Back from the realm beyond, Kron revealed the secret manipulations of the Baron of War -- Ares Menschlich! The co-founder of The Great Arena stood exposed at Pre-Show 11, responsible for pushing the forces of The Union of the Human League into a conflict that split them in two at Supercard 6: Team Cr0w vs Team Kron, and led to the brief exile of Kron and his fellows! Unphased, Ares Menschlich returned the blame to the people themselves, claiming they possess no quantifiable degree of magnificence, no selflessness, and no integrity in the relationships they share. Accepting that Lord Mislukking's plot of misdirection was uncovered, he scoffed at any organized attempt to undo their tyrannical rule, and so, Kron put out the call. Seeking a few good men, he asked three warriors to put their personal goals aside to unite as a force on this Night of the Barons!
Facing the incredible odds with Kron are Ratt, Mimik and Genku -- warriors who all have more than mere virtue to fight for, but will gladly lay it on the line at their own cost! Their chances of victory may be slim, but as the "chosen four," they already undermine the cynical views that provoked their assembly. Matched against War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death, they are The Union of the Human League, and the first line of renewed attack against the arrogant Barons who rule above them!
13. Cr0w (c) d. The_Purple_Bunny in a +24 Championship decimation!
Seeking his twenty-fifth win in a phenomenal win streak that has claimed tournaments and the Undisputed Championship -- Cr0w probably did not have the inclination to consider how his actions reflect upon the character of the Union of the Human League. Ares Menschlich may be antagonist to the people, but his philosophy, right or wrong, is ultimately a grudge to be addressed at a later date for a man whose reign as Champion has attracted the very best in challengers, and created a dynasty of never-before-seen records! Cr0w would no doubt desire reprisal for War's manipulations that led to Supercard 6 -- but with an upstart contender like The_Purple_Bunny to contend with, there could be no paltry distractions! Afterall; with a string of victories that included Tournament 7: The Next Phase -- The_Purple_Bunny had the makings of a champion -- or so it seemed...
Throughout his reign as Champion, Cr0w has faced some of the brightest and most powerful figures the League has to offer. He has been challenged many times, escaping defeat sometimes by a margin that does little to reflect the numerical domination he's experienced in twenty-four unanswered victories. DECEPTION was the most recent to threaten his phenomenal streak, teasing an upset during Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] -- an event Cr0w eventually won. The_Purple_Bunny was dark horse enough to anticipate the possibility of such a threat, but on thsi Night of Barons, "The Unstoppable" Cr0w would be in rare form!
Fighting at the absolute peak of his powers; Cr0w unleashed a strength and strategum that must have sent a shiver down the Baron of War's spine for its shimmering brilliance and threatening potency! Any belief of an upset victory melted away like human skin in a nuclear holocaust, leaving The_Purple_Bunny defenseless against the onslaught he faced! Cr0w has etched his name in history with his accomplishments, but in this +24 decimation of TPB, he sent a message to the world that he will one day become a master!
The Barons no doubt had a role to play in the result. TPB showed a diminished capacity that had all the hallmarks of the notorious P-Virus, but that could not undercut the terrifying display of power Cr0w displayed. The unforgiving display may have been the ultimate confirmation of Ares Menschlich's philosophy of unfeeling antagonism, but that could only underline the threat that Cr0w poses to the Barons of Lord Mislukking and the League, both. When the time comes that his streak is broken, and the Championship slips from his grip -- heaven help those Four Barons, for whom Cr0w will come...
12. Ares Menschlich d. Kron in a decimation.
It was the reveal that changed everything: Kron, returning from the realm beyond, unleashed the shocking revelation that Ares Menschlich, Baron of War and founder of The Great Arena, had manipulated the morals of all fighters to split the arena in two -- result in Supercard 6: Team Kron vs Team Cr0w and the eventual exile of Kron! Exposed, Menschlich responded philosophically, claiming his occult influence merely exposed the underlying passion for war that lies within every fighter. Working to distract the League from the oppresive machinations of Lord Mislukking, War further proclaims that the rule of his master is assured by the fact that there are no true heroes or allies within the collosseum walls of The Great Arena!
