Description: Rock challenges Ryo to test his progress. Ryo calls Rock a punk.
Rock Howard, fresh off a trip into the mountains to speak with his pseudo-mentor (among many), Grant, has found his spirit reimbued. He's motivated and energized again; buoyed on his seemingly neverending quest to become a strong enough fighter that he can destroy his father, Geese. Bordering on obsessed, especially after his recent fight with Geese on Saturday Night Fight, Rock has hit the streets of his father's city. He's looking for someone, anyone, who he can test his new spirit against.
His wanderings have taken him into Chinatown. Moving through the streets, hands jammed into his red coat's pockets, Howard's red eyes flick from passing face to passing face, trying to spot someone familiar. Someone he might recognize from Saturday Night Fight or Neo League -- someone he can fight. It's that simple sometimes.
"I'm telling you, Li, the whole place is falling into ruins." Lets out Ryo Sakazaki, admist the crowd, seated by one of the numberous small chinese restaurant -- a ramen stand, this time around. "I was fixing the roof, then /wham/, the whole thing crumbled right under my feets." He finishes, slurping down a whole bunch of noddles before wipping his mouth off with a sleeve, taking the time to turn around and look about. Maybe he should get back on finding some material soon.
Rock moves past the ramen stand, not noticing anything particularly noteworthy about it beyond the aroma. He gets about five steps down the street before he abruptly stops. A Chinese man on a bicycle has to swerve around him. He shakes his fist and rings his basket-carrying bike's bell a few times in aggitation.
Twisting on his heel, Rock squints as he looks back at the ramen stand. "No..." he says, head tilting towards a shoulder. "Couldn't be." There's no chance that his luck is that good and Ryo Sakazaki is just hanging out in Chinatown like that. Standing there for a few more seconds, the heavy crowds on Chinatown's sidewalks swerve around the taller Howard -- some of the younger denizens recognizing him and watching him curiously in the process.
Finally, Rock exhales and moves against traffic. He comes up behind Ryo at the stand, leaning against the counter. Able to see his face in his peripheral vision, a smile breaks on his face. "You're Ryo," he says. "Master of kyokugen-ryuu. I'm a huge fan."
The quest of Ryo Sakzaki for new things, cheap, durable materials to repair the roof of his Dojo with has lead him into Chinatown, after a whole day of wandering around the city and beating up a few random thugs to break the monotony. Fighting dig your appetite, so, here he is, eating ramen and talking with an old friend.
"Then there was this kid inside that said she was looking for Yuri -- y'know, my sister an--" The Raging Tiger suddenly interrupt his tale, witnessing the young man entering his peripheral vision. Hum. That guy's familiar...he can't place where he's seen him, but he's /definetively/ familiar. Oh. A fan! Been a while! "Yup, that'd be me, Ryo. Who I'm talking to?" Sakazaki replies, friendily enough and lending out an hand in greeting.
Rock takes Ryo's proffered hand and shakes it. But he doesn't let go in that comfortable window when people normally release a handshake. He keeps his gloved hand gripping. "My name's Rock Howard," he says, sure that Ryo will immediately make the connotation. "A few years ago you helped clean up a big portion of Southtown. You stuck it right to my father. Anyone who sticks it to my father, I admire."
Rock's grip on Ryo's hand tightens and he looks straight into the man's eyes. "My father hates you and your family. Do me the honor of showing me /why/." Rock, if he can take out Ryo, will have a clear benchmark that he's that much closer to the point where he can take his father. He's not going to let Sakazaki leave here in peace.
+rp Me first!
.save
COMBATSYS: Ryo has started a fight here.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rock has joined the fight here.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rock
Sakazaki's eyes narrowed a little as he presented himself. So, that's him, Rock Howard? He heard a few times about him -- young fighter that's out to beat the snot out of his father, not that he can blame him. Geese is scum. Horrible scum. Ryo let the young man continue talking, his grip tightening against Rock's hand in turn.
Nope, no going out of this fight, that's for sure.
"Li, I'll take a second after this." He comments, offhandly to the old man behind the counter, refocusing his glance toward Rock, a smirk forming up on his face. "Heh. Gladly! HYAAAAAAAH!" The Raging Tiger screams, lashing out his other hand to over the 'handshake' and attempting to fault Rock over his shoulder.
