Description: It's Rock Howard versus Dudley under the bright lights of Las Vegas. Thank god Dudley wore gloves.
Ah, Vegas... Vegas, the city of lights, a city that truly never sleeps. Dudley's been here before, of course; he's had several fights in the city, known for its big-draw boxing. In fact, he's been in this very ring before, the boxing theater of the MGM Grand... a popular place for big-ticket matches. Does this match count? It probably does in some respects; the stands are filled with the glamorous and unglamorous alike, already roaring, cheering, and in some cases, laying bets.
Dudley, for his part, is warming up backstage, but soon enough its time to get the party started, as it were. He considers; he hasn't -met- Rock, but he's heard a bit about the younger Howard, and his skills are not to be taken lightly. This will most definitely be a tough fight and it could go either way. Dudley is keeping that in mind as he walks along the carpeted path that leads to the boxing ring--swooping lights shine down on him, the theatre darkening, as he makes his way.
"And in the blue cornah! A former heavyweight champeen of tha world! The British boxin' machine that only needs one name! DUDLEY!!!" It's well-timed; the name comes just as Dudley makes the last step up to the ring, and, at his corner, the lights all shine on him as he ducks under the top rope, raising his gloved hands and turning around slowly, before settling onto the small bench in his corner and getting himself prepared mentally.
Rock Howard isn't a boxer. He's a professional fighter. He rolls in different circuits than Dudley. While it's really common for the best fighters in any genre to end up converging into the Saturday Night Fight circuit, this isn't the usual situation for Rock. The last time he was infront of a crowd this large he was fighting his father, Geese, in the marble square of Howard Arena. The sooner he can finally forget about that, the better.
Dudley's introduced first and then the Michael Buffer-cloned announcer turns to the other locker room, waiting for the cue that Rock's about to emerge. He's got his note card ready and everything. Several seconds pass. No music keys in. No lights flick on. The announcer looks to the ref and then the fight promoters outside the ring for guidance. They're equally as confused. Is Howard making a no show?
Finally, just as the crowd starts to realize something is up, a thin blond teenager in a red jacket and hat jumps over the railing near the MGM's ring. Security immediately converges, ready to tackle the interloper, until Rock stands up. One of the promoters calls them off while the other motions Buffer to give the introductions.
"Save it," Rock says, jumping up the ropes and climbing in. "Let's just get this started."
Ah... he's here. Dudley rises as the 'teenager' hops into the ring... of course, it's no mystery as to what Rock looks like--pictures are readily available. Turning to his corner--and his butler--Dudley gives a nod, and the stool and such are taken out of the ring. Then he's walking, steadily, to his 'starting line'... and standing, waiting. There is no official; this is a no-holds-barred fight.
So there's just Dudley, waiting for the fight to be called, raising his hands to guard position. His blue eyes fix on Rock, and he grins. "Let's fight," he tells his opponent, "like gentlemen!" He must not get tired of saying that. Or maybe he'll eventually just have it recorded and he'll play it back with a tape recorder.
COMBATSYS: Dudley has started a fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Dudley 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rock has joined the fight here.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rock 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Dudley
Rock cocks an eye at Dudley. The butler, the boxing outfit, and then the 'like gentlemen!' thing. It's too much. He almost starts laughing. It takes a lot of willpower for him to not be laughing. Luckily, if there's one thing Howard's got plenty of (besides angst), it's willpower. "Yeah, okay," he says, dismissively of the offer for good sportsmanship, his grin flattening back to his petulantly grinding jaw.
Taking his hat off and hanging it on the ringpost, Rock rolls his neck and starts pacing a half-circle through the boxing ring. Making two half orbits, once across in each direction, he finally seems satisfied with his opponent. "Okay, man," he says, adopting a practiced Hakyokusaken stance that is infinitely famous in the fighting circles of the world. "I hope you're ready because I never hold back!"
COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.
[\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rock 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Dudley
People laugh... but Dudley's expression is far from amused. Kids these days... just don't understand the concept of honor and chivalry. Well, Dudley'll teach him. With his fists, if need be. Dudley rolls his head, popping a couple of joints as well, then smirks, sliding his right foot back.
