Match of the Millennium

Description: Zach Glen finds himself in his usual mess when werewolves raid a clothes store. Matters devolve from there.

[WALTER]
Chaos is devouring Southtown, and dark creatures are on the prowl! And by the sounds of barks and shouts? There's already some of that chaos currently in progress.

It's a small side-alley jewelry store, windows smashed in and door looking like it was ripped off its hinges. This is no normal bit of looting however, as the perpetrators are still there! A trio of tall figures wearing a mixture of ragged tank-tops, shorts, and cloaks made from ripped fabrics have bashed and broken all of the displays. Oddly, they've left the jewelry on the floor. No, their attentions are all on the cowering man and woman who have plastered themselves to the corner of the store. They're far away from any exit.

The trio of furred humanoid beasts bark, growl, and slash claws at the two adults trying to keep them at bay. Each werewolf is dripping saliva, eyes reddened with madness in them. If one looks hard enough? A black steel collar sits on their necks.

The short lady of the two store owners thrusts the end of a broom at one of the werewolves, right in the snout! It barks, chomps, and tears away bits of wood and brush. The man throws first a stapler, then chunks of broken security glass. The wolves are cautious...but keep advancing hungrily! Sounds of growling and smashing can be heard from deeper in the shop as well. Seems the dogs have taken over the shop!

[ZACH GLENN]
Southtown is a veritable mess, but that seems to be the status quo. Zach was in town handling some last second surprise on moving assets back to the United States when Kira Volkov unleashed her hordes upon the city.

Zach was stuck in the middle of it, and without his typical modest arsenal to assist. He had been trying to hustle back to the airport when he stumbled upon a robbery in progress. Odd, given that usually during these moments of crisis, there had rarely been looting. Too many do-good fighters and more recently the NOL to put the kabosh on such shenanigans.

But none of them seemed to be showing themselves either. It was, again down to him. He approaches the scene with caution, and when he spots the wolves harasing the shop owners, Zach reaches into his jacket...

...and does not find the gun he would normally carry there.

Instead, the psion points his left hand with a gesture that looks like a finger gun and announces himself.

"Hey," he says. "Fuzzballs. Let's take this outside." And then he looses a bolt of psychic force at the largest of the trio!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn has started a fight here.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-------|

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

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0      Werewolves!

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! blocks Zach Glenn's Quick Shot.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0      Werewolves!

[WALTER]
As Zach enters and announces himself, two of the werewolves turns to contront him. They blink, and then quickly start to stalk the man cautiously! One breaks left, the other right, trying to flank him together. Each gives a ravenous look to him and a deep, deep growl that shakes the shop!

Then Zach points his finger, and blasts the largest one! This happens to be the one that harassing the two shopkeeps, and the man and woman are forced to skitter away.

Skitter right behind another broken display, as there's Zach and werewolves between them and escape. The werewolf took the blow on the back, fell, and rolled to its feet. For being a mindless fuzzy dirty dogs, they sure are agile! It turns, and roars again, the smell of burnt fur filling the air.

And then it howls. The two other werewolves howl too, and howls begin to join in from the back. The keening grows in volume, directed right at Zach, a sonic burst aimed to break more than just his ear-drums!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Werewolves!'s Keening of Winter's Embrace.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0      Werewolves!

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach backpedals quickly, wincing a bit at the increase of volume. A mental effort helps to focus through the pain as Zach reaches out to one side and causes reality to slither around his right hand. A flash of light and a broken sword, possibly a claymore, forms out of the ether. Zach aims the ruined weapon at the lead wolf, and light erupts from the jagged tip of the blade.

The psion turned monster hunter then leaps and brings an overheard strike down on the werewolf's collarbone!

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! dodges Zach Glenn's Heavy Swing.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0      Werewolves!

[WALTER]
The flash of light and sudden summoning of a claymore only sets the werewolves even more on edge. This time however, the werewolf is ready for Zach's energy blasts! That ruined sword's energy is ducked by the humanoid wolf, one strong leg shoving itself into and through the remains of a display. A hole is blasted in the floor of the shop. And then just as Zach comes down with his sword? The werewolf charges forward!

CHOMP!

Zach's weapon ends up in the lead werewolf's jaws, tryiing to much on the weapon. Meanwhile?

The two other werewolves pounce in unison. The two werewolves from behind try to slice at Zach's legs with sharp claws, while the larger one tries to pierce the man's chest with double-fists. There's no technique, just rage and pure brute strength!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Werewolves!'s Dirge of the Forsaken.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0      Werewolves!

