I know that I'm cheating on my season, but hey, this is still technically literature, right? While the world is going gaga over the Avengers, Justice League, and Jump Force, let's take a look at a crossover team made up classic literary characters, and pit them in a battle to the death!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a ragtag covert unit who protected Great Britain from master criminals and martian invaders, versus Sherlock's Team, a hand-picked selected group of literary warriors waging war against a virus known as... Deadpool!
Who is DEADLIEST?!
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen[]
"Well forgive me. I'd rather thought we were a covert military unit, but it seems we are a knitting circle!" - Hawley Griffin
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, also known simply as the League or Murray's Group, was a British covert unit consisting of famous British literary characters from the Victorian era. In-universe, they were formed and led either by the British Intelligence or the Blazing World. The most famous and iconic incarnation was the team led by Wilhelmina Murray.
The team existed throughout much of Great Britain's history, from the 16th century to the 2000s. Murray's Group, in particular, played a vital role during many conflicts fought by the British Empire, such as the Limehouse Bombardment of 1898, Martian Invasion, World War I, and the various battles against Oliver Haddo and the Anti-Christ. They also feuded with their foreign counterparts the Les Hommes Mysterieux and Die Zwielichthelden. Besides these missions, individual members of the league had fought against Lovecraftian monsters, Airstrip One agents, superhumans and many more.
Members[]
A former music teacher and survivor of Count Dracula's attack, Mina Murray (former Mina Harker) was hired by the British Intelligence to recruit and lead the League. The government originally hired Murray due to her previous experience with the supernatural, as well as her increasing financial problems. Murray soon proved otherwise, finding herself a terrific leader, and was the most consistent member of the team besides Orlando.
- Capable Fighter: Although clearly the member that had no professional training or superpower, Murray was still a dangerous foe who knew her way with a knife, a paint bucket, and a revolver. She had no problems literally stabbing a rapist from the back, knocking a Chinese triad with a rifle, and even knocking the Invisible Man with a bucket. While she was still a small woman, she once survived being beaten up by said Invisible Man.
- Skilled Tactician: Murray was not just a mere recruiter. She was the leader of the League, and arguably, its heart and soul as well. She was the one to piece together where the Doctor's airship was hidden. She was also the one who drew the plans to capture Edward Hyde, infiltrate Limehouse, and her quick-thinking led to the defeat and death of Professor Moriarty. She was also the drive that helped push the individual members during their direst moments. Finally, her critical skills garnered her the respect of even Captain Nemo and Mister Hyde themselves.
Allan Quatermain was a British big game hunter and colonial explorer in Africa. He was the one known to have discovered King Solomon's Mines and participated in numerous tribal and colonial battles. After faking his death, Allan Quatermain became addicted to the drug Taduki. Feeling the need for a stronger high, Allan eventually became an opium addict by the time Mina Murray and Captain Nemo came to recruit him. Despite his old age and his withdrawal from his opium addiction, Allan's experience as an adventurer proved to make him a valuable member to the League.
- Firearm Expert: Quatermain was knowledgeable in many guns during his time. Throughout his adventures, he had shown to use various revolvers such as Lemat, Colt Single-Action Army, and possibly other British service revolvers. His other main weapon was his prized elephant gun, a long barreled, single-shot, high-caliber rifle that was powerful enough to puncture thick glass that even Mr. Hyde couldn't break.
- Master Marksman: As a big game hunter, Quatermain was supposedly a good shot. He hadn't shown much of this skill during the late 19th century. That being said, such skills possibly hadn't left him. Even in a drugged state, Quatermain still got a wicked headshot point blank with his Lemat. Even in his aged state, the guy could still fire an elephant gun without a problem.
- Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Having fought in a multitude of African Wars gave Quatermain impressive strength and fighting capabilities. He was strong enough to survive getting hit in the head by Mr. Hyde, and even grappled with him and made him drink laudanum, leading to the latter's defeat. Quatermain was also tough enough to both survive and fight back against a superhuman Morlock and even H-9 (aka Rupert the Bear).
