Post by ππ’π₯ππ¬ πππππ on Jan 31, 2021 19:44:35 GMT -5
"Oil and water."
Corey Black's voice comes through the darkness, a match is struck illuminating the space he's in. Behind him a door is closing, an odd angle of the dungeon his ring is set up in. The soft glow casts a light to Corey's face and hand, he moves it to a torch, which he then uses to light a lantern and then another, stone walls enclose him.
"Dark and light."
Corey places his free hand on the wall and moves along it, lighting another lantern along this dark corridor.
"Honor and disgrace."
Each lantern casts just a little bit more light into the narrow space, but it's length seems to go on and on. Corey can almost touch both sides standing in one place, yet he walks into darkness and stops every couple steps to touch the flame of his torch to the fixtures on the walls.
"Order and chaos."
His voice echoes off the surfaces. But finally, a wooden door. Corey kneels down and unlocks a latch at the floor level, the door swings upward revealing a stunning view of the ocean. There's enough Earth between the door and the cliff side for Corey to step out and stand comfortably. The breeze of the Northern wind sending chilly air through the corridor, flickering the flames. Corey's torch is put out and places in a holder embedded in the side of this cliff side cutout.
"Corey Black and Ash Blake."
Corey kneels, grabbing some dirt in his hand and tossing it over the threshold of this secret passage, it cascades down the cliff side and comes to a stop at the village below. Corey looks down at the buildings at the shore, at the people fishing and working.
"We fight for vastly different things, Ash Blake and I. We're opposites. Even the way we conduct ourselves is at opposing ends of the spectrum. When forming the Man Made Gods, there was no attack. There was no grand gesture. We didn't hand pick a moment that would have lived on in history. Philidor's statement on Clash 100 will be viewed in the coming years as a black eye on Action Wrestling as a whole and a stain on my legacy.
I'm smart enough to know I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It would have been whomever was in that spot. Frank, Lissie, Dandy, it doesn't matter who it was in that match against Walter. They would have stormed the ring no matter who was inside - because the eyes of the world were on that one moment. Lucky for them, .it just so happened to be the time I put the mongrel down.
Unlucky for them - it just so happened to be the time I put the mongrel down."
Corey begins pacing around the cliff cutout, there isn't much room, maybe three feet between the opening of the door and six feet tall. But Corey's posture is clearly that of thought. His hand it to his mouth, face contorted.
"Are you even listening to me? Or is this just as fruitless as it always is?"
Corey steps out the threshold, looking up at the bottom of his castle - there sits an overlooking stone statue of Odin himself. This opening seems to be the closest one could get to it. Corey peers toward the heavens and two black birds are circling overhead. The ravens land on the Odin statue, knocking some dirt and dust off, falling in a similar pattern as to when Corey threw some Earth out the threshold. With a nod, Corey pulls himself back in and through the open doorway, closing and latching it once again. With purpose he marches through the now well lit corridor, through the door to his training dungeon. It is there he hears commotion from the castle above.
With just a few lunges, Corey scales the spiral staircase and into his bedroom where a few villagers have Taylor cornered. She's trying to talk them down and spots Corey.
"He's here! He's right there!"
The villagers all turn, gazing upon the King.
"Tay..."
"She's doing it again."
Exasperated, Corey shakes his head once and rushes out of the room. Down his grand staircase, the villagers in tow but far behind. Corey runs to his stable, hops on a horse and rides through his barely open gate. Into the cold air of Norway he rides down the path from the castle to the village, slinging mud and snow through the air as he passes by homes and merchandise stands to the far edge of the settlement. Directly under the Odin statue that protrudes from his castle sits a lone building, unmarked and uninteresting yet the howls coming from inside are bone chilling. Corey drops off the horse and uses the momentum to slam his shoulder into the door, nearly breaking it off its hinges but the sight inside stops him dead in his tracks.
A couple of villagers lay on the floor leaking blood, Corey's reminding four members of the Doom Squad are strewn about, clutching at various limbs. A cage with bent steel bars lays in shambles on the floor as well and on the wall, clutching like a spider, is Nikki Venus. Her mouth chatters, teeth slamming into teeth.