"Indeed," he murmurs, as he takes up his boxing stance... bouncing on his feet, displaying a good deal of agile footwork as he switches up left and right facings... then darts forward. He'll test, first--lunging with his left leading, firing a quick jab for Rock's chin. Should be easy to brush off--it's just a jab.
COMBATSYS: Rock blocks Dudley's Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////////////]
Rock 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Dudley
The Gentleman Boxer's guess is right as Rock makes a predictable reaction to his jabbing punch. Letting the fist strike him, he angles his head so that the gloved hand does minimal damage in grazing off his cheek. He's hoping that will enough to leave Dudley momentarily off-balance. In the least, it brings him in close where Rock can lay his own particular form of pain on the man.
Surging forward after the grazing blow, Howard takes a sharp step in towards Dudley, plants, and then pivots all his weight. Red eyes locking squarely onto Dudley's chest, Rock wists on his planted toe and extends his elbow to side to bring it back around with him on the spin. His aim is for Dudley's ribs. "Excuse /me/," he says, with a friendly mock.
COMBATSYS: Dudley blocks Rock's Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Dudley
Punching a boxer is not always the easiest of tasks. Dudley's eyes measure and check; they look and they observe. And just after Rock starts twisting, Dudley is moving--ducking slightly, folding his left arm, and twisting. That sharp elbow impacts not in the boxer's ribs, but on the arm--and Dudley doesn't seem to mind terribly much.
"Hn. An interesting technique," he murmurs, backstepping twice after the blunted impact. "Attempting to cause some damage early on... not a bad plan," he continues. "Let's see if you can do it again," he invites, raising his hands up again, in a looser guard.
COMBATSYS: Dudley focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Dudley
Rock recoils off his elbow's impact with Dudley's arm. Even with the fraction of a second they were in contact, he could feel the man's strength. This guy is built like a two hundred and forty pound tank. He's solid straight through the core. This isn't going to be as easy as he initially thought. Bouncing back up a few steps towards the ropes of the ring, Howard squints when Dudley starts talking about.
"You sure about that?" he counters back with a confident grin, trying to apply a little machismo to cover up his sudden uncertainty about how strong Dudley truly is. That first punch wasn't very hard but he was probably just trying to test Rock's reaction for the real pain. "If you think that was me trying to cause some damage, you haven't seen anything yet."
To alleviate his concern that Dudley might be able to KO him with one well placed haymaker, Rock does the more logical thing. He keeps them separated. "I have a little something you might like," he promises, suddenly readopting his fighting stance. Taking a half a step forward, Rock's body tenses and he cuts his arm forward in an upper-cut motion. A burst of bluish white chi energy suddenly envelopes his arm on the upward swing, tearing off it and cutting across the boxing ring in a swirling flash. It's the world famous reppuken, favored assault of Geese Howard.
COMBATSYS: Dudley endures Rock's Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Dudley
Hmm. Dudley's no stranger to chi; he's seen it and faced it in many forms. But he doesn't know just how strong Rock's chi is, yet... and he wants to know. So when the flare of chi comes, Dudley doesn't move... he doesn't dodge. He surges forward, through the blast--and when it dissipates, despite having lost a step, he's still surging forward.
"Not bad, kid. You've got some strength." Dudley respects that, perhaps more than anything other than honor. Strength -and- honor is the ultimate combination... and one very few have, even if they claim it. Dudley lunges forward, headed for Rock, wisps of energy flaring off his body as he seeks to close the gap and sling Rock around the chest with his left arm.
Should he make that grab he'll twist around, planting his feet, and sling Rock back the way that the boxer came from.
COMBATSYS: Rock blocks Dudley's Dynamite Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Dudley
Rock is swallowed in the much larger wingspan of Dudley. He's lifted off the ground and he's pitched like a slider for the ring's ropes. Only, as he finds his toes lifting off the ground and his weight being shot away from the boxer, he manages to contort in mid-flight so that he comes down in an acrobatic somersault somewhere near the edge of the ring. The fans in the arena gasp with surprise.
