Post by gamechanger20 on Apr 17, 2021 19:33:35 GMT -5
There was no denying the truth. Since the start up screen at day one, nothing had gone to plan for Zach van Owen. Even the long sought after reunion with his dad had not been under the circumstances he had expected, let alone hoped for. Sure Adam had finally acknowledged the young Zach’s budding career and the talent that he was, but in the doing Zach had forsaken everything he stood for and held dear. He had lost everything he was and had hoped to be. And all he had for the privilege was a boggling uncharacteristic string of losses.
Was it all worth it? Was there even any way to climb back from this rock bottom, or had the Vigilante finally used up his last continue?
These questions were a large contributing factor to why Zach made his way to Columbus, Ohio for the Incursion event without his dad, and not just because ‘Atomic’ Adam Vaughn didn’t support the event. In his eyes it was an unneeded and unwanted distraction from their more important undertaking with Carnage Wrestling. Yet even that seemed less and less achievable with each passing week. To say Zach was confused and frustrated was beyond an understatement. He was a little lost, both literally, trying to find his way around Baltimore, and metaphorically.
The Vigilante sighed as he waded through the Baltimore streets. He couldn’t help but consider how the trip would have been if Zach had agreed to stick with the Avenger. Chances are the self-styled ‘Hero’ would have broken out into song ala Tracy Turnblatt, claiming it was the heroic thing to do...Zach shook his head to hide the slight hint of a smile creeping across his face. At least he wasn’t dull. A few Mushrooms short of the Mushroom Kingdom sure, but in no way boring. As far as he was concerned a distraction from the current events of Carnage and the haunting spectre of his failures was not necessarily a bad thing. This would give Zach a chance to find the momentum he so desperately needed, to prove his worth in the eyes of his dad, himself and Carnage as a whole. He needed to show the federation he was more than his string of losses, that Zach van Owen was capable of fulfilling his promises. The only ones standing in his way were Carlson Rex, Angel DuMore, Dave Rydell, Donovan Hastings and Montague Cervantes. Sure he wasn’t technically alone but the Vigilante doubted his so-called team mates were coming into the match with the same intentions. Oh well.
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“Alright. Time for a real dialogue scene. Since the day I booted-up the cartridge I’ve had a specific game I’ve wanted to play, and believe you me. This is far from it. Yet here I am. I’m forced into some BS Sidequest, in a no-win situation forced to suffer at the whims of others and their poor choices. I know for a fact I’m better than this, capable of far greater things. But lately it feels like I’m not the one with their hands on the controller.”
Seated on his perch, atop a park bench in Federal Hill Park, Zach watched the everyday hustle and bustle pass him by. Though he spoke to the camera propped up next to him, he looked outwardly. Occasionally a passerby would shoot him a cursory glance, yet Zach’s gaze was locked towards the distance, caught up in his myriad of thoughts and doubts.
“So I find myself here, the Joke level of the game, fighting alongside people who mean little to me, against others who mean even less. Let’s check out the character select screen shall we…”
He raised his open hands before him to signify the 10 people in this match. He dropped his fingers to count them one-by-one.
“First is Angel DuMore...whomever they are, they seem perfectly content to remain in the shadows, unnoticed and never amounting to anything. Cause well, they’ve given the rest of us nothing to go on, nothing to show for their efforts. So I don’t really know what else anyone can say. At least I’m confident in my ability to adapt on the fly, cause I’ll have to wait until I’m in the ring against Angel to get their true measure. Next is Carlson Rex, a young up-and-comer who is apparently a Technical Adept, but plagued by self-doubt. I can relate to that, and I’d normally hate to contribute to one’s anxiety but we aren’t fighting under normal circumstances, so sorry Rex bud. You’re technical skills won’t mean much if you can’t keep up. I’m built for DPS, speed and accuracy. Let’s see which one of us can last out...The next two are some of the more experienced Ring Warriors and I’ll be honest, the two I’m worried about. Dave Rydell seems the token warrior. A big man with some big achievements, though forever denied the Top Scores. I hope by investing all those points into your Strength Score you haven’t just dumped the other stats, otherwise things aren’t gonna go the way you think. Size and power don’t mean much if you're watching the match on your back. And Donovan Hastings. We have a Wizard in the party, an intelligent competitor with undoubtedly a plethora of tricks up their sleeve. I’d be a fool to let you get your hands on me. But the longer the match is drawn out, the less effective you're gonna be. With all due respect to the first ever UGWC World Champion, perhaps your glory days are behind you? Like a Mega Drive, trying to compete with the Playstation 5? Food for thought...And last but not least for the opposing side, the resident Whack-Job, Montague Cervantes. I don’t recall anyone calling for the Clowns but here you are. We’re warned to be prepared for anything when it comes to this Goomba. Well right back at you bud. I style myself as the Game Changer for a reason.”