Her head turns awkwardly, eyes meeting Corey Black. His eyes go to the floor as hers turn black. An inhuman lunge sends Nikki off the wall and into the floor as Corey ducks down and slams his elbow in the hardwood, cracking open a hidden hatch. His hand plummets inside, pulling out the black book. He pulls it up just in time to stop Nikki literally inches from his face, teeth bare and sharp as claws. A village holy man stumbles in on the scene and places his hand on Nikki's forehead, her feet off the ground. She is just frozen, floating in air. The holy man's other hand touches the book Corey is holding, he closes his eyes and mutters a few words to himself.
Nikki goes limp and careens to the ground. Corey hoists the body up and takes her to another room, into a smaller cell but caged all the same. He lays her down gently, her face back to the sweet, beautiful one it once was. Corey shuffles out of the back room to survey the carnage. His Doom Squad men are carrying corpses out of the room, the holy man is instructing others on cleanup of the bigger cell Nikki was in. Her bed and chair reduced to strands of fabric and splinters of wood mixed with twisted steel. Corey calmly walks over to one of the men standing by picking up the pieces and calmly whispers.
"Go ring the bell."
With a quick nod, the man rushes out of the building. Corey breathes in deep, and soon enough the town bell begins tolling over and over. This draws everyone out and, very confused, everyone gathers at the village center square. Corey motions to his Doom Squad men to follow, as the five of them march from the containment building, through the villagers congregated at the square, and onto the raised band shell-like stage that is decorated with carvings, depictions of the Norse gods and their trials and tribulations. The old gray haired man who usually leads these meetings goes to step up but Corey puts his hand out, stopping the man. He looks out into the village, Taylor herself even coming down the path to join.
Corey points to the edge of town.
"That thing you all worship took a few of your best men today."
Gasps from the crowd. Corey's hand drops, nearly defeated.
"I don't understand it. I've never really understood. I've just seen it as a village that needed someone and I was there. But it's because I survived it. I had that monster and I beat it, like drawing Excalibur from the stone. I never thought twice about it because you are who I want to fight for. You are who I want to spend my wealth with, you are who I want to help in this world because before I came along, it was empty prayers to the Gods. You had no champion to make offers, you had no warriors willing to sacrifice all for you. Then I came. That castle on the cliff called to me and I answered. One of the last bastions on Midgard that has the same mindset that I do. Fight for what you believe in. Honor the traditions of the fight. Fight for purpose, not for wealth. If you do that in the right place, the wealth will be a side effect. I have more money that I could ever dream to spend, and yet I spend most of my days here in this village because YOU NEEDED THE HELP."
Corey turns to his Doom Squad men.
"I train these men here because the ground we walk on was graced by the Gods of old and because they are of able body to provide for this place."
One by one Corey pulls the black masks off the Doom Squad members standing behind him.
"Viktor North, Joey Flynn, Gunnar Blythe and Corso de Classe. Men from all walks of life, one from this very region, the fjords of Iceland but not a single one is here because they are getting paid. They are here because they believe in me. They believe in you, even though you believe in that."
Corey once again points toward the building Nikki Venus is in. He then quickly points to his men once again.
"These are the men that turned down Philidor money. Ash Blake and the suits behind her every move couldn't sway them with wealth. She fights for her bank account, I fight for each and every one of you standing here. With as much dignity as a warrior can muster. Blake and her kin, they're opportunists that will strike at any moment their target is at a disadvantage. It was clear that Walter and I were going to put one another through hell. And that was their chance.
It has lingered in my mind for months now, but I realized this fight isn't about that day.
Yeah, I am furious with their actions against me. Clash 100, all the sneak attacks, getting to my men and so on, but between the ropes - Philidor cannot touch me. At XIII when the Man Made Gods did the unthinkable and fought along side Walter, we lost one but we put four in the ground. The threat their ideals pose to the sanctity of the combat was enough for me to allow the mongrel to fight at our side. And yet, their provocation continued. Even as their top generals fell by my hand, Philidor's sneak attacks and words continued.
All because I am World Champion.
Professional wrestling is a business, I get it. People make billions off this sport - but those of us that battle, those of us that test ourselves against others - we're taking part in a ritual that is as old as time itself. Ashley Blake's directions are clear; obtain World Championship, assert influence.
I showed them the cracks and they broke my armor. they saw as they disrespected the ring, myself and this Championship that I would do increasingly uncharacteristic things to end Philidor once and for all.