No longer hesitating any, Rock immediately springs out of his crouched landing and accelerates across the ring -- letting his speed do the talking for him. He comes hard, fast, and straight for Dudley. His fist curls and coils back, preparing to unload. And then to cover the last two steps, he jumps, lands right before Dudley, and drops towards the ground. Hand planting at his feet, his leg shoots out to the side as he twists and rolls all of his charging momentum into the horizontal swing of his leg in a slicing roundhouse kick for around Dudley's knee level.
"Don't sleep on my speed, champ."
COMBATSYS: Dudley interrupts Medium Kick from Rock with Cross Counter.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Dudley
Joe heads to the Pacific Ocean.
'Don't sleep on my speed'? Dudley can be pretty fast, himself; throughout the explosive reversal of his throw and Rock's oncoming speedburst. Utterly calm and apparently unmoving... except at the last possible moment. That slicing kick never actually connects, see.
Replayed in slow-motion for the crowd watching at home, it's plain to see what happens. Dudley's body shifts forward, practically blurring, even as Rock's leg is slicing in... and in the next moment his fist is impacting Rock across the face, Dudley's momentum such that he ends up skidding to a halt a yard past where the young Howard was.
"I won't," the big man says, as he turns to face where Rock ought to be.
Aislinn heads to the Pacific Ocean.
Aislinn arrives from the United States.
King heads to the Pacific Ocean.
King arrives from the United States.
In that same slow motion blur, the fans around the world can see Rock Howard's red eyes suddenly widening as he realizes there is a fifteen pound knuckle bag sailing towards his jaw, and then the same fans can wince with him as his jaw partially dislodges from the ferocious impact. In the real world, even with Dudley's gloves the sound of glove to bone is unsettling.
The aftermath leaves Rock back across the ring, having spun a full hundred and eighty degrees around after nearly leaving his feet. He hangs against the ropes, feeling the pounding in his head and the blood in his jaw, for several seconds. He tries to calm himself, breathing in and out, before his fingerless gloved hands curl around the ring ropes. "Stop being a pussy, Howard," he tells himself, squeezing the ropes tighter. With a final exhale, he spins back around to face Dudley.
"Nice shot," he says, moving a hand to his pounding jaw. "Really nice shot. I think I underestimated you."
COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Dudley
Dudley doesn't smirk; he just nods, accepting the statement for what it is. Rolling his neck again, Dudley begins bouncing in place again, keeping limber. "Well, then," he says, with a faint grin that is almost a smirk; it lacks the sort of malice that would normally accompany such a gesture.
"Whenever you're ready, Rock Howard," is what Dudley says, stilling himself for just a moment. Once again those blue eyes focus on Rock, his pleasure in seeing the young man take the hit and not just crumple evident. Dudley doesn't fight to hobeat weaklings. He wants to have a -good- fight, especially in front of the crowd.
COMBATSYS: Dudley focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ////////////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Dudley
"I won't make that same mistake twice!" Rock yells back at Dudley, his eyes blazing with a sudden intensity and conviction. It's the spirit of a born fighter. He's going to battle Dudley until one of them can't walk anymore. If it's Rock who's carried out of the MGM Grande, he'll deal with it in the morning. He won't brood because he'll know he gave it his best shot. Terry Bogard taught him that.
His other, biological, father taught him what comes next. Flashing with sudden rage at the man's memory, it gives Rock the strength to will the necessary chi from his body. Like before, he takes a half a step towards Dudley and then abruptly stops. This time, each of his arms clench and then swipe up through the air. The first one brings the cry of, "DOUBLE!" and then the second one, "REPPUKEN!" With it, twin missiles of blue chi energy surge across the ring -- shaking the foundations of the arena as they tear into the mat and light up the stands.
COMBATSYS: Rock successfully hits Dudley with Double Reppuken.
Glancing Blow
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Rock 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Dudley
He won't? Well, that's good; Dudley doesn't expect him too. Stupid fighters don't last long. The wash of chi is far brighter, this time; enough that Dudley doesn't want to taste it. So he ducks to the side--but not quite fast enough, as he still catches a fringe taste of it. Like the kid said--as long as he gives his best shot, that's all Dudley is going to care about, at least until the fight's over.
