Match of the Millennium

Description: It's a mishmashed group of men versus two very dangerous ladies in Neo*Geo Land. What possibly could go wrong?! (Everything. That's what.)

[MICHAEL]
"Just what in the hell did I get myself into?"

These are the only words and thoughts one Michael G. Weller has in regards to the whole situation he's found himself in. Now he's in this gigantic tournament, that the whole world is going to see, and he's totally going to get beat up. Again.

As the blonde ninja enters the arcade, his ever faithful companion Pity the Ninja Dog sees fit to lick the very noticable 'NO ANIMALS ALLOWED' sign, knowing full well that this does not apply to her in this case.

She's the Team Captain, ya know. Plus she's Michael's partner. She's no dog.

She's the King of Fighters Dog.

The blonde man now takes his place, awaiting the arrival of his opponent. Hopefully, he won't have to wait too long.

COMBATSYS: Michael has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Michael          0/-------/-------|

[GABRIEL]
If nothing else, Gabriel is punctual. She's also well funded and probably insane. Though she doesn't look the part. She projects a proper atmosphere, except that she's dressed formally as she arrives and the violin case she is carrying is opened to reveal a shard of glass. But lets back up.

The arrival of Gabriel is without much fanfair. She isn't really known on the fighting circuit and she doesn't look the part at all. She arrives and has to show some identification to be let in. Though it isn't like she's an oddity for KoF, but certainly would have to maybe jump through a few additional hoops. Michael and his mutt are afforded the barest of bows when she arrives before setting to preparing. Apparently shoving her shard of glass in a belt is all it takes, there is already blood on it from where it cuts her hand. She doesn't seem to care. The also blonde moves to her section and starts to recite some silent prayers. Apparently arriving on time doesn't mean you arn't going to make people wait.

A few prayers later she turns with stony eyes to Michael and assumes a ready stance as she tucks her goddess pendant, which is just some golden looking pendant, under her blouse. She's apparently waiting for the sign to begin.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Michael          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
There really isn't a signal to start, but Michael returns the bow, as does the dog. Leaning forward, the ninja's right hand reaches up to the ninjato upon his back, grasping the hilt of the blade tightly. Giving a sharp whistle, the dog suddenly comes to attention, the fur upon her back bristling slightly as she for once takes the signals from Michael seriously.

The blonde man suddenly bursts forward towards Gabriel, drawing the blade from its sheath. As he nears the woman, a cloud of smoke suddenly surrounds the young man, as multiple copies of the blonde haired ninja surge out from the cloud, moving to surround the woman. As they near, each one of the copies swings their sword downward, but only one of them is real.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Michael's Shadow Copy.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Michael          0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
The suddenness of the start doesn't seem to trouble Gabriel in the least. Maybe she's not one for pleasantries. She shoots her arms up to block swords, but most of them arn't real swords! Irritation flickers across her face in the form of a knotted brow and a disapproving frown. One of the swords does cut, but its on her forearm where she apparently intended. Her expression barely registers the attack and she goes for a follow up.

When Michael's location is clear, or clear enough, or goddess, this could be one of the shadows. . . The Crusader of light lets her frown deepen as she decides to go for it and backhand slaps at what she -thinks- is Michael, the hand glowing briefly with a golden off white hue, no doubt a charge of energy to accompany it.

The only thing more the woman does is grunt in mild frustration or is it satisfaction? It is hard to say with her hard lined face.

COMBATSYS: Michael blocks Gabriel's Admonish.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Michael          0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
As the Holy Backhand of Antioch makes its way towards Michael's face, he quickly raises fists upwards, using the hilt of the ninjato as a makeshift shield to absorb the brunt of the woman's attack. It stings slightly, but its not enough to really do anything other then make him once again question just why in the world he's even here.

Michael's left hand releases the hilt of his sword, as he rushes inward towards Gabriel. It's not a neat manuever he's after, as the hand seeks to grasp ahold of the woman's vest, hoping to pull her in close. If he does manage to latch on, Michael's body will twist as he snakes his right leg out and behind Gabriel, seeking to quickly toss her down to the ground in order to regain his own sense of pace.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel endures Michael's Quick Throw!

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Michael          0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
In managing to get close to Gabriel, though she doesn't escape the grab, she hardly looks like she even wants to, rather instead she goes along with the motion and tries to keep the pace for her own designs. When Michael tosses her down to the ground, she tries to use her momentum to bring him with her. Both legs shoot up in an attempt to get his neck and shoulders before pivoting to instead flip -him- around to the ground.

Regardless of success, the willingness of the self proclaimed crusader to sacrifice herself to get some damage in is certainly something to be wary of. Her eyes are narrowed slits like Michael did something to personally offend her. The only sound she makes is barely above a whisper as she suggests,

"Pain is a gift from the Goddess, this may hurt."

COMBATSYS: Michael counters Intercession from Gabriel with Log Drop.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Michael          0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
As Gabriel's legs start to wrap around Michael's, the ninja grins slightly. He's finally found his pace, and now it's obvious to him just what exactly it is he needs to do. He needs to NINJA FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE.

As the pressure increases around the blonde man's legs, another explosion of smoke engulfs the ninja. Gabriel will find that whats between her legs now is suddenly extremely big, heavy, and wood.

As the crusader starts to pivot, she'll feel a piercing from her back as a heavy black kunai has found a new residence within her flesh while Michael spins another on his right index finger.

"Sorry. I don't really care for pain all that much."

[GABRIEL]
Gabriel takes a moment to pick herself up, dust herself off and then glare at Michael. It's almost as if he did something wrong. He of course did not, but then it's like walking on egg shells with Gabriel. She has this longing look that almost seems to shout, if only you'd just die. Only it's mixed with a glare. She takes a moment to dust herself off. She doesn't respond, at least not right away and then resumes her fighting stance after flicking her hair back.

She draws back and makes her move, though this attack is rather simple. It's just a palm strike, however it is a bit of a rough one, going for the face. Oh and she does something while she's attacking, she also tells Michael to "Confess." It's almost like the cry a fighter puts on an attack, only instead of a grunt it's a word and very accusatory too.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel successfully hits Michael with Medium Punch.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Michael          0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
"ACK! NOT THE FA--"

It's entirely too late for Michael to do much of anything except take a palm to his face which sends him stumbling backwards, only to fall and land on his rear. The blonde ninja takes a few moments to wipe away the soft trickle of blood that now freely flows from his nose.

