Description: The official responsible for giving potential Neo League income to Howard Arena has been sacked. (Winner: Katelynn)
Howard Arena, one of the most prestigous stadiums in the world, owned by none other than Geese Howard himself. It is not uncommon to see fighting arts demonstrated here, since Geese himself is a longtime practitioner himself. The fighting area is a lot different than most arenas in that it's made out of stone, almost like an ancient fighting ground being replicated for the fighters to use. The stadium is packed with fans, who are itching to see a good fight here today.
Outside of the arena, sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed in meditation, is Katie Molina, better known as Katelynn. Apparently focusing her mind mentally, she holds her hands in her lap and does absolutely nothing for a moment. Eventually she mouths something to herself, and then opens her eyes slowly. At that, she proceeds to begin her stretches, limbering herself up for the fight. All the while she calmly awaits her opponent.
She wouldn't have to wait long for her opponent to arrive. If the military life taught anything, it taught discipline. Beyond the discipline to focus in the midst of a life-threatening firefight or the discipline to remain tidy and punctual, it all falls under that same familiar umbrella.
The sound of heavy boots against cool stone announce Nassir's arrival, dressed in the increasingly familiar USPL uniform. Rolento did wonders for making it immeadiately recognizable through his worldwide exploits, and Nassir seemed disinclined to break that trend.
The bootfalls stop some three or four yards away from the contemplative Katelynn, the Arabian soldier letting his eyes take in his surroundings and opponent alike.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn has started a fight here.
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Katelynn 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Nassir has joined the fight here.
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Nassir 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katelynn
COMBATSYS: Nassir focuses on his next action.
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Nassir 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katelynn
The sound of bootfalls comes just as Katelynn finishes her stretches, and as she gets up off of the floor, she turns to get a good look at her opponent. At first, she's taken rather aback by his appearance, since she had no idea she was going to be taking on someone from the military. If Shotokan Karate was tough enough, then being a soldier would make her training seem like child's play!
But that feeling soon passes, and Katelynn smiles confidently as she sees her opponent coming. She bows politely and says, "I look forward to battling with you," before getting into her ready stance.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn focuses on her next action.
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Nassir 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Katelynn
"I look forward to testing and expanding my abilities in combat," Nassir quickly retorts, his tenor voice bearing a heavy arabic accent. "It is why I do these fights at all. This is...ultimately, no secret."
Bringing his hands up to his bandolier, Nassir's fingers almost lazily wrap around one of the thin slivers of metal held therein. Pulling the throwing knife free of the bandolier, the child soldier twirls it between his fingers.
"Do you suppose that this fight will be that one?"
An overhead pitching motion is made at the end of the question, sending the knife hurtling through the air and threatening to slam into Katelynn's center-mass.
COMBATSYS: Nassir successfully hits Katelynn with Strong Shot.
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Nassir 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Katelynn
Wait a second, throwing a knife in a fight like this? What kind of tactic is- OW!
Before Katelynn can completely get her guard up, the knife strikes her, and causes her to stumble backwards. As she pulls out the blade, she finds a spot of red on her gi. Almost immediately, her fists tighten and her teeth grit. She looks up at Nassir and snaps, "How dare you stain my favorite outfit with my own blood! The only blood that should be staining it is your blood!"
And with that, she launches a spin kick that pretty much involves thrusting off her forward foot and flying at the soldier with her other foot extended in a flying kick that's coming right at him!
COMBATSYS: Nassir dodges Katelynn's Missile Kick.
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Nassir 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Katelynn
"Vainglorious Harl--"
Nassir didn't have much time to finish the thought, as he found the Shotokan fighter's counterattack coming a bit faster than he initially hoped for. Where Katelynn goes high, though, Nassir goes low: Curling his diminutive frame into a tight ball and rolling harmlessly beneath the kick. Unfurling a few feet later, Nassir's hands busy themselves with another pair of knives on his bandolier. Sidearm tossing one of those knives, Nassir's lips began to twist upwards into a light smile.
"Hah!"
COMBATSYS: Katelynn endures Nassir's Strong Shot.
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Nassir 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Katelynn
Again with the knives? Jeez, doesn't this guy ever learn that knives aren't the way to go in a fight like this? Nonetheless, Katelynn gets ready in time for it. She turns her body so that the blade hits her arm, but doesn't go in too deep. Instead, she simply shakes it off and goes at her opponent almost immediately with a quick punch.
COMBATSYS: Nassir blocks Katelynn's Quick Punch.
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Nassir 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Katelynn
If knives weren't the way for the fight to go, them someone obviously didn't tell Nassir. Just taking a look at his bandoliers--filled with knives, small grey orbs and other implements of high-grade destruction--it'd seem as though Nassir's battle strategy was more or less laid out on his chest.
Nassir's eyes widen slightly as Katelynn's dash punch came in, the soldier barely having enough time to bring his arms up and create a defense against it. Knuckles strike against uniform and arm-guards beneath, absorbing the impact of her strike for the most part.
