Description: Ace Detective Daniel 'Jack' Little, having defeated the wily Doctor Tessitore, finds himself shunted swiftly back into Japan on the trail of a series of murders. Suspecting something more monster than man, he quickly finds himself facing a gorilla of a ninja, the dreaded ape Noboru. Having trained in the jungles of Morroco, the looming Noboru is swift to attack our stalwart detective. Can Daniel Jack defeat this dreaded beast of a ninja? Or will he fall victim to... Brutality and the Beast!? (The cover shows what is clearly a 50 foot tall gorilla in a black ninja outfit. The gorilla is wearing a black balaclavas, where you can see a white scar running across his one eye. He is currently on top of Geese Tower, clutching the top of the tower with one hand, and a shapely Nagase in a red strapless gown in the other. Daniel Jack, along with The White Angel of Death and Lieutenant Lita, are piloting three separate biplanes around the gorilla, firing their mounted machineguns at it. A fourth biplane, whose pilot is unknown, is currently burning and falling, as a giant shuriken has been driven deeply into it.) (45 cents)
It's a dark, unseasonably hot night for mid May. The air is hazy with smog, causing the flickering streetlights that bracket the intersection of North 61st and Vine to appear fuzzy and out of focus. It's a bad crossing. An abandoned area. Nothing left but the crumbling shells of brick buildings and the flickering lamps, clearly on their last legs.
It's the perfect place to find a dead body. The dozens of victims that have been recovered from this area over the past month can attest to that. But for the moment all seems empty. Quiet.
Frankly, Agent Little should be in training.
He had a job. A mission. He had to get a team together for the King of Fighters. He had to get his people together. Da Chief, for all his character, wasn't going to send Daniel Jack to Japan over any little thing. The King of Fighters, and his International Task Force, should have been the most important things right now.
But nothing was more important than dead bodies.
Daniel Jack was nervous when he came back to Southtown. He had to be. When there was a killer in the city, he couldn't help but remember The Butcher. He had a personal involvement here. Daniel Jack slinks through the hazy lights, dressed in his Interpol greys. His shoes click as he steps along the worn concrete of the sidewalk. His eyes drift from side to side, as he walks alone in the intersection. This was where they found the bodies.
Maybe there would be one more tonight.
The soft 'tap, tap, tap' of Daniel's practical shoes on the crumbling cement echoes back to him off of the faces of the leering brick buildings that loom tall on all sides. The staccato sounds are undercut by a gentle humming buzz that emanates from each of the flickering street lamps.
The agent's shadow writhes across the ground as he passes beneath each failing light.
The atmosphere is gloomy. Oppressive. It grates on the nerves, touching spots already made sensitive by painful memories.
The whizzing 'Hvvvvvv' of metal parting air announces the arrival of a dull metal spike before it imbeds itself with a solid 'CHNK' in the sidewalk, only a step or so in front of Agent Jack. There it quivers as a deep male voice rises up, spoken words bouncing off of the surroundings and making them exceedingly difficult to track.
"Agent of Interpol. Seeker of truth. What truth is in pain will be found tonight. Make known to me who you are." The voice is quiet and low, Japanese folksy and backwoods. And, soon after the words are spoken, a large figure steps out of an empty doorway and into the flickering light.
Not 20 feet away, a hulking shinobi stands, golden brown hair hanging limp in the muggy heat. Light gleams off of his right eye, showing icy blue, while the left remains cast in shadow.
COMBATSYS: Noboru has started a fight here.
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Noboru 0/-------/-======|
Daniel Jack stops dead, as the shuriken digs deep into the ground before him.
The grim expression of the detective doesn't change. But he doesn't take a step further. Slowly, he fixes his gaze on the man who had revealed himself. He looks up and down the figure, and just... shakes his head. "Oh, god dammit." Was the words from the detective, as he wiggles his mustache.
"-Ninjas-"
The detective sweeps his arms around, one clockwise, the other counterclockwise. Stepping a foot back, he eases himself into the defensive stance of Todoh-Ryuu; one hand forward, one hand back, with the steady presence ready to catch any incoming attack. His gaze was locks on Noboru. "Been a lot of dead folks around here, ninja. Let me ask you something, something real straight, just to get it out of the way."
