Description: A surprisingly urbane meeting between a murderous Outworld assassin and one of Earthrealm's defenders takes whole minutes to devolve into an attempt to murder one another! Then the police turn up and ruin everything, because THE MAN is there to keep us down.
EARLY AFTERNOON
SOUTHTOWN DOWNTOWN
What many people don't realize about preparing for an Outworld invasion is that it's not all about the training montages. Although a great deal of fighting practice and going through drills is essential in this kind of situation, there are also other far more mundane, less exciting things to consider. Such as gathering supplies.
With Raiden taking care of training whatever allies the Society has gathered, it falls upon Nightwolf to do all the boring shopping stuff. He's seen traveling towards inner Southtown visiting many a magician or spiritual shop to strengthen the barrier he has placed around Raiden's shrine in order to provide a stable base of operations without fearing the risk of getting attacked in home ground. There's also food that needs to be collected and materials to be bought to actually repair the shrine into manageable living conditions, because while preventing the entrance of demons is important, its not much of a base of operations if its leaking water and falling apart on their heads.
Normally Nightwolf would endeavor to procure all these materials from the land itself, being more than capable to hunt and gather all that he needs, including his own enchanted items to ward off against Darkstalkers prowling the area, but because he fears that they are all running out of time he's forced to take drastic measures and head to the city.
It is here that his trail leads, the scent of Outworld still lingering on his body. He walks behind some buildings in his human form carrying a large back pack.
Invasion is just as interesting an engagement. Most people focus on the obvious; the massed dangers, the terrible battles, plans about how and where to bring to bear the most overwhelming amount of force they can. What people rarely think about are the logistical problems involved. The servants of Shao Kahn may have found ways, here and there, slowly and carefully, to enter the mortal realm.
Finding each other after they have done so is a different matter entirely.
Which is why, as Nightwolf heads towards a hardware store to pick up his supplies, he is watched. Skarlet keeps her own council, but her eyes narrow when she spies the native american man, and she sniffs at the air. The world is a strange and disturbing place, with its concrete and glass towers, hundreds - thousands - of people going about their business with no intent of murdering each other.
When the red-haired ninja alights from above, it is noiseless. But having descended gracefully to land behind Nightwolf, the man's keen senses no doubt pick her up immediately, even though she doesn't say a word.
The scent of blood. The taste of violence in the air.
All casual conversation on the street seems almost to fade away in that instant - some genuinely shutting up because they just watched a ninja appear from nowhere, as though she simply dropped from the Heavens themselves...
... and the world's background hum fading in reverence to the otherworldy woman's very nature ...
There are benefits with being one with the spirits. Even if one is able to walk as silently as a cloud passing through the sky as the ninja are notorious for, it is far more difficult to silence the drum beating hard on their hearts. All creatures of Outworld, no matter their actual disposition, seem to carry this 'taint' with them. The violence, the inner turmoil, the sheer intense bloodshed, they carry them like a banner, marking them as something far more than a mortal or a simple Darkstalker. They are something else; Otherworlders, a category on their own. The very realm itself seems to cringe at their presence, as if reality itself knew that they should not be treading these far more peaceful lands.
And if the land itself is aware of something, so is Nightwolf.
The shaman's reaction is instantaneous, he drops his back pack and whirls around to face Skarlet. Eyes widen with recognition even if he has never seen this woman before, he knows that she's from Outworld. To his credit, he holds his peace, preventing the blood ninja from learning anything from an accidental slip of his tongue. Nightwolf immediately wonders if this woman is in league with Mileena, but he dares not voice his concern lest he reveals some cards that he could have otherwise kept hidden.
What he does do, is that he gets into a fighting stance, and a glowing green axe made entirely out of chi appears on his hand.
It will become very evident to Skarlet just how different Earthrealm is from Outworld. Where it would be perfectly normal for two people to randomly start fighting each other in the middle of the street, things are not quite as volatile here as they are in Outworld. Earthrealmers tend to react negatively when they see two people squaring off in the streets like this and what would have been mildly entertaining in Outworld.. here.. well..
It's a source of panic.
Because it's very obvious that these two people are about to try and probably kill each other.
"RUN!!" Someone screams as the crowd starts dispersing. "Call the cops, quick!!"
