JohnnyChany

Good pairing for this match. Serpentor is a worthy challenge for Sam, but I think he still takes it. Still need to watch the new Cap movie.

Good match. Mystique always finds a way out of danger although it is hard to see her take down Taskmaster.

A couple of helpful videos about the combatants on the last day. The Origin of Mercury Arakune Combo Vidoe

Great stuff again, Boratz. Chestbursters are always a great choice in an Alien story. Maybe expected but always unsettling.

Welcome back. Need to freshen up on my Sailor Moon lore, but I think Kamala can take this.

FINAL GIRL FACE-OFF Semi-Finals: Match 2 NANCY WHEELER VS. KIRSTY COTTON RESULTS KIRSTY'S ATTEMPT Kirsty Cotton led a ragtag group of survivors through the dimly lit corridors of a shuttered clothing store in the Monroeville Mall. Mannequins loomed over them like ghouls in the dark. The store's silence was broken only by muffled groans and shuffling feet. KIRSTY: Stay low and stay together. We get to the fire escape, we’re home free. But the lifeless dummies suddenly seemed much less lifeless. Out from between mannequins, decaying hands reached out. One survivor screamed as teeth tore into their shoulder. Chaos erupted. The survivors scattered to escape the grasps of the undead. Kristy quickly scrambled to pull the Lament Configuration from her pocket. KIRSTY: Fine, you want to play rough? Let’s see if the Cenobites feel like making house calls. Before she could twist the box’s puzzle, a zombie lunged at her, knocking her off balance. Kirsty shouted and swung the box with ferocity, using it as a weapon on her attacker. She clocked the zombie in the jaw and lost her grip on the puzzle box. Kirsty quickly retreated into a fitting room area and locked the door behind her. She looked to her left and saw her reflection in the mirror. KIRSTY: Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. Candyman. There was nothing until the security lights around her started to flicker. The hook-handed silhouette appeared behind her reflection. KIRSTY: Candyman! We had a deal! You help me win— Candyman briefly emerged through the mirror with bees buzzing around his head. CANDYMAN: A deal poorly made. You gambled on devils, my dear. And we don’t hedge bets on losers. His laugh echoed throughout the store as the zombies finally burst into Kirsty’s hiding spot. Her screams were soon muffled beneath their hungry groans. NANCY’S ATTEMPT Across the mall, Nancy Wheeler rallied her group in the food court. NANCY: Turn the food trays into shields! We’ll funnel them between the tables. It’ll slow them down. She stood like a general, with dirt and blood streaked across her face. Her rifle slung over one shoulder. The group of survivors overturned tables and soda machines to build a barricade as they made their way to the emergency stairwell inside the food court. Nancy led the charge as the horde approached them, shooting zombies through the eyes and kicking them off the balcony rail. NANCY: Go! One at a time up the stairwell! Move! The last survivor in the group exited up the emergency stairwell just as the dead began to overwhelm their defenses Nancy lobbed a propane canister at the zombie pile and fired. The explosion gave her just enough time to sprint up the stairs. Nancy’s group reached the roof where the waiting helicopter lifted them into the sky. HOST CHECK-IN Elvira and Randy Meeks both stood up with matching smiles of satisfaction. ELVIRA: Now that’s how you shop and slay. Nancy Wheeler just proved she's the princess of post-apocalyptic prom night! RANDY MEEKS: Nancy has consistently been the perfect blend of new and retro Final Girl. And she has shown out once again. ELVIRA: And poor Kirsty… When you lie down with Cenobites, don’t be surprised if you wake up in chains. RANDY: I think it was less the chains and more the rotting jaws of the undead that did her in. ELVIRA: All I’m saying is her choice in allies was horrible. Putting her trust in Candyman really stung her in the end! RANDY: And with that, Nancy Wheeler becomes our first finalist in the Final Girl Face-Off! ELVIRA: Nancy is an absolutely fabulous finalist for the Final Girl Face-Off. But, who will join her? RANDY: Well, one possibility is Sidney Prescott, who’s already sliced through the Maniac Cop and the Shape himself, Michael Myers! But standing in her way is Erin Harson, the Final Girl who hunts more than she is hunted. She booby-trapped her way through Leatherface and dusted Dracula’s Brides. ELVIRA: What horror challenge awaits them? What threat could possibly be on their level? RANDY: For that they are going to take a trip to the final frontier. ELVIRA: Oh, I love outer space horror! RANDY: This challenge is inspired by one of the most terrifying horror films ever made: Alien. Our brave Final Girls will be thrown aboard the USCSS Nostromo... with a xenomorph. ELVIRA: You’re saying Sidney and Erin will have to outwit that acid-bleeding, tongue-mouthed terror? RANDY: They’ll be placed in different parts of the ship. Their goal? As always it is to neutralize the threat or at the very least survive. ELVIRA: I hope they brought clean underwear. You nervous, Randy? This challenge looks to be a little bit outside of Sidney’s wheelhouse. Randy laughed nervously as he thought about it. RANDY: I mean, Sid’s outlasted worse, Erin’s pretty good with traps. After everything they have already endured… They’ll be fine….Maybe ELVIRA: Only one way to find out. Let’s beam in our brave brawlers. USCSS NOSTROMO – CARGO BAY The metal groaned, steam hisses, and red lights blinked ominously. Sidney Prescott stood next to Erin Harson, both in jumpsuits. Their faces were grim as they received the lowdown on everything from the adult xenomorph to facehuggers to chestbursters from an expert. ELLEN RIPLEY: Listen carefully. These things don’t kill for fun. They hunt. They adapt. You see one, you run. Your best bet is to contain it first before you engage. Sidney audibly exhaled. SIDNEY: I’ve fought maniacs in masks… but this… ERIN: We will need traps, then. Things like fire? Anything to slow it down? RIPLEY: Good instincts. Rely on those and you may survive this. I wish you luck and hope to see you on the other side. SIDNEY: How did my life lead me to ending up in space fighting alien monsters? ERIN: No clue. But I want to keep living, so I’m going to start building. Sidney and Erin shared a look of understanding before Sidney followed Ripley down a long corridor. Eventually they made their way to Sidney’s starting point. Ripley studied her for a moment. RIPLEY: I can tell by your eyes you have been through some things. SIDNEY: You have no idea. RIPLEY: I’ve seen plenty of shit. Ripley placed a hand on Sidney’s arm. RIPLEY: Believe in yourself, you got this. With that, Ripley departed to her escape pod so that the final challenge of the Final Girl Face-Off Semi-Finals could begin.

