Match of the Millennium

Description: George Eddow Ford plays host to the battle that ask the question, technology or nature? The tech ninja Kenzo faces off against the animalistic shapeshifter Buck. Who will be the winner? Ford of course! The best vehicle for both the city streets and the open wilderness. Remember, George Eddow Ford is the only name in top quality Ford vehicles in Sunshine City!

[KENZO]
NFG Powers That Be decided, after much deliberation, that the Kenzo vs Buck fight would take place in the lot. Upon hearing this, Kenzo arrived early to get a lay of the land. Where vehicles would be set up, where audience members would be located. When the tech ninja was satisfied, he made himself known to the crew and spectators.

The fighting area was blocked off by cars. Two sets of five cars in a row parked parallel to each other set the boundaries on two of the sides, two sets of two cars parked perpendicular to the sets of five cars with a space between the two cars on each side to allow the fighters to walk in the fighting area.

The spectator area would be on top of the cars not serving as the boundaries for the fight.

The shinobi engineer walks through one of the pathways into the fighting area and performs some stretches as he waits for his opponent to step inside the vehicular boundaries.

[BUCK]
Buck was worried about fighting around a bunch of brand new cars, so his entrance was only a little delayed in gettign reassurances from the crew that any damages wouldn't be on him. Not that he intended to, but fights could go a little wild sometimes.

Finally he steps through between the Focus and F-150 that marks off his side of the arena, eyes lingering on the truck a bit enviously. He's already gone through his pre-battle prep, meaning he's only in his jeans and a loose fitting black tank top, his barefeet making little sound on the asphault.

Eventaully he manages to pull his eyes off the truck and to his opponent who he greets with a wide, beaming grin.

"You ready for this, Kuroiwa-san?" He calls out to the tech ninja, even back in America he's trying to be polite. First pulling one arm across his chest, then the other as he takes a few last minute stretches, he then indicates he's ready with a nod to Kenzo and a shift into a brawler's stance.

COMBATSYS: Buck has started a fight here.

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Buck             0/-------/------=|

COMBATSYS: Kenzo has joined the fight here.

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Kenzo            0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0             Buck

[KENZO]
As Buck steps between his set of vehicles, Kenzo takes a deep breath, rolls his neck and looks at his opponent returning the smile with one of his own.

"I believe they say, 'Nothing to it but to do it,' Finley-san."

He bows to Buck before taking a stance of his own. The sickle of his kusari-gama held in one hand and chain held in the other, spinning the weight as he watches Buck to see what he does.

An official signals for the fight to begin before making a quick escape from the fighting area.

[BUCK]
Buck shoots Kenzo a thumbs up. "Been looking forward to this."

At the signal, he doesn't rush in, not quite yet. He takes a few steps to the side, watching Kenzo with a mix of interest and wariness, especially as he eyes the kusari-gama. Probably having watched some of his opponent's earlier fights and having gotten some tips from his teammates. He's being careful to start.

Finally he makes his move, feet pat-patting on the blacktop as he heads right into brawling distance, his arms spread behind him.

It might almost be hard to catch his power in action the way he keeps his arms angled, and perhaps thats the point as his fingers extend longer, webbing growing between them.

Buck is not normally agile, but once in striking range he snaps out on of the bat-like wings his arms have become, creating drag on one side and letting him execute a spin that would otherwise be somewhat beyond his nimbleness.

With that wing, he guides himself to Kenzo's side, rather then head on. As he passes besides his opponent, he strikes out with the other arm, that second wing tucked in tight. Then he allows the spin to carrying himself into a flanking position.

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Kenzo with Wingman.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Kenzo            0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0             Buck

[KENZO]
The shinobi attempts to ward off the flanking wing strike with his chain, however, Kenzo wasn't expecting him take such an indirect approach like that and he finds himself getting taken off his feet and landing with a slightly pained grunt.

To Kenzo's credit, he doesn't idle for too long. He rolls back up onto one knee as he pulls out a device and lets his energy charge up the device before tossing it to Buck's center of mass where it releases a burst electical energy.

"Didn't expect that."

COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Kenzo's Pulse Device.

[      \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////   ]
Kenzo            0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0             Buck

[BUCK]
Like he made his own tessen, Buck crouches and snaps open the wing he had kept tucked up, using it as an impromptu shield as the device comes tumbling his way through the air. The wing is still part of him, and energy courses over it making it twitch slightly, but it keeps the worst of the zap away from his core.

"Oo.. that stings a bit." He sounds as chipper and cheery as ever though, probably a little more than usual. He's already beginning to enjoy himself in the fight.

The wings slide away even quicker than they appeared as he crosses his arms in front of him from his crouching position.

Clouds of ink burst out from his hands, held aloft in the air by a whirling infusion of chi as he swings his arms down to conceal himself in the deep black swirling cloud.

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Kenzo with Inkblot.
Glancing Blow

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////    ]
Kenzo            0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0             Buck

[KENZO]
While that wasn't his best case scenario, it was what he would consider a fairly good outcome for him. While the electrical burst didn't get all the way to his body he knew that Buck felt it.