Part of him is irritated at the fact he so plainly fell for one of the most avoidable of attacks. The other, is scared of losing and not living up to the made up expectations he's now placed on himself.

Slowly, Michael starts to climb to his feet as the air surrounding starts to give off the tell-tale signs of burning o-zone. A few of the screens on the nearby Arcade machines start to flicker wildly, only to finally go blank as the power is seemingly lost to them.

Small sparks of electricity start to errupt into the air surround Michael, clashing wildly with the blue of his outfit. Eventually, the sparks turn into streaks, and finally bolts as he narrows his eyes at Gabriel.

"Sorry. I don't have anythin' I really feel like confessin' to a total stranger right now..."

The bolts of electricity bounce across the floor as more of the nearby machines go dead, obviously having been overloaded by the electrical storm that now surrounds the Blonde Ninja.

COMBATSYS: Michael snaps, crackles and pops as he starts to gather his chi!

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Michael          0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
A lull in the combat after Michael is struck and then begins to gather his power. Gabriel also decides to let the lull take and has stepped back to do nothing but glare at him. She's already glared at him a lot and now she's glaring even more. Banter though, that's allowed. She replies,

"Deceiver. No one shares their confessions with loved ones. Do you wish for your mother to know of your vices? Your children to know of your failures? This is why clergy maintain anonimity with confessions. You are afraid of the wickedness in your heart. I offer you absolution."

She holds out a hand, the palm pooled with blood that drips onto the ground. This is the hand she used to put her 'sword' away (the shard of really long and sharp glass), she'd cut her own palm and the blood is her own. Also the whole gesture is supper creepy.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel focuses on her next action.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Michael          0/-------/=======|===----\-------\0          Gabriel

[RUST]
Neo*Geo Land's got quite the crowd here. They start getting electrified - yes, with the pun, sorry, but this is the best way to describe it available and frankly that's what the announcers are saying, so that's what's being put in print - as Michael turns up the voltage as a visually exciting thing.
The participants of the actual King of Fighters match get the best seats to watch. Sasquatch has problems staying in their seat, because... well, let's put it in their own words.
"(I feel like I could take on half of the known universe here... in some sort of Contest of the Century or something... it gives me the chills...)" Sasquatch shudders. Because this place is full of big-headed mascots, nobody really blinks an eye at this cryptid right here. He has expertly ducked behind a partition to minimize inicidental camera exposure because of course he does.
"You know," comes Rust Jr., who's rubbing the side of his head with a stupid look on his face, "never did get this whole 'the' Goddess thing, eh? I mean... there's a whooooole lotta wrathful women out and about in the pantheons of the world... yep." He says as Gabriel slices open their hand and lets the blood fall.

[ZACH GLENN]
"There might be something to it," says the man accompanying them. "All of those stories you hear or read get their basis from somewhere." Zach Glenn, former Monster Hunter and professional fighter, hooks a thumb towards Sasquatch. "Case in point."

He watches, his eyes narrowing at the blood-letting. The frown, which is rarely far from his face, deepens.

"Michael!" he roars at the young man, "Don't mess around with this one!" He glances at Rust out the corner of his eye. "The people who cut themselves in a fight like this tend to be the /worst/. Willing to sacrifice way too much to achieve their goals."

[RUST]
"Wellllll," Jr. pipes in as he strokes his chin as Zach doles out sage life advice to his teammate, "'bout... oooh, I dunno how long back with, but," he looks away from what is probably about to be an impending bloodbath, "when I traveled around with my dad, we sure did meet a swordsman, like..."
He makes a cutting motion across his neck - stopping by pressing a thumb at the jugular. "Cut himself right here, eh? Let all the blood out. Said a blade could no longer lay low what had no blood to shed at." Grisly!! Kind of disgusting!!
"Sure put up a fight against my dad!" He seems to recall this awful imagery with some level of nostalgic reverence. He exhales with a pleasant sigh.
"(Oh? That kind of makes my blood run ice cold...)" Sasquatch whimpers. "(Is that why?)"
"...Is that why what?"
"(You know.)" Sasquatch knows... what?
"Eh?" Jr.'s hand is at the side of his head. Then he just laughs. "Nope!!"
"(...Cold shoulder on that one, huh...)"

[MICHAEL]
"Nah. I'm not afraid of the wickedness in my heart."

The streaks of electricity continue to explode outwards from the young ninja, as he reaches into his gi, pulling out a small scroll. The placing the scroll between his teeth, he sheathes his ninjato once more. Slowly, the emotion starts to drain away from Michael, especially as Zach starts yelling at him to not mess around.

The chi swirls visibly around Michael as the young ninja makes a cross with his index and middle fingers. His eyes close, as the scroll now unfurls only to catch ablaze once it's fully extended.

Whatever Michael is planning, it's obvious that he's being quite methodical with it. Once the burning scroll reaches his lips, he suddenly perses them, and whistles loudly.

Now it's Pity's turn.

Everyone who has met the Ninja Boy's dog is assured she is just a lovable goof, yet finally she's ready to listen to Michael's commands as a low growl starts to eminate from deep within her chest. Kneeling forward, the large dog suddenly allows a loud ear piercing howl to escape her muzzle.

This is only just the start of it, for once the howl finishes the dog suddenly darts forward towards Gabriel, her maw snapping violently towards the woman, seeking to latch onto whatever body part she can. If she manages to latch on even just a tiny amount, she's not going to be letting go any time soon.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel fails to interrupt Rush Dog from Michael with Divine Retribution.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
Eyes shifting, following the dog, then the person then the dog. Gabriel decides to go for the shard. She draws her shard and her intent is clear, she's going to try to slash the dog, then maybe the person, or maybe just the dog. It is a vicious thing to do, an evil thing to do, she doesn't seem to bat an eyelash though. The first attempt is a miss, she swishes, swinging and sending droplets of blood everywhere. The dog, who escapes unscathed is forgotten about, surely Gabriel can now just focus on the man. She starts toward him with her shard ready. . . But she forgot about the dog. The dog has -not- forgotten about her.

Now that she's kind of trapped there by the dog she looks down, her expression one of bitterness and fury.

"Mangy mongrel, release me." She looks ready to slice at the dog again! Luckily Michael is now the one forgotten about while she's latched onto.

[MICHAEL]
Chi continues to pour out from Michael's body as the dog does her job. The world as a whole is slowly starting to be tuned out until there is only one thing he's capable of seeing.

