Match of the Millennium

Description: SNF gives the fans what they want: Ryu VERSUS Ken. #SweepsWeek

[KEN MASTERS]
"Welcome, everybody, to the FINALS of the All-SNF Over-18 Karate Tournament!"

The announcer is way too hype about this karate tournament but maybe it has something to do with the fact that the crowd that has filled the arena is just as (if not more-so) HYPE. There's just something about karate being on the big stage like this that makes it all the more epic or whatever.

"Introducing first, a former U.S. Martial Arts Champion, representing Cobra Ken Karate... KENNY MASTERS!"

And out comes Ken Masters, decked out in his stylishly worn red gi and his long blond hair all tied up behind his head. He comes out with his sparring gloved fists and shadow boxing as he makes his way to the mat.

He even takes a moment to bask and soak in the applause and cheers form what can only be his adoring fans. Because of course he does. He's Ken.

[RYU]
And from the other side of the arena, comes the fighter representing the other side of the spectrum from Ken. The bombastic announcement is not followed with the same kind of fanfare that Ken himself brings to the stage however, no.

For Ryu does not expend energy to showboating. When the black-haired, muscular japanese man in a white gi with torn off sleeves and a red bandanna tied around his forehead walks in front of the crowds, there is no raised arms or glorious cries to wind up the audience. No, for Ryu, what he brings is his presence alone. An overwhelming sense of the strength within in this man, without any need to announce it further. The martial artist bears a serious expression on his face when his foot slams down upon the stage proper, to set him standing on the opposite end of Ken Masters. But although it might be easy to mistake it for such, that face with it's resting frown doesn't actually hold any disdain in it.

Not for this man, at least, even if he might have some occasional opinions on... some aspects of his personality.

"It has been a while, Ken," the man declares, with a respectful nod of his head, with his bare arms still crossed over his chest for a moment. "The circumstances are... a little strange, but I am sure this will be a good fight."

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken takes the moment to brush a stray lock of his hair from his face and shows off those pearly whites with a huge grin that might as well be attached to his face whenever he's around Ryu. Maybe it has something to do with being The Fun One as the opposite of Ryu's Serious Oneness. It's all a matter of perspective or something close to it. Those that know these two know of their differences... and why those differences make them so amazing together.

This time, however, it seems that they are going to be on opposite ends of the stage. As it should be.

"Tell me about it." Ken keeps his guard down as he wanders across the offer some quick chatting with his bestie. "Mel's grown like an entire foot since the last time you came by the mansion." Ken grins more and extends a fist for their signature bumpage. "After this? Tacos on me?"

Ken's all about making some post-fight plans with his buddy. Especially, before he decides he must wander off to find the next battle...

[RYU]
Tacos...?

Ryu looks momentarily unsure of how to respond to this. 'Tacos' are not exactly his usual fare of food. But if Ken is offering...

"I accept," he declares thus, with another nod. "I would like to see for myself how much Mel has grown as well. But..." His head turns to throw a brief glance to the audience, before his thickly-muscled arms finally unfold, and he stomps one foot forward to set himself into the standard karate-like Ansatsuken stance, with one fist held out forward like it was pointing at his opponent. "Our match is awaited! Whenever you are ready, Ken! Show me the strength of your fist!"

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Ken Masters      0/-------/-------|

[KEN MASTERS]
"Tacos at the mansion. Sounds like a plan. I'll text Eliza." Ken grins and hops backwards to get into the same fighting stance as Ryu except Ken's is just a little more on the playful side. He's got to set himself apart somehow.

"After I kick your ass."

Oh the Ken Masters banter kicks in as the SNF Announcer is back on the microphone, "IT'S KARATE TIME!"

That announcement might as well be a bell ringing or something because it allows the match to begin on an official scale. Well, as official as something like SNF can be. Which is to say, not very. Maybe Ken should buy it and call it: KNF...