Whomever put that game plan together didn't see the blindside of the Man Made Gods crumbling. It puts a lot of things into perspective. Graham's words rung true, complacency runs through Action Wrestling and I am guilty of it. Frank's family is being threatened and there's nothing I can do to help him because, as he says, it's his fight. For almost ten years I have had wrestlers to fight with and fight for.
A support system when groups like Philidor came knocking.
Now, it's just me. Corey Black verses the world.
Defending the ideals of the village I call home, respecting the Gods we have vowed to honor.
I need you just as much as you need me.
I need you like Ash Blake needs her gaggle of cronies.
Except I need you to even continue on living. And if you need that monster to need me, you're no better than Ash. Her love for her men extends only through Philidor. The monster at the head of their table. She is their host, their conduit. Shaw, Cranley and the like all kneel at her feet and take orders from her because her name is higher on the ladder. Her office has more windows.
I will break Ash Blake and burn Philidor to the ground.
For you."
Corey points out into the crowd of villagers.
"They chose me because I was the man in the match. She wants my head because I am the key to Phildor's takeover. They hold the belt, they hold the power. They have the top dog, they can make demands. I don't make demands. I fight. I win titles. I gain the favor of the Gods. I showed Carter Shaw that if - or when - he decides he is going to try to take the World Title from me, his head will be caved in. I put Norris Cranley down faster than it takes to make a cup of coffee at Philidor HQ. Send in the whole legal team, I will bust skull after skull and still have the will to send Ash Blake's smug head back in a box.
This one is going on the books as a catastrophic loss. A last ditch effort to show any kind of force against the King of All Wrestlers, the queen is sent in - hardly a viable piece - but a knife hidden in her cuff has more than shown how cunning and diabolical this woman can be. Men less than I would overlook this and deem her unworthy.
She is unworthy.
Unworthy of this chance, unworthy of sharing the ring with me, unworthy of a spot on our roster, unworthy of living a free life.
Yet, through all this, I have been the one on the off foot. I've been teetering on the edge instead of being the one ready to throw someone over the threshold like a handful of dirt.
I am going to make an example out of Ash Blake. The same way Odin did when the Vanir thought they could march into Asgard and take over simply because they won a single battle. Their heads ended up on pikes at the golden gates.
Philidor hasn't even won a battle against the King. All they have done is disturb my generally stoic nature. Caused a little ruffled beard. No more. Once I dispatch Ash Blake, Philidor's influence over me, over Action Wrestling - VANISHES.
No amount of money can buy me. No amount of cunning can topple me. For them, for Ash, this is a losing battle. Coming out in the red on this one. Should have put in the work, a little more overtime to even have a chance to sell this pitch but she is dead on arrival. Without an incompetent manager and a contract to swap, there's nothing that can dethrone me. So while this muppet can successfully navigate the corporate world, putting her name on placards and office doors alike, it is mine that has been in lights for twenty years. Defending my truths for two decades against much more vile and much more talented than Ash Blake.
So while I have taken two steps back and allowed this to consume me, I've let Ash and her punchy little quotables hit me and sting, I've been beat down and humiliated by these people - their plan was to do that. They have a brain trust, a hive mind to consult and direct.
I am but one man.
A king.
YOUR king.
And when I break Ash Blake in half, forcing Phildor to name a successor, I will break them. And again and again, so forth through the end of my days until either I cannot do so or they finally - FINALLY realize the enemy they have made.
It could have been anyone in my position. Their plan was in motion, the pawns didn't matter.
They fucked up going through with it.
For all the foresight and the planning and the talent involved, not one of them said 'hold on, this is Corey Black we're about to go attack.' Because Ash Blake made them believe they were untouchable. Together, they can accomplish anything even though - EVEN THOUGH - together or apart, the only thing they have truly accomplished is pissing off the very best to ever fucking do it.
At Revolution, in front of the White House and the entire world, I will stamp out corporate America. That country was built on the backs of men and women like me. Philidor Holdings is everything we hate. Suits, ties, lies, smoke and mirrors. Ashley Blake, the defacto face of the brand, leaves our match broken, beaten and scarred. She can take that back up the ladder to the very tippy top, perhaps make her first 'good decision' and pull back. Try another avenue. Maybe invest in Gamestop.
I am the opposite of everything she and they stand for. Even that, at the end of the day, is more than she can say. I've run through the entire gamut, each one of them has fallen by my hand. Now, in the final hours, I will do you proud. You accepted me because I conquered your monster God. You gave me something to fight for.
