Description: Rugal decides to work his way up the chain of Imawano-ryu fighters, having a reason to be especially interested in the style as of late. Though he catches the veteran fighter off guard with his disruptive arrival, Raizo Imawano manages to do Justice High proud by facing the tyrant of 'R' and weathering his assault until Rugal can dish out no more.
It's heard only seconds before it's seen; rotor blades ripping through the air with a distinct sound. The sleek, black chopper that crests the horizon created by the forest around surrounding the ultra elite campus of Justice High is flying low and fast and at first sight, one might expect that it intends to fly right on by enroute to somewhere else in a hurry. But the nose tilts up, slowing its forward momentum until the pilot expertly brings it over a grassy open area in the landscaping.
Hovering briefly, it finally settles down, sending students scrambling to get out of the way. One poor boy's bike gets crushed beneath the left landing strut though the obstruction does little to skew the otherwise flawless touchdown. The chopper itself is a smooth, black color with no markings of any kind to identify it. Even as the blades begin to wind down a hatch opens on the side and out slips a single man. Bernstein's polished shoes covered feet sink into the grass as his hair and red suit jacket are tousled by the rapidly slowing rotor blades ahead. The pilot and co-pilot of the air vehicle remain inside. Whatever business Bernstein believes to have here, he intends to handle it alone.
One hand snakes into a pocket in his coat, extracting a pocket watch which he glances at for a moment before putting it away. Both hands reach into his red suit pants pockets then to pull out black leather, fingerless gloves, which he begins to pull on. Preparations complete, he completely ignores the circle of Justice High students that have begun to form around the significant distraction on what was otherwise a calm afternoon. Rugal's interests are with someone else though. Someone who would no doubt want to investigate such an interruption to the school day's schedule as this.
Raizo Imawano is a kind man, if a harsh teacher. He is patient, and likes to help the students where he can, even though he's perhaps most famous for Justice's nearly ruthless adherence to its stated rules. He is also extraordinarily busy, and has only occasionally been spotted around town recently, stuck away in his office doing paperwork and working on fundraising for months at a time.
But when a helicopter lands on campus, and out steps a man of Rugal's renown, well. Not even Raizo Imawano can ignore that. It's about three minutes before the door nearest Raizo's office open swings open, and the titanic man trundles out, looking more like a beast released from its cage than a man. He eyes the situation, taking it in - students, teachers trying futilely to remove the students...and Rugal. Raizo's eyes narrow. What...?
He approaches. There's no real point to false bravado right now, but there's a certain decorum to these things. "Well, well!" calls Raizo's throaty baritone. "It seems we have an unexpected honor to our campus today..." His eyes dart to the helicopter's landing damage as he gets close enough. Someone's bike? Now that's just mean. "I'm afraid I wasn't quite expecting a guest of your stature, Mr. Bernstein. What can we do for you?"
As the founder of this impressive comes out into sight there is a slight smirk of approval from the suited tyrant. Public appearances have not been a common thing for him over the years which keeps much of what he does on a daily basis a secret. The last big thing he did in the fighting world was host a tournament a while back, and other than having a reputation as being an incredibly talented fighter, not much more is known by the average person.
Of course, the principal of Justice High is far from average and no doubt he knows that there is a lot more to his visitor today than a just a very powerful combatant. With his ties to black market dealings in drugs, weapons, and other technologies, Rugal may very well play a role in the very things that corrupt today's youth. Though his 'vendors' probably find a better market around schools like Gedo than here.
"Yes. Well, I was in the area." comes the calm reply as the whine of the chopper engines finally falls silent. Which of course isn't true. With how busy Raizo has been of late, Rugal made /sure/ that the burly man was at school before making this trip directly from his carrier parked somewhere way off shore. "I realize it is a bit of a disruption, but schedules being what they are, sometimes that can't be avoided."
There is a slight nod of his head, almost as if apologetic. Unusual for the man who's typical arrival involves storming in unnanounced and laying straight into whatever target he's come looking for. But Raizo is treated with a certain amount of decorum in spite the otherwise unscheduled invasion of his campus on the part of the crimelord. "But yes. I have taken an interest in Imawano-ryu lately. One of your students here has gone quite a long ways in the fighting circuits as of late using its techniques. I know you are a busy man. But I would be honored if you would indulge me with a first hand demonstration of what is like to fight a true veteran of Imawano-ryu."
