Thunderous applause, shouting, and stomping filled the air, followed by magical bursts of light that lit up the night sky like the fourth of July. The Serbs spread out, their tattoos rippling across their skin. One stepped forward, his snake tattoo growing as it slithered around his body. Everywhere it went left dark green scales across his skin like armor, ending at his fingertips, where dripping fangs sprouted from his nailbeds. He pointed at Rock'Em and waved him forward.
Rock'Em slowly shook his head then dipped it toward Slinky, who was already twirling and dancing toward the big man. The man looked at her with confusion, then derision, as she weaved a chaotic route toward him. Before he could react she exploded with motion, moving in random directions almost too fast to follow and making impossible turns that should have had her sprawling. Then she was on him, bouncing into his chest, crawling up his body to straddle his head, her short legs barely reaching around his neck. She spun in place over his shoulders then was in the air again, landing neatly behind him. Her mask lit up with a huge set of lips as she lifted his now-decapitated head in her hands to kiss it before tossing it over her shoulder before the body had even hit the floor.
The crowd erupted again and the Serbs looked on in shock before exploding into action themselves. Rock'Em sprinted forward, reaching down to touch two of the rods on his belt. His left arm rippled and turned silver as it turned into living metal, while his right arm grew massive stone spikes that ended in a fist with a two-foot pyramid of stone. He met the first brawler and hammered his head with the iron fist before slamming the stone spike into his gut. He lifted the man into the air to negate any movement abilities and touched a shard of glass with his left hand. His fingers were now limned with razor edges that he drove into the man's neck, tearing through his throat like overly-ripe fruit. He twisted his hands and drove the glass shards into the man's brain then spun to hurl his limp body into the path of the one charging Beyblade.
Bey stood at the back of the arena, hands up and firing razor-edged circlets of metal from his outstretched palms, the heavy projectiles thunking hard into the skin of the one charging him. He looked at Rock'Em and got a confirming nod before switching his aim and firing them at his friend. Rock'Em caught them, his arms both metal now, and he used them to bat the spinning projectiles at the Serb's back, throwing off his coordination and forcing him into a stumble as they penetrated weak points at the backs of his knees and ankles. The spilling whorl on Bey's mask was turning ever faster and his hands were both facing forward as he fired more spinning disks in a desperate gambit to create space. Even while hobbled, the Serb was fast - too fast - as he closed the distance between them. Then he was unexpectedly lifted into the air as Rock'Em reached him and threw his arms around his waist, lifting his feet off the ground. The Serb flailed and swore, bone spikes erupting across his skin as his tattoos flashed with dull light. Rock'Em grunted as the ones on the Serb's back punctured his chest, but he held the man firm, waiting for Beyblade's attack to finish charging.
Just as it seemed the man was about to break free Beyblade yelled "Hold him!" and lunged forward, hands at his side and mask aimed at the man. In a shower of light and sparks a spinning blade the size of his head flew from the mask, rippling the air as it cut its way across the distance between them. Rock'Em and the Serb went flying from the impact, both of them rolling across the arena to slam into the shield. Despite the protection, the crowd screamed and jumped backwards. Beyblade ran forward and leapt over his downed attacker, firing a few more projectiles into the Serb's face as he passed over him to land next to Rock'Em. He reached down and grabbed the bigger man's hand, helping him to his feet.
The two turned to see the remaining opponents locked into fierce melee with Weeble and Slinky. Slinky was like liquid mercury, flowing around the man and bouncing in random directions, her arms and legs flashing with the silver light of metallic blades that had grown out of her skin and down her limbs. Every kick, punch, and swipe slashed a wicked cut into the man, but none were deep enough to slow him down.
Weeble was engaged in his own dance with the leader, who had grown an extra foot in height and now sported an extra hundred or so pounds of muscle. His impossibly large, hulking frame made Weeble look like a child, and fists the size of heads were forcing Weeble to constantly deflect and dodge or risk being turned to paste when one landed.
Rock'Em and Beyblade looked at each other and shrugged, then both turned to run after Slinky, Rock'Em reaching down to touch the massive razored disk buried in the Serb's chest. The disk would disappear after the fight, but until then Rock'Em could use its extreme mass, durability, and sharpness as his own weapon.
