Match 34: By: Thomas Singleton

Tokyo was silent.

Black skies clung to the heavens. Skyscrapers stood without power. Vehicles clogged up the vacant streets. Smoldering neighborhoods burned unspoiled. Behold the largest city on Earth, once teeming with a population of 8 million, now nothing more than a ghost town. Through out the years, Tokyo endured the most disasters ever recorded in history. Had it at last faced a disaster it could not bear? Most of its people believed so, which is why they evacuated weeks prior, and with good reason.

Four giants ran amok.

Sleeping on the ground, its claws curled around the Japanese Diet, rested the monster Orga. At first glance, it resembled a gorilla. But its grayish flesh and alien origin dispelled any relations to the primate. It had bulking shoulders and a useless thin tail. One shoulder housed a massive hole. Its wedge shaped head bore a mouth filled with sharp teeth. Orga’s hideous features mirrored the tragedy of its past. It was destined to become the perfect organism. Instead, it became an abomination.

Dagahra, the four-legged winged dragon plowed through the murky waters of Tokyo Bay. Its emerald hide helped it blend in with its underwater surroundings. Layers of yellow flesh interlaced its underbelly and throat. Atop Dagahra’s head, three horns poked out. Hidden black sacs nestled in its shoulders. Its long tail swished the waves. It had not yet come ashore. If it did, it knew it’d clash with the other monsters. Sooner or later, Dagahra knew it’d come down to that. Until then, it’d conserve its strength by feeding off the Bay’s pollution.

Aquariums harbored schools of skeletons. No aquatic creatures lurked beyond the glass walls. Not a single soul witnessed the travesty that befell these poor animals. If any had, then they too would’ve died. Crimson eyes floated within the dark waters, listening to the monstrous wails beyond the walls. To Destoroyah, the sounds were a challenge, one it’d answer.

Dozens of crystal spires poked out of the ground, gleaming with cosmic lust. Not long ago, Tokyo Tower received a makeover, and now acted as an energy conduit for the cosmic saurian, SpaceGodzilla. Dark blue flesh weaved most of his body, but the frontal arc of his chest was blood red. His shoulder crystals pulsated, casting its light over the eerie environment. An arrow shaped horn sparkled on top of his forehead. At the tip of his tail resided several crystallized spikes. His red eyes glared with malice. Hovering above its crystal fortress, SpaceGodzilla shrieked once more. He had long grown tired of the other monsters lumbering beyond his crystal borders. Should his challenge go unanswered, then SpaceGodzilla shall seek them out.

Buildings shuddered.

SpaceGodzilla turned to the source and spotted Orga charging him, running on all fours like a gorilla. Tokyo Tower crackled, instilling cosmic power into SpaceGodzilla’s shoulder crystals. He opened his mouth, unleashing the corona beam. The scarlet beam twisted in midair as if it had a mind of its own. Orga stopped, taken aback by SpaceGodzilla’s primary weapon. The corona beam encircled Orga before striking its neck and detonating. Orga howled in pain as burnt flesh dangled from its ruptured throat. Seconds later, mounds of healthy flesh bulged out of the wound, replacing it. SpaceGodzilla stared at his foe, surprised. This disgusting creature could heal its wounds in seconds! But what else could it do?

Orga charged. SpaceGodzilla levitated higher, bending gravity to his will. Beneath him, Orga leapt up and down, swiping the air with its claws. SpaceGodzilla mocked his foe with an ear-piercing laugh. Not even Orga’s strong legs could help it jump high enough to attack its opponent! SpaceGodzilla’s jaws parted, spewing his corona beam once more. At first, it was but a single projectile. It soon branched off into many. Several corona beams ravaged Orga’s hide. Orga’s painful cries were drowned out by SpaceGodzilla’s howls of pleasure. But SpaceGodzilla’s happiness faded when Orga’s body repaired the damages in seconds.

