Post by Action Reel on Sept 30, 2023 11:07:33 GMT -5
Ulysses Deus and Zombie McMorris stood in the oppressive darkness of The Dark Place, their breaths quickening with anxiety. The air was thick, suffused with an eerie chill that seemed to seep into their bones. They exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that finding a way out would be no easy feat.
As they cautiously moved forward, their footsteps muffled by the soft, damp ground, the shadows seemed to close in around them, whispering chilling secrets and casting twisted, dancing shapes on the walls. Every step felt like an eternity, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on them.
Suddenly, they heard a cackle that sent shivers down their spines. The unmistakable presence of Baba Yaga, a legendary and malevolent figure, hung in the air like a foul stench. She was notorious for her cunning and her penchant for trapping those who dared enter her domain.
They both were in unfamiliar territory and both needed to make an escape as quick as possible.
Ulysses nodded, his senses heightened, every nerve on edge. He could feel the weight of their predicament, but he refused to let fear overtake him. With a determined glint in his eye, he led Zombie McMorris deeper into the murky abyss, their footsteps careful and deliberate.
They encountered twisted passages, each one seeming to lead them further into the heart of The Dark Place. The oppressive atmosphere seemed to grow more intense with every step, suffocating them. Just as despair began to set in, Ulysses spotted a faint glimmer of light up ahead.
"That! That!" he exclaimed, pointing towards the distant glow. ZMac nodded in approval "Yeah boi, a way out!"
With renewed determination, they quickened their pace, the distant light drawing them like a beacon of hope. But as they approached, the shadows seemed to grow thicker, the path twisting and turning in on itself.
And then, as if materializing out of thin air, Baba Yaga stood before them, her eyes gleaming with malevolence. "Leaving so soon, dearies?" she hissed, her voice a sickeningly sweet melody.
Ulysses and Zombie McMorris exchanged a glance, their hearts pounding in their chests. They knew they were in for a battle, both against the darkness that sought to consume them and the malevolent force that stood before them.
Summoning every ounce of courage, Ulysses stepped forward, determination burning in his eyes.
And with that, the epic struggle for escape in The Dark Place began, with the fate of Ulysses Deus, Zombie McMorris, and their newfound nemesis hanging in the balance - Hotaka comes forward with a huge kick sending both men flying forward!
They crash into the wall! Hotaka is already appearing to be on his feet hitting Ulyssess with stiff strikes and forearms before belly to belly suplexing him over his head onto the ground! Ulyssess tries to get up but he realizes the ground is attaching to him like a black tar.
The same tar that drops from Hotakas mouth. Ulyssess can't get to his feet.
ZMac goes for a spear but Hotaka leaps into the air, catches ZMac and hits a sunset powerbomb! Hotaka appears on his feet again and is raining down lefts and rights but ZMac throws him off of him!
ZMac gets to his feet but his legs are stuck. The same black tar. It's slowly attaching to his ankles and he can't move and notices Hotaka with a headbutt to the face. ZMac drops to his hands and knees and Hotaka is now standing above both of them as they both try to fight out of their hold over this dark, black tar.
They can't move.
They both begin to speak before the tar jumps up and attaches to their mouths.
Baba Yaga's voice slithered through the air, dripping with malice and foreboding, as Ulysses and Zombie McMorris found themselves ensnared by the suffocating grip of the black tar.
"Well, well, well," she crooned, her eyes gleaming like twin embers in the darkness. "It seems you've stumbled into my domain, dearies. How fortunate for me, and how unfortunate for you."
Ulysses met her gaze with defiance, though the constraining tar made his movements sluggish and labored. "MhMGhghm MRmrrmm", the tar keeping from what he said unknown to us.
Baba Yaga's lips twisted into a wicked smile, revealing rows of jagged teeth. "Do you now see the futility of resistance? This place feeds on fear, on struggle. The more you resist, the tighter its grip becomes."
Zombie McMorris, his face set in grim determination, didn't try to say a single word, just stared a hole into her soul.
Baba Yaga let out a low, chilling chuckle that seemed to reverberate through the very ground they stood on. "It's not me you should fear. It's this place, The Dark Place, and the horrors it can unleash."