Trying to escape his past and the horrible actions committed by his alter ego, Henry Jekyll faked his suicide and fled to France in the hopes of living a new peaceful life. There he became a regular patron of prostitutes. Things seemed to go smoothly for a while until he somehow transformed and went on a killing spree, murdering several people including Anna Coupeau, which eventually let to his discovery and recruitment into the League.
- Superhuman Physicality: While Dr. Jekyll was a mild-mannered wimp, Mr. Hyde was a bloody monster. With a gargantuan size full of muscle, Hyde was gifted with immense strength, speed, and toughness. The brute could easily blitz whole armies. He was also strong enough to rip limbs and sandwich together two triads, as well as punch through the steel door of Professor Moriarty's airship and put down a Martian tripod. He was also very tough, capable of surviving a point-blank blast from Auguste Dupin's pepperbox revolver (though he lost an ear), falling from great heights, and initial barrages from Martian death rays (that burned away his skin before finally killing him).
- Hyde was also gifted with great senses. He could smell stink that other people couldn't, and he had infrared vision that allowed him to see even the Invisible Man.
- Enormous Canines: Hyde had been described as being ape-like, most probably due to his teeth besides his huge arms. His canines are so large that they could easily chomp off a person's limb with ease. Even Martian flesh was no match for it.
Despite his general dislike of the British Empire, Captain Nemo, real name Dakkar, joined the League after being graced by Campion Bond, grandfather of James Bond, on the promise of another adventure. During his time with the League, he ironically developed a close friendship with the imperialist Allan Quatermain with whom he shared a big interest in adventure.
- High-Tech Weapons: Nemo relied on many advanced weaponries of his own design during combat. While he had shown not to shy away from revolvers and sabers, Nemo's most powerful weapon was probably his mechanical harpoon gun, a pistol-size automatic machine pistol that fired metal bolts, with ammunition belts that had 100 bolts inside. Such a weapon was powerful and speedy enough to basically wipe out a company of men with a burst. Together with Mr. Hyde, Nemo nearly single-handedly stood their ground against Professor Moriarty's forces.
- Nemo's iconic creation was undoubtedly the Nautilus, a large high-tech submarine. Being the most state-of-art watercraft of its time, the Nautilus could traverse the whole globe easily, survive high water pressure and unforgiving temperatures, and also seemingly be silent enough to swim undetected. It had powerful metal tentacles that could grab and destroy, a harpoon gun that could punch through a whole mob of people, and artillery powerful enough to destroy Martian tripods. The ship also probably had good sonar or other mode of detection, since it was capable of spotting an unconscious Invisible Man on the water. It was also filled with Nemo's own personal crew, many of which were skilled mariners like Ishmael and Broad-Arrow Jack. However, as a submarine, it needed bodies of water to move.
- Cunning: While not as deductive as Mina Murray, Captain Nemo was undoubtedly the other big brain in the League. He knew his friends and foes well from his intelligence-gathering. Most of all, his cynicism and untrusting nature led to the unmasking of "M" as Professor James Moriarty, and his plans to use the cavorite. He was also instrumental in the defense of Britain against the Martians, with his submersible, the Nautilus, being the only to take on the Martian tripods.
Having escaped a mob hellbent on killing him, Hawley Griffin flaked his own death by using a half-wit albino that he used as a guinea pig. He then ran into the Correctional Academy for Wayward Gentlewomen run by Miss Rosa Coote, there he raped several girls, causing rumors that the Holy Spirit was impregnating the girls. After Captain Nemo, Mina Murray and Allan Quatermain caught him, he joined the League under the promise of a pardon for his crimes and a possible cure for his condition.
- Invisibility: As his namesake, Griffin had made himself invisible to the eye, both human and alien. This superpower made him an effective infiltrator and assassin, far better than even Murray or Quartermain. He could sneak past people, even from the likes of master spy Campion Bond and criminal genius Professor Moriarty. He was also a very sneaky killer, capable of slitting throats and busting skulls with ease. He was so good that he managed to draw a triad's machete from his scabbard and used it against him without detection.
- His invisibility had several weaknesses though. Beings with infrared vision could see him. He also had a sadistic personality that made him play games with his prey. Also, he had to undress to become fully invisible, making him susceptible to the cold.