To prevent further abuse, Orga jumped back. It appeared to be smarter than it looked. SpaceGodzilla growled in disappointment. But his disappointment subsided when it saw Orga kneeling forward, bowing its head! SpaceGodzilla descended to the ground, accepting Orga’s surrender with his screeching wail. Indeed, it was pain that brought obedience to this wretched beast. Through out history, kings and warlords alike understood one simple concept: fear aspired control and pain was its instrument. Tonight, SpaceGodzilla used that instrument well.

Unbeknownst to SpaceGodzilla, the large hole in Orga’s left shoulder was not a deformity. As orange-yellowish light gathered inside, SpaceGodzilla soon learned its true purpose. A streak of concussive light shot out of Orga’s shoulder and slammed into SpaceGodzilla’s chest. The kinetic force alone sent SpaceGodzilla reeling back. SpaceGodzilla crushed several of his crystal spires beneath his bulk. Before the stunned cosmic saurian could regain its composure, Orga pounced on top of him. Orga battered SpaceGodzilla wildly. SpaceGodzilla’s tail flailed in the air, reflecting his situation. Orga buried its claws into SpaceGodzilla’s flesh, assimilating his DNA. SpaceGodzilla watched in horror as a single shimmering crystal poked out of Orga’s shoulder. Before long, the single shoulder crystal started summoning cosmic energies from Tokyo Tower.

SpaceGodzilla bellowed in rage.

His body radiated a reddish aura. Crimson bolts flared out of SpaceGodzilla’s flesh, mincing Orga’s claws. Orga snarled as SpaceGodzilla unleashed a shockwave of blistering heat. The concussive force and sweltering temperatures prevailed, blowing Orga away. Smoke sizzled off Orga’s flayed flesh, clouding the air around it. SpaceGodzilla levitated to his feet, drawing more power from Tokyo Tower.

There will be no mercy for Orga. SpaceGodzilla will kill it. Tomorrow, the Sun will rise and see nothing but a smoldering, mutilated corpse.

Orga rose to its feet, its charred skin not yet healed. It spotted SpaceGodzilla’s hovering toward it. No matter the injuries, Orga knew it was stronger. SpaceGodzilla floated closer, convinced of its impending victory. Orga’s shoulder crystal sparkled. SpaceGodzilla stopped, recognizing the situation. Orga readied its primary weapon, using its newly constructed shoulder crystal to supply it extra juice. SpaceGodzilla descended to the ground, reserving his strength. Yellow-reddish hued energy stormed out of Orga’s shoulder. It twisted in midair, proving to be as malleable as SpaceGodzilla’s corona beam!

SpaceGodzilla growled, cursing Orga’s existence.

Before the beam could crash into SpaceGodzilla, a barrier of light impeded its advance. Behind the shield, arcane eyes focused on Orga. Orga returned the gesture, knowing it could do nothing more. Tokyo Tower flashed, implanting cosmic energy into SpaceGodzilla. Orga snarled in defiance, fearing the cosmic saurian not in the least. SpaceGodzilla’s shield faded, making way for an offensive strike. But a corona beam was never fired. Instead, lavender hued energies stabbed the darkness, cutting a gaping hole into Orga’s backside. Horrific, painful cries escaped Orga’s mouth. SpaceGodzilla watched the gray behemoth fall to its side, its injury obscured by steam.

SpaceGodzilla searched for Orga’s attacker, wary but intrigued by its identity.

A leviathan crashed its feet into the ground. Its exoskeleton was dark red and blended in with the backdrop. At the tip of its tail, a pair of horns branched out. Claws sharp enough to render titanium wiggled in excitement. Batlike wings flapped, billowing strong winds. Its chest was guarded by a thick yellow carapace. SpaceGodzilla marveled at the fearsome giant before it. But not even its terrifying size could compare to its demented head. Its skull had a demonic shape, designed to instill fear. Rows of needlelike teeth harbored its mouth. Six spikes jutted out of its cheeks. An elongated horn stood out of the forehead.

Destoroyah’s crimson eyes found SpaceGodzilla’s own. Diplomacy was not an option. Neither titan understood the pretense of peace. All they knew was power and death. Nothing else mattered.