"You man, or you monster?"
COMBATSYS: Daniel has joined the fight here.
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Daniel 0/-------/-------|======-\-------\0 Noboru
"The worst monsters are often men." Noboru replies, his deep voice remaining calm as he moves further into the light. Shadow retreats from the jagged grey scar that cuts through his left eye, revealing it in all its milky white splendor.
"Ask not monster or man. Ask how monstrous the man." While he speaks the shinobi strolls forward on silent feet, gloved hands at his sides and long blue coat fluttering behind him. His posture is utterly relaxed, with no sign of fight what so ever.
All of that changes in an instant. One moment he is 7 feet away and approaching casual speaking distance. The next he is lunging forward, clearing the distance in a single leap. his bulk hurtles through the air with surprising speed, gloved right hand lashing out in an attempt to palm the side of Daniel's head, thick fingers snapping shut like a steel trap. Landing lightly beside his opponent, the huge ninja attempts to tighten the grip on the side of the smaller agent's head and lift him easily off the ground, fingers tightening, tightening,grip feeling as if it could crush stone.
COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Noboru's Medium Throw.
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Daniel 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Noboru
Well he made a good point.
The towering ninja moves delicately, as the detective tilts his head slightly. Nodding along with the ninja's wisdom, he purses his lips a bit. "You see? That's exactly what I keep telling people. Of monster and men, the line is so blurred. You seem like a reasonable man-"
Oh god the ninja was on top of him.
Interrupted by the sudden burst of speed, the detective instinctively throws his arms up. As the ninja seizes him, the detective brings both hands up, catching on to the arm with equal force. The man is lifted right off his feet, and Daniel assess. The arm was too long. He couldn't kick his way out of it. And the leverage was... oh wait oh god he is squeezing. As the force comes the detective guides his hands up along the long arm of the ninja, finding a set of points on it. And just as the full force comes, he squeezes.
Right on the right pressure points.
Power comes, crushing power right into Daniel's skull. But as Daniel's own grip digs in, he could feel those tendons, that energy flowing though. And he grabbed them, pinching them and seizing them. Controlling the grip as he was held there. "Yeah okay like can you be less mysterious for one second and make it clear to me, scuzzy? You promise that?" The detective growls, blinking hard as the crushing pressure still manages to come in. It was a stalemate. And Daniel wasn't on the right end of it. The detective considers his options. And decides to make a risk. He releases his right hand, groaning as the sudden surge of pressure comes. And swiftly, he adjusts the hand's position right on the wrist. The ninja might see what was coming before it happened, as the grip in the left hand changes. The detective would move his right hand to the impossibly tense and powerful wrist... and then, seize it with a vice grip of his own. Between index and thumb, the left hand would suddenly jerk as the right focuses right with pinpoint precision.
Attempting multiple fractures right at the wrist.
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Noboru with Quick Throw.
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Daniel 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Noboru
"Hrrrrrm." Noboru rumbles, the quiet sound rolling up from his chest as he bares down on the smaller man, struggling to force his fingers to tighten through the pain, through the weakening pressure of martial-hardened fingers plucking skillfully at his tendons. Lifting Daniel yet higher, he meets the man's intent gaze with his own mismatched one, staring past their interlocked arms.
"Information is earned. Through wits. Through strength." The big ninja replies with quiet calm, even as he attempts to crush his opponent's head like a ripe orange. However, further bits of insight are stalled as he notes the fingers creeping in around his wrist.
Even as the joint lock begins Noboru is twisting back a step, accelerating Daniel into a whirling High-G maneuver by the slackening grip on his head. However, he is too slow, and his plan to whip the agent about like a rag doll and smash his ribs into the nearest light poll is thwarted. There is a crackling pop, and the big shinobi's fingers slacken just enough so that, rather than slamming into the conveniently placed light pole, the agent is sent tumbling away down the sidewalk to relative safety.
Or perhaps 'Safety' isn't the right word, even if it is relative.
