back toward the wrong side of the ring as Sayaka Mizuhana leans through the ropes, hand extended.
Honest Abe steps in to force separation, and the sustained double team finally breaks.
Julian Ward: “The illegal pressure ends, but the damage has already been done. Mother Earth has spent the opening minutes surviving two opponents instead of facing one.”
Brick Brody: “That’s what a good team does. Regina and Malice don’t owe Mother Earth fairness. They owe her a beating.”
Minute 4
Malice looks to continue the attack, but Mother Earth fires back with another Alley Oop Facebuster, throwing Malice down with stubborn force. The crowd rises as Mother Earth turns toward Sayaka Mizuhana, but Huntsman changes the match from the floor.
With Honest Abe drawn toward the corner, Huntsman uses the ring rope to snare Mother Earth, pulling her balance away just long enough for Malice to capitalize. Malice crashes back in, covers, and Honest Abe drops to count.
One.
Two.
Mother Earth kicks out.
Lady Ayame Ryu steps closer to Huntsman, eyes narrowed, while Malice snarls in frustration and tags Regina.
Julian Ward: “That near fall came directly after Huntsman interfered with the rope snare. Mother Earth had created an opening, and it was stolen.”
Brick Brody: “Stolen? No. Taken. Big difference. Huntsman saw a loose thread and pulled it. That is why you bring a dangerous man to ringside.”
Minute 5
Regina enters with authority and immediately brings Malice back into the attack. Regina goes for the hair mare while Malice tries to drive Mother Earth into the turnbuckle with a school girl setup.
This time Mother Earth plants her feet, twists her hips, and neutralizes the double team before it can fully land. The crowd erupts as Mother Earth shoves both members of the Queens of Despair away and staggers toward the center of the ring.
Sayaka Mizuhana stretches farther across the ropes, but Regina recovers quickly enough to block the line again.
Julian Ward: “There is the endurance of Mother Earth. Even trapped, even worn down, she found the base to stop a coordinated attack.”
Brick Brody: “And she still didn’t make the tag. That’s the only stat I care about. Sayaka Mizuhana can wave her hand all night. It doesn’t count unless Mother Earth reaches it.”
Minute 6
Regina grabs Mother Earth again and whips her down with another hair mare. Malice holds back defensively, forcing Mother Earth to think about two threats at once even when only one strike lands.
Mother Earth tries to brace and defend, but Regina keeps the pressure ugly and close. The attack is not spectacular. It is grinding, disrespectful, and effective.
Lady Ayame Ryu calls to Mother Earth from ringside, calm but firm. Huntsman remains still, his silence beginning to feel like another weapon.
Julian Ward: “Regina is not looking for a flourish here. She is using control, humiliation, and positioning.”
Brick Brody: “Humiliation works. You drag somebody by the hair enough times, they stop thinking about winning and start thinking about breathing.”
Minute 7
The pace stalls again as Regina and Mother Earth both brace under exhaustion, but Malice reenters the sequence with a Fallaway Slam that sends Mother Earth skidding across the mat.
Mother Earth refuses to stay down. She rises into another Alley Oop Facebuster, catching Malice and dumping her hard to the canvas. The crowd rises again, urging Mother Earth toward Sayaka Mizuhana.
The double team finally ends, but Mother Earth is too far from her corner and too battered to complete the tag.
Julian Ward: “Again, Mother Earth answers. Again, the cost is severe. Every counter is keeping her alive, but not yet freeing her.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the cruelest kind of fight. You land something big, and nothing changes. Malice and Regina have made this ring feel twice as long for Mother Earth.”
Minute 8
Regina takes control again and pulls Mother Earth down with another hair mare, twisting the neck and back as she forces her away from Sayaka Mizuhana.
Mother Earth rolls through and catches Regina in a surfboard, wrenching back with all the strength she has left. For the first time, Regina has to fight from a trapped position, and the crowd senses the shift.
Regina escapes before the hold can deepen, scrambles back to her corner, and tags Malice.
Julian Ward: “That surfboard showed that Mother Earth still has the strength to turn this match, but Regina recognized the danger and wisely left the ring.”
Brick Brody: “That’s not cowardice. That’s survival with a brain attached. Regina felt the tide tugging and handed the storm back to Malice.”
Minute 9
Malice steps in and stalks Mother Earth, but the decisive blow comes from outside. As Honest Abe shifts to keep Regina in her corner, Huntsman drives a clubbing blow into Mother Earth behind the referee’s back.
Mother Earth lurches forward, stunned, and Malice pounces immediately. She hammers Mother Earth down and keeps her near the center, far from Sayaka Mizuhana and far from relief.
Lady Ayame Ryu confronts Huntsman at ringside with a sharp step forward. Huntsman does not retreat. He only turns his head slightly, as if daring her to move first.
Julian Ward: “Another intervention by Huntsman, and this one may have changed the entire direction of the match.”
Brick Brody: “That’s why Huntsman is dangerous. He doesn’t need ten shots. He needs one well-timed one, and Mother Earth just ate it.”
Minute 10
Malice calls Regina back in, and the Queens of Despair resume the double team with colder precision. Malice snaps Mother Earth over with a suplex, while Regina rakes at the eyes with her fingernails, tearing away vision and balance.
Blinded and staggered, Mother Earth still fires back with a Double Chickenwing Facebuster, throwing herself into the counter and spiking the momentum out of Malice for a moment.
Sayaka Mizuhana reaches again. The crowd roars. Mother Earth crawls, but Regina cuts off the route just enough for Malice to recover.
Julian Ward: “That Double Chickenwing Facebuster may have been pure instinct from Mother Earth. She could barely see, but she still knew where the danger was.”
Brick Brody: “Instinct is good. A fresh partner is better. Sayaka Mizuhana is standing there like a promise Mother Earth can’t cash.”
Minute 11
Malice turns the punishment vertical, lifting Mother Earth and driving her down with a powerbomb. Regina follows with a small package attempt in the confusion, using the double-team rhythm to force Mother Earth into constant reaction.
Somehow Mother Earth breaks loose and cracks Malice with a forearm smash, a direct and defiant strike that momentarily stops the assault. The crowd rallies hard behind her.
Lady Ayame Ryu pounds the mat once from ringside, urging Mother Earth toward the corner. Sayaka Mizuhana is nearly halfway through the ropes, desperate for the tag, but Malice clamps down again.
Julian Ward: “The courage of Mother Earth is undeniable, but the Queens of Despair have denied every route to Sayaka Mizuhana.”
Brick Brody: “Courage gets applause. Isolation gets wins. Malice and Regina are fighting the match they wanted from the opening bell.”
Minute 12
Malice keeps Mother Earth trapped and throws her with another Fallaway Slam. Regina holds the line defensively, offering no strike but sealing the space.
This time Mother Earth absorbs the punishment, but there is no immediate answer. Her body lands heavy. Her breath comes slower. Sayaka Mizuhana shouts from the corner, but the distance has become the enemy.
The double team ends again, leaving Malice alone with a wounded Mother Earth.
Julian Ward: “That landing was different. Mother Earth did not spring back. She endured it, but endurance is beginning to look like depletion.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly. People romanticize toughness until they see what it costs. Mother Earth is tough. Malice is making sure tough is not enough.”
Minute 13
Malice circles with predatory patience. Mother Earth tries to rise, one hand reaching toward Sayaka Mizuhana, but Malice cuts her off and hurls her over with a final Fallaway Slam.
Mother Earth hits hard and does not recover in time.
Malice covers.
Honest Abe drops into position.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Sayaka Mizuhana steps through the ropes too late, her face tight with frustration. Lady Ayame Ryu moves to Mother Earth, kneeling beside her with controlled concern.
Huntsman enters the ring and stands behind Regina and Malice as the Queens of Despair look down at the fallen Mother Earth.
Julian Ward: “A punishing victory for the Queens of Despair. Mother Earth fought with tremendous resilience, but the isolation, the interference, and the relentless double-team pressure became too much.”
Brick Brody: “That was beautiful in a mean way. Malice and Regina cut the ring in half, made Sayaka Mizuhana useless, and let Huntsman sharpen the edge from the floor. That is how you win when mercy has no value.”
Julian Ward: “Tonight begins with a reminder. On the final road to Ashes of Empire, strength alone may not be enough. Without escape, without timing, and without protection from the shadows at ringside, even the earth can be brought down.”
Louie Linville: “Here are your winners... Regina and Malice... the Queens of Despair.”
Result: Queens of Despair defeat Sayaka Mizuhana and Mother Earth when Malice pins Mother Earth with a Fallaway Slam.
The screen fades to black.
No arena sound.
No crowd.
Only the scrape of metal across stone.
A single candle burns.
Then another.
Then another.
A long wooden table appears in the dark.
Not a feast table.
A judgment table.
At its head sits Prince John.
His robes are rich. His posture is lazy. His smile is thin and poisonous.
Behind him hangs the banner of the King’s Hand.
At his right stands Will Scarlet, one hand resting on the hilt of his weapon, his expression sharper than loyalty and colder than regret.
At the far end of the table, Sheriff of Nottingham stands with both hands planted on the wood, armored and severe.
Beside him are the King’s Collectors, Brute Bailiff and Ledger Knight. Brute Bailiff looms like punishment given muscle. Ledger Knight stands straighter, colder, his gauntleted fingers resting on a leather-bound book marked with names and debts.
On the opposite side stand Prioress Malveil and Lady Isolde Blackthorne.
Prioress Malveil holds a black rosary in one hand. Her eyes are calm in the way a locked door is calm.
Lady Isolde Blackthorne stands beside her, elegant and dangerous, dressed in dark nobility. She does not fidget. She does not blink often. She waits like a blade left on velvet.
The camera slowly pushes toward Prince John.
Prince John: “There are those who mistake disorder for freedom.”
He taps one finger against the table.
Prince John: “There are those who call theft generosity. Treason justice. Rebellion virtue.”
A slow smile.
Prince John: “And then there is Robin Hood.”
The camera cuts to rough, silent images.
Green banners.
Broken tax carts.
The shadow of Sherwood.
Then a brief image of Robin Hood, Maid Marion, Lark of Sherwood, Friar Tuck, Little John, and Allan-A-Dale standing together from earlier nights.
The image burns away.
Prince John: “For too long, Sherwood has been permitted to sing. For too long, the Merry Band has mistaken applause for law.”
Sheriff of Nottingham: “Law is not sung.”
The camera moves to Sheriff of Nottingham.
Sheriff of Nottingham: “Law is enforced. Law is carried through locked gates and empty roads. Law is what remains when the laughing stops.”
Brute Bailiff cracks his knuckles.
Ledger Knight opens the book.
Ledger Knight: “The first debt was collected. More remain.”
A flash cuts across the screen.
Will Scarlet striking Robin Hood.
Sheriff of Nottingham standing over the fallen outlaw.
The image flickers, then returns to the table.
Will Scarlet steps forward.
Will Scarlet: “You all loved the story, didn’t you?”
His voice is quiet.
Too quiet.
Will Scarlet: “Robin Hood, the generous outlaw. Robin Hood, the noble thief. Robin Hood, the man who gives everything away except the danger.”
His jaw tightens.
Will Scarlet: “He gave that to the rest of us.”
Prince John watches him with satisfaction.
Will Scarlet: “Every ambush. Every trap. Every time the King’s Hand came hunting, who got sent forward first? Who bled first? Who bought Robin Hood another heroic song?”
He looks directly into the camera.
Will Scarlet: “Me.”
A small sack of gold coins lands on the table.
The sound is sharp.
Final.
Will Scarlet: “What one man calls betrayal, another man calls correction.”
The camera cuts to Prioress Malveil.
She raises the black rosary slightly.
Prioress Malveil: “Sin often hides beneath green cloth.”
A slow image of Maid Marion appears.
Then Lark of Sherwood.
Prioress Malveil: “Maid Marion and Lark of Sherwood have wrapped defiance in righteousness. They call themselves protectors. They call themselves loyal. They call themselves brave.”
Her eyes narrow.
Prioress Malveil: “But rebellion is still rebellion, even when it wears a softer face.”
Lady Isolde Blackthorne steps into the candlelight.
Lady Isolde Blackthorne: “I was not brought here to argue with disorder.”
Her voice is controlled.
Elegant.
Pitiless.
Lady Isolde Blackthorne: “I was brought here to end its movement.”
A flash.
Prince John standing beside Lady Isolde Blackthorne.
His voice from a prior night echoes faintly.
Prince John: “My personal solution to persistent disorder.”
The image returns to the chamber.
Lady Isolde Blackthorne: “At Ashes of Empire, Maid Marion and Lark of Sherwood will learn that conviction does not make them untouchable.”
Prioress Malveil: “And mercy will not be requested on their behalf.”
The camera shifts to Brute Bailiff.
He leans over the table, both fists down.
Brute Bailiff: “Friar Tuck. Little John. Allan-A-Dale.”
He smiles with blunt cruelty.
Brute Bailiff: “Big names. Loud names. Breakable names.”
Ledger Knight turns a page.
Ledger Knight: “Three men. Three balances outstanding. One collection scheduled.”
Sheriff of Nottingham: “At Ashes of Empire, the law will meet the Merry Band in full. Friar Tuck, Little John, and Allan-A-Dale will stand across from Nottingham authority.”
Sheriff of Nottingham looks toward Brute Bailiff and Ledger Knight.
Sheriff of Nottingham: “And authority will have witnesses.”
The camera returns to Prince John.
He rises slowly.
Everyone else remains still.
Prince John: “You see, this is where the peasants misunderstand power.”
He walks along the table.
Past Will Scarlet.
