Main Event: Rose Gold (c) vs Amano Jaku - MMA style Beach Match for the LAW Lightweight Championship

[dlamp]

Amano paused a moment, Rose's initial words making her frown. About as arrogant as the Demon expected, but...

"Kehehe..." Amano snickered at Rose's words, her eyes lighting up as she watch the champion crack her knuckles as if the sound of them lit up her violent intent. "Yeah actually, Nee-chan told me this was an uphill battle I couldn't win..." Amano rolled her shoulders, straightening out her gi. "But I couldn't call myself a Demon if I didn't at least give you a solid blow to remember me by." Her yellow eyes locked onto Rose's own, smiling wide.

She could feel it. This was pure killing intent, the urge and desire to take someone down and break them. She could feel it from both Rose and herself, and the pressure was almost intoxicating. Her heart was practically trying to break out of her chest it was beating so fast from the atmosphere. The first round might had been a dud, but this time... was for keeps! She couldn't stop giggling at the thought of how things would go!

"Arigato, Barakami-chan!" Despite her words, and despite the bright tone, there was little gratitude in her statement. No, her bright smile soon turned to a wicked grin.

"[ Let's kill each other~ ]"

And Amano charged forward, as fast as the sandy floor would let her as she beelined toward Rose.

She got closer.

Closer.

Closer.

Then, she ducked.

Spoiler

No, she rolled. Kicking the sand behind her, Amano lunge a good distance before reaching Rose, bringing her raised foot on a path to slam right into Rose's cheeky, smirking face. A karate move, a typical knockout move in the art: Do Mawashi Kaiten Geri. But for Amano Jaku, it was her surprise signature: Oni no Ono - The Demon's Ax.

[winner3]

While Hangaku and Amano shared a very unconventional bond, none could deny that it was quite mutual. The cameras had picked up on their conversation between rounds. The pair of martial artists played off one another. In their own way, they spurred each other on. As friends, as rivals, as companions; one might say, as equals.

The relationship between Rose Gold and Lexy Alan saw no such equal footing. Because as far as the two of them were concerned, anyone who had come to their senses realized that Rose Gold had no equals.

This shared perspective hardly saw Lexy play an active role as the Sinister Siren's second. Despite having knowledge in the way of reviewing matches and highlights and therefore knowledge of many a LAW wrestler's strengths and weaknesses, Lexy had held her tongue. She had done her job in Rose's corner wordlessly, tidying, and propping up the champ where she could be with a much-needed massage and some water. The green-haired gal nodded obediently at Rose's proposition. She exited the cage and saw her Goddess off. Lexy saw no meaning behind cheering for Rose and she was sure Rose would see little purpose in it either. For it was just as the champ had said: the Demoness could not possibly hope to compare to the Goddess.

As the next round progressed, Lexy would look to have a word with some of the staff outside the cage.

Even as the match continued, word would spread quickly behind the scenes and online that the interviewer and talk show host Lexy Alan would be meeting with the General Manager to demand that Rose's subsequent title defenses would be professional wrestling matches against opponents that were more.... sound of mind than the current challenger.

[SuckerPunch]

"Is that so. Nee-chan sounds more clever than I would have thought. Perhaps once I'm done devouring you, I'll have a taste of her as well." She licked her lips as she dismissively waved off Amano's statement. In truth, she was caught by surprise. It was seldom that someone stood before her and truly understood their place. They often needed to be reduced to a pleading puddle of woman before truly understanding.

"Hai." She responded plainly to Amano's proposition.

As Amano charged, Rose squared her stance. She set her hips and spread her arms. It was as she predicted. The less experienced grappler was going to charge. She didn't have the confidence that she could defend against the Sinister Siren's techniques... And so she needed to take the initiative. Idiot.

Amano's posture gave away her plan. She was low to the ground and her arms were down. Rose Gold's upper body was safe. She was going for a shot. A double or a single-leg takedown. And from there she would prey to entangle the Lightweight Champion and scrounge out a win. Simpleton.

Amano changed levels, just as Rose predicted. And the blonde dropped her arms and prepared to secure the other girl's upper body and throw her atop her. She was already considering how Amano's throat would feel against her arms as she drained the life from her. Victim.

*Eeeeeeeeeeeee*

It was as if she'd stepped on a landmine. Her ears rang so loud that the sound felt like a thousand tiny daggers piercing her brain. The world flashed white. And when it returned it was pixelated and hazy, as if she were looking through air cooked by hot summer sun. The sun had set hours ago... She was weightless. Floating.