A patient glance is made toward the bulkier man's hands, "I understand if you need a moment to prepare yourself." After all, what would Imawano-ryu be without the weapons that go with it? As before, all others besides Raizo are completely ignored. Including the poor kid off to the side sulking about his bike sitting crushed under the landing strut.
Raizo's first instinct is a flat refusal. His information network is, sadly, not exactly up to the par set by "R" or the Southtown Syndicate, but certainly, he has heard rumors, whispers...perhaps not enough to identify Rugal's motives at a given place in a given time, but enough to know that the man's arrival always means strife. And he comes wanting to know the face of Imawano mastery? Then that can only mean...
Raizo closes his eyes, thoughtfully. "I see," he says, his voice like the rumble of distant thunder even at this low volume. "Interesting." Kurow...what does he know...? Does this mean an association, or just mean Rugal has had his eye on the tournament circuit and is expressing his interest in the peculiar way common to those of great power?
Perhaps it's time to hire an assistant. Raizo feels that he will need to know more, and he cannot find it from his office. But now is not the time for that.
He glances over at a nearby teacher, and nods. "Get the students to class," he says, and then with a louder tone, meant to be overheard, "OR THERE WILL BE DETENTIONS!"
The bellowed threat doesn't /clear out/ the quad - a fight between the principal and /Rugal?/ You couldn't tear some of these people away with a crowbar. But it helps, and that's all Raizo really needs - less people in danger, less people who might get crazy ideas if things go wrong.
And with this done, Raizo looks up at Rugal, his monocle glinting in the sunlight, and a tiny, proud smile crosses his features. He can't really say no. That was never an option. He and Rugal both know that. He unclenches his hands, revealing the long, razor-edged nails at the end of each finger, and falls into something like a combat stance, hunched and ready. The students clear back - it's just common sense not to get in the way of something like /this/. "I suppose, Mr. Bernstein, that I have time to grant you a demonstration," Raizo rumbles.
COMBATSYS: Raizo has started a fight here.
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Raizo 0/-------/-------|
There is a glintin Rugal's right eye but there is no monocle there. Only deep black metal that catches the sun at just the right angle; darkness where a human eye should be, a cybernetic replacement for that which was brutally taken from him years ago. His mouth shifts to the faintest of smiles as Raizo barks out the orders to get people moving again. Having to deal with a school of sometimes incredibly powerful teens no doubt must keep the founder on his toes to say the least.
"Excellent," comes the reply. Raizo's challenger is a tall man, powerfully built, though the suit coat conceals much. But as Rugal studies him, he gets the impression that standing up straight, the muscular prinicpal might even stand taller than he does. Interesting posture. Perhaps age hasn't been kind to him?
"It's not every day that I get to face a master of a legendary art directly. This will be a fight to remember. Of that I am certain." The tyrant of 'R' shifts his stance a little, turning such that one shoulder is closer toward Raizo than the other. His feet find their place in the grass, solidifying his footing. And with that, he is prepared.
And beyond that? He simply waits. Patient, perhaps surprisingly passive now. After all, there are times where aggression isn't the best tactical choice, and well honed fighting machine that is Rugal is quite adept at identifying those times.
COMBATSYS: Rugal has joined the fight here.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Raizo
COMBATSYS: Rugal takes no action.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Raizo
Raizo is not quite as on his toes as he used to be - age is not a kind master, when it comes to one's ability to always be on the lookout for enemy ninjas or boxers or ninja boxers. But still, to judge by his stature, he probably hasn't lost ALL of his old terror.
"I will strive not to disappoint," Raizo says, with a perhaps surprisingly cool tone. "You have come far, Eyes take in Rugal in seconds - that stance, that posture, what it means, what it does. He doesn't move to strike, perhaps intent on waiting Rugal out, but for now instead simply watches, as though Rugal's every breath were a work of art, and Raizo, the world's greatest critic.
"Interesting," the old man rumbles.
COMBATSYS: Raizo focuses on his next action.
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Rugal 0/-------/-------|-------\-------\0 Raizo
A time to wait and a time to act. The longer he gives Raizo to study him, the more the other man will be able to predict, react to, and best his own attacks. Thus it is that he decides to give the veteran fighter something else to focus on for a moment.
