SS 19 Entropy Championship - Manami Kuroda (c) vs. Pyrena Alexandria Nikos

Preceded by: SS 19 Blade Uehara vs. Beauty Ichigaya
Followed by: SS 19 Hardcore Championship - Jessica Wright (c) vs Alaina Sanders


Manami Kuroda


Vs.

Pyrena Alexandria Nikos




Match Type: Hardcore match. Wooden floorboarding around the outside of the ring covered in sand
Winning Condition: Pinfall, submission or KO

“You sure you don’t need me?”

Manami cracked her neck to the left, then the right. Her hands came up and over her head as she listened through closed eyes to the roar of the crowd just beyond the curtains. Production costs seemed to be a bit higher this time around since her ventures in Australia. Her matches were having part of their intended effect. Her name was circulating throughout the AFW network, faster than the pace she would have managed without the belt, without management holding her back by the tail to protect their “precious” interests. A bigger name gave her a louder voice.

And a louder voice drew larger opponents. Opportunities that Manami would be sure to relish in the fleeting time she had with them. Her colleagues on the other hand…

“She’s an unknown. There’s a lot to consider in that.”

Yuki stood with her back to the wall and arms crossed beneath her chest. Manami didn’t expect her to fully understand the implications at work here. Pyrena was more than an opportunity. She was an investment in their long crusade here. A symbol of everything they sought to tore down. Letting an infection like that linger would only make the disease fester. Cut it out. Annihilate and destroy every trace that it ever existed. How better to do that than on the largest stage in the world?

“Everyone’s an unknown.” Manami sighed and let her arms fall behind her, locking her fingers together and pushing them down. “The method will always be the same. Her worn-out convictions can only save her for so long before the pain is too much to bear. If I can get her to scream, I win. Plain and simple.”

Yuki clicked her tongue. “You shoulda just let me handle her. See her keep up that holier-than-thou bullshit with her teeth on the curb.”

“I don’t need to do anything.” Manani threw a glare over her shoulder. The bleached blonde blinked and shifted her gaze to the side for a moment. The Wolf Girl returned her attention to the curtain, squatting down and stretching out one leg. “Concern yourself with the security. I don’t want any interruptions.”

"I'm not too worried, Kuroda-san. I've just seen a body like hers before. All that toughness with the right amount motivation isn't taken lightly."

The champion chuckled. “Righteousness is a petty concept circumscribed by trivial ideals of morality. It makes men weak.”

“It makes them desperate, too.” The official came around the corner, giving a tentative wave toward the Entropy champion. “I’ll be there if she tries anything.”

A snicker made its way between them as she stood up and walked toward the entrance. “I imagine you will be.”

Manami Kuroda:

Beware The Howls...:

The Wolf Girl made her long march down the ring against the heavy wail of the guitar. The Entropy Belt gleamed across her shoulder as it caught one stray light and camera flash after another. Cheers and jeers met her on either side, both steadily grown in volume from her last appearance. There was something eerily rejuvenating about the attention, knowing the number of eyes that would be on them once the flags were waved and the daggers were drawn. Vivid flashes of blood and sand flashed before her eyes, emerald green orbs wide and terrified as they gazed up between her thighs. Her mouth curled at the corners, tugging the tight skin along her cheeks in a heinous smile as she approached the side of the ring.

She stepped up and swung her legs through the ropes as she entered the ring. Her eyes cast off to the side at one of the cameras, flashing a devious wink to the lens before she turned and settled into her corner. Manami placed one hand to her hip, the other dangling at her side and glinting slightly as she fumbled with something between her fingers. A tongue ran slowly between her lips as her eyes watched the entrance.

Manami wouldn’t have to wait that long however, her theme suddenly dying down on the speakers. Something would come out of the entrance, though it wouldn’t be the woman that the Japanese wolf was looking for. Two men, no, two men dressed as Spartans would move out and down the ramp, stopping right at the end of it. They certainly look the part too, helmet, armour, sandals…they looked like the real thing. Both holding spears in one hand and shields at the other. Of course, it wouldn’t stop at just the two.

