Match of the Millennium

Description: Fighting in the Hippodrome, will the heat of the Neo League finals boil away all the water? Will the stage even hold up?! Will the Hungry Wolves' passionate, individualized fans devour the manic efficiency of the Demon Queen's own Minions? Tune in to find out!

[TERRY]
The crowd has been quite eager for a certain rematch; the Demon Queen's only loss in the entire season has similarly risen to the top of the pack, two of the more popular warriors with very different approaches to things. While Lyraelle acively works and engages to get, maintain and improve her fans, Terry has literally no online presence of his own that he contributes even a word to, instead taken over by his own fan clubs and appreciators. It's not especially rare for those obsessed with their personal pursuit to be that way, but unlike other fighters, Terry is quite the rewarding warrior to successfully hunt. Nice, engaging, and fairly down to earth, these rare opportunities to pin him down have lead to a sizeable showing of people wanting to see him in person.

Terry Bogard himself is already settled upon the round stage, shifting and stretching in slow, methodical motions in preparation. Ever the stylish one, he's still in his classic outfit of jeans, white undershirt, and jacket with red hat. His engine's already running hot... a few sharp blows to the air seeming crisp and sharp, clearly taking the finale of the tournament more serious then before. The Lone Wolf... is ready and waiting!

[LYRAELLE]
The crescent-shaped seating that lines the stage in the Hippodrome that's been chosen to play host to the final showdown for the Neo-League's seventh season is as packed as one might expect. And, based on attendance of her showings during the season, the substantial portion of the audience in attendance dressed in purple t-shirts with Lyraelle's visage and the word "MINION" on the front isn't beyond reasonable expectation, either. Even with the Legendary Wolf on stage and the appearance of the Demon Queen of FightTube therefore imminent, hundreds of faces are awash in the blue glow of phone screens, hanging on for a last-minute potential Beat on Hitter from the infernal influencer icon the same way that dedicated movie fans might wait for a post-credit sequence on a Marvel picture - and, even live from the event, filling the chatroom of the stream with support, commentary, and most of all, emojis.

They are rewarded with a close-up selfie of Lyraelle's upper body, a suspiciously familiar red and white cap (though with a picture of a wolf's head on the front) perched above her pink ponytailed hair and flanked by her black horns. Attached is the following message:

DemonQueenLyraelle: Big fight coming up, minions! Thought I'd try getting into my opponent's head for this one! xx #rematch #legendarywolf #doggystyle

Moments after the message goes out, a trio of imps - one portly and red, one spindly and green, and one bearded and yellow - emerge from the backstage area, with a looming minotaur behind them. Each are carrying instruments typically associated with a marching band; the red one has a tuba, the green one has a trumpet, the yellow a snare, and the minotaur is carrying a large drum.

The dramatic royal theme that's being played, though, is certainly piped in through the sound system, and only vaguely in sync with the quartet at best.

Several seconds later, Her Infernal Majesty finally emerges, practically shimmering under the lights as she appears, arms and wings outstretched as she presents herself to her fans. She's still dressed in her usual outfit - albeit with the addition of a cap which is tossed to the audience somewhere in-between the delineated fan lines, resulting in a minor altercation - but she's somehow more shiny than usual, probably through the application of some sort of glitter or lotion or combination thereof.

"Hello, minions~ <3"

The Lyraelle supporters in the congregation let out a collective whoop as the Demon Queen strikes her signature pose before turning to her opponent, stretching her gloved hands above her head.

"And hey there, handsome! Remember me?"

The distinctive demonette tilts her head with a wink before her smile tightens slightly, her tone darkening.

"'Cause I sure remember you~"

[TERRY]
It's rather hard to miss the vibe, even to someone as immediately focused as Terry Bogard himself. He grins towards the crowd, even if his own throngs are rather more randomly assembled; they are no less passionate in turn, even if they have no real method of expression such beyond loud noise and roars. They brought sound sticks and other items of mischief, and start brandishing them insanely. How often does Lyraelle get any manner of proper battle for attention in one of her gigs? A rare opportunity... and much higher stakes! As many want to see Terry win again as want to see her avenge the loss!

