The Tokyo Dome echoed chaos as the AAPW wrestlers launched their vicious assault on Ultimate Wrestling. Backstage, screams and metal clashing against bone reverberated off the walls, turning the once-bustling corridors into a war zone. For Eun-Young Han and the Emperor's Avengers, this was not just a fight for survival but a battle for honor and retribution.
Eun-Young Han stood in the narrow hallway, her heart pounding. The sudden attack had taken everyone by surprise, but Han was never one to falter in the face of chaos. Flanked by her comrades, Hyun-Sik Hwang, Dong-Hyun Moon, and Tae-Hyun Lim, they formed a tight unit, ready to defend their ground. Blood still stained Han's knuckles from her earlier match against Katrielle Hale, but now, the stakes were much higher. This was not a match. It was war.
Suddenly, a group of AAPW wrestlers, led by the psychotic-looking Kyoki Piero and the massive Okakebi Fuji, burst into view. The enemies rushed forward with a savage hunger, brandishing weapons and fists alike.
Eun-Young Han: (coldly, but with an undercurrent of fury) Stand your ground. We don't fall today.
Her words hung like a commandment, and the Avengers immediately braced themselves. Hwang, always the first into battle, surged forward like a juggernaut, his immense frame colliding with two AAPW wrestlers. The impact was bone-shattering, sending one crashing into the wall with a sickening crunch. But even as Hwang fought, Han could see the weariness in his movements. He had fought countless battles before, but none like this—none where the very walls seemed to close in on them.
Hyun-Sik Hwang: (through gritted teeth) There are too many.
His words were barely audible over the sounds of combat, but Han heard them all simultaneously. She darted forward, her fists moving like lightning as she landed a series of brutal elbow strikes at an advancing attacker. The man crumpled at her feet, but not before sending a punch to her ribs that left her breathless for a moment.
Dong-Hyun Moon: (voice steady but urgent) Stay close. Don't let them separate us.
The Avengers fought with precision, a well-oiled machine honed through years of training and survival. Han knew they couldn't afford to let the enemy break their formation. They had survived worse, but never had they been so outnumbered, so vulnerable.
As she caught her breath, a new wave of attackers emerged, this time brandishing lead pipes and steel chairs. Han's mind raced. The odds were against them, but they had to hold out. Every fiber of her being screamed to keep fighting, to keep standing. Her eyes flicked to Hwang, who was battling three men at once, his massive hands crushing one's windpipe while the others clawed at him in desperation.
Suddenly, Lim was taken down by a vicious strike from behind, sending him to his knees. Before the attacker could land another blow, Han was there, driving her knee into the assailant's face with such force that his nose exploded in a spray of blood. Lim, dazed, looked up at her, his pride wounded more than his body.
Tae-Hyun Lim: (gritting his teeth) I don't need your help.
Eun-Young Han: (voice steady) Survive first. Argue later.
The ground beneath them felt unsteady, not from the physical blows but from the weight of the realization that they were being hunted. The AAPW wrestlers were relentless, their hatred of the Ultimate Wrestling roster driving them forward like rabid dogs. Han could feel the pressure mounting as more wrestlers flooded the hallway. They were getting cornered, outnumbered, and outmaneuvered.
The room spun briefly as Han caught sight of Kyoki Piero charging toward her, her lead pipe raised high. Her instincts kicked in. She ducked just in time, the pipe missing her head by mere inches and smashing into the concrete wall instead. In the split second of her recovery, she countered, driving her forearm into Pero's throat with all her strength. Piero gasped, clutching at her neck, but Han showed no mercy. She swiftly kicked her knee and brought Piero crashing to the ground.
Eun-Young Han: (gritting her teeth, the rage bubbling beneath the surface) You should've stayed down.
But before she could relish the small victory, another assailant lunged at her from behind. Dong-Hyun Moon, quick as ever, intercepted the attacker with a vicious suplex, slamming him into the floor with such force that the tiles cracked beneath the weight.
Dong-Hyun Moon: (panting, a small smirk playing on his lips) You owe me.
Han barely had time to nod before another wave of attackers surged toward them. There were too many, and the Avengers started feeling the toll. Their breathing became labored, their strikes slower, but they didn't falter. Not yet.
The hallway seemed to shrink as bodies collided, and the sounds of flesh meeting steel echoed in the confined space. Hyun-Sik Hwang was relentless, his bear-like frame absorbing blows that would have felled a lesser man. He swung a chair at an advancing AAPW wrestler, the sound of metal meeting bone sending shivers down Han's spine.
But then, through the chaos, Han caught sight of something that made her blood run cold. In the distance, more attackers were pouring in. Dozens of them. There was no way they could hold out much longer. Desperation clawed at her chest, but she refused to let it take hold. They had to survive this. They had to.