Reaching casually up with his left hand, Noboru grabs the flickering light pole beside him and flexes, muscles pressing against the silk of his jacket as he slowly, inexorably grinds the metal pole up out of the street. With a metallic screech and ringing 'PING!' the metal rod snaps, and the Noboru stalks forward, 12 feet of steel club gripped firmly in his left hand.
"HRUH!" The enormously strong man grunts, forcing the sound up from his gut as he swings the heavy length of metal around in a giant arc toward Daniel's entire body, wind being violently displaced with a loud 'FWWHOOOOOF!'.
COMBATSYS: Daniel interrupts Huge Random Weapon from Noboru with Huge Random Weapon.
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Daniel 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0 Noboru
A precise, simple break.
As the detective suddenly gets whipped around, he works faster and faster on the joint lock. He braces for impact as he is slammed around.... away. Away. As the grip loosens, the detective rolls away with deft skill. Rising back up in the same motion, he brings his palms up... in time for that massive light pole to be ripped open. The detective shuts his eyes in pain. "Oh god, why couldn't you be a cute bumblebee ninja like Nagase." He moans as the full improvised weapon comes SLAMMING right in his direction. Daniel could dodge. He could block again. But he takes a third option.
And Daniel, promptly, shows that he is more than simple precision.
As the great fixture reaches the detective, he adjusts his footwork, and sweeps his palms to the light post. And he... catches it. Oh, not tactifully. He takes the full blow, but instead of being knocked away, he eases and holds it... and grips it tight. With the physically superior opponent, the detective simply holds fast, holding the light fixture... and struggling with the massive ninja? He didn't have leverage, he didn't have strength. And yet, the trembling of the light pole comes, as Daniel Jack stares across the other side of it. He wasn't budging. He wasn't letting go. And slowly, an orange light rises over the detective. He was using his entire body to for this second stalemate. But this time, there was something different. The light around him suddenly surges up.
And Daniel suddenly forces back on the pole -hard-
Twisting it, he steps in, and forces the pole back into the towering ninja. Ripping it free from the ninja's grips, he slams it right back, three times in fact, with awkward hammering. After the third rapid blow, the detective drops it, wheezing hard as it lands squarely on his foot. Hissing in pain, he shoves it off, rolling his neck. "Alright scuzzy, if I need to kick your ass to get some answers?"
"Better bend over so I can make this quick!"
Even as his giant swing is caught by Daniel, Noboru's masked expression shows no frustration. If anything, there is a bland sort of interest in that one cold eye. A calculated thoughtfulness.
Or Perhaps that is just the ninja gauging whether or not he can swing the pole around one-handed with a grown man hanging off the end. His forearm flexes, shoulder muscles rippling as he lifts upward, and for a sickening moment Daniel's feet begin to leave the ground. However, at that point orange light begins to radiate from the detective's body and the tables are turned.
The heavy steel pole is twisted grudgingly from Noboru's gloved hand before being swung about in a wild two-handed swing toward the side of his head. The blow lands cleanly, the impact producing a solid 'THONK' that rattles down the length of pipe into Daniel's guts.
Noboru's head is jolted hard to the side, eye narrowing as he gives it a slow shake and steps forward into the next blow.
The second impact hammers the big man's shoulder. The third crashes into the top of his skull. But he continues to plod forward with a look of mild disapproval in his icy eye. Blood drips from the end of the pipe as it crashes to the ground, mirroring the dark patches of dampness that have begun to create matted splotches in Noboru's golden-brown hair.
There are no words. The hulking shinobi, a quiet man by nature, chooses instead to answer with his fist. Without breaking stride, he clinches his right hand into a hard half-fist, damaged tendons popping, and throws his shoulder behind a single straight punch aimed directly for the center of Daniel's eyes. While the move isn't much to look at, the brutal efficiency of the gesture speaks of power and intent, if not speed.
COMBATSYS: Daniel dodges Noboru's Temporary Diplopia.
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Daniel 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Noboru
Daniel... couldn't lift something that heavy.
If it wasn't for his sheer training in chi, he would have dropped it after catching it. Moments of strength like that was fleeting, coming in bursts. It was nothing compared to the sustained power of his opponent, nothing compared to the awe-inspiring power of this man or monster. This ninja wasn't simply fast. He was a human garbage truck, with the agility of a reptile. As the brute force punch comes with a unionson of speed and power, Daniel Jack snaps his palms up, as he ducks low.
