Match of the Millennium

Description: On the platforms at Marble Lake, the esper warrior and the shapshifter face of in an explosive battle of brains versus beasts.

[GENIE]
After last round in the prison, a heavy weight hung on Genie's shoulders. The fight was practically disastrous, and not just for the scenery. After such a strong showing recently, she had her confidence knocked flat again by a one-sided bout with Djamila. But that is in the past now. The future...is Buck!

Marble Lake is certainly pretty, with its pastoral water feature and wonderful landscaping and decoration. Genie has made her way to the arena, which is the series of platforms planted in the midst of the water feature. Genie has already set herself on one and is dressed for the occasion in her pink and white dobok. She bounces through some warm-ups, her pink ponytail following suit as it swings back and forth.

[BUCK]
For once in his time in Metro City, Buck has a pleasant arena for a bout. Though it's not hard to beat a dank alley and a junkyard, this is certainly more than just a step up. Where he is though, is not readily apparent, but his voice calls out a, "Jus' a sec!" from somewhere below the platforms once he finally notices Genie waiting for him.

There's a splash, and a hand grips the side of one of the platforms, and then Buck hauls himself out of the water, dripping wet and just in his blue and green boardshorts. He opens his mouth, then closes it, scrunches up his face and pounds on his chest with a fist before taking in a deep breath. "There we go! Sorry, was practicing my water tricks just in case. Gills cause problems with the breathing sometimes."

He shoots Genie a bright, tooth-flashing grin as he pushes his lake dampened hair back out of his face.

"Pleased to meet ya'." He says in his usual country drawl, still smiling brilliantly. "Hope I can put up a good fight. But I'm ready to get this show on the road when you are."

[GENIE]
"A pleasure to meet you as well," Genie says, though she seems a bit taken aback by the gills comment. Even with all the unusual characters in NFG, she still is a bit of a fish out of water herself. It does not stop her from giving him a courteous bow, however, and it's clear she would have done a curtsy if her dobok was a bit more conducive to such a thing.

Shifting her footing on the platform, Genie puts her weight onto one foot and stands one-legged, balancing precariously on the platform but with greater stability still than she had in previous bouts. Her arms are raised slightly for balance, but in general she seems much more confident about her stance, at least, even if her face suggests a bit of anxiety still.

"I hope you are ready!" Genie says, her tone as formal as always. Power surges along her leg and then suddenly she kicks outward--

And produces her typical lance of psychic power, this time with her feet?!

COMBATSYS: Genie has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
Genie            0/-------/-------|

COMBATSYS: Buck has joined the fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Genie's Lance Du Lac.

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

[BUCK]
Buck taps his brow with a two fingered salute to indicate he is indeed ready when asked, then drops into his brawling stance, fists up and ready to start swinging. "Let's give the good people at home a show, eh?"

As the kick comes lancing his way his brings his arms up infront of him, crossing them to bear the brunt of the kick even if some of the energy still goes surging through him, making him grit his teeth. "Oo.. that tingles, and not in a good way. Gonna need to be careful with you." He says, still grinning.

Black liquid of some sort begins to drip down his arms, before a blast of chi sends it flying out into the air around him, hiding him in an ink cloud that swirls about him for a few seconds temporarily blocking him from view.

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Genie with Inkblot.

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

[GENIE]
"Yes," Genie nods, first uncertainly, and then with a bit more firmness. She seems to be OK with this sentiment.

But when Buck blocks the incoming shot, Genie finds herself drawing back and on the defensive already. The chi starts gathering, and Genie readies herself to move.

But as she backsteps for a swift dodge, the narrowness of the platform makes itself known and Genie nearly loses her balance. While she pulls it out, it does little for her dodging skills--the blast of inky-chi smashes into her and as Buck disappears from view, Genie does as well.

"Ah!!" Splash.

The Swiss miss pulls herself back out of the water soon enough, but not without taking a good bit of water with her courtesy of her now-soaked martial arts uniform.

Shaking herself off, Genie huffs and doesn't wait. She bounds forward, striking out with a swift kick that tries to find purchase through the ink.

COMBATSYS: Buck endures Genie's Light Kick.

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

[BUCK]
Luckily the cloud ink cleans off with just a bit of water instead of staining that dobok too badly. And Genie certainly manages to make a connection with something inside the ink cloud, and it feels like kicking a person, and the grunt is probably a good giveaway. The cloud isn't that big afterall and Buck isn't exactly small, but it's almost like he decided not to move, instead staying in the cloud for now.