Eun-Young Han: (gritting her teeth, eyes narrowing) Hold the line!
Her command cut through the noise like a blade, and her comrades responded with renewed vigor. Lim, despite his earlier stumble, fought with a ferocity that surprised even Han. His fists were bloodied, but his determination was unyielding. He tackled an AAPW wrestler to the ground, pummeling him with a flurry of punches until the man lay motionless.
But the Avengers were running on fumes. Han could feel it. The end was closing in on them, and for the first time, she wasn't sure they would make it out. The sound of her own heartbeat echoed in her ears, drowning out the chaos around her.
Suddenly, the world shifted.
The distant wail of sirens cut through the din of battle, and the sight of riot police storming the hallway sent a wave of relief and dread through Han. The SWAT team, armed with batons and shields, descended on the brawl, pulling wrestlers apart with brutal efficiency. AAPW attackers were slammed against the walls, their weapons clattering to the floor as they were restrained and dragged away.
But Han remained tense even as the SWAT team brought order to the chaos. She stood among the wreckage of bodies and blood, her chest heaving as she surveyed the aftermath. Around her, her comrades were battered but standing, their faces a mix of exhaustion and defiance. They had survived. Barely.
Eun-Young Han: (voice hoarse but steady) We're still standing.
Hwang, blood streaming down his face, nodded. Moon, clutching his side, gave her a grim smile.
Hyun-Sik Hwang: (panting) For now.
The SWAT officers were rounding up the remaining AAPW wrestlers, their faces obscured by helmets, their commands sharp and efficient. Han watched as Haruki Tanaka, the mastermind behind the attack, was dragged into view. His face, normally composed and calculating, was a mask of fury as he was handcuffed and led away.
Haruki Tanaka: (snarling, his eyes burning with hatred) This isn't over. Not by a long shot.
Han met his gaze, her eyes cold and unyielding.
Eun-Young Han: (Her voice is low and filled with venom.) It never is.
As the SWAT team cleared the area, the tension in Han's shoulders began to ease, but only slightly. This was a victory, yes, but a fleeting one. The war was far from over, and she knew the next battle would be even more brutal.
With the AAPW wrestlers being led away in chains and the blood-stained hallway emptying out, Han allowed herself a moment of quiet. She glanced at her battered but alive comrades and felt a flicker of pride. They had held the line. They had survived.
But in her mind, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
Eun-Young Han: (her voice barely above a whisper) We'll be ready for whatever comes next.
With that, she turned on her heel, leading the Emperor's Avengers out of the wreckage of battle. They had fought, they had bled, and they had survived. But the real war was only just beginning.
The Next Morning
The air in Rupert Mudcock's office was suffocating, filled with cigar smoke and tension so thick it felt as if the room might collapse. Mudcock paced behind his enormous desk, his face twisted in fury. The Tokyo skyline, usually a reminder of his vast empire and power, now only reflected the catastrophe that had unfolded. He could still taste the blood from where Haruki Tanaka had punched him, knocking out one of his teeth during the public humiliation on Friday Night Clash.
The challenge from AAPW's Saikō Sasori and Tanaka still echoed in his mind, each word laced with venom, followed by the sickening crack as his body hit the ramp floor. Tanaka had crossed every line, and Mudcock's blood boiled at the memory of Sasori throwing him down like a ragdoll in front of the world.
Devin Zeagal stood by the window, his usual smugness wiped away, replaced with cold calculation. His fingers tapped rhythmically on his tablet as they discussed the fallout. His voice now had no humor, only sharp, clipped words filled with anger.
Rupert Mudcock: (voice trembling with rage) Sixty men, Devin. Sixty! Tanaka thinks he can come into my goddamn house, assault me on live television, and challenge my company?! He's going to regret that. I want AAPW's wrestlers crushed! I want them humiliated!
Devin Zeagal: (calmly) He humiliated you, boss. The Ronin Rumble's our chance to hit back. We need every bit of firepower we have—thirty of our best versus thirty of theirs.
Before Mudcock could respond, the door to the office exploded open with a thunderous crash. Tae-Hyun Lim stormed in first, kicking the door so hard it slammed against the wall and rattled the glass shelves. Eun-Young Han, Hyun-Sik Hwang, and Dong-Hyun Moon followed close behind, all battered and bruised from the previous night's attack by AAPW. The room's temperature dropped instantly as the North Koreans entered, their faces filled with anger and disdain.
Rupert Mudcock: (whipping around) What the Hell is this?! You four better have a damn good reason for barging in here!
Tae-Hyun Lim: (furious, stepping forward) You set us up for failure, Mudcock! You scheduled Hwang and Moon to face the Valor Vanguard and me with Montbar in the tag team tournament—on the same damn night as our Hell in a Cell Texas Tornado Death Match against Sato, Salinas, and the rest!