Destructive energies sprayed out of Destoroyah’s maw. SpaceGodzilla felt its sweltering essence slice into his flesh. SpaceGodzilla screamed, his painful cries reverberating off skyscrapers miles away. Never before had the cosmic saurian felt such pain! This unholy creature shall pay for its transgressions. Corona beams lashed out, harpooning Destoroyah’s hide, shredding it. Destoroyah hollered in protest, ignoring the pain. SpaceGodzilla gaped at the green blood oozing out of his foe’s splintered flesh.

It can bleed. That means it can die!

SpaceGodzilla fired a barrage of corona beams. Destoroyah felt the cosmic energies flay its hide. Its putrid blood spurted onto the landscape. Destoroyah howled, flapped its wings, and launched itself at SpaceGodzilla. SpaceGodzilla’s genetics were derived from Godzilla, the most savage creature to ever stalk the earth. Even then, he could not retain his balance after Destoroyah tackled him to the ground. For the moment, Destoroyah loomed over the cosmic saurian, yet didn’t attack.

It was an insult. One SpaceGodzilla did not take kindly.

Having already dealt with Orga, SpaceGodzilla sought to rid himself of Destoroyah in the same manner. Before SpaceGodzilla could discharge his burning energies, an eerie orange glow embroiled Destoroyah’s horn. An energetic dagger shot out, rendering SpaceGodzilla’s sternum. SpaceGodzilla felt his flesh burn, organs dissolve, and crystal bones melt. As a side effect, milky white substances developed to thwart SpaceGodzilla’s regeneration. Amplified corona beams departed SpaceGodzilla’s stricken maw, disemboweling Destoroyah’s skull.

Green blood sprayed out, smearing SpaceGodzilla. Destoroyah stood erect, most of its face disintegrated. SpaceGodzilla levitated to his feet. Never before had he seen such a sadistic beast. Tokyo Tower fed SpaceGodzilla more cosmic energy. Corona beams pelted Destoroyah, mincing its carapace. Once more, Destoroyah’s blood spewed into the air.

Destoroyah ignored the pain and retaliated.

Dagahra flew above the wrecked city, masked in darkness. After consuming a large amount of pollution, the sea dragon was at last eager to fight. His eyes befell two dueling giants. Miles above Tokyo Tower, dark clouds parted. The cosmos shined down its essence, empowering the warped structure. Dagahra deduced its purpose, knowing it acted as an energy source. The sea dragon proceeded to focus on the brawling monsters. It watched as the winged kaiju hooked its tail to the other’s neck. To showcase its strength, it yanked the crystal beast off its feet. Suddenly, its tail flashed.

Destoroyah roared. Though its eyes were useless, it could still sense its menacing opponent. And now, it had SpaceGodzilla where it wanted him. Its tail flashed, as Micro-Oxygen corroded SpaceGodzilla’s neck to siphon his energy. In desperation, SpaceGodzilla’s telekinesis ripped the crystal spires out of the ground and launched them at Destoroyah. Sharp crystals struck Destoroyah’s thick carapace, shattering on impact. Confused by the futile crystal bombardment, Destoroyah unraveled its tail. No longer helpless, SpaceGodzilla levitated to his feet, carving corona beams into Destoroyah’s bulk. Unable to take anymore punishment, Destoroyah slumped to the ground.

Moving to strike his downed opponent, SpaceGodzilla replenished his energy. Before the cosmic saurian could unleash his onslaught, a white cloud shot out of Destoroyah’s pores, and enveloped its damaged shape. SpaceGodzilla growled, recognizing Destoroyah’s retreating strategy. He fired a corona beam into the cloud, striking nothing. SpaceGodzilla surveyed the landscape, acknowledging its destruction with mild interest. His wounds, however horrible, paled in comparison to the damages done to Tokyo. The horn atop his head sparkled, heralding the growth of more crystals. But neither the crystals nor Tokyo Tower could relay cosmic energy to him.