But Nightwolf does not move from his spot. Holding his ground until Skarlet decides to make her move.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf has started a fight here.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Skarlet has joined the fight here.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skarlet
Skarlet doesn't react as people scream and start to run away; it is confusing to her, but hardly worthy of her attention. Nightwolf, and his brilliantly green axe, that seems mildly interesting... but perhaps surprisingly, she makes no immediate move to strike at him. It may occur to the man that, as silent as she had been, if she'd wanted to simply kill him, she could have made the first strike from the shadows. Her outfit, revealing though it is, is also associated with those subtle and murderous arts, after all.
She stays low to the ground, circling to Nightwolf's left, and keeps her eyes upon him. He's judging her, and she him. She can sense the danger in the man; the power of that energy, and she's in no rush to enter a needless battle if she can avoid it. It would not serve her Master's purpose for her to kill this man for no reason.
But she's also not about to give him an opening.
Infuriatingly, Skarlet doesn't speak either; she just maintains eye contact now that she has it. From behind her mask, her expression is difficult to read... but there's a questioning hint, there. In a raised eyebrow, perhaps, or glinting in her eye. She knows that he knows what she is...
But what is he going to DO about it?
It suits Nightwolf just fine that she doesn't speak, since he isn't much of a talker either. Because the truth of the matter is that she really doesn't need to for the shaman to discern what is really going on here. It's very true, if Skarlet sought his death she could have very well dropped on him from the sky and deliver at the very least an initial blow. That she hasn't attacked him already means that she needs him alive for something, and considering that she is quite evidently from Outworld whatever she has in mind can't be good.
It takes the skinwalker a moment to think. He follows her prowling movements with his eyes, turning his body to face her as she circles him and waits for something to happen. When nothing does, he figures that if Skarlet was simply her to parlay she would have said something already.
If she's not here to kill him and she's not here to talk, then Nightwolf is not accountable for resorting to habit and try to capture her. Because he is the Sin Eater and subduing Darkstalkers that brazenly walk the streets causing havoc is what he does.
He whirls that axe of his on his hand and takes a sudden step forward to hurl it at the blood ninja. The energy axe spins in the air several times sailing blade first for the woman's face.
COMBATSYS: Skarlet dodges Nightwolf's New Earth.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Skarlet
Skarlet looks the attack dead on, and as the axe twirls around, slashing towards her at deadly speed, she slides forwards. A thick trail of bright red blood is left on the ground in her wake, and she twists backwards as she comes in. Almost limboing underneath the blade, the axe scythes through the air, catching a few strands of loose red hair - which melt away into a smattering of blood drops.
Before they've even hit the ground, she's rising up again. Both daggers are drawn in an instant, shining wet and red, she aims to stab both deep into Nightwolf's sides, and if she's successful, bring her foot sharply up - heel first - to crash into his chin and send him into the window of the hardware store.
It is only AFTER she's given her deadly, uncompromising retaliation to the attack that she will speak up at all. The woman's voice is... quiet. Yet she speaks with such utter, eerie calm that her words slice through the growing fear of the crowd as surely as one of her blades would do. Just four words, almost sounding... resigned. She doesn't expect them to do any good; they never have before.
"Kombat is not necessary."
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf reflects Coagulation from Skarlet with Shield of the Ancients.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Skarlet
Definitely blood magic, thinks Nightwolf as his thrown axe manages to cut naught but a few strands of red hair which dissolve into blood. Although the shaman's actual interaction with creatures of Outworld is in reality very scarce, he has fought countless Darkstalkers all his life and has drawn much insight from his encounters. He's quick to categorize this woman who is clearly not human in nature, and if she's formed entirely out of blood and given life, then that makes her..
A blood golem.
Once he knows her true nature it's more manageable to deal with her. The glowing green axe hits a wall and it disappears into thin air, the energy returning to Nightwolf just in the time that he needs it.
Skarlet slides into his guard with slithering dexterity fueled by the lubrication of blood dripping from her skin. But when she draws her daggers out and it looks like she's successfully stab the shaman, he brings his gruff hands down to grab her by the arms and keep her in place. She's made entirely out of blood and that means that even the metal of her blades have the lingering magic of the blood ritual that was used to create her.
Sorcery that can be dispelled.
