Match of the Millennium

Description: A high-flying battle of ninjutsu at the Taj Mahal as the infamous bandit ninja Yoshimitsu faces off against a woman calling herself Raven Master. Everything builds to an incredible battle as the two take to the air in a climactic finale. <Winner: Master Raven>

[YOSHIMITSU]
The Taj Mahal stands in Agra, India.

Built in the mid-16th century at the orders of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, its story is a tale of romance, plain and simple. When he was a young man, the man who would become Shah was betrothed to Gauharara Begum, the granddaughter of a Persian noble. She would become the unquestioned love of his life, and he gave her the title Mumtaz Mahal, or Jewel of the Palace. When she died giving birth to their 14th child, the Shah was devastated. Heart broken, he vowed to give his jewel the proper resting place, and the Taj Mahal would be the mausoleum to keep his beloved.

Acknowledged as one of the most beautiful structures in the world, it is said that over 1000 elephants were employed to carry the sandstone, marble, jade, turquoise, sapphires, and other materials used in its construction. The complex covers an area of approximately 300 meters by 580 meters, and consists of a gateway, garden, mausoleum, mosque, and guest house. The first three buildings are clad in white marble and covered with geometric patterns, while the mosque and guesthouse are built of brilliant red sandstone. The buildings are topped with its signature onion-shaped domes and minarets.

The Neo League would not happen inside it, no, but at the Main Entrance of the tomb. Situated at far end of the reflecting pool, the stage was set at amongst the Mughal garden before the tomb. Here, the armored form of Yoshimitsu stood fast. Bearing a highly traditional Japanese Samurai suit of armor, it was outlandishly colored in purple, pinks, and yellows; a loud design. Even his kabuto was archaic, garbed with outlandish horns. Upon his face was a mask of a terrifying oni, leering wickedly. It was almost just a costume, not of a real fighter.

But his exposed parts were completely metal.

The ninja, and he was a ninja, the leader of the Manji Clan, was standing at the water's edge, clutching his katana in his right hand. He was not going to be in a meditative state. He was waiting for his opponent; another clan leader, another master. Neo-League had been a fantastic means of proving his strength to others. But his next opponent?

A ninja master.

[MASTER RAVEN]
The Neo League is an opportunity. A chance to discover more accurate information about the sort of opposition in the world, and a chance to expand beyond the mere scope of training and being on missions, and when you are the Master of your own ninja clan, you need to find ways to improve your skills whenever they are offered.

You aren't required to make it exceptionally obvious that you are from a ninja clan to those who wouldn't know.

The name Raven Master was all the woman gave to the officials, and rather than equip herself with fanciful armor and mission suits, she has chosen to appear in a clean, black suit and a pair of narrow, black sunglasses set on her scarred face.

She'd almost blend into the crowd of a board room were it not for her refusal to change her hair.

"So you are the thief who has decided to step out of the shadows," she says, her tone even and measured as she approaches, adjusting her sleeves. "This should prove educational."

COMBATSYS: Master Raven has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Master Raven     0/-------/-------|

[YOSHIMITSU]
"A thief with honor is more than a mercenary without."

Yoshimitsu declares as such in response to the ninja master., backflipping slowly. Corkscrewing in mid air, he faces the woman, a green energy glowing from behind the eye sockets of his mask. The leering face was grimlocked, but the tone was clear.

Distaste.

The Manji Clan was an old clan, but it's stories were hardly secrets. Betrayed by Oda Nobunaga, they became honorable thieves for over 400 years. To this day, they steal from the rich, and give to the poor. And yet, the reputation of the clan was less ninja, and more... well, as Raven pointed out.

Thief.

"The will of the ninja clans must be tested in open combat!" Yoshimitsu declares, running a gauntleted hand along the back of his blade, empowering it with green energy. "But if you seek education instead..." Yoshimitsu waves with his opposing hand, leaning forward slightly in a clear taunt.

"Come and learn!"