She leaned in closer, her breath reeking of decay. "Cooperate, bow down, and perhaps, just perhaps, I might show you a way out. Continue to defy me, and well..." She let the threat hang in the air, the unspoken horrors painting a vivid picture in their minds.
Ulysses glanced at Zombie McMorris, their silent communication a testament to their shared resolve all of a sudden. They knew they were in a perilous situation, but they also knew that giving in to Baba Yaga's demands would come at an even greater cost.
They both we not at rest but neither man was going to give in to Baba Yagas threats.
Baba Yaga's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "Very well, dearies. Have it your way. But remember, in The Dark Place, defiance can be a most costly endeavor."
With a wave of her gnarled hand, she disappeared into the shadows, leaving Ulysses and Zombie McMorris to face the oppressive darkness and its malevolent secrets once more. The battle for escape had only just begun, and they knew they would need to rely on their wits, courage, and each other to make it through.
They look around and realize they're in the middle of a ring surrounded by darkness. The spotlight just over the top of a wrestling ring. They check their mouths, and their hands, they can stand up. No black tar.
Hotaka stands still in the corner of the ring.
Live From The Dark Place
Ulysses Deus vs. Zombie McMorris vs. Hotaka(c)
Ulysses Deus vs. Zombie McMorris vs. Hotaka(c)
Deus hits a running spear putting Hotaka into the corner and Deus unleashes rights and lefts to the body of Hotaka as Hotaka covers up his face! Deus whips Hotaka out of the corner and ZMAC HITS THE MEANEST LARIAT sending Hotaka backflipping into the air in slow-motion.
Both men look at Hotaka flying into t-
Hotaka is standing back in the corner covering up his face as both men turn to him. Deus charges again and hits a spear into the corner and hits more body shots. Hotaka uncovers his face and picks up Deus and throws him back into ZMac and they both crash down!
They both quickly gather up to their feet and Hotaka is bouncing off the ropes and hits a double dropkick, one boot for each of them to their chest knocking them back!
ZMac is up first and goes for a strike but Hotaka ducks and hits a knee to the gut! He goes for a clubbing blow but Deus blocks it from behind and grabs the arms! ZMac hits a knee to the stomach of Hotaka but Deus isn't letting go of the clasp! ZMac tees off with lefts and rights to the body and Hotaka yells out a primal roar that shakes the entire ring.
They all three fall down as ZMac and Deus look around and the ring is shaking slowly. They nod and both gather to their feet and pick up Hotaka and drive him shoulder first into the ring post!
Hotaka stumbles back and they pick him up and drop him with a back suplex and the entire world shakes around them!
They can't get to their feet as they begin to trip down instantly. Hotaka is standing in the corner facing away from them and the ring stops shaking.
They both get to their feet and come near but Hotaka turns and he has no mouth, no eyes, no nose. Just a faceless, pale skin on Hotakas head. His black hair flowlying easily as if there is a breeze.
They both turn behind their backs and notice a crack in the The Dark Place.. a crack showing to the outside world.
They both turn back to Hotaka and black tar begins to drip out of the pores and orifices of Hotakas faceless head. They both stumble back as the world begins to shake and debris begins to fall around the ring and into the ring.
They both crash down to the mats and Hotaka is back to a regular being and he's standing on the top rope. They're covering up from the rock, the rubble, the debris of this Dark Place falling around them but Hotaka leaps off the top rope in slow motion!
He flips, twists, twirls and comes crashing down but both Deus and ZMac cover up and stick a hand up with a shard or piece of debris up and HOTAKA LANDS ON THEM! ZMAC STABBING HOTAKA IN THE RIBS! DEUS HITTING HOTAKA IN THE HEAD CUTTING HIM OPEN!
BLACK TAR DRIPS FROM HIS SKIN AS HE STANDS UP NOTICING HE HAS BEEN HURT!
ZMac and Deus get to their feet! They charge in opposite directions as Hotaka can't believe he's been hurt. He's stunned on his feet and turns and ZMAC HITS HIM HIGH WITH A SPEAR AND DEUS HITS HIM LOW TAKING HOTAKA OFF HIS FUCKING FEET!
