Apex Arena – Semi-final: Luke Hobbs vs. Major Dutch Schaefer

[Culwych1]

Introduction

When the aliens first descended, they shattered the foundations of reality itself. Gods in form and power, they tore through our defences with effortless precision. Lightspeed drones ripped apart cities, beings of pure thought unravelled human minds, and omnipotent figures bent the laws of physics, annihilating entire armies with a mere gesture. Resistance was futile, but humanity clung desperately to survival.

At first, our defiance puzzled them. Then it amused them. From this amusement was born a twisted form of entertainment: the Apex Arena, a tournament where 32 of humanity’s fiercest warriors, heroes, and legends were plucked from myth, history, and imagination to fight. The battlegrounds, living and shifting, became theatres of violence, where landscapes warped and traps blossomed like alien flowers. It was a show for the alien overlords, but for humanity, it was torment—a forced spectacle beamed into the minds of every living soul.

As the tournament progressed, the aliens’ appetite for carnage deepened. They had become addicted to the screams, the desperate defiance, and the raw survival instinct of their human champions. Their laughter, if that is indeed what the noise echoing in humanity’s head was, echoed across the psychic waves that connected them to us. With every splatter of blood and final breath, their joy grew. Humanity’s hope, they believed, was little more than an exquisite plaything.

Now, as the semi-finals loom, the aliens prepare to escalate their cruel game. The battlegrounds will become more vicious, reflecting not just their mastery over reality, but time itself. This is no longer a simple contest of strength or cunning; it is a test of resilience against chaos itself. The warriors who have fought and survived this far are more than legends—they are the embodiment of humanity’s refusal to break.

The Apex Arena stirs, its alien designers eager to watch the last few battles unfold. Four champions remain, each more determined, more bloodied, and more dangerous than before. They step into arenas where time, history, and reality itself shift beneath their feet. They fight not just for survival, but for humanity’s last shred of dignity.

The semi-finals begin now, and we watch powerless as our heroes go to war.

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Apex Arena – Semi-final: Luke Hobbs vs. Major Dutch Schaefer

The Apex Arena crackled with energy as its alien creators reshaped it into a living nightmare. This time, the battleground was a trench torn straight from the horrors of World War I. Mud clung to the wooden walls, jagged barbed wire stretched overhead, and the air was thick with the stench of rot and acrid smoke. The occasional boom of distant artillery rattled the ground, and the dim, grey sky seemed to hang heavy with despair.

Luke Hobbs stood in the muck, his boots sinking as he gripped a bolt-action rifle in one hand and a trench knife strapped to his side. Across the narrow expanse of the trench, Major Dutch Schaefer crouched low, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. Both men had been stripped of their comforts. This was raw survival, man against man, weapon against weapon.

Above the trenches, a massive timer floated, counting down from one month, its pale light casting eerie shadows over the muddy ground. A faint voice, cold and alien, echoed in their minds. "The most kills wins."

The rules were simple, but the stakes were cruel. Each time one of them died, they would reset in the trench, healed but forced to fight again. No escape, no reprieve, only death and revival, over and over.

The alien whistle blew sharply, a sound pulled from a century-old memory of war. It had haunted men then as it was a signal for an order than nobody wished to hear; go over the top.

Hobbs surged out of the trench first, his massive frame charging into no man’s land. The ground was uneven, soaked with stagnant water, and littered with debris. Machine-gun fire erupted from unseen bunkers, the bullets tearing into the mud around him. Dutch followed moments later, his rifle ready, moving with the precision of a soldier who’d lived through chaos like this before.

The two combatants locked eyes across the desolate battlefield, their mutual understanding as clear as the weapon in their hands. Hobbs raised his rifle and fired, the shot slamming into the dirt just inches from Dutch’s feet. Dutch dropped to one knee, taking aim with calm efficiency, and returned fire. The bullet clipped Hobbs’ shoulder, sending him staggering backward.