A cloud which suddenly seems reminiscent of a thundercloud, as sparks of blue light flicker through from inside.

Then the cloud parts as Buck comes rushing out, leading with a fist crackling with bluish bioelectric sparks, using the direction of the kick to guide himself out of his own cloud and towards his target. And the apex of his swing, there's a sudden crack and his fist releases the built up static in a thunderous shock.

COMBATSYS: Genie blocks Buck's Shock & Awe ES.

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

[GENIE]
The threat of ink stains seem to be the least of Genie's worries as she leaves small patches of the cloud in the water behind her after her quick dip. Her kick finds purchase against Buck despite the cover, but that seems to be his advantage. He's next moving in to give her an electrified punch, and Genie, despite her confidence, gets a good spooking out of it.

But it may work to her advantage as Genie glows pink, an aura forming as she crosses her arms to guard, the electrified punch hits her forearms and slides her back across the platform. The backs of heels dangle precariously over the ledge, but Genie stands firm.

In fact, she stands more than firm, that faint aura of lingering power giving way to surge of power as her hair starts to rise up with spreading psionic power. Her eyes shimmer faintly, and she steps forward into a spinning overhead kick infused with that same energy.

COMBATSYS: Buck auto-guards Genie's Coup Douloureux.

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

[BUCK]
"Dang, you got some moves." Buck compliments as he pushes his electrified fist against the energy shielding. The sparks eventually fade out and he takes a step back, bringing his arms back up into a defensive posture. "I see why you were an early pick."

The transformation that overcomes his opponent though replaces the grin on h is face with a flickering moment of worry. "Aw man, is that even your final form?" He can't help himself, even when cautious he has to joke around a bit. But as the kick comes in he hunches, crossing his arms over his chest to brace himself as he exposes his back right to the assault. The skin hardens and bursts apart into a thick coating of plate like scales from his shoulders down, which seem to take the impact with surprising durability, even if he has to shift his feet to keep his balance.

The scales continue to spread, down a tail that is suddenly sprouting behind him, thick and covered in plates. He places a hand on the platform and pivots, swinging the armored tail around to try and crash it right into Genie's side.

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Genie with Improvised Slam.

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

[GENIE]
Genie seems taken by surprise by the joke. "Thank for you the compliment, but ah, um, I am not sure!" She says, her concentration flickering briefly, "But I will keep improving!"

In the next moment, Genie is facing down a newly grown tail, trying to reposition on the narrow platform. She looks ready to leap to another one, but she hesitates, and that is all it takes. The tail slams into her side with enough force to launch her off the platform, but rather than taking another dip Genie seems to skim over the water, her aura flaring, before landing on a different platform. Her hand rubs her side steadily.

"Ow...but I am not done yet!" Genie cups her hands in front of her as power starts to gather between them, gradually shaping into a sword-shaped construct of psionic power. She launches it, suddenly, the blade skimming over the water like a missile as it belines for Buck!

COMBATSYS: Genie successfully hits Buck with Courechouse EX.

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

[BUCK]
"Good!" Buck calls out as Genie expresses her intent to continue fighting, shooting her a thumbs up to go along with it. His eyes go a bit wide as that blade of psionic energy comes flying his way and he tries to get the hell out of Dodge, but it's no use. The armor that was his benefit a few moments ago slows him down and the blade takes him right in the shoulder, sending him stumbling.

With a splash he lands in the water, a few bubbles drifting towards the surface, but Buck himself doesn't come back to the surface immediately. Instead a keen eyed observer may notice a shadow moving quickly through the water towards one of the other platforms, where he bursts through the surface after slamming a hand on the edge of the platform to launch himself out of the water. He lands in a crouch, and even though his cheeks are puffed out, its easy to see the grin he still wears.

He brings up his hands and slaps his cheeks, and with a loud blowgun-like noise a bullet of water goes shooting across the arena at Genie, followed by a second and a third, Buck slapping his cheeks each time, then calling out. "Learned that one from fighting a weird dude on a mountain!" He sounds overly excited to share that factoid.

COMBATSYS: Genie reflects Spit Take ES from Buck with Bouclier De Galahad.