- Remorseless Killer: Griffin's most dangerous asset was probably his misanthropy. He was clearly disgusted with humanity and had no empathy with his fellow humans. Such bruality led to him raping young girls, killing a constable by repeatedly hitting him with a brick, and even beating and humiliating Mina Murray. His hatred eventually led to him betraying Earth to the Martians.
Sherlock's Team[]
"Elementary, my dear Mulan." - Dr. John Watson
Sherlock's Team was an unnamed group created and led by Sherlock Holmes to combat Dreadpool, who was at that time hellbent on destroying the Ideaverse by killing characters from well-known influential literature. The group was formed after Sherlock Holmes received a holographic message from supervillains warning him of Dreadpool's arrival. Although out of his element and a step behind, Sherlock Holmes went on the case to track down Dreadpool.
Along the way, Sherlock Holmes collected weapons, equipment, and other literary characters who wanted to stop Dreadpool. Holmes formed them as a team composed of Dr. John Watson, Beawulf, Hua Mulan, and Natty Bumppo. The team trapped Dreadpool and during the ensuing fight, Bumppo was killed and Beawulf was wounded. However, the team succeeded in defeating Dreadpool, with Holmes sacrificing himself to keep the Ideaverse existing.
Members[]
Sherlock Holmes is a private detective who has keen powers of observation. He lives at 221B Baker Street in London during the late 19th Century. He notices things that others simply don't, and then draws accurate conclusions about what he sees, making him the master of deductive reasoning. He is accompanied by his companion Dr. John Watson who helps him to solve the mysteries. He is a consultant to Scotland Yard working with Inspector Lestrade. He exists in the Ideaverse.
- Great Detective: As one of the geniuses of his universe, Sherlock Holmes was gifted with extraordinary intelligence. His intellect was further honed by experience in solving mysteries. In combat, Sherlock could track down foes, psychologically discern their emotions and personalities, and unravel their plans. He was the one to strategize and think of the tactics needed to win. That skill of his actually led to the checkmate of even the unpredictable mind of Dreadpool. His vast knowledge and quick-thinking was the reason why the Ideaverse didn't fall as Dreadpool wanted.
- Apparently, Sherlock Holmes was so smart, he used his own mind to remind the Ideaverse of the existence of all literature -- characters, stories, dialogue and all -- showing just how vast Holme's knowledge was
- Master Martial Artist: Although only shown briefly, Sherlock Holmes knew martial arts. His combat style seemed to be a mix of pugilism, wrestling, and pressure point combat. He was skilled enough to defeat the superhuman Dreadpool in hand-to-hand combat. For context, Dreadpool once held his own and even killed both his universe's Spider-Man and Wolverine.
- Time Machine: To chase down Dreadpool, Sherlock Holmes commandeered a time machine similar to that from H.G. Wells'. Taking the form of a steel chair, the Time Machine was an interdimensional transportation vehicle that could transport multiple people across different time, place, and even dimensions. Sherlock Holmes could use it to travel or even escape.
The faithful partner of Sherlock Holmes in solving cases, Dr. John Watson never acquired the same intellect and calmness that his detective buddy had. But he still proved invaluable due to his medical expertise and being a veteran of the Afghan War. He accompanied Sherlock Holmes in tracking down Dreadpool throughout the Ideaverse, eventually helping to kill the Frankenstein Monster.
- Marksman: Being a former army personnel and war veteran, Watson was very handy with his Webley revolver. Although underpowered, with the right timing and advice from Holmes, Watson took down the Deadpool-esqued Frankenstein Monster with it.
- Trained Medical Doctor: Dr. Watson was a doctor, after all. He was a skilled healer, army medic, and his knowledge of anatomy and physiology had helped Holmes cracked many cases.
Little is detailed about Beowulf's life before Dreadpool began murdering the inhabitants of the Ideaverse, however it can be presumed that it followed much the same path as Beowulf from the epic poem Beowulf. Sherlock's allies eventually met up with Dreadpool and Frankenstein's Monster in Paris, 1627, after they had slain the Three Musketeers. Beowulf impaled the Monster with his sword and tore off its right arm, but had his skull caved in by repeated headbutts from the Monster. Later, all the characters from Ideaverse were resurrected by Sherlock Holmes, who has restored that universe.