"Not bad again, kid..." Despite being clipped by the blast, once again Dudley surges forward, trusting in his own strength; nearing Rock, he fires a classic combination, two left jabs aimed to open Rock's guard for a quick right cross.
COMBATSYS: Rock counters Medium Punch from Dudley with Joudan Crack Counter.
- Power hit! -
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > ///////////////// ]
Rock 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Dudley
Rock employs another technique he learned from years of training with his father. How to counter assaults. Especially front loaded attacks like a punching combo. The first step to any successful crack counter is to intercept the initial surge. Black gloved hand shooting out to meet Dudley's oncoming fist, Rock's muscles suddenly surge with surprising strength. He literally lets Dudley's blow slam into his palm, driving him back a solid foot in the ring.
The other fist follows up. Rock knows that's where the true power of the assault will come from. Shunting the absorbed momentum down to his legs, he leaps forward in a perfect untucked flip. Cresting straight over Dudley's head, the man's follow-up blow finds the air, as Rock arcs over his head -- one of his steel toed boots slamming for the back of Dudley's head on his way down from the full flip.
Landing with his back to Dudley, Rock exhales a held breath and turns around. "Too slow," he says, grinning.
Interesting. Dudley's met people like this before... he doesn't seem to be too fazed by the counter, even if it strikes powerfully. Tumbling forward, he rises to his feet with a faint grin.
"A very good technique," he murmurs, "but can you keep it up like that?" Dudley, countered or not, doesn't intend to let up just yet; once again he lunges, and once again his aim is to fire a right cross across Rock's face--or is he? The right is a feint for a faster left for Rock's stomach.
It's actually a fairly simple sort of attack...
COMBATSYS: Dudley successfully hits Rock with Medium Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Rock 1/-----==/=======|=======\-------\1 Dudley
This time, Rock can't keep it up. Dudley's sudden speed surprises him, the much larger man coming at him like an unrelenting grizzly bear. Shifting his weight, Rock spins a forearm around to meet Dudley's oncoming right cross in a blocking pattern. The boxing gloves bang against Howard's forearm harmlessly; Rock grins, thinking he's got Dudley right where he wants him.
Then comes the pain. The other arm comes hammering down like Thor. Straight into Rock's stomach -- he takes it so hard he can feel Dudley's knuckles through the gloves. Doubling over while being blasted back in a three foot skid from the force of the impact, Rock can feel the air evaporating out of his lungs.
It's a full two seconds before he can breath again. He's lucky Dudley didn't land a KO uppercut during it. Breathing ragged gasps in and out, Howard keeps his distance, pacing a half-circle again back from the boxer.
COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////////// ]
Rock 1/------=/=======|=======\-------\1 Dudley
Taking a breather isn't a bad idea. But it -does- let your opponent pursue, which is just what Dudley does; he felt that punch strike home solidly and it brings a smile to his face. However, he does wait just a moment, watching while Rock takes his paces... watching... waiting... -there-.
Just as Rock is, well, rocking back onto a back heel, Dudley springs forward, ducking forward into a low lunge, then coming up with a right hook, whistling around as it aims for Rock's head.
He'll press forward once more, but perhaps he has other plans in mind as well... who can say? Only one man, and that man is Dudley. He isn't in the habit of giving away his plans, however.
COMBATSYS: Dudley successfully hits Rock with Hook Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////// ]
Rock 1/----===/=======|=======\=------\1 Dudley
Maybe Rock Howard isn't fully on his game. Or maybe this is part of his strategy. They say the kid has a deathwish. He fights with abandon, fueled by emotions and uncontrolled, unrefined, determination. Dudley launches forward and Rock's face is there to meet him. The boxing glove extends straight through the side of his face, snapping his head to the side, his blond hair sending a salvo of sweat off into the roarings stands.
He locks his eyes onto Dudley in that narrow impact point, gloved still pressed to his face. He cracks a sinister grin. It's a grin full of promise, a memory of the man who rules Southtown. It's in Rock's blood. And his blood, it's boiling.