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Rock with Quick Throw.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rock
Rock wasn't quite expecting Ryo to be so quick to action. Everything he's ever heard about the man placed him as an honorable and respected fighter. Not to say that seizing the initiative when a potential opponent makes their intentions clear is dishonorable, but it surprises Rock. Ryo's hands curl into his black t-shirt. Rock's eyes drop to stare at it, widen, and then a second later...
He's sailing over Ryo's shoulder and down the Chinatown street. Landing on his side, Howard slams into into a corner's line of newspaper dispensors and trashcans. They dislodge and clatter into the street; traffic swerving, horns wailing, and people screaming with surprise.
Laying on his side for a second, Rock squints the half-block back up at Ryo, sizing him up. He slowly climbs to a knee, then to both feet, gloved hands running across the sleeves of his jacket -- dusting himself off. "Okay then," Rock says. "We'll do it this way."
COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rock
Ryo uphold to his reputation by standing back up and straightening his gi, watching Rock getting back up similarly and...doing little else. No charging to attack Rock while he's down, or while he's composing himself. He also explains himself, bowing his head toward the son of Geese.
"I must apologise about that sudden attack, but I wished to test your reflex. For if you wish to defeat your father..." The Raging Tiger declares, flexing down his legs and thrusting out his arms toward Rock. "You'll have to be able to think quickly, react faster than he might, strike harder than he can muster!"
An hand break his stance, motioning Rock to come at him as he adds. "Come on, then! Show me what you've got!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo focuses on his next action.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|=------\-------\0 Rock
Rock stares at Ryo for a few seconds. If he wishes to defeat his father, he'll have to be able to think quickly... "Yeah?" Rock echoes after Ryo speaks, sounding a little bit sarcastic. "Is that it? I just need to be faster, smarter, and stronger than the best fighter on the planet?" He rolls his shoulders and takes a step forward, adopting his usual Hakyokusaken stance. It looks very similar to Terry Bogard's fighting stance.
"Lucky me," he adds, flatly. It's an impossible task thatRock wants to achieve. Howard knows that. But he doesn't care. He has an indomitable spirit, a natural gift from his father. He'll keep trying and trying until he either succeeds or dies. It usually looks like death is the more likely outcome.
Not hesitating any more, Rock decides to give Ryo a taste of the very father they're discussing. Eyes flicking to his left and then his right, noting the growing crowd of eager onlookers -- how often do the son of Geese Howard and Takuma Sakazaki fight without it being on Pay Per View? -- Rock suddenly takes a powerful step forward. Foot planting, his right arm bends to tuck towards his side and then shoots out to the side. With a roar of strength and power, the fingers open and Howard swings his arm forward -- a sudden swirling burst of indigo chi energy coiling off it and burning across the sidewalk. "REPPUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo overcomes Reppuken from Rock with Kuuchuu Ko'ou Ken.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Rock
"This sound about correct." Ryo replies, standing in the same stance he lifted earlier. "There is no easy way around it, Rock. To defeat a powerful fighter, you must be a powerful fighter yourself! However... power does not only come from body and technique, either. " Sakazaki continues. Jeeze, he's starting to sound like his own old man with all that ranting.
But for now, his exposition is interrupted by Howard's own attack. Ahhh. Reppuken. This man is definetively the son of Geese to throw that darned attack out. Ryo is not without defense, however. Lending back an hand, the Kyokugen fighter focus his chi and throws out a mid-size fireball to meet against the ground-based projectile. "KO'OU KEN!"
The two projections collides, struggle with one another for a moment before the Ko'ou Ken emerges victorious, soaring toward the young man.
COMBATSYS: Rock overcomes Kuuchuu Ko'ou Ken from Ryo with Double Reppuken.
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Ryo 0/-------/------=|=------\-------\0 Rock
Rock follows through his reppuken, his hand ending up near his face. He watches the chi power surge across the street, intent on it's destination. He can see the starfire swirl of energy in it, the burning path as it quakes through the cement sidewalk -- and then he can see at Ryo answers it with his own variety of chi assault.