Beyblade skidded to a stop outside of melee range and began firing, the projectiles flying toward Rock'Em's back and curving around him. Slinky did a back handspring and landed on Rock'Em's shoulders just as the disks arced around him. The Serb's eyes went wide when six projectiles appeared around Rock'Em, too fast and unexpected for him to dodge, all of them rippling his skin as they hammered home. Rock'Em's Beyblade-empowered fists worked like the trained boxer he was, punishing every opening they found and tearing deep gouges in the man's flesh. Slinky was striking downward, her fingertips now whips of razor-sharp steel that extended a foot each out from her fingertips, lacerating his face and tearing his eyes apart. The man roared in frustration and rage, his swings becoming more wild as he went blind. Then Slinky was off of Rock'Em and onto the man in a quick leap, sawing at his neck with her arms while Rock'Em continuously knocked the man's arms downward, frustrating his attempts to pull the tiny demon off of his head. Beyblade slid between the two for a better angle and yelled "Throat!" before firing the last of his projectiles at the man. Rock'Em grabbed the man's hands and locked them down, straining against the pure muscle. Slinky's tendrils wrapped around the man's face and chin and she leaned backwards like a rock climber, pulling his chin with all the strength she could muster. An instant later the tension on her whips released and she flew backwards, landing in a neat backflip as Bey's blades slammed home into the Serb's exposed neck, cutting all the way through to his spinal cord and causing his head to flop backwards.
The three of them walked toward each other and looked at Weeble, who had just taken a punishing blow and was rocketed against the shield wall. His hands were bright red from deflecting the constant blows and he looked like he was ready to tumble over. His mask showed pixelated confetti that erupted across it with every hit to his face or body, the colors showing brighter and redder where the blows were the most punishing.
"Should we help him?" Beyblade asked.
Rock'Em just shrugged and crossed his arms over his chest. Slinky cocked her head to the side, her mask showing a coin flipping through the air. It stopped spinning and showed tails, then she sat down cross-legged, her elbows on her knees and her hands under the chin of her mask. "Nah, Imma watch."
Beyblade shrugged too then sat down to watch the fight. "I'm spent anyway, so I guess it's up to him. Should be fun."
Weeble was getting absolutely rocked. He'd never been hit this hard and honestly didn't know how much more he could take. He'd fought a lot of battles against a lot of strong opponents, but none had come close to comparing to the sheer punishment this dude could put out. He'd never been more excited.
He pushed off the wall with a groan, his eyes going wide under his mask as another huge fist came his way. He ducked under it, careful not to let any part of him other than his feet touch the ground. He sprinted across the arena to his friends, breathless laughter in his voice.
"You lazy bastards want to join the fight?"
"Nah, seems like you got it, Boss," Beyblade said.
"Not even a little help?" He asked.
"I'll help!" Slinky said, her voice tinkling with laughter. "He's turning around!" She pointed back at the man.
"Ugh," Weeble said and turned to face the giant. As he sprinted to the other side of the arena he heard Beyblade.
"I mean, we DID kill four of them for him."
Weeble shook his head with amusement. Well, guess it's time to get serious.
"Hey dummy!" He shouted at the man who seemed to be considering if he should go after the three easy targets sitting on the ground or his own personal punching bag. "Over here!" Weeble waved at him. "Is that all you got? I mean, you hit like a fucking truck, but is that REALLY all you brought to The Climb? Are you really that fucking useless?"
The man's attention was on him now and rage filled his face. Red tattoos started glowing, the light building in intensity as they flowed around his body and onto his chest. He threw his head back in a roar as the energy built, the individual tattoos now completely merged into a single red, pulsing stain that covered his entire chest. The glow became so intense that Weeble had to lower the visibility in his mask.
"It's about fucking time," He said under his breath and backed up to brace himself against the shield.
A pulse of fire shot from the Serb's chest, a foot-wide beam of pure magma that scorched the air and instantly raised the temperature inside the shield to an uncomfortable degree. Weeble didn't try to dodge, only opening his arms wide to accept the oncoming storm.
The crowd went silent and people rubbed light from their eyes. The attack had even broken the projection skill, the screen still up but showing pure white. Roars of anger cut through the silence as paying patrons were robbed of their final victory. Announcer scrambled with his skill in panic but breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that the display was still active, the attack had just momentarily blinded it like it had the rest of the crowd. The light faded and the camera came back into view. Yells of outrage became cheers and Announcer felt thousands more experience points flood in from people that had not wanted to pay to see the fight, but now needed to know what was happening.
The light faded and as sight returned everyone anxiously looked to where Weeble had been. Bets were already flying on whether or not he'd be a charred husk - or if he'd been vaporized completely. The remaining Toys were backed against the far wall of the arena, Slinky and Beyblade hiding behind Rock'Em's huge form.