In the worlds beyond comprehension, an ancient, malevolent force seeped into reality. It came not as a conquering army or a raging tempest, but as a creeping, insidious fog. This was seithr, a miasma of pure, arcane energy, a force that fueled the greatest of horrors and birthed eldritch nightmares. It had once been contained to one universe but now it was seeping into others. Earth-616, once isolated from such chaos, was no longer untouched. Seithr pooled in forgotten places, deep underground, and in caves where only the mad dared venture. Cults formed quickly, worshipping the darkness, building shrines, and forging temples adorned with symbols unknown to even the most learned mystics of Kamar-Taj. At the heart of these temples, great cauldrons churned with the sickly green mist, giving the cultists access to a power that did not belong to them. And beyond the cauldrons lay the Boundary, a realm of madness where few could tread and return whole. The X-Men could not ignore this growing corruption, yet there was still so much unknown and any full-scale attack would be seen as reckless and would ignore the many lessons history had taught them about flying in blind. It was decided that a select team from the New X-Men would be chosen for a mission of reconnaissance, not combat. Covert, nimble, and resilient, Mercury, Dust, X-23, and Pixie made their way through the mist-laden mountain paths, heading toward one such temple embedded deep within a cave. The rocky terrain, slick with moisture and coated with an unnatural darkness, made their approach slow, but each of them had been chosen for a reason. Mercury, her silvery, liquid-like form gleaming faintly in the low light, slithered across the rocks with ease. "So, let’s get this straight—we sneak in, we look around, and then we get out?" Her voice carried a note of doubt. "That is the mission," Dust replied. The young mutant, wrapped in her traditional garb, manipulated sand around her fingertips. "We are not here to fight. There is still so much to understand about this seithr before we act." Pixie fluttered beside them and adjusted her grip on her soul dagger. "That’s why we were chosen. We’re the ones who can get in unnoticed. If we get caught, well…" She offered a half-hearted smile. "We just don’t get caught." "Seems obvious it’s bad news, and we need to turn the faucet off before it spreads," X-23 muttered. The temple loomed ahead, carved into the rock, its entrance guarded by stone pillars etched with eerie, shifting glyphs. The air was thick with seithr, and even those without mystical awareness felt its effect. Inside, the temple was alive with movement. Monks whispered incantations and concentrated collections of seithr bubbled and pulsed. At the center of it all stood a figure, one that immediately commanded authority. He wore a long, flowing yellow coat, his green hair wild and untamed, and his grin stretched unnaturally wide. He was unfamiliar to the young heroes but seemed destined to be a threat unlike anything the new X-Men had come across before. His name was Yuuki Terumi. The monks deferred to him, their heads bowed, their hands outstretched as if receiving divine wisdom. Terumi suddenly stopped mid-sentence in instructing them, his smirk widened. His head cocked to the side. "Well, well… what do we have here?" he purred. He turned his gaze directly toward their elevated hiding place. "Crap," Mercury hissed. With a flick of his wrist, Terumi issued a command. "Bring them to me." The temple erupted into chaos. The monks, no longer solemn figures, became something else entirely, lunging, shrieking, feeding off the seithr as they moved with inhuman speed. X-23 was the first to react, her claws flashed as she leapt into the fray. Dust whirled into a living storm and swept enemies aside. Pixie vanished in a burst of pink energy. She teleported across the room to create an opening. Cessily Kincaid, Mercury, focused on the way the monks absorbed the seithr. How they grew stronger from it. “Laura had the right idea, I’m shutting off their faucet,” she declared. With a determined scowl, she followed the flow of seithr to the cauldron located at the base of the temple. A problem immediately became clear.The cauldron was designed like a massive swimming pool of seithr framed out by large pillars. Cessily quickly decided she needed to cave in the cauldron to stop its flow. She formed a spear out of her liquid form and attacked the pillars. From the nearby shadows, a horrifying creature emerged to prevent her success. Arakune, the former scientist, now a mass of shifting black tendrils and grotesque, disjointed limbs. Its body was a rolling mess of insectoid shapes and gaping maws "Sei…thr!. Need mo…. se..thr!" The creature could not even speak in complete sentences or words, but the high pitched and unhinged nature of his voice conveyed all the desperation and malice necessary for Mercury to understand his objective. Arakune lunged at Mercury and began his attack. His amorphous body twisted and stretched in all manner of unnatural ways He was a frightening sight to beyond, but Cessily stood poised ready to take his challenge head on.

