Match of the Millennium

Description: Kenzo and Buck once again find themselves facing each other in the NFG. There's probably no two fighters who know their opposition's fighting style better than this pair.

[KENZO]
The thing about getting to Cabo San Juan is that there are only two options for getting there. Hiking the day before or taking a boat from Taganga the day of.

Kenzo, seeing as he wanted to get himself back in shape after getting injured multiple times on the island, chose to hike and then set up camp the night before.

The day of the fight, Kenzo can be seen breaking down his tent as the NFG crew is setting up everything for the day of fighting to take place. When it's time for Kenzo to fight, he's in his combat gear and not looking forward to having to remove sand from it, yet again.

Kenzo takes a moment to stretch and then readies his signature chain weapon.

[BUCK]
Buck has chosen a similar route in, hiking is something he hasn't had much of an opportunity to do lately. Well, traipsing around Zack Island really didn't count, not to him. But he arrived just this morning, having spent his night in the jungle.

He simply dropped his backpack by a tree and went to admire the view out across the water for a bit while everyone got ready. And to quickly snack on some granola bars for breakfast. Three to be exact, and a handful of jerky. He has a peculiar diet.

As the time for the fight approaches he moves into the area set off for the brawl, still dressed in his hiking boots, shorts, and tanktop that he hiked in in.

"Someone upstairs really likes pitting us against each other, huh?" Buck says as he grins at Kenzo, in his usual chipper good mood. The man really doesn't have all that many sour days, though Kenzo was witness to at least one not so long ago.

[KENZO]
The ninja from Southtown's expression takes on an appearance of amusement when Buck arrives.

"It's like they're trying to push a narrative of a rivalry. Either way, I could certainly do worse as far as opponents go."

He's not going to name names when one name gets redacted on all official documents/broadcasts and other he goes out of his way to not talk about because he doesn't view them as worthy of being spoken about.

"That said, there's a couple that I wouldn't mind fighting since I haven't faced them in a 1 on 1 fight."

[BUCK]
"Fair 'nuff" Is Buck's easy response to Kenzo's take on him as an opponent. "Well, get past me and maybe you'll get the chance to cross a few names off the list. 'Course.. there's a couple I'd like to get into a fistfight with myself." Bringing his hands together in front of him he cracks one set of knuckles then the other.

"Personally, I give it fifty-fifty." He shifts his booted feet in the sand, seeing how well his hiking boots give him traction in the loose terrain.

He decides its good enough and settles into his typical brawling stance, bringing his fist up in front of him and giving a nod to the tech ninja extrodinaire. "Ready when you are, bud."

COMBATSYS: Buck has started a fight here.

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

COMBATSYS: Kenzo has joined the fight here.

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

[KENZO]
Kenzo nods. While both of them enjoyed their fights they each wanted to cross some names off their lists.

"Fifty-fifty sounds about right. And bringing an A game isn't a guarantee of success for either of us."

Both were adaptable fighters but Kenzo was someone who relied on a highly refined style with utility attacks that can be used in multiple situations. Buck on the other hand had a constantly changing style and each fight came with something new.

The official gives the signal to start the fight and the ninja rolls a metal orb towards Buck's feet. One that should be familiar to him by now. Should Buck fail to react accordingly, he'll get caught in a burst of stored electrical chi.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Pulse Device.
- Power hit! -

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

[BUCK]
%And there's the pulse grenade. That one always pops out sometime, but not usually an opener that he could remember. He quickly reacts, intending to dive to the side and shield himself with his arms as well as he can manage, only..

Perhaps his traction in the sand isn't as good as he thought it was, and he takes a spill face fist into the ground, followed by taking the pulse full on to send him rolling on his side.

"Meant to do that." He mutters half into the sand.

He slams his hands into the sand and picks himself up enough to look at Kenzo, he opens his mouth, fangs appearing as he stretches his jaw open just a bit too far and launches a glob of snake venom across the beach towards the ninja, using the attack as a cover to get back to his feet.

"Okay, let's try that one again."

COMBATSYS: Kenzo blocks Buck's Spit Take.

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

[KENZO]
The nin-gineer expected the dive and cover. The slip in the sand? Not so much. The cringing from seeing his attack work better than even he expected gets contained just barely in a blink and you'll miss it moment.

When the jaw transforms into a snake jaw, Kenzo already has an idea of what's coming next. He releases the weighted end of the chain to pull out his fan and intercepts the venomous projectile with it. Some of it splashes onto him but he manages to avoid the worst of it. As fast as the fan appears, it disappears just as quickly.

Kenzo darts in to get close before attempting a shoulder throw on Buck to throw him down on the sand and continue to pressure him more.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Mix-Up Throw.

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

[BUCK]
The throw sends Buck back down into the sand, but he doesn't spend any time bemoaning the successful strike, other than etting out a soft laugh as he takes to the ground again.

