KOF 2017 - Act 2: Mission 5 - Act of God

[Toggle Names]

Description: The freak storm that struck Hokkaido is a disaster. While the government scrambles to assign blame, the reclusive CEO of G-Corporation emerges to Nibutani, holding a press conference. With the promise to rebuild the dam and the generator, it seems that human progress would not be stopped without something more stern than a warning. A thunderclap rushes upon the press conference, for teleportation is nothing for a god, especially so close to his warded lands. When Raiden arrives to strike the offending human dead, Kazuya finds unlikely rescue from a bitter source: The Tekken Forces elite, sent by Heihachi as a further humiliation to the man. As Kazuya is forced to flee, Lars and Claire must cover the escape of the Mishima by engaging with Raiden



[LARS]
The last few days have seemed like a whirlwind of press conferences, announcements, and proclamations both for and against the United Nations' actions against Violet Systems. Amidst all these, the G Corporation, a monolithic company often playing rival to the the Mishima Zaibatsu, has made several small announcements about the destruction of its experimental power plant in Hokkaido and the subsequent flooding of parts of that same region. In conjunction with the other chaos in Japan, G Corportion's reclusive CEO has decided to step forward with a televised press conference. With the CEO something of a mystery, many eyes have turned to see how the event unfolds.

Kazuya Mishima stands on an observation deck overlooking what's left of the experimental power plant. He is dressed in a black overcoat over a dressy vest and slacks. His arms are folded across his chest as he overlooks the damage. Behind him, several camerapeople move to finish preparations. Fully equipped G Corporation security speak frequently into headsets and handheld radios as they keep an eye out for armed intervention.

"Mister Mishima," one of the stage hands says, "we're ready to begin when you are."

"Do it."

The area clears, leaving Kazuya standing with his back to the Nibutani Dam in the background. The camera operator signals a three count, and then the light on the device shifts from red to green. Thunder rolls in the distance as the sky darkens gradually.

"People of the world," Kazuya says, "I am Kazuya Mishima, CEO of G-Corporation." Kazuya paces around, arms still folded. "What you see behind you is the ruins of the Nibutani Dam...and of G Corporation's attempt at innovation. G Corporation's work into sustainable energy here would have guaranteed generations of power..." Kazuya looks back at the dam for several moments wistfully.

"But it seems that objected to our progress," Kazuya says, turning back to the camera suddenly.

[RAIDEN]
Throughout the history of man, heroes have grown into legends through their willingness to challenge powers greater than themselves. Whether their obstacle is an unclimbable cliff, unswimmable stream, or unkillable beast, there have always been those who refused to bow before even the most daunting of foes.
What history often fails to recall, are the countless heroes humbled by these challenges.
Again the sky rumbles its displeasure, darkening from a misty blue to an ominous grey. The light of the sun that once fell bright and golden is reduced to a twilight glow, thin shafts of white just able to pierce through the heavy clouds that roll in from every direction, carried upon the backs of chaotic winds.
The air is suddenly oppressive, heavy with foreboding. Someone did indeed object to these latest technological advancements. And that someone is apparently no longer content to stand back and allow humanity free reign over the Earth.
BOOM!
A lance of brilliant white lightning forks down from the clouds, striking the platform not ten feet from where Kazuya stands staring into the camera. Bits of smoldering wood spray into the air, a small fire left flickering at the bottom of a scorched crater burned into the platform.
What is likely more impressive, however, is the figure that now stands backlit by the flames, face shadowed by the slanted rim of a simple straw harvester's hat. Long white hair falls most of the way down his back, draped over the shoulders of a loose grey robe worn closed over simple white shirt and pants. In his right hand, braced against shoulder and ground, is a six foot staff of silver metal.
Both the man's staff, and his eyes, pulse with flares of living electricity. They burn like twin spheres of bottled lightning, focused completely, and without exception, on Kazuya Mishima.
"The destruction of this place," Lord Raiden murmurs softly, his words no less intense for their gentle nature, "was a warning. You have drilled into the soul of the world, attempting to claim that which is not yours to take." Within his words can be heard the quiet hiss and crackle of the storm, undercut by the very literal buzz of electricity as it arcs along the length of his staff.
"Leave this place, mortal. You are not welcome here."

[LARS]
On the nearby road, armored personnel carriers speed toward the barricades setup for the filming of the press conference.

Kazuya smiles, but it is not a kind smile. It is excited, but it is the smile of the crocodile before it snatches the water buffalo off the shore. It is the smile of a devil wearing the skin of a man. His fist clenches tightly enough to make the bones audibly pop.

The cameraman trembles. Several figures are already fleeing. Kazuya barely even blinks.

"Keep the camera on him," he barks, snapping toward Raiden with a quick tilt of his head. "This is who objects to our progress," Kazuya continues. "This man--or monster--is responsible for the destruction here. Perhaps," Kazuya smiles as the camera turns back toward him. "This is why the United Nations desires Violet Systems' work so much. This is why they want to steal the sweat from the brows of honest, hardworking men and women." Kazuya smiles that wicked smile again.

"The deaths of so many are a warning?" Kazuya barks. "Then let me show you a similar--"

"Sir," one of the nearby security officers says, "Tekken Force transports just smashed through the barricade, we tried to stop them but--"

Kazuya looks to the camera, his face briefly shifting to a snarl. Viewers of the footage debate will debate for weeks whether his right eye flashed red or if it was a trick of the light. It remains vague as the camera feed abruptly ends, its footage stopped by a Tekken Force APC smashing into the camera truck with enough force to bowl it over. Doors pop open, allowing men and women clad in black and red armor and bug-eyed helmets to pour out, armed to the teeth.

At their front is a man with light brown hair issuing orders with hand gesture and quick commands into his earpiece.