Good matchup of some twister newer comic book characters, although apparently Professor Pyg, has been around longer than I thought. Going with Muse for this duel.

I am going to go with Ladybug of the Bullet Train variety. Always manages to come out okay amidst his confusion.

FINAL GIRL FACE-OFF BONUS MATCH #5 SIDNEY PRESCOTT VS. ERIN HARDESTY RESULTS The soft buzz of a television set echoed through a standard suburban living room. Sidney Prescott and Erin Hardesty stood on opposite sides of the room. They grabbed whatever household items they could scavenge. The Shape, Michale Myers, stood in the doorway, unmoving. His heavy breathing was the only sound beyond the hum of the TV. SIDNEY: You know, for a guy who’s been doing this since the ‘70s, you’d think you’d have a new trick or two. What’s the matter, Michael? Getting slow? Erin looked off to a nearby staircase. ERIN: Or maybe he just likes playing with his food first. Micheal’s mask tilted slightly then without warning he lunged at Sidney with surprising quickness. She barely dodged and rolled over the couch as his knife buried itself into the cushions. SIDNEY: Damn it, he's fast! Erin took the opportunity to grab a heavy fireplace poker and swung it at Michael’s head. It connected with a sickening crack, but he barely staggered. He whirled around and lunged at her. ERIN: Oh, crap! Erin scrambled backward as Michael slashed at her and tore a hole in her tank top. She dove over a coffee table and knocked over a lamp as she raced toward the kitchen. Michael pursued her, his slow deliberate steps eerily effective. SIDNEY: Think, Sid, think... As Michael chased Erin through the house, Sidney’s eyes darted around and landed on a bundle of Christmas lights in a box near the stairs. A slow smirk spread across her face as an idea formed. Meanwhile, Erin yanked open a door. She darted into a laundry room. She slammed the door shut and shoved a washing machine in front of it with all the might she could muster. A moment later, the door shook violently as Michael pounded against it ERIN: Not good, not good! She looked around desperately and spotted a cabinet full of cleaning supplies. After grabbing a can of bleach, she readied herself. The door burst open, Michael stepped through the doorway, knife raised. Erin hurled the bleach into his face. He stepped back, but it only slowed him for a second before he continued toward her. Sidney called out from the other room. SIDNEY: Hey! You ever seen what happens when Christmas lights meet water? Michael turned just as Sidney yanked the string of tangled Christmas lights connected to an open sink. Water splashed across the floor and soaked his boots. Sidney slammed a live electrical wire down. Sparks exploded, and Michael convulsed violently before collapsing. Erin stumbled out of the laundry room, wide-eyed and breathing heavy. She looked at Sidney. ERIN: Holy crap... remind me never to mess with you. SIDNEY: Good rule to live by. But don’t sell yourself short. I saw what you did to Victor Crowley. They shared relieved glances before Erin sighed as her eyes returned to Michael’s motionless form ERIN: So... You took him down. I guess this means I’m out. SIDNEY: Looks that way ERIN: Well, at least I get to leave in one piece. Good luck, Sidney. You’ve earned it. HOST CHECK-IN Randy Meeks clad in a Woodsboro High t-shirt, practically vibrated with excitement. His co-host, Elvira, lounged beside him with an assumed smirk. ELVIRA: "Well, I gotta hand it to you, Randy. You sure know how to pick ‘em. Sidney Prescott, and absolute badass. And, of course, perhaps your eternal crush. Randy ignored her continued digs at his affection for Sidney. RANDY: When I say this It’s not a bias! It’s just facts! Sidney’s the ultimate Final Girl! And now she’s punched her ticket into the Final Four! ELVIRA: She has certainly shown off impressive grit. I am excited to see what she does next, but it would be rude to just toss her into another death match right away, so… it’s time for another Bonus Match! RANDY: Yes, it is, and talking about Sid is a perfect segue to the Final Girl of our next Bonus Match. Like my old friend, this Final Girl faced a threat that contacted her by phone. ELVIRA: Oooh, you’ve got my attention. RANDY: Jill Johnson! She’s got the ultimate babysitter horror story. She was stalked by a killer over the phone, protected the kids she was watching, and managed to take him down. Unfortunately, she just missed the cut for the official tournament, but the Powers That Be wanted to make sure she still had the opportunity to show off her mettle. ELVIRA: So generous of them. What is her match? RANDY: It’s a Bonafide Babysitter Battle. And Jill will be taking on the babysitter from hell...literally. I present to you Bee. Sweet, charming, and secretly leading a blood cult to offer kids up to Satan. Jill’s challenge? Protect the children she’s babysitting from Bee without knowing who’s after them. And to make things interesting, we’re putting them in a neighborhood where Bee’s babysat before…so the people there trust and like Bee. ELVIRA: Diabolical. Damn, these tournament organizers are ruthless. I love it! RANDY: Can Jill protect the kids and survive? Or will Bee’s devilish charm get the better of her? Let’s find out! NEIGHBORHOOD KITCHEN In a quiet suburban home, Jill Johnson paced through the kitchen with a phone pressed to her ear. Outside, the night was still. Inside, two children slept upstairs, unaware of the danger about to unfold. JILL: I don’t know what’s coming after us, but I swear—I’m not letting anything happen to these kids. Suddenly, the phone made a strange noise, and the signal died. The kitchen lights flickered ominously; the room plunged into darkness for a moment. Jill tensed up and gripped the counter as the power harmlessly turned back on. JILL: It’s started.

I wasn't expecting so much support for Tatum but then almost everybody voted for her to die lol

Fighting Game World Cup: Team Australia vs. Team Canada

Like in the previous chapter of this story, the crossing of Star Wars and Alien characters is a great choice.