There's no time wasted in laying on the ground either, as he quickly spins into a recovery, sending sand flying up around him as he shifts about and comes back to his feet, using the spinning motion to bring a fist around. The skin of the swung arm turning a shimmery blue-grey. Sparks start shooting off the limb as he swings at Kenzo, the apex of the punch coming with a sharp crack of exploding bioelectricity.

"C'mon, Bucky boy, back on your game." He chides himself as he swings.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo interrupts Shock & Awe ES from Buck with Whirling Chain Blitz.

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

[KENZO]
As Buck spins into recovery, Kenzo goes into hot pursuit, not willing to let up on the pressure. It turns out to be a mistake but not a dire one because it did put him on the inside of the attack, smothering before the brunt could brought down upon him. Of course the bioelectric detonation was worrisome for Kenzo but he ends up finding a creative solution.

As Kenzo chokes up on the weighted end, shortened so he can operate at a closer range than what would normally be ideal when wielding the chain, he releases a burst of electricity in an attempt to match Buck's to reduce the amount of damage the incoming electricity was doing to him. Their attacks land simultaneously. However, where Buck's electrifying attack ends, Kenzo's is only just beginning as he whips the weighted end to and fro while stepping back. Each repetition came with a with a back step to further extend the range until the onslaught finally ends.

Kenzo's experience on the island has seems to have influenced his strategy. While normally he would be happy to make sure he did as much damage as he could, seeing himself consistently outlasted by his kouhai who would then nearly turn it around. Perhaps some resilience might be required even if he has to be more creative about it than Ishida.

[BUCK]
Buck takes the blows from the weight with only a grunt, backing away from Kenzo with a slight grin. "Not what I meant, come on." He says as he slaps his cheek with his own hand, then shakes himself like a dog coming out of the water.

He takes a deep breath, centering himself as he takes a few circling steps on the sand, he turns his attention inwards, or rather his abilities, as his eyes stay firmly fixed on the tech ninja for the time being. The scratches and bruises that had begun to blossom on his arms and legs where skin is exposed instead begin to fade as he pushes his energy into restoring his body rather than some fancy transformation.

He rolls one arm at the shoulder then sighs. "Much better. Let's try this again."

COMBATSYS: Buck gains composure.

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

[KENZO]
With Buck being forced to back off, Kenzo takes a breath of his own though not nearly as restful or centering as Buck. Kenzo then swaps out the kusari-gama for his war fan.

There's a moment where Kenzo opens and closes the fan with flicks of the wrist. While he was doing that, he was pondering his next move. When the fan closes for the last time, Kenzo makes his move.

Kenzo darts forward, swinging the metal fan like a baton to the thigh and then with another one to the jaw. Even with the current advantage, Kenzo doesn't feel comfortable. In their first fight, Kenzo started out well then too, and both fighters know how that fight turned out.

COMBATSYS: Buck blocks Kenzo's Medium Strike.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Kenzo            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0             Buck

[BUCK]
Buck drops right back into his brawling stance as Kenzo goes back on the attack. It seems the moment Buck took to compose himself worked to get his instincts back on track. He quickly intercepts the fan blows with his forarms, still taking some of the hit but thankfully not to sensitive areas.

Oh yes, their first fight did start off somewhat similar, and their third fight was anything but certain. There is something to be said for having brawled with one individual more than anyone else in the NFG, at least he's not completely in the dark, and one thing he's learned is sometimes simplicity is the best option here.

Sand sprays up behind him as he goes into a quick spin, fott dragging through along the ground before he lifts it, swinging the one booted foot right at Kenzo's side.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo dodges Buck's Medium Kick.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////             ]
Kenzo            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\-------\0             Buck

[KENZO]
Kenzo grunts as his metal fan strikes his opponent on the arms. He nods acknowledging good defense.

As Buck spins Kenzo readies himself to move. Between the combat specs and his fan snapping open, his face was protected from the kicked up sand. He goes to duck under it, the boot manages to connect with air. A look of relief could be seen on the ninja's face. He felt as though it was too close

Kenzo then goes for an ankle pick to yank the non-kicking foot from under Buck in the hopes of sending him falling on his back. To further assist in this, Kenzo snaps the fan shut and delivers a thrust with his fan to drive him down to ground before attempting to roll away.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Armed Combo.

[        \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Kenzo            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\===----\1             Buck

[BUCK]
Buck grunts as he plants his foot back down on the ground without a solid connection. But it's too little too late to keep his balance as he goes down into the sand once more, pushed back to land with an oomph.

"Well then.." He mutters rolling over onto his stomach and planting his hands in the sand, fingers curling as he pushes himself up partway. He doesn't fully rise to his feet, instead he runs at Kenzo on all fours, probably adjusting his limbs to make it a more natural movement that it should be for a normal human.