Arm rolling behind him, his hand lights up with a bright flash of white as pure energy is focused into his cupped palm. "Reppu-" Muscles flex as he swings his arm down and forward, fingers raking through the air like claws of his own. "-ken!" A convulsing, plasma-hot mass of energy tears along the ground, singing grass in its wake as the infamous projectile bears down on toward Raizo.
With the broiling concentration of energy taking care of occupying Raizo's attention, Bernstein raises his arm, shifting his feet, not taking the opportunity to close the distance between them as he braces in preparation for however Raizo might chose to retaliate.
COMBATSYS: Raizo fails to interrupt Reppuken from Rugal with Claw Stab.
- Power fail! -
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Rugal 0/-------/-----==|===----\-------\0 Raizo
Raizo sees it, and is already moving, even as Rugal prepares. His fists open, bearing those massive claws, and then he takes two great strides, before breaking into a dead run. Raizo is not an agile man. He is the size of a house and looks like a bear. Dodging even this opening volley is unlikely, at least from a master like Rugal. So Raizo charges in, and ATTEMPTS to drive his talons into Rugal before the other man can get his attack completely launched. It does not quite entirely work - the Imawano-ryu master is struck in mid swing by the searing energy mass, aborting his attack and staggering away, emitting a pained growl. Rugal is, indeed, powerful - and now he has the initiative. Not good.
The tyrant's eyes narrow as the claw-fingered man comes charging toward him. It takes guts to barrel straight toward that much power funneled into a single projectile. Rugal didn't pick up Howard's dreaded technique for flashy looks alone, after all. The Reppuken burns before vanishing, the chi that went into it splashing away and vaporizing.
That probably hurt pretty bad but there's a lot more power where that came from. "Your courage is admireable," comes the assessment. "You show no fear in the face of such great power. No doubt a critical trait for one responsible for the upbringing of this city's youth, Principal Imawano..."
Rugal isn't just here to talk though. And he expects the other man to have to deal with more of his attacks than just that before this bout is over. Finally his feet leave their place in the grass where he has stood rooted thus far. Arms held out at his sides, Rugal lunges forward, chest left completely exposed as if intending to simply collide with the bear of a man in a test of pure momentum.
But that ceases to be the case as one foot comes down, planting hard into the grass, serving as the fulcrum by which he can pour the rest of his forward potential energy into his arms, swinging out with one hand toward the side of Raizo's head while his other fist comes in as a hook punch toward his chest.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Raizo with Medium Punch.
- Power hit! -
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Rugal 0/-------/-----==|======-\-------\0 Raizo
Raizo growls, "I teach my students to never shy away from their enemies!" he declares, and then he's running - headlong, heedless of the sheer power that practically oozes from every inch of Rugal's body. "What kind of teacher would I be, if I couldn't do the same myself?" And he does in fact seem to be doing exactly that, sprinting right at Rugal, maybe intending to plow right the hell through him like a freight train--
--except it fails, his gambit falling short when Rugal clocks him upside the head, and then again in the gut. He's off-balance now, he let those attacks hit him a little too hard. But he does not let that stop him entirely - thinking fast, he reaches out with both hands, aiming to grip Rugal by the shoulders and, quite simply, toss him like a rag doll. He doesn't have time to put into play any of his real techniques - this is about putting Rugal off his guard for those precious microseconds Raizo needs to get his center back.
COMBATSYS: Raizo successfully hits Rugal with Quick Throw.
- Power hit! -
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|======-\-------\0 Raizo
The intent may have just to put Rugal off his guard, but the shoulder grab followed by the painful slam to the ground earns Raizo a grunt from the tyrant who didn't expect to get attacked in such a quick, somewhat indirect way. His analysis of Raizo predicted claw attacks and powerful crushing blows and holds. Not the swift, effective yet simple slam to the ground.
The pain gives him pause, but he doesn't lie still for long. His legs kick out and the rest of his body follows, allowing him to lunge back up to his feet fast enough to avoid any potential follow up that the old ninja might have had in mind. His hand comes up to adjust the black string tie at his neck before giving the bearded fighter a slight nod. "That's the kind of force I would expect... You certainly know how to deliver."
And with that, he's on the offense again. This time with a swift kick toward the shin with one foot; a feint more than anything, as his other foot comes up high then down in an axe kick aimed for Raizo's shoulder. He's trying to push the man back a little ways, gain some distance and avoid that powerful grip of his.