Ignoring his body's desire to fall into unconscious, Rock wills his mind to clear the fog. He see's red as he focuses square and true onto Dudley -- so close and prone -- as he focuses right into the man's core. He focuses in to where the man draws his strength and his power. Remembering the face of his father, Rock's chi levels suddenly explode through the roof.
Eclipsed in a sudden wash of energy, Howard roars some guttural yell and accelerates straight at Dudley. His speed causes him to nearly refract, silhouetting with motion, as he unleashes wild abandon and anger onto his opponent -- channeling it all into one concussive series of strikes. To the onlookers, there is no rhyme, no reason to the fussilade of punches and kicks. But to those who have studied the Howard family, they would give it another name. They would call it Deadly Rave Neo.
COMBATSYS: Dudley fails to interrupt Deadly Rave Neo from Rock with Slipping Jab.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Dudley
Hnn. He might've expected something like this... Dudley can sense when a man's close to the edge, after all, or at least willing to put his all behind an attack. Shifting his feet again, he seeks to stop young Howard with a simple jab... only to find him just a mite too fast.
Dudley is pummeled from all sides, it seems, awash in a storm of powerful attacks that finally leave him blown away--literally--flung into the ropes and rebounding off them. Is he down?!?
Not bloody likely, as a Brit might say; he catches his feet underneath him as he rebounds forward, and, though obviously pained, pushes himself to his feet.
"Hhh... -very nice-..."
Rock can feel the satisfying stinging in his knuckles after his volley of attacks strikes stomach, neck, arm, and jaw, When Dudley is on the ropes, he finally stops, his eyes never leaving the man. "Fall down," he says under his breath, as Dudley bounces off them, hoping for the best. It doesn't happen. The guy manages to stay on his feet.
Rock can't help but admire that toughness. But he's not going to let Dudley know it this time. He's not going to feed his opponents ego and confidence. Not at this critical juncture in the fight. "I know," is all Rock says back to the compliment from the Brit. With a pair of steps back, he shifts his weight back into the Hakyokusaken fighting stance, waiting for whatever fire Dudley can shoot.
COMBATSYS: Rock gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Dudley
Dudley smirks faintly, this time. Seems like the kid's cocky... or just confident. Hard to tell, sometimes. Still, Dudley feels he's making a very bad mistake... when your opponent is on the ropes, backing off is one of the worst things you can do. Because while taking a breather can be helpful, it can also let your opponent do the same--which is exactly what happens.
"Fall down?" he says, mildly, as he rises back to his full height (minus a bit of a crouch for his boxing stance). "Not yet, I think... we still have a ways to go yet, I think..."
COMBATSYS: Dudley gains composure.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Dudley
"You /think/," Rock says, his bruised jaw breaking into another effervescent grin of pure confidence. Coming back to life, Howard washes his mind of his father's memory -- letting the rage cool for the moment. Instead, he starts being smarter about his next manuever. Breaking into a dash forward, he jumps like he did before when he attempted to perform the roundhouse kick. Only instead of landing and planting after feigning the punch, he straight up just sends his hand slamming for Dudley's face.
Putting as much speed and momentum behind it, Rock tries to mimic what he learned in his brief session with Grant in the mountains. The huge man destroyed a slam of military-grade tank armor with his bare hands. Rock, with all his power and anger, only made a small dent in it. Here's hoping Dudley's face is tougher than tank skin.
COMBATSYS: Dudley blocks Rock's Jab Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\===----\1 Dudley
Tougher than tank armor? Perhaps not. However, this swift punch doesn't seem to have enough behind it; although it looks like it landed solidly, in truth Dudley was already prepared and simply braced himself for the strike, which barely even moves him.
"Now, what was the point of that?" asks the boxer, as he fires back--once again feigning a punch before coming in with another attack. This time, he feints with a left jab, before stepping in--with the left again, only drawn back halfway and then curving around to come up in what can sometimes be termed a 'shadowless' uppercut.
COMBATSYS: Rock blocks Dudley's Light Punch.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-----==|=======\====---\1 Dudley
Rock brings his forearm around to intercept Dudley's uppercut, the bone meeting his wrists to send the blow off course. "To see if you were still fighting," Rock answers back with a rueful smile. With the two fighters trading blows, the fight seems to be evening out into some sort of equilibrium point before the final push. The crowd can sense the energy, many fans sitting on their seats with eager trepidation.
