Having appreciated Michael Cavaliere's choice of a dark and moody song (not so much Neko Hime's karaoke), the shadowy figure takes his seat for the next fight.

Fight 8

Pouncing into the arena with guitar strapped to her feline back is (28) Daisy Chain, strangely human ears twitching nervously.
(72) The Four Maidens of the Apocalypse enter the arena on foot, the smell of brimstone filling the air. The shadowy figure above, who is good friends with their fathers, can't help but show his disappointment that they didn't make a more showy entrance on horseback.

* DICE ROLL 1 *

Daisy Chain rolls 7
The Four Maidens of the Apocalypse rolls 5

The beautiful but deadly ladies spread out, paying the cat with peculiar ears little attention. Their continual bickering is brought to a halt as Daisy starts strumming her heavily distorted guitar, sending screeching shockwaves through their brains that they try to block out by covering their ears.

* DICE ROLL 2 *

Daisy Chain rolls 9
The Four Maidens of the Apocalypse rolls 7

Lisbeth growls and swings her sword at the cat who pounces out of the way, swiping and scratching the womans nose.
Daisy flies towards Famelia, who backs away frantically, coughing a furball into Morticia's face as she goes.
"Clearly we have underestimated our opponent" muses Malaria.

* DICE ROLL 3 *

Daisy Chain rolls 4
The Four Maidens of the Apocalypse rolls 9

As Daisy lands hissing on her four paws, Malaria sighs, draws her bow and puts an arrow dead centre in the kittys heart. With a small "mew" Daisy Chain drops down dead as the four women look on impassively.
Without missing a beat, they start bickering about battle tactics as they casually leave the arena.

Daisy Chain wakes up at the bar as a giant penguin pours a saucer of milk for her.

Fight 9

Eyes strain in the crowd as a tiny stitched knight (96) Hexley Threadbare enters from the left.
Opposite is (97) Mushroom Man #3 tall and strong. He likes the damp surroundings but is not so keen on a Fire Elemental he has spotted in the audience.

* DICE ROLL 1 *

Hexley Threadbare rolls 9
Mushroom Man #3 rolls 7

Hexley runs between Mushroom Man's legs, frantically stitching them together. The tall Mushroom topples over, narrowly missing the wee knight.

Hexley Threadbare rolls 7
Mushroom Man #3 rolls 3

With an excited "Oooh!", Hexley picks up a discarded match stick from the ground and stitches it onto his own body.
With his new found ability to conjure fire, Hexley stands before the terrified mushroom brandishing a flame and taunts him -
"To knit or not to knit. Now that’s just a silly question."
"Knit fast die warm!"

Mushroom Man screams and wriggles his way out of the arena with a snake-like motion. He is sent to the bar where smoking is not allowed thankfully.
Hexley Threadbare gives a triumphant bow and leaves the arena.

in the bar, Daisy Chain twangs and jangs her guitar, yelling:
"Losing is fun!
Punk rock is fun!
Losing is punk!
Make some noise, fellas!"
the sound completely fuzzes out. what with 10 daisy chained dimed mega distortion pedals.
satisfied, she climbs into a box standing in the corner and falls asleep.

D.I.A.L.U.P. 2000 has finally downloaded the results of the first match and congratulates Scott Arnold on his victory!

Now it's starting to load the results of the second fight, so don't expect a response for a few days. It also kindly reminds everyone not to use the landline.

Ga-ga-goo? Pffffftrlrltttb!

I've created some images using perchance.org ai-text-to-image free plugin and a sound for my character 'The Existence Eater' using Tenacity, with some random effects from the internet.

This is quite fun. :)
Thanks again Doc, for the chance!

[Images attached, link to the audio right below, too.]

=========================== THE EXISTENCE EATER APPROACHES - SOUNDS OF INEXISTENCE

As the dices roll and more fighters enter the arena, the crowd heard a weird song, like they've never before...
The interdimensional being, 'The Existence Eater',, is approaching, for its fight.

