| Match 32: |
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| By: Christian Salabert |
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The populace of Tokyo, Japan screamed in terror
as the giant mantis, Kamacuras descended upon them. The emerald
predator had chosen the capital city as his current hunting grounds.
His ravenous hunger must be sated at all costs, and the fleeing
humans would do quite nicely. Despite their efforts to escape, they
were no match for the insect's supersonic speeds. As he rocketed
through the streets of Tokyo, his flight caused shockwaves which
tore through the city, detonating skyscrapers by his mere presence.
Rubble showered the streets.
Kamacuras decided to take a quiet moment to devour
the few humans he had captured. He immediately cut his speed and
slammed down onto the street, the impact sending chunks of concrete
flying in every direction. The mantis chittered deviously as he
began his meal, ignoring the pests' screams and pleading.
Just as he finished his meager snack, a glimmer
of light caught his eye. Kamacuras looked downward at the light.
What he saw appeared to be another human, but this one was different.
It didn't look like it was made of flesh. Whatever it was, the mantis
didn't like it. He was about to smash it with his mighty claws when
it began to do something. It began waving its arms and making a
strange, unnatural sound. It was as if it was trying to get his
attention. It didn't need to. Kamacuras raised his claw and prepared
to bring it down onto the bizzare human's head...
In a flash of light, Kamacuras felt a tremendous
blow to his mandibles. The next thing he knew, he was spinning through
the air before finally crashing into the remains of a building he
had passed earlier, landing on his back. Kamacuras screeched and
chittered as he tried to get back to his feet, waving his arms and
legs around wildly.
Jet Jaguar struck a battle pose as he watched the
insect try to right itself. He had sensed the disturbance and came
to investigate. Immediately upon spotting the mantis, he knew what
had to be done. He wasn't worried though.
He had fallen the mighty Monster X. This insect
was of no concern to him.
Jet Jaguar advanced on Kamacuras to finish him off
before he got back to his feet. Unfortunately for the android, the
insect lashed out with his four legs, striking Jet Jaguar and causing
him to stagger back. Jet Jaguar approached again, but it was too
late. Kamacuras was on his feet.
The mighty machine readied himself for battle and
once again went on the attack, but Kamacuras was ready for him.
Once Jet Jaguar was within reach, the giant mantis raised its claws
into the air and brought them down hard, gashing them onto Jet Jaguar's
shoulders. Sparks flew as they hit the metal. Jet Jaguar cried out
and staggered. He backed up and made sure no real damage was done.
He attacked again, but Kamacuras leapt backwards, determined to
keep out of the artificial being's reach. This continued for a while.
Everytime Jet Jaguar was within striking distance, Kamacuras would
leap away. The robot was beginning to get frustrated.
Finally, Jet Jaguar decided to try something else.
Reaching over to a nearby building he ripped the top off and chucked
it at Kamacuras. The insect screeched as the chunk of skyscraper
smashed into his face and crumbled all around him. While Kamacuras
was distracted, Jet Jaguar leapt towards him. He crashed into the
bug and knocked him again onto his back. As the armored insect wailed
and waved his arms around, Jet Jaguar began hammering his opponent's
face with his metallic fists. Kamacuras slammed his claws into Jet
Jaguar again and again, but the automaton acted as if he didn't
even feel the blows. The insect tried to kick him away once again,
but a punch from Jet Jaguar shattered one of his kneecaps, causing
a hellacious shriek to escape the mantis.
Eventually, however, the repeated strikes from Kamacuras'
scythe-like arms began to take their toll on Jet Jaguar's hull.
He was forced to back off, but at least he had a strategy to go
with. Kamacuras got back to his feet and waved his claws threateningly
at Jet Jaguar. The predator stood awkwardly as he tried to balance
himself on only three legs.
Jet Jaguar knew he still couldn't get close to his
foe, so he tried to repeat his earlier success. He reached down
and grabbed a wrecked bus from the street below. Taking careful
aim, he tossed it directly at Kamacuras' head. What the robot hadn't
counted on, however, was the beast lashing out with his claws and
sending the bus flying right back at him. The bus hit Jet Jaguar
directly in the face and exploded.
The explosion caused no real harm to Jet Jaguar,
but it was enough to distract him as Kamacuras blasted into the
air, disappearing as a blur. Before Jet Jaguar could even consider
giving chase, Kamacuras was back. Speeding past Jet Jaguar in a
blur, he stuck his claw out as he went. In a burst of sparks, a
slash appeared in Jet Jaguar's side. The claw had gone completely
through Jet Jaguar's metallic hide, exposing the circuitry within.
Jet Jaguar's head whipped towards Kamacuras with a newfound urgency.
If this creature could pierce his armor...
Again Kamacuras sped past Jet Jaguar. Again, sparks
burst from Jet Jaguar, this time on his right thigh, causing the
robotic defender to stagger. Kamacuras blasted past his foe a third
time. The brightest burst of sparks yet exploded from Jet Jaguar,
withdrawing a long, ringing cry from the machine.
Jet Jaguar's left arm, severed directly at the elbow,
crashed to the ground.
Kamacuras landed on the roof of a nearby building
and chittered happily, watching his foe grasp at the stump where
his arm once was. He tilted his head as he thought. He knew victory
was near... but how to grasp it? It was then he spotted the large
structure nearby. It was much taller than the other buildings and
brightly colored. Kamacuras conceived a plan and once again took
to the air.
Jet Jaguar was in a panic. Sparks sprayed from the
exposed circuits in his elbow. He thought this beast would be a
simple victory. It was an insect, how powerful could it possibly
be? But the beast had revealed its true strength - its speed - and
now Jet Jaguar was missing an arm, and his side and thigh were gashed
open. It was then that he heard the buzz of Kamacuras' wings. He
turned, expecting another attack, but instead saw the mantis speeding
towards another target - the Tokyo Tower.
Speeding around the Tower at a rapid pace, Kamacuras
lashed out at the metal structure at key locations, drawing sparks
with each strike. Now slashed in several areas, the Tower could
no longer withstand its own weight. It began to bend and break...
and fall...
Too late did Jet Jaguar realize his opponent's plan.
It was even futile to try to fly away, as the Tower was blocking
the sky above him. Jet Jaguar braced himself for the inevitable
and hoped he would be eventually repaired.
With a colossal crash that shook the entire surrounding
area, Jet Jaguar was crushed underneath the Tokyo Tower.
A few moments later, Kamacuras flew by and perched
atop the remaining bottom half of the Tower. Rearing his head back
and waving his arms, he let out a series of shrieks to announce
his victory. Too bad his opponent wasn't edible. Oh, well.
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