Dropping back a step as the two fireballs connect in mid-flight, Rock clenches his fingers into a fist. His other hand mirrors the fist, his jaw hardening as Sakazaki's fireball explodes through his reppuken and starts churning back towards him. In that extended instance, Howard locks eyes with Ryo over the burning glow of energy.
Rock smiles. Almost like he was prepared, both of his arms shoot out to his sides. "DOUBLE!" he yells, and then each arm mirrors his actions a moment before. "REPPUKEN!" he yells, cutting them forward like rowing a boat backwards. This time two, much more sizable, flames of street-shaking blue chi energy rocket forward and into the oncoming fireball -- blitzkrieging through it to accelerate after Ryo.
COMBATSYS: Ryo parries Rock's Double Reppuken!
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Ryo 0/-------/-----==|=------\-------\0 Rock
To be brutaly honest, Ryo expected another Reppuken to be fired at him. That's the basic of projectile wars, right? Fire one, the other fire one back, and it goes back and forth for ages.
The Raging Tiger was preparing to throw another Ko'ou Ken out, but the coming of /two/ Reppuken makes him hesitate for a brief moment. Ah, yes. That's right. Thoses guys can throw /two/ of them at once. Maybe a revision of plan is in order.
"HAAAAAH!" Sakazaki shouts out as he waits for the two chi projections and thrusts out both of his forarms. They briefly glows with a blue chi energy, deflecting the two Reppuken into harmless, but rather pretty, sparks of light.
"A fighter's strength lies in his soul and heart!" Pause. "And, I know it's cliche, don't you worry! KYEEAAAH!"
Sakazaki charges toward Rock, leaping mid-way to fly like an arrow, lashing out a feet covered in chi against his young foe. He'll have to go all out: if Rock can't beat him, he's not ready!
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Rock with Hien Shippu Kyaku EX.
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Ryo 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rock
Rock steps forward to meet the oncoming Ryo headfirst. Literally. Intending to try and duck beneath the flying jump kick, Rock isn't fast enough to get low enough. The heel of Sakazaki's foot slams into his forehead with a terrible cracking noise. Flattened by the blow, Rock's momentum enhances the pain, as he's shot back from the impact point a good dozen feet through the air.
He lands across the street, back slamming into the side of an abandoned taxi cab. The windows shatter as the side doors of the car crunch from Rock's impact. The sometimes hero, sometimes villain slumps forward to land on his hands and knees. He exhales a breath, trying to regain his focus, his forehead pounding in pain.
Standing, Rock tries to act like that kick didn't just nearly decapitate him. Wiping a hand through his hair, he shakes his head to ignore the dizziness, and readopts his fighting stance. "Come on," he challenges, motioning with a gloved hand at Ryo across the street.
COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.
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Ryo 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Rock
Old Man Li, from the ramen booth, is filming all this. A perk of having a renowed fighter as a customer and aquintance is that you sometime get to witness awesome fights like this one!
Ryo lands, watching Rock fly and crash land rather painfuly, causing the Kyokugen fighter to wince slightly. He'll be fine, but it's always hard to watch /that/ kind of landing.
The moment Howard motion that he's fine, Ryo is gone from the previous spot he was in before. However, his familiar voice screams out from above an loud "KYUUUHAAAAAA!" as the Raging Tiger comes crashing down from above toward Rock, an arm lifted and ready to bought down as a Karate Chop against him!
COMBATSYS: Rock counters Mouko Raijin Setsu from Ryo with Joudan Crack Counter.
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Ryo 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Rock
This time, it's Rock Howard that prepared for Ryo Sakazaki. As the older fighter comes streaking down from above, Rock tenses and waits for that critical point. His eyes thin as he homes in on the angle and inflection of Ryo's attack; he watches every muscle and tendon twitch beneath that fighting gi. When it comes, Rock's own hand shoots out.
He grips Ryo's oncoming hand by the wrist, intercepting it with a quick hold. And then he twists, yanking on Ryo's arm to send his opponent's weight forward. This is just what Rock needs. Exploding with sudden, startling speed, he twists and jumps to plant both of his feet against the indented side of the taxi cab he crashed into just seconds ago. Springing off it in a somersault over Ryo's head, he sends a spinning heel kick right into the back of the young Sakazaki fighter's head.