Philidor gave me something to fight for too. A reason to hold the title with pride. To show the entire world that having your heart in the right place is more important than having a hand on your back and a buck in your pocket. Fighting for your ideals means more than giving your soul up to get power and influence. If you live your life by your own means, even Philidor Holdings will crumble at your might.
I don't need Graham Baker.
I don't need Frank Venable.
I am Corey fucking Black.
Your champion. Action Wrestling's Champion.
The WORLD. CHAMPION."
Corey thrusts his hand into the air and the villagers all before him kneel, clapping once above their heads. He turns to his trainees, all nodding. Everyone holds position as Taylor leads the horse over, Corey hops on with her and they ride up the winding path toward his home at the castle on the cliff side.
The next morning, a yell from the main gate's keeper alerts Corey and Taylor that there is a visitor. Corey emerges from the castle to find Nikki Venus clad in a hood and cloak to shield her from the bitter cold and the old gray haired. Corey ushers them in, where they take a seat at his dinner table.
"Corey I -"
"It's not your fault," he cuts her off. "I think it's time we find out exactly what is happening here."
The old man sits forward, revealing the black book and placing it upon the table.
"This is the key to keeping it at bay. In the time of the Gods, as you know, these lands were once where they fought the Jotuns. Odin had this book made from the flesh of Loki's son, the World Serpent JΓΆrmungandr. The Creeping Death, it is the manifestation of the rage the Serpent represses. Always chasing its own tail, destined to consume Thor at Ragnarok, imprisoned in the oceans of Midgard by Odin himself. Through every generation that has followed, The Creeping Death has roamed Midgard looking for hosts. Further and further from this book, it began to grow stronger and stronger until your father came along, Corey.
Your father was the perfect vessel. And when he - when you - it vowed to forever follow you until you were no longer."
Corey sits back, Taylor chimes in.
"How does it end? With Corey's last breath?"
The old man looks toward Nikki, then Taylor, "even then, it will haunt your family until Ragnarok frees it. When JΓΆrmungandr releases his tail and fights Thor, only then will The Creeping Death be returned to the serpent it once dwelled."
"Excuse me, my family? I have no family. My entire bloodline was wiped out in one day BECAUSE of this thing."
The old man laughs. "Come, Nikki, stay near this and all will be okay."
"That doesn't explain yesterday's outburst."
The old man looks to Taylor and points at Nikki, "one little outburst, that's all."
The old man leads Nikki out of the castle, leaving Corey and Taylor alone once again.
"I'm sorry this has to happen so close to your match with Blake, I hope you won't let it weigh you down," Taylor says, scooting closer.
"Nah, if anything it puts this all into a much clearer perspective. This is where I was supposed to be all along, if I would have come here sooner I could have contained it but I'd be the one confined to that building with the book. There would be no King Black, the sword would have forever remained in the stone and there would be nobody to lead this place, lead the men I have into glory."
"You lead a strange, strange life there 'King Black.' Entities as old as time latching onto you, an entire corporation coming for your title, wrestling is weird as hell."
"It's the best, isn't it? Could you imagine if I went into a desk job?"
"Gosh, clean shaven, suit and tie that isn't just all black, briefcase?! You really are the antithesis of that whole scene."
"I'm going to powerbomb Ash Blake into fucking oblivion. For this place, for you, for me and for her. Her delusions of grandeur end in DC. Her entire world is about to be eaten. Success is earned, it isn't purchased."
"She did earn her chance! Kinda. Really, how is that any different than your shot? You called Walter out for months and you were given a chance without even winning a number one contenders match. Hell you lost two, two years in a row."
Corey scoots back, "I also have dominated the scene for two decades. Blake is in this spot because of donations and manipulation. Cunning? Yes. Stupid? Very much so. She is trained and she's been in fights before but she has never - NEVER - met an absolute wrestler like I am. So yes, while I did get my title shot by mere happenstance, I did beat the mongrel - twice - I did beat Teo Blaze and do the unthinkable in gaining another World Championship - I will consume Ash and Philidor - and I WILL figure out how to get that fucking thing out of my friend and destroyed for good.
I'm not some happenstance son of a bitch in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I was meant to be the one they came for.
Because I am the one that will end them once and for all."
Taylor leans her head in onto Corey's shoulder. He looks across his table, through the kitchen and out the window to the 'backyard' of the castle where those two ravens sit on the window ledge.