Zach paused to look at his five remaining fingers and closed his hand into a determined fist. At last he turned to face the camera directly.
“I can let the others of the Carnage team speak for themselves. Ragdoll is new to the scene but picking up steam, Sebastian Hawke and Dominick Strife are experienced Carnage hands and more than capable of holding their own. Then lastly, beside myself, there’s Zack Tyler. He’s the only one I’ve had any in-ring experience with, and well…”
The Vigilante shrugged before pulling the camera in for a close-up.
“We’re supposed to be fighting to represent Carnage. To team together in some grand fashion like the Justice League and prove some measure of superiority on a World Stage? Problem is I’m fighting for myself, to represent myself, cause I’ve got a whole lot to prove. A mission to complete, a promise to fulfil. I’m trying to claw and scrape up from the bottom and I’m not about to run out of Continues yet, just gonna throw more quarters into the machine. So to Team UGWC I hope you get your Game On cause when I play, I play for keeps. Let my actions speak volumes over any of our hollow words. It’s time to Duel!”
Zach packed up and left the park, wading once more into the city, with no real direction or destination in mind. He just wanted to wander. There was a lot to process. Sure Incursion was ultimately a distraction, a random encounter that deviated from Zach and his dad’s ultimate goal, but for Zach it could prove to be the soft reset he so desperately needed. He was like Mario without a Mushroom, Sonic without any Rings. A victory over a match with little stakes could provide him with a major Power-Up. After all there was an establishment that needed toppling, and figureheads that needed to be humbled.
It was time to Level Up!
Was it all worth it? Was there even any way to climb back from this rock bottom, or had the Vigilante finally used up his last continue?
These questions were a large contributing factor to why Zach made his way to Columbus, Ohio for the Incursion event without his dad, and not just because ‘Atomic’ Adam Vaughn didn’t support the event. In his eyes it was an unneeded and unwanted distraction from their more important undertaking with Carnage Wrestling. Yet even that seemed less and less achievable with each passing week. To say Zach was confused and frustrated was beyond an understatement. He was a little lost, both literally, trying to find his way around Baltimore, and metaphorically.
The Vigilante sighed as he waded through the Baltimore streets. He couldn’t help but consider how the trip would have been if Zach had agreed to stick with the Avenger. Chances are the self-styled ‘Hero’ would have broken out into song ala Tracy Turnblatt, claiming it was the heroic thing to do...Zach shook his head to hide the slight hint of a smile creeping across his face. At least he wasn’t dull. A few Mushrooms short of the Mushroom Kingdom sure, but in no way boring. As far as he was concerned a distraction from the current events of Carnage and the haunting spectre of his failures was not necessarily a bad thing. This would give Zach a chance to find the momentum he so desperately needed, to prove his worth in the eyes of his dad, himself and Carnage as a whole. He needed to show the federation he was more than his string of losses, that Zach van Owen was capable of fulfilling his promises. The only ones standing in his way were Carlson Rex, Angel DuMore, Dave Rydell, Donovan Hastings and Montague Cervantes. Sure he wasn’t technically alone but the Vigilante doubted his so-called team mates were coming into the match with the same intentions. Oh well.