Sakazaki didn't see any of that coming. The younger man vault around him and successfully kick him straight behind the head, sending Ryo crashing painfuly face first against that poor abused taxi cab. He remains there for no longer than a second, turning himself around and flipping to his feets.
With an approving smirk on his features, despite bleeding faintly from the forhead. At about that time, a wellspring of chi erupts from under Ryo's feet, surrounding the Kyokugen-Karate Master as he recharge his energy. "Come on, Rock! You can do better than this!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo gathers his will.
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Ryo 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rock
Rock can sense the sudden spike in Ryo's chi energy. He knows that, like his own linneage, Ryo's inherited that particular ability to wield and control chi energy. It's second nature. And it's dangerous when your opponent is gifted with that unique talent. You never know how they can deploy that power.
"You're right," Rock answers back to Ryo, hoping to not let Sakazaki continue to build energy. Their proximity is close, so Rock does the first thing he can think of to try and interrupt Ryo's concentration. He reaches to grab him by the cuff of the neck, fall onto his back, and kick-throw Ryo over his head and back across the street.
COMBATSYS: Ryo endures Rock's Quick Throw.
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Ryo 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rock
A wise movement of action, but that's preciesly what Ryo wanted. Sakazaki makes no effort of blocking or preventing the attack: the Raging Tiger is grabbed and kicked away, landing on the ground as the aura of chi vanishes around him. Effortlessly, Ryo springs back to his feets and crosses his arms in front of himself.
All this was smoothly executed, fautlessly chained. "Let's how you deal about /THIS/! HAOH SHO KO KEN!" The blond haired Kyokugen Master screams out, spreading his arms and unleashing a spontanously created blast of blue chi, easily as tall and large than a fully grown man.
Of course, flying toward Rock.
COMBATSYS: Rock dodges Ryo's Haoh Sho Ko Ken.
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Ryo 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Rock
The world melts away from Rock's peripherals as he stares down the barrel of the oncoming pain. The Haoh Sho Ko Ken is one of the most notorious and devestating fireball techniques known to man -- perhaps topped only in infamy by Ryu's Hadoken. Rock's watched masters of Kyokugen-ryuu karate perform it since he was a young child living in Geese Howard's thrall.
And it that experience that saves Rock's life. He knows that he'll never be able to overpower it, not with any technique he's mastered thus far in his life. His only option is to try and get the hell out of it's way. As the fireball screams forward, burning and churning with malicious promise, Howard pivots and backflips back over the same tarnished taxi cab both he and Ryo have made friends with.
A second later, the huge fireball slams into the yellow vehicle. It tears through steel and metals, hits the fuel tank, and explodes in a plummeting geyser of flames.
Rock shields himself from the shrapnel and mayhem of the explosion with a forearm. He rides out the initial blast, tenses his leg muscles, and then leaps through the still swirling smoke and flames to emerge on the other side. He lands near Ryo, plants a hand, and then sends a spinning roundhouse kick forward to try and take out Sakazaki's legs.
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Ryo with Medium Kick.
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Ryo 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Rock
That's what happen when you are famous. Your moves and techniques become known, and people start learning on how to counter them.
The fireball crashing into the car was impressive, of course, but Ryo completly missed his mark. Worse, Rock have the time to lash in a kick into Ryo's legs, making him fall unceremoniously to the ground.
That was painful, and passively hulmiating.
The Raging Tiger rolls backward and spring back to his feets, straightening his gi and belt again, staring at Howard with the same smirk as before. "That's better. That's much better."
COMBATSYS: Ryo gains composure.
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Ryo 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rock
"Thanks," Rock says, genuinely appreciating the compliment from a fighter he's respected for several years. He really wants to beat Ryo, but it isn't a malicious desire. He doesn't want to hurt or harm Ryo, he wants to prove he's a better fighter than the man for his own benefit. And because news of it would reach his father and his father would know that Rock has been growing in power. Rock, perhaps foolishly, thinks it would send a message to the man in the Tower.