Corey Black's voice comes through the darkness, a match is struck illuminating the space he's in. Behind him a door is closing, an odd angle of the dungeon his ring is set up in. The soft glow casts a light to Corey's face and hand, he moves it to a torch, which he then uses to light a lantern and then another, stone walls enclose him.
"Dark and light."
Corey places his free hand on the wall and moves along it, lighting another lantern along this dark corridor.
"Honor and disgrace."
Each lantern casts just a little bit more light into the narrow space, but it's length seems to go on and on. Corey can almost touch both sides standing in one place, yet he walks into darkness and stops every couple steps to touch the flame of his torch to the fixtures on the walls.
"Order and chaos."
His voice echoes off the surfaces. But finally, a wooden door. Corey kneels down and unlocks a latch at the floor level, the door swings upward revealing a stunning view of the ocean. There's enough Earth between the door and the cliff side for Corey to step out and stand comfortably. The breeze of the Northern wind sending chilly air through the corridor, flickering the flames. Corey's torch is put out and places in a holder embedded in the side of this cliff side cutout.
"Corey Black and Ash Blake."
Corey kneels, grabbing some dirt in his hand and tossing it over the threshold of this secret passage, it cascades down the cliff side and comes to a stop at the village below. Corey looks down at the buildings at the shore, at the people fishing and working.
"We fight for vastly different things, Ash Blake and I. We're opposites. Even the way we conduct ourselves is at opposing ends of the spectrum. When forming the Man Made Gods, there was no attack. There was no grand gesture. We didn't hand pick a moment that would have lived on in history. Philidor's statement on Clash 100 will be viewed in the coming years as a black eye on Action Wrestling as a whole and a stain on my legacy.
I'm smart enough to know I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It would have been whomever was in that spot. Frank, Lissie, Dandy, it doesn't matter who it was in that match against Walter. They would have stormed the ring no matter who was inside - because the eyes of the world were on that one moment. Lucky for them, .it just so happened to be the time I put the mongrel down.
Unlucky for them - it just so happened to be the time I put the mongrel down."
Corey begins pacing around the cliff cutout, there isn't much room, maybe three feet between the opening of the door and six feet tall. But Corey's posture is clearly that of thought. His hand it to his mouth, face contorted.
"Are you even listening to me? Or is this just as fruitless as it always is?"
Corey steps out the threshold, looking up at the bottom of his castle - there sits an overlooking stone statue of Odin himself. This opening seems to be the closest one could get to it. Corey peers toward the heavens and two black birds are circling overhead. The ravens land on the Odin statue, knocking some dirt and dust off, falling in a similar pattern as to when Corey threw some Earth out the threshold. With a nod, Corey pulls himself back in and through the open doorway, closing and latching it once again. With purpose he marches through the now well lit corridor, through the door to his training dungeon. It is there he hears commotion from the castle above.
With just a few lunges, Corey scales the spiral staircase and into his bedroom where a few villagers have Taylor cornered. She's trying to talk them down and spots Corey.
"He's here! He's right there!"
The villagers all turn, gazing upon the King.
"Tay..."
"She's doing it again."
Exasperated, Corey shakes his head once and rushes out of the room. Down his grand staircase, the villagers in tow but far behind. Corey runs to his stable, hops on a horse and rides through his barely open gate. Into the cold air of Norway he rides down the path from the castle to the village, slinging mud and snow through the air as he passes by homes and merchandise stands to the far edge of the settlement. Directly under the Odin statue that protrudes from his castle sits a lone building, unmarked and uninteresting yet the howls coming from inside are bone chilling. Corey drops off the horse and uses the momentum to slam his shoulder into the door, nearly breaking it off its hinges but the sight inside stops him dead in his tracks.
A couple of villagers lay on the floor leaking blood, Corey's reminding four members of the Doom Squad are strewn about, clutching at various limbs. A cage with bent steel bars lays in shambles on the floor as well and on the wall, clutching like a spider, is Nikki Venus. Her mouth chatters, teeth slamming into teeth.
