Post by Raiden Ishimori on Feb 18, 2021 9:33:18 GMT -5
Avron B. Fogelman Arena. Home to Masquerade, the second big event in NLW’s history as inside, the foundation for what was to come was already being laid out with seating. Walking through the quiet establishment, Takuma came to a stop roughly twenty yards away from where the ring was to be in the coming days, gaze turned skyward toward the ceiling.
Takuma: “Even setting foot in here, knowing what’s to come...still feels surreal. I wonder...if this is what it was like when he first set foot in a venue, knowing what was on the line.”
He rolled his shoulders as he gradually began to draw closer.
Takuma: “This is it. The stage for biggest prize in the company, and I’m one of four contestants. Perhaps I count myself lucky, perhaps I don’t. All I know is that the others haven’t a clue what I’m truly capable of.”
He clenches a hand into a fist, knuckles bleeding white.
Takuma: “The power and strength of an apex predator. The inner beast...waiting to be unleashed. I thought I was hungry before in order to make headway here in NLW, but I should’ve known that would only get me so far. No. If I want to reach the absolute pinnacle, to claim the spot, my spot, at the top...then I can not settle for being a tiger.”
A wide grin crosses his lips, arms outstretched.
Takuma: “I...shall become a dragon!”
The declaration reverberates throughout the empty arena as Big Tiger chuckles to himself, hands sliding their way into his pants’ pockets.
Takuma: “The dragon who flew his way to the top within the blink of millions of eyes, to become the NLW World Heavyweight Champion, and to continue the legacy of Chantsistency. Leon, there is no escaping what was already in motion all those months ago when you were still one of the hot topics in MCCW. That curse will forever have its baleful hex on you and I’m going to ensure that it lives up to its namesake. Rise, and fall my prey. Rise, and fall. For this occasion, it is the dragon that will be climbing to the peak while you take the ever rocky tumble down to the foot of the mountain.”
More laughter stems from the Japanese talent.
Takuma: “It’ll just be like the days back in Japan when it came to giving all those head honchos the reality check they needed. To learn to fear the big quiet one, and to know he meant business. It’s far from coincidence at this point. This...is fate. To go from tiger to dragon...I won’t suffer being stopped short. Not this time.”
He pops his neck for a moment as he keeps walking towards the designated ring spot.
Takuma: “So much to gain from this moment in time, and I’m going to be the one to claim it. Eli may have proven their worth with winning that useless piece of metal, but they are not the dragon I envision. I’m the only one worth that kind of mettle, worthy of having that crown. You’ve already gotten your share of the pot, Eli. If you want to keep anything, I’d suggest taking your hand out of the pie while you still can unless you want to be thrown in it and splattered against the floor. This isn’t just something as simple as a battle royale anymore. This is about climbing and falling until you make it to the top or someone beats you to it. That drive, that endurance, that willpower...that’s what I am.”
He beats his chest once with his fist.
Takuma: “I might as well be the dark horse going into this, but God be damned if I don’t at least prove that I’m worth my salt in both words and action. If it means telling Leon “Oh Hell No” to his reign continuing, spearfishing Eli with that trident, and whatever the fuck I can think of to ruin Jabroni. This isn’t about testing the waters anymore...this about proving that I can, no, that I am, one of the greater people in this coming generation of talent. I didn’t leave that previous life just to become nothing and grovel at the bottom of the barrel. I came here to do what he did: Climb the ladder, raise hell, win some gold, and be another great talent from our country.”
Taking a moment to look around the arena, Big Tiger finds himself standing in the middle of it all soon enough.
Takuma: “And to think, when I come out on top, I’ll have beaten Al Jabroni to the punch of being a successful high school dropout. Pretty Boy has nothing on me, bottom line. He can be crafty like a goddamn fox but going into this kind of match, it isn’t going to be about that anymore. This will just be about laying waste to those wanting to stop me from ascending, to stop me from being that dragon I aspire to be.”
Takuma performs a slow spin in the empty space, taking a good long look at the empty seating lining the sides of the establishment.
Takuma: “I came into NLW masquerading as this lost tiger from the streets...and by everything I have left to give in this endeavor, I’ll be walking out with my true self: no longer Big Tiger, but The Dragon of Koga. This. Is. My. Destiny.”