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Yoshimitsu       0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
Lowering down into a proper fighting stance, Master Raven shifts sideways, moving her hands at her side, resting as two parallel planes, with no change in her expression. It was important to maintain secrets, and even among the ninja clans, Raven's was intentionally kept a mystery. The fact that they didn't hail from Japan like so many others was obvious, and their connections to major organizations like the UN were noticable, but even their name was trapped somewhere in the shadows.

"Most would have declared that the ninja clans must be tested behind the scenes. An interesting point of view." The response is cool, her eyes still hidden behind her sunglasses as the reflection of green energy upon them starts to bloom.

"But I will be the one providing the education this time. Lesson one..."

Her words last only a moment before Master Raven darts forward, leaping up into the air legs first as she aims to grab hold of the other ninja by the arm and wrench back with her whole body, flipping the pair back through the air as she repositions her legs around Yoshimitsu's own to hit the ground with her now on top as she locks him down to attempt to twist his leg out of place.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu dodges Master Raven's Grave Digger.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yoshimitsu       0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
"What use are shadows, when they cannot endure in the light?"

The Manji Clan eschewed the subtle nature of many ninjas; Yoshimitsu himself was a paragon of this belief. A clan of thieves who do not even ninja properly, according to some of the more gossipy accounts. Green energy flashes over him, as he rapidly spins around Raven's takedown. The arm is touched on, briefly, before the flash of energy surges the grip free. A deft escape, from the opposing ninja's technique. He continues to spin, seemingly ready to lose his balance.

Until he leaps.

Yoshimitsu's spinning halts short, as he flips forward at Raven. Bringing his sword around, it opens with an overhead slash. Turning with it, he would unleash a full bodied spin elbow strike after it, before instantly backflipping handspring away. A complicated, teasing assault, to draw out Master Raven's own relentless assault.

"Come then!"

COMBATSYS: Master Raven dodges Yoshimitsu's Poison Wind ES.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yoshimitsu       0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
With her initial strike avoided, Master Raven hits the ground in a roll, popping back up quickly on the other side, unable to turn quickly enough to properly deal with the in-coming slash, she instead makes proper use of classic ninja techniques, and as Yoshimitsu's sword comes down, it passes through a quickly fading outline of Raven, with the real one standing a good distance away, her hands just drawing apart from some intricate hand motion.

"Good form, interesting technique."

The ninja master eyes her opposition carefully, taking in his motions with a clear sense of consideration. It's only a few heartbeats, but in a fight between ninjas, every instant is an eternity. Her direction chosen, she rushes forward, kicking up into the air and twisting in a powerful thrusting kicking.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu fails to counter Strong Kick from Master Raven with Yomi Kakenuki.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Yoshimitsu       0/-------/---====|=------\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
A wild technique, but evenly matched.

The ninja dodges the other ninja, only catching shadows with his rapid slices. Returning backwards, he lands evenly, blade ready. The trickery was not insulting to Yoshimitsu; each ninja had it's own tricks. As the hand motion comes out, though, he only cocks his head.

"Namu?"

Confused by the gesture, he shakes out of it as Master Raven rushes back at him. Yoshimitsu was already reversing his momentum, as he lands on both feet. Readying his blade, he was lunging in, body burning with burning energy as he surges for Raven. His blade slicing forward, he lunges in... but the woman's legs are longer than his blade. He fails to slice through, taking a rough kick straight in his chest as he stumbles back. Landing on his back, he is stunned, as he is flat. Only to raise his blade, with a word in response.

"Well done!"

[MASTER RAVEN]
The instant after the kick lands, Master Raven is already twisting in the air, adjusting her momentum to get back down to the ground as soon as possible to avoid losing out on the follow through. If you can obtain the advantage, only surrender it if it can further your goals, but her goal right now is to defeat her opponent.

"Second lesson..."

The words hardly have a moment to linger in the air as she moves forward, aiming to leap on top of the masked ninja in front of her and mount his chest, holding him down as she unleashes a quick series of punches down at his head.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu blocks Master Raven's Combo Grapple.

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Yoshimitsu       0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
Yoshimitsu throws the blade.