Nothing else exists in the Koga-ryu ninja's eyes, his blade once more being drawn. The air around him burns violently with the nasueating smell of burning o-zone as the man tilts forward, arcs of pure lightning bursting from his body as he finally readies himself.

The first step towards Gabriel is fast, the second must faster than the first. Each step increases in speed until the blonde ninja vanishes, bolts of lightning exploding violently all across the arcade, destroying just about any inanimate object that has the audacity to get in their way.

"Galford-ryu..."

The words come out as a booming echo, shattering the glass of the screens of the already fried Arcade cabinets. Michael suddenly comes into view once again, this time perched upon the wall of the far side of the arcade. The sword is now placed alongside his left him, readying himself for the first iai.

The man suddenly launches towards Gabriel, as if he were riding a bolt of lightning just like Yakusa no ikazuchi no kami. If the first iai is true, what follows would prove to be even worse for the Crusader of the Golden Goddess.

Both Michael and the dog would vanish from sight, as a brutal flurry of slashes and teeth come from all sides and all angles, seeking to lift Gabriel towards the roof-top of the arcade. To the bystanders, it would seem if there were physically two Michaels and two Pitys, yet if this were true, what follows would serve as a fitting finale.

"Pity Double Megastrike!"

The two Michaels will latch onto Gabriel, spinning her wildly in a violent Izuna Drop into the ground of the arcade as the dog rushes away towards a safe distance. All at once, the Chi that Michael had been building will finally release as a thick column of electricity suddenly slams through the ceiling of the arcade, leaving a gaping hole in its wake as it moves to strike down upon the most likely extremely damaged Gabriel.

[RUST]
"(She tried to stab the dog? That's ice cold...)" Sasquatch says, peeking out from behind their safety partition. It's like a blanket, only it's a partition.
Michael makes a hell of a move, and a name is uttered somewhere in all of the showy destruction in their very wake...
"Eh?" Jr. rubs the side of his head as he hears that name. "Huh... neat-o."
"(Seriously though, be cool on this one, was that why?)" Sasquatch asks.
"I don't even know what you're talkin' about at, yep~" Jr. says as he looks to how the electrical lightshow is all building as Michael bolts to Gabriel.
"(The last time we did something like this... you know, with Alexis?)" The King of Fighters preliminary match, years back. "(I remember you just slipped right into the backstage already hurt. You said you couldn't go out looking like that or any--)"
"Whoa!" Rust Jr. blatantly - but excusably - ignores this in favor of paying attention to the crazy things happening. "Yep! That's gonna blow out the ceiling, eh? Guess I'll get right on that!!"
With ninja-like acrobatic grace his body frame does not lend itself to, Rust Jr. leaps up from his seat and starts clambering up high. Just in case. To move to help fix the ceiling if it needs to be, even though these things are insured like two-hundred-and-fifty-six times over.
Whether or not the ceiling does get blown out in the next nano-second, Jr. doesn't come back down.
Sasquatch scratches their head, shrugs, and continues watching.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel deflects Pity Double Megastrike from Michael with Mimic.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Michael          0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
She's caught, the dog has her and then Michael gives away his approach by calling out the name of his attack. Her expression is one of profound annoyance, but somehow she finds enough calm to do something about it. That something is to. . Vanish from sight. Just after closing her eyes, with that same building frustration on her face, Gabriel vanishes, just like the dog and Michael had a moment before and then the arena is light up with the sound of attacks that lack an actual individual. Perhaps the air swishes in a visible way, dust motes dancing, or perhaps not, but it would be nearly impossible to see anyone for a moment, then there are two Gabriels to counter the two Michaels, where they would have latched onto one, she latches onto one of them? Both? Then she releases a column of built up chi. . .

It.. really isn't as impressive as the move she copied, it looks more like the ghost of it, or the shadow, but no doubt it was a terrible outcome to what should have been a moment of crushing her.

Afterward she is standing there catching just catching her breath.

[MICHAEL]
As Michael is sent flying backwards from the shadow of his own attack, he is at a loss. He had bet everything on that attack, and in a single moment, the Golden Crusader managed to turn it right around on him.

"...Shit."

Of course, the fight isn't over just yet, and the victor still undetermined. So Michael does what he should have done in the very beginning of his training with the Koga. He continues to put pressure upon Gabriel. His body still buzzing with electricity, he surges forward, rapidly swinging his ninjato at Gabriel, hoping to continue his quest in putting her down.

COMBATSYS: Michael successfully hits Gabriel with Quick Strike.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Michael          0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
Throwing Michael's attack back at him wasn't easy for Gabriel, she looks like it's taken a toll on her. She's breathing heavily, her forehead is beaded with sweat, her hand is bleeding (her own fault), her hair is not kept perfectly and has fallen about her face a bit, sticking to the skin. Oh and she's totally not fast enough to block the strike that she takes to the side and is sent staggering back.

"Fool." She spits out, without actually spitting, as that would be improper. "Repent!" She exclaims and moves in to try to put Michael off his game a bit with a low kick to the knee. While she tries to maintain the flowing fighting art that she's trained in, the edges are starting to fray as her anger takes more hold.

COMBATSYS: Michael blocks Gabriel's Light Kick.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
As Gabriel's kick swings in towards his knee, Michael's body twists to catch it instead with his shin. The impact is jarring, but at least he managed to protect his precious joints from potentially life changing injuries.

"Sorry, I don't know the meanin' of that word!"

Michael starts to goad the Crusader now, figuring that if she allows her anger to start controlling her, then maybe he'll have a better shot at taking her down.

Crossing his arms with each hand touching his sides, Michael once more gathers his chi. Two thin discs of electricity start to form upon each hand, only for him to swing them out towards Gabriel.

"Plasma Blade!"

COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Michael's Plasma Blade.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
The response to Gabriel which isn't accepting what he's told does put Gabriel in something of a worst mood than she's already been in. Still, she's at least not so shaken now that she cannot move to block the incoming attack. It still bites and puts some distance between the two of them. Her eyes narrow and she pulls out her shard of glass again. Digging her heel in she looks poised like a spring, a spring full of rage.

"It shall be engraved opun your soul.. Divine assault! The Avenging Angel!"

She's being nothing if not showy. Transluscent wings erupt from her back, though they look more like shards of stained glass than actual wings, the effect no doubt created by chi, rather than actual wings. Then she's off, making repeated slashes at Michael. . . And his little dog too.