For what felt like the hundredth time that night, the crowd erupted in unabashed frenzy when they saw Weeble still standing, propped against the shield, completely nude except for his mask. Even his hair had been burned away, yet his skin looked perfectly untouched.
Beyblade burst out in laughter and Slinky threw her hands over her mask, one digital eye dropping below her hands and opening wide. Rock'Em just shook his head in stoic disappointment.
Weeble looked down at himself and laughed. "My man, if you wanted to get me naked all you had to do was ask!"
Laughter rang out from the crowd and Announcer thanked his lucky stars. One thing about the Misfit Toys, they were always a fucking banger of a show.
The Serb just looked on with confusion, expression disbelieving. "But… how? That is not possible."
Weeble kicked off what remained of his shoes with a rueful shake of his head, stepping forward.
"Oh, my friend, if you think that's impossible you're really not going to like what comes next."
The lights on his mask began surging upwards again in jumps and starts as the shouts and screams of the crowd increased. He danced forward on bare feet, putting his hands behind his head and shaking his hips and exposed penis at the man, much to the amusement of the crowd. He pumped his hands upwards in a 'Make some noise!' gesture and the crowd complied.
When the sound reached a crescendo and Weeble's mask went fully red he stopped, shot two finger guns at the Serb, then leaned forward. All the force of every attack he'd taken was released in a massive column of energy and fire, the intense red magma mixing with the pure silver of kinetic energy. The arena went white again and Announcer had the forethought to quickly dim the display to keep it from shorting out at the penultimate moment.
The light died, the screen came back on, and the crowd reached volumes previously unheard as they watched the Serb's shoulders and head fall to land on what was left of his legs, the entire middle of his body disintegrated.
Announcer pushed his voice projection to the limits. "Weebles wobble…"
Even from miles away people could hear the crowd screaming in unison "BUT THEY DON'T FALL DOWN!"
** HIGH THREATS AND POTENTIALS DOSSIER **
The Misfit Toys:
Threat: Low
Potential: High
Justification: High versatility, high configurability. Low power at current level and when each individual member is taken independently, but very high potential for future advancements and team synergies.
Not much is known about this group, only that they have never been seen without their masks, they are one of the top dominating teams in The Climb, and that they might all be certifiably insane. No one is quite sure if they named themselves after toys that fit their skills or if it was the other way around. When one of the toys dies in the Climb their spot is filled with a new member, but never one with the same skill set. Their leader, Weeble, was once heard saying that broken toys were irreplaceable and shouldn't be thrown out. No one has ever recovered the body of a broken toy - at their death the body either disappears or is hidden away by unknown means by the Misfit Toys. Speculation abounds on how they find new members, how their skills always seem to fit so well with childhood toys, or why they always have just the right amount of masks for their team, no matter the size. Despite the fact that the home bases or residences of the top The Climb teams are fairly well known, no one has been able to locate where the Toys stay when they're not competing or are out in the streets. Many have tried to follow them, and some have even managed to make it back.
The Misfit Toys are identified by the masks they wear. The masks are pre-System LED rave masks that cover the whole face and appear to be indestructible. They are attached to the wearer by unknown means since there are no visible straps. The Toys seem able to control the pixelation patterns on the masks as they have shown great versatility in what is displayed. Some of the Toys are able to use their masks to channel attacks, although it is unknown if that is the mask itself or just a skill from that specific Toy.
The Toys' skills and abilities are a combination of mysterious and well-known. Countless people have watched them fight and are aware of their attacks, but the Toys always seem to have secret abilities they can pull out when needed. Because of this unpredictability, their expert cooperation, and their ability to incorporate new Toys into their lineup they have become one of the fiercest teams in The Climb. Not many choose to take them on and most that do regret it.
This lineup of the current team was made using publicly available knowledge from observed fights and should not be considered comprehensive. Speculation and rumor has been noted as applicable
Potential future growth and use: The Misfit Toys possess the potential to become a formidable surgical strike or assassination team. Their exceptionally high level of cooperation and extremely varied skill sets make them particularly well-suited for clandestine missions or targeted assassinations (provided they can avoid detection due to their distinctive masks). The unpredictability of their individual abilities, combined with the synergistic enhancements that arise when they operate as a cohesive unit, renders them difficult to predict or counter. They are also able to add new members which increases their versatility and unpredictability - although no one is sure how that happens exactly or what the criteria is.
