Description: Ninja versus Ninja! Who reigns supreme aboard a flashing train? In the darkness of the tunnel, the final victor is decided. And a train is cut in half. Nobody really loses. (Winner: Rolento)
When the World Warrior officials asked the Brazilian government for a suitable location in which to fight, the Director of Organized Sport Fighting just chuckled humbly and answered, "We have just the right place for your opponents, friends.. heheh."
The 'Brazilian Bullet' is a moderately famous cargo locomotive reserved for iron ore transport and, oddly enough, tournament fights just like this one. It already pulls a handy number of cargo wagons behind it jammed with iron ore, most of which are already scarred with the various chi blasts and patchwork repair of prior savage battles. Some have said the Brazilian Bullet was even blown in half at one point, but was lovingly repaired by the people who run it. Over time, it has become an iron workhorse of the battle, far more solid than one would anticipate.
There is, however, some concern as to whatether the infamous Schugerg would even show today.
The fight was to take place on one of a string of flatbeds being drug along at a handy and comfortable 100 mph by the locomotive, flanked on either side by covered flatbeds. At least one fighter has already arrived. His preparations are signified in a series of whipping hisses, followed by the shriek of steel infrastructure collapsing like so many dominoes. As the cargo cover falls away to either side of the track, expertly sliced into neat segments of cloth and steel, Hyo Imawano sheathes his blade quietly and steps forward from his own wagon, hair drifting behind him.
He had heard this commander.. prefers to make his entrances dynamically.
One hundred miles per hour is certainly a paltry speed to Rolento Schugerg; At least, when one has a military helicopter at one's fingers. The sound of the rotors are heard, and it manages to steadily accelerate past the 'bullet', flitting overhead in a wash of shadow and breeze. Rather then descend on a line, Rolento drops the twenty feet in a tight ball. Landing heavily within a crouch, both hand and stance spread, his baton is lazily drawn free from his harness before given a single twirl. He stands at attention, looking to house no fear or lack of confidence upon his ravaged features, yet no salute of respect is offered. He's in the flatbed just opposite his opponents, already beginning to assess, calculate, plot. "Hyo Imawano. ...You attend Justice High. I had hoped to give this assessment regardless." He shifts his stance subtly, looking prepared to move with lightning speed. Underestimating Rolento can be a fatal mistake, even if Kyosuke was barely able to handle him on a good day...
COMBATSYS: Rolento has started a fight here.
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Rolento 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Hyo has joined the fight here.
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Hyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rolento
COMBATSYS: Rolento focuses on his next action.
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Hyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rolento
Underestimation is not a fault Hyo is accustomed to entertaining.
The youth is calmed, regardless. There is nothing to Hyo if not utmost confidence in his own abilities, but he retains a certain wariness that is nothing but absolutely necessary. Justice High does not teach arrogance. It teaches one to be cognizant of truth in spite of banal society's humility or shame.
In short, whether Rolento is weaker than him or not will be determined here. Without preconceived notions. Without assumptions. It will be revealed in nothing less than the reflection of his blade, making the final click back into its saya at about the time Rolento lands, a sound that could be construed as contemplative, if the pause before is any indication.
"Commander Rolento Schugerg," Hyo greets evenly. "I had heard you had attacked some of our students and allies on our school grounds while I was away. Troublesome," he finally acknowledges. "I'd expected my students to be more robust in the face of such an attack. Regardless. Your assessment will be matched by my own."
He forms a clear fighting stance. One creaking white leather gloved fist in back, an open and eased hand forward. Like Rolento, his movements are swift, clipped. Military enough to be indistinguishable in the face of most. For Rolento, he'll be able to tell it's something.. not quite. Something different.
"I will evaluate your true power now."
COMBATSYS: Hyo focuses on his next action.