COMBATSYS: Michael dodges Gabriel's Avenging Angel.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
As the Angel descends down upon Michael and his dog, the two of them seperate. That's the problem with two targets. It's always harder to hit both at the same time.

Of course, the blond ninja isn't quite below taunting his opponent all the more for their bad choice of strategy.

"Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame! Avenging Angel? More like Spazzing Fairy to me!"

He's nimble for sure, and that's all the more reason for him to continue trying to put this to an end in his favor. Otherwise it'll be up to Zach, and then he'll have failed his personal mission.

The blonde ninja ducks down low, and rushes back in towards Gabriel, seeking to catch her off guard with his own taunts, moving to slam the pommel of his ninjato right into her head.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel dodges Michael's Crushing Strike.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
Of course what Michael says is only going to serve to annoy her more. This doesn't mean she actually hits. It probably makes her easier to avoid. She is practically snarling when Michael gets out of the way and it's maybe a small miracle that she avoids the followup.

The so called crusader tries to follow up with a simple armlock and a toss toward the ground, if she can manage, but the reality is she's still looking pretty miffed.

It turns out, it's maybe really _really_ easy to taunt an insane cultist.

COMBATSYS: Michael dodges Gabriel's Medium Throw.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|-------\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
Once again, Gabriel makes the mistake of catching a Ninja. Everyone knows you can't catch a Ninja. Especially if they're on fire.

And Michael is /always/ on fire.

Slipping away once again like an wiggling eel, Michael actually hammer slides in order to just make Gabriel even more upset.

"Can't touch this!"

Once more his ninjato is swung towards Gabriel, this time aimed towards her chest, seeking to leave a rather nasty and powerful cut upon her if he infact manages to catch her, since she seems to be just as slippery as he is.

COMBATSYS: Michael successfully hits Gabriel with Power Strike.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Michael          0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
They always said keeping your cool in a fight can be the difference between winning and well, not winning. Never is this more apparent than how easily Michael is able to control the flow with simple taunts, but Gabriel, never did she meet a taunt she didn't fall for. Not only does she fail to land a finger on the man, but he manages to hammer her with another strike.

Some wise teacher somewhere would likely say something to the effect of don't let yourself get angry or opponents get the better of you or something, but Gabriel isn't listening to the wise voices in her head. If ever there were any, frankly that's up for debate. Instead she continues to get moar angry, because if at first something doesn't work and seems to make matters worse, the best thing to do is double, no triple down!

So instead of taking a moment to calm herself or anything, Gabriel roars with rage and throws a roundhouse kick at Michael, the sort of kick you throw when you really really want to break something, but probably best if that thing is inanimate.

COMBATSYS: Michael fails to interrupt Strong Kick from Gabriel with Strike Heads.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
The wise teachers are generally wise for a reason. Those same teachers would be telling Michael to quit getting cocky. Then of course there's the disapproving stares of 'WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING MICHAEL!?' from Zach.

Those looks are totally ignored as Michael rides the rush. Moving in for the the kill, Michael attempts to dodge the kick so he can grab the woman.

Then the foot connects with his head.

The world spins rapidly as the momentum takes the Ninja off his feet and sent sprawling down to the ground with a harsh thud.

[GABRIEL]
On the other side of the coin is the woman. She's clearly insane and frankly the bad guy here. After all, she's gone after the dog not once, but twice. The crowd should be rooting for Michael, probably they are, or would be if they weren't a bunch of savages themselves. Humans, amirite? No doubt the slug fest is more satisfying to them than who wins at this point and maybe, just maybe the narrative can be fixed after the fact, but for now, most people are likely just out for blood. Gabriel is giving it to them if nothing else (though that's mostly through cutting herself, honestly she belongs on a wrestling circuit, the hard core style).

More frustrating than any of that though is how she reacts. Does she see the opening and go in for the jugular? No. No she does not. After seeing the kick connect the Crusader narrows her eyes a moment then steps back, not lowering her guard, but actually letting Michael get back up again. A mistake? Maybe, but it slows the pace of the fight.

Okay, now everyone is surely rooting for the ninja because the psycho just denied them the utterly senseless beating (no matter which of them got it) they so longed for. People hate that.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel gains composure.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
It's very kind of Gabriel to give Michael the chance to recover without continuing the onslaught of things hitting his head. Very nice indeed. Yet he lays there motionless, contemplating just what exactly he's going to do about this entire situation.

Finally, he does get to his feet, shakily trying to keep his balance as the world tilts slightly in his head. Great. Another concussion! Nine out of Ten doctors all agree that those are bad things to get. The Tenth Doctor is busy stripping his clothes off to swing from light fixture.

Maybe that tenth doctor is on to something.

Shakily rushing towards Gabriel once again, Michael doesn't seem to learn that maybe he needs to think before he acts. The ninjato is swung upwards now towards Gabriel's chest, seeking to once again attempt to bite into her flesh.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel fails to interrupt Medium Strike from Michael with Flash of White.
- Power fail! -

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
If this is a lesson about never learning, then they are both guilty of it. When things start to move back into the direction of action, Gabriel decides to really put herself out there and go for broke again. Well only sort of. The incoming assault she tries to meet head on. Nevermind that she is still reeling from a lot of the earlier attacks and this one is no exception. She tries to launch herself into the air, over? Through? Who can tell because the misjudged motion leads her directly into the incomming assault. The result is that Gabriel is knocked back onto the ground and looking very nearly out of energy to continue.

[MICHAEL]
As Gabriel is sent sprawling backwards, Michael also affords her the same respect she just gave him. You don't kick a man (or woman in this case) while they're down. It's just bad sportsmanship. Yet the crowd in this case doesn't quite seem to mind.

Yet the moment Gabriel starts to get to her feet, the blonde ninja suddenly surges forward. Briefly he vanishes from view, only to appear infront of the woman. His ninjato is swung with incredible speed, this time seeking to slice the woman violently across her abdomen in pure desperation to end this fight.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Michael's Desperation Slash.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////                         ]
Michael          0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
It's no wonder that getting to her feet would result in having to deal with some form of assault. The rather battered Crusader of Light, self proclaimed of course, is ready for something when she gets to her feet, just not sure what to be ready for. In this case what she was expecting was well.. Not that.

Too Close Too Close! Her eyes widen and maybe for a brief instance it becomes clear just what it would be like to be dating someone like that. Probably she isn't too into hugging or anything like that. She just has enuogh time to block the first attack before she's dealing with a Michael way in her personal space, so she does what any impressionable lass would do.