And he steadily sidesteps.
Guiding the pure force of the punch, he uses the long limb as a pivot point. An even, steady pacing. The detective was grim faced, keeping his eyes locked on him as he moves gracefully. Pushing against the powerful arm, he moves away, and around. He was circling around the stranger, working his way with delicate, precise footwork. One. Two. Three. He was now at Noboru's back, as the followthrough of the punch finishes.
And he strikes.
Stepping in deeply at the flanks, he lashes out his arms as he attempts to walk past the man in the same, circular footwork. The towering ninja had the porportions all wrong; he was built like a linebacker, but was the peak of speed and agility. Daniel reaches up high one hand to the shoulder, and another hand at the hem of the silk outfit at the hip. Should he get grips on both of those, he would take another step, and gain that leverage. He would sweep the giant man off his feet, and slam him right into the concrete. A simple aikido throw.
But a well timed one, considering the circumstance.
COMBATSYS: Noboru blocks Daniel's Strong Throw.
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Daniel 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Noboru
The air around Noboru's fist seems to vibrate slightly as his arm hits full extension, a small puff of wind blowing back his hair and causing his coat to dance out behind him.
But there is no impact. His much nimbler opponent has managed to slip his grasp once more, twisting around behind him to secure the grip on his belt and coat. For though Noboru is monstrously strong, and can move quickly in bursts, his flaw is obvious. What he has gained over most of his kind in brute force, he has sacrificed in acrobatic agility.
But much can be done with brute force.
As Daniel's leg sweeps in to hammer solidly into the side of the shinobi's calf, he finds it planted on the cement like a rooted tree. The hard jerk that should have sent him tumbling over the sweep only serves to sway his torso slightly, the huge ninja having spread the toes of his split boots and secured a grip on the cement with their freakish strength, much as a gorilla might.
% "Hrrrm." Rumbles the big man, tone mildly disapproving as he swings his left elbow out behind him, attempting to drive it hard into the side of Daniel's head and gain him some space to turn around and once more face the clever detective.
COMBATSYS: Noboru successfully hits Daniel with Medium Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Daniel 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Noboru
Careful, easy approaches.
Daniel Jack is already moving, as he grips the larger man. Another stalemate. Daniel Jack didn't have the sheer power of his ninja opponent. But what he lacked in strength, he compensated with skill. A technical edge that made up for strength... except, of course, in these stalemates. Every engagement between himself and the stranger had led to a stalemate; while the detective had a slight edge right now, all it took was a single mistake-
Oh god.
"HUUURGH!" Is the sound from the detective as the man wakes up with an elbow out of nowhere. Fast and powerful, the detective is hit visciously in the temples. Dazed, the detective releases Noboru as he stumbles backwards, groaning in pain as he finds his footwork leading him outside the inside circle of the ninja... and positioning himself perfectly for the ninja's speed, power, and reach. The world was spinning around him, he couldn't tell his head from his heels. It was a knock out blow.
But Daniel Jack wasn't gonna let himself get knocked out so easily.
"Alright, alright scuzzy." The detective breathes, taking in a full lung of air and exhaling. He was evening himself out, pacing himself, steadying himself. He didn't have much time before the beast of a ninja was on him. "Alright." And just like that, the momentum stops dead. Orange energy sweeps over Daniel's form. "Alllllright." He repeats once again. "Alright scuzzy, alright. I'm cool. I'm cool." And then, he locks himself in the defensive stance of Todoh-Ryuu, his attention dead on Noboru.
"I'm -awesome-"
COMBATSYS: Daniel Jacks it up a notch!
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Daniel 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0 Noboru
Turning calmly around to face his staggered opponent, Noboru pauses for a fraction of a second. If Daniel were any less skilled he might have missed it. The brief hesitation is just enough extra time for the detective to brace himself...
Or it would be, if Daniel were a normal fighter. But as he is proving, he is much more than that. For a man of his skill the pause might be seen as an insult. A bit of weakness on the part of the ninja who has refused to attack.
Or perhaps it is a sign of compassion.
