Match of the Millennium

Description: Stuck in the studio alone after rehearsal, Raiza has a shocking encounter with the supernatural.

[LUCKY CHLOE]
Lucky Chloe is not as young as she used to be. At the grand old age of twenty-one, she's on the mature side for an idol. Despite this, her fans still seem to be mostly female tweeners. The combination of pink and pussycats in her costume is like catnip to the demographic. Of course, there are also some concerningly enthusiastic middle-aged men who buy tickets to all her shows, but if they're willing to pay the price of the increasingly expensive tickets, then the pop princess will put up with it.

Speaking of shows, she's got a sell-out event in Southtown next week, so rehearsals have been pretty intense. Today, Chloe and her dancers have been practising for ten hours, with only a twenty-minute break, in a studio on the outskirts of the city. Identical twin acrobats Gen and Ginko have already left for the evening. Now Chloe and one of her backup dancers, a perky redhead named Cherry, are waiting by the doorway for the other backup dancer, Raiza, to finish gathering her things.

"Raiza! I clearly told you I had to meet Brian at eight for dinner," Chloe calls sharply. "I need to shower and change my clothes yet, and I have no intention of being late."

Chloe's insistence on punctuality, along with not tolerating any missteps or illness, is familiar to those in her employment. "If you're not over here in the next minute, we're going without you."

[RAIZA]
"Sorry! I'll... ummm... you guys can go on ahead!" Raiza's voice comes from inside the studio. No further explanation comes, though it might have something to do with the fact that there's only been one twenty-minute break in the last ten hours, and it might have something to do with the fact that the sushi catering spent much of the early part of the rehearsal waiting for that twenty-minute break, and it might have something to do with the fact that Raiza decided to have the spicy mayo crab sushi.

"Don't worry, I'll lock up. Oh, but can you take that t-shirt I got for Brian to sign? Kthanksbye!!"

Such is the glamor of life on tour with Lucky Chloe, in between Raiza's other career pursuits - namely, working on her comic and studying for her arts degree.

Eventually, Raiza emerges from the restroom in her backup dancer's costume, smelling freshly of lavender hand soap, a doodle of a new character design tucked into the front due to a lack of pockets, a black satchel with a Pikachu keyring dangling off the end slung over her shoulder. "Right, let's see here..."

[LUCKY CHLOE]
Chloe rolls her eyes and lets out a dramatic sigh. "Fine!" She shouts across the studio. "Remember to turn off the lights and lock-up when you leave, though."

She does remember to grab the t-shirt before she leaves. It's black and depicts her blond boyfriend on the front of it.

With that, Chloe and Cherry are gone, leaving Raiza alone in the empty and rather chilly building. After all, nobody wants the heat on when they're drilling dance routines.

As Raiza emerges from the bathroom, she is suddenly plunged into darkness. It seems someone else has decided to help her out by turning off the lights on her behalf!

[RAIZA]
Raiza is preoccupied with a KikTok post from Mai Shiranui on her phone as she emerges and starts wandering in the vague direction of the exit.

"Jeez... I can't believe Chloe's so cheap she argued for a rent discount for keeping the heating off..." Raiza murmurs as wraps her arms around herself and shivers slightly. When the lights go off, though, she blinks invisibly in the dark.

"Hey, guys! I'm still in here!" she calls out into the void that surrounds her, face only faintly lit by the light of her phone. "Chloe? We said I'd turn the lights off, remember?"

Turning over the possibilities in her head, she follows up, "Hey! Is that you, Hisashi-san?! This isn't funny, and it's definitely not 'legit ninja training.' Just like it wasn't when you stole my uniform during the winter hot springs trip! I asked Hiroko-Sama!"

[LUCKY CHLOE]
As Raiza makes her accusations towards her innocent cousin, a low humming sound can be heard in the studio, reminiscent of an electrical device. It grows steadily louder, developing into an strange vibration that seems to come from every corner of the room.

Soon, a faint crackling noise begins to accompany the hum. Then, quick as a flash, a brief violet flicker illuminates the darkness, casting distorted shadows across the studio walls.

An enormous shape can be glimpsed reflected in one of the mirrors. Something that bears only the vaguest resemblance to a human being.

[RAIZA]
"And she might have laughed, but -"

Raiza goes quiet as the electric hum passes through the studio, instinctively shifting to take cover behind a supporting wall as something appears in the mirror.