Her head turns awkwardly, eyes meeting Corey Black. His eyes go to the floor as hers turn black. An inhuman lunge sends Nikki off the wall and into the floor as Corey ducks down and slams his elbow in the hardwood, cracking open a hidden hatch. His hand plummets inside, pulling out the black book. He pulls it up just in time to stop Nikki literally inches from his face, teeth bare and sharp as claws. A village holy man stumbles in on the scene and places his hand on Nikki's forehead, her feet off the ground. She is just frozen, floating in air. The holy man's other hand touches the book Corey is holding, he closes his eyes and mutters a few words to himself.
Nikki goes limp and careens to the ground. Corey hoists the body up and takes her to another room, into a smaller cell but caged all the same. He lays her down gently, her face back to the sweet, beautiful one it once was. Corey shuffles out of the back room to survey the carnage. His Doom Squad men are carrying corpses out of the room, the holy man is instructing others on cleanup of the bigger cell Nikki was in. Her bed and chair reduced to strands of fabric and splinters of wood mixed with twisted steel. Corey calmly walks over to one of the men standing by picking up the pieces and calmly whispers.
"Go ring the bell."
With a quick nod, the man rushes out of the building. Corey breathes in deep, and soon enough the town bell begins tolling over and over. This draws everyone out and, very confused, everyone gathers at the village center square. Corey motions to his Doom Squad men to follow, as the five of them march from the containment building, through the villagers congregated at the square, and onto the raised band shell-like stage that is decorated with carvings, depictions of the Norse gods and their trials and tribulations. The old gray haired man who usually leads these meetings goes to step up but Corey puts his hand out, stopping the man. He looks out into the village, Taylor herself even coming down the path to join.
Corey points to the edge of town.
"That thing you all worship took a few of your best men today."
Gasps from the crowd. Corey's hand drops, nearly defeated.
"I don't understand it. I've never really understood. I've just seen it as a village that needed someone and I was there. But it's because I survived it. I had that monster and I beat it, like drawing Excalibur from the stone. I never thought twice about it because you are who I want to fight for. You are who I want to spend my wealth with, you are who I want to help in this world because before I came along, it was empty prayers to the Gods. You had no champion to make offers, you had no warriors willing to sacrifice all for you. Then I came. That castle on the cliff called to me and I answered. One of the last bastions on Midgard that has the same mindset that I do. Fight for what you believe in. Honor the traditions of the fight. Fight for purpose, not for wealth. If you do that in the right place, the wealth will be a side effect. I have more money that I could ever dream to spend, and yet I spend most of my days here in this village because YOU NEEDED THE HELP."
Corey turns to his Doom Squad men.
"I train these men here because the ground we walk on was graced by the Gods of old and because they are of able body to provide for this place."
One by one Corey pulls the black masks off the Doom Squad members standing behind him.
"Viktor North, Joey Flynn, Gunnar Blythe and Corso de Classe. Men from all walks of life, one from this very region, the fjords of Iceland but not a single one is here because they are getting paid. They are here because they believe in me. They believe in you, even though you believe in that."
Corey once again points toward the building Nikki Venus is in. He then quickly points to his men once again.
"These are the men that turned down Philidor money. Ash Blake and the suits behind her every move couldn't sway them with wealth. She fights for her bank account, I fight for each and every one of you standing here. With as much dignity as a warrior can muster. Blake and her kin, they're opportunists that will strike at any moment their target is at a disadvantage. It was clear that Walter and I were going to put one another through hell. And that was their chance.
It has lingered in my mind for months now, but I realized this fight isn't about that day.
Yeah, I am furious with their actions against me. Clash 100, all the sneak attacks, getting to my men and so on, but between the ropes - Philidor cannot touch me. At XIII when the Man Made Gods did the unthinkable and fought along side Walter, we lost one but we put four in the ground. The threat their ideals pose to the sanctity of the combat was enough for me to allow the mongrel to fight at our side. And yet, their provocation continued. Even as their top generals fell by my hand, Philidor's sneak attacks and words continued.
All because I am World Champion.
Professional wrestling is a business, I get it. People make billions off this sport - but those of us that battle, those of us that test ourselves against others - we're taking part in a ritual that is as old as time itself. Ashley Blake's directions are clear; obtain World Championship, assert influence.
I showed them the cracks and they broke my armor. they saw as they disrespected the ring, myself and this Championship that I would do increasingly uncharacteristic things to end Philidor once and for all.
Whomever put that game plan together didn't see the blindside of the Man Made Gods crumbling. It puts a lot of things into perspective. Graham's words rung true, complacency runs through Action Wrestling and I am guilty of it. Frank's family is being threatened and there's nothing I can do to help him because, as he says, it's his fight. For almost ten years I have had wrestlers to fight with and fight for.