Past Sheriff of Nottingham.
Past the King’s Collectors.
Past Prioress Malveil and Lady Isolde Blackthorne.
Prince John: “Power is not loved.”
He pauses.
Prince John: “Power is obeyed.”
The candlelight sharpens across his face.
Prince John: “This Sunday, Robin Hood steps into his reckoning with Will Scarlet. Maid Marion and Lark of Sherwood step into judgment against Prioress Malveil and Lady Isolde Blackthorne. Friar Tuck, Little John, and Allan-A-Dale step before Sheriff of Nottingham and the King’s Collectors.”
He smiles.
Prince John: “Three matches. One lesson.”
Will Scarlet: “No more songs hiding the truth.”
Sheriff of Nottingham: “No more forests beyond the reach of law.”
Prioress Malveil: “No more false saints of rebellion.”
Lady Isolde Blackthorne: “No more persistent disorder.”
Brute Bailiff: “No more unpaid debts.”
Ledger Knight: “No more missing names.”
The camera slowly pulls back.
The King’s Hand stands together around the judgment table.
Prince John lifts the small sack of coins and lets it fall again.
The sound echoes.
Prince John: “At Ashes of Empire, Sherwood does not rise.”
His smile disappears.
Prince John: “It is repossessed.”
The final image is the King’s Hand banner hanging over the candlelit table.
The candles go out one by one.
Black.
The camera returns to the ring as the atmosphere inside Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum shifts.
The lights dim.
A pale winter-blue haze creeps across the entrance aisle.
The crowd lowers into uneasy murmurs as Fenwick Grimbough appears first, hunched slightly beneath his layered robes, clutching a small book against his chest. His lips move before any sound reaches the arena, whispering words that feel less spoken than remembered.
Behind him comes Ghost of Christmas Past.
Tall.
Silent.
Old violence carried in a spectral shape.
Ghost of Christmas Past moves toward the ring without hurry, his eyes fixed ahead as though he is watching something that happened long before tonight.
Julian Ward: “There are opponents who threaten the body. Ghost of Christmas Past threatens memory itself. He enters every match as though he has already seen the wound he intends to open.”
Brick Brody: “That’s why I like him. Most fighters try to beat what’s standing in front of them. Ghost of Christmas Past beats what’s still living in your head.”
Fenwick Grimbough climbs the steps and pauses on the apron, whispering again toward Prince Charming’s empty side of the ring before stepping down to the floor.
The music changes.
Bright royal brass cuts through the cold haze.
Golden light spills over the entranceway as Prince Charming steps onto the stage. He carries himself with polished confidence, jaw set, shoulders back, every movement clean and deliberate. The crowd gives him a strong reaction, admiration mixed with concern. Tonight, charm alone will not be enough.
Prince Charming walks down the aisle with his eyes locked on Ghost of Christmas Past.
Julian Ward: “Prince Charming has never lacked courage, and he may need every piece of it tonight. The danger here is not merely physical. It is psychological.”
Brick Brody: “Courage is great until the past climbs into the ring with you. Prince Charming better stop posing like a portrait and start fighting like a man who wants to stay vertical.”
Prince Charming enters the ring and steps onto the middle rope, raising one arm to the crowd before dropping back down and turning directly toward Ghost of Christmas Past.
Louie Linville stands centered in the ring.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall. The referee assigned to this match is Honest Abe.”
Honest Abe checks both competitors, then turns toward the timekeeper.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Fenwick Grimbough... Ghost of Christmas Past.”
Ghost of Christmas Past does not move.
Fenwick Grimbough smiles faintly at ringside.
Louie Linville: “And his opponent... Prince Charming.”
Prince Charming steps forward and raises his chin, refusing to look away.
Honest Abe calls for the bell.
Minute 1
Prince Charming opens with speed, refusing to let Ghost of Christmas Past settle into his preferred pace. Prince Charming hooks him cleanly, shifts the weight across his shoulders, and drives him down with an Urbanizer Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker.
Ghost of Christmas Past tries to brace against the impact, but Prince Charming completes the turn and lands with force. Fenwick Grimbough stiffens at ringside as the crowd reacts to the sharp opening blow.
Julian Ward: “That is an important beginning for Prince Charming. He attacked before Ghost of Christmas Past could impose that slow, dreadful rhythm.”
Brick Brody: “Smart start. Don’t let the ghost haunt you. Hit him in the mouth first and ask questions when he stops moving.”
Minute 2
Prince Charming keeps pressing, rushing forward and throwing himself into a senton. This time Ghost of Christmas Past turns inward and absorbs the motion differently, catching the angle and neutralizing the full force.
Prince Charming rolls through, but the momentum dulls. Ghost of Christmas Past rises slowly, not shaken enough, not hurried enough, and the crowd senses the danger in that calm.
Julian Ward: “Prince Charming went back to speed, but Ghost of Christmas Past adjusted. That is often where his matches begin to change.”
Brick Brody: “You hit him once, fine. You try the same road twice, he closes the gate. Prince Charming better keep inventing answers.”
Minute 3
Prince Charming heads upward, springing into a Shooting Star Leg Drop with bright, reckless precision. As he launches, Fenwick Grimbough raises his book and calls out a strange stream of Ruke quotations, his voice carrying just enough to twist attention at the worst possible moment.
The confusion does not stop Prince Charming from landing, but it keeps the follow-up from forming cleanly. Ghost of Christmas Past rolls away before Prince Charming can build the sequence into control.
Julian Ward: “Fenwick Grimbough inserted himself there, not with force, but with disruption. Against Ghost of Christmas Past, even a moment of uncertainty can become dangerous.”
Brick Brody: “That little goblin of a manager just bought his man time. I don’t care if he’s quoting poetry, tax law, or a tavern menu. It worked.”
Minute 4
Both men pause defensively, reading each other as Honest Abe watches closely. Ghost of Christmas Past is the first to turn that stillness into action. He catches Prince Charming’s wrist, twists into a top wristlock, and trips the heel out from under him.
Prince Charming tries to defend the hold, but Ghost of Christmas Past drags him down with grim leverage, bending the arm and shoulder while forcing him flat against the mat.
Julian Ward: “There is the method of Ghost of Christmas Past. No wasted motion. He takes a limb, takes the base, and makes the body remember pain.”
Brick Brody: “That is old-school cruelty. Grab a wrist, take a leg, put a man where he doesn’t want to be. Pretty simple. Pretty mean.”
Minute 5
Prince Charming fights back to his feet and creates separation with urgency. He springs forward into a Standing Moonsault, landing across Ghost of Christmas Past and forcing the air from him.
But Ghost of Christmas Past absorbs the punishment without panic. He rolls one shoulder, turns his head slowly, and stares up at Prince Charming as though the impact merely awakened something colder.
Julian Ward: “That Standing Moonsault landed, but Ghost of Christmas Past did not give Prince Charming the visible reaction he needed.”
Brick Brody: “That messes with a fighter. You hit a man clean, and he looks at you like you reminded him of breakfast. That gets in your skull.”
Minute 6
Ghost of Christmas Past surges forward and unloads standing punches to the head, each shot heavy and direct. Prince Charming absorbs the strikes, then explodes into motion, climbing and rotating into a Death From Above Corkscrew 450 Splash.
The move lands spectacularly, but Ghost of Christmas Past answers the landing by gripping at Prince Charming’s body and forcing him to roll away instead of cover cleanly.
Julian Ward: “A violent exchange there. Ghost of Christmas Past chose blunt impact. Prince Charming answered with high-risk precision.”
Brick Brody: “And that’s the problem for Prince Charming. He has to fly off the heavens to match what Ghost of Christmas Past does with a fist.”
Minute 7
Prince Charming stays on offense and snaps Ghost of Christmas Past down with a Tornado DDT. The impact spikes the head and neck into the canvas, drawing a sharp reaction from the Coliseum.
Ghost of Christmas Past absorbs it again, but this time he is slower to rise. Prince Charming notices and circles, trying to turn the first visible weakness into a path forward.
Julian Ward: “That Tornado DDT may have finally staggered Ghost of Christmas Past. Prince Charming is forcing movement, forcing rotation, forcing impact.”
Brick Brody: “Good. Make the ghost dizzy. Hard to haunt somebody when your head just got planted.”
Minute 8
Ghost of Christmas Past finally answers with force. He charges and drops Prince Charming with the Blast from the Past, a running leg drop that lands with grim finality.
Prince Charming still refuses to lose momentum and fires back with another Tornado DDT, snapping Ghost of Christmas Past down before the colder man can fully rise.
Both competitors roll apart, the match beginning to stretch into something more punishing than either man wanted.
Julian Ward: “The Blast from the Past landed cleanly, but Prince Charming did not fold. He answered immediately, and that speaks to his resilience tonight.”
Brick Brody: “Resilience is nice. But that leg drop had weight behind it. Prince Charming is still moving, but every step is costing him more.”
Minute 9
Ghost of Christmas Past catches Prince Charming stepping in and drives him down with an Atomic Drop. Prince Charming grimaces but keeps moving, rebounding into another senton that crashes across Ghost of Christmas Past.
The two attacks collide in rhythm, neither man gaining full control, both forcing the other to pay for every inch.
Julian Ward: “This match has become a struggle of contrasting damage. Ghost of Christmas Past is using heavy, direct punishment. Prince Charming is trying to keep impact unpredictable.”
Brick Brody: “And unpredictable gets harder when your spine is screaming. Those Atomic Drops add up fast.”
Minute 10
Prince Charming returns to the Standing Moonsault, leaping with clean form and landing across Ghost of Christmas Past before he can fully brace.
This time the defense fails. Ghost of Christmas Past takes the full impact and rolls toward the ropes, forcing distance while Fenwick Grimbough pounds the apron once with his palm.
Julian Ward: “That Standing Moonsault found its mark completely. Prince Charming is beginning to string together damage.”
Brick Brody: “He better string it into a win soon. You don’t want to give Ghost of Christmas Past time. Time is practically his home field.”
Minute 11
Ghost of Christmas Past catches Prince Charming again with an Atomic Drop, stopping the forward motion and jolting the legs. Prince Charming answers with another Death From Above Corkscrew 450 Splash, the rotation sharp and dangerous.
The impact sends both men into a hard reset. Prince Charming lands heavy across Ghost of Christmas Past, but he cannot hook the leg before Ghost of Christmas Past rolls a shoulder toward space.
Julian Ward: “That was another breathtaking risk from Prince Charming, but he is landing these attacks with less immediate follow-through.”
Brick Brody: “Because he’s getting worn down. Every time he flies, he crashes too. Ghost of Christmas Past doesn’t need to outflip him. He needs to outlast him.”
Minute 12
Ghost of Christmas Past rises and drives through Prince Charming with a Running Clothesline, turning speed into collision. Prince Charming hits the mat, rolls, and still pushes forward with a senton, trying to reclaim rhythm before the match fully tips.
The senton lands, but Ghost of Christmas Past is already beginning to sit up beneath him, grim and unyielding.
Julian Ward: “Prince Charming continues to answer every heavy strike, but Ghost of Christmas Past is making each answer less clean.”
Brick Brody: “That clothesline was a wall. Prince Charming bounced off it, then threw himself back into the wall. That’s brave, but brave can be stupid when your ribs are involved.”
Minute 13
Ghost of Christmas Past steps in with a Big Boot, catching Prince Charming high and snapping him backward. Somehow Prince Charming recovers enough to climb again, launching into another Death From Above Corkscrew 450 Splash.
This time the impact is enormous. Prince Charming crashes down and the crowd surges, but his own landing leaves him clutching his midsection before he can cover.
Julian Ward: “That may have been Prince Charming’s biggest offensive moment of the match, but the landing took something from him as well.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the price of fancy violence. It hurts the other guy, sure, but it keeps sending a bill to your own body.”
Minute 14
Ghost of Christmas Past answers with another Big Boot, more direct this time, forcing Prince Charming to stumble into the ropes.
Prince Charming rebounds and throws himself into a senton, landing across Ghost of Christmas Past again. The crowd applauds the courage, but Prince Charming takes longer to rise. Ghost of Christmas Past turns onto one knee, watching him with cold patience.
Julian Ward: “Both men are beginning to repeat the weapons that have carried them this far. That often means instinct has taken over.”
Brick Brody: “Instinct and exhaustion. Prince Charming is still fighting, but Ghost of Christmas Past looks like he’s waiting for one mistake.”
Minute 15
Ghost of Christmas Past charges and lands another Running Clothesline, but Prince Charming slips with the impact, rebounds off the ropes, and catches him with an Open Road Rope Bounce Cutter.
The crowd erupts as Prince Charming hooks the leg.
Honest Abe drops down.
One.
Ghost of Christmas Past kicks out.
Prince Charming looks up in disbelief, then turns toward Fenwick Grimbough, who smiles from the floor with maddening calm.
Julian Ward: “That was Prince Charming’s clearest near fall. The Open Road Rope Bounce Cutter landed cleanly, but Ghost of Christmas Past escaped at one.”
Brick Brody: “That’s a bad sign. You hit one of your good ones and the man leaves at one? Now doubt walks in, pulls up a chair, and starts talking.”
Minute 16
Ghost of Christmas Past returns to the Atomic Drop, punishing Prince Charming’s lower body and stopping another burst of offense before it can unfold.
Prince Charming grimaces, but he still pushes off the ropes and lands another senton. The impact connects, yet his recovery is slower again. He rolls away on one elbow, breathing hard.
Julian Ward: “Prince Charming keeps scoring with these sudden bursts, but the repeated Atomic Drops are compromising his base.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly. No legs, no flight. No flight, no miracle. Ghost of Christmas Past is chopping down the ladder.”