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Hyo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rolento
"I challenged them. Your brother met the challenge. I decided collateral damage was too substantial to complete, but am confident that I would have succeeded." Rolento subtly snaps his hand, and a long knife appears within it. The weapon gleams in the light, but he seems to have no care for semantics or such deliberation. He can already tell that Hyo is a man after his own heart. Ruthlessly disciplined, to the point of obsession. A calculating mind. Truly, a type of opponent he can revel in facing. It's rare to meet a kindred soul, as one can hardly say Hyo has always been sane in his own pursuits to change the world. "Ready?" is offered, before Rolento leaps suddenly. At the apex of the jump a gleaming knife flies out with lightning speed, aiming to embed itself into Hyo's shoulder and stagger him back. Evasively backflipping at the apex, Rolento tries to keep some distance. Hyo has a sword. Rolento has many grenades. If such can be kept on opposite spectrums, his victory should be eventually assured.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Hyo with Stinger.
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Hyo 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Rolento
Hm. The bandoleer was noticed, of course.
This will be a game of range, but Hyo is content to be patient, to await the proper moment. Tactically, rushing in is an unwise choice. Hyo is relatively confident that he could cut the knife in half at the handle, but to do so would command most of his attention to drawing his blade and breaking through, inviting a clear opening to allow for little offense to break through to Schugerg. That's unacceptable.
In this way, Hyo moves to simply place the projectile in a situation where it cannot harm him--to rotate his body so it glances harmlessly off of one of his steel epaulets. Hyo is regardles unsurprised when it slides through and bites into his arm. Rather than waste time in which Rolento could use to break further distance and perhaps use more of those weapons of his, Hyo draws his blade.
One step.
Moving with an almost perfect efficiency, despite the distance Rolento's attempting to gain, it takes Hyo all of one jumping step to put him within range of the man's landing point. But only just so--some without an exact measuring eye might not be able to tell Hyo is within range at all. He would, notably, be a little troubled by Rolento's assessment--that the two are kindred spirits. There is a difference, he would argue. Hyo has realized his ambition--no, his methods--were faulty.
However, there are no apologies to be made.
Correcting the false nature of the world is worth any cost. In that he could not help but to agree.
As much as it is Rolento's aim to keep Hyo away, it is as much Hyo's aim to prevent Rolento from doing that. While dealing with the projectile did ultimately give him some noticeable lag time, his attack is still like lightning. A perfectly vertical cut, inocuous enough. If Rolento is even the slightest bit sluggish or distracted, it will glance right down the center of his body. *Just* so.
All within his calculations.
COMBATSYS: Rolento dodges Hyo's Ichimonji Giri.
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Hyo 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Rolento
And it seems that Rolento, at least mentally, is every bit as fast as Hyo. His weapon still stalled his opponent, and the evasive position similarly worked as anticipated. The simple lunge forward is met by a swift and impossibly fluid backflip for a man of his apparent age; His calculations reign supreme, and it slashes only air. The motion between flesh and air is enough that a ragged line flashes across his uniform, yet that, Hyo would know, was intended. There was one possible way to evade and be capable of retaliating. Every shift and flow of every muscle in the fighter maneuvered in precisely the right way. In terms of tactics? Hyo has at the absolute least found his equal. Landing in a crouch preferably behind Hyo, Rolento's right hand shoots out in an attempt to catch him in a headlock, before aiming to simply hurl his opponent away with a snarl, aiming to forcedly grant the wanted distance between the pair. "HNNNGH!" is all that leaves his lips. There's going to be little talking this fight, it would seem.
COMBATSYS: Hyo fails to interrupt Medium Throw from Rolento with Ouryuuzan.
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Hyo 0/-------/----===|=------\-------\0 Rolento
No, this is not a time for useless words.
Hyo is amenable in the intellectual arena, but to pollute our evaluation with discourse, no matter how intellectual, is but foolishness. Hyo turns his sword in his hands near instantly as Rolento slips over him, and Hyo is only greeted by a few scant ribbons of displaced fabric. Unfortunately, he can now tell why Kyosuke had such trouble with him.
Hyo is summarily thrown across the wagon beds, bracing against the springy spine of his blade to only doing the barest amount to absorb the impact as he lands with a crash and a grunt near the furthest back iron cart.
Indeed. Highly troublesome.
A distance granted in this fashion?