Lim slams his fist on the desk, making everything on it rattle. Mudcock doesn't flinch. His eyes narrow, and a twisted smirk begins to form. He was angry, but he wasn't about to be intimidated by these North Koreans.
Rupert Mudcock: (sarcastically) Oh, poor babies. Two matches in one night? You want revenge, don't you? You wanted to tear Sato and Salinas apart, didn't you? Or have you all gone soft?
Han's eyes darken, her voice low and dangerous as she steps forward, barely holding back her fury.
Eun-Young Han: (coldly) We didn't come to Japan to play your games. Our fight is with Sato and Salinas. That's why we're here, not for your ratings and certainly not to clean up your mess with AAPW.
Lim growls, his fists clenching. Dong-Hyun Moon and Hyun-Sik Hwang stand like statues, but their eyes blaze with the same rage. The room feels like a bomb waiting to go off.
Tae-Hyun Lim: (snarling) You're setting us up to get slaughtered!
Rupert Mudcock: (smiling) Welcome to my world, boys. You're here because you bring in viewers, and I'll book you wherever I see fit. You want revenge for your Emperor, right? Well, this is what that looks like.
Mudcock's smile grows as he leans forward, placing both hands on the desk, his eyes locking with Han's. The tension between them crackles.
Rupert Mudcock: (mocking) You've been driving my ratings through the roof. People love to hate you. They want to see you bleed, and quite frankly... so do I.
Devin Zeagal: (grinning coldly) You four are the perfect villains. And guess what? If you lose both matches, nobody will shed a tear. If you survive though, you'll be rewarded! You'll have the honor of representing Ultimate Wrestling in the 60-man Ronin Rumble! Hahahaaha!
The words hang in the air, dripping with venom. Han's fists tighten, her knuckles turning white, but she keeps her composure. Lim, however, is seething, barely able to contain himself. He steps forward, ready to launch himself at Zeagal.
Tae-Hyun Lim: (yelling) You think this is funny? You're playing with our lives!
Han pulls Lim back, her eyes never leaving Mudcock's. Her voice is colder than before, cutting through the room like a knife.
Eun-Young Han: We have no interest in your war against Tanaka or his Yakuza puppets. We came here for one reason—Sato and Salinas. Not to be your pawns.
Mudcock stands up straight, the amusement fading from his face as his eyes darken. He slams his hands down on the desk, his rage boiling over.
Rupert Mudcock: (voice rising) Pawns?! Do you think you're not involved in this? That fire at your apartment—Tanaka's Yakuza goons did that. They burned your place down!
Han's face hardens, her eyes narrowing. The revelation hits hard, but she maintains her icy composure.
Rupert Mudcock: (continuing, his voice venomous) And now, you want to walk away? Let me tell you something—if you think you can avoid this war, you're more of a fool than I thought. Tanaka's coming for all of us, and you're in the middle of it.
Han's fists shake with fury, but her voice remains calm, her gaze never leaving Mudcock.
Eun-Young Han: (quiet) Only a fool would willingly take on the Yakuza. We don't care about your war. We have our own battle to fight. We won't be dragged into this.
Devin Zeagal: (laughing cruelly) Cowards. That's all you are. You're afraid of the Yakuza? Afraid to step up in the Ronin Rumble? Afraid you'll be humiliated in front of the entire world?
Lim's temper snaps. He lunges forward, grabbing Zeagal by the collar, his face inches from Zeagal's, eyes blazing with fury.
Tae-Hyun Lim: (snarling) You want to see who the real coward is? I'll break you in half right here, Zeagal!
The room erupts in tension as Zeagal stares back at Lim, his face flushed with anger, but Han pulls him back with a sharp command before Lim can make a move.
Eun-Young Han: Enough, Lim!
Zeagal straightens his collar, glaring at Lim, but Han's presence commands the room now. She steps forward, her gaze locking with Mudcock's.
Eun-Young Han: We won't fight in your Rumble. We don't need to prove anything to the world. Our fight is with Sato and Salinas, not the Yakuza or AAPW.
Mudcock's eyes narrow, his voice growing cold and calculating again.
Rupert Mudcock: You think you're walking out of this untouched? You're in this war whether you like it or not. And I expect to see you in that Rumble, or you can kiss your precious revenge goodbye. Do you want Sato? Do you want Salinas? Then you'll fight where I put you, or you're done here.
The room falls into an intense silence. Han's face remains impassive, but her eyes burn with defiance. The rest of the Avengers stand tense, ready to strike but waiting for her command. Lim, still fuming, glares at Zeagal, his jaw clenched tightly.
Eun-Young Han: (low and icy) You're a fool, Mudcock. You're walking into a war you can't win. But we won't be your cannon fodder.
