Match of the Millennium

Description: He may not be fighting a resident of Outworld, but with Zabel as his opponent Cyrax is up against something at least as monstrous. A battle of the buzzsaws, with high tech versus dark magic.

[CYRAX]
With the many years that the clan has existed, the many centuries of its long, illustrious history, the Lin Kuei has fought and eliminated all manner of targets. Some mortal, some mystical, some seemingly beyond the scope of normal comprehension. But regardless, the clan has marked its claim on fulfilling his duties. And those who fail...usually don't remain Lin Kuei very long.

So when Cyrax, the representative of the clan, was tasked with his current fight by the sorcerer, he had few qualms about it. He saw the undead during the introduction ceremonies, and knew that sooner or later, things might force their paths to cross. He just didnt' quite expect it so soon.

Regardless, there was always time to do some observation. Which is perhaps why Cyrax was perched upon one of the bare trees, doing his best to remain as inconspicuous as possible. And despite his use of a rather high-tech scouting scope to watch for the zombie, his method of hiding was rather...traditional. A good ol' wood-patterned camouflage sheet reducing his profile as much as possible. Sure, with as bare as the damn things are, it's not going to remain effective for long, but he's Lin Kuei. Drawn out fights are usually not their first intention.

[ZABEL]
For his part, Zabel Zarock is taking his participation in the tournament a bit less seriously than most. Saving the world? Whatever. There's plenty of hero types that'll throw themselves at that. Of course, even some of the more jovial fighters out there would find their moods dampened a bit by the scenery around the island. But Zabel? He just appreciates how damn METAL it is around here. It seems like just about everything is blood and stone, and it all suits him just fine.

So its not too hard for Cyrax to spot the rocker coming, since he's not making any effort to hide himself. He strolls along the way to the graveyard, occasionally chuckling as he spots a particularly outstanding sight. He's still wearing the same outfit from the banquet, with silk robe open to show his chest, and no shoes despite the many, many sharp things on which there are to trod as you make your way to the cemetery. The graveyard itself is relatively calm compared to the wasteland you pass through to reach it, although the geyser of sickly green energy shooting up from the ground certainly stands out. The green light makes anybody look pretty unhealthy, but Zabel certainly doesn't need the help.

For the moment he still looks mostly human, apparently in possession of all the body parts one should have, and with his hair down. Another sign that he's probably not on any sort of heightened alertness. He certainly doesn't seem interested in searching for his opponent, either. He glances around the area briefly, then plants a foot on one of the gravestones and gazes at the geyser for a few moments. The green light washes over his milky eyes, as he grins quietly to himself.

[CYRAX]
It's always refreshing to have a target that doesn't really bother to hide themselves. It's less of a challenge, mind, but it does make jobs easier too when they're willing to waltz in unaware. Of course, this is hardly like an assassination contract, Cyrax is all too aware of that. Most contracts tend to be on targets that don't fight back much themselves, much less have the kind of...innate weaponry the undead has.

Which is why Cyrax is too loath to take the stealth attack approach. He doesn't have the same confidence of being able to pop in, take the kill, and pop out like he would normally. Not to mention...well....

In any case, the Lin Kuei keeps observing...until Zabel comes to a stop, illuminated by the green light of the ghastly geyser. "So you've finally come," he intones from his hiding place, tossing his cover aside before quickly leaping to another tree.

[ZABEL]
At the sound of Cyrax's voice, Zabel leans his head over to look at the ninja out of the corner of his eye. "Hey, not like there's a ton of clocks around here." He cracks his neck a few times, turning about to face Cyrax as the Lin Kuei leaps to another tree. "So, you're some kinda ninja, huh? Cool, cool." He doesn't sound incredibly enthused, but at least Zabel doesn't sound sarcastic, so that's something.

