Primordial Beasts. Ancient creatures birthed from the waters of creation. Their amorphous, chaotic nature and, often, semi-liquid serpentine bodies made them the natural predators of the rest of the cosmos. In the age of the Primordial Gods, they were monitored and periodically culled, though more would appear in time, making them a consistent threat throughout history. Tiamat, Vritra, Lotan, Cipactli, and Nyami Nyami are amongst their brood, and in the Age of the Gods, hunting and putting these Beasts down became an unspoken rite of passage for leadership and proof of power.
However, what would happen if there was someone born amongst the Gods, out of pure chance, that was the natural Anathema of such world-ending monsters? Who could master the raw primordial power of the Tide Jewels, Manju and Kanju, so effortlessly? Who could control water to such a degree that no other God, even Primordial, could rival and make slaying such monsters child's play? Simple. He would hunt them. He would hunt them, day in and day out. He would hunt them so proficiently, creation prospered unencumbered. Not long after his hunting sprees, he became a 'Highly Valued Asset' of the Shinto Pantheon. That God, the Primordial Anathema, the Greatest Dragonslayer of the Gods, was thus named 'Ryujin.'
Mimir Hall
Arena Floor
The two torrents crashed down on the arena, sending water and foam everywhere. Ryujin focused his sights on where Barong was and clicked his tongue. Fuck, they missed! He thought. He heard something splashing to his left. He turned and saw Barong running towards the arena's edge. "Bad play!" He yelled, swiping his left arm across his body. A massive wave of water rose out of the surrounding pool and crashed down. "Shippowofuru!" Barong jumped back before the wave could crush him. He turned to look back at Ryujin and then ran towards him.
"Ryujin's trying to smash Barong to pieces right at the start!" Jarl yelled, floating above. "But nothing's touching him! What a master of the artful dodge!"
Kanju! The gem on Ryujin's left forearm glowed. Manju! The gem on his right forearm glowed. Let's get him! Ryujin raised his arms. He lurched forward into a deep kneel and swung both arms down. His fists smashed against the floor. "Rise!" The pool shrank a dozen meters as the floor beneath Barong and Ryujin rumbled. Barong's eyes widened, and he jumped to the right. A geyser erupted through the stone floor, just barely missing Barong's left side.
This pressure… Barong thought. I see… he's focusing it into a pressure cutter. Smart! First a pincer attack, then an area-of-effect, and now… Barong ran forward as another geyser shot up just where he stood. He's trying to attack out of my line of sight! Bravo, Ryujin! You're trying to keep me from figuring you out!
Ryujin leaned up. He tucked his arms close to his, inhaled deeply, and roared. "Ryūō no Izumi!" He held the roar as he pummeled the floor beneath him in a deluge of punches. Geysers exploded from under the floor all around the arena. Barong continued his sprint towards Ryujin's spot. Suddenly, he gasped as he jumped to the left, then forward as two geysers erupted underneath him. Another burst right in front of and behind him, and he sprinted to the left, then pirouetted around another geyser that exploded out beneath him.
"Barong's…still dodging everything?!" Jarl yelled.
Shinto Box Seats
Up in the Box Seats, Amaterasu watched the fight, unfazed by the chaos below. However, her brother, Tsukuyomi, was another story.
"That damn idiot!" Tsukuyomi yelled, clenching the arms of his chair. "Stop wasting time and energy with all those big attacks!"
"He can't," Izanagi said.
"Father, what do you mean?! He's wasting all his energy just trying to get one hit on him!"
"Tsuku," Amaterasu said, looking at her brother out of the corner of her eye. "Listen."
Tsukuyomi grumbled under his breath.
"Ryujin is actually making the smart play," Izanagi explained. "The original Apocalypse was a free-for-all, but this tournament's format carries a few hidden challenges." A few more geysers exploded out of the arena floor. "The fighters in the earlier rounds lose the element of surprise if they advance, since the fighters in later rounds will already start planning to counter them. If you start later, you get less time to recover. You start too strong, you burn out, and cannot fight to your best in the later rounds. You don't start strong enough, you don't end a match quickly enough, and you take damage you could have avoided." Tsukuyomi's stare went blank. "Ah! Sorry, Tsuku. It's…something I enjoy thinking about!" Izanagi leaned forward a little. Did you pick this format for that reason, Brother? You always loved games and strategy.
"So…if that's the case, why is Ryujin going so hard so fast?"
"He has to." Ryujin bared his claws and raised his hands. Water orbs floated out of the pool and surrounded the arena.