Not at Raven. No, in the air. Throwing the sword up high, he lets it fly past the woman, as the other ninja leaps upon him. With both hands at play, he manages to counter-grapple to prevent a pin. In that much, it works. FOr the punches at his head? Well, that's not so easy to block. Taking the blows roughly, he struggles in the grips as he finally pushes her off. Adjusting his helmet, he points at her.

"Do not be so proud!"

Yoshimitsu, blade STILL not coming down, lunges in. The ninja unleash two swift elbow strikes at Master Raven, driving in with the rapid elbows. After them, he would then pivot to unleash a mule kick, practically overflowing with soul energy as he aggressively assault at other master. He had conceded much ground to the master already.

He had no room to concede any more!

COMBATSYS: Master Raven counters Scowling Spirit from Yoshimitsu with Sixth Sense.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yoshimitsu       0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
With Yoshimitsu pushing back to his feet, Master Raven doubles back, building a small buffer of space the instance her strikes have landed, instantly recentering herself. The blade is still in play, even if it's not in hand, and she'll need to keep track of that or risk getting hit from behind at the worst possible moment, but for the time being it's a matter of keeping control of things.

"Lesson 3..."

As the ninja thief lunges for her, Raven doesn't so much maneuver herself as instantly change position. From a ready stance, there's a flash and her hand has caught the elbow with her moving forward, launching herself up over the masked man's head with both hands finding his shoulders, only to twist back around mid-air, dropping down to strike the back of his head with an elbow.

"It is not a matter of pride. Hesitation is death."

[YOSHIMITSU]
Incredible skill.

Master Raven proves her ranking, as the ninja's unarmed assault is caught with a counter-elbow, knocking Yoshimitsu in the back of his neck. Staggering hard, he gives a choked cry of pain. Shaking his head, he turns back at her. THe mask concealed his true face. But the ninja nods firmly. Slowly, he lowers himself down, into a sit. And his words are almost a song, as he murmurs them.

"Death is merely absolution."

He crosses his legs, as he falls into a lotus stance. Extend his arm forward, he waits a moment. And from on high, his sword falls. Snatching the blade from mid air, he lays it across his lap. Focused in deep meditation now, the ninja demonstrates full defiance. Not simply hesitation. But concentration. Channeling the soul energy from the blade into himself, the ninja chants to himself, as he concedes the momentum to Master Raven.

"Namu..."

"Namu..."

"Namu...."

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu gathers his will.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yoshimitsu       1/-----==/=======|===----\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
While it is vital to maintain control of a battle, there are times where it is far more vital to readjust yourself to consider the situation more carefully. The flow of energy, the refocusing on concentration. All of this suggests a great deal about the masked ninja's situation and the threat it can pose as the glowing light flickers against her sunglasses.

Perhaps it is still most important to give your opposition no quarter.

Moving without any further hesitation, Master Raven lunges at Yoshimitsu only to launch herself forward into a flip that should cause the two to collide, but instead the ninja master passes through to the other side, lashing out with a kick a quick elbow on the other side.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu blocks Master Raven's Phantom Warp.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Yoshimitsu       1/----===/=======|===----\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
As expected.

As the other ninja flashes by, the Yoshimitsu responds by lifting his blade. Eyes flaring up, he immediately rotates in place. The kick is deflected fully, with only the elbow slipping in as the ninja rises. Fully upright, he grips his stomach as the blow connects. Shuddering, there is a groan within. "Huuuuurgh!" Was the sound that the ninja makes.

As he suddenly spits up a cloud of mist. Psionically infused, it is more the illusion of poison than actual poison. But the assault on Master RAven's soul would be real; a consuming, infesting element, that only fuels Yoshimitsu to rush in after Master Raven's flank. He was injured, yes. But he was chasing after.

And aiming himself for an executing strike.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu successfully hits Master Raven with Poison Breath.
Grazing Hit

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Yoshimitsu       1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
The mist is a real threat, especially as it disperses out into the air around Raven. Ducking back and away the ninja master still can't avoid catching a whiff of it, even before she's able to summon her ninpo, teleporting a good distance clear, briefly coughing as flickers of strange visions begin to cloud her thoughts.

