Description: Rugal storms Krauser's castle unannounced to try and settle a question that has been lurking in the back of his mind for years. Who /really/ won when he assaulted Strolheim over seven years ago? Him? Or the Orochi imbued version of him that was barely in control of his own actions? Just as it seems he is about to answer that question once and for all, he realizes that now is not the time for resolutions.
It had been a long day. The helicopter had returned to Strolheim Castle not long ago, the Lord of the abode having just picked up nephew and dragged him, while unconcious, back to the safe haven that is the centuries-old castle. While Rock was resting in one of the beds, Krauser had decided to relax in his favorite manner. He had not even gone through the lengthy process of removing the golden armor in ways that did not involve impressive amounts of flexing, instead choosing to seat himself in front of the massive pipe organ in full armored regalia.
The otherwise-empty room echoed for a few moments with an almost content-sounding sigh as the Earl of Strolheim seats himself on the piano organ's bench, and the drag of the wooden feet across the floor fills the room before he finally settles himself in, and the entire castle is filled with the booming tones of that gigantic pipe organ when Wolfgang starts to belt out one of the innumberable tunes that he has memorized the sheet music for.
Can't a man just play his organ in PIECE? Not if one Rugal Bernstein has anything to say about it. It's possible that his arrival came as a complete suprise. Unlike his last visit, he didn't fly a helicopter right into a wall of the castle, leaping out of the burning wreckage in an Orochi imbued frenzy and start laying waste to anyone that got in his path until he and Krauser clashed in one of the most legendary battles to never be captured on film.
No, this time he arrived via car, having landed his helicopter some distance away. But even as he stepped out of the long, black sedan, it was clear that Rugal wasn't here on a social call. His normally always present suit coat and white, neatly pressed dress shirt were already discarded, leaving a tightly fitting green muscle shirt that left his muscular, powerful arms bare. He had stormed up to the entrance of the castle and forced his way past any helpstaff at the door.
Once inside, no one had the suicidal desire to get in Rugal's way, leaving him to storm through the castle the rest of the way. It was obvious where to go. Just follow the haunting, echoing tones of the pipe organ as Wolfgang Krauser graced all present with music from history, legendary harmonics, gifts of the musical masters of the ages.
Krauser may sense something amiss in his castle. Lords tend to just have that feeling about their estates. But if all else fails, it should become plainly obvious as Rugal storms into the room, slamming open any doors that come between him and Krauser. Bernstein's back. And he intends to put to rest any doubts that may have lingered concerning his prior victory over the Lord ofStrolheim.
COMBATSYS: Krauser has started a fight here on the left meter side.
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Krauser 0/-------/-------|
COMBATSYS: Rugal has joined the fight here.
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Krauser 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Rugal
Homeowner sense was tingling. It was not long for that sudden feeling of an unusual presence to fill Krauser's mind, but the music was doing a fair job of putting it out of his mind, for the time being. This is why he hired security experts, after all; Rugal's first assault on Castle Strolheim was what prompted the hiring of one Eiji Kisarigi. With both him and Laurence Blood out on business purposes, however, that meant that there were none that would be willing to intercept the CEO of 'R' on his single-minded trip towards the Great Hall.
When that final door slams, the organ music cuts abruptly off. There would be a few lingering moments of silence before the wooden bench slides away from the organ. "You." Slowly, Krauser straightens up to his feet, regaining that near-inhuman full height. "You, who would dare to assault my manor once..." Slowly, he turns to face Rugal, finally. The displeasure on the Earl's face is apparent; a frown creases his face, and his brow is furrowed slightly. ".. YOU DARE TO RETURN A SECOND TIME!?"
Both arms raise, and Wolfgang Krauser flexes with such force that the straps of that full suit of golden armor very nearly explode off his body, clattering to the ground below to leave that massive muscled physique bare from the waist up. He begins a slow forward stalk, stepping forward twice. "You will remove yourself from my property, Bernstein, else your broken body will be thrown from the parapets! LEG TOMAHAWK!" Krauser vaults from his standing position, throwing himself into the air and bringing one leg high as he spins around. As he nears Rugal, that leg continues to lead in an attempt to slam his foot square into the face of Rugal Bernstein.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Krauser's Leg Tomahawk.
