Description: Elisabeth, having just recently been rudely interrupted by the NESTS executive Krizalid, is paid a visit by the man's superior - Zero. He decides to personally test her abilities -- mainly, by beating the tar out of her.
Whatever Elisabeth Blanctorche's reason for being at the harbor is remains her secret.
The woman strolls through the otherwise abandoned shipyards, head held high as she confidently strides. At her side, as always, a sleek black crop hangs, a hand wrapped delicately around its braided hilt as she moves along with poised elegance and refined grace. Her path leads her to seemingly nowhere, but there is point and purpose to her destination.
She approaches a man dressed in a basic business suit, wearing a sleek fedora and a pair of white gloves. His demeanor seems vaguely suspicious, dark eyes stirring from side to side before they settle on the approaching Frenchwoman. Nearing him, the woman offers a greeting, a soft "bonsoir" before she goes about speaking with the man in her native tongue. The conversation doesn't last long; they speak and ultimately the man offers a small white envelope, which the Frenchwoman takes gingerly. She pauses a moment, sliding out a small set of photos before she nods, giving her thanks before she tucks them away into her coat.
With business out of the way, Elisabeth turns, to leave from whence she came...
Waves lap harshly against the edge of the harbor tonight, the winds whipping up an angry sea and brewing massive, churning waves that crash against the shoreline with a spray of salt. It's windy tonight by the sea, the howl of those winds cutting through the relative quiet of the largely empty shipyards. It is here that people come to do less than wholesome things; things they would not want others to see. But even in the cover of night, even in a place so largely abandoned, someone always sees.
Always.
Elisabeth Blanctorche might think herself largely alone save for her foreign, shady companion. But it's an assumption she will soon find herself woefully wrong about. Unintentional and unwanted as it may be, she has been thrust into the attention of one of the most secretive criminal cartels in the world -- all due to the actions of a single white-haired man It's for this reason alone that she is being watched today; cold gray eyes observe from a fair distance like a ghost, figure draped protectively in the shadows that surround him. She's become an object of mild interest; the power she wields so naturally has become a subject of fascination to one man in particular, one man of great importance to any of the few people who know his 'actual' name --
"Mademoiselle Elisabeth Blanctorche, isn't it?"
Elisabeth would see the man before she heard him; standing at an impressive height and clothed in expensive business attire, the white-haired form of NESTS' Zero stands rigid, hands crossed firmly behind his back. His gaze locks lifelessly onto Elisabeth as soon as she turns, only the vaguest inclination of his head offered in way of greeting. "The heir to the Blanctorche family name and fighting style, a style that has been maintained for hundreds of years... if not more. You have a peculiar past, mademoiselle." He says smoothly, his posture shifting only briefly to allow his right arm to hang at his side. There is nothing more to say than that yet. Who he is, why he's here...
... but he imagines Elisabeth will be asking these questions shortly.
Her business done here, Elisabeth moves away from the well-dressed albeit shady man, who turns and walks off in the opposite direction. Parting ways, either party seems to have concluded business, each party content. Likely, the "informant" has been paid before hand, and Elisabeth has her hands on...well, whatever it is the woman asked of him. It was a simple task, and it should be over now.
Key word being "should."
Unseen are the pale gray eyes which follow her form as she strides along, observing her every movement carefully. His business and purpose, much like hers, are relatively unknown, his origins a mystery to the woman who has yet to acknowledge his existence. Is she even aware of him?
If she wasn't before, she is when he speaks up. Dark blue eyes flicker aside, regarding the white-haired man as he speaks up. Indeed - she saw him moments before he spoke, but chose to outright ignore him. Whoever he is, whatever his reasons...the Blanctorche heiress cares not. It is of little importance. Not until he makes it her business. He knows her name, and more than he probably should about her.
Turning to face him fully, the woman's slender arms rise up, crossing delicately across her chest. Narrowing her dark eyes, the Frenchwoman eyes the tall NESTS executive with a gaze of mild scrutiny, lips pulled tightly across her soft face. "So you know me," she states, the nod of greeting noted, but otherwise ignored. At least for now.
Tilting her head upwardly a touch, Elisabeth's eyes narrow softly.
"Who are you, and what business have you singling me out, monsieur?"