---
---
“Alright. Time for a real dialogue scene. Since the day I booted-up the cartridge I’ve had a specific game I’ve wanted to play, and believe you me. This is far from it. Yet here I am. I’m forced into some BS Sidequest, in a no-win situation forced to suffer at the whims of others and their poor choices. I know for a fact I’m better than this, capable of far greater things. But lately it feels like I’m not the one with their hands on the controller.”
Seated on his perch, atop a park bench in Federal Hill Park, Zach watched the everyday hustle and bustle pass him by. Though he spoke to the camera propped up next to him, he looked outwardly. Occasionally a passerby would shoot him a cursory glance, yet Zach’s gaze was locked towards the distance, caught up in his myriad of thoughts and doubts.
“So I find myself here, the Joke level of the game, fighting alongside people who mean little to me, against others who mean even less. Let’s check out the character select screen shall we…”
He raised his open hands before him to signify the 10 people in this match. He dropped his fingers to count them one-by-one.
“First is Angel DuMore...whomever they are, they seem perfectly content to remain in the shadows, unnoticed and never amounting to anything. Cause well, they’ve given the rest of us nothing to go on, nothing to show for their efforts. So I don’t really know what else anyone can say. At least I’m confident in my ability to adapt on the fly, cause I’ll have to wait until I’m in the ring against Angel to get their true measure. Next is Carlson Rex, a young up-and-comer who is apparently a Technical Adept, but plagued by self-doubt. I can relate to that, and I’d normally hate to contribute to one’s anxiety but we aren’t fighting under normal circumstances, so sorry Rex bud. You’re technical skills won’t mean much if you can’t keep up. I’m built for DPS, speed and accuracy. Let’s see which one of us can last out...The next two are some of the more experienced Ring Warriors and I’ll be honest, the two I’m worried about. Dave Rydell seems the token warrior. A big man with some big achievements, though forever denied the Top Scores. I hope by investing all those points into your Strength Score you haven’t just dumped the other stats, otherwise things aren’t gonna go the way you think. Size and power don’t mean much if you're watching the match on your back. And Donovan Hastings. We have a Wizard in the party, an intelligent competitor with undoubtedly a plethora of tricks up their sleeve. I’d be a fool to let you get your hands on me. But the longer the match is drawn out, the less effective you're gonna be. With all due respect to the first ever UGWC World Champion, perhaps your glory days are behind you? Like a Mega Drive, trying to compete with the Playstation 5? Food for thought...And last but not least for the opposing side, the resident Whack-Job, Montague Cervantes. I don’t recall anyone calling for the Clowns but here you are. We’re warned to be prepared for anything when it comes to this Goomba. Well right back at you bud. I style myself as the Game Changer for a reason.”
Zach paused to look at his five remaining fingers and closed his hand into a determined fist. At last he turned to face the camera directly.
“I can let the others of the Carnage team speak for themselves. Ragdoll is new to the scene but picking up steam, Sebastian Hawke and Dominick Strife are experienced Carnage hands and more than capable of holding their own. Then lastly, beside myself, there’s Zack Tyler. He’s the only one I’ve had any in-ring experience with, and well…”
The Vigilante shrugged before pulling the camera in for a close-up.
“We’re supposed to be fighting to represent Carnage. To team together in some grand fashion like the Justice League and prove some measure of superiority on a World Stage? Problem is I’m fighting for myself, to represent myself, cause I’ve got a whole lot to prove. A mission to complete, a promise to fulfil. I’m trying to claw and scrape up from the bottom and I’m not about to run out of Continues yet, just gonna throw more quarters into the machine. So to Team UGWC I hope you get your Game On cause when I play, I play for keeps. Let my actions speak volumes over any of our hollow words. It’s time to Duel!”
Zach packed up and left the park, wading once more into the city, with no real direction or destination in mind. He just wanted to wander. There was a lot to process. Sure Incursion was ultimately a distraction, a random encounter that deviated from Zach and his dad’s ultimate goal, but for Zach it could prove to be the soft reset he so desperately needed. He was like Mario without a Mushroom, Sonic without any Rings. A victory over a match with little stakes could provide him with a major Power-Up. After all there was an establishment that needed toppling, and figureheads that needed to be humbled.
It was time to Level Up!