Description: Chun-Li and Iori cause major collateral damage to a church! Film at 11. (Winner: Iori)
"Brothers, sisters, loved ones of every colour and creed..." The voice of a slightly overweight priest drones out across the interior of a picturesque church. He's been going on for some time, bumbling about in front of the rolling cameras and being stared at in no appreciative manner by the crowd here for thrills, spills, blood, honour, and good ol' wire-fu. It seems like this particular event might be a lost cause, but then-
"WELCOME... TO SATURDAY!" Pyrotechnics trigger, illuminating the dramatic stained glass window looking out across the long chamber that forms the central hub of the building. Those (un?)lucky enough to have seats right in the pews, literally in the middle of the action, jump quite visibly at the sudden burst of action, as red and gold sparks flitter down from the eaves to fill the ancient building with an exuberant display of light and noise. "NIGHT... FIIIIIIGHT!" A final explosion as a row of Roman Candles explode their loads in sequence, running two identical lines up the middle of the church. It's quite the display - makes one wonder just how much they spend on these fights!
As the noise dies, it is replaced with the tinkle of traditional Chinese music - or what passes for such in the popular media - and the invisible announcer introduces the first contestant as the befuddled priest waddles away from his altar. A bright white light shines down through what now seems relatively gloomy, to illuminate one side entrance of the church... one for each fighter, of course.
"She's been a long time away from our eyes, but not from our hearts, and now the people of Japan are pleased to welcome back... THE STRONGEST WOMAN IN THE WOOOORLD! CHUN-LI!!!" And the audience, filling balconies to either side with exception of the rich types in the pews who clearly don't realise they'll be fleeing after the first few blows, goes wild.
The woman herself steps out into the once-peaceful religious sanctuary with eyes slightly wide, eyebrows raised. She can't quite believe what she's signed herself up for - it all seems a little over hyped and more than a little tacky, though now that the fireworks have died down it does leave the building looking rather breathtakingly beautiful, evening sunlight streaming in narrow shafts through the stained glass. Swallowing her mild shock, Chun-Li strides up to the large open area in front of the altar, adjusting the bracelets upon her wrists before coming to a halt. After bowing in turn to each sweep of the audience, she turns to await her opponent, willing her focus and determination to return...
And from the opposite entrance strides a man who's equally dissatisfied with the pomp and fanfare of Southtown's premier weekly attraction.
Despite the ire that's sure to ensure, the red-haired man gets announced anyway as soon as he enters the bright lights. "And on this side we have the defender, the man who fells giants left and right, the bad boy Southtown just loves to hate... IIIIORI YAGAMIIIII!"
His pace doesn't falter, his baleful glare never parts from his opponent. As always, he's here for the fight... not the fan appeal. Though there are =quite= a few fans of his in the audience... it's not that he really gives them a second glance.
Instead... he approaches the altar with a scornful look upon his face. "Strongest or not... you're still a woman," he rumbles in low tones, glancing over Chun-Li's shoulder briefly. "Let's get this farce over with." And with that, he wastes no time... simply sliding his feet apart, shoulders rolling forward as his fingertips spread into a ready position. Waiting... for the announcer to give the word.
COMBATSYS: Iori has started a fight here.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li has joined the fight here.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Iori's opponent watches his approach with keen interest, fading out the background hubbub and the inane panderings of the over-excited announcer. Certainly people are entitled to their entertainment, and she does not begrudge the proceedings - merely fails to understand why the fight alone cannot be enough. The expression upon her face is serious and stoic by the time Iori speaks his piece, but his words manage to bring a sardonic smirk to the woman's lips.
"I'm glad to see you're keeping up..." Chun-:Li retorts, tailing off and offering one final bow, hands pressed together at her chest; this one for her opponent. Whatever his attitude, she'll keep to her own code of honour. Besides... this is hardly the first time she has heard the name Iori Yagami, and the world's strongest woman has nothing but respect for his abilities. His execution being quite another matter.
She barely registers the call of the announcer, but it does come. A fraction before she starts forward to close the distance with Kyo's nemesis, her booted feet causing a cascading echo to rise to the eaves as she picks up speed, on her fourth step entering a headlong dash toward her foe - her gaze focused entirely upon him, and only wavering when she suddenly bends at the waist. Willowlike, a hand gracefully reaches to the floor and her impressive form rotates around this point of pressure, Chun-Li finally turning completely upon her head before her legs kick out to either side with violent precision.