Kron formed the chosen four to dispel Menschlich's claims, but with defeat facing two of his three allies, could a moral victory do anything more than slow the inevitable? Fighting for the good of the Kingdom and the honor of the entire League, Kron attempts to face down the notoriously powerful Baron of War, intent on striking back against the organized invaders who oppressed the once peaceful world of the Cheevment Kingdom!
Never defeated within the walls of The Great Arena, the Baron of War has earned an intimidating status as one of the most powerful figures in the fighting kingdom, perhaps second only to Lord Mislukking, himself. Despite his fearsome reputation, Ares Menschlich has been defeated, most memorably by Cr0w, in his 147th random encounter during the lead-up to 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix! Widely recognised as Cr0w's equal; Kron had even odds against the warlord, even though a post-resurrection encounter at Pre-Show 11: Truth or Consequences punctuated Kron's anti-Baron manifesto with a defeat.
Alas; Kron looked unimpressive as he stepped into the spotlight with the conflict-loving Baron of War! In his element, Ares Menschlich had all the confidence of a man with an undefeated record in formal competition. Gladiatorial in his approach, he dramatically outclassed a Kron who looked far less prepared for this scale of battle than he had during Pre-Show 11! Philosophy fell by the wayside as Ares Menschlich toyed with his opponent, showboating for the silenced audience who could only watch as Mimik's bold affirmation was whittled away with every punishing blow and strike!
Kron -- quite probably suffering the effects of P-Virus infection from the past, exacerbated by his calculated Pre-Show 12 warm-up encounter with Praga Conquette -- fell completely to the mercy of the Baron of War! Mercy was exactly what Menschlich delivered, leaving a sorely decimated Kron relatively unscathed from the severe beating. Like the Baron of Death before him, Menschlich proved content with the simple truth of combative superiority. He would not make a martyr of Kron. With the Undisputed Championship still to be defended, anyone who might have helped the decimated rebel did not, punctuating the claims that personal glory and mutual contempt fuel The Great Arena, not heroics, or a higher dedication to the common wealth. The "chosen four" were defeated. The Baron of War free to confidently stride from his temple of battle. Kron had failed.
11. Sinvida Von Grimm d. Genku in a decimation.
Like his fighting predecessors, Genku had personal reasons to answer Kron's call for chosen fighters to rise up against the tyranny of the Barons of Mislukking! Manipulated by the same occult influences that split the league in twain during Supercard 6 -- Genku was compelled to throw himself on the sword of Lord Mislukking himself, resulting in an eerie resurrection under the will of Baron of Death, Sinvida Von Grimm! As Revenant Genku, the Tournament 1 winner became a pawn for the forces of the evil overlord, a mere puppet in the play of conquest that ultimately led to Mensclich's grand manipulation of the entire League! Eager for some payback, Genku gladly stepped into the Night of Barons against the intimidating force of Death -- the Baron who only recently entered combat at Tower of Power II, where The Unstoppable Cr0w suffered a shocking decimation!
Wielding mystic powers beyond human perception, the Baron of Death did not disappoint! With a reputation of being perhaps the most powerful of the Barons of Mislukking, Sinvida Von Grimm once again made a plaything of the bashful Genku. Try, though he would, the vengeful fighter could not counter the grandiose powers of Grimm's black magic! Twisted and contorted at every turn, Genku could not be accused of lacking determination or strength -- merely outclassed by a power of rare scale! Despite being utterly decimated, Genku would not suffer as horrific a beating as he could. Perhaps by sheer determination, luck, or the nostalgic grace of Sinvida Von Grimm, Genku would be allowed to walk away to fight another day. It would be undoubted, however, that the Baron of Death was superior in the theatre of combat. A shattering moral blow to the hopes of the chosen four!
10. Mimik d. Praga Conquette in a decimation!
Where Ratt had been the odds-on favourite to win his bout; Mimik entered the fray with a much less promising expected future, perhaps the least likely of the chosen few to beat his opponent. As a shock First Round drop-out when he faced Vultyrex in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles], Mimik had plenty of reasons to battle the Baron of Pestilence, inflicted with the notorious P-Virus that has been responsible for secretly sapping the strength of some of the top competitors of The Great Arena! So insensed was Mimik that he took the fight to Praga Conquette well before the Night of Barons, zealously pursuing the villain with little regard for his own health!