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|-------\-------\0 Rugal
Rugal responds to Krauser's anger with a laugh of a man who believes himself indestructable. His powerful arms are folded in front of him as he arches his back in a confident, smug stance, mouth cracked into a smirk, his human eye half lidded as if unimpressed.
"Ha ha. We had such a good time on my last visit, but your minion left me unable to seal the match with your blood, Krauser. Where is that spindly Spainard anyway? I have yet to repay him for his interference..." The man stands up straighter, unfolding his arms and bringing his hands, cracking his knuckles as Krauser comes at him.
Both of his arms have to come up to intercept that crushing leg drop from one of the few men tall enough for Rugal to look him eye to eye. And even then Rugal's muscles strain just slightly as he copes with the weight of such an attack. "You will try your best, I'm sure... but a connoisseur of antiquity such as yourself should know... history has a way of repeating itself!" Rugal roars, lunging back at Krauser, attempting to smash right into him, his arm aiming to hook the massive fighter around the chest.
COMBATSYS: Krauser fails to counter God Press from Rugal with Atemi Nage.
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Krauser 0/-------/----===|==-----\-------\0 Rugal
And in the moment he gets a grip, Bernstein literally powers the man across the room, smashing him against the wall with enough force to crack fine marble before throwing him down to the ground and leaping back. Fortunately, at this point at least, the organ and its massive wind pipes were spared any harm.
Both bracer-clad arms come up as Rugal comes rushing at him, and as he reaches out to shove the charging man away, momentum wins out, and Krauser is carried off his feet and carried backwards into a wall. He slams hard against it, cracking that expensive marbling before sliding down off it and hitting the ground with one knee. It's there that he remains for a moment before slowly lifting back up to his feet. "You are cowardly, Bernstein. No matter how loudly you talk, your bark is far worse than your bite." He tilts his head off to one side for a moment, popping his neck before a frown creases his lips once more. "You will understand, in time, the mistake and grave sin that you have committed in violating these hallowed halls with your filth once again, even if I must break you to teach you that lesson."
Landing on his feet a few yards away, Rugal's arms are out at his sides, his fingers clenching and unclenching. He's gotten his first taste of /real/ battle in over a week, and just trading blows with this Titan among fighters only serves to invigorate him. "Ha! The House of Strolheim is far from a hallowed sanctuary. You build up your fighters just like I build up mine. Tools of yours, to serve your purposes. Nothing more!"
And with that, he's lunging forward again, leaing into a sprint, his arms still out at his sides. It may seem at first that he is just going to smash into Krauser head on a second time. But he stops short, his feet slaming into the ground with enough strength to create stopping friction in spite the solid floor.
One arm swings forward, smashing through the air, fingers clenching into a large fist as it comes in for Krauser's face. His other arm comes in a split second later, palm open, as he tries to drive the heel of his hand into the large man's gut. "RAGH!" To an outside observer, the attacks would be moving with blinding speed. But Krauser is no casual observer, and what would be a blurred motion to an average fighter will be something he can at least discern.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Krauser with Medium Punch.
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Krauser 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Rugal
While Krauser is no casual observer, it's still an incredibly fast strike. The arms aren't quite in position for a successful defense, and the palm strike slips between and drives square into the German's stomach. There's a swift exhaling of air, and a couple brief staggered steps backward before he straightens up once again. "Your views are tainted by your own idiocy, Rugal. To compare our causes is ludicrous." Now, one of the purple-haired man's hands balls into a fist as he starts to stalk forward again. "To compare myself to you, your web of deceit and lies, black market dealings and murder.." He frowns again, then he starts to rush right at the invading arms dealer. ".. is nothing but foolishness!"
Right as he's about to collide into Rugal, his right hand comes up in a vicious strike meant for the man's chest. And should that connect, all hell will summarily break loose. The Earl of Strolheim will launch into a vicious series of strikes; knees aimed for the stomach, fists and elbows for the face and chest, and high kicks aimed for his sides and arms. Heavy blows will continue to rain down upon Rugal until one final blow ends the brutal combo, a wide-arcing right hook that will slam square into the one-eyed man's face with the intent to send him flying into the wall behind him.