"Oh, crap," she murmurs under her breath as her eyes fix on the reflection briefly before searching for its source in the darkness. Quietly as she can, she carefully unzips the satchel slung from her shoulder and starts fishing past the collection of pen and brush cases to pull out a handful of sharp objects - also known, for a working ninja, as the tools of the trade - which she quickly and deftly tucks about her person. It's hard to avoid making at least a little noise as she pulls the last of them, though - a seemingly impossibly long chain to have been stored in her bag, with two blunted kama-shaped hooks at the ends.

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The faint metallic clinking of Raiza's weapons is almost disguised by the continued electrical humming, which reverberates throughout the darkened studio. Another pulse of violet light illuminates the room, this time lingering long enough to reveal the monstrous figure lurking within.

Standing at least eight feet tall, the creature possesses a hulking, vaguely humanoid frame, its enormous shoulders giving way to disproportionately long arms that terminate in wickedly curved claws. Its skin is charcoal-black, resembling scorched stone, with a network of jagged fissures running across its body. From deep within these cracks emanate an eerie violet luminescence, interspersed with flashes of electric blue that pulse and flicker like lightning trapped beneath its flesh.

Perhaps most disturbing of all is its head. Elongated and utterly devoid of recognisable features, it possesses neither eyes nor nose, nor anything that might pass for a mouth. There is no expression to decipher, no indication of thought or emotion.

For several seconds, the abomination remains perfectly motionless, its enormous silhouette reflected in the studio mirrors. Then, as the final length of Raiza's chain emerges from her satchel, the monster turns sharply, its head snapping towards the sound.

The violet fissures across its chest flare with sudden intensity, streaks of electric blue racing along its enormous arms. Its shoulders hunch forward, and its clawed hands spread wide as it lowers itself into a predatory stance. The humming rises to an almost deafening pitch, while the creature remains poised on the brink of movement, its attention now fixed upon Raiza.

COMBATSYS: The Hollow has started a fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
The Hollow       0/-------/------=|

[RAIZA]
Liza Eddow has seen some sh**.

She's met the God of Thunder in person. She's found herself trapped in a Call of Duty-style shootout between ninjas and corporate soldiers. She's seen Lucky Chloe react to a bad gig review.

(Okay, she hasn't really played Call of Duty, but she assumes there must be ninjas at some point.)

But none of that's quite as horrifying as a purple slenderman Stranger Things-ing its way into the building she's trapped alone in in the dark.

Wait, trapped? Her? A ninja?

"Yeah, I'm totally swiping left here," the brunette informs the faceless void before vaulting up, latching onto one of the dysfunctional fluorescent overheads to try and swing herself back the creature and bolt for the door to the corridor.

"Nice costume, though!"

COMBATSYS: Raiza has joined the fight here.

[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////////////]
Raiza            0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The creature offers no snappy response to Raiza's sarcastic remarks. Its featureless head simply tilts slightly as the ninja launches herself towards the overhead light

For a brief instant, it remains mostly motionless, the violet fissures across its charcoal-black body pulsing with an increasingly frantic rhythm. Then, as the ninja swings towards an escape, the monstrous entity suddenly springs into action.

Moving with astonishing speed for something of its considerable size, the abomination twists its enormous frame towards Raiza, one disproportionately long arm sweeping upwards in a vicious arc. Its wickedly curved claws slice through the darkness, accompanied by a sharp electrical crackle as it attempts to catch the fleeing woman before she can reach the safety of the corridor.

COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks The Hollow's Monstrous Strike.

[  \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////////////// ]
Raiza            0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
Raiza lets out a yelp as the faceless stalker swipes for her. A sweep of her foot kicks the lanky limb away as it gets close, but the creature's claws cleave right through the fixture she's still dangling from, causing her to drop ass-first onto the hard performance floor below.

"Ouch! Get away from me, creep!" she yells as she kips backward onto her feet before throwing herself into a back handspring toward the doors to the corridor, aiming to crash right through them. With the same motion, a large, spinning star is loosed from where she'd tucked it into one of her costume's many belts to fly crackling with blue lightning toward the sinister apparition!

