Match of the Millennium

Description: Out by a Clown Motel in Nevada designed to hook tourists in spite of its humble accommodations lies a graveyard recently disturbed by verdant fire and elusive prowess. With so few memorials to go around, disturbing even one is a terrible slight-- one which King Leo of Illyria must contend with, should the aggrieved dead see fit to interrupt his bout with-- -- SOMEONE who the Revenant Queen has seen fit to dispatch in place of Maki Genryuusai.

[NICO]
Ridiculous. And yet so wonderfully opportune.

Most people would be upset to find their fight staged within a graveyard. It's disrespectful, for one -- graveyards are a place of rest. Engaging in brawls six feet above the heads of corpses for the sake of some fleeting fancy of 'ambience' is the height of gaudiness.

At least, that's what it looks like the fashionable teenager with bright teal-colored hair -might- say, if she were the type to say anything at all. Which she's not, because -- from the look of things -- she's currently messing about on her cellphone as she takes a slow, meandering path through the fanciful graveyards outside of some weird Clown Motel tourist trap.

There's more to the cellphone than meets the eye though. Anyone with access to her screen would notice a peculiar set of energy spikes on a steadily scrolling field. Each time she approaches a grave marker, one spike gets larger, only for it to fade when she steps past. A curious set of readings...

It's at least an hour past dusk here in the balmy Nevada summer. And yet, she's still fairly easy to spot: her white blouse and a curious set of shiny metal bracers and shinguards stand out in the dim lighting of the graveyard. But really... just how long has she -been- here?

Occasionally, she looks up from her device, eyeglasses glinting in the light of a waning crescent moon. Watching. Waiting. And then going back to observe the results, like a good little scientist should.

[LEO WHITEFANG]
Leo Whitefang, Second King of Illyria, is known for making an entrance. A cadre of the finest knights of the Sacred Order usually accompany him. Resolute affirmations of his capabilities, dignigity and abilites are stated with pride and unshakable determination. A message for all who would stand in the way of The King and his justice. It's all rather theatrical but really...is anything less then that worthy of the king's pride?

Buuuut..that seems a little inappropriate here. Instead, Leo Whitefang arrives with little fanfare at all, having been dropped off near that garish tourist trap and is now busy making his way curiously through the graveyard as a deep frown settles onto his features. A rotating runic sigil, Illyrian tech, indicates his connection to those back home and he speaks with minor annoyance and a touch of vitriol to his tone.

"I am aware of the potential repercussions of my previous loss. You need not remind me." he voices with ire, "What I don't understand is the reasoning behind these locations but perhaps themes of death and decay are at work. There's similar magic laid over here as it was back in the desert but..to what end? I believe learning more about this tournament sponsor is necessary so I am continuing onward.."

He then pauses. Nico's presence cannot be missed after all. The only other life in this place. "I see her. Standby..."

[NICO]
The bespectacled teenager looks up from her phone at Leo. As she makes eye contact with the Illyrian King, her neutral expression does not change in the slightest. She recognizes him -- of course she does. But she makes no sign of that recognition. After a second, her chin dips low, and she makes the decision to tuck the phone into a small pouch held snug against her right hip. And then she begins to make her way over to the leonine Leo. She will continue to -- perhaps unnervingly -- maintain eye contact as long as Leo looks her way -- until he looks away from his telecommunications. At which point, she will speak with almost no delay.

"Good evening," she states pleasantly, with another slight dip of her chin. "Your originally scheduled opponent, Maki Genryuusai, was unable to make the rendezvous as planned. I was summoned as her replacement."

She curtsies out of respect for the King's arrival. It might look a little unusual with her bespoke, custom-designed attire -- as can be seen clearly now that Leo is standing more closely.

"I am NiCO. Pleased to meet you." She speaks her lines as if reading from a script. "I trust my armor will be acceptable for this upcoming battle."

She looks aside for a moment. One last-minute survey of the surroundings. "This 'Descent' is quite unorthodox," she comments.