He glances around. "I suppose they're keeping an eye on us with some sort of magic, so we might as well get this show on the road, yeah?" He reaches his arms up behind his head, stretching them out. A bit further than they should probably be physically capable of, but only for a moment. Then he lets them hang down and cocks his head at Cyrax. "So, you gonna come down outta that tree?"

[CYRAX]
Cyrax narows his eyes from the tree he stands on as he hears the 'n'-word, one that no Lin Kuei willingly suffers to hear. "Lin Kuei, abomination. It'll do you well to remember that," he says, knowing his alligience to the clan is hardly a secret on this island now.

"You seem to be treating this like some kind of game, or theater like they show on television." While his method of speech isn't outright archaiac, it's definitely stiff, far from any kind of casual conversation most people would normally engage in. "If you want this fight so badly," he starts, keeping his balance well as his arms shift to a guarding stance. "then come and claim it for yourself."

COMBATSYS: Cyrax has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Cyrax            0/-------/------=|

[ZABEL]
"A game?" Zabel cracks a grin. "No, no... But a show?" His grin widens. "Now that's right up my alley. And I'm sure somebody out there is watching, so we might as well entertain 'em!" He reaches up with his right hand to his left shoulder, gripping the fabric of his robe. "So yeah, let's do this!" There's a flash of dark flame as Zabel whips the robe off and flings it aside, one of his arms very briefly contorting to make the motion smoother. That is likely overlooked, however, in the face of large portions of his body seeming to burn away with the fire. A large portion of his torso, for one, and patches of flesh elsewhere down to the bone. Jagged claws form on his fingers and toes, and his hair stands up in long spikes. Much of his face turns skeletal, with glowing red pinpricks for eyes.

There's not too much time for Cyrax to dwell on the transformation, though. It might not be a secret, but it can still be surprising, and Zabel isn't wasting that possibility. He leaps toward Cyrax, his lower body twisting and contorting. His body from the waist down begins spinning rapidly, to the point of blurring, while large bone spikes jut out, slicing rapidly through the air as he sails right at Cyrax.

COMBATSYS: Zabel has joined the fight here.

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Zabel            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0            Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Cyrax blocks Zabel's Death Hurricane.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Zabel            0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0            Cyrax

[CYRAX]
Cyrax doesn't have much time to react, no. He was expecting some sort of transformation, sure. But the preternatural speed in which Zabel transforms himself, then buzzes himself straight toward the Lin Kuei is impresive. It's only honed battle instincts and reaction speed that keeps the Motswana warrior from getting carved up. Gauntlets come to catch as much of thsoe spinning bone spurs as they can, some still slipping past and cutting into the forearms beneath. But it's enough for him to get breathing room to leap back and take him out of the Zombie's path.

"You think this is supposed to be entertainment?" he shouts with indignation, before racing back after Zabel. He tries to time his approach with the undead's hopeful transformation back before bringing his leg up. His entire body turns, hoping to kick Zabel into the air, then slam him back into the ground by his own ankle.

COMBATSYS: Zabel blocks Cyrax's Power Plant.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Zabel            0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0            Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Zabel's legs quickly stop spinning once he's no longer in contact with Cyrax, snapping into position to catch him as he lands lightly back on the ground. He laughs at Cyrax's indignation, grinning at the other man while he runs back in for an attack. "Of course it is! I bet those elder gods are getting a kick out of this whole thing." He brings his hands in as Cyrax closes the distance, and manages to correctly judge his attack. The foot connects with Zabel's hands layered on top of one another, keeping it from connecting with his body. The force is still enough to launch him into the air, though, as Zabel is unusually light for his size. The large missing pieces help with that.

And given an aerial position, Zabel doesn't hesitate to take advantage of it. He swings a leg back, sending himself into a forward flip which ends with what would normally be a falling axe kick. Zabel doesn't tend to do normal, though. Bone spikes burst out of his lower leg, shredding the lower part of his black cotton pants as they begin rotating rapidly, turning his foot into a large buzzsaw descending toward Cyrax.

