Description: Rugal and Kain have a rematch, SNF style, after their first 'meeting' and sparring match. Things turn out quite differently from their previous match as the pair duke it out in the streets of Gedo. (Winner: Rugal)
Afternoon. If it weren't for the cool breeze that chills the skin and condenses the moisture of breathe into a fine white vapor, many would assume by the bright blazing sun above that it might be /warm/ outside and not the beginning of winter. Woefully deceptive, that. Gedo Street itself has been cleared out for the most part, with some people lining the sides of the street at an incredibly safe distance. Because today - today is a day for an SNF match.
The sun provides an interesting opposition to the feeling of bitter cold that sweeps over Gedo Street as Rugal Bernstein walks down the very center. He stops, his hands already gloved; he's come prepared today. After all, he's facing a very interesting and fun opponent - why shouldn't he? Straightening out his nice red coat, Bernstein slips both hands into his pockets.
Things have been rather busy for the man as of late, in part due to the very person he's to fight today: Kain Heinlein. But there's /always/ time to spare for a good match, and Bernstein looks ready for the fight. Despite the small ense of distaste that touches his eyes and lips at the atmosphere of this run-down street, there is the life and passion for a good fight that drowns out all of that. Time to enjoy himself.
Kain is likewise rather busy, but he's also one who doesn't mind putting aside some time for a good fight. And despite his distaste for Geese, the master of SNF does manage to put together some pretty good matches, most of the time. This won't be Kain's first match against Rugal, but it's always good to clash with an opponent again, to see who has learned the most from previous encounters.
Since it is getting rather late in the year, and it's a bit chilly out, Kain goes with a somewhat heavier outfit than normal, though it looks largely like his regular suit, only in black with red trim instead of white with blue trim. He briefly adjusts the fit of his gloves, making sure he can move his fingers freely, then his walking takes him around a corner and onto Gedo street.
Kain nods to Rugal as he takes up his place at one end of the cordoned off street. It's always nice to fight somebody who has a real understanding of what a fight should be. It can be entertaining, yes, but it should always be taken seriously. The real purpose is to train yourself, and to make yourself stronger so that you can win in the fights that really count.
COMBATSYS: Rugal has started a fight here.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|
Someone has to hand it to Geese Howard for assembling rather interesting matches. Maybe, when Geese actually screws up and dies in a most permanant manner, Rugal will lament the loss of the man's tournaments. For a little while. But life moves on. For now, Rugal just breathes out that white vapor, grins, and watches as Mr. Heinlein approaches. Yes. It'll be a crying shame.
For Kain's nod, there is a gentleman's bow of respect for the chi master, bending low and looking up to Kain with a smile. "I hope this will be a good match, sir." Talking as if he doesn't know the Heinlein heir. Because know one else should know the truth of the matter, and that is how it should remain for a while. That is simply how R operates. Hands lifting, clenching into fists, Rugal retains a rather casual stance, until he is sure both he and his opponent are ready to fight. And then...
He moves. Rugal rushes forward, moving low as he sprints towards Kain with a speed rather unusual for a man of his size. He doesn't seek to do anything flashy first. Instead, he starts with a rather sudden snapping punch with his left hand, right towards Heinlein's gut.
COMBATSYS: Kain has joined the fight here.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Kain
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Kain with Jab Punch.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Kain
Kain leans forward slightly as Rugal comes charging in, preparing to block low to deflect whatever attack he's planning. He lashes out with his right arm as Rugal's fist darts in, trying to knock it away, but the attack manages to slip past his guard, pegging him in the stomach.
Kain falls back a step, but it's not a matter of staggering from the blow. Instead he's trying to gain a little bit of space between himself and Rugal, so that he'll have room to snap his leg up, driving a powerful upward angled blow from his right foot into Rugal's chest, with purple fire swirling around his foot.
COMBATSYS: Rugal stops Schwarze Lanze from Kain with Dark Barrier.
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Rugal 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Kain
First blow successful, Bernstein grins nice and wide, laughing a little as he leaps away from Kain, affording the man even more space in order to maneuver. Fists clenching and unclenching, Rugal slides his legs out, and watches Kain carefully for his next move -- and there it comes.
Kain is fast, there's no doubt about that. But Rugal stays on the ball today, driving his fist forward to meet Kain's lashing foot. A broiling, churning mass of green chi explodes from his fist in the form of a disk, blocking the assault and dispersing the purple chi around and from it. Smiling, R's leader leaps back and away from Kain, to gain a bit more space once more.
Although he can, and does, switch it up on occasion to throws his opponents off guard, Kain's fighting style does focus rather heavily on kicking attacks. He's no slouch with his fists, either, but many of his techniques make use of his flames and his feet. His next attack against Rugal is no exception.