Inferno, the malevolent entity powering the legendary Soul Edge sword, puppeteered his champion, Nightmare, to unleash wanton destruction upon everything he saw. The lands of Europe trembled beneath the march of the Azure Knight. Cities burned, villages were left in ruin, and the ground itself seemed to rot beneath his cursed presence. Nightmare moved with relentless purpose, his grotesque armor glistened with fresh blood, his massive claw crushed the remains of those who dared oppose him. Soul Edge, bound to his very essence, howled with delight as it devoured the souls of the fallen. It was amidst the ruins of yet another slaughtered town that whispers began to reach him. The rumors spoke of an ancient temple hidden deep within the Botan Jungle, a place dedicated to a forgotten god, Argus. It was said that this god had forged a grand destiny, one that would shape the fate of entire realms. Within the cursed sword, Inferno stirred, its formless essence pulsated within the blade. "A god’s design… a power to shape destiny itself… We must see this for ourselves." Nightmare cared nothing for gods or prophecies, but power…power was something he would claim without hesitation. With that, the Azure Knight turned his gaze toward the East, toward the wilds of the Botan Jungle, where the Temple of Argus awaited. The Botan Jungle was a place of thick canopies and ancient overgrowth. Nightmarish creatures lurked in the shadows, but none dared challenge the presence of the Azure Knight. Through the twisted foliage, he came upon it, the Temple of Argus. Enormous statues of the god-king Argus lined the pathway leading to the entrance. As Nightmare approached, the temple’s inhabitants rushed to meet him. The Worshippers of Argus, dressed in ceremonial robes, brandished their weapons with divine conviction. "You stand before the sacred halls of Argus," one of the priests declared. "Leave now, defiler, or be cleansed by his light!" Nightmare let out a deep, hollow laugh. "Light? There is no light that will save you now." He raised Soul Edge, and the massacre began. The worshippers fought bravely, but they were no match for the nightmare that stood before them. His cursed blade cut through their bodies like brittle parchment, their cries drowned underneath the roars of Inferno’s hunger. Blood soaked the once-holy ground as the last of the priests fell, their lives stolen by the insatiable sword. With no more resistance, Nightmare strode deeper into the temple, his gaze scanned the inscriptions lining the walls of the inner sanctum. What he found there was of much interest to the malevolent spirit within Soul Edge. The inscriptions spoke of Argus, a god who had foreseen the end of all things, Armageddon itself. A time would come when the Mortal Kombat tournaments between realms could no longer contain the escalating power of the warriors that fought in them. When that day arrived, the balance of the realms would shatter, and destruction would be inevitable. To prevent total annihilation, Argus devised a plan. His sons, Taven and Daegon, were placed in deep slumber, meant to awaken when Armageddon neared. They would seek out Blaze, the divine elemental crafted to test the might of the strongest warrior. The inscriptions proclaimed: "He who defeats Blaze shall inherit his power and ascend to godhood." Within Soul Edge, Inferno burned with desire. "A warrior forged to test strength itself? A being whose very existence is meant to bestow godly power? This Blaze… he shall be ours!" Nightmare turned from the inscriptions; his path set. "Inferno," he growled, "where do we find him?" "Travel to Edenia. Seek the Pyramid of Argus. There, our prize awaits." With no hesitation, Nightmare departed, his dark presence vanished into the mist of the jungle. The Southlands of Edenia, known for their beauty and prosperity, soon became a land of ruin. Nightmare’s arrival heralded a wave of destruction unlike anything the realm had ever witnessed. Forests withered beneath his presence, villages crumbled, and Edenian warriors fell before him like insects crushed underfoot. The once-pristine rivers ran red with blood. But despite all the carnage he wrought, the Pyramid of Argus was nowhere to be found. Nightmare stood atop the shattered remains of an Edenian outpost, his eye blazed with fury. "Where is it?" he growled. "Where is the pyramid?!" The air around him began to shimmer, heat waves distorted reality itself. Then, a voice arose. "You seek something that has not yet come to pass." A figure stepped forward from the fires of destruction, Blaze. His body was a living inferno, a towering elemental of searing power. Nightmare turned to face the being he had come to claim. "You are Blaze." Blaze nodded. "The pyramid will only rise when the Mortal Kombat tournaments fail to contain the might of their warriors. The final battle has not yet begun." Nightmare sneered. "I care nothing for destiny or timing. I have come to take your power." "You are not the chosen warrior. You are unworthy." Despite his words, Blaze’s gaze lingered on the devastation around them. "Yet… your presence here is troubling. Perhaps Armageddon is closer than I had foreseen." Nightmare tightened his grip on Soul Edge. "It does not matter. Fight me, or I will carve you apart where you stand!" “Very well, then. Let us see if you can even stand against me." The battlefield ignited as the two forces clashed. Nightmare swung Soul Edge with monstrous strength, and Blaze countered with bursts of fire hot enough to melt stone. They exchanged blow after blow, the impact of their strikes shook the heavens. Blaze struck with purposeful fury, his flames seared through Nightmare’s armor, but the Azure Knight refused to fall. Blaze could feel it, the presence within the sword. Something far more sinister lurked beneath Nightmare’s form. Blaze struck once more, this time with the full force of his power. The flames engulfed Nightmare entirely and sent him crashing to the ground. His armor, once unyielding, now glowed red-hot from the intensity of Blaze’s assault. As Nightmare struggled to rise, a deep laughter filled the battlefield. It did not come from him. The flames around Soul Edge burst forth, twisted and writhed into a new form. The darkness within the blade manifested, taking shape as a being of pure, malevolent fire. Inferno had emerged. The entity spoke. “Now, you face something far beyond a mere warrior." Blaze stood firm, unshaken. "So, the true monster has revealed itself." Inferno’s burning eyes locked onto him. “You will see whose fire truly reigns supreme and I will add your power to my own."