"This is Lars Alexandersson of the Tekken Force," Lars says, stepping toward Raiden and Kazuya. "We are under orders to seize this area and bring you into protective custody, Kazuya Mishima."

[CLAIRE]
One of the Tekken Force ... soldiers? officers? disembarks at the front of the Tekken Force squad.

This armour is a little different; it's still black and red, but the helmet looks more birdlike and less buglike than some of the others. She's fully equipped rather than the rather decorative plates Claire runs into tournament combat with; it's so different that the few similarities are easily overlooked as generic and rather accidental likenesses, like the bulk in the gauntlets and boots.

There's only so many ways high-tech armour can look, after all.

Claire doesn't have a weapon in her hands beyond a pistol, but she doesn't need one. As Lars takes command of the situation, she's already moving toward Kazuya with several other soldiers, fanning out into a formation where they can move and react faster if they need to. Her pistol is raised, though it's not (quite) pointed at Raiden as she scans the area.

If Lars wants the area secured, he's going to get it.

[RAIDEN]
Though Kazuya's demonic posturing has likely struck fear into the hearts of many mortals, the being that now stands before him is far beyond such base fears. The path ahead is simple, and direct. This swarm of locusts will clear from the sacred ground they have so callously violated, or they will be cleared.
As yet more mortals swarm onto the grounds, closing on the confrontation with organized intent, the sky roars with thunder, lightning flashing white and earth quaking. The wind begins to pick up, tossing Raiden's hair back, and the first fat drops of a flash shower patter to the ground.
"I am neither man, nor monster," Raiden replies, soft voice cutting unnaturally through the fury of the storm, "I am Lord Raiden, God of Thunder, Defender of Earth." Voice gaining the raw edge of wrath, the white-haired being lifts his staff from the ground, wind whipping into a furious howl, and glares out at the disembarking soldiers from the shadow of his hat.
"By refusing to Atone for your actions, you have chosen your fate. You, and all who defend you will pay for what you have done!"
The once clear sky is now a mass of roiling clouds, day cast into darkness by the God's displeasure. Another boom of thunder tears from the heavens, causing the platform to jump and shake.
The lightning that had so enthusiastically danced along Raiden's staff now flickers to life across his entire body, arcing and buzzing along his limbs, jumping from shoulder to hip. The untamed energy remains ever in motion, slinging itself across the god's body in unpredictable patterns.
'FWAP.'
Raiden's staff snaps down into both hands, held angled across his body with the upper point over his left shoulder. Enraged, he glares not only at Kazuya, but at those sent to protect him, the full might of his presence washing over Lars, Claire, and those who cluster behind.

COMBATSYS: Raiden has started a fight here as a boss!

                               RAIDEN                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                



COMBATSYS: Lars has joined the fight here.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Lars             0/-------/-------|


COMBATSYS: Claire has joined the fight here.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lars             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Claire


[LARS]
Kazuya sneers at Lars and Claire when they arrive. Tekken Force operatives spread out, putting assault rifles and pistols at G Corporation employees. Guns are taken from security without resistance. Two men start to move on Kazuya, but Lars raises his hand to tell them to stay back.

"Heihachi..." Kazuya growls, looking at Lars, then at Raiden. "Tch. I don't need their protection." Kazuya backsteps, moving dangerously toward the edge. "Thunder God," he says, "you and I will meet again without interferences." He looks at Lars. "Try not to throw your lives away without meaning."

And then, Kazuya steps off the ledge, plummeting off the cliffside road. Lars is on the edge in an instant, but by the time he's there Kazuya is nowhere to be found. The commander puts two fingers to his ears.

"This is Lars. The target has escaped." Lars turns his attention toward Raiden, advancing with steady steps. "You were responsible for this destruction?" he asks, his eyes narrowed. "I can't let you go any further, regardless of your reasons." He snaps into a fighting stance, his legs bent slightly and one arm raised in front of him, the other behind. "With me," he says to Claire. "This is a dangerous opponent. Be careful."

"Everyone else," Lars speaks with authority, "clear the G Corporation personnel out of here then move to safety. I'll take care of this."

And then Lars is on the move. He dashes forward at Raiden, surging forward with a right punch, then left. As the left goes forward he drops into a crouch, falling low to swing a hook punch toward Raiden's leg, catch them, then try to pull the god's legs out from under him.

[CLAIRE]
The squad with Claire scatters at Lars' command.

Not randomly, of course. They break away to assist in ensuring that the G Corporation personnel get out of there, ideally safely. It's impossible to make out expressions under the helmets they wear, but honestly they're probably relieved - well, some of them, anyway.

But Claire's been called forward. She takes a step forward, the only (obvious) woman amongst them, and levels the gun at Raiden, firing the entire clip with a series of loud gunshots. They echo, even over the storm.

Then Claire pitches the empty pistol at Raiden. This is less stupid than it looks. It's actually designed to be used as a throwing weapon, because Claire does not get into prolonged gunfights and does her best work barehanded; it's weighted to be thrown. There's a pretty good chance that it hurts as badly as the bullets do; it's not moving as fast, but it has force and energy behind it in a way the gunshots don't.

"You got it, chief," she says, her slightly electronically distorted voice alive with energy. Claire opens her hands, then closes them, moving in a slow and steady advance now that Lars is in close.