It felt like he'd connected solidly with his last blow, but further investigation showed his foot impacting against an energy shield, rather than Rugal's body. Pity, that. Perhaps attacking straight on isn't the best option, then. To test that theory, Kain advances on Rugal, skidding to a stop as he approaches. Even as he continues to slide on his left foot, Kain twists his body around to bring his right foot up, flames trailing behind his leg as he tries to bring a sweeping kick in to the side of Rugal's head.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Kain's Medium Kick.
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Rugal 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Kain
Fortunately... it's Rugal's fusion of many fighting techniques, including his own, that makes him a much more fearsome opponent. And highly adaptable. As Kain slides forward, the red point of Rugal's artificial eye keeps track of the man's movements, and sees the attack coming even as Heinlein's leg jerks forward. Instead of using an arm, though, Rugal blocks with one of his own legs before the kick can reach too high. A grin, as flames sear his pants leg a bit, but Rugal pushes off the offending leg into a flip that leads him further away from Kain.
It's as soon as the man lands that he's rushing forward again, only this time, he seeks to leap /over/ Kain, both feet jutting forward when he falls behind the Heinlein heir to kick him in the back of the head and send him into the ground. If successful, of course.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Kain with Medium Kick.
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Rugal 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Kain
Kain's sliding approach was a good effort at trying to catch Rugal off guard. Unfortunately, since it didn't work it leaves Kain rather open to his opponent's counter attack. He immediately starts trying to turn around to follow Rugal as the crimelord leaps over his head, but he's not fast enough to avoid taking two feet to the back of the head, sending him crashing down to the street.
Slamming a hand down onto the road, Kain shoves himself up to a kneeling position, then climbs back to his feet. He offers Rugal a brief grin, then charges in toward him, flames trailing behind his arms. As he closes in on Rugal, Kain suddenly stops, spinning to the side and sweeping his right arm toward Rugal. He doesn't actually connect, but that's not a problem. Because the wave of flame following in the wake of his arm covers a rather larger area.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Kain's Schwarz Cutter.
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Kain
Pushing off of the Heinlein heir's head leaves Rugal soaring through the air, twisting so that he may land on his feet with a light bounce. He's choosing a slightly different approach today, testing what and what does not work against his new business associate. Hands lifted up, as he takes Kain more seriously than he does many people, he returns the man's grin with a wide one of his own before the white-clad fighter closes the distance once more. The grin fades as he concentrates, chi focusing in to his arms as he lifts them both up in an X-shaped cross.
Intercepting the attack, Rugal snaps his arms to the side, dispersing the purple flames, even as he is forced back and away from Kain from the powerful blow. His arms tingle a little bit, but nothing much more than that. He makes no move against Heinlein, though. Instead, he sizes the man up in his dual gaze, trying to get a better feel of how the man will move next. "Wonderful power, sir!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal focuses on his next action.
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|====---\-------\0 Kain
Kain nods to Rugal, extending his hand in the other man's direction. "Likewise. Of course, one doesn't give away all one's tricks right away, yes?" A purple flame appears in the palm of Kain's hand, dancing about as he keeps it extended toward Rugal. "There is, however, no point in holding back. It would be a disservice!" The flame in Kain's hand suddenly increases in size, while at the same time there is a noticeable darkening of its color.
Kain turns his hand around so that his palm is facing down, and the flame spreads to engulf his gloved hand. He clenches his fist, drawing his arm back, and then lashes out with a whipping motion toward Rugal. The flame leaves a trail as it passes through the air, and then that trail of dark flame begins streaking toward Rugal as a blazing crescent.
COMBATSYS: Rugal reflects Schwarze Flame from Kain with Dark Barrier.
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Kain
"How true. It would make the fight to dull if they did." Amongst other things, but they need not be voiced aloud. Both fighters know and have a similar mindset to such things. So it is, that when Kain makes his announcement, Rugal readies himself, legs spreading and chi charging in his right arm once more, now practically glowing with a sickly emerald hue.
As the flames as launched off from Kain's arms towards Rugal, the man demonstrates the power of the Dark Barrier once more, only this time... in a slightly different style. Fist punching forward, the Barrier takes the attack... and absorb it. All those dark flames converge and disappear before being rechanneled and redirected towards Kain, flinging towards the man in a fast and furious motion.
COMBATSYS: Kain overcomes Reflected Schwarze Flame from Rugal with Schwarze Flame.