"SPINNING BIRD KICK!" She swoops toward Yagami, gathering speed and forced, holding nothing back.
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick.
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Iori 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Chun-Li
Keeping up? Iori snorts derisively, taking a wild stab at just which of his claims is being questioned. "What, you've had an operation lately?" He guessed poorly on purpose, obviously. "... Don't think it'll help," he chides, a broad smirk crossing his lips as he watches the woman tip over into her inverted kick maneuver. He has admiration for her grace and style, but -- as he proves by stepping to the side, taking only nominal damage from two successive turns of her attack, which crashes into his raised forearms instead -- he seems to think it misplaced. "This ain't a dog and pony show, woman."
And just to prove his point, he steps forward into Chun-Li's wake, driving his steel-toed boot forward to crash into the inverted Tai Chi mistress' head. "GURAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li fails to interrupt Light Kick from Iori with Koshuu Tou.
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Iori 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Were Chun-Li not currently spinning upside down, she might see fit to offer a comment Iori would more usually offer to /his/ opponent. But alas, her rather slowed path courtesy of a sturdy guard sees her unprepared for a retort and unable to do anything but prepare to unfold from her centrifugal momentum. Something she is partway through doing when her senses attempt to sharply alert her to an incoming rush of violent intent. Though admittedly, Iori's announcing of the attack helps a great deal, and when his foot swings in one of her hands unfolds from around her body to search for a desperate purchase on the man's boot. At the same instant, her lower body is curling down and around so that she can complete her own offense... all she has to do is slow that foot for an instant...
But the attempt fails, and with a muffled grunt she's sent rather ungracefully out of her manuever, stars filling her gaze and a dull resonance filling her ears as she finds herself stunned by an incredibly effective blow. The world's strongest woman still manages to land, but as her feet touch down she is in what amounts to mid-stagger, and on straightening she nearly falls straight down. Somehow her balance holds however, and she instead stumbles back away from Iori, catching her breath and forcing the numbing pain to die down. Snapping into a defensive stance, one hand extended to pre-empt an incoming blow and legs spread even and - relatively - firm beneath her, she steels herself for whatever the brutal man throws next.
Laughter is the weapon of choice here -- and it rings =loudly= through the interior of the church. That's one of the major purposes of such a building, after all: to allow voices to carry with a booming resonance, such that a strong voice like Iori's can carry to the most distant pews in the back with equal clarity.
It wasn't designed for kicking women in the head, though, but Iori doesn't seem to mind right now. He's too busy laughing. "Ha ha ha... all style, no =substance!= You're everything that's wrong with fighting these days!" Chuckling, he walks to the podium formerly graced by the priest, shaking his head from side to side. "It's about hitting someone as hard as you can..." And to demonstrate his point, he reaches forward, tearing the podium from the floor, the speakers letting forth a shrill sound as the microphone wires are severed in two in the process. "... and getting back up for more!" he shouts, erupting into another fit of booming laughter, hefting the podium over his head.
"GURAAAAAH!" he shouts as his muscles fire into motion, the entire podium being chucked forward at Chun-Li at hellacious speed.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Iori's Large Thrown Object.
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Iori 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Iori wreaks destruction, and now comes the time for the rich folks seated upon their padded pews to scream almost as one entity, men and women all. The dying shriek of the microphones seems to be the last straw, and the clamour of fleeing snobs joins the clamour of Iori's unorthodox assault upon his opponent. The crowd above meanwhile yell with joyous excitement, some even leaning over the balconies to wave fists and banners. This got interesting fast.
Chun-Li is, for her part, composing herself as quickly as the situation will warrant, eyes narrowing a little on the Orochi half-breed as he undertakes this feat of strength. Unable to move and prevent him for the moment, she draws upon her very soul to restore her focus and prepare herself for what comes next; she cannot afford to be disorientated again. Winning may not be all that is important, but she refuses to give anything but her all. The woman waits, and when the woman must evade... she is gone, muscular form rippling low to the floor first underneath the massive projectile and then deftly to one side as it crashes down where she once stood.
"Nice try!" She calls over the racket of ruin, halting her sprint and coming to a skidding stop beside the mocking Yagami, down in a crouch with her shining brown eyes fixed up at him. "How about we halt conversation and start /fighting/?!" Spitting the last, she shifts her footing and suddenly blurs from view, a blue-gold flicker exploding around Iori's waiting figure and appearing once again on his other side, this time standing and rearing back into a devastating roundhouse kick, her entire body thrown into the blow and a martial cry rending her lips. "HAAAAAAAA!"