"Who am I?" Echoing the question, the imposing statue of a man finally makes one, distinct movement; waving his hand in the air, dismissively. "The answer to that question is of no importance... and I doubt it's the question truly pressing your mind in the first place." He elegantly sidesteps around the first part of Elisabeth's demanding inquiry, instead opting to focus on the other half; to him, that's the only question that's really pertinent to their situation.
A single, white brow lifts curiously at Elisabeth's demeanor and stance, absorbing the way she moves and speaks and memorizing it. Every little detail is important, after all. "A compatriot of mine encountered you some time ago. Krizalid is his name," he explains with hardly even the barest hints of his intentions as to explaining this; his tone a deadpan neutral, the NESTS executive continues on, training his eyes completely on the Blanctorche, "I believe he may have caused you some minor inconvenience. I came here to apologize on his behalf." There is a stiff bow that follows, as one might give to individuals of stature or renown.
If anything, Zero has always been adept at adjusting to any given status quo.
But apologies nonwithstanding, Zero is not here just for that. There would be little point to coming all the way out here to meet such an elusive woman simply to offer up an apology on the part of a subordinate that he truly did not feel was worth apologizing for. "I've come to understand though, that much like your predecessors you hold a keen sense of chi manifestation in the form of light." That much the data has reported on. But sometimes a more thorough analysis requires a personal touch. Zero's right arm stretches out, fingers splaying in a gesture that almost appears beckoning. The initiation of a fight.
"I was wondering if you could humor me for a small time."
As imposing as Zero may be, Elisabeth seems far from upset by his presence - in fact, she maintains a cool, composed air around her person, fair features expressionless as she meets the man's ghostly gaze. It's of no concern to the woman? "I think you're mistaken," she swiftly replies, dark blues hooding slightly thereafter. "Your name is of importance to me. I do not find it proper to refer to you as just "monsieur," monsieur." A part of her suspects he won't be forthcoming with the answers she wants.
It doesn't take long to have a few questions answered, however. Furrowing her brows in response to the name "Krizalid," Elisabeth seems less-than pleased with this revelation. "So you know him?" she asks, tilting her head as arms tighten over her chest. Interesting...there is far more to the man she was forced to fight after all. And yet, for all the dislike that seems to haunt those deep blue eyes of hers, there is mild surprise when...Zero apologies on his behalf?
"And why do you do such a thing?" she asks, her words crisp, cutting through the evening air like a knife. "And furthermore, what is your relation with him, aside from mere "compatriots?"" She has suspicions, after all. Especially after seeing the flames he wielded. Those odd flames...
Eyes blink once, dismissing her errant thoughts. Lifting her chin softly, Elisabeth's gaze hardens as she turns them onto Zero completely once more. "What of it?" she asks, blunt and straightforward as she practically glares. She has a suspicious feeling this will degrade into another spar she has no interest in participating in. Her suspicions are verified when he all but beckons her.
She frowns quite swiftly.
"Let it be known, monsieur," she states clearly, her voice ringing out in the empty air between them. "I do not like you and your associates." That said, Elisabeth suddenly bursts forward, the hand on her crop tensing, tightening around the braided hilt. As she nears, however, she jerks it out suddenly, to smack its thick tip sternly against Zero's gut.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth has started a fight here.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Zero has joined the fight here.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Zero
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Elisabeth's Fierra.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/----===|-------\-------\0 Zero
There is really little more to be said, now. Zero has made his reasons for being here clear, and Elisabeth has accepted his challenge, however begruding her swiping hand hand may be, however irritated her voice might grate out. He has already assumed his fighting stance, the deed is done; his legs spread only slightly, his left hand locking against the small of his back. There is the softest swirl of a breeze amongst the angry winds that trails with it a slight sense of uneasiness.
"Fortunately," his right hand descends, almost as if preparing for something.
"... your appreciation is not required for this test."
The hilt of her crop bears down, and strikes with the loud smack of leather against flesh. Yet for the brief disturbance in the air, there's no movement; it's as if Elisabeth has hit a steel wall. And sure enough, there is a single hand where the noblewoman should have struck stomach. Zero's right palm absorbs the bulk of the strike without so much a care in the world, silent almost for a moment as if assessing the damage.
"I see physical prowess is not part of your style."
What comes next is almost unnervingly fast: Zero crouches, his body tensing before his right fist THRUSTS forward like a piston, intent on crashing his fist into her own gut in a form of reciprocation. The only difference being, this blow comes fast, and it bears with it an almost unnatural strength. Still... just testing. Prodding at Elisabeth's defenses in the thoughtful consideration of a singular bodyblow.