"Your evil betrays you!" The shaman shouts as he draws Skarlet's own power into him, purifies it, and channels the ninja's own sins into her body to burn her insides. It may be entirely possible that she is just evil by association and that her actions are not her own, but it is nonetheless clear that this woman has been the cause of a lot of death, willing or not.
The Sin Eater hoists Skarlet up in the air for a moment as she burns her and then flings her back against a wall to put distance between them.
"If you do not wish to engage in Kombat then stand down, woman." Nightwolf warns and resets his fighting stance. "I will be willing to listen if you give me your word you will harm no one here today."
The magic burns... but it isn't just Nightwolf who learns something. Skarlet doesn't shout, she doesn't scream; but she does hiss, and drawing backwards, her arms sizzle and crack a sickly red shade before the magic that composes her smooths the injury away. Those pretty golden eyes of hers flash a dangerous crimson as she eyes the taller man - he urges her to stand down, and make a promise she cannot keep. If she gives her word, and then he chooses to attack her, what is she to do then?
"I have no intention of harming those who do not stand against me." She whispers, straightening from her lower stance, and twirling one of her knives. "You drew first blood." The blade flickers up into the air, tossed--
And caught neatly between her fingers. The woman offers the weapon's handle to Nightwolf, her eyes back to their golden hue.
"Shed your blood in turn, and we may speak. Or I will take the answers I need from your heart."
The offer is made - and judging by everything else about the woman, she does not mean any of those terms figuratively. The burning energy hurt, but she is not cowed by it. Whilst she'd rather settle the matter without violence, now, there are codes which must be followed - rules which must be obeyed. What kind of servant of Shao Kahn would she be if she allowed injury to pass without payment?
COMBATSYS: Skarlet gains composure.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Skarlet
"A bold claim." Answers Nightwolf who remains in his fighting stance just as defiantly. "To think that a servant of Shao Kahn would dare not strike first." Skarlet is different than the Otherworlders that Nightwolf has seen thus far. She is nothing like Mileena for sure who went up and started slaughtering people with no rhyme or reason. Although she is most definitely from Outworld and reeks of evil sorcery, she appears to be very disciplined in a strange sort of way. The shaman doubts that Skarlet truly means no one harm from genuine care of her heart. More than likely she was simply not ordered to attack anyone today and it serves her purpose.
Whichever which way, Nightwolf's foremost duty is to protect Earthrealm, and it supersedes his instinct of wanting to banish evil creatures from the world. Although he could very well refuse and continue fighting Skarlet, the possibility of innocents being hurt in the ensuing fight is very real. Even now Mileena is probably hunting people down for the fun of it and the very thought of it sickens him to the very core. Let's not give this Blood Golem any more reasons to kill the innocent.
The shaman straightens up and breaks his stance when Skarlet gives him her ultimatum. His eyes narrow down at the offered blade and he brushes it away. He much rather not touch cursed items that could scar far more than just his skin.
But he will comply in his own way, the path of the warrior is after all about sacrifice, and if a few droplets of his blood is what it takes for this Outworld enforcer to keep her end of the bargain then Nightwolf is more than glad to pay it.
An energy knife appears on Nightwolf's right hand and he cuts his left palm, drawing blood. He straightens it out and squeezes, shedding Apache blood on the pavement in front of the offended Otherworlder.
"There is your blood payment, witch." Nightwolf says with his ever impassive gaze. "Now speak."
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf takes no action.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Skarlet
Skarlet sheathes one of her blades, and quick as lightning, she snatches the blood before it hits the ground. She brings it to her face, and annoints herself with it. As she steps back out of Nightwolf's personal space, the blood swirls into an intricate pattern, painting a tribal design against pale skin - before it begins to fade away, absorbed back into her.
It is only after she has taken her payment that she sheathes her other blade. By this time, the street is mostly deserted - those few who linger do so at a distance, watching with horrified fascination. Still, at least neither warrior seems to be trying to kill the other any longer.
"You have shed Outworlder blood."
It is at once a statement of fact, and the question at the heart of the matter. She can scent it on him; she knows that he is related, in some way, to her quarry. Why and where they fought, though, that was the most important question... and whether he slew Mileena, of course.
Not that Skarlet thinks that likely. Beings such as Mileena so rarely die easily.