Hyo will need to redouble his efforts to gain tactical position. This will be a battle of calculation over force. He will need to find the correct formula.
Too late.
When Rolento gets distance, he takes advantage of it. One of his grenades is yanked free of the bandolier, the pin flicking away and bouncing off the rushing train. While continuing to leap backwards, holding the weapon with what seems to be a suicidal length, it's quite abruptly hurled towards Hyo with every ounce of force he can manage. "GO!" is called out, the weapon literally whistling through the air. The intent is to impact his opponent in the stomach, likely hard enough to knock the wind from his breath; Before it would detonate with incredible vigor, enough to split a tank in half as shrapnel flies, smoke waves, and the metal beneath warps. Anti-Vehicular mechanics, retooled for a much smaller area on significant fighters. The only perquisite to surviving them unscathed is to be composed of the equivalent alloy beyond modern tank ablative plating, after wall.
He's going to play the distance game. And if allowed, Rolento is going to win due to it. He's already running along the bed, leaping towards the next covered in long bars of steel, stretching the entire length of the car. A sudden turn is taken, knocking him slightly askew. A mile in the distance is a mountain, rapidly approaching with cave mouth agape like some devilish maw...
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Hyo with Grenadier.
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Hyo 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
Hmph.
Hyo sets his boots into the ground against the oncoming grenade. It is as he expected. The momentary window was already seized by the time he landed. Unfortunately, it's not a situation Hyo can help--at this range, his battle fathoming is roughly doubled. A distance game that expects nothing less of its opponent but to rush in.
However, there is a way out of the situation.
He merely needs to..
The point of Hyo's orphan blade slams into the floorboards as Rolento's grenade impacts into him with full force and authority, exploding with expert timing to rival even the best Imawano ninja as soon as it impacts.
For a time, there is only the ring of the explosion, and the labor of the train.
When the smoke clears, Hyo has.. not actually moved. The explosive force .. did not actually budge his frame an inch. Oh, he is all the worse for wear for it--his coat has been blown open and now catches freely in the wind along with his hair. Numerous scorchmarks emblazon his face and clothes, and blood weeps freely from external wounds from shrapnel lodged in his undershirt. Not to mention whatever the concussive damage did to his internal body. He took the blast full force.
Regardless, Hyo still stands, only an inch of blade rooting him to the ground, standing as if despite evidence to the contrary he had not been rocked at all. Hyo has not moved. a. centimeter.
..But he does not move forward either.
He gives a faint sigh outwards, his face not entirely peaceful, but hardly shaken, either.
The wind catches a glowing pink petal, once belonging to the sakura blossom of Hyo's ideal, and draws it into the sky. To be defeated by this person... it would be problematic. But Hyo is not willing to entertain the idea even in the faintest until it is done. To look at him is to understand that concession, even under pretense is not something that fits in with his ideals.
There is only what he can do to shape the future.
Regardless: Good show, commander.
COMBATSYS: Hyo focuses on his next action.
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Hyo 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
Well, Rolento is a rather tricky bird. He has little intent of allowing Hyo the time to focus his assault. The best method of doing such is to merely begin the offensive back to him. It's a rapid series of leaps, apparently realizing when it's time to retreat... And when it's time to get right up in another mans' grill. Rolento lands in a deft crouch, shooting out his baton like a pool Que right for the spot between Hyo's legs. He's got particularly good aim, as well. It might not hurt to any significant degree, but with any luck it'll help degrade his opponent's focus enough to insure a less... potentially painful future. "Hrrmph! Your battle performance is substandard! You have yet to manage a single hit upon me! Your brother managed significantly better, and records indicate you to be the best of your clan!!" Maybe it's time for talking now, since it might take a moment to recover if his shot landed true.
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Hyo with Weapon Jab.
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Hyo 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
Hm. Unexpected?
It would seem that Schugerg is toying with the math.
As Rolento leaps into action, Hyo frowns. He only has an instant or two to make proper preparations. And even less to anticipate Rolento's attack. To that end, is it any surprise that he is nailed quite surely in the groin (?!) and driven back? He falls back with a gasp, his sword unbinding from the grounds.