A support system when groups like Philidor came knocking.
Now, it's just me. Corey Black verses the world.
Defending the ideals of the village I call home, respecting the Gods we have vowed to honor.
I need you just as much as you need me.
I need you like Ash Blake needs her gaggle of cronies.
Except I need you to even continue on living. And if you need that monster to need me, you're no better than Ash. Her love for her men extends only through Philidor. The monster at the head of their table. She is their host, their conduit. Shaw, Cranley and the like all kneel at her feet and take orders from her because her name is higher on the ladder. Her office has more windows.
I will break Ash Blake and burn Philidor to the ground.
For you."
Corey points out into the crowd of villagers.
"They chose me because I was the man in the match. She wants my head because I am the key to Phildor's takeover. They hold the belt, they hold the power. They have the top dog, they can make demands. I don't make demands. I fight. I win titles. I gain the favor of the Gods. I showed Carter Shaw that if - or when - he decides he is going to try to take the World Title from me, his head will be caved in. I put Norris Cranley down faster than it takes to make a cup of coffee at Philidor HQ. Send in the whole legal team, I will bust skull after skull and still have the will to send Ash Blake's smug head back in a box.
This one is going on the books as a catastrophic loss. A last ditch effort to show any kind of force against the King of All Wrestlers, the queen is sent in - hardly a viable piece - but a knife hidden in her cuff has more than shown how cunning and diabolical this woman can be. Men less than I would overlook this and deem her unworthy.
She is unworthy.
Unworthy of this chance, unworthy of sharing the ring with me, unworthy of a spot on our roster, unworthy of living a free life.
Yet, through all this, I have been the one on the off foot. I've been teetering on the edge instead of being the one ready to throw someone over the threshold like a handful of dirt.
I am going to make an example out of Ash Blake. The same way Odin did when the Vanir thought they could march into Asgard and take over simply because they won a single battle. Their heads ended up on pikes at the golden gates.
Philidor hasn't even won a battle against the King. All they have done is disturb my generally stoic nature. Caused a little ruffled beard. No more. Once I dispatch Ash Blake, Philidor's influence over me, over Action Wrestling - VANISHES.
No amount of money can buy me. No amount of cunning can topple me. For them, for Ash, this is a losing battle. Coming out in the red on this one. Should have put in the work, a little more overtime to even have a chance to sell this pitch but she is dead on arrival. Without an incompetent manager and a contract to swap, there's nothing that can dethrone me. So while this muppet can successfully navigate the corporate world, putting her name on placards and office doors alike, it is mine that has been in lights for twenty years. Defending my truths for two decades against much more vile and much more talented than Ash Blake.
So while I have taken two steps back and allowed this to consume me, I've let Ash and her punchy little quotables hit me and sting, I've been beat down and humiliated by these people - their plan was to do that. They have a brain trust, a hive mind to consult and direct.
I am but one man.
A king.
YOUR king.
And when I break Ash Blake in half, forcing Phildor to name a successor, I will break them. And again and again, so forth through the end of my days until either I cannot do so or they finally - FINALLY realize the enemy they have made.
It could have been anyone in my position. Their plan was in motion, the pawns didn't matter.
They fucked up going through with it.
For all the foresight and the planning and the talent involved, not one of them said 'hold on, this is Corey Black we're about to go attack.' Because Ash Blake made them believe they were untouchable. Together, they can accomplish anything even though - EVEN THOUGH - together or apart, the only thing they have truly accomplished is pissing off the very best to ever fucking do it.
At Revolution, in front of the White House and the entire world, I will stamp out corporate America. That country was built on the backs of men and women like me. Philidor Holdings is everything we hate. Suits, ties, lies, smoke and mirrors. Ashley Blake, the defacto face of the brand, leaves our match broken, beaten and scarred. She can take that back up the ladder to the very tippy top, perhaps make her first 'good decision' and pull back. Try another avenue. Maybe invest in Gamestop.
I am the opposite of everything she and they stand for. Even that, at the end of the day, is more than she can say. I've run through the entire gamut, each one of them has fallen by my hand. Now, in the final hours, I will do you proud. You accepted me because I conquered your monster God. You gave me something to fight for.