- Superhuman Physicality: Beowulf was gifted with immense strength and durability. He had slain many superhuman monsters and had no problems ripping off limbs with ease. He fought the immortal monster Grendel, who was strong enough to take on a whole army of armored Europeans, and also killed a large fire-breathing dragon. He was powerful enough to take on the Deadpool-esqued Frankenstein Monster, although his skull was crushed and he lost an eye.
- Expert Swordsman: As a traditional European warrior, Beowulf was trained and knew how to use a sword, and possibly other melee weapons. The guy literally uses a sword to stab and cripple the Frankenstein Monster. That sword of his was massive, being a double-edged straight broadsword of heavy weight and power. Yet, Beowulf wielded it with ease like it was nothing.
Hua Mulan was a woman who dressed up as a man in order to fight in her father's sted during Ancient China. Mulan was recruited by Sherlock Holmes to track down and fight Dreadpool. She and Natty Bumppo fought a close fight with the merc, resulting in Natty's death. But Mulan avenged him by slicing off Dreadpool's hand, disarming him of his teleportation device. This eventually led to the defeat of Dreadpool.
- Bow Master: Hua Mulan was shown to utilize a Chinese composite bow in battle. Real-life bows during her possible time period had good range and armor-piercing capabilities. Hua Mulan was shown to be adept at it, easily scoring precise bullseyes onto the Frankenstein Monster and Dreadpool. She was good enough, in fact, that she could draw and fire three arrows at the same time. She was also quick enough to draw and hit fast-moving superhuman opponents. However, their bows proved to be of no match against the merc's healing factor and durability.
- Swordsmanship: Besides long range, Mulan was also skilled in short range, mainly with the use of her straight sword. She could stalemate Dreadpool's katana with it, though she needed the help of Natty Bumppo to do so. Still, she was skilled enough to be able to slice off Dreadpool's hand with a stroke, disarming him of his teleporter and leading to his defeat.
- Full Armor: From all the other members of the team, besides probably Beowulf, Mulan was the one decked out in graceful armor. Although she lacked a helmet, she still wore armor that seemed to be made up of steel plates and maybe scales or lamellar. Armors like these were nearly impenetrable against swords and small projectiles.
The frontiersman known as Natty Bumppo lived during the time of the unmapped American frontier, becoming embroiled in many Native American tribal wars. He was soon recruited by Sherlock Holmes when Dreadpool began to affect the Ideaverse. Holmes and his allies discovered the chaos left in Dreadpool's wake on the Island of Doctor Moreau, 1896, Lilliput, 1699, and Rome, 44 B.C.. Natty Bumppo realized Dreadpool was no longer working alone, but with someone else. Sherlock's allies eventually met up with Dreadpool and Frankenstein's Monster in Paris, 1627, after they had slain the Three Musketeers. Natty Bumppo was thrown onto Hua Mulan's sword, seemingly killing him.
- Expert Tracker: Natty was a talented tracker, which seemed to convert into a talent in investigation. Such skills was probably honed by his time stalking animals for meat. He was so good that by mere observations of a crime scene, Natty was able to peace together that Dreadpool had a comrade with him when killing literary characters.
- Expert Marksman: Natty's main weapon of choice was his long rifle, which was probably the same rifles during the French and Indian War. Natty was a talented and confident marksman, even boasting to Dreadpool that he could have killed him from a far without the merc knowing, but chose not to because he wanted to beat the crap out of Dreadpool face-to-face. This mistake cost him his life.
- Seasoned Axe Fighter: For back-up and close-range, Natty used a Native American tomahawk. Tomahawks were typically weapons that could chop people and even be thrown. Natty was good with his tomahawk to the point that he could hold his own against Dreadpool and his swords. Although he was fighting Dreadpool together with Mulan at that time.
X-Factors[]
Training
Even though the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen were in the employ of the British Intelligence, only Allan Quartermain and possibly Captain Nemo had some sort of professional combat training. Quatermain was a veteran of many African colonial conflicts, while Nemo was a high borne and may have taken part in the Sepoy Mutiny. The rest were basically civilians and criminals. Sherlock's Team had far more professional warriors in them. Beawulf was essentially a Dark Age warrior, Natty Bumppo was an Indian fighter, Hua Mulan was a soldier of Ancient China, and Dr. Watson was a veteran of the Afghan War.