COMBATSYS: Raiden blocks Lars' Turbine Hook.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lars             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Claire


COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Claire's Thrown Object.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lars             0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0           Claire


[RAIDEN]
All at once, everything goes to hell in the worst possible ways. Kazuya escapes over the edge, Lars charges Raiden head on, Claire begins to fire, and the intermittent droplets open up into a sudden torrential downpour.
Faced with the unbridled fury of an honest to goodness god, Lars shows admirable bravery in approaching. With every step nearer, the air grows thicker, more electrically charged. This is far beyond a simple mastery of chi. The being he now approaches is the storm. Just as Lars himself has two arms, the God of Thunder has lightning.
Surging forward to meet his young opponent, Raiden catches the opening right on his staff with a buzzing 'tzzzt,' before whirling the weapon through half a spin to catch the follow up left on its other end with an echoing 'fwzzt'. His footwork is flawless, stance solid and powerful despite being the smaller of the two men.
"there is goodness in your heart." Raiden informs Lars with quiet intent, briefly face to face, "Yet you serve villains."
But then Lars is dropping low, and Raiden is force to swing his left foot up, leaping over the hook punch and planting his bare sole on the intent man's left shoulder. Springboarding over the security chief's head, Raiden tumbles through the air, staff accelerating into three blurring rotations.
'PINGPINGPING'
Claire's first three shots are deflected away by the spinning staff, bullets humming through the air amidst brilliant sparks of arcing electricity. However, between the third and the fourth pulls of the trigger, the god has vanished in a flash of static.
Appearing near instantaneously at Claire's right side, he swings his staff around, pointing it back beneath his right elbow, and sends the electrical energy gathered across his body pulsing down its length in a single, devastating bolt that flashes back the way he came, aimed to strike Lars squarely between the shoulders.
Yet more energy boils up from within the god, buzzing across his body as he focuses his full attention on Claire from what is likely much too close a distance.
On the up side,now she doesn't need to walk all that way to reach him.

COMBATSYS: Raiden knocks away Lars with Lightning.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [   ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|----------=====                


[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lars             0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0           Claire


[LARS]
Lars's blows collide heavily with the staff, his power and speed more than enough to overcome most men. Raiden, however, is a different story by far. Lars furrows his brow at Raiden's comment, looking at the god with concern.

"I fight for my comrades," Lars answers before he drops into the hook punch. He spins off the momentum of the hookpunch to turn and face Raiden as he flips, and Lars is already into a sprint when the lightning surges back at him.

The bolt hits the Swede with enough force to knock him clean off his feet, body jerking as the bolt carries him across the road. He lands in a roll but tumbles around back into a crouch. Lars's breaths are labored afterward, the man shaking his head and driving his fist against the pavement. "Claire!" he bellows, breaking out of his crouch like a sprinter as he barrels back toward Raiden to intercede between the god and his colleague. Mid run Lars launches up into a forward flip, turning over into a dive kick to help close the gap.
%But as Lars comes down he bends his knees, sinking into the kick to get closer to Raiden. He reaches forward, aiming to grab the smaller man by the shoulders, then flips forward to try and take him over into an airborne slam.

COMBATSYS: Lars blitzes into action and acts again!

                               RAIDEN                              
  [   ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|----------=====                


[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Lars             0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0           Claire


[CLAIRE]
One might think that, having thrown her firearm away, Claire would now be at a disadvantage.

That's not really the case, because she fully intends to go hand-to-hand now, and the sudden proximity of Raiden gives her an opportunity - and a need, to keep him from a follow-up against Lars. Though by the looks of things, touching Raiden might be a little more challenging than she likes.

Claire drives a flurry of fists at Raiden. None of them quite touch him directly, but with every punch her knuckles burst a jet of flame, which strikes with both force and intense heat, like a small flamethrower constantly going off with an associated shockwave. It means she doesn't have to /quite/ make contact with the electrified man to keep pummeling him with impact after impact - or that's the goal, anyway, to keep him off balance so that Lars can rush in and take the offensive lead.

"On it," she replies, still sounding rather intense. That lightning bolt looked like no fun to get hit by. What is this guy...?

COMBATSYS: Raiden blocks Lars' Avalanche Stomp.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [      |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lars             0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0           Claire


COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Claire's Coreiseuse.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [      |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lars             0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0           Claire


COMBATSYS: Raiden interrupts Improvised Grapple from Lars with God Fist.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [         ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-----------====                


[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lars             1/----===/=======|-------\-------\0           Claire


[RAIDEN]
Out of all the champions that Raiden has faced since the ancient pacts were broken, Lars is perhaps the one among them who the god might be able to reach. If he could only get the young man to listen, to understand what is happening...
But no. There is no time. Combat has been joined. If the Swede survives, perhaps then.
Briefly ignoring Lars as he picks himself up and begins to sprint, Raiden focuses his otherworldly gaze upon Claire instead. Staring at her, through her, to the lines of sizzling energy within her, he takes a single step back, watching as his own element is pumped through wires and circuits, channeled into the activation of hidden weapons.
"CLANG!'
Claire's first punch is knocked off course by a whirling smack of Raiden's staff, a stray arc of electricity leaping from its metal surface to skitter along the armor of her extended arm.
'Clang Clang.'
Two more blows are batted away, their fiery discharges roaring passed the god to either side, directed away just far enough to avoid setting his rain-soaked robe alight.
"You have been granted a great gift." Raiden states calmly to Claire, forced to deflect away yet more blurring punches as Lars grows ever closer. "yet you waste it."
Leaping backward through the rain, Raiden disengages from Claire with a flourish of his staff and twists, bringing it up in both hands to catch Lars' descending feet. Static jumps and sparks along the weapon as the full weight of the head of security drops upon him, forcing him down to a knee.
Could it truly be so easy to force a god to kneel?
Half way through reaching down to grasp at Raiden's shoulders, the staff beneath Lars' feet simply vanishes. One moment, he is perched upon a metal rod, prepared to flip into action. The next, said rod has dissipated into motes of white energy, sizzling as they fall to the wet earth.
Left hand remaining extended toward the sky, Lord Raiden drops his right low, knuckles nearly scraping the ground.
BOOOOOM!
A bolt of brilliant white lightning lances down from the sky, entering the god's upraised palm and pulsing through his form, surrounding him in a humming nimbus of living energy. Said energy pulses once, then courses along his limbs and across his torso, gathering around his right fist in a flickering ball of sparking doom.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Exploding upward from his kneel with all the power of a raging storm contained in his fist, Lord Raiden releases a raw, soul-shredding shout. Leading the charge, his glowing fist strikes Lars squarely in the pelvis, all of the stored energy releasing in a single, upward blast of lightning that briefly connects Raiden with the heavens above, lighting the area like a miniature sun.