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Unlimited Desire from Krauser with Genocide Cutter EX.
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Krauser 0/-------/----===|====---\-------\0 Rugal
"Heh," Rugal replies to Krauser's words, standing up straight and smacking his fist into the palm of his other hand with crushing force, literally compressing the air between his hands with enough force that visible vapors rush out between his fingers like steam.
He has no time to speak anything in reply though as Krauser is upon him. Lunging forward, Rugal takes the first crushing fist to his chest. The strength behind that strike alone could liquify most men. But this is not most men. There is a split second where Krauser's fist is planted in at his sternum - a brief instant time before a debilitating sequence of blows are about to drive into him... But then it comes, "Genocide-"
His right leg lashes out, driving a powerful kick into Krauser's chest. "CUTTER!" His second foot comes in next, orange chi trailing behind the attack as it drives up into the other man's chin with crushing force. The momentum is enough to take Rugal into the air several feet before he drops back down, his polished shoes clacking against the floor with their leather soles. Was that blow enough to fel the mighty Krauser?
It was not.
Indeed, the Genocide Cutter has been enough to destroy lesser fighters. And Krauser would be lying if he said that arcing kick didn't hurt like hell. His head snaps sharply back in mid-strike, sent into the air a couple feet before he crashes into the ground hard. It's there that he remains for a few moments before slowly climbing back up to his feet once more. A moment is taken to brush himself off before a low chuckle rumbles under his breath. "Finally decided to stop talking, then?" He takes a step back, then takes a moment to just stretch his arms. "Good." He takes in a deep breath, filling lungs that were suddenly emptied with that hard contact with the cold ground before he lifts a hand and simply beckons Rugal in once again.
COMBATSYS: Krauser gains composure.
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|====---\-------\0 Rugal
"As strong as I remember," Rugal speaks as Krauser gets back up to his feet after having taken a number of devastating attacks from the tyrant of "R". "Unfortunately for you, I've only gotten STRONGER!" Yeah, seems like ol' Bernstein still likes to talk.
"And I've picked up something new since then, too..." He rolls his arm back behind him, almost as if he's going bowling. And with what happens next, he might possibly be! "Reppu-" His entire arm lights up with a brilliant blue energy, coalescing primarlly in the palm of his hand. As his arm swings down to the lowest point of the motion, there is a sudden flare of incredible energy, "-ken!"
Over the ground broils a brilliantly powerful shimmering mass of pure raging energy. Even as it moves, it churns, as if somehow struggling to contain all of its energy within its focal point. Being struck by that thing would not be pleasant.
COMBATSYS: Krauser blocks Rugal's Reppuken.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Rugal
The palm of Krauser's right hand starts to glow a faint blue, moving its way up to the elbow as he watches the torrent of energy rushing right at him. He crouches down just slightly, bracing his arm in front of him and allowing the Reppuken to slam against the chi-charged limb, disappating Rugal's attack before it has a chance to do any real damage. "Another stolen technique, Bernstein?" The head of Wolfgang Krauser shakes sadly for a moment as he rises back up. "And you're foolish enough to wield the energy technique of Geese Howard in these halls." Both of Krauser's hands turn palm-up, and both hands start to glow a faint red. "You've not gotten stronger. All you've done is found ways to emulate real power and wield it in a mockery of its proper origin. Your form is sloppy and improper; even young Rock wields a stronger Reppuken than you." A grin starts to pull at the German's lips now as both hands lift. "Now! Let me show you a proper strike! Double!..." The left hand comes first, forming a fiery ball in his palm, roughly the size of a basketball. That hand comes across his body, lobbing the flaming projectile right at Rugal's chest. The flames trail behind it as he streaks across the short difference, only to be soon followed by the right hand. It forms an identical second projectile, which is flung right after the first for Bernstein's face. ".. Blitz Ball!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal reflects Double Blitz Ball from Krauser with Dark Barrier.