More would come down, though they seem to come out in pairs, synchronised in their march. But they all look the same. All marching and shouting orders in their Greek tongue. It would go on before the last pair would reach near the entrance. With an order, their spears meet like a cross, blocking the path. All of a sudden, the traditional guitar would pour out from the stadium speakers, going on for a few seconds before it would be accompanied by the guttural electric guitar.

And that is when Manami’s challenger would arrive.

Pyrena Nikos:

Μάχη, Πόλεμος, Νίκη, Πόνος, Δίκη, Πόλεμος, Τρόμος παντού...:

The Red Amazonian appeared out of the curtain, showing herself as the challenger that the audience hopes to bring this madness to a stop. That is Pyrena’s plan too, having waited for this moment for all of her life. The Japanese audience hasn’t seen much of her and now the LA Crowd gets to see her in all of her glory. Though there is some changes to her look, something which is needed for a battle like this. But the helmet was a nice addition to her usual spear and shield.

The Greek woman would take a step. And with the clanging of her metal shield and spear, the men would clear the path. One by one, the pair of spears opened the path towards her destiny. Getting closer and closer to her battleground. One fit for a warrior. And one that Manami was going to face. Her Spartan brothers stood tall as the Amazonian walked past, with a defiant and determined glare that Manami might see from her helmet. The stagehands would do well to take the weapons away from her, Pyrena soon taking off the helmet and looked up at the champion standing inside. Placing it on the floor, the redhead would climb up onto the ring, not once leaving her gaze towards Manami, stepping inside from the ropes, her body looked honed and ready for battle. She would go to her corner, but still staring at her. And not saying a word at all.

Now here was something she hadn’t expected.

Pyrena showed no small amount of self-absorbed righteousness when the two of them had first met, and Manami was more than willing to take it all at face value. She couldn’t help but feel was about witness more than enough of that unwavering conviction when the blazing amazon finally made her entrance.

And even still, her diminished expectations couldn’t prepare her for the grandiose spectacle that came trotting out triumphantly through the curtains. Soldiers lined up in formation, spears and shields clattering in hardy defiance. It was like witnessing another era gradually mesh with her own. The audience cheered and rowed. Of course they did. Japanese audiences were so much more reserved, keeping their vices and impulses in check. Not here. The seats lined with testosterone-raging Americans ate it all up, hooting along with the chants and smacking their chests in tandem with the shields. The arena devolved into pure matrimony with Manami at its center, arms crossed and trying for all the universe's irreversible pull to keep her eyes from rolling out of her head.

The pomp. The glamour. It was like the Greek warrior was making every deliberate attempt to annoy the hell out of her.

Manami let the show go on with little more than a bemused smile going from cheek to cheek as her prey gallanted obediently her way. The glimmer in her eye wasn’t for show. As much as she felt obligated to contend with the deluded ethics staining Pyrena’s code of honor, her body was a different matter entirely. Say what she wanted, there was no arguing with the number of hours, days, years that had been dedicated to the statuesque frame just beyond the glint of gold and brilliance. She’d caught an impression of it in their earlier scuffle, but seeing it beneath the stage lights? Armed and ready for battle?

Yes. This would work.

The Wolf Girl’s eyes shifted to Pyrena’s eyes as she entered the ring, matching her intense gaze with a pair of tepid stare from her corner. The fury and anger cut through her and gripped her beating heart, pumping hot blood forth. Her mouth salivated, her muscles tensed. The official called the two of them forward. Manami strode forward with a confident gait, handing her title off to the referee as her eyes focused on the source of her pining appetite. 

“You brought an army to stop me?” A small laugh left between her lips before she brought a finger beneath her chin. “Amusing. I think they’ll make rather...entertaining tributes once I get around to cutting your head from your shoulders.”

Pyrena knew that this was going to annoy Manami. Not that she cared about what she thinks. This was Summer Splash and this was Los Angeles. So why not? They are about to get into more serious matters soon enough.