COMBATSYS: Ryu has wandered into the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Ken Masters      0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Even Ryu can't help but smirk faintly at Ken's taunting. "Your mouth is as busy as ever, I see," he observes, right before his attention briefly drifts upwards at the... announcement.

"What a strange announcer... Uh. In any case!!!"

Ryu promptly stomps forward, to set into a dash towards Ken! "Show me your fist is as good as your words!!"

[KEN MASTERS]
"I thought you'd never ask!"

Ken wastes no time at all before he breaks off into a quick sprint in Ryu's direction. He stops just short and extends a leg towards Ryu's chest, just aiming to kick things off (ha!) with a little something light. Nothing major, nothing flashy, but a little something to test the waters and see where Ryu's head's at.

COMBATSYS: Ryu just-defends Ken Masters' Light Kick!

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Ken Masters      0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Ken is just fast enough to get on the uptake when the two dashing karatekas meet. Ryu's serious face twists into a somehow-even-more-serious expression when that kick comes swinging in, eyes narrowing in tight focus. "Hah--!"

A foot stomps down to the ground and a forearm sweeps up into the offending kick from Ken, to swipe it aside harmlessly! "You should know better than to play with me, Ken!" He calls to the other man, before taking a single step back, and thrusting both his hands forward, palm open and fingers lightly curled as bright blue energy gathers--

"HADOUKEN!"

The crowd cheers as that signature fireball of chi blasts forth from those hands, sending the dangerous mass crossing through the air and advancing upon Ken!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters blocks Ryu's Hadouken.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
"Just keepin' you on your toes, bro!"

Ken's maybe playing around a little too much. He likes when there's a crowd and that's why he often does a little extra when he's in a fight. Especially when he's in a fight with Ryu. This is the fight that people have come to see and there's no way he's not going to build some sort of storied narrative with all this. It'll just get him even more fans.

Ken knows Ryu's Hadoukens all too well and immediately brings his guard up to take the brunt of the chi-fireball. He doesn't budge but some of his gi's sleeves singe from the energy flames.

Not even a moment after that chi energy starts to dissipate, Ken's in the air and spinning towards Ryu with another one of their signature moves... the Hurricane Kick!

R"TATSUMAKI SENPUU KYAKU!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu instinctively dodges Ken Masters' Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku EX.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/-------|>>-----\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Ryu at least does not seem the least bit disappointed with Ken's successful defense against the trademark ball of energy. Although he does narrow his eyes once more over at the blonde american as he leaps for him!

With a breath taken in, Ryu's form suddenly drops down low into a crouch -- ducking his head just quick enough below Ken's spinning leg while he's still in the air with the hurricane kick!

There's no returned coutnenance to the taunt this time around, no. Just an acknowledging grunt, and the white gi'd martial artist leaps up for himself as Ken is landing back down on the ground--

"TATSUMAKI SENPUU KYAKU!!" He yells out, as his form spins into the rapid whirlwind of repeated spinning aerial kicks!

It's a mirrored exchange of the legendary martial arts techniques! Or maybe an attempt at one-upmanship, perhaps? It was probably only inevitable, considering the shared styles of the two men, that the same moves would end up getting thrown back and forth to an extent.

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters blocks Ryu's Tatsumaki Senpuu Kyaku.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/-----==|>>>----\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
"Copycat!"

That would be the taunting that comes from Ken's lips this time around. He knows Ryu almost as good as he knows himself and he knows their abilities with the Hurricane Kick are damn near identical. However, Ryu's choice to launch into it just as Ken's landing means that he can't get the proper footing to get himself out of the way. So, instead, he just brings his guard back up and grins.

"I always knew you wanted to be like me, Ryu!"

More playful banter from Mr. Masters as he spins on his heels and around Ryu's body, bringing his foot high overhead to slam the heel down at his buddy's head like some sort of natural guillotine. Definitely hoping to catch his forever sparring partner off guard...

COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Ken Masters' Inazuma Kakato Wari.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/----===|>>>>---\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
"Which one of us is the senpai in Ansatsuken again?" Asks Ryu, as the only real response to this particular brand of Ken's taunting. In truth, both of them probably learned that particular technique more or less at the exact same time.

