Last time it was on the floor of this arena, it was watching the reemergence of the very beast it was meant to face. Strange, how so much changed in such a short period of time. The orthoclase was now the Overseer and bore a wicked gash across its face. It was woven-through with plants and scabbed over at this point, but no amount of healing would ever remove it or the distant look in its eye.

Rather than just judge for this competition, though, Alpha elected to participate. Fighting was what it was good at - and what better to do than just that? It could watch in on the other matches and do its... overseeing with the Master Vargas, but it wanted to get in there. Up-close-and-personal was its forte.

The monster lumbered into place, rather unkempt quills pricking with anticipation. It glared across the arena, waiting for Nemesis to appear and for the signal to begin to be given. Already, Alpha was squared off, bracing for brutal combat.

@Nemesis @Vargas

He waited, watching with interest.

Could they find someone to actually defeat his Overseer-? Out of these random creations?

...then again, Orthoclase-Alpha had been partially random, itself. Master Vargas shifted where he sat across his old accustomed bench, waiting for the fight to begin. He said nothing--he didn't need to. Alpha needed no encouragement--its pride would be more than enough.

Nemesis stomped her way down into the arena, eyes leveling on Alpha. Ever since she first saw the big bastard, she had been looking for the chance for an ass-kicking. After cycles of rest, it was about time she got back into the thick of things.

It was nice that they were going to fight seriously without worrying about some asshole going for her throat, or cheating with magic. Just a good old fashioned fight. Heavy tail swinging behind her, she settled into a wide stance at the opposite end of the theatre.

She didn't even have to worry about the big brown-green thing getting carried away. Judging by the judges-- the huge purple fella in particular-- if anything got out of hand, they'd take care of it. Was the purple fuck her opponent's dad, by the way? They had the same head. Hopefully favoritism wouldn't get in the way.

But, hell, this competition thus far had seemed reasonable and fair. So she wasn't going to get too concerned about the details. She just wanted to get into a rough and tumble, flex some muscles she hadn't used in a while.

"Ready whenever you are, bub," Nemesis declared, casting a sideways glance toward the observers on the side line. They were waiting for the signal to go, right? Man. She was going to really enjoy laying into someone her size. (She wasn't excited about the quills, but, c'est la vie.)

@Orthoclase-Alpha

Tupu sat above the pair of gembound, on a seat within the forum. She wasn't particularly paying attention. She didn't know why two gembound were down there. She didn't know why there was a gembound above her. And one sitting nearby her. But Tupu had come to realize herds could come in all shapes and sizes. A pile of leaves had been placed in front of her, and she was content to sit there and chew brainlessly. Leaves were tasty.

The gembound below were talking. A tall brown creature with radioactive eyes, and a big creature with a massive brown one. She paused in her chewing, lips held tight, looking almost pensive. And an attempt to blend in with them, she bleated. Loud enough to echo off the walls. No reading of rules, no warning to not cause injury.

It was her first day on the job, and she was trying. But it was as good a marker as any for them to begin. Her head turned towards Sheng, looking at the hybrid nearby expectantly. Whether that was to figure out if the gembound had leaves, or looking to Sheng as a buzzer for when the fight ended, was a mystery. Probably looking for leaves.

@Shengxiao

Adrenaline fired up and flowed as soon as the trinoceros stomped into the arena, and a preemptive prickle of - excitement flooded through it. This was comfortable, being at odds with another. Maybe it was equally as enthusiastic about an ass-kicking as Nemesis was.

"Ready whenever you are, bub," she declared, and Alpha puffed. Blazing eyes scanned over the cow's frame, and it came to a very quick and easy conclusion: don't give the space for a charge. It'd felt the impact of charging into other Gembound before - and it did not intend to be at the receiving end. For once, the orthoclase thought it might be faster than its opponent, and certainly lighter. The best strategy would have to be getting in close, and staying there.

So, without much preamble but a lurching crouch, the kaiju thundered towards Nemesis. It shifted slightly to the side at the end of its trajectory, trying to get out of the easy goring-slash-impaling area. Arms spread out as it leapt for her, its whole body committed to the motion.

Round: 1/5
Attempt: Get right up in Nemesis's grill
Defense: idk her
Injuries:

@Nemesis

cw: swears for days

Nemesis knew this big, almost cat-like (probably the first time any one had ever seen a cat in Alpha) predator was going to be faster, more flexible, and generally more of a pain in the ass to fight than what she had fought back in her youth. Back before taking a few dozen cycle nap, for sure.

But hell, it wasn't a big fuck-off dragon, and it wasn't even allowed to use its teeth. Like hell was she even slightly intimidated as Orthoclase-Alpha came barreling at her. She stood there, like she was about to prove what would win in a fight between an unstoppable force and an immovable object, digging her heels into the ground.