Minute 17
Ghost of Christmas Past catches him again with an Atomic Drop, but Prince Charming refuses to collapse. He turns the pain into motion and delivers another Urbanizer Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker, driving Ghost of Christmas Past down hard.
Both men remain on the mat for a moment. Honest Abe looks closely, but each competitor begins to stir.
Julian Ward: “That was a remarkable answer from Prince Charming. Even after repeated attacks to the base, he still had the balance to deliver the neckbreaker.”
Brick Brody: “Remarkable, sure. But look how long it took him to get up after hitting it. Prince Charming is doing damage, but he’s not escaping the cost.”
Minute 18
Prince Charming digs deep and goes back to the senton, landing with enough force to drive Ghost of Christmas Past flat.
He covers.
Honest Abe counts.
One.
Two.
Ghost of Christmas Past kicks out.
The crowd groans as Prince Charming sits back, frustration beginning to show through the royal polish. Fenwick Grimbough whispers from the floor, his words curling into the air like smoke.
Julian Ward: “Another near fall for Prince Charming, and this one reached two. He is closer, but every failed cover gives Ghost of Christmas Past another chance to drag him deeper.”
Brick Brody: “You can see it on Prince Charming’s face. He’s starting to wonder what it takes. That’s where Ghost of Christmas Past wants him. Wondering. Doubting. Remembering every miss.”
Minute 19
Both men rise slowly.
For a moment, they stand across from each other in the center of the ring.
Prince Charming tries to launch one more high-impact attack, but Ghost of Christmas Past steps inside the motion with brutal timing and crushes him with an Axe Bomber.
The strike turns Prince Charming inside out.
Ghost of Christmas Past drops over him.
Honest Abe slides into position.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Fenwick Grimbough closes his book at ringside with a soft, satisfied snap.
Prince Charming lies still on the canvas, one arm across his chest, while Ghost of Christmas Past rises slowly above him.
Julian Ward: “Prince Charming fought with speed, courage, and repeated moments of brilliance, but Ghost of Christmas Past endured the storm and ended it with one devastating Axe Bomber.”
Brick Brody: “That was the lesson. Prince Charming flew, spun, crashed, covered, and kept asking for the fairy-tale ending. Ghost of Christmas Past waited, took the best shots, and knocked the story out of him.”
Julian Ward: “On the final night before Ashes of Empire, Ghost of Christmas Past reminds everyone that the past does not need to chase. Sometimes it simply waits until the present makes one mistake.”
Louie Linville: “Here is your winner... Ghost of Christmas Past.”
RESULT: GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST DEFEATS PRINCE CHARMING WITH AN AXE BOMBER.
The camera returns to the ring.
The torches along Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum flicker low, and a green serpentine light coils across the entrance aisle.
Serpenta Veyne steps through the curtain first.
She does not hurry.
She does not need to.
Her eyes sweep across the arena with cold possession, as though every sound in the Coliseum belongs to her already. Behind her come Hydra Veyne and Medussa Nemesis, the Monsters of Myth moving with predatory rhythm. Hydra Veyne is restless and sharp, all sudden angles and coiled impact. Medussa Nemesis moves heavier, colder, each step promising punishment.
Julian Ward: “The Monsters of Myth enter under the guidance of Serpenta Veyne, and tonight carries more than one consequence for her. Later, Serpenta Veyne meets Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts, in the Aurora Championship Tournament Quarter Final Match.”
Brick Brody: “That means this is a warning before the warning. Serpenta Veyne gets to watch her monsters do damage, then go handle her own business later. That is a good night if you like suffering, and I do.”
Serpenta Veyne takes her place at ringside, never looking away from the opposite entrance.
The light shifts.
Gold and white rise through the darkness.
Merlin appears first, staff in hand, his expression grave and unreadable. Beside him comes Lady Guinevere, elegant but battle-ready, her posture regal without softness. Snow White follows, composed and focused, her calm sharpened by the danger waiting in the ring.
The crowd rises with a strong reaction for Lady Guinevere and Snow White, but the cheers carry tension. The Monsters of Myth have already proven how quickly beauty and order can be twisted into pain.
Julian Ward: “Lady Guinevere and Snow White arrive with Merlin at their side. There is grace here, but it would be a mistake to confuse grace with fragility.”
Brick Brody: “I won’t. Lady Guinevere can hit. Snow White can suplex your spine into bad memories. But Hydra Veyne and Medussa Nemesis don’t care about fairy-tale dignity. They care about wreckage.”
Lady Guinevere enters first, her eyes fixed on Hydra Veyne. Snow White steps onto the apron, hands on the top rope, ready to be called in. Merlin stands near their corner, measuring every movement from Serpenta Veyne.
Louie Linville stands centered in the ring.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall. The referee assigned to this match is Honest Abe.”
Honest Abe checks both corners.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Serpenta Veyne. The team of Hydra Veyne and Medussa Nemesis... the Monsters of Myth.”
Hydra Veyne leans forward against the ropes. Medussa Nemesis remains still, staring across the ring.
Louie Linville: “And their opponents, accompanied to the ring by Merlin. The team of Lady Guinevere and Snow White.”
Lady Guinevere steps forward. Snow White raises one hand from the apron.
Honest Abe calls for the bell.
Minute 1
Hydra Veyne starts against Lady Guinevere, and the opening exchange is immediately poisoned by Serpenta Veyne at ringside. Serpenta Veyne runs her mouth from the floor, needling Lady Guinevere with a hissed stream of mockery and distraction just as Hydra Veyne rushes in.
Lady Guinevere refuses to be swallowed by the moment. She catches Hydra Veyne and snaps her down with a Snap DDT, spiking the head into the canvas and pulling a sharp cheer from the crowd.
Julian Ward: “Serpenta Veyne inserted herself into the match from the first minute, but Lady Guinevere answered with immediate precision.”
Brick Brody: “That is how you answer a loudmouth at ringside. You can’t hit Serpenta Veyne yet, so you drop Hydra Veyne on her head and make the message travel.”
Minute 2
Hydra Veyne tries to slow the pace defensively, but Lady Guinevere steps through the hesitation and lands another Snap DDT. The second impact drives Hydra Veyne flat, and Medussa Nemesis reaches from the corner with visible irritation.
Hydra Veyne absorbs the punishment but recognizes the danger. She rolls toward her corner and tags Medussa Nemesis into the match.
Julian Ward: “Two Snap DDTs in two minutes from Lady Guinevere, and that forces the first tag from the Monsters of Myth.”
Brick Brody: “Smart tag. Hydra Veyne got planted twice. No shame in bringing in the bigger nightmare before the third one lands.”
Minute 3
Medussa Nemesis enters and the match briefly tightens into a defensive standoff. Then Medussa Nemesis pulls Hydra Veyne back into the action, and the Monsters of Myth begin to double team.
Medussa Nemesis sweeps Lady Guinevere down into a Legsweep DDT while Hydra Veyne follows with a Standing Double Stomp. Lady Guinevere absorbs the layered impact, then fires back with a Sit Out Piledriver, driving Medussa Nemesis down and refusing to let the numbers bury her.
Snow White grips the tag rope, ready and urgent, while Merlin watches Serpenta Veyne instead of the ring.
Julian Ward: “The Monsters of Myth began their coordinated attack, but Lady Guinevere countered with tremendous force. That Sit Out Piledriver stopped the momentum from becoming one-sided.”
Brick Brody: “Stopped it for now. But every time Hydra Veyne sneaks in with those stomps, Lady Guinevere pays a toll.”
Minute 4
The double team continues. Hydra Veyne spins in with a back fist, trying to catch Lady Guinevere from the side while Medussa Nemesis holds position.
But Lady Guinevere reads the attack. She reverses the double team, forcing Medussa Nemesis and Hydra Veyne to collide in hesitation before she drives Medussa Nemesis down with a Pendulum DDT.
The crowd rises as the illegal pressure ends.
Julian Ward: “That was a critical reversal by Lady Guinevere. She not only survived the double team, she turned it into her own offense.”
Brick Brody: “That was clever, and I respect clever. Lady Guinevere made two monsters look like they were stepping on each other’s tails.”
Minute 5
Medussa Nemesis does not stay rattled for long. She calls Hydra Veyne back in for another short burst of double teaming. Medussa Nemesis launches into a Diving Guillotine Leg Drop, while Hydra Veyne adds another Standing Double Stomp.
Lady Guinevere grits through the punishment and answers again with a Sit Out Piledriver, dropping Medussa Nemesis with enough force to shake the ring.
Serpenta Veyne narrows her eyes at ringside. Snow White shouts encouragement, one hand extended for the tag.
Julian Ward: “Again, Lady Guinevere absorbs the double attack and still finds a way to land the heavier counter.”
Brick Brody: “She’s tough. No question. But she’s also doing all the fighting for her team right now. Snow White is fresh, and fresh does nothing if she stays on the apron.”
Minute 6
Medussa Nemesis drags Lady Guinevere back into the wrong side of the ring, and Hydra Veyne joins her again. Medussa Nemesis crashes down with a Big Splash, crushing the air from Lady Guinevere. Hydra Veyne follows with a Release German Suplex, throwing Lady Guinevere hard.
Somehow Lady Guinevere answers in kind, catching Hydra Veyne and launching her with a Release German Suplex of her own. The crowd roars at the defiant counter, but Lady Guinevere is slow to rise.
Julian Ward: “That was an extraordinary exchange. Lady Guinevere took a Big Splash and a suplex, then still found the strength to throw Hydra Veyne.”
Brick Brody: “And look at what it cost. Every miracle here is coming with bruises. Lady Guinevere is winning moments, but the Monsters of Myth are winning mileage.”
Minute 7
The Monsters of Myth press the advantage for one more double-team sequence. Medussa Nemesis drives a Leaping Knee Drop into Lady Guinevere, and Hydra Veyne follows with a Galaxy Missile Dropkick that snaps her backward.
Lady Guinevere staggers, catches Medussa Nemesis, and delivers another Sit Out Piledriver, forcing the crowd back to its feet.
The double team ends, but Lady Guinevere collapses to one knee after the counter.
Julian Ward: “Every time it appears Lady Guinevere is about to be overwhelmed, she produces another decisive counter. But the accumulation is becoming visible.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the danger. You can win a dozen exchanges and still lose the war because your body keeps the receipt.”
Minute 8
Medussa Nemesis advances, and Serpenta Veyne slithers along the ringside area, distracting Lady Guinevere with slow serpent-like movement near the apron. It draws just enough attention for Medussa Nemesis to strike.
Lady Guinevere still counters with an Air Raid Crash, dumping Medussa Nemesis to the mat, but the distraction dulls the follow-through.
Medussa Nemesis rolls toward the corner and tags Hydra Veyne back in.
Julian Ward: “Serpenta Veyne has not needed to touch anyone to affect this match. She is choosing moments of interruption with surgical timing.”
Brick Brody: “That’s management. You don’t always need a chair. Sometimes a look and a little movement at the right time steal three seconds, and three seconds can wreck a match.”
Minute 9
Hydra Veyne enters, but suddenly everyone is involved. Medussa Nemesis storms back in as Snow White finally gets into the chaos.
Hydra Veyne hits a Spanish Fly. Medussa Nemesis cuts through with a Spear. Lady Guinevere answers with a Swinging Neckbreaker, and Snow White bridges beautifully through the Kiss of Life, the Bridging Dragon Suplex, snapping the crowd into a thunderous reaction.
For one round, the match becomes a storm of bodies, impact, and broken structure before Honest Abe restores order.
Julian Ward: “There is Snow White, and what an entrance into the match. The Kiss of Life landed clean in the middle of total chaos.”
Brick Brody: “That was the first time Snow White got to matter, and she made it count. But chaos favors the meaner team, and the Monsters of Myth look comfortable in the mess.”
Minute 10
Hydra Veyne and Medussa Nemesis attempt to reestablish control with another double team. Hydra Veyne goes for the Standing Double Stomp, and Medussa Nemesis looks for the Diving Guillotine Leg Drop.
Lady Guinevere braces, rolls through the timing, and neutralizes the double team before either impact fully lands. The crowd applauds the defensive stand as Merlin nods once from the corner.
Julian Ward: “That was excellent ring awareness from Lady Guinevere. She knew the double team was coming and denied both attacks.”
Brick Brody: “That was veteran survival. She didn’t beat them there. She just made sure they didn’t beat her. Sometimes that’s enough for a minute.”
Minute 11
The reprieve does not last. Hydra Veyne and Medussa Nemesis strike together again. Hydra Veyne lands the Standing Double Stomp, and Medussa Nemesis follows with Petrify, a brutal piledriver that spikes Lady Guinevere into the canvas.
Lady Guinevere still manages to fire back with a Pendulum DDT, dragging Hydra Veyne down and preventing the sequence from becoming a finish.
But Lady Guinevere is badly worn now. Snow White reaches from the apron, calling for her partner to cross the ring.
Julian Ward: “Petrify landed, and that may be the most dangerous blow of the match so far. Lady Guinevere answered, but she is running out of recovery.”
Brick Brody: “That piledriver was nasty. Medussa Nemesis dropped her like judgment with shoulders.”
Minute 12
Both Hydra Veyne and Lady Guinevere slow into repeated defensive resets. Neither can immediately seize the next clean opening. The crowd rises with every motion, sensing the match hanging in the balance.
Then Hydra Veyne finds the break.
She catches Lady Guinevere and unleashes the Nine Headed End, a poisonrana into a knee strike that snaps Lady Guinevere backward with violent precision.
At ringside, Merlin turns toward his crystal ball for guidance, trying to pull clarity out of the moment before disaster becomes final.
