Description: Charlie tests his renewed spirit against the World Warrior. (Winner: Ryu)
A cold winter's night... and where is Charlie? Not holed up in a nice warm chair, watching The Price is Right or some movie on DVD. Not holed up in the Vigilante Base working on paperwork. He's at the Shrine of Southtown. One of the most well-known and popular places despite the general rundownness of the shrine, popular with people of religion and people whose religion resides in their fists. A soft blanket of snow has collected across the landscape, Charlie's breath expanding into small clouds of ice crystals as he awaits his opponent.
He stands by one of the shrine lanterns, hand resting on the stone structure; his only concessions to the cold are a pair of leather gloves on his hands and a warm muffler wrapped about his neck, in military olive drab. Though this is a league fight and there are of course cameras and officials, there may not be much in the way of spectators and that's fine with Charlie. He's been getting back into his stride, but Ryu will, as always, be a true test. A test of ability, of heart, of wits, of strength. Charlie tested himself against the Ansatsuken master just weeks before; this is, more than just a league fight, perhaps Charlie's way of answering an unspoken question he has been struggling with.
Maybe not every resident of Southtown wants to brave the winter whiteness to spectate a battle, but there are certainly diehard fans and afficianados out with the camera crews... though those fans are hardly Ryu's interest in being here, either. The chill may be biting, but the World Warrior seems rather steady against it, right down to forgoing the Japanese sandals he walked here in, and standing barefoot in the covering of snow, his feet shifting in the frozen water. After a trek through the mountains of China and Tiber.... well, Southtown's snowfalls just don't seem quite as bitter, anymore.
While Charlie may have fallen to Ryu not too long ago, the nomad doesn't approach this fight with any haughtiness or overconfidence... he knows the Vigilante's skill, along with the self-doubt and introspection that's been dominating the other fighter's mind of late... it's enough to put anyone off their step while they figure things out, and the nomad knows it. It's a battle Ryu's looking forward to... both to see what Charlie can do, and if he's found his fighting spirit again, and hopefully... to test himself against that spirit, and talent. Ryu shifts into a ready stance as the last moments of pre-fight shenanigans are run down, eyes fixed steadily on Charlie, a simple, respectful nod his only initial greeting. Is there need for more, right now?
COMBATSYS: Ryu has started a fight here.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Ryu takes no action.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|
Charlie would expect haughtiness and overconfidence out of Ryu just as much as he'd expect Vega to show up with flowers and chocolates saying he's sorry. Has Charlie found his fighting spirit? It's hard to say--he certainly feels like it. But tonight will be yet another test of it... it isn't something that can just be fixed in place with some spiritual cement. It is an ongoing struggle for Charlie, but he relishes it now, rather than worries about it.
Ryu's nod of greeting is met with one of Charlie's own; he needs no other reply, nor does he expect one. There may be a time for talking later, over noodles or something, but for now... for now, it's time to get started, and that's just what Charlie does. From his standing, he bursts into motion, taking two steps forward then launching himself at Ryu with a flying knee attack, aimed to take Ryu low, in the gut.
COMBATSYS: Charlie has joined the fight here.
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Ryu 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Charlie
COMBATSYS: Charlie successfully hits Ryu with Light Kick.
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Ryu 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Charlie
WHAM! That one goes off without a hitch, Charlie's knee snagging Ryu squarely in the ribs even as the nomad tries to weave aside, that graceful motion becoming more of a sidelong spin that nearly costs him his footing, heel slipping haphazardly through the snow as he twists and throws his momentum sidelong with the force of the hit, managing to keep from falling on his ass as he slides to a crouch a short distance off Charlie's flank. Dark eyes snap up to the Vigilante, and a deep breath comes in tandem with a tangible centering of chi, the World Warrior's attention refocusing on the fight, his determination steeling itself. Charlie does seem more confident, here... more in control. Ready, and certainly strong.