- Power hit! -
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|=====--\-------\0 Rugal
Rugal frowns as his stolen Reppuken is handled with perfection by the powerful arm of Krauser. "Feh," he growls, most certainly not pleased to see the Titan handle the forceful attack so well. "There is no shame in adopting that which is powerful to suit my needs. Only rigid throw backs from an older era would find adaptability to be something worthy of scorn. The world is in a constant state of flux. As new discoveries are made, the true power is in grasping hold them and conforming them, integrating them. Your style, on the other hand, decays like the walls of this old castle, Krauser."
And then the two searing projectiles are hurled his way and Rugal extends his right hand with a certain self-assured aplomb. Flying his fingers open, a swirling shield of miasmic, sickly green matter appears in front of him, like a shield of pure energy. "HA!" The shield is moved to intersect the first powerful ball of flame only to send it flying back at its creator. Rugal moves his hand with perfect timing to intersect the second one as well.
For a moment, it seems as if the energy expended by reflecting the first one has cost him too much to handle the second one, but as he brings his left hand over to clench at his right forearm, lending even more powerful to the Dark Barrier, he manages to force the second Blitz Ball back as well with even more speed than it had even launched at him with. "RAAAAGH!"
Clenching his right hand, the swirling cloud of energy vanishes into a faint, green mist, before evaporating completely.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Krauser with Reflected Double Blitz Ball.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Krauser has saved the state of this fight.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rugal
COMBATSYS: Rugal has left the fight here.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|
COMBATSYS: Daedalus restarts a saved fight.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\0 Rugal
There's a faint measure of distaste on Wolfgang Krauser's face as he watches the reflection of not one, but both of the incoming projectiles. They've lost enough force in dealing with the green shield that each of them disappate with an annoyed swat. The red energy wisps off against his fingers each time a hand impacts the Blitz Ball, and after the second, the oversized German takes a step back again. "New discoveries? You're far too ignorant to discover techniques like those on your own, Bernstein. You're not even smart enough to use them properly; your own bastardized mockeries don't hold the true strength that they deserve." One hand reaches up to brush Wolfgang's hair back out of his face while the other reaches down to brace itself against one knee. He certainly looks a bit worn, but hs legs are still stable underneath him. "Every time your open your mouth, you only continue to further your ignorance. The walls of Castle Strolheim hold as strong as ever, and one loudmouthed fool will never be enough to destroy them." Another quiet chuckle passes his lips before he shakes his head. "One would have thought you might learn some caution after the loss of your eye." After that, a small smirk tugs at the corners of his lips as he remains at the (relatively) safe distance.
COMBATSYS: Krauser gains composure.
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Rugal
In spite the way Rugal handled the powerful twin projectiles with what seemed such control, he is starting to look winded, giving Krauser a long moment to speak rather than just charge forward to try and smash his fist against his mouth to silence him.
But his words have an effect on the ego-driven crimelord standing before him. Even after repelling some of his powerful attacks, Krauser still talks strong and still has the composure of the Regal Lord that he is, and that only serves to annoy the man who has attempted to crush him. This fight is all about Rugal's own uncertainties, after all. In the years since their last clash the nagging question always lurked in the back of his mind. Was it his power or that of the infernal, trapped god that had crushed Krauser back then? Today he intends to prove that it was /him/.
At the remark about his eye, however, Rugal grits his teeth. A permanent, glaring reminder of one of things lost by the wayside in his ambition. "We will see just how strong this walls are when I'm finished with /you/," Bernstein snarls, smashing his fists together with a meaty impact.
COMBATSYS: Rugal focuses on his next action.
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Rugal
He certainly won't argue, even if he loses this fight, there's still a minor victory gained at angering Rugal in such a fashion. When he watches the anger in his fists, and the annoyance in his fists, Krauser stands tall once again. A smirk pulls his lips even further up, and the Strolheim lord regains his full bearing. "Your words are strong, Rugal. Louder and more brash than any of your strikes thus far." Slowly, one of those large hands lifts again, beckoning the arms dealer onward. If he can rile him up, perhaps he can convince Bernstein to make a mistake. "Will you be able to finish me, as you say? Or will you only prove that our altercation those years ago was a fluke?" He closes his eyes for a moment, then opens his arms wide, almost as if he were going to hug the one-eyed bastard across the way.. or perhaps he's just opening himself up.