Because of the way 'Optruden' (the name of the man The Existence Eater once had) eats quantum energy, and absorbs time molecules, the crowd couldn't define his appearence, as their senses were completely altered by his presence...

Some said he looked like a man flying in black, screaming in pain.
Some said it was not a man they saw, but a creature the size of the skies, eating planets.
Some said it looked like a dead black ghost with tentacles.

None could define his appearence, but they were certain:

They heard it and their bones froze in fear.
Their minds numbled in confusion.
Their eyes closed not wanting to see what they felt.

Rest assured, Filibin Scones accepts your declaration of undying love. He cannot reciprocate, but he will forever hold his memory of you in his heart.

Coffee and urine pool in the middle.

Let's go!

Neko Hime gives D.I.A.L.U.P. 2000 a puzzled look.
"What's a landline?"

This. :-)

Oh, I know, that was an in-character post. :)

"When I was a kid, we didn't even have Internet."
"But for how long?"
;)

Jandyr checks the boards and sees that she is up in the next round. Time for another training session before it starts!

CLANK!

A tin bucket falls over near the bar. From within emerges a plume of grey feathers and a voice full of self-importance—

“Fret not, noble spectators! ’Tis I ... Sir Reginald Featherbottom, the Pigeon Knight! Defender of Courtyard Statues, Scourge of Bread Crumbs, and First of His Name to Successfully Duel a Window!”

He gives a deep bow (which is really more of a wobble), preening his chest feathers with great dignity before continuing,

“I was but soaring majestically above deck ... erm, well, gliding in a somewhat downward fashion ... when my noble eye did alight upon this most glorious pandemonium! It stirred something within me (besides indigestion), for I recalled the tales told by my cousin ... the infamous Rude Rooster ... who crowed endlessly of this Fight Club and the riches and renown that awaited those brave enough to enter!”

He puffs up proudly, wings spread wide like a pompous heraldic crest.

“So, by the honor of House Featherbottom and the memory of that ill-fated bread roll that once struck me mid-flight, I do humbly demand ... nay, insist ... to join this noble fray! Should there yet be room for one gallant bird to test his mettle (and perhaps his beak), I shall fight with all the might my small yet valiant heart can muster!”

He strikes a heroic pose, nearly topples backward, then recovers with the dignity of a knight who refuses to acknowledge gravity.

“For glory! For crumbs! For the eternal majesty of avian knighthood!”

— Sir Reginald Featherbottom, Pigeon Knight Extraordinaire
Cousin to Rude Rooster (who never shuts up about previous Fight Club)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------

Name: Sir Reginald Featherbottom, the Overly Dramatic Pigeon Knight

Race: Anthropomorphic pigeon in full shining armor

Special Powers:
> Wing Buffet — Flaps wings violently to knock opponents off balance.
> Honor Peck — Piercing dive attack fueled by righteous indignation.
> Coop Rally — Summons a small flock of rowdy pigeons for moral (and literal) support.

Weaknesses:
> Easily Distracted by Bread — Any mention or appearance of crumbs reduces focus.
> Fragile Ego — If insulted, he wastes time delivering an offended monologue.
> Flighty — May retreat mid-fight if things get “too undignified.”

Backstory:
Once a humble park pigeon who nested on a fallen knight’s helmet, Sir Reginald took up the sword to restore “honor to avian-kind.” He’s chivalrous, pompous, and 80% fluff, but his courage (and dramatic flair) knows no bounds.

Battle Cry:
“For bread and glory!”

Poor Frodr...

after having outgrown the withered flowers with the help of the conveniently pre-decomposed zombie ooze, Nuclear Plant perches itself back on it's windowsill. It may be an illusion, as plants don't do that, but its flowers seem to be glowing a little brighter than before, beaming with happiness and radiating the joy of winning it's debut fight. :)

If I ever were to see a cat with human ears, I probably wouldn't be okay for some time after that.

Nice to get to see more of Hexley in round 2.