Finally getting to the ring, Pyrena never left her eyes off the Wolf. Completely zeroed in, the amount of noise coming from the crowd didn't catch her attention either. This was her first match after a long while and she was more than confident in claiming another beast. Not to say that this would be easy. She expected this to be tough. As much as she hated Manami doing what she did to Cicilia, she expected much from her. Well, she expects a lot when it comes to her competitors.

What she did barely catch was the ref calling the two to the centre of the ring and the Red Amazon would move with a determined stride in her step, looming over the Japanese woman. Briefly, the prize caught her eye as it is passed to the referee. Only did Manami's grating voice caught her attention back. A tiny bit amused when she questioned this army would be used in this fight.

"I'd rather fight you 100%. Wouldn't want any excuses coming from you if you end up weak after, fighting them...or ou suddenly lose to them." Which would be pretty amusing, considering these are just extras that AFW hired. Who knows if they could fight. Pyrena didn't know that, neither did she bring them around for protection. "That would be pretty disappointing, coming from you.

Pyrena didn’t strike her as the joking type. Since the moment they met, she’d yet to see more than one expression adorn the Greek woman’s face. It was a fairly boring one at that. One she’d seen enough to last a thousand lifetimes.

The words that met Manami’s ears, however, couldn’t have been taken as anything but. The assurance and seriousness of it all, the unflinching mannerisms. Oh god, she was taking this seriously. Manami threw her head back with a hearty laugh. That one was just too much. Her strong abdomen defined and yielded against the pressure before she caught herself, straightening back up with a wry smile across her lips.

“There isn’t a force in the entire world that can stop me!” Her head cocked to the side as she held hands out to either side as if presenting that simple fact for all to see. "You're just an overgrown insect. Even a paltry pigeon could best you."

Before things got any worse on her watch, the referee, a surprisingly petite thing for the type of event ahead of them, stepped between the two and did her best to push them apart without actually touching them. She’d heard particularly bad things about the champion and that wild glint in her eye wasn’t assuaging her fears any. 

From the other end of the ring, a blonde and blue-eyed announcer stepped her way to the center in a cocktail dress absurdly fashionable for a night like tonight. The gloss was almost enough to leave you blind if it caught the light at the right angle. The referee stepped back and moved off to the side to make space. She handed the woman a microphone, who smiled as she took it and raised the end to her ruby lips.

“Hello, hello to all you beautiful Californians out there! And a howdya do to all of you who flew in from the East Coast! I know we usually share the spotlight, but I promise we’ll be giving it back after tonight, alright?”

The crowd echoed with a burst of incessant laughter. Manami only brought her gaze away from Pyrena for a moment to roll her eyes. She had to start regulating these things before her next appearance.

“Now! The following contest will be a rough’n’tumble Hardcore match for the AFW Entropy Championship!” The referee raised the belt high to an overly animated cheer back from the audience. Good energy. Great attendance. Everything she could have hoped for.

“Given the ‘special’ modifications that the outside of the ring has gone through, all tonight's weapons have been hidden beneath the ring. And I wouldn't wanna give nothing away, but consider ya'll selves lucky if you get to see one or two of them.” Her hand accosted to her side.

“Introducing your first contestant! Coming all the way from Japan, born in the southern lands of Satsuma, she has made quite a name as one of AFW’s newest champions! Fighting in her second title defense, standing at one hundred and sixty-eight centimeters, weighing in at one hundred and forty pounds: Manami - The Wolf Girl - Kurooddddddaaaaaaaa!”

An appreciated amount of cheers and less than appreciated whistles came her way. Some jeers and boos were audibly mixed in there somewhere, dispersed amongst the crowd. People were starting to see past the hype of new rising talent and taking a close look at how her recent matches had played out. One hospitalization after another. Her intentions couldn’t have been much different for Pyrena and everyone that would come after. The Entropy belt was coming to signify something else. Something terrible. Perhaps this woman, this warrior, could change all that. 