COMBATSYS: Raizo endures Rugal's Light Kick.
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|=======\-------\1 Raizo
Oh, Raizo has those aplenty - Raizo could crush lesser men with a single solid blow, and there are some techniques in the Imawano school that harken back to that clan's rough, violent history of suppressing evil by punching holes in its lungs. But an old man with enemies like Raizo does not get as old as he is without knowing a quick toss or two, a few variants to their typical form.
"Thank you," Raizo grunts. He's the worse off of the two, but isn't counting himself out just yet. A vein bulges on his bald skull, gritting his teeth, and then he says, "A man like me can't get away with the things I do without spicing things up just a little...!"
Rugal's coming at him, and this time, Raizo reads him right. Again, like an entire herd of cattle, Raizo charges headlong into Rugal's attack, and this time, takes it gamely; the pain is impressive, and Raizo is beginning to think he might need a better plan, but for now, he's in an ideal position - he lashes out with one claws hand again, and reaches for Rugal's neck. Rugal's attempt to get some distance appears to have failed, for the moment; this may well be another grapple attempt, but an astute observer like Rugal would surely notice that Raizo doesn't really seem the kind of man to do the same thing twice in a row...
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to counter Sekisaiga from Raizo with Genocide Cutter EX.
- Power fail! -
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|=======\===----\1 Raizo
...and as Raizo gets his mits around Rugal's neck, he PULLS, hefting his fellow giant off his feet, over and flat onto the grass - whereupon Raizo drops down right on top of Rugal, and slashes at his face and torso repeatedly with those massive claws! He does this for as long as he can possibly get away with it, rolling away only seconds before Rugal might regain his composure.
He had braced himself for this moment, ready to deal a devestating blow in retaliation against Raizo's next attack. "Genocide-" comes the deep growl as Rugal's right foot swings out with incredible force, a trail of red, piercing chi following behind. But the older fighter gets his grip before the foot can connect, allowing him to heft Bernstein right off the ground and slam him right back down.
In spite Rugal's efforts to the contrary, he fails to do be able to do much to defend himself against those clawed hands. Giving up on defending, he lashes out with a hand, attempting to just grip the other man tightly and take control of the situation - but Raizo's timing pays off perfectly and he rolls away just in time.
Left to get back up to his feet, Rugal takes no time to evaluate the cuts and scrapes, the gashes in his suit coat or the blood trickling into the previously nicely pressed white dress shirt. For now there is only the need to strike out and get a grip on the other man. He lunges boldly, a palm aimed for Raizo's face. Once again just an attempt to get him to incorrectly defend as Rugal's real intent is to slide around him swiftly and, should he get his arms under the bulkier man's shoulders, drop back and slam him into the ground with a German Suplex.
Raizo can be hard to read, partly because, despite the fact that he is as big as a barn and really about as subtle most of the time -- sometimes, he gets just a hair too fast to be caught. Such is what happens this time, as Rugal is trapped, mauled, and released, Raizo rolling a short distance away while the other fighter fails to reverse the situation. "Interesting..." Raizo rumbles, with the outline of a grin on his beast of a face. "The rumors don't lie about your abilities either, Mister Bernstein."
He knows he dodged a severe beating by a hair. He got lucky, but luck can be the determining factor, in fights between powerful men like these. And then Rugal is coming right at him, perhaps a little dizzy, perhaps just a little deseperate, or perhaps just the adrenaline is making Raizo's eyes a little sharper - he sees a hole and takes it, escaping the wrath of Rugal's suplex, and instead introducing the crime lord to a fist almost as big as his head.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Raizo's Quick Punch.
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|=======\===----\1 Raizo
When the fist comes out for Bernstein's head, his left arm comes up to intersect it, muscles flexing as they absorb the blow and even go so far as to push back, as if attempting to put the other man off guard.
The rest of his body isn't idle in this swift exchange of close attacks, however, as Rugal turns his other shoulder in toward Raizo, his right leg attempting to slip in behind the other man's ankle. When everything is in position, he lunges with his shoulder in a quick attempt to send him off balance, tripping backward over his other foot. At this point the leader of 'R' silent, intent on merely getting space between them again, mouth clenched with determination.
COMBATSYS: Rugal successfully hits Raizo with Quick Throw.