She just totally panics and tries to shove him away. No art, no mastery, just a middle school style shove.

COMBATSYS: Michael dodges Gabriel's Fast Throw.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Michael          0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
Gabriel's exhaustion is totally obvious to Michael, and the blonde Ninja is ready to take advantage of it. As she moves to shove him, he's already leaping backwards, showing no real signs of exhaustion himself.

He totally is exhausted however.

The Ninja continues backwards until he hits a conviently placed pillar in the arcade. Jumping high, the Ninja latches onto the wall, coiling his muscles like well oiled springs, only to rocket downwards towards Gabriel, his right foot extended out in a diving kick aimed right for her.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel dodges Michael's Triangle Kick.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Michael          0/-------/-------|=====--\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
The fight is only mostly over, but not completely over. There is still very real room for things to happen that would be unexpected to say the least. The amount of art that goes into the slip Gabriel manages to somehow give the incoming Ninja is on par with a third grader drawing. Parents love it, everyone else only pretends. She does manage to get out of the way, but she doesn't look very good doing it. She needs to do something about his mobility. A frown creeses her face and she goes for a kick, low and to the shin.

On the plus side, she's stopped telling him he should repent and stuff.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel successfully hits Michael with Light Kick.
Grazing Hit

[                    \\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Michael          0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
Exhaustion has finally caught up with Michael, and a part of him just wants to quit right then and there. He doesn't have as much experience as others in fighting like everyone else who jumped on the King of Fighters bandwagon.

Truth be told, all of this scares him more than he'll ever be willing to admit. However, it's something more that keeps forcing him to keep driving himself. He's expended himself in almost every way, and his bag of tricks is almost entirely empty.

Yet he keeps on fighting, taking the brunt of Gabriel's shin kick, wincing with visible pain. Yet he plants the leg, and moves to swing his other upwards towards Gabriel's side, attempting to once more knock the wind out of her.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Michael's Light Kick.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Michael          0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
Curling in one direction, Gabriel manages to maintain some defense, enough to not eat it completely with that attack. She winces and shows some amount of pain, but is only made to miss a step or two instead of going down completely. Her exprssion is still grim, she's tired, her face is mussed, her hair too, she looks ready to be done with this, but her soul still burns. That is to say, she's angry enough and wants Michael down.

Hefting up her shard, she makes another nasty swipe at him, but even as she does, all the times she's used the glass has taken a toll and now it is dull and chipped, probably not very cutting.

COMBATSYS: Michael fails to interrupt Aggressive Strike from Gabriel with Random Strike.

[                      \\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Michael          0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
Michael rushes back in, doing his best to strike before Cultlady has a chance to play Pin the Tail on the Ninja with that shard of glass she's swinging around. Swinging his ninjato just a few moments too late, he screams in pain as Gabriel's glass shard firmly tears at his chest.

There is a clatter as he drops his sword, stepping backwards from Gabriel. Anger starts to well up within the ninja, as the scent of burning o-zone once again permiates the air around the arcade. Once more, sparks of electricity spring to life around the blonde man, as the emotion starts to sweep him away.

Leaping backwards now, Michael's anger starts to culminate into something far more dangerous. Something that he may infact regret if he loses control.

The young man is exhausted. He's scared. And far more then anything else, he's angry at himself for how poorly he's performed.


[GABRIEL]
Though she's breathing heavily, and though her shard is broken and though she's bleeding all over the place, still Gabriel is standing.. Somehow. Though she's gotten lucky, maybe very lucky and probably doesn't deserve to be standing, also she's probably the bad guy here (see: Definately). It's probably down to the wire, the next couple swipes will make all the difference.

Seeing the Ninja approach it's obvious he's going all out to try to end this. She in turn is going to try to end this, or at least defend herself, or something. She straightens and goes for a back handed slap, but with enough power to hurt. Maybe enough to lay him out, but it's a dicey gamble. She doesn't have the breath to taunt anymore, doubtful anyone does.

COMBATSYS: Michael blocks Gabriel's Admonish.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  /////                         ]
Michael          0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
Almost as if it were coming at him in slow motion, Michael forces his already screaming body to keep going. Faster. He has to keep going faster. At this rate, he'll never overcome Gabriel unless he can just make himself go faster!

Surging forward with his enhanced speed, he launches himself towards Gabriel, seeking once again to grab ahold of the crazy cultist and launch her into the air. If successful, the blonde ninja will vanish in another puff of smoke, appearing in the air beside the woman.

His hands will once more seek to grasp her, pulling her in close, only to be flipped in mid-air to be sent hurtling violently down to the ground. Michael will follow closely, not allowing it to end there as both of his hands will strike the woman's ribcage with his palms, seeking to do even more damage then already done before.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel blocks Michael's Stardust Drop.

[                        \\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Michael          0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1          Gabriel

[GABRIEL]
It is only a matter of time before speed wins the day, but before that it is a question of simply who can outlast whom. Gabriel brings her arms up, bruised and bloody, to deflect the incoming blow as best she can. No doubt it still hurts and it sends her back a few paces. The stagger might have put her just out of reach of a follow up attack too, lucky her. She's quick to try to capitalize on it, or at least as quick as she can be. She tries to leap onto Michael's shoulders, maybe bringing them both down, but maybe not. With a fierce glingt ot her eye she has a charged up fist full of energy, white and pure looking (coming from such an impure girl) to throw in his face. It all depends on if she can get past his defenses on his shoulders.

Still the back and fourth is taking a toll, she looks an utter mess, very torn up, sweaty and bloody all over. This next coupld of attacks is likely all she has left in her, no matter how it goes.

COMBATSYS: Michael counters Flash of White from Gabriel with Log Drop.
- Power hit! -

[                         \\\\\  < >                                ]
Michael          0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1          Gabriel

[MICHAEL]
Speed will win the day. That much is true. Yet once Gabriel surges forward to leap onto the ninja's shoulders, the woman will notice a major change in physics. Instead of latching onto his shoulders, the sudden sense of something harder then flesh will become apparent.

The blonde ninja once again vanishes in a plume of smoke, replacing himself with a log once again to take whatever damage Gabriel was intending to dish out to him in his place. Yet, he appears directly behind the woman, no more tricks. The hilt of his previously discarded ninjato is suddenly slammed into the back of Gabriel's head, intending to end this war of attrition once and for all.

