Description: It's a battle of psychics, down in Chinatown! But not only is Alma seriously outmatched in psychic abilities, he's also seriously out-kungfued, and suffers perhaps the most embarrassing loss of his career. To Bao. Man, he'll never live it down... if he survives. (Winner: Bao)
It's a beautiful day! A really really beautiful day!
In the streets of Chinatown, the villagers are contentig themsleves with their daily activities. From vending food to their heritage relics, the people are handling themselves.
A young twelve year old is busy holding a pail of water and handing it to the rice lady. "Here you go, Miss Dao!" He giggles, then the young mushroom hatted youth is bouncing off. "Wheee!" He is wearing a lot of medals along his body. It's apparent that he's known to be a fighter in the tournament.
Of course it's a beautiful day. It's always a beautiful day when you're Alma Towazu.
Or Bao, apparently. Or should I say... BAO ZEDONG.
Err, at any rate, our fair-haired dusky-skinned young hero is found at this moment walking in the opposite direction as the mushroom-hatted kid, looking down at a clipboard with a cheerful mild smile, a finely sharpened pencil in his other hand. He appears to be sketching as he walks. " //o~ Hmm hmm hm hmmm... /o~" Alma, dressed all in white on this fine sunny day, is the picture of peace. A single medal, glinting in the afternoon light, swings from his neck on a white satin ribbon. His warm eyes scan the sketch he has been working on, and he looks satisfied... as always.
But he hears the sound of medals clinking together as Bao runs toward him, so he looks up, and his eyes widen slightly, his clipboard lowering, as he sees the age of the one wearing all those medals. Looking a bit puzzled, the tall Eurasian youth smiles and raises a hand in greeting to the Chinese boy. "Hey there," he says kindly, "those look like the medals for the Southtown Medal Tournament. Where'd you get those?" His smile grows into a grin. "You're going to make people think you're actually in the tournament. I wouldn't want anyone to pick a fight with you, young man."
While Bao is skipping along after handling the pail to the lady, the youth comes to a halt as he is greeted by the bronze skinned man who is dressed quite nicely. Bao looks over to the single medal along the man's neck,then he cocks his head to the side, 'Oooh... Hi mister!" The young child beams.
"AH! You're Alma Towazu! How cooool!" He beams, then he giggles, "Oh, I am in the tournament! I am Bao of the Psycho Soldiers, and i challenge -you- to a fight for your medal!" He leaps back, then he starts to bounce around happily.
Just to show that he's not joking, Bao takes a step forward, extending his right hand outward to give Alma a good view of the palm. "Yaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Bao has started a fight here.
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Bao 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alma has joined the fight here.
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Alma 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Bao
Uh...
...okay, even Alma's extreme composure is a little baffled by this. This kid's a fighter? Wait... he said Psycho Soldiers, too. That means.... His eyebrows quirking ever so slightly, Alma summons up his Psycho Power more manifestly to do a more overt check of Bao's aura--
--and nearly has a freaking heart attack.
~ I'm... going to die. I'm really going to die. It's finally going to happen. ~
"Oh really?" says Alma, smiling relatively calmly, though he does seem to be sweatdropping a little. Maybe it's just because Bao's such a cute kid. Yeah, that's gotta be it. "Well, I accept. I'll do my best, though I doubt I'll be able to beat one of the esteemed Psycho Soldier. But please, don't hold back."
~ Please hold back. Please don't kill my brain. I don't know *where* you got all that power, kid, but... dang, I... are *all* Psycho Power users this much stronger than I? I suppose it could just be me...
...but either way. I'm going to die. ~
Centering himself, Alma feels the flow of the universe pass through him, buoying up his own individual spirit, and cannot help but smile as he shifts into a calm, relaxed fighting stance.
~ It's a good thing I don't fear death. ~
He grins, eyes warm, and beckons.
The young boy is grinning happily, then he skips along to meet with the other side. Bao is preparing to start the match the only way he knows how. He is leaping straight into the fray of the fight, right over Alma's head.
But while he is leaping over the man's head, Bao extends both of his hands downward, using it to propel him up. He is rolling the legs downward, using it to help him with the momentum.
Instead of reaching for Alma's hair for gripping, the hand slips to Alma's shoulders nicely to send the man hurling, "Yaaaaa!" He is attempting to send Alma flying from the throw.
COMBATSYS: Alma blocks Bao's Quick Throw.
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Alma 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Bao
Yeah, this kid isn't bad at all -- but fortunately, Alma's fearless mindset has centered him in time, and with a flash of intuition, he lashes out calmly with a single palm and knocks Bao's path through the air a bit astray, rendering the boy unable to get a good grip on the older youth. But even as he shoves Bao back, he's stepping forward, and follows through in an attempt to catch Bao in midair with a fierce uppercut.
"Oooryah!"
People begin peeking out their windows to watch, especially those currently lunching at the nearby Chinese restaurant. Dim sum is great, but dim sum plus a battle between psychics? Awesome.
COMBATSYS: Bao interrupts Strong Punch from Alma with Dan Kougeki - Front.
