Match of the Millennium

Description: Brazil has had a long and complicated past between the left and right and everything in between throughout its history. While May Day is still hot in people's minds, it's the prime chance to bring the battle of political philosophies in a less warlike manner. Marco and Potemkin must battle each other wearing the respective ideologies as their banners. In a mock fight play between left and right or possible left vs left or even right vs right, as politics can be sometimes, the Kyokugen Sensei must square off against Zepp's finest as they carry out the great political mess right on the center stage of the Theatro Municipal! Will compromise be found, or will the rift be too much to bear?

[POTEMKIN]
Brazil has had a long and complicated past between the left and right and everything in between throughout its history. While May Day is still hot in people's minds, it's the prime chance to bring the battle of political philosophies in a less warlike manner.

The truth is..Potemkin has absolutely no idea what's going on and what to do. The subtleties of politics escape him and he simply trusts Gabriel, his mentor, implicitly in such matters. He does, however, understand revolution and the clash of ideologies but..he's hardly had the time to study the intriciacies of the struggles of other nations. He's been rather busy..

Busy doing things like this - appearing in SNFs and attending to matters meant to help elevate the status of Zepp in the world with him as one of its premier soldiers.

And so, here he is.. stepping off of a loading platform into the vast exterior of the Theatro Municipal. Close to three thousand pounds of muscle, shaking the ground as he strides forth, securing his military helm into place and straining his pressure suit with each twitch of his chi-enhanced mutant physique.

"This place is a work of art." he muses, "WHy do they insist on staging my battles in locations like this.. I"ll have to have a word with the organizers later.." he grumbles.

[MARCO]
Brazil. It's home, for the world-travelling Kyokugen karateka, the slab of perfected man-meat that is Marco Rodriguez, and so being able to fight in the Theatro Municipal has the flavor of something of a dream come true. He'd never been able to afford to go--isn't much for theater, opera, concerts, none of that jazz, always karate karate karate to occupy his time--but almost every Brazilian dreams of being lit up by the lights, here, like a star.

A slab of perfected man-meat Marco might be, but the man who is his opponent is far, far larger--not that the size of an opponent has ever held much sway on Marco's assessment of them. Even the largest, most muscled and gristled opponents can be beaten. This is a tenet of Kyokugen--that the path lies through whatever is in one's way, and that one must simply possess the power, and the skill, to break through them.

So when Marco makes his entrance, he does so with a nod of appreciation for the power he can see in his opponent's frame, and with respect for what it means, but also with the confidence that is the hallmark of a Kyokugen karateka.

The dark-haired, dark-skinned man points a beefy finger at Potemkin, and calls out, loudly (as if he knows how to be quiet), "Is it not an honor to be asked to do battle here, in front of the grandest theatre in all of Rio de Janeiro? Let us put on a show the equal of any that has taken place inside!!"

[POTEMKIN]
It's hard to not feel the infectious energy that Marco radiates and Potemkin's glowing eyes widen slightly and then narrow abit in some concentration and determination. As an artist and a man of peace at heart, his mind went towards any possible damage to this place - but his body and profession are geared for battle and his fists have been turned by revolution and the defense of freedom into more then just instruments with which to create art.

"This place is spectacular which is why I was concerned for any possible damage to it - but As you wish!"

He lifts his automobile sized arms upwards and clenches his fists, bringing both arms down into a tremendous pose that bulges up biceps the size of buicks and stretches the overdeveloped torso into an expanding flex that threatens to shred his pressure suit apart. Both of his gauntlets *KA-CHUNK* into a loaded status.

"I will not hold back and therefore show you and this place the proper respect that you both deserve."

[MARCO]
At that declaration--at that incredible sound of those gauntlets loading, sounding like some awesomely large cannon or howitzer, Marco can only... grin. A wide, massive grin, showing off pearly white teeth. "YES!" he shouts, dropping into an abridged horse stance, breathing out, orange-yellow-white chi flaring up from fingertips to shoulders briefly, before winking out.

"As a student of Kyokugenryuu Karate, I cannot ask for any more than your all, as I will give to you!" Walking forward, Marco takes his place on the line, as it were, offering a straight-armed, perfectly correct bow to his opponent, then bringing his arms up. His own muscles flex, clench, tauten as he closes his hands into fists, that sort of relaxed tension--like energy flowing up and down his body, ready to be marshalled at a moment's notice, his right leg sliding backwards, the man bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet.

"Come, let us test our strengths!"

COMBATSYS: Marco has started a fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Potemkin has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Marco            0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0         Potemkin

[POTEMKIN]
Potemkin's massive size and inconceivable physical strength has often worked to his disadvantage in that it sometimes causes him to hold back to much or to treat his opponents as more fragile then they are only to discovery, to late in the match, that they required no such concessions. Seeing the chi boil around Marco's body, and the powerful physique in command of the man does the job of reminding Potemkin to not give such considerations if he wants any chance of winning and earning another notch in the rising reputation of Zepp's represenatives.