HOTAKA IN SLOW-MOTION ROARS AS HE BACKFLIPS IN THE AIR AND CRASHES DOWN ONTO THE RING!
ZMac and Ulysses both rise to their feet as the debris crashes around them and Baba Yaga appears in the ring and clasps her hands together with the loudest clap known to man and its a bright white light.
The brighest white light.
We are transported to another space. Just then Ulysses Deus opens his eyes slowly as Dr. Linus Winkel enters the room and asks if the being was having a dream or a nightmare.
Meanwhile in another part of the country, ZMac opens his eyes and pushes himself off the ground in a backalley and as soon as he pops up a few party-goers yell for the ZMac man himself to return to the bonfire party. "The coke that good my brother!?" says a man as ZMac stumbles back to the bonfire.
Baba Yaga emerged from the depths of The Dark Place, her form swirling out of shadow and mist. She found Hotaka, battered and bruised, but still standing defiantly amidst the oppressive darkness.
"Well, Hotaka," she rasped, her voice a gravelly whisper, "it seems we are at an impasse. Neither side emerges victorious this day."
Hotaka, his gaze unwavering despite the pain etched across his features, nodded in acknowledgment. Just a simple, respectful nod.
Baba Yaga studied him with a mixture of grudging respect and something akin to approval. "You've shown resilience, Hotaka. But we need to show patience."
Baba Yaga's gnarled fingers traced the edges of her tattered shawl, a contemplative look in her eyes. "The Dark Place is not one to be trifled with. Its wrath is unforgiving, and its secrets are perilous."
A begrudging nod from Baba Yaga signaled her grudging approval. "Very well, Hotaka. The time for fear will come, but it is not quite now. Rest, regroup, and when the time is right, we shall face them once more, maybe in the real world.."
Hotaka looks down at his ribs and a bit of blood is coming from a gash..
Baba Yaga looks down and twists her hand around and the scar begins to heal its self in seconds. Hotaka tightens his body and moans. He looks back down and it's gone, completely gone, his body just as fresh again.
Baba Yaga softly speaks to Hotakas ear, "We must be careful in combat, we must show patience.."
Hotaka looks outward into a hole through The Dark Place shining down onto The Real World and Hotaka mouths "What about him?"
Baba Yaga's piercing gaze bore through the hole from The Dark Place, peering into the Real World. Her eyes narrowed as they focused on Airborne, sitting alone in a park in Detroit, Michigan. He sat hunched, his hat pulled low and dark sunglasses obscuring his eyes, an aura of secrecy and caution surrounding him.
"Well now, what do we have here?" Baba Yaga mused to herself, her voice a low murmur in the oppressive silence of The Dark Place. "Airborne, a man of mystery and shadows, it seems."
She watched, her senses keen and attuned, as if trying to discern the secrets that shrouded him. There was an air of wariness about him, as if he was trying to hide from something or someone. It piqued Baba Yaga's interest, for she was no stranger to those who sought refuge in the shadows.
"He's hiding something, that much is clear," she muttered, a wicked smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Perhaps he holds the key to unlocking the secrets of The Dark Place."
As she continued to observe, Baba Yaga's mind began to churn with possibilities. The connection between Airborne and The Dark Place was a thread that begged to be unraveled, a puzzle that promised untold revelations.
With a final, calculating glance at Airborne in the Real World, Baba Yaga withdrew from the hole, her mind set on a new course of action. The pieces were falling into place, and she was determined to seize the opportunity that had presented itself.
The enigmatic figure of Airborne had become a focal point in the unfolding drama, and Baba Yaga knew that the path ahead would be fraught with peril and intrigue. The dance between realms had only just begun, and the stakes had never been higher.
Hotaka spoke up once again with his dark, deep mumble, saying; "He threatened me to come out of the shadows.."
Baba Yaga just smirked while peering down at him, "Then perhaps we will. Perhaps we'll pay him a visit."
With a swirl of her tattered cloak, Baba Yaga vanished into the shadows, leaving Hotaka to tend to his wounds and gather his strength for the trials that lay ahead. The battle may not have been won, but the spirit of defiance burned brighter than ever, a beacon of hope in the heart of the darkness