"I've been training around the clock," Rock continues, starting to pace around Ryo in the center of the street, his eyes barreling in on the man's stance. He tries to figure out if he's favoring anything, giving away any indication of weakness or damage in his practically flawless technique. "Ever since Saturday Night Fight... I need to get stronger. I need to be faster. You're a great test, Ryo Sakazaki!"
COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.
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Ryo 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rock
Mimiru has arrived.
[OOC] Rock says, "Are you going to be able to stick around if I need to idle at 9?"
Ryo, despite not being an old man -- far from it! He is still in the very begining of his prime! -- has a pretty well developed sense of judgement. This man that he see in front of him is a man on a mission. He can feel it. A man that has something to prove. Both for a good reason, and both for a bad one.
Vengance can easily turn around on you, but the Raging Tiger can respect Rock's resolve about getting stronger!
"Why, thanks. Never lose hope! If I beat you, do not give up!" He replies, as the familiar wellspring of energy begins to flood all around Sakazaki's form once more. He sure like doing that -- and why not? It's a perfectly solid strategy! He has to win this. He, personaly, have little to lose or win in this fight, but he can help the youth in so many ways.
One of them is being hard to beat.
COMBATSYS: Ryo gathers his will.
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Ryo 0/-------/-======|==-----\-------\0 Rock
"I won't," Rock answers, voice bouyed with promise. Giving up isn't encoded into either of Rock's bloodlines -- the Howard or the Heinlein parts. He comes from a strong pedigree and there isn't a single quitter amongst them. A lot of insanity, a lot more evil, but no quitting. Geese and Kain would be admirable if they weren't so terrible.
Focusing in on the invisible waves of Ryo's fluctuating chi energy, Rock waits until he can register that familiar clearing of interference behind Ryo's eyes. The man is composed and reaching that serenity point where his chi level will skyrocket. Rock's felt that internal tranquility before. But there is that moment before you hit that point, that brief fraction of a second where your mind is foggy but your power levels aren't fully there.
That's when he strikes. Streaking forward in a full run, Rock's booted feet slam into the pavement over and over, until he's at arm's length from Ryo. Then he leaps, body twisting through the air, a perfect replica of Terry Bogard's Rising Tackle emerging from Rock's movements. His feet drive straight up for Ryo's chin, his arms and body corkscrewing through to give the movements momentum.
COMBATSYS: Ryo blocks Rock's Rising Tackle.
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Ryo 1/------=/=======|==-----\-------\0 Rock
The match is far from over from Ryo, and it's far to be in the Raging Tiger's favour. Fate still have not decided who will win this bout, but it is undoubtly important!
This time, Ryo was ready, completly ready to receive Rock Howard's onslaught. This was the plan, right? Getting attacked. This is why Sakazaki was bracing himself from the onslaught despite the rush of energy flowing through his veins. His arms are lifted, clocking the incoming blow. It hurts, certainly, but far less than if it had landed against his chin.
Ryo's reply is quite simple and is expressed by a simple word: "KOHOU!"
I lied. Not just by a word, but with an brutal FLYING UPPERCUT aimed at the stomach of the still airborn Rock.
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Rock with Kohou.
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Ryo 1/----===/=======|====---\-------\0 Rock
Rock starts coming down from his own 'uppercut kick' type attack... Just in time to take a fist to the gut. Ryo's rising uppercut strikes him clean and clear, knuckles grinding into muscles in his stomach and sending him sailing back. Rock's body flips end over end in a full rotation before he lands on the ground back across the street near the Ramen Stand in a skidding crouch.
Tracking Ryo's descent, Howard springs from the curb in a small hop. He lands both of his feat in a gymnast plant, twists his body at the waist, and then curls his arm out to send his arm slicing up through the air again. For the third time, a reppuken tears off it, incadescent blue energy curling across the Chinatown street.
"I'm glad you're giving me your best, Ryo!"
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Ryo with Reppuken.
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Ryo 1/--=====/=======|======-\-------\0 Rock
Ah yes. Reppuken. How Ryo has missed you! Just about as much as the black plague was missed by the middle ages. Not terribly much.
At least, the one that is throwing it is actualy a decent man. The energy wave hits through Ryo as he lands back, sending the Kyokugen fighter to the ground where he quickly get back to his feets, wiping off a brief dribble of blood from his mouth, barely paying attention to it. "I always give my best when battling worthy foes!" Is Sakazaki's reply.