- Power hit! -
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Kain
Well, that wasn't entirely expected. Normally when Kain really focuses the anger that's the source of his power, it has good results for him. Still, he shouldn't be all that surprised that Rugal is really good at what he does. Still, even after being absorbed and redirected, the flames that come back are still Kain's own. And he is very, very familiar with them.
Raising both of his arms up in the air, Kain summons flame into both of his hands. He then swings both arms down toward the incoming blast, sending out two waves of slightly lighter colored flame. They blast through the reflected attack, causing it to break apart into a few wisps of flame which quickly fade out, and leaving two vertical slashes of flame streaking toward Rugal.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Kain's Schwarze Flame.
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Rugal 0/-------/-======|=======\-------\0 Kain
Ah! Good! Rugal, in fact, laughs as he sees Kain overcome his own flames. In a very happy way, he is impressed as he was before by Kain's ability. His hands lift, and as the flames approach him, he slashes both hands down towards each vertical slash of flame. There is a wince, a moment of resistance on the part of either of the flames, but eventually he bats them both away, the violet flames dispersing as they fly away from him...
... and leaving a fast-moving Bernstein rushing towards Kain. He moves right when he blocks the two blasts of chi flame, polished shoes sliding across the rough road of Gedo Street as he reaches out with an elbow, to deliver a fierce blow right to Heinlein's solar plexus.
COMBATSYS: Kain fails to interrupt Fierce Punch from Rugal with Fierce Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Rugal 0/-------/=======|=======\===----\1 Kain
Blue energy begins swirling around Kain's right hand as he clenches his fist, staring Rugal down as he comes charging in. Kain draws his arm back, intending to slam his fist into Rugal's face as the crimelord attempts to land his own blow. It's a matter of reach, and who manages to do the better job of psyching out his opponent.
In this case, that would seem to be Rugal. Kain's fist just barely misses Rugal's head, the energy surrounding it possibly singing some of Rugal's hair. Rugal, however, does not miss, and there's an audible grunt from Kain as the wind is completely knocked out of him, sending him staggering back and gasping for air.
Fortunate enough as it is, Rugal is just low enough when her moves in that Kain's own attempted assault just barely goes over his head. Blue flames burn blond locks of hair, which flow with the breeze created from the blow. Eyes alight with enjoyment, Rugal decides not to give Kain space in this particular go of the fight. Even as Heinlein gasps for air, Rugal is preparing to make his next move.
Legs tense a little, even as Rugal ducks lower, into a crouch. As Kain gathers his breath, Rugal moves further into the man's defenses, springing forward. His feet lift up, high into the air, to deliver a brutal kick to the man's chin, a trail of dark golden chi following in a crescent behind his feet. And, should it connect, the worst is yet to come...
COMBATSYS: Kain blocks Rugal's Genocide Cutter.
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Rugal 0/-------/=======|=======\====---\1 Kain
Luckily for Kain, the kick doesn't manage to connect with his chin. He braces his forearms, stopping the kick as it comes swinging up. The impact still hurts, but a rising kick like that is at least relatively easy to stop if you manage to block it properly. Even though he managed to avoid taking some serious damage there, though, Kain is still getting worn down. Whereas Rugal still seems to be feeling just fine. It is, perhaps, time for Kain to pull out a trump card.
Quickly hopping away from Rugal, Kain thrusts his right hand into the air, a glimmer of golden light appearing there for a moment. Immediately afterward the air above Rugal's head begins to glow with a greenish-blue light and swirl rapidly. The golden light in Kain's hand pulses, then, and the glow above Rugal begins to spread out, filling the air all around him, as Kain starts pumping all the energy he can muster into this. The entire process takes perhaps a second, and then Kain jerks his arm down, clenching his fist. The energy around Rugal solidifies, and multiple waves of blue chi energy begin crashing in toward him from all directions.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Kain's Himmlischer Atem.
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Rugal 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Kain
He's getting used to Kain's style. He likes it, it's maleable like his, but has a unique edge that is not like Rugal at all. Something vaguely similar, yet completely different. Perhaps he'll sample some of it one day, when he has the time and is in the mood. But for now, Kain is pressing him to keep his attention, and Rugal gives it fully, not wasting a single minute of time to flip out of the way as Kain manages to block his signature move.
Bernstein gains distance, only to discover it doesn't really matter how far he is going. His eyes widen very, very far as Kain's next maneuver comes into play. "Such power--" He's cut off, though, as all those waves of chi rush into him. His hands are held up in defense, and an explosion rocks through the entirety of Gedo Street. People scatter, afraid of the sudden outburst of energy. Dust and dirt whip up around Rugal, obscuring his presence for a few moments...