COMBATSYS: Zabel successfully hits Cyrax with Skull Sting.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Zabel            0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0            Cyrax

[CYRAX]
The reverse sweep kick doesn't quite hit flush, but it does give Cyrax the information about just how light Zabel is. That might be an advantage, but not as much as it might be under normal circumstances, especially with just how unorthodox the zombie's abilities are. The transformation of that leg is exactly the kind of thing that will be a problem, as the saw cuts down through Cyrax's guard before he can do anything and cuts into the warrior's chest. "NGnhh..."

Reeling back, clutching his bloodied chest, the Lin Kuei narrows his eyes at the monster. Some spacing might be required...good thing the warrior has the tools for the job. Clutching at a glass cask hanging from his belt, the warrior tosses one at Zabel's feet. The resulting shattering exposes the volatile liquid within with...explosive consequences. Consequences that would envelope Zabel if he's not careful.

COMBATSYS: Zabel dodges Cyrax's Bomb.

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Zabel            0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0            Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Generally speaking, if somebody throws something at you, you don't want to get hit by it. And although explosives aren't quite so common in fights, when he sees that Cyrax is just lobbing the flask in his direction Zabel decides that he doesn't want to get splashed by whatever is inside, either. This turns out to be a wise decision, as leaping backwards brings him out of range of the worst of the explosion that erupts once the liquid is exposed to air. And just being at the edge of the shockwave doesn't mean much, when you don't really care all that much about organ damage.

As his feet are touching the ground and the explosion is going off, Zabel snaps his fingers. The moment his feet are in contact with the dirt, a purple form shoots up from the ground, engulfing him and then vanishing with him into the ground. This may or may not be obscured by the explosion, but Zabel is definitely gone afterwards. At least until a flash of purple zooms up from the ground behind Cyrax, vanishing in a blink and leaving Zabel there, swinging one foot in for a wide kick aimed at the base of Cyrax's ribs. Which would be bad enough, even without the foot then transforming into a large skull, mouth wide open to bite down on impact.

COMBATSYS: Zabel successfully hits Cyrax with Power Strike.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Zabel            0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0            Cyrax

[CYRAX]
The bomb seems like it should be dead on target, but that lightness of the zombie seems to come into play, zipping out of the range of Cyrax's explosive before it can do the damage it needs. A sign of frustration comes on the Motswana's face, especially as Zabel suddenly seems to disappear in the middle of the blast.

The sudden strike at his ribs crashes right as he's scanning around for the zombie, the surprise attack compounded by that massive bite that elicits a shout of pain from the Lin Kuei. "AAAAAAAAAGHhhh..." Trying to tear himself away, the warrior is forced to improvise, twisting away before thrusting a foot forward, trying to slam directly into those ugly mutated ribs as a means of revenge.

COMBATSYS: Zabel blocks Cyrax's Front Kick.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Zabel            0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0            Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Zabel cackles for a moment as his 'foot' chews on Cyrax, at least until the Lin Kuei manages to twist away from the gnawing teeth. The skull shifts back into a foot as Zabel lowers his leg, at the same time bringing an arm in the way of an incoming foot. Cyrax's kick connects with the solid bone of Zabel's arm, forcing the zombie to hold up his guard for a few moments, but not seeming to particularly hurt him. Then again, the undead musician shows very little in the way of reaction to pain until he's pretty thoroughly thrashed, anyway.

The zombie suddenly lashes out with his blocking arm, trying to knock aside Cyrax's leg. It's not intended to really hurt him, just a hope of knocking him off balance a bit. No, what's intended to hurt is the fist of Zabel's other arm, which is swinging in toward Cyrax's face on an arm that's suddenly a bit longer than it should be.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax blocks Zabel's Medium Strike.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Zabel            0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0            Cyrax

[CYRAX]
Growling as the kick plants into Zabel's forearm rather than gaining any purchase on his direct core, Cyrax is forced to pull back again. He hasn't had much in the way of getting through the damnable zombie's guard at all, and his tricks have been truly getting to the Lin Kuei.