Now, time to finish what he has planned. Rock wanted him to give out the best that he could manage, right? That's what he'll do. For the third time, Sakazaki's entire form is surrounded in golden chi, his reserve of power tripling and overwhelming all senses of the Raging Tiger.
Soon, it will be time!
Ah yes. Reppuken. How Ryo has missed you! Just about as much as the black plague was missed by the middle ages. Not terribly much.
At least, the one that is throwing it is actualy a decent man. The energy wave hits through Ryo as he lands back, sending the Kyokugen fighter to the ground where he quickly get back to his feets, wiping off a brief dribble of blood from his mouth, barely paying attention to it. "I always give my best when battling worthy foes!" Is Sakazaki's reply.
Now, time to finish what he has planned. Rock wanted him to give out the best that he could manage, right? That's what he'll do. He know that Howard is doing /his/ best: the least he can do is doing the very same.
For now, Ryo spend a brief moment observing Rock. His style is pretty curious -- a mixture of Geese's and of...another that is pretty familiar. Ah! Yes! Bogart. Hum. There is ought to be a weak point in there...
COMBATSYS: Ryo focuses on his next action.
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Ryo 1/--=====/=======|======-\-------\0 Rock
Rock, satisfied that the reppuken hit -- as it always does -- stops his movements in the center of the street. Again, he recompiles himself, arms moving back into a poised position. His fingers curls into closed fists as he takes a normal Hakyokusaken stance, balancing his weight in a slow bounce between each of his feet. It looks exactly like someone preparing for a street fight.
"If you're looking for a weak point in my technique," Rock says through a grin, bouncing back and forth, staying loose. "You'll have to keep looking. I've been trained by the best fighters in the world." He hates his father, but he can't deny that the man's skills are remarkable. Rock learned that first hand a month ago on Saturday Night Fight. His ears still ring.
COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.
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Ryo 1/--=====/=======|====---\-------\0 Rock
"Do not be so overconfident!" Ryo Sakazaki replies, still grinning wide. He's seeing an opening right there -- in his stance. The slowness of his balance is going to be when he strikes. "Every man has a weakness!" Even himself, he adds silently in thoughts as he watchs Rock go back and forth. There, just there, going there...
Bang. It's time.
The Raging Tiger's form then litteraly blurrs as he dashes toward Howard, his arms spread. It's a technique that he has often demonstrated over the years, one that has felled many, many foes. "KYOKUGEN-RYUU OUGI!" he shouts in japanese, his native language taking over in this attack of extreme tension. The orange-gi wearing fighter them let lose an incredible wave of attack that can only be describled as a wall of punches of kick, screaming all the time, "ORAORAORAORA!", finnaly ending in a brutal flying uppercut like earlier. "MORATTAAAAA!"
The Ryuuko Ranbu.
COMBATSYS: Rock fails to counter Ryuuko Ranbu from Ryo with Joudan Crack Counter.
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Ryo 0/-------/------=|=======\==-----\1 Rock
Rock Howard has, perhaps, underestimated Ryo Sakazaki. After hanging even with him, trading blows, for the entirity of the fight... Rock was starting to get overconfident. Ryo hadn't shown him anything to make him concerned or particularly worried. He hadn't unleashed any wave of power that would shake Southtown. He hadn't shattered a steel tank door like Grant had or endured Deadly Rave Neo like Geese.
That changes when Ryo unleashes his ultimate technique. The onslaught of punches come faster than Rock can realize -- this fight suddenly developing a sixth gear. Rock does his best to stay with the furious series of blows, his arms and body twisting to intercept as many as he can. The first, initial, volley he manages to handle well. He backpedals up the street, parrying fists and feet.
But then Ryo kicks it into yet another gear. He has a second wind, a follow-up volley. Rock's muscles burn and he starts to falter. One blow slams him into the stomach, barreling him over as the air whisks out of his throat. The upper-cut follows, slamming into his exposed chin with a terrible noise. Rock's toes lift off the ground, he seems to freeze there half in the air, and then he crumbles back from Ryo to skid down the road.