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|=======\======-\1 Raizo
Raizo has a pretty basic answer to things like this, in situations like this. It is that runs right at it and prays.
It doesn't quite pay off, this time; while Rugal throws him off balance with the block, he also throws him further off balance with the trip, sending Raizo tumbling backwards flat on his back, with enough leftover momentum to roll a couple more time before the old man lands flat on his back. He heaves a breath, another breath, and then slowly rises, seeing the dead determination in Rugal's eyes. This is not going well. Not well at all -- but he's not out of tricks just yet. He pushes himself forward, muscles straining, and dashes at Rugal one more time, eyes burning. If he screws this up, it might just be over, but if it HITS--
Raizo plants one foot, just outside Rugal's striking range. And then he plants his other, firm, unmoving, like a mountain.
"IMAWANO ROPPU ZUKI!!" the old monster thunders, and then a brief ignition of chi around his hands, as he streaks forward, digging troughs in the earth from his planted feet, his claws leading, wreathed in blue-white light. It looks like it could punch a hole in a wall, or if Rugal's not very lucky...maybe something a little more impotant.
COMBATSYS: Rugal stops Imawano Roppu Zuki from Raizo with Dark Barrier.
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|==-----\-------\0 Raizo
Rugal's shoulder slamming trip proves to be successful in the end. And the moment there is distance between the two of them, he is pausing, bracing again. He's tested Imawano by being aggressive and by waiting for him to lead the attack, shifting back and forth between modes smoothly and with ease. And right now as he braces himself, it proves to be the Right Thing To Do as several pounds of Principal Rage come bearing on him.
But rather than attempt to avoid this incoming promise of potential destruction, Bernstein meets it directly. His right arm comes forward, hand open, palm facing Raizo. And in that moment a sound of chi being pulled from the air around them is heard, focused into a whirling, sickly green pool of energy between Rugal's outstretched hand and Raizo's incoming power laden claws.
Bracing for the worst, Rugal brings his left hand over, clamping it against his right forearm, eyes narrowing as he lends even more strengthn to the shield protecting him from Raizo's wrath. It seems at one point that it might just fall apart in spite all the strength he pours into it... but in the end the Dark Barrier holds true.
Raizo's claws are stopped cold by Rugal's barrier, the old master's eyes widening in surprise. He emits haggard breath, pushing and pushing, using everything he has -- but it's not enough, and the barrier holds against the fantastic force of the Imawano school's most frightful brute-force attack. But Raizo does not let up. He takes two deep breaths as his attack ends, then lunges again, bounding forward while Rugal's still recovering from his Dark Barrier, his entire body balled up into a single mass like a cannonball, claws out and slashing rapidly toward Rugal's throat, and a thick shield of magenta chi surrounding his front, smashing toward Rugal at the same time as Raizo's claws and...well, entire body. "YASHA GURUMA!" bellows the giant.
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to counter Yasha Guruma from Raizo with Medium Kick.
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Rugal 0/-------/--=====|===----\-------\0 Raizo
It seems neither is willing to give the other an inch of space now. As Raizo's first assault is repelled, Rugal steps forward, moving to insert his foot into the man's gut and knock him back. But the timing is off - After the punishment Bernstein has taken, he's starting to slow down, his focus not exactly what it normally should be.
The intercepting kick isn't enough to stop the painful crushing assault from the chi covered Imawano master and his deadly claws. For the first time in some time, Rugal is knocked off his feet by a clean hit, landing on his back in the grass. Most men would be easily felled by that kind of force... Even Rugal, who had faced down Titans of fighting in the past had rarely been struck so hard.
Finally there is space between them for a moment though and he has a chance to get back up, glove covered hands raising to rip open his shirt and shrug it off along with his jacket, breathing hard and sweating from the exertion this fight has required. The cloth falls to the ground at his feet in a heap, leaving a tightly fighting green muscle shirt over his torso.
Time to quit screwing around with the more constricting clothing. Now it's /on/. Raising his hand, Rugal wipes it across his face, coming away with flecks of blood from the scraps and scratches that have gotten through. "You do your style proud..." comes the quiet growl of acknowledgement.
Raizo is pretty tired himself - tired and running on his last legs, but still, the giant of a man hasn't stopped yet. As the energies stop pushing him forward, he unballs, skidding to a stop in a three-point crouch that would be much more graceful if Raizo were about a hundred fifty pounds lighter. As is, he takes two deep, cleansing breaths, before rising. Rugal is on the defensive now, but how long can Raizo keep that up? Well, with the both of them this tired, maybe a while, if he's lucky...