Experience
The League takes this, both as individuals and as a group. While Sherlock's Team was made up of talented fighters, only Beawulf had experience with the unnatural prior to meeting Dreadpool. Sherlock's Team was also short-lived and thus had little experience fighting as a group. Meanwhile, the League fought against Fu Manchu, Professor Moriarty, and the Martian Molluscs. Even individual members, most notably Allan Quatermain, had experience fighting supernatural enemies before becoming a part of Murray's Group.
Teamwork
For the short life that it had, Sherlock's Team triumphed through the great leadership of Holmes and the camaredership of its members. Besides Holmes and Watson, Mulan and Bumppo had also forged a friendship that allowed Mulan to defeat Dreadpool. The League too had decent teamwork but was ultimately undone by the evilness of its members, most notably Invisible Man, who ended up betraying the team. Both Hyde and Nemo were roguish, and Allan and Mina bickered. While friendships were also made between members (even romance), by the end of the Martian invasion, the team disbanded with bitterness and sadness.
Note[]
- Battle takes place in London.
- This is the League during Volume II and Sherlock's Team during Deadpool Killustrated #4.
Battle[]
LXG:
Holmes' Team:
Prologue[]
Samson's coach trudged noisily on the rough Baker Street pavement. The route was short and the mission was simple, but the passengers couldn't help but miss the coziness of the British Museum. It was already late in the afternoon, tea was very much delayed, and soon, their stomachs would be screaming for dinner.
Truth was, it certainly would have been more comfortable, if only that one passenger, the changeling, went back to his original size.
"For God's sake, Hyde," the great hunter, Allan Quatermain, said. "This coach is tight enough already for the five of us."
"Ahehe," Hawley Griffin, the Invisible Man, all wrapped up with bandages and wearing a good suit, giggled. "Have mercy on those horses, will you? You already weigh five more. Maybe even ten."
"Hrrrrnnn... bugger off you two!" a topless Hyde growled. "Especially you, traitor! You're lucky! I would have broken your limbs and raped you if it wasn't--"
"Enough!" Miss Murray, wearing an elegant purple frock and a golden hat, said. "We are on a mission, remember? We haven't even started it and it's tiring enough already. Your bickering doesn't help!"
"Your state's been extra peculiar, Hyde," the turbaned prince, Nemo, commented. "You haven't changed back to Jekyll since the Martian Invasion."
"And that's just the way I like it!" responded Hyde." Jekyll and I feel some danger looming. Better I handle this one until he finally grows a pair. Or an extra two! Hahahaha"
In Baker Street, in a corner that bore the name of a great detective, Sherlock Holmes sat down on a weird chair and contemplated. All around him was scattered papers, slippers, and ripped clothes -- a disregarded place. But even so, this was his abode -- his Elysium, whatever grime or rubbish there were or ever would be.
"Holmes," Dr. John Watson said as he waved his bowler hat at him. "Do respond. You haven't said anything since the last hour."
"I was just dozing off, Watson," Holmes jested with a smile. "The mind needs rest, especially before--"
"I think you have enough rest! If what you are saying is true. Then our enemies will be here any minute soon!"
"Relax, Watson, and have some tea. I'm ready for them. Always been."
And then they heard the sounds of hooves clacking from the outside. It was followed by heavy footsteps, with one that was loud and strong, enough to rock the whole bloody floor. A knock was then heard. Watson swallowed his fear and unhooked his holster. He then approached the door and opened it widely. Murray, Quatermain, Hyde, Nemo, and Griffin walked inside. Watson was aghast at the monster that was Edward Hyde, while Holmes stared at them with nothing but curiosity.
"Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I presume?" Murray asked.
"Indeed, I am," replied Holmes.
"I suspect bees to be here."
"Oh no, they're not. They're in the countryside. Maybe I can show them to you someday."
"Listen, your brother, Mycroft--"
"Ah yes. My brother. Always the smarter person. Always the one who knows everything. And now he's sent you lot. His little league."