"If you don't adapt," Nassir intoned, bringing the knife in his offhand to bear. "I'm going to bleed you out." The knife is thrown, much as they all have, though this one is flung downwards...looking to staple through Katelynn's foot if she isn't careful.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn fails to counter Medium Shot from Nassir with Palm Blaster.
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Nassir 0/-------/-----==|=====--\-------\0 Katelynn
Katelynn sees the knife coming at her, and raises her arm to try to parry it and then hit Nassir with her Palm Blaster attack, in hopes of giving herself some breathing room. Unfortunately, she really mistimes it, and ends up taking the blade into her right foot.
Almost immediately, she lifts her foot, which invariably gets the knife out, either by pushing it out with the lifting it up, or just having it launched out of her foot, and starts hopping around holding her foot.
"Cheap bastard!" She mutters under her breath. "I'm gonna make you pay for that!
The smile on Nassir's face grows considerably as his assault seems to be making all sorts of headway. A voice in the back of his head reminded him to avoid becoming overconfident, though the soldier couldn't help but be pleased with himself to some degree.
Hopefully it'll last.
While Katelynn was busy hopping around on her good foot, Nassir picked up one of his other blades. Taking a moment to wipe the blood off on the stone floor, Nassir rose to full height. Another quick toss, and the recycled knife is sent in again...low, for the uninjured leg.
"Adapt or die. That is...evolution, yes? Does your style evolve?"
COMBATSYS: Katelynn blocks Nassir's Medium Shot.
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Nassir 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Katelynn
The knives keep coming, and Katelynn is ready for them. This time, she stances herself properly to block the attack that's coming in at her. The knife merely bounces off, albeit with a slight cut, but it's better than the luck she's had this past fight. When that's done, she gets back into her fighting stance.
Without missing a beat, she concentrates on her right fist for a moment, a cyan aura of chi around her and her fist. She then launches the beach-ball sized blast of chi at her opponent.
COMBATSYS: Nassir overcomes Energy Fist from Katelynn with Long Shot.
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Nassir 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Katelynn
Well, if nothing else, she did appear to be adapting.
Nassir's smile faded slightly as the knife doesn't quite find it's mark, the young soldier hunching low as he prepared for the inevitable counter. As the orb of chi formed, Nassir straightened up again--reaching not for his knives, but for the orbs which rested on his bandolier. Unhooking one, Nassir pulled the pin free with his teeth before throwing it at waist level...not so much at Katelynn as it is for the energy ball. Grenade meets with energy fist, causing a small explosion in midair. Shrapnel flew in all directions, though Nassir was prepared for it. Would Katelynn be able to avoid the tiny scraps of burning metal? The audience and Nassir alike would know momentarily.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn dodges Nassir's Long Shot.
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Nassir 0/-------/-----==|====---\-------\0 Katelynn
Talk about having a bad reflection, Katelynn never expected that to happen. Fortunately, she was so focused on the chi blast hitting her opponent, that when it came right back at her, she was quick to move out of the way with a sideways roll. She dusts herself off casually, and then pauses for a moment.
She then takes a moment to focus on her breathing, as she lets her chi aid in healing some of her minor wounds while she catches her breath for a moment. Sure, she'll be open to an attack, but at least it'll be worth it... for a short time anyway!
COMBATSYS: Katelynn gains composure.
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Nassir 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Katelynn
Open to attack?
Being 'open' or 'guarded' are relative things. It was something that Nassir learned early on in his life, accomplishing all manners of sneak attacks and ambushes on 'impenatrable' targets and being stymied by seemingly defenseless enemies...before even meeting Rolento.
A moment is spent in quiet contemplation on Nassir's end, allowing whatever weakness to pass by without much in the way of protest. It's enough of a pause to cause a lull in the audience, minor applause here and there disappearing into a uncomfortable standstill. What were they waiting for? Why the lengthy pause?
COMBATSYS: Nassir focuses on his next action.
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Nassir 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Katelynn
OK, now that her breath is back, it's time to get back into this fight. Katelynn takes one last deep breath before carefully looking at her foe, pondering which attack to use next.
Finally, it hits her. She goes down to execute a foot sweep, but Nassir had better be careful, since just as her foot is about to strike, she's going to stop and pivot on the extended foot around with her other foot outstretched!
COMBATSYS: Nassir parries Katelynn's Feint Sweep!
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Nassir 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Katelynn
The moment of contemplation seemed to pay off in spades for Nassir. A breath or two, an adjustment to strategy, and an explosion of offense.
The feint draws an early reaction out of Nassir, though ultimately it wouldn't matter: Going into a low somersault leap, Nassir's body flew overhead in a spectacular arc. Wisps of shadowy blue chi flared from his body, leaving afterimages hanging in the air chronicling his jump. Roughly midway through the jump, Nassir plunged a pair of knives downwards, looking to score hits along her collar area. Those shadow-afterimages mimicked the motion, adding sting after sting should the attack prove to be successful.
From the crowd? Polite applause, and relief. The action is back on, with eye-pleasing special effects no less.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn parries Nassir's Indoctrination EX!