The lashing of that arm is met with one of Cyrax's gauntlets again, metal clanking against bone. It forces him to spare one arm for the guard rather than anything used to finally pierce through...

But then again, Cyrax has plenty of tricks up his sleeves. The other gauntlet suddenly parts, a three-pronged buzzsaw extending out from it atop his wrist. As it emerges, the guarding hand sweeps out to try and hook Zabel straight in the chin, hopefully leaving him open enough for straight cutting swipes with that hidden blade across the zombie's deformed chest.

COMBATSYS: Zabel fails to counter Saw Enough from Cyrax with Death Phrase.
- Power fail! -

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Zabel            1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0            Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Zabel pulls his arm back, spikes retreating into his fist as he falls back into a ready stance. His gaze flicks toward Cyrax's gauntlet as the buzzsaw emerges, and then he suddenly seems to drop his guard. "Heh, nice trick-" Unfortunately for the zombie, he was paying too much attention to THAT arm. His head snaps back as a fist crashes into his jaw, leaving him wide open for the spinning blade to tear into his chest. And so it does, digging in deeply, but without much in the way of spraying blood.

The zombie staggers backwards a jagged tear in his chest, putting some distance between himself and Cyrax. He glances down at the wound, poking at it with a finger, then looks back to Cyrax. "If you've got stuff that flashy, man, you shouldn't wait so long to whip it out!" Most people subjected to this attack are probably more perturbed at this point. Perhaps the fact that the wound is visibly starting to close has something to do with Zabel's apparently being able to shrug it off.

[CYRAX]
The lack of blood is the least of Cyrax's concerns. AFter all, it's not too suspect for the undead to not bleed. It's at the very least a step in the right direction. MOre concerning is the quick closing of that wound, something that doesn't escape the Lin Kuei's attention.

The solution? Don't give it time to close. It's the opening that Cyrax was hoping for, and he doesn't want to let it pass. "No warrior shows all his tools before they're needed!" he shouts proudly to Zabel before fists fly, pistoning punches aimed straight for where the cut is starting to heal. No tricks or odd movements this time, just direct strikes.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax successfully hits Zabel with Rapid Jabs.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Zabel            1/---====/=======|=======\-------\0            Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Even with the ability to repair itself that Zabel's body has, the wound caused by Cyrax's saw is taking some time to close itself up, still leaving a large target for the Lin Kuei to attack. With a flurry of punches augmented by metal gauntlets and the wide open wound, it's not too difficult for Cyrax to tear it open wider, exposing the bone beneath and actually tearing some pieces of flesh away. Exposed bone, though, is clearly not something that Zabel has issues with. Still, it's a visible wound, and exposing some muscles that might cause issues for Zabel to use one of his arms if he lets this keep up.

And so the moment Zabel can get himself into position he leaps backwards, sailing an impressive distance away from Cyrax before landing with a skid in the dirt. "Now you're getting into it!" He grins, throws back his head and laughs. "But let's mix things up a bit, to keep things interesting!" A purple shape flies up from the ground in front of Zabel, forming into a guitar in his hands. He raises his right hand high, and there's a flash of scarlet light in his fingers. Red light trails his hand as it falls, and he unleashes a chord from the guitar that's fit to wake the dead. A shockwave blasts out in all directions, not enough to injure, but enough to stir up dust and set the trees to shaking. The pinpricks of light in Zabel's eyesockets flare up as he shreds out a brief guitar solo, before flinging the guitar aside.
It vanishes as it hits the ground, and possibly serves as a brief distraction. Because Zabel is also in motion while it flies. A spear of bone extends out from his left arm, shooting toward Cyrax with electricity dancing across it. In the meantime Zabel is winding back his right arm. If he should be hit, Cyrax will find himself hooked and dragged toward the zombie at high speed, only to meet Zabel's descending arm, surrounded by a massive claw made from grotesquely extended ribs, all of the exposed bone crackling with electricity.