"Come, Bernstein. Sate your swollen ego and strike me down."
COMBATSYS: Krauser focuses on his next action.
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Krauser 0/-------/-------|=======\-------\0 Rugal
The taunting does the trick. "Che," is all Krauser gets in return, that metal, right eye of Rugal's flaring red for a moment as he studies the man, taking in at a glance more details about Krauser than most men would be able to determine with years of studying the Lord of Strolheim.
And then Rugal is charging at him again, this time more brashly and a little slower. The pace he has used to keep up with Wolfgang is not without its costs, after all. The attack that comes next is simple and swift. A lunging snap-kick, his shoe-covered foot aiming for Krauser's jaw, intending to take some of the 'chat' out of the powerful man himself.
COMBATSYS: Krauser endures Rugal's Light Kick.
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|=======\-------\0 Rugal
Ah, finally. The flapping lips have closed themselves. A grin starts to pull at Krauser's face, spreading wider than the previous smirk when a wordless Rugal comes charging in once again. In turn, Krauser starts to charge, as well. He ducks his head down just a little when he sees the initial lift of the foot that's planned a trip for his jaw, and his body turns just slightly when the strike slams into his head. He lowers his body down enough that the kick impacts his forehead, opposed to his jaw, and the angle of his body allows him to just roll right off the kick and continue on towards his target.
It only takes Wolfgang another moment to close into arms' reach, and he'll reach right up in an attempt to slide around behind Rugal and wrap his arms right around the other man's waist. Should he manage a grip, he'll tighten both arms a moment later before massive legs coil and spring off the ground. "Hah!" As the vault through the air, Krauser will turn both fighters over 180 degrees, and his back will arch just enough that as they drop, the first thing that will impact the ground, at high velocity, will be Rugal's head.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Krauser's Kaiser Suplex.
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Krauser 0/-------/-----==|=======\-------\1 Rugal
The way Krauser smashes through his kick clues Rugal in pretty quickly that he misjudged how worn out the master of this castle really was. He's used to his foes being dead, unconcious, or begging for the sweet release of a knockout after the number of attacks he's done to this man. Yet Krauser keeps coming back with the same relentless power befitting a Titan among men.
Having overcommitted to the lunging kick, Rugal is unable to do anything to stop the massive man from wrapping his arms around him in a crushing hold. But as they begin to descend, Bernstein manages to wrest himself from his hold with a violent twisting of his body, allowing him to spin down to the ground at an angle. He still lands hard on his side with a grunt, but it's without the agony that would have been inflicted were Krauser's weight to be smashing him into the floor as well.
Like a fiend that refuses to die, Rugal pushes himself back up to his feet, glaring back at Wolfgang with those two unique eyes, the cybernetic one flaring red, a mirror into the growing difficulty he is having crushing this man.
"The Kaiser Suplex..." Rugal intones, holding his hands out at his sides now, palms forward, fingers splayed apart. "A powerful art indeed... but not one that I felt troubled to incorporate into my own repertoire." White energy begins to collect in his hands as Rugal arches his back and draws back his arms behind him. The sudden surge of power would be impossible to miss.
"No... after our last battle, I decided that there was another ability of yours that was far more deserving to be weilded by a god such as myself... And now, after all these years, you will have the privelege of tasting it for yourself!"
Further and further he stretches his arms. Greater and greater the power build up in his hands, becoming increasingly brighter by the moment. "Behold... the KAISER WAVE!" And with that, Rugal slams his arms forward, discharging an almost unbelievable amount of power from each of his hands into the unmistakeable massive man-sized projectile that now comes screaming at Krauser. The Kaiser Wave.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Krauser with Kaiser Wave.
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Krauser 0/-------/-======|-------\-------\0 Rugal
As soon as Rugal starts talking, he already knows what's coming. He can feel the chi being gathered, and an upset sneer pulls his lips up once again. "You mock me so, Bernstein?" Krauser simply stands stock still as he watches the glowing power, getting brighter and fiercer... and then it comes. The Wave slams into the Strolheim lord, washing over him and sending him backwards with enough force to crack into the wall once again. ... and for just a moment, there's nothing but closed eyes and silence. But then?
Laughter.