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

[GENIE]
"Oh," Genie notices Buck does not surface right away. "Are you all right? Do you need a hand getting o--" Suddenly, Buck is back on the surface and positioned to begin his assault anew. Genie jumps back, her shoes squeaking from the water. But unfortunately for her, that's the least of her worries as far as water goes.

The bullets close in, and Genie reflexively tosses her hands out. A shield of pink energy forms between them, creating a barrier between herself and the incoming shots. The impact with an almost metallic 'pink' noise before bouncing back, pink energy crackling through them on the return flight.

"Fascinating!" Genie answers. "I have ... I have not fought anyone like that before!"

COMBATSYS: Genie successfully hits Buck with Reflected Spit Take ES.
- Power hit! -

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

[BUCK]
Now that is a trick Buck has not encountered before. First he looks accepting that his water bullets are just going to plink of another shield, but when they start flying back at him, well, the shock is clear on his face. "Ahg!" It's all he manages as he tries to get up his guard but the energy enfused bullets strike him one after the other, slipping past his raised arms and driving him back a bit. "Well, that's a trick." He mutters, at least not getting any wetter from the projectiles, but his skin already starting to bruise from where they made contact. He's panting heavily as he lowers his arms, taking one step forward which turns into a bit of a stumble.

But he lets that stumble carry him towards Genie as he breaks into a headlong charge, lowering his head like a battering ram.

A ram in more ways than one as a pair of curling horns sprout from his brow and loop back over his head making the potential impact even worse should he make the blow.

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Genie with Bullheaded.

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

[GENIE]
As the shield disipates, Genie seems satisfied with her performance. Her timing was perfect, her form polished, and her energy potent and ready. Unfortunately for Genie, this victory is only one needed to win the battle, and Buck still has plenty of fight left to bring to bear against her.

The charging combatant collides with Genie's middle, knocking the wind out of her as she winds up riding between the horns as carries her across the platform, over the edge, and into the water before she impacts another platform in a shallower part of the tool. The Swiss Miss wheezes, trying to catch her breath as she pulls up and away from him.

But even as she does, she raises up one left, albeit with strain, rising to a high heel drop from the taekwondo style she's been adapting into her own. She brings down her heel, pink energy flared as she does, aiming to deliver an axe-like heel drop to the top of Buck's lowered noggin!

COMBATSYS: Buck interrupts Belles Mains from Genie with Burn Out.

[                                <
Genie            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|

COMBATSYS: Buck can no longer fight.

[                                <
Genie            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|

[BUCK]
Buck grabs the edge of the platform as he sways to keep himself from tipping over into the lake himself. He even gives his head a good shake to clear out the cobwebs. It's clear he's taken enough blows that there isn't much fight left in the poor farm boy, but he's making the most of what grit he does have left.

His eyes fixate on Genie as they shift from brown to yellow, already priming his next assault as he keeps his gaze fixed on her, scales forming across his face as his jaw distends into a reptilian snout. Buck fans out there know exactly what's coming.

He stares down the pink cascade of energy coming for his head, his grinning reptilian maw opening as if he intend to snap at the Swiss Miss as soon as she's in range.

He doesn't. And the kick lands squarely between his horns, causing his legs and arms to buckle a bit beneath him, but his open mouth is still pointed right at Genie.

A soft click come from deep inside his throat, followed by a roaring fwoosh as a massive gout of dragon flame comes pouring right out of him to engulf his opponent with the point blank blast of heat.

The flames pour out in a fiery cascade for a mere second, dissipating as quickly as they appeared. Buck sways, and the last of his strength gives out as his arms finally collapse under him and he drops to the platform, spent, curls of grey smoke curling from his once more human mouth and nose.

[GENIE]
Genie's hit connects with a resounding thud, delivering a mighty finishing blow to bring the fight to end. But Buck is clearly not going down without a fight either. As Genie feels her heel impact with his cranium, she can likewise feel the heat, starting with her leg and spreading across in a burst of flame. The Swiss miss briefly catches fire, falling backward into the pool with a heavy sploosh of water and a cloud of white smoke.

When she does not surface immediately, a ringside medic fishes her out--apparently Genie too was on her last legs as far as the fight went, and Buck's last flare of power was enough to finish the match for her, too.

COMBATSYS: Genie takes no action.


COMBATSYS: Genie can no longer fight.

Log created on 19:40:22 10/12/2023 by Buck, and last modified on 04:29:35 10/16/2023.