It had been diverted to empower Orga.

SpaceGodzilla’s corona beams tore into Orga. Orga charged the cosmic saurian, ignoring the damages the corona beams dealt. Using its momentum, Orga bashed SpaceGodzilla’s face with its large claw. SpaceGodzilla crashed into the ground, unconscious. Orga loomed over its fallen adversary, studying its motionless figure. It raised its demented claw, eager to bury it deep into SpaceGodzilla’s flesh, and unlock the secrets of his DNA. Suddenly, Dagahra dove from the dark sky, blasting Orga with his oral beam. Taken aback by Dagahra’s unexpected attack, Orga struggled to locate its new attacker. Dagahra aimed for Orga’s eyes, blinding it.

Dagahra flew hundreds of feet above the abandoned streets, using the skyscrapers as cover. But Orga never returned fire. Smoke sizzled out of its charred eyes. Dagahra peaked around the corner of an office building, cautious. Orga stood next to the fallen SpaceGodzilla, waiting for its eyes to heal. Dagahra prepared to strike, until the ground beneath him rumbled. Several Destoroyah Aggregates, crablike creatures smaller than Dagahra, burst out of the streets of Tokyo. Dagahra spotted them crawling up Orga, spraying destructive energies out of their mandibles. Orga thrashed around, trying to throw them off. But their sharp legs and claws helped keep them anchored to Orga’s flesh. Dagahra opened his mouth, preparing to fire his primary weapon. Two Destoroyah Aggregates jumped onto him, pinning him to the street. As their sharp appendages injected Micro-Oxygen into his veins, Dagahra groaned. It wouldn’t be long before the sea dragon’s energy was no more.

Orga clasped its claw around a Destoroyah Aggregate’s skull and squeezed. Other Aggregates fired their fiery projectiles, scalding Orga’s hide. Yet the ravenous alien was not deterred. It crushed the Aggregate’s skull. It proceeded to annihilate the others with its shoulder cannon. Charred remnants of the Destoroyah Aggregates lay scattered around the battlefield. Though burnt beyond recognition, Destoroyah was not dead. It’d require more Micro-Oxygen to return to its full stature. Meanwhile, Orga was busy sinking its claws into the motionless SpaceGodzilla.

Dagahra clamped his jaws around a Destoroyah Aggregate’s leg. He yanked it off of his back and blew it to shreds with his oral beam. Pillars of fire and reddish particles blinded the sea dragon. The other Destoroyah Aggregate bonded with the shimmering cloud and transformed into a winged monstrosity. Unlike its previous forms, Destoroyah’s body was slender. It resembled its final state, yet was a smaller and quicker creature. Dagahra watched it fly above the city, blasting its buildings to cinders. Destoroyah spotted Orga standing over SpaceGodzilla, leeching off its life force. Destoroyah witnessed a second shoulder crystal sprout out of Orga’s skin. It moved to strike, but Dagahra flew at it, and knocked it out of the sky. Destoroyah slammed into the earth so hard it formed an impact crater. Dagahra’s oral beam bombarded Destoroyah. As the sea dragon circled around the impact crater like a bird of prey, Orga siphoned the cosmic energies out of SpaceGodzilla’s crystal spires. Dagahra prepared to unleash another volley, until Orga’s shoulder cannon blasted him out of the sky. Dagahra landed next to Destoroyah, taken aback by Orga’s attack. But the sea dragon was even more surprised when Orga’s falling mass came crashing down on top of him. Whether out of mercy or sheer luck, Dagahra wasn’t awake to feel Orga’s bone shattering blows.

Tokyo Tower summoned energy from the cosmos. It relayed its energy to its fallen master. Tokyo Tower’s crackling form glinted off SpaceGodzilla’s opening eyes. Shoulder crystals flashed cosmic radiance.