Roaring laughter starts to fill the hall, and as Wolfgang Krauser extracts himself from the wall, he tosses his head back and just lets loose. "You call that the power of a god!? Is that what the years have culminated into!?" He won't let on, but that very nearly did drop him. But he's still on his feet, and the force was... well, perhaps just a bit disappointing. "FOOL! You are /pathetic!/" One hand snaps across the way, and he crouches down just long enough to snap a hand around the closest leg of the bench. He straightens up in the blink of an eye, and as he rises, he's spinning backwards, bringing the bench around in a fierce back-fist-style strike that attempts to crush the flat side of the bench across Rugal's face.
"Even if you defeat me today, Rugal, YOU ARE STILL A FAILURE!" After the strike, regardless of whether it connects, Krauser continues to laugh. "YOUR TECHNIQUE WILL NEVER COMPARE!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal interrupts Random Weapon from Krauser with Scorpion Blow.
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Krauser 1/--=====/=======|=====--\-------\0 Rugal
As Krauser continues to mock him in spite all the power he poored into his imitation of the world famous Kaiser Wave, Rugal glares back. That the man was able to peel himself off the wall after that is a testament to his power. And that he POSSESSES such power is an affront to the self proclaimed god among fighters.
"ENOUGH!!" Rugal's roar echos throughout the room - the fine accoustics for enhancing the organ's music doing the same for the resonating shout of consuming rage. As Krauser lefts the bench, Bernstein is already charging toward him again, one arm arched back, the other held forward. The wooden furniture will be useless for sitting after this as it literally shatters against the forward arm of the furious tyrant of "R", driven by pure, blinding fury now.
The back-half of the bench snaps back, colliding with Rugal's face, drawing blood from his forehead. But if he feels it, he shows no such sign of it as the arm that was arched back suddenly lashes forward into a crushing grip at Krauser's neck. Not even Rugal's mighty fist is enough to squeeze all the way around the legendary fighter, but it's enough to lift him up with choking force. "My goal isn't to COMPARE," growls the man as his free arm bends back. "It is to EXCEED, DOMINATE, CRUSH!!"
The fist that comes forward next, driving right for the side of Krauser's head, bears enough power to shatter trees, pulverize the bones of most fighters, and even bend steel. What it does to the cranium of Wolfgang Krauser? Well...
There's a briefly choked sound as he's surprised with a hand around his neck. One massive hand clasps around Rugal's wrist, but it's not enough to redirect the attention as one hand comes around and slams into the side of his head. He's sent spinning from the attack, collapsing hard to the floor, where he simply remains for a good few moments. Only a short cough is heard before, slowly, he pushes himself up from the ground, getting to his hands and knees first, then one knee, then slowly rising back up again. "Exceed? Dominate? Crush? Pathetic." He manages a chuckle amidst a raspy-sounding cough, and blood trickles down from one corner of his mouth. "Disgusting." He coughs again, then shakes his head as he leans his head back and looks to the ceiling. "So you have defeated me, Rugal Bernstein, after how many months of inactivity? Leave these halls, with the tainted knowledge that you have not defeated Wolfgang Krauser at his prime." He looks back to Rugal once again, then, with a grin wide on his lips. "Leave these halls, with the foul reminder that the only way you can defeat me is by invading my home and striking at me after being away from my manor for a season and more." Now, both hands start to glow an angry blue, and the grin widens as he straightens to his full height. "Leave these halls, with this reminder that your power will never surpass mine." Suddenly, both palms flare a blinding blue just a moment before he snaps forward. Both hands thrust out, and the entire room alights with that same power that Rugal threw previous at him. As tall as the German himself tears across the Grand Hall, power from the purest of the German noble's chi bearing down upon Rugal with the intent of reminding him what true power feels like.
"BE GONE FROM HERE! KAISER WAVE!"
COMBATSYS: Rugal stops Kaiser Wave' from Krauser with Jab Punch.
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Krauser 0/-------/------=|==-----\-------\0 Rugal
If it weren't for the trashing Krauser has taken, what Rugal decides to do next would be pure suicide. The power of the Kaiser Wave, as administered by its rightful owner, could very well deatomize the cocky, egotistical tyrant where he stands. But even the most powerful of men can't operate at full capacity after what Wolfgang has been through, and it is with that knowledge in mind that Rugal capitalizes upon now.