Hydra Veyne covers.
Honest Abe counts.
One.
Lady Guinevere kicks out.
Serpenta Veyne hisses in frustration from ringside as Merlin lowers the crystal ball, his face still grave.
Julian Ward: “The Nine Headed End nearly finished this match. Merlin’s guidance may have bought Lady Guinevere just enough presence to escape at one.”
Brick Brody: “That kickout was survival, not confidence. Lady Guinevere is still in the match, but Hydra Veyne just showed how fast this can end.”
Minute 13
Hydra Veyne hesitates just long enough for Lady Guinevere to strike. Lady Guinevere pulls her in and lands another Sit Out Piledriver, driving Hydra Veyne down with one last surge of authority.
Hydra Veyne absorbs the punishment, rolls toward the ropes, and tags Medussa Nemesis.
Lady Guinevere turns toward Snow White, but the distance remains cruel.
Julian Ward: “That Sit Out Piledriver was exactly what Lady Guinevere needed, but Hydra Veyne had enough awareness to escape and bring Medussa Nemesis back in.”
Brick Brody: “That’s tag wrestling. You can hurt one monster, but if she reaches the other one, now you’ve got a fresh problem with bad intentions.”
Minute 14
Medussa Nemesis enters slowly, letting Lady Guinevere struggle upward.
Serpenta Veyne chooses the moment.
From ringside, she runs her mouth again, sharp and venomous, dragging Lady Guinevere’s attention away for a fraction of a second. It is all Medussa Nemesis needs.
Medussa Nemesis crashes into Lady Guinevere, taking advantage of the distraction and driving her down. Lady Guinevere absorbs the punishment, but she cannot answer quickly enough.
Medussa Nemesis covers.
Honest Abe drops into position.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Snow White steps through the ropes too late as Merlin moves to Lady Guinevere’s side. Serpenta Veyne smiles from the floor, pleased not merely with the victory, but with the timing of it.
Hydra Veyne joins Medussa Nemesis in the ring, and the Monsters of Myth stand over the aftermath while Serpenta Veyne watches like a queen observing a sacrifice.
Julian Ward: “A deeply contested match, but once again Serpenta Veyne became the difference. Lady Guinevere fought through repeated double teams, survived the Nine Headed End, and nearly carried the match on will alone. But the final distraction opened the door for Medussa Nemesis.”
Brick Brody: “That’s how monsters win. They don’t care how noble your stand looks. Lady Guinevere fought hard, Snow White got one shining moment, and Merlin tried to keep the ship from sinking. But Serpenta Veyne kept poking holes in the hull.”
Julian Ward: “Later tonight, Serpenta Veyne steps into the Aurora Championship Tournament Quarter Final Match against Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts. If this was meant as a preview of her influence, it was a dangerous one.”
Louie Linville: “Here are your winners... Hydra Veyne and Medussa Nemesis... the Monsters of Myth.”
RESULT: MONSTERS OF MYTH DEFEAT LADY GUINEVERE AND SNOW WHITE WHEN MEDUSSA NEMESIS PINS LADY GUINEVERE AFTER SERPENTA VEYNE’S DISTRACTION.
The camera cuts backstage.
The stone corridor beneath Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum is lit by torchlight and the faint orange glow of the Eternal Flame Championship.
Hana Nakamura stands ready with a microphone in hand. Her posture is professional, but her excitement is impossible to hide. Beside her stands Hansel.
The Eternal Flame Championship rests over his shoulder.
For the first time in NPCW, Hansel stands as a champion.
He does not look overwhelmed.
But he does look aware.
Aware of the weight.
Aware of the danger.
Aware that the title on his shoulder is not a prize that lets him rest.
It is a flame that demands to be carried.
Hana Nakamura: “Hansel, tonight you walk into Dark Fable not as a challenger, not as someone trying to prove he belongs, but as the Eternal Flame Champion. This is your first championship in NPCW. Before we talk about Dread Knight 1, what does this moment mean to you?”
Hansel looks down at the championship.
His hand settles over the center plate.
He takes a breath before speaking.
Hansel: “It means I survived long enough for the fire to recognize me.”
Hana Nakamura holds the microphone steady, her expression softening.
Hansel: “That is not poetry. That is the truth. I have walked into matches where people thought I was brave because I kept standing. I have walked into darkness where people thought I was foolish because I kept moving forward. I have been underestimated, burned, hunted, and measured by people who thought they knew what I could endure.”
He lifts his eyes.
Hansel: “Now I carry this.”
The camera tightens on the Eternal Flame Championship.
Hansel: “This is my first title in NPCW. That matters. Not because it makes me safe. Not because it makes me complete. It matters because every step before this had a cost, and tonight I do not get to pretend the cost is over.”
Hana Nakamura: “Tonight, your first defense comes against Dread Knight 1. He will have Myrrden in his corner. That is a dangerous combination under any circumstances, but especially on the final Dark Fable before Ashes of Empire. How do you prepare for someone who fights with that kind of darkness behind him?”
Hansel gives a faint, humorless smile.
Hansel: “You stop pretending darkness is special.”
A beat.
Hansel: “I know what people say about Dread Knight 1. I know what Myrrden brings with him. Cold strategy. Old hatred. A kind of violence that does not ask questions because it thinks the answer has already been decided.”
Hansel shifts the title slightly on his shoulder.
Hansel: “But darkness only feels endless when no one carries fire into it.”
Hana Nakamura: “That sounds like more than confidence.”
Hansel: “It is responsibility.”
He looks directly into the camera.
Hansel: “When I won the Eternal Flame Championship, I did not become untouchable. I became accountable. Every challenger who steps toward this title is not just reaching for gold. They are reaching for what this flame represents.”
His voice hardens.
Hansel: “Endurance.”
A pause.
Hansel: “Memory.”
Another pause.
Hansel: “The refusal to be consumed by what was meant to destroy you.”
Hana Nakamura nods, visibly affected.
Hana Nakamura: “There are many people in this arena tonight who have supported you from the beginning. We heard them chanting your name earlier. They believe in you. They believe this championship belongs with you.”
For the first time, Hansel glances away from the camera.
Not uncomfortable.
Humbled.
Hansel: “I hear them.”
He looks back.
Hansel: “And I know belief is dangerous. When people believe in you, they hand you something fragile. They hand you hope. If you are careless with it, you can break more than your own body.”
Hana Nakamura: “Does that pressure make tonight harder?”
Hansel: “Yes.”
No hesitation.
Hansel: “It should.”
He steps slightly closer to the microphone.
Hansel: “If defending this title ever feels easy, then I have forgotten what it took to earn it. If facing Dread Knight 1 ever feels simple, then I have underestimated the blade coming toward me. If standing across from Myrrden’s shadow ever feels ordinary, then I have stopped paying attention.”
The torchlight flickers along the championship.
Hansel: “I am paying attention.”
Hana Nakamura: “So what is your message to Dread Knight 1 before tonight’s Eternal Flame Title Match?”
Hansel turns fully to the camera.
The champion’s calm becomes sharper.
Hansel: “Dread Knight 1, bring the armor. Bring the violence. Bring Myrrden. Bring every cold thing that taught you how to hurt people without caring what remains afterward.”
He raises the Eternal Flame Championship slightly.
Hansel: “But understand this.”
A pause.
Hansel: “I did not win this championship because the road was kind.”
His eyes narrow.
Hansel: “I won it because I kept walking after the road tried to end me.”
Hana Nakamura lowers the microphone slightly as Hansel finishes.
Hansel: “Tonight, you do not face a champion protected by flame.”
He taps the title once.
Hansel: “You face the man who had to become it.”
The corridor falls quiet.
Hana Nakamura turns back toward the camera.
Hana Nakamura: “The Eternal Flame Champion, Hansel, defends against Dread Knight 1 later tonight. Back to ringside.”
Hansel remains still as the camera lingers on the Eternal Flame Championship.
The flame-colored reflection dances across the title plate.
Cut to black.
The camera returns to Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The ring is bathed in a low ember glow.
The crowd is still carrying the weight of Hansel’s words from earlier in the night.
Then the lights fall colder.
A deep iron tone rolls through the arena.
Myrrden steps onto the stage first.
His robe drags behind him like a shadow made formal. He carries no urgency, only certainty. Behind him emerges Dread Knight 1, armored, silent, and severe. Each step feels measured for punishment rather than spectacle.
Julian Ward: “The challenger comes with darkness at his back. Dread Knight 1 does not need to speak to make his purpose understood.”
Brick Brody: “That armor isn’t for show, Julian. That’s a walking warning sign. And with Myrrden out there, Hansel better keep eyes in every direction.”
Myrrden stops near the ring and raises one hand toward Dread Knight 1, not in blessing, but in command.
Dread Knight 1 enters the ring and stands in the center without acknowledging the crowd.
The arena shifts again.
Orange-gold light rises.
The chant begins before the music fully arrives.
“HAN-SEL! HAN-SEL! HAN-SEL!”
Hansel steps through the curtain with the Eternal Flame Championship around his waist.
He pauses at the top of the ramp.
For a moment, he looks down at the title.
Then he looks toward the ring.
No fear.
No performance.
Only responsibility.
Julian Ward: “This is Hansel’s first championship in NPCW, and tonight is his first true test as Eternal Flame Champion.”
Brick Brody: “Winning a title changes your name on the card. Defending it changes whether people believe you belong there. Tonight, Hansel finds out what kind of champion he really is.”
Hansel walks to the ring with purpose. He removes the Eternal Flame Championship, hands it to Honest Abe, and never takes his eyes off Dread Knight 1.
Honest Abe raises the title high.
The crowd roars.
Louie Linville stands centered in the ring.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is for the Eternal Flame Championship. The referee assigned to this match is Honest Abe.”
Honest Abe lowers the title and passes it to ringside.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first, the challenger, accompanied to the ring by Myrrden... Dread Knight 1.”
Dread Knight 1 remains still, his presence cold and unmoving.
Louie Linville: “And his opponent, the reigning and defending Eternal Flame Champion... Hansel.”
The crowd rises again.
Hansel steps forward and raises one fist.
Honest Abe checks both competitors, then calls for the bell.
Minute 1
Hansel and Dread Knight 1 open with caution, both men testing distance without committing. They reset once, then again, the pressure tightening with every step. Dread Knight 1 finally breaks the silence by catching Hansel and driving him down with a Samoan Drop.
Hansel tries to defend the lift, but the challenger’s power wins the exchange. Hansel hits hard and rolls toward the ropes, already forced to feel the weight behind Dread Knight 1’s offense.
Julian Ward: “A deliberate opening from both men, but Dread Knight 1 struck first with clear power.”
Brick Brody: “That’s how you challenge a new champion. Don’t let him settle into pride. Put him on his back and make the title feel heavier.”
Minute 2
Dread Knight 1 stays on Hansel, pulling him up before the champion can fully reset. He lifts Hansel high and drops him with an Electric Chair Drop, sending a jolt through the champion’s spine.
Hansel again tries to brace against the attack, but the impact lands clean. Myrrden watches from ringside with a cold, satisfied expression.
Julian Ward: “The challenger has opened this match by attacking Hansel’s base and back. That is a dangerous strategy against a champion who relies on endurance.”
Brick Brody: “Endurance only matters if your body keeps listening. Dread Knight 1 is trying to make Hansel’s spine vote against him early.”
Minute 3
Hansel pushes through the pain and answers with an Atomic Kneedrop, driving sharp impact into Dread Knight 1 and forcing the challenger to stagger. Dread Knight 1 responds with a Roundhouse Kick, catching Hansel across the side and stopping the champion’s follow-up.
The crowd reacts as both men remain standing after the exchange, neither willing to retreat.
Julian Ward: “There is the champion’s response. Hansel does not allow the first two minutes to define the match.”
Brick Brody: “Good answer, but Dread Knight 1 fired right back. That kick told Hansel this is not going to become inspirational without a price.”
Minute 4
Dread Knight 1 regains control and moves behind Hansel, pulling him into a Belly to Back Suplex. Hansel attempts to fight the grip, but Dread Knight 1 powers through and sends him crashing down again.
The champion rolls to his side, one hand pressed to his lower back. Dread Knight 1 rises slowly, not rushing, letting the damage breathe.
Julian Ward: “Another heavy landing for Hansel. Dread Knight 1 is turning this match into a test of how much punishment the champion can absorb.”
Brick Brody: “And that’s the right test. Everybody loves fire until somebody buries it under iron.”
Minute 5
As Hansel tries to rise, Myrrden steps closer to the apron. His hand moves subtly, and the air around Hansel seems to twist. Myrrden curses the champion with a spell while Honest Abe is screened from the full act.
Hansel tries to resist, but the curse breaks his rhythm. Dread Knight 1 takes advantage and drives more pressure into the champion, keeping him staggered and vulnerable.
Honest Abe warns Myrrden back, but the damage is already done.
Julian Ward: “There is Myrrden’s influence. Not a strike, not a hold, but a corruption of timing. That interference has shifted the match.”
Brick Brody: “That’s why Myrrden is out there. You don’t bring a man like that to carry towels. He just reached into the match and pulled Hansel off balance.”
Minute 6
Hansel refuses to fade. He catches Dread Knight 1 coming in and lands another Atomic Kneedrop, sharper than the first. Dread Knight 1 answers by muscling Hansel over with another Belly to Back Suplex.
Both attacks land with force, but Hansel rolls through his pain faster this time, pushing himself onto one knee as the crowd rallies behind him.
Julian Ward: “That was a significant exchange. Hansel took another suplex, but he rose faster. The champion is beginning to find the rhythm of resistance.”