"Thank you," Raizo rumbles. His own suit is in remarkably good shape - he is bruised and battered, but since Rugal fights mainly with impacts, the worst damage is scorching on the legs and a few torn seams. Raizo actually looks down, noticing one of his sleeves is coming off - taking a page from Rugal, he laughs a little, and rips the offending cloth free. "This was one of my favorite suits," he says. "Not bad. It's been a while...since I've had to work this hard."
But then the time for mid-fight congratulations are over, and Raizo is springing in again, stomping toward Rugal, then simply hauling off and launching a fist at his head - but this time, with much more force than the last time Rugal was introduced to this particular set of knuckles.
COMBATSYS: Rugal blocks Raizo's Strong Punch.
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Rugal 0/-------/-======|===----\-------\0 Raizo
In spite the fight being quite serious, Rugal can't help but spare a chuckle at the comment about the ruined suit. Alas, all part of the packaged risks of being a fighter that powerful men are going to want to challenge on a regular basis. It's no wonder the founder of Justice High makes himself scarce at times... with his reputation, no doubt men like Rugal will come out of the woodwork to face his talents once word gets around that he's back in town.
When that mighty fist of his comes flying in, Rugal raises his arm to intersect it, flexing once again to absorb the damage. But as if not certain of taking the brutal blow, his other hand comes up to brace that arm of his, giving him the strength to weather the attack as his feet dig into the ground, sliding a few inches through well maintained grass. There is a grunt, the effort clearly starting to catch up with him.
But now it's time to return the favor. He bends his legs slightly before pushing off from his well grounded position, dashing forward with incredible speed to fly past Raizo's side. As he does so, one of his arms launches out at his side, attempting to catch the other man across the chest in a clothes line-like technique...
COMBATSYS: Raizo dodges Rugal's God Press.
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Rugal 0/-------/---====|===----\-------\0 Raizo
Raizo owns, leads, and maintains a high school disguised as a postapoalyptic fortress-city. He values his expensive suits because he never knows when the money's going to dry up!
%Still...as Raizo's fist is blocked again, he grunts, recoiling backward from Rugal. He can FEEL it, knows something's coming, senses it as Rugal tenses. The beast of a man is not quite as old as he looks, though...as with a sudden explosion of force, and maybe just a little chi technique helping him, Raizo lunges to one side, slips right past Rugal's attempt to clothesline him--and then reaches out with both arms, attempts to snag Rugal, and if he should succeed - SQUEEZE.
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to interrupt Bearhug from Raizo with Genocide Cutter.
- Power fail! -
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Rugal 0/-------/=======|=====--\-------\0 Raizo
Going on the offense didn't work as Raizo proves that he has more tricks up his one remaining sleeve than Rugal gave him credit for. Moving out of the way much faster than anticipated, Bernstein slides to a stop, turning around slowly to try and react to the incoming attack. The hurting the Principal is putting on the crimelord is rapidly catching up with him though. Enough such that when he lashes out with his foot in an attempt to catch the man right in the chin and take him down once and for all, the leader of 'R' finds his timing is off.
Caught in the grip of the bearlike arms, there's nothing Bernstein can do to keep from getting crushed. There's the cracking sound of bones giving way and joints popping in ways they shouldn't and when he is released, Rugal actually staggers backward, looking just about ready to collapse under the assault.
Blood boiling as his body struggles to keep going in spite what it's been through, Rugal fixes his eyes on the other man, one red, glimmering eye and one brown, human iris. Breathing hard, his hand comes up to rest against his side. Not since he battled the commander of the Ikari had he found a man that could test his abilities /this/ well.
The scowl fades slowly becoming a grim expression of... satisfaction. "I wasn't sure what to expect when I came... but now I recognize that I have found one of the the true greats among men... your abilities... are exceptional."
He'll hold his ground though it looks like there's little left in him at this point.