"Heh...! Ever the showgirl at heart, huh? Can't say you're an easy one to forget. And I know you've the strength to bring it home, to boot..." A slow roll of his broad neck follows, dull pop somewhere deep inside. "But I'm taking you dead serious this time... I've had two good brawls so far, and my own engine's roaring. Think you can handle me still, when I'm not coming from behind?" He watches the toss of her hat, but just gives an approving smirk before his own cap is adjusted. "If you beat me, you can have this one. I don't usually give them away. Hell, I'll even sign it... but only if you manage."

There's no grandiose stageplay or any schtick from the Lone Wolf as he approaches to extend a fist. No nonsense. Right after the offer is accepted or declined, however, there is the sound of the fighting GONGGGGGGGGGGGGG ringing out.

No hesitation. Stepping forward, he slams down his heel and then seethes with energy, orange energy rippling along his dapping fist. Twisting around, he then aims to drive his fist right into Lyraelle's midsection a heartbeat later, trying to launch her briefly skywards. "...and I sure remember last time. My turn to open the fight, isn't it?"

COMBATSYS: Terry has wandered into a fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle has joined the fight here.

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Terry            0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0         Lyraelle

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle blocks Terry's Power Drive.

[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Terry            0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0         Lyraelle

[LYRAELLE]
Though a scuffle had started to break out in the crowd over the mimicked merchandise, order is restored to the assembly - or at least, the kind of 'order' that presents as harmless chaos and the whooping, hollering, and sound-sticking - without the need for intervention from the venue's security. In the meanwhile, the marching quartet proceeds off of the stage to one side, abandoning their instruments with varying degrees of vehemence (most intense on the part of the minotaur, who doesn't appear particularly happy to be here at all).

"I'm sure I can handle you, Buster. After all, who's to say that coming from behind wasn't just you getting lucky?" the succubus says with a suggestive wink as she extends her own gloved fist to touch knuckles with the Legendary Wolf, her other hand on her hip. Haughty as her persona might otherwise be at such a display of respect, the social media mistress simply can't ignore such a fantastic freeze frame opportunity - even as her eyes shift enviously toward Terry's headwear.

*GONGGGGGGGGGGGGG*

The seething fist slams with a sizzling sound into the succubus' palm, held at bay with a swift show of supernatural strength that doesn't divert the blow, but meets it head-on.

"Fair play! You know, no one's ever beaten me twice!" the shimmering succubus says with a smirk even as she subtly strains against the driving power of Terry's attack. "Let's see if you can get lucky again~"

With a quick push of her heels, the pink-haired hellion launches back from the Lone Wolf's threatening fist, landing lightly as her eyes ignite. Then, a split second later, two rays of green flame emit forth from her emerald irises, threatening to scorch the Hungry Wolf where he stands - and if not, to test the heat tolerance of the safety measures in place for the match!

COMBATSYS: Terry fails to slow Balefire Gaze from Lyraelle with Power Wave.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Terry            0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0         Lyraelle

[TERRY]
"Hah! Hahahah! That so...? Mmm. I like it. Everyone I've met in this tournament's coming at me with their own fangs!!" His fists slam together hard, a crack of energy sparking out to bounce along the ground. "I don't really care if I win or lose, much. As long as I'm going against someone bringing their all... that's my problem with you, Ms. Demon. You seem to care more about appearances then anything... you flashed your fangs at me too late in the game last time. Had you come at me that way from the start, well. That's what I'm here to find out!"

He shifts forward slightly, but Lyraelle's speed is nothing to sneeze at. When green energy begins to ripple out, his orange fist begins to surge, fully capable of launching his own ranged assault to continue pressure. "POWER WA--"

Okay, so lasers are a lot faster then his Reppuken-equivalent. He's struck in the shoulder, slowing down his descended fist. When it collides with the risen stage and sends the hurtling orange fire, there's little chance Lyraelle's anywhere near it to be dangerous. Smoke billows up from the hole in his jacket, little pleased grimace leaving the Hungry Wolf. "Yeah... like that!! C'mon, c'mon! I'm not gonna try to make this a show for you... but you better not have any regrets if you come at me playfully...!!"