It is vital to purge all harmful elements and to reestablish your center.

There are only moments extra granted by her retreat that might offer hope against Yoshimitsu's charge, but she stands still, her hands moving together in rapid, systematic motions of meditation, her lips barely mouthing some silent words as she aims to once again find balance within herself before imbalance causes her to fall.

COMBATSYS: Master Raven gains composure.

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Yoshimitsu       1/---====/=======|====---\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
The feint comes, and Yoshimitsu catches Master Raven just barely with the corrupted soul energy. As she teleports away, he approaches steadily, gripping his blade with both hands. ANd yet, as he closes in, she was... making hand gestures? Again, the strange gestures, that Yoshimitsu never say before. It's enough for him to cry out.

"What are those strange hand gestures?"

Yoshimitsu asks it sincerely, turning his head askew. He might need to learn this later. Drawing back his empowered blade, he drives the weapon forward, thrusting it at the other ninja, as well as pushing himself further back. A cautious display, attempting to peel away the other ninja's style. It would be a powerful blow for it, enough to knock Yoshimitsu back.

Perhaps too far back.

COMBATSYS: Master Raven full-parries Yoshimitsu's Evasive Strike!!

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Yoshimitsu       1/---====/=======|======-\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
In conflict, there are few moments where one can allow themselves to linger. Time is of the essence at all times, and in battles between ninjas, a hair's breadth can be the factor between victory and defeat. Between life and death.

Purging her soul of the corrupting influence, it is mere heartbeats before Yoshimitsu's sword attempts to claim Master Raven again, and even before he's fully extended the blade, the ninja master has kicked back, not using quite enough force that she would be able to avoid the strike at its full extension, but she vanishes again in a flash...

Only to reappear above Yoshimitsu in the air, her arm drawn back as she reaches into the back of her jacket, drawing her own blade in a flash of steel, twisting it instantly about as both hands grip it by the hilt as she comes flying down with a singular, piercing stab.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu blocks Master Raven's Death From Above EX.

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Yoshimitsu       1/--=====/=======|=======\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
An opening exposed.

Forcing himself into the air, the ninja finds chased like a dog. And yet, up there, he crosses his legs, whirling his blade over his head. That much is enough to drive him, as the ninja master is over him. Looking upwards, his sword shifts in tandem with her. The two collide.

And he catches the blade with his own whirling blade.

Sword clashes with sword, for only a Taking the blade into his torso just in a shallow than a deep, the flight is interrupted. But not adversely. Yoshimitsu would slam forward with imbued feet to kick feet into opponent's face then lock ankles around her neck. If successful? He would flip Master Raven up into the air, and then grab them as they fall to situate them into a piledriver out of the air, exploding in a pillar of green energy.

"Namu!"

COMBATSYS: Master Raven dodges Yoshimitsu's Spirited Away.

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Yoshimitsu       1/------=/=======|=======\-------\0     Master Raven

[MASTER RAVEN]
There is no hope for those who cannot react in the moment. Every breath and every motion must act together, or failure will be assured.

As her blade strikes that of the flying ninja, there is only a moment to reconsider her strategy, or else Master Raven will undoubtably face the force of his own techniques. Rather than press on with that battle, she releases her grip and allows the blade to be sent flying through the air... and then she vanishes once more just in time that all Yoshimitsu's legs grab hold of is an empty vision.

And then her small sword, whirling in a aimless circle at the peak of its arc, is suddenly grabbed again as the ninja master appears there, only slightly above the masked man, instantly drawing herself out into position as she comes flying down at him with a single leg extended for a kick.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu counters Diving Kick from Master Raven with Supreme Soul Stealer.
- CRAZY Hit! -

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Yoshimitsu       0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
"Damn you!"

The assault is cut short, and Yoshimitsu adjusts. As she teleports away, Yoshimitsu flips in the air, free of his helicopter style. Hanging by a thread, he is already rolling in midair, facing backwards to the diving kick, He draws his blade out, clutching it by it's handle, and there, without even looking back, he catches the kick.