Given their adaptability and the synergy of their collective abilities, they could also be deployed in scenarios requiring swift infiltration and extraction, sabotage, or disruption of enemy command structures. This makes them a high-priority group for monitoring, with a view to either neutralizing their threat level or potentially integrating them into operations where their unique talents could be leveraged for decisive, high-stakes engagements.
Name: Weeble
Role: Team leader
Mask pattern: Weeble's mask stays dark until he takes or delivers an attack. When taking attacks his mask erupts in pixelated, multi-colored static that ripples and moves in patterns reminiscent of the type, direction, and power of the hit.
Appearance: Weeble appears to be an extremely fit man in his mid-twenties or so of average height. He has pale white skin and straight, black hair that hangs to his shoulders. He moves with a cocky, jaunty air and always seems to be enjoying himself. He is quick to banter and taunt his opponents into facing him first or attacking him instead of his allies.
Known abilities: He is an above-average melee fighter who absorbs kinetic and energy attacks, storing the power of the attacks and unleashing them in devastating counter-blows. It is unknown if he can absorb all types of attacks or what the limit of the power he can absorb is, but it seems that as long as the attack is kinetic or energy based he's able to use that. He has been witnessed absorbing fire and electrical attacks as well as punishing levels of physical ones. Even bullets don't manage to penetrate his skin. He can then use that stored energy in small doses to empower his melee abilities or unleash them all at once with devastating results. His mask can be incorporated into his attacks as he has been witnessed firing pure force, fire, and electrical attacks in a solid beam from it.
Speculative abilities: Although not directly witnessed by any of the interviewees, it is rumored that he can only store energy as long as he remains standing. One rumor posits that he was knocked over during a fight and was unable to use any of the force he had stored up until that point, relying on his teammates to alternately protect him and recharge his ability by attacking him themselves. This would be in line with his toy and its catchphrase "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down."
Name: Slinky
Role: Melee combatant
Mask pattern: Slinky's mask is the most expressive of the team's. It often displays simple facial features of only eyes and a mouth with those changing color and expression to fit her mood. She also has it display messages, words, scrolling text, and simple pixel-art images. The mask's images change often and seem to be the way she communicates as she has never been heard to speak.
Appearance: Slinky is a young female, possibly late-teens or early twenties. She is petite and roughly five feet tall, Caucasian, and has long, blonde hair that is always set in high pigtails on either side of her head. She is usually dressed in a skirt or shorts and t-shirts with anime characters on them. She is never seen without her Hello Kitty backpack and even fights with it on, although she never removes anything from it during the fights.
Known abilities: She has the ability to form razor-sharp lengths of wire all over her body, effectively making every part of her a living sword capable of cutting through virtually anything. Survivors that have seen them up close have noted that they are indeed metal and sprout from her skin in thin, incredibly sharp edges. She has been seen extending them the length of her forearms and legs to use as bladed weapons as well as creating long, pointed claws from her fingertips that have devastating penetrating power. In keeping with her moniker she is - the best term to describe it is "bouncy." She seems to never be still and can spring in any direction with remarkable speed and agility. She only needs a single point of contact with anything to change directions, rocketing away with more speed than she should be capable of with her body frame. She is a chaotic, unpredictable fighter that is almost impossible to pin down and has remarkable lethality at close range.
Speculative abilities: None.
Name: Rock'em Sock'em
Role: Melee combatant
Mask pattern: Rock'em's mask is unique in that it never lights up or displays any patterns at all.
Appearance: Rock'em Sock'em is a massive man, possibly in his mid to late-twenties. He stands a few inches over six-feet and is built like a linebacker and bodybuilder. His race is undetermined as will become clear in the description of his powers. He is always seen in combat boots, jeans, and a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up. He cuts an imposing figure that is made even more intimidating by the perpetually-dark mask that is mostly hidden in the shadows of his hoodie. His only adornment is a belt that has small rods of different materials hanging from it.
Known abilities: Rock'em is a straightforward brawler type who enhances his fighting abilities by changing parts of his body into other materials. When he touches a material he is able to transform that arm into that material and fight with arms and fist of living stone or metal. He also has limited shaping controls when doing so as he has been witnessed to have created stone gauntlets, wrap his fist in a long metallic blade, and create extremely sharp wood spikes down his forearms to form gauntlets. He is able to control each arm independently, often using a different material for each arm to turn them into different weapons. His ability seems to linger even after the ability is no longer active as the only skin visible on his body - his hands - remains the color of the material he last used.