Pain flooded Dagahra’s mind as he regained consciousness. Orga bent down, closing his jaws around Dagahra’s neck. Earlier, the alien succeeded in uncovering the secrets of SpaceGodzilla. And now, it will add Dagahra’s DNA to its own. Orga felt a tingling sensation befall its backside. Crystallized wings sprouted out of its back. A second hole appeared on Orga’s right shoulder, harboring an unseen menace. Dagahra couldn’t believe it; Orga was mixing its stolen genes with SpaceGodzilla’s! In desperation, Dagahra opened its shoulder sacs and fired a payload of barem. Designed to immobilize any living creature, Dagahra made sure to cover Orga head-to-toe. Orga felt the barem secrete acid hot enough to burn the outer layer of his skin. It was also depleting Orga’s energy supply. In retaliation, Orga’s right shoulder fired its own barem! Dagahra’s oral beam shot past the enemy barem, grazing Orga’s abdomen. It wasn’t enough; Orga fired a shoulder cannon and barem combo, successfully neutralizing the sea dragon.

Orga turned, focusing on Destoroyah. Though it was the spawn of a glorious alien empire, Orga never inherited the intelligence of its predecessors. But even its primitive mind could understand the necessity of tapping into the power of Destoroyah. It approached the fallen crustacean, intent on harvesting its power. Waves of energy emanated out of Destoroyah’s still form, disemboweling the land around it. Cascades of fire heralded the malevolent shape of Destoroyah’s final state, replenished once more. Orga stopped, casting a worried glance at the resurrected destroyer. Destoroyah glowered at the frightened creature, challenging it to make the first move. Orga faced its fears by lashing out, impaling its claws deep into Destoroyah’s body, absorbing its life force.

Destoroyah’s laughter mocked Orga’s efforts. Orga felt its skin dissolve off its bones. Before long, the alien creature writhed on the ground, consumed by agony. Destoroyah snickered once more, relishing in Orga’s suffering. Energy beams blindsided the cackling beast, torching its scarlet hide. Destoroyah spotted Dagahra standing on all fours, unaffected by Orga’s barem. It appeared the sea dragon was immune. Nevertheless, it just picked a fight with a beast unlike any other. Destoroyah charged the tinier creature, wishing to crush the life out of it. Dagahra proved faster by flapping its wings and flying out of the impact crater. Destoroyah followed in hot pursuit, no longer interested in Orga.

But another creature was.

A dark shadow loomed above the ravaged alien. Orga’s weak eyes ascended upwards to gape at the levitating SpaceGodzilla. SpaceGodzilla glared at Orga’s shoulder crystals, disgusted. In a flash, Orga’s cosmic energy departed its shoulder crystals, empowering SpaceGodzilla. Orga fell to its knees, a shadow of its former self. Had it known Destoroyah’s essence was the very blight of life, Orga would’ve never tried to absorb it. Soon a skeleton shall be all that remains. SpaceGodzilla swung his tail, shattering Orga’s shoulder crystals. Orga will die, but it will be by SpaceGodzilla’s hand.

Flying above Tokyo Bay, its demented shadow gliding across the murky surface, Destoroyah closed in on its query. Destructive energies blazed out of its jaws, grazing Dagahra’s speeding figure. Dagahra felt his skin sizzle and burn, yet he did not stop. If he did, he knew he’d fall prey to Destoroyah’s wrath. But he could try a different approach. Dagahra reduced its speed, allowing Destoroyah to catch up. Destoroyah’s horn flashed as it forged a hot blade of energy. Dagahra avoided the energy katana, barely. He positioned himself underneath Destoroyah and attacked. Bolts of energy rippled out of Dagahra’s spines, pelting Destoroyah’s underbelly. Dagahra roared in despair, for his projectiles could not breach Destoroyah’s thick carapace. Before the sea dragon could despair further, Destoroyah dropped down onto Dagahra’s back. Dagahra struggled to support Destoroyah’s enormous bulk. Destoroyah, however, had other plans. Once again, Destoroyah’s horn gave life to an energy blade. It swiped down, slicing deep into Dagahra’s shoulder. Dagahra cried out, his painful roars could be heard for miles. But Destoroyah wasn’t finished. It sliced Dagahra’s other shoulder off. Blood sprayed out of Dagahra’s lost limb. The lost of blood and Destoroyah’s weight brought Dagahra down.