But then, the Ansatsuken master has no doubts about his own strength, and no hesitation in rejoining the fight with his all. His momentum backwards, both spiritual and physical, is turned around, as he all but shoots out of his crouch, rushing the quick strides in on the Vigilante that bring him in range for a sharp weave left, and a step in on his right foot, his right fist shooting in and down in synch with that step. Upper body twisting lightly to apply more force, the punch flies in like a straight, but at that angle... the target is clearly Charlie's solar plexus, and it may be more effective at blasting him down, than back, "Haaaaaaaaah!!!"
COMBATSYS: Ryu successfully hits Charlie with Sakotsu Wari.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Charlie
Charlie's seen this before--and felt it. The crushing overhand punch does indeed connect with Charlie's solar plexus and the force of it pushes him back a step and down to his knees. But it isn't as painful as all that, it hurt but not that badly. And from the crouching position Charlie is set up to perform one of his best moves; but he doesn't. Instead, he opts to push off with both legs, striking with his knee again--but there's something different about it this time. More force, maybe, or just--something different.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Charlie's Knee Bazooka.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Charlie
Fool Ryu once... shame on you. Slam a knee into him a second time? Not just now. This time, Charlie's flying knee meets a sturdy forearm, the bruising impact resisted powerfully, though the snowy ground does see two new ditches courtesy of Ryu's feet as he slides backwards under the force. Turning the backwards momentum into a twist, Ryu rotates clockwise with a half-step backwards, hoping to line himself up with Charlie's rear flank as the Vigilante lands... hopefully a bit overextended. If his forward momentum is as strong as it felt to Ryu, well... it could hurt Charlie too, because the nomad's left hand shoots for the landing Vigilante's wrist, and a sharp application of leverage seeks to crank that arm back with a harsh twist, as the World Warrior's left foot snaps in for the side of Charlie's knee, looking to forcefully dismantle the military man's stability, with a fervent, "Kyaaaaah!!!!" ... If that works, well, that leverage on the arm will help Ryu add force to Charlie's descent, and subsequent landing on his back.
COMBATSYS: Charlie blocks Ryu's Medium Throw.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Charlie
There's a sharp, shooting pain when Ryu's kick connects to Charlie's knee, as well as when his arm is wrenched; but the man is a trained fighter and soldier and the pain hardly bothers him. Ryu does get to aid Charlie's descent, but not as he'd hoped; Charlie absorbs the impact with his legs, crouching low; forcefully, he twists out of Ryu's grip, tumbling across the snow. Twice he rotates, and then comes up, turning around, his right hand glowing bright white... but only for a moment, as he slings it forward, lashing out at Ryu with a bright projectile of energy, thin but wide, spinning forward.
"SONIC... BOOM!" And indeed it sounds like it; the projectile and the shout fair shake the trees of the shrine's area.
COMBATSYS: Ryu dodges Charlie's Sonic Boom.
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Ryu 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Charlie
That whizzing blade of chi energy swirls in at Ryu with quite an impressive amount of speed, and the nomad's answer to that is to all but throw himself backwards, feet remaining planted on the ground, his palm meeting the snow behind him with a mild scattering of flakes. Nothing compared to the tumult stirred up by the Sonic Boom, as it grazes by above the nearly horizontal World Warrior. You mean I can dodge bullets?!?!
As quickly as he dropped, the nomad gives a sharp shove of that supporting arm behind him, and vaults back to his feet, facing Charlie in a ready position. A patient motion sidelong follows, guard raises as he flanks the Vigilante, the Ansatsuken master's inner chi spiralling upwards with a tumultuous surge of strength, originating within, without, all around the World Warrior. The snow begins to blast outwards, driven on by a tempest that's suddenly centered around Ryu, the winds tinged with blue-white energy, sweeping up and around him from feet to head, though the nomad himself seems to be standing in the eye of the storm. Around him is suddenly snowblind, frozen precipitation blasted outwards in all directions, a veritable wall of white... but as that bitter wind fades, the World Warrior himself stands where he was, centering the gathered power, his hair barely tousled further by the intensity.
COMBATSYS: Ryu gathers his will.