COMBATSYS: Raiza successfully hits The Hollow with Lightning Shuriken.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Raiza            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The Hollow's enormous arm completes its sweeping arc, leaving the shattered remains of the fluorescent light fixture dangling precariously from the ceiling. Its head turns to track Raiza's movements, the violet fissures across its body pulsing more powerfully now.

Then comes the projectile. The spinning star strikes the creature squarely in the upper torso, its sharpened edges biting into the charcoal-black flesh.

The Hollow recoils violently, a shower of violet sparks bursting from the point of impact. For a split second, the electrical discharge illuminates something deeply unnatural beneath its fractured exterior, a shifting darkness that seems to possess neither flesh nor bone.

The monster staggers backwards, one massive claw rising towards the wound. The electrical humming that accompanies its presence falters, dropping into an uneven vibration. Then, slowly, its elongated head lifts towards the fleeing ninja.

The fissures across its chest begin to pulse more rapidly, violet and electric blue mingling as the humming rises. Whatever pain the attack has inflicted, the Hollow's attention remains unwaveringly fixed upon its potential prey.

With a sudden, sharp crackle, the creature extends a clawed hand towards the ninja. The fissures running along its arm flare brilliantly, supernatural energy gathering around its outstretched fingers in a swirling mass of violet and electric blue. The electrical humming rises to a piercing whine before the accumulated energy erupts forward in a concentrated bolt, hurtling through the darkness in the direction of Raiza!

COMBATSYS: Raiza dodges The Hollow's Energy Blast.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Raiza            0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
Smashing hips-first through the doors and sending them swinging, Raiza completes the springing motion by hitting the ground hands-first before flipping onto her feet. Still facing toward the otherworldly menace, she catches a glimpse of the crackling violet-blue energy gathering, the flapping doors causing its glow to flicker across the corridor.

"Hey! That's kind of my thing, jerk!" the ninja declares, suddenly indignant at the imminently-unleashed energy - but the scowl quickly fades to widened eyes as she throws herself sidelong into a cartwheel just before the blast blows the doors off their hinges and slams into the interior window of an administrative office at the hall's end, sending glass flying.

"Hmmph... I'll show you how it's done!" Raiza says as she flicks shards from her ponytail and drops into a low stance. As she lets out a traditional stealthy ninja kiai, blue lightning courses around her, her body trembling with potential energy, another hum joining the sound coming from the purple pursuer.

COMBATSYS: Raiza crackles with electricity!

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Raiza            0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0       The Hollow

COMBATSYS: The Hollow focuses on his next action.

[   \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////////     ]
Raiza            0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The destruction wrought by the Hollow's electrical discharge is met with utter indifference by the creature responsible. Beyond the shattered remains of the studio doors, its enormous silhouette stands motionless. As Raiza begins gathering her own supernatural energy however, something changes.

The fissures running across the abomination's body suddenly flare with renewed intensity, streaks of electric blue racing along its elongated limbs. Its head jerks towards the ninja, and the low electrical humming emanating from its frame deepens into an almost palpable vibration. Slowly and steadily, it advances through the ruined doorway, its curved claws hanging at its sides as it emerges into the corridor.

For several seconds, the Hollow simply stands there, its attention seemingly captivated by the lightning coursing around Raiza's body. The pulsing in its chest has an increasingly rapid rhythm, as though responding to some stimulus.

The creature's hands flex, and the darkness within it seems somehow deeper than before.

Then, with deliberate focus, the creature lowers its centre of gravity, drawing its arms closer to its body. The electrical humming becomes a more sustained, ominous drone as violet-blue energy begins gathering beneath its fractured skin. Whatever unnatural instinct drives this monstrous entity, it seems to care about nothing else but the young woman standing before it.

[RAIZA]
The energy around Raiza seems to crackle faster and faster as she adjusts her stance, her left side facing toward the mysterious interloper. The two stare each other down as the lights flicker overhead, stray arcs of electricity dancing through the building's power grid to momentarily revive what the creature's presence has sapped like the pulse of an electric heartbeat.

Then, like a bullet fired from a railgun, Raiza suddenly rockets forward, almost uncontrolled in her sudden flight - aiming to crash sidelong hips-first into whatever the monstrosity that's emerged to interrupt her exit might be, the wreathe of electric power threatening to channel directly into the creature should she crash cannonball-like as intended into her tormentor!

"SANDABADOBURINKU!"

COMBATSYS: The Hollow blocks Raiza's Empowered Thunderbird Blink EX.