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Alma 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Bao
While Bao has both hands towards Alma's shoulders, the sudden palm strike knocks Bao off course, which is going to put the boy into a new position. For something like this, a new tactic will be given. That new tactic is blasting the guy before he can uppercut him.
when Bao is shoved back and the fist is striking forward, Bao extends both hands up into the air. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Channeling the raw power, Bao murmurs to himself, then he extends both of his hands outward to push the palms towards Alma's chest. While the fist strikes Alma's stomach, the youngboy shouts, "PSYCHO BALL!"
The result sends Bao rolling against the ground, fallling flat on his rear end. His response? The child giggles. "Fun!"
The channels that were forged into Alma's brain when he acquired Psycho Power less than a year ago remain free and unguarded, and his opponent's attack hits him like a hurricane. The youth's vision goes entirely white and his body goes limp as he fafalls backward, hitting the cobbles on his back as he stares unseeing up at the sky--
--"I never want to see you again," she hissed, blue veins all too visible under the translucent skin of her gaunt hands. She might have been beautiful, once, but pain and hatred transform her features into a terrible mask. "Go. Leave me. Leave! Because you'll never be the man that your fath--"
--Alma's eyes snap open.
~ No. ~
Quietly, he rises.
~ I'm not going to let this happen anymore. ~
He shakes his head, once.
~ I have grown. And I am not afraid. ~
He looks at Bao... and smiles. "Nice shot," he offers, and though his voice is weaker than before, somehow, his eyes are clear again. "You've really got the advantage on me in that area. But..."
And with a rushing lunge, image blurring, he streaks toward the young man. Perhaps Bao is far superior when it comes to overt applications of Psycho Power, but when it comes to internal applications -- as Alma lashes out with a series of punches and kicks that leave fading images behind them -- this guy may have a fighting chance...
With him comes the scent of rain.
COMBATSYS: Bao dodges Alma's Autumn Rain.
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Alma 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Bao
Yamazaki has arrived.
Those emotions are strong. But what are they? ...It's like... worry over something. Pain.
Bao offers a faint smile, "Please, don't be sad..." The empathetic child can sense the strong emotions drawn from Alma. He isn't sure why, but he can definately sense the vibes coming fromthe man, even if he does mask it from the public.
5t While Alma comes forth with the several punches and kicks, the young child immediately launches himself into the air, extending both of his hands down at Alma's head.
It's mostly to jump over him while he unleashes the scent of the rain full of strikes.
Landing behind Alma, the child tries to put on a serious face, until the floppy hat pushes itself overhis head. "Gah!" Nevertheless, despite of the hat being in the way, Bao extends his right arm outward, striking against Alma's back with a palm strike. "YAH!" Then he steps forward to unleash another one with the left hand, with an elbow next. "YAH!"
COMBATSYS: Bao successfully hits Alma with Strong Punch.
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Alma 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Bao
Alma does his best, but despite himself, when his hit fails to connect, a searing pain rips through his head , and he can't help but grimace slightly and raise up to place his fingers at his temples. "Urgh..." And then: "Ahh!" as Bao slams Alma in the back with twin palm strikes and sends him staggering. Still, he maintains his footing, and when he turns to look at Bao again, he smiles slightly. "...thanks, I'll do my best."
But Alma's got to maintain his momentum if he wants to stand a fighting chance. Lunging forward in a renewed effort, he nimbly feints a series of kicks with his right foot before thrusting out powerfully, aiming to knock the kid off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Bao dodges Alma's Light Kick.
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Alma 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Bao
After the two strikes with the palm, Bao steps back and he extends a hand outward while shifting his stance. With the left hand facing the ground while the right hand faces back into the air, the young body is facing the left side at Alma. "Yahhhhh!" He smiles at Alma, then he starts to sprint over towards Alma.
With Alma's feint, Bao does flinch over to block the incoming foot, bu then he thrusts the right foot. Bao tucks his head low to duck from the incoming strike, then Bao steps forward once more. He releases his right leg to strike against Alma's ankle to drop him down to his knees. "Yah!"
After the two strikes with the palm, Bao steps back and he extends a hand outward while shifting his stance. With the left hand facing the ground while the right hand faces back into the air, the young body is facing the left side at Alma. "Yahhhhh!" He smiles at Alma, then he starts to sprint over towards Alma.
With Alma's feint, Bao does flinch over to block the incoming foot, bu then he thrusts the right foot. Bao tucks his head low to duck from the incoming strike, then Bao steps forward once more. He releases his right leg to strike against Alma's back knee to drop him down to his knees. "Yah!"
COMBATSYS: Bao successfully hits Alma with Heavy Kick.
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Alma 1/---====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Bao
Then, Bao immediately pushes off of the ground, spinning his body around to where he can swing his legs against Alma's cheek.
After the momentum and the landing, Bao shifts his stance over to where he draws his hands outward, opened palm. "I'm a Power Ranger!" ...Yeah.
The burning in Alma's head makes him unable to react in sufficient time to Bao's own kung-fu skills, and humiliatingly, he 's dropped to one knee and has his head snapped back with a fierce kick that sends him staggering away. But again, he does not fall.