Holmes then began to press switches on the chair he was sitting on. A hum was heard and gears began to spin violently. There was also a horrible noise of clanging metal. Holmes continued his talk. "I apologize for not being here when the Martians attacked. I was preoccupied with a separate, similarly dangerous threat. A virus by the name of Deadpool. He was... an anomaly... You wouldn't understand."
"Mr. Holmes, please..."
"Oh, woman. You really think that it's a good idea to give this chair, this time machine, to people who had no problems killing innocents with biological weapons? It doesn't take a genius to know that."
Nemo, the one who was most distraught by what Holmes said, bowed his head and gritted his teeth. Everyone else was on edge. What was going on? Are they going to fight? Against Sherlock Holmes no less?
"Enough talk!" Hyde screamed. "We killed your nemesis and we'll kill you too."
"Friend. You won't do no such thing."
As Hyde ran towards Holmes, his arms and fangs bearing, the rest screaming for him to stop, and Watson hurryingly drawing his revolver to protect his friend, the chair made its final whirr and beep, before a great flash of light blinded everyone. When everyone's sights came back, the League was astonished at what welcomed them. They had been transported to a little village in some big forest. The twirling green trees were no mere woods, for they had doors and windows and a little front or back yard. Banners decorated the branches, and there was music, and jolliness, and silly merriness. Most peculiar was the fact that the little village was home to... little people -- fat long-haired bearded munchkins with large hairy feet, wearing vests, pants, and tiny capes, smoking those acrid pipes of theirs an inch too big for their size.
Some of them saw the League, but looked neither spooked or scared. In fact, some of them even invited them. "Welcome good strangers! Would you all like some cake? We've baked some for those who came before you," a female hobbit told them.
The League was both fascinated and horrified that this thing even talked. They weren't naïve to weirdness but they all admit that they still needed to get used to it. But something that the hobbit said caught Murray's attention. "D-Did you say... or did you mean... there were people like us who came here before?"
Battle[]
Suddenly, leaping from a tall tree was a gargantuan barbarian. With a loud thunderous krakoom, he landed on Hyde's head, burying it to the ground. The giant, the king Beowulf himself, followed by pummeling on the fiend's face over and over again. Shots and arrows then flew towards the League as they tried to absorb what the hell was even happening.
Holmes and Watson then ran towards the trees, to where the ambushers were. "Bumppo!" Holmes yelled. "Remember the plan!"
"Don't fret, dandy," the frontiersman hiding in the bushes with his coonskin hat, replied. "This is easy."
Griffin was in the process of frantically removing his clothes. Although he managed to get the bandages off, he struggled with his garters and his pants. "Damn this! Damn them all!" he cursed. Unfortunately, he never achieved his endeavor. A shot from Bumppo's long rifle hit Griffin square in the chest. He fell down dead, his body now slowly becoming more and more visible.
"Griffin!" Murray screamed as Quatermain and Nemo took her into a hobbit hole. They took refuge inside and cowered against the relentless rifle and arrow fire. Nemo had drawn his harpoon gun, while Quatermain unslung his elephant gun. Meanwhile, Hyde was on his feet, now in a pugilistic match against Beowulf. With a roar, he put a straight punch at the king's jaw. The latter followed up with an uppercut to the former's midsection, sending him reeling. The two then began wailing at each other with fury.
"Allan," Murray whimpered as she tried to get her bearings. "We have to take out Holmes. It's the only way."
"I have to kill that sniper first," Quatermain said. He knelt down and took aim with his rifle on the windowsill. He saw the black powder puff that Bumppo's rifle breathed out. Taking a chance, a gamble, on where his enemy was, he inhaled a deep breath and let out a slug. The high-caliber fire that was enough to kill an elephant, dismembered Bumppo into a heap far worse than a victim of a train crash.
"No!" the bowman who had been firing at them since arriving, yelled. Although to call her a man was an error, for she was Mulan, the female Chinese warrior. She then drew her jian sword and ran towards her foe, screaming a war cry so unnatural and hellish.
"Watson!" Holmes, too, shouted. "Help her, man!"