The streets may be deserted for now, but it will not take long until the local authorities show up to crash the party. It was Nightwolf's original intention to keep Skarlet distracted until some other warriors showed up and took her down completely. However, now it looks like he has to make this quick before other parties show up and decide to take him in too for the ride. As much as Nightwolf dismisses cops and their power over society, he loathes to kill them if he can avoid it. Most of the time they are just doing their job.
Skarlet's statement is instantly understood by the perceptive shaman. He has drawn blood from Outworld and Skarlet does not mean her own. The sensing of realms goes both ways and it would be impossible for Nightwolf to pretend he doesn't know what she's talking about.
Still, while he was willing to speak, he made no promises to actually tell Skarlet what she wanted. Revealing Mileena's location would be quite troubling for the forces of Earthrealm who would now be facing a more united front. It's in the Sin Eater's best interest to keep them from getting organized and he naturally refuses to say anything concrete initially.
"What makes you think I will tell you where she is?"
"If you do not, you stand against me."
It is a simple response. Skarlet does not seem like a woman who speaks overly much; indeed, this may well be the longest conversation she has had in hundreds of years. Simple, direct and to the point. She will get the answers she needs one way or another; she is quite blissfully unaware of the potential dangers that law enforcement might provide.
Indeed, as the tell-tale screech of sirens begins, the only response from Skarlet is to raise her head faintly and glance - briefly - in the direction of the noise. She's no idea what that noise actually means, but it is horrendous. Her hands drift towards her back, resting easily on the hilt of the weapons there. It is only after a few, longer moments that she thinks to add something which might, even vaguely, entice Nightwolf to give her what she wants.
"If you do, I will answer a question in turn."
"I already stand against you, creature of Outworld." Nightwolf frowns, not necessarily very motivated to comply at this point. He was all too willing to resume the fight as it was, and it was only because of his adherence to honor the thoughts that no one is beyond redemption that he even considers talking to Skarlet. Any other member of the Hunters Guild would have attacked Skarlet with wild abandon without given her a chance to explain herself. Then again, the regular members of the Hunters Guild are crazed, money grubbing fools that probably have stood no chance against the Blood Golem, so he guesses it works both ways.
Nightwolf glances lightly to the side as he hears the sirens approaching and then back to Skarlet. It's as much of a hindrance for him as it is to her if the pigs show up. They would only be getting on the way, but it's not like Nightwolf can invite Skarlet over to the shrine to talk matters over some tea either. He must make a decision now.
"I will reveal her location if you do this one thing for me."
Now it is time for his ultimatum.
"Keep her from killing the innocent. If you care so much about your duty to your dark masters is done properly, then abide to the warrior code and challenge only us defenders of Earthrealm to Mortal Kombat."
"Do this and I will tell you where she is."
"I cannot." Skarlet says, her hand drawing the blade from its sheathe. Again, the words are very deliberate; it isn't that Skarlet /wouldn't/. If she could, she probably would; unnecessary deaths are just... unnecessary. It isn't as though she has any particular care for warrior codes, honor, or even the lives themselves it is just... uninteresting and unnecessary to her mind. But she doesn't have the authority to rein in Mileena, let alone the power to do so. And unfortunately, Nightwolf has said the magic words.
He stands against her. By his own mouth he is damned.
tIn a blur of motion, Skarlet throws herself back onto the offensive. This time, there's no magic in her assault at all. The blades when they are drawn do not burn with that red light; they are rendered mundane, and she puts everything she has into driving one first into Nightwolf's right shoulder, and then into his left, hoping to force him down to the ground.
If successful, the sudden, shocking violence will be followed with a powerful flip as she tears herself loose from his back, and hopefully leaves him on the floor. The woman was in no hurry for violence when it seemed there was no reason for it...
But it seems that kombat cannot be avoided after all!
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf just-defends Skarlet's Thicker Than Water!
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Nightwolf 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Skarlet
There is never any other answer.
Only Kombat.
There is absolutely no way Nightwolf would ever form part of the Hunters Guild. He stands too firmly on his beliefs that everyone deserves a second chance, even a monster from Outworld. And even if this decision proves to be damning he will nonetheless follow its path. His very nature as a Sin-Eater means that he is doomed already, might as well do it right.
Then again, Nightwolf has never been one to take things laying down. There is a reason why his tribe chose him to be the next Sin-Eater, and that is because when all is said and done he knows how to fight really well.