He only picks up his hands and goes to his feet as he closes in, claws glinting at the end of his fingertips as he launches into a flurry of scratches and swipes.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo endures Buck's Raking It In ES.

[              \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////                  ]
Kenzo            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=======\=====--\1             Buck

[KENZO]
Kenzo seems to borrow a little more from Ishida's playbook. When Buck rushes at Kenzo on all fours. A raised eyebrow is seen above the combat specs a moment before flurry of swipes and strikes begin.

Kenzo, unlike his usual strategy, holds his ground taking each attack across his face and torso but doesn't move. It allows him to create an opportunity.

With Buck so close by, he releases a spherical electric field around himself, large enough catch the shapeshifter in it should Buck fail to escape from it. After the initial burst, the energy field still remains with occasional crackling sounds.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Shocking Shell Stance.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////                       ]
Kenzo            0/-------/-<<<<<<|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2             Buck

[BUCK]
It should be a clue to buck that the normally agile ninja decides to take the attack on the chin, and he seems to clue in on something bing slightly amiss. So even as he rages through his attack, scales begin to grow across his skin, preparing at least something of a defensive measure. Which turns out to come in handy.

As the electricity bursts out around Kenzo, Buck beings his arms together over his face, most of the electric current sliding along the defensive layer of scales. Sure, the skin underneath doesn't escape completely unharmed, and Buck's hair goes rising into the air along the currents, but it doesn't fell him. Not quite yet.

There's a reason Buck usually fights shirtless, and it's not for fan service, though it has garnered him a few loyal followers. But as he stands there his shirt stretches out from his back, then bursts apart in a flurry of black cotton scraps. Four snake heads on sinuous necks break free, sprouting from his shoulders.

Five pairs of eyes lock on Kenzo, slitted and yellow as four fanged mouths snap at the tech ninja in rapid succession, each bite coming with a dose of potent venom.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo blocks Buck's #Ultimate Hydration ES#.

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

[KENZO]
Does Kenzo believe he could dodge the venomous fangs? Yes. Is he willing to bet it all on his ability to avoid them? Not particularly. Just a tiny mistake is all that is needed to be eliminated and he had to much respect for Buck's ability to pounce on his mistakes to risk it. Kenzo fan moves quickly, intercepting all but one but even then, his energy field prevents the fangs from the last serpent going as deep enough to end his tournament run before it truly can begin.

"You're a scary man when you're not a walking puppy filter."

Kenzo's lips turn upward in a smile. His fights with Buck have always been his most enjoyable and it shows on his face. He then focuses in on the snake head that used to be Buck's face as he adjusts his stance. The energy still crackling around him.

The movement is sudden as Kenzo darts forward and with a snap of his wrist delivers a smack with his fan and just as quickly as he darted in, he's back out holding his fan in a guarded stance.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo successfully hits Buck with Reaction Strike.

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

[BUCK]
"Nature's like that, cute and scary all in one toothy package." Buck quips back, with a bit of a sibilant hiss. As Kenzo darts for his face, he tries to interject one of the other snake heads for his, or confuse him to which is the real target, but the ninja finds the ball under the cup and the fan strikes true as the multiple heads sink back into his shoulders.

Buck sways a little, squinting at Kenzo. Then in his sway he tips forward, taking a few long strides towards his opponent, horns curling out from his skull as it grows thicker.

Then he rears back, and attepts to drive his skull into Kenzo's with one final blow.

Regardless if it connects, he sways again and falls over backwards into the sand like a kid trying to make a snow angel, his eyes staring up at the blue sky.

"Sorry, I don't think I can move anymore right now.." He mutters, maybe to himself, maybe to Kenzo. His body is patching itself up, but it's clear his limit has been reached until he rests up.

COMBATSYS: Buck can no longer fight.

[                     \\\\\\\\\  <
Kenzo            1/------=/=======|

COMBATSYS: Buck successfully hits Kenzo with Bullheaded.

[                           \\\  <
Kenzo            1/----===/=======|

[KENZO]
Kenzo manages to win the game of five snake monty and catches Buck with the fan. The ninja's body was already starting to wear down but still he was trying to be prepared for Buck to take him down with him.

As Buck starts to grow horns, Kenzo knows what the attack is going to be and where it's going to go. Unfortunately he can't bring his fan up and what little remains of that defensive energy field doesn't keep enough of the impact of the headbutt to keep himself standing.

Kenzo's vision starts swimming before he finds consciousness leaving him.

COMBATSYS: Kenzo takes a moment to do absolutely nothing.


COMBATSYS: Kenzo can no longer fight.

Log created on 20:02:24 12/08/2024 by Kenzo, and last modified on 12:23:05 12/16/2024.