Brick Brody: “Or stubbornness. Sometimes they look the same until one gets you pinned.”
Minute 7
Hansel changes direction and hooks Dread Knight 1 into a Sunset Flip, using speed and leverage instead of meeting the armor head-on. Dread Knight 1 kicks through the danger and counters with an Asian Spike, driving the point of the attack into Hansel with cruel accuracy.
Hansel recoils, clutching at his throat and jaw, while Dread Knight 1 turns the escape into another warning.
Julian Ward: “Hansel tried to shift the match with technique, but Dread Knight 1 had a vicious answer.”
Brick Brody: “That spike was nasty. You want to roll up a knight, you better make sure his hands are nowhere near your face.”
Minute 8
Hansel charges back in and lands another Atomic Kneedrop, refusing to let Dread Knight 1 dictate every exchange. The challenger responds with a Roundhouse Kick, catching Hansel again and cutting off the champion’s momentum.
The strikes are becoming familiar now, each man returning to weapons that have worked, each testing whether the other is weakening.
Julian Ward: “The pattern is forming. Hansel keeps finding impact with the knee, but Dread Knight 1 continues to answer with sudden strikes.”
Brick Brody: “And every answer matters. Hansel might be scoring, but Dread Knight 1 keeps reminding him that champions can bleed momentum too.”
Minute 9
Hansel digs deeper and catches Dread Knight 1 with the Spine Crusher, driving the challenger down and forcing the crowd to rise. Dread Knight 1 fights back immediately with a Savate Kick, landing clean and rocking Hansel backward.
The champion stumbles, then steadies himself against the ropes, eyes locked forward.
Julian Ward: “That Spine Crusher was the champion’s clearest power statement of the match, but Dread Knight 1 answered almost instantly.”
Brick Brody: “That is the hard part for Hansel. He hits something big, and the challenger does not stay hit long enough.”
Minute 10
Hansel cinches in a Front Facelock, trying to slow the match and force Dread Knight 1 to carry the champion’s weight. Before he can deepen the hold, Myrrden begins antagonizing him from the floor, needling the champion with cruel words and dark provocation.
Hansel holds on, but the distraction weakens the control. Dread Knight 1 uses the opening to shift his weight and break the pressure before the hold can become a true turning point.
Julian Ward: “Hansel tried to turn the match toward control, but Myrrden interfered psychologically, and that may have prevented a much larger advantage.”
Brick Brody: “That was smart. Myrrden didn’t need to swing at him. He just got in Hansel’s head long enough for Dread Knight 1 to breathe.”
Minute 11
The champion adjusts again. Hansel drops low and twists Dread Knight 1 into a Spinning Toe Hold, attacking the leg and finally forcing the challenger into a more vulnerable position.
Dread Knight 1 absorbs the punishment, but for the first time his movement becomes less certain. Hansel keeps the hold tight, leaning his weight into the rotation as the crowd senses a change.
Julian Ward: “That is a key tactical shift from Hansel. After repeated heavy impacts, he is now targeting the leg and taking away Dread Knight 1’s base.”
Brick Brody: “That’s champion thinking. You can’t keep trading with armor forever. Start taking the hinges off.”
Minute 12
Hansel stays on the leg and transitions with purpose. He turns Dread Knight 1 over, sits back, and locks in the Boston Crab.
Dread Knight 1 tries to defend against it, but Hansel has the hold secured. The champion drops his weight lower, pulling back with both hands, turning pain into pressure and pressure into inevitability.
Myrrden steps toward the apron, shouting toward Dread Knight 1, but Honest Abe moves to block him from getting closer.
Dread Knight 1 reaches forward.
The ropes are too far.
Hansel leans back.
The crowd roars.
Dread Knight 1 submits.
The bell rings.
Hansel releases the Boston Crab and rolls away, breathing hard. Honest Abe retrieves the Eternal Flame Championship and hands it back to the champion.
Hansel rises slowly.
Still hurting.
Still standing.
Still champion.
Julian Ward: “Hansel survives the first defense of his Eternal Flame Championship. He endured power, interference, and the cold presence of Myrrden, then changed the match with strategy and forced Dread Knight 1 to submit.”
Brick Brody: “That was a real defense. Hansel got dropped, cursed, kicked, and suplexed, but he found the leg, broke the base, and bent the knight until the armor had to quit.”
Julian Ward: “Earlier tonight, Hansel said he did not win the title because the road was kind. Tonight, he proved he can defend it when the road becomes cruel.”
Louie Linville: “Here is your winner by submission, and still Eternal Flame Champion... Hansel.”
RESULT: HANSEL DEFEATS DREAD KNIGHT 1 BY SUBMISSION WITH THE BOSTON CRAB TO RETAIN THE ETERNAL FLAME CHAMPIONSHIP.
The camera returns to Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The air changes before the music begins.
A venom-green glow slides across the entrance aisle.
Serpenta Veyne steps through the curtain alone.
Earlier tonight, her presence helped guide the Monsters of Myth to victory. Now there are no monsters in front of her. No tag partners. No cover.
Only the tournament.
Only the next step toward the Aurora Championship.
Serpenta Veyne moves with a slow, coiling confidence, eyes narrowed, body loose, every step deliberate. She reaches the ring and slips inside with serpent grace, then turns toward the entranceway with a smile that carries no warmth.
Julian Ward: “Earlier tonight, Serpenta Veyne used timing, distraction, and influence to help the Monsters of Myth prevail. Now she must stand alone in the Aurora Championship Tournament.”
Brick Brody: “And that’s the part I want to see. It’s easy to hiss from the floor. Now Serpenta Veyne has to bite in the ring.”
The lights shift.
Red floods the Coliseum.
A royal heart symbol burns across the stage.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts appears beneath it.
She walks with cruel certainty, her stare fixed on Serpenta Veyne. There is no fear in her expression. No respect either. Only command. She does not enter like a challenger. She enters like someone arriving to pass sentence.
The crowd responds with a mix of awe and unease.
Julian Ward: “Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts has already carved a path through this tournament. Her danger is not only physical. It is absolute confidence.”
Brick Brody: “That woman doesn’t ask for control, Julian. She declares it. Serpenta Veyne might be venom, but Crimson Viper is an execution order with boots.”
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts steps through the ropes and raises her chin toward Serpenta Veyne.
Louie Linville stands centered in the ring.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is an Aurora Championship Tournament Quarter Final Match. The referee assigned to this match is Honest Abe.”
Honest Abe checks both competitors.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first... Serpenta Veyne.”
Serpenta Veyne extends both arms slightly, basking in the reaction.
Louie Linville: “And her opponent... Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts.”
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts does not gesture. She simply stares forward.
Honest Abe calls for the bell.
Minute 1
Serpenta Veyne strikes first, whipping into a Swinging Hurricanrana to test Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts with speed and rotation. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts reads the motion, plants her stance, and neutralizes the attempt before Serpenta Veyne can complete the throw.
Serpenta Veyne slips away quickly, but the first exchange belongs to the queen’s control.
Julian Ward: “Serpenta Veyne opened with movement, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts denied the momentum immediately.”
Brick Brody: “That was a statement. Serpenta Veyne tried to make her dizzy, and Crimson Viper looked like she was swatting away a curtain.”
Minute 2
Serpenta Veyne adjusts and attacks lower, then higher, snapping a Roundhouse Kick into Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts. This one lands clean. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs the punishment, jaw tightening but posture intact.
Serpenta Veyne circles with a narrow smile, pleased to have finally found contact.
Julian Ward: “That Roundhouse Kick landed, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts did not give Serpenta Veyne much reaction.”
Brick Brody: “That’s dangerous too. When somebody takes your kick and barely blinks, you start wondering what else is hiding under the crown.”
Minute 3
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts surges forward with the Off With Their Heads Flying Clothesline, aiming to end the early dance with one clean strike. Serpenta Veyne ducks and neutralizes it, escaping the line of attack and sliding behind the danger.
The crowd reacts as both women reset.
Julian Ward: “Serpenta Veyne avoided the first major strike from Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts. That clothesline can change a match instantly.”
Brick Brody: “She got out of the way because she had to. That move hits, and somebody starts counting teeth.”
Minute 4
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts changes tactics and catches Serpenta Veyne by the leg. She twists through, drops her weight, and locks in the Sharpshooter.
Serpenta Veyne absorbs the pain at first, then reaches forward with both hands, trying to drag herself toward the ropes. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts sits deeper, controlling the hips and bending the spine.
Serpenta Veyne has no escape.
She submits.
Honest Abe calls for the bell to signal the first fall.
Louie Linville: “The first fall is awarded to Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts.”
Julian Ward: “A stunningly fast first fall. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts trapped Serpenta Veyne in the Sharpshooter and forced the submission.”
Brick Brody: “That is royal efficiency. No speeches. No wasted motion. Hook the legs, bend the back, take the fall.”
Minute 5
The second fall begins with both women reset, but the urgency has changed. Serpenta Veyne attacks the shoulder immediately, clamping on the Serpent Bite and digging in with a shoulder claw.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs the punishment and refuses to submit, but the hold forces her posture to tighten. Serpenta Veyne keeps the pressure focused, trying to answer submission with submission.
Julian Ward: “That is a direct response from Serpenta Veyne. After being submitted in the first fall, she immediately tests Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts with the Serpent Bite.”
Brick Brody: “Good. If someone bends you until you quit, you try to make them feel the same fear. That’s not pride. That’s survival.”
Minute 6
Both women briefly stall in defense before exploding at once. Serpenta Veyne snaps forward with the Flaming Arrow Slingshot DDT, driving Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts down hard. At the same time, Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts powers through with a Sitout Powerbomb, turning the exchange into a collision of impact.
Both land badly. Both roll away.
Julian Ward: “That was simultaneous destruction. Serpenta Veyne landed the DDT, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts answered with the powerbomb in the same exchange.”
Brick Brody: “That is what a tournament match should look like. Nobody gets anything clean. You hurt her, she hurts you back.”
Minute 7
Serpenta Veyne rises first and lands a Scorpion Kick, snapping Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts across the head and shoulder. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs it, but the strike clearly staggers her for a moment.
Serpenta Veyne senses the opening and starts to move with more confidence.
Julian Ward: “The Scorpion Kick may have changed the rhythm of this second fall. Serpenta Veyne is beginning to string offense together.”
Brick Brody: “That kick had sting. If Serpenta Veyne wants back into this match, she needs more of that and less posing.”
Minute 8
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts tries to reclaim control with another Sitout Powerbomb, but Serpenta Veyne neutralizes it, twisting out before the full lift can develop.
The escape forces Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts to reset, and Serpenta Veyne circles away, keeping her distance and looking for the next angle.
Julian Ward: “Excellent counter by Serpenta Veyne. She avoided the powerbomb before Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts could turn it into a decisive impact.”
Brick Brody: “That was smart. Don’t let the queen stack you up like furniture.”
Minute 9
Serpenta Veyne strikes with another Flaming Arrow Slingshot DDT, and this time Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts cannot defend it. Serpenta Veyne covers immediately.
But Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts reverses the pin.
Honest Abe drops down.
One.
Two.
Serpenta Veyne kicks out.
Serpenta Veyne rolls away in frustration, realizing her own cover nearly cost her the match.
Julian Ward: “That was almost disastrous for Serpenta Veyne. She hit the move, made the cover, and Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts reversed it into a near fall.”
Brick Brody: “That’s ring cruelty. Let someone think they’ve got you, then make them panic under their own mistake.”
Minute 10
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts follows with a Swinging Neckbreaker, catching Serpenta Veyne before she can fully reset. The impact lands clean, and Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts covers.
One.
Two.
Serpenta Veyne kicks out.
The kickout is firm, but Serpenta Veyne clutches at her neck as she rolls to the side.
Julian Ward: “Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts nearly widened the match right there. The Swinging Neckbreaker was sharp, and Serpenta Veyne had to spend energy escaping.”
Brick Brody: “That neck is starting to matter. You wear that down, the Serpent Bite gets harder to hold and the kicks get slower.”
Minute 11
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts charges and lands Off With Their Heads, the Flying Clothesline cutting Serpenta Veyne down with authority. Serpenta Veyne absorbs the punishment, but the impact turns her inside out.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts stands over her with cold satisfaction.
Julian Ward: “There is the Off With Their Heads Flying Clothesline, and Serpenta Veyne felt every piece of it.”
Brick Brody: “That is an execution in motion. Crimson Viper throws that arm like she’s signing a death warrant.”
Minute 12
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts keeps control and drives Serpenta Veyne down with another Sitout Powerbomb. Serpenta Veyne tries to defend the lift, but she cannot stop the landing.
The second fall is slipping away from her.
Julian Ward: “Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts is stacking power offense now. Serpenta Veyne needs separation quickly.”
Brick Brody: “She needs more than separation. She needs a plan before the queen takes two straight falls and sends her back to the snake pit.”
Minute 13
Serpenta Veyne finds that opening with a Front Chancery DDT. She pulls Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts down fast and keeps hold for a moment, using the move to slow the pace as much as to damage.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs the impact, but the momentum finally pauses.
Julian Ward: “That Front Chancery DDT gives Serpenta Veyne a needed breath. She cannot allow this fall to continue at Crimson Viper’s preferred power pace.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly. Drag the queen down. Make her wrestle on the mat. Make the crown feel heavy.”
Minute 14
Both women reset defensively before striking at the same time. Serpenta Veyne whips into a Swinging Hurricanrana while Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts counters through the motion with a Belly to Back Suplex.
Both impacts land, and both women remain down for a moment as Honest Abe checks their condition.