He holds his arms up in a definitive manner, letting out some kind of shout or roar to add emphasis to his claims. Taking one final look at the empty arena, he begins taking his leave, still holding up one proud, determined fist in the air.
Takuma: “Even setting foot in here, knowing what’s to come...still feels surreal. I wonder...if this is what it was like when he first set foot in a venue, knowing what was on the line.”
He rolled his shoulders as he gradually began to draw closer.
Takuma: “This is it. The stage for biggest prize in the company, and I’m one of four contestants. Perhaps I count myself lucky, perhaps I don’t. All I know is that the others haven’t a clue what I’m truly capable of.”
He clenches a hand into a fist, knuckles bleeding white.
Takuma: “The power and strength of an apex predator. The inner beast...waiting to be unleashed. I thought I was hungry before in order to make headway here in NLW, but I should’ve known that would only get me so far. No. If I want to reach the absolute pinnacle, to claim the spot, my spot, at the top...then I can not settle for being a tiger.”
A wide grin crosses his lips, arms outstretched.
Takuma: “I...shall become a dragon!”
The declaration reverberates throughout the empty arena as Big Tiger chuckles to himself, hands sliding their way into his pants’ pockets.
Takuma: “The dragon who flew his way to the top within the blink of millions of eyes, to become the NLW World Heavyweight Champion, and to continue the legacy of Chantsistency. Leon, there is no escaping what was already in motion all those months ago when you were still one of the hot topics in MCCW. That curse will forever have its baleful hex on you and I’m going to ensure that it lives up to its namesake. Rise, and fall my prey. Rise, and fall. For this occasion, it is the dragon that will be climbing to the peak while you take the ever rocky tumble down to the foot of the mountain.”
More laughter stems from the Japanese talent.
Takuma: “It’ll just be like the days back in Japan when it came to giving all those head honchos the reality check they needed. To learn to fear the big quiet one, and to know he meant business. It’s far from coincidence at this point. This...is fate. To go from tiger to dragon...I won’t suffer being stopped short. Not this time.”
He pops his neck for a moment as he keeps walking towards the designated ring spot.
Takuma: “So much to gain from this moment in time, and I’m going to be the one to claim it. Eli may have proven their worth with winning that useless piece of metal, but they are not the dragon I envision. I’m the only one worth that kind of mettle, worthy of having that crown. You’ve already gotten your share of the pot, Eli. If you want to keep anything, I’d suggest taking your hand out of the pie while you still can unless you want to be thrown in it and splattered against the floor. This isn’t just something as simple as a battle royale anymore. This is about climbing and falling until you make it to the top or someone beats you to it. That drive, that endurance, that willpower...that’s what I am.”
He beats his chest once with his fist.
Takuma: “I might as well be the dark horse going into this, but God be damned if I don’t at least prove that I’m worth my salt in both words and action. If it means telling Leon “Oh Hell No” to his reign continuing, spearfishing Eli with that trident, and whatever the fuck I can think of to ruin Jabroni. This isn’t about testing the waters anymore...this about proving that I can, no, that I am, one of the greater people in this coming generation of talent. I didn’t leave that previous life just to become nothing and grovel at the bottom of the barrel. I came here to do what he did: Climb the ladder, raise hell, win some gold, and be another great talent from our country.”
Taking a moment to look around the arena, Big Tiger finds himself standing in the middle of it all soon enough.
Takuma: “And to think, when I come out on top, I’ll have beaten Al Jabroni to the punch of being a successful high school dropout. Pretty Boy has nothing on me, bottom line. He can be crafty like a goddamn fox but going into this kind of match, it isn’t going to be about that anymore. This will just be about laying waste to those wanting to stop me from ascending, to stop me from being that dragon I aspire to be.”
Takuma performs a slow spin in the empty space, taking a good long look at the empty seating lining the sides of the establishment.
Takuma: “I came into NLW masquerading as this lost tiger from the streets...and by everything I have left to give in this endeavor, I’ll be walking out with my true self: no longer Big Tiger, but The Dragon of Koga. This. Is. My. Destiny.”
He holds his arms up in a definitive manner, letting out some kind of shout or roar to add emphasis to his claims. Taking one final look at the empty arena, he begins taking his leave, still holding up one proud, determined fist in the air.