Speculative abilities: It is unknown whether or not he can transform more of his body into the materials he touches. If he is able he has not shown it up to this point. This may be a future evolution of his power as he unlocks more levels.
Name: Beyblade
Role: Ranged fighter
Mask pattern: Spinning disks of different colors that indicate the type of blade that is about to be fired.
Appearance: Beyblade is a Caucasian male of indeterminate age, although most likely in his twenties as would be in keeping with the rest of the team. He is of average body type and not particularly fit.
Known abilities: Beyblade is able to launch spinning projectiles from his hands and mask. The ones from his hands are smaller, faster, and can be launched instantaneously while the ones from his mask are larger, slower (only slightly), and seem to have a charging period during which observers will be able to intuit the type of incoming attack if they are familiar with the colorations on his mask. His projectiles appear to have a range of approximately 100 feet, although this is not definitive since he has only been observed using his abilities in the The Climb, which are restricted by space. He has minor control of the projectiles after they leave his body and can slightly change the trajectory to arc around his teammates or curve into an opponent that has dodged. They are not able to follow someone who is moving erratically, though. He has the ability to decide if they will ricochet off solid objects or embed themselves in them - both have been witnessed. Most of his blades are metallic with razor edges but he has also been seen to use "sticky" blades to cover a small area of an opponent's face, hands, or feet in a type of glue. This glue can be powered through by anyone with a high enough strength stat but is excellent for creating openings and interrupting attacks. His projectiles all seem to need to be physical as no elemental blades have been seen to this date.
Speculative abilities: It is unknown how Beyblade's power works or what types of materials he can craft into his projectiles, so all speculation is on potential future advancements of the skill. Future evolutions may allow for elemental projectiles, faster production of his larger projectiles, or the ability to fully control them after firing.
Name: Yo-Yo (Deceased)
Known abilities: Yo-Yo was able to shoot his limbs out like a projectile, separating them from his body entirely. They flew with frightening speed and would return at his mental command. After being launched they flew in a straight direction and could not be controlled
Name: Jack (in the Box) (Deceased)
Known abilities: Jack was able to disappear at will and reappear behind, underneath, or inside of any object within his visual range. This was a powerful ability that allowed him instant movement and unlimited surprise attacks, but was heavily reliant on the environment. Jack's worst-case scenario was an open arena with no objects as it made him functionally useless, which was the exact situation that led to his loss of life.
Name: Rubik (Deceased)
Known abilities: Rubik was a strategist and puzzle savant. She was able to instantly assess any battle, formation, puzzle, or trap and immediately reason out the best course of action or correct solution. Her loss is a blow to the organization as she would have been a powerful asset at future evolutions. Unfortunately she joined the team at its infancy before they had learned the important lesson of working as a team and synergizing their abilities.
Name: Announcer (Ben Harmon)
Threat: Low to Mid
Potential: High
Role: Support and Crowd Control
Appearance: Announcer is a lean man of average height, likely in his late twenties to early thirties. He has blonde hair, slicked back to maintain a polished and professional appearance that complements his sharp, tailored suits. His attire always reflects the image of a high-end announcer or master of ceremonies, which starkly contrasts with the chaotic environments of The Climb. Announcer exudes confidence and charisma, effortlessly commanding the attention and respect of both allies and enemies alike.
Known abilities: Announcer serves as a critical support unit, capable of manipulating the battlefield to favor his team's strategy. His primary skill, Amplify, allows him to project his voice over vast distances, which he uses to inspire allies or intimidate opponents. He can exert influence over large crowds with Aura Pulse, subtly shifting emotions from excitement to fear, depending on tactical needs. Announcer's Projection skill creates large, detailed visuals of the battlefield, which can be used to disorient enemies while rallying his team and maintaining control over the audience. Additionally, his Deflection ability provides heightened awareness of his surroundings, enabling him to telekinetically redirect small projectiles or incoming attacks—an invaluable asset for maintaining control in chaotic situations or combat scenarios.
Potential future growth and use: Announcer's current abilities suggest significant potential for future growth, particularly in the areas of battlefield control and psychological warfare. Should his skills evolve, he may develop the capability to project complex illusions or exert greater influence over the movements and decisions of others through vocal commands alone. Such advancements could make him an invaluable asset in manipulating large-scale engagements or suppressing enemy morale. Additionally, enhancing his Deflection ability to counter larger, more dangerous threats could further cement his role as a key support unit in any organized force. Given his strategic value and versatility, monitoring Announcer for potential recruitment or neutralization as a future threat is recommended.