| Match 20: |
 |
| By: Christian Salabert |
|
Gezora was already searching for food as he raised
himself out of the ocean off the shores of Birth Island. He was
hungry and none of the nearby sea creatures had sated his hunger.
Perhaps there was something tasty waiting for him inland. Shaking
the seawater off his slimey skin, Gezora lashed out at a group of
palm trees as he went, uprooting the trees and sending them flying
in every direction.
He hadn't made it very far before the ground began
to shake. A portion of the earth fell away, revealing raging flames
below. The tentacled beast moved in to investigate, making sure
to keep a safe distance from the intense heat. Suddenly, a burst
of flames erupted from the hole, and a massive form emerged. Kumasogami
had returned to Earth.
Gezora screeched with glee. He didn't know what this
new creature was, but it was sure to make a tasty meal. He advanced
immediately, waving his tentacles threateningly.
Kumasogami glared at the being approaching him. He
had returned to Earth with the intent of utterly destroying it,
but hadn't expected an attacker immediately after arrival. But still,
it was of no concern to the demon. This beast would serve as a good
warm-up. He flexed his arms and attacked.
Gezora lashed out with his tentacles, bashing Kumasogami
in the chest. The blows struck against the devil's torso with thunderous
force, but did not injure him. It didn't even cause him to take
a step back. Kumasogami growled and grabbed one of Gezora's tentacles
in his hands. Gezora screamed as his foe's superheated skin began
scorching his flesh. Gezora tugged on his tentacle, trying the wrench
it away from Kumasogami's grip, but the demon was not about to let
go. Smoke poured from Kumasogami's hands as Gezora's tentacle was
burned beyond recognition. Gezora pulled again, and this time the
burnt portion of the tentacle was torn away, leaving the cephalopod
with a charred stump at the end. Gezora shrieked in pain and fear
as his foe advanced.
Gezora knew it was no match for this creature and
began to retreat, but Kumasogami was much faster. He began punching
the collossal cuttlefish in his massive head, leaving burn marks
with each strike. Gezora tried to defend himself, but could not
stand up to the power of Kumasogami's onslaught. He was getting
badly burned each time they made contact, and the blows to the head
were beginning to take their toll. Suddenly, Gezora felt the icy
cold water of the ocean on his tentacles...
Kumasogami was having fun with this fight, if one
could call it that. This multi-limbed creature was nothing more
than a walking target, one the molten monster was perfectly capable
of neutralizing. Then he realized the fight had taken them dangerously
close to the ocean. But before he could back away, Gezora lashed
out with his tentacles, wrapping one around each of his wrist. Despite
the smoke already sizzling from Gezora's tentacles, the sea creature
began tugging Kumasogami towards him, towards the mighty Pacific.
Kumasogami panicked - though his opponent was laughably pathetic,
his environment was most certainly lethal to him. He could not allow
Gezora to pull him into the ocean.
Summoning his demonic powers, the fingers on Kumasogami's
right hand transformed into arrows. In bursts of flame, the arrows
were launched from his hand and struck Gezora's leg tentacles. The
cuttlefish instantly released Kumasogami's wrists and writhed in
agony, but the lava beast wasn't finished yet. He transformed his
hand once again, this time into the curved blade of a sword. With
a mighty swipe, he sliced Gezora's head wide open, spilling the
sea monster's innards all over the beach. Gezora's eyes went dark
as his body collapsed into the waves.
His opponent slain, Kumasogami transformed the sword
back into his hand. He surveyed the scene of battle with satisfaction.
Upon discovering that he was surrounded by water, he realized he
had entered Earth in a rather inconvenient location. Undeterred
in his mission of destruction and hoping to re-emerge in a section
of the globe where he could cause some real damage, Kumasogami returned
to the depths of Hell from whence he came.
|