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Elisabeth with Jagai Kusetsu.
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Elisabeth 0/-------/--=====|==-----\-------\0 Zero
Zero has reconnected.
Charging forward, there seems to be little time wasted in making the first move against this strange man. Her hand on her crop, the heiress jerks her arm out, thrusting that crop's large, rather solid tip straight for his gut. It strikes something, but clearly it isn't what she intended. Instead, his hand proves faster than her own. As result, Zero intercepts her attack in the palm of his hand.
Dark eyes snap up immediately, meeting the man's gaze swiftly. While her features remain otherwise bland, those blue eyes of hers seem mildly surprised. His words, much like his cohort's, fall upon deaf ears, it seems. She is far from concerned with his opinion at the moment - and clearly so too is he with hers. She frowns slightly.
He jerks to life, but Elisabeth's feet are not fast enough to avoid it. Struck in the gut, the woman exhales loudly, followed by a grunt before she staggers back, heels clicking noisily against the smooth pavement beneath her feet. However "testing" his blow may be, it clearly smarts.
Pivoting harshly on her heel, Elisabeth spins around, her back facing him. A leg lifts, loaded tightly at her side before it snaps out and back, to clip him swiftly at the jaw and hopefully place distance between herself and the strange man.
COMBATSYS: Zero counters Light Kick from Elisabeth with Mabukousou.
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Elisabeth 1/-------/=======|===----\-------\0 Zero
"Krizalid," Zero's voice cuts through the imposed silence as soon as his blow connects, "is my subordinate. And you've yet to ask the most pertinent question of all." Something that's mildly surprising to the second-in-command, and not even mockingly. But he lets his statement go unexplained as Elisabeth stumbles backwards. He keeps his stance. If he does not need to move... then why should he?
She pivots. But before she's even moving, unseen sensors are feeding data to Zero. The angle of her strike, the speed, and judged from her last physical blow -- even the power behind it. It's this analysis that runs through Zero's mind that allows him to track and predict the dark-haired Frenchwoman's movements, enough so that before her leg can even BEGIN to lift --
She'll feel something holding it down.
That 'something' is the very shadows themselves that surround them. From a path leading from Zero to Elisabeth, the darkness across the ground between them seems to shift and change into something entirely different -- something distinctly /off./ The shadows turn into an inky black, swimming with blues and violets as tendrils of otherworldly chi grib and wrap around Elisabeth's legs with an icy, draining sensation. It's unpleasant to be sure, but it doesn't last long before Elisabeth's face is formally greeted with Zero's fist; it's the first in a series of chi-empowered punches and kicks, each exploding with unsettling power before a single, powerful kick lances into her sternum to send her flying through the air.
"'Why can he use the Kusanagi Flames?'"
The calm he wields would likely unnerve the weakest of wills. Fortunately, Elisabeth is a strong-willed woman, rarely ruffled by the most imposing and intimidating of men and women. Thus does she stand with her head held high, proverbially speaking. Though he speaks, Elisabeth does not immediately reply. What question could she ask of him that he could likely answer? She's almost certain it isn't of importance.
Thus does she strike out. Coiling a leg, she snaps it out - yet, just before it makes contact with his face, something odd happens. Shadows spring to life, violets and blues lashing out and snaring her leg. It causes a momentary look of surprise from the heiress before she tries to tug it free. Unfortunately, it's moot. A split-second later she's punched in the face, sent reeling back, then bludgeoned repeatedly by his hands and feet before she's sent flying.
Though there's pain, one word lingers in the back of her mind: "Kusanagi." Furrowing her brows as she lands in a heap, rolling a turn before she stops. She doesn't immediately rise; instead, Elisabeth lingers on the ground for a moment, considering carefully his words. Then, slowly, the heiress turns, rising to her feet, slender hands mindfully dusting her attire off. He's confirmed her suspicions.
"Who are you - really?" she asks, pushing off her back foot with a sudden jerk. A hand reaches out, attempting to snare Zero by his garments and spin him forcefully around as her other hand lifts the crop, to slap him fiercely along the back.
COMBATSYS: Zero endures Elisabeth's Manier.
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Elisabeth 1/------=/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zero
"You're continuing to ask the wrong questions."