Julian Ward: “Another punishing exchange. Serpenta Veyne created motion, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts answered with weight and leverage.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the difference in styles. Serpenta Veyne spins. Crimson Viper dumps you on your back and makes spinning feel like a bad idea.”
Minute 15
Serpenta Veyne rises with urgency and cracks Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts with another Scorpion Kick. The strike lands flush. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs it, but she backs off for the first time in several minutes.
Serpenta Veyne gestures for her to come forward, trying to pull the match back into her trap.
Julian Ward: “The Scorpion Kick has become one of Serpenta Veyne’s best answers in this fall.”
Brick Brody: “It better be. She’s still down one fall. Kicks are nice, but she needs a finish.”
Minute 16
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts answers with another Sitout Powerbomb. Serpenta Veyne tries to defend, but the queen powers through and drives her down.
Serpenta Veyne rolls toward the ropes, visibly hurting, while Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts rises with command.
Julian Ward: “That powerbomb may have undone much of Serpenta Veyne’s recent recovery.”
Brick Brody: “That’s what power does. It erases good intentions.”
Minute 17
Serpenta Veyne launches into a Swinging Hurricanrana, trying to create speed again. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs the movement and answers with yet another Sitout Powerbomb.
The exchange favors Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts, and Serpenta Veyne lands hard enough to leave the crowd groaning.
Julian Ward: “Serpenta Veyne is still attacking, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts keeps answering with heavier damage.”
Brick Brody: “That’s a bad equation. Six points of flash against eight points of spine damage. I know which side I’d rather be on.”
Minute 18
Both women slow into repeated defensive resets. The second fall has become exhaustion and calculation.
Serpenta Veyne finally commits to a Roundhouse Kick, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts reverses it. She catches the angle, turns behind Serpenta Veyne, and throws her with a Release German Suplex.
Serpenta Veyne absorbs the punishment, but her body lands heavy and tired.
Julian Ward: “That reversal was vital. Serpenta Veyne looked for the kick, and Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts turned it into a suplex.”
Brick Brody: “That is how you punish habit. You see the same kick enough, you catch it and make her regret being predictable.”
Minute 19
Serpenta Veyne digs deep and lands another Scorpion Kick. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts answers immediately with Off With Their Heads, the Flying Clothesline crashing across Serpenta Veyne.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts covers.
One.
Two.
Serpenta Veyne kicks out.
The crowd reacts loudly as the second fall continues.
Julian Ward: “Serpenta Veyne survives another cover after Off With Their Heads. This second fall is becoming a severe test of endurance.”
Brick Brody: “She survived, but she didn’t look good doing it. Sometimes a kickout is just a slower way to keep suffering.”
Minute 20
Serpenta Veyne goes for another Scorpion Kick, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts reverses it again and snaps her down with a Swinging Neckbreaker.
The queen covers.
One.
Two.
Serpenta Veyne kicks out again.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts looks down with irritation now, the first crack in her patience.
Julian Ward: “Another reversal by Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts, another near fall, and still Serpenta Veyne refuses to concede this second fall.”
Brick Brody: “Now we see whether the queen gets colder or careless. Frustration makes rulers dangerous, but it also makes them sloppy.”
Minute 21
Serpenta Veyne sees the opening.
She attacks the shoulder again and clamps on the Serpent Bite.
This time the hold is deeper.
Her fingers dig in. Her body coils around the pressure point. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts tries to stand through it, tries to command her way out of it, but the pain spreads through the arm and shoulder.
Serpenta Veyne tightens the claw.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts submits.
The bell rings for the second fall.
Louie Linville: “The second fall is awarded to Serpenta Veyne.”
Julian Ward: “We are tied. After surviving repeated near falls, Serpenta Veyne returned to the Serpent Bite and forced Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts to submit.”
Brick Brody: “That was mean and smart. She went back to the shoulder she tested early, dug in, and made royalty tap. Now both of them are tired, and the third fall decides everything.”
Minute 22
The final fall begins with both competitors visibly worn. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts strikes first, exploding forward with Off With Their Heads. The Flying Clothesline lands hard, and Serpenta Veyne fails to defend it.
Serpenta Veyne hits the mat and rolls to her side, immediately reminded that tying the match did not weaken the queen’s violence.
Julian Ward: “Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts opens the deciding fall with the very weapon that nearly ended the second.”
Brick Brody: “That’s how you reclaim control. Don’t sulk because you tapped. Get up and knock her flat.”
Minute 23
Serpenta Veyne answers with the Flaming Arrow Slingshot DDT, snapping Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts down. But Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts fires back with a Delayed Vertical Suplex, holding Serpenta Veyne in the air long enough to make the landing feel inevitable.
Both women crash through the exchange, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts rises with the better position.
Julian Ward: “Both women landed offense, but the Delayed Vertical Suplex gave Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts the heavier close to the exchange.”
Brick Brody: “That delay matters. She made Serpenta Veyne hang there and think about the landing. That’s psychological and physical damage in one lift.”
Minute 24
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts continues the pressure with a Release German Suplex. Serpenta Veyne tries to defend, but the throw carries through cleanly.
Serpenta Veyne lands hard and reaches instinctively toward her neck and shoulder.
Julian Ward: “The deciding fall is beginning to tilt toward Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts. She is attacking with sustained power now.”
Brick Brody: “Because power is honest. No tricks. No hiss. Just throw the other woman until she stops getting up.”
Minute 25
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts transitions into Regal Reign, trapping Serpenta Veyne in an arm and leglock. The hold stretches Serpenta Veyne in two directions, threatening both movement and escape.
Serpenta Veyne refuses to submit.
She claws forward, breath shaking, but her hand never strikes the mat. Honest Abe stays close, asking the question. Serpenta Veyne snarls her refusal.
Julian Ward: “Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts nearly answered the Serpent Bite with Regal Reign. Serpenta Veyne survived, but that hold may have taken away much of her movement.”
Brick Brody: “That was the queen trying to make the snake bend. Serpenta Veyne didn’t quit, but she didn’t leave that hold whole either.”
Minute 26
Both women step in at once. Serpenta Veyne attempts a Front Chancery DDT, while Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts swings for Off With Their Heads.
The attacks collide awkwardly, neither landing clean. The crowd groans as both competitors stumble apart, too tired to fully capitalize.
Julian Ward: “That was exhaustion meeting desperation. Both looked for decisive offense, and neither could complete it.”
Brick Brody: “That’s tournament damage. The brain knows the move. The body says maybe later.”
Minute 27
Serpenta Veyne lands a Roundhouse Kick, trying to create one more window. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs it and answers with a Sitout Powerbomb, driving Serpenta Veyne into the canvas.
The powerbomb leaves Serpenta Veyne gasping as Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts rises slowly over her.
Julian Ward: “Another powerful response from Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts. Serpenta Veyne continues to strike, but the queen continues to land heavier.”
Brick Brody: “That powerbomb was the kind of answer that makes you stop asking questions.”
Minute 28
Serpenta Veyne reaches for a Front Chancery DDT, trying to pull Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts down and buy time. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts neutralizes it, keeping her base and denying the drop.
Serpenta Veyne backs away, frustrated and tired, her best openings beginning to close.
Julian Ward: “That neutralization may be crucial. Serpenta Veyne needed that DDT to slow the match, and Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts refused to give it to her.”
Brick Brody: “The queen is reading her now. That is bad news when you’re tired and running out of tricks.”
Minute 29
Serpenta Veyne throws herself into a Swinging Hurricanrana, forcing motion one more time. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts absorbs the turn and plants Serpenta Veyne with another Sitout Powerbomb.
The crowd reacts with a mix of awe and dread.
Serpenta Veyne rolls to one side, but her rise is slow and damaged.
Julian Ward: “That was another crushing answer. Serpenta Veyne is trying to create angles, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts keeps turning them into impact.”
Brick Brody: “There comes a point where fancy movement just helps the other person throw you harder. Serpenta Veyne is at that point.”
Minute 30
Both women stagger through one more defensive pause. The Coliseum rises, sensing the end.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts steps forward.
Serpenta Veyne tries to brace, but the queen has already chosen the sentence.
Off With Their Heads.
The Flying Clothesline lands clean.
Serpenta Veyne collapses.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts covers.
Honest Abe drops down.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts rolls off and rises slowly, exhausted but victorious. Serpenta Veyne remains down, one arm across her chest, the fight finally drained from her.
Louie Linville: “Here is your winner, advancing in the Aurora Championship Tournament... Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts.”
Julian Ward: “A grueling three-fall battle, and Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts advances. She took the first fall by submission, lost the second to the Serpent Bite, and then endured the final stretch before ending Serpenta Veyne with Off With Their Heads.”
Brick Brody: “That was a tournament fight. Both women had to tap. Both women had to hurt. But in the end, Crimson Viper had the heavier weapon and the colder finish.”
Julian Ward: “The Aurora Championship Tournament has claimed another contender’s dream tonight. Serpenta Veyne exits after a fierce performance, but Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts moves one step closer to the crown she believes is already hers.”
Result: Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts defeats Serpenta Veyne two falls to one to advance in the Aurora Championship Tournament.
The screen cuts to black.
No music.
Only the sound of metal being dragged across stone.
Slow.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
A torch ignites.
Then another.
The image reveals a ruined throne room somewhere beneath old Camelot.
Not the bright halls of banners and ceremony.
The forgotten place beneath them.
Cracked pillars.
Ash on the floor.
A broken round table half-buried in dust.
At the center of the chamber stands Mordred.
He is still.
His armor catches the torchlight in hard edges. His expression carries no rage now. Rage would be too simple.
This is colder.
Older.
Behind him stands Myrrden.
Hooded.
Silent.
His hands folded inside dark sleeves, his face half-hidden by shadow.
Between them, resting on a stone pedestal, is a cracked iron crown.
Not the Mythic Crown.
A mockery of it.
A warning.
Mordred reaches down and places one hand on the broken crown.
Mordred: “They call him king.”
His voice is low.
Controlled.
Mordred: “They chant for King Arthur. They raise banners for Camelot. They speak his name as if it were carved into the bones of the world.”
He lifts the cracked crown from the pedestal.
Mordred: “But crowns are not bones.”
He turns it in his hand.
Mordred: “Crowns break.”
The camera moves behind Mordred, revealing the shadow of Myrrden stretching long across the floor.
Myrrden: “A kingdom survives by teaching its people which lies to love.”
Mordred looks toward him.
Myrrden: “The first lie is that the throne is sacred. The second lie is that blood means loyalty. The third lie is that King Arthur was chosen because he was worthy.”
A slow smile touches Myrrden’s mouth.
Myrrden: “He was chosen because the story needed a hero.”
Mordred steps forward through the ruined chamber.
Each footstep echoes.
Mordred: “And what did that story need me to be?”
He stops beside the remains of the broken round table.
His hand brushes against the cracked wood.
Mordred: “The warning. The shadow. The stain on the legend. The son who was never meant to stand in the light unless he was being condemned by it.”
His jaw tightens.
Mordred: “No more.”
A brief flash cuts across the screen.
King Arthur raising the Mythic Crown.
Merlin standing beside him.
Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad at his flank.
The image fractures like glass.
Back in the chamber, Mordred watches the broken vision fade.
Mordred: “At Ashes of Empire, King Arthur will not face a rumor. He will not face a mistake. He will not face some shadow from his court’s bedtime warnings.”
He steps closer to the camera.
Mordred: “He will face consequence.”
Myrrden lifts one hand, and the torch flames bend toward him.
Myrrden: “The Mythic Crown has sat too long upon a head that believes mercy is strength.”
The flames sharpen.
Myrrden: “Mercy is hesitation with prettier language. Honor is a chain worn proudly by men too afraid to call it captivity.”
Mordred turns sharply.
Mordred: “King Arthur hides behind honor because without it, he must answer for what he truly is.”
A pause.
Mordred: “A man.”
The word lands like an accusation.
Mordred: “Not a myth. Not a chosen light. Not the eternal heart of Camelot.”
He raises the cracked crown.
Mordred: “A man who can be beaten.”
Myrrden steps forward beside him.
Myrrden: “And this Sunday, he must be beaten twice.”
The chamber grows quieter.
The torches dim until only Mordred and Myrrden remain lit.
Myrrden: “Two out of three falls. A fitting structure for dismantling a legend. The first fall wounds the body. The second wounds the belief. The third, if required, buries whatever refuses to die.”
Mordred lowers the cracked crown to his side.
Mordred: “I do not need one perfect moment.”
He looks directly into the camera.
Mordred: “I need repetition.”
A beat.
Mordred: “I need King Arthur to rise after the first fall and understand I am still there.”
Another beat.
Mordred: “I need him to reach for his sacred courage after the second and feel it fail in his hand.”
His voice drops colder.
Mordred: “And if there is a third, I need all of Camelot to watch their champion discover that destiny does not protect the tired.”
Myrrden circles behind him.
Myrrden: “The Champions of Camelot will call it a war for the crown.”
Mordred: “It is not.”
Myrrden: “Merlin will call it corruption.”
Mordred: “It is not.”
Myrrden: “King Arthur will call it betrayal.”
Mordred steps back to the pedestal.
He places the cracked crown down.
Then he draws his weapon and strikes it.
The crown splits.
The sound cracks through the chamber.
Mordred: “It is inheritance.”
The camera pushes in on the broken crown.
Mordred: “King Arthur, you built a kingdom where every man was told his place.”
He leans closer.
Mordred: “Mine was beneath your story.”
His hand closes into a fist.
Mordred: “At Ashes of Empire, I take the story away from you.”