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach rips the weapon away, blood spattering the wolf's muzzle as he staggers back, twisting to catch the incoming double fist on his shoulders as he tries to keep his feet free of the other two. It has, admittedly, been a while since he had fought more than one opponent.

You use different moves for a quarter dozen people, than when you only have to deal with one.

Zach opts, for the moment, to show some ferocity of his own. He charges the lead wolf, attempting to lower a shoulder to tackle the beast. If he lands the tackle, Zach will transition to a straddle before driving pyschically augmented fists and pommel strikes into the wolf's head and shoulders!

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! endures Zach Glenn's Rough and Tumble.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0      Werewolves!

[WALTER]
Sword-on-muzzle earns Zach not only some blood, but some teeth as well! The wolf howls in pain this time, staggering backwards! It gives Zach plenty of time to charge and tackle the massive beast. There's an audible crack both as the two hit the floor, and every time that Zach punches the werewolf. The thing whines, yowls, and generally thrashes while being pounded.

There's still the others though! One looks confused about what to do. The slightly smaller werewolf shows little concern for their leader, and instead tries to leap upon Zach's back jaws first! They're cling to grab and cling and tear, even if that involves chewing up the bigger werewolf that Zach is punching on!

But at least the civilians are getting closer to the window now! They stealthily have crawled over there on shakey knees!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Werewolves!'s March to the Bitter End.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0      Werewolves!

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach catches the first wolf to land, and shoves him towards the other one, but not before drawing more blod from the psion. The wound is shallow, and seems to close up seconds after being caused. But those are still seconds. It is during this deflection that he spots the collars, and it causes his eyes to narrow.

"Son of a *bitch*," he snarls as he rolls off of the larger wolf, taking up a position between the trio and the shop keepers.

"Get out of here," he yells over his shoulder, "I'll keep them here." Zach's eyes, however, never leave the pack as he tries to track the movement of the three. He has a few tricks that can handle this, but he needs the civilians out of here first....

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn focuses on his next action.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0      Werewolves!

[WALTER]
It's not like the two civilians are going to say no! They're not the fisticuffs kind. They bolt with vague words about monsters and staying safe. Zach and the werewolves are alone.

The lead werewolf is still laying on the ground, curled up into a ball and wimpering. The other two are more spritely still as they disentangle themselves from Zach's previoius throw. One of them has a broken arm it looks like, but that only seems to make the beast angry.

One of the beasts goes for a broken display case, lifting it up and trying to ram it into Zach's midsection. That short werewolf leaps up to the ceiling, hangs there with one hand punched through the ceiling, then kicks off into a spinning ball towards Zach! These two sure love their pincer attacks!

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! successfully hits Zach Glenn with Hymn of Better Tomorrows.

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Zach Glenn       1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0      Werewolves!

[ZACH GLENN]
There is a reason wolves hunt they way that they do, in numbers. Prey can only be aware in so many directions. Zach cannot track the mobile wolf for a moment, and he pays for it, falling to the ground in a heap for a moment before rolling to one side and back on his feet.

"Right then," Zach says as he lets the broken blade fall from his hand. It flashes, and scatters in a spray of light. "Let's do this."

Zach thrusts his hands out to the sides at his shoulders, and the air rips and snarls as hundreds of blades of psychic energy suddenly *exist.* Katanas, tantos, swords and knives from every era of Japan's long history hang in the air around Zach. They whirl around him in a tornado of determination, slashing at the wolves and not really caring about the rest of the store.

There was a reason he needed the shopkeepers gone.

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! dodges Zach Glenn's Storm of Blades.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0      Werewolves!

[WALTER]
Much like disoriented prey, there's only so many ways one can flee from a deadly onslaught. One of the remaining werewolves quite literally picks up their fallen packmate, and uses him as a formerly-living shield as that storm of blades crashes down.

The spritelier werewolf narrowly ducks away from the few eastern blades that impaled the leader, getting a few slashes to the side, but otherwise is still moving. One of the werewolves from the back of the store runs in...only to get a katana straight to the face! This does much to scare the /rest/ of the pack from emerging from in back.

That quick werewolf, however, is lunging for Zach's legs again, this time ducking and weaving around those psychic blades!

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn interrupts Fierce Punch from Werewolves! with Soaring Dragon EX.

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Zach Glenn       0/-------/-======|=======\==-----\1      Werewolves!

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach pivots with the strike turning to face the wolf. It was a little *too* clever, and Zach was ready for it. "SOARING DRAGON" he roars and launches a massive uppercut which carries him *and* his victim towards the cieling despite the bad posture for the strike, the sheer psychic force behind the blow sufficient to provide enhanced momentum for the blow!