Of course, she wasn't about to take a goddamn bodyslam lying down. She tilted her head, shuffling slightly as the orthoclase tried to avoid her pointy bits (smart) and stepped forward into the charge, aiming to redirect Alpha's entire movement by scooping up the bastard with one quick, swift toss of her head to throw it past her.

... she might have slightly underestimated, you know, momentum and mass, considering that her attempt to toss Alpha resulted in her losing her own footing and landing on her side like a wrestler doing a sick backwards throw.

Unfortunately it was going to take her a hot second to get back to her feet, and as a beached land whale in a ring with an apex predator, uh, well. It was a good reason for her to get even pissier.

Round: 1/5
Attempt: throw alpha over her shoulder by redirecting its movement using her frill as a scoop (you've seen the monster/dino movies you know what im talking about)
Defense: bruh we're having a kaiju battle come on
Injuries:

@Orthoclase-Alpha

Step, step, step and Alpha was caught between horns and a surprisingly sturdy frill. It kept moving forwards, and toppled at the same pace as the trinoceros did. Despite all efforts to catch itself on its forearms, all thirty feet of kaiju went rolling head-over-ass. It managed to twist to the left so it landed on its own side and didn't snap its neck from putting three tons on it at high speeds. Regardless, the orthoclase grunted. It felt that in its chin.

For a brief moment, its heart thrummed altogether too fast - it wasn't in danger but it wanted to use its teeth, its claws. Defend itself. Attack. It lurched up in the middle of that thought, teeth snapping shut on thin air by the end of it. No, no... stick with the sparring program.

The monster spun to face Nemesis and came at her with renewed vigor. Its claws searched for horns while she was capsized. Best to hold her down by the handles already provided, right? No teeth or bloodshed needed.

Round: 2/5
Attempt: keep nemesis down by grabbing her horns
Defense: wwe smackdown doesn't accept defensive positions at this time don't check back later
Injuries: mi chin n shoulder :(

@Nemesis

cw: still swearing

Orthoclase-Alpha twisted and writhed, and before she could so much as lift her head-- much less get her feet under her-- the brickhouse came down on her horns, grabbing with dexterous clawed paws.

Shit, back in her day, things didn't have thumbs. What the hell was she supposed to do? With a grunt, she pulled one foot under her body, and began to push back. If it wanted to grab on to the most dangerous parts of her, that was its own problem.

Nemesis pushed her way on to her feet, and kept going, shoving her weight full force forward toward Alpha, snorting hot breath in its face. She wasn't about to slow down either, each step she pushed was getting momentum in her favor. If she could shove it all the way to the back wall and turn this pin around, she'd be set--

Of course, only a fool would keep holding on to her by her most dangerous end, right?

Round: 2/5
Attempt: get up and push Alpha into a corner!
Defense: good offense IS a good defense, right?
Injuries: oof my side, oof my head

@Orthoclase-Alpha

There's the ticket - claws curled around pointed horns and elbows out, making Nemesis bear its weight. Now, it was a matter of keeping all that on.

Alpha didn't expect the trinoceros to take it easy, but still grunted in sharp surprise as she shifted beneath it. One leg at first, and then a harsh push. It shifted, keeping that center horn from punching through its upper torso on accident. A few involuntary steps backwards had it peering towards the wall, and incidentally glancing Vargas's way. The gash on its face throbbed briefly, and instinctive panic struck again.

It shoved haphazardly at the horns; though, it was more a side effect of it balancing and compensating for what'd be lost the moment it started using its middle set.

Rather than take the easiest route, the monster dug in its own heels. Shoving again - still overpowered by Nemesis - it struck out with both middle legs. Claws curled in, it swept for either knee or a limb that was mid-step.

Round: 3/5
Attempt: using those spare limbs to punch at some legs
Defense: big agree
Injuries: mi chin n shoulder :(

@Nemesis

cw: still swearing

Nemesis honestly hadn't expecting the six-legged tank to stand its ground. It was damn impressive; she was used to others dancing about her, frightened to get too close and risk damage. Even creatures that could hold their ground against her.

It was a real fight then; a true test of strengths. Nails digging into the earth, she kept up the pressure, gaining more and more ground until suddenly two extra legs (that she had forgotten about; back in her day, everybody had four legs, dammit) kicked out her limbs out from under her, and her hefty body slumped, head held in the clutches of the beast but her feet scrambling to gain purchase. She slipped, frame twisting, and she toppled once more, neck wrenching as Alpha held her in its clutches.

This wasn't good. Her weakest spot-- her underbelly-- was exposed to those extra legs. Grinding her teeth, she kicked out her feet toward Alpha. A deterrent, and if she could actually land a solid blow, maybe push herself away from it. She needed to get some distance and get to her feet if she wanted to actually use her mass against her much more flexible opponent.

Round: 3/5
Attempt: kick away!!
Defense: we flailing our toesies
Injuries: oof my side, oof my head

@Orthoclase-Alpha