The answer comes quickly soon after her question, yet there's no hint of disappointment or even condescension. Rather, it is simply accompanied by a smooth step backwards, the tails of his black coat whipping from the gusts of wind that assault the harbor without relent. He's given her the line to follow yet she stubbornly refuses to take hold of it and keep to the path. It is not his problem; it just means she won't be getting much in the way of truly useful answers.
If Zero were even inclined to give one in the first place.
Instead she questions him on something that will prove to do nothing than provide a base sense of satisfaction. But she asks it with a sudden strike, one which Zero, oddly enough, moves /into./ Spun around, Zero sweeps fluidly, the blow to his back causing him to stagger once.
Yet Elisabeth might notice one simple fact -- he goes with her assault, moving with the momentum and the pain and using the sheer force of her crop strike to lurch forward and lash out with one single, booted heel. The intent is to strike Elisabeth solidly against the chin in an upward lance, the heel of his foot providing enough force on its own to knock her into the air like a doll. As he rises, though, he provides one simple answer to her one simple question:
But if names are so important to you... you may refer to me as Zero."
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth blocks Zero's Light Kick.
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zero
"I don't remember coming here specifically to ask you questions," she swiftly replies, eyes hooding dangerously as she looks to the strange man who proves to be more of a handful than she'd anticipated. She wastes no time in between, however. Stepping into action, the heiress moves in and snares the man, spinning him around and swiping him harshly against his back. Yet, even then, there's something particularly "odd" about his motions. He seems far too malleable in her embrace.
He stumbles forward, but already is Elisabeth moving into defensive action. Sheathing the crop at her side as easily as a swordsman would a blade, long arms lift, folding over her face. That leg of his rises, but that harsh heel strikes only her forearms. It earns him a soft hiss, but the woman is unmoving.
"Zero," she states, pushing her arms down, to shrug off his leg and separate herself from the tall, imposing NESTS executive. Charging in again, the woman unsheathes the crop from her hip as she nears, to strike him with a two-fold strike across the shoulders and chest.
COMBATSYS: Zero blocks Elisabeth's Strong Punch.
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Elisabeth 1/-----==/=======|=====--\-------\0 Zero
So she's capable of a defensive. Noting the swift response time to his own assault, Zero is quick to snap his leg down and recover himself with a rapid spin. He seems utterly composed, even as Elisabeth rapidly approaches him; her attacks are met deftly, both strikes stopped from actually hitting their marks with the edge of his right wrist as he takes several steps backwards.
For now, he's silent. She's not here to ask questions, but she's seemed to ask her fair share -- yet none of the ones that matter. But that time is over with for now. Instead, the man's head whips about, jerking in a motion that carries the rest of his body. His intent is a single, hammering blow with his large right fist straight across the Blanctorche's face, carrying with it more than enough power to send her crashing to the ground...
... right towards Zero's waiting knee. If the blow lands, Elisabeth's stomach will be greeted by the upward force fo Zero's left leg. The force alone will be enough to launch her into the air, where a high kick with his right leg awaits -- crashing down with unparalleled force to allow her to greet the rough, wet pavement beneath them.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth counters Heavy Kick from Zero with Mirage Derriere.
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Elisabeth 1/----===/=======|=======\-------\0 Zero
Though she advances with the offense, Zero's defense proves handier. His hand lifts up as she lashes out, the two-fold strike of her crop hitting the forearm of the NESTS executive, rather than their intended mark. Furrowing her thin brows lightly, the woman pushes off her foot and leaps back, just as he himself parts ways, stepping back and away. Between them, the gap has widened. This comforts the woman only slightly.
His silence is met with equal silence, the Frenchwoman's eyes narrowed as she observes her foe. Who is this man and what are his associations? Does he work for someone? Agents of Orochi? Though she claimed with confidence she did not seek him for questioning, many questions remain. Most notably, the question of his associate's command over Kusanagi flames.
It shouldn't be possible.
There's little time to consider the many questions she actually DOES have. He leaps into motion, a fist raised high. Elisabeth, however, is ready: the moment his hand descends, toward her face, a hand lifts, a veil of chi energy tracing through the air in the wake of her long fingertips. And when that fist connects...
Elisabeth vanishes. But she has not fled: "reappearing" behind him, a heavy boot slams against his backside, knocking him forward, to send him stumbling away.
It seems the time for testing Elisabeth is over with. She's demonstrated her techniques are well beyond conventional measures; this much is apparent as his hand swings down, and connects with nothing but air -- instead, there is a small path of sparkling chi to momentarily blind his sense of sight. Before too long, the white-haired executive finds a boot crashing into his back.