A highly motivated member of Kron's chosen four; it seemed Mimik's underdog status would make the perfect plot for a shocking upset going in his favour! Praga Conquette has never been known for her strength, but as the Baroness of Pestilence, she has frequently fought beyond her class, wielding the weaponized P-Virus with devastating results. Mimik may have been riddled with the endurance killing disease, but his will could not be denied! Fighting for the people and perhaps something more, Mimik shrugged off any notion of fatigue, overpowering Pestilence with unrelenting force! Where Famine had beaten Ratt by the narrowest of margins, Mimik would unleash a +2 decimation that would remind the Barons of their often forgotten mortality! Ares Menschlich may have claimed that no fighter would sacrifice themselves for Kron's idle dreams of liberation, but in Mimik, the spirit of the Union of the Human League was ratified, victorious despite the longterm costs of infection!
With chances split between his fellows to follow, Mimik stood atop the beaten form of the Baroness of Pestilence. Against overwhelming odds he declared her defeated, igniting the spirits in a roar from the stunned audience of The Great Arena!
9. Bez Busshitsu d. Ratt in a close fought match.
With a history of underhanded attacks dating all the way back to Supercard 3 -- Ratt had more than enough reason to step up to a fight with the Baron of Famine, Bez Busshitsu! The first henchman of Lord Mislukking bedevilled Ratt for months, adding a personal twist to the heroic stance of the first man to join Kron in his battle with the Four Barons! "The Iron Man" Ratt has never been one to shy away from a fight, and with a Pre-Show victory over the mysterious Six Armed Samurai, entered the Night of Barons with the odds to win well in his favour!
Ratt may have come a long way since the days of Famine's sneak attacks, but the four nemesis' have also found ways to grow stronger during their absence from Great Arena showcases. Once a feeble fiend, Bez Busshitsu has leeched from the fighting denizens of the Cheevment Kingdom to become a force to be reckoned with! Surpassing his status as lowest ranked among the Barons, he went toe-to-toe with the fan-favourite "Iron Man," answering every blow with devastating competence. There could be no blowout in the first result in the war between the Union of the Human League and the forces of Mislukking, but alas, the result would go conclusively to the Baron of Famine! A disappointing result for Ratt, who was widely believed the best bet among Kron's chosen heroes!
8. Hokey & Ninja_Mime (c) d. DECEPTION & Onryo in a +2 Championship decimation.
With a finals win at Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles], Hokey & Ninja_Mime solidified their status as the greatest team leading the Duo Division ranks, beating out T6 winners and standing rivals, Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon! With their own big win at Supercard 11: All-Star Summer Showdown, DECEPTION & Onryo set themselves up for a shot at the undisputed best, earning contender status with a well earned victory over SubMan799 & Casselman! Representing two of the most successful teams in the league, it was sure to be another blockbuster encounter!
The sparks did indeed fly as the fan-favourites collided, but it was unfortunately apparent from the early going that the charmed combination of Hokey & Ninja_Mime were in a league of their own. DECEPTION & Onryo put forward a compelling case, fighting hard as a well paired unit, but the ability to combine as potent individuals in a well oiled combination proved too strong! Hokey & Ninja_Mime pick up a valuable second defense, but more to the point, extend their impressive league record to 15-1 -- a success rate that demands comparison to the record setting powers of Cr0w!
7. Ghostdragon d. Jammer2Omega in a close fight!
Bouncing off his Quarter Finals berth in Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles]; Ghostdragon looked refreshed and ready to repeat the previous result in a rematch confrontation with Next Phase posterboy, Jammer2Omega! The pair proved incredibly well matched during the elimination bracket, reflecting the comparisons that have often been osberved of both as on-the-verge competitors. Their histories have at times seemed destined to be intertwined, the T8 meeting being a reversal of their Tournament 5 encounter -- a Round Three win for Jammer2Omega -- which was followed by a repeat meeting at Supercard 7! With such a tense history, it was inevitable the close fought T8 match would demand another outing to seek more conclusive results.