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Nassir 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Katelynn
Even with an attack like that, there's always the chance it can be parried. And that's exactly what happens when the attack comes at her. How does Katelynn parry an attack like that, that's a technique only Katelynn knows, and isn't going to be telling anyone anytime soon!
Enough bragging, though, it's time to keep this fight going. She throws a strong kick at Nassir's gut.
COMBATSYS: Nassir dodges Katelynn's Heavy Kick EX.
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Nassir 0/-------/----===|===----\-------\0 Katelynn
"..."
Evolution of style at work, no doubt. Nassir found himself speechless as his boot tips began to meet with the ground, overhead knife strikes meeting nothing but faultless defense. How, exactly, it happened was something Nassir would have to study the film for, as his eyes couldn't quite decipher it.
What his eyes -could- follow, however, was the retaliatory kick, rocketing in for his midsection.
"..!!"
Going back into the air with a high backflip, the kick narrowly misses the mark, leaving Nassir to land gracefully a few feet away from where he would've otherwise. More applause fills the air, as the acrobatic display builds.
But would Katelynn be able to keep the pace? Would Nassir, for that matter?
"You demonstrate talent," Nassir muses. "But only at delaying the inevitable. What can you do when I decide to end you?" Following these words is another of his knives, coming in low to catch Katelynn along the thigh of her uninjured leg.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn slows Strong Shot from Nassir with Thrown Object.
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Nassir 0/-------/----===|=====--\-------\0 Katelynn
Katelynn sees Nassir coming at her, and realizes there's not enough time to get out of the way. In haste, she reaches down and grabs a medium sized rock and hurls it at him. Nonetheless, he still gets through to her and strikes her, causing her to stagger backwards.
"No reply?" Nassir continues, taking in a breath of air as his knife finds Katelynn...though not quite with the oomph Nassir would've hoped for otherwise. "You acknowledge your defeat in silence."
Quickly moving in a strafing pattern away from Katelynn, Nassir hunches himself over to retrieve another of his throwing knives, smile growing larger. "Some fighters do acknwoledge a certain...grace in defeat that way. You, though..." Nassir paused, practically grinning from ear to ear. Even for the soldier, it was an awkward thing that his face wasn't used to. "...that is not your way. You...are the kind for endless chittering. Are you that frustrated? Incapable of mounting a return offense?"
The blade, like a broken record, comes in on cue, thrown with an almost dismissive gesture--practically *daring* Katelynn to prove him wrong...or right, for that matter.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn fails to slow Power Shot from Nassir with Thrown Object.
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Nassir 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Katelynn
Again with the blast, and unfortunately, Katelynn's attempt to stop the attack fails miserably. Yeah, you know the drill.
Yes, we -do- know the drill. Certainly, by now, even the Audience would be able to tell what's going on: Nassir was the death of a thousand cuts, even at his best. Rarely did his mode of attack change...unless he had reason to do so.
So far, he had no real reason to mess too much with success. It's how failure started. As things stood though, this was less 'conservative victory conditions' and more 'sadistic means of public torture'.
"You've done nothing here," Nassir noted, smile fading entirely into nothingness. "You've accomplished little. I wonder what a proper assessment test would reveal about you, though. What are your strengths?"
More wisps of shadowy blue energy began to form around Nassir's body, evaporating into nothingness less than an inch off of his body. "Do you have any at all?"
COMBATSYS: Nassir focuses on his next action.
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Nassir 0/-------/---====|=======\-------\1 Katelynn
"I do have my strengths, it's just a matter of knowing how to use them properly," Katelynn replies with a stern look on her face that shows she's not giving up even in spite of her injuries. She's ready to take this guy on, no matter how hard she gets beaten. With that, she focuses on her legs and feet, which glow blue, and then she literally launches herself into her missile kick, except leaving a trail of chi behind her!
COMBATSYS: Nassir interrupts Super Missile Kick from Katelynn with Stockholm Syndrome.
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Nassir 0/-------/-======|=====--\-------\0 Katelynn
"I have a confession to make," Nassir whispers, balling his hand into a tight fist save for his first and middle fingers. Despite the whispering nature, it's easy enough to make out between the two of them...and thanks to high-tech camera wonders, his words would be made out well enough on the replay.
Thrusting his not-quite-a-hand into the arch of the energy-coated foot, Nassir's chi-signature creates more afterimages, following in after the movements of his body and repeating it for a few seconds afterwards. The impact is enough to stop forward momentum for the most part, though in the same breath Nassir finds himself being flung backwards a few feet. Despite himself, the attack did some reasonable damage, and left his hand hurting something fierce.
Loosening his fist and shaking the hand vigorously, Nassir's shadowclones began to dissipate...and the audience responds with strong applause. After all of those knife attacks, -something- different is all that's needed to rouse the crowd.
There's really nothing to say here, other than that Katelynn's really blown it big time, and she's heading for the ground... hard.
COMBATSYS: Katelynn takes no action.
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Nassir 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Katelynn can no longer fight.
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Nassir 0/-------/-======|
Log created on 15:58:08 05/06/2007 by Nassir, and last modified on 09:28:05 05/12/2007.