[GABRIEL]
The fight was very long and very close, no one could feel bad about the outcome, but Gabriel isn't just anyone, she's.. Well.. She's Gabriel! She might or might not feel bad, per say, but she certainly seems to feel vindictive. In a moment of utter bitterness she goes for what is probably her last shot, a parting blow to indicate her bitterness. She tries to stomp on the leg the nearest one.. On her way down. It's a parting shot.

COMBATSYS: Gabriel can no longer fight.

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

COMBATSYS: Michael dodges Gabriel's Heel Stomp.

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

[MICHAEL]
Once the hilt of Michael's sword cracks upon Gabriel's skull, he's already forcing himself backwards. He watches in slow motion as the woman's parting stomp swings down at his leg, the heel of her shoes narrowly touching the fabric of his pants as he continues his journey backwards.

And then it's over.

Michael falls backwards onto the ground, gasping for breath as he tries to gather himself. He's not quite out of the woods yet, as there is still another opponent for him to fight.

A brief glance is given towards his partners in all of this nonsense, and a knowing look is given towards the Psion. Michael's not ready to call it quits.

Forcing himself to his feet, the blonde ninja readies himself for the next challenger!

[RUST]
Rust Jr. is on the ceiling, giving a thumbs up. Everything's great! Except there's an official now trying to prod him off with a stick from said ceiling.
A Joy Joy stick, if you will.
"(You aren't going to leave everyone in the cold by hanging up there, are yo--)"
"I AM COMPLETELY OUT OF EARSHOT AND CANNOT HEAR A THING YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT," insists Jr.

COMBATSYS: Michael awaits the next challenger.

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

COMBATSYS: Echo has joined the fight here on the right meter side.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Michael          0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0             Echo

[ECHO]
"Oof, quite a good show from her, I think, rest easy dear," Echo appears. Yes, she's here--she's been here for a while yet, in fact, though off to the side somewhere--slurping what was probably a fruit juice and alcoholic drink cocktail, of some variety. Fruit bat a little? Perhaps. She's also in full bat lady appearance here, no real reason for her to use any sort of magical glamour to disguise herself. Of course it's nothing that Michael hasn't seen before.

"Well hello there, dearest," Echo grins, as she approaches, in one of her usual black dresses and leather boots this time--much more sensible footwear for KOF than her normal red patent leather pumps. She's got her large brown leather belt slung around her hips with the usual: magical fetishes and gunny sack, weird animal skull dangling beside it.

"I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't all in good fun--please don't take it personal, dear," Echo winked and blew a kiss to Michael, proceeding to crack her knuckles and raised her arms wide--eyes briefly glowing red as an unseen ghostly force picked up Gabriel and carried her out of the way.

"Powers of the shadowtime--inscribe us into the black book of death!" she howled, small objects and debris beginning to float around the necromancess as the lights briefly wink out--before coming back on.

"Who ya gonna call? G'heh--somebody else~" Echo snaps her red-nailed, white-furred finger and a vortex would suddenly appear beneath Michael, meanwhile another appears very close by--trying to carry him through them--and right into the floor!

COMBATSYS: Echo successfully hits Michael with Another Gate.
- Power hit! -

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|=------\-------\0             Echo

[MICHAEL]
"Huh? You?!"

The sudden realization of who the second fighter for this round of the preliminaries is enough to stun Michael completely. The saying 'It's a small world!' really has a lot of truth to it. Which would really explain just why it is he's not paying attention to the vortex of energy that sucks him in.

As the blonde ninja comes out the other end, he slams violently head first into the floor. If Gabriel didn't manage to give him a concussion, Echo sure as hell did. Michael G. Weller slowly climbs to his feet, his eyes glazed over as the world around him spins faster then a Tilt-o-Whirl at a shady carnival.

Wobbily lurching forward, Michael readies himself to attack, his ninjato glinting meanicingly under the flickering lights. More force then he really intends goes into his swing of the blade, aiming for the chest of Echo in order to do just whatever damage it is he can.

COMBATSYS: Echo blocks Michael's Fierce Strike.

[                       \\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Michael          0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0             Echo

[ECHO]
"Well I do have a life outside of hanging out in graveyards, dear," Echo gestured to herself, grinning a little. She was confident enough to make light of the situation still, it appeared. She does however wince and look genuinely concerned of the fall that Michael takes as a result of his trip through the portal there. "I'll make it up to you later, okay?~ Promise--" Echo then flares her wings wide, beating them a little as debris and papers are blown about--she lunges and actually--half jumps, half vaults through the air--attempting to come down and wrap her arms around Michael--trying to press a hand that is glowing with sickly green energy to his back!

COMBATSYS: Echo successfully hits Michael with Dessicate.

[                           \\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Michael          0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0             Echo

[MICHAEL]
As the arms Batwoman wraps herself around Michael, he lets out a rather loud and pathetic squeek as she squeezes him. Once the hand is placed against his back, the squeek is silenced as his already low reserves of energy are drained once again.

"Gah... No fair..."

Like Michael has any room to talk about being fair with all of his ninja tricks. Yet he still has some up his sleeve. Chi starts to swell within both of the young man's palms, as he pulls them up between himself and the Vampire Batlady. He moves to release the chi in one swoop, knowing that this may be his last chance to do some damage.

"Plasma Blade!"

COMBATSYS: Michael has reached second wind!

[                         \\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Michael          0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0             Echo

COMBATSYS: Echo just-defends Michael's Plasma Blade!

[                         \\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Michael          0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0             Echo

[ECHO]
"Well, all's fair in love and king of fighters, babe," Echo winks at Michael as she decouples herself from him, giving him a little shove back, perhaps expecting him to fall over.

"Oof, you've still got some fight in ya--" she then blinks and goes wide-eyed as Michael brings his palms up, ready to blast her!

And then a /shape/ materializes out of thin air, the whispy suggestion of some kind of misty head and shoulders--a large skinless face and gaping eyesockets appears before her and opens it's mouth wide to CHOMP down on Michael's chi plasma attack--disappearing with a howl and scent of ozone as it apparently takes it with it!

"I've got friends on the other side!" Echo giggles, a pair of twin shadowy shapes appearing on either side of Michael as they bring ghostly fists down on him--the air turning cold enough to see breath around him!

