"Where is he, d*it," Crunchtime said, cracking his knuckles behind his back as he waited in the center of the arena.

Captain UK walked over to Crunchtime and asked. "Ready for this?" Cap's jacket swayed in the wind as he pulled out his Syphrodite and held it ready waiting for Gambler.

"You know it," The beast said, using all of his senses to their fullest, trying to locate Gambler.

Gambler slowly walked into the arena. The place irrupted into cheers as he did. Walking right up to the two heroes he lit up his cigarette and said,

"Make your move."

"Your blood is mine!" Crunchtime dove for Gambler, jaws wide and claws outstretched.

"Sure," and saying that Captain UK lifted into the air and shot ice daggers at Gambler.

Gambler just stood there as Crunchtime dove for him. Having seen UK shoot the daggers at him, Gambler waited until the last second as Crunchtime and the ice daggers closed in on him. Then he jumped into a back flip and watched as the daggers were now headed for Crunchtime.

The ice daggers shattered on impact with Crunchtime, causing him to grunt in annoyance. Rolling out of his dive, he spun around to face Gambler, meanwhile calling up to Captain UK.

"We've never worked together before, so I guess this is one of those 'learning moments'."

"Yeah sorry bout the daggers" as cap said that he flew straight at Gambler with his sword and went to cut across his eyes.

FIRST BLOOD

Gambler ducked out of UK's sword attack but not before it sliced down his cheek.

"Ahh, you $#@!"

Gambler pulled his staff out from his coat and twirled it in the air and then tucked it under his arm. The blood started to trickle down off Gamblers face. He took out the Jack of Hearts and the Queen of spades and charged them.

"Catch!" He said as he threw them at UK.

He then turned and readied himself for Crunchtime's next move.

Crunchtime dropped to all fours and began circling Gambler, feinting a charge every now and then. Saliva fell from his jaws onto the ground and a deep rumble began to vibrate through his body as he prepared to attack.

"You gonna bark all day little doggy, or are ya gonna bite?!"

Gambler charged Crunchtime throwing kinetically charged cards the whole way then taking to the sky with a flip over the beast, landing behind him.

Crunchtime turned, tracking Gambler with his eyes. The cards exploded across his back, but he simply shook off the static charge it sent through his body. Roaring, he swung one of his massive claws at Gambler just as his enemy's feet touched the ground.

Crunchtime caught Gambler across the chest with his claws. It had caused some serious damage but nothing fatal. Gambler threw of his coat and the remains of his shirt. He then came at Crunchtime with a series of uppercuts and a spin kick.

The uppercuts knocked Crunchtime off balance and the spin kick snapped his head around, blood flying from his open mouth. Turning back to Gambler slowly, he wiped the blood away with a snarl.

"You die now," He launched himself at Gambler again, lunging for his throat.

Gambler somersaulted underneath the lunging Crunchtime. The blood from his chest wound was flowing and covered the ground.

"If I die today you'll be joining me."

Twirling his staff in the air he motioned with his other arm. "Bring it"

Crunchtime landed in a crouch and then turned again. Foam started to form on his jaws and his eyes took on a more feral look.

"Blood," He growled. Kneeling down, he licked up a bit of Gambler's blood. "Blood," He repeated. Roaring again, he charged Gambler, bloodlust filling his body.

As Crunchtime charged Gambler took his staff and charged it. He then plunged it into the ground.

"Keep coming beastie."

He then took out the 6 of Diamonds, the 5 of Diamonds, the 4 of Diamonds, the 3 of Diamonds, and the 2 of Diamonds.

"Straight flush b*h." he said as he flung the cards at the charged staff.

As they hit the staff it caused a massive explosion. The ground of the arena irrupted and Gambler was sent flying.

Smoke and debris covered the arena. All was silent.

From within the very depths of the explosion's wake came a low growl. It rose in pitch until it turned into a full on howl. Crunchtime exploded from the smoke, charging Gambler at full speed, his body scorched all over with chunks of fur missing and skin cracked and bleeding in places. One of his eyes was sealed shut and some of his teeth were chipped or completely fractured.

Gambler was barley conscious. He awoke as Crunchtime was charging yet again.

"I saved one for ya!" said Gambler. He pulled out the King of Spades and threw it, aiming for the open mouth of Crunchtime.

The card entered Crunchtime's mouth and exploded. Either dead or stunned, the beast's momentum carried him over to Gambler. He stumbled and fell face forward, about to land on Gambler.

As Crunchtime was about to fall, Captain UK swooped in and grabbed him taking another slice at gambler with his sword

Gambler was able to avoid the strike from UK's sword. He stumbled back to his feet and watched as UK held Crunchtime.

The bloodlust started to leave his body. Crunchtime stood weakly, leaning heavily on Captain UK, his head hanging low.

"Did I get him?" He mumbled, blood dripping from his mouth.

"No, I'm afraid you didn't," Captain UK placed Crunchtime on the floor and then surrounded Gambler in a ball of fire as hot and as bright as the sun. He then tried to keep it from not harming anything by putting a massive ball of ice around it.

Gambler was done for, the heat was unbearable, but when UK put the ice around his fire sphere it melted immediately, creating a small opening for Gambler to dive threw. Gambler was badly burned and partially blinded.

He took a few steps and collapsed, still smoldering from the fire. As he opened his mouth to speak, blood splattered out.

"Is that all you got?"

"Gambler," Crunchtime growled, trying to stand on his own and failing. "It's over... I'm done... You and I will meet again... And we'll finish this... But not now. Help me, Cap. I can't walk on my own... Let's get out of here."

"I will help you out my friend, but I'm not quite done with Gambler..." said Captain UK as he helped Crunchtime out of the arena.