His Cross to Bear: Alexios vs. Nash Cross

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios mercilessly bent and twisted Nash in his ab stretch. It wasn’t a match ending hold, but the Greek’s game plan right now was to wear Nash down. Not wanting things to settle and Nash to start thinking of escape, Alexios switched things up. He was in prime position for a transition. The Greek grappler turned Nash around and scooped him up over his shoulder. Alexios then started running and attempted to bring Nash down with a running powerslam!

[Shadowheart]

A chorus of groans and grunts escaped from Nash’s lips as Alexios wrenched the abdominal stretch, his muscles burning under the pressure. It wasn't the worst hold in the world, but in the hands of someone who knew exactly how to apply it - like Alexios obviously did - it was absolute hell. His core screamed in protest, his face contorted in a full grimace of pain before Alexios suddenly decided to release the hold!

Nash barely had a second to react, though, his body still aching from the stretch before he felt himself being yanked forward. The world spun as his opponent turned him around and effortlessly scooped him up over his shoulder!

"H-hey, wait!" Nash only had time to let out a startled yelp before Alexios took off in a dead sprint and the next thing he knew, his back was slammed into the mat! The entire ring shook from the running powerslam's impact and Nash's body instinctively reacted; his back arching, his face twisted as he rolled onto his side, squirming against the mat, pain radiating through his entire spine as he was left reeling from yet another move delivered by the bigger male.

[ScylliasExoter]

Seeing Nash crying out in pain clutching his back, Alexios felt it was time to go in for the kill! He bent down and scooped Nash up by his lower back, which was conveniently arched to make it easy. Alexios hoisted Nash up and pulled him in close. With the two chest to chest, the Olympian clasped his hands and locked Nash in a crushing bearhug!

[Shadowheart]

The skill gap between the two wrestlers was crystal clear to everyone watching. Alexios wasn't just overpowering Nash - he was breaking him down, seamlessly transitioning from one move to the next with ruthless efficiency. Every time Nash even thought about countering, Alexios was already three steps ahead, manhandling the skater without a moment's hesitation and no effort.

And it seemed like he wasn't slowing down anytime soon.

While Nash was still writhing from the last impact, Alexios bent down, his powerful arms wrapping around the smaller wrestler's arched back before he deadlifted Nash straight off the mat! He groaned as he was hoisted up, his legs instinctively dangling around Alexios' sides, his chest pressing against the much larger man's torso. The crowd fell into an anticipatory hush for a quick second, everyone wondering what Alexios had planned next... until he clasped his hands behind Nash's waist, tightening his hold around him and locking him into a bearhug!

The arena exploded with noise as the cameras zoomed in, capturing every agonizing second of the submission hold. Nash's body jolted as those iron-like biceps squeezed his midsection and lower back with inhuman force. His head snapped back, a loud, pained cry ripping from his throat as his hands pushed desperately against Alexios' shoulders, but it was useless - there was no escaping that vice-like grip. He was trapped, crushed, and the entire world was watching.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios kept squeezing Nash’s lower back. With every breath the skater took, the Olympian’s grip tightened and applied more pain and pressure to Nash’s torso. Nash tried to push himself away from Alexios to no avail. Alexios readjusted his grip and pulled Nash in close. Now that they were chest to chest, Nash couldn’t wind up punches to his head. The crowd cheered as Nash’s flailing slowed down. Nash’s resistance faded and he slumped against Alexios. Alexios held firm until Nash seemingly went limp. The ref picked up one of Nash’s arms, held it in the air, and let go.

[Shadowheart]

"M-My... back...!" Nash groaned, his voice strained between sharp gasps, his body writhing in Alexios' suffocating grip as he tried desperately to create some space, to pry himself free, but those massive arms just kept crushing his entire midsection! Every breath felt like a battle, his spine bending under the unbearable pressure and struggling only seemed to make it worse.