Philidor gave me something to fight for too. A reason to hold the title with pride. To show the entire world that having your heart in the right place is more important than having a hand on your back and a buck in your pocket. Fighting for your ideals means more than giving your soul up to get power and influence. If you live your life by your own means, even Philidor Holdings will crumble at your might.
I don't need Graham Baker.
I don't need Frank Venable.
I am Corey fucking Black.
Your champion. Action Wrestling's Champion.
The WORLD. CHAMPION."
Corey thrusts his hand into the air and the villagers all before him kneel, clapping once above their heads. He turns to his trainees, all nodding. Everyone holds position as Taylor leads the horse over, Corey hops on with her and they ride up the winding path toward his home at the castle on the cliff side.
The next morning, a yell from the main gate's keeper alerts Corey and Taylor that there is a visitor. Corey emerges from the castle to find Nikki Venus clad in a hood and cloak to shield her from the bitter cold and the old gray haired. Corey ushers them in, where they take a seat at his dinner table.
"Corey I -"
"It's not your fault," he cuts her off. "I think it's time we find out exactly what is happening here."
The old man sits forward, revealing the black book and placing it upon the table.
"This is the key to keeping it at bay. In the time of the Gods, as you know, these lands were once where they fought the Jotuns. Odin had this book made from the flesh of Loki's son, the World Serpent JΓΆrmungandr. The Creeping Death, it is the manifestation of the rage the Serpent represses. Always chasing its own tail, destined to consume Thor at Ragnarok, imprisoned in the oceans of Midgard by Odin himself. Through every generation that has followed, The Creeping Death has roamed Midgard looking for hosts. Further and further from this book, it began to grow stronger and stronger until your father came along, Corey.
Your father was the perfect vessel. And when he - when you - it vowed to forever follow you until you were no longer."
Corey sits back, Taylor chimes in.
"How does it end? With Corey's last breath?"
The old man looks toward Nikki, then Taylor, "even then, it will haunt your family until Ragnarok frees it. When JΓΆrmungandr releases his tail and fights Thor, only then will The Creeping Death be returned to the serpent it once dwelled."
"Excuse me, my family? I have no family. My entire bloodline was wiped out in one day BECAUSE of this thing."
The old man laughs. "Come, Nikki, stay near this and all will be okay."
"That doesn't explain yesterday's outburst."
The old man looks to Taylor and points at Nikki, "one little outburst, that's all."
The old man leads Nikki out of the castle, leaving Corey and Taylor alone once again.
"I'm sorry this has to happen so close to your match with Blake, I hope you won't let it weigh you down," Taylor says, scooting closer.
"Nah, if anything it puts this all into a much clearer perspective. This is where I was supposed to be all along, if I would have come here sooner I could have contained it but I'd be the one confined to that building with the book. There would be no King Black, the sword would have forever remained in the stone and there would be nobody to lead this place, lead the men I have into glory."
"You lead a strange, strange life there 'King Black.' Entities as old as time latching onto you, an entire corporation coming for your title, wrestling is weird as hell."
"It's the best, isn't it? Could you imagine if I went into a desk job?"
"Gosh, clean shaven, suit and tie that isn't just all black, briefcase?! You really are the antithesis of that whole scene."
"I'm going to powerbomb Ash Blake into fucking oblivion. For this place, for you, for me and for her. Her delusions of grandeur end in DC. Her entire world is about to be eaten. Success is earned, it isn't purchased."
"She did earn her chance! Kinda. Really, how is that any different than your shot? You called Walter out for months and you were given a chance without even winning a number one contenders match. Hell you lost two, two years in a row."
Corey scoots back, "I also have dominated the scene for two decades. Blake is in this spot because of donations and manipulation. Cunning? Yes. Stupid? Very much so. She is trained and she's been in fights before but she has never - NEVER - met an absolute wrestler like I am. So yes, while I did get my title shot by mere happenstance, I did beat the mongrel - twice - I did beat Teo Blaze and do the unthinkable in gaining another World Championship - I will consume Ash and Philidor - and I WILL figure out how to get that fucking thing out of my friend and destroyed for good.
I'm not some happenstance son of a bitch in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I was meant to be the one they came for.
Because I am the one that will end them once and for all."
Taylor leans her head in onto Corey's shoulder. He looks across his table, through the kitchen and out the window to the 'backyard' of the castle where those two ravens sit on the window ledge.