Hyo does not respond to Rolento's badgering, however--that would waste time.
Time he is more interested in using to ram his epaulet into Rolento's midsection. The force of the blow will be fine cover for when Hyo pinions him right through his kidney on his blade like lightning.
Underestimation is a fool's game.
When it is over, Hyo will then render his judgment.
COMBATSYS: Hyo successfully hits Rolento with Deep Strike.
- Power hit! -
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Hyo 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Rolento
There's not many things in life that Rolento needs, but his kidneys happen to be rather high on the list. As such, he's unhappy to find himself viciously struck, only to be literally gutted as the weapon sinks deeply within his body. There's a rather terrible sound. but one hand actually attempts to grip the handle. And his baton shoots out, trying to catch Hyo within the throat in order to preferably stun him, so a kick backwards can properly extricate the haplessly impaled commando. "Hrrm. You finally hit me." is offered. And it indeed hurt a fair amount; Not nearly enough to completely turn the fight around, but it's significant. The mouth of the cave is coming quickly; Within the next few seconds, both will become entombed. "Are you prepared for the second round...?"
COMBATSYS: Hyo fails to interrupt Medium Strike from Rolento with Ankoku Gen'ei-shuu.
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Hyo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Rolento
Hyo frowns when Rolento grabs his sword.
Hardly one of fury.
No. One of concentration.
Unfortunately, the Imawano ninja does not have appropriate time to break the sword-binding in his own fashion. He is struck, of course. IN the throat. THe stun is just enough for him to be kicked away in an eerie mirror of his own move. And when the Justice High student is kicked away, he takes a moment to regain his balance as the shadow of the mountains are cast over them.
He shakes his blade free of blood before it slams into his sheathe in one clean motion, but he has precious little time for any other comments. Besides. It will take some time for his throat to recover.
And now, the blackness.
No longer will sight have any meaning to both of the fighters.
There is a rustle, which seems to be some heavy form rolling backwards. The harsh breath of a wounded fighter. The splatter of blood upon iron. A rustle, as he braces with a peculiar twang, as if wood was creaking. The sound of a large body arcing in Hyo's direction, apparently homing in on some transient sound even with the ambience. A loud cry.
A whoosh, as his baton descends to strike into a shoulder.
COMBATSYS: Hyo interrupts Mekong Delta from Rolento with Ouryuuzan.
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Hyo 0/-------/---====|=======\==-----\1 Rolento
In the darkness now, Hyo's best observational talents will be put to the test.
Or will they?
As Rolento surges before him, the exact positioning of his body is shown underneath a strange pink light.
That petal, again. It's still glowing. With its own internal light, that light falls on the terrorist, revealing his secrets to Hyo. To allow such darkness to penetrate him would be to allow his opponent to dictate the flow of the battle, something he is no doubt accustomed to. The track's path was well known by Hyo. And he *knew* that Schugerg's plans would no doubt be planning for the blindness to assure him the ability to get close to Hyo without being threatened by his blade.
Of course, he should have also known that Hyo would be able to strike him regardless.
To stall until the darkness, then to seize the advantage was Rolento's plan.
Hyo's known it well in advance.
Is it a trap Hyo willingly fell into?
The entire cave bursts into a persistent pinkish light as Hyo's chi bursts from him in all directions in the form of waves of those petals. He leaps into the arc of Rolento's attack, laid open by those twinkling stars. His blade cuts straight up across the man's path. He will score another tactical blow here.
Hyo has allowed Rolento to dictate the flow of the battle long enough. He has seen Rolento's strategy. And, so far satisfied with his predictions, he will now proceed. It won't be easy. But... this battle will mean nothing if Hyo does not pursue it to the exact end. To see the strategy of the world and to work beyond it. To exceed expectations. That is the only option for Justice High's students.
There's assuredly a look of surprise as the world flashes pink, giving Hyo an advantage that was entirely not neccesary. He's impacted cleanly across the shoulder, before once more they plunge to darkness.