Rock can feel their breath on the back of his neck. He tries to ignore the nerves that always seem to rise when he fights infront of such a large crowd. The burden of their expectations -- the heir of Geese Howard, nephew of Kain Heinlein, sort-of-sometimes protege of Terry Bogard -- it's a lot to live up to. Teenagers, especially, look to him as the future.
Swallowing, Rock's eyes dance from one side of the boxing ring to the other. He makes a quick calculation and then all but laughs as it becomes clear to him. "You can only move laterally, can't you?" he says. "Too bad!" And then, arm slicing forward, another reppuken rips off in a bluish white flash.
COMBATSYS: Dudley dodges Rock's Reppuken.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/----===|=======\====---\1 Dudley
"I can move however I wish. However, the overriding tenet of my boxing is to never let up!" As he speaks, Dudley proves his words; he ducks to his left, circling around Rock and evading the Reppuken; the chiblast uses itself up against the ropes, which look rather frayed where they were hit... but still together, for now.
As for Dudley--he again moves forward, lunging low and coming up with another uppercut... or is it? No--in fact what he's attempting to do is to clinch with Rock--but it won't be much of a clinch if he makes it, because he'll seek to lock Rock's arms and twist, sending him tumbling to the ground!
COMBATSYS: Rock endures Dudley's Quick Throw.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > /////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/---====|=======\====---\1 Dudley
Rock stands there and takes it. Dudley barrels into him, driving him back across the ring. They bang into the corner ringpost like a pair of wrestlers, Rock ricocheting off the post to spin back around. As he comes around, his footing gives out and Dudley spikes him into the ring. The crowd liked that and lets the British Boxer hear it.
Not staying still for even a second, Rock kick-flips off the mat like Shawn Michaels, twists on his heel, takes two steps towards Dudley (who should also be getting up) and sends a pitch perfect superkick sailing straight for the dude's jaw. Somewhere, HBK drafts a petition to sue Rock Howard for copyright infringement.
COMBATSYS: Dudley interrupts Medium Kick from Rock with Rocket Upper.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Dudley
Indeed he is. Getting up. That is... in a manner of speaking. Dudley lay on the mat for just a moment... gathering his legs underneath him... while he lets Rock get his momentum together. While he prepares that kick. And then...
... and then!! And then it's time to -wow the crowd-. Dudley pushes off with his arms, tucks his legs underneath him, and just as the kick fires in... Dudley's firing upwards. Planting his feet, starting rotational movement in his legs, twisting his body as he launches a powerful right uppercut, right into Rock's stomach. This time, Dudley's chi comes into play, as a swirling burst of cutting winds rises around him, helping propel Rock straight into the air.
Somehow Dudley lands before Rock does--and just as strangely he's back into the air again, spiraling upwards in another uppercut, and then he lands and rises for a final, powerful, wind-assisted uppercut before landing. One of his signature blows--the Rocket Upper--and it garners the appropriate amount of cheering.
Maki heads to the Pacific Ocean.
Maki arrives from the United States.
Rock can't really comprehend what exactly happens to him. One moment, he's watching Dudley suddenly duck beneath his extending leg. The neck minute, he feels a sharp pain in his chin. A few seconds later, he's on his back on the other side of the ring and barely able to move. The world spins like a night in Tijuana. His ears ring like riding a train through a tunnel. It takes everything Rock's got to not completely lose himself to the disorientatio and pain.
Through a sheer test of willpower, the young Howard climbs up to knee. He's bruised, his coat is torn and missing a sleeve, and his hair is matted with sweat and some blood. But he's not quitting. Eyes locking onto Dudley's own, Howard slams a fist into the mat and pushes himself up to his feet. He slowly forms his fighting stance again.
"Come on," he says, voice sounding gaunt and tight from fatigue. "That... That didn't even hurt..."
COMBATSYS: Rock focuses on his next action.
[ \\\\\\\ < > ////////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/=======|==-----\-------\0 Dudley
... good. Very good. Dudley would not have minded the knockout... but this adds spice, and flavor. And it shows him something of Rock's potential; his heart, his will. All very good. Rock should get an A+ here.