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Chun-Li's Strong Kick.
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Iori 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
And yet, the laughter doesn't quite cease. The crowd's really getting into the drama flaring up between the two fighters. Some might think Iori's showboating on purpose -- and in a way he is. But it's intimidation on the Orochi halfblood's mind, rather than tribute to the fans. He's not just playing a role -- he =is= a heel.
"Glad to see you're keeping up," he responds, his scornful laughter resuming once he raises his forearm again, shaking his head. The devastating roundhouse kick meets Iori's iron guard, the sturdy man seeming hardly shaken in the process. Perhaps that's Yagami's =true= ferocity -- the ability to back up his dramatic actions with unquestionable =power=.
Smirking, Iori doesn't waste any further time in conversation. Instead, he just steps forward, rocketing his fist up at Chun-Li's mid-torso in one fearsome uppercut. Nothing fancy -- just the 'fight' she'd asked for. "HRAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li just-defends Iori's Strong Punch!
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Iori 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
Chun-Li grunts as her kick impacts another solid defence. It's a mixture of wasted effort and frustration, the wild man successfully enraging his usually calmer opponent. She won't allow it to last, but the signs have already shown and Iori has already seen them.. that would seem to be more than enough. Unwinding from her staggering attack, she quickly settles back into a stance with her focus inspired by this suppressed fury, her arms raising with hands held rigid and prepared. "Rest assured." She replies with a grim edge to Iori, lips settling into a concentrated grimace as his uppercut snaps in toward her. "HMPH!"
It happens in an instant, the woman's hands darting out snakelike in a double-palmed deflection of the powerful strike, not only stopping the blow from reaching her but - with a flash of blueish chi energy - sending the man's arm harmlessly to one side where all it achieves is to billow lightly at the few loose bangs of Chun-Li's hair. Gaze dark and determined, the woman wastes no time in snapping her hands back around her body and whipping her left leg up into a snap kick for the man's wide open face. "YA!"
And then, the blow is almost instantly followed by countless others, her limb blurring at incredible speed as she fires off a crushing machine-gun round of painful kicks. "YA! YA! YA! YA! YA!"
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Hyakuretsu Kyaku from Chun-Li with Yumebiki.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Chun-Li
Speaking of 'wasted effort'... Iori doesn't particularly like the fact that his uppercut was brushed off, and even before Chun-Li followed it up, the tall redhead was already stepping up to deliver his next attack. Mind... Chun-Li still gets a few kicks in before he can finish executing his reflexive counterattack, so she might still get to see the man stop smiling and start gritting his teeth from the pain. Btu the point remains that Iori's left hand is still lunging forward... and it's still able to swat Chun-Li's thunderous kicks to the side -- a testament to the sheer strength wielded by the Orochi-imbued monstrosity.
But if that were all, it'd be a pretty lame counterattack -- but he's not satisfied with simply interrupting the Chinese warrior. Another step forward allows Iori to ram his shoulder into the woman -- another tensing of muscles sends the back of his fist recoiling back at her, aimed square for her face. What Yagami lacks in gracefulness, he makes up with sheer power. "GURAAAAAAAOH!"
Chun-Li does indeed sight the face of her troublesome opponent locked in a brief rictus of pain, but there is neither time nor space for the luxury of pleasure, for any victorious feeling or even relief that the wielder of the Yagami flame can indeed be forced into agony. She knew well enough what she was up against, anyway. This redhead has felled the mightiest of opponents and by all accounts, never failed to prove his power even should he ultimately fall. But the Chinese woman feels no dread, she'll do her best and the only foregone conclusion is that there will be a victor; she makes no assumption as to who that might be.
Iori, apparently, has his own ideas and Chun-Li is wrenched from her intent by a staggering imbalance that pitches her directly into Yagami's counterattack. The fist that impacts her face draws a small spray of blood, a trickle erupting from the beauty's nose and causing a sharp cry to similarly come forth from her lips. The blow sends her hurtling back towards the huge window at the back of the church. It's only instinct that saves her from slithering to its base and lying there ungracefully - but instinct she has, with the skill to drive it.