But that's not really the important part here, right?

Ryu lands, and much like Ken, he is not left with much time in the wake of him needing to reach the ground again after the aerial spinning kick to actually maneuver himself to get out of the way. So the guillotine kick from Ken is, thus, met straight on with Ryu turning after his sparring partner to keep himself facing him -- and allow him to raise his arms up, crossed at the forearms, to catch the the descending leg by the shin, grunting with the effort of needing to brace against the brunt of the force that came with it.

"You keep up well," Ryu allows past grit teeth before shoving forward with his arms to send Ken back, taking a step back for himself to grow the distance between the two some. Enough distance for him to reset his own stance, back to the karateka-like posture of slightly side-facing-facing-forward, one fist pointed ahead.

And Ryu's eyes narrow once more, in tight focus. He doesn't make the approach to Ken-- he's taking the moment to study how *he* moves, instead.

COMBATSYS: Ryu focuses on his next action.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/----===|>>>>---\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
Of course, this is the part where Ryu tries to slow the fight down and take the momentum back on his side. Not that Ken ever really managed to wrench said momentum from his grasp but it's one of those things that Ken remembers far too well. It's all about pacing and one of the many differences between Ken and Ryu is that Ken is almost always at a ten. It's just how he fights. He goes all out and he burns hot.

Feet skidding to a halt as Ken spins backward to put himself back into his playful fighting stance, he flashes a grin as he sees that Ryu focusing up. That grin turns into a bit of a smirk as he draws his hands back to his side. Ryu knows what's coming. The crowd knows what's coming. Ken might as well not even keep anybody waiting.

"HADOUKEN!"

Ken thrusts those hands out and lets the fireball of chi sail across the stage in Ryu's direction.

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters successfully hits Ryu with Hadouken.
- Power hit! -

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/--=====|>>>>>>-\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Ryu indeed knows what's coming. He halfway expected it. He lets his breath still with it, too, as he focuses on his opponent. The fireball comes, and Ryu's foot sweeps forward to turn his stance over, and his bare arms come up to shield himself.

But his timing is off. He is so familiar with that technique-- maybe that left him feeling all too cocky over the prospect of facing it. And it slips just past his bracing arm, and strikes the martial artist square on the portion of his chest left exposed by the white gi.

"Hrrrnhh--!"

His heels dig in to keep him standing upright even in the wake of it, though his feet find themselves skidding along the stagefloor.

"...Very good," he offers once he's let out his held-back breath. But the compliment does not keep him from jumping into motion right after, even while tendrils of smoke still drift up from his chest where the fireball struck!

Quickly dashing up to Ken, Ryu gets up dangerously close-- swinging a fierce hook for the american's side, comboing into a swift followup of a straight aimed square for his face!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters parries Ryu's Joudan Nirengeki!

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/=======|>>>>>>-\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken's all grin at the moment, maybe because he's managed to get the upper hand on Ryu with his own mastered move. Ken's focus went into the world of the Shoryuken while he remembers Ryu locking in on the Hadouken. Ken's always extra pumped whenever he can sprinkle a little Ken Style into the Hadouken and actually land it.

Especially on Ryu.

Ken tosses a strand of hair from his face and even goes so far as to brush off his shoulder in response to his friend. "Ain't I, though?" Yes. He is 'very good'.

Ken's banter almost allows Ryu's next move to catch him off guard. He narrows his eyes when Ryu dashes in too close and immediately his hands move to shove that hook away from his body with one hand while the other slaps Ryu's other fist to the side so it just misses his face.

"Remember this?"

Ken's taunting question is muttered in Ryu's ear since they are so close to each other. And then Ken's gone?!

Well, he's ducking anyway, so that he can lean into the first of a trifecta of Shoryukens aimed to juggle Ryu and send him flying! Y'know, if he can get his timing to cooperate.