Still, Dudley knows just how much that hurt, Rock's bluster notwithstanding; and despite that knowledge... he won't let himself back off. Because that would be dishonest, and it would be disregard for Rock's willingness to continue to fight where others might give up.
"Rock Howard, I salute you," says Dudley, with a solemn nod... before he steps forward once again. A simple step, that turns into a lunge, that turns into a ducking forward... that turns into Dudley firing another left uppercut, as he rises up, seeking to tag Rock's chin and end this fight.
COMBATSYS: Rock counters Light Punch from Dudley with Joudan Crack Counter.
[ \\\\\\ < > //////////// ]
Rock 0/-------/-======|====---\-------\0 Dudley
"I'm..." Rock says, as Dudley rushes in on him. With sudden dexterity, he reacts again, calling on the lessons of his father. His hand shoots out to grapple the oncoming uppercut, pinning it's forward momentum with an act of suddenly raw chi-imbued strength. "I'm not finished /yet/!" he yells straight at Dudley, yanking his hand back -- with Dudley's gloved hand in tow -- and shifting the angle of his body. His other arm tucks towards his chest, sending his elbow slicing straight for Dudley's suddenly exposed sternum.
"Don't stop now!" Rock continues, running off the purest fumes of adrenaline. "If you're gonna fight me, I want to see your best!"
The blow barely fazes Dudley; he's surprised. The boy hit so much harder last time. Is he truly capable of continuing this fight? But it's not a question that can be asked verbally. Verbally, it's just an insult. So Dudley will do what fighters around the world do. They ask... with their fists.
Shrugging off the blow, Dudley continues to advance, as if ominous, inevitable, his muscles tightening as he pulls back his fists again... once again feinting. A double feint, this time; left jab feint, right straight--that stops halfway then cuts in and down, seeking Rock's stomach.
"Yes, I can see that... how long can you keep this up?" he asks, rhetorically--he's still punchin', after all.
COMBATSYS: Rock fails to counter Medium Punch from Dudley with Gedan Crack Counter.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Dudley 0/-------/---====|
COMBATSYS: Rock can no longer fight.
[ \\\\\\\\\\\\\ <
Dudley 0/-------/---====|
Rock rolls with the feints, body twisting as he backpedals to avoid what he thinks are incoming haymakers. Ready to seize the moment, he cups his two hands together into an axe-handle fist and prepares to swing it straight for Dudley's throat -- hoping that will be the blow that finally staggers this hulk of a man. Instead, Rock's fingers interlace just as he realizes that Dudley was holding back for a third explosion of force.
Slamming straight into Rock's chest, Howard can feel his eyes bulge as they want to explode out of his forehead. He can feel the air shoot out of his lungs, his body melting into the crushing power of Dudley's fists. Eyes locking onto the British Boxer, he smiles at him as he starts to sag down to his knees like he had a knife thrust into his chest, "...Th-thanks."
Dudley is declared the winner; the noise is fairly deafening and for the people in the ring, it's hard to hear. Dudley, however, is unlacing his right glove, and tugging it off; then the other. The gloves get laced together and hung around Dudley's neck... and then he reaches down to help Rock up.
"It was a good fight," he says, just loud enough for Rock to hear. "You gave your best, and I gave mine. I appreciate that. Perhaps more than you can know. Again... my thanks."
Rock takes the offer hand to climb back to his feet after a few seconds of recovering his bowels. He's not going to be eating for the rest of the day, that's for sure. "It was a good fight," he agrees. His body echoes the agreement, the way his muscles burn. He's going to be so damn sore in the morning. "We'll have to do it again sometime."
Dudley grins, once Rock is back on his feet, and starts walking off the stage. "Anytime, Mr. Howard, any time." That said--and with Rock up and around--it's time for him to go. He's got appearances to make, friends to catch up with... gambling to frown upon (and perhaps do a little bit of.)
COMBATSYS: Dudley has ended the fight here.
Log created on 20:21:13 05/14/2007 by Rock, and last modified on 20:15:11 06/14/2007.