[LARS]
Lars impacts with Raiden's guard, his boots rattling against the staff. The impact of the blow is enough to cause a loud boom, brief sparks of purple lightning surging around Lars as he strains against the guard. Lars grits his teeth then shifts his footing, trying to step around. It is too late.

Mid-grab, the whole perspective changes. Lars is not even in a position to guard when Raiden delivers the punch, echoing across the valley and filling his vision with light. Lars shifts his position to try and evade, but winds up taking the blow directly to the stomach rather than getting the potentially more painful blow to the groin. Even so, the impact sends the Tekken Force commander across the path, bouncing twice before skidding to a stop. He plants his forearm on the ground and lifts up, but does not fully rise. The young man coughs blood onto the pavement.

But he doesn't relent. Lars rises up, wiping bits of blood and spittle off his mouth. "Claire," Lars calls, "stay back. Get the men away from here and cover their escape," Lars orders, cool even under the immense pressure. He shifts back into his fighting stance, stepping toward Raiden slowly, and with one hand still on his torso.

"Who are you? Why are you after Kazuya Mishima?" Lars asks, "Are you the one who caused all this?" he gestures toward the flooded area below.

COMBATSYS: Lars gains composure.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [         ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-----------====                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Lars             1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0           Claire


[CLAIRE]
"Oh, I don't think I'm wasting much of anything," Claire responds to Raiden, taking a step back as Raiden disengages from her. Her hands expel a small cloud of smoke or steam as she does, venting from ports set along the gauntlets.

It's that that saves her from the lightning bolt. Claire feels it even though it wasn't aimed at her; a tingle in her limbs, running through her armour. It's harmless - this time - though it certainly wouldn't be if she'd been punched by something like that. Rather the opposite, in fact.

Claire does not salute Lars because she's a little busy, but she acknowledges his orders with an "Understood." Despite that she doesn't immediately turn and run; breaking away is just /asking/ for Raiden to throw a lightning bolt at her butt, and she likes her butt the way it is. Instead she leaps /toward/ Raiden, taking to the air as she almost tries to stomp on him from midair.

The little thrusters on her lower legs and boots fire as she 'stomps' down on Raiden. It launches her up and away, accompanied with a pulse of heat and force downward at Raiden; no fire this time, it's more like a muffled, directed explosion angled down at Raiden. It also makes Claire take an enormously long leap, landing some distance away and whirling to face Raiden, hands up defensively as she shifts position.

COMBATSYS: Claire successfully hits Raiden with Clarent.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [              |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------=======                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Lars             1/-----==/=======|=------\-------\0           Claire


[RAIDEN]
"The G corporation's reckless disregard for the ancient pacts demanded a response. The soul of the earth has been violated. You go too far." Lord Raiden murmurs in reply, his quiet words cutting unnaturally through the pounding of rain and grumble of thunder. it is almost as if the air itself speaks for him, carrying his words to the ears of those nearby. Face still cast in deep shadow, he stands comfortably amidst sheets of pouring rain, water flowing over the brim of his hat to splash all around his damp grey robe. Little arcs of electricity snap and crackle from him even still, though the powerful discharge of moments ago seems to have drained much of his gathered reserves.
As for who he is? A bolt of lightning claws its way across the sky, starkly illuminating the surrounding destruction. This storm he has summoned. His ability to transform into living lightning. Surely these actions speak louder than any words. And if they don't, the salvaged footage of his brief conversation with Kazuya will do.
It is at that exact moment that Claire, ignored up until now, registers upon Raiden's senses in a big way. Descending from above, her heavy boots make solid impact with his upper back, boosters firing in a mini detonation that flings him forward off of his feet, falling chest-first toward the ground. However, before impact he vanishes in a flash of bluish white sparks, leaving her free to zoom off through the air, safe from reprisals.
Only once Claire's boots have touched down is there an echoing flash of electricity directly behind her. Taking form from a crackling mass of living lightning, Raiden snaps out his right hand, attempting to clamp down hard on the back of Claire's neck. IF he can get the grip, he will swing her violently around, electricity popping and crackling between them, and drop into a low crouch. Smashing her face-first to the ground, the god of lightning will flare with crackling energy, sending it down his arm in a sustained stream powerful enough not only to blast her free from his grip, but to send her sliding and tumbling across the ground as more and more of the vicious element courses between them with a hissing, buzzing 'sshzzzzzzshzzsszzt'.

[LARS]
Lars breathes heavily. He's taken heavily blows already, and just keeping up with Raiden is a challenge in itself. Victory, at the moment, seems out of the question.

But then there's a faint glimmer of hope as Claire launches in, employing her leg boosters to deliver that kick.

"Nice shot," Lars says with a nod, but Raiden will be moving on her in just a moment. The Tekken Force Commander takes his chance while he has a brief moment, diving in toward the chaos once more.

"Wathc out!" he shouts, surging in low and shoulder first, ready to try and intercept or overcome whatever comes his way. From there, Lars tries to spear the thunder god by crashing into his torso. If he succeeds, he transitions into a sort of half-spin, his forearm aimed to hook under Raiden's and hurl back off of Claire.

COMBATSYS: Claire parries Raiden's Almighty EX!!

                               RAIDEN                              
  [              |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------======                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Lars             1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0           Claire


[CLAIRE]
Claire was expecting to get attention from Raiden eventually. He wasn't going to let her get away, was he? Not after he showed up and started making improbable declarations about G Corporation, telling her she was wasting her gift... he wouldn't easily be able to just leave her.