"Indeed." he rumbles, eyes squinting as he slips into the crouched combat stance of the Dreadnought Fist.. and then he's suddenly on the move. The ground shakes from the force of his leap and he thunders skywards, closing the distance between himself and Marco in a flash with both fo his massive fists pulled backwards like industrial pistons cocking back before being unleashed.

"MEGA FIST!!" he thunders just as he descends down and said fists come blazing forward like a pair of launched cannonballs on a downward angle for Marco and the general vicinity around him by proxy of Potemkin's fists being so dang huge.

COMBATSYS: Marco blocks Potemkin's Mega Fist Shift.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Marco            0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0         Potemkin

[MARCO]
"HOOOO!!!" comes the shout from Marco, almost cutting through, but instead, in some odd way, almost harmonizing with Potemkin's shout and the sound, like an explosion, as those fists hammer into Marco's upraised guard, his forearms crossed and his upper body tensed. The impact shivers through him, but he holds strong, his lower body crouched, taking a stance strong through the Earth.

Even before he lowers his guard, Potemkin, all out of contrast to that size and that pure bulk, is already leveraging the momentum to bounce backwards. Out of Marco's reach? Perhaps... or perhaps not. The Zepp representative already saw the Kyokugen karateka manipulate chi, so it should come as no surprise that he can call it up at will, a pulse of it blasting out as Marco throws his right palm forward, his deep voice calling out "KOOH KEN!" as that blast rips through the air for the mass of Potemkin's body.

COMBATSYS: Potemkin blocks Marco's Kooh Ken.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Marco            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0         Potemkin

[POTEMKIN]
Barely has the Zepp Giant touched down ias the blast of chi ripping into his massive body right into the billboard expanse of his chest. There is a burst of energy and a shockwave that ripples out as Potemkin tenses, braces his massive body and then at the last second pushes forward, expanding his prodigious pectoral masses in a sudden thrust that pushes through the blast of chi and sends its remnants dissipating around him.

A massive foot slams against the ground and then suddenly he;'s dashing forward again - thundering in almost recklessly to try and close the distance on Marco and coming in on the man like a runaway semi-truck.

Both of his massive arms pull back in mid dash and then they slam forward, casting shadow on Marco on either side of him as POtemkin's immense fists seek to catch the Kyokugen master between them.

COMBATSYS: Marco fails to interrupt Hammer Fall from Potemkin with Kohou.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Marco            0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0         Potemkin

[MARCO]
It's almost predictable, now. Marco's almost come to expect this kind of blinding speed out of the bulkiness that is Potemkin. He'd shown his hand, so to speak, in the opening moments. Abandoning defense, Marco prepares to show his observations directly to the man in question, with a rocket-like uppercut that's stunned many an opponent before, a key technique within the Kyokugenryuu, the kind of single-strike, pistoning hit that is one of the hallmarks of the style!

Only, he never quite gets there. He expected the speed, sure. But not quite SO much of it. He starts his response just--just maybe a half-second too late. Maybe not even that. But it's enough, so much so that his fist is coming up, his body is beginning the powerful, short rotation that adds so much to the impact of the punch--the first syllable is just about to fly out of his mouth, when...

*CLAP* And it's cut off, Marco flattened by the man's fists, dropping unceremoniously to the ground a moment later, only to bounce back up. Bloodied? A little. But that light in his eyes isn't diminished yet. Rather, he seems pleased at fighting a strong opponent.

[POTEMKIN]
It would be a lie to say Potemkin isn't pleased. But it's abit to early to celebrate yet. Instead, the goliath seems encouraged by his present strategy - to commit to recklessness and throwing pure power at his opponent. As a result thee is no gloating words, no attempt at ruffling the feathers of Marco. Instead, he opts to demonstrate by technique and by furiously staying on the master. The rush of the fight has gotten to him and as a result he's ready to throw all in.

Which isn't to say he doesn't speak at all:

"POTEMKIN..BUSTER!!!"

With Marco bouncing back from that initial slam and in close proximity to the behemoth, the time seems right and he lunges both of his massive hands for the body of the gi wearing fighter. Should he grasp him, both of them will go sailing upwards intot he air so high as to see the roofs of nearby buildings - and then back down again with Potemkin's hands light up with the burning chi that roars fo release within his immense body. An earthquake awaits to be unleashed by the impact.

Should he miss..well..