Manami snickered.

Yes, she does prefer to be serious, especially in times like these. But she does have her moment from time to time.

Since Manami wanted to joke that Pyrena, a woman her size needed an army just to beat her then she'll throw one right back at her. And with the way she was laughing soon after, she would roll her eyes. Whatever assumptions Manami had, the Amazonian was going to shatter them.

Just like she's about to shatter her jaw if she doesn't stop yapping.

"And you're more of a hyena than you are a wolf right now. Pipe down." Before things would escalate, the ref, who is surprisingly small, came between them. Pyrena was one to adhere to rules, at least before the bell rings where there are scant any rules at all. The announcer would do her thing, which Pyrena had to turn her head a tiny bit so as to not be blinded already. Manami doesn't seem to care much about the intros and such, but this is Los Angeles. A land of glitz and glamour. She should have expected as such.

Pyrena didn't take much attention from the announcer, who is mostly looking at Manami and the belt. The very belt that the Wolf looks to change it's meaning. And it is up to the Red Amazonian to bring order back. No pressure.

"And the second contestant! Hailing from Athens, Greece, one that has proven to be unstoppable in AFW! Standing at one hundred and eighty centimetres, weighing in at one hundred and eighty pounds, she is the contender! Pyyyrenaaaaaa - The Red Amazon - Niiiiiikoooooooos!"

Now the cheers were big for her name being called out, some having their concerns for the challenger, but to those that had seen her fight, they all have their hope on her. And Pyrena wasn't about to let them down.

Aw, she was annoyed. Manami would have thought that was so adorable if her mind weren’t so transfixed on the number of ways she could tear this woman limb from limb. Started with the legs? Go for the femur off the bat? No, she had to drag this out a little longer than that. Maybe blowing an elbow would be an interesting gambit. She wouldn’t be able to take her with head-to-head with both arms, but seeing how she held up with one may be an interesting experiment? When should she try that if she went that route? Then again, that pretty face could look a bit better with a nice coat of red to compliment the hair.

Possibilities, possibilities. Manami was so caught up in her little world she nearly missed the pop after Pyrena’s proper introduction. The excitement was something she’d felt a million times before since she’d come to this repugnant federation, but there was something distinct in the air this time. A longing that trailed off from the cheers and good wishes. Hope. There was hope in the air tonight.

Wasn’t that just pathetic?

“Alright, ladies!” The announcer proclaimed, a bit more bass trailing into her voice. “Let’s tear this place up!” She raised her hand high into the air, the crowd’s anticipation rising along with it. Time seemed to pivot on a needle for a moment as the Greek amazon and the wolf woman looked between one another. A slasher’s smirk wormed its way across Manami’s face.

“Heaven or Hell!”

The woman threw her hand down and stepped back in time for the bell to ring out at her command. The sound curled the Wolf Girl’s blood and spurred her yearning muscles to move. She began with a slow circle around the taller woman before stepped forward with one brisk lunge...then leaped back. She stepped forward again and then back, slowly invading Pyrena’s space as she encircled her like deer in a grassy field, never sure when the strike would come. Just then, Manami planted her feet and stared the woman down the dead center. 

Her right leg came up, then back down and her left came forward, but that too retracted. She switched between the two stances in a manner more fitting for a kickboxer than a wrestler. Working the tension, the anxiety. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. 

Right. Her right leg came up and shot like lightning through the thin space between them, shooting around to the back of the Greek’s thick leg, looking to clap the nice, sensitive meat behind her thigh. But she didn’t feel like backing off just after that. Manami went to dig in whether the strike landed or not, bending her left leg and sinking lower to the floor as she leaned in. At the same time, her right leg would reel and shoot right back in a wider arc this time in a large sweep kick to the back of the Amazon’s heels.

With the crowd rallying behind the challenger, Pyrena knew she couldn't let her down. There was much at stake and she was in agreement with the many in attendance. Manami shouldn't hold that title any longer. Pyrena shared that goal, with the intent to be the one hoisting the belt over her once all is said and done.