Myrrden lowers his hood slightly, revealing eyes bright with old malice.
Myrrden: “A crown is not destroyed when metal bends.”
The torches flare.
Myrrden: “A crown is destroyed when the people who believed in it hear it fall and do not know whether to pray or run.”
Mordred lifts one half of the broken crown.
Mordred: “This Sunday, Camelot will hear it.”
He lets the broken piece drop.
It strikes stone.
Once.
Twice.
Then settles.
Mordred: “And King Arthur will feel it.”
The final image holds on Mordred standing before the shattered crown, with Myrrden behind him like the shape of the future.
The torches go out.
Black.
The camera returns to Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The torches burn low.
The final match of the night waits beneath them.
A deep mechanical pulse rolls through the arena.
The crowd reacts before the curtain even opens.
Dr. Frankenstein steps onto the stage first.
His posture is rigid. His expression is furious, focused, and utterly without warmth. He adjusts his coat with sharp precision, then turns slightly as the shadow behind him grows.
Kong emerges.
Then Ogre.
The Universal Tag Team Champions, the Monster Bash Enforcers, walk toward the ring like a moving wall. Kong rolls his shoulders with brutal impatience. Ogre stares ahead with dead-heavy menace, every step shaking the aisle with threat.
Julian Ward: “The Monster Bash Enforcers have become one of the most punishing teams in Dark Fable. Under Dr. Frankenstein, Kong and Ogre have not merely won. They have imposed.”
Brick Brody: “That’s because Dr. Frankenstein understands the best kind of tag team. Two monsters, one order, no conscience. Kong and Ogre don’t wrestle like champions looking to impress anybody. They wrestle like demolition with names.”
Dr. Frankenstein reaches ringside and turns toward the crowd with a glare. Kong climbs onto the apron and steps over the ropes. Ogre follows, dragging one hand across the top rope as though testing how much punishment it can take.
The music changes.
The mechanical pulse is replaced by a disciplined dragon rhythm.
Green and silver light spreads across the entrance.
Lady Ayame Ryu appears first.
She stands still at the top of the ramp, calm and severe, her eyes fixed on Dr. Frankenstein.
Behind her come the Scalekeepers.
Hiro Tanenaga walks with sharp balance and coiled speed. Masa Tanenaga moves beside him with disciplined focus, jaw set, shoulders loose, ready to strike and move. They are not the larger team. They are not the more monstrous team.
But they arrive as men who understand timing.
And timing can cut through size.
Julian Ward: “The Scalekeepers arrive with Lady Ayame Ryu, and that presence may be essential tonight. Against Kong and Ogre, survival requires more than courage. It requires precision.”
Brick Brody: “Precision better bring a crowbar. Hiro Tanenaga and Masa Tanenaga are talented, but talent gets real quiet when Ogre throws you to the floor or Kong drops on your ribs.”
Lady Ayame Ryu leads Hiro Tanenaga and Masa Tanenaga to their corner. She does not look at the crowd. She looks at the champions.
Louie Linville stands centered in the ring.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is your main event of the evening. The following tag team contest is scheduled for one fall, and it is part of the Universal Tag Team Title Tournament. The referee assigned to this match is Honest Abe.”
The crowd rises.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first, accompanied to the ring by Dr. Frankenstein. They are the reigning Universal Tag Team Champions, Kong and Ogre... the Monster Bash Enforcers.”
Kong pounds one fist into his palm. Ogre remains motionless, staring across the ring.
Louie Linville: “And their opponents, accompanied to the ring by Lady Ayame Ryu. The team of Hiro Tanenaga and Masa Tanenaga... the Scalekeepers.”
Hiro Tanenaga steps onto the middle rope and raises one arm. Masa Tanenaga gives a short, focused nod.
Honest Abe checks both corners.
Dr. Frankenstein and Lady Ayame Ryu lock eyes from opposite sides of the ring.
The bell sounds.
Minute 1
Kong starts for the Monster Bash Enforcers, while Hiro Tanenaga begins for the Scalekeepers. Kong advances with heavy pressure, but Hiro Tanenaga uses distance and speed, firing a Roundhouse Kick into the larger champion.
Kong tries to defend, but Hiro Tanenaga lands clean and forces him to stagger half a step. It is not enough to drop Kong, but it is enough to prove that the Scalekeepers can strike through size.
Hiro Tanenaga tags Masa Tanenaga quickly, keeping the rhythm moving.
Julian Ward: “A smart opening from Hiro Tanenaga. He does not stay in front of Kong too long. Strike, score, and tag.”
Brick Brody: “That is the only way to fight a man like Kong if you’re not built like a castle gate. Hit him and leave before he remembers where your head is.”
Minute 2
Masa Tanenaga enters, but Dr. Frankenstein immediately inserts himself into the match. From ringside, Dr. Frankenstein distracts Honest Abe, pulling the referee’s attention away at the exact moment Kong steps forward.
Masa Tanenaga tries to adjust, but the distraction breaks his timing. Kong uses the opening to drive heavy offense into Masa Tanenaga, forcing him backward and taking the first real control for the champions.
Kong tags Ogre, and Masa Tanenaga tags Hiro Tanenaga, both teams shifting pieces quickly.
Julian Ward: “There is Dr. Frankenstein, and there is the danger of having him at ringside. He did not need to strike anyone. He only needed to fracture the timing.”
Brick Brody: “That’s management. People complain because it works. Dr. Frankenstein gave Kong the window, and Kong walked through it with both fists.”
Minute 3
Ogre enters for the champions, but Hiro Tanenaga attacks before the bigger man can fully settle. Hiro Tanenaga springs into a Corkscrew Moonsault, crashing down across Ogre with spectacular force.
Ogre tries to defend, but the impact lands. The crowd roars as Hiro Tanenaga rolls through and tags Masa Tanenaga again, keeping the champions chasing movement instead of dictating power.
Julian Ward: “That was tremendous elevation from Hiro Tanenaga. Against Ogre, speed and angle may be the Scalekeepers’ best path.”
Brick Brody: “And that was a real shot. Ogre felt that. He might not show it because he’s built like a nightmare with boots, but he felt it.”
Minute 4
Masa Tanenaga enters and meets Ogre in the center. Ogre turns the exchange brutal, tossing Masa Tanenaga out of the ring and sending him crashing to the floor.
But before the count can build too far, Masa Tanenaga scrambles back up, reenters at five, and catches Ogre with a Pulse Drop Standing Shiranui. The sudden counter drives Ogre down and electrifies the crowd.
Ogre tags Kong, while Masa Tanenaga tags Hiro Tanenaga.
Julian Ward: “That was a dangerous fall to the outside, but Masa Tanenaga recovered quickly and answered with a beautiful Standing Shiranui.”
Brick Brody: “Beautiful hurts less than ugly, but it still hurts. Masa Tanenaga got thrown outside and came back swinging. I’ll give him that.”
Minute 5
Kong and Hiro Tanenaga collide in the center. Kong catches him and drives him down with a Spine Crusher. Hiro Tanenaga answers immediately, hooking Kong and dropping him with a Sitout Double Underhook Powerbomb.
The crowd erupts at the sight of Hiro Tanenaga matching the champion with impact.
Both men roll away from the exchange, neither gaining complete control.
Julian Ward: “That was a powerful answer from Hiro Tanenaga. He absorbed the Spine Crusher and responded with a double underhook powerbomb.”
Brick Brody: “That is the kind of exchange that makes a champion take you seriously. Kong wanted a smash fight, and Hiro Tanenaga brought a receipt.”
Minute 6
Kong tries to reset defensively, but Lady Ayame Ryu chooses her moment. From ringside, she draws his attention with Dragon’s Breath Timing, distracting him at the exact point where Hiro Tanenaga changes angle.
Kong cannot defend in time. Hiro Tanenaga capitalizes with sharp offense, forcing Kong back and sending the crowd into a loud wave of support for the Scalekeepers.
Kong tags Ogre to halt the momentum.
Julian Ward: “There is Lady Ayame Ryu’s influence. It is subtle, but decisive. She created the opening, and Hiro Tanenaga used it instantly.”
Brick Brody: “So now both corners are playing chess. Dr. Frankenstein distracts the referee. Lady Ayame Ryu distracts the monster. I don’t care who calls it noble. I call it useful.”
Minute 7
Ogre storms in and changes the temperature of the match. He catches Hiro Tanenaga and destroys him with Ogre’s Wrath, the F-5 landing with enormous force.
Hiro Tanenaga absorbs the punishment, but the impact stops the Scalekeepers’ momentum cold. Ogre rises and tags Kong, letting the champions keep fresh pressure on the wounded opponent.
Julian Ward: “Ogre’s Wrath landed with terrifying force. That may be the most damaging single move of the match so far.”
Brick Brody: “That was the reminder. You can kick, flip, and dance all you want. Ogre catches you once, and suddenly the whole match gets heavier.”
Minute 8
Kong enters and follows with a Splash, crushing Hiro Tanenaga beneath him. Lady Ayame Ryu again attempts to draw Kong’s focus with Dragon’s Breath Timing, but this time the champion’s momentum carries through.
Hiro Tanenaga takes the full impact and struggles to breathe beneath the weight.
Julian Ward: “Lady Ayame Ryu tried to create another timing disruption, but Kong was already moving. Hiro Tanenaga paid for it.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the risk with timing. If you miss the beat, the big man still lands on your chest.”
Minute 9
Hiro Tanenaga refuses to stay buried. He slips behind Kong, jumps onto the back, and locks in a Rear Naked Choke.
Kong tries to defend, but Hiro Tanenaga sinks the hold in tightly enough to force the champion to stagger. The crowd rises as Kong reaches back, trying to peel him loose.
Julian Ward: “That is a critical response from Hiro Tanenaga. He is not trying to outpower Kong. He is taking away breath and balance.”
Brick Brody: “Smart. You can be huge, but you still need air. Hiro Tanenaga found the one thing even monsters have to respect.”
Minute 10
Kong powers out enough to catch Hiro Tanenaga and swing him down with the Jungle Swing, the swinging side slam landing with blunt force. Lady Ayame Ryu steadies her protege with Veil Endurance from ringside, trying to help Hiro Tanenaga survive the impact and regain awareness.
Kong tags Ogre.
Hiro Tanenaga uses the moment to tag Masa Tanenaga.
The match resets with both teams changing bodies, but the damage remains in the ring.
Julian Ward: “That Jungle Swing could have turned the match completely, but Lady Ayame Ryu helped Hiro Tanenaga endure long enough to reach Masa Tanenaga.”
Brick Brody: “That was a life raft. Without Lady Ayame Ryu, Hiro Tanenaga might still be staring at the lights.”
Minute 11
Ogre enters against Masa Tanenaga, and again Dr. Frankenstein interferes with the rhythm. He distracts Honest Abe, drawing the referee’s eyes at the worst possible time.
Masa Tanenaga tries to fight through it, but the moment costs him. Ogre attacks and drives him down, then covers.
One.
Two.
Masa Tanenaga kicks out.
Ogre rises without frustration and tags Kong. Masa Tanenaga reaches his corner and tags Hiro Tanenaga back in.
Julian Ward: “Another distraction from Dr. Frankenstein, and another near fall created by outside influence.”
Brick Brody: “That man is a scientist of bad timing. He keeps finding the exact second when the referee matters most.”
Minute 12
Kong enters and catches Hiro Tanenaga with a Boot to the Midsection, folding him over with raw force. Hiro Tanenaga absorbs the punishment but drops to one knee.
Kong covers quickly.
One.
Hiro Tanenaga kicks out.
The early kickout frustrates Kong, who pounds the mat once and drags Hiro Tanenaga back up.
Julian Ward: “Kong may have rushed that cover. Hiro Tanenaga still had enough awareness to escape at one.”
Brick Brody: “That was arrogance from Kong. He thought the boot did more than it did. Against a team like the Scalekeepers, lazy covers are invitations.”
Minute 13
Kong lifts Hiro Tanenaga high and drops him with a Gorilla Press Drop. But Lady Ayame Ryu answers from the floor with the Veil of Stillness, confusing Kong just enough to slow the follow-up.
Hiro Tanenaga uses the opening and tags Masa Tanenaga.
Kong is forced onto defense, his rhythm fractured by the mist-like calm of Lady Ayame Ryu’s timing.
Julian Ward: “Lady Ayame Ryu has become a serious factor in this main event. The Veil of Stillness disrupted Kong long enough for Hiro Tanenaga to escape.”
Brick Brody: “I respect it. If you’re fighting monsters, you better bring tricks that make monsters blink.”
Minute 14
Masa Tanenaga enters quickly and catches Kong with a Pele Kick. Kong tries to defend, but Masa Tanenaga lands it flush and sends the champion staggering.
Masa Tanenaga immediately tags Hiro Tanenaga, keeping the rotation fast while Kong remains on defense.
Julian Ward: “That Pele Kick from Masa Tanenaga landed clean. The Scalekeepers are doing exactly what they must do: strike quickly, tag quickly, and keep Kong turning.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the plan. Hit the big man from angles. But plans only work until Dr. Frankenstein sticks a boot into the gears.”
Minute 15
Hiro Tanenaga comes in and aims another Roundhouse Kick at Kong. This time Kong reverses it.
At ringside, Dr. Frankenstein strikes again, sweeping the leg near the ropes at the critical moment. Hiro Tanenaga absorbs the punishment, crashing down as Kong regains control.
Lady Ayame Ryu steps toward Dr. Frankenstein, but he backs away with a cold, furious smirk.
Julian Ward: “Dr. Frankenstein interferes again, and that stopped what might have been another momentum swing for the Scalekeepers.”