The Strongest Woman in the World impacts the window ledge shoulder-first, and though a fresh wave of hurt rockets down her back she is able to flex her form enough to turn the impact to her favour, curling into a rebound flip that carries her right onto the surface of the very stained glass itself. The glass is thick, and holds her weight, though one might wonder moreso how /she/ is still balanced there, dropped to a crouch and reflected in shadow form across the floor of the church. "Ka..." She breathes, fingertips grazing the ancient piece of artwork as her brown eyes lift to alight on Iori from this curious angle. Then, a smile makes itself known, small but certain...
Chun-Li's hands lift to her right hip, fingers curling until they cup a perfect, unseen globe. Eyes narrowing upon her prey, she seems to draw on some inner focus before suddenly the sunlight is diminished by a seemingly greater force. "KAAAA!" Kiai brought forth, the woman's hands play host to the birth of a miniature blue-white sun, a swirling maelstrom that quickly spreads outward, enlarging as it begins to swirl faster and faster in its earthly waltz. Even as it grows, Chun-Li begins to slide down the length of the window upon which she is so unusually sat. Until then, she breaks into a sprint down toward the church floor, not breaking her quickening stride as she hurdles the wide ledge at the window's base and not faltering in transition to level ground.
"KOUSHOU!" The meters to Yagami are covered in a rush of chi-based wind, the woman's ribbons and skirts flapping wildly and her expression contorted in the violence of her final motion, as she thrusts the focused ball of energy in toward her opponent, threatening to slam him with repeated rotations of its brutal magnificence.
[OOC] Chun-Li just used entirely the wrong attack. x.x
[OOC] Chun-Li says, "And since I used a DM.... not much I can do about it. Eheh...."
[OOC] Iori says, "...erk."
[OOC] Chun-Li says, "Oh well. x.x"
COMBATSYS: Iori endures Chun-Li's Kikou Ken.
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Iori 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Chun-Li
"Hmph." Iori and Chun-Li clearly won't become Southtown's #1 couple with -this- kind of shared disfavor towards one another. But... really, Iori rather -prefers- keeping his mouth shut in a fight.
It's just so difficult sometimes, really.
As for that blue-white sun erupting forth... for whatever reason, Iori =really= doesn't feel like getting the hell out of the way. He just... advances into the nucleus of the blast, raising one arm over his forehead and charging with a ferocious roar. "GURAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The energy sears at his shirt, reddening his face something fierce -- but yet, even plowing right through the center of the blast doesn't seem to have affected his speed all that much. Indeed -- he's still tilted over, clearly intending to run right =past= Chun-Li, dragging his right hand out to his side.
The goal here would be to catch the Tai Chi mistress in the side, carving four parallel canyons in the flesh beneath as he runs past, before sharply jerking his hands upward to complete the motion. A terribly painful way to go -- but with any luck, the damage to her obliques might keep Chun-Li from making the graceful evasions she so enjoys... "GURAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Iori successfully hits Chun-Li with Saka Sakahagi.
Glancing Blow
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Iori 0/-------/--=====|=======\====---\1 Chun-Li
Chun-Li's situation after plowing directly into an apparently like-minded Iori is hardly a fine one for a defensive attempt, her arms extended bearing an overkill chi-ball that only reaches its peak as the half-breed's scream dies away, giving one last swirling oscillation before clattering away in a fine mist that rains down around the two warriors.
It's this effect that ensures the woman only barely sights her foe's movements, registering a touch too late that her attack was entirely /too/ successful. With a gasp of adrenaline-fuelled shock she suddenly hurls her arms back from their extension, leaping away from the passing Iori with what becomes a cringe of pain as his fingers find brief purchase.
"Animal..." she hisses through gritted teeth, one hand going to her side where blood now flows freely. It could have hurt a great deal more, but at least some of the desired effect was achieved. Pausing to stare across at Yagami, Chun-Li draws in several quick breaths, gathering herself well enough to then leap forward, unhanding her wound as she makes an exaggerated step toward her opponent, right leg snapping up to strike at his temple and spin him off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Iori with Medium Kick.
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Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\=====--\1 Chun-Li
Heh. Animal. Iori liked that, apparently, as it brings a smile to his lips. Cracking his right hand out like a whip, he spatters the young Chinese woman's blood across the church floor, flashing a feral grin back at her. "You wanted the fight, hmm?" he calls back, shaking his head.
Of course, his smugness is bound to backfire on him. He thinks he's quick enough to duck underneath that high kick and gain himself the advantage again, but he's clearly mistaken, as Chun-Li's boot knocks that grin right off his face. When he springs back afterwards, he's clearly ticked again. And ... well, there's nothing quite so classy as a hard right cross to the jaw, is there? "Die!" Or imploring someone to hasten the inevitable...