COMBATSYS: Zabel equips a warm Scarlet Soul Shard.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Zabel [E]        1/---====/=======|=======\-------\0            Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Cyrax blocks Zabel's Evil Scream.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0            Cyrax

[CYRAX]
With his killer's instinct coming to bear, Cryax continues to hammer away at that rapidly opening wound, punching at it until Zabel leaps away. Eyes narrowed, the Lin Kuei watches the undead bring out that guitar and send up a shockwave around the entire graveyard. His gauntlets retract for a better guard, just in case, but his eyes remain focused on the zombie itself.

Even as the guitar is tossed away, it's barely given a notice, only a split second glance to ensure it's not going to be flying his way either. It's Zabel that comes froward instead, though, and when the bone spear comes forward, Cyrax turns. His gauntlets can't take much more abuse, but he can still mitigate the damage best he can. His profile lowers, and the spear cuts across his back instead, the electricity crackling against his skin painedly. He's able to pull the rest of his body away from the hooking tug too, keeping his feet planted before Zabel.

His body is set to retaliate...before a green glow starts to form, directly on the plate of his left gauntlet, a warmer, more lively glow than the geysers in the distance. A small stumble comes as Cyrax feels something speaking to him. Telling him to stand his ground. Wincing, he shakes his head a little, before narrowing his eyes again...and bringing his hands to his belt once more. Another cask is pulled from his belt, and his arm wound back.

But this one doesn't get tossed to the ground before Zabel...instead, what looks like a small rocket is tosssed from the Lin Kuei's hand, the bomb hanging off of it in the zombie's direction. The spearheaded rocket aims to dig directly in before popping like a firework...which would inevitably set off the bomb as well, hopefully this time in Zabel's vicinity.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax equips a glimmering Aquamarine Soul Shard.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Cyrax successfully hits Zabel with Short Circuit.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Zabel [E]        1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1        [E] Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Zabel attempts to leap out of the way again, but tracking the trajectory of a speeding rocket is more difficult than a thrown bottle. His timing is off, and the rocket slams into the ground in front of Zabel just before exploding. The zombie goes flying away from the point of impact, trailing flames before he hits the ground in a heap. He springs back to his feet a moment later, but the grin falls from his face for a moment before returning, looking a bit forced. And the red light in his eyes flickers for a moment.

The zombie's legs begin to spin beneath him again, setting him moving back and forth like a top. Spikes shoot out from his waist to join the spinning, and then he suddenly zooms up into the air before flying right toward Cyrax, electricity sparking around his lower body this time. He's shooting in toward the Lin Kuei at high speed as he comes back to ground level... and then, suddenly, gone in a flash of purple again. Figuring out the trick this time is probably less difficult, but there still isn't much time to react before Zabel comes crashing in from behind Cyrax, spinning and sparking. And this time, as the spikes at his waist slice in, Zabel's also bringing both of his fists down (covered in bone spikes, of course) toward Cyrax's collarbone on either side.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax channels the spread of the lightning nerves.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Cyrax easily escapes Zabel's Death Voltage!

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1        [E] Cyrax

[CYRAX]
The Lin Kuei holds his ground even as Zabel is blown away by the trick bomb, Cyrax digging his feet in to prepare his pursuit and keep up the pressure. He can't let up now and let this end on the zombie's terms. The pride of the clan is on the line!

Unfortunately, Zabel recovers faster than he would have hoped, the damnable endurance of the undead helping him. Gritting his teeth, the warrior is left to hold his ground, watching as the mad zombie charges for him with that wicked transformation again. He realizes his defenses have been withering with every progressive strike. And this isn't something he can avoid....