The shaman knows what is coming the moment Skarlet refuses to comply, twin energy battle axes appearing on his hands the moment that Skarlet vaults over him with descending blades. Nightwolf reacts quickly and brings both blades up for a double overhead block, blocking the blades from hitting his shoulders with the handle of his energy axes.
As Skarlet flips over his head, the Apache brave whirls around and swings those axes at the side of Skarlet's head with a snarl.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf successfully hits Skarlet with Tomahawk Smash.
-* CRITICAL HIT! *-
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Nightwolf 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Skarlet
The blow is a solid, powerful hit. Those axes each connect solidly with Skarlet's head. A vicious slash opens up across her forehead, and the splash of blood that paints the front of the hardware store leaves the entire window dripping with a gush of released gore.
But as Nightwolf had so astutely noted, she's not human. The woman steadies herself, and already, the wound is visibly closing over. The blood keeps flowing, but now it is pooling about her feet, letting her use it to slide back into the fray.
Her blade leads the way, aiming to slash hard across Nightwolf's stomach, and if successful, she'll kick the blood spray up in front of her, ploughing through it to roll him into - and through - the window which is, likewise, smeared in her blood. The crimson fluid isn't just blood, of course; it is laced with the very essence of her being, and is - as Nightwolf will discover if she's lucky - quite deadly to most other beings as it attempts to suck the life from others.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf reflects Blood Clot from Skarlet with Shield of the Ancients.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Skarlet
Unfortunately for Skarlet, her very nature is what betrays her here. A creature of Outworld is indeed a dangerous foe that can plow through most mortals. However, there exists such Earthrealmers that have been bred specifically to fight these foes and are actually quite proficient in dealing with Otherworldy entities.
It is not unlike paper, rock, scissor, by design Nightwolf is pretty bad at fighting normal foes because he has no practice with more mundane fights. There's nothing to exorcise and he actually holds back a lot since his fighting style is very bloody. But against Darkstalkers and Otherworlders his chances are actually pretty decent.
Better than the average Earthrealmer for sure.
Skarlet swings her blade and Nightwolf swings his own back at her. The Apache uses the wing of his axe's blade to hook Skarlet's blade and draw her towards him where he suddenly is grabbing her by the neck and channeling holy energy to burn her insides.
"Back to the pit from whence you came!!" Yells Nightwolf as he hoists her up again and slams her against that same wall he threw her previously.
tRaising up again, Skarlet's expression is one of mild irritation. She's not certain how the shaman is turning her power against her, but it clearly is working well for him. For a moment, she pauses, considering how to proceed. She can't simply leave; he is her enemy, and likely only the first of many loose ends that she is going to have to tie up on Mileena's behalf. But her every attempt to injure him has been effortlessly turned aside.
Frustrating.
There is, however, one last option. Rather than use her favored techniques she could simply eschew her weapons and beat him to death like a normal person would. Yes, perhaps that will work out better for her.
Rolling forwards through the blood - still wet on the ground - Skarlet comes up swinging, aiming to plant her knife-hand directly in Nightwolf's stomach, and follow up with a palm strike directly between his eyes.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf blocks Skarlet's Front Punch.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Skarlet
The Sin Eater breathes out after throwing Skarlet aside and he cracks his neck a few times. Although successful in defending himself its clearly taking him some effort, for a battle with an Outworlder is not one that can be taken lightly. He does not boast nor does he belittle his attacker, his only concern is to banish her from this realm in whatever way possible. Like Skarlet, he thinks that a more normal approach is acceptable when energy attacks start to become too taxing.
Sucking in breath to keep his key, Nightwolf dashes in right into the incoming attack to guard against it. He leads with his left knee and raises it up stopping the blow to his stomach with his sheen and then tucking his upper body low and behind his forearms to stop the palm to his face with a boxing guard.
Now it's starting to look more like a street fight.
The shaman switches stances quickly and leads with his right leg all of the sudden as he falls back on his TKD training. He dashes back to measure the distance and then dives back in with a roundhouse kick to Skarlet's leg.
COMBATSYS: Skarlet dodges Nightwolf's Low Kick.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Skarlet
Skarlet is swift, and as the kick comes in for her leg, she twists around to the side. The foot passes where she'd just been a moment before. One might think that the much larger and more muscular man would have the advantage now that she's not using her weapons; swords are an obvious aid when dealing with such a notable gap in size and stature...