[LYRAELLE]
The stage cracks and crackles with the hot energy as it ripples past Lyraelle, steam hissing up from the aquatic tank beneath and leaving a layer of condensation on one of the demonette's leathery wings. It's promptly dispersed with a fierce flick of the paired appendages, though a sheen remains across her right side.

"Oh, don't think that just because playful..." the succubus says in sweet, sultry tones as she presses her fists together, then pulls them apart, forming a burning, malleable arc of infernal energy between them, "...doesn't mean that I don't play to /win!/"

With that warning, she draws her right arm back behind her, twisting at the waist as she lunges forward and sends the freshly-formed lashing arcing backward - then snapping it forward as she shouts out, aiming a wide, sweeping attack with the heat whip at the Hungry Wolf and spraying molten green chi across the ring!

"Hrrgh!"

As the weapon strikes out, blue arcs of lightning crackling forward along the succubus' shoulder and through her arm before threading through the length of the infernal lash!

COMBATSYS: Terry blocks Lyraelle's Imperious Scourge.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Terry            0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0         Lyraelle

[TERRY]
"...I don't disagree with people mixing art and function. I know a lot of warriors who burn with that in their soul. Long as you've the strength to back it up!!" Both of his own broad arms ignite with orange fire, veins pressing out, upper body seeming to expand enough to subtly tear his shirt. He twists, lashing out sidelong with his arm to catch the wrapping coil of burning energy. Lightning ripples through him before with a sharp snap downwards, he attempts to violently disperse it.

The stage subtly creaks as he presses his feet down, kicking forward once more. "Okay... show me what you really got, Demon Queen!!" He spirals upwards, one of his own signature assaults. Trailing orange energy behind, attempting to compensate for any attempt to use those wings to evade. Then descending with a sharp speed, burning fist trying to slam within and impact the stage hard enough to rattle it and send the water sloshing violently beneath, intense dent within the middle.

"POWER... DUUUUNK!!"

COMBATSYS: Terry issues a challenge!!

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Terry            0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0         Lyraelle

COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Lyraelle with Power Dunk ES.
Grazing Hit

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Terry            1/-----==/=======|=======\===----\1         Lyraelle

[LYRAELLE]
"Oh, I can back it up, alright~" the Demon Queen claims; at this point, the wink is implicit enough not to require explicit manifestation. Still, as the broken flaming whip falls in fading cinders to the floor, a faint and involuntary twitch runs through the hell-maiden's gloved right hand where the electricity coursed moments earlier.

Lyraelle's emerald eyes narrow as the Legendary Wolf leaps into the air, the space around filling with deadly orange energy. The demonette crouches, coiling with feline puissance at the Wolf's descent, before dancing with a winged ascent of her own up and to one side. Though the succubus succeeds in avoiding the fiery fist, the secondary blast from the impact clips her left side, causing her to spiral with the force further up into the air. The demon-babe barely manages to unfurl her wings and catch herself before she can plummet back to the ring.

"Nice try!" Lyraelle calls out as the orange flames clinging to her skin smoulder out, leaving dark scorch marks across the sparkling surface of her shoulder and side. Traces of essence in the air seem to drift strangely toward the succubus' spaded tail, and she seems to brighten somehow in spite of the aftermath of the assault. "But if anyone's getting dunked here, it's gonna be you, Wolfie!"

With that declaration, the Demon Queen spins around, presenting her barely-clothed back to the Legendary Wolf in preparation for her own signature assault.

"Let's see how you handle this!" the succubus calls out over her shoulder, before dropping backward with a violent flap of her wings!

It's an attack that's as risky as it is risque, considering the results last time she attempted it against Terry Bogard - the response had been match-deciding, and not necessarily in her favour. But that only heightens the suspense for her fans; perhaps performance is her weakness after all?

Nevertheless, the sheer enthusiasm with which she attempts to slam down into Terry could very well blow the Lone Wolf straight through the sloshing stage and into the tank below! In the aftermath, Lyraelle would attempt to loop her tail around the legendary fighter's leg and keep him trapped - whether beneath her or in the water - while siphoning another taste of the Wolf's essence for herself!