At least, not without help. His pride takes a hit as he takes hold of something from the other side of his belt....and suddenly smashes it to the ground, dropping to a knee as he does so. The sudden explosion of blue smoke erupts in his place...leaving nothing there even as Zabel re-emergies from 'behind' Cyrax's old position to crash into where he would have been. Instead, Cyrax is a good distance away, upon one of the trees again, kneeling. No banter, no taunting, just a glare, and annoyance that he had to reveal another one of his techniques by necessity.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax takes no action.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1        [E] Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Zabel's fists pass harmlessly through a cloud of blue smoke and he stumbles to a stop as his legs stop spinning. He swipes through the cloud a few times, just in case, but also quickly moves to a different spot in case his own tactic is about to be used against him. The sparks of light in his skull dart about, before finally locking onto Cyrax, up in a tree again. The zombie runs a hand back through his hair, letting out an annoyed sigh. "You know, I'm almost mad you didn't try to shank me in the back, there. Now what, you want me to come running all the way after you, jump up into that tree like an idiot? No, no I don't think so."

Zabel turns to the side, reaching out with both hands to grasp a large tombstone. The muscles in his shoulders bulge out for a moment, as he twists his body around and wrenches the monument out of the ground. He completes the motion and sends the heavy chunk of stone hurtling toward the tree in which Cyrax is perched, trailing a cloud of dirt behind it.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax dodges Zabel's Large Thrown Object.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1        [E] Cyrax

[CYRAX]
Zabel might be angry that Cyrax didn't use the chance to shank the zombie in the back, but no one is more surprised than Cyrax himself. It was full intention to be there and go in for the kill...and yet, something, a voice, told him to stop. Whether it was warning of danger, or keeping him from tapping into his killer instinct, regardless it forced him to come to rest at the tree instead, further away than he wished.

Not that he'll say this outloud to Zabel, a glare snapped toward the zombie as he tears a tombstone from the very ground itself. He tenses up, and as soon as the monument is in flight, the Lin Kuei leaps. Landing not too far from Zabel, another explosive is taken...but this time tossed directly at his feet right in front of the zombie.

Of course, just like before, Cyrax isn't there to get caught up in it...but instead, he hopes it tosses the undead staight up into the air, where the warrior reappeaed with a burst of smoke. If he can get that to happen, he'd wrap his arms around Zabel's twisted body, and bring his foot down, trying to drive him into the ground beneath them with something more like a wrestler's piledriver.

COMBATSYS: Zabel channels the glare of the vicious eye.

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Zabel [E]        0/-------/----<<<|-------\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Zabel channels the strength of the killing fist.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/----<<<|-------\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Zabel counters Cyberdriver from Cyrax with ES Death Phrase.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/--<<<<<|==-----\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

[ZABEL]
Once again, Zabel appears to drop his guard, even as an explosive flask is flying toward him. But this time his judgement of timing is a bit better, and he has the opportunity to summon his guitar into his hands. The flash of red light from something held in his fingers appears again as he swiftly drops his hand to the strings, and the chord that the guitar emits THIS time is something else entirely. The shockwaves stop the flask in mid-air, pushing it back before cracking the glass and exposing the liquid inside to the air.

Cyrax himself will fare better than that, but he'll still find himself appearing in a position to be struck with bone-rattling force and on onsluaght of sound that will almost certainly leave his ears ringing. If nothing else, it's easily enough to push him back far enough to be well out of reach of Zabel when he hits the ground again.

[CYRAX]
...that was not something Cyrax quite expected. The cask is thrown back into his hands...while the rest of him is completely thrown back by the sudden sound shockwave that rumbles from Zabel's guitar.

Groaning as he pulls himself up from the ground, Cyrax glowers from a distance. Of the times he needs to be in close, now is the time he's forced to fight from afar. That's a problem, running out of tricks as he is....he has one more though. HOpefully, enough to do what needs to be done.