[    \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////////        ]
Raiza            0/-------/---====|======-\-------\0       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
As Raiza hurtles towards the monstrous entity, the Hollow's enormous arms sweep across its torso, forming a defensive barrier just as the ninja crashes into it. The impact sends a violent tremor through its hulking frame, driving the creature backwards several feet as its cruel curved claws scrape against the corridor floor. Blue lightning erupts across its charcoal-black exterior, momentarily overwhelming the violet luminescence emanating from its skin.

The creature shudders beneath the electrical assault, fresh cracks spreading across its already fractured surface. The low humming that accompanies its presence becomes a discordant, almost anguished vibration, before gradually settling into a deeper, more ominous resonance.

Yet even as the supernatural energy courses through its body, the Hollow refuses to yield completely. Its elongated face focuses on Raiza, seemingly transfixed by the extraordinary concentration of magical energy she possesses.

Then, with terrifying suddenness, the creature uncrosses its enormous arms. Violet-blue energy surges along one elongated limb, gathering around its claws until they blaze with blue light. Twisting its torso, the Hollow lashes out with a dangerous and devastating electrified strike, attempting to drive its clawed hand into the ninja before she can recover from her own explosive assault!

COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks The Hollow's Energy Strike.

[       \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  /////////////////////         ]
Raiza            0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
After slingshotting into the purple entity, Raiza rebounds off, landing on her hands and knees. "See... not... so tough, are you?" she pants as she rubs the side of her hip, one eye shut tight as the other searches for an update on her opponent's status. As its claws shoot toward her, she brings both kama of her kusarigama up in a cross, catching the appendage's sharpness before it can slice into her. Foreign electricity arcs off of the attack, causing minor burns and twitches across the kunoichi's skin as the attack is dispersed.

"What the heck are you, even?!" she shouts as she skids back across the ground and starts to spin. With a single fluid motion, she produces and unleashes a barbed flurry of kunai, the tiny daggers flying at the creature like a deadly cloud! A moment after they connect - whether with the stalker or with the environment - electric energy will course through her body and into them, electrifying whatever they've touched!

"KUNAI NO SHUCHU GOU!" Raiza calls her attack out in traditional ninja fashion.

COMBATSYS: Raiza successfully hits The Hollow with Cloudburst Kunai.
Glancing Blow

[         \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Raiza            0/-------/----===|=======\-------\1       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The Hollow's electrified claws collide with Raiza's crossed weapons, sending a shower of sparks scattering across the corridor. The creature presses forward for a moment, seemingly intent on forcing its way through her defence, before the ninja's resistance brings the attack to a halt. It withdraws its hand, the last traces of violet energy crawling between its talons.

Raiza's questions receive no answer. Instead, the abomination watches her begin to spin, reacting only when the first of her kunai come hurtling towards it. The creature jerks sideways, narrowly avoiding the centre of the barrage, but several blades still tear across its shoulder and chest. Others strike the walls behind it, and a heartbeat later, the entire corridor erupts in blue electrical light. The Hollow convulses as the current races through its body, its claws digging furrows into the plaster as it struggles to maintain its footing.

When it finally regains its balance, the creature wrenches itself away from the damaged wall. Several fresh gouges mar its blackened exterior, but its attention remains firmly fixed upon the ninja. Without warning, it surges forward, swinging a clenched fist towards Raiza in a sweeping blow, seeking to batter aside her defences through sheer brute force.

COMBATSYS: The Hollow successfully hits Raiza with Medium Punch.

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Raiza            1/-------/=======|=======\=------\1       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
"Ha... yeah. See? You can't shock me. I'm the Shock Mistr-eurk!"

The Hollow's warningless resurgence catches Raiza off-guard as it lurches toward her. She tries to duck, but the creature's sweeping fist sends her flying backward through the windowframe into the office, where she crashes into a computer and sends the monitor exploding into a wall.

"Tch... rude," Raiza remarks as she finds herself splayed across the administrative assistant's desk on her back, boots in the air. Gathering her senses, she swings her legs and throws herself back off the desk, landing on her feet and planting a hand against the ground as she starts to gather energy again.

"You're going to be so sorry... when you have to tell whoever sent you that you got your butt kicked by an art student!!" she calls out as blue light engulfs her with crackling purpose.

COMBATSYS: Raiza crackles with electricity!