With both men fighting hard to defend their reputations, it was another titanic clash between evenly matched combatants! Like so many others in the league, the trials of the Grand Slam were evident in their approach, forcing the two into something far more elementary than a battle of wills. Continuing his charge toward respect, Ghostdragon was the man who had the legs to go the distance, fighting hard to take Jammer2Omega out in another close encounter!
6. Scott-Howell d. Murdoink
As the first combination to form within The Great Arena, Scott-Howell and Murdoink have come to be regarded Duo Division favourites, originals within the ranks. Who could forget, however, that theirs was a bond originally formed through rivalry, beginning in the first round of Tournament 1! The induction of Duo Division Championships at Tournament 6 (July) created expectations for the crowning of the tandem classics, but with more active competition came increasing pressure and disappointment. Defeat in the Third Round of Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] finally lit the fuse on this powderkeg, reigniting the feud between the pair in a bitter clash of solo powers!
Partnered for so long, the two combatants looked undoubtedly well matched, but the edge did appear to be with the antagonist in the situation. "Sugar" Scott-Howell showed a side distinctly less sweet as he fought tooth and nail to take his former partner down. Just as it was in their very first encounter, Howell walked away the victor, closing the book on one of the most seasoned and beloved teams in the Duo Division -- a fact all too familiar to the mantra of Ares Menschlich, who claims there are no long term friends in the theatre of war.
5. Blaze d. Pink_Ranger in a comprehensive result.
Powering her way out of a Tournament 8 that included the shock Third Round elimination of #5 seed, Toryn -- Blaze has blazed a trail toward the top of the ranks in both solo and duo competitions, in no less than record time! Her fast feats have earned the attentions of many keen observers, not the least of which is Pink_Ranger, the "First Lady of Fights" who's held similar esteem in both popularized fields of combat! Keen to defend her turf, Pink_Ranger gladly takes the fight to her newest rival!
As The Great Arena has shown many times before, experience is only part of the equation for victory! Indeed, the fresh faced Blaze continued to fight with a vigor that defies her time in the league! Pink_Ranger was solid, but appeared to be carrying the legacy of a Tournament 9: Grand Slam [Doubles] Final into this match! It's a harsh loss for the former First Lady of Fights, but a promising continuation to the first chapter of Blaze's career!
4. Leroy & Mark d. ZachAngel & Angelia in a close fight!
The rivalry between Team Agaper and Team Ops has gone well beyond the mere rankings opportunity presented by previous bouts. With a series of inter-related matches bringing a wider roster of competitors into the fray, the battle appears to be escalating beyond a 2-v-2 affair! Pre-Show 12 saw the Agaper combo of Menas & Politics assert themselves over Celeste & ScottK in a set-up for the Supercard 12 clash of captains!
In a rematch of their All-Star Summer Showdown opener, the captain teams of ZachAngel & Angelia and Leroy & Mark looked set to go head-to-head in a grudge match encounter! Fighting hard for Duo Division supremacy, it seemed as if the two teams might incur yet another tied result for Supercard 12 (after Ken/TonyTheTiger)! Fortunate for fighting purists, a winner did indeed battle through the evenly matched contest, revealing Leroy & Mark as winners once again!
3. Ken & TonyTheTiger fought to a draw!
Since finding his claws during Tournament 7; TonyTheTiger has transformed from opportunistic scavenger, to ferocious alpha predator! Rising through the ranks with the legitimacy of a Tournament 8 Quarter Finals berth, TonyTheTiger now finds himself the target of combatants like Ken, keen to earn their way back into the graces of the unofficial contenders list, in much the same fashion as the TonyTheTiger of old!
It was always going to be a clash of the highly motivated, but nobody could have expected the bout to be such a hard fought, evenly matched battle! Both fighters looked fierce as they threw themselves in to a challenge that could very well shape their race toward the Undisputed Championship! Unrelenting, both man met the other, blow for blow, pound for pound! In the end, the match could go no further, Ken and TonyTheTiger fighting to a stunning stalemate finish, a high level draw!