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle issues a challenge!!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Terry            1/-----==/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2         Lyraelle

COMBATSYS: Terry endures Lyraelle's Royal Requisition - Dark Queen's Throne!

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Terry            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>------\1         Lyraelle

[TERRY]
Slow exhales run through Terry as he continues to build up and ripple with energy. Hakkyukuseiken has been pressed past the limits; and each practitioner has taken the techniques to different areas. While Geese has mastered the application of the normally cerulean chi, Terry might be the one closest to Tung Fu Rue's own personal ability to enhance and boost his physical body. Steam seems to seep away from his exposed flesh as he grins towards Lyraelle, encouragingly. "I don't like to do this one... really puts a strain on my body. But hey... I'm not sure it's ever been caught on camera before, either?"

He then rolls his shoulders, before as Lyraelle shoots down towards him, his entire body goes rigid. She slams upon him, but there'd be an immediate sense of sheer stiffness. Probably something she's quite used to, of course... but although Terry is driven skidding a few meters backwards, he does not get driven into the ground. The tail finds him as he reaches back his right arm... and shifts to drive a sharp, orange energy-infused fist right into Lyraelle's ribcage.

It's only the start, of course. Another twisting blow aims to strike her in the stomach, before shifting to slam his knee thereafter. The crescendo of his energy begins to build, each blow faster, sharper, and stronger then the last... Reppuken and Raging Storm are not the only practical techniques Tung Fu Rue taught. This one is the last... the Deadly Rave. And in Terry's hand, the epitome of the chi manipulation's personal enhancement, perhaps the far most dangerous user.

Each attempted blow seems to make his fists glow brighter orange, before he briefly towards backwards. "Here... it... IS!!" Then he whirls, orange fire rippling out to slam his fist right into Lyraelle's midsection... making to grasp his forearm, and then unleash an explosive gout of orange fire. The resonation shakes the very arena, causing the shoddy stage to break, twist, and dip at a nearly forty-degree angle towards the water below... sending Terry skidding briefly before catching himself, suddenly wildly off-balance. "...!!" Well. There might be some wetness before the end of this all, at this rate...

COMBATSYS: Terry successfully hits Lyraelle with #Rising Beat ES#.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Terry            0/-------/---<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2         Lyraelle

[LYRAELLE]
The rigidity with which Terry reacts to her Royal Requisition is, indeed, more than the hell-babe bargained for.

"!"

The Demon Queen makes a bemused little noise as she's caught by the Legendary Wolf's solidifying form, tail lashing out frantically rather than taking its leisurely time in seeking the source of essence as it would from a position of greater dominance.

"I'll put a strain on your body...!" the succubus threatens wantonly as she tries to force the Bogard brother into submission - but failing to assert herself and assume control has left the demonette in a predicament. Though always dangerous, the Demon Queen is exposed and vulnerable - and though she attempts to push back Terry's arm a second time, his fist slips her hand, slamming into her ribcage.

"Hrrgh!"

The demon-girl growls in pain as the opening blow is delivered - and from there, It Gets Worse for the FightTube sensation.

The strike to the stomach lands, and the knee that follows - neither the succubus' speed or strength suffice to save her from the onslaught.

Finally, the ultimate blow is unleashed, bathing the Demon Queen in bright orange energy and blasting her back into the wall as the arena shudders and the stage snaps into pieces.

The crowd holds its collective breath as smoke pours from the succubus-shaped crater in the hippodrome wall...

...Then, after several seconds that seem much longer in their passing, the demoness drops from the imprint with a deluge of pulverized stone and plaster, landing on one of the floe-like remnants of the stage in a crouch.

Despite the fact that she's clearly suffered greatly at the Legendary Wolf's fists, covered as she is in bruises and burns and presently coughing blood onto the fragment that she's landed on, she does manage to preserve her balance with preternatural panache, though a momentary dip of the stage remnant does result in a splash of water coming up onto it - only to rise off with a hiss as the heat from the Demon Queen (both within and without) turns it to steam instantaneously.