[               \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  //////////////////            ]
Raiza            1/------=/=======|=======\=------\1       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The Hollow remains in the corridor for a moment, surveying the destruction left by its latest attack. Through the shattered office window, Raiza's voice carries clearly, although her taunts provoke no discernible reaction. Instead, the creature approaches the opening, placing one clawed hand against the damaged frame before forcing its bulk through. Splintered wood and fragments of glass tumble to the floor as it enters the cramped administrative office.

The room is scarcely large enough to accommodate the intruder comfortably. Its shoulders brush against the ceiling, and an overturned chair is crushed beneath one heavy foot.

Across the ruined desk, Raiza is gathering another concentration of electrical energy, the blue radiance casting sharp, shifting shadows over the scattered paperwork and broken computer equipment.

The Hollow hesitates, apparently captivated by the ninja girl's energy. It seems to exert an almost irresistible pull upon it. Its fingers twitch uncontrollably, and the persistent electrical hum rises to a shrill, erratic whine. Something has changed within the creature, its already unnatural movements becoming increasingly restless and unpredictable.

Then, abandoning any pretence of caution, the abomination surges forward with startling speed. Its massive leg swings out in a vicious sideways kick aimed at Raiza's midsection, threatening to send her crashing into whatever remains of the office furniture.

COMBATSYS: Raiza blocks The Hollow's Medium Kick.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ///////////////////           ]
Raiza            1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
The room seems to shrink around Raiza as the dark entity follows her into the office, its size leaving little room for escape. Her kama cross instinctively as the creature suddenly surges forward, catching the thing's foot with enough strength to avoid getting kicked in the midsection, but not enough resistance to avoid getting driven sideways into a filing cabinet, sending papers full of worrying numbers scattering as drawers slide out of it. To the future relief of the building's owners, the sparks flying wildly off of Raiza ignite several, which start rapidly blackening and curling into ash.

"Urgh!"

An unladylike growl escapes from Raiza as her eyes flash with reflected blue light.

"I've... had it with you!"

With that, in a sudden burst of speed, she'll attempt to drive the hooked ends of her kama into the creature's shoulders while spinning into a high reverse kick, aiming to put the thing straight through the ceiling with a burst of thunderous energy.

If that works, she'll keep hold of the chain connecting the ends of the kusarigama, arresting its movement before it can get far and yanking it back down while flipping forward, aiming to slam backside-first into it and drive it through the desk previously behind it!

"DENKI SAJI!"

COMBATSYS: The Hollow blocks Raiza's Empowered Electric Surge EX.

[                  \\\\\\\\\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Raiza            1/----===/=======|=======\====---\1       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The Hollow barely has time to react before Raiza's hooked weapons come hurtling towards it. Throwing its forearms across its upper body, it catches the kama against its hardened exterior before the barbed edges can find their way deeper into its flesh.

The ninja's electrified kick follows almost immediately, striking the monster with a thunderous impact that drives it backwards into a metal filing cabinet. The cabinet buckles beneath its weight, and a shock of blue lightning sends the remaining drawers bursting from their runners.

The Hollow braces itself against the wreckage, denying Raiza the purchase she needs to complete her attempted throw.

For a moment, the creature remains hunched over against the ruined cabinet. Its damaged body trembles, the fractures across its surface widening. The office fills with a harsh whining sound, accompanied by an acrid smell. Despite its suffering, the monster's attention never leaves Raiza. The energy she has unleashed is both unbearable and attractive in its intensity.

Then the Hollow erupts into motion.

With a speed at odds with its hulking proportions, it launches itself towards the ninja, both arms lashing out in a savage succession of blows. Each movement is accompanied by a burst of violet-blue electricity, the creature's physical assault merging with an increasingly violent supernatural discharge.

It attempts to batter through Raiza's defences with crushing fists and hooked claws, driving relentlessly forward as desks, chairs and filing cabinets are threatened by its advance.

Finally, the abomination draws back one arm, the fissures along its length blazing almost white as energy concentrates around its clenched fist. With a deafening electrical crack, it hurls the accumulated force towards Raiza in one final, desperate strike, threatening to engulf her in a torrent of supernatural lightning and pulverising physical force!

COMBATSYS: The Hollow successfully hits Raiza with Monstrous Onslaught.