COMBATSYS: Echo successfully hits Michael with Abracadaver.
Glancing Blow

[                           \\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0             Echo

[MICHAEL]
The fists come down, knocking Michael off balance for a moment as he struggles to get away from the Batlady. His body has kicked it into Second Gear, telling him it isn't quite ready to give up just yet.

"Your friends are creepy! I think I need an adult!"

The witty banter is back, as Michael starts to regain control of his senses. Echo has a lot of nasty tricks just like him, but he's still got to keep going. It doesn't matter if there is still someone else from his team to take up for him.

In the back of Michael's mind however, he imagines a certain Psion ranting, raving, and flailing around like Donald Duck. It's enough to bring a smile to his face as he dashes forward towards Echo.

Seeking to grasp the Batwoman's clothing, chi surges to life upon his body as he looks to send the woman skyward. Of course, he'd follow after, his arms looking to wrap around her and send her hurtling back down towards the ground in a vicious lightning flavored izuna drop!

COMBATSYS: Michael successfully hits Echo with Strike Heads.

[                           \\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1             Echo

[ECHO]
"Ugh, apparently they just like to watch," Echo throws an acerbic look towards the departing shade as they only seem to graze Michael and leave him still standing. That obviously wasn't what she called them for.

Then Michael is grabbing her and pulling her into a flying suplex--courtesy of his psionic powers. They land together in a crash--Echo cringing and rolling off of him and back to her feet once they're both earthbound again.

"Oww--I think I landed on a Busta-a-move cabinet," she winces, before growling a little bit, picking wooden splinters and dust out of her long black hair.

"Just stay--DOWN!" Echo brings her booted foot up and attempts to land a forward kick right to his temple as he rises.

COMBATSYS: Michael dodges Echo's Light Kick.

[                           \\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1             Echo

[MICHAEL]
"I don't know the meaning of those words! Could you possibly give me the definition?"

Michael nimbly leaps backwards from Echo's extended leg, smiling brightly at her. Right now it's no longer a contest of whose stronger. He's back to playing the 'Let's see how mad I can make them!' game. Which has a varying degree of success.

It's obvious he's exhausted as all hell, but that doesn't mean he can't keep going. He's still moving, and that is the only thing that matters right now. Swinging his body towards Echo, the ninjato is brought upwards in a rapid slash, obviously intent on biting into her flesh.

COMBATSYS: Echo dodges Michael's Quick Strike.

[                           \\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Michael          1/-------/=======|=======\===----\1             Echo

[ECHO]
Michael might be able to feel the whizzing of Echo's boot as it sails a half inch away from his head--the bat lady had put too much oomph into it and not enough adjustment for how the man might pull back to avoid it. She winds up just sorta kicking high, and giving Michael a good view. Which does have the intended effect of making her more angry.

"Watch what you're doing with that--you could hurt someone!" Echo sidesteps the man's blade and instead reels back with a curled fist, headed right for the man's jaw!

COMBATSYS: Michael parries Echo's Medium Punch!

[                           \\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Michael          1/------=/=======|=======\===----\1             Echo

[MICHAEL]
The blonde ninja's body lifts weightlessly into the air, as he grabs ahold of the oncoming fist, allowing it's momentum to spin him out of danger's way. A brief wink is given towards Echo as he passes behind her, landing neatly upon the ground.

"Well, I mean, isn't all fair and love and King of Fighters?"

The snarky response may infact do him in, but his left leg swings outwards now to catch Echo from behind with a well placed and rather speedy boot to the rear.

COMBATSYS: Echo blocks Michael's Light Kick EX.

[                           \\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Michael          1/------=/=======|=======\====---\1             Echo

[ECHO]
"Namely me," Echo corrects, before looking back up as her fist is grabbed and he hauls her around--able to keep her balance thanks to the study boots she wore to this--and her quickness.

"You're right, it is--" Echo's eyes glow red again and she lifts her free hand to catch Michael's foot as it travels upward--winding up getting knocked back as it impacts into her shoulder, partially blocking it.

"Alright batter up--and here's the pitch--" Echo makes a fist with her right hand, covering it with her left--the red glow from her eyes disappearing as it instead appears in her fist--a glowing red bolt of energy sailing towards his chest as Echo hurls it with full force!

COMBATSYS: Echo successfully hits Michael with Blood Gout.

[                             \  < >  //////////////////            ]
Michael          1/-----==/=======|=======\=====--\1             Echo

[MICHAEL]
"GAH!" The bolt of energy slams into Michael's body with enough force to cause him to bounce backwards into what once was as Crane Game. Using the wrecked remains to keep himself upright, the American Ninja realizes just how bad of a mistake he just made.

The young man darts forward towards Echo, his body finally starting to give out. This truly could be it for him in this battle, but he sure as hell isn't going to go out without a bang.

Chi starts to pour from every pore upon Michael's body creating a copy of himself that moves to circle around Echo so the two of them can create a pincer attack. They both will seek to grab ahold of her, once again attempting to send her skyward.

A beautiful flurry of rapid slashes will issue forth from the two blonde ninjas, until Echo reaches the peak of the toss, as both will then seek to grasp her, moving to spin her wildly and drive her into the concrete floor of the arcade. Yet, there won't be a chance yet for recourse, as the real Michael G. Weller will snap his fingers, summoning a massive bolt of lighting down to strike upon the body of Echo.

COMBATSYS: Michael can no longer fight.

                                  >  //////////////////            ]
                                  |=======\=====--\1             Echo

COMBATSYS: Michael successfully hits Echo with Surging Strike.

                                  >  ////////////                  ]
                                  |>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Echo

[ECHO]
"AGH--" Echo growls as she's impacted by the blast just as Michael finally hits the floor. She's looking pretty worse for wear, given that she was essentially just hit by lighting, hair is standing on end, too--not to mention the static that's crackling around her body still. It's partially burned through her dress here and there, leading to some gnarly looking battle damage to it, white fur showing through beneath.

"Alright, who's next," Echo pants, pulling herself back up and taking a bit of a breather.

COMBATSYS: Echo awaits the next challenger.

                                  >  ///////////////////           ]
                                  |>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Echo

[RUST]
The round is over. Echo is to be declared the victor of round two, when all of a sudden, Rust Jr. has been successfully pried off the ceiling. He drops down, inverted, all but playing rock paper scissors and or pat-a-cake with himself (hand seals?!). Just as he's about to drop down into the ring...
"(Cool it, man.)" Sasquatch to the rescue with a timely ice beam, freezing Rust Jr. and sending him spinning and sliding around the perimeter of the ring before neatly being set back to where their team is supposed to be seated to begin with. The ice cracks and thaws, and Rust Jr. now rests upside-down in his seat.
Okay, he's not next. Who is?