[WALTER]
KER-CRACK! That's the sound of a werewolf skull piercing through ceiling tiles, the wood of the crawl space, /and/ parts of what might be lots of insulation. If the werewolf survives this, it is going to /itch/!

Luckily the thing is seeing stars thanks to that horrific pychic uppercut, hanging there motionlessly. This keeps Zach from being subjected to angry retaliatory razor-like claws. At least, from up above. With Zach in the air? The werewolf below growls, howls, and curls in on itself. There's a shock of chi through the shop as the thing taps into some kind of dark reserve. It looks a little more energetic, thrumming with chi, and launches for Zach with a kick off the ground that shatters parts of the floor! Both claws lash out for Zach's neck!

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! successfully hits Zach Glenn with Tomb of Desperate Measures.

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Zach Glenn       1/---====/=======|==-----\-------\0      Werewolves!

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach takes the kick cleanly, the claws carving wounds all the way up his torso on their way to his neck. He lets out his own howl of pain as he crashes to the ground.

Stupid. *STUPID.* He knows better than to leave himself in the air when there are multiple combatants. You cannot move or react in midair, and he pays for this error. He lays there for a moment, gasping for air as he considers.

What the *hell* was he even thinking, stepping in like this? Was he even thinking? Underarmed, unprepared? He deserves whatever he gets for this. If he dies, he has it *coming.* Heaven knows he's caused more people worse than death. It might even be some form of justice, when you think about it.

Something in his gut flares to life at that thought. Something burns within him. No. People have not properly paid for what was done to those people sacrificed to Vega's ambitions. He is not the only one who owes for what was done to those people. Zach owed them a *debt.* He cannot repay them if he is dead. He cannot collect what is owed if these *beasts* devoured him here.

A dread purple haze ripples around Zach's body as he gets back on his feet. He growls as that psychic miasma collects around his right hand. His left hand grips that wrist as the limb shakes with power and fury. The growl at the back of Zach's throat rises into a yell as he launches himself at the third wolf, his body corkscrewing as it flies towards the werewolf in one of the most terrifying moves in the martial arts world. The psychic energy wraps around him like a cloak of pure wrath.

"PSYCHO CRUSHER!"

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn successfully hits Werewolves! with Psycho Crusher EX.

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

[WALTER]
The werewolf that remains is utterly unable to know the inner turmoils of one Zach Glenn. All the thing knows is hunger and need. But it also knows the low survival instinct that the wolf inside of the humanoid gives to itself. Thus the werewolf is moving even before that horrid energy surrounds the man.

But it matters little. As Zach corkscrews towards the werewolf, the thing has ducked into a ball, arms up. The impact in an explosion of all of the psychic might, sending man and beastman through the wall of the shop and back out into the alleyway. The beast keeps going, landing and crashing into a dumpster, steaming and smoking from the transfer of harmful mental energies. The sight is...messy. There's going to be pieces of werewolf stuck in there for a while.

Frightened howls, mixed with mourning fill the remnants of the shop. A thin werewolf, tail between its legs, manages to wrench the unconscious werewolf in the ceiling down and drag it quickly away. A small /stampede/ of the werewolves are fleeing the martial artist's presence, more sonic howls buffetting where he is as they all flee.

Such psychic power is not to be trifled with. One doesn't need a mind to appreciate the fear such potency instills in those with sharp senses.

To make matters more complicated? There's the sounds of sirens in the distance. The Southtown PD won't be awful long, and no doubt the NOL as well. Zach may not get a verbal thanks from the two long-gone shop owners.

But they have their lives, all thanks to Zach. In this time of chaos, isn't that at least something?

COMBATSYS: Werewolves! can no longer fight.

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

COMBATSYS: Zach Glenn blocks Werewolves!'s Requiem of Merciful Endings.

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

[ZACH GLENN]
Zach skids to a halt, that torrent of Psycho Power roaring around him, drowning out the howls as he gasps for air. He looks down at his hands.

What... what the hell *was* that? He hadn't planned that, but he definitely *did* that. Zach has some things to ponder, clearly.

He hears the sirens, and looks around. Then he spots the corpse of the alpha. The psion heaves a sigh, and leans over to check the body over. He reaches for the collar, pulling it free to get a closer look at it. He then sits down and waits for authorities to arrive, and he does not offer them any fight.

He's too tired for that anyway.

Log created on 19:32:46 04/05/2020 by Zach Glenn, and last modified on 14:58:00 04/06/2020.