Amano's feint had resulted in her guard dropping and her rolling kick striking the Sadistic Succubus cleanly in the side of her head. It snapped to the side as her face contorted and conformed to Amano's heel. She hit the sand like a controlled demolition. She'd been knocked clean out. But her head bouncing off the sand had woken her back up. Her body jolted as if she'd been shocked with a defibrillator.

Her mouth tasted like iron. And she couldn't see. She couldn't hear. But she could feel that she wasn't on her feet.

She panicked and pressed her hands towards anything. In front of her, nothing. Above her. Nothing. Beneath her... The sand. She pushed them into it, forcing herself into a sitting position and orienting herself slightly.

Her mind filled with fear and a single word. Survive.

[dlamp]

The slowed for a moment. There was a short silence in the audience once Amano dived down. As if a wait for an execution, from the crowd and her opponent both. The silence lengthened as a loud, audible crack sounded throughout the beach. It happened in a flash, but it felt like an eternity. The Demon's Ax dropped like a guillotine on Rose's face, and the execution that was expected went to the other fighter. The crowd was silent, shocked at the blow, but Amano only rolled up in a sitting position, looking back at Rose.

"... ... ..." It worked. It actually worked. Hangaku was right, Rose was ready to wrestle. But... fighting was another story. The realization hit both Amano and Rose at the same time, and as the champion pushed herself up, as the two met golden eyes, Amano could see it.

Fear.

The acidic shock of taking a heavy blow and desperately coming to. It was a feeling she was familiar with in a few of her own matches. But... seeing it on Rose's face felt foreign. Maybe it was all the Midas Touch segments making Rose look so competent against weaker foes, but... this look of fear and shock on Rose's face... the bit of red she saw poking out of her mouth from the harsh strike.

It was savory.

And the Demon's expression went from curiosity and surprised, the a manic and lustful grin. That strike was only a taste. Amano wanted more. To feel more of this Flower's thorns against her fists as she struck at them. To see more of this champion's face now that she realized the fight was in a new stage. To taste more of Rose's techniques as she fought to keep the Demon at bay.

"Haah..." She smelled blood now. And as Amano picked herself up, immediately rushing forward. "Seiya!" She shot her leg up high. Not to nail Rose in the face. No, she was too far for that... but the sand she kicked up wasn't. If she could shock Rose with that blast of grain, the next step was to thrust out her palm in a straight and fast strike, right for the bridge of Rose's nose like the Bewitching Warrior instructed.

[SuckerPunch]

"Ah... Nn..." She made panting, panicked sounds as she began to scoot away on her butt. It wasn't graceful, but she needed distance. Her instincts were taking over for her and they told her to run! Already a woman of primal inclinations, her instincts were somewhat more honed than a wild beast. Competition had rewired her fight or flight impulses. They'd added a more complex syntax for her body to rely on.

An unpracticed woman might have immediately climbed to her feet. And that woman would have been putting her head on a tee. Life on the mats had taught her to distance herself from her attacker. Before LAW, she had always faced larger opponents. And not always women. Stronger. Heavier. It had been life on the back-foot. A world she'd hardly been in since her title win.

She heard Amano's scream and brought her arms up. The way a child does in a haunted house. She searched for her. And shrieked as sand bit into her eyes! Her body understood, even if her mind was still smoldering from the concussive kick Amano had delivered. Her hands didn't reach for them... Rubbing her eyes would grind the grains into those precious golden orbs.

Her back hit the cage. And her adrenaline surged. Her knees extended as she walked her back up the cage in order to come to a full stand. The cheering of the audience finally broke through the barrier of her dizziness. She could hear again.

She stared wide eyed, not because she was shocked, but to protect her eyes. Her vision still swam. And now it was blurry and multiplied, as if she were an insect. There weren't any colors. Just blotchy shapes. Amorphous dark shadows. And one of them was coming right for her, like a spear!

Her body slipped forward. Probably the last place Amano expected the champion to dodge towards. But she was a cornered predator. She still had her fangs! Her cheek was grazed by the palm strike as her face slid along the extended arm. "Bitch!" She hissed through grit teeth. Her pretenses dropping.

And she countered with her favored striking technique. She was a kick-boxer by no measure. But in the world of women's combat sports, you would be hard pressed to find a woman who was better suited to this type of attack. Her right knee fired upwards. Spiking itself right between Amano's thighs.