Chosing the path of a madman who is ready to throw his life away for the perfect fight, Rugal braces himself as that glowing red eye of his detects a surge of power that builds up to what he had managed to send flying at Krauser moments ago... and then exceeds it... by a lot. In spite the rage with which he had just lashed out with a moment before, Bernstein's mind is now cool, calm, calculating, switching demeanors almost as often as he switches styles.
When at last the massive blast comes flying for him, the man claps his hands together in front of him, creating a green, shimmering, millimeter thin wall of energy pointing vertically out toward the incoming tidal wave of chi. The timing is precise, perhaps the most exacting maneuver he has performed this entire battle as he spreads his hands apart at the last moment and the wall actually becomes two, forming a wedge into the Kaiser Wave. "RAAAAGH!"
It is impossible to see Rugal for a moment just before the legendary attack literally splits in half, obliterating the wall behind Bernstein to either side. The chi-based wedge is already gone by the time enough dust and smoke have cleared and Rugal drops forward to one knee, his other hand pressed against the ground, his head lowered, hair hanging down against the sides of his face, sticky with sweat. "You're right..." he growls, his voice deep, cool, and just a little weaker than it had been during his previous diatribes.
"This isn't good enough... This isn't the battle I want! If you need time to prepare to face me, then SO BE IT!" He pushes himself up to standing, his right eye now a pool of black technology, the red glare gone for now, his large hands clenched into fists at the end of his powerful arms held out at his sides. "I will give you time, Wolfgang Krauser, to prepare for our next fight. The fight to prove who is better once and for all!"
"So you do finally understand."
Krauser can't be too incredibly surprised at the result of the last-ditch outpouring of his energy. His heart had been in it, but his body barely had enough gas to send the projectile flying. Slowly, he lowers down to his haunches, resting one hand against the ground as he takes in a deep breath. "Then remove yourself from these halls, Rugal Bernstein. You will have your fight, and you will be faced with the full wrath of the House of Strolheim. You will receive a letter when I have ended my preparations, and it will name both the date and the time that we will meet, as well as a neutral location." After taking in a deep breath, the German stands once again. One hand lifts, then sweeps towards the door. "We will not meet again until that time! I will not harbor any attempts by your organization to hinder my preparations. Do not let me see you or your subordinates until that day, Rugal!"
Rugal's hands clench and unclench, his teeth gritted into a snarl as he glares back at Krauser. The Lord of Strolhelm will go unbroken for now. Bernstein can wait. He's waited for years for this fight already. He can wait a little while longer. Finally he stands up straighter, relaxing his arms, frowning at the commanding gesture to vacate the premises. "Very well," he replies, his mouth curling into a thin smirk.
Truth be told, he's looking forward to it. The thrill of the true challenge from Wolfgang when he is prepared rather than being ambushed while just trying to play his organ in peace is a tantalizing prospect that the battle-hungry self-proclaimed deity of fighting can only look forward to.
"Until that time, Lord of Strolheim. Until then, know that today you have tasted the power of a GOD and that when we meet again, there will be no hesitation, no reluctance to finish you once and for all, so that there will be no question... I hope you will have made your peace with whatever you hold important before facing me once more."
And with that, he turns on his feet and strides toward the still open doors back out the way he had come in, his leather soles echoing against the solid foundation of Strolheim.
COMBATSYS: Rugal has left the fight here.
[ \\\\ <
Krauser 0/-------/------=|
"I have tasted the power of a self-proclaimed god, and I still stand tall. When our next meeting comes, the only thing you will know is that the only way that you can defeat me is through ambush and deceit." With that, the leader of R is not given a moment's thought. Wolfgang Krauser turns to face his organ once more. While still standing, long arms reach down to the keys, and any further protest that Bernstein may have are drowned out underneath the reverberating notes of a centuries-old pipe organ.
COMBATSYS: Krauser has ended the fight here.
Log created on 22:16:37 07/07/2007 by Rugal, and last modified on 22:17:52 07/08/2007.