It's not necessarily painful, so much as it is a momentary inconvenience to the tall man. It causes him to stumble forward only a few steps before he whirls around in a rapid circulation of black fabric. "... interesting." He muses aloud, gripping onto the edge of his nice, black coat. There seems no real reason for it at first, nor his forward motion. Except then, in a rather strange -- and perhaps /absurd/ -- gesture, Zero flings the edge of his coat /forward/ towards his adversary.
It's a distance the coat should not normally be able to cross. Yet as the tails of the material fly out, it shimmers, some unseen force washing over it as coat ends become long, dangerous blades. The motion sends Zero twisting to his right side, the cloth of his coat extending to seemingly impossible lengths. The hem of the outfit slashes outward in a horizontal sweep, those metal edges intent on sawing through Elisabeth from side to side, almost as if Zero is simply intending to cut her clean in two. And if she's not fast on the draw, maybe he will. But by the time his rotation is over, it should be clear what's happened; in place of that fancy business attire is now a strange battlesuit of sorts, the 'skirt' of it flicking back towards Zero in the wake of his assault.
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Elisabeth with Ouga.
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Elisabeth 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zero
Exercising her talents over her strange chi energies, Elisabeth outright avoids the heavy fist of Zero, his attack striking a veil of chi energy. Vanishing from sight, the woman reappears, striking him soundly against the backside with her boot's heel, insult to injury. It's not painful to him, no, but it's enough to at least jar him a bit.
Placing her foot back down onto the ground, Elisabeth's features are stern and serious - as always. Eyeing the man as he muses aloud, her lips purse tightly, observing him closely. His coat..?
Before she has time to truly avoid the saw-like edges of the long coat, Elisabeth is struck. Caught in that horizontal sweep, those awful edges cut against the woman, slicing past cloth and into flesh. A familiar scent of copper fills the air, the faintest pitter-patter of blood spilling to the ground as Elisabeth staggers back, long, pale fingertips reaching down to the newfound gash at her side. Slowly do blue eyes lift, staring with a look of muted disbelief. What the hell is he?
Narrowing her dark eyes, the woman stares, fair features as hard as stone as she just glares at him. The audacity and nerve of him...clearly she truly HAS underestimated the NESTS executive. With this in mind, she asks one question:
"Who do you work for?"
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth focuses on her next action.
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Elisabeth 1/--=====/=======|=======\=------\1 Zero
"Someone beyond anything you could ever hope to be."
Zero stands tall as his cape retracts with the haunting clatter of metal, droplets of blood falling from the tips of his blades. Gray eyes focus on Elisabeth, considering the wound. His answer is vague, but if she had believed she would get solid answers, she's sorely mistaken. Whoever or whatever Zero works for remains a mystery. But the cryptic response isn't what Elisabeth should truly be worried with --
--It's what is about to come next that should concern her.
The fact that Elisabeth does not advance is not overly concerning to Zero. Beyond minor complications, everything is going according to how he has deigned it should go. His suit has relayed information on her wound, and the most logical step to proceed with -- and it is one he had decided upon some time before. His feet slide smoothly across the pavement of the harbor, winds whipping his skirt with the chime of metal. His eyes close. It's time to end this.
Whatever Elisabeth may be preparing for, it is rudely thrust to the side in the wake of a sudden pulse that literally /rocks/ the ground beneath them. A tremor of sickening, black energy that erupts from Zero in a ring of terrible power, expanding outward and carrying with it a strange, out of place sensation. The ripple of power is just a herald of what comes next, however; Zero's cape begins to slowly rise into the air, yet what should be most noteworthy about this... is the fact that they do so of their own accord. The NESTS second-in-command's hands rest almost serenely at his side as the metal blades of his suit lift into the air, point themselves at Elisabeth... and then fly, /right/ at her.
In a mass of black and gleaming metal, Zero's entire cape flings at Elisabeth like a mass of liquid shadows. Each of the blades at the hem of his skirt seek to impale, to bite into her flesh at various locations -- shoulders, arms, legs, gut. And whatever they should get ahold of, they seem to almost grab /onto/, digging into flesh, anything... before a series of explosions rupture from each of those small, strange weapons. Each one erupts in a sickening burst of black-violet chi simultaneously, with enough force to send Elisabeth rocketing backwards and nearly into the sea behind them, if she does not react in time.