"I don't like to do this one, either," the hellish royal says in a low, nearly animal tone between coughs as her eyes start to glow with luminescent green heat. "But what's the point of power if you don't use it?!"

With an almost feral ferocity, the fiendish female flings herself forward, dark wings carrying her across the pool's surface toward Terry, intending to slam into his midsection shoulder-first.

Should she succeed, she'd then aim to carry him up to the heights of the Hippodrome, slipping her hand to his forearm and spinning around before hurling him back down to the tank with enough force to displace a massive amount of water!

Should all go to plan, she'd then raise her open palm toward the ceiling as a massive fireball forms above it like a demonic disco ball, before hurtling it down on the Legendary Wolf!

"Don't stand in my way!!"

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle successfully hits Terry with #Royal Decree - Banishment#.

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Terry            1/------</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0         Lyraelle

[TERRY]
"...hah! No way. Nobody's ever stood up after that before." But there's nothing even slightly like disappointment on Terry's face. There's a hint of wildness, a bigger grin, someone who would prefer the fight to go on. Winning is the end. Losing is the end. In his ideal world, neither would happen. He's called a wolf for many reasons; one of them is the primal lust he has for battle that's driven him on this wanderlust in the years since confronting Geese.

He makes to leap backwards, landing with a grunt on the stage behind that's not begun the irrevocable descent into the waters below. Forearms try to shift and intercept, but she flits beneath and slams in, hefting him upwards. He's heavy! Moreso then he should be... and still burning with hotness himself, all the same. That does leave him rather defenseless through being hurled down... he hits the angled stage in the middle, shattering through it before the great eruption of energy flashes out, spraying much of the crowd with heated water and sending the lights briefly flickering.

This time he's the one gaspingly given long seconds... only for his singled jacket arm to thrust up and grasp the quarter-stage still standing. Hauling himself up slowly, reaching to grasp his scorched jacket and yank it off to leave him in the taut-stretched tatters of his white shirt. His hat, while damp, at least remains mostly intact.

"...good hit... but that looks like it tapped your tank pretty dry." He then crouches himself down, exhaling slowly. Before launching off the ground, causing it to resonate behind. Before he twists, slamming his knuckle down. There's a ripple of orange that flashes out, across the water, before aiming to detonate right beneath Lyraelle. A meters-huge plume of wild chi trying to blow her backwards...! He then twists down, hitting the stage a second time, the dents and cracks spreading more. "TRINITY..." he calls out, as a second would ripple and explode beneath the demoness. And then a final, roaring strike, to finish it with a last, sharper eruption that sends the remaining stage around her falling with another seismic splash into the retrofitted pool!

"GEYSEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!"

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle dodges Terry's Trinity Geyser.

[                   \\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Terry            0/-------/------=|>>-----\-------\0         Lyraelle

[LYRAELLE]
Indeed, the unleashing of the pinnacle of her power seems to have left Lyraelle rather spent - hanging in the air and panting heavily as her chest heaves, her own attire blackened from the exchanges of burning energy. At the same time, though, as she respires the smoking and steaming air, a hint of colour seems to return to her otherwise increasingly ashen features, as though the sheer schadenfreude of the carnage she inflicts were providing succor to the succubus - or perhaps it's some effect of the ambient chi that lingers in the aftermath.

And as she smiles a toothy smile through her inhalations, her breathing seems to take on a different bent: one more animalistic, as though the Demon Queen were finally dropping her pretty, playful public persona. The shift is evident in the aggressively manic reply to Terry's remark:

"I'm pretty special. Thanks for noticing!"

As Terry takes to the air, the tenacious temptress tenses - and as the first burst of chi billows below her, she suddenly darts to one side with a speed scarcely visible to the naked eye, still spattered by the spray of water unleashed along with the detonation. Another blurringly fast flit from the fiendish female allows her to elude the fiery follow-up. Then, with a final burst of speed, she flies forward, out of the explosive arc of the final eruption with only scant inches to spare.

"Calling your attacks... must be great for brand recognition," the demoness deliberates breathlessly as water drips from her form into the pool. She runs the tip of her tongue over her fingertip, seemingly causing it to ignite with green flame as she raises it to start drawing in the air. "Of course, I have my own approach to branding!"