But Skarlet has seen countless fights, and participated in more than she can remember. She seizes on the moment - hoping that he'll be off balance from his missed kick, she throws six quick, sharp punches at the man's back before she moves to recover her guard; a blow seeking the top, bottom, and middle of his spine, each kidney, and even a shot to his liver before she backs off.
She might not be trying to eviscerate him any more, but her every movement is still deadly and focused.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf Toughs Out Skarlet's Rapid Jabs!!
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Nightwolf 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Skarlet
Looks can be very deceptive. Just as one might think that Skarlet is at a disadvantage when not using her weapons, its also to think that Nightwolf's bulkiness is a deterrent since he's such a big target. However, the shaman appears to know exactly how to use his own momentum in a fight and turns in his heel quickly to face the Blood Golem after she dodged his kick. Fully prepared for her incoming flurry of attacks.
The six combination punches come and Nightwolf plows right through them, taking them on the front of his body rather than on his back where he can simply shrug off the pain.
As he smashes himself right into Skarlet's attack, he closes the distance to place himself in very close proximity to the Otherworlder and drive an energy knife deep into her stomach.
COMBATSYS: Skarlet blocks Nightwolf's Blade and Edge.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Skarlet
Skarlet narrows her eyes as Nightwolf turns, and she sees what he's doing. At this close range, it is too risky to try to dodge; so she doesn't. Instead, she catches the incoming energy blade between her hands, and wrenches it down and to the side. More people are now emerging from hiding places to watch; what had seemed like a frightening battle to the death is, well... it is now becoming quite the spectacle instead.
One boot-clad foot comes up after the blade has been turned away, the sharp point of her heel aiming to find the soft flesh underneath Nightwolf's chin, dig in, and use that as a springboard to catapult herself away and buy some distance from the enemy kombatant. If successful, she'll land with one leg extended and one hand in front of her, low to the ground - still silent, challenging him to come to her.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf just-defends Skarlet's Front Kick!
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Nightwolf 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Skarlet
The shaman grunts as his blade is throw off course despite the hard impact and he quickly comes to a skidding halt when he realizes now he's too far inside Skarlet's guard and he doesn't have the advantage. Although Nightwolf has all the tools to be a reckless berserker in Kombat and charge in with wild abandon, what makes him a hunter and not brainless hooligan is that he's in reality a very cautious fighter despite his bulky look.
Nightwolf quickly jumps back and out of Skarlet's close proximity just in time to catch the kick thrown at him with both hands. If Skarlet wants to catapult over him he's quite happy to let her do so. He simply holds her weight up as she jumps over him and turns around to face her again.
The shaman doesn't take the silent come hither look she gives him. The Apache dashes back to give himself more space again and channels energy on his palms, quickly bringing it over his head to form a sphere of chi where upon a lighting bolt flies from his hands to strike Skarlet.
"HOKA HEY!!"
COMBATSYS: Skarlet dodges Nightwolf's Thunder Storm.
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Nightwolf 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Skarlet
Skarlet is literally made of chi; as the warrior gathers his energy to hurl the lightning bolt at her, she feels it on the back of her neck, and in the same moment that he unleashes it for her, she explodes in a cloud of blood. Bursting out of existence, if Nightwolf's senses are at all diminished, he might just believe that he's atomized her with the blast of lightning.
The truth is... more of a risk, but Skarlet needed to close the distance again.
Because the reality is that she's reforming herself just behind - and three feet above - Nightwolf. Her blade is in her hand - a necessary element for this kind of ninjutsu technique, as the weapons are as much a part of her as the copious amounts of blood now smeared about the area - and she descends, seeking to bury the blade in Nightwolf's shoulder and rip diagonally downwards.
COMBATSYS: Skarlet successfully hits Nightwolf with Blood Drop.
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Nightwolf 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Skarlet
Nightwolf's senses are diminished enough that he doesn't know where Skarlet has gone to after the lightning bolt has struck the wall behind her. The shaman is certain that he didn't vaporize her, because had she fallen prey to such an attack he could have dealt with her much sooner. No, she's still here, he's just not sure where--
Oh, behind him, of course.