Raizo is pretty battered, himself, although not quite as bad off as Rugal, anymore. But he's exhausted. His eyes are blurry. He doesn't stop to wipe at them, but it seems to take a second for him to lock eyes when Rugal begins talking. The giant is in full combat stance. He takes deep, heavy breaths, but there's a faint grin on his face just the same - considering Hyo beat the pants off of him, back then, it's a little rewarding to hear a renowned warrior like Rugal proclaiming his talent. "Thank you," Raizo says, voice worn and haggard. He begins to approach. "I have worked long and hard to reach where I am. And you have given me more to do and see than I've had in quite a long time, Mr. Bernstein. It looks to me like there's not a lot of point in continuing." But then he flexes his right hand, the thick, razor claws actually glinting as the sun strikes them. "But I think your pride will not let you simply walk away from a fight like this...am I right?" He gives a mirthless smile, and then his face turns serious. "So I guess we'll have to go until one of us can't move."
He slashes quickly across his front, aimed to smash right through Rugal's guard.
COMBATSYS: Rugal fails to counter Claw Stab from Raizo with Genocide Cutter.
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Raizo 0/-------/=======|
COMBATSYS: Rugal can no longer fight.
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Raizo 0/-------/=======|
There is the slightest of nods as Raizo correctly assumes that Rugal isn't walking away while he still has the strength to continue. If he can just land another attack he's pretty sure he can make it count. And when the bold principal comes at him again, Rugal doesn't make any attempt to defend against the slashing attack, instead aiming to plant his foot into the other man's beefy side - the first in what would have been a punishing multi-hit attack that could very well have done him in.
But again the other man proves to be uncanny with his timing and angles and Bernstein is unable to deliver the intended attack. His foot wiffs through nothing but air and the claw slashes against his side hard enough to knock him sideways, drawing more blood to join the staining wounds he had already received.
Unlike the last time he was driven to the verge of falling over, this time he drops to one knee, one hand pressing into the grass and another against his other knee as he lowers his head, sweat matting his blond hair against the sides of his face and back of his neck. "Well done, Principal Imawano. Well done indeed." The reaction from the students as they see their teacher best the challenger is easy to predict, cheers from kids happy at the victory and happy at the really good distraction from the classes they're supposed to be at right now!
Rugal stays there for a long while before finally pushing himself to his feet. Into the pocket of his pants slips one hand, withdrawing from it a golden clip containing several folded bills. The beaten tyrant of 'R' chuckles as he holds it out toward Raizo, "For the boy with the bicycle. The placement of his means of transportation were regrettable." He pauses before adding, "But facing you was not. We will do this again." The faintest of grins on an otherwise tired expression, "For the sake of your suits, however, I will make arrangements in advance."
Should that day come, Raizo might have to test Rugal's streak of never losing to the same fighter twice. The lessons learned in this encounter will be thought out, studied, and synthesized into his own style. The next time he will not be the same fighter he was this afternoon. That's just the way things are with Rugal Bernstein.
But for now, a lift back to his carrier sounds really good. Already the chopper rotors begin whirling up, the engines roaring to life, flattening the grass around the vehicle as it gets warmed up for lift off.
Technically, at Justice High, skipping class to watch the principal get in an inches-close match against a renowned supervillain is cause for expulsion! Raizo did not write that particular rule, however. The battered progenitor of Project Justice watches his student body, and in a display of solidarity and showmanship, raises his fist into the air, victorious.
Never say Raizo Imawano doesn't have charisma. For a bear, he knows how to work a crowd.
He looks over as Rugal speaks, returning to a neutral stance slowly, nodding. He reaches out, taking the proferred bills. "I'll make sure this gets to him." Raizo actually saw the kid, which means any opportunists attempting to claim the reward unjustly will be most surely punished with detention slips aplenty. In the meanwhile, the old man nods. "This has been...a useful experience for us both, Mister Bernstein." He gives that crazy-man grin again, and adds, "I'll look forward to that call, then. Perhaps not too soon, though." Raizo has better things to do than exchange blows with world-domination aspirants. He has a school to run! And also a Kurow to slap around. Where is that boy? He must've known about this, surely. It's not like anybody else on campus didn't...
Raizo makes no move to stop Rugal leaving, although he does not turn to leave himself until he is satisfied that Rugal is, in fact, gone. He has no reason to doubt Rugal's intent to leave with no further incident, but the last time he had no reason to doubt somebody, they beat him senseless and brainwashed him into kidnapping his wife.
Log created on 20:45:20 08/09/2007 by Rugal, and last modified on 04:50:38 08/10/2007.