[LEO WHITEFANG]
"Very." remarks Leo, taking a moment to consider Nico. His expression is thoughtful but guarded. She is young, true enough, but that has proven to be meaningless in these circumstances and her odd mannerisms do not go without notice.

"As unusual as the opponents that we seem to receive. I'm curious what information you may have about the sponsor of this tournament but..perhaps it is a useless question at this particular junction."

Leo reaches into his coat and retrieves the grips for his Iron Cross blades. A touch of chi and magic and with a crackle of energy the blades lengthen to their true sizes and forms and are then brought forward by the Second King as he drops into his combat stance.

"May my blades prove a worthy challenge to your armor, Nico. We can begin whenever you are ready..."

COMBATSYS: NiCO has started a fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0             NiCO

[NICO]
NiCO is quick to respond, pressing her glasses up along the bridge of her nose. "I have my theories."

She does not, however, share those theories, folding her arms in silent judgment. Her gaze follows Leo's hands and those enormous -- and fascinating -- Iron Cross blades. Here, at least, her expression changes into one of scientific curiosity as she takes a step back.

She is, however, listening, for she nods promptly at the suggestion to begin. She shows the barest hint of a smile, as she raises her left hand into a raised 'L' shape, her right forearm staying level to the ground. "Alright, then..." Crackle! Twin surges of lightning electrify the voids between between her thumbs and forefingers for a brief instant. Her face lights a shade of blue in the darkness. "Let us begin the experiment," she announces with a faint grin.

With that announcement made, she waits no further. This could be a trend. She instantly surges forward, hoping to insert herself -within- the reach of those terrifying Iron Cross blades -- and, once there, grab hold of Leo's left wrist and use it as a handhold to lash her left leg up and over his left shoulder. With her knee pinned behind his neck she would aim to use the momentum to whirl the tall Illyrian King off his own feet, spinning him around to fall on his left side, with his left arm and its terrifying sword trapped between her knees! "Yaaaah!" And as she climbs free of his arm, she would give him a jolt of her industrial-strength shock rings -- letting him feel just how much of a bite those electric shocks can dole out!

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang blocks NiCO's Phrenic Nerve Stimulant.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////////  ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0             NiCO

[LEO WHITEFANG]
It is impressive speed, footwork, skill and technique coupled with what is clearly genius intellect. But enough about Leo!

Nico's speed and sudden assault nearly catches the Illyrian king by surprise. She's on him in an instant, a sudden eagerness for battle and the capability to make it so, quite evident but Leo is indeed ready for her and as she makes her attempts to wrap about him and send him to the ground, his body begins bracing and rebalancing itself to adjust to the momentum of her assault such that when he spirals downward he is able to twist into a roll that places him back upright while his blades snap up again, almost moving by instinct, to bear the bront of those electrical jolts and to dissipate them harmlessly into their subtle shifting metals.

A blink of an eye and he's on her, dashing in with a racing charge in an attempt to close the distance and drag his blades past her in an attempt to cross her up. Iron chi gleams gold and silver as it trails behind the sweeping movements of his swords.

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang successfully hits NiCO with Kaltes Gestober Erst.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0             NiCO

[NICO]
The talented warrior-king has the advantage, his size and experience winning out against her spirited drive. Grabbing hold of his arm was what she expected -- his mastery of momentum was the surprise. And when her shocks land upon the blades and not her target, she realizes -- it's time to spin free and step out of harm's way.

Even -less- expected was the Illyrian King's rapid ascent -- such that when she starts to pirouette out of harm's way, she's instead run past by the blade! Sparks fly as the blade bites first upon her armored bracers, but then the edge of the blade digs into the flesh of her upper arm, impelling her along its path and sending her into a spin of their own design. "Nngh!"

A high-heeled foot drags a small trench into the dry Nevada soil, bringing her to a stop just shy of a gravestone. One eye is screwed shut from the pain -- and yet, it does not seem as if the young Finn is deterred. She sees her opening as Leo draws to a halt, dashing in to close the distance! She'd seek to grab his neck from behind and tug him backwards and off-balance, slamming his shoulders into her bent knee! If she manages that, she'd then roll out from under him, slamming him into the ground sideways as she tumbles free! "Hyaaa!"