Both crashed into the frigid waters. Relieved to be in his habitat once more, Dagahra swam circles around Destoroyah, blasting it with his oral beam and barem. Destoroyah did not return fire. Dagahra watched the vile creature float. The sea dragon roared, its ferocity rivaled by none. It plowed through the dark waves, heading straight for Destoroyah. To Dagahra’s surprise, Destoroyah’s body dissolved, its insidious shape lost in the ocean depths. Dagahra stopped, believing it had won…until it felt its insides squirm. Billions of microscopic organisms flooded Dagahra’s veins, liquefying his atoms and then dissolving it.

Dagahra’s skeleton sunk to the bottom of the sea.

On land, skyscrapers served as Orga’s witness. The dying alien crawled toward the Bay, no longer wishing to fight. SpaceGodzilla landed in front of him. Corona beams scourged Orga’s frail body, dismembering its bones. In a valiant last stand, Orga struggled to rise, only to fall after its ankles splintered beneath the massive weight. It was born an abomination, a disgrace to its great empire. Today, it’ll prove its worth by not giving up. SpaceGodzilla rewarded Orga’s bravery by impaling its chest with his tail. His tail served as a bridge for his cosmic energies to cross. Orga’s insides were vaporized by electricity. SpaceGodzilla’s tail lifted Orga’s fried corpse and chucked it aside. SpaceGodzilla raised his head to the heavens, roaring in triumph.

A dark mass rose out of Tokyo Bay. It stomped its way to the heart of Tokyo. There it met SpaceGodzilla once more. There were no roars of intimidation. There was only carnage. Destoroyah spewed destructive energies out of its maw. A barrier of light appeared in front of SpaceGodzilla, deflecting Destoroyah’s projectile. Seethed with hatred, Destoroyah charged the cosmic saurian. It’ll maul SpaceGodzilla the old fashion way. SpaceGodzilla fired his corona beams, bombarding the nefarious monster. Destoroyah felt its green blood spurt out of its grisly wounds, yet it did not delay its stride. An emerald glow embroiled SpaceGodzilla’s shoulder crystals. Green bolts shot out, entangling Destoroyah. SpaceGodzilla elevated Destoroyah into the sky, before dropping it into a cloister of building. Amidst the thick smoke, Destoroyah emerged. It flapped its wings, propelling it through the air. SpaceGodzilla could not stop the juggernaut from crashing into him. A helpless SpaceGodzilla watched Destoroyah’s horn disappear in a blade of light.

SpaceGodzilla remembered it all to well.

Destoroyah bent down, hacking off one of SpaceGodzilla's shoulder crystals. Half of his energy was gone. SpaceGodzilla cried out, blasting Destoroyah’s face. Destoroyah empowered his horn once more, aiming for SpaceGodzilla’s last shoulder crystal. In desperation, SpaceGodzilla discharged a reddish aura, flaying Destoroyah’s putrid hide. It was enough to break free. SpaceGodzilla flew high above Tokyo Tower, summoning all of the energy he could. Destoroyah’s livid eyes glowered at the cosmic titan. What power SpaceGodzilla conjured mattered little for it’ll meet death this night. SpaceGodzilla transformed his backside into a spiky, crystal shell. In a true display of power, SpaceGodzilla fired three glowing spheres of light.

All three spheres struck Destoroyah, engulfing the titanic beast in a blinding explosion. Crystals burst out of Destoroyah’s skin, sapping it of its strength. Destoroyah hissed in irritation. It could no longer move. Most of its body had been vaporized. SpaceGodzilla landed close by, knowing the battle had been won. Through its crystal prison, Destoroyah scowled at its opponent. It may have lost the battle, but its escape is inevitable. Indeed, there will come a time when Destoroyah breaks free of its shackles.

Until then, the fruits of victory belong to SpaceGodzilla.

Winner SpaceGodzilla