COMBATSYS: Potemkin successfully hits Marco with Potemkin Buster.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Marco            1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0         Potemkin

[MARCO]
It's not an unfamiliar sensation. El Grifo--The Griffon Mask--a respected pro wrestler--has a similar technique, although perhaps not, ultimately, as flashy as this. Or as destructive. Marco is caught before he can muster a defense, and he tries, as best as he can, to prepare for the incoming slam, but impacts such as this are often near-impossible to prepare for. There'll be a crater for the workers to fix, tomorrow, as Potemkin comes down, exploding Marco almost twice, with the initial impact and that booming explosion that, thankfully, throws Marco clear.

When he rises this time, he's breathing hard, his already-tattered gi looking like it'll need some new repairs (such things are prized battle scars, however, the marks of a karateka who has fought tough battles against powerful opponents). He doesn't look as jolly, but he does look just as determined as before, and determined not to be phased by his opponent's power and bulk.

He sets himself, just for amoment, then lunges forward, uttering a magnificent war cry, closing in on that big bulk and attempting to pepper his foe with a flurry of swift, yet surprisingly sharp blows from both his left and right fists, a storm of strikes that would, all things being equal, end with a powerful right uppercut, Marco extending his full length, almost jumping but not quite.

COMBATSYS: Potemkin blocks Marco's Zanretsu Ken.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Marco            1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0         Potemkin

[POTEMKIN]
His aggressive assault has proved successful...for once. But even Potemkin cannot keep up such an offense without a need to recharge and adjust stamina is not limitless and he huffs, taking a deep rhino like rumble of breath as he pulls up to his feet just in time for Marco to descend upon him with a blitz of attacks.

Both of his massive arms lift, crossing over each other and at the last second fully shield his massive torso, letting the attacks fall like machine gun impacts against the super-hardened flesh of his forarms and the less durable metal of his Zeppian battle gauntlets. The Chi Tek dents and warps but overall sustains the damage to it, blunting the effects on Potemkin's body.. And again he lunges forward in the aftermath.

This time his assault is less fleshy as he turns slightly to the side and whips up an arm, backfist first, in an attempt to slam it thunderously into Marco's entire body while the rest of his body leans into attack in an impresive flex and display of his size. Many would go soaring skywards from this simple strike but such an assault is less likely with Marco's own immense strength to take into consideration.

COMBATSYS: Marco endures Potemkin's Swift Backhand.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Marco            1/----===/=======|======-\-------\0         Potemkin

[MARCO]
*WHAM* The sound of that backfist striking Marco in the head is immense, and frankly, it's kind of insane that he just seems to... stand there, and take it, though a keen observer will note a slight twist to his body, to his head, not to soften the blow but to redirect the impact, letting it whip him around instead of off his feet. Perhaps Potemkin might feel it, too, both the subtle and obvious changes in the impact he delivered.

Using that momentum, he spins, and ducks, slightly, twisting around on his left foot, intent on delivering his right to Potemkin's gut in a thrusting side kick, a more balanced attack than he might otherwise employ--Marco is not, after all, known for showing restraint, but Kyokugen is not just about brute strength.

COMBATSYS: Potemkin endures Marco's Medium Kick.

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Marco            1/---====/=======|=======\-------\1         Potemkin

[POTEMKIN]
"Hmmph!"

The force of the blow is enough to wind the behemoth, even press him backwards by a few feet. His gigantic boots slide along on the ground before the nearly two tons of him braces against the force and he becomes practically immobile again. He's unwilling to yield the distance just yet, nor the advantage he has.

He's all to aware that things can change in a heartbeat..such is the nature of the world of fighters. So best to finish this quickly. He can't help but say something to the tenacity of his opponent though and he rumbles, "Impressive! I am comparable to a battlion of soldiers but you measure up equally. I hope this conflict is worthy of your expectations.."

With that, te behemoth lunges a hand forward to try and grasp hold of Marco's head ..and then slam him down forcibly to the ground..more percentages of Potemkin's strength being unleashed in the process and seismometers elsewhere undoubtly being triggered by this conflict.

COMBATSYS: Marco interrupts Grasp And Pound from Potemkin with Kyokugen Kohou.
*KNOCKED AWAY*

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Marco            0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1         Potemkin

[MARCO]
It is moments like these that define a fighter. That define a _Kyokugenryuu_ practioner. In the face of overwhelming power. Overwhelming odds. Having been blasted and battered to hell and back. How does one respond? Does one go defensive? Try to avoid further damage? Or does one, as a Kyokugenryuu user would, face that certain death head on, and defy it? Marco made his choice before he knew he had, so steeped in that headlong philosophy of Kyokugen is he.

