Description: A brutal clash of titans in Howard Arena with an unexpected ending... (Draw Match)
And now it's time for the main event of tonight's show, the fight everybody's been waiting for. Sure, there are often some really incredible matches during the leadup fights, but it's usually the main event that draws the really big crowds. Especially because you usually have big names fighting in them. And for this one? Ryu, fighting the current SNF title holder, Kain... Well, who /wouldn't/ be excited to see this?
Kain, for one, is certainly feeling some excitement, although he shows just as little of that emotion as he tends to do of others. Another chance to fight Ryu, and maybe come out on top this time. He's yet to be able to beat the Ansatsuken fighter, but he's come close...
While Kain's interested in Ryu, the trappings of the fight are of little consequence to him. He strides out into the arena, ignoring the cheering of the fans and the introductions from the announcer. He's here to fight, and to see if he's improved enough to take down one of the greatest fighters in the world...
Similarly interested in the matchup, though not the gathered crowds, the only real attention Ryu pays the announcer is to enter the arena at about the right time, bare feet carrying him calmly up the stonework steps to face Kain. Heinlein's respect is mirrored by the World Warrior and King of Fighters champion... he's keenly aware of what kind of force Kain is capable of bringing to bear, and just how effectively the blonde elitist tends to manage to do so.
A slow nod, carrying that respect, is offered to Kain as the nomad's dark eyes settle on his opponent, a smooth motion of Ryu's hands retightening the knot in his kanji-enscribed black belt. Kain may not have bested him yet, but Ryu is still here to fight at his best, as there's still a battle of ideals to be waged, at least on his own inner landscape... Heinlein's pride, and reckless hate, are concerning to the Ansatsuken master, and the central priority to his life is maintaining his level without such sources.
For the moment he simply breathes, maintains centered readiness as he stands prepared across the arena, letting the announcer run down the last bits of requisite spiel, which isn't what he came here for at all.
Kain extends a hand out toward Ryu, although he refrains from actually pointing at his opponent. Purple flames flares up around his hand for a moment as he speaks. "I've been looking forward to this. Hopefully it will be enlightening." For either him or Ryu, really. Evil though some of his methods may be, Kain is at least not a hypocrite in his view of the world.
As he finishes speaking, Kain quickly draws his hand back, leaving a brief trail of flame in the air before it's extinguished as he slips his hand into his pocket, settling into his combat stance. It seems he's getting ready just in time, too, because it's only a few moments later that the announcer makes his call. "Fight!" They don't like to waste time here at the Howard Arena, it seems.
COMBATSYS: Kain has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kain 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Kain focuses on his next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Kain 0/-------/-------|
A second nod expresses Ryu's simple agreement with, or perhaps acceptance of, Kain's words. Enlightening indeed, and certainly challenging. Not inclined to give Heinlein the time he wants to prepare uncontested, Ryu launches quickly out of his own ready stance as the fight begins, closing the distance between himself and Kain in a flash, a quick sprint bringing him in at Heinlein at an alarming, but surprisingly controlled, pacing. The nomad's right fist crosses the last span of distance between the pair of fighters, as Ryu steps forward on his right foot and puts his body weight behind the descending hammer of a punch, thrown much like a straight but angled from high to low, aligned to crash painfully into Heinlein's solar plexus. Ryu isn't inclined to waste any time, either.
COMBATSYS: Ryu has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Kain 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Ryu
COMBATSYS: Kain fails to interrupt Sakotsu Wari from Ryu with Schwarzer Stob.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Kain 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Ryu
As Ryu comes in, Kain is already starting to spin around, making it clear that he's planning something. As the nomad's fist comes swinging down, Kain finishes turning around, flames trailng his foot as he attempts to drive it into Ryu's side. He's just a bit too slow, however, and the World Warrior's punch slams into him just a moment before he would have connected. His foot still likely brushes against Ryu, but all the force is taken out of the blow as Kain staggers backwards, trying to catch his breath.
Ryu isn't going to complain about not being scorched by that forceful kick... having Heinlein reverse the offensive quite that quickly wasn't what the nomad was going for, and his momentum settles and carries him onward as he feels his fist slam home against Kain's chest, the staggering blonde offered a bit of help in the endeavor by way of a quick follow-up punch, his left fist shooting out to pursue Kain's face as he backpedals, the World Warrior himself pacing his advance, not overcommitting himself to the battle, giving a patient amount of room to Kain, while still pressing the flame-wielder, in this case pressing him by trying to plant a straight left squarely into Heinlein's nose, "Haaah!"
COMBATSYS: Kain blocks Ryu's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Kain 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Ryu
Since his attempt at a counter-offensive didn't work quite as well as hoped, Kain decides to be a bit more cautious this time around. He deflects Ryu's punch with a well placed arm, rather than attempting to slip through the nomad's guard to score a clean hit.