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang blocks NiCO's Quick Throw.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0             NiCO

[LEO WHITEFANG]
He is..fast. Faster then one would assume for his burly size and solid presence yet Leo's movements are both thunderous and sudden and as his blade bites into her, albiet measured and tempered by the magics laid over this place and upon themselves for such purposes, he's already spinning in place to try and make a return assault to keep her off balance and maintain the momentum of his attack.

She's in his face now, once again seeking to throw her weight and skills as a grappler against his own array of defensive parries and footwork.

She grapples with him and he dances with her, attempting to blunt the force of his downward fall, rolling into the impact and out again back up to a ready position with light bruises to show for the effort.

As he comes up, his blades cross and then pull apart, a ringing of metal and a sharp sound of chi filling the air as an 'X' shaped projectile of pure chi forms and then blazes forth at Nico as Leo attempts to put some distance for a moment.

"Impressive!"

COMBATSYS: NiCO blocks Leo Whitefang's Graviert Wurde.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1             NiCO

[NICO]
NiCO smiles as she feels the rush of blood in her veins. The heat of battle is one of her joys in life -- particularly against an opponent who can provide a considerable challenge! Not that she'd ever admit that, of course...

"Hnn..." Again Leo's superior battle prowess wins out against the Pencak Silat fighter's intuition. She immediately draws back, shifting her left forearm forward defensively, allowing her right hand to curl close as she gets a better view of the returning Leo. The blades cause her to shrink backward slightly -- the pain of moments prior still fresh on her mind. But when the blades shift and pull -- she sees that they are about to provide a quite -different- threat.

NiCO drops to a low crouch as the chi-borne projectile hurtles towards her. She falls back on the 'secret weapon' embedded within her armor -- powerful electromagnets that crackle with electricity as she runs current throughout the embedded wiring. She raises her arms, pivoting aside at just the right angle so that her left forearm armor 'snaps' magnetically against the chi-blades with a shower of sparks! In the next split second she pivots her arms downward, redirecting the projectile to the side at the cost of tugging her arms hard against her shoulder joints -- a less painful alternative to taking the impact head-on, of course!

The electromagnet is cut loose as she pirouettes free with a faint grin. "Heh. Everything I expected from the King of Illyria." For she has a plan in mind, as she dashes for him, keeping her shoulders close to the ground.

Once she gets close, she throws herself into a powerful uppercut, cleaving the Nevada air in one sharp, -bright- bolt of lightning! Should this bolt sear into her target as she hopes, she'd follow it up by...

... Seemingly -vanishing- in a crackle of lightning.

And then suddenly reappearing behind Leo in a similar crackle, firing off two shock-charged punches at him from behind! "Hya hyaaaa!"

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang blocks NiCO's Displacement Current.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0             NiCO

[LEO WHITEFANG]
"Second King." corrects Leo in a simple straight forward remark. He seems disinterested in explaining further but that also might simply be a matter of ..there being no time to as NiCo has exploded into action with pacing and force that equals the distant explosion caused by his deflected chi-attack blasting into the background and decimating a few gravestones in its wake.

As for Leo, he finds himself facing down the lunging arc of a bolt of blue-white electical fire that rips towards him with the speed of the twinkle of an eye. Speed that he seems to somehow match by virtue of skill and instinct as his weapons whirl around into a spinning fan like movement that catches the blast of energy..absorbing it into their pinwheel like motions and then discharging it upwards and away from him to explode thunderously in the night sky.

This same instinct leads him to spin just as she vanishes, whirling around with a flourish of his great coat and belts, weapons fanning out around him in a series of arcing counter strikes that end with a massive boot kicking up and thrusting out at her in an attempt to catch her just as she re appears and engages him. He takes a series of glancing blows from her strikes in the process but his body shudders and absorbs the blows as he presses forward aggressively.

COMBATSYS: NiCO fails to counter Armed Combo from Leo Whitefang with Dippel Transferrence ES.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0             NiCO

[NICO]
Second King? NiCO was aware of the shared title, but had never dug deep into the sociopolitical ramifications. As such, ego isn't getting in the way: "My apologies."