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Ryu 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Charlie
Well... that was less than successful... unfortunately for Charlie. He was hoping to tag Ryu with the blast; fortunately it dissipates before doing any serious harm to the background. With Ryu doing that funky charge-up, Charlie takes a moment to focus himself in his own way; while he isn't a master of chi, able to call it up and strengthen himself, he can at least put more of his mind to the fight. All of it, if he can manage it, focusing himself into a sort of tunnel, with Ryu at the end. It's dangerous to do this kind of thing in a fight against multiple enemies, but it's okay in a one-on-one battle...
COMBATSYS: Charlie focuses on his next action.
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Ryu 0/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Charlie
The gathered chi only seems to intensify in the instants that follow, Ryu's hands dropping to his side as he stares right back up that tunnel at Charlie. Maybe he hasn't had the time to cement his own concentration on the Vigilante, but he's certainly centered in on his opponent. Locked and loaded. Hands shoving forward, an outrushing of blue-white energy cascades from the World Warrior's palms, and as the heels of his hands meet before him, he projects a wildly flaring, densely packed sphere of bluish chi outwards, snow blown to either side in an impressive wave as the blast hurtles in on Charlie, echoed by a fierce, trademarked, "Hadooouken!!!!"
COMBATSYS: Charlie slows Hadouken from Ryu with Sonic Boom.
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Ryu 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Charlie
That projectile, equally familiar to Charlie, earns another outrushing of chi from the military man; white-green blade strikes against blue ball of energy... and the Hadouken wins. Not for aught was Charlie's effort; the remaining energy of the hadouken does hit Charlie, but it's negligible, enough to drop him back a step, nothing more. His stance seems to say 'come for me'; win, lose, he lives, in this moment, for the fight, nothing else, his breathing heavy with the efforts he's expended.
Ryu doesn't need further encouragement... the Ansatsuken master is practically right behind that shockwave of conflicting chi, and as it blasts outwards, Ryu rushes through the dissipating surge, pulling up just short, and snapping askance to face Charlie sidelong, left side turned towards the Vigilante as his left fist snaps outwards in a triphammer straight, the blurring, simple, efficient strike hurtling straight for the military fighter's face, "Hyaaaah!!!" Charlie's certainly got the gumption to make things difficult, this time out, and the nomad is glad to see it... and apparently glad to push the envelope, on his end.
COMBATSYS: Charlie blocks Ryu's Medium Punch.
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Ryu 1/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Charlie
Difficult... well, it's been more difficult for Charlie than Ryu, that's for sure. The punch, however, is blocked, snuffed aside with a forearm, Charlie's lips grinning as he ducks under it in a smooth motion, trying to step into Ryu's body--the end result of the movement to be to attempt to tag Ryu in the ribs with a elbow. It could leave Charlie in a very bad position...
COMBATSYS: Charlie successfully hits Ryu with Quick Punch.
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Ryu 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Charlie
It's Ryu who's left open, just this instant, and as his punch is turned aside, Charlie's elbow finds his ribcage, though the force is mostly absorbed into the nomad's hardened musculature. The sting ignored for the moment, the veteran fighter resists the urge to stagger backwards, anchoring his feet and suddenly leaping in on Charlie. The close-range ascent is accompanied by a sudden, full three-hundred sixty degrees of rotation, Ryu's right foot snapping out and around, in-line with the Vigilante's skull, "Kyaaaah!!"
COMBATSYS: Charlie endures Ryu's Senpuu Kyaku.
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Ryu 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\1 Charlie
And that spinning kick strikes true, as Ryu's attacks often do; but Charlie seemed prepared to take the kick; he spins with the impact, fading with it. It hurts, a lot, but Charlie doesn't let it stop him; he spins around, using the momentum to face Ryu again. His fists glow with power; and at this range, Charlie is as much striking out with his fists as he is with his chi; at range it would be a series of Sonic Booms. He seems almost revitalized despite the punishing attacks he's taken, that grin never leaving his face.
COMBATSYS: Ryu blocks Charlie's Sonic Break.