Of course, he'd still /like/ to get a good hit in. That being the case, he tries to take advantage of any opening that Ryu might have left while recovering from his swing. With purple fire flaring up around his foot, Kain strikes upward with a swift kick, trying to drive his foot into Ryu's chest with a great deal of force.
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Schwarze Lanze from Kain with Joudan Sokutou Geri.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Kain 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Ryu
As Ryu's fist meets only hardened defense, the shooting left snaps back to his side, prepared to offer up a defense of his own. In this case, Ryu's reaction involves maintaining the offensive, and Heinlein's rising kick catches a searing, but more glancing blow than it might have... it's still enough to burn rather deeply, but not enough to keep Ryu from reversing the momentum Kain gains as he leans away from the strike, and his right leg bends up towards his body. A quick twist aligns his right side with the rising Kain, and deepning that lean, the World Warrior shoots that potent foot out in a potent thrust-kick that crashes solidly into his opponent, deflecting whatever else might have come, and leaving the nomad with a moment to breathe, and let the painful, chi-created heat in his skin to settle.
And that blow is enough to lift Kain off the ground, knocking him back several feet, where he lands in a hunched over position, one arm crossed over his chest. For a brief moment, as he looks up at Ryu with his hair falling over his eyes, there's a spark of actual anger visible in Kain. This fight is not going well. At all.
When Kain straightens back up and brushes his hair away from his eyes, however, the evidence of his anger is gone. Once more he's all business. And for the moment, it seems that he's a bit hesitant to get into close combat with Ryu again. Thrusting both of his hands toward the World Warrior, Kain launches forth a pair of purple fireballs, which spiral around one another as they shoot through the air toward Ryu.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Kain's Schwarze Flame.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Kain 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
Ryu holds his ground as Kain rights himself, not pressing the attack on the knelt opponent... which is probably luckier for the World Warrior than for Heinlein, right this moment, as it gives the Ansatsuken master time to cross his arms, aligning them with that spiralling pair of flaming blasts, and taking the heated burst squarely on his forearms rather than right in the face and chest. It stings, but it's a lot better. For his part, the nomad flanks Kain patiently, graceful pace unhurried... though it's no mystery how quickly the nomad can shift that to blurring motion, and he continues to approach the fight with the same calm clarity he began with, picking his moments, keeping intent track of his adversary.
COMBATSYS: Ryu focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////////// ]
Kain 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
Kain is still smarting from the last couple of blows, so he's got no intention of letting this become a close range fight until he's good and ready. He turns to follow Ryu as the nomad attempts to flank him, keeping his eyes locked on the man. He's waiting for any movement, any sign that the attack is about to resume. He's not content to just patiently wait for Ryu to take the next move, though. Sometimes that can be useful, but you don't want to let your opponent control the pace of the fight.
And if Ryu's not going to charge in, Kain sees no problem in attempting to pick him off from a distance. So once again the German lashes out toward Ryu, this time sending purple flame streaking out in the form of a wide wave.
COMBATSYS: Ryu slows Schwarze Flame from Kain with Shakunetsu Hadouken.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Kain 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Ryu
There's enough force behind that second gout of flames to totally blow Ryu's plans out of the water, as the spiralling blasts cleave through the center of his own offered chi, a tremendous sphere of fiery reds. Despite the power of his own blast, Kain's is centered and focused enough to reave the Hadouken in twain, and it explodes outwards in a flash of reds as the remnant chi crashes into Ryu, knocking him back a step with a bit of a grunt. That... didn't go quite as intended, but it doesn't seem to be providing any lasting intimidation or concern, the nomad simply clenches his jaw, and refocuses his attention. This one's far from over.
And... There's the kind of chance Kain's been looking for. When Ryu is forced to take a step back, even for a moment, Kain starts rushing in, charging toward the World Warrior at full speed. He leads with his right arm, palm open, and it looks like he's planning to slam the palm of his hand straight on into Ryu's stomach. At the last moment, though, Kain suddenly drops into a slide, attempting to at the same time slip past any counter attack Ryu might have, and bypass his defenses by tagging him on the side. There's little real force behind the blow, but that's not the point. The point is the purple flames which erupt from his hand immediately afterwards, in an attempt to engulf Ryu.
COMBATSYS: Kain successfully hits Ryu with Schwarz Cutter.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kain 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Ryu
Kain certainly picked a good opening, and while Ryu seems ready to move with a bit of distance to spare, even, anticipating the close... it doesn't work out quite that way. Mis-timing in the sidestep, along with the sheer force of Kain's charge, send Ryu sailing aside into a sprawl instead of the intended evasion in that direction, and he tumbles hard to the unforgiving arena floor in something of a jumble, that hit doing more than enough to make up whatever difference his initial momentum had made. Ouch. Pushing back to his feet, Ryu wastes no time in launching himself back in at Heinlein, however, attempting to interject any continued offensive with one of his own, his left fist swinging up and under rather forcefully, aligned with Kain's ribcage.
