Match of the Millennium

Description: Shadaloo protects it's 'interests' of drug trafficking in the Western Seaboard of North America by sending Echo to bust up a rival distributor--little do they know that Liu Kang has sensed the necromantic powers at work and appears to shut that down.

[ECHO]
Inside the factory, the machines were running and the business of whatever the place was meant for continued as usual--packaging Nike shoes, or whatever. On the side however, several individuals were sitting around a table with armed thugs discussing who was getting what prices for moving 'the shit' that they had come to negotiate the distribution of. This is all too common in a place like Sunshine City, where a lot of the product from south of the border gets taken and then sold in the huge bustling cities of the western seaboard. It's something straight out of a movie, in some ways--like the war on drugs hyper paranoia of the 80s, but thanks to groups like The Syndicate, Mad Gear and Shadaloo, it's all too real.

But there's just one problem...

A loud booming portenous noise on one of the large corrugated steel loading dock doors--like someone's banging on it. What at first was mild confusion turns to alarm as the braying continues--suddenly large dents in the shape of what look like finger tips appearing in the surface, as the whole thing is continually bashed--and then the middle of the door splits, curling outward with a rolling thunder of creaking metal, like it had been a chrysalis for something terrible.

However, what's standing there is Echo Lacroix, secret agent of Shadaloo and sorceress, simply standing there with her arms behind her back, head cocked curiously, wearing what looks like a long close-fitting black dress. She's obviously not human, what with the bat-like appearance and all, not that most of these men can discern that from this distance--but what the men DO notice is the horrific glowing spectre-like shapes that slither through the perforation in the door, setting upon the men inside!

There is automatic gunfire and screaming, chaos abounds.

[LIU KANG]
The darkness is sensed.

Shadaloo is up to it's old games. It's old tactics. Old tricks. A factory of terrible screams is sent to Liu Kang's notice. A defender of Earthrealm tried and true, the Dragon rises to answer the challenge. THe facotry was being attacked by a sorceress - a kind of individual whom Liu Kang is fully experienced in how to fight from his fated destiny with both Shao Kahn and his sorcerer, Shang Tsung. Gunfire echoes throughout the factory as spectre-like shapes approach to combat the workers there.

Then...a window breaks.

A foot breaks through the glass and the lithe figure of Liu Kang lands solidly on the ground in front of Echo Lacroix, rising up to his full height. He's dressed like a warrior: black baggy pants, a black shirt on his chest wit hthe sleeves rolled up to the biceps, a red headband wrapped around his forehead and tied at the back, long hair allowed to fall to his shoulders.

"You will forgive me if I do not allow you a step further without consequence."

[ECHO]
Liu Kang jumps in on Echo--just as a very frightened armed thug is lifted into the air by barely visible ghostly shapes--his both halves of his body being crushed together with a sickening and wet crunch--like he'd been caught in one of those old-style folding beds, before being thrown to the floor.

Even Echo had to wince at that, stepping in around Liu Kang as she blinks and looks him over, obviously sensing the huge power register the fighter had. To be fair, things had been slow enough for Echo that at this point she couldn't really turn down work like this, as... messy, as it could be. Running into someone with strength like this was not something she was expecting.

"But I just took many steps, what do you say to that?" Echo gives the man an undaunted look, her wings flaring at her back. "Wasn't exactly expecting someone like you to show up--but if it's a fight you want--" she flaps her wings, sounding like flags billowing in the wind--keeping her arms up, just in case she was to meet an unlucky fireball, or other projectile.

COMBATSYS: Echo has started a fight here on the right meter side.

                                  >  //////////////////////////////]
                                  |-------\-------\0             Echo

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Liu Kang         0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0             Echo

Apparently taking the initiative, Echo proceeds to open her arms wide as her eyes glow a hellish red--and what look like scythe-armed skeletal torsos with spectral tails emerge fromt he aether, swooping down at Liu Kang and slashing at him as they try and defend their master. The bat lady is left suspended in the air for a short moment before her wings flap again, trying to gain some distance between the two.

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang blocks Echo's Abracadaver.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/-----==|-------\-------\0             Echo

[LIU KANG]
A wince would strike Liu Kang at the sound of a man being suddenly crushed to death by barely-visible ghost-like apparitions. He looks as though he'd been placed in a trash compactor, his viscera dripping all over the floor in a wet crunch. The body is tossed to the floor in disgust and Liu Kang's face molds into one of anger.

"Not. One. More. Death."

Liu Kang's eyes start to glow in fire, as if a dragon had emerged from it's slumber. What does he say to that? He slowly enters a martial arts stance, one hand pulled back into a fist while the one in front of him extends into an open palm. He's ready for this fight. The flapping wings of the bat-like creature does nothing to stop Liu Kang's determination.

Yet, Echo strikes first!

