Hera vs. Gem Queen - Palace of Pain!

Gem Queen further dug her boot heel into Hera's side, as she pulled on, letting out a nasty laugh. To add further salt on the wound, she twisted Hera's wrist as she was pulling it, intending to make her suffer as much as possible.

"Give up before I rip them off!"

Hera seethed in agony, hyperventilating through her gnashed teeth- She could feel her joints screaming, begging her to give in and relieve them of their suffering, but silenced them with a hiss that slowly built into a roar-

"N--... NEVER!"

Suddenly she rocked her body forwards, attempting to upset the Gem Queen's balance and throw her over with the very limbs she had been targeting!

Gem Queen didn't see that coming! This error resulted in her to be sent sailing over Hera, giving a yelp in surprise as she slammed, head first, into the ring floor, letting go of Hera's limbs, and spun forward, sitting up in a dazed position, her head spinning in a stunned state!

"YES!"

The sound of Hermes (who had been watching with an emotion juuuust shy of absolute horror) cheering rang out over the audience's own roar, as Hera's finally evened the odds a little!

The Gladiator struggled to her feet- That nagging feeling is back in her leg again, this time throbbing a bit harder as she puts pressure. She scowled and dug her teeth into her bottom lip slightly as she looked to the stunned Gem Queen... And clenched her fist tight. She'll pay for her taunting...

Hera kept her eyes locked on her target as she took a step back, pushing her body off the ropes to gain momentum... "HYYRAGGH!!" ... and lunging her whole body down at the seated Queen, rocketing the stiffest lariat she could muster right for her throat!

The Queen tried to shake the dizziness out of head, just in time to hear a mass of screaming Amazonian energy approaching. Turning her head around to see Hera dashing, she tried to lower her head.

Good news was, her neck was saved.

The bad news was, her head took the brunt of the hit.

This time, Gem Queen practically spun like a wheel, actually flipping airwards by about 2 feet before slamming on the floor! That blow also left her in a dizzy state again, giving out a few coughs.

Hera had thrown herself so hard at the Queen she fell flat- But with a slam of her hands on the mat, she was on her feet in an instant, looking to the crowd and flexing her biceps in front of her, bellowing out a fierce warrior cry from the pit of her stomach! It bordered on being draconian in nature, it was so powerful... And the spectators did not shy away in showing their approval, roaring back and chanting her name as Hermes smirked and politely clapped with a nod.

She hadn't been paying attention to the Gem Queen in the time she spent appealing to the crowd, but it didn't matter- Right now, she felt like she could smite any deity before her. With a huff, she turned and marched to her foe, looking to roll her over and grab fistfuls of her leotard to deadlift her right over her head!

Gem Queen was busy trying to shake the stars and many sides of the view in her vision to start fixating on one thing, only hearing what sounded like a beast roaring. As it cleared up, she felt herself being hoisted over into the air, letting out a noise of surprise as she realized Hera was about to throw her!

Not so fast.

She lowered an arm to grab and pull one of Hera's horns, which if making her lose some grip, she uses to immediately slip out of the deadlift, and wrap an arm around Hera's head, dragging her down with her as she fell! She would flip Hera to the mat, and immediately lock in a headlock with one arm while her other arm was firmly placed over Hera's stomach.

Hera grinned wildly as she hoisted the Queen into the air, presenting her like a trophy for everyone to see as she prepared to--!

"Ghh--!" Unfortunately she felt a harsh tug on one of her horns, forcing her head back and upsetting her grip on the Queen- Who, ever the opportunist, snagged Hera's head right as she fell down and spiked her to the mat with a bulldog!

Hera gasped as she felt her skull rock from the impact, and before she even had a chance to think about catching her bearings the Gem Queen had her in a stifling headlock, the Gladiator's cheek pressed against her body. Still fueled by adrenaline however, Hera refused to lie down, reaching her right arm over to grab her opponent and force her over her shoulder, looking to quickly scramble on top of her and lock her arms around her neck and shoulder in a North to South position!

Gem Queen was smiling smugly as she got Hera in the headlock.

Her face turned to anger when Hera managed to use her strength to reverse the outcome and get her locked in a North to South! Hera's strong arms around her neck was not pleasant, her neck not being as thick as Hera's. Taking a gasping breathe to breathe, Queens free arm was stretched out, trying to reach for a rope, but alas, too far away!

Stuck in that position, she changed her plans up, and instead, resorted to tactic two.

Lifting her legs up, so that her lower body was arcing upwards, she lifted her body off the floor while still in the hold, and with a loud growl, immediately flipped herself over, while trying to throw Hera off to her side! If this succeeds, she would immediately aim to grab Hera's horns, reel her in, and then apply a half nelson hold while wrapping her chubby legs around Hera's waist!

Hera flexed her muscles as snuggly as she could around the Gem Queen's neck while keeping her right arm pinned up, severely limiting her options. All the while pressing her chest into Gem Queen's face and forcing as much of her weight down onto her head- Meaning the Queen was being choked, stretched, and smothered all at the same time.

For most fighters Gem Queen's size, this position would prove difficult, maybe even disastrous... But the Queen isn't like the rest. She's a freak of nature.

Hera let out a soft breath as she felt her prey rise up underneath her, forcing the Gladiator to stand to try and keep her hold locked in- Which proved to be a mistake, as the Gem Queen twisted to the side and broke the hold! In an instant she felt herself being yanked back by her horns again, and gasped as one of the Gem Queen's thick arms ran under her own, hooking it up into a tight half-nelson! Hera tried to pull away, but the Queen's other arm kept her trap, leaving her to struggle in the simple but effective hold!

"H-How... How are you so strong...?!" Hera hissed through her teeth.