But damn, she was not expecting to deal with a teleporting electrical master when she woke up this morning.

Claire turns with impressive speed as Raiden teleports behind her. She's already had her hands up and so she manages to twist her upper body in an uncomfortable-looking manner, and as he reaches out to her she's reaching out toward him. Rather than grab the back of her neck, his hand touches Claire's palm, the electricity discharging with a huge crackling boom.

Not into Claire. Along her.

Claire's cybernetics overload to save her from the lightning grip. They were tingling before; now they're burning, the electricity arcing up her arm, down her torso, to the ground, where her boots have automatically stuck out small spikes - normally meant for climbing, now they're ensuring she is firmly grounded. Her body spasms, once, then reboots, reactivating probably before Raiden expects. Certainly before she does.

Claire turns her grip into a twisting throw, trying to wrench Raiden around to the ground. Normally she might apply an electrified knee, but that seems like a bad idea; Claire applies a regular knee instead, trying to drive it into Raiden's gut and knock the wind out of him. If he has wind that can be knocked out of him, anyway.

Claire tries to say something, but it doesn't come out clearly. The electronic distorter on her voice in her helmet shorted out.

COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Lars' Violent Grapple.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [              |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------======                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Lars             1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0           Claire


COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Claire's Courtain EX.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [              |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------======                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Lars             1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0           Claire


[RAIDEN]
There is a faint flash of white from the shadow of Raiden's hat as his palm impacts Claire's own rather than her neck. It is an easy thing to miss , what with the massive amount of electricity burning through her cybernetics, but he seems to be smiling.
"Impressive." Raiden praises the cyborg as her gauntlet clamps down hard around his fingers, Lars' splashing footsteps growing ever louder. However, before the Swede can tackle him, or he can get pulled to the ground by Claire, the mysterious master simply vanishes.
Left floating in Raiden's place is a fist-sized orb of crackling static, sparks jumping violently from its shifting surface.
Appearing not 15 feet behind Claire, the god of thunder tosses a second spark almost casually into the air, watching as it sizzles its way into space, then locks there.
All at once, the two spheres violently erupt, crackling tendrils of electricity surging out toward one another. It just so happens that Claire is standing directly between the bolts as they close, attempting to form a humming arc of electricity that hovers freely in the air, existing independently of the being that created it.
A feet that, probably shouldn't be possible. Not physics wise, or power wise.
"What I tell you is true. The corporation you serve is one of many powers that have forced my hand." Raiden explains, stepping around the floating arc of electricity to circle wide around Lars and Claire, lightning jumping across his robe, crackling through his long white hair. "It is the will of the Elder Gods."
Above, thunder rumbles.

[LARS]
Lars tackle goes wide, water splashing as his boots slide to a stop. He spins on his heel, snapping back to face Raiden once more. His cape billows behind him, caught by Lars's forward momentum and the steady gathering wind.

The Swede watches Claire narrowly avoid having her face driven into the earth. His teeth are gritted the entire time. When the two separate again, Lars speaks up.

"What do you mean, Elder Gods?" Lars says, his stance steady. He powers forward, purple electricity surging through him. He drives up with a knee aimed for Raiden's gut. If it connects, Lars reaches forward to try and grab Raiden by the neck, dumping his own supernatural chi-lightning into the Elder God in a clash of wills. Power surges to a breaking point, discharging violently in one final burst.

"What was G-Corporation doing here?"

COMBATSYS: Raiden knocks away Claire with White Spark.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [              |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                


[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Lars             1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1           Claire


[CLAIRE]
Claire is still a little off balance from dealing with that much electricity. Her limbs appear to be working (though there's a few trailing sparks) but not everything else is. She's disoriented and running on pure instinct.

It worked well at first, but less well this time. Claire is trapped between the two electrical balls, which form an arc with her in the middle. The protections she has against power surges were well and truly tripped /last/ time, and this time she can feel real burning, not phantom pain from her shocked cybernetics.

Still forming the middle point of what is now becoming a triangle of electricity as she keeps moving, Claire drives one kick toward Raiden, a stomping blow to send him reeling toward Lars. Unfortunately she's still kind of connected to the electrical arc, which is not helping her movement at all.

Also her voice system is still on the fritz. Maybe soon.

COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Claire's Medium Kick.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [              |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---============                


[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Lars             1/------=/=======|=======\==-----\1           Claire


COMBATSYS: Raiden endures Lars' Magnetic Knee EX.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                        |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|------------===|===============                


[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Lars             1/---====/=======|=======\==-----\1           Claire


[RAIDEN]
"So quickly you mortals forget." Raiden murmurs in response to Lars' question, glowing eyes fixed on the security officer as he readies himself for yet another charge. Taking a single step to the side, the white-haired master avoids having his head stomped on by Claire, giving her a moment longer to struggle free from the static trap she finds herself slowed by.
Bracing himself, Raiden throws his arms up as Lars comes in, accepting the knee on tensed abdominal's. There is enough force behind the blow to lift the god completely off of his feet, to say nothing of the hands that close around his throat. Unfortunately for Lars, as his question is voiced, and the detonation of purple electricity is forced into his opponent's body, he realizes two things that he should have from the very start.
Firstly, don't use electricity against the god of lightning.
Secondly, you don't fuck with a god.
Raiden's own hands close around Lars' throat, wind roaring around them as the ancient being's eyes blaze with sudden fury.
"HAH NOH WAHT YAH SAH!"
Lord Raiden's shout seems to echo through the heavens as he hurls himself forward, attempting to drag Lars into the air and drive him backward at every increasing speeds, rain spraying off of them as they hurtle passed Claire and her electrical spark friends , over the wooden platform, and toward the mangled remains of a steel railing, which the god attempts to smash the Swede through back-first...