He watches the wings snap back and before he had a chance to react to that, he suddenly has a black cloud bursting out towards him. He rolled away to give himself some room and away from the blinding cloud. He didn't come out untouched however. The ink and the chi interlaced within it marred the shoulder of his combat suit.

With Buck remaining in the obscuring cloud, Kenzo's choices are either go into the cloud or pull him out of it or just wait him out. Kenzo chooses to pull Buck out of the cloud. The weight flies out into the cloud of black ink and chi to ideally wrap around Buck with an electrified chain. Should he manage that, yank him towards him so that he can take a swipe with the sickle of his weapon and follow up with a slash.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Lightning Snare.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Kenzo            0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0             Buck

[BUCK]
The only problem with hiding in an ink cloud is being almost as unaware of the world around you as your opponent is of you. It gives him some cover to prepare his next attack.

And then comes the chain. Buck makes an attempt to move aside as the weighted end pierces his defensive cloud, causing ti to begin to dissipate, but he can't quite move aside in time, and it wraps around his arm, dragging him in.

Gritting his teeth, he ends up right on the slashing end of the sickle, opening up a line across his chest and through his tanktop. "Nice one." He says with a bit of a grunt, sincerely meaning the compliment for his opponent.

Even as he's complimenting Kenzo, however, he's balling up his fist and taking a swing for the ninja, they're still in the middle of a fight afterall. Just a quick right hook to either connect or try to open up some space between them.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo dodges Buck's Medium Punch.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Kenzo            0/-------/---====|=======\-------\0             Buck

[KENZO]
Kenzo is in close quarters and doesn't quite want to give up the positioning that he received when he pulled Buck out of the ink cloud. As a result, Kenzo responds to the hook by ducking under it and then shuffling to the side.

With Kenzo positioned on the brawler's flank, he has a position where if Buck wants to address what he does next, he's going to have to turn to see it coming which in turn means he'll have less time to react unless he just depends on his gut instincts. Kenzo then performs another slash across the torso before taking a step backwards as he pulls the weight back towards himself, releasing Buck for now.

"Thanks!"

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Medium Strike.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Kenzo            0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1             Buck

[BUCK]
Buck takes another slash, his one worry about the ninja being decidedly true. He's just simply being outsped. He grunts as the blade connects but is still grinning.

"Never been on a farm, huh?" He asks, jovially but perhaps a bit cryptically. He's not turning to face Kenzo, if anything he's shifting more away from him. "Gotta be careful where you stand."

He pulls up one leg, the limb looking oddly jointed in jeans that are stretched tight over the shortened but more powerful thigh.

He kicks out, lashing out with the rock-hard horse hoof at the end of his leg, aiming all the strongth of the kick into one, very solid, strike.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo dodges Buck's Hoofing It ES.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Kenzo            0/-------/--=====|=======\=------\1             Buck

[KENZO]
It is at this moment that he is grateful he managed to get a hold of one of the cellphone recordings of the fight between Ichika and Buck on the internet. He saw what happened to her when she got nailed by that and he wants no parts. Fortunately for Kenzo, his step back gave him a bit of a head start and he darts backwards and just out of the range of the hooves.

"Not on the farm. Did train in the mountains though. Similar rules but for a different reason."

Buck finally gets his space to breathe as Kenzo finally backs off but it seems as though he studying him, the environment, everything around them. Kenzo looks as though he's ready to move the moment it's needed.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo focuses on his next action.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Kenzo            1/-----==/=======|=======\=------\1             Buck

[BUCK]
"Oh man, Ichika was right about you." Buck rolls one of his arms as he finally gets a bit of breathing room. "Gonna need some luck here." His smile is still in place, as his eyes keep track of Kenzo.

Instead of rushing in, he walks slowly in a arch around his opponent, keeping the distance between them even. He's taking his own few moments to think instead of charging in head first as he usually does.

COMBATSYS: Buck focuses on his next action.

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Kenzo            1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1             Buck

[KENZO]
"I've heard it said that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. The questions are, have you prepared enough and will I give you the opportunity that you need?"

With no attack incoming, he's forced to go on the offensive once again. He takes a hard swipe with the weighted end for Buck's legs attempting to control the range. Even as he does that though, he steps back and to the side not allowing Buck to circle behind him.

COMBATSYS: Buck interrupts Fierce Strike from Kenzo with Spin Doctor.

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Kenzo            1/---====/=======|=======\===----\1             Buck

[BUCK]
"Well, I got that first check, but you're good, man." Buck compliments, still keeping on his path, though as soon as Kenzo makes his move so does he.

Stomping forward, he raises one hand and smacks away the weight, which probably hurt, but now there's a connection between his hand and Kenzo's weapon, a fillament of sticky spider webbing that's following the trajectory of the weight.

He's not quite done yet, as when he closes in, he lashes out at the ninja with a few more open palm strikes, each one anchoring the webbing more and more to Kenzo. This is no careful web spinning, he's simply trying to goop up Kenzo enough to create a bit more opening for him to exploit.