"Hrgg!!" The Sin Eater whirls around too late to react to the Blood Golem reforming herself behind him. He brings his arms up to deflect it, only to have the blade pierce through his arm and rip at his flesh. Pushing through the pain, the Apache flicks the arm that currently has a blade embedded on it to the side in order to open Skarlet's guard and swings a hard punch for her masked jaw to drive her back.
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf successfully hits Skarlet with Front Punch.
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Nightwolf 1/-------/=======|=======\==-----\1 Skarlet
The blow lands solidly, and Skarlet is forced backwards. The woman doesn't stay back for long, though. The blade is released without any particular concern; let Nightwolf have it in him for a few moments; she can capitalize on that.
The police are rapidly closing on the bloody streets by now, but neither one of the pair seems particularly eager to call it to a close. Skarlet instead aims to smash a palm firmly into Nightwolf's chest, then grab the sword sticking out of his arm, and use it as a lever to force him down to the ground. If successful, she will conclude the vicious movements standing atop Nightwolf with her blade in her hands - and flashing blue-red lights casting a strange glow across the scene.
"Tell me where she is." She says, finally breaking her silence, "You are only delaying the inevitable."
COMBATSYS: Nightwolf interrupts Kombo from Skarlet with Tomahawk Smash.
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Nightwolf 1/-----==/=======|=======\====---\1 Skarlet
The shaman's first instinct as he manages to push Skarlet out of the way is to make a grab for the blade stuck on his arm. Man that stings, and as he makes a grab for the handle to pull it he finds that it's stuck to his bone. Now that's just great.
He takes a step back, struggling to pull the weapon out of him and just vaguely notices that the cops are now setting the perimeter up to block any chances he has of escape. Yes, him, because he doesn't doubt that Skarlet can easily evade them with no problems at all.
Only when Skarlet breaks the silence of the fight does his eyes refocus to look at the incoming Otherworlder. She grabs the handle of her blade and Nightwolf lets her do that.
Because he's the one that's going to capitalize on it.
"Never!!" Answers the shaman and swings a energy axe upwards into Skarlet's chin to smash her jaw. The impact clearly calculated so that Skarlet flies backwards and takes the blade out of Nightwolf with her. The shaman's arm is bleeding bad now but at least he doesn't have a large piece of metal sticking out of one of his limbs.
The tomahawk hits her heavily, and she is knocked backwards by it - her blade yanked free. The Outworld ninja looks at the gathered police officers, then back to the defiant shaman. Bringing the blade underneath her mask, she clearly wipes it across her lips, before twirling it once more. The perimeter is being established, and whilst she doesn't really understand WHY, Outworld has seen a surprising number of advanced instruments of murder. Social attitudes might not carry over into the next world, but she's seen guns before. None of the other warriors here knew the first thing of her mission; it was purely Nightwolf, and continuing the battle past this point seems... pointless.
There's no more words from the woman. Instead, she stabs herself in her stomach, and draws the blade across her middle. Melting into a puddle of blood, that dark Outworld energy fades away into nothingness. Over the next few minutes, all of the blood scattered about the scene will drift away with it, leaving no evidence at all that this was anything more than an elaborate trick...
COMBATSYS: Skarlet has left the fight here.
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Nightwolf 1/-----==/=======|
The Sin Eater draws in another breath steeling himself to continue the fight. He stands to advance, paying no heed to the gathered police, he must keeps Skarlet focus on him, because if she suddenly gets the idea that these men in blue are Nightwolf's reinforcements and starts attacking them then..
Or she could just turn into blood and disappear out of sight.
He guesses that works.
"STOP! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!" The cops swarm the scene as soon as Skarlet makes a quick getaway leaving the shaman no choice but to raise his hands in a show of surrender. He's grabbed, cuffed and dragged to a patrol car remaining completely silent. It's like he's not even paying attention.
For now, he is simply content that he managed to thrown a wrench in Outworld's plans of organizing. Even a small victory is to be celebrated against Outworld, and yes, even if one is currently being dragged to jail by the cops.
To the witnesses still in the scene it's just an average day of the cops arresting some kind of hippie protester looking guy. For all they know this could have been some kind of political stunt.
Log created on 13:12:54 01/01/2015 by Skarlet, and last modified on 18:08:54 01/01/2015.