COMBATSYS: Raiden knocks away Lars with Dark Force.
- Power hit! -

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                         ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


[                          \\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Lars             2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\==-----\1           Claire


metal shrieks and grinds as Raiden hammers Lars through the railing with incredible force, wind and lightning gathering around the flying god in an ever-growing fury. But that is not where the pain ends.
Whirling on the spot, the god of thunder tears Lars free of the scraps and launches him back the way they came, the young fighter briefly free of Raiden's inhuman grip.
Vanishing in a flash of white static, Raiden appears before Lars, intercepting him with a flying superman punch to the jaw. And, upon contact, the god transforms into a writhing mass of electricity, the scorching tendrils entering through the impact zone and blazing a path through the security officer's body, only to blast free of his boot half a blink later.
Reforming with his back to his opponent, Raiden drops lightly to the ground, little flashes of lightning still snapping out from his steaming robes.

[LARS]
Lars maintains his grip, soldiering against impossible odds. He clutches Raiden, bracing his arm with other arm. "What did they tap? What provoked your wrath?" Lars demands, to no avail.

And then he feels Raiden's own hands around his throat. Lars snaps back, trying to brace himself and break free. As he pushes against Raiden's inhuman grip, Lars is smashed into the railing. He can feel bones break and cartilige pop as the steel gives way. For a moment, he dangles there, but is only a brief reprieve.

Lars soars through the air again, flying freely until slamming back into Raiden's grip once more. The Swede gasps in pain, the wind knocked right out of his lungs and silencing the scream that would have came otherwise. Lighting surges through him and he trembles violently, shaking until it leaves again and smoke pours off of him. He falls to his knees, then down on his face. It is here that he lies still.

But then, steadily, Lars rises again. "Take the rest of the men and get out of here," Lars says, struggling to rise to one knee. He steadily, gradually climbs up to stand as one hand dangles loosely at his side. His chi steadily gathers, that purple lightning arcing around him from inside--not from the god to thunder himself. Lars's boot grinds through the dust as he shifts his stance.

Lars raises his fist, struggling to keep it aloft. Chi lightning crackles through him, gathering steadily until Lars powers forward with one final punch, putting the last of his remaining strength into it. Perhaps with it, Lars hopes, he can at least buy some time.

But as soon as the blow is thrown, successful or not, Lars collapses in an unconscious, battered heap.

COMBATSYS: Lars can no longer fight.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                         ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Claire           1/-----==/=======|


[CLAIRE]
manages to free herself from the electrical arc with a cracking, popping noise as it decides to form a shorter arc without her in it. Ow.

Lars is down, but not without giving orders. Claire whistles, something that carries even through her damaged vocal modulator, and starts gesturing. The remaining Tekken Force crew start to disperse, increasingly leaving only her and Lars behind...

...and Claire isn't going anywhere without Lars.

Claire leaps through the air toward Raiden. She fires the thrusters, just as she did when kicking Raiden before - but this time Raiden's not there, she's merely sending herself, rocket-like, across the battlefield. She hits the ground running, landing near Lars, almost on top of him; so fast is she moving that she basically slams into Raiden unless he gets out of the way, shoulder-first, using her rocket-boosted speed to her best advantage.

She doesn't slow down all that much when she positions herself in front of Lars, defensively. She's not going to let Raiden get him, and she needs to make sure the rest of the Tekken Force is out first. Who knew she was loyal enough for this?

COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Claire's Flamberge.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                         ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|--------------=                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Claire           1/----===/=======|


COMBATSYS: Raiden blocks Lars' Zeus EX.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                               ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------======                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Claire           1/----===/=======|


[RAIDEN]
For a couple of seconds after Lars initially hits the ground, Raiden simply stands there, back to the young man and long white hair tossed about by the chaotic wind. The steady, humming buzz of electricity rises from the blue sparks that continue to dance around him, fueled by the near inexhaustible well of his divine being.
It is only when Lars begins to stir that Raiden turns, watching with shadowed interest as the determined human struggles fully upright, focusing his purple chi into lightning of his own. All of the energy that the human can bare stacked layer upon layer. Channeled into one, devastating blow. Not unlike a young monk that he knows.
As the final punch is thrown, Raiden lifts his hands, a barrier of lightning springing to life between his spread palms. Purple and white meet with a resounding BOOM and a blinding flash, the ground shaking and bolts of energy lashing out to gouge deep furrows in the surrounding earth. However, when the light has faded, and the rain once more falls undisturbed, Raiden stands over Lars' prone form, lightning sparking between the spread fingers of one hand.
Perhaps he has some plan for the fallen Swede. But if so, it is interrupted as Claire comes charging in, shoulder lowered to turn her body into a jet-assisted ram.
Like so many times before, Claire meets no resistance, her armor-plated body blasting through a cloud of sizzling ions left in the wake of Raiden's teleport. Unlike before, it is not behind or beside Claire that he chooses to return. it is directly beneath her, robe-clad form materializing with a humming zap.
Appearing to rise up from within the earth, Lord Raiden's right knee blasts upward, lightning sparking around him as he attempts to carry Claire aloft with a vicious blow to the abdomen, followed by a downward smash of both palms into the center of her forehead to blast her back toward the ground from a good 15 feet in the air. Unless she can turn the situation around, he will then drift back down to earth, hovering a good six inches above the ground as he surveys the battlefield.

COMBATSYS: Claire dodges Raiden's Supercell.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                               ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-----------====                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Claire           1/----===/=======|


[CLAIRE]
Well, in positive news, Claire has done exactly what she hoped to do: clear Raiden away from Lars for at least a moment.

In more negative news, Raiden is still here and still on the offense. Perhaps it was too much to hope that he just went away.

Actually, Claire thinks he /might/ have gone for a moment, when he vanishes in a surge of electricity and doesn't immediately arise. Him coming out from the ground is new, but a new trick she's halfway prepared for - she's already learned that he can be anywhere pretty much whenever he wants. Frustrating.