COMBATSYS: Zero successfully hits Elisabeth with Mokushiroku.
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Elisabeth 2/<<<<<<</<<<<<<<|=------\-------\0 Zero
His confidence knows no bounds, clearly. And yet, despite this, Elisabeth remains assured, her features seized in an expression of sheer determination. Deep, navy blue eyes are narrowed, glaring at the man from across what gap separates them. A gap which foolishly offers a sense of comfort to the woman as she holds her ground.
"That does not answer my question," she ultimately replies, her words curt as she narrows those blue eyes of hers. They fail to notice the hand at his side, readying his next attack. It only comes when the pulse of unnatural chi erupts, jarring the woman slightly. Eyes lift, confused as she tries to pinpoint the source, aside from Zero.
Then it comes, and there is precious little time for Elisabeth to lift her hands and stave off those metal talons. Struck repeatedly, impaled mercilessly and bleeding with each strike into soft flesh, there's no time for her to even cry out in pain - the explosions rock her, a loud, deafening boom that sends the woman flying back, landing with harsh impact and rolling a few yards, near the edge of the harbor.
Still, the heiress hardly moves. In fact, one would likely surmise the Frenchwoman to be dead, after enduring such an onslaught and nearly being sawn in twain by the odd battle "skirt" the man wears. She proves as tenacious as ever, however, slowly pulling herself up off the ground, shaking visibly as she struggles to maintain her footing. Dark eyes narrow, focused entirely on Zero, a hand shakily rising from her side...
With one smooth motion, fueled by adrenaline, the woman's fist is aglow. A burst of white hot light fills the air, explosions every which way, aimed right for Zero's form. The brightness alone is enough to illuminate the harbor from a distance, a brilliant light show if ever there was one.
Regardless of what happens, Elisabeth's legs give out thereafter, a weak breath sliding past her lips as she falls to her hands and knees...before those give out from under her, causing the woman to fall face-first against the cold, unforgiving ground. She's not unconscious, but she barely clings to consciousness, her breaths heavy and labored, like a fish out of water.
COMBATSYS: Elisabeth can no longer fight.
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Zero 0/-------/------=|
COMBATSYS: Zero fails to reflect Noble Brass from Elisabeth with Hankyou.
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Zero 0/-------/--=====|
And there it is. The final, decisive blow of the match. By all accounts, the match should be over. That's how Zero surmises it as that unnatural cape snaps back towards him at breakneck speeds, the fibres restricting back to their normal length as it once more falls behind him. He doesn't even bother to grip at the edges of his skirt again in preparation; instead, he simply opts to turn briskly on a heel, walking off. The fight is over. Any energy Elisabeth has left in her should be spent dragging herself somewhere to receive medical attention...
... but apparently, its not. Just as Zero begins his stride out of the harbor, something causes him to pause. A rapid acceleration in energy from behind him, more than he would ever have anticipated. It's enough to make him stop and turn around JUST in the nick of time to see a brilliant flash of radiant light from Elisabeth Blanctorche's fist. He squints through the blinding white or that sudden rupturing of energy. One hand shielding his eyes, the other graps the hem of his battle skirt, bunching up the firm material between his hands. He makes a single, twisting motion, preparing to make a leaping spin through the air and literally intercept that chi with his cape--
--And he comes up a split second too short. The blazing wave of white-hot power intercepts /him/ before he can do the same to it, crashing into him like a gust of pure power. It knocks him straight off his feet, burning his skin and blinding him in the wake of its intensity. No doubt had the rest of her assaults possessed even half this power, he might have been in dire straights; as it stands, though, he still has enough stamina in him to recover himself in midair, his body twisting and cape fluttering noisily against the wind as he lands, feet-first, in a crouch.
He waits a moment, as if expecting further assault... but when none comes, Zero simply stands. His entire body smoking from the white-hot wash of chi, he does nothing but watch Elisabeth's prone body for a few, long seconds. Not unconscious, but likely not conscious enough to be aware of her surroundings.
"... you did adequately. So this is the power of the Blanctorche Family."
And then he turns, walking off just as simply as he arrived.
COMBATSYS: Zero takes no action.
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Zero 0/-------/--=====|
COMBATSYS: Zero has ended the fight here.
Log created by Zero, and last modified on 14:38:15 04/12/2007.