Devin Zeagal: (sneering) Cowards. Just like I thought.
Lim moves again, but Rupert Mudcock slams his fist on the desk before anything can happen, his voice booming.
Rupert Mudcock: ENOUGH! Fine, you can skip the 60-man Ronin Rumble, but I will remember this. As far as night one is concerned you'll fight in both matches, or you can pack your bags and get the Hell out of Ultimate Wrestling!
Han stares Mudcock down, the intensity between them suffocating the room. But she says nothing. Instead, she takes a deep breath, her eyes sweeping across the office, from the smug Zeagal to the enraged Mudcock. The North Koreans are bruised and battered, but their spirits remain unbroken. Finally, Han turns on her heel, motioning for her comrades to follow. Tae-Hyun Lim, still seething, hesitates, his fists trembling with rage, but eventually falls in line behind Han.
Tae-Hyun Lim: (growling under his breath) This isn't over.
Dong-Hyun Moon and Hyun-Sik Hwang share a look, silently agreeing. They've faced battles before, but this was something different—dealing with a man like Mudcock was a fight of a different kind.
Just before they reach the door, Eun-Young Han pauses, glancing back over her shoulder. Her voice is steady, but the venom is unmistakable.
Eun-Young Han: (coldly) You can threaten all you want, Mudcock. But don't think for a second you control us. We'll do what we must, but only for our reasons.
Mudcock smirks, wiping the sweat from his brow, but his amusement is now laced with fear. He knows Han and her stable are unpredictable, dangerous, and capable of turning this situation on its head.
Rupert Mudcock: (sarcastically) Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that, Han. But remember, the world doesn't care about your 'reasons.' They only care about results. And if you fail, let's just say your enemies won't be the only ones laughing.
Han's jaw tightens, but she says nothing. The Emperor's Avengers file out of the office, the door slamming shut behind them with a final, thunderous boom. The echo lingers in the room, leaving Rupert Mudcock and Devin Zeagal in tense silence.
For a moment, neither speaks. Mudcock walks back to his desk, flopping into his leather chair, and stares at the door for a long while. His fingers absently trace the chipped tooth Tanaka knocked out earlier, a reminder of his public humiliation.
Devin Zeagal: (breaking the silence) Do you think they'll show up for the first night of the competition?
Mudcock takes a long drag of his cigar, his eyes narrowing as the smoke curls lazily into the air. He finally turns to Zeagal, his face hardened and resolute.
Rupert Mudcock: They'll fight. Trust me. They've got too much to lose. The only reason there here is to get at Sato and Valora.
Devin Zeagal: We could have used them in the rumble.
Mudcock lets out a low chuckle, tapping the ashes from his cigar into a crystal ashtray.
Rupert Mudcock: I plan to make them regret that decision. I will drag them through the mud for not supporting the company. I will send them through the meat grinder until they're broken and begging for scraps. Wrestling fans worldwide will gleefully watch their demise, and the money will pour in.
Zeagal's lips curl into a thin smile, the satisfaction of the plan settling in. But Mudcock's eyes flick back toward the door, still smoldering with unresolved fury. He was humiliated tonight—by Tanaka, by Sasori, and now by the North Koreans' defiance. He wasn't about to let it happen again.
A Hallway Away
Tae-Hyun Lim: (furious) We should've ripped them apart. We don't need this shit, Han. We should've just walked away from all of this.
Eun-Young Han: (calm, yet her voice is strained) And go where Lim? We're not walking away from anything. Not until Sato and Salinas pay for what they did.
Lim grunts, clearly frustrated but unwilling to argue further. Hyun-Sik Hwang falls in step beside them, his towering figure casting a long shadow on the concrete walls.
Hyun-Sik Hwang: (gruffly) Mudcock's right about one thing. The Yakuza aren't just going to ignore us.
Dong-Hyun Moon, who has remained silent until now, finally speaks, his voice cold and analytical.
Dong-Hyun Moon: We've been caught in worse situations. We need to focus on the matches ahead. If we get through this tournament, we'll have leverage. Once we end, Sato and Salinas and the Russians have accomplished there mission... will go back with them to Russia with all the gold belts we can carry!
Han nods, her mind working through the strategy. They had enemies on all sides—Sato, Salinas, Tanaka, and now, indirectly, Mudcock. But none of that mattered. What mattered was surviving and, more importantly, winning.
Eun-Young Han: (quietly) Let them come. We'll finish what we started. And when it's over, Mudcock, Tanaka, all of them will see what we're capable of.
The group continues down the hallway, disappearing into the shadows, their resolve hardening. The storm was far from over, but they were ready to face whatever came next. In the back of her mind, Han knew the battle for revenge was only beginning—but she was prepared to fight until there was nothing left to lose.