The Heaven or Hell was a bit much, but it brought the signal for these two to get it on, something that the crowd has been waiting for with bated breath. There was no aggression at first, however. Manami wasn't diving right in but instead opting to test the waters against her new opponent. Meanwhile, Pyrena opted for a wrestler stance, something which was a contrast to Manami who seemed more like a kickboxer with the way her stance was showing. Following the movements of the Wolf, she remained focused as Manami lunged in...before suddenly bouncing out of Pyrena's range. Disappointing but this is still early times.

It would keep going on however, Manami bouncing back and forth, in and out. As if to test the Amazon herself. The Greek would stay pat, settling in the form of counter-wrestling, just feint-grabbing out for whatever limb to show she is reacting to them all. Then the legs would come into play, but the "dancing in and out" game would continue. Most likely, the Wolf Girl might not know a lot about the redhead and if that was the case then she must keep her cards close. She'll play the waiting game if that's what it takes. It was hard not to come in already and bash her head in, but a counter to whatever Pyrena would try is very likely. And she didn't wish for her first-ever title match to start off on the wrong foot. Her eyes narrowed, tempering much of her frustrations into something that could be useful.

First switch stance. Second switch stance. Come on now, any time. The Red Amazon would soon shift into another stance of her own. Standing a bit straight, her guard brought up around chest-level. Almost matching the kickboxer stance that Manami would use.

Third switch stance. Fouth switch stance. Don't be shy. Her fists tightened as if she was wearing gloves used from the countless other spars she had won in the past.

Then the real attack finally showed itself and luckily for her own reflexes, it was a kick. Bringing up her left knee up in the air, just to let it hover as she tucked in for the block, letting the kick smack against the side of her meaty thigh, watching from underneath her guard. The Red Amazon wagered that the Wolf Girl wasn't done with her assault and it turns out yes, she wasn't. Instinct would work in her favour with the next attack - a sweep kick to be precise. Wants to cut this tall tree down it seems. But Pyrena knew how to deal with it, and the Greek plans to do it in her own way.

Rather letting that foot drop to the canvas, she would use that leg to piston herself up, getting enough momentum to leap up and bring the other leg as soon as Manami leaned in close. The other knee would shoot up, but its purpose is different from the other as she intends to drive it straight towards her face. Simple, yet brutal if used correctly.

Manami knew good table manners despite what the local reputation would have everyone believe. She was raised on good etiquette and the best way to approach a succulent meal. Take your time. Be thankful. Be patient. And when the time came to dig in, savor the first bite.

She wanted a good taste. Her kicks tested Pyrena’s resolve and she wasn’t disappointed. The Amazon eyed her approach carefully and didn’t get thrown by the quick footwork that danced in front of her eyes. It was little surprise, then, that she was able to meet Manami with the proper response and a solid block. Not something a scrapper would do. She had a feel for martial arts, a real combat sense. The picture she could paint of this woman was getting larger and larger in its complexity.

Anticipating the sweep kick, however, was something she wasn’t entirely prepared for. She was hoping for a shallow cut at the very least. So it would appear, that heavy frame Pyrena was stalking around was more nimble than she thought.

Not nimble enough, however.

Manami’s head reeled back hard and avoided Pyrena’s knee by a slight graze, feeling a gust of wind splash by her face as its wayward force shot upward. The Wolf Girl kept with her own momentum, falling onto her back and kicking her feet against the canvas to slide her body smoothly back away from the Greek. With a twist of her hips, the woman spun like a breakdancer on the floor, legs in the air and hands to the floor as she rolled about on the ground like her namesake before kicking up to two feet. 

This was good. Very good. She turned and faced Pyrena with a low crouch, pressing one hand to the canvas as her strong thighs readied to pounce again at the touch of a hair. The smile slashed across her face was no act, a silent dare to the warrior to try her luck and see where it got her.