Still...
It's not that he's losing miserably to a little kid who thinks he's a power ranger. Alma saw that one coming. He's a psychic, after all. It's that he's not doing anywhere near his best, and it's because he can't take what he can give. And he doesn't know why. Why do these memories always come back to him? Why, after he has overcome so much, is he unable to overcome this? Isn't there anyone who can help him? Can he not help himself?
It's not that he's losing. It just seems... unjust.
His energies focus.
Again, he lunges, but this time, his eyes are burning with a pure pinkish flame.
"Surrender."
He reaches out...
COMBATSYS: Bao endures Alma's The One Strike.
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Alma 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Bao
...and, in an effort to maintain his sense of self in the midst of all the raging pain in his head, gathers up all his shreds of memory and thrusts them in a furious -- though invisible -- psychic attack at Bao, as he jabs the kid once with his right second finger.
But it doesn't feel right. The technique isn't supposed to go like that. He's not supposed to be struggling with himself. He's supposed to be flowing...
...nothing's Right, and everything's wrong.
With the young Psycho Soldier being put in the position of dealing with Alma, the child is getting himself ready for what's coming his way. The body tightens itself as Bao is preparing to endure what pain is coming his way. Why? Bao is rather curious on the man's power. He spent quite a nice amount of time avoiding the strikes, but Bao figures he could come out to feel wht the man has to give. Bao steps in to receive the punishment....
...Ah. So the man does have the same kind of power that he does. Bao is given a jab through the psycho power. While the enveloping essence of Psycho Power flushes through the young child, Bao is murmuring to himself with a smile. "How awesome...." The child is easily impressed.
...However, the young boy's eyes widen. His hands clutch over to his forehead, trying to fight against the overloading power of his essence digging through him. "Ahhh...."
A curse.. It is the same curse that made Cammy so afraid of him.
He is the 'curse' that made everyone in the village scared of him and made his parents give him up. .... Why... the curse... such power within the boy.
Bao draws his hands to his knees, feeling the power slowly come out of dorment. "Ahhhh...." He arches his back, clutching his head as he is trying to focus the power. Unfortunately, the Psycho Power is taking over the child, appearing nothing more than a bright light radiating from the boy. This causes fear in the residence, who immediately back away, clearing their live stock.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
The deafening scream is soon blocked off by the sound of the erupting light as the dome of raw power engulfs Alma, seeking to tear everything in it's path. The child is lifting off of the ground while his back arches.
...The sleeping power...
It awakens to ravage everything in its path.
An uncontrollable force that almost feels like it has a life of its own.
"Aeeegggghhhhhnnnnnnnnn!"
% ...After the resulting sphere of raw power, Bao will drop to his knees on the ground, panting. "...Eghn..."
COMBATSYS: Alma fails to interrupt SP Psycho Ball from Bao with Random Weapon EX.
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Bao 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Alma can no longer fight.
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Bao 0/-------/-------|
Ah yes. Here comes the dying.
But a defiant spirit burns within Alma, stronger than the pain. People are watching. ANnd it doesn't matter that they're watching him lose -- what matters is they're watching him lose *poorly*. He has to make up for this somehow. He has to show his true fighting spirit. If he can do that... there will be nothing to regret.
So in response to the truly awful mounting power before him, Alma roars himself in return, flames rising all over his body, and, trembling with the rising power, putting his very self into this strike, even moreso than he did with the previous one , letting go of all his fears, even his fears of not being strong enough to overcome his own psychic weaknesses, and finding his center there. Strength surges through him...
...and he slams his foot onto the pavement--
--causing a *huge* chunk of concrete to lift out of the ground and fly toward Bao as a sort of shield against the attack. Of course, it is vaporized in the blast that rockets toward him. He sees nothing but Psycho Power in his field of vision...
...and he smiles.
When the blast clears, Alma can be found embedded in the wall of a building at the opposite end of the street. There are a few cracking noises, and then some stone crumbles around him as he falls limply to the ground, face first. The medal tinkles to the ground, the ribbon burned away. He is quite clearly unconscious, if he isn't dead.
But he's still smiling.
As the energy disperses, there are still lingering effects going on.
Bao is panting as cold sweat drips down his face. He finds himself unable to move too well because of the raw power he unleahsed. The youth lowers his head, panting for a while longer. He reaches over to something to help him to his feet.
He sees the prize. Bao walks over to pick it up, then he pockets it. Bao lifts his head up, then he glances towards Alma. "...Ahh..." Then, he looks at the results. "...." The look on the public's face.
~ Please... I don't want to be an outcast because of this... ~
But thankfully, they cheer. It was a good fight after all.
The young boy exhales a sigh in relief,then he approaches the fallen Alma. He asks one of the shopkeepers to take care of Alma. Bao purchases some fruit and he places it to a basket, attaching it to Alma.
What is Alma's fate? Well, he'll be taken care of by a kind elderly lady. Qin Xan, the silk vender.
How? Ancient Chinese secret.
Log created by Alma, and last modified on 04:24:29 11/08/2005.