Hobbs recovered quickly, his jaw clenched as he closed the distance. Dutch fired again, but Hobbs ducked, hurling himself into a shallow crater for cover. The two men circled, their movements slow and deliberate, until Hobbs exploded forward, using his sheer size and power to slam into Dutch. The two men went down in a brutal grapple, mud splattering their faces as they wrestled for control.

Dutch used his momentum to roll Hobbs onto his back. His knife flashed, catching the faint light as he drove it toward Hobbs’ throat. But Hobbs caught his wrist, holding the blade inches from his neck, his strength forcing Dutch’s hand away. With a roar, Hobbs twisted, throwing Dutch off balance and slamming his fist into the Major’s ribs.

Dutch grunted, dropping his knife, but managed to land a savage elbow to Hobbs’ face. It was enough to create distance, and Dutch scrambled to his feet, reaching for his rifle. Hobbs followed, blood dripping from his split lip, grabbing the trench knife at his side.

They met again in a flash of steel and fury. Dutch feinted left, drawing Hobbs’ guard, then drove his blade into Hobbs’ chest. The large man gasped, the light fading from his eyes as he fell to his knees. Dutch stepped back, breathing heavily, as the whistle blew again.

[[RESET]]

Hobbs blinked, standing in the trench once more, his chest unmarked, his injuries gone. Across from him, Dutch was resetting his rifle, his eyes sharp and ready. They exchanged a brief nod, acknowledgment, perhaps, of the absurdity of their situation. But, just as the soldiers had done back then, when the whistle blew they went over the top again.

The second round was faster, fiercer. Hobbs stormed forward; his rifle firing shot after shot. Dutch darted through the chaos, using the craters and debris as cover. This time, it was Hobbs who landed the first significant blow. A well-aimed shot caught Dutch in the leg, sending him sprawling. Hobbs didn’t hesitate, closing the distance and throwing his rifle aside to engage in close combat.

Dutch pulled his knife, but Hobbs was relentless. He grabbed Dutch’s wrist, twisting the weapon away, and drove a brutal punch into Dutch’s jaw. The Major staggered, dazed, and Hobbs capitalized. With a savage roar, he brought his knife down, burying it in Dutch’s side.

Dutch’s breath hitched, his strength fading as he collapsed to the ground. The whistle blew again.

[[RESET]]

The third round began without hesitation. Both men reset, their bodies healed but their minds weighed down by the grim reality of their task. The timer overhead had barely moved, and already they were locked in a cycle of violence.

This time, the battlefield shifted slightly. A thick fog rolled in, obscuring visibility and amplifying the sound of their footsteps. The distant gunfire seemed muted, and the air grew colder. Hobbs moved cautiously, his rifle raised, scanning for any sign of Dutch. The fog made it impossible to predict where the next attack would come from.

Dutch emerged from the haze like a ghost, his rifle trained on Hobbs. He fired, the bullet grazing Hobbs’ arm. Hobbs returned fire, but the fog distorted the sound, and his shot went wide. Dutch closed the distance, his movements eerily silent. By the time Hobbs realized he was there, Dutch had already struck.

The knife fight that followed was desperate and brutal. Hobbs used his raw power to deflect Dutch’s attacks, but the Major’s precision began to wear him down. A sudden explosion rocked the battlefield, throwing both men into the mud. They scrambled to their feet, knives raised and lunged at each other simultaneously.

The scoreboard above them displayed the results: 1-1 as they stabbed and lunged.

This would be their reality for the next month, each furiously determined to win this match of Apex. Battle after battle, reset after reset, grim determination and blood were the only constants.

The Aliens laughed, and just as we had over 100 years ago, we cried as our heroes fought and died in the mud.  

 

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Luke Hobbs
Read more about Luke Hobbs at Wikipedia
Official Site: Universal Studios Links: Wikipedia Luke Hobbs - Fast and Furious Wikia Fast Five - Fast and Furious Wikia

Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer
Read more about Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer at Wikipedia
Official Site: 20th Century Fox Links: Wikipedia Entry IMDB Link Official Site