Potemkin's hand grasps nothing, as Marco jolts forward, left arm swinging outwards to push the arm out of line--not far, really, just... just far enough. Far enough for him to close with the behemoth once more, the power already surging through his body, blazing around his fist, as his body transitions from that lunge into a crouch, into a lunging uppercut. The sound it makes--as that chi explodes up out of the ground, traveling the path of his fist like a reverse lightning bolt, meeting Potemkin's chin at the same moment that his fist does--

It's like the growl of a tiger, or maybe the roar of a dragon, brief and loud and far dwarfing any should that Marco himself would make, though as a proper karateka, he does offer up a sharp, automatic kiai. For that moment, he's uninjured, flying, pure karate--and then he lands, and he realizes just how much he's hurt--but he isn't out yet. There is still a chance.

[POTEMKIN]
Th explosive boom resonates through the area like the sound of war machines unleashing their payload. Potemkin is taken up off of his feet and sent hurtling backwards. A boulder of a man who impacts with all the trauma to th eground that is due it. Starls whirl around his head within his dazed vision while the earth suakes for city blocks and cracks race thorugh the streets. One blow nearly evened things out and there is more where that came from if he doesn't attempt to regain the advantage.

He recovers, quickly rolling to his feet and then spinning around to face Marco with the wrath of a sherman tank building within him.

A moment later and the nearly susbsided earthquake is met with another as Potemkin's foot slams down and he lunges forward to try and close the distance once again. When near enough, his body twists into an almost single armed flexing pose, cocking his punching arm back and squeezing. His physique responds in time, literally shredding through the clothes on his torso as his bicep bulges like a set of boulders appearing under his skin and his pressure suit gives way to a sudden flexed surge of strength. The temperature rises dramatically as his chi builds and explodes out around him while his outstretched arm aiming towards Marco as if lining him up.. Which seems to be exactly what hes doing.

"MAGNUM..OPERA!!!"

POtemkin twists and then swings, his pressure suit shredded and disengaged to allow him this one unfettered 'swing' as his fist hurtles towards Marco like an incoming asteroid.

The pressure wave alone is such that it rips into and past Marco first and continues on beyond him, shredding the ground and hurtling into and perhaps through the nearby structures that are less sturdy then the fighters present. At least he's not aiming for the theater.

COMBATSYS: Potemkin knocks away Marco with Magnum Opera.

[                                < >  ////////////////              ]
Marco            1/-------/=======|>>>>---\-------\0         Potemkin

[MARCO]
Zepp will be proud, because Potemkin's certainly shown their power. Marco spent everything he had responding to the last attack; he's drained, and he has... almost nothing left. Yet these moments, too, define a Kyokugenryuu fighter. He doesn't brace himself, he doesn't look to absorb the damage and survive--he can tell, even before Potemkin begins swinging, that it would be futile. Instead, he tries to push through it, to find a path to get in for a last attack.

But it isn't to be. The pressure wave checks his progress easily--and then Potemkin's fist hits. Marco is blasted back, ripping through a couple of trees before he slows enough to roll along the ground, tumbling a little more. He's... well, he's out, no question about it. Not for long, but certainly long enough for the fight to be called, officials assigning the win to the representative from Zepp.

When Marco -does- rise, he does so with the manner and posture of a man who knows the aches are coming, what aches aren't already there. Familiar aches. Almost... welcomed aches, in a way. Brushing off an offer of help, he makes his way towards Potemkin, looking... well, thoroughly rumpled is one way to put it, but 'completely trashed' will be at least one commenter's assessment on YouTube later that night.

Still, he offers a proper bow to Potemkin. "I salute your strength and your prowess," he says, straightening up painfully, with another nod of respect before he finally allows himself to be led off to the medical tent.

COMBATSYS: Marco takes no action.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Potemkin         0/-------/---<<<<|

COMBATSYS: Marco can no longer fight.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Potemkin         0/-------/---<<<<|

[POTEMKIN]
Some degree of decorum and healthy respect from Marco keeps Potemkin from sounding surprised. He ..won? Well..yes.he won. But to show shock or weakness at this point would put a damper on these events and part of theser exercises are mean tto enforce diplomacy as well as strength...and so he straightens to his full towering height..and then bows to Marco, one clenched fist at his chest in a salute appropriate from an officer from Zepp. It is indeed like a tree leaning over to acknowledge another.

"And I yours." he rumbles, "When we meet again, I am sure that there will be a worthy reckoning to contend with."

With that, he turns and begins to step off, walking thunderously back towards his waiting officials though not unscathed oh no. His pressure suit is in need of repair and the visible skin beneath shows the bruises, scorch marks and scrapes of this encounter. It isn't one he will soon forget.

COMBATSYS: Potemkin takes no action.

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

COMBATSYS: Potemkin has ended the fight here.

Log created on 22:39:31 05/13/2019 by Potemkin, and last modified on 13:57:34 05/14/2019.