Whatever it was, the moment ends with typical abruptness. As orange energy rises from the agent's body, the huge ninja stalks forward, a small glob of blood dripping from his matted hair to patter onto the left cheek of his mask. His single undamaged eye remains calm and implacable.
"Skill you have. What is said of you is not false. But show me now your strength. Prove to me your conviction." Noboru rumbles solemnly, gazing into Daniel's face as he steps ever closer. And then, like a striking snake, his right hand lashes out in an attempt to close those steel-like fingers around his opponent's head once more, to smother his face in the black leather of his gloved palm...
COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Noboru's Spinal Tap.
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Daniel 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Noboru
"Strength, scuzzy?"
That was the question from Daniel Jack as the ninja begins to slip towards him. He saw that pause. He wasn't quite what it meant with the mysterious ninja. But he saw it. And Daniel Jack's resolve only gets -stronger- as the agile titan descends on him. This time, as those steel-like fingers comes, Daniel Jack doesn't let him get his head. Instead, the detective throws up his own palm, catching the hand in his own interlocking fingers. As the snapping sound comes, though, the detective grits his teeth. The orange energy begin to swirl around him, as those brown eyes begin to pierce through Noboru. "You wanna see strength?" He asks, as his other arm begins to tremble with power.
"Bad move."
"-Real bad move-"
And Daniel -explodes-.
Explosion is the best way to describe what bursts out. The detective erupts in a flash fire of chi energy as he blasts point blank with a surging palm strike. If Noboru doesn't break away, or stop it cold, then he was facing a garbage truck running into HIS garbage truck. The point blank charge is enough to carry Noboru and Daniel both across the street, all the way to the dilapidated wall across the way. Daniel Jack would sail to that wall, with or without Noboru, and then just -slam-. Whether it was a slam of his palm into the wall, or the slam of the ninja into the wall?
That would be up to Noboru to decide.
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Noboru with Fantastic Todoh Punch EX.
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Daniel 0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0 Noboru
Daniel's glowing orange palm impacts Noboru's abdomen with the force of a pissed off elephant, the out rush of chi blasting away from them in all directions to light up the shadows of the dingy intersection. But rather than crumpling around the blow like any lesser fighter might, the hulking man's abs hold firm, tensed and harder than steel under the immense pressure of the strike. With his right hand still linked with the agents, and his toes gripping the ground, it looks as if the big ninja might be able to hold them there, absorbing the blow through sheer mass and strength.
There is a beat of silence.
R The sound of cement cracking rings out like a gun shot as Noboru is thrown violently backward, broken bits of concrete still clenched tightly between his toes. He and Daniel are hurled across the street by the force of the fantastic punch, their brief flight ending in a spray of bricks as Noboru's back is smashed half way through a standing wall.
The entire building shakes, bricks falling like rain to bounce from the shoulders of the fighters, and through the hanging dust Noboru's good eye gleams with icy resolve.
Releasing the crushing grip on Daniel's hand, Noboru kicks out with his left foot, attempting to punt the agent off of him like an over-sized football. Gloved hands then drop to either side and he begins to push, grinding his iron-like body out of the building with inexorable strength.
COMBATSYS: Daniel fails to interrupt Medium Kick from Noboru with Kasane Ate.
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Daniel 0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0 Noboru
Cornered.
The explosive punch was enough to take down a lesser man. A greater man like this ninja? That was another story. As the detective hovers over the man, he stands fast over him, palm still dug in. He holds there, in silence. He could feel that crushing grip still. And slowly, steadily, it lets off.
And the ninja was already ready to kick him out.
The muscle movements come with the detective whipping his released hand around. But a softened grip was not a false one: it holds it long enough for the energy to surge up, but nothing more. "KASANE-" He begins, as the kick comes with staggering force. Blowing the detective backwards, his body flings right in the middle of the street, breaking into a roll. Groaning, he staggers upright into a stand, forcing himself to get his footing back. All with a mumbled growl.
"Alright then."