"Tewonigiru!" Ryujin screamed, clasping his hands together. Beams of water fired out of the orbs towards Barong.
"Otherwise, Barong won't just win the fight…he may win the whole tournament."
Mimir Hall
Arena Floor
Back down in the arena, beams of water sailed across the arena from all directions towards Barong. He crouched down, letting three sail over him. He rolled forward to avoid two more, then broke into a handstand, letting another sail through his arms and barely missing his head. He then split his legs, avoiding five more. He spun on his hands, his hips swinging his legs around in an air-flare, and moved slowly across the battlefield. As each beam got close, his body spun and tilted, barely avoiding each passing blast as they sailed into the arena walls, tearing away rock. Rubble began falling into the pool, sending more and more water onto the arena.
"Barong's…break-dancing!" Jarl yelled, floating around the arena. "Those beams of water are smashing through solid rock, but nothing's touching him!"
DAMN IT! Ryujin screamed in his thoughts. They're counting on me! We can't let him advance!
Mimir Hall
Men's Locker Room
Thirty Minutes Ago
Earlier that day, in the well-lit, ornate locker room not too far from the arena, Ryujin, Lu Ban, and Hunahpu sat on a red bench with a row of silver, open lockers behind them. The trio was looking up at a monitor opposite them, watching Jarl and Heimdall's pre-fight show about the first match.
"Ryujin," Lu Ban said. "I hate asking this of you, because you're probably going to do it regardless, but we all need a favor."
"Even if not all of us voice it," Hunahpu added. "We badly need you to win."
"As much as it feels like you two are underestimating me," Ryujin said. "I get what you mean."
"Oh, we're not underestimating you. It's just no one else is in your position, and we believe you can pull it off."
A small patch of irritation grew in Ryujin's heart. Where the hell have I heard that before…
"Hey," Lu Ban said, catching Ryujin's attention. "This isn't expectation. This is faith. You're strong, Ryujin. We know what you're capable of. They need to learn who Barong is facing."
Ryujin scoffed, standing. "I don't need you telling me that," Ryujin said, clenching his clawed fists. "I'll show them."
Mimir Hall
Arena Floor
Back in the present, Barong continued spinning through the beams. He stopped himself mid-spin and broke into a roll, then back to his feet. More and more water orbs floated out of the pool and began firing. "Tewonigiru Sen!" Ryujin roared. The orbs started encircling the arena, firing dozens of shots towards Barong. Ryujin ran into the fray, heading towards Barong. Barong eyed him mid-dodge, and a shocked expression grew.
You're running into your own attack's line of fire? Barong thought. You're either brave or reckless! I love it! That's your tempo and rhythm! Never deny yourself! Ryujin landed on his back and kipped back onto his feet, then crouched down. It'll make it easier to win. He sprang forward towards Ryujin. Ryujin crumbled down and slid under Barong and rose back to his feet mid-slide. Barong landed on his feet and started shuffling and spinning, still avoiding the rain of water bullets. Ryujin dashed at him, twisting his arms. The bullets mid-flight around Ryujin changed direction and spun towards Barong.
There's no escape! Ryujin thought, crumbling down and raising his fists. Ryūō no Izumi X Tewonigiru Sen: Musabori kuu Ryūō! The floor beneath Barong's side of the arena crumbled as a massive dragon's head made of water burst up. The flowing water bullets, as if large grasping hands, flew towards Barong.
Barong, caught in that brief moment between floating and falling, rapidly scanned the chaos around him. Water above and around him, ready to pierce. Water below him, ready to crush him. Rubble around him, slowly sinking into the water.
Huh…Barong thought. What a beautiful strategy. When did I start focusing too much on the bullets and not the geysers? Must've been when he upped his tempo! I thought he just changed it. But no—he layered it! A polytempo! I haven't faced that in years! Barong began tapping his thigh with his right hand. Barong got his feet on a few pieces of sinking rubble. He kicked off the rubble as the bullets rained down where he was. The tempos are layering beautifully…but that means eventually they can be heard and read. He continued across the decimated half of the arena, kicking off the sinking rubble as he crouched and leaned as he jumped. One…one-two-three-four…two…one-two-three-four…three…one-two-three-four…four. Then, he weaved and spun to avoid the bullets. One…one-two-three-four…Two…one-two-three-four…Three…one-two-three-four…Four. The water around him began rising, as if trying to bite down on him as he neared the edge of the construct's jaws. One…one-two-three-four…Two…one-two-three-four…Three…one-two-three-four…Four. Barong landed on one last piece of sinking rubble, crouched down, submerging his body, and jumped. He burst out of the water as the construct closed its jaws, and the bullets stopped. He landed feet first just a few meters in front of the crouched Ryujin.