Digging into his belt again, he readies something behind his hand. A glow from his hand comes, as if sensing his desperation, though the green hue is lost a little in the shine from the geysers. When his hand come around...it's not a bomb that flies out this time. Nope, it's an expanding net, electricity crackling around it from a small device in the center of the webbing. The net would certainly do well to entangle all those spurs and protrusions on Zabel if he gets caught in it. But will even an electrified net do much damage, even amped up to its max?

COMBATSYS: Cyrax channels the glare of the vicious eye.

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Zabel [E]        0/-------/--<<<<<|==-----\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Zabel channels the spread of the lightning nerves.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/--<<<<<|==-----\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Zabel dodges Cyrax's Electro Net.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/--<<<<<|===----\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

[ZABEL]
A secondary red glow flares deep in Zabel's eyesockets as he suddenly begins running toward Cyrax, moving with more speed than he's been showing for most of this fight. A good deal of that momentum is lost when he suddenly pivots about on one foot and spins in mid-run, but it serves to get him just outside of the net's path. He doesn't even glance at it, feeling even more than his usual degree of confidence as he continues his charge toward Cyrax. The zombie draws his right arm back as he runs, appearing to be charging in for a punch... but then he suddenly stops short and throws it well shy of connecting.

That would be more of an issue for him if it weren't for the fact that a spear of bone erupts from his fist, extending along the path of the punch and right toward Cyrax, coming to a sharp point. There's no electricity crackling around it this time, but that will be small comfort if it manages to punch a hole through something.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax channels the spread of the lightning nerves.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/----<<<|===----\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

COMBATSYS: Zabel successfully hits Cyrax with Blood and Bones.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  //                            ]
Zabel [E]        0/-------/---<<<<|====---\-------\0        [E] Cyrax

[CYRAX]
Cursing as the net is barely pivoted away from, Cyrax tries to move just in time to avoid the bone spear erupiting toward him. The glow on his arm rises again, as if sensing his desperation. He pulls his body to the side...

But not fast enough, as the bone spears through his shoulder, a cry out of pain as the spur erupts out of the other side. Trying to keep his consciousness, Cyrax pulls his shoulder away...and spins about, trying to slam his heel into Zabel's arm hard enough to possibly tear the entire thing off....

But regardless of how it turns out, he'll fall flat to the ground, face down, unconsciousness fitfully encompassing him. Curiously enough, as he falls, a green glow surrounds him, a seemingly impenetrable aura that seems to defend him in his unconscious state.

COMBATSYS: Cyrax can no longer fight.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  <
Zabel [E]        0/-------/---<<<<|

COMBATSYS: Zabel blocks Cyrax's Kombat Boots.

[                      \\\\\\\\  <
Zabel [E]        0/-------/--<<<<<|

[ZABEL]
The bone spur slides smoothly back into Zabel's arm (at least it didn't have any hooks on it...) moving quickly enough that the zombie has time to react to Cyrax's final effort without the unwieldy weight sticking out in front of him. He leans in to the kick and brings his arm up, taking the blow further up Cyrax's leg and robbing it of much of its power. And then as he sees Cyrax collapsing, no guard up whatsoever, he grins widely. Even as the Lin Kuei is falling, Zabel lunges toward him, reaching greedily with one clawed hand... at least up until his fingers come into contact with the green glow surrounding him.

There's a flash of green light, everything spins for Zabel for a moment, and he finds himself flat on his back, staring up in confusion at the sky. He climbs back to his feet, muttering under his breath. But then a smile returns to his face as he feels a warm sensation from his own bit of crystal. Humming a tune he walks over to his discard robe, flips it up and over his shoulder, and begins strolling off. There's nobody around to ask for an encore, and he's got no interest in helping Cyrax recover, so no point in sticking around.

COMBATSYS: Zabel takes no action.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Zabel [E]        0/-------/----<<<|

COMBATSYS: Zabel has ended the fight here.

Log created on 16:24:19 09/17/2016 by Zabel, and last modified on 23:17:23 09/17/2016.