In truth, NiCO has a very limited set of concerns. Grave markers are necessary, in her mind, only as reminders for real-estate developers to seek property elsewhere. The bodies are already dead; they will tell no tales unless someone gives them the voice to speak with. So the wanton destruction of the Illyrian Second King is simply the soundtrack of the contest of minds and bodies taking place.

And while she -had- expected Leo to be defenseless when she performed her translocation feat -- she quickly finds out this is not the case, as she finds herself under assault by Leo's overwhelming arsenal. Her Silat expertise allows her to correctly identify the shift of his weight to one foot, and to move to take full advantage. She raises her hands, supine, hoping to catch his boot and lift it upwards to an uncanny angle, forcing his weight to shift to an uncomfortable degree.

And it might have worked, if Leo's arcing weapons had not broadsided her in the head, forcing her to stagger abruptly to her left, and momentarily succumb to gravity. One hand reaches out, flattening against a gravestone -- and with blackness momentarily crowding her vision, it's all she can do to pivot around the grave marker and recover her balance.

Sucking in her breath, she hops backwards, clenching her fists. Though, seemingly unbeknownst to her, a series of scintillating crystals begins to sprout from her shoulders and wrists as she does so.

"Every bit as legendary as I had heard," she admits with uneasy candor.

[LEO WHITEFANG]
Leo stalks forward, blades hanging at his sides as he bears down on NiCo with a confidence and surety to his stride. However, he does note the growth of the crystals and his eyes narrow just slightly as he draws closer and then slips forward into his combat ready stance, "You're not unimpressive yourself. I'm having to work for this so it's only fair I show you the same courtesy. However, it's clear to me that perhaps your strength lies in your mind more then your body? Nevertheless, a powerful combo.."

ANd one he seems unwilling to allow an opportunity to truly show its quality as, once the compliments are finished, he goes dashing into another attack and blazes forward at her with a burst of movement that ultimately sends him into a leaping arc towards her. At the height of his jump, he spins - garments once more whirling around him with a flourish as his momentum carries him downward..and then both blades come slashing downward trailing jagged blasts of chi with them to try and bear NiCo to the ground under the force of their assault.

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang successfully hits NiCO with Siegesparade.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Leo Whitefang    0/-------/--=====|=======\==-----\1             NiCO

[NICO]
As Nico stabilizes herself, the five images of Leo resolve into three, two, then finally one. Part of this is due to her glasses frames being bent out of whack -- a problem that Leo's compliments give her time to rectify. After straightening the right temple back into position, she responds with lowered eyebrows.

"That's kind of you to say," she states, her voice as chilled as her teal hair color suggests it might be. And even as he starts to dash, she responds in the midst of a backwards leap: "But unnecessary."

Leo crashes down from above. NiCO throws her arms up as the high-pitched whine of electromagnets makes itself known. Electricity crackles -- and crystals crack -- as the Iron Crosses make their mark against her shielded armguards -- but ultimately, Leo's superior strength overpowers the smaller Finn, blasting her into a new crater in the ground. "Nnnngh!" She grits her teeth as loose dirt of a freshly-dug grave tumbles down onto her nice bleach-white attire -- an unwelcome place to be in, even on the best of nights!

Being small does have its advantages, however. With adrenaline pumping hard throughout her system, she finds the strength to carry on, scooting down in the grave, and then suddenly vaulting past Leo -- either around him or between his legs as necessary!

But once she's got her two feet on solid ground, she drives her heel into the dirt, pivoting about sharply. She fires off two quick jabs at Leo from the side, aiming to whirl around with a backhand, and then wheel around with a -second- electrically-amped backhand after that!

But that's when a blossom of crystals flares up from the base of her wrist, in direct proportion to the amount of electricity she's pumping out. Her eyes widen in horror, her mouth grimacing in pain, but she's too committed to the strike to stop! "HrrrrraaAAAAAH!" In the wake of her backhand, she hurls her trailing fist forward, firing off one final haymaker at Leo to knock him backwards! "HYAAAA!"