But as the dust clears, he is still standing, grinning widely and panting a little. His clothes seem to be in worse shape then him, though, as he grips his hand against his coat and rips it off, letting it flutter away and off of him to reveal the darker outfit beneath. "... incredible!!" He roars this as he leaps off his feet, a powerful jumping kick threatening to be delivered right into Heinlein's chest.
COMBATSYS: Kain dodges Rugal's Strong Throw.
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Rugal 1/------=/=======|-------\-------\0 Kain
Kain may be getting worn down, but that blast didn't use up the last of his energy. It's unfortunate that it wasn't more effective, however. Still, no sense wasting time complaining about that, since Rugal is still on his feet, and very much still in the fight.
Kain eyes Rugal carefully, trying to predict how he's going to attack. When he sees Rugal tense up to leap he starts moving his own limbs into position, quickly darting out of the way as Rugal attempts to slam into him. He quickly twists himself around, launching out with a spinning kick meant to smash into the back of Rugal's head while the crimelord attempts to recover from his own attack.
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Strong Kick from Kain with Gigantic Pressure.
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|=====--\-------\0 Kain
Chi has begun to well around Rugal, to immense degrees. His eyes have narrowed, but his good eye has changed ever so subtly in a way Kain may have seen before - the pupil and iris of it have faded, leaving it completely and totally white. Even as Rugal lands, that chi builds up inside of him to an immense degree, a chi that feels distinctly different from that of his normal power. More pronounced now is the desire to destroy, to obliterate. A feeling present in a very specific power... one that Rugal had partially absorbed long ago.
When Kain's kick lashes out and strikes Rugal in the back of the head, he hardly even budges. Chi whips around him in blackish purple smoke, and though damage is done, Bernstein is quick to turn around with an ungodly amount of speed, and CHARGE forward. His hand, charged with chi, grasps Kain firmly by the neck, even as he barrels down Gedo Street with superhuman speed. And what comes next?
Rugal slams Heinlein with titanic force into a building wall, energy swirling around him to sickening degrees, making his body waver from the intensity. And then, all that chi, is CHANNELED straight into Kain in a light purple explosion that engulfs the white-clad warrior in a column, a column which soon morphs into the shape of a skull before completely dissapating, leaving Bernstein's eye fading back to normalcy as he drops Kain, and steps back. Panting now, decidedly.
COMBATSYS: Kain can no longer fight.
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Kain's Schwarze Kreuz.
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Rugal 0/-------/-======|
Kain sees stars as he's slammed into the wall of one of the nearby buildings, with an impact strong enough to leave a few cracks in the brickwork. Even before the explosion of energy engulfs him, he knows that he's already out of this fight. He's not going to go down without at least trying to make a mark on Rugal, though.
Even in the midst of an explosion, Kain reaches out in an attempt to grab the lapels of Rugal's coat. And as the blast from the crimelord fades away, there's another one to take its place. Kain's entire body suddenly flares up with purple fire, scorching everything in Kain's immediate vicinity; ideally including Rugal.
That's about all Kain has left in him, though. As the flames fade away, the Heinlein heir falls to his knees, and is just barely able to catch himself with his hands and avoiding doing a faceplant into the road. He struggles for a moment to get up, but his muscles simply won't respond. He doesn't surrender, but it's pretty obvious that he's lost. And when a fighter can't continue, it rarely takes long before the SNF staff announces a victor.
It's as Rugal's eye finally returns to normalcy that he feels pressure being exerted on his coat. He looks down to see the gloved hand of Kain grasping onto the lapels, and a grin once more forms on his lips. Though the way his eyes, both good and bad, narrow, it seems as if he still considers the man a serious threat. Serious enough not to simply take lightly, even in what is clearly a last ditch effort. No, odds are that only makes Mr. Heinlein even more dangerous.
As purple fires sprout from Kain's body once more, in a full-body effect, Rugal's eyes narrow. He uses the strength that he still possesses to rip himself away from the other man's grasp, even as his hands jerk up in front of him, being pushed back by the sudden explosion of chi-empowered fire. Charring the skin of his arms, and burning his clothing, the assault sends him flying back until he recovers in mid-air, landing in a crouch just in time to see Kain fall to his knees. And he smiles, nodding once.
Laughter follows as Rugal gets back up onto his feet, brushing himself off. "That was invigorating!" He says this even as those tell-tale voices announce, "Winner, Rugal Bernstein!" Straightening out what little remains of his now charred outfit with a bit of a frown, he offers a bow to Kain. "Thank you for the exciting fight." Hands shoving into his pockets, R's leader moves past Kain at this point, to walk away from the disgusting and run-down environment of Gedo Street.
Log created by Rugal, and last modified on 18:55:17 11/15/2005.