Claire fires the overstressed leg thrusters again, pulling Lars along with her for about five feet. It's not far, but it's far enough for the electrified reach of Raiden to touch nothing at all, and it's far enough for Claire to try a trick she's only done a couple times. If there's any time bringing out the big guns is appropriate, though, it's now.

Raising both hands, Claire holds them in front of her, pressing her palms together at arms' length before separating them from each other. Not far, only an inch, but mechanical systems in her gauntlets - her lower arms - engage. Energy dances between her arms, held at full extension, starting from about her elbows and working up toward the palms.

Claire fires her energy cannon. The beam howls as it blasts through the air; Raiden's not very far away and it's a little reckless to fire it at this proximity, but she'd rather use it while she can. It's a beam of white-blue force that hits with kinetic force, smashing her target backwards and drilling through it rather than energizing or melting.

That's one way to give a response.

COMBATSYS: Claire successfully hits Raiden with Hauteclaire.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                            |||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-----==========                


[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Claire           0/-------/-------|


[RAIDEN]
Having hit nothing with his rising knee, Lord Raiden twists in the air, descending back toward the ground with quiet intensity. perhaps, if there weren't so much chaos between the lashing rain and insane lightning, she might notice a slight hesitation in the god's movements. After all, when hard pressed by two fighters, it is easy to lose oneself to the flow of combat. But when facing only one fairly young combatant?
Having just touched down, Raiden senses the shift of electricity through Claire's cybernetics even before she falls into her beam-shooting posture. Form going fuzzy, he prepares to disperse into static as he has so many times. But, for some reason, he can not. With so much raw energy filling the air, anchoring his own, it holds him in this world just a fraction too long, and the enormous beam strikes the god head on.
Knocked clean off of his feet, hat bouncing away through the puddles, Raiden tumbles away in a splashing heap, coming to rest a good 20 feet from where he had been standing. Static crackles across his limbs as he lies there, head bowed.
Slowly, he lifts his head, eyes alight with flashes of blazing blue.
"HACKAMASAAAAAAH!"
Shouting his raw defiance to the storm above, the god of thunder launches himself from the ground and streaks toward Claire, arms extended and lightning buzzing across his entire body. Flashing across the distance, he attempts to drive his hands squarely into Claire's chest and blast her backward, before tumbling through the air in a neat flip and landing poised in the spot she so recently occupied.

COMBATSYS: Raiden knocks away Claire with Elder Fury.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                            |||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|-==============                


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


[CLAIRE]
That drained a lot of Claire's energy. Her hands and arms return to the normal configuration with a clicking sound, and she feels fatigued - the warning signs of pushing herself too hard too fast.

Fatigue is indeed sinking in. She's not as fast on her feet as she was before, or at least Raiden is faster - then again, for someone who is or claims to be a god, you'd expect them to be fast, and Raiden has certainly shown he can more than keep up with Claire.

Raiden impacts Claire's breastplate. It's probably helping keep her up (Tekken Force builds tough), though maybe not; she's always been a lot harder to kill than people expect. She is indeed blasted backwards, electricity arcing from the plates as she reorients herself, dazed from the onslaught - dazed, but not yet quite out of it.

"Back off from him," Claire says - oh, now her voice system is working again. Despite her words, she moves cautiously, not rushing Raiden for a single knockout blow, because she is pretty sure that isn't going to work. Instead she uses a fast jab followed by a stronger right hook, as much trying to keep him off-balance as knock him out. Keeping herself alive is important too.

COMBATSYS: Raiden interrupts Medium Punch from Claire with Sudden Energy.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                               ||||||||||||| ]
                 1|-------------==|===============                


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


[RAIDEN]
The sky rumbles, forks of lightning lancing down to blast away smoldering chunks of cement. Rain continues to pour, sheeting down upon the already flood-ravaged landscape of Hokkaido.
Amidst this destruction, white hair plastered down with rain and hat missing, Lord Raiden stands with his left arm out and bent, palm raised. Standing in a ready kung fu stance, he focuses the full weight of his burning blue and white gaze upon Claire as she advances on him, shadows still clinging oddly to his features in the dim light.
"I care nothing for the fate of this man, or you. You are brave warriors, wasted in the service of unworthy masters." Words soft but crackling with intent, the god of thunder waits, timing his move.
Claire's opening jab lands firmly in the center of his chest as he takes half a stuttered step in, weaving around the follow up hook. At the same moment his left hand darts forward, landing a quick opening jab to Claire's mouth. Right hand flashing in over Claire's still extended arm, he lands a heavy palm strike to the bottom of her chin, attempting to snap her head sharply back, unbalancing her just long enough for his left hand to snap forward again, palm landing flush against her chest plate.
CRACK!
A pulse of white lightning flashes from his hand, exploding through Claire's body even as the god melts back into a defensive stance, poised and alert.
There is no subtle hum. No sparking zap of energy. All of the electricity that had once danced across the god's body has either been expended, or drawn back into his form, where it blazes behind his staring eyes.

[CLAIRE]
"Yes, well, I care," Claire snaps back, her accent strong enough to be audible even through the electronic distortion her half-working vocal amplifier is putting out.

She cares about Lars, anyway. She cares about Mishima Zaibatsu. She /doesn't/ care as much about Lee, and if Lee's actions are drawing the attention of people like this, she would just let him deal with it himself. She doesn't get paid enough to fight people who claim to be divinities and have enough power to, at least for the moment, back it up.

Raiden's fist impacts Claire's helmet, jarring the jawplate and rocking her back. The second hit reinforces her backwards reel; the third sends her stumbling, almost tripping over Lars' unconcious form. She manages to recover well enough to make a proper approach, reaching out toward Raiden; she tries to grab him from his defensive stance, wrenching him around into a painful arm lock before driving her knee towards his gut, snapping it out into a kick to push him away from her after drawing him close in the first place.