Good matchup, Boratz. I did have to highlight the whole thing to be able to read it lol, but it was definitely worth it.

FINAL GIRL FACE-OFF Semi-Finals: Match 1 ERIN HARSON VS. GRACE LE DOMAS RESULTS The decrepit ruins of Castle Dracula loomed in the moonlight. Its spires reached toward the heavens like skeletal fingers. Erin Harson and Grace Le Domas moved cautiously through the crumbling halls; their weapons clenched tightly. They had agreed early on to take the fight to their would-be pursuers. The sound of wings flapping in the night signaled the arrival of those adversaries, Dracula’s Brides. From the darkness, Marishka, the fastest of the three, descended upon Grace with inhuman speed, her golden hair flowing behind her. Grace barely dodged in time. She rolled across the damp stone floor and raised her shotgun. MARISHKA: You reek of fear, little girl. Your blood will be exquisite. GRACE: Yeah? Try and get it, bitch. Marishka lunged again; her claws swiped at Grace's throat. Grace fired, the buckshot tore through the vampire's torso, but the wound sealed almost instantly. Snarling, Marishka closed the distance between them, and knocked the gun from Grace’s hands, sending her crashing into a pillar. Grace gritted her teeth and yanked a silver dagger from her belt. She sidestepped the next attack and drove the blade into Marishka’s chest. The vampire shrieked, but it wasn’t enough to finish her. Using her remaining strength, Grace grabbed a nearby iron chandelier chain and wrapped it around Marishka’s neck. With a ferocious tug, she yanked the vampire off her feet, and sent her crashing into the burning embers of a nearby brazier. Flames consumed Marishka; her screams echoed as she was reduced to ash. Meanwhile, Erin found herself face-to-face with Aleera, the most sadistic of the Brides. ALEERA: You poor, sweet thing. Do you think you can kill me? I have danced on the graves of men stronger than you. ERIN: Yeah? They probably didn’t build death traps for fun. Erin had been moving subtly, slowly guiding Aleera into position. The vampire lunged at her, and at the last second, Erin triggered the mechanism she had constructed using broken wooden beams and sharpened stakes. Aleera’s momentum carried her straight into the trap, several jagged stakes impaled her torso. The vampire gasped; her hands clawed uselessly at the wooden spears piercing her heart before she crumbled to dust. That left one. Verona, the oldest and cruelest of them all. She descended upon Grace, weakened from her previous fight. Grace fought valiantly, but Verona was stronger, faster. She knocked away Grace’s dagger. The vampire woman grinned, fangs glistening as she sank them into Grace’s neck. Erin arrived just in time to see her fellow Final Girl crumple to the floor, her skin already paling. Enraged, Erin launched an explosive projectile into Verona’s chest that sent the vampire flying backward into the castle’s sun-exposed windows. The glass shattered, and as dawn’s light flooded in, Verona’s body ignited. With a final shriek, she was gone. Erin turned back to Grace, who looked up at her. Her eyes already began to darken with vampiric hunger. GRACE: Please... I can feel it changing me. Don’t let me become one of them. Erin was filled with pity, but she knew what had to be done. With a steady hand, she drove a stake through Grace’s heart. Grace gave one final exhale before going still. Erin sat beside her fallen comrade for a long moment before standing and exiting the castle. HOST CHECK-IN Elvira and Randy Meeks stood side by side. They had glimpses of empathy on their faces that had been hardened after watching yet another in a series of heartbreaking deaths of the tournament’s contestants. ELVIRA: Well, I suppose we can say that despite her tragic demise, at least Grace dodged another bad marriage. Being a bride for all eternity? No thanks! RANDY: True, At least Erin spared her from a lifetime of servitude. That Erin Harson is proving to be a force to be reckoned with! Her survivalist upbringing is making her one tough competitor. ELVIRA: Well of course darling, she has made it to the Final Four Final Girls. Only the best of the best remain, and I, for can’t wait to see who emerges from this group. Speaking of, let's move on to our first semi-final match! Nancy Wheeler versus Kirsty Cotton. RANDY: "Let’s do a quick recap of their tournament performances thus far. Nancy fought her way through a werewolf and Pennywise, proving her mettle against supernatural foes. Kirsty? She outmaneuvered the Djinn and then, somehow, talked her way into a deal with Candyman and Pinhead to outlast Sienna Shaw. ELVIRA: Still gives me chills thinking about how cold and calculating Kirsty was in that challenge. Ruthless! RANDY: Unfortunately for her, she won’t be able to negotiate her way out of this one, because she and Nancy are being sent straight into a zombie apocalypse. ELVIRA: Oh, now we’re talking! RANDY: Nancy and Kirsty will be dropped into Monroeville Mall, yes that Monroeville Mall, and separated into different sections, each with a small group of survivors. The challenge? Survive the zombie horde and make it to the rooftop, where a helicopter awaits. First one to escape wins. ELVIRA: I absolutely LOVE this setting for these two Final Girls! It’s perfect. Nancy has mall-fighting experience thanks to the Starcourt battle with the Mind Flayer. Kirsty? She’s been through hell literally. This zombie-infested mall works as an amazing fusion of both, the best of both worlds! RANDY: I will be curious to see how each Final Girl uses the other survivors to secure victory. Nancy’s a natural leader in crisis situations. It has been proven time and time again. Kirsty, though? She’s proven she’ll do whatever it takes to win. Will she manipulate her group of survivors to clear her path? Will Nancy inspire her group to follow her and come up with the perfect plan for escape? ELVIRA: The stakes are now ridiculously high. Only one will make it out alive! Let’s get to it. MONROEVILLE MALL Nancy Wheeler and Kirsty Cotton stood at the mall entrance, their surroundings eerily quiet, except for the groans of the undead echoing from deep inside. Kirsty turned to Nancy and offered a small smile. KIRSTY: Good luck. Nancy’s expression remained hardened and focused. NANCY: I know what you did to Sienna. I don’t trust you. Kirsty’s smirk faltered, replaced by a look of cool indifference. KIRSTY: I did what I had to. And I’ll do it again. The tension crackled between them as they exchanged one last, icy glare before turning and heading in opposite directions.