The good doctor then began shooting wildly with his Webley revolver. Although his shots missed, it was enough to pin down Quatermain. "Mulan! The monster!" Holmes again yelled. "Get rid of that monster, now!"
Mulan then ran towards where Hyde and Beowulf were fighting. Sliding down on her knees, she sliced Hyde's achilles tendons, making the brute fall down screaming in pain. Though his cheeks swollen and his ribs in pain, Beowulf finally had enough and drew his great sword. He swung that sharp hunk of metal adorned with runes, and detached Hyde's head from his torso. Invigorated by the new victory, Holmes and his team swarmed the League's position.
"Damn..." Quatermain said.
"W-What are we going to do? N-Nemo?" Murray inquired.
Nemo then stood up, his harpoon gun in his hands. "Leave it to me..."
In a powerful sweep, Holmes' team was struck by a hurricane of bolts. Watson was shot in the neck, killing him instantly.. The great detective yelled in anguish as he caught his dead friend in his arms. Beowulf too was not so lucky. He tried to push his way through, but he took over 50 bolts in his face, body, and legs. His eyes were punctured, and so was his throat, chest, and groin. Blind, dumb, and castrated, the king fell down deader than the dinosaurs. Mulan, on the other hand, managed to roll on her back to dodge the arrows. Holmes' team was decimated, but still standing.
Nemo then left the hobbit hole and drew his talwar sword. Quatermain too walked out with his rifle still aimed. Holmes dried his tears and stood up, his face wracked and contorted into an evil, murderous look. This was the last round. They had lost so much. Only one would be walking out victorious.
Mulan lunged and Nemo blocked her slash. Nemo then pushed her and made a mad slice at her head, but Mulan parried his attack and sidekicked him away. Quatermain hesitated in pulling the trigger, and this gave Holmes the opportunity to dash towards him and punch his chest. Quatermain tried to use his rifle as a club to keep Holmes away, but the detective merely leaned back to escape such a pathetic counter, before hitting Quatermain's throat with a two-finger nerve strike. As the old man gurgled and wheezed, Holmes swept his feet with a circular kick, making him fall to the ground. Placing his knee on Quatermain's belly, Holmes raised his fists, saying, "I always thought you were overrated." He then began pounding Quatermain's face mercilessly.
Nemo rushed towards Mulan with his sword, but Mulan, with grace, caught his arm and shoulder-threw him to the ground. Mulan leaped into the air and tried to drive her sword on Nemo's abdomen, but the submariner managed to roll out of the way. As Nemo attempted to get back on his feet, he failed to spot Mulan as she slashed his guts, drawing a ton of blood. Shocked and in pain, Nemo refocused his mind and bit through his suffering. As a confident Mulan prepared her coup de grace, Nemo thrusted his sword through her chest, surprising her, and dooming her. They both fell down dead.
Quatermain felt every heavy seasoned blow, every pain and every chip off his flesh and bone. Elbows followed by punches, and then more punches before elbows. Breathing felt like drowning, every movement and cry strenuous. He couldn't get him off, no matter how much strength he tried to give. He was an old frail opium sot compared to a grand martial artist and intellectual. He was outmatched. And soon the darkness in the corner of his eyes would envelop everything. Finally, he would be at peace.
Holmes gasped as he stopped his pounding. He stretched his back and tried to reach it. A knife had been plunged into his spine. Murray's hands clutched it, her eyes fiery like Satan's hearth. Holmes spoke no more -- not even a quip, a wit, or any other intellectual comeback. That once magnificent brain began to shut down, becoming mere useless jelly now. His body fell to the ground, his face bore the same surprised appearance. Murray then ran to Quatermain and hugged him tightly. She hugged her lover, her final comrade of their now destroyed league, praying he was still alive.
"Allan... please..." Murray sobbed.
"M-Mina..." Quatermain mumbled.
"It's all right, Allan. It's over. Thank God, it's over."
Quatermain then looked around, the once happy village now a ghost town. "Yeah but... how do we get home?"
Expert’s Opinion[]
Although Holmes’ team was no pushover, and both Beowulf and Natty Bumppo each beat their counterparts on the League, the Murray’s Group still won due to having the better leader, a more experienced right-hand man, a guy with a machine gun, and overall better experience and teamwork.