[                            \\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Raiza            1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
Though her assault initially seems to gain the upper hand for Raiza, her attempts to sling and slam the specter prove fruitless. She tries to fend off the creature's battering fists and claws with her kama as it returns on the counterattack, but a stray hook breaks through her guard, sending her stumbling backward and leaving her open to the full assault as she's smashed through office equipment and slashed by the creature's crackling claws, leaving her outfit shredded.

She's just about regained her footing in the brief reprieve when she recognizes the gathering energy.

"Oh... crap...!!"

*KTHOOM*

The wall explodes outwards with the force of the impact as she's sent crashing through drywall and further through the exterior window of the adjacent corridor, tumbling across paving stones as she's blown clear into the courtyard of the dance studio. Overhead, storm clouds have already gathered, and a warm wind brushes over the young ninja's face as she slowly regains her vision.

"Ungh... what a lame... way to go..." she murmurs as the first droplet of rain hits her face.

Lifting her head up and looking around at the cherry trees, she amends, "Okay, it could be worse..."

The ninja loosens her grip on one of her kama as she rises, instead shifting her hand to hold the chain and guide the weapon's end into a controlled, accelerating spin, sparks of energy crackling along the chain as it gathers speed. Ravaged and bloody, she turns her gaze toward the gap in the window she just blew through, her expression hardening into focus.

"Raijin-sama... I could maybe use a little help here..." she murmurs under her breath.

For a moment, the young ninja remains motionless apart from the accelerating whirl of her weapon, the first few drops of rain hissing into steam as they strike the electrically charged chain.

Then, with a sharp exhalation, she springs into motion.

"Haaaaah!!"

Launching herself forward in a low, twisting cartwheel, Raiza sends the spinning kama sweeping out ahead of her in a wide, crackling arc, its chain extending to carry the hooked blade around her flank as she closes the distance. Rather than following the weapon's path, she abruptly plants one hand against the ground and pivots around it, whipping her legs overhead in a dizzying reversal of direction.

The movement sends the second kama scything across from the opposite side, threatening to catch the specter between two converging arcs as Raiza twists through the gap beneath them.

Whether her blades find their mark or not, she has no intention of remaining within reach of another counterattack. Using the momentum of her rotation, she'll spring clear in a backward handspring, drawing the chain taut as she flips away and bringing both weapons back under her control.

COMBATSYS: Raiza prepares to take her last stand against The Hollow!

[                         \\\\\  < >  ////////////////              ]
Raiza            1/=======/=======|-------\-------\0       The Hollow

COMBATSYS: The Hollow blocks Raiza's Evasive Strike.

[                         \\\\\  < >  //////////////                ]
Raiza            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0       The Hollow

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The Hollow stands its ground as Raiza's electrically charged kama moves towards it. The first blade strikes its raised forearm, sending a shower of violet sparks scattering through the darkness. The second catches it across the shoulder, tearing through the shifting substance of its body. By the time the creature recovers, Raiza has already sprung clear of its reach.

For an instant, the creature's outline flickers and distorts, accompanied by the familiar low, electrical hum that has accompanied its movement throughout the encounter with the ninja.

It staggers half a step, but there is no cry of pain, no expression of anger. The spectre simply straightens slowly and turns its attention towards the courtyard beyond the shattered window.

There, through the falling rain, it can still sense Raiza's chi, which was what attracted it here in the first place. The energy crackling along her weapons only makes the sensation more appealing. Deep within its hollow form, the monster's hunger intensifies.

With a sudden, supernatural burst of speed, the creature surges through the ruined wall and into the open air. Its form flickers against the gathering storm clouds as it lands upon the paving stones, claws scraping across the wet surface.

For a moment, it stands motionless, facing the young ninja. Then the humming begins again, growing steadily louder as it advances towards her.

Rather than attempting to seize the ninja, The Hollow throws its entire weight into the charge, aiming to smash into her with enough force to send her sprawling across the courtyard. There is nothing calculated about the assault, only the desperate hunger driving the creature towards the energy it so desperately craves.

COMBATSYS: The Hollow successfully hits Raiza with Monstrous Impact.