Oh man…Ryujin thought, still crouched down. I really wish I were back home sailing right now…like back then…
Seas of Izumo
Long ago
Millennia ago, atop the vast seas of Izumo and below the slightly cloudy summer sky, a small wooden vessel bobbed across the waves. Its sail was rolled up, but the sole passenger aboard it didn't care. He was lying down on the deck with only his horns above the ship's railing, letting the flow of the waves rock him. Above him, he would occasionally hear the cries of seagulls. Around him, the slight splash of the water against the ship's hull.
Suddenly, a slight breeze raced across his horns, and he shot up. "There it is!" He yelled, wiping his curling seaweed-like black hair out of his face and blue eyes. He unfurled his sail, and it went taut. "Everyone!" He yelled, turning around, seeing the dozens of small boats behind him, each one with one or two people. "Drop sail and let's go!"
"Drop sails!" One of the people said.
"Grab the rods and nets!" Another said.
"Let's hurry up, I'm starving!"
Ryujin wryly smiled before looking ahead. "Time to have some fun!"
The fleet of small ships sailed across the sea, their sails all taut, and the Sailors and Fishermen were ready for the next big haul and adventure.
Japan
1945
Years later, only a hundred or so kilometers off Japan's shores, Ryujin stood in the same wooden vessel, his heart sinking as the mushroom cloud rose in the distance. Just a few days prior, he sailed from the Mariana Islands, where he saw large, cold, gray metal vessels with flying machines atop them. A plane took off, and he followed it, and now wished he hadn't. He dropped to his knees and cried.
Takamagahara
Later
Just a few days later, in the Heavens and in the palace of Amaterasu, a surge of water tore through the halls and smashed into the throne room. Amaterasu, sitting in her throne, reading over a long, cumbersome scroll, stared listlessly as the torrent stopped halfway across the room. She watched on as Ryujin strolled out of the torrent, glaring at her. "Amaterasu!" He yelled.
"Breaking into my palace without a word and not showing due resp—" She said.
"I will show no deference to an apathetic ruler!" Ryujin interrupted. "I sent a request to you for approval to smite the Human Navy that decimated the land of our followers, and what do I get?!" He pulled out a small scroll and unrolled it. "'I could not care less about what happens.' Could not care less?! They're our people!"
"And?" She retorted calmly.
"'And?!' We're their Gods! We're supposed to protect them!"
"No, we're not." Ryujin stared in shock. "Humans are not owed protection. They are not owed kindness. Does a ruler submit to the subject? No. For order and balance to remain, the subject submits to the ruler, and the ruler, through wisdom, leads and protects properly." She looked down somberly. "It is not our responsibility to protect them…especially if they bring misfortune upon themselves."
"How can you—"
"I can because, as a Chief God and a ruler, I cannot always save people from the consequences of their actions. Even if they're my subjects. Even if...they're family. Which is why I will not save you." She snapped her fingers. Ryujin's torrent broke down and spread across the floor. "I have to make an example of you, Ryujin…despite my distaste for it. You cannot make demands of me, and you cannot act this way in my home. For your actions, you are forbidden from the oceans around our land on Midgard, and you're forbidden from sailing. I'll speak with Poseidon to ensure it."
"You…"
"I respected your wishes and bizarre relations with Humanity, but if this is what it leads to, then I need to help you remember your place." She pursed her lips and shook her head. "Believe me when I say this is for your own good."
Mimir Hall
Arena Floor
Back in the Arena, Ryujin slowly rose. His body ached, and sweat began pouring over his body. …Maybe not…sailing's…probably not that fun anymore… He thought.
"Hey, Ryujin! Quit messing around!" Someone from the crowd yelled, pulling Ryujin back into the arena.
"You're doing more damage to the arena than to Barong! Give it up already!
"Pathetic!"
The jeers from the crowd started falling in the arena as Ryujin jumped back and swung his arms out, summoning more water spheres and hurling them at Barong. Barong swayed and stepped out of the way of each, continuing his stride towards Ryujin.
"Look at him! Throwing all that water around like an idiot!"
"Stop trying to end the fight so quickly! What're you, scared?!"
"Loser!"
"Coward!"