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Ryu 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Charlie
Fwoom! Fwoom! Fwoom! Cascades of brightly hued chi whip around, blasting into Ryu as he descends... unfortunately for Charlie's intentions, he's hitting crossed arms, rather than the World Warrior's vulnerable body. The guard is prepared in mid-air, and Ryu's own opposing chi, flares of blue-white protesting violently as the Sonic Booms to the nth degree crash into the Ansatsuken master's defenses, hammering him back. Crouched, the nomad weathers the searing storm, and as it abates, he returns a slight grin of his own, rising steadily back to his feet.
A bit more winded now, to be sure, the nomad still looks far from done with this fight, Ryu raising his fists to his practiced, tried and true defensive posture, ready to move as his attention centers in on Charlie. It's his turn to consider, and prepare.... looking for the vulnerabilities in his weakened, but still obviously quite dangerous, opponent.
COMBATSYS: Ryu focuses on his next action.
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Ryu 1/---====/=======|-------\-------\0 Charlie
Where Ryu is preparing and considering, Charlie feels the need to press this attack; though intellectually, and analytically, Charlie knows Ryu's far better off, he's really just enjoying the fight, and so he presses on. Without pause, he follows up the physical and chi onslaught with another attack, spinning forward to hammer out with both fists, aimed at Ryu's leading knee. As Ryu tried to damage Charlie's stability, so will Charlie attempt do the same--for the attack isn't really a punch, it's an attempt to grab Ryu's leg. Should he be successful, Charlie will lift Ryu's leg up to unbalance him and follow it into a shoulder ram to knock the Ansatsuken master off his feet.
COMBATSYS: Ryu interrupts Quick Throw from Charlie with Shin Shoryuken.
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Charlie
The grab to his leg is only half successful, the World Warrior twisting with the yank to spin one more rotation, landing right in-line with the shoulder-tackle.... but his own inertia seems a bit harder to budge than maybe it should be, unless one notes the tremendous gathering of chi, centered all through the World Warrior's frame. It's then that his left fist utterly /stops/ Charlie's rush, as it meets the Vigilante's ribcage quite heartily, an underhand slam meant to steal breath, and then some. It's hardly the big problem, here, however....
Ryu follows through the fierce hit with a sudden twist, bringing his right fist under and then up, the Dragon rising with rocketlike speed and power, blasting straight skyward, and slamming that uppercutting fist across Charlie's chest and into his jaw in that ascent, carrying the Vigilante up for a far less hospitable trip through the air, "Shoooooryuuuuuken!!!!"
Agh ow oh damn ow. OW OW OW. Yeah, that's the first time Charlie's felt that particular attack... and it's certainly spectacular. The uppercut flings Charlie back, to tumble in the snow; he fetches up against the base of an old oak tree. And, sitting up, he laughs, and coughs with pain.
"Damn, that hits hard," he comments, standing up, shakily. And grins at Ryu.
"You know what? I concede," he states, dropping his fighting stance to just walk over to the Ansatsuken master, offering the hand.
"Can't beat you yet. But maybe someday." Unlike their last fight, Charlie seems more confident, unconcerned about 'losing' to Ryu, though he's definitely done that.
"There's no shame in that." Ryu answers simply... not out of arrogance, but of the simple realization that there aren't many who /can/, with any reliability. He's spent his life, still spends his life, making sure that stays the case, after all. Gouken's lifestyle can be called many things, but there's nothing ineffectual about the focus on training... or Ryu's own natural potential. He takes Charlie's hand, and gives it a firm shake, assuming the Vigilante doesn't, y'know, Metsu Shoryuken him or something, and offers the military fighter a brief, but sincere smile, "You fought well." He amends, and even if Charlie does still have some fight left in him.... it's a longshot at best, and Ryu isn't going to force him to carry on, when the Vigilante seems to have taken what he needs to away from this fight, already.
"Your step is more certain than it was last time we fought. I'll look forward to the next time." Releasing the hand, Ryu offers the Vigilante a respectful bow, stepping back and leaving his own guard dropped.
COMBATSYS: Ryu takes no action.
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|=====--\-------\0 Charlie
COMBATSYS: Charlie has left the fight here.
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Ryu 0/-------/--=====|
Log created by Ryu, and last modified on 02:37:41 12/19/2005.