Green flame traces in the space behind her fingertip until a burning heart hangs there, rapidly intensifying. The devil-woman gives a wink and strikes a pose behind the burning heart - before suddenly leaning forward and blowing on it as if trying to put out the candles on a birthday cake.

Rather than extinguishing it, though, the Demon Queen's breath propels the flaming heart forward, threatening to explode should it connect with its intended target in Terry - or whatever else should interrupt its flight!

COMBATSYS: Terry blocks Lyraelle's Royal Salutation - <3.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Terry            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0         Lyraelle

[TERRY]
"Heh... pride in my brand name...? You should be the one most approving of that...!" Terry points out as he shifts. His body is clearly near it's limits, but the raw, burning energy within him is another matter entirely. He seems to almost be buzzing with aura, despite the fierce strikes thus far, and her own draining assault. Lyraelle is well aware that this particular mortal is not quite so easy to snuff out of the fight compared to some.

Yet she gives him plenty of time for him to reinforce his limbs, new orange fire igniting once more. "...but at least I don't go so much on the foreplay like you." Crossed forearms intercept the green flame, sending him skidding backwards. He teeters, but then catches himself once more with a stomped foot, even if his sizzling forearms steam away. "You gave me all the time in the world to block that... oof. Bit of a punch, though. Maybe I'm underestimating your bait...?"

Crouching briefly, he then launches himself skywards. Unlike some fighters, Terry is quite comfortabe in the empyrean arena; many of his signature attacks take advantage of others being unfamiliar with defending from attacks directly above. He aims to reach her as the boosting energy ripples away, letting out a little growl of effort. Offensively, at least, he's not decreased in the slightest... trying to drive his burning fist into Lyraelle's face! Ignore the fact there's nothing beneath him now but the pool filled with broken bits of the stage.

"BURN KNUCKLE!!" One of his few assaults that doesn't have 'Power' in it. It's how you know he's taking this seriously!

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle parries Terry's Burn Knuckle!

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Terry            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0         Lyraelle

[LYRAELLE]
The pink-haired hellion places one hand on a shapely hip as Terry recovers from her heart-shaped salvo. "Oh, I wasn't chastising - just debating whether I should start doing it!" the demonic influencer says with a smirk, seemingly sustained by some infernal invigoration.

When Terry launches himself at her, Lyraelle twists to one side at the last second, the burning fist blazing past her face as she rapidly repositions.

"It's not the foreplay you should worry about-"

As the succubus' sultry tones reach Terry's ear, she slips in to try and snake her arms and legs sensuously around the Legendary Wolf while he's still elevated and quickly lock him into her grasp.

"- it's the follow-through~"

Should she succeed in her bid to capture her prey, she'd then endeavour to flip them both upside down, then spiral back down toward the destroyed stage and tank beneath it! If the maneuver were to succeed, the force of the spiral would be such that a vortex would open as the pair passed, displacing the water with the wind generated and making way for Lyraelle and the Legendary Wolf to come crashing into the solid bottom of the tank with a fiery conflagration of burning green essence!

COMBATSYS: Terry interrupts Demondriver EX from Lyraelle with Rising Tackle.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  //                            ]
Terry            1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1         Lyraelle

COMBATSYS: Terry has reached second wind!

[                     \\\\\\\\\  < >  //                            ]
Terry            1/------=/=======|=======\=====--\1         Lyraelle

[TERRY]
There's very few options that Terry can do here. He's in the midst of a free-fall in the aftermath of missing his desperation fight-ending punch, and her coil of arms and legs about him is easily accomplished. Still, she'd feel the steel tension of a man who has yet to give up. He's trying to prepare something, clearly... there's no chance of victory for him here, unless he risks it all.

Which is why Lyraelle might be surprised when the sudden descent is arrested in the vortex of temporarily displaced water. Palms slam down, heavily denting the bottom of the pool. He curls up as the green fire violently whorls around him. Before he snarls, unleashing a sudden, spiraling kick to drive both of his heels into Lyraelle's chest, driving her straight upwards as the sloshing water comes down to crash upon them.