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Iori's Quick Punch.
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Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Chun-Li
The fight indeed. She's certainly getting everything she expected from Iori Yagami, though Chun-Li has to wonder one thing; where are the flames she has heard so much about? Briefly as she executes her strike to the man's smug skull, her thoughts flicker back to the curious teen she encountered earlier this very week, and the power he controlled... could there be some greater conspiracy here? This lingering doubt /is/ brief though, and before any deeper musings can take place she is already back in her stance, snapping up a wrist to catch Iori's punch snugly against a spiked bangle.
"You're insane," the Tai Chi mistress notes with a sudden clear gaze into her opponent's own, but is he really? Perhaps he's simply honest. Without further pause though, she twists her extended forearm to gain purchase on the man's own wrist, giving it a sharp yank down and toward her before twisting at the hip and bringing her left leg up in a devastating thrust kick. As she does so, her spinning motion continues; her intent being to send the redhead clattering down into the vacant pews below while she can remain with the higher ground.
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Chun-Li's Strong Throw.
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Iori 0/-------/=======|=======\======-\1 Chun-Li
Perhaps he's insane =and= honest, who knows? He's certainly not =forthcoming=, though, at any rate, for his cryptic remarks are probably not yielding any great insight into his thought patterns.
He steps sideways as Chun-Li grabs for his wrist, the kick being the only component of the maneuver that hits Iori as intended -- but even =that= is softened as Iori's spine bridged backwards. He doesn't exactly -want- to be hit, after all.
And as for the mystery of his flames? Well... he's realized he's been burning himself dry in most of his prior fights, and right now... right now he just wants to =hit= the nimble woman. But the flames =do= make themselves a bit more obvious in the process, for they exhibit themselves as an amethyst bloom as his palm thrusts forward towards Chun-Li's stomach. Clearly, he's intending to set a bit of the Chinese woman's outfit on fire.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li endures Iori's Quick Punch.
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Iori 1/-------/=======|>>>>>>>\>>>>>>>\2 Chun-Li
When Iori finally decides to summon a spark of his bloodline flame, Chun-Li is still partially over-extended from her attempt to dramatically hurl her opponent away. In the process she had hoped to gain herself some space to regroup and, of course, wear the incredibly resilient man down as much as humanly possible, but now she finds herself victim to another route of battle entirely. Her eyes widen as she comes around from the kick, turning quickly to face an incoming palm sprouting a devilish purple bloom. Her booted feet have scant set to the ground when she is forced to make a snap decision; move, raise a guard? Or...
The woman sets her jaw defiantly, hands curling abruptly to fists at her side as the fire is thrown into her gut. Despite her apparent willingness to weather the blow, there's no hiding the streamer of crimson liquid that winds its way down from the corner of her mouth as she lurches backward in small steps, chest heaving. Forcing herself to focus, her gaze focuses upon Yagami - it is HE who is now over-extended, and despite the flame-scorched hole in the bandages wound around her midriff, despite the flesh she is now baring to the fans up above, the world's strongest woman knows what she must do.
"KAA!" With the flapping of winds she rushes forward the short distance she has stumbled, crossing the gap quick as light particle and whipping herself into a one-legged stance directly inside Iori's guard. Leaning back as part of the same motion, her lips part to scream a cry to her hopefully disoriented opponent. "HOUYOKU SEN!" And with thunderous movements her raised leg proceeds to tenderise the full length of her foe's body... the woman following up with a beyond-graceful spin to assume the same stance a few feet further along, unleashing another blur of powerful strikes and then, finally, turning in a perfect movement to deliver one final kick.
It's the mother of all thrust kicks, delivered by a master of the form and aimed to all but disintegrate the half-breed's jaw before sending him on an arcing journey down into the midst of the building's abandoned pews.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Iori with Houyoku Sen.
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Iori 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Overextended? Just a bit, maybe. But Iori seems rather pleased that he's able to make the woman bleed just that much more. He's absolutely =determined= to come out of this battle as the victor: his restraint should be, in some twisted sort of fashion, a testament to Chun-Li's ability.
Though... really? He's not expecting her to have -that- much in her. Wasn't that the point of wearing the woman down? Iori's taken a bit off-guard when the Chinese femme fatale delivers a series of powerful strikes, first blasting him on one side, then the other... roughly thirty strikes delivered in the space of three seconds is nothing to laugh off.