[KENZO]
This is what Kenzo would consider a mixed blessing. He wanted to draw Buck in and have him attempt to disrupt the chained swing. Perhaps it was done better than what he would consider ideal but as far as Kenzo was concerned, it was an acceptable cost. He just wished it wasn't so sticky.

He runs electricity through his chain. At first, the spin is a bit sluggish due to the webbing interfering with the way the chain is swinging and then pumps a little more electric energy through the chain burning a little bit of the webbing, allowing him to swing a little faster, gradually picking up speed. He then starts swinging the electrified weighted end at Buck over and over in a figure eight pattern as his entire body is covered in his energy.

COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Kenzo's Whirling Chain Blitz.

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Kenzo            1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1             Buck

[BUCK]
Buck perhaps realizes the trap the moment he steps into it. He let's out a click of his tongue in annoyance at his own carelessness. He promised himself he was going to play this one smart.

"Aw, shoot." Is all he can manage to say as Kenxo lights up with electricity, so he does the only thing he really feels he can do at that point. He commits. Instead of trying to back away, he closes in further. IT's hard to get a good whirl on a ranged weapon against an opponent who's only inches away from you. He brings up his arm in a defensive posture to deal with the initial strike of the chain, wincing as it scores against his skin, his hair spiking a bit as the electricty courses into him.

Then, nearly right on top of Kenzo, he strikes out with his elbow aimed at the tech ninja's mid-section.

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Kenzo with Fierce Punch.

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Kenzo            1/=======/=======|=======\====---\1             Buck

[KENZO]
There's no helping it. It's hard to get his hits in when the chain is getting jammed. However, it was what he was looking in terms of a reaction. Bashing the guard a bit to create the opening before going for his all or nothing strike.

Kenzo cedes ground to Buck when the elbow connects with his abdomen causing him to release air while he stumbles backwards, his body curled over. He even felt his legs buckle from the pain for a moment before he gets his legs back under him. Yeah... He felt that.

Kenzo leaps backward landing on the hood of a Mustang before launching himself up into the air up and over Buck in a front flip with a half twist allowing himself to land facing his adversary. He then swings out his chain once more, aiming to wrap the chain around Buck's neck like he had attempted to do against Coco. Should he manage that, he'll stomp on the chain to bring Buck face down to the ground and drag him in so he can proceed to slash his back over and over while Buck is prone.

COMBATSYS: Buck interrupts Deadly Electrocutioner from Kenzo with Burn Out ES.

[                            \\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Kenzo            0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0             Buck

[BUCK]
Buck had been waiting for this. He needed Kenzo far enough away to give himself a second to prepare. He's not paying too much attention to what the ninja is doing. Only where he is going, his eyes and face trailing him as he moves nimbly through the air. He drops low, slamming his hands down on the pavement to brace himself, looking like he's about to charge as horns come curling out of his skull, claws sprouting and digging into the pavement.

The next part might be familiar from the footage of his fight with Ichika, the scales forming over his face and shoulders, his chest expanding as he takes in a massive gulp of air through an extending draconid muzzle.

As the chain comes flying his way, he opens his mouth wide. There's a soft click, almost as if steel is striking flint and he exhales, engulfing everything in front of him in flame. Even as the chain manages to wrap around one of those curling horns, tugging him forward a couple feet, the flames continue.

A few seconds later the flames end, his face returning to normal as smoke drifts almost lazily from his mouth and nostrils.

He's panting heavily, though working his way back to his feet, keeping an eye on Kenzo, worried the ninja is readying his own counterattack.

[KENZO]
The moments where Kenzo is getting roasted are downright agoninzing for the ninja. The heat ends up causing his combat specs to shut down for a little bit due to overheating. He takes off the specs, they're all but useless to him. What he does manage to hold onto is the sickle end of his kusari-gama in spite of all the burns and how hot it got due heat conduction.

He's done the mental math at this point. He isn't going to win. He'd need a miracle to get even a draw. At this point, all he can hope for is to save face by landing one last attack before exhaustion and injuries finally catch up with him.

His still electrified body stumbles forward before he goes into a flurr of slashes with the sickle end and when it's over he falls over. His body lets out a few more sparks before the electricity is released.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo can no longer fight.

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

COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Kenzo's Shredding Spark Frenzy.

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

[BUCK]
Buck is glad he didn't let his guard completely down after his last gambit. There's a grunt of respect from the farmboy as he sees Kenzo making one last ditch effort. But respecting the effort and yielding to it are not the same thing. He brings up his arms in front of him as lets the slashes make a few more scores in his already sliced up limbs.

He lets his arms fall, and walks towards where Kenzo fell. Letting out a heavy sigh that's more than a little tinged with pain, he settles himself onto the ground near his opponent, not really knowing if he can hear him or not. "Thanks for a great match." He manages in a semi-whisper, eyes scanning the crowd around him as he leans back against one of the cars, looking up at the sky.

"When you're up to it, I found this great burger joint a few blocks from the hotel. My treat."

COMBATSYS: Buck has ended the fight here.

Log created on 14:15:45 06/15/2023 by Buck, and last modified on 03:38:48 06/16/2023.