Brick Brody: “There it is. I told you. The plan met the boot in the gears. Dr. Frankenstein does not care how skilled Hiro Tanenaga is. He cares about breaking the rhythm.”
Minute 16
Kong remains defensive for one more exchange, and Hiro Tanenaga forces himself back into motion. He launches into another Corkscrew Moonsault, landing across Kong and finally making the champion retreat.
Hiro Tanenaga scores the impact, but Kong manages to tag Ogre, bringing the larger wrecking force back into the match.
Julian Ward: “That was a courageous response from Hiro Tanenaga, especially after the leg sweep moments ago.”
Brick Brody: “Courageous and dangerous. He hit Kong, but now Ogre is coming in fresh enough to ruin the celebration.”
Minute 17
Ogre enters and immediately brings Kong with him. The Monster Bash Enforcers double team Hiro Tanenaga with brutal clarity.
Ogre tosses Hiro Tanenaga out of the ring. As Hiro Tanenaga crashes to the floor, Kong adds to the destruction with the Jungle Swing, the swinging side slam punishing him before Honest Abe can fully restore order.
Honest Abe begins the count.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Hiro Tanenaga makes it back into the ring at seven.
The crowd roars, but Hiro Tanenaga is badly damaged.
Julian Ward: “That was a devastating double team from the champions. Hiro Tanenaga was thrown to the outside, punished further, and still fought back in at seven.”
Brick Brody: “That took guts. It also took years off his spine. Kong and Ogre just made the floor part of their offense.”
Minute 18
Ogre goes for the Big Butt Drop, trying to crush what remains of Hiro Tanenaga’s resistance. Hiro Tanenaga sees it coming and neutralizes the impact, shifting away just enough to avoid being flattened.
The escape gives him the opening he needs.
Ogre tags Kong.
Hiro Tanenaga dives to his corner and tags Masa Tanenaga.
The crowd rises as Masa Tanenaga comes back in with fresh urgency.
Julian Ward: “Hiro Tanenaga avoided disaster there. If that Big Butt Drop had landed, this main event may have ended.”
Brick Brody: “That was survival by inches. He got out and brought in Masa Tanenaga, but now Masa has to deal with Kong.”
Minute 19
Kong steps in against Masa Tanenaga and wastes no time.
He catches Masa Tanenaga with the Jungle Swing, the swinging side slam driving him into the canvas with decisive force.
Masa Tanenaga absorbs the punishment but cannot recover quickly enough.
Kong covers.
Honest Abe drops into position.
One.
Two.
Three.
The bell rings.
Dr. Frankenstein raises both arms at ringside with a sharp, vindicated snarl. Ogre steps into the ring beside Kong, looming over the fallen Masa Tanenaga.
Lady Ayame Ryu moves to the apron, her expression controlled but wounded by the result. Hiro Tanenaga pulls himself back into the ring, still damaged from the earlier double team, reaching toward his partner as the champions stand tall.
Julian Ward: “The Scalekeepers fought with speed, discipline, and remarkable resilience. Lady Ayame Ryu found openings, Hiro Tanenaga risked everything, and Masa Tanenaga answered when called upon. But the power and interference surrounding the Monster Bash Enforcers proved too much.”
Brick Brody: “That was a main event fight. The Scalekeepers had timing, heart, and every clever angle they could find. But Kong and Ogre had mass, damage, and Dr. Frankenstein tearing holes in the match whenever they needed one. In the end, Kong hit the Jungle Swing, and the champions kept marching.”
Julian Ward: “On the final Dark Fable before Ashes of Empire, the Monster Bash Enforcers send a severe message through the Universal Tag Team Title Tournament. Discipline can survive monsters for a time. Tonight, it could not overcome them.”
Louie Linville: “Here are your winners... Kong and Ogre... the Monster Bash Enforcers.”
RESULT: MONSTER BASH ENFORCERS DEFEAT SCALEKEEPERS WHEN KONG PINS MASA TANENAGA WITH THE JUNGLE SWING.
The camera returns to the commentary desk.
The crowd inside Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum is still restless.
Not satisfied.
Not relieved.
Restless.
The kind of sound that follows a night where too many doors were opened and none of them led anywhere safe.
Julian Ward: “Tonight began with consequence, and it ends with every road pointing toward Ashes of Empire. We saw the Queens of Despair isolate Mother Earth, with Huntsman proving once again that danger at ringside can become the deciding factor before a match ever truly becomes fair.”
Brick Brody: “Fair doesn’t survive long around Regina, Malice, and Huntsman. They cut the ring apart, they made Sayaka Mizuhana watch, and they left Mother Earth flat. That was not a victory. That was a warning wrapped in a pinfall.”
Julian Ward: “Ghost of Christmas Past endured the speed and fire of Prince Charming, then ended the match with an Axe Bomber after Fenwick Grimbough continued to bend the atmosphere around the contest.”
Brick Brody: “Prince Charming threw everything pretty, flashy, and brave at him. Ghost of Christmas Past stood there, waited for the fairy-tale timing to fail, and knocked the story out of him.”
Julian Ward: “The King’s Hand also made its intentions clear tonight. Prince John, Will Scarlet, Sheriff of Nottingham, Prioress Malveil, Lady Isolde Blackthorne, Brute Bailiff, and Ledger Knight stood together and declared that Sherwood is not to be defeated, but repossessed.”
Brick Brody: “That word matters, Julian. Repossessed. They don’t want to beat the Merry Band just to win matches. They want to take the songs, the pride, the whole forest myth, and stamp it with a royal seal.”
Julian Ward: “In tag team action, the Monsters of Myth survived the resistance of Lady Guinevere and Snow White, with Serpenta Veyne once again proving that her presence can twist the direction of a match without ever officially entering it.”
Brick Brody: “And then Serpenta Veyne found out what happens when she cannot hide behind the monsters. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts, took her into three falls, made her tap once, got made to tap once, then took her head off when it mattered.”
Julian Ward: “The Aurora Championship Tournament continues to narrow. Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts, advances after one of the most grueling quarter final matches we have seen.”
Brick Brody: “That tournament is not making contenders. It is grinding people down until only the meanest thing left can stand upright.”
Julian Ward: “Tonight also marked the first defense of Hansel’s reign as Eternal Flame Champion. Against Dread Knight 1 and the interference of Myrrden, Hansel endured, adapted, and forced the challenger to submit to the Boston Crab.”
Brick Brody: “That was a real championship defense. Hansel got hit, cursed, suplexed, and tested. Then he took the leg, bent the knight, and kept the flame. I still say that title makes every challenger more dangerous, but tonight Hansel proved he can carry it.”
Julian Ward: “And in our main event, the Monster Bash Enforcers, Kong and Ogre, with Dr. Frankenstein, overcame the discipline and courage of the Scalekeepers, Hiro Tanenaga and Masa Tanenaga, who were led by Lady Ayame Ryu. The Scalekeepers pushed the champions, but Kong ended the match with the Jungle Swing.”
Brick Brody: “The Scalekeepers had timing. They had heart. They had Lady Ayame Ryu finding openings. But Kong and Ogre had two things that never go out of style: size and damage. Add Dr. Frankenstein pulling wires from ringside, and that is a hard wall to climb.”
The camera cuts to a slow montage from the night.
Malice standing over Mother Earth.
Ghost of Christmas Past rising after the Axe Bomber.
The King’s Hand gathered around the judgment table.
Medussa Nemesis pinning Lady Guinevere as Serpenta Veyne smiles.
Hansel clutching the Eternal Flame Championship.
Crimson Viper, the Queen of Hearts, standing after the third fall.
Kong and Ogre towering over the fallen Scalekeepers.
Then the camera returns to Julian Ward and Brick Brody.
Julian Ward: “This Sunday, June 28, the road ends at Ashes of Empire. Six matches. Six trials. Every one of them shaped by loyalty, betrayal, inheritance, and war.”
Brick Brody: “And every one of them has somebody walking in thinking destiny cares about them. I cannot wait to watch destiny get punched in the mouth.”
Julian Ward: “At Ashes of Empire, Raigen the Maryu meets Takuma Ryujin in an I Quit Match. The path of dragon discipline, oni power, and human memory reaches a breaking point where victory will not be measured by a pinfall or count. One man must say he cannot continue.”
Brick Brody: “That is the kind of match that changes what a man hears when he closes his eyes. Raigen the Maryu has become something dangerous, but Takuma Ryujin is not walking into that match to test him. He is walking in to break the word quit out of him.”
Julian Ward: “Lark of Sherwood and Maid Marion face Prioress Malveil and Lady Isolde Blackthorne, as the women of Sherwood stand against the cold judgment of the King’s Hand.”
Brick Brody: “Maid Marion and Lark of Sherwood better bring more than courage. Prioress Malveil thinks mercy is weakness, and Lady Isolde Blackthorne looks like she was hired specifically to end problems that keep surviving.”
Julian Ward: “The Dread Knights meet the Virtuous Blades, with more than pride at stake. The winner will move forward into Monday night and face the Monster Bash Enforcers for the Universal Tag Team Title.”
Brick Brody: “That means whoever wins Sunday gets rewarded with Kong and Ogre on Monday. Congratulations. You survive one war and get handed two monsters.”
Julian Ward: “The Merry Band, Allan-A-Dale, Friar Tuck, and Little John, will face the King’s Hand, represented by Sheriff of Nottingham and the King’s Collectors, Brute Bailiff and Ledger Knight.”
Brick Brody: “That is not a six-man match. That is a tax collection with violence attached. The Merry Band better hope their songs have hard heads.”
Julian Ward: “Inside Hell in a Cell, Robin Hood faces Will Scarlet. Friendship, betrayal, resentment, and ambition will all be locked inside steel.”
Brick Brody: “Good. No running to the forest. No hiding behind the cause. Robin Hood and Will Scarlet get the cage, the truth, and whatever is left when the door finally opens.”
The crowd grows louder as the main event graphic appears on the screen.
King Arthur.
Mordred.
The Mythic Crown between them.
Julian Ward: “And in the main event of Ashes of Empire, King Arthur defends the Mythic Crown against Mordred in a Two Out of Three Falls Match.”
Brick Brody: “That is the one, Julian. That is where the whole castle starts shaking. King Arthur can talk honor, Merlin can talk destiny, and the Champions of Camelot can stand proud, but Mordred only needs two falls to tear the crown out of the story.”
Julian Ward: “Tonight, Mordred and Myrrden called it inheritance. This Sunday, King Arthur must prove that the crown is more than metal, more than myth, and more than the bloodline trying to break it.”
Brick Brody: “And if he cannot, Camelot does not just lose a champion. It loses the lie that kept everyone standing straight.”
The Ashes of Empire graphic fades.
A new graphic appears.
ASHES OF EMPIRE AFTERMATH.
Monday, June 29.
Julian Ward: “And the consequences will not wait. This Monday, June 29, Dark Fable presents Ashes of Empire Aftermath.”
Brick Brody: “That is the cruel part. Everybody thinks Sunday is the end. It is not. Monday is where the bruises get counted and somebody decides to make them worse.”
Julian Ward: “On Ashes of Empire Aftermath, Robin Hood faces Sheriff of Nottingham.”
Brick Brody: “If Robin Hood survives Will Scarlet inside Hell in a Cell, he gets the law waiting for him the next night. That is not scheduling. That is punishment.”
Julian Ward: “Maid Marion will meet Lady Isolde Blackthorne one-on-one.”
Brick Brody: “That might be worse than the tag match. No partner to reach. No forest to lean on. Just Maid Marion standing across from Lady Isolde Blackthorne and whatever cold thing she brought to Prince John’s side.”
Julian Ward: “The Universal Tag Team Champions, the Monster Bash Enforcers, will defend against the winners of Dread Knights versus Virtuous Blades from the night before.”
Brick Brody: “Like I said, reward or trap, depends on whether you enjoy being thrown through your own confidence by Kong and Ogre.”
Julian Ward: “The King’s Collectors, Brute Bailiff and Ledger Knight, will also face the Merry Band.”
Brick Brody: “More collections. More broken receipts. More people learning that unpaid debts in Dark Fable come due with fists.”
The final graphic appears.
Frankenstein’s Monster.
The Mythic Crown.
A shadowed champion’s silhouette.
Julian Ward: “And in the main event of Ashes of Empire Aftermath, Frankenstein’s Monster challenges the winner of King Arthur versus Mordred for the Mythic Crown.”
The crowd reacts with a mixture of shock and dread.
Brick Brody: “That is the kind of match that makes Sunday even worse. Whoever walks out of Ashes of Empire with the Mythic Crown does not get to breathe. King Arthur or Mordred, it does not matter. Frankenstein’s Monster is waiting the next night.”
Julian Ward: “The Mythic Crown may pass through war on Sunday only to meet devastation on Monday. Frankenstein’s Monster has already proven he can change the shape of this division. On June 29, he may stand one match away from changing it again.”
The camera pulls back from the desk.
The arena lights dim until only the ring remains illuminated.
No wrestlers stand inside it now.
Only the empty canvas.
Waiting.
Julian Ward: “Tonight, we saw the final warnings. On Sunday, warnings become consequences.”
Brick Brody: “And consequences hit harder when nobody can pretend they did not see them coming.”
The camera cuts to the Mythic Crown graphic one last time.
King Arthur on one side.
Mordred on the other.
Behind them, barely visible, the silhouette of Frankenstein’s Monster waits in the dark.
Julian Ward: “For Brick Brody, I am Julian Ward. This has been NPCW: Dark Fable. We will see you this Sunday at Ashes of Empire.”
The torches go out one by one.
The final image is the Mythic Crown suspended in darkness.
Then black.
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