"SHOURYUU REPPA!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu fails to counter Shouryuu Reppa EX from Ken Masters with Tesshin EX.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1              Ryu

[RYU]
"Hrm?!"

Ryu seems genuinely surprised at the speed that Ken suddenly exhibits in deflecting both of his strikes. The punches were meant to keep up the pressure on the man, but now he is able to flow past them so easily that the balance of the offense slides squarely back into the blond karateka's favor.

Ryu tries to recover from the fumble. But with how close Ken has gotten, he doesn't quite manage to sweep his arm between the two of them quick enough to both clear space and shove the spinning uppercut away.

"Gghhhahh--!"

The trio of back-to-back flaming shoryukens send Ryu promptly flying up, only allowed to come back towards the ground after the third has landed into him. And he arcs through the air, falling down onto his back several paces over, where it takes him a few seconds before he manages to roll himself over and rising up with a push of his knees and one hand, the other hand going to wipe over his face with a mutter of "Kuso..."

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken had to be airborne as well, though his descent back to the stagefloor is something so much more stylish and calm. His feet touch the stage and he takes this opportunity to just grin ever so widely and even raises his fist up to blow out the lingering flame that's on his knuckles. He really shouldn't be showboating like this but he is Ken Masters. He wouldn't be him if he didn't!

"Is it gettin' hot in here?"

Another smirking taunt comes from Ken's lips as he reforms himself into his fighting stance. He keeps his attention on Ryu as he prepares for his friendliest rival to kick it up a notch or two. He can feel it coming.

In the air.

Tonight.

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters beckons! Bring it on!

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/------=|=======\-------\1              Ryu

[RYU]
Ryu's eyes narrow promptly again while he's standing up the rest of the way. He doesn't even bother trying to say anything in answer to Ken's taunt now. He just watches him for a moment, sees him adjusting his stance in preparation for his own inevitable counter-attack.

And Ryu takes in a deep breath.

"Very well."

He stomps one foot down, *hard*, to set himself back into his typical stance all over again, as his hands draw back, energy crackling--

And the blue chi turns violet, instead, as it glows brighter and brighter.

"METSUU--!!"

And his arms thrust out forward, the energy materializing into a massive, blazing ball of violet that comes charging across the arena towards Ken, tendrils of the energy licking across the ground as it advances.

"--HADOOOOOUKEN!!"

COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Ken Masters with Metsu Hadouken EX.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Ken Masters      1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
"Well. Crap."

That is the statement that comes from Ken's mouth when he realizes what's about to go down. He knew Ryu was going to kick it up a notch after he did but he didn't know it was going to be THIS notch! Which is why he's not even looking like he's going to try and dodge this. Nope. This is not the one you dodge. You try and tank it and pray that you get up afterward.

Ken braces for chi-impact as much as he possibly can but there's no way that his arm is going to be able to do anything against the Metsu Hadouken. It's just not in the cards. The violet energy blasts right through his meager defenses, blasting his arms apart and striking him dead in the chest in a concussive burning fashion that sends him sailing backward and colliding with the stage floor. There's a grunt as Ken lifts his head up and plants his fist onto the stage. As he pushes up to his feet, there's both blood dripping and smoke swirling from his now mostly exposed chest. His gi has also been both torn and burned into various shreds.

"I deserved that."

Ken raises a sparring glove to wipe the back of his hand at his lip (which is also bleeding) and pulls another smirk out of his endless selection of them.

"Okay, buddy, I see you. You wanna' play?!" Ken points a teasing finger in Ryu's direction. "Let's play!"

There's like a rush of speed as Ken closes the distance between himself and Ryu. It's flashy the way he slides in close and feints a punch to see if he can't get Ryu to bite. Hands go out to try and grab Ryu's arm as Ken's body twists so that he can, HOPEFULLY, flip Ryu over his shoulder!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters issues a challenge!!

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Ken Masters      1/-----==/=======|-------\-------\0              Ryu

COMBATSYS: Ryu endures Ken Masters' Seoi Nage.