And yet... somehow Iori =does=, his feet withdrawing even as the kicks land true, even as his upper torso ratchets backward with each punishing blow. In fact, it's only the final thrust kick that causes the tall man to leave the ground, his jaw making a sick cracking sound as it snaps backward.
Mind... it's nothing permanent. Just a temporary setback, as he's still able to land on his feet, through a half-twist in midair. Rising back to his full height, he grabs his jaw, cracking it lightly back into place. "... not bad..." he coos, extending his palm outward toward Chun-Li. A violet flame bursts into existence within his palm, as he shakes his head. It would seem no further compliments are forthcoming, however -- as Iori sweeps his hand across his body, sending the amethyst blaze hurtling across the floor towards the Tai Chi mistress. "HURRRRH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Iori's Yami Barai.
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Iori 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Chun-Li remains in position from her thrust kick for a short collection of heartbeats after attempting to so off her opponent. Her breath and focus is restored by the time she spins back onto both feet, drawing back a pace from Iori's new location and offering the ghost of a smirk as his compliment arrives. There's no verbal response, but her chin dips downward in a brief acknowledgement as she raises her hands to guard from whatever might come next. If Iori's plan were to wear her down - and it most assuredly was - he has succeeded, but the Tai Chi mistress is not yet down, and his attack comes she is once more prepared.
"Hup!" Having experienced the Yagami flames, Chun-Li has no further desire to do so again, and with the reflexes expected of her she effortlessly launches herself skyward as the purple blaze flows toward her, missing its impact by the scantest of spaces, and turning into an impressive flip far over the church floor. In fact, when she comes around to survey the ground below, she is far closer to the audience than Iori - but even reasonably distant from them, concealed in the dim eaves of the church. But what goes up, must return to earth, and she turns in the air with one leg extended to make a landing in the most advantageous way possible.
Which just happens to be upon a narrow wooden beam running between the two installed balconies. She lands upon this nearly flawlessly, balancing with deft speed and raising fresh cheers from what has been a rather awestruck crowd during the more recent moments of the battle. Barely paying them heed, she raises to her feet and then stamps down /hard/, rebounding into a second flip off the beam and gracefully bending to make a landing near the front double doors of the building.
Giving Iori some way to reach her, if he isn't already bothered by the impending onslaught of a tumbling beam; as overhead, the wooden strut cracks from the woman's impact and with a searing scream of shifted air goes swooping end-over-end toward the Orochi-blooded psychopath.
COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Chun-Li's Large Thrown Object.
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Iori 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Well. It's good to know that Chun-Li's damage total meets or exceeds Iori's -- at least in the monetary sense if not the physical or emotional condition of either fighter.
Even as beleaguered as he is, Iori would have to be enormously slow to get hit by the falling beam ... he isn't, due to a quick dash to track Chun-Li's new position. The expression on his face as he charges... well, that's pure, unadulterated =rage=, right there. Because now she's making the man =work= for his paycheck. That's just not cool. And, to paraphrase Chris Rock, if Iori has to come catch you, he's bringing an asskicking with him.
And in this extreme case, said asskicking is in the form of another burst of flame -- since he's much, -much- too far to be closing in with a physical attack. It starts off as a burst of flame, just like the last ... but as it reaches Chun-Li, a bolt of lightning blasts a hole in the roof of the church, crackling down to strike the spot his bloom of flame just happens to be searing the carpet. "GURAAAAAAAOH!" Shingles and shattered fragments of wood flying every which way are the least of the Chinese martial artists' concern at this point.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li dodges Iori's Ya Sakazuki.
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Iori 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
...interesting. Chun-Li cannot help but be impressed, as she loiters in a ready stance watching Iori summon his intense powers framed by the gothic surroundings and that many-times-noted window. The effect would be unnerving on any lesser martial artist, and on any lesser human being. Most alarming is the speed with which that destructive wave begins to travel, particularly as the bolt of lightning strikes and the spray of ruined brickwork becomes a veritable hailstorm. The oncoming onslaught is something the Tai Chi mistress is barely sure she can escape from, but somehow, she does.
A little sooner than her last evasion, this time Chun-Li does at least leave herself a little room to breathe this time, launching herself into a fast backflip that sees her cut just above the quaking rent in the floor, landing on the double doors of the church and springing off just before they cave in before Iori's will. Flying at an almost perfect horizontal above what remains of the church, the distance between the two fighters is still too great for this flight to be enough, but the woman takes the best advantage she can of the situation...
