Clash of Titans: Iron vs. Rising - Best 2 out of 3 - Alexios, "The Titan of the Sea" vs Rekka

[Weonna]

“AAAGHHH!!”

Rekka screamed as soon as his body crashed into the mat—and even louder the moment Alexios snatched his ankle and twisted. The pain was immediate, white-hot, radiating through his leg like wildfire.

Rekka's fingers clawed at the canvas as he writhed, trying to pull himself forward. Every inch was a battle as Alexios cranked the hold tighter, his grip like iron around the ankle.

“¡No, no, no...!”

Rekka gasped in agony, desperately reaching for the ropes. His gloved fingertips brushed the canvas—but they were still too far away.

Each pull forward was slower, more agonizing than the last. He kicked with his free leg, hoping to jar Alexios off balance—but the Greek adjusted, planting himself down and grapevining the leg if he chose, ready to drag Rekka back to center if needed. The crowd roared as the tides turned.

This could be it.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios twisted Rekka’s ankle harder and harder. As the luchador slowly crawled to the ropes, Alexios gathered his strength. Just when Rekka was close to the ropes, he dug in. Like a tug of war or sled pull, Alexios yanked Rekka back and dragged him to the center of the ring. He then dropped down, wrapping his legs around Rekka’s in a grapevine to really cinch it in.
“Tap! You fought with honor. No need to hurt yourself. Please tap!”
***
Helen sat there emotionless cradling the comatose Christina as she watched the match. She could have seen the sudden turn of events a mile away. She kicked herself for not being ringside to advise Rekka. Christina would get her payback, so Helen would make the most of it now. She remained embraced against Christina, feeling the conflicted feelings they seemed to feel when they struggle against each other.

[Weonna]

Rekka’s screams tore through the arena, louder than they had ever been before.

His fingers clawed desperately against the canvas, dragging his body inch by inch toward salvation. But the pain… the pain was unbearable. It felt like his ankle was caught in a bear trap, the bones grinding with every twist from Alexios, who had now grapevined the hold and anchored it to the mat. The pressure shot white-hot agony up Rekka’s leg, radiating through his entire body like lightning in a thunderstorm.

“Aaaaaaaghhhhhh!!”

Every time he inched forward, Alexios wrenched back harder, twisting the ankle so violently it felt as if it might snap clean. Rekka’s nails scratched the canvas near the ropes — he was inches away — but just as hope surged, Alexios pulled him back again. The crowd erupted at the raw display of strength and desperation.

Rekka’s legs kicked uselessly, the one in the lock now burning like it had been lit on fire. His body thrashed, but there was nowhere to go. He could feel the ligaments tearing, the joints screaming. He reached one final time…

But the ropes weren’t there. Only more pain. Only the deafening crowd.

Rekka refused to tap. His pride as a luchador wouldn’t allow him to quit. His fingers shook as they reached one more time…

Before they fell limp.

The referee knelt beside the fallen Rekka, concern etched across his face as he saw the luchador’s body trembling, his cries now reduced to a hoarse, pained groan.

“Rekka… can you continue?”

he asked, leaning close. But there was no response. Just shallow, rapid breaths and twitching fingers.

The ref hesitated, then did what needed to be done. He grabbed Rekka’s limp wrist and lifted it into the air.

It dropped.

He tried again, holding it a moment longer.

It dropped again.

The crowd held their breath.

The referee lifted Rekka’s arm one last time…

And it dropped like a stone.

The bell rang instantly.

DING DING DING!!

The match was over.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios had Rekka’s leg wrapped up in a vise. He had hoped the proud luchador would tap, but was unsurprised that he didn’t. Fortunately nothing broke and instead Rekka passed out from the pain. Alexios felt Rekka go limp and then the ref checked him. 1, 2, 3 times Rekka’s arm dropped. The bell rang and Alexios let go. He got to his feet and raised his arms in victory as the result was announced. Alexios then turned to wait for Rekka to come to so that he could acknowledge his opponent.

[Weonna]

Rekka stirred with a low groan, his brows furrowed in pain as consciousness slowly returned. The bright arena lights stung his eyes, and the muffled roar of the crowd rang in his ears like a distant echo. He tried to sit up, but the moment his ankle shifted, a sharp bolt of pain shot up his leg, forcing him to drop back down. Gritting his teeth, Rekka clutched at his leg, breathing heavily. He blinked, dazed, his vision focusing on Alexios standing nearby. The match was over, and though he’d lost, he knew deep down that he had given it everything. He just couldn’t stand yet—not with his ankle throbbing like fire.

[ScylliasExoter]

After soaking in the crowd’s cheers, he walked over to Rekka. Seeing the luchador awake but struggling to get to his feet, Alexios reached down. He hooked his arm under Rekka’s and helped him Rise to his feet. The crowd cheered the display of sportsmanship and Alexios had a revelation after such a hard fought battle. The true meaning of rising was not to avoid falling, but to pull each other up. As Alexios helped prop Rekka up until his foot recovered, he said to the luchador, ”I see it now. Why you want to call it Rising. It all makes sense.”
When Rekka steadied himself, Alexios then offered his hand.
“Seeing as I won, and the challenge was the winner picks the gym name. I pick Rising.”

[Weonna]

Rekka’s grip tightened around Alexios’s hand as he rose to his feet with his help. His ankle still throbbed—badly—but the fire in his heart burned just as bright. Supported by the man who had just bested him, Rekka looked out toward the crowd, then back at Alexios, who stood with his chest high and arms strong, like a pillar of pride and resilience.

Unfortunately thanks to his mask Alexios couldn't see the smile on his face.

“Gracias, hermano,”

he said, voice hoarse but genuine.

“You might’ve picked Rising… but you’ll always be the real Iron Titan.”

The crowd erupted in cheers once more as the two men stood tall, not as rivals, but as equals.

-----

Elsewhere, Christina started to stir against Helen’s body. Her brows furrowed, her voice soft and foggy as consciousness returned.

“Mmmnh… what happened…?”

she mumbled, her words slow and heavy,

“…who won…?”

She blinked blearily, still nestled against the warmth of Helen’s body, her head lolling and resting against her tje side of her friend's face even as she tried to make sense of what was going on.

“…Was it… Alexios?”

Her voice barely carried, but there was a faint smile forming on her lips...

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios and Rekka celebrated for the camera, mutually raising each other’s hands in respect. Helen cradled and petted Christina without a word. The post-match sportsmanship was a blur to her she couldn’t care less about. When the Filipina came to and asked if Alexios won, Helen replied, “Yes. Alexios won.” She turned Christina around and began wrapping her arm around the Filipina’s throat.
“You’ll have me for the week. I have you for tonight. I better make the most of it,”
she whispered in Christina’s ear and began choking her slowly. Helen wanted to feel every curve of her opponent(?) press into hers. She squeezed and squeezed until Christina once again was met with oblivion.

Winner: Alexios via technical submission
END OF THREAD