Summer Splash 2020: Entropy Title: Manami Kuroda(c) vs Hazumi Hazama: Submission Match

Harumi didn’t feel her strike connect, so much as hear it. With all of the stress and pain her body had just endured, the stoic warrior was feeling extremely numb around her upper body. She had no idea what had happened to the limb that was locked down in the Kimura hold nor its condition. All she knew was that she heard a resounding THUNK and a slight grunt from Manami. There was a loud, white noise that followed the impact, but Harumi was too tired to process it. The cheers, the adulation and the pleas to stand were all just mosquito noise as Manami’s body grew heavier on Harumi’s chest. The strike to the skull was an unlikely lucky accident. The pain Harumi had endured had pumped loads of adrenaline into her veins, with her subconscious mind being locked into a fight or flight situation in which she fought for survival from the Wolf Mother. The intensity of the driving elbow was magnified thanks to the state Harumi’s body was in, and the shot to the back of the skull was finally enough to send the Champion for a loop.

And for a few seconds, that was it. This was a submission match, so while Manami laid across the Samurai there was no count or attempt to check shoulders. Just the two fighters trying to catch their breath. Harumi would move to pick herself up, pushing herself with her good arm just before Manami lashed out! Pressing her palm into Harumi’s face, the Wolf Mother would roll away and make a hasty retreat. She was looking to get some distance between her and Harumi, who was slowly climbing back to her feet. Sweat rolled down her pale skin as the Samurai’s arm hung limply by her side like a broken blade as Harumi stood back up. Her emerald eyes locked onto Manami, watching her with a gaze more focused than it should have been. For now, the only movement between the two were the rise and fall of their chests as they gulped down some much needed air.

“Tell me…” Harumi said in a voice hardly stronger than a whisper. “Tell me how any of this helps you move forward?”

The judoka took a step closer, her feet falling against the ring canvas with determination. The more she spoke, the stronger the conviction in her tone grew.

“You have talent...and strength...I hate to admit it, but it's true. And yet, here you are...howling like a banshee, throwing out death threats like an immature child…and rolling away like a coward.”

Another step closer, Harumi’s expression slowly changed back into the stoic mask she wore at the beginning of this match.

“Or is that your definition of Moving forward, Manami?!? You’ve already thrown away all of your morals and principles. Now I can’t even tell what you think you stand for…”

Was Harumi being belligerent on purpose? Or had the pain in her arm caused her to go mad? It was difficult to tell after she adorned that stoic mask of hers, the Warrior’s eyes narrowed and determined as she glared at the Wolf Mother. Either way, the chilled nature of her tone was so cold it practically produced an icy fog as Harumi took yet another step. She didn’t seem at all concerned that she was down an arm. Manami was right in that a dear weapon of Harumi’s was out of commission. But she was foolish if she thought that was all the Samurai could use…

Harumi had a plan...and she was waiting to spring it on the wounded predator.

Kasumi Ishikawa.

That was the first person that came to mind. The infallible ace from Shinano High. The rising junior of Japanese wrestling and the beauty of the Kyushu. That unbelievable eyesore that Manami had met during her apex as the regional champion. Back when she was still the pride of her parents' lives and the rising star of Japan. At that point in her life, Kasumi was the greatest challenge she had ever faced. She was brilliant, experienced, and strong beyond all belief. It was her greatest and most satisfying victory. And it would be the last.

No matter how hard she fought, no matter how close to defeat she brought her adversary, Manami never felt as complete as that day. When it all made sense and the truth of the world fell its weight upon her, even as her comfortable reality crumbled into pieces. There were no more lords, no honor, no high rewards or grace. In a time where weakness was coddled and nurtured, Manami had been born in the wrong era.

Why was she getting the feeling now that she had back then? Between the exhaustion and the fog of uncertainty clouding her next steps, there was an unfettered rage. It was slow and simmering, rising every second until it boiled over. As Manami lifted her head from the floor and revealed herself once more, it was with a cold, frozen fury etched across her Visage. As if she were frozen in time at the moment of her explosion.

Her scowl could only see Harumi the moment she started to speak, spouting that absurd nonsense at the Wolf. Manami was sick to her stomach. Every word brought her closer to the tipping point. She couldn't stand it. Harumi wasn't strong. She had no sensible ideals. She was a dojo pretender that hadn't tasted a day of real fighting. She had no idea what true strength was.

So why?

Why did someone like this refuse to just break?

"You really believe that?! That's why I stand here tonight and Ekaterina is in a hospital bed, is it? That's why your beloved Greco bitch couldn't so much as scratch me! Her pathetic nature is my right to destroy. She wasn’t worthy to stand in the same circle as me. And neither are you. Your bones, your body. I’ll step over them all and climb even higher until not one of you can dare to question my methods again." Manami stood tall, like a being resurrected from the flames. She pointed a bloody finger at the samurai, trembling with hot fire to the tip of her nail.

"You and your antiquated sense of justice. You and this circus show you all call 'combat'. Is this what you think being a warrior means? You trash...all deserve each other. You all deserve to grovel and die like the weaklings you are! I am superior to all of you!" A single breath and the Wolf Girl charged. From a low stance along the ground, she suddenly sprang to full height and leaped to grab the samurai’s shoulders, pulling her forward into a full-frontal knee strike to her insufferable face.

Sweat continued to roll down Harumi’s body as she stared the rapid wolf down only a few feet across from her. What parts of the Samurai’s body she could feel were all tired, sore, and aching in a way she’d never felt before. Bruises and welts from Manami’s attacks covered Harumi’s form, and thanks to the Kimura hold, she couldn’t move her arm. It was numb, but what feeling was there was nothing more than inflamed muscle pain that slowly clawed up her arm and shoulder. Being partially disarmed was in the very back of Harumi's mind though. When fighting someone like Manami, she had to focus! The Samurai picked her words carefully, poking at Manami;s pride while trying not to sound obvious about it. Harumi hated the Wolf mother, but blind rage wouldn’t be Harumi’s ally. But it could be Manami’s enemy. As much as she could, she jabbed at Manami verbally, those emerald green eyes burning at the Wolf Mother as each word slipped through her teeth like a razor!

And Manami seemed to bite. Like a devil stepping out of hell, Manami seemed to rise from the ashes of her own fury, looking ready to start the fight all over again. Harumi was running on adrenaline and the fumes of her endurance training, and yet Manami looked like she was ready for the next round. Harumi controlled her breathing, and focused on the task in front of her. Manami pointed a shaking hand, screaming and growling at her like an enraged crocodile. What she said about Eka was enough to get Harumi’s blood to boil, but she held it back and continued to breathe. She was at a huge disadvantage, and she needed to push and wait for Manami to make her move.

Which came a bit sooner than Harumi expected. Manami might have been hurt and dazed, but her movements were still precise! No doubt Manam trained long and hard to perfect her body for combat. It was such a shame Harumi hated the Champion too much to appreciate it. The entire attack happened in the time it took for someone to blink, with Manami lunging forward with bared fangs and claws looking to finish the Samurai off! And Harumi stepped forward, her other foot flying off the ground and coming in from the side! Like the final rush between a man and beast fighting for survival! Manami looking to finish the fight with her claws, and Harumi, using her leg like a spear to thrust forth and score a fatal wound!

This was the climax! With each fighter hitting the other with everything they had left! And no matter the odds before, it seemed to be anyone's match!