And it explodes into a flash of soul energy.

Flooding around, Yoshimitsu catches the leg between his upper arm and his blade. The scissor action stops the momentum cold, to say least of the actual edge of the blade. But the cold edge does not cut as deep as the full force of soul energy -surging- straight into Master Raven, the fell energy of his ancestors cursing within her.

And yet, he hasn't even touched the ground yet.

[MASTER RAVEN]
This is the thief's true power.

As the blade slices through her pants and draws blood, somehow staining the dark material even further with a slick, unpleasant sheen, Raven's teeth clench tight, holding back at the desire to scream. The scars across her face are proof enough that the woman is capable of dealing with physical pain, but the sensation of every master of this blade striking at her very being is overwhelming.

There is a flicker of lost control, struggling to find every ounce of training in the moment. The very need within that cries like a wounded child. But even in a moment like this, instinct begins to kick in, shrouding the suffering as her body begins to move without hestiation.

There is a flicker of motion. On the official recordings, many might think that it was a technical glitch, but at the end of the motion, Master Raven is no longer held by her leg, instead she's braced back-to-back with the other ninja, one hand moving to grab him just under the chin as the other takes hold of his leg, bending each back as she curls inward, creating a crescent moon of her opponent as she suddenly wrenches him tight, twisting through the air as both would plummet toward the ground, circling about through the air so that Yoshimitsu's head would be the first to hit the ground.

COMBATSYS: Master Raven successfully hits Yoshimitsu with Swift Assassin.

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Yoshimitsu       1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0     Master Raven

[YOSHIMITSU]
IT is a flash, and Yoshimitsu only chance is to catch it again with his blade.

And yet, the movement is behind him. Unleashed into an Izuna drop, he pulls his blade back. Could he reverse it? Could he escape it? Could he prevent it? All these questions and more linger in the air, as Yoshimitsu draws his sword back. Not aimed directly at him, no.

But at himself.

In impact comes, and Yoshimitsu's head caves into his armor, crushing within it. But the green energy floods over him. With a driving thrust of his blade, the ninja gives Raven one last parting gift, in a last ditch attempt: By impaling himself upon his sword, infusing it with incredible soul power, attempting to sever it deeply into Master Raven.

"Seppuku...?"

There is a brief attempt to spin, which only leaves Yoshimitsu flat on his back.

Defeated.

COMBATSYS: Yoshimitsu can no longer fight.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Master Raven     0/-------/---====|

COMBATSYS: Master Raven full-parries Yoshimitsu's Suicide!!

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Master Raven     0/-------/=======|

[MASTER RAVEN]
In this moment, everything seems to course around Master Raven in such an unusual way. To the camera's eye, something must be wrong, like a faint, shifting halo around her. Something that looks much like a recording sped up in an unnatural state. This is made all the more unusual by the way she holds on to Yoshimitsu, how only she is affected by whatever this is.

Odds are there will be many watching this fight on recording who might think that something had been tampered with. A few allegations on the Internet that the Neo League is modifying fights to improve their own viewing numbers perhaps.

But in the moment, a ninja like Yoshimitsu might well notice that it's as if she's in a constant state of teleportation, or a similar effect. It must be remarkably difficult on the body... but it also means that even as Yoshimitsu's own sword strikes out from his back at her own, it's a sharp flicker of motion that suddenly sees the blade passing through an empty form, fading away even as Master Raven reappears standing nearby, her eyes carefully appraising the other ninja's condition.

"...It appears the lesson is complete. I will need to consider this experience carefully."

Despite the even tone in her voice, the instant the unusual effect leaves her, Raven instantly drops to a knee, barely catching herself on the ground as her body grows heavy and sluggish.

"I think I will need to improve my estimation of you from thief to outlaw."

COMBATSYS: Master Raven has ended the fight here.

Log created on 14:56:28 06/07/2018 by Master Raven, and last modified on 23:41:33 06/07/2018.