That breath-stealing blow is only the intended prelude, however, as the nomad launches himself in fully, a tremendous surge of his inner chi adding force to the ferocious uppercut launched by his right fist, which snaps skyward with enough force to carry the nomad's entire form behind it, the big brother of the Rising Dragon launched with a focusing, determined shout, "Shoooooryuuuken!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kain with Shin Shoryuken.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > ///////////// ]
Kain 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Ryu
Kain's not one to linger for long, congratulating himself on a good hit. So he's already getting himself ready for Ryu's next attack. It seems it's not enough, however. The speed of the attack gives him only enough time to get one arm in the way of the rising uppercut, and he isn't able to brace himself well enough. Ryu's able to just knock Kain's guard aside, then blast him right off the ground from the force of the Shin Shoryuken. Kain crashes down heavily onto the arena floor, stunned for a brief moment.
Not for long, though. He climbs back to his feet, and that glint of anger is in his eyes again. "I've been working on this as a 'present' for Geese, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try it out..." Flames flare up around Kain's body, engulfing the whole area around him in fire. But the purple color begins to change, growing darker and darker. At the same time, the temperature in the arena begins to drop noticeably. The Heinlein heir holds one hand out toward Ryu, and all of the fire begins to flow into his palm, forming into a single flickering flame, which is now so black that it seems to absorb light rather than emit it. For anyone sensitive to such things, the aura of hate and anger around Kain is now so strong that it's a wonder he isn't being reduced to ashes right on the spot. Even the normal people in the audience likely start to feel a bad vibe, as Kain loosens some of the mental defenses that keep his anger in check.
And then, suddenly, the flame leaps out from Kain's hand, streaking toward Ryu. If it hits, there's no explosion, there's no burning. In fact, there seems to be little physical damage at all. This fire is a pure evil essence, and when it burns, you feel it most strongly in your soul.
COMBATSYS: Kain successfully hits Ryu with Himmlischer Atem.
[ \\\\\\\\ < > // ]
Kain 0/-------/----===|=======\-------\0 Ryu
Oh, it burns. Maybe not physically, but it burns deeper and more painfully than just about anything Ryu's been hit with. Vega pulled it off, but that's about as far as it goes. It drops him to his knees immediately, teeth clenching tightly as blackness lurks around the edges of his vision. What was a steady performance for him just exploded in his face in a pair of incredibly potent hits, and it's a show even he can't match. The nature of the finishing technique, however, the way it cuts to the quick, has its own effect on Ryu besides the pain, however. He looks.... angry. Very angry. It's probably a good thing that he /doesn't/ have more fight left in him, after that, "You... would..." Is all he manages to get out, almost disbelieving, words terse from anger and pain as he charges Heinlein in one last-ditch attempt, lashing out with all his strength in one last-ditch uppercut, his form launching skyward with intense force, if rather shakily, "Shooooryuuuuken!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\ <
Kain 0/-------/----===|
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Kain with Shin Shoryuken.
[ <
Kain 1/-------/=======|
For his part, it looks like that attack took a lot out of Kain. Manipulating chi is one thing, but that went well above and beyond what he does on a normal basis. Not enough to take him out, but it is enough to leave him staggering for a moment, and that moment is apparently all Ryu needs.
Kain brings his arms up into a defensive position as Ryu launches up at him, and for a moment it really looks like he's going to be able to deflect the attack. But he's too drained, and needs more time to recover. Time that he won't get, as the Shin Shoryuken breaks through his defenses, blasting him off his feet again. He lands heavily on his back, stunned, though not unconcious. It does not, however, look like he's going to be getting up anytime in the next few moments.
Still. Even if he didn't win the fight, he was still successful. And if this means that Geese has seen what he can do? Well, so what? Let him worry about Kain's power...
COMBATSYS: Kain takes no action.
COMBATSYS: Kain can no longer fight.
Similarly, there's no graceful landing out of the Shin Shoryuken for Ryu, though his own descent is likely a bit less out and out painful. He still lands on legs that give out underneath him, however, sprawling to the arena for more than enough time for the announcer to declare the fight a draw, after which point the best the World Warrior can manage is to push back to a crouch, hunched over on one hand as he breathes heavily, and tries to clear the strained haze from his vision. He doesn't look inclined to move right away, himself.
A few moments pass, and finally Kain manages to drag himself to his feet. He doesn't even look at Ryu, simply turning and staggering his way out of the arena. A member of the medical staff attempts to assist him, and is roughly shoved away for his efforts. That attack took more out of Kain that he'd intended, unless the painful throbbing in his head is from different source.
Log created by Ryu, and last modified on 04:07:03 09/21/2005.