The remainder of the brick wall collapses in on itself as Noboru drags himself free, the big man's back and shoulders crackling loudly as he straightens once more to his full height. His once midnight blue coat is now covered in grime, torn in many places, and showing small dark patches where the skin beneath has split to leak crimson blood into the slick silk. Thick dust clings to his hair and clothing, hanging heavily in the air between the two fighters.
But still Noboru's eye gleams bright and cold.
"We will make an end." Noboru states simply, crushed bits of stone grinding beneath his feet as he steps through the dust toward Daniel. Despite his wounds. Despite the blood that still leaks from his scalp and various spots beneath his coat, his stride is measured and his posture loose.
His form made blurry and indistinct by the obscuring haze, Noboru slides both gloved hands out of sight beneath his now ragged coat. With 15 feet still separating the shinobi from his target, he flickers his hands in and out in a quick 'RightLeftRight' and sends three thin steel darts humming through the air toward the stubborn agent, one aimed for his left shoulder, the second toward his right arm, and the third down toward his left thigh. Even as the darts are thrown he continues to close the distance, steps slow. Patient.
COMBATSYS: Daniel blocks Noboru's Triple Shuriken.
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Daniel 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0 Noboru
Oh god, -these- things.
"Not ending just yet scuzzy!" The detective growls, making his own approach towards the ninja. His body was battered badly; while he wasn't bleeding, he was bruised, erm, black. Blacker. And he could feel the fractures from merely being the grips of the titantic terror. And yet, the form of the ninja approaches, Daniel Jack makes his own steady approach. The flicker of hands come, and Daniel recognized something very, very familiar.
That was Kunai wasn't it.
Shit.
The detective doesn't slow down his approach. The first blade is deflected, guided past the shoulder. The second one goes for the arm, and the detective sweeps his hand, brushing it away in exchange for a shallow cut. For the leg, though, he trade for a long, slashing cut along the thigh instead of a deep drive. That is enough to slow him down for a bit.
But only a bit.
Already the detective was upon the taller man with incredible reach and disturbing priority. And yet, the detective hurls out a palm strike with the left, followed by a hand chop with the right. Each blow comes with a step, as the detective was aiming for center of mass. Another palm strike of the left comes, followed by a surge of chi energy. The detective hurls out an elbow jab with the right, as energy builds up with the left, and he finishes the combination assault with an energy wave lashed out with the left. A dangerous assault.
Unless the ninja stops it cold.
COMBATSYS: Noboru interrupts Ragtime Riot EX from Daniel with Precordial Thump.
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Daniel 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Noboru
The two fighters close on one another, both battered, both intent and full of conviction.
Daniel strikes first.
The opening palm slams into Noboru's chest, hammering solidly into the iron-like pectoral beneath without apparent effect. The follow up chop slams into the big man's collar bone, but he steps through the blow, absorbing this impact as he has so many others. However, Before the second palm strike can land, the huge shinobi's right hand flashes up from his side. his stone-hard fingers, curled into a tight half fist, hammer into Daniel's chest directly over his heart.
The blow lands with such precise timing that the shock of it hits the detective's body between heart beats, causing a crucial stutter. A physical imbalance intended to cut off the building of chi like a switch being flipped.
And there they stand, Noboru's fist still extended, calm blue eye observing Daniel over it in stoic silence. His body is likely a map of bruises and cuts beneath his clothing, but he stands tall, hard and unwavering as the mountain.
Jesus.
As the first palm strike comes, Daniel had a rhythm, a balance that he clung to. When the interrupting strike comes, it was more than what a slap to the face would have done. The detective is stunned, he stumbles. Falling backwards, he loses his wind, gasping and gagging as he is just broken hard out of the combo. He almost falls over; the kick had already pushed him past his limit. This attack nearly sent him into a mewling heap on the ground. Groaning, he forces himself into his defensive stance, fighting for his air back.
"... I'm not licked yet scuzzy."
The words come forcefully, steadily, burning with an inner resolution that seeths and simmers. "I got this. I got this." He repeats twice. "I'm gonna whip you good, and then, you tell me what's bringing these bodies here. Man. Monster. Or what... whatever the hell you are." The detective grips his fingers, tightening them. Orange energy floods over his body in a flash.
And Daniel blazes in.