[                                < >  /////////////                 ]
Raiza            2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|==-----\-------\0       The Hollow

[RAIZA]
Raiza lands on the paving stones in the middle of the courtyard, her form slumping in the rain, shoulders sagging as pain starts to well up all over her body where adrenaline was keeping her ready. Her vision wavers as she does, the form before her flickering in the middle distance. She draws in a breath, holding it, waiting for the next move, but everything goes black just for a moment as she nearly loses consciousness - and as her vision returns with a jolt, the creature is already nearly upon her.

"!"

Letting out the wordless sort of exclamation that only anime and video game characters can normally produce, she tries to throw herself out of the thing's path, only to be slammed out of the air, tackled across the courtyard in a catastrophic tumble. Consciousness fades in and out as she strikes pavement again and again until everything goes still.

Opening her eyes, she sees the Hollow hovering over her, the abyss staring coldly back at her. Somehow, she can sense its hunger - the yearning behind that hum that seems to grow stronger in the presence of her chi.

At the same time, she can sense its guard lowering.

"Okay... if that's what you want..."

Forcing her legs into action, she whips them up, aiming to encircle them around the creature's middle as sparks start to fly between them. The clouds overhead darken and swirl faster as rainwater soaks through the trampled kunoichi's clothes. Everything seems to slow to a crawl for a moment as she presses two fingers of her right hand to her lips, then reaches them up toward the Hollow's empty visage.

Suddenly, a black umbrella flicks open in her left hand.

Above, the heavens surge.

*KRAKOW*

A bolt of pure lightning channels through the metal umbrella, through Raiza's body and fingers, threatening to carry directly into the creature if it isn't quick enough!

COMBATSYS: Raiza can no longer fight.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
The Hollow       0/-------/-----==|

COMBATSYS: The Hollow dodges Raiza's Spark of Romance EX.

[                 \\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
The Hollow       0/-------/-----==|

[LUCKY CHLOE]
The Hollow seems oblivious to the danger gathering overhead. Its attention is fixed upon Raiza, drawn towards the supernatural energy coursing through her battered body. The gesture of her fingers provokes little reaction, nor does the sudden appearance of the umbrella. Only when the air itself begins to tremble does something within the creature appear to recognise the impending threat.

With a dramatic convulsion, the abomination wrenches itself away from the fallen ninja, its battered limbs carrying it clear just as the sky seems to split apart. Lightning strikes the raised umbrella with a deafening explosion, bathing the courtyard in blinding white light.

The Hollow's silhouette is highlighted against the backdrop of the building before darkness and rainfall disguise it once more.

When the thunder finally fades, the creature stands several yards away, motionless beneath the downpour. Water streams across its fractured exterior, hissing faintly where it encounters the residual energy still flickering beneath the surface. Its elongated head turns towards Raiza, but the ninja's earlier brilliance has diminished. The intoxicating promise of supernatural power has given way to something altogether quieter.

Slowly, the Hollow approaches. It crouches beside the defeated woman, one clawed hand extending towards her before stopping just short of contact. For several seconds, it remains there, as though waiting for something that will never come. Then the hand withdraws.

The sound of an approaching voice and footsteps abruptly break the silence. "I can't believe I forgot my cell phone." Lucky Chloe huffs to her wrestler boyfriend, Brian Storm. The sounds of them searching around the studio can be heard in the distance before they emerge into the courtyard and discover the destruction.

The Hollow straightens, turning towards the newcomers. For one dreadful moment, the creature stands perfectly still, towering over Raiza's motionless body. Then, without warning, it bolts. Its long limbs carry it across the courtyard at rapid speed, disappearing into the darkness beyond the building before Chloe or Brian can react fully.

Left alone with the unconscious ninja, the couple can only stare after the fleeing monstrosity. The rain continues to pour down, washing over the cracked paving stones and the aftermath of the battle. "Oh my gosh, Raiza!" Chloe lets out a horrified squeal. "Brian, pick her up off the ground now! If she catches a cold, she won't be able to dance at the show next week."

COMBATSYS: The Hollow takes no action.

[                \\\\\\\\\\\\\\  <
The Hollow       0/-------/------=|

COMBATSYS: The Hollow has ended the fight here.


[RAIZA]
Raiza shudders on the ground, the lightning's energy having long since faded from her body, the umbrella now smouldering beside her. She holds up one hand in a half-conscious daze. "Hey... anyone got a quarter I can borrow?" she asks hazily, before losing consciousness fully.

Log created on 13:06:07 11/01/2026 by Raiza, and last modified on 15:13:10 11/03/2026.