Winding down from the furious onslaught he delivered, Ryo Sakazaki takes a deep breath, readjusting his gi and belt, poping his neck left and right and allowing Rock to get himself back up.
The Raging Tiger's reputation is not fake after all. He wont strike down a foe -- especialy in a match like this -- while he's down, even if it might cost him victory. This mean he's holding back a little.
Has been for a lot of the match.
"Never forget that. No man is an island. There is always a weakness you can exploit, be it merly their overconfidence."
COMBATSYS: Ryo gains composure.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|=======\==-----\1 Rock
Rock lays still on the street for a few minutes. His ears are ringing again; just like that night on Howard Arena when his father obliterated him. He was overconfident then, too. He thought he was ready to take on the man. He thought that it was time to make Geese pay for a childhood of seeming neglect and abuse. He thought it was time to make him pay for what he did to his mother.
He was wrong.
The ringing starts to fade as Rock rolls onto his side and gets a hand under him. He slowly pushes himself up, looking battered and beaten, like a fragile old woman climbing from her death bed. But he pushes through it, he remembers what makes him fight. Her face. He pushes harder, gets to a knee and then to both feet. He stands, shaky, but he stands. Blood red eyes close, his thoughts clear, and then they open to lock onto Ryo.
"I'll remember that," he says back to Ryo. "But I'm not dead yet."
COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\1 Rock
Sakazaki patiently watches Rock Howard getting back to his feets, hands on his hips, his expression neutral. He's not down yet. This is a good sign for the kid, very good sign. This means he might actualy have the potential, then.
"Good." Ryo replies, lifting an hand an motioning his opponment closer. "Come on, then! Show me how much you are still alive!" To, perhaps, encourage him, the Raging Tiger winds up his right arm and quickly tosses out an: "KO'OU KEN!" toward Rock. It's a little half-hearted, to be honest, but it's to make him come closer!
COMBATSYS: Rock overcomes Kuuchuu Ko'ou Ken from Ryo with Raging Storm'.
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Ryo 0/-------/-------|==-----\-------\0 Rock
Rock barely registers that Ryo hurled another fireball at him. He was too busy building his own power. Ryo wants him to tell him how much he's still alive. Rock is glad to answer. Piercing eyes locking onto Ryo's pair, Rock suddenly takes a deep inhale of air, gulping in oxygen.
Then it happens. His entire demeanor changes. It becomes darker, more feral, more relentless. It might remind Sakazaki of Rock's father. His power spikes with the change in expression, power pooling and exploding out from his body in a crackling crescendo of brilliant blue chi energy. Fingers clench, muscles bulge, and Rock's mind burns red with the face of his father.
"RAGING!" he yells, slamming his fists down for the floor. "STORM!" A shockwave of energy explodes outward, incinerating the surrounding street -- shaking Southtown for several blocks -- and causing a seismic crater to ripple outward like a meteor impact from Rock's epicenter. The wave of pure power explodes in a ring around him, a pillar of light shooting up for the sky.
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Ryo with Raging Storm'.
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Ryo 0/-------/-----==|==-----\-------\0 Rock
Ryo recognise this all too well. He can't say he fought against Geese himself terribly often, but he has seen this happen to others. Sakazaki knows he don't have much chance to dodge it, so instead, he does what any good Kyokugen Fighter would do in this situation:
He takes it like a man.
"Grrrrgng!" The Raging Tiger grunted out as the energy waves washes over him. The ground shakes, crack under the might of Howard's attack born out of pure rage. Dust and stones flies over Sakazaki and completly covering his form. There's no doubt about it: he was hit. Rock can likely feel it.
But what he'll also feel very soon is Ryo's own world renowed move as he bursts out of the dustcloud like a rocket, a feet covered in pure destructive chi lashed out, aimed for the young Howard's face. "HIEN SHIPPU KYAKU!" He screams about mid-way.
Sakazaki is not down. He's just warming up.
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Rock with Hien Shippu Kyaku.
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Ryo 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rock
Chi smoke curls off Rock's body after the Raging Storm. His breathing if strong and deep, swallowing gasps of air to try and refill his lungs after the tremendous expenditure of power. He's slow to open his eyes, but when he does and Ryo is still standing, Rock is surprised. "How--?" he starts to ask. He can never finish the question.