Rushing in, the detective was going low and fast. It was a risky move. It was a dangerous move. He knew that every limb of the titanic ninja was a weapon. All it took was a single clean hit, and Daniel was gone. And yet, it wasn't an attack that the ninja could defend against well. As Daniel dips in low, he aims both arms out, lashing them in a sweeping motion for the ninja's left leg. Stepping in, he would continue to let his hands rise as he aims to seize by the back of the knee. If he managed to get the ninja on his back, off kilter?
He would make a clean, direct wrench, to dislocate at the hip joint.
COMBATSYS: Daniel successfully hits Noboru with Mad Jack Crack.
- Power hit! -
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Daniel 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Noboru
Noboru looms tall and dark in the sketchy light, his silhouette still and devoid of ticks. As Daniel comes in he leans forward slightly, feet braced and big hand dropping as if to brace against the top of the smaller man's head.
It is too little, too late.
With the power blazing through him and significant skill guiding his actions, Daniel manages to tear the big shinobi's toe hold from the cement and topple him backward, surging up past his fending hand with righteous strength. The ninja's back impacts the ground with a satisfying 'WUMF', a wave of dust billowing out from ground 0 in every direction.
Though enormously strong, muscles and bones hardened by years of brutal training, Noboru is not unbreakable. His joint resists, body straining against the unnatural twist of Daniel's hold. He makes not a sound, left hand digging into the ground as he seeks that little bit of leverage he needs to reverse this situation and free himself. But in this instance, with so much power coursing through him, Agent Jack is not to be denied.
The ninja's leg gives with a loud pop, joint parting at the hip. The limb falls slack in the battered detective's hands. Below, flat on his back with his right hand tucked inside the front of his coat and his left gripping the cement, Noboru nods in quiet respect. The only sign of the astounding pain he must be in right now is a slight wrinkling of his brow, creases showing faintly at the corners of his eyes.
"Well proven, detective Little." He rumbles quietly, making no move to try and clamber to his remaining leg and continue the fight. There is a since of acceptance from him. A quiet patience that shows as he continues, "My respect is given. You are worthy of your reputation."
COMBATSYS: Noboru takes no action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Daniel 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Noboru can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\ <
Daniel 0/-------/---====|
Daniel Jack makes the finishing move.
Holding fast, he keeps his hand on the leg, over the ninja. He breathes hard, not from the fatigue, but from the sheer physical abuse the detective went through. He had gone through an entire gauntlet with this man. He was waiting. Waiting for the next move. Waiting for the next attack.
And slowly, it dawns on Daniel that it wasn't going to come.
He releases the leg, stepping back. The ninja would probably recover soon enough. A man like that doesn't just drop. He could feel the presence of the man still around, still conscious, still... able to fight. His disable might have been the only thing that stopped the ninja from finishing him off. But as Daniel steps back, he glowers down at the man. Breathing hard, still fighting to get that wind back. And finally, he speaks.
"What is this about, huh?"
The detective growls, his eyes fixed down on the ninja. "You aren't a monster. You're a hell of a man, but not a monster, a Darkstalker. Who sent you? Are you the cause of these deathes here? Or are you on the trail. Or... Or..." The detective's eyes narrow hard, as his teeth grit. Another wave of energy comes over him.
"Or is this some kind of test from Hayabusa?"
COMBATSYS: Daniel has ended the fight here.
"Seasons come and go." Noboru replies in his deep, folksy Japanese. "Times change. But the spirit of fighters remains. It is an ancient thing. A thing best used to gauge a potential ally." As he speaks, the shinobi removes his hand from beneath his coat and reaches both down to test the area around his right hip, icy blue eye contemplative and brow furrowed.
"I am no monster. Not of the flesh, or of the soul. The bodies found here are left by thugs, and nothing more. Many gangs use this place for such a purpose. It was not hard to steer you here. Suggestion is both powerful and subtle." He pauses then, reaching further down to grasp his thigh in both gloved hands. Then, with a slight twisting of his lower back and a smooth rotation of his hands, he twists his leg back into place with a spine-tingling pop. A normal man might scream. Noboru merely winces and lets out a low, rumbling 'Hrrrrrm' of mingled annoyance and relief.