THE GUARDAIN CHALLENGE: EPISODE 4 PREVIOUS EPISODES: 1, 2, 3 The familiar neon-lit stage of the Guardian Challenge flickered to life as the camera panned across the cheering crowd. At center stage stood Peter Quill, clad in his signature red leather jacket. A goofy grin plastered his face as he raised the microphone. “Welcome back, folks! Somehow, we still haven’t been cancelled, which leads me to believe we might actually be a full-season pickup. What a time to be alive!” Peter spun on his heel to face his co-hosts, Gamora and Nebula. Gamora stood with her hands on her hips and gave him an unimpressed look. “Maybe it’s because we’re teaching people all over the galaxy how to defend themselves, it seems like a worthy cause.” Nebula smirked. “I was skeptical at first, but I must admit, I do see the value in this now. And I was quite the fan of the explosive display put on by Bomb Queen and Jinx last episode.” Peter laughed. “Yeah, they definitely racked up the damage. Both on their targets and on the property of their home cities. Which brings us to today’s lesson: you can’t always just blow your problems away. Sometimes, you need precision to help prevent your home from being overrun.” He turned dramatically to the audience. “And that is exactly what we’re going to show you today!” “As much as I enjoyed last week’s carnage,” Nebula admitted, “I’ve always been impressed by tactical skill.” Peter gestured toward the large display screen behind them. “Which is why we’ve brought in two of the most skilled snipers in the galaxy: Tia Durer and Caitlyn Kiramman!” The screen split and showed combat footage of both women in action. Gamora stepped forward. “Today’s challenge is a real battlefield scenario. A nearby colony is under siege by Thanos’s Chitauri army. Tia and Caitlyn will be transported to strategic positions to provide cover for the colony and take down as many Chitauri as possible. Whoever eliminates the most enemies while avoiding being eliminated themselves wins.” “But who are these women who will show off their sniper skills for all to enjoy and learn from,” said Peter. “As always we turn to Drax for the answers.” The camera cut to Drax. The screen behind him began displayed a similar montage of Tia Durer in action. He clasped his hands behind his back and nodded solemnly. “Tia Durer, a skilled marksman of the Mobile Infantry, a part of the Alpha Unit of the United Citizens Federation. She fights not just for victory, but to avenge those lost to the Arachnid menace. She counts every bug she kills, ensuring their numbers match those taken from her hometown including her family by a plasma blast. A practice I deeply respect.” The footage switched to Caitlyn with a shot of her steady hand guiding her Hextech rifle. “Caitlyn Kiramman, Commander of the Piltover Police Department known as Enforcers. Caitlyn is the best shot in all of Piltover and a woman that is driven by justice. Even with her privileged upbringing, Caitlyn was determined to dedicate her life to help the people. Like Tia, many of her actions are also shaped by the loss of a loved one. I must find a time to commiserate with both of these warriors. But first, they must survive the challenge.” The camera switched back over to Peter. “Well, I, for one, am confident that not only will they survive but no doubt will rack up some serious kill points,” he declared. “Speaking of, let’s see what they’ll be using!” Peter gestured toward a screen that showed an artillery room where