But she stumbles, afterwards. Her cybernetics are jammed, overloaded from the electrical damage, and she's only barely conscious from all the blasts and shocks anyway. She falls, landing near Lars, unable to rise and shortly unconscious herself.

COMBATSYS: Claire can no longer fight.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                               ||||||||||||| ]
                 1|-------------==|===============                



COMBATSYS: Raiden dodges Claire's Secace.

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                               ||||||||||||| ]
                 1|-------------==|===============                



[RAIDEN]
While the well of Raiden's chi is theoretically limitless, it is possible for him to expend energy faster than he can regenerate it. Fending off these two champions has taxed him, sapping at his stamina. But even still the amount of power coursing through his veins should not be taken lightly.
It is with deft ease that Raiden meets Claire's final charge, gripping her wrist and twisting himself forward into her wrenching throw. Rather than her knee hammering into his stomach, his shoulder slams into her hip and he jerks hard on her arm, flipping her over his head and sending her splashing down on her back beside Lars.
"You betray your race." Raiden informs her even as he steps passed both of his defeated opponents, head tilting back to allow the rain to splash down over his shadowed features. A single tendril of crackling static tzzts up his arm and across his shoulders, energy reserves already beginning to restore themselves.
Kazuya has fled. Many of Lars' security team are now fleeing. Perhaps with their departure, the people of this island will finally be left in peace.
Lifting both arms overhead, Lord Raiden summons down duel bolts of lightning, power lancing down from the heavens to impact his upraised palms. A mild shockwave rolls out from him, water spraying into the air as raw power begins to course through the god's system, body now encased in a mass of writhing lightning.

COMBATSYS: Raiden summons the fury of the storm!

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                           ||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|---============|===============                



[AKUMA]
That is when the clouds begin to churn, and turn black.
"There is no betrayal, but the betrayal of weakness!!"

He comes from the sky, the summoned lightning branching off of his arms and body on its way down to empower the Thunder God. A demon, wearing a dark, shredded karategi, with hair aflame and muscle standing at attention. The demon impacts the earth like a spear, his fist crumpling pavement and earth to powder in long shattering lines far from the initial point of landfall.

"A great strength walks this earth," the killer remarks, rage-soaked voice dragging like a blade across a whetstone. "Across the country, they fight. They thrive in chaos. They become strong!"

Eyes long since bleached out with rage focus inhumanly on the Thunder God.
"....the world does not need your playpen."

He doesn't bother to give Raiden any further warning, stepping towards him with intention in his eyes. Knife-teeth stretch violently as he launches forward, rolling his body into an anchored blow. His fist stabs forward, fired off from shoulders held in line with the earth, driven by a broad stance and waraji stabbed into the earth like the pilings of a dock. Even a single blow from the demon can knock the snow from the mountaintops. It is nothing less than an attempt at brutal assassination.

With that fist, Akuma will banish the storm.
"Don't disappoint me, in your last moments!!"

COMBATSYS: Akuma has joined the fight here as a sub-boss!

                               RAIDEN                              
  [                                           ||||||||||||||||| ]
                 1|---============|===============                




                               AKUMA                                
  [ |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|---------------                


COMBATSYS: Raiden fails to interrupt Gou Shouha from Akuma with God's Rage EX.



                               AKUMA                                
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|----------=====                


COMBATSYS: Raiden can no longer fight.



                               AKUMA                                
  [  |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| ]
                 0|---------------|----------=====                


[RAIDEN]
It is difficult to say whether the blackening of the clouds is a direct effect of Akuma's presence, or the sudden rage that spikes in the god who waits below, wreathed in bolts of lashing lightning.
Akuma lands, cratering the earth, and Raiden simply stares at him, long white hair snapping about with his electrical discharges. There is disgust in the god's gaze. The sense of a gathering force that may even be capable of bringing the demon of battle to his knees.
No doubt, if the god were not constrained by certain rules, or taxed by battle, the full weight of that displeasure would be brought to bare. Unfortunately, as Akuma's punch comes rocketing forward toward his chest, and Raiden's hand moves to reach passed it, to grip the presumptuous warrior by the throat, the critical limit of power is reached.
Akuma's knuckles puncture Raiden's chest, causing a violent discharge of lightning that shakes the earth, energy raging up toward the heavens. His mortal shell having taken too much damage, burned through too much energy, it disintegrates in a roar of thunder, the sky itself seeming to shake with the brutal discharge.
And then, with the presence of the god seemingly vanquished, Akuma is left alone and likely disappointed, the rain slowing to a drizzle, a mist, and finally fading away entirely as the clouds above break and drift slowly apart.

[AKUMA]
He buries his fist up to the forearm in lightning.

The master of the fist knows, perhaps moreso than any other, that the Thunder God's mortal body was subject to limitations. He knows that any mortal body can only handle so much, and even a sparring blow from his fist is enough to take a life into his hands. As the discharge shakes the earth under his feet, Akuma slowly stands, his waraji holding firm despite the violent upheaval.

To kill was the point today.
To remove all obstacles...

And to foment a new rage.
The one who kills with his fists looks around, to the battered and broken bodies he didn't create surrounding him, to the burnt earth and the scent of charred air around him, the snap of ozone still tugging at his flame crown of hair. A slow breath snakes into his barrel chest, his muscles tensioning with the effort. He has done what he has come here to do.
But his fist still balls tightly. Even this amount of devastation...

"A battlefield gone silent is filth gone uncleaned," he remarks, coldly.
The symbol at the back of his gi flares brightly.

"It's still not enough!!!"

Log created on 19:08:43 09/21/2017 by Claire, and last modified on 19:57:05 10/09/2017.