It takes a moment for him to once more grasp his train of thought, but once he has shaken off the pain, the bulky shinobi once more returns his icy gaze to Daniel. Hands brace against the ground and he begins to rise.
"I am Noboru Miyama. I have little to do with the one you speak of, though his clan is ancient and respected. I have come to test you. To gauge the metal of one who seeks to investigate matters so close to my own."
"Just... thugs?"
The words come out from Daniel Jack. Not angry. Just... disappointed. As the ninja explains, the detective's guard begins to slip. "Dammit, I thought we cleared out the Yakuza." He mutters. "Maybe they are reforming... god dammit I wanted this thing buried." As the ninja goes and makes it clear that he might have been manipulated into coming here, the detective drops his head a bit. "Yeah, okay. Everyone in Japan has figured that out, huh? Man, I'm glad I popped your leg."
Once the ninja puts his leg in place, though, that guard comes right back up.
Daniel Jack was ready to fight again, if he had to. He has had come backs before. But the ninja was only beginning to rise. As he introduces himself, Daniel Jack keeps his palms up, as he nods back. "Pleasure is all mine Noboru. So are you one of those ninjas who... test people? You seem to be a little, uh, what's the word I'm looking for." The detective tilts his head side to side a bit. "You seem to be built like someone who kills professionally. A lot. What's a nice assassin like you looking for a nice guy like me?" The detective looks around a bit.
"It's not the lady killer thing, is it scuzzy?"
"Death is a tool. Plants must be pruned. Weeds must be pulled." Noboru replies with quiet calm. The words are surprisingly gentle for a man comparing murder to gardening. Or, perhaps not so surprisingly gentle. Many killers tend to think they're in the rite.
There is no sign of aggression in Noboru's loose posture as he finishes standing, filth and brick dust shedding from his coat as he rises once more to his full height. There is a noticeable amount of stiffness in his right leg, but the remnants of pain have been smoothed away from what is visible of his face. Both his good and bad eyes seem to focus on Daniel across the short distance between them, unreadable as ever.
"You will be attending the King of Fighters." He states, the solemn timbre of his voice grinding on in much the same way he fights. "You are aware that not all is as it seems."
The King of Fighters.
Daniel Jack's expression grows inquisitive. He was interested in it too. And the fact of the matter, well, that was enough to draw him out. He could see the man was... not going to fight anymore. He was pleased, or at least contented. The detective mulls over this... invitation. The detective rolls his head a bit, before wiggling his mustache.
"Well, I'm suspecting it is more than it seems."
The detective takes a step forward. "But what is it that you know? You got names? Details? Leads? Come on, are you just calling me out here to tell me that there is something up?" The detective takes another step. "Come on, scuzzy. I don't got time for riddles. What do you know, how do you know it, and god dammit."
"What's going on with the King of Fighters?"
"Angels and demons walk among us with power untold, and I must investigate this much as you. But know now that there are allies walking your path. I will aid you where I am able." With these words spoken with quiet intent, Noboru lifts his right hand and opens his fingers, revealing a small bag of grey cloth that rests in the center of his palm. A twist of his fingers yanks a small cord out of the sack, causing smoke to explode violently outward in every direction. Roiling, chokingly thick, the smoke cloud expands out to a radius of 15 feet before the edges begin to thin.
"We will speak again, agent Little. When more is understood." The rumbling words drift directionless through the swirling smoke, impossible to pin down. Seconds later, when the smoke has settled, Daniel stands alone in the abandoned street. The soft buzzing of flickering street lights is his only company, their yellow glow hazy and indistinct in the smoggy night air.
More riddles.
Daniel Jack lunges. "I said no riddles god dammit!" The detective bellows, as the smoke bomb is released. The choking cloud doesn't slow Daniel down, as gagging, he thrusts a palm strike through the smoke, a hand chop, an elbow jab. As a rising palm strike comes, the detective stands in the midst of the smoke. As it gradually clears, the detective looks around, breathing hard. "Angels and demons. Allies. God dammit." The detective kicks the ground.
"God damn ninjas."
Log created on 23:39:57 05/16/2016 by Daniel, and last modified on 13:07:43 05/18/2016.