Ryo's on him like a pit bull. The strike slams into Rock's battered body square and true, launching him back through the air. He slams into the wall of the building near the Ramen Stand. Bricks crumble from his impact, tumbling down to the street a few seconds before Rock's body falls with it. Somewhere in the brutal strike, his jacket was torn to shards, his black t-shirt half-sticking to his battered and bruised torso.
Howard doesn't offer any more words. He pushes through his pain, willing the last of hs inner strength. The deathwish flashes in his eyes; pure determination to take Ryo down with him. It's a race against time; a giant piano hanging by a string above his head.
"DOUBLE!" Rock yells yet again, rising off the sidewalk and firing more reppukens after Ryo. "REPPUKEN!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo full-parries Rock's Double Reppuken!
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Ryo 0/-------/--=====|====---\-------\0 Rock
Old Man Li is not missing any darned minute of footage of this awesome fight. He'll make TONS by selling it! Until, of course, some people starts Torrenting it and then he'll lose money. But that's the internet for you.
Determination is also in Ryo's dark blue eyes. This fight is not as important for him than it is for Rock, but he realise the sheer epicness of it. He's a measuring stick, the world consider him as one. That's flattering and humbling at the same time. That is why Rock has challenged him, right? To see if he was ready.
To properly do this, he have to do his best, pool in the upmost reserves that he possess and finish this. He /cannot/ hold back. That would be an insult at this point to Rock.
"HAAAAAH!" Sakazaki screams, lifting both of his arms, waiting for the ground waves to home into him. The very moment they connect, a bright screen of chi explodes as he spread his arms, harmlessly dispelling the energy projectile.
That done, Ryo demonstrate that he is worthy of the 'Raging Tiger' title. Snarling, he charges toward Rock in a beeline, pouncing against him with an elbow smash and quickly springing back up with a flying uppercut. "MOUKO RAIJIN GOU!"
COMBATSYS: Ryo successfully hits Rock with Mouko Raijin Gou EX.
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Ryo 0/-------/-======|======-\-------\0 Rock
Rock buckles over when the elbow drills him in the sternum -- all the air shooting right back out of his lungs. Seizing up, he's helpless when the following strike nails his already bruised jaw. Bone meets bone in a terrible crunch, Howard's eyes rolling into the back of his head with the connection. Stumbling back, he's a dead man walking -- consciousness floating in and out of his mind. One, two, and then on the third step he stumbles back, collapsing into a heap against the side of the sidewalk.
Down on his back for a good twenty seconds before he snaps back awake, Rock's eyes open to stare at Ryo for a few seconds. He blinks, lifts a hand to rub his pounding head, and then shakes it back and forth. "Guess I'm not tough enough yet," he mumbles.
COMBATSYS: Rock takes no action.
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Ryo 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Rock can no longer fight.
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Ryo 0/-------/-======|
When Ryo landed, he knew that this fight was over. Call it a hunch if you will, he just... /knew/. He stood there, watching Rock crumble on the ground and remain unconcious for a whole twenty second, taking his time to step over.
If Rock can see anything, he'll likely see a Ryo Sakazaki that's relatively pounded up, but still healthy if out of breath lending down an helping hand toward him. "You're plenty tough, I say." He answers. "You still have long path ahead of you, but you are on the right way. This fight could have turned around easily." He declares.
COMBATSYS: Ryo takes no action.
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Ryo 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Ryo has ended the fight here.
Rock takes the offered hand for the second time that night. This time he doesn't hold onto it after he's back on his feet. "Everything they say is true," he says, looking uncomfortable having to stare at the man responsible for a defeat. It's like any fighter. "That was great. Thank you." Howard immediately starts to back away, but not without offering one last comment. "I'll be back for you, once I'm ready, he says over a shoulder. "I promise you that."
"And I'll be waiting! That was an awesome bout." Sakazaki shouts back, standing proudly, punching his fists into his hips. "Meanwhile, if you need some training, I'll be glad to provide some! You know where to find me!"
Log created on 18:05:20 05/06/2007 by Rock, and last modified on 19:56:20 05/18/2007.