COMBATSYS: NiCO successfully hits Leo Whitefang with Faraday's Law of Induction.
-+- CALCULATED HIT -+-

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////                      ]
Leo Whitefang    1/-------/=======|=------\-------\0             NiCO

[LEO WHITEFANG]
Leo's world turns into blue-white fire as the bolts of electricity and the fists bearing them explode into him with wild force. Tendrils of lightning coil all around him and he grits his teeth in both agony and boiling furious determination as his body is assaulted by the power wielded by NiCo and forced into a backwards smouldering slide. The crystals don't help here either, tearing into him and through magically reinforced garments to score their mark on the rugged flesh beneath.

Dust kicks up as his legs tighten and his boots skid backwards through the soil of this cursed landscape. He ultimately plants his blades down to arrest his backwards slide and then..almost on instinct.he's lunging forward again. A bolt of gold and silver and jagged chi trailing behind him.

His counter assault comes in the form of another cross up attempt as he blazes in with a slide through slash with both swords and then pivots and in the space of less then a blink is dashing back the other direction. There is no quip offered here and seemingly no intention for any quarter to be given as he brings his great blades to bear upon her.

COMBATSYS: Leo Whitefang successfully hits NiCO with Kaltes Gestober Zweit.
- Power hit! -

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /                             ]
Leo Whitefang    1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\0             NiCO

[NICO]
NiCO is battered and bruised from combat, her clothes and skin now a filthy mess from the Nevada soil -- but in the midst of an adrenaline-soaked haze, she feels good. Leo Whitefang has proven to be every bit the fighter she'd hoped he would be. The sort of fighter he -needed- to be, to force the Silat expert out of her comfort zone. And even though she's experiencing the -completely illogical- happenstance of crystals erupting from her extremities, the fact of the matter stands: she landed a solid hit against the Second King of Illyria. Her theoretical approach was, in this one instance, sound. And she takes a deep, satsified breath as the dustcloud settles.

But her respite is short-lived, as Leo is still hearty and hale. She draws back, swiping the back of her grimy hand against the grimy cheek -- to which she expresses no small amount of regret -- and draws back with a reluctant sigh.

She starts to leap out of the path. But those gravestones halt her progress for just a moment -- giving Whitefang's sword time to bite into her thigh with a rivulet of red. The diminutive Finn is carried upward from the strike, spun around in mid-air like a dandelion on the breeze -- and one instant later, the return trip has him slicing through the aerial NiCO once more.

A small spray of blood is left in the wake of NiCO as she hurtles into a stone monument. The crunch of bone against wind-ravaged stone is palpable. One moment later, gravity pulls NiCO back to the earth; she settles in a heap, panting heavily as her hand plants against the ground for support.

For a moment, it looks like she might be ready to spring back to her feet. But as she sees the shattered crystals sprouting from her hands, she shakes her head dismissively. One eye screwed shut from the pain, she raises her gaze back up to Leo, making eye contact.

She cracks out a dry laugh. "Well fought. I concede."

COMBATSYS: NiCO takes no action.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Leo Whitefang    1/-----==/=======|

COMBATSYS: NiCO can no longer fight.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Leo Whitefang    1/-----==/=======|

NiCO shuts her eyes for a moment, drawing another breath into her heaving lungs. "Thank you for the experience. I have much to consider." Her eyes open again, as she tenders a more sincere smile. "May you fare well in the remainder of the Descent."

[LEO WHITEFANG]
It's a messy affair, these tournaments. Even the most benign of them in nature have an edge and a bite. Such is the nature of the world of fighters, warriors and monsters. This Descent seems..wholly something else. There is an urging of brutality in the atmosphere that Leo believes he can feel and he does not like it. Especially the thought of giving into it. But for there to be a winner one must lose and he well knows this.

"Well done.." he offers as his blades retract and then slip back into the depths of his coat. "The fates could have easily swung this in another direction. I will remember you, NiCo and I hope we can meet again."

Log created on 21:18:13 07/21/2022 by NiCO, and last modified on 23:22:34 07/22/2022.