[             \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Ken Masters      1/---====/=======|=------\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Ryu does at least appear to bite, once Ken comes charging in again. He dodges to the side to avoid the punch, only to be caught by his compatriot after the feint!

But he leans in. He doesn't try to push Ken's arms away. He goes flipping over Ken-- but suddenly, he's grabbing onto Ken's own gi while he's falling over on the opposing side of him, gripping tight to aim to tug him right down alongside him, with the explicit intent of smacking him down to the cold, cruel hard hround shoulders-first at the same instant he, himself, hits the floor!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters endures Ryu's Fast Throw!

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Ken Masters      1/=======/=======|===----\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken can feel the grab on his gi and he does pretty much the same thing that Ryu just did. He just goes with it, making sure that when he ends up slamming against the floor, he might as well just take it. He doesn't brace or flinch, instead just tanking Ryu's actions and rolling with the throwches. Get it? Throwches not Punches?

Anyway, when Ken's back hits the floor, he keeps on going, rolling away from Ryu to get himself some room and pushes himself up onto his knee with a fist. He just kind of needs a moment.

"That was new." Ken sounds impressed because he likes seeing his karate brother learn new tricks. "I like it."

This is the part where Ken takes a moment to chat up his bro. And also catch his breath.

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters bumps his fists together! Get serious!

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Ken Masters      1/-======/=======|===----\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
The tangling and turning after Ken's initial throw and Ryu's follow-up grab might be a complete and utter mess for the onlookers-- but what comes after is a nearly perfectly synchronized movement. The two fighters push themselves into a roll at the exact same time, guided to opposing directions.

And indeed, both gi-clad warriors prop themselves up to a knee with their fist at the exact same time, as well, set into mirror images of their respective postures a few meters away from each other.

"...You have grown faster, too," Ryu gives in answer while his breathing steadies. A moment passes, before he's pushing himself standing up further. A moment passed, both of them given the chance to steady themselves again. To recover themselves back to renewed vigor to return to the match with.

COMBATSYS: Ryu gains composure.

[            \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Ken Masters      1/-======/=======|==-----\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
For as much as these two karate brothers are in synch and mirror images of each other, there might be a smidge of pain still coursing through the veins of Ken Masters. He's as focused as he can be at the moment but he's also still trying to keep up with Ryu. It's all about not getting totally wrecked at this point and that could be why he's chosen to reset as much as possible.

Ken smirks when he sees that Ryu is doing the same thing. If these two aren't the most dangerous peas in the pod, who is?

"Just tryin' be like you, bro."

Ken's banter is complimentary at this moment before he's rushing for Ryu and reaching out to snatch him by the gi for a quick hip toss . It's quite an easy read this move and it probably looks like he's setting up for something else. As he always is.

COMBATSYS: Ryu endures Ken Masters' Quick Throw.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Ken Masters      1/=======/=======|====---\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Ryu is, frankly... not entirely sure what to think of that. It takes a few seconds of him just staring back at Ken before he says, "...You have your own path to follow, too."

The distracting thought is enough to clear the room for Ken to charge right in. Ryu's hands sweep up just as Ken's hands grab onto his gi! He's not rolled over a shoulder this time around, but hip toss is enough to send him bowling over -- but the yank to Ken's gi is meant not to pull him along this time, and rather to disturb his balance while Ryu's going down!

HE lands on the ground hip-first, with a light, deliberate bounce that lets him roll up quickly to one knee. A rising motion that guides his arm to swinging in for Ken already.

"Hhhaaa--!!"

A swinging, wide hook aimed at the american's side. Quickly pulling back again if the impact sets in -- only to immediately slam in, even harder, a split second within the initial retreat, to dig his knuckles even harder in to his opponent-- his sparring partner. His friend.

They'll laugh about each other's bruises later, to be sure.

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters parries Ryu's Hatobi Kudaki!