"You finally struck me..."
Rolento's voice, panting painfully.
"A second time. Yet you are now... defeated."
The rustle of weapons. Many of them. What sound like metal rustling on metal. A form stumbling backwards, but sure footed across the precarious terrain. A moment of silence, with some peculiar undertone.
"...Ready?"
And then a shink. The sound of a dozen items impacting the ceiling of the long, utterly black tunnel. Rebounding downwards. Shooting, to smother Hyo. And take him out of the fight.
"GO!!" is snarled, thereafter. If the feel of a dozen knives imbeds into his opponent... The fight is likely over.
"GO!!"
COMBATSYS: Rolento successfully hits Hyo with Steel Rain.
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Hyo 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rolento
Pelted from all sides by the steel thwacks of knives perforating his body on all sides, it would seem Schugerg was more or less accurate. The battle was over. It was highly unlikely Hyo could remain standing underneath the onslaught. But.. .he does. He does, even though his body is ragged beyond belief.
Like some Justice High pincushion, the scion stands up, perforated from shoulder to toe--even the original knife that Rolento first threw still stuck in him. But.. he seems.. almost darkly satisfied despite what must be almost crushing pain.
"You have performed within expectation, Schugerg... my data was not in error. You are quite fast, and, as always, circumstances have favored you," he comments, voice thick with his own internal injury.
His sword slams into the plank behind him, his blade point beneath his white leather gloves, which are currently stained with blood. "But it is not something I will bother to blame on foolish 'luck.' These things are factors to be controlled, like anything else. I allowed you to run far too long... In this case, a game well played, Commander."
Listing slightly as the track curves, the Imawano ninja raises a finger, creaking inside white leather with the intensity of his force of will, the only thing keeping him up now. "Allow me one last, to test the robustness of your plan. Don't disappoint me."
He braces his other hand on his katana.
And in one smooth motion, he cuts the entire series of wagons in half, with Rolento at the center of his underhand stroke.
Oh, he doesn't cut the entire train in half--hardly. But the wagon they're standing on. The forward coupling, however, is cut in half in such a precise and exacting way that it no longer can stay attached to the Bullet. Meanwhile, as the wagon they're standing on falls off the track in two pieces, it starts.. well, a chain reaction, tearing apart the wagon behind thim, derailing the second, causing the coupling to break on the third...
Well, you get the idea.
No harm comes to the famous locomotive. Hyo does have some respect.
Much harm will come to the student, obviously, whom is already unconscious.
But what of Rolento?
Unspoken in Hyo's words: He /sincerely/ hopes Schugerg has come up with an extraction plan that does not involve the wagon cars which are falling apart. Or that helicopter overhead which cannot reach him.
Oh, Hyo's had plans of his own...
COMBATSYS: Hyo can no longer fight.
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Rolento 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Rolento interrupts Deep Strike from Hyo with Mekong Delta.
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Rolento 0/-------/-======|
Suddenly the world flashes back into light. Both parties can see again, although it's rather blinding to be in such sharp contrast. "You can call it favorable circumstance, or you can call it your own miscalculation." Rolento snaps back in Hyo's direction, but not with disrespect. "Your mistakes were your own. You are right not to blame fate or luck. Such is defined by the character of both yourself and your opponent. ...You would make an excellent soldier, Hyo Imawano. A shame your brother had to insult my dream... for a true utopia." Standing upright, Rolento then offers a crisp salute. As the beginning of the slashes is done, Rolento suddenly flashes forward, and unleashes a brutal kick to the side of the already failing Hyo's face. This slows his final slice, and although the world crashes around him, in those gained few seconds his own helicopter -- once more thrumming overhead -- snaps by a black line. He grips it, and is yanked free from imminent destruction, flowing into the air to leave the remains of the train... and the Justice student... somewhere beneath. "Mission completed!" is called out, fingers snapping. It seems... he is advancing another round within the World Warrior tournament after all.
COMBATSYS: Rolento has ended the fight here.
Log created by Rolento, and last modified on 22:54:49 03/29/2007.