Twisting around in midflight, she lashes out in an aerial roundhouse with one powerful leg, catching a particularly large slab of the torn-up stone even now scratching at her flesh and propelling it directly toward the waiting Yagami. It's a desperate manuever, but gives her time to drop back to the devastated floor, crouching in the foundations of this once proud building with her gaze fixed firmly upon her opponent.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li successfully hits Iori with Thrown Object.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
It may be a particularly large slab of stone, but it's not a particularly -painful- way to strike the muscular Yagami. Especially not when he's still in the midst of making a charge at Chun-Li, and even less so when he doesn't really make much of an effort to get out of the way. The stone breaks on Iori's thick forehead, causing him to list sideways... but he doesn't seem as broken up as he ought to be over it.
Mainly because he's still standing. He's feeling the burn now, yes, but there's still plenty of fight left in the man.
Regardless, after shaking it off, Iori lets loose a howl of rage. No longer the confident chauvinist he was at the beginning, he's desperate now. Charging once more at Chun-Li like a raging bull, he lets loose with a quick diagonal slash, talons spread wide as he aims at gaining purchase on the female fighter at any cost necessary. "GURAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Iori's Quick Punch.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
Chun-Li remains crouching as Iori approaches, running through a series of quick mental exercises to keep herself firmly rooted in both herself and the fight. To become like the half-breed would destroy her - as much as it seems to suit him down to the very ground he has torn asunder. Breathing evenly and clearly to avoid any rageful eventuality, by the time Iori makes his wild slash the woman is prepared, sliding smoothly to her feet and slapping the attacking talons with a deft wristlock. However, the timing is inaccurate enough that she winces as struggling fingers tear bloody furrows through the puffy sleeve of her dress on her right shoulder.
This was enough, though, and with a grunt of exertion the woman releases the now bloody-fingered hand with a quick wrench to one side, bringing her other hand up rigid-palmed to strike upward into the snarling face of Yagami. This time she's not going for his chin, but directly to the fragile nose - perhaps it is his turn to bleed? "HEEYAH!"
COMBATSYS: Iori dodges Chun-Li's Fierce Punch.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Chun-Li
Perhaps... but no. For Iori leans backward, the undercommitted punch missing by sheer inches as he gives a disdainful sneer in reply. "... tenacious," he notes with no small degree of displeasure. But with Chun-Li advancing ever closer, Iori is finding his tendency for long reach to be something of a disadvantage in this case.
... but that's okay. He has ways around that. Such as stepping forward, ramming his forehead in a downward arc to collide with Chun-Li's own forehead. A bit suicidal, a bit unexpected... but unpredictability is the name of Iori's game. "GURAAAAAAAH!"
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li blocks Iori's Light Kick.
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Iori 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Chun-Li
The reply to this one may well surprise Iori. As he rears in for the headbutt he finds very little defence, the woman merely tossing her head aside with gritted teeth, allowing the half-breed's violent crack to descend on the lower back of her skull, dizzying her momentarily and causing a flood of agony to descend from head to toe... but she still stands, locked in mortal combat with this manbeast.
"If I wasn't," Chun-Li hisses, voice caught with a bubbling edge as blood leaks forth between her teeth, "I'd never have made it this far!" As she exclaims the last, her eyes flash with new resolve and the woman parts her lips to scream directly into Yagami's face, blood and saliva spitting forth in a light mist. It's an incoherent cry, but contains so much defiance and tenacity as to be up there with the very best her opponent has to offer. With the scream still sounding, she shoves herself into Iori with a sway of her upper body, attempting to shoulder-check him aside and then...
"SPINNING BIRD KICK!" Using him as her leverage, the Strongest Woman in the World kicks her feet up directly into the air, extending her legs in a snapping motion which will catch Yagami right from the outset. Her hands now slapping to the floor, she uses these to brutally rotate her body, spinning at such close proximity but with such vigour that it loses nothing in the execution - the flurry of kicks that follows is every bit as powerful for the awkwardness of the motions. Not too shabby for a mere woman...
COMBATSYS: Iori interrupts Spinning Bird Kick EX from Chun-Li with Yumebiki.
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Iori 1/------=/=======|====---\-------\0 Chun-Li
Mmm. Saliva mist. If Iori didn't =love= jerking people's chains, that might have actually meant something to him. As it is, though... it only brings a smile to the arrogant man's face. Because, as is quite obvious, he's =clearly= unhinged the female fighter.
