Respect. This tournament is all about it. Its already had an effect on the men in it, and it hasn't even taken place yet. The desire for the crown. It turns some of us inside out. It strengthens some of us. One thing is for certain, no man who goes into this will come out the same.

The pale streets roll by, the dim lights flash, and the cold wind coming in through the window keeps Ichabod from drifting off into a daydream. He has so much on his mind. But first and foremost, that tournament in only five hours. Five hours to finish preparing for something no man can be prepared for. Ichabod knew this was going to be a test of strength, character, and heart.

The Mastermind had been training hard. Ichabod knew that would be the first rock he would have to climb. A rock covered in barbed wire. He could only count on two things, and that was that the Legion could not interfere, and that Toxin, whatever he was, wouldn't be much of a problem. Of course, completely counting the Legion out of this would be a fatal mistake. You just never knew with those guys. Ichabod had once been a part of a group like that. He knew it was almost like a family, and families watched each others backs, no matter what, right or wrong. But even without the Legion, Mastermind would be a challenge. But Payne put it best when he said Ichabod wanted it more. A truer statement could not be made. Ichabod hungered for that crown. It invaded his dreams, killed his appetite, and haunted his mind ever since he left Tournation last week. He had been in constant training for the past five days, sleeping less than three hours a night if at all. Steve was a good trainer and didn't let Ichabod rest until he had completed a test several times, and could explain exactly what the lesson was that he was to learn. And then sometimes Ichabod picked himelf up again and just ran the test several more times to be sure. That was dedication, that was pride, that was heart, and that was WANT. Mastermind had better be prepared, because taking Ichabod's chance at the crown would be like taking Ichabod's air, and he was not about to let that happen.

The talk of all that training and want makes him think of Arctic Fox and the edicts he followed. IChabod had no doubt these edicts were legitimate, or that he or Arctic Fox lived up to them. He knew that the two of them had come a long way in their different lives, and that both men had come a long way in the past week. The battle on the roof of the Skydome was going to be an historic one, and it was still only round two. Arctic was ready, Ichabod is ready too. The coin could fall on either side, that is what anyone else would say. But Ichabod was looking beyond the preparations he and Fox had taken for this match. He was looking into the careers of each man. Fox had already said he had made his mark in WoW. He really had nothing to gain from King Karnage. He had nothing to lose either, but if all that he said was true, Arctic Fox already had all the respect in the world from this federation. If what he said was not true, then the man was living an illusion. Either thing was going to put him lower down on the scale of people who want and need that title. If he had respect, why would he be pushing himself to gain it? It would be kind of a lost cause. That one little thing is what would help Ichabod to leave Fox dangling at the end of a bungee cord. It wasn't going to be easy, but he was confident that after a long and grueling match, he would advance to round three to face whomever would be waiting for him

Up until recently, he had hoped and believed that was going to be Justin Payne. But from what he had seen lately, Payne was just getting too cocky for his own damn good. Ti Konflict wouldn't put up with that sh't. Ichabod had to give Payne the extreme match edge though, as he knew what it was like to face Payne. Payne was at home in a ring where much bloodshed and carnage would occur. On the other hand, Konflict had been in what could be classified as extreme bouts as well. All in all, that match was going to be as great or greater than the Arctic Fox Ichabod match. In the end, however, Ichabod saw Konflict advancing to round three.

Ichabod's visit to Bigg Wafer had built his confidence up a little. Wafer had simply said one word: WIN. Ichabod realized he would only need that for focus. The respect due him would be granted with that word. His proof to himself and the WoW would be granted with that word. Konflict would be a challenge, yes. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all. He was a man of calculation, skill, and no remorse. Ichabod would suffer a lot of pain in this match at that man's hands. But like Payne, Ichabod was more at home in the extreme field than in the straight up matches. Both men would bring something to the match, but only one man, Ichabod, would walk away with the crown.

The limo pulls into the arena, and Ichabod steps out. He looks up to the roof of the skydome, where technicians were preparing for the high risk match. He looks around and says

No more jokes. No more words. Good luck to all the men I face tonight. God help us, God help us all.

He takes a deep breath and shoulders his gear as he goes inside to meet destiny.