The Aftermath – The Darkness Lingers
The tension in the WWE Universe was palpable. The events of the past few days had left fans and wrestlers alike on edge. Jaxon Cross had fought valiantly, battling through the betrayal of Seth Rollins, the ruthless attacks by Edge and Randy Orton, and the unsettling presence of The Undertaker. But the chaos that had unfolded was only the beginning. The darkness that had been hinted at, the ominous message from The Undertaker, loomed over the entire locker room.
Seth Rollins stood backstage, his face bruised and bloodied from the brutal encounter. He leaned against a wall, still recovering from the RKO he had received, but his mind was focused on the same thing as everyone else—the note left in the ring by The Undertaker. "The darkness claims all."
Seth's eyes narrowed. "What the hell does that mean?" he muttered to himself. His mind raced, calculating every possible scenario. But then, the door to his locker room swung open.
It was Jaxon Cross—a man who had been betrayed and discarded but still stood taller than most in the WWE. His gaze was cold, intense. There was a sense of purpose in his eyes now, something darker than the fire that had driven him before.
"You know what we need to do, Seth," Jaxon said, his voice low. "We need to put aside whatever this is between us, and we need to stop The Undertaker before he tears everything apart."
Seth rolled his eyes. "Oh, now you want to team up? What happened to your whole 'trust no one' shtick?"
Jaxon's glare hardened, but he didn't flinch. "You're right. I don't trust you. But right now, we have one enemy in common, and if we don't deal with him, there won't be anything left to fight for."
Seth took a deep breath, realizing that Jaxon wasn't wrong. He had his own vendetta against The Undertaker for the years of torment and humiliation, and there was something more pressing at hand. They needed to stand together, even if it meant working with the one person he least wanted to.
"Fine," Seth said reluctantly, "But the second this is over, we go back to being enemies. No more games."
Jaxon nodded solemnly, his focus still on the looming threat of The Undertaker. The universe had shifted, and if they didn't stop it now, they might be consumed by it.
---
The Call to Arms – Gathering the Forces
As the week went by, whispers of The Undertaker's return spread throughout the locker room. Superstars began to prepare for what was to come, not knowing exactly when or where The Deadman would strike next. Everyone was on edge, from the young up-and-comers to the legends who had been through it all. The shadows of Edge and Randy Orton were still present, lurking, watching for any opportunity to strike. But none of that mattered. There was a bigger, more sinister force at play.
Jaxon and Seth knew they had to act fast. They couldn't wait for Undertaker to make the next move; they needed to take the fight to him.
The two rivals, now uneasy allies, met in secret, hashing out a plan of attack. Seth Rollins wanted to use his intellect and tactical advantage to outmaneuver The Undertaker, while Jaxon Cross, with his unmatched physical prowess, would be the front line. The idea was to confront The Undertaker head-on, using sheer willpower and strength to stand against the darkness that had taken root in the WWE.
But there was something they didn't count on—Edge and Randy Orton had other plans.
---
Edge and Orton – The Opportunists
Backstage, Edge and Randy Orton watched the tension unfold with a knowing smirk. They weren't concerned with The Undertaker's cryptic warnings. They didn't fear the Deadman. No, they saw an opportunity to strike while the WWE was distracted with the growing threat. The chaos created by The Undertaker could be manipulated to their advantage.
"Jaxon Cross and Seth Rollins," Edge mused aloud, watching them from a distance. "They think they can handle this alone. But they're about to learn the hard way that the darkness is a force no one can control."
Orton, ever the calculating strategist, nodded in agreement. "We don't need to face The Undertaker. We don't need to align ourselves with anyone. We just need to let them destroy each other. Then we swoop in and take what's ours."
The two men laughed, a cold, predatory sound that echoed through the empty hallway.
---
The Undertaker's Message – A Warning in the Ring
The night of the match arrived. The arena was filled to the brim, buzzing with anticipation for what was sure to be a historic event. The tension between Jaxon and Seth had already reached a boiling point, but now, they were standing united, waiting for their chance to confront The Undertaker. The lights flickered as the eerie bell tolls echoed throughout the arena, signaling the arrival of The Deadman.
The crowd was silenced as The Undertaker emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding the attention of every soul in the building. He slowly made his way to the ring, where Jaxon and Seth stood, waiting. The two men were no longer enemies for the moment—they had a common purpose. But even as they stared at The Undertaker, they couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap.
The Undertaker raised his hand, and the arena went dark. A cold chill ran through the crowd, and a voice echoed over the loudspeakers.
"Jaxon Cross… Seth Rollins… you think you can stand against me? You think you can stop what is already inevitable? You cannot escape the darkness. You cannot escape fate. It is time for the final judgment."
The lights flickered back on, and Edge and Orton appeared at ringside, their eyes gleaming with malicious intent. Jaxon Cross and Seth Rollins were surrounded. The trap had been set.
---
The Final Showdown – Darkness Unleashed
The bell rang, and all hell broke loose. Edge and Orton immediately began to attack Jaxon and Seth, hammering them with brutal shots to the back and head. But Jaxon fought back with ferocity, taking Edge down with a spine-shattering powerbomb while Seth went toe-to-toe with Orton, delivering a series of high-impact kicks and suplexes.
But the real battle was yet to come. As Jaxon and Seth were gaining momentum, the Undertaker made his move. He slid into the ring, delivering a Chokeslam to Jaxon that nearly shook the arena. Seth rushed to intervene, only to be met with Taker's signature Tombstone Piledriver. The Undertaker stood tall in the center of the ring, his eyes glowing with a supernatural fire.
But Jaxon, battered and bruised, refused to stay down. He slowly pulled himself up, staring down The Undertaker with a defiant expression. "You can't break me, Undertaker. You won't control me."
The Undertaker's chilling laugh filled the arena. "You are already broken, Jaxon Cross. You just don't know it yet."
The battle continued, but Jaxon and Seth were on the ropes. The tide had shifted in The Undertaker's favor. Edge and Orton had backed off, letting the darkness unfold, waiting for their moment to strike. The final judgment was near, but no one knew who would emerge as the last man standing.
---
Next Chapter (23): The Wrath of the Fallen
Jaxon Cross faces his darkest fears as he takes on The Undertaker in a war for his soul.
Seth Rollins grapples with his own demons and must decide whether to stay true to himself or give in to the darkness.
Edge and Randy Orton prepare to pick up the pieces, waiting for the right moment to seize control of the situation.
---