If exception was taken to the attack, Rose would blame the sand in her eyes. She'd say it was an accident. But this was LAW. The whole world knew the ref would have nothing to say. Just like Amano knew it was no accident. It couldn't be. It was so surgical, so precise. The cruel shot was fired so pinpoint accurate that the cruel bone would strike her directly in the most vulnerable part of her most vital place.

They were going to tear each other apart.

[dlamp]

Rose certain moved in a different way that most fighters. Most would had try to stand or remain on the ground, at least that was the pattern she had seen in most of her fights. But Rose backed off. The sand still splashed her face, but it took a bit longer to close the distance. Amano had to admit, it a smart move.

But what surprised her more was the dodge, or more so how Rose dodged. Moving straight into Amano's space and making her palm slam into the cage rather than Rose's nose and just tapping her. And the cage rattled from the impact, digging just a bit more into the sand as the champion moved for her counter. A counter that had Amano gritting her teeth at just before the impact. She saw the knee, readying her gut to eat one hell of sharp blow.

"GYAAAAAH!"

Only for that piercing strike to hit lower. A cruel and malicious hit right between the legs. A move the champion practically had trademarked for as often as she used it in her other matches, and one the Demon honestly thought she'd be safe from in such an official match type. But that wasn't the case, and the strike was all too sharp and brutal to be an accident.

No, that was a declaration of war.

"Ouuugh..." Amano backed away, borrowing her opponent's strategy for distance the moment as she clutched one hand between her legs, dropping to one knee. "Nrgh!" She gritted her teeth, snarling at Rose like an animal as she maintained eye contact. She wasn't going to coward and turn away. "T-That..." She slowly pushed herself up, heaving as the pain was just as slow to subside.

"THAT ALL YOU GOT?!"

[SuckerPunch]

Amano's scream helped to anchor Rose to reality. Her attack had been as desperate as it was cruel. But it had bought her the time needed to recover from being rocked. At least in some part.

A hand moved to the side of her head, her fingers massaging at the spot Amano's attack had landed. She hissed and winced. That was going to bruise. "You insignificant wanna be!" She clenched her fist as she watched the shrieking Amano stagger from the low blow. "How -dare- you touch my face!"

The blurry edges of the world began to solidify. Shapes began to make more sense. But now the world had a new filter. Red. Hot. Rage!

She wasn't going to afford Amano the time that she was granted. The little bitch dared to mark her beautiful face. She intended for this match to be resolved quickly. To take her victory and celebrate in this foreign land. To paint the West Coast Gold. And now she was going to do it with a giant red mark on the side of her face. Or worse... A bruise.

She kicked up stand as she charged the kneeling Amano, never breaking eye contact. "RAAAAGH!" She screamed. Because words wouldn't suffice in expressing her frustration! Gone was the sexy seductress that had been giving the roster hell. She was replaced with a Lioness!

Rose Gold gave Amano no time to finish her bark! The moment she opened her mouth and attempted to push off of her knees, she would find Rose's left foot planted atop it! Halting her vertical movement and driving her back down! She used it like a step stool to launch herself upward and into Amano! She intended to pay her back in full for the kick she'd been gifted! This time with a knee strike driven right into Amano's face. With all of her weight and hatred behind it. This maneuver was commonly known as a Shining Wizard. But Rose called it-

The Gilded Wizard

[dlamp]

Amano barely had time to let out the first word of her taunt before Rose charged right for her face. The flying strike came too fast to counter, and Amano was too heated in her words to try and dodge. She was already seeing red from that low blow. Already hungry to get her hands on this Flower, thorns and all. And just as the Demon was about to shriek her next word-

"Kough!"

The strike had her world flashing white. Right in the side of her open jaw, warm saliva jetted out from her mouth, her head snapping to the side as the strap to her bun flew off from the violent blow. She slammed flat on her back, eyes vacantly up at the white and orange sky. That... was one hell of a blow, filled with pride, hatred, and fury toward the demon. The last thing Amano seeing was Rose's red, enraged face as her consciousness flashed back to earth. "A-Ah...!" She picked herself up in a hurry, pushing herself push as she felt the swelling throbs along her jaw. That... was going to leave a mark. A bruise for a bruise it seemed.

"... ... ..."

"Kehehe..."

And the Amano Jaku was grinning.

"KYAHAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed. She howled a loud and crackling laughter in a voice that was on the verge of cracking. Her once-vacant eyes now in sharp focus as she locked onto her opponent. The pain in her jaw, the fury of her opponent, the rush of adrenaline as the pain snapped her world back to life and the situation of the battle came into focus.

This fight just got real.

It looked like Rose was done play nice now, and Amano would get to see this Flower's true thorns come out.

And she couldn't wait for it.

[SuckerPunch]

Rose Gold tumbled upon the sand after the impact of her Gilded Wizard. She rolled onto her belly and pushed up onto her hands and knees. Eager, she focused her golden eyes on Amano's face as she hovered above it. Her full, pink lips pulled upwards into a grin.

"Awarena.[Pathetic]" The condemnation was dripping with venom and disdain. She was angry. Angry at the little demon for striking her precious face. Angry at for the demon for being only able to absorb this much damage. She looked for the ref to call the bout so that she could take more of her anger out on the aikidoka's nubile body!

A sound of indiscernible origin shook Rose. She never did find the referee... And when she looked back to Amano, she couldn't find her either.

Then the laughter started. Slow, bubbling, haunting laughter that shook the Lightweight Champion to her core. She fall backwards onto her ass as her swollen, sand-scratched eyes went wide. Her feet pumped, pushing her away. Was she... Was she grinning?

"Coward!" She snarled. It was impossible to tell if Amano could even understand her words from within her seemingly psychotic state... But they weren't meant for her. They were self-directed. Something about Amano terrified Rose Gold to her core. And that terror reminded her of a girl she was confident she'd killed.

She winced as the laughter got louder. And that fear response forced her to her feet. Incensed her. And took away her logic!

She charged Amano and planted her left foot. She turned her hips and threw her right shin directly across the little demon's little breasts!
"Shine! [Die!]" Another word not meant for Amano! Her voice cracked with anxiety.

"Shine! [Die!]" Another! Rose's eyes lacked the determination that had accompanied the knee strike.

"Shine! [Die!]" Another! Her pupils wavered. And her hands were shaking.

Repeatedly she hammered kicks into Amano! Repeatedly she tried to keep the coward inside her buried!

"SHINE! [DIE!]" And she threw a final kick. A turning roundhouse that would drive itself into the heart of Amano and kill her for sure. But... If she was so confident... Then... Why did she pick a move that allowed her to look away...

[dlamp]

The terror in Rose's eyes barely registered to Amano. Her eyes were focused, Rose's image was clear... but all the Demon could see was a girl backing away and getting distance. Was she going for another knee strike? Trying to reset the battle a little? Did she want a stand-up fight now that strikes were exchange. Amano's mind was buzzing with the possibilities as the grin remained on her face. This was getting fun now! Whether out of annoyance an honest attempt to keep the Demon down, Rose as taking this fight seriously, and Amano would get a chance to see the thorns underneath this arrogant, showy flower. But... the cry she gave out was... confusing. Coward? Was that aimed Amano or-

"Grgh!" The kick stopped her thoughts, focusing herself back to the fight. It hurt, there was definitely killing intent behind the blow, but Amano was able to remain upright.

And then Rose kicked again.

And again.

And again.

Each blow making the Demon twitch and groan, but remain upright and stable, even grinning as each hit met its mark, even puffing her chest out to take more hit! It felt so good! Each kick was followed by a desperate cry for the Demon's death, Rose shrieking her brutal intent to take her down! And each time Amano only let out an almost satisfied groan, wanting to take in more hits to see what Rose as made of! And each call for her death made the Demon more and more riled up to keep going. Rose as truly trying to kill her, and it had the Demon soaring with glee. She as being taken seriously now!

And at the final and strongest of Rose's kicks, what seemed to be the death knell of her intent to kill the Demon- "Haah~" She latched Rose's leg! The pain in her chest was a light throb, more jolts of energy than actual pain. They were sharp, desperate, and heavy... "AHAHAHA!" And the Demon laughed. This was the exact kind of fight she wanted! A death struggle with a skill opponent trying to do everything in their power to kill her. Her head snapped in Rose's direction, eyes in sharp focus, looking at Rose with a twisted, manic joy. "That's right Barakami-chan, KILL ME! Hit me with all you've got!" She howled, tightening her grip on the woman. "Let's tear each other apart and show EVERYONE how a Demon and Goddess fight!" She rose and arm above Rose's leg, barely giving another thought before sending it down fast for a sharp chop at Rose's thigh.