"RISING TACKLGLGBGLBGLB!" For a few brief moments he is disoriented, almost passing out, before his internal chi surges in his veins like some kind of /second wind./ Reserves push him utterly past the limit, and with a great rush of sputtering and water, he hauls himself up and onto the broken stage adjacent. Dripping and panting, as he glances back to see if the demoness herself will also rise from the depths yet again...!!

[LYRAELLE]
As the Legendary Wolf's feet slam into her chest, the wind is driven right out of Lyraelle - an unfortunately timed occurance, given the way that the water from the tank comes crashing down on the fighters a moment later. The succubus is submerged, her involuntary ascent arrested by the weight of hundreds of gallons of liquid, a cry of pain cut short.

As Terry emerges from the water and onto the broken stage, the Demon Queen is nowhere to be seen - at least, from his vantage. A fighter's senses might yet detect, however, the stirring of the barely-conscious battler beneath the roiling water, green eyes straining to remain open in the tank as her waning breath is desperately held. The eyes lift toward the dark shape of the broken bit of stage directly above.

Ripples cross the top of the water in warning moments before the soaked succubus smashes through the stage segment horns-first with a final cry of anger, aiming to slam into Terry in the process and knock him off and into the tank with her.

What would come next, should she manage to do so, would likely need to be spun for the media - rather than a blatant attempt to strangle a famous fighter with the prehensile appendage perched above her backside, it would be claimed that Lyraelle was, in fact, trying to help rescue the Lone Wolf from drowning in the tank. She was, after all, losing consciousness herself at the time, and certainly not trying to viciously throttle Terry Bogard, nor to steal his essence in an effort to save her own chances of victory...

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle can no longer fight.

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

COMBATSYS: Lyraelle successfully hits Terry with Royal Prerogative - Covetous Clutch.

[                                <
Terry            1/-----==/=======|

COMBATSYS: Terry takes no action.


COMBATSYS: Terry can no longer fight.


[TERRY]
Pant... pant... Terry has far greater senses for chi then most individuals, but he's still lethargic, wet, and only running on the borrowed time of his own energy manipulation. Like some kind of vicious shark attack, he's taken from behind, headbutt launching him back into the horrors of the pool; before the writhing pair drop beneath the water, as the last bit of makeshift stage finishes breaking and collapsing within.

...and then a few moments later, Terry's hat slowly floats up to the surface, amidst the gradually vanishing bubbles... of course, medics and techs are on hand. Once things are clearly in dire straights, a few people dive in to try and rescue, well, most likely both of them. In the end, the judges begin to deliberate wildly, going over the final footage... Which shows Terry, barely escaping the water, only to be tackled back in by Lyraelle. Is she even conscious herself...?

As the Lone Wolf is dragged free of the water to be attended to, the controversial decision is finally announced. After all, nobody exactly SAW what happened down below... that Terry managed an unseen Rising Tackle that might have clinched the fight is ultimately an unseen endeavor given the end result...

"AND THE WINNER... ISSSSSSSSSSSS... THE DEMON QUEEEEEEN, LYRAELLE!!"

Oh, no. The crowd might turn on each other at this rate...

[LYRAELLE]
The Demon Queen must also be fished free from the tank, the succubus' wellspring of infernal energy apparently run dry. The waterlogged demonette has a multitude of 'minions' on standby, eager to offer assistance in her resuscitation - though, thankfully, this is left to the medical team on hand.

It's not entirely clear whether it's the efforts of the staff or the sound of her fame rising that causes the demonette's eyes to flutter open with a sputtering cough, but she awakens to the sound of the crowd roaring - the fanatical zeal of her followers on full display as the chatrooms online erupt.

Her Infernal Majesty is still out of it as she's swept up by the throng of her fans and ushered toward a waiting interviewer intent on knowing her thoughts on the controversial decision to grant her the Neo-League title - to which her immediate reply, in front of the millions of fans watching at home, is to gag, retch, and finally spew a couple of liters of tank water onto the interviewer's trousers.

An auspicious victory, indeed...

Log created on 18:42:56 09/09/2021 by Terry, and last modified on 22:36:39 09/11/2021.