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Ken Masters      2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|===----\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken must be feeling himself. With the way he's bouncing on his heels. He just keeps his fists ready for action as he keeps his eyes locked on Ryu. He knows better than to let his guard down around his friend. He knows Ryu will exploit any opportunity he gives him. So he's trying his hardest to make sure he doesn't give him any openings.

Then here comes Ryu with that dangerous fist of his. That hook comes right for Ken's side and it's coming too strong and too fast for Ken to actually dodge. He does step to the side a bit though to give his hand an opportunity to reach out and shove that hooking fist aside. His other hand is already moving, almost as if he saw this coming and reaches out to help with the grabbing of Ryu!

"A-KNEE-Y more questions?"

Ken's pun damage might be worse than the fact that he's aiming a triple-series of knees into Ryu before stepping back to send him off with a swift snap kick!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters successfully hits Ryu with Tsukami Nage EX.

[          \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Ken Masters      2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
Ryu's eyes, usually kept narrowed in sheer, unrelenting focus, actually widen now with surprise from the way his fist is sent rebounding to the side-- and a big ol' massive opening is created there.

"Shimatta--!"

Pulled in, Ryu's gut is assaulted violently by Ken's knee once, twice, three times over, before he's finally shoved away with a wild groan of pain, sending him into the air for half a second before he bounces off the floor from his back, just barely managing to roll himself over after to one knee, with one arm clutching at his stomach after that.

"Your wordplay is terrible, Ken..." He grumbles, before his arm leaves those abused abdominal muscles, and--

"Denjin!"

A familiar stamp of the foot, and the same momentum that carries Ryu standing straight up brings his hands shoving forward, electricity-like energy arcing along his arms and flashing out!

"HADOOOOOUKEN!"

A ball of chi bursts out once more-- blue in color rather than violet, like before, but the trail of it is less akin to flames of a proper fireball, and more rapid, widely-spread tendrils of electricity. A thunderball, if you will.

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters just-defends Ryu's Denjin Hadouken!

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////                 ]
Ken Masters      2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|-------\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken Masters slips right into the dreaded slow motion when he hears those words come from the mouth of Ryu. He knows those words super well and he doesn't like what comes after them. The 'Denjin' is enough to Ken backing up a couple of steps, trying to find some way to plant his feet so that he doesn't get blasted into last week.

As that THUNDERBALL of Denjin Hadouken Justice comes blasting forth from Ryu's hands, Ken's eyes go pretty damn wide and he braces for impact. He's not going to just let it blast him into a million pieces even though it looks like it. No, it takes Ken until the last second to throw his arms up in front of him with an explosion of his own flaming chi energy coursing through his arms.

The Thunderball crackles against the flames as they shield Ken from the blast.

Somewhere in the middle of this epic chi-splosion, Ken pushes up and over the remaining Thunderballness, pulling the energy from his arms to his legs, as he cuts through the air to see if he can't catch Ryu with one of his infamous flaming kicks!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters successfully hits Ryu with Senpuu Nata Otoshi EX.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////                     ]
Ken Masters      2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0              Ryu

[RYU]
"Nani?!"

To say Ryu is surprised is an understatement. He knows better than to underestimate Ken after all the years they've spent sparring together, but even he finds this unexpected. While he doesn't find it entirely unbelievable for Ken to be able to avoid taking the full brunt of this form of Hadouken, he didn't expect him to completely no-sell it like that--

And for that matter, leap right through the scattering of the ball of chi, unharmed, to strike into him with a chi-infused flying kick.

It catches him right in the chin. In those few nanoseconds between the initial contact and him getting sent flying, Ryu wonders: Did he let himself get cocky afterall? Did he perhaps subconsciously assume that Ken had spent all this time they had been apart just being a family man and not practicing his art?

Whatever the case is, he's going to have to train even harder to make up for his momentary hubris, wether or not there actually was any hubris.

Anyway, we will be leaving the philosophizing now and returning to your regularly scheduled violence.

"Gyaaahhggh--!!"