Each squirm, each frantic push against Alexios' chest and shoulders drained what little energy Nash had left. And the Olympian wasn't budging - not an inch. Instead he effortlessly adjusted his grip and pulled the skater even closer, their bodies now fully pressed together as he continued squeezing the life out of him!

Nash's groans soon turned into weak, breathless whimpers, his once-wild thrashing slowing to a pitiful twitch. His limbs grew heavy, his head lolling forward until it rested against the bigger male's shoulder. His arms hung limp, his legs dangling uselessly and the skater-wrestler was fading fast.

The crowd erupted, sensing a potential submission as the referee rushed in to check on him! Lifting one of Nash's arms, the ref let it drop - and it instantly fell lifelessly to his side. The arena roared again. A second time... the same result. The crowd yelled, waiting for the final call as the referee raised Nash's arm one last time and...

It stayed up!

A collective gasp echoed through the arena. Nash's fingers curled into a weak fist, trembling, but still fighting. He wasn't done - not yet. He wasn't even sure how he'd escape, but he'd not let this be the end. Right now, all he could do was endure and hope that Alexios would grow tired of trying to snap him in half.

[ScylliasExoter]

Nash showed incredible determination in holding on, but his situation hadn’t changed. Alexios still stood in the center of the ring bearhugging his vampiric-styled opponent. Bearhugs usually take a lot of energy to maintain, but Alexios was an Olympic wrestler in amazing shape. He could hold onto Nash as long as needed. It helped that Nash’s physique felt nice pressed up against his own. As such, Alexios continued to give his opponent a crushing hug. Alexios could feel Nash was still conscious, but drained.

Alexios turned his head towards Nash.
“You’re still here. I’m impressed with your tenacity. Make it easy on yourself and submit, Nash. No one will think any less of you. Or keep going until you pass out. Either way the outcome is the same.”

[Shadowheart]

Nash had stopped himself from fading out, but that didn't change the fact that he was still trapped, his body crushed in Alexios' poweful grip. Those steel-like arms around his midsection never loosened - not even for a second! Every breath felt shallower and every second in the hold pushed his body closer to the breaking point. The cameras occasionally zoomed in on Nash's pained expression, catching the slight tremble in his smaller frame, but most of the time, they focused on Alexios - the gladiator standing tall, his sculpted muscles glistening under the arena lights. He looked completely unbothered, as if holding Nash up like this was nothing, as if he could keep squeezing until the skater either tapped or passed out.

And damn, Nash was starting to feel like that might actually happen.

Pain radiated through his spine, a dull ache turning into a sharp, burning sensation. His chest also barely had room to expand with how tight Alexios held him, their bodies pressed together, skin against muscle. Every inhale felt like a battle. Every exhale came out ragged. His messy blonde bangs hung over his face, sticking to his sweat-dampened skin, but through gritted teeth, he still managed to rasp out, "Yeah... yeah..."

It wasn't clear whether he was agreeing with whatever Alexios had just said to him, or just trying to keep himself conscious. Either way, submission wasn't an option.

Then Nash shifted, trying to arch his back just enough to create the smallest sliver of space between them. It wasn't much, but it was enough to move. With a sudden jolt of desperation, he shot his hands up toward Alexios' face, fingers clawing for an eye rake! A desperate, underhanded move - one that the crowd and the referee wouldn't be that thrilled about - but Nash didn't care. If he wanted to escape and keep this match alive and have a chance of winning, he had to do something.

[ScylliasExoter]

Victory was near. Nash was flagging and escape seemed a fleeting possibility. Then suddenly Alexios felt a literally blinding pain and could not see. He instinctively dropped Nash and rubbed his eyes. It then dawned on him that Nash had clawed at his eyes.
“Hey! You can’t do that!” yelled the referee to little effect. Meanwhile the crowd boo’d Nash for his cheating.
Alexios struggled to get his bearings. And unfortunately he had lost track of Nash’s whereabouts, rendering him vulnerable.