[ZACH GLENN]
"That," says the man stepping onto the stage, "Would be me." The guy seems unremarkable. Blue jeans, black logo-less tee shirt. Comfortablely used sneakers. Fairly average build for his height. But he moves like someone used to fighting. And there is the shock white hair that does not appear to be a dye job coupled with a face that looks way too young for such a thing. And the single scar that runs over his left eye, skipping over the emerald green eye. This is a man who has seen some things, and seen some fighting.

Zach Glenn strides onto the stage. "I really wasn't planning on being here," he admits. "But I guess I should be grateful," he says as he tugs on a pair of fingerless gloves. There is a single metal plate on the back of each glove that shimmers oddly in the stadium lights, not in a way that steel or iron or any such mundane material might. "Gives me a chance to test these out." His tone is light; not exactly playful, but not really revealing much of his mindset.

A faint golden glow, almost like sunlight, suffuses Zach Glenn, covering him completely. As the light wreaths the gloves a design on each plate, vaguely Celtic in nature, flares into visibility. "Plus, you kinda did a number on my client," he says. "I do understand that it was in the course of a match, but it's the principle of the thing." He takes up a neutral stance, fists loosely closed and at shoulder height with his feet distributing his weight comfortably.

The bell rings, and Zach charges towards Echo. He skids to a halt right in front of the Darkstalker and snaps his left fist out, more of that golden energy collecting there as he flickers the punch at the woman's face!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Zach Glenn       0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Echo

COMBATSYS: Echo blocks Zach Glenn's Quick Strike.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Zach Glenn       0/-------/-------|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Echo

[ECHO]
Echo is still panting and trying to get her bearings when Zach enters, summarily charging her, wreathed in gold energy. She scowls and a cry is heard from her as the glowing man knocks her back--putting her arms up in time to soften the blow. She's looking pretty messed up, all things considered.

"Your partner was a lot more trouble than I thought he'd be there, bright boy," Echo gestures towards Michael, off to the side.

"But I think I know something that'll do me a world of good~" she rears back before /vaulting/ into the air, wing's outstretched. Her eyes are big red and fangs bared as she swoops down on the man, trying to grab him by the shoulders to sink in her teeth as she passes over him.

If Zach looks up, he might get a flash of a bared, fanged maw--lips curled back in anger!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Echo's Crimson Embrace EX.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Zach Glenn       0/-------/------=|>>>>>>>\-------\0             Echo

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach recovers his form pretty quickly, and when Echo takes to the skies, he doesn't really seem perturbed about it. He's dealt with odd movement styles before, during his time hunting monsters. The woman dives, and Zach reaches up with his left hand to catch Echo on the forehead before she can close to bite even as he brings forth more of his aura to reinforce his stance. He winces slightly; physics still need to be respected and he feels the impact all the way up his arm. But there isn't much for Echo to bite as the psion pivots to allow Echo's flight to send her past him.

"Because I'll really let that happen," he says, a little taunt in his tone. Michael is too unconcsious to pick up on it, but Zach was somewhat impressed by the ninja's offering in the match. Perhaps this is his way of acknowledging that fact.

Zach continues the pivot, thrusting his right hand forward, and launching several pellet-sized bursts of golden psycho-kinetic force. It's not very different, in a way, from anti-aircraft fire. A shot on its own is not all that potent, but there are a *lot* of them, and he really only needs one or two to connect!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn successfully hits Echo with Quick Shot.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////                    ]
Zach Glenn       0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>---\1             Echo

[ECHO]
"Damnit!" Echo madly snatches at the air, trying to drag Zach closer to her as she swoops by--losing her grip and probably winding up doing little more than /scratching/ at him as she is thrown off.

Echo spins in the air as she's caught by the fist-fired energy blasts--cringing and doubling over as she's knocked out of the air--tumbling down in a heap, before rising up shakily.

"Should have just stayed still, you look the type to have enjoyed it," Echo reached up and brushed blood away from her own face where it smeared and stained a glaswegian grin into the fur of her face. She scuffs at the floor with her right leg, as if making sure she has enough grip on the floor with her boot--before flapping her wings and gliding toward Zach--trying to clothesline him with her wing!

COMBATSYS: Echo successfully hits Zach Glenn with Wing Smash.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Zach Glenn       0/-------/--=====|=======\=====--\1             Echo

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach tries to slip through the charge, and mistimes it. Experience does not prevent all mistakes, however, and he mistimes the move. The wing catches him squarely on the forehead, laying the psion out on the stage floor. A trickle of blood runs down from the point of impact, staining his hair a dark red.

Glenn stares at the remains of the ceiling for a moment, taking a deep breath before regaining his feet. "All that flapping about is more than a little annoying," he says, saying nothing about Echo's comment about his preference for pain. (It's not really his thing.)

"Let's see what we can do about that," he says, and reaches for the woman with an empty hand. The aura around it, however, surges forward and takes the form of that outstretched hand, hoping to clamp down on Echo and smash her against the floor!

COMBATSYS: Echo fails to interrupt Shining Finger from Zach Glenn with Still Falls The Night EX.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Zach Glenn       0/-------/=======|

COMBATSYS: Echo can no longer fight.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Zach Glenn       0/-------/=======|

[ECHO]
"FLAP THIS--" Echo roars as she brings up a huge cascade of shadowy energy around her as Zach prepares for his attack--trying to directly interrupt his attack with her own.

"Damnit--aghhh--" Echo howls as her shadow energy is forced back by the SHINING FINGAH, breaking through it and sending her sailing through the arcade.

She lands atop one of those Afterburner arcade cabinets, the kind that tilt back and forth during the game--which is what it's doing right now as the bat lady's body dangles half on, half off it. She looks pretty knocked out.

"Uhhhnn...." tongue hanging out and everything.

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach snaps his right hand down and to his side, the psychic construct scattering into thousands of motes of light as he does so. Zach thrusts that same hand into the air, clenched in a fist to general applause before walking off the stage and hopping to the ground.

"Lunch time," he says, a bit of cheer in his voice for the first time since arriving in Japan.

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn has ended the fight here.

Log created on 09:50:10 06/05/2019 by Michael, and last modified on 18:44:59 06/16/2019.