Fellowship Cup: Final Match

This is it! The final test to determine the very best of all of our excellent fighters. The final match between Batman and Silver Surfer took place among the ruins of Amon Hen.
Moments before the fight, the afternoon was pleasant and silent, save for the combatants' gentle tread on the leaves. The air smelled clean and tasted fresh, and everything was warmed by the sun. It was the late afternoon, and the sun was just beginning to cast long shadows of the trees and the great stone structures on the ground. Both fighters had come far, and both fully knew the intensity that was to come.

The Dark Knight hadn't slept the night before, but stayed up exercising and studying his foe. While the Surfer was from a different universe and had no history with his, Batman lost no time in studying previous fights and the tactics his opponent used. Although he had the advantage of raw power, Batman knew that his technique was simplistic and unvarying. If he wanted to have any success, he knew he would have to exploit that.

The Silver Surfer spent the night in space. While his life consisted of space travel and the new planets he visited amazed him, Norrin Radd never found space any less beautiful. Out here, at least for a little while, he couldn't hear people's screams or gunshots, and no flawed humans ruined the beauty of nature. No one else could see what he saw then. A nebula, vast and colorful, far surpassing an earth sunset. Shooting stars, novas, great planets, all these things were vivid, alive, and uncorrupted. Then the Surfer turned towards earth, and looked down on the oceans and the clouds. He sat on his silver board, gazing, until the sun came around the planet the next morning. It filled his vision. He smiled, and began his descent towards earth.

The fight began at the great stone structure on top of the hill. Silver Surfer was hovering in the air over it, when he saw Batman standing on the corner of the stone, silently staring at him. The Surfer had the speed advantage, and extended one hand towards Batman, releasing an energy bolt. Batman didn't flinch, staring down the floating silver man until the last second, when he rolled to the side along the edge of the ruins. The blast broke off the corner where he'd been standing, reducing it to rubble. From a crouch shrouded by his cape, Batman threw several batarangs back-handedly, one of which hit the Surfer in the chest mid-flight, exploding on contact. The target was surprised and slightly damaged, but he swerved around, halting his flight and blasting more energy from his hands. Batman dodged again this time, and quickly flung a small attachable bomb, which the Surfer was not watching. The bomb, like the batarangs, attached to his chest, and just as he looked down, it exploded in his face, stunning him and knocking him off his board. As he lay for a minute on the grass, Batman stood on the ancient stone throne and assessed the situation. For as long as he could afford it, Batman stood on the throne.

Surfer was learning fast, though, and called his board to himself from the spot where it lay on the ground. The board scooped him up, and he rolled to his feet while still in motion. While flying incredibly fast and with both hands extended, he poured intense energy through his fingertips. The ancient stone throne exploded with blue energy, sending chunks of rock everywhere, and throwing Batman onto his back on the ground. While he lay stunned and smoking, Silver Surfer dismounted, ran towards him, and punched him hard. The force of the punch was immense, and Batman was knocked through the air and far down the hill. Without taking time to watch him fall, Surfer jumped on his board again and soared after him.

Batman landed next to a large stone head statue that was cracked and partially buried. Fighting not to allow himself the precious seconds his body demanded after a heavy fall, Batman very slowly struggled to his hands and knees. At that moment, a shining silver outline appeared in a space in the trees, staring down the small slope at the crushed body trembling there. Batman looked up at the man, undamaged to all appearances, and ready to use all his energy to blast him into the sky again. Batman thought about all he'd fought for so far, and about his duty to the people of Gotham. And then he collapsed.

After the Surfer saw his honorable foe fall, he lifted his body on to his board, and lifted into the air, away from the rubble and the scars in the earth. After getting Batman to safety, Norrin Radd longed to escape the fighting on earth, just for a little while. So he accelerated higher and higher, ascending through the atmospheric layers, until he broke free of gravity and of the sky. Now, for just a little time, there was nothing else. Space was so beautiful...

Congrats to Joel Fevig as the Silver Surfer for first place in our first ever tournament. Carl Henderson as Batman placed second and Elison Cepeda as Spawn placed third. Incidentally, these three characters will be teaming up for the boss fight against the Balrog.

Again, congrats to all of you, however you did, and let's hope for the best with the continuation of this game. Long live chaos and order!

-Malcolm