So he's shouldered backwards? Big whoop -- he'd =let= her do that. It's what comes afterwards he's more interested in knocking away. And... curiously enough, he does it in much the same fashion as before. Only... with a bit of a different bent this time. One his rival might use. For when that spinning kick comes close, Iori drops down to one knee. Smirking broadly -- as it seems her incensed retort only gave him a second wind -- he slams his elbow into the buzzsaw-blade of Chun-Li's ferocious kicks. "RUUUUUOH!" Sure, he gets nailed -- and indeed, the kicks slam into his shoulder. But it was enough to stop the kicks -- and also gives him a grand opening to slam his elbow down right at the back of one of Chun-Li's thighs. Big enough target, anyway. "GURAAAAAH!"
Chuckling, he simply backs away to admire his handiwork. "No need to get ugly, sweetie. I won't hold the fact that you're a mere =woman= against you." Smirking, he takes a few more steps back, sauntering back into a ready stance. "But show me. How =tenacious= are you, really?"
It's a big crunch, alright. The fact she's been unsuccessful in felling this abomination is one thing, but the elbow strike brings Chun-Li down like a sack of bricks, an honest, pained and quite feminine shriek emitting from deep within her being. Iori's words as he walk away fail to register fully, but the echoes of them do after a moment, as the Tai Chi mistress struggles to retain consciousness and reharness the ability to move. This may be a simple televised match, no need to win, no life or death situation... it may be enhanced sparring with a relative stranger... but something about Yagami has triggered her need to succeed, and it's only a few moments longer before - with a surge of effort and a growl of pained effort - Chun-Li gets back up to her feet, wavering and with bloodshot eyes, to say nothing of the dirt caking her dress from the ravaged church foundations. But she stands.
And she stands there for a little longer, staring at Iori as he shifts in his curious stance, taking in every nuance of his form and trying to understand why she cares so much about this. His attitude is abysmal, his jibes have pressed buttons, but here she stands as she has stood before few others. The man certainly has the charisma to inspire, even if that inspiration may be toward loathing. "Very well," she croaks, raising a guard and sucking in a deep, scratching breath of energy-soaked air. "Haaaaa-" the cry starts low, almost inaudible but it soon builds, and before Iori's waiting gaze the woman digs deep for the last dregs of effort she can find. "HAAAAAAAA!"
Then she takes a step forward, and another, and then a short sprint that sees her blur to the eye for one last time.. her speed pushed to its final limits. "HA-" Drawing to a sudden stop a few feet from Iori, she rocks back onto one leg and pauses for a fraction of an instant before bounding off this leg to dive under his guard, rearing up on the opposite limb and whipping out with a single high kick.
COMBATSYS: Chun-Li can no longer fight.
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Iori 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Iori blocks Chun-Li's Hyakuretsu Kyaku.
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Iori 1/------=/=======|
And this explodes into a flurry much like the last, short-lived as the woman meets a strong defence, but still she pours her all into the burst, punctuating each with a short cry. And when she relents... she collapses with a slow grace, folding to a weary standing posture before slumping to her knees. Head hanging with sweat-soaked bangs tickling at her ears and forehead, the Strongest Woman in the World can do nothing more but give a single, defeated murmur as her eyes close against their will.
Chuckling darkly as his baiting gets the desired results, Iori quite nonchalantly steps back. The fearsome 'Hundred Kicks' of Chun-Li seem to be lacking their usual lustre, as nearly each kick is met with a well-placed forearm -- and still others are simply too short to land. Chun-Li's exhausted... and Iori's just keeping his distance.
And when Chun-Li starts to collapse, Iori raises his foot, assisting the woman to the ground with one last spiteful nudge of his boot.
"It's over. You tried your best, girlie, but it just wasn't good enough." Breaking into low, resounding laughter that echoes throughout the troubled church building, Iori watches for any sign of movement from the Chinese warrior. He senses none, and the faceless announcer seems to agree: "AAAAAND WINNER, BY KNOCKOUT.... IORI YAGAMI!" The crowd goes wild! And Iori... Iori just turns on his heel and goes. No final disservice, no descration of the unconscious female... just his thumbs hookign in his pockets as he turns to leave. Striding towards the exit he arrived from, he pays the cheers and boos of the crowd no heed. He's made his paycheck, after all.
COMBATSYS: Iori takes no action.
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Iori 1/------=/=======|
COMBATSYS: Iori has ended the fight here.
Log created by Iori, and last modified on 22:02:36 10/22/2005.