Her eyes glow hellish red and scythe-armed torsos emerge from thin air, swinging at Liu Kang who blocks the weapons with quick, well-timed counter-strikes with his fists to push the weapons away. Yet indeed, what Echo had prepared for is what comes next: as soon as Liu Kang finishes blocking, he thrusts out his open palm as a fireball comes straight for her!

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang successfully hits Echo with Snapping Dragon.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////////      ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0             Echo

[ECHO]
"Oh, you don't wanna see anyone die--not even if it's these louts?" Echo bears her teeth, the immense power she's sensed from within Liu Kang is not a bluff--he's defending himself quite well. The chi-based entity that strikes out at her is not quite unlike her own--just different, imbued with a different wavelength of power but also quite a bit more powerful. She's knocked back and out of the air as the fire and force of the 'bite' lays into her body, causing her to be thrown to the ground. Doggedly, she rises, pulling herself up from the crumpled heap on the dusty, concrete floor. Good thing she wore proper leather boots for this, oof. Taking a dip like that in pumps would not have been pleasant.

Her hand glowing with a ghostly bluish white light, she reels back like a baseball pitcher and sends a ball of the st. elmo's fire back towards him--the ghostly fire streaking towards Liu Kang!

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang overcomes Spirit Wrack from Echo with Blazing Dragon.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////       ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0             Echo

COMBATSYS: Echo blocks Liu Kang's Blazing Dragon.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////////          ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0             Echo

[LIU KANG]
"Yes, even they."

Liu Kang denies Echo any satisfaction. He manages tos trike her cleanly with his fireball to knock her right out of the sky! When she hits the ground, he rises from his stance to approach her, his fists starting to catch aflame in brilliance. But, she seems well-versed in chi just as much as he. Yet, when she throws her blast outwards towards him, the St. Elmo's fire is met with the visage of a flaming dragon that emerges from the thrust of both of Liu Kang's hands, which seems to part it's great mouth to devour the ball of blue-white light and rampages towards Echo!

[ECHO]
"Ugh," Echo sounds like she's been told she has to work overtime, or something. It's that kind of pedestrian 'ugh'. To her, she wouldn't even be out here on this weekend night if it were not for these goobers, it would seem, so her take on it seems a bit different.

"If that's how we're going to play it--oof!" she is able to bring her wings and arms up to block the second projectile that completely envelopes and dissipates her own. So much for soul searing magickal projectile...

"I call upon all the powers of darkness--that means you guys, get back here!" she holds her arms up, the black dress she wears billowing around her as the ghosts she had summoned earlier now rally to her, swirling around her.

COMBATSYS: Echo raises arms, eyes glowing red as she conjures FELL MAGICKS to her aid!

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/----===|=======\===----\1             Echo

[LIU KANG]
'Ugh'.

The disgust was palpable. Though Echo seems....strange in the sense that she has to describe effectively which powers of darkness must return to her. The ghosts return to her visage and they seem to be fueling her in a rally. Liu Kang crouches low, getting ready to spring forward...and with one forward motion, his legs suddenly /lunge/ forward and he spins on his feet, his fist clenched as the back of his hand swings out in a spinning backfist strike in an attempt to break through her guard and hit her!

"Darkness is no such power that it can choke out the flame!"

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang successfully hits Echo with Dragon's Roar.
- Power hit! -

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/----===|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Echo

[ECHO]
The ghostly beings appear to be the sorceress's familiars, at least on first glance--their attention and service to her bolsters the glow of her own energy around her. Moreover, they react to the spinning backhand strike from Liu--however the sheer speed at which he moves leaves anything to do with energy or the metaphysical out of the equation--he's just too damned fast. The sorceress is taken aback by the blow right to her face, blood now streaming between her teeth as she's effectively been cracked in the face, her yellow eyes narrow at him with burning anger.

After reeling back from the pain and covering her face, she suddenly straightens, and seems to give a pleasant smile--made a bit less pleasant by all the blood as she shows a bit of teeth.

"Oooh--that felt pretty good, but don't worry, I know something that you'll like even more!" Echo snaps her fingers, and haunted bullshit begins to happen as the ghosts melt into thin air, and suddenly the factory around them is possessed. Mechinery rocks and groans and begins to split apart, what look like fingers or claws of piping and rebar spear out from around Liu Kang, trying to impale him!

"Here it is, for one night only!" Echo laughs, wind from some unknown source billowing her dress and hair.

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang blocks Echo's #Grand Guignol EX#.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////               ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/---====|-------\-------\0             Echo

[LIU KANG]
The sorceress's familiars all swirl around her, the glow of her own energy proving to enhance her abilities. Liu Kang had to act quickly or else she might strike at him with more energy than he may be able to handle. He moves with the speed that could be considered blinding, his fist managing to crack against her face from his backfist in solid contact. Though he was much closer to her, her look of rage and her smile of mischief - a knowing trap sprung - causes Liu Kang to be forced to think quickly.

Then...the factory comes alive.

"What sorcery-?!"