This marks only the third tied battle in The Great Arena, following the first instances that occurred mere weeks previous, at Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] in the First and Second Rounds! It seems, much like the August blitz of three Daruma 7 victors, the famous first has opened the floodgates to many more! No doubt we'll see Ken and TonyTheTiger duke it once more, sometime in the future!
2. Toryn d. m0s
Toryn has always been a fighter who regarded the more fortunate with envious eyes, dating back to the earliest days of The Great Arena, where he earned the contempt of his peers through exploitation and low tactics during Tournament 1. It was little wonder, then, that the rising star of the two-time arcade fire, "Mr. Daruma" m0s, would become a target for the jealous former-Champion whose name has faded from the unofficial contender ranks -- replaced by m0s!
The epitomy of Ares Menschlich's belief that a base self-interest motivates every fighter beyond all: Toryn quickly shed any unconvincing claims of a partnership with m0s that might have arisen in the past, keen to supress the league's fast rising daruma dynamo. m0s fought well, but it was Toryn who showed a greater intensity in his assault, overpowering "Mr. Daruma" to wrestle a much needed win! His first victory since being upset by Blaze during Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] -- this seems likely to be but the first in a long list of victims Toryn claims in his rise back to the top.
1. ElJobber d. Tyrant-Cenobite in a +3 decimation.
Retribution seems unattainable for the former fan-favourite once regarded the "conscience" of The Great Arena! The court of public opinion may have ruled against him, but personal satisfaction was no doubt motivation enough to spur ElJobber to enter another battle with his infamous accuser, Tyrant-Cenobite! Answers regarding the alleged attack at Supercard 4: 2011 Ultimate Grand Prix played a distant second to ElJobber's desire to rack up another MAX damage, like the +30 annihilations that have capped three of his most recent victories.
The slippery Tyrant proved a canny customer, as elusive as he was outmatched, by his unrelenting opponent. Under the spotlight of The Great Arena, Tyrant-Cenobite could only do so much dancing, but it was enough to escape the fate of his partner, queve, who ranked amongst the MAX damage victims, at Pre-Show 12! ElJobber may have caught up with his opponent, but the +3 impact he was able to exert failed to stack up to their previous encounter, or the punishing reputation ElJobber has earned. Likewise, it failed to reveal any more about the circumstances of their feud, but with his eyes locked coldly on competition, it seems ElJobber has long since stopped caring about that. An indictment of guilt, perhaps?
Unofficial Rankings Update:
The Barons came, the Barons saw, the Barons conquered! It was a rough day at the office for the ranking contenders of The Union of the Human League, who had to fight probono to repel the cynical beliefs that empower Ares Menschlich and his crew of bastardly barons! The Night of- took its toll on the "chosen four," with the exception of Mimik, who was able to rocket back into the ranks in spite of a staggering First Round elimination from Tournament 8: Grand Slam [Singles] (by Vultyrex)!
Who could forget, after all, that two tournaments have occurred since the last unofficial rankings count -- not to mention the present Supercard! Not that the Grand Slam for [Singles] and [Doubles] would change much! Cr0w continued his "unstoppable" rampage to position himself for a record shattering twenty-fifth victory at Supercard 12, not to mention his third overall Tournament win, as final victor in T8. Hokey & Ninja_Mime continued their similar charmed brand of dominance, overcoming arch-rivals Pink_Ranger & Ghostdragon to claim T9!
Meanwhile; ElJobber charges back toward a Championship match with a string of shattering defeats earning him a reputation for inflicting "MAX Damage" as part of his rebranding since the people turned on him at Tower of Power II!
As Tournament 8 Runner-Up and all around "Iron Man", Ratt has himself the top spot and a surefire Championship match in the near future! The flipside of Kron, who made a massive impact on return, but has faded out with a string of losses to Ares Menschlich and Porygonix.
Champion: Cr0wStay tuned as The Great Arena plays host to all the fallout of The Night of the Barons!
#1 Ratt
#2 ElJobber
#3 The_Purple_Bunny
#4 Hokey
#5 Ninja_Mime
#6 Genku
#7 Mimik
#8 Kron
#9 Ghostdragon
#10 TonyTheTiger
What happens next is anyone's guess!
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