A vicious scowl grew across Ryujin's face as sweat poured over his brow. Ryujin spread his arms out to his sides and stretched out his fingers. "Ryūō no kamitsuki!" He roared as he clapped his hands together. Water surged from the surrounding pool onto the arena, forming two large walls of water with Barong in between them. "Now bite!" The two walls raced towards each other. Barong glanced at them and crouched down. He jumped back just as the walls collided in a massive crash, barely avoiding the walls' edge. He continued lightly bobbing his head to the unknown beat. Ryujin began breathing heavily as he focused on Barong. You…can't be serious…I used all these attacks to defeat packs of Primordial Beasts! I knew what you were capable of! He screamed in his head. But…but still…nothing?!
"What's wrong, 'Dragon King?!'"
Ryujin turned to the source of the jeer, his expression a mixture of fury and terror. The heckler shrank back in his seat.
"Ignore them," Barong said. "Their opinions don't matter. They don't know who you're facing, or why you're trying so hard."
Ryujin turned back to face Barong, who was now halfway across the arena and still walking. I got one shot left at this. Chills ran down to Ryujin's finned tail from his horns. Even if the other six see this, it won't matter! Ryujin crouched down and crossed his arms. Manju and Kanju glowed a bright green as water flowed towards Ryujin. Barong stopped and watched as the water scattered across the floor flowed to Ryujin.
Aaaaaaah…so this was what Marduk was trying to copy back in Round Seven. Barong thought. Ryujin's better at it thanks to experience, but solid marks for effort, and a little bonus for using Imhullu to create to ease the strain from maintaining a structure.
Ryujin fired up, propelled by the accumulating water. As he ascended, more and more water flowed out of the surrounding pool and followed him. Once he reached over a hundred meters above Barong, he shot out of the water and spun his arms clockwise. The water below him began to pool mid-air. None of you dumbasses understand! Ryujin thought as the water collected between him and the arena below. If I don't kill him and do it quickly, it's an automatic loss! He can't be allowed to control the flow even for a second! All the water congealed together, and Ryujin landed on top of it. He has to be stopped no matter the cost! Damn the rest of the rounds! I'll pull out every trump card if it means stopping you! No gap remained between the transparent barrier and the pool. Barong stared up at the pool, light shimmering through it, and could barely make out Ryujin.Humanity took my gift and destroyed each other with it! The Heavens denied me justice! But YOU…I will not allow you to deny me the chance to take back what I lost! I will sail again! I will sail with THEM AGAIN! The wooden fleet returned to his mind and heart.
"Going this far? In the First Round?" Barong asked, his voice barely raising. "I'm flattered." He crouched down and placed his right hand on the floor. His heartbeat quickened. "You're taking me seriously quicker than the ones before."
"SUCK IT, BARONG!" Ryujin roared. He hopped in the air and pulled his legs in. As he descended, both feet shot down in a heavy stomp, slamming into the pool.
"RYŪŌ NO SHINKAI TSUCHI!"
A shockwave rippled across the pool's surface, and Ryujin soared back up. Immediately, the water surged down like a piston towards Barong.
Barong…tapped the floor for a brief moment, creating a slow beat. His hand then stopped, and he looked up. Got it. Time to go. He jumped up, firing like a rocket and dislodging some of the arena floor under his leonine feet as he pounced. His body contorted and stretched, his face became angular and straight, his limbs flattened against his body. Barong Naga. He thought. His serpentine body sailed like a bullet towards the oncoming attack. One...two...three...four…One...two...three...four... His edged snout touched the shaped attack's surface…and pierced through. One...two...three...four... He slithered and swam up through the descending current, letting the flow of the attack alter his course without pushing him back. One..two..three..One..two..three. He could see Ryujin begin slowly descending. Barong aimed straight for him. A beautiful attack that commands with a super sound, Ryujin. For all your bluster…Barong burst out of the water, flying towards Ryujin. His body expanded back out, but his arms continued to grow, his muscles swelled until his arms matched the diameter of his torso, and his claws rounded into crude, stubby fingers. Barong Ganjah. One…Two…
"Oh, come on—" Ryujin whispered as Barong's enlarged right hand wrapped around his head and entire torso.
You were truly wise to fight the way you did. One...two...three...One…two…three. Barong thought. Barong, with Ryujin clamped down in his hand, began swinging his arm. Faster. Faster. Faster until he turned into a spinning blue blur with a yellow and tan extension. The pair descended back towards the arena, now drenched and crumbling from Ryujin's attack. One…two…three… Barong swung out his left arm, accelerating the spin.