Rocket Racoon stood..Two sniper rifles were displayed on the table before him. He smiled as he looked over them. “Now, this is my kind of challenge. Tia here? Smart girl. Doesn’t stick to standard-issue gear. This Morita XXX sniper rifle was put together by her parents before their untimely death and is of very high caliber. And Caitlyn’s rifle? This Hextech stuff is wild, it really adds a lot to every shot. Between this and Jinx’s creations in the last episode, I may need to get my paws on some Hextech.” He crossed his arms. “That said, these weapons could use more bells and whistles. They’ll do the job, but where’s the fun?” “You care too much about style over substance,” Nebula interjected. Rocket scoffed. “Nothing wrong with a little flare. You should have high standards and demand both!” Peter sighed as the camera returned to him. “Alright, before this turns into an armory debate, let’s check in with our competitors!” Mantis appeared on the screen, standing beside Tia. “Tia Durer, you have the nickname, Trig. Can you explain it?” Tia nodded. “It’s short for Trigger, given to me for my quick reflexes and sharp shooting.” Mantis tilted her head. “Ah, that makes sense, and this scenario you are about to embark on must be familiar to you, yes?” “Oh yeah. The only difference? This time, I get to shoot at something other than bugs.” Mantis hesitated, then asked, “So you only hate space bugs, right? You’re not, say... biased against beings who look like bugs?” Mantis pointed to herself. Tia blinked. “That’s absurd. Not all bugs are the same.” Mantis still seemed uncertain, but she grinned. “Well, good luck! And when the show is over, remind me to introduce you to Sergeant Calhoun. You two would definitely get along. She also hates space bugs.” The camera then cut to Nikki Gold who bounced excitedly beside Caitlyn. “So, like, two competitors from Piltover and Zaun in a row? Crazy! Jinx was totally awesome, by the way. I loved her whole aesthetic. Makes me wanna visit Zaun!” Caitlyn exhaled audibly. “That... might not be a good idea. You would do well to reconsider who you admire.” Nikki frowned. “Not a fan. So, I’m guessing Piltover is just stuffy and boring, then?” Caitlyn tensed. “I wouldn’t say that. You should give Piltover a chance before you judge.” “Is that why you agreed to come here? To promote Piltover?” Caitlyn shook her head. “I trained to be an excellent shot. If that training helps people learn to defend themselves from alien invasions, then it was time well spent.” The camera briefly focused on the crowd, revealing Vi watching with her arms crossed. Nikki smirked. “Hey, isn’t that your girlfriend over there?” Caitlyn blushed slightly but maintained her composure. “Why yes, it is.” “She is a real hottie, I was going to wish you luck, but if you bagged a woman like that, luck must already be on your side,” Nikki observed. Caitlyn bristled. “This is hardly appropriate discourse” Nikki shrugged. “Fine, suit yourself. Good luck, Commander Kiramman.” Caitlyn nodded. The camera split screened and showed both women being handed their rifles and being led to their respective space pods. The crowd roared in anticipation.

I remember watching Beast Wars, but all I remember is Rat Trap. Which is strange because it's not like he had the best design. I will have to look into Tarantulas more. Good to see more Autobots being used in your story.

Real fun setup. Going with the vampires personally. It's just how I picture it going down in my head.