The white-gi'd karateka is knocked back by the hit to his chin hard enough to send him flipping around along his horizontal axis before hitting the ground chest-first.

Brain rattled, ribs hurting, blood dripping from nostrils-- Ryu still manages to force himself up, years of practice and experience both letting him to not get bogged down by the pain... for the time being anyway.

"V-...very good, Ken," he offers, in brief praise. "But I am not done yet...!"

Palms pushing his upper body upwards from the floor, he's not even fully up to his feet before he's launching himself into a rushing dash towards Ken, making the rest of his rise on the way there. Springing up high enough to bring his arm swinging over from behind himself to high above, and down for Ken's head from overhead. Sweeping for a jab effectively with his forearm itself, right before his arm straightens out from that fold for a one-inch punch to his chest!

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters interrupts Sakotsu Wari from Ryu with Shinryuu Ken+.
+ Epic Hit! +

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /                             ]
Ken Masters      0/-------/-<<<<<<|=======\-------\0              Ryu

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken offers a shrug of his shoulders in the middle of calming down from his flaming kick. He even backpedals to both give Ryu some room (this is just a SNF spar, after all) and to also give himself some room to work if he's going to have to play defense.

One never knows what trick Ryu is going to pull out of his sleeve. Never knows.

"Gimmie everything you got, buddy. I can take it."

Ken's response to Ryu is one that seems to be quite happy. Not exactly with the turn of events but more about the way that they are having such a great time. It's all about the way that they make each other better. There really is nothing quite like Ken Masters v Ryu.

Ryu's rushing dash towards him is all the opening that Ken needs. Which is why he steps towards the rushing Ryu and drops himself down into a kneeling position, just as Ryu starts swinging his arm.

Ken smirks and ignites his fist as he times it quite perfectly, a half-second before Ryu's fist connects with him! Ken lifts himself into the air, flaming fist twisting and twirling with his spiraling body, smacking and juggling Ryu into the air while he shouts his signature phrase for this here stylish move.

"SHINRYUUKEN!"

[RYU]
Well, best laid plans and all that. Ryu genuinely thought he was fast enough to not allow for a counter-attack this time around. He was wrong.

Ryu's arm doesn't even have the time to rebound back before he's in the air, juggled amidst the flames by the spinning, flaming uppercut.

"Gaaaahh-- gaaahhh... gaaa--"

Body limp now, Ryu arcs helplessly across the air, and then slumps down onto the ground like a ragdoll, arms spread out.

He stays there, momentarily blacked out, just the rising and falling of his broad chest the only hint left to his breathing still persisting.

"...Guuuhhh."

He manages to force himself into consciousness, and push himself upwards, slowly, with the propping of one elbow pressing down to the ground.

"...Well done, Ken," he hisses with persisting pain, wincing with one eye closed. "It's... your victory, today."

COMBATSYS: Ryu takes no action.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Ken Masters      0/-------/-<<<<<<|

COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Ken Masters      0/-------/-<<<<<<|

[KEN MASTERS]
Ken Masters takes a second to brush off his shoulder. Again. It's all about style and the SNFans right about now. He doesn't even realize he's put Ryu all the way down. His back was turned to make himself look like he's the man or something. Showboating is just part of his soul. He can't help it.

Ken finally whirls around to see that Ryu is getting back to his feet and then moves off in his direction. "Hell of a fight, man. As always." Ken extends a hand to make sure Ryu gets to his feet. He immediately offers a bow of respect in that next moment before throwing his arm around his buddy's shoulder.

"It's taco time, baby! Let's go. I brought the Ferrari today. I know how much you love that car."

Translation: I know how much you hate how fast I drive in that car.

The Adventure Continues...

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters thumbs up! Yeah!

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Ken Masters      0/-------/-======|

COMBATSYS: Ken Masters has ended the fight here.

Log created on 12:16:38 10/01/2021 by Ken Masters, and last modified on 09:28:45 10/04/2021.