"Barong's pirouetting in mid-air!" Jarl yelled. "And he's got…Ryujin in the literal palm of his hand!"
The world blurred in Ryujin's vision. I…can't make anything out…My mind's…going blank from the spin…
One...two...three... Barong snapped his right arm and threw Ryujin down the arena. …Four. Perfect power, timing, and form…His body remained a blur until he crashed into the floor, bouncing off it by just two meters. Barong crashed down, feet first, his body already twisted to the right and his enlarged fist held tight next to his ribs. He deeply inhaled.
Kendang Beat: Perfect Sync.
His fist fired as he exhaled and crashed into Ryujin's entire torso. Ryujin spat out blood onto Barong's arm…and fired off as Barong's punch rose. Ryujin flew into the transparent barrier, shattering it. He flew into the arena's ceiling, breaking it. He flew through the underground library, then the archive, the cafeteria, the Hall's first floor, then second, and then finally the third before reaching outside. Every floor and ceiling caved as he flew. Outside, his body sailed through the air and arched down towards the ground. The ones in the bleachers would remember the perfect beat made by Ryujin's body crashing through the walls and floors that day. Nearby gods and angels would remember that moment due to a whistling sound filling the air before a loud boom and the earth shaking.
Ryujin's journey…had ended.
Back in the arena, Barong looked up at the series of holes his attack caused while his arms deflated. Jarl gazed at the holes from her floating platform before turning her attention back to Barong.
"Jarl, I recommend calling it," Barong said, lightheartedly. "He won't be able to continue."
"Wait, hold on," Jarl pushed a few buttons on her microphone, and a hard-light monitor appeared above the arena. She looked up at it and saw Ryujin's crumpled-up body in the center of a small crater, his eyes had rolled back in his head, and blood was flowing from his mouth as his torso began to purple from bruising. His bandana came loose and flew off in the wind as several angels in medical scrubs gathered around him with a gurney and equipment. Several of the Gods in the bleachers felt chills run up their spines or nausea, or both.
Shinto Box Seats
Amaterasu watched the monitor solemnly and bit her lip. She then hung her head and closed her eyes. Ryujin's heartbroken expression played back in her mind. I'm sorry. She thought.
Mimir Hall
Men's Locker Room
"Not even Heaven's Mightiest Dragonslayer could stop Barong…" Lu Ban said, sitting a few meters from Hunahpu. "Damn."
"Son of a bitch…" Hunahpu whispered. "First, Epona, then him if I win? Bracket A sucks…"
Lu Ban nodded. "What damn poor luck for you two."
Mimir Hall
Arena
Barong looked up at the screen. He then turned away and started walking back to the South Gate. "See you in Round Two," He said, waving as he departed.
Jarl gawked at Barong as he trotted slowly away. As he walked, he lightly tapped his left thigh in a slow, constant beat. He did not know it, or did not care, that every single God in the arena, in utter silence, watched him depart. Dread settled over them all, save for six others, waiting in the halls and rooms outside the arena.
Game Master's Box Seats
Above the Arena, opposite the Shinto Box Seats, Set and Oludumare watched the results play out.
Shit. Oludumare thought. Well, this is going to hell in a handbasket. He glanced over at Set, who looked calm. You knew that was going to happen, didn't you? Sly dog.
"Well…that was…unfortunate," Set said mournfully. Oludumare raised a brow. "Ryujin, despite his attitude, was truly strong and someone who loved his passions without regard. I wish more were like him." His gaze followed Barong. He recalled sitting in that same position, staring down at the decimated arena. Barong stood alone, opposite four other Gods: Zeus, Devendra, Oludumare, and Odin. All four were facing towards him, weapons ready. "And I hoped he would be enough to stop Barong. Now…the others need to be ready, because after this Round…Barong may become near unstoppable…again."
You...didn't plan this?!
Mimir Hall
Arena
Jarl continued staring at the back of Barong's head. She turned her attention back to the screen above, then back to Barong. This…this can't be over already! She thought, feeling a chill run up her back. Heimdall said this would be insane…but there's no way he meant this! She scanned the audience, seeing them all petrified, save for their gazes following Barong out of the arena. Crap! I gotta keep moving things along! "F…..Folks….I think….no…it is!" Jarl yelled. "Match One of Round One is over! In a display of brief, beautiful barbarous brutality, Ryujin was sent flying out of the building! The winner of Round One Match One! BARONG!"
Ryujin VS Barong
Victor: Barong
Match Length: 3 minutes 44 seconds
Deciding Move: Kendang Beat: Perfect Sync.