Liu Kang doesn't have time to ask the question as rebars and piping tear away and split apart, coming after him with every intention to impale him! But his hands are far too swift, he catches a spear of metal, then kicks another one away then blocks another with a bracer on his forearm then punches another...

He's fighting a factory in addition to Echo herself.

Some of them manage to scrape and cut against him, causing him to wince considerably, especially when he's forced to catch one more metallic spear with his hand.

This ends when he can manage to attack her. He gymnastically lifts himself over her spear, running down the metallic structure as he leaps into the air, intending to fly across the air with his leg extended, hoping to kick her right in the mouth!

"You must stop this!"

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang successfully hits Echo with Dragon's Bite EX.

[     \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/---====|>>>>>>>\-------\0             Echo

[ECHO]
"What?!" Echo is wide-eyed at Liu Kang just warding off the huge sharp metallic objects streaking towards him--she is truly amazed at his speed and power. "Come on damnit--get the lead out!" she can be heard screaming all the while the machines careen toward him, making clangs and screeches of metal. The necromancer is finally cornered as Liu Kang comes down in a kick--hitting her right in the chest, as she's able to lean back a bit to avoid taking the hit right in the face, again. That would have been bad. It's already bad enough as there is a sickening snap of one or more ribs within the sorceress's body. She's thrown back and half onto the floor.

Their power expended, the machines cease their movements as the spirits inside them depart.

Now somewhat desperate, one of those wings of hers flares out and tries to strike at him--crashing into his upper body due to how close he is.

COMBATSYS: Echo successfully hits Liu Kang with Wing Smash.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////                        ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/=======|=======\-------\1             Echo

[LIU KANG]
The factory finally rests...

But it would seem that Echo wasn't one to stay down and accept defeat! As Liu Kang drew closer, the flames around his fist subsided. "No further harm will come to you if you surrender." Liu Kang suggests, believing in peace instead of war. Life instead of death. As he begins to lower a hand, a wing smashes right into his chest, knocking him flat on his back and knocking the wind out of him momentarily.

Lord Raiden had often warned Liu Kang of his kind heart.

Coughing, Liu Kang quickly solidifies himself and kips up to his feet, lunging forward towards Echo with a series of attacks!

He tries to swing numerous jabs and hooks towards her chest and face, and finally, a roundhouse kick to her center mass in an attempt to utilize their close proximity to the max!

COMBATSYS: Echo blocks Liu Kang's Tiger Stalks Prey.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///                           ]
Liu Kang         0/-------/-------|=======\===----\1             Echo

[ECHO]
The fight has degenerated into a sort of brawl on the floor, amidst the broken and twisted machinery. The place is wrecked and will never work again. Meanwhile Echo is fighting close quarters with Liu Kang, who still keeps coming even after taking the slam from her wing like a champ. She didn't evidently think Liu Kang was offering her quarter of some sort in reaching out to her like that--either that or she didn't see it till it was too late. She had too much adrenaline in her anyway--and again, she wasn't human. She's actually kind of bigger than a normal lady, at least one of average size, now that he's close enough to her like this. She takes a few more punches and kicks, finally getting knocked back down and sprawled out on the floor, some blood splattering. There doesn't seem to be an attempt to rise, though she is still breathing, somehow.

COMBATSYS: Echo lets you go this round!

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Liu Kang         0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Echo can no longer fight.

[           \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Liu Kang         0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Liu Kang has ended the fight here.


[LIU KANG]
In her defense, Liu never got the chance to truly offer mercy!

But Tiger Stalks Prey.

In close quarters, Liu Kang is deadly. His fists are fast and furious, each strike hitting hard enough that one /alone/ could take out a normal person. It took a full combination of well-timed strikes to take Echo down. He struck hard and fast, not allowing her time to cast another spell.

And finally, she gets knocked down and doesn't rise back up as Liu Kang pants. He approaches her, kneeling down to check for life.

Breath still fills her lungs.

Relieved, Liu Kang looks around. "No more death! This fight is over." For no doubt there may have been fighting elsewhere, or maybe one of the workers thought to finish the job.

But already he began to walk away...he had stopped what he was sent to..and now he begins to depart.

[ECHO]
"Damnit..." Echo begins to rouse several moments later, vision blurry. For reasons obvious to her, she feels really sore--right about now, and in dire need of a drink, it feels like. Wincing, she slowly pulls herself up, though, it's hard to bend that way to stand, so she winds up crawling. Through dust, debris and fallen hunks of metal. It's not quite the most prestigious escape in the world, is it. As it stands, all of her 'quarry' have escaped, and apparently the tiger thought it best not to kick her while she was down. He was a lot tougher than she expected, and she didn't get paid enough to go after someone like that.

Somehow, she manages to pull herself out of there, and off into the night she goes. Not towards civilization, however, like one might expect. Just off into nowhere.

Log created on 20:58:07 08/13/2023 by Echo, and last modified on 21:59:19 08/14/2023.