Post by CJ Phoenix on Dec 12, 2021 4:57:45 GMT -5
It's been four days since Turmoil, and there are four more until CJ Phoenix takes part in Hellscape. The Luminary of Despair has been recovering from his third encounter with the Metal Witch in a two month span. It was the first time they got to face off one-on-one, and it was the first time his internal training paid off.
SHINING WITCH!
Chris Avery: No way! CJ went for a spear but Claire countered with a shining wizard!
The pin.
1..
2..
Billy: This could be it..
In that moment, CJ felt something. The atmosphere. The despair of the fans. Even the despair of his opponent. It was only for a second, but it all came together long enough for him to stay in the match.
3 !!
NOO!!!
Phoenix kicks out!
Billy: What a kick out!!
The mental training he's been doing to connect with the energy of the fans paid off. However, there was no time to celebrate the breakthrough and ensuing victory. As he cruised through the night on his way to South Carolina, the US Champion had a new dilemma on his hands.....
Celeste: I want that million! Win it for me!
Phoenix: You don't even need it!
Celeste: But I WANT IT!
Phoenix: You wouldn't even be able to use it!
Celeste: Shut up! It's six zeros with a one leading the charge! You know you want it!
Phoenix: There's more to this than just money!
Celeste: Like what!? Your title isn't on the line! You can't push yourself like you did at Turmoil because the objective of the match is to run away from everyone else! So just take the money and run!
Phoenix: That's not my focus!
Celeste: Well make it your-
A car pulls beside them, intending to cut in front of them. CJ and Celeste both glare at it.
Celeste: You little BITCH!
Phoenix: Piss off!
Celeste: Leave this jackass in the dust!
CJ speeds up, leaving the vehicle in question far behind.
Celeste: That'll teach them. Whoever that was had a weird ass mask on. Who drives this late at night with something like that covering their whole face?
Phoenix: That's pretty strange. It doesn't look like they're trying to catch back up either.
Celeste: Good. Now, back to the money.
Phoenix: It's not about-
Celeste: Then what is it about!?
Are you having fun so far, Holden? You've been making a little noise early, and now you have a chance to REALLY put AW on notice in a building that's as abandoned as your humanity when you step in the ring. You're a freight train that's geared up to demolish whoever's brave, stupid, or unfortunate enough to oppose you. The bastard. The ruthless, Ultraviolent bastard. That about covers it, right?
Good. Now let's talk about the other side of the coin. You act like a savage between the bells, but you're just a gentle giant. You know, a million dollars can buy one hell of a date. So what will you do, Holden? Would you rather be the guy who couldn't control his bloodlust and lost out on the chance to change lives with a million dollars, or the little weasel that scampered away like a thief in the night. The choice is yours. Monstrosity or millionaire? I look forward to seeing which path you will take.
Not even a trillion dollars would be enough to fix the scars in your life, would it, Addy? College education paid in full in advance for your daughter. You can get her whatever she desires for Christmas. Riddle me this though, Addy. How many pieces of your life can that cash put back together? Better yet, how many more will break apart if you fail to win it? Imagine a life-changing stack of dough in a duffel bag being handed over to someone else. Meanwhile, all you can do is watch in misery. Is the thought of that heartbreak enough to fuel you to crush the dreams of everyone else in this match? After all, I'm sure they have plans with the money as well. I wonder what you're gonna show off more Monday night, your tits or your talents. For your sake, I hope it's the latter.
Latter...ladder? You've climbed the ladder a few times, right Dion? Back in WCF, and now here in AW. That tenacity stayed with you, and it wasn't more prominent than when you willed your way to destiny bestowing the #1 entry into the Havoc rumble to you. You'd have to be living under a box to not know about the breakout year you've had. Despite falling off that ladder more times than a calculator can count, you kept getting back up. I like that...brother. I'm proud of you, and I hold no hostility towards you. In fact, I was quite happy for you when you won the Tag Titles alongside Downfall. You finally stopped letting yourself be a doormat to the champions and got in on the action, and now you find yourself here...
...and you don't like it, do you? On one hand, you have a chance to be a millionaire. You might even feel like it's OWED to you, but that's not why you're here, is it? This battle goes against everything you stand for. You're driven by the thrill of battle, not monetary status or championships. And yet here you are, in a match focused on battling for money. So, Dion...brother...how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to the shadows to get through this calamity? Which of your principles will fall first? I can't wait to find out.
Phoenix: The match itself. That's what interests me the most.
Celeste: Elaborate.
Phoenix: Most matches with some kind of prize require the participants to ascend to victory. However, in order to win this one, we have to descend to win a prize given in a duffel bag.
Celeste: I see. It's not just a fight to see who can win money. It's a test to see how far people can fall from the high ground.
Phoenix: Right. I'm not sure if that was the intention when this was announced, but there is an opportunity to test something.
Celeste: And that would be...
Phoenix: Incentive. I want to see how much of an incentive like this can affect my opponents. How much harder are they willing to fight for something that they each want for different reasons?
Celeste: How much despair will come from a situation like this?
Phoenix: Right. Oh, that reminds me...
A million dollars is a hell of a way to kick off retirement, wouldn't you say, Corey? You've had one hell of a career, and now you're on the verge of riding off into the sunset. One last tour of destruction, but the wheels have already fallen off, haven't they? The hate you bring to the ring doesn't sting. At least not as much as it used to, but now you have a chance to salvage some of it. It's not a China shop, but it is a Bull in an abandoned building, limping to the finish line.
We both know what you REALLY want out of this. You wanna see how much pain you can inflict in such a hostile environment. I almost feel bad that the closest thing we'll have to a true encounter is this barbaric bloodbath. Your thirst for mindless destruction will force everyone else to rely more on primal instincts and desperation....just like you do. Go ahead, Corey. Do your worst in the deteriorated structure. If an explosion couldn't stop me. A few love taps from a bull won't either. See you in hell, Hatebringer.
Speaking of hell, we've surely put each other through it recently, haven't we Claire? From our first encounter in the main event of Monday Night Clash to our duel at Turmoil, our paths can't stop crossing. Do I even need to ask if you care about the money? Of course not. It isn't even about finally getting a win against me. This is about proving yourself to yourself, is it not? Avenging the pride you feel like you've lost. Show us the resolve you keep clinging to. Prove that you can scratch and claw through four levels of hell and survive!
You do still have that persistence, right? You better not have given up after putting us all through your carnival rides of emotional trauma. I surely hope at least some of what I said got through to you. You may want me to fail, but I want you to succeed. That's what keeps me ahead of you. It takes a lot of force to hold people down, but lifting others up makes you and them stronger. Trust me, I've done both this year. So Claire, are you going to keep rusting away in a pool of denial, or will you finally point the finger at yourself for once and start walking in the right direction? Your window of opportunity is closing.
I saved you for last for a reason, Daemon. You and I speak a similar language. We both transcend this realm in our own ways, and I'm happy that our paths have finally crossed. I've noticed that you've mentioned me a few times. Let me be the first to tell you that the feeling is mutual. I've been watching you as well. You kinda remind me of me. Fighting without fear, yet still holding respect for others. With a million bucks, you can almost buy your way to being a passable human being. I'll even pitch in some extra change for manners. That way, you won't come off as a grown-up version of Donnie Thornberry.
Unless you just WANT to exude that degenerate energy. After all, it's been a while since you've had a notable achievement to gloat about. Just a volcano of bitterness ready to erupt and perhaps flood an abandoned building with violence. You have a lot of tension inside of you, and your detachment from reality has thrown you even further off the rails. Ironically, the closest tie you have to sanity is when you're being at your most insane. Well, you're in luck. We're flying to a four-story asylum where you can let out all the anger you have, and possibly get paid for it. Let's see what you've got Daemon. Let's see if you're as otherworldly as you present yourself to be, or if you're just another fraud trying to catch us all in a genjutsu.
Phoenix: I'm not gonna use the word 'despair' when I speak to my opponents this week.
Celeste: What? Why not?
Phoenix: I won't need to. The ambience of this match will do so for me. You see, no matter who 'wins', all of them will be forced to push themselves even harder in a desperate struggle for a single prize. I want to see if I can stoke their flames a bit more. If it leads to me walking out that front door first and winning, then I will accept that. However, my success in this match will be measured by how far everyone is pushed outside of their comfort zone.
Celeste: Interesting. I wonder...does this have something to do with your US Title?
Phoenix: Yes. If I'm to keep elevating towards my full potential, I need to create a scenario that draws out the best from my opposition. I can't push myself forward if I'm facing someone that's half-assing it at, so I won't be lazing around as it would do me no good. Besides, that million could come in handy later on as an added bonus if needed.
Celeste: So that's what you meant by money not being the focus. I understand now....but my point still stands! I want that money!
Phoenix: